I spent one and a half years introducing a different resident each week. Today my format has changed and I will now share with readers the important events that make up the daily routine of those in Nikiski.

            From wishing your friend a happy birthday, finding out who had the newest baby or where a teen can go to hangout; this is the type of information can be found in my column. Help from Nikiski residents also is needed; send me your information about all of the happenings in our small town.

People

            Congratulations Kersten Osborn and Michelle Burnett who were hired back into the kindergarten positions at Nikiski North Star Elementary for the 2007-08 year.

            A congratulation also goes to Larry Dean, who was recently recognized by Kenai Mayor Pat Porter for his volunteering efforts in the past 20 years. He also plays in the Forget-Me-Not Band with four other men from the Kenai Peninsula.

            David Lashley, the head cook at the Nikiski Senior Center, provided eight beautiful desserts for the ninth annual area –wide senior picnic held at Soldotna Creek Park on Summer Solstice. Seniors from as far as Homer waited patiently to get to the end of the line to pick from the dessert options; many opted for a bit of each.

Schools and sports

            Nikiski North Star Elementary and Nikiski Middle Senior High School libraries are open on the following days; Nikiski North Star is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m., while Nikiski Middle Senior High School is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

            The Cosmic Reading Challenge program will be held through September 1 for Nikiski North Star students. The program encourages summer reading; younger children are urged to read 100 books while upper grades are encouraged to keep a tally of the number of minutes they spend reading, with a goal of 1,000 minutes. Students can pickup a tally form at the library and participants will receive a free shirt and other prizes.

            Look for the smiling faces of Linda Zimmerman and Chrystal Leighton near the Kenai Library at 10 a.m. on July 4. Students are encouraged to wear their school shirts or a shirt the color of one of the pillars of character during the parade to show support for NNS.

            A volleyball camp will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 12 and 13 for fourth-through seventh-grade boys and girls at the North Peninsula Recreation Center. The camp is hosted by, Nikiski Middle Senior High School coach Sharon Thompson and the cost is $25 per participant. Contact Tammy at 776-8800 for more information.

General                       

            The Scrappy Crafters group will meet on July 21 at the Nikiski Senior Center. The open session will begin at 10 a.m. and go until 6 p.m.

            Check out the Wednesday Market held at the Nikiski Senior Center each week from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh vegetables, flowers and other food related items are for sale and WIC coupons are accepted by some vendors. Contact the center at 776-7654 for more information.

            Happy birthday wishes for this week go to Retha Veal on July 5 and Sean Veal on July 9.

            Have a great week.

            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.

            I met Simone Owens at the beginning of last school year when her son and my daughter were enrolled in the Nikiski Pre-K program; I soon learned that she had many interests and hobbies that kept her very busy.

            Simone and her husband, Chris, and their two children, Tyle and Whitney, moved to Nikiski nearly three years ago. The family moved to get away from the city and they were able to move close to Chris’ work and reside in Nikiski.

            “We moved out of Anchorage to find quality of life. When we lived in Anchorage, we waited all week for the weekend to come to get out of the city,” she said.

            She loves taking the kids to the beach often and she also likes spending time in her greenhouse and garden. Simone was raised in both Germany and Colorado; she met her husband while hiking in Colorado.

            Being a mom is her main job and she takes all opportunity to introduce them to the wonders of Alaska.

            “I love being with my kids. Having the freedom to wake up and go where the day takes us,” she said.

            Like many Alaskans, Simone’s second job as an artist lets her be expressive. She has items in many small shops around the peninsula.

            She said her art, including jewelry, sand kits and birdfeeders, is an outlet for her energetic personality.

            When she has a bit of personal time, she finds kayaking a great outlet for her energy. Not only is the sport thrilling to her, but she has taken it to another level.

            “Kayaking is my first sport passion. I love to kayak out of Whittier. I built my own kayak, it’s made out of mahogany,” she said, adding that it is one of her prized possessions.

            Many may also have noticed Simone running around Nikiski. She is currently training for the Mount Marathon Race held in Seward on July 4. She said she loves running and is very excited about the upcoming race. 

            “I can’t seem to give it up no matter how loud my knees scream in agony,” she said.

            She recently took a day trip to Seward to see the mountain and get a feel of how she needs to prepare.

            “Monday was incredible treat to actually be on Mt. Marathon,” she said. Her husband and kids played at the base while Simone scaled the land mass in amazement.

