The business, Seward City News has been bought by long time local Sewardite Steve Fink and his family. It has been a great honor to watch over our endeavor here but as I move on I know that Steve will continue fostering free and open communication about the things we care about in this community. I wish him good fortune on his new endeavor.
Paul Tougas
Founder/Former Owner
SewardCityNews.com
Sirens will be going off TODAY, Tuesday, April 16, 2013 for maintenance – testing only!
Ongoing siren work in the Seward area through today will require brief 10 second activations of the test chimes, no voice. No actual alert warning sound will be made.
Johanna Kinney, CMC
City Clerk, City of Seward
Enroll your child for Kindergarten!
Wednesday, April 24th
Two sessions offered this year ~
either 5:30 – 6:30 or 6:30 – 7:30
What to bring:
Mrs. Lunardi, Miss Haugh and Mrs. Barnwell look forward to meeting all of you on Wednesday, April 24th!
*** IMPORTANT – If you are unable to attend, PLEASE CALL Seward Elementary School at 224-3356 so we can include your child in our enrollment count.
The Seward Brewing Company is hosting the Ducks Unlimited Bar Night on Friday, April 19th, from 7 – 10 pm to help raise money for wetlands conservations. There will be gun raffles, live music, games of skill and luck, and a silent auction. At the end of the evening, they will be a special raffle for an AR-15. The event is open to the public and there is no admission fee. You do not have to be a member of DU to partake in the festivities…so come on down and join in the fun while raising money for a good cause. Full beer and food menu will be available at the brewery that evening from 4 pm to 10 pm.
When Monday, April 22, 2013, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Where Hotel Seward
Cost $45
Note
Hillary Bean, 491-1061
Pre-registration is required during winter months. Please contact the instructor between the hours of 9am-5pm M-F to renew your card or for schedule information and updates.
Governor Sean Parnell has proclaimed April “Bear Awareness Month” in Alaska as a way to remind everyone about bear safety and the importance of minimizing attractants to reduce human-bear conflicts. (For a copy of the full proclamation, visit http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/
April is typically when bears begin emerging from dens on the Kenai Peninsula to look for food. That means it’s time to take down bird feeders, clean up garbage, and secure items around homes, businesses and recreation areas that might attract bears and other wildlife. Handling attractants responsibly reduces conflicts with bears and other wildlife and helps keep your community safe.
In 2013, the Kenai Brown Bear Committee (KBBC) is promoting the use of electric fences to deter bears around homes, businesses, remote camps and farms. Correctly installing electric fences around livestock and feed, beehives, fish smokers and campsites can prevent bear interactions that could lead to the loss of personal property and the unnecessary destruction of bears.
Kenai Peninsula residents who qualify as agricultural producers can apply for a USDA program that helps with the cost of electric fencing through the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Contact NRCS to determine if you qualify for this program and to discuss development of a bear avoidance plan.
Visit the KBBC booth at the Kenai Peninsula Home Show at the Soldotna Sports Center on April 27 and 28 to learn more about electric bear fencing and the NRCS program. Pick up a variety of bear safety information, see bear-track replicas, enter to win a prize, and try to open a bear-resistant garbage container. Shows hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday.
Some key bear awareness tips to keep in mind as bears wake up and become active include:
· Garbage: Use bear-resistant trash containers; keep garbage inside until pick-up, or dispose of waste immediately at a transfer station. Remember, if a bear gets into your trash, you can be fined!
· Freezers: Keep freezers locked in a secure building or otherwise out of reach of bears.
· Birdseed: Don’t feed birds during active bear season (April 1- November 1). Clean up spilled birdseed.
· Livestock and Pets: Install electric fences to keep bears out of animal pens, corrals, chicken coops, rabbit hutches, beehives and gardens. Store pet and livestock food out of reach of bears.
