Kenai Neighbors Column for Jan. 30, 2007

A couple of my old friends investigated a new sign on a building in the Old Town Kenai area last week, and found a young woman with a great new idea for making life easier. It was suggested that I interview her, and I was happy to oblige. Allow me to introduce Laura Ganshow to those of you who don’t already know her.

Laura came to Alaska with her husband Ryan from West Bend, Wisconsin (just north of Milwaukee) a couple of years ago as a result of encouragement from her sister, who already lives here. They came “on a wing and a prayer” to see what non-city life was like.

Laura got her associates degree in organization administration and was in the Army National Guard as a military police officer when she met her husband. They got married in 1999 and have two children, Ethan, age four, and Rebekah, a busy two. The kids spend their days with mom, shopping for her business and cooking. Ryan works for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.

Laura

is the proprietor of a rather innovative business she opened in November in her new location, called “The Family Table”. It’s a frozen meal service that provides wholesome frozen family-sized dinners that serve from four to six people. She offers varied menus, delivery service, catering for private events, and has a web site where you can check out the menus.
“Life is a lot different here”, says Laura. “There’s not the harried and hurried lifestyle we were used to leading near Milwaukee. We can now take time to go outside and play on the swingset and our little snow machine with the kids. There was no snow in Wisconsin.” The Ganshows enjoy the outdoor life here. “I love exploring the lakes and beaches in the area. We are using the outdoors as our thing to do, rather than using ‘things’ to entertain us,” says Laura.

Laura’s favorite newly discovered local program is Tradio, and one of her favorite places to go is Cooper’s Landing.Ryan was more of a city person, but he’s learning to get used to the quiet in Kenai, according to his wife. `

Around Town: I got one of those goofy email quotes last week that made the comment, “Do you realize that in about forty years, we’ll have millions of old ladies running around with tattoos and pierced navels? Now that’s scary!” It is rather a sobering thought, at that.

Happy Birthday today to Peggie Ogburn and Charlie Smith. Jan. 31^st: James Ogburn, Lin Wheeler, Shirley Tax, Shaelee Dailey, and Jennifer Ellis.

The Carmen concert at the Kenai Central High Auditorium on Friday will be featuring over 50 local singers to add to the excitement of this performer’s music. Congratulations to all of those who were asked to be part of the performance.

e:morris

Elaine Self was born in 1932 and grew up in Watsonville, California. She met and married Robert Self who was a heavy equipment mechanic, logger and truck driver. They were no strangers to hard work as they raised four sons and two daughters in Northern California. Elaine gardened, canned, and provided for her family and was not afraid of tackling carpentry projects. “She could throw up a shed faster than any of her sons,” daughter-in-law Shelly Self told me.

Robert died in 1990, and six years later she followed her sons to Alaska and visited Ninilchik. “When I got here, I really liked it,” Elaine said. “We drove out to Fishhook Road and bought property, and then we went home and pulled up stakes so we could come back here to live.” A year later, she left Montgomery Creek, California and moved to Ninilchik.

Her sons, Dan and his wife Shelly; Ben and his wife Tammy; and Bob and his wife, Pam all live in Ninilchik. Daughter Kathy and her husband Richard Gaborault live in Anchor Point. Elaine commented that she is grateful to live close to so many family members. “They all help me out so much,” she said. Elaine’s daughter, Jeanette, and her husband, Duane Grannis, live in Reading, CA, and Elaine’s son, Allen, lives in the Fresno area.

Elaine’s passion has been painting ever since she was young. She said that she also enjoys photography and enjoys using her computer as part of her hobby. By observing many framed paintings of eagles and landscapes from around the Kenai Peninsula, I could see that she has been putting countless hours into her art. “I’m very busy doing what I love to do,” she said.

She told me how she turned her artistic ability into a home business called “Elaine’s Workshop.” Using her painted landscapes and photography, she makes customized gifts as she places her art and photos on mugs, coasters, puzzles, and computer mouse pads.

“People like to see local art or their own photos on the mugs they use for gifts,” she said.

While I was chatting with Elaine at the Christmas Bazaar last December, Danielle Nolan came by to purchase a mouse pad to use as a Christmas gift. Danielle overheard me comment on how young I thought Elaine appears for her age, and Danielle exclaimed with a laugh, “You gotta give it to her–I know her kids, and it’s amazing how young she looks!”

Around Town:
From January 10th to the 15th, Suzan Cobb took 4-H members Sarah Cobb and Misty Knox on a trip to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the 4-H Western Region Leaders Forum. Besides attending workshops themselves, Misty and Sarah conducted a workshop on the Brain-Buster’s program that Suzan Cobb has developed and is implementing as an after-school program for the children in our community.