            Simone has lived in various states and in another country, but she said she has found a great place in Alaska.

            “There is nothing like Alaska,” she said. “You couldn’t push me out of this state.”

Around town

            The area wide senior picnic will be held Thursday (June 21) at Soldotna Creek Park. The Nikiski Senior Center congregate meal will not be severed in the dining room, but home bound service will not be interrupted. Call 776-7654 for more information or a ride to the picnic.

            Nikiski students can visit both school libraries for the next few weeks. Nikiski Middle High School library will open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Nikiski North Star Elementary is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.

            Happy birthday to Dale Bakk on June 26.

            Happy anniversary to J.W. and Anna Johns on June 19, Bill and Lessie Perrigo on June 25 and Doug and Marie Anderson on June 26.

            Erich De Land moved to Nikiski in May 2004 from Juneau where he had lived and worked as a member of Mike Chenault’s legislative staff. He was offered a full time position with the politician and moved to the politician’s district.
            “I fell in love with Nikiski and stayed,” he said.
            A while after moving to Nikiski, Erich took a position with Tesoro Petroleum Companies to be one of three IT technicians for the corporation. He describes his position as Infrastructure Analyst as the ultimate help desk for hardware, networking and basic programs for the entire state.
            “I truly enjoy working in Nikiski. It is the small atmosphere that I truly love about this place,” he said.
            Erich was raised in bigger cities, including Boston and Los Angeles, and admits he is sick of the big city life. He said he likes the smallness of Nikiski and all that comes with it.
            “It is a nice, quiet small town where people actually know their neighbors,” he said. He added that he enjoyed living in Juneau, but found the state capitol a bit busier.
            While he has little free time with his job and his love of politics, he recently became involved with the Nikiski Chamber of Commerce as the secretary. He attends weekly meetings and is in charge of the monthly newsletters. He also is one of many volunteers for Nikiski Days – Nikiski’s large summer event occurring next weekend.
            Erich also likes to paint, mostly abstracts, and play the piano, an instrument he has played since he was six-years-old but does not perform publicly.
            “It is my personal way of relaxing,” he said.
            Another hobby Erich enjoys is baking; a pastime he enjoys doing for friends.
            “I have a killer Baklava recipe,” he said.
            With what he has found in our small Alaskan town, Erich said he has rooted himself in Nikiski and has no plans on leaving.
            “I plan on staying forever because I like this place,” he said.
            “I couldn’t think of a better place to live,” he added.     
 

Around town
            Swim lessons are in session all summer at the Nikiski Pool. Classes and private lessons are available.  Call Nigel 776-8800 for more information.

            The Nikiski Senior Center is working on beautifying the center’s men’s bathroom. Donations of paint and decorations with hunting and fishing themes are requested. To help out, call Jeanine at 776-7654.
            Happy birthday wishes go out to Zak Smith and Nancy Haney (today), June 12, Robert Summers on June 14, Esther Rhines on June 15, Eileen Rinc on June 17, Loreta Harrison on June 18 and Bob Harrison on June 19.
            Happy anniversary to Dwight and Linda Wood on June 15.

       Rebecca Weldy is a newer resident to Nikiski. She and her husband, Marcus, moved from Wasilla about one year ago. The couple had been looking for property on the Kenai Peninsula because they wanted to be closer to family and they liked the area.

       “We liked being close to good schools and a swimming pool,” she said.

       Now that they have moved, Rebecca enjoys living on the north road.

     “We also like the small-town feel here in Nikiski,” she said. “People have been very friendly and helpful.” Rebecca and Marcus met on New Year’s Even 2001. Together they have five children. Roy, Rosabella, Vincent, Nicolaus and James.

      The couple recently opened a book and toy store in their home; later this summer the store will be located at the mall with the Nikiski post office. They stock art supplies and crafts and hope to add some home schooling supplies in the near future.

       “I really believe that children feel empowered when they are learning and have creative things to make and do,” she said.

        Rebecca was born and raised in Seldovia, a small community across the bay from Homer. She has also lived in Homer and Anchorage.

        “We fell in love with our place, here in Nikiski. We like the wildlife and scenery,” she said.

        Rebecca said she has an interest in the Redoubt Homemakers and other gardening clubs in the area. She enjoys gardening, scrap booking and berry picking. She also is a supporter of Autism Speaks, an organization that helps raise awareness of the disability and offers support to individuals and families. She became involved when one of her children was diagnosed with high functioning Autism.

