Dinner with Jack
Fri 18 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Arts — admin
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By Jim Craig

I had dinner with Jack London the other night. We dined casually. I had the Country Herbal Chicken dinner by Healthy Choice. The green cardboard container and black plastic microwavable tray held all the essentials. Entrée, veggies and even a small dessert.

 

Jack had the drippings. Guys with beards know what I mean. Anything sticky and juicy tends to jump all over a guy’s mustache. Then it dripped on Jack…well, Jack’s picture, that is. The one on the cover of The Portable Jack London I was reading for the fourteenth time. His stories of the cold and the raw harsh conditions in the North country and its strange and fascinating characters inspire me again and again.

 

You might think having a conversation with a man dead for almost a hundred years is strange. It is. And yet, not that hard to make happen. If you let your imagination float freely with the prevailing southerly breeze and listen to the leaves fluttering and the water of Salmon Creek gurgling near your feet, you can feel the presence of a thousand old souls that passed before us. Old sourdoughs, miners, explorers, hunters, trappers, people from the Bush who lived in the wilderness and shunned cities and the creature comforts we have become so dependent upon these days. The kind of people that Jack wrote about and brought to the attention of the more civilized world.

 

He was a handsome man with a twinkle in his eye. Even laying there on my desk I could see the friendly open nature of a great storyteller. It didn’t matter that he had herbal chicken gravy on his nose.

 

I’ve always wanted to ask him about his writing. So I wiped my face, and his, and asked him. “So, Jack, what made you come up here?”

 

Are you kidding? I was twenty one and looking for something exciting to do. I heard about the Klondike Gold Rush and in 1897 left San Francisco to find my fortune.”

 

Find any gold?”

 

Nah, that’s hard work, let me tell ya. I got scurvy and almost died. It was during those days that I figured out pushing a pencil was a lot easier than working for a living.”

 

You found great success with that pencil, Jack. You were one of the first to be a commercially successful writer. What was your secret?”

 

Not much of a secret really. Escape. People love to read about stuff that helps them leave the boredom of their daily routines. They want dream material. I found an amazing setting in the frozen north, loads of interesting characters, the excitement of gold and one thing that really set the hook.”

 

I leaned forward and waited for him to tell me. He looked back at me but said nothing. The minutes crawled by like spiders on cold glass. “You gonna tell me, Jack?”

 

You expect me to just hand it to you?”

 

C’mon, Jack. This is my daydream. How’d you set the hook?”

 

Puppy breath,” he said.

 

What?”

 

You heard me. Puppy breath. The Call of the Wild was a dog story. Plain and simple. People go nuts for puppies.”

 

But you were a deep thinker, Jack, into Darwin, Socialism and the class struggle. And you wrote about the collective unconscious and the meaning of life and stuff like that.”

 

Nah, it was just a dog story.”

 

Call of the Wild, just a dog story? No way, Jack, that was way deep.”

 

Okay, if you say so. But there’s really no secret. I just wrote a lot and got lucky. The times were right for exciting stories and cute little dogs. Besides, dreamers wind up with a bag of dreams. Writers write.”

 

I looked up then and gazed at the side of Mount Alice. She stood green and proud across from the airport with her snow fields reflecting the late evening sun. A pink glow softened the jagged edges of the hard rock ridges leading to her stony peak.

 

I looked back down at Jack but he was gone. Only his slightly greasy book cover portrait lay on my desk. I wiped it again with the back of my sleeve, slid the black plastic tray into its green box and dropped it in the trash. Then I opened my laptop and watched my fingers start to move across the keys.

[Admin’s Note: Jim Craig is now a featured writer for the Seward City News. Jim flies air taxi and scenic flights from the Seward airport for Scenic Mountain Air. His new novel, North To Disaster, is available locally or at www.bushakpress.com. If you are interested in being a featured writer on The News, with your own bimonthly column, please email us at sewardcitynews@gmail.com.]

