From: “Joan Hansen” hansjoan@alaska.net>
To: news@peninsulaclarion.com>
Subject: Kenai Neighbors Column for July 25, 2006
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2006 12:30 AM

KENAI NEIGHBORS COLUMN for July 25, 2006

        Bret McDonald was in his words, “a Navy brat born in London, England”. His father later was stationed in Adak, but eventually found his way to the Kenai. Bret went to school here and graduated from Kenai Central High School in 1979.
       Bret is a descendent of the Donald clan, a prominent Scottish clan that was known to war with the Campbells through the ages. It was a natural progression, therefore, that led him from watching the Highland games on TV to looking them up on the computer, where he found that the closest competitions were in Eagle River. This year marks the 25th year that the Highland Games have been held in Alaska, and the sixth year that Bret has competed.
    In case you are not familiar with this sport, the games have competitions in seven events.  There are the stone throws, which are reminiscent of the shot put, but use a 20 pound rock. Then there is the 28 lb. weight for distances and well as the 56 lb. throw. The weights are  measured in Scottish stone weights of 14 lbs.
    Next comes the 16 lb. and the 22 lb. hammer throws, which uses 50 inch long hammers with a rattan handle and a lead or cast iron ball at the end. Next is the ‘weight for height’ competition, where  a 56 lb. weight is thrown over a high bar with one hand.  Bret says this is the equivalent of throwing a 50 lb. bag of dog food or a small child up in the air.
    The last event in the games is the caber toss, wherein competitors throw a log that ranges from 15-21 feet long and weighs from 70-140 lbs.  end over end so that the pointer end points at 12:00 away from the tosser.
    Bret’s favorite event is the Scottish hammers. He placed second in  the open class division at the June 24 state competition this year. Other competitors from our area include Tim Johnson and occasionally, Dan Hansen. Plans are underway to bring the games to Kenai.
      Besides the Scottish events, which Bret says are supposed to be noisy and rowdy as opposed to the more sedate Scottish sport of golf, Bret likes to bike and lift weights. He loves Kenai and plans to build a house with a practice throwing field. Other plans include a wedding at next year’s Highland Games in Eagle River, where his sweetheart may just try her hand at competing, as well.  Bret has a son, Bowman, and a daughter, Rosa, who will attend college in Flagstaff, Arizona this fall. Bret is an employee of Tesoro Alaska in the maintenance department.
     Speaking of Kenai, Bret says, “I couldn’t pick a better place to live than Kenai. It’s still a small town, it’s still home”.

AROUND TOWN:
      Congratulations to all of you are getting your dip nets and freezers full. If you are not a fisherman, or are just along for the ride, you may be interested in taking in the Friends of the Library annual book sale Friday and Saturday at the Kenai Community Library. You can donate books early, you are welcome to volunteer to help with the sale, or you can just come and browse to your heart’s content.
    Up from Oregon for her annual summer visit is Amber Winegarden, here visiting grandparents Charles and JoCarol Winegarden and other relatives. Amber has managed to take in some serious fishing , as well as a  camping trip with the LDS young women’s group to Swan Lake.

From: “Joan Hansen” hansjoan@alaska.net>
To: news@peninsulaclarion.com>
Subject: Kenai Neighbors Column for July 18, 2006
Date: Thursday, July 13, 2006 1:22 AM

