Dec. 21, 2006
7:32 a.m. Citation issued to Gardner, no age or first name given, for expired registration. 11:02 a.m. Citation issued to unnamed driver for headlight requirements. 11:16 a.m. Ambulance dispatched to Olympia for a female with chest pain, conscious and breathing. Subject was transported to the hospital. 12:57 p.m. Motor vehicle accident with damage reported in front of Napa on the highway. Officer responded.
The Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Area will hold its regular board meeting on Monday 8 January 2007 at 7:00 PM. The meeting is held in the KPB Borough Annex Office at the Seaview Plaza Building at 302 Railway Avenue, Suite 122. We welcome the public. Building doors open at 6:30 PM. Previous approved minutes and current agenda are available on our website www.sewardbearcreekfloodservicearea.org. Our agenda is also available from our office.
Compass: Points of view from the community
By CAROL COMEAU and REP. LES GARA
We should do everything we can to make sure all children, regardless of background, share in this state’s great opportunity and wealth. That’s why improving our schools and improving the opportunities of children to learn are so important. We can take a big step in improving our schools for a small cost by working together to get more parents involved in their children’s education. It’s a step we believe people across party lines can support. It’s something that’s achievable this coming legislative session.Children of parents who read to them and take an interest in their children’s education do better in school, and better in the job market, than children of parents who aren’t involved. While much in the field of education is subject to fair debate, this point is not.
Pet of the Week: “Sidney” is an incredibly social and sweet young adult neutered male. This boy loves everyone! People, dogs, other cats… He will make a fun-loving addition to an active home.
Wish List: A Happy and spoiled New Year Seward Pets! Support SOS Pets- buy a 2007 calendar!
Jennifer Carrick
Seward Animal Care and Control
POB 2934
Seward, AK 99664
907-224-7495
Happy New Year!!
Seward Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Agenda
Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
Unfinished Business requiring a Public Hearing –
Resolution 2006-25 recommending City Council and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Subdivision of ATS No. 174, Within The NW ¼ of Section 3, Township 1 South, Range 1 West, Seward Meridian, Marina Subdivision, Seward Resort Addition, To Create A “Tract A.”
New Business
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Conditions at Girdwood
Temperature 32°
New Snow 8”
Water Equivalent .70”
Synopsis
A vigorous system moved through the area yesterday bringing warm temperatures, gusty winds, and heavy precip. The resulting snow load will stress the fragile pack and fast, long-running slides are likely.
Are you aware that there are bills introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate that if passed would establish a cabinet level Department of Peace? If you aren’t, there’s a good chance your legislators in Washington won’t realize the importance of their passage. You can read or download the bills at www.thepeacealliance.org and also find simple instructions on how best to contact your legislators. A grass roots Seward Peace Group is forming to spread the word. For more information contact Lori Draper at 224-5495 or ldraper@gci.net
December 27, 2006
Seward, Alaska Sporadic Bird Report
Sunrise 10:02 am, sunset 3:55 pm, length of day 5 hours, 48 minutes; tomorrow will be 1 minute and 12 seconds LONGER.
The blizzards, power outages, and cold temperatures of last week gave way to a couple beautiful, sunny, and cold days with perfect powder snow for Christmas. Quite a gift. The temperature has now risen to a warm 30º with blowing snow and more snow mixed with rain in the forecast. The birds are very hungry during all this storm stress: keep your feeders full!
The initial Seward Christmas Bird Count day which was cancelled, did not result in any startling species, in fact, many reported fewer than normal numbers of birds at their feeders. Given the very poor weather conditions, this is somewhat surprising as one would think the birds would be feeding ravenously. (Note the word “raven” in there.) After the storms, the birds are back in large numbers.
In a quick tour about town today: A consistent AMERICAN DIPPER dipped on the ice at the lagoon on Dairy Hill Lane by Benny Benson Park, feeding on caviar. Another bobbed in the cold water of the Fish Ditch near the bay where the lagoon flows through the large culverts.
COMMON and BARROWS GOLDENEYES dove in synchrony in the boat harbor with COMMON MERGANSERS, a few COMMON MURRES, and around 2 dozen GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. The absence of larger flocks of gulls is interesting. I looked for a glaucous gull or a Thayer’s or Mew without success. There was one glaucous-winged X herring hybrid.
Smaller numbers of goldeneyes and mergansers were also feeding south of the harbor with a lone female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 7 BLACK SCOTERS formed their own private flotilla just offshore, flanked by PELAGIC CORMORANTS and HORNED GREBES. The double-crested cormorant and common loon seen last week were elusive.