AGIA & Energy Legislation Teleconference Schedule
Tue 15 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Politics — mariannackeil
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STANDING COMMITTEESCOMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

Jul 17 Thursday Anch Lio Conf Rm 4:00 PM

HB4002 RESOURCE REBATE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS

HB4003 APPROP: ENERGY RELIEF/REBATE/FUEL TAX Public Testimony

Jul 22 Tuesday Barnes 124 2:00 PM

HB4002 RESOURCE REBATE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS Testimony <Invitation Only>

HB4003 APPROP: ENERGY RELIEF/REBATE/FUEL TAX Testimony <Invitation Only> -

Presentation & overview of legislation by the Dept of Revenue, Dept of Law, Alaska Energy Authority, & the Dept of Health & Social Services

Jul 23 Wednesday Barnes 124 10:00 AM

HB4002 RESOURCE REBATE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS

HB4003 APPROP: ENERGY RELIEF/REBATE/FUEL TAX Public Testimony

LABOR & COMMERCE

Jul 23 Wednesday Capitol 120 3:00 PM

HB4004 SUSPENDING MOTOR FUEL TAX

RULES Jul 21

Monday Capitol 120

2:00 PM

HB3001 APPROVING AGIA LICENSE

Thoughts on Sun and Shadows
Mon 14 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska — admin
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By Ryan Reynolds

I miss the darkness. As a flower misses the sun, I fear the stars have grown lonely as of late without Northern eyes upon them, and in that longing for the way a fire can shrink the world, I have forgotten all too soon the icy grip we once were in. I am casting shadows that never set. Channel twilight in place of bedside candles. Walk free in the midnight forest. And yet, I miss the darkness just the same.

There is something vibrant fostered in the sun’s absence. A sense of renewal. An escape from the day. As if the mind is tucked away in a warm, dark place to rise in time. To ferment. And upon light’s return is something wholesome brought to substance, made firm by heat and strong convictions.

Lately I feel as if the days never truly end, yet melt, each into the other in a sonic blur of fecund green; our bodies in motion with a backdrop that never changes. And so the weeks seem to follow suit, and soon, months? It is a time for living, of fathomless energy and fresh ideas that are brought to life with a whisper and killed as quietly. A time when all the world stands ready.

What we do now in the present affects our future. We are tossing stones into water far ahead. Gauging distance. Depth. Forming friendships that cannot last, and yet offer comfort in this ephemeral shift of our time. But where does one go from here? On what ties bind our deepest hopes? Our fears?

To this I say we escalate. Empower. Amp our energies to such extent that we leave nothing wanting. Nothing wasted. There will be pause for rest in time, but it is not now. Now is the time to live, to laugh, to love with wild abandon, and in that intoxicating joy of life in the moment, to find the freedom from all that ails you.

Frail as they may be, the patterns traced once more across our space and skies have a lasting elegance, true in their desire for re-creation, that shapes our lives beyond reason. Without hindrance. Found far past the everyday channels worn thin with steady repetition lies the chance to break the mold we’re cast within. For the closer we listen, the softer our touch, the kinder our words upon the air; the more near we are to finding peace.

Dusk will come in time, and with it shadows. Leaves will curl and die upon the branch. Petals fade and falter. And yet, it is good to know these things are coming. That all that is precious will lie fallow, at least for a short while, for life is all the more beautiful when temporary.

So let us take comfort found in circles. Stand gracious in the apex of this season’s finest hour, never forgetting to thank the black of night for sun’s light that follows. And when the darkness comes again, let us stand before it and welcome the heaven’s return, for though the sun will fade in time, a single day between now and then can hold all the promise of the world. And from that, we can take heart.

[Admin’s Note: Ryan Reynolds is now a featured writer for the Seward City News. We can look forward to more articles bimonthly in addition to the excellent ‘Weird Book of the Week’ articles he is now famous for. If you are interested in being a featured writer on The News, with your own bimonthly column, please email us at sewardcitynews@gmail.com.]

Moving Over to Cover to Cover
Tue 8 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Arts, Business, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Event, Seahawks — nye49ersball
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The Seward Community Library Museum raffle quilt has moved around the corner to the new book store Cover to Cover. Located at 300 Washington St, Cover to Cover is open 7 days a week 9am to 10pm. Stop in to see the beautiful quilt, browse the books and don’t forget to buy your raffle ticket! Tickets are only one dollar and are going fast.

All proceeds are going to the building project for a new Library and Museum location. Tickets are available at: Seward Library, Seward Museum, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Mary Tougas at Hertz, Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy and Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover.