       “I like to be supportive of others in similar situations,” she said.

       She said she loves Alaska’s long summer days and is looking forward to fishing and visiting with friends and family. 

       “(I) Hope to see everyone out and about this summer,” she said.

      Around town

      Family Fun in the Midnight Sun is next weekend, June 16 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the North Peninsula Recreation Center. This is such a great way to meet other Nikiski residents.

      Nikiski senior citizens gather for card games Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Game nights are held on Fridays at 6 p.m. For more information, call the center at 776-7654.

      The Nikiski Senior Center will host a Father’s Day Brunch buffet on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

       Happy birthday wishes go to Megan Roni on June 5 and Gail White on June 9.

       Happy anniversary wishes go to Jon and Mary Glenn Walters on June 8 and Sam and Anita Adams on June 11.

            If you have attended a PTA function at Nikiski North Star Elementary, chances are you have noticed Samantha and Travis Moore.

            The couple each logged in more than 400 volunteer hours at the school and is instrumental in many functions.

            “My biggest contribution was being in charge of the fall carnival,” Travis said. “I also helped with Fun Fests, yearbook, field trips, Young Shoppers club, book fairs, shoveling snow and general clean up after school events.”

            Samantha took on a larger position as head of the school’s PTA.

            “I have fumbled through my first year of being PTA president; the faculty has been more than supportive as I had a lot to learn,” 

            “Volunteering at Nikiski North Star Elementary has been a wonderful experience. I have been fortunate to work with people whose character far exceeds my own and of whom I have learned a great deal from,” she said.

            Both Samantha and Travis have lived in the area for a while. Travis’ family moved to Nikiski in 1971 and he has been living in the area since, with the exception of the four years he spent in the United States Marine Corps.

            “I love small towns, we are close enough to the school that is quicker to take our kids to school than down to the bus stop and wait for the bus,” he said,

            “We have a small community but we have a great wealth of people and businesses that when we ask for help with our school or PTA, (they) help us when we ask them,” he said.

            Quilting is a hobby Samantha loves and she has been quilting for the last 10 years. Travis said he also enjoys a bit of quilting, as well as woodworking and baking. 

            Samantha has lived in Alaska for 21 years; she moved from Portland, Ore when she was 8-years-old.

            “What I love most about Nikiski is its beauty, not only the landscape, but it’s community,” she said. “I love that Nikiski is a safe place in which I can raise my children.”

            Now that school is over, Samantha said she is looking forward to the opportunity to relax with their kids, Tayalur, Katelyn and Trevor, and spend some quality time at a nearby beach or Stormy Lake.

            Travis’ work season is only just beginning; he has his own construction business.

            “I am planning on working a lot this summer since it is construction season,” he said.

            But he said he will find time for his family.

            “Spending quality time with my family (and) maybe doing a little sight seeing and camping,” he said.

            Around town

            The Nikiski Fire Department is selling adult T-shirts for $25. Sizes include small though extra-large and proceeds with go to the Nikiski Fire Fighters Association. For more information, call 283-4202.

            Happy belated birthday to Joy Beckley on May 28.

            Happy birthday wishes go out to Anna May Miller, Sharon Nowell, Gene Getchell and Deni Pennison on May 31; Joyce Kunkel on May 30;  Nancy Delene, Georgeanna Eckert, Bill Idleman and Karen Morris on June 2 and Dale Crouch on June 3.

            Happy anniversary to Jack and Bonnie Porter on June 1.