      After school Nathan Gallagher works as an intern at the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce.
      “I’m the liaison for the TALENTS program (Training and Life-skill Education to Nurture Transition Students), coordinated through Independent Living Center and Department of Labor,” Nathan shared.
      His supervisors are Loretta Spalding from Department of Labor and Michelle Glaves at the chamber.
      “It’s a great program. I traveled to the local Chambers (of Commerce) and the Rotary clubs to speak, to get employers interested in hiring high-risk youth. When the baby boomers leave we’re going to need a lot of help,” Nathan continued.
      Looking to the future, local politicians beware. Nathan hopes to major in political science at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA.
      “I can see myself starting out in local government, but my aspirations are to someday reach Washington, D.C.,” he said.
      A senior at Soldotna High School, Nathan is influenced in part by his government teacher, Mr. Harbinson, who he described as being very passionate and enthusiastic.
      “Mr. Harbinson gives us (time) each day to examine the paper to see how it relates to government. He ties in the founding fathers’ message to current events,” Nathan said.
      “I can vote. (His 18th birthday was August 11th.) That’s the big thing. I participated in the gubernatorial elections. Voting is a big part of government class. At the beginning of the year Mr. Harbinson handed each of us a voter registration sheet,” he said.
      Nathan is the Student Representative on the school district’s Calendar Committee, participates in Model United Nations and Future Problem Solvers, is Student Government Activity Chair and is a member of the school’s Site Council.
      Nathan was born in Homer. The family moved to Soldotna when he was 12. His early years were influenced greatly by his grandparents, Joe and Patricia Lawlor, who lived next door in Homer.
      “Grandpa was in the Peace Corps and active in the ’70s. (My grandparents) always told me that we would have to initiate change. They are neat people and have the best values. Grandpa passed away a couple of years ago and that was very hard. My Grandma lives in Soldotna now. They were a great influence on me,” he said.
      Nathan’s dad, Joe, is Public Relations and Member Services Coordinator for Homer Electric Association. His mom, Sheila, works for Central Peninsula Counseling Services at K-Beach Elementary School.
      “She’s a very good mother, too. We’re not the best of kids, so she gets a lot of practice from us.  She is the best - loving, caring,” Nathan said.
      Nathan is big brother to Neil (15) and Genevieve (10).
      He sings bass in the Swing Choir. “I feel music is a big part of my life right now and I hope to keep it that way. My iPod is by far my favorite possession. It really helps me to unwind and clear my head,” he shared.

AROUND TOWN:
      Belated anniversary wishes go to David and Jane Stein January 23rd (53 years!), and Jim and Betty Harris January 29th (50+ years!).
      Happy Birthday to my hubby, Art Waters, February 3rd. (57 years!) Yes, he’s a week younger than I am - no, he doesn’t look it - yes, he knows that, too.

I spent a recent Sunday afternoon talking to Jason Murray, a current Nikiski resident who once lived clear across the United States. Jason was born and raised in Orlando, Fla.

He said he spent time as a young boy swimming in warm area lakes that were also frequented by various snakes and alligator. He did admit to me, starring out the window at the heaping piles of snow, that he does miss the humid southern heat.

“It is hard to believe I am here,” he said.

While there are pictures of him playing in snow as a young child, Jason said he had never really been around snow until he moved to Alaska.

“Now I have more than I can handle,” he said with a laugh.

After realizing his hometown had occupied too many people for his liking, Jason left in 1989 at the age of 19. He packed up and moved to Mississippi where he lived for about four years and worked as a roofer. He then received a phone call from his parent in Reno requesting that Jason help them move to Alaska, where his mother’s parents live. Jason drove to Reno, helped the couple pack and headed up the Alaska Highway in a four car caravan.

Once he was in the state, he found his grandmother had lined up a job for him at the former Wildwood Chevron.

“My plan was to come up and help my parents,” he said. “Then I fell in love with the place.”

While he was enjoying his new home, after one year his parents decided Alaska was too cold for them and they returned to Reno.

Jason stayed and soon met his future wife, Julie Trenton. After the couple had their first daughter, Sherrie, they decided to get married. On January 17, 2001, a large number of friends and family gathered inside the century-old Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Old Town Kenai to watch the two wed.

Another wonderful thing happened to Jason and Julie the next year when Sara was born.

Today, Jason spends his time taking care of the girls when Julie is at work at Tim’s Janitorial Service. Like most Sunday’s in Nikiski, very few cars passed by the window as Jason explained why he enjoyed the small town. With more residents occupying Orlando than probably the entire state of Alaska, Jason said the crowds are not something he misses.