KENAI NEIGHBORS COLUMN for JULY 18, 2006

      In the event that you are new to our area, please allow me to introduce you to the Kenai Fine Arts Center. This little gallery could very well be one of our fair city’s best-kept secrets, as there are long-time residents of Kenai who still don’t know that it exists.
     Located in the Old Town area, the building 816 Cook Avenue is catty-cornered to the Oilers Bingo hall building just south of the Chamber of Commerce cabin on Main Street Loop.  For years this little building has been host to some of the finest art exhibits in our area, and has housed the Pottery Guild in tandem.
     Originally the city jail and firehouse of the 1955 era, the center has struggled through the years to keep it’s doors open, but has always managed to man the gallery with volunteer artists or those who appreciate art. It is a place not only for the display of art, but for classes for every age to bring out the artistic talent in the individual.
    One such individual is a potter by the name of Ida Cockroft, who has a special show this month of her teapots and wallhangings.   Ida says, “I have been interested in art of all my life. Many hours have been spent in the happy pursuit of creating pictures, pots, or fabric creations for myself and my family.”  She says that she enjoys the challenge of making something out of relatively nothing. She particularly enjoys finding new ways of doing something and finds creating a relaxing thing to do.
   After spending her life raising five children and working as a registered nurse, she sought new challenges. She returned to college and encountered the world of painting, pottery and jewelry making. She says that she has enjoyed all three. At times knitting and sewing creations have taken over, and recently she has encountered the world of fabric dyeing and is enjoying working with colors and the challenge of different techniques as her projects evolve.
      Ida’s life began in Michigan,  but moved to Alaska when she was in her forties. She worked at Central Peninsula General Hospital and as a substitute teacher for the  peninsula school system, and has also taught ceramics for the Kenai Peninsula College for several years. She has conducted workshops in clay for both children and adults. She also has taught pottery and candy making for the community schools, as well as being involved with 4-H.
    Ida states that she hesitates to make any one artful pursuit too serious, as she enjoys them all. She rather favors clay foremost in her enjoyment, however, as well as kiln building. She has built five kilns by herself and helped with three others, as well as repairing many.  Says Ida, “They remain a challenge to me, and the excitement of the fire inspires me”.
     The  Kenai Fine Arts Gallery is open weekdays from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Stop by and see what secrets it holds.  Maybe you will be inspired to find a  way to unlock the artist in you.

AROUND TOWN:  Happy birthday to today to Olga Juliussen and Fred Glenn. On Saturday, we wish Mavis Blazy and Jay Barrett happy returns of the day and send a very special greeting to my mom, the Intrepid Ireta, who will turn 95 on July 22. She loves the Kenai and hopes to return here one day. God willing, she will.

I watched 9 year-old Sevy Belmond enthusiastically join the group of 4-H’ers as they tackled the list of chores to do at the workday held at the Kenai Peninsula State Fairgrounds a few weeks ago. Even though
attending two workdays is one of the many requirements for the 4-H
Junior Market Livestock members to be eligible to sell their livestock
at the fair auction, Sevy told me that the workdays are actually fun for him.
He said that he likes working with other kids and enjoys making new friends. The kids cleared brush, moved sawdust, hauled rocks and helped beautify the fairgrounds.

Sevy is the son of Steve Belden and Rhea Richmond. He was born in
Anchorage and moved to Ninilchik four years ago with his parents and two sisters, Anneliese, 11 and Esme, 5. He said that he likes living in
Ninilchik because it is not as noisy as the city and he can have animals
here. As we spoke together in his backyard, a flock of geese were
milling around while goats were trying to steal their feed. Sevy and his
sisters are members of the Trail Blazers 4-H club and are raising market hogs to sell at the fair auction in August. I saw their hogs lay contentedly in the sun while young turkeys and ducks picked at the grass nearby. One of Sevy’s responsibilities is making sure the animals are watered each day. Sevy’s favorite pet is his ewe named Patty. From observing him surrounded by his animals, I could see he treats them kindly and gently.

Sevy has been home schooled all his life and will be entering 4th grade
in the fall. When he grows up, he would like to be a robotics engineer.
“I would like to design robots for kids-especially one that could talk,”
he said. Some of Sevy¹s favorite activities include snow machining,
archery, hunting and fishing with his dad.

Rhea shared that when her son puts his mind to doing a task,
he focuses and sticks with it until it is complete.
“Sevy is right there helping his dad even during the daunting task of butchering,” she said.
Who does this determined young man admire?

“My parents are the best in all of the galaxies,” he exclaimed.

Around Town:
Dave and Annette Cozzini family has welcomed their daughter, Clara Cathlene into their family. Clara was born four weeks prematurely on June 22, and the family expressed their gratefulness to the Lord that she is healthy and growing.
Summer neighbors Cecil and Kitty Boreing are delighted to have their
daughter, Pam Proffitt visiting from Tennessee for a week.
Birthdays this week are Elmer Banta today; John McCombs and Erica Ogren on Wednesday.