Thank you Cover to Cover for displaying our quilt! Drawing will be August 20th, noon, at the Library. We’ve had questions about shipping the quilt if someone from out of town wins it. The answer is Yes! of course we will ship it!

www.somethingforus.org

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Raffle Quilt Is On The Move
Thu 3 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Arts, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Event, Politics, Seahawks — nye49ersball
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This beautiful quilt is on the move this week to Sew-n-Bee Cozy. Seward’s own quilt shop located at 211 4th Ave. Sew-n-Bee Cozy is displaying the quilt through the holiday weekend. Stop by and see the quilt and get your raffle tickets during their business hours of 10am-7pm M-Sat and Sundays 12-5pm. www.sewnbeecozy.com

The raffle proceeds go to the Seward Community Library Museum building project. Tickets are only $1 each and tickets sales are going fast. Drawing will be at the Library August 20th at noon. A 3-D model of the project is on display at the Library, stop by to see the model and look at the plans. More information is on our website, www.somethingforus.org.

Thank you Sew-n-Bee Cozy for displaying the quilt! Donated by Pam Ventgen, a quilter from Anchorage. Pam will be in Seward doing quilting classes for Seward’s local quilters in October and January.

Tickets available at the Library, Museum, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Mary Tougas at Hertz, Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy, Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover.

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Seward Senior Center Happenings
Wed 2 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, City of Seward, Education, Event, Food, Health — Dana Paperman
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Seward Senior Center

336 3rd Ave

224-5604

 Lunch Everyday At Noon

We have WiFi!

 Monday 7/7

1pm – Bank Run

1-3 – Summer League ~ Oldies, but Goodies ~ Wii Bowling

 Tuesday 7/8

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

 Wednesday 7/9

1-3 – Summer League ~ Soaring Eagles ~ Wii Bowling

 Thursday 7/10

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

Birthday Lunch & Ice Cream Social ~ Free Lunch for all July Birthdays

1-3 – Summer League ~ Golden Lions ~  Wii Bowling

 Friday 7/11

10:30-11:30 – Core Balance Fitness Class

11:30 ~ Go Fish

 Saturday 7/12

Shopping Trip to Anchorage 7:30am to 6pm

$35

Call 224-5604 by 7/11 to reserve your seat in the van.

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Seward Racing Lions 2nd Annual Mud Bog!
Wed 2 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Event, Sports, Uncategorized — jenapetersen
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Here we go again, this year is gearing up to be better than last year. The Seward Racing Lions have been putting a lot of effort into building up and cleaning up the SRL Motorpark to be ready for this years Mud Bog competition. We have revamped the course and made the mud pit bigger and better than ever! This year we will have snacks, sweatshirts and don’t forget the best part… MUD! This years Mud Bog is on Saturday, July 5th at NOON. The event will be held at the SRL Motorpark at the end of Nash rd. Signs will be posted to help you find your way. Registration starts at 10:30am. The prizes for this years competitions will be for First place of your category 75% of the competition fees and Second place will receive the remaining 25%, so the more competition the better the prize. Cars, Trucks, Fourwheelers, Snowmachines and anything else you want to get dirty are all welcome. “If you bring it, there will be mud.” We are looking forward to seeing the community come out again for what should prove to be another fun in the mud year! For more information please call (907) 362-1742 or email sewardracinglions@hotmail.com

Mud Bog FUN

Governor Calls Second Special Session
Tue 1 Jul 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Economics, Politics — mariannackeil
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http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/July9th2008_SpecSessionProc.pdf

Seward Senior Center Happenings
Sat 28 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, City of Seward, Education, Event, Food, Health — Dana Paperman
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Seward Senior Center

336 3rd Ave

224-5604

Lunch Everyday At Noon

We have WiFi! 

