KENAI NEIGHBORS COLUMN for SEPT. 10, 2007

It’s official: Fall is here in all its splendor. The leaves are turning, the nasturtiums are bright orange and gold, and the kids are adjusting to being back in school. Soon it will be time to put the studs back on your tires, but for now, grab what’s left of summer and enjoy the last day of the Saturday Market on the 15th. Howard Piland has worked hard all season to coordinate this great summer event. Thanks to all of you intrepid vendors, who showed up rain, shine or fog. It was fun rubbing shoulders with all the tourists and locals who came to browse.

Feeling that your parenting skills leave something to be desired and that your household is sometimes out -of- control? Help is on its way. The Nakenu Family Center is offering a “Proud to Parent” active parenting class free of charge to anyone interested in improving relationships with their children. This class will focus on families with children from ages 3-12. Active parenting and traditional values will be part of the curriculum Everyone is welcome and there will be childcare provided. Potluck dinners and door prizes will be offered every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tyotkas Elder Center located at 1000 Mission avenue in Kenai. For more information, call 283-6693.

Saturday, Sept. 15 marks the 14th annual Lions Club Rubber Ducky Race on the Kenai River. This year the Kenai Lions Club partners with the Soldotna Lions Club and the Kenai Peninsula Racing Lions to present this fund-raising event. Here’s how it works: Rubber Ducks are put in the river at about noon at Cunningham Park on Beaver Loop. The first $5 duck to cross the finish line wins $1,000. The first $20 duck wins $6,000. If you buy the ‘whole duck’ for $25, you could win $7,000. There will be additional drawings for ten $100 ducks. Proceeds from this fundraiser go to the Lions’ vision and eyeglass projects as well as other local projects such as park improvements. Call Larry Linebarger at 283-2880,Theresa Morse at 252-4988 or stop by Malston’s for tickets.

If you thought you saw familiar faces at the Thailand booth at the State Fair in Palmer, it was Suree and Vong Nujoy of Kenai. Suree was invited by the Thai Consulate to demonstrate her culinary carving skills at their tourism booth. Suree is an expert at carving fruits and vegetables into beautiful objects, and said that she “had a lot of fun and met lots of people” while doing what she loves to do.

The Kenai Senior Citizens are having its fall garage and bake sale Sept. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Center.

Happy birthday today to Willa Fulton and Judy Hall. 11th: Oliver Klinger and Dick Jurgensen. 12th: Martha Longhitano and Janet Brown. 13th: Glen Schrader and Lorrie Carter. 14th:Dale Richard, Dusty Rhodes and Trish Thomson; and Betty Paynter, Mark Necessary, Vivian Terry, Bryan McDonald on Sept. 15.

safe:morris

How many times have you run the new four-way stop sign at the intersection of Willow Street and Main Street Loop in the last two weeks? If you are a long-time Kenai dweller, probably several times. The new stop will take some getting used to, because we have all barreled past the Police Station on our way to the airport for years, with hardly a glance in either direction. The change will make getting through that intersection way faster, so it’s a good change. This old dog will have to learn a new trick, because I have an idea that the grace period for not getting ticketed for running that stop sign is about over.

Speaking of old dogs, Kenai Peninsula’s own official Alaskan Balladeer, Hobo Jim, will present a free concert at the Kenai Visitors Center this week. If you haven’t had an opportunity to hear one of the area’s favorite sons belt out his own special kind of musical tribute to Alaska, this would be a good chance for you to gather up your visitors and kids for some great entertainment at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 18.

Keep an eye out for future Sports Illustrated magazine features. The crew from SA was here in Kenai recently for several days doing a story on the Alaska Baseball League that will feature our very own Oilers team. They weren’t the only visiting fans attending local games. All-American football great, Herschel Walker was spotted, as well as scouts from the Red Sox organization and visiting families of Oilers players.

Did you know that Kenai has personalized postage stamps? The 41-cent stamp features our Russian Orthodox Church and the 26-cent post card stamp features a scene from Wolverine Creek on the West side of Cook Inlet. You can find them at the Visitors Center.

New Kenai resident Amanda Attla Morrow will be participating in the World Eskimo Olympics this summer. We wish her well in her events. Her daughter, Chelsea will accompany her.

Kathy Romain from the Kenai Senior Citizens Center will help anyone interested in information regarding the new Senior Benefits program just introduced by the legislature. You can stop by the Center for an application or call 283-4156 for answers to questions.

It looks like dipnetting season is in full swing. Let’s hope that it is a good harvest for anyone who loves filling his freezer with salmon.