David Lashley is a daily fixture of the Nikiski Senior Center, both in the kitchen and out.

“In effect, I am responsible for the kitchen and maintenance of the building.” he said.

David said he enjoys cooking many dishes, including chicken fried steak and Dave’s chicken, for those at the center. David started volunteering at the center in March of 2001. One day he said he was called in to fill-in until the center found a new cook and cook’s helper. After two weeks, he said no one had applied for the cook’s position, and he was approached by staff and asked to take the job on full-time.

He said the job has been a good opportunity and he feels like he is working for the seniors, it is not just a job. .

“They really dish out the gratitude,” he said.

He likes the hours as well. He finishes work and is able to spend time with his daughter, Alyce, after she gets home from school.

“It has worked out great,” he said.

When his is not working at the center, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Pam, and their 7-year-old daughter. David and Pam met in 1998 after he returned to Alaska from traveling and living in Washington.

Before his return, his mother had mentioned there was someone she wanted to introduce him to. When he asked her if it was someone for him to date, she said something he did not expect.

“She said “No, I have someone for you to marry’,” he said with a smile.

While it may have sounded funny at the time, David said after meeting Pam, he felt he no longer needed to look any farther for a partner.

“After a few months, I though to myself, this was the type of woman I really wanted to be with,” he said, adding that they married in November of 1998.

Two other summer pastimes are close to David’s heart: fishing and gardening. His father, Don, moved the family to Clam Gulch in 1966, where the family commercial fished during the summers. His parents later brought property on Halbouty and in 1971 opened Lashley’s Greenhouse.

David said he and his family have a garden each year and he still enjoys what he learned early on.

“It is easy to grow and raise your own food,” he said.

Looking back, he said planting, weeding and harvesting was a good lesson to learn.

“It was work, but it was worth it,” he said.

David said fishing is still in his Alaska blood.

 “I got hooked by the king bug,” he said.

While he also enjoys dip netting for reds, sliver salmon fishing is still most exciting for him.

“The best fighting fish I have fished for,” he said.

Around town Happy birthday wishes this week go to Don Simon on July 26, Bert Wilson on July 29 and Howard Wray on July 30.

Tyler and Ariane Johnson, like many people, have a cabin in Kasilof. They met at Solid Rock Bible Camp when they were in junior high. They later attended Skyview High School, became sweethearts, graduated together in 1995, and married in 1997.

Ariane is the daughter of Kelly and Dana Krumm of Sterling. Kelly is the Lead Maintenance person for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and Dana is a breast cancer survivor and has been fighting multiple sclerosis for many years. Tyler is the son of David and Judy Johnson of Soldotna. David is an engineer for Alaska DEC. Judy has been a volunteer worker for Childhood Evangelism Fellowship.

Shortly after high school Tyler bought a lot near Kasilof’s radio station, KWJG. At the time he had a partially constructed log cabin at his parent’s place (then on ARC Loop). He took the logs apart and moved them to the new lot. He and Ariane have been building there “out of pocket” ever since.

Ariane is a photographer, having graduated from Rocky Mountain School of Photography at Missoula, MT in 2001. Tyler studied civil engineering at Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID. During their stay there Ariane worked for Freedom Photo taking traditional images like weddings, high school seniors, and babies; as well as contract work for the Idaho State Police.

After Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree he went to work for the Anchorage Water and Waste Water Utility. Tyler is continuing his education with the University of Alaska and hoping to get his masters degree in engineering next April.

For hobbies the couple are ski enthusiasts. Tyler has also climbed Mount Denali, participated in two Mount Marathon races, and raced in several Alaska Wilderness Classic competitions. Ariane and Tyler rock and ice climb together.

“It’s challenging!” Ariane says.

On another ascent, they climbed into a jet and went to Europe. Meanwhile, the Kasilof cabin progresses. The roof is on and several windows have been installed. They sleep there occasionally. Ariane also continues her education, working on a degree in business at the U of A. This summer she is practicing her profession by photographing a couple weddings.