“I fell in love with the elbow room,” he said with a wide smile. He also enjoys many Alaskan activities that Florida does not have, including snow machining and ice fishing in the winters as well as hunting and frequent beachcombing excursions during summer months.

He also enjoys reading horror novels in his free time, naming authors such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz and John Saul as his favorites.

Around town

Happy belated anniversary to Jason and Julie Murray.

Happy birthday wishes for this week go to Sherry Collinsworth on January 31, Dwight Wood on February 3 and Ed Hornstra on February 5.

Billy Duncan and his friend, Josh Detavenier, were rebuilding the front end of a ’94 Chevy pick-up when I stopped by. Someone had turned in front of him. The other driver got a ticket and Billy got a “totaled” truck. Insurance money helped buy a ’95 Chevy to replace his old truck, but Billy also bought the wreck back from the insurance company. Now he’s up to his elbows in a project. Luckily, his dad has a shop to work in.

Billy is a junior at Soldotna High School (SOHI). He just transferred over from Skyview High School because he wants to play football for SOHI next year. The transfer will make life easier for Billy’s parents (Heath and Diane) too, because his sister, Kaile, also attends SOHI. She is the only freshman there who is a varsity cheerleader for basketball. Billy’s brother, Jared, is a gifted athlete who goes to Soldotna Middle School.

Billy has lofty Kasilof roots. Heath is a drift fisherman as was his father, Bill. The older Duncan schooled at Anchorage with the class of ’51. He started coming to Kasilof to drift about 1955. First he used an old dory. Then he, his brother, Jack, and their dad built three drift boats in Anchorage. They used Louisiana bending oak for ribs and steamed it in a cooker. The wood became as pliable as a rag according to Pat McElroy, who helped on the project. The boats were then covered with fir, except one, which got cedar. The boat that now sets at the Sterling Highway near mile 116 may be one of these original Duncan-made crafts. Bill and Pat McElroy filed adjacent homesteads on Coal Creek in 1958. They were also partners on a Kasilof setnet operation. First Pat and a brother started setnetting. The next year Bill bought Pat’s brother out.

Boat building became a fine science for the Duncan clan and others at Kasilof. Jack had followed Bill to Kasilof and eventually their parents, Rolla and Thelma, came too. Bill had a bunch of friends, including, Grant Fritz, Pat McElroy, Brock See, and George Ryden. George and another Kasilof pioneer, John Berg, went to Seattle and had an architect named Monk draw up plans for a boat. Using these plans Ryden built a metal (not aluminum) boat. With some adjustments to those plans Bill built the Mustang. He used Fred Huebsch’s shop and his friends helped him. (After his wife, Alice, died, Fred sold the property to Ed Truijillo).

Bills friends helped with building the boat, but as Pat pointed out, “Bill did most of the work. He could get more done while I was getting ready to work or eating. He just had a knack for production.”

With the Mustang, Bill went back to drifting and made a career out of it. He fished the Mustang for quite a few years.

Heath works for Heat & Frost Insulation. He also fishes the Wasgo and in 2006, for the first time, Diane joined him on the boat for much of the season. She is the daughter of Doug Blossom who moved to the Peninsula in 1948. Diane has setnet every summer with her dad, but decided it was time to simplify life and cut the setnet strings. Doug fishes the site his dad, Floyd, pioneered north of Ninilchik. Heath’s cousin, Debbie, is the wife of former Borough mayor Dale Bagley.

Like her Blossom grandparents, Diane is a successful gardener and also raises pigs. She has worked winters at Salamander Exhaust Wraps in Kasilof, but recently took a job as a Special Education teacher at Tustumena School. Diane is famous for her hand made Rose Blossom soap, which she sells. (Her sister’s middle name is Rose). Recently, Diane has been too busy for the soaps, though. The family lives on Kenaitze Ave.

Billy has fished with his dad for six seasons and deck hands for halibut with Grandpa Blossom. He also likes to hunt and the family has enjoyed a couple moose to his credit.

            Nikiski is full of interesting residents, this week I am putting Casey A. McClure in the spotlight.

            While Casey’s family has lived in the area since the late 1960s, she has only lived in the area a total of ten years, originally coming from Washington. She was born in Soldotna and has moved away a few times, but she always came back to the area she loves.

            “Having family around changes things a lot and has been the result of much joy over the years,” she said.

            The twenty-year-old spends her days working at Mt. Spurr Cabinets, a family owned business, as a ‘cabineteer’ or cabinet maker. The business caters to both commercial and residential clients with varying jobs, so every day is different.

            “Its nice being able to work with the people I love and trust and who I can just be myself around,” she said.