· Fish Waste, Gear and Fishing: If you clean fish at home, keep all fish waste in a freezer out of reach of bears until garbage pick-up. Store fishy nets, tackle and line indoors, in a garage or shed, or otherwise out of reach of bears. For information on fishing safety in bear country, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website (www.alaskabears.alaska.gov).
For more information about the KBBC and to find additional information about what residents can do to promote responsible stewardship of Alaska’s bears, please visit our website:
Kenai Brown Bear Committee
Since its latest fundraising bash last November, Young Life Seward is making its presence known in more ways than one. The trained leaders of Young Life work to bring youth of all walks of life together for wacky activities, friendship and to meet Christ in a fun and safe way. Leaders care to love them unconditionally regardless of their initial choices about faith.
Young Life Seward is equipped with a paid staff member, trained youth leaders, and is now holding monthly gatherings for High School age students. They look to build up youth participation at their planned events and encourage interested students entering 10th grade or older to a camp experience in Oregon. Camp dates are June 22nd to the 28th which YL is raising scholarship funds for. Currently Dana Ivy serves as staff coordinator, is in charge of organizing events, recruiting and training youth leaders and helps to organize fundraisers
The latest fundraiser of flocking flamingos has served up some winter fun as they prove to be a colorful addition to the snowy backdrop of Seward. Youth are pranking their neighbors around town by secretly placing plastic pink flamingos in their yards and entryways. Victims pay to have them removed, then exercise an option of having another yard of their liking be flocked. This activity will be continuing into June and Youth are welcome to join the fun.
More YL highlights and upcoming events are as follows;
Supervising open gym at the High School during lunch Hour on Tues and Thursdays
Yard Sale April 12th & 13th from 5-9pm Seward City Church building on Nash Road
Next Group Gathering and wacky activity night –
Summer Camp in Oregon 6/22-28th
Fall Fundraising Banquet 10/27th
If you have any questions about upcoming events or care to get involved, please call Dana Ivy @ 305-0387 or e-mail younglifesewardak48@gmail.com. Otherwise stay tuned to YL activities through the Seward YoungLife facebook page. There is a place for everyone and YL would love to plug you in.
As the end of the school year quickly approaches, the KPBSD Title 1 Pre-K will be wrapping up a wonderful start to a new program here in Seward. There has been a tremendous amount of growth in the students this year and the staff is very excited to see how they progress in kindergarten next year. However, there are still some questions as to what the program is all about. Here is some information about the Title 1 Pre-K Program that is being offered at the elementary school.
What is Title I?
The KPBSD Title I program is made available through federal grants to improve the academic achievement of students in schools of high poverty. High poverty schools are determined through the free and reduced lunch enrollments and Seward Elementary qualifies. The Title I program is designed to help students be more successful in their classrooms, specifically in the areas of language arts and math. Title I funds are available for teachers, materials, and support services for schools that qualify under No Child Left Behind guidelines.
Title I Pre-K Eligibility
The Pre-K program is available to ANY CHILD who will be 4 by September 1, 2013. At the Pre-K level, each child is given an assessment, which is used to help determine kindergarten readiness skills. Those students who show a need for additional support in social and emotional growth, reading readiness, or motor skill development qualify for the program. The Pre-K program offers small group instruction using a variety of teaching methods and materials. The classroom teacher works closely with each family to support early learning.
Family Involvement
Although family involvement is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged. There are many opportunities for families to volunteer and participate in the Pre-K program both in the classroom and at home.
KPBSD and Title I place great importance on family involvement in the education process. Research confirms that student success is greatly determined by families who are partners in their children’s education. Families play a dominant role in influencing a child’s confidence and motivation to become a successful learner. When students see that education is important to the adults in their lives, it becomes important to them as well. The reward for becoming more involved in the education process is a more successful, safe and self-confident student.