In a crowning accomplishment, Tyler and Ariane have a beautiful, blonde, obedient, 2-year-old girl named Evie.

Around Town

Work on building a gas pipeline continues on South Cohoe Loop. Construction crews aim to have the job done in mid August. Marathon Oil Company has a target date of November 1 for bringing their Kasilof #1 Pad at mile 4.2 Cohoe Loop into production, according to Brent Senette, a spokesman for Marathon. The Kasilof Pad will join the False Creek Pad in Clam Gulch and other wells further south that are producing gas for a consortium of businesses in the Nikiski area as well as for the Enstar system, which provides gas for Kenai, Soldotna, and Anchorage residential markets. The pipelines tie in with the Kenai Gas Field off mile 11 Kalifornsky Beach Road.

      Sharon Nusunginya exudes busy-ness. She and her husband, Vern, raised six children. “I have 14 grandchildren, and that is just from the three girls. The boys haven’t started yet.” Daughter Dawn and her family live in Anchorage - “she drives for Alaska cab - at night!” Sharon said with a shiver. “Another daughter, Tami (who also drives for Alaska cab), her children, and our twins, Brian and Justin live in Soldotna. Vince lives in Kenai with his wife; and Denise and her family live in Nikiski.”
      Sharon, her parents and two brothers moved to Alaska in 1959 from Michigan. (Brothers) “Dan works for the Permanent Fund Division and Tom lives in Nikiski where he developed and maintains an Alaskan vacation planner. I am so proud of him!” she said.
      Vern and Sharon met while attending UAA. “We are two of the original six who started the Criminal Justice Program,” she said. After Vern graduated with honors they moved to Virginia where, within two months, he was working with the Williamsburg Police Department.
      “We moved back to the Peninsula in 1983 and Vern went to work for Wildwood. He retired recently with twenty years,” she shared.
      “Our twins were born in Soldotna. You know - I wanted each one to have a special time to just BE a child, so I spaced them out. Then God gave me twins! Our oldest daughter was almost 20 when the youngest were born,” she told me. Sharon home schooled the boys. “All of my boys are Eagle Scouts!”
      As a Red Cross volunteer in Anchorage in the late 60’s and early 70’s, Sharon said, “We met the planes with returning Vietnam veterans. We got on the plane and visited with the non-ambulatory patients. I never made it home without needing to pull off the road to cry. While I could say I was against the war, they didn’t have that choice - they had to go. Meeting them was a highlight of my memory.”
      Sharon has been a cake decorator and instructor. She makes lovely gold and sterling silver jewelry and is learning to do lampwork (glass beads). She’s a past president of the Food Bank, and worked with Love INC, and the Boy Scouts. “I organized the Scout-a-Rama two years!” she said.
      The last three years, Sharon has been involved with Crime Stoppers. She invites any interested to join her on the third Tuesday of each month at Soldotna Police Department. “It’s very rewarding,” she said.
      Sharon’s blog  highlights her philosophy on eating correctly. As an extension of that philosophy, her latest venture is organizing a co-op to purchase fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. For information on how you can take part, contact her at healthyalternatives@ak.net.
      “I’ve done lots of different things,” she said.  “That’s why I like to read about the older folks in your column. They’ve done things here. We can learn from them.”

—————————-

on a personal note - I’ve just returned from being a guest at my friend’s wedding . . .

in Las Vegas . . .

performed by Elvis himself . . .

oy! Entirely too much fun. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mark Evans of the United Kingdom. May you have long life, health and happiness. Thanks for the invitation. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

—————————-

I recently had a chance to visit with Jim Isham, the new proprietor of Big John’s gas station and convenience store. “Actually, my wife, Sue, owns Big John’s. I work for her,” Jim said with a laugh. “We do things her way”.

Jim had lots of interesting facts about the history of Big John’s. In 1985 Barron Butler and John Nielsen decided they wanted to build a convenience store and truck stop on the peninsula. Big John’s was named for John Nielsen who was 6 foot 10 inches tall and weighed over 400 pounds. At the time, according to Jim, he was said to be the largest man in Alaska. Before his namesake had even been built, John sold his share of the business to Ed Furguson. In June of last year The Isham’s purchased Big John’s and after a complete remodeling both inside and out reopened it on November 26^th

Jim has worked for Unocal, now Chevron, for the past 32 years. He has worked on offshore oil platforms in places as diverse as Indonesia, Thailand, and California. Jim now works one week on, one week off in Trading Bay on the other side of the inlet.