            In her off time, Casey likes performing and can often be found at Veronica’s in Kenai or Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna.

            “I pretty much love anything music. I play guitar and sing, and I really like to write songs,” she said.

            She said music is her inspiration and encouragement.

            “I enjoy how music is such an easy link to the soul. It’s an outlet for me when I write and play, and it is also an input. I think that just listening to music, with lyrics or otherwise, touches everyone in some way or another,” she said.

            Casey graduated from Nikiski Middle-Senior High School in 2004 and decided to stay in Nikiski because most all her family lives within driving distance. She said she enjoys the back woods life-style of Alaska.

            “There is nothing like a ten minute run to the store turning into a half-hour chat with a couple friends you bump into,” she said.

            Casey would like to see one aspect of the community expand.

            “There are some really great places for families, elementary school kids, and even middle schoolers to hang out at, like the Nikiski Pool and Recreation Center, but nowhere really geared for young adults,” she said.

            She did find a group of Nikiski teens at Nikiski New Hope Church to hang out with  

            “I guess you might call me a youth leaders, but I am not into fancy names,” she added.

            Around town

            There will be a Valentine Dinner held at 6 p.m. February 10 at the Nikiski Senior Center. The menu is prime rib dinner with all the trimmings. Cost of tickets is $15 and the dinner is open to the public, yet only a total of 60 tickets will be sold. For more information, call the center at 776-7654.

            The Tree House Restaurant has moved across the Kenai Spur Highway from its former location.

            Happy birthday wishes for this week include Bonnie Veatch-Bates on January 23, Sue Coup, Mary Anne Cowgill and McKenna Leighton on January 24, Carissa Beckley and Scott Leighton on January 26, Bryce Leighton on January 29 and Pam Martinez on January 29. 

      When non-profit agencies look for volunteers, they seek enthusiastic, capable individuals. One such person is Helen Theriault.
      Helen grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, and then spent nearly four years in Florida where she and her (at that time) husband loved the warm weather.
She moved to Alaska in March 2001.
      “I was retired and my sister lived here at the time,” she said.
      The oldest of four siblings, Helen told me, “We scattered all over. My brother lives in Texas – you’ll never get him out of there. I have another sister who lives in Ohio.” Helen soon moved into her own place and her sister moved to Anchorage.
      I met Helen when she answered an ad to volunteer at The LeeShore Center in the Clothes Closet in December 2001. “Then I did the Salvation Army thing – helping put boxes together for ‘Sharing the Spirit’ that year. (At that time “Sharing the Spirit” was a cooperative effort between several non-profit agencies to make sure as many as possible were able to have a good Christmas) I met Jane Stein there and we got to talking . . .” Helen laughed as she remembered that discussion.
      “I wanted to do something closer to where I lived (in Soldotna) so I began volunteering (with Jane) at Bridges (Community Resource Network) January 5, 2002. I’ve been there ever since. That’s five years!” There was a note of disbelief in Helen’s voice as she shared this.
      “I did whatever had to be done in the (Bridges) office. I don’t know – whatever had to be done to help out. I stayed there every day full time until we moved to our current location. (Then) it worked out better for me to go in two to three times a week. Now I go after the mail – I used to help with the newsletter. (I just) be there to help Jane keep an eye on things,” she said.
      Helen grew a bit nostalgic talking about Bridges’ move to its current location from the structure located near Buckets. “I liked that old house (where Bridges was before),” she said.
      Helen has also volunteered for Kenai Interfaith Hospitality Network, Arctic Winter Games, Food Bank, Kenai Peninsula Run for Women, Friendship Mission, Interagency Council, and is a member of Red Cross. She is the membership coordinator on the Bridges Board of Directors.
      About Soldotna, Helen says, “I just like the little town – love the people – like the area – I’ve got everything I need. Came through Anchorage – have only been back up there once. Everything I need is here. (I’ve) been to Homer a coupla times – I pretty much stay around here.  Can’t think of anything I don’t like – in spite of the cold, I like it here. I never even thought about moving anywhere else.”

AROUND TOWN:
      Help me wish Helen a happy 69th birthday January 31st.
      What’s new with you?

Kasilof is home to mushers as well as dog obedience experts. One of the latter is Faith Hays who is the Director of Trials and Training for Peninsula Dog Obedience Group (PenDOG). They meet near Poppy Lane on Kalifornsky Beach Road. The 60 x 40 foot heated room where the dogs are trained is covered with tenderfoot horse matting. It provides a surface friendly to the feet of dogs and trainers and is also impermeable to potty accidents. Obedience class is $10/visit and agility class is $12.50/visit. Both classes operate on punch cards so participants don’t pay unless they actually attend.