Monday 6/30

10-1 – Foot Care

1-3 – Summer League ~ Oldies, but Goodies ~ Wii Bowling

Tuesday 7/1

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

Wednesday 7/2

1-3 – Summer League ~ Soaring Eagles ~ Wii Bowling

Thursday 7/3

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

1-3 – Summer League ~ Golden Lions ~  Wii Bowling

 Friday 7/4

Closed Today

Happy 4th of July

     

BLOOD DRIVE BRINGS NEW LIFEMOBILE TO SEWARD
Fri 27 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, Education, Event, Health, Opinion, Politics, Science, Technology, Uncategorized — macks_auntie
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Blood Bank of Alaska is pleased to announce our first Seward blood drive in our new LIFEmobile July 2 and 3. The new mobile unit, which will assist in collecting blood donations statewide, is customized with screening rooms, phlebotomy chairs, a cantina area and artwork.

The drive will be held July 2 and 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hotel Edgewater. Alaska’s blood supply is dangerously low with a less than one-day supply available statewide. Although Alaska’s need for blood increases in the summer because of increased activity and travel, blood donation rates take a significant plunge. This situation leaves Alaskans at the mercy of Lower 48 blood banks. Please call (907) 222-5630 to schedule an appointment.

The new coach arrived in Alaska after a 5000 mile journey from Tampa to Tok. It was unveiled at an open-house at the Copper River Health Fair in Glennallen, May 10. It will host drives in Fairbanks, Seward and Wasilla. The new LIFEmobile is a 2007 Blue Bird Bus. It is 40 feet long, has a 6 cylinder Cummins 6.7 engine and a 60 gallon fuel tank.

The new coach has hosted more than 33 blood drives since May 16, allowing Blood Bank of Alaska to collect hundreds of pints of blood. Between now and the end of the year, the new coach will complete more than 130 drives statewide, collecting an estimated 2500 pints of blood. Mat-Su Health Foundation, BP, First National Bank Alaska, Combined Federal Campaign, First American Title, The Rasmusen Foundation, and the Safeway-Carrs Employee Giving Campaign have made contributions to help offset the coach’s purchase price of more than $200,000. (END)

Community Reception with Providence Alaska Region Board
Tue 24 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, City of Seward, Event — Providence
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This year, Providence Seward Medical and Care Center is delighted to have the Providence Alaska Region Board in Seward for their meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.   You are invited to meet with the Board during a community reception of hors d’ oeuvres and beverages.  Please come and meet the members of our Providence Board and the staff of Providence Seward Medical and Care Center. Tuesday, June 24, 20085:30 pm – 7 pmResurrection Roadhouse(Exit Glacier Rd.)

MULTIPLE AGENCIES RESPOND TO FALSE DISTRESS CALLS
Fri 20 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Health, Uncategorized — suelang
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska The Coast Guard receives approximately 600-700 hoaxes/suspected hoaxes each year. Several of these calls have come into the Coast Guard in Alaska this week. The Coast Guard along with multiple local agencies responded.

RECENT ACTIVITY IN ALASKA

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Relief From High Energy Costs
Fri 20 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Economics, Politics — mariannackeil
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June 20, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today released a draft bill proposing a special one-time payment in the amount of $1,200 to Alaskans and suspending the state fuel tax for one year. The legislation is intended to be a starting point for a discussion with the legislature about how to provide relief from high energy costs to working Alaskans and their families. “As the fiscal year winds down, Alaskans are assured of surpluses beyond the billions of dollars put into savings and funding for priorities such as forward funding education and municipal revenue sharing,” Governor Palin said. “With savings and funding priorities covered, I am confident that Alaskans, who are the owners of our resources, can spend their resource revenue better than government can.” She added, “We can afford to share resource wealth with Alaskans and to temporarily suspend the state fuel tax. It is my hope these items would be implemented by September. We look forward to working with legislators in the coming weeks to find the best possible solution to provide short-term energy relief.” While the unique fiscal circumstances the state finds itself in at the end of this fiscal year warrant a special one-time payment to share some of the state’s wealth, the payment comes at a time when Alaskans are facing rising energy prices. High prices for oil are a double-edged sword for Alaskans. While public coffers fill, prices for heating fuel and gasoline have skyrocketed over the last six months and are now running into the $5- to $9-a-gallon range for heating fuel and gasoline across several areas of the state. (Examples: Kokhanok - $9.10 for heating fuel; Hughes - $8.50 for gasoline.) The payment to Alaskans is estimated to distribute roughly $729 million of the state’s resource wealth. Suspending the state fuel tax for one year would save Alaskans about another $40 million in state fuel taxes. Governor Palin and the administration will continue reviewing a proposal to make grants to utilities and introduce bills for the legislature to consider next month. In addition to this short-term relief, efforts are ongoing toward a long-term energy plan for the state. That initiative is being directed by Steve Haagenson, who was appointed the State’s Energy Coordinator in March. Haagenson, who also serves as Executive Director of the Alaska Energy Authority, is developing a statewide plan to reduce energy costs, promote conservation and secure long-term supply solutions for each region of the state. Results of his work are expected by the end of this year. “These energy prices are draining family finances and causing hardships all over the state,” said Haagenson. In addition, it was announced that the Division of Investments will be amending its regulations to allow for low-interest loans to commercial fishermen to purchase more fuel-efficient engines. This proposal has no financial impact on the state’s budget. A proposal to use debit cards to deliver the special one-time payments to Alaskans was dropped due to significant costs and the inability to use the debit cards in many rural Alaska communities. A copy of the draft bill can be found at:http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/FuelTaxBill_06-20-2008.PDF