Jim’s first experience in Alaska came in the 1960’s when he spent a summer doing cannery work in Southeast Alaska. “When I was offered a transfer from California to Alaska, I jumped at the chance,” he said.

Jim moved to Soldotna in 1994. Sue followed in 1995 after the children finished high school. Jim and Sue now live on Whisper Lake and Jim enjoys being out of town in a more rural atmosphere. Even though they don’t do a lot of swimming or boating on the lake, they enjoy having barbecues on the deck and enjoying the ambience of lake living.

He is also proud of the fact that all 5 of their children are college graduates. They are all living in California.

Jim is a member of the Sterling Community Club and Borough Commissioner. Even though he feels that there is a natural progression to growth in a community, he hope that Sterling won’t grow too big or too fast.

“It used to be called Naptown. It was kind of quiet then. Actually, it’s still kind of quiet now and that can be a good thing,” he said.

When Jim and I discussed what made someone a good neighbor he felt that it all boiled down to respect. “People want different things from their neighbors, but if everyone respects each other as people and respects each others space everyone is usually happy,” he said.

Around Town:

If you would like to have a birthday or anniversary announced in the paper, please feel free to give me a call or drop me an e-mail.

Jaci LeDoux is back in Cohoe after an absence of 37 years. Though she had visited numerous times, Jaci first moved to Cohoe in 1966 when her Mom married Alfred Hermansen. She had five siblings then. Her Mom, called “Babe,” and Alfred later had two children. Jaci graduated from Kenai High School in 1969 and soon went to work for the State of Alaska. After putting in 30 years she has retired and recently come back to a place full of memories.

“Living here I find myself reminiscing often and missing the ‘old timers’ that visited the homestead,” Jaci said. “Following a school bus on Cohoe Road reminded me of our bus driver, Ray Burton, his great smile and gritty voice, kind of our own John Wayne.”

Babe Hermansen owns a cabin that was built in the 1890s. A wildfire endangered it this spring. The fire led Jaci to join a group called “Fire Wise.” The group has obtained the use of a gravel pit where brush can be disposed of in a safe manner. And following the advice of her brother, Skip, she got in touch with Kasilof Historical Association.

“I headed over to the McLane Center where the historical society has a museum. Dave Letzring was there and began showing me the history of Kasilof. Once again I was back in time. I know I looked like a kid in a candy store, if I didn’t look it, I felt it.”

Jaci went on, “I visit the cemetery daily, a place normally I would feel uncomfortable to go to…talk about memories and going back in time. I go there often to water the flowers on family graves. Besides, working that water pump is great exercise. While weeding, I found a cigarette butt on Alfred’s grave…and he told us he had given up smoking!

In the evening, I have gone with my sister, Meezie, to play cards or board games with Herman and Dorothy Hermansen. Once again their house is so inviting, so inviting you can show up in your pajamas. We smile and laugh the entire time.”

Talking to Jaci is therapeutic. Her enthusiasm rubs off. “I signed up to volunteer for the Red Cross,” she said. “I want to be a part of ‘giving back’ to the community. I enjoy living on the Peninsula much more than I thought I would. I’m involved in the past which helps fill the void and I look forward to the future because these are A Very Friendly Neck of the Woods.”

Jaci’s aunt, Francis LeDoux, married Gordon “Sammy” Hermansen several years before Babe married Alfred. “I’ve given up on explaining how my family ties work,” Jaci laughed.

Around Town

The Kasilof public library is holding their first annual open house and fundraiser Aug 10 from 2-7 p.m. To get involved call 260-3152. The library is in Tustumena School.

I appreciate getting referrals for an interview.