            Sheryl Woodin recently saw beluga whales from a beach in Nikiski. Walking on the beaches and seeing wildlife just reconfirm her love for the last frontier.
            Sheryl came to Alaska from Lewiston, Idaho in 1986 to meet her future husband, Bill.
            “He came to work up here (before I met him). He loved it here and moved,” she said.
            The two formed a long-distance relationship and once she came to Alaska, she decided not to return home.
            “I met a friend of his that pestered me to write him. After writing and talking on the phone for a few months, I came to visit and have been here ever since,” she said.
            Sheryl said she loves the beauty of Nikiski and how wonderful the residents are; explaining it as all the amenities of civilization and that we still have elbow room.
            “We can park the plane in the driveway. I get moose in my yard. There are trails beside the road for four-wheelers,” she said.
            She also enjoys the well rounded features of Nikiski, with beaches within walking distance, wonderful teachers in the schools and a recreation center with varied programs for everyone.
            Like many Alaskans, Sheryl is multitalented. During the winter months she is a long arm quilter and in the summer she enjoys the freedom of helping her husband with his air charter business.
            “I have met many interesting people since I started quilting,” she said. “Switching jobs for a while each summer gets me outdoors and makes me feel like I have had a vacation.”
            Quilting is one of her main hobbies, but she also likes to knit and bake, all of which she started in seventh-grade home economics class. She said while she does not see herself particularly creative in vision, she often sees things and says to herself ‘I could make that.’
            She also teaches Sunday school at Mount Redoubt Baptist Church.
            Sheryl loves horses and they hold special meaning for her.  
            “My grandpa had horses. He gave me a pony when I was four-years-old and I have loved then ever since,” she said.
            She said she owns a horse that lives on a ranch in Wyoming and is not able to see it often, but she visits a nearby farm with horses when she is missing hers.
            Sheryl said she will make the most of her summer spending as much time walking and picking blueberries as she can.
Around town
            Bon Voyage to Dave and Linda Machado who have packed up and are moving to Washington.
            Also, congratulations to Elaine Lehl on her retirement. Nikiski North Star Elementary students and staff will miss you.
            Don’t forget Family Fun in the Midnight Sun planned for June 16 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the North Peninsula Recreation Center.
            Happy birthday this week to Tony Collinsworth on May 25, and Debbie Grimes on May 27.

            Happy anniversary to James and Maralee Hover on May 22 (today) and Barney and Betty Jo Barnes on May 26.

            Living in a home with a view of Cabin Lake, Bonita Quale spends many days with the elderly residents of her assisted living home playing games, writing letters or just listening to the stories they have lived and wish to recall.

            “The stories are fabulous,” she said. “Things like that make it rewarding,” she said.

            Bonita visited Nikiski during the summer of 1998 to help care for her mother. Her sister mentioned that a former bed and breakfast was for sale across the lake and Bonita was quick to snatch it up.

            In 2001 she opened Our house on the lake assisted living home and has enjoyed the tranquility of the lake and the kindness of her Nikiski neighbors.

            Bonita and her husband, Carl, were born and raised in Washington and were living in the fast paced Seattle area before their relocation to Nikiski.

            “The people in Nikiski are all nice and it is so pretty,” she said.

            Both were in the field of electronics but desired the change Alaska had for them.

            “We quit out jobs and moved up here. It is very rewarding,” she said.

            She said she loves seeing loons on the lake and watching the eagles fly above head; even the occasional moose roaming through her yard is a welcomed sight.

            She said since moving up in 2001, she has had little time to travel back to Washington or anywhere else.

            “I really don’t go Outside very often,” she said.

            “I even know the Alaskan lingo,” she added with a laugh.

            She said the best part of her job is the good feeling she gets when she is taking care of people and making sure that many of them get to stay in the community that they have spent many years in.

            Bonita said she has little time for hobbies, but she does enjoy gardening and planting flowers. Her dream at some point, maybe next summer, is to make a wheelchair assessable path from her yard down to the lake.

            With the days getting longer and the weather warming, Bonita said she and Carl would like to load up the residents in the van and visit Homer or Seward and attend a few local softball games.

            Her move to Alaska also brought her closer to family. She is just minutes away from her sister and brother and their spouses, all of which live in Nikiski. Her younger sister moved up recently to open an assisted living home in Soldotna and her daughter and two grandchildren also moved up in January. 

            Around town

            Yellow bags of trash are everywhere. Thanks to everyone who helped clean up the Nikiski area.

            Happy birthday wishes go to Dorothy Lentz on May 17, Evelyn Crumley, Mary Jean Ivy and Beverly Hornstra on May 19 and Mickey Endsley and Hoe Stanford on May 21.

            Happy anniversary to Don and Trish Roderick on May 16 and Penny and Phil Smith on May 20.

            David and Lucille Egge arrived in Kenai on September 9, 1975 from Eugene Oregon; the day was also Lucille’s birthday and she was several months pregnant.

            “We came for the opportunity to run a governors shop in Alaska,” she said. A governor technician works with power generators from diesel engines. In the 1970s, most area plants, including the former Colliers plant, Cook Inlet platforms and much of the North Slope was powered by diesel engines.

            “This was virgin territory,” she said.