NW CROWS and COMMON RAVENS patrolled the beaches. I saw one healthy-looking raven with a useless right foot, bent totally over so it was walking/hopping on the ankle. The pair was bolder than usual and took my offering of dog food and unsalted popcorn after I backed up 50 feet or so. Usually I have to leave town before they warily take the food.
The NW crow with the deformed bill is still alive and apparently doing OK. He and the other crows are fearless, some landing on the car roof or the rearview mirrors, and taking food almost as soon as I fling it out the window. I counted 26 glaucous-winged gulls in all, of various ages and plumages.
Along the Greenbelt shore, I saw 4 adult BALD EAGLES and 2 juveniles clustered around a dominant adult feasting on a orange-fleshed salmon, its array of pin bones sticking up. Lots of vocalizations from the bystanders, with raids by bold magpies, crows, and ravens. These birds seem very hungry.
Feeder watchers all over the area are reporting large numbers of COMMON REDPOLLS, feeding with PINE SISKINS, and the usual DARK-EYED JUNCOS, BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. PINE GROSBEAKS, and a small flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are visiting Mt Ash trees to get the last berries. I heard an AMERICAN ROBIN calling forlornly today, perhaps wondering about the wisdom of not migrating with everyone else.
My feeder has an OREGON JUNCO mixed in with the flock of ground-feeding juncos, a SONG SPARROW, and also a yellow-billed WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW juvenile, which others report at their feeders too. LeVans still have the GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCHES, also seen about town on the Mt Ash berries, and occasionally one at the beach or a few at other feeders.
The new National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition is out with, gasp! Ducks, Geese, and Swans, and even Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail before the venerable Loons. The book is 3/8” wider than the 4th edition, with nice tabs built in, and a corresponding fold-out front index to the bird families among other features.
Today is the first day of Count Week for the rescheduled Seward CBC. Keep your eyes open for anything unusual from Dec 27 to Jan 2 and let me know. If you wish to participate by watching your feeder or helping out with the field observations on Count Day, Saturday Dec 30th, send me an email at c_griz@yahoo.com.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Sporadic Bird Report reporter
If you would like to submit a bird sighting, please include the date and place where the bird was seen along with your name and phone number.
I encourage you to join this well-run forum to check on Seward and other Alaska birding news: AKBirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
For more information on how to keep cats indoors, please refer to the American Bird Conservancy website, Cats Indoors at and other informative sites listed under a Google.com search.
Please report any rare or unusual birds with species, date, time, and place to the Sporadic Bird Report reporter and to:
Nicholas Hajdukovich 452-5026 (home) alaskabirds@ak.net
Ed Clark 457-1526 (home) akbirder@eagle.ptialaska.net
Get your skis and snowboards waxed and tuned locally! The Seward Nordic
Ski Club will offer waxing on Sunday, December 31st from noon - 2pm.
Drop your gear off at noon at the Seward High ski shed, or stick around
and learn some waxing tips.
Cross-country skis: $15
Downhill skis: $20
Snowboards: $30
Tuning, if necessary: additional $10
$5 off for club members, memberships available day of waxing
Be sure to get out and enjoy our great conditions and think snow!
Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance was recognized in recent Sierra Club publications as an example of a grass roots success story in the fight against coal-powered electricity.
Marc Marlow proposed Seward Cogen in early 2006 to Seward’s city council as the way to bring coal-powered electricity to the gateway of the Kenai Fjords National Park.
At 20 Megawatts, the plant was designed to supply Seward with its much-needed electric power at a cost Marlow promised would be at a multi-million dollar savings over the town’s existing power. Seward currently buys its electric power from turbines spun by natural gas at Chugach Electric’s Beluga Plant.
However, at 20MW the generator would also slip below Federal and State emissions regulations. And placed in the narrow valley where Seward sits, members of the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance believed the mercury, lead and particulate fall-out would be harmful to wildlife, humans and the pristine image of their tourist town.
In a lesson of “do your homework,” RBCA used Marlow’s own example generator to convince the city council to reject Seward Cogen’s proposal. The Montana-based generator Marlow held up as a success story, RBCA found, was plagued with fines on its emissions and was shut down shortly after opening.
The Alliance also brought renewable energy alternatives to the minds of Seward’s residents.
Marlow is now wrapped up in the ongoing corruption scandal – by way of his relationship with Rep. Vic Kohring R-Wasilla - which has brought down several state legislators and threatens to bring down many more.
RBCA recently turned in additional evidence to Trustees of Alaska – see page six of link - to progress in their lawsuit against Seward Ships Drydock and the city of Seward for waste water violations.