Seward Senior Center Happenings
Fri 20 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, City of Seward, Education, Event, Food, Health, Uncategorized — Dana Paperman
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Seward Senior Center

336 3rd Ave

224-5604

Lunch Everyday At Noon

We have WiFi!

 Monday 6/23

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

 Tuesday 6/24

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

Wednesday 6/25

9:30-10:30 - Strength Training Fitness Class

Beginners Wii Bowling 1-3   Sign-Up to learn!

Thursday 6/26

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

 Friday 6/27

Closed Today

All Kenai Picnic and shopping trip to Fred Meyer

Field Trip to Soldotna 8am to 6pm

Call 224-5604 for transportation.

     

Summer Solstice Cemetery Tour this Saturday
Thu 19 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Arts, Event, Uncategorized — SewardLibrary
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lee-dark-treessmall.JPGThe hour is fast approaching when Lee Poleske will be giving his Third Annual Summer Solstice Cemetery Tour. If it sounds a bit spooky, don’t worry. The sun will be there to scare any unruly ghosts or spirits away.

The tour begins at 10:30pm at the American Legion Cemetery, near the Chamber of Commerce, and continues on to the Jesse Lee, Masonic, Pioneer, and city sections of the cemetery.

Each person’s story will be taken from contemporary obituaries or news articles. This is a good opportunity to learn about some of the famous and not so famous departed citizens of Seward. The persons covered will be different from previous tours.

The tour is free, but there will be a donation jar for the Library/Museum Building Fund.

Mark Your Calendars for the 2008 Seward Music & Arts Festival
Tue 17 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Arts, Event, Food — sewardfestival
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The Seward Music and Arts Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary in the fall of 2008 with musicians and performers from all over the state along with artisan booths and food vendors.  The music begins Friday, September 26th and wraps up on Sunday, September 28th

The revival of the Seward Music and Arts Festival began 5 years ago with the desire to create a quality multi-media arts festival in Seward.  Our festival remains committed to youth involvement, education, and creative inspiration, as well as a low environmental impact philosophy. Port City Players promotes a family friendly festival with children’s activities and artist projects throughout the three days, including a mural-in-a-day and various workshops.

Musicians already slated to perform include Emaline Delapaix and the Delistocracy, Randy Altermatt, The Smile Ease, J.J. Tranquilla, The Anchortown Circus, Merrill Miller, The Jason Aigeldinger Five, The 11/20’s, Muse Tribal Belly Dance, and Sarahndipity.

Look for further details coming soon, and please join us for this exciting event!

Short Harbor Time Lapse
Sun 15 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Video — admin
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Seward Harbor Time Lapse from SewardCityNews on Vimeo.

Seward Senior Center Happenings
Fri 13 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, City of Seward, Economics, Education, Event, Food, Health — Dana Paperman
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Seward Senior Center

336 3rd Ave

224-5604

 Lunch Everyday At Noon

We have WiFi! 

Monday 6/16

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

 Tuesday 6/17

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

Movie @ 12:45 ~ In the Underground Theatre

 Wednesday 6/18

9:30-10:30 - Strength Training Fitness Class

Beginners Wii Bowling 1-3   Sign-Up to learn!