With all this information in mind, we are starting to think about the program for next year. Assessments for the program will be held Tuesday, April 23 from 9:00am-2:45pm. We will also be holding an Open House on Friday, April 12 from 3:15pm-3:45pm at the elementary school in room 118. This is a chance for anyone in the community to visit with the staff and parents and learn about the great things we are doing to get kids ready for kindergarten. Come ask questions and check out our learning environment. Applications for the program are available at the school and assessments are being scheduled. If you have any other questions, please call the elementary school at 224-3356.
Alexis Kaferstein
Title 1 PreK Teacher
Seward Elementary
Seed of Faith Christian Preschool is open for Enrollment for the 2013-2014 school year! Please turn in an application to the Seward United Methodist Church with Deposit. Any questions can leave a message at 224-7368.
And the demo begins. Good bye 3rd ave Dorm. It’s been a wild ride. T minus 9 months and 12 days until AVTEC students move into their beautiful new dormitory.
3-Gun in the Great North!
5/25/13 and 5/26/13
Shooter’s meeting at 8am sharp.
Divisions: Open, Tactical & Production.
Match fee: $100, $75 if you register prior to 5/1/13.
Round count:
Pistol: 150
Rifle: 150
Shotgun: 100 shot, 10 slugs
Ammunition restrictions:
No steel shot.
Absolutely no steel core or bimetal rifle or handgun ammunition will be allowed.
There will be a generous prize table including a random draw.
For additional information contact:
Pat Messmer
e-mail: messmer@gci.net
or
Kenneth Rose
e-mail: kenrose78@yahoo.com
Riding an area we call Prison Break Peak and Peppered Peak in beautiful Seward, Alaska with Josh Milligan, Ryan Burnard, Amber St. Amand, Zack Bell and myself.
Seward Alaska Splitboarding from Ben Rininger on Vimeo.
Here are five pictures taken by Jan Bukac from Stony Creek Saturday night.
Schedule of Events
Friday March 15
STEAK NIGHT – American Legion / 6pm
PUB CRAWL 5pm –10PM (register Hotel Seward)
PRIZES for BEST PIRATE COSTUMES
Film Début by Mr. Bjorn Olson – Seward Library 6p (Where the heck is Donlin) doors open 5:30pm
KAREOKE CONTEST – American Legion (6-7pm Registration) starts 7:30pm –(Prizes)
Hot Wing Challenge – all proceeds to Animal Shelter– Cantina all weekend
Adult Pirate Costume Contest 9pm Tony’s Bar Cash Prizes
Live Music Yukon Bar
Saturday March 16
50% Off Alaska SeaLife Center admission for Alaskan residents wearing x tuffs or pirate costumes
Scavenger Hunt – Alaska SeaLife Center (KIDS 12 & under) all day
Youth Pirate Costume Contest – Liberty Theater 11:00am prizes register @ Hotel Seward
Craft Fair – Breeze Inn
Backcountry Chef Challenge – J Dock – noon
Fat Tire Bike Demo – Adventure 60 North -10:30 am
Hot Wing Challenge – all proceeds to Animal Shelter Pups organ – Cantina all week end
Cinthia Ritchie Book Signing – Cover to Cover Books – 1pm-3pm
Gear Swap & Cook out – Adventure Sixty North -noon -4pm bring your outdoor gear and sell or swap or buy! Wi Bowling – Hotel Seward 4pm -7pm PUB CRAWL 5pm –midnight (register Hotel Seward)
Live Music Yukon Bar
Adult Pirate Costume Contest 9pm Chinooks on the Waterfront Cash Prizes
Sunday March 17
Breakfast – American Legion (Donations) 8:30am -11:30am
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Tony’s Bar
Hot Wing Challenge – all proceeds to Animal Shelter – Cantina all week end
Participating Pub Crawl Bars…American Legion, Tony’s, Ale House, Ms.Genes Place, Breeze, Pit Bar.Chinooks by the water, Terry’s Fish & Chips
Newborns to 24 months
Saturday, March 30th
10 to 11:30 am
Avtec gym
FLOOR EVENTS – Limit 2
Best Trick Crawler Race (no walkers) Creeper Race (no crawler or walkers) Best Dancer
CATEGORIES – Limit of 5
Chubbiest Legs Biggest Eyes Bluest Eyes
Curliest Hair Reddest Hair Happiest
Most Unique Nose Cutest Dimples Chubbiest Cheeks
Best Dressed: Boy or Girl Family Resemblance Elmer Fudd Award (Baldest)
Brownest Eyes
Final Category – open to all contestants at the end of the derby
“Oscar” Award (Fussiest Baby)
Registration form attached.