            The couple, along with two teenage sons, drove a caravan of a one-ton van, a 40 foot semi pulling a trailer and a platform with an industrial generator from Washington to Kenai. The trip took nine days, ending at a shop near what is today the Tesoro Refinery.

            It was raining and Lucille stopped to let the dog out and David got ahead of her.

            “I came through Kenai and didn’t know where I was going,” she said. “We actually came to Nikiski first.”

            The family lived and ran their new business in the 40-foot semi, while David traveled across the state soliciting work. The family ended up living in the former Greatland Trailer Park for two years before purchasing the 10 acres they currently reside at on Miller Loop Road. Lucille recalls that during that time, Miller Loop was still a gravel road and they did not have power or phone for more than one year.

            “It was real pioneering,” she said.

            While the hospital was up and running by 1972, the Egge’s decided to have their last child born at home.

            “My husband was the one who caught him,” she said.

            While her husband traveled across Alaska and sometime ventured back to Oregon on business, Lucille ran the office, was a homemaker and helped take care of her mother, for a brief time, who had Alzheimer’s disease.

            She used her first dividend check to purchase a colt, named Beauty. She said the animal thought he was just another one of her children.

            “He didn’t know he was a horse,” she said with a giggle.

            Three years ago David and Lucille retired from their mom and pop business. The couple has braved the early Alaska times and now is content with the slower pace.

            “He is still tall, slender and good looking,” Lucille said. “What I don’t remember, he does; we are still partners.”

            Lucille has not left the state of Alaska for several years and has yet to become sucked into the technological craze of the Internet; the two time cancer survivor said she takes each day, one day at a time. They have 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren they keep in contact with.

            While she was not born or raised in the Last Frontier, she said she does not want to live anywhere else.

            “I am an Alaskan, clear through from head to toe,” she said.

Around town

            Mark your calendars for Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on June 16 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the North Peninsula Recreation Center.

            Happy birthday wishes go to Jim Herrick on May 12 and William Bartlett and Mary Stroh on May 13

            Happy anniversary wishes go to Kenny and Michele Morse and Ed and Beverly Hornstra on May 12.

            From Suburbia to the sticks, Nick Whitaker moved to Nikiski from Mississippi in the summer of 2000.

            While the size of the town he came from was similar in size as Kenai and Soldotna, he said living in Nikiski has been a great experience.

            “I like living in Nikiski because it is such a close knit community. There are always people around that you can ask for help you with just about everything,” he said.

            “For the most part you look after your neighbors and they look after you,” he added.

            Nick is currently a senior at Nikiski High School and a lifeguard at the Nikiski Pool. He also spends much of his time during the school year as a principal dancer in the Nikiski Dance Troupe.

            “The winter means dance season, and that takes a good chunk out of my free time,” he said. “But when I am not at school or dancing, I enjoy hanging out with my friends (and) going to the movies, you know the regular teenage stuff.”   

            Another activity he is a part of is Young Marine program, a group he has been in since the sixth grade and is currently a Master sergeant.

            He said the program has taught him many things while lending a helping hand in the community.

            “Mostly respect, not only for myself, but for others as well. It is a very good program and I am sure that I wouldn’t have turned out anywhere close to what I have without the help of it,” he said.

            While the group is a youth ran program with adult supervision, Nick has gone from being mentored to being a mentor.

            “I am teaching 12, 13 and 14-year olds how to handle people in situations that they may encounter on an everyday basis,” he said.

            After his up coming graduation and a fun-filled summer, Nick has decided to be a part of a larger program and has enlisted in the Navy Delayed Entry Program. He will ship off August 2 and he will work with the Navy SEALs as a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman. He enlisted for five years.

            After his hitch, Nick said he plan to go to college, but as of yet he does not have any career plans.

            In the meantime, he plans to fill his summer days with all Alaska can offer.

            “This summer I am going to get after it and really enjoy what Alaska has to offer, I’m going to do a lot of canoeing and hiking with my close friends,” he said.

            Around town

            Many Nikiski Red Hat ladies attended the Red Hat Society parade last Wednesday. It was great to see them getting out and celebrating each other and the society.

            Volunteers are needed for the Nikiski Senior Centers garage sale held May 31 through June 2. Call 776-7654 for more information.

            Happy birthday to Jim Evenson, Jackie Goodwin and June Toloff on May 1 (today), June Bethje on May 3 and Lessie Perrigo on May 6.