Rebecca Wheeler is an 11-year-old with many different interests. She has lived in Nikiski all her life with her parents, Barry and Julie, and brothers, Thomas, 16, and Jonathan, 14. Rebecca is the youngest in her family and the only female child on her father’s side. She said she likes living in Nikiski because it is a quiet town with bike trails that she loves. While she uses the trails for many purposes, she said a favorite use is when her mother, brothers and Rebecca ride to North Star Methodist church for Sunday services. The only problem she has with the bike trails is that there are often All Terrain Vehicles traveling on the same paths. She said it makes a nice bike ride often dangerous. A summer project that Rebecca is excited about is panting her room. She wants to change the pink and purple motif to shades of purple and dark blue. Her and her mom will sponge paint the walls with the blue and use the purple as the border. The new room will be a great place to take up another favorite pastime: listening to music. Rebecca said the bands AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses are her favorites. “Pretty much, they are the two bands I listen to,” she said. When school starts in a few short weeks, Rebecca will begin sixth-grade and her final year at Nikiski NorthStar Elementary. She said her favorite subject in school is Math. “There is always one right answer,” she said. She said her other favorite time during the school day is lunch recess. “You don’t have to worry about anything,” she said. During school, she is a Quest student and leaves her class each week to participate in advanced learning programs. Last year she was a math bowl participant. Another year she was a part of an aviation project that spent three months on a power point presentation. The students traveled to the Alaska Volcano Observatory and also showed the presentation to their parents and class members. Since that project, Rebecca has become more interested in the subject of aviation and likes the idea of entering the Air Force, Navy or Army when she is older. “I thought about being in the military since I was in the first grade,” she said, adding the education possibilities are a great incentive. This summer she is having fun riding her bike, swimming in Nikiski lakes or at the Nikiski pool. She also enjoys watching television, mostly the Discovery Channel, about animals and the making of both the Marines and Navy Seals. She also enjoys using the family’s Slip ‘n’ Slid, but she said there is a draw back. “The water is so very cold,” she said.

Around town Happy birthday wishes this week go to Raymond Taurianen on July 22 and Loretta Moore on July 23. “You are what you are by what you believe!” – Oprah Winfrey.

Although my friend Anna Sutton’s natural birth was in Japan, her Ninilchik neighbors know she is Alaskan to the core. Her parents, Mike and Cheryl Sutton run a commercial set net site north of Ninilchik during summer where Anna does her fair share of the work. Anna said that “Fish and friends” are her favorite things about Ninilchik. However, Anna’s life doesn’t revolve totally around fish. The Suttons spend their winters in Juneau where Cheryl works for the legislature and Anna worked as a page this past year. Also in Juneau, Anna played her violin with the Juneau Student Symphony, and the Aurora Strings Ensemble. She played in the Governor’s Mansion as well as in the orchestra pit for “King Island Christmas.” Anna and her 8 year-old brother Michael also enjoy playing ice hockey.

Anna graduated from high school with the Connections home school program this spring and is heading to Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina this fall. At her Connections graduation ceremony she played a special piece “Ashokan Farewell” on her violin.

My thoughts keep going back to when we were younger and I would visit Anna on the beach. We loved riding her wagon down the hill to the beach. Anna will never let me forget the time her mom was taking pictures of us flying down the hill. It was my turn to drive but instead of looking where I was going, I was smiling for the camera, and we crashed. From then on Anna made me sit in the back and put my feet down for the brakes. We also liked to make dams with the spring water from the bluff. One day we got very involved in our building and somehow managed to get a vehicle stuck when they tried to drive down the road through our complex system. That ended the dam building. Anna taught me how to throw darts and shoot a blowgun and she shares my love for books and Sherlock Holmes. We have always been P.I.C.’s, “Partners In Crime” (Not “Partners In Cooking” like our mothers wish.) World history is Anna’s academic passion and I plan to hit her up for some tutoring when I join her in college next year.

One of Anna’s favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt. “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Around Town: 17 of the 19 participants in the “Paws and Claws” library reading contest completed their goals. Contest winner was Monica Cozzini.
Birthday greetings go to Rocky Frank today, Diane Frank tomorrow, Debbie Dahman on the 21st, and Jody Gardiner on the 22. Keep us posted on neighborly news.