Melanie Hauze
Seward Parks & Recreation
907 224-4054
Photos taken by Ronn Hemstock
We can do better to make sure students have a chance to succeed. We need to reverse the three-year course of cutting educational staff across the state. These are people who educate our children and help them succeed.
It’s time to make sure Alaska’s children are given the chance to reach their full potential. An educated workforce will grow our economy and reduce jail and social services costs.
If the Governor and the GOP leadership succeed in their $1 – $2 billion a year oil tax giveaway – the biggest component of which doesn’t require oil companies to reinvest any of that money in Alaska – the cuts to our schools will go even deeper into the classroom. I and others have proposed reform that will work, and that doesn’t cut Alaska’s fair share for our oil by the billions. We allow reasonable tax relief, but ONLY if companies invest IN ALAKSA to produce new oil. If we end up with the governor’s bill, which will guarantee $1 – $2 billion annual deficits, children will not be given the tools they need to succeed, and we’ll pay for that in the long run. There is no reason to send our economy and schools over a fiscal cliff.
Improving our schools, and reversing educator cuts, shouldn’t be a Democratic issue. While I and other Democrats have filed legislation to reverse this course of educator cuts, as we have in the past, improving schools needs to be a bi-partisan issue.
Over the last three years, most Alaska schools districts have lost teachers, job counselors, guidance counselors, tutors and needed staff. The governor’s school budget proposal continues that damaging spiral.
The governor has taken another harmful step. He’s cut modest legislative proposals to improve one of the nation’s worst pre-k systems, and now a legislative subcommittee is cutting them further. The current pre-K system in Alaska only serves a small fraction of families who would voluntarily choose to help their children succeed through early learning programs, whether at home with counselors to offer early learning tools, or in pre-k classrooms.
Numerous studies show that reaching youth, whether at home or in the classroom, by age four increases their chance of school success, work success, and success in going to college or getting job training. It also helps them stay out of jail.
In Anchorage, over 200 educators and support staff will be lost next year under the governor’s proposal. That’s on top of losing 150 teacher and support staff over the past three years. In Mat-Su, students have lost over 100 teacher and staff positions over the past three years even though the number of students is rising.
The story is the same in smaller school districts. Juneau students have lost 30 teachers and staff over the past three years. In Kodiak, a small school district, students have lost over 30 teachers and support staff during the past 3 years. The story gets repeated in the Northwest Arctic Borough, Sitka, Nome, and across the state.
So how does the governor claim “record” school funding? Well, in 2007, under Governor Palin, Democrats and Republicans joined to help fund underfunded pension trust funds for state and municipal employees, including teachers. The governor counts that money in claiming “he” has increased education funding. Unfortunately, none of those retirement trust funds can be used in the classroom. And he counts funds we’ve used for busing students to school – which have gone up as gasoline prices have increased. Those funds are used for busing, not for the classroom.
When it comes to classroom funding, however – funds for teachers, job counselors and other staff – per student funding has fallen behind inflation. And, with steeply rising health costs private and public employees face, insurance premiums for all of us have risen faster than inflation. This has forced school districts to layoff educators.
The victims are children with dreams of success. It’s time to do better. It’s time to make a commitment to education that our schools can count on. We should not risk Alaska becoming an educational backwater.
Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage). You can reach Rep. Gara at rep.les.gara@akleg.gov, or at 465-2647.