Birthday greetings go out this week to Frankie Nordmeyer on the 17^th; to Olga Juliussen, Fred Glenn, and Ida Cockroft on the 18^th, Chester Cone, Mabel Larson and Sam Henley on the 20^th, and to Louisa DeMello on the 21^st. Celebrating on July 22 are Andy Selanoff, Connie Lucas, Jean Olson, Fran Kilfoyle, and the Intrepid Ireta Musgrave, my mom, who will turn 96 years young on that day.

safe:morris

From: “Joan Hansen” hansjoan@alaska.net>
To: news@peninsulaclarion.com>
Subject: Kenai Neighbors Column for July 9, 2007
Date: Thursday, July 05, 2007 3:18 AM

safe:morris
. KENAI NEIGHBORS COLUMN for JULY 9, 2007

One of the greatest things about living in a small town is being a part of that town’s traditions. Last week’s Independence Day Parade was one of those distinct pleasures. As is traditional, I packed up a bag of soft drinks and healthy snacks (this year I took bing cherries to offset the tons of candy I knew my grandkids would gather along the parade route), and headed for my favorite parking spot a whole hour early.

It never ceases to amaze me how people support community events in our little town. The streets were lined four and five rows deep with people sporting patriotic colors. Chris Holmes’ little girl even had a pair of starred and striped fairy wings! Of course as is also traditional, two tall guys positioned themselves directly in front of my vehicle just as the parade began, but I could almost see everything.

The parade was great-there were pirates, bikers without helmets roaring down the road in front of all those kids, a jammin’ good Dixieland band, Red-Hatters resplendent in red and purple, a gorgeous carved wooden salmon, Rita Eddy and cohorts marching behind a pickle, and lots of other great entries. Leading them all was the color guard. It was good to see men remove their hats and people put their hands over their hearts to show respect for our flags and our veterans. What a privilege it is to share this holiday with the rest of our nation, and what a blest nation we are. Thanks to everybody who made the day so special for all of us.

Welcome to home to Brandon Goggia, who recently returned from spending his junior year in Nova Andrina, Brazil as a foreign exchange student. His family is thrilled to have him home. Parents Dave and Mary Goggia said he’s grown a lot, gotten even more handsome, and seems glad to get some of his mom’s cooking again.

Also visiting at the Goggia home is Mary Jane Perrucci, here from Oroville, California. She came back with Mary, who had attended a cousin’s reunion there. Mary Jane plans to get out on the river, along with taking in local sights.

Trish Thomson’s sister, Judi Carey, is here visiting from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Also accompanying her is Teri Martin, from Leo, Indiana. Both gals are teachers. Judi retired this year after teaching middle school art classes for the last 30 years. The ladies visited Mt. McKinley on a perfect, clear day, visited the new museum at University of Alaska Fairbanks, spent some time in Chena Hot Springs and took in the sights all the way back to Kenai. Their adventure afforded what Trish described as “Fabulous photo opportunities” the whole trip. Next plans include a jaunt to Homer and Kodiak. You go, gals.

Happy birthday this week to Kristen Peless on the 11th, Marian Austin and Mollie Kent on the 12th. Happy Anniversary to Dick and Shirley Morgan on the 13th.

            I recently spoke with Bryan Crisp on the phone about the Nikiski Fire Fighters Association T-shirts on sale. He was very helpful, so I decided to ask his thoughts about Nikiski.
            Bryan had great things to say about our small town.
            “Nikiski is a nice and quite place to live,” he said. “The community is very nice and helpful.
            He originated in Mechanicsville, Va. and moved to Kodiak in 1998 as a member of the United States Coast Guard. He worked as a military firefighter at the U.S. Coast Guard Fire and Rescue on the island. After his honorable discharge in 2000, he took a civil service position at a Kodiak firehouse where he worked for two years.
            In early fall of 2002, Bryan moved to Nikiski and took an Engineer/EMT-111 position with the Nikiski Fire Department. He also recently was involved in restarting the Nikiski FFA; a group that raises money for two $500 scholarships awarded to Nikiski graduates.
            He said he loves and enjoys helping others in need.
            Bryan said he takes part in outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, camping, biking, kayaking, snow machining and four wheeling in his off time.
            “Pretty much anything outside,” he said.
But recently wedding plans have been at the top of the list. He and his fiancée, Jessica, are planning a December wedding. The couple will travel to Virginia next month to visit Bryan’s parents.
Around town
There are still some openings at the senior housing facility on Holt Lamplight Road. For more information, call Leigh at 776-7654.
Family Fun in the Midnight Sun seemed to be a great hit. I saw families having fun and kids enjoying the summer.
The Boys and Girls Club serves two meals daily at Nikiski North Star Elementary. The meals are open to anyone and are free. Parents could spend time when dropping kids off or on their lunch break. Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9 a.m. and lunch is served from noon to 1 p.m. The program will run through August 3.
The Cosmic Reading Challenge is underway in Nikiski. Every minute or book your child reads until September 1 will count. There will be a celebration with free T-shirts for all participants and other prizes for top readers.
Happy birthday wishes go out to Louise Tulin and Bradley Veal on June 27 and Durainey Rawls and Doug Anderson on June 30.
Happy anniversary to Doug and Marie Anderson (today) June 26 and Jim and Patty Herrick on June 28.
Things are changing and I need readers to send me more community information. Birthdays, anniversaries, births, sporting events and more; I also would like to hear more from those who have been traveling or someone new to the area. Give me a ring.

KENAI NEIGHBORS COLUMN for JUNE 5, 2007

When you see Alaska from the air, it looks like not the land of a thousand lakes, but more like the land of a million lakes. They’re everywhere, and most of them have names. Sometimes the story of how they got their names is interesting.