Please remember during the holiday season:If you catch a buzz, catch a ride.
Questions, comments, tip suggestions: coptalk@cityofseward.net
Christmas reunion brings nostalgia, yearning for old friends
By Jen Ransom
I can remember Christmas being about two things: spending time with family, and celebrating the birth of Christ. It was pretty simple. Santa was bringing presents; I was attending mass traveling via my nana and granddad’s house out of state. All but one year my family traveled down to Washington for the holiday; the lone year in Seward came with a harsh case of chicken pox for my sister and I. That time, it was my dad, not granddad, who donned the beloved Santa outfit, borrowed from a buddy at Seward Fisheries. Read More>
Dec. 16, 2006
4:12 p.m. Hospital requested ambulance to transport patient from hospital to Wesley Rehab. 10:26 p.m. Reporting party advised of a domestic situtation occurring in Little Bear Mountain Apartments. She heard hollering and things being thrown. Verbal argument only. Read More>
Merry Christmas
And A Prosperous And
Happy New Year
To All Our Community
–The Seward City Council
SPORTS AND REC
Gift Wrapping
No time or desire to wrap all those gifts? Let the TYC help you out. Drop off packages at our “Paper Station” at any time before December 23 at the TYC we’ll wrap & tag them for you. All gift wrapping donations support the TYC programming.
TYC Camp
The TYC will be holding New Years Camp from December 26-29. We will be doing crafts, going on winter adventures, cooking and playing lots of games. Call the TYC to find out more information or to register your K-6th grader 224-5472.
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, Dec 23 at the Senior Center Newborn to 12 yrs of age can come and enjoy a hearty breakfast with Santa and his elves. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children all attendees require a ticket. There will be two seatings this year 1st seating 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. 2nd seating 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. There is limited seating and you can purchase tickets by Dec 22 at 5 p.m. at the TYC, Sports & Rec or the Utility counter at City Hall. Please call 224-5472 for more information.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Sue Lang FSO-PA, Seward Flotilla U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, 907-224-8237 suelang@alaska.com
Boaters Must Not Operate 121.5/243 MHZ Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) after December 31, 2006
WASHINGTON - The United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary wish to remind all boaters that beginning January 1, 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in both commercial and recreational watercraft in Alaska and worldwide. Boaters requiring an emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model.
The January 1, 2007, date to stop using 121.5 MHz EPIRBs is in preparation for February 1, 2009, when satellite processing of distress signals from all 121.5/243 MHz beacons will terminate. Following this termination date, only the 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System which provides distress alert and location data for search and rescue operations around the world.
The regulation applies to all Class A, B, and S 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs. It does not affect 121.5/243 MHz man overboard devices which are designed to work directly with a base alerting unit only and not with the satellite system.
This change, in large part, was brought about by the unreliability of the 121.5/243 MHz beacons in an emergency situation. Data reveals that with a 121.5 MHz beacon; only one alert out of every 50 is a genuine distress situation. This has a significant effect on expending the limited resources of search and rescue personnel and platforms. With 406 MHz beacons, false alerts have been reduced significantly, and, when properly registered, can usually be resolved with a telephone call to the beacon owner. Consequently, real alerts can receive the attention they deserve.
Read More>
Join Instructor Cedar Bourgeois as she teaches you how to make her stylish, yet practical Michelle Totes!
You provide the fabric, materials and sewing machine, snaps are provided.
Class will be held on January 15 & 16, from 6 - 10pm ,in the Seward High School Library
Adults only please.
Call Tanya Brewi at 224-9063 or 4054 for registrations and information! Payment due at time of registration, 1 week before class start date. Class Fee $35.
Seward Community Schools would like to thank the following organizations, businesses and individuals for the support they have provided towards our events and programs in the 2006 year.
Pink Cheeks Triathlon & Luau –
DJ Club, Teen Council, Curt Jacobson, Josie Ronne, Galen Brewi,
Seward Elks Lodge Members, Safeway and many others!
Super Saturday BBQ & Award Ceremony –
Three Bears, Mel Hauze, Our Fantastic Garbage Collectors (You helped make Seward beautiful this past spring!), SPRD Campground Crews, Seward Businesses, and many other wonderful volunteers!
Seward Archery League –
Steve Lemme, Louis Bencardino, Alaska Railroad, Matt Brewi, Wally Shumway, Caleb Adelmann, Scott Crosby, Kevin Finch, Tony Lemme, Steve Pautz, Seward Pheonix Log, GCI Cable, SBS, Shari Adelmann, Karin Sturdy, Mel Hauze, and many other members who have contributed to our successful new league!