Thursday 6/19

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

1pm - Senior Center Board of Directors Meeting

Friday 6/20

9:30-11:00       BRUNCH

10:30-11:30 – Core Balance Class

11:30 – Go Fish Summer Card Fun

     

Attention Residents and Businesses of the Bear Creek Fire Service Area
Thu 12 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, City of Seward, Politics, Uncategorized — jenapetersen
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The Bear Creek Fire Service Area is pleased to announce the results of it’s evaluation in September of 2007 by the Insurance Service Office (ISO).

 Effective July 1, 2008 the Public Protection Classification shall be improved to a 6 from a 7, this may result in reduced insurance rates for homeowners and businesses within the area.

 ISO is an independent company that serves insurance companies, fire departments and insurance regulators providing information about community fire risks. It provides surveys that are conducted in communities and then assigns them a Public Protection Classification (PPC).

 ISO evaluates communities using a nationally recognized standard of performance developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the American Water Works Association. A communities PPC depends on 1) Fire Alarm and Communications 2) Fire Department operations, personnel level and training, and 3) Water Supply System.

 Results of the evaluation show that Bear Creek earned a rating of 48% of 100 points, up 15 % from the evaluation in 1994 where Bear Creek received a 33 % Score and a rating of 7. The department will submit an improvement plan with hopes of accruing a 5 on the next evaluation. Improvements will include increased staffing levels (we need more volunteers) and training.

 The Volunteers wish to thank the Community, Service Area Board and Kenai Peninsula Borough for their ongoing support of Public Safety improvements within our Service Area.  The department is the only rural department without hydrants in Alaska that has achieved a 6 Public Protection Classification.

We also want to thank all the past and current volunteers for the countless hours they have given to the community and the fire department to help make our community a safer place.

 Area residents should advise their insurance carrier of the improvement and may call the station at 224-3345 for a letter of advisory.

2008 Resurrection Bay Beach & Watershed Cleanup
Mon 9 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Event, Health, Nature — admin
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Huge Community Effort put forth for the 2008 Resurrection Bay Beach & Watershed Cleanup:

RBCA (Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance) would like to extend a big thank you to all the community members who helped pull off the biggest group cleanup to date for the Resurrection Bay Beaches and Watershed on May 17.

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Local volunteers and Royal Celebrity Tour employees, totaling 132 people, worked diligently to take on the watershed component of the cleanup. The areas cleaned up included the 4th of July Beach area, the Spring Creek beach area, all of the Exit Glacier pull-offs, along the bike path (from the harbor turn off out to Bear Creek Fire Dept.), the Grouse lake pull-off, all the highway pull-offs up to the Primrose trailhead, and a major effort on the Snow River at the Mile 14 “shooting range”.

 

 

Items found in the watershed included:

  • Eleven 5 gal. buckets of nails (left from pallet fires)

  • Over 1500 brass shells left at the “shooting range”

  • Over 1500 shotgun casings left at the “shooting range”

    gun-casings-from-mile-14-shooting-range.jpg

  • 115 large garbage bags of assorted trash (including “shot up” outdated fire extinguishers and television sets)

     

    volunteer-bagging-some-shooting-clays.jpg

A total of 18 volunteers went out on the Bay in three boats to reach the Fox Island Spit, Thumb cove, and Day harbor (Driftwood bay) areas. Fortunately, the group found a much lower volume of trash this year compared to the previous years. We’re hoping this will be a continued trend with future cleanups. They were able to dispose of items such as:

  • Large commercial poly fishing nets

  • Mooring buoys

  • Over 30 large garbage bags of assorted trash - mostly various plastics

    fishing-net-hauled-off-a-beach.JPG

In addition to all the local volunteers RBCA would like to thank these partners for their commendable efforts:

  • Royal Celebrity Tours for volunteering three coaches and many employee hours.

  • AK Sea Life Center for volunteering two landing crafts and many helping hands.

  • John Maniscalco for volunteering his vessel.

  • Matt Gray for volunteering his vessel.

  • Aquatec water taxi for volunteering to haul excess trash off the beaches.

  • Christo’s Pizza Palace for donating all the pizzas at the after clean-up dinner.

  • Resurrection Bay Coffee House for hosting the dinner.