I found out last week who Wik Lake was named after and thought I’d share it with those of you who are “new (meaning you’ve lived here less than 20 years) to Alaska.

Vida Wick was born in Tokotna, a little town in the interior of Alaska, 77 years ago. (”I’m proud of my age, but wouldn’t want to live another day of it again”, she says.) She also lived for a time in the Jessie Lee Home, a Methodist orphanage in Seward. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, they closed the home and Vida went to live with her sister in Anchorage for a while, and then to Fairbanks, where she worked at St. Joseph’s hospital to help put her brother and sister through school.

Then, she “up and married” Dave Lamm, who moved her just out of Sand Point, Idaho, where they bought a resort, which they named “Lamm’s Sunnyside Resort” on Lake Pend O’Rielle. They had a restaurant, boats, cabins, fishing tackle, and “had a going concern there until I was run ragged”, says Vida. They then sold the resort, built homes on the lake for a while, then moved back up to Alaska. Her husband worked at putting down the pads for Standard Oil’s big tanks located along the North Road by the Tesoro Refinery.

A few years later, Alfred Wik came into her life, and they were together for “38 lovely years” until he passed away nine years ago.

Alfred homesteaded out near Nikiski near a lake in 1957, hence the name Wik Lake. Wik Road was named for Vida’s brother-in-law, who homesteaded there also. After Alfred died, Vida sold the homestead and moved into Kenai.

Vida and Alfred did drift fishing for many years. Alfred did a variety of things, including being a longshoreman. Vida trapped, worked, among other jobs, as a bartender, and said, “I’ve done everything, honey”.

Vida’s son, Gary Lamm, has worked on the Slope for over 28 years. All totaled,Vida has 16 grandkids and 29 great-grandchildren, the majority of which live around this area. “My kids keep me in Kenai. so I’m able to enjoy them here.”

Vida says that she enjoys cooking and had just made a fresh rhubarb custard pie for her neighbors. “I love to be helpful to people. That’s what I do to keep myself going-I try to help others.” Perhaps that’s good advice for all of us.

Around Town: Birthday greetings to my old friend, JoCarol Winegarden, on June 7. 49th anniversary wishes go out to Patsy and Bill Easling on the 7^th, to Tory and Kesorn Hansen on their second year June 8th, and to Mark and Dori Lynn Anderson, who celebrate their 11^th anniversary on June 9.

From: “Joan Hansen” hansjoan@alaska.net>
To: news@peninsulaclarion.com>
Subject: Kenai Neighbors Column for May 29, 2007
Date: Thursday, May 24, 2007 10:31 AM

KENAI NEIGHBORS COLUMN for MAY 29,2007

Every so often you run across a person who is actually able to work at a job she loves. Such a person is Susan Jordan. Although originally from Colorado, Susan is in no way a newcomer to our area, because she lived on the North Road and attended Nikiski Elementary school in her youth, as well as living in the Eagle River, where she met her future husband, Porter. She and her husband lived in Fairbanks for 14 years, where he worked for Coca-Cola. They had two boys who still keep her in stitches: Joseph, who still lives in Fairbanks and works at UAF, and Michael, who lives in Bellevue, Washington and is the dad to granddaughter, Cecile.

Susan, who was born with green thumbs, had a dream of having her own greenhouse, and was thrilled when they decided to make Kenai their home. She brought some of her favorite plants from Fairbanks and they bought and remodeled the old Nustate Nursery property on Forest Drive and turned it into Fireweed Herb Garden and Gift Shop in 1999. . She says that she was glad they were able to keep the agricultural history of that property alive. The space, formerly owned by the Bannock family, was once a rhubarb farm in the 1950s; there still remains a row of rhubarb back in the trees. Ann Berg, Susan’s mother and author of three Granny Annie cookbooks, helps with the gift shop.

Susan says that she gets attached to the seeds she plants. “They’re just like kids-they say ‘feed me, feed me’, and I sometimes have to tell them that they have a new home. You can’t take a vacation once you plant a seed.” Susan is excited about modern technology and the new possibilities in the plant world. She says that they take the strong points of one plant and breed it with a strong point of another plant and end up with a variety that can withstand our harsh Alaska weather.

The couple loves the Kenai area because of the small town life here. “It is wonderful that were able to fulfill our dream of moving here. Kenai is the gem of Alaska, and often gets overlooked”.

Susan is a four-year breast cancer survivor, and credits her survival of that ordeal to the power of prayer and the help of treasured friends. “I give more thanks to all around me.” Always the purveyor of positive attitudes, Susan quoted one of her favorite thoughts: “Give us a sense of humor, Lord, Give us the grace to see a joke, to get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folk.”

Happy Birthday today to Sheila Steiner and best wishes to Paulene Rizzo on the 30th, James McKinney and Dora Nelson on the 31st, Lucas Peless on June 2, and Lisa Duncan on June 3. Anniversary congratulations to Trish and Bill Rackley on May 30 and to Derek an Mandi on May 31st.