Community Schools Instructors & Staff –
Robin Barnum (For all your help in staff needs), Judy Martin, David Paperman, Amy Mow, Connie Spencer, Curt Jacobson, Leigh Woodward, Monica Luther, Christie Terry and Jim Pfiffenberger.
Businesses & Organizations –
Seaview Community Services, Bear Creek Fire Department, Seward Fire Department, GCI Cable, Seward Pheonix Log Staff, Seward High School, Seward Elementary, Seward Middle School, Seward Parks & Recreation, City of Seward, Alaska Railroad, SewardCityNews.com and many others who have contributed to our programs this past year!
Have a safe & Happy Holiday Season!
Tanya Brewi
Community Schools Coordinator
Pet of the Week: “Zelda” is an extremely affection spayed female. She is 6-yrs old and will make a wonderful companion in a quiet and loving home. Cat nip and snuggling are some of her favorite things!
Holiday Pet Tip: Beware of holiday dangers to your pet: mistle toe and poinsettias are poisonous, candles and tinsel are other dangers to your pet during the holiday season. Gift certificates, instead of live holiday surprises are a better choice for animal lovers on your list!
Jennifer Carrick
Seward Animal Care and Control
POB 2934 Seward,
AK 99664
907-224-7495
The Seward Sea Kayak Expo Committee will be meeting Tuesday December 19th, 2006 in the Conference Room of the Hotel Edgewater at 5 PM. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and volunteers are needed. The Seward Sea Kayaking Exposition will be held May 17, 18, 19, 20 and will be a big event that caters to new kayakers or people interested in getting involved in kayaking as well as intermediate and advanced level kayakers. There will be lectures, demonstrations, pool instruction, and entertainment events going on in the evenings. There will also be daily paddles in Resurrection Bay, and in Aialik Bay offered. Trips to Orca Island in Humpy Cove, Thumb Cove, and Kayaker’s Cove will be offered by local water taxi services for those wishing to experience something new! The Alaska Sea Kayak Symposium and Alaska Sea Kayak School will be teaching courses for the Exposition as well.
If you are interested in helping with the event, please come to the meeting Tuesday. Volunteers of all types are needed for this event and no experience is necessary for many of the volunteer efforts. We also need people to help with various committees! Come join the fun and be a part of planning Seward’s First Sea Kayak Expo!
For more information please call the Hotel Edgewater and ask for Paul Carter or Call Rick Brown at 224-2346.
Dec. 9, 2006 6:06 p.m. Reporting party advised he found a bicycle and would like an officer to respond to get it. Described as a Schwinn. 7:08 p.m. Bartender from DJ’s requested an officer for an intoxicated male that they told to leave several times and he is outside trying to pick a fight with people. He is wearing a black t-shirt that says “It’s OK.” Contacted Robert Allan Duesman, no age given, who was permanently trespassed from DJ’s. Read More>
Current weather at Old Mill Subdivision - Dec. 17, 2:05 p.m.
33.5F
90 percent humidity
Zero wind
Zero precipitation
Sunrise at 9:58 a.m.
Sunset at 3:49 p.m.
Length of day: 5 hours 51 minutes
Record high: 45F
Record low: -6F
Tonight
23F
Snow accumulation up to five inches
Winds out of the Northwest at 15 to 25 mph
Monday Dec. 18
Highs in the 20s
Snow accumulation of two to six inches
West winds 15 to 30 mph
Read More>
Seward City Council Special Meeting
Action Agenda
Monday, December 11, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
The following resolution Postponed from a Previous Agenda was postponed indefinitely:
Resolution 2006-098, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Swenson Construction For The Construction Of One Waterfront Pavilion In An Amount Not To Exceed $397,000 And Appropriating Funds.
The following resolutions were approved:
Resolution 2006-127, Approving Amendment #4 to the Employment Agreement with the City Clerk.
Resolution 2006-132, Approving An Employment Agreement With Marvin Yoder For Interim City Manager Services.
Resolution 2006-133, Amending The City Council Rules of Procedure to Amend Rule 26, Order of Business. Read More>
Educational opportunities in Seward brought to by KPC’s Resurrection Bay Extension Site (RBES). Registration January 8, 9, 11, and 12 10am-3pm at RBES office in Seward High School. Classes begin the week of January 16. Class schedule may be viewed at www.kpc.alaska.edu/resurrection/ or please call or email RBES Coordinator Jackie Marshall to be mailed a schedule at 224-2285/injjp1@uaa.alaska.edu. Education Makes A Great Gift!