  • Alaska Brewing Company for its generous support through the coastal CODE grant.

The huge expanse of area covered this year would not have been possible without the efforts all of these partners.

 

We hope to see you next May at the 2009 Cleanup!

Tim Johnson- cleanup coordinator with RBCA

 

 

Headsprout Online Reading Program Free for incoming Kindergarteners!
Thu 5 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Education, Opinion, Technology — dburdick
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Please review the “Little readers” information on page 6 of this weeks Phoenix Log. I was so excited to read that the KPBSD has adopted the Headsprout (www.headsprout.com) online reading program and is making it available for FREE to all incoming kindergarteners. I had incredible success using this program last year with my step son who is a late reader. He absolutely loved the interactive online lessons and all the fun headsprout characters. He was 7 when he began the program. I would encourage any other parents of children who are not performing at grade level or parents of young children who are “ready to read” to check out this program out. This is a great way to get them to continue to improve their reading during the summer. I sent a letter to the district encouraging them to extend their offer to any parents in the KPBSD who believe their K-2 students need a little extra help and support. But the cost is very reasonable if the district is not able to expand their offer. There are free online lessons available so your child can give the program a test drive and see if it is a good match.

Chiswell Island Update from the Alaska SeaLife Center
Thu 5 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Nature, Science — SeaLife Center
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As of this morning (6/5/08), 18 Steller sea lion pups have been born on Chiswell Island. The first pup of the season was lost to high surf conditions; fortunately, that is the only loss so far. The number of Steller sea lion pups born to date is above average compared to the previous nine years. Researchers predict a good season in terms of the total number of pups born this year.

The Alaska SeaLife Center has monitored Steller sea lions on the island since October 1998 using remote video cameras. It is the only live feed of Steller sea lions in their natural habitat currently running in the world.

http://www.alaskasealife.org/New/research/index.php?page=chiswell.php

The Alaska SeaLife Center is looking for salmon heads!
Tue 3 Jun 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Business, Nature, Science — SeaLife Center
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Researchers at the Alaska SeaLife Center are collecting the otoliths (ear bones) of chinook (king) and coho (silver) salmon for a study on the ocean survivorship of these salmon species.

The Alaska SeaLife Center, in conjunction with a private research company, has been working on a program to help speed the process of transition for salmon from fresh water to salt water in the early stages of their life cycle. This transition period is the time of high mortality rates for salmon smolt, as they linger in shallow areas with many predators. The hope is that with a faster transition, more salmon will survive to adulthood and return to their spawning grounds.

The first SeaReady salmon were released by the Alaska SeaLife Center in 2004, and are expected to begin returning this season. A marker on the otoliths will identify the fish as part of the ASLC project.

Be on the lookout for ASLC researchers on the beaches and docks of Seward and the surrounding areas throughout the salmon season, as they collect otoliths to help determine if the SeaReady process has affected the ocean survivorship and return rate. A higher rate of return means more fish to catch!

We thank you for your support and for participating in this important research.

Providence Seward Presents: Dr. Hickel’s Work in Sudan
Thu 29 May 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement, Education, Event, Health, Nature, Science — Providence
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Reminder!  Dr. Jack Hickel will be in Seward to share his experiences while working in one of the darkest and most remote corners in Africa.  His compelling story focuses on projects to dig wells and build a health center in an extremely remote and impoverished village in southern Sudan.   The village is suffering the effects of 20 years of civil war, malnutrition, and infectious diseases.  There is no clean water, sanitation, roads, electricity or infrastructure.  Join us to learn about Dr. Hickel’s challenging work to help this village. 

 Friday, May 30, 2008

7 pm

Rae Building, Third Ave. across from Seaview Call 224-2836 for more information

TEST MESSAGE
Wed 28 May 2008 - Filed under: Alaska, Announcement — admin
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NOAK78 PAAQ 281715
ADAWCA

…THIS IS TEST OF THE NEW TSUNAMI TELECON NOTIFICATION MESSAGE…

THIS TEST MESSAGE IS INTENDED TO VERIFY RECEIPT AT PACIFIC COASTAL
WEATHER FORCAST OFFICES… PACIFIC STATE WARNING POINTS… AND THE
BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM.

NO ACTION IS REQUIRED

$$

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