Faith married David Hays in 1980 and they moved to Alaska two years later with the Army, with whom he was enlisted. They have a son named Paul, but their marriage split up in 1985. Paul graduated from Skyview High School and began playing in a band with Neal Darling, another Kasilof-grown musician. They two boys moved to Texas and are trying to make a living in the music world. Paul continues to play in a band but he also has a job working in the Texas State Capital Building. He is a gallery supervisor, which means he is in charge of controlling visitors in the gallery of the House chamber.

Faith has her own radio talk show on Fridays from 2-3 p.m. The show is aired on Kasilof’s only radio station, KWJG. Her right–hand gal, Jeannie Fanning, helps her with these dog shows. The two women answer questions and offer advice, light humor and education. They are eager to hear animal stories, to learn any news in Dogdom or to share from their own wealth of knowledge. Call her show at 260-7702 and talk on the air. Faith usually includes a pitch for spaying and neutering. Like the dog classes, Faith provides the radio show on a volunteer basis.

Which leaves her needing to earn a living. She does that working as a Certified Nurses Assistant at Central Peninsula Hospital. Faith worked in home health care for a number of years but got certified about 2001 when Kenai Peninsula College offered nursing classes at Soldotna High School. She works the night shift partly because that frees her for the daytime classes and radio show. Of course sleep management is one of the challenges on this schedule.

Faith’s reputation is spreading. A company called Animal Behavior College (ABC) heard about Faith and checked her out. After deciding she was qualified, ABC asked Faith to mentor a person in animal training. A woman connected with them comes weekly from Homer for this mentorship. When the Homer lady completes her training she will have a degree with ABC and can then teach classes under their authority.

Faith uses “operant conditioning” to train dogs. This system uses a hand held gadget that makes a sharp clicking noise. The dogs are conditioned (like the famous Pavlov’s dogs) to know the noise means a reward. This is the same method experts use to train marine mammals such as dolphins and orcas. Keeping current with her dog training techniques requires a trip to the states once a year. Faith leaves soon for this year’s Clicker Expo. This will be the fourth such seminar she has attended. Each year the seminar is held in a different part of the country and is something Faith really enjoys.

Last year she maximized the benefits of her trip. After the seminar she went to Vancouver, WA for hip replacement surgery. A friend went with her for support and encouragement. I asked her how the new hip felt?

“I just love it!” Faith said.

Once a year PenDOG makes a presentation to the Boys and Girls Club. Teaching children to be safe around dogs is part of their emphasis. Faith has lived on Tri Road in Cohoe since 1991.

Around Town

Kasilof actually has a number of people who volunteer at animal shelters. Please give me a call of the ones you know about. Let’s honor them by compiling a list and displaying their name in this column.

Perry and Sheryl Neel of Kasilof have recently created a non-profit corporation named Happy Families dedicated to promoting healthy marriages and families. They currently do not have an office location but can be reached for questions or assistance at 262-5663.
Local residents are invited to a Love and Respect marriage enrichment program. Happy Families is currently using Peninsula Grace Brethren Church on Kalifornsky Beach Road to facilitate their programs. Classes begin Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. and will be held every Sunday for eight weeks. They will feature a DVD presentation on big-screen and discussion time immediately following. Free child-care is provided.

Several people have called in the past to ask me to put a friend in the paper. I have a backlog of zero so give me a call and we’ll put your prince or princess in print.

Ken and Norma Daniel of Fort Wayne, Indiana came to Ninilchik in August to be caretakers for Aurora Communications over the winter. The Christian radio station is not up and running yet, but someone was needed to keep an eye on the 152 acre property and Ken and Norma said they jumped at the opportunity to spend their fall and winter here.

Ken was born in Flint, Mich., and when he was in 8th grade his family relocated to San Jose, California. Norma was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and when she was 16, met Ken when he was on trip back to Michigan. They corresponded for awhile, and a year later he enlisted in the Navy and went off to the Philippines. Ken wanted to get serious, but she told him that she was too young and that they should just remain friends. Norma furthered her education to become an elementary teacher, and in 1964, married Elmer Rupp. They had two sons, Nathan and Bradley. In 1984, after being married for nearly 20 years, Elmer died and Norma went back to teaching. Meanwhile, Ken had never married and six years after Norma was widowed, a mutual friend suggested that Ken give Norma a call. In 1990, they were married.

“After 30 years from the first time we met, it was such a gift from God.” Norma exclaimed.

After Ken retired from working for IBM as senior maintenance technician, he and Norma moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where they currently have a home. Bradley and his wife Amy have two children and one on the way, and also live in Fort Wayne. Nathan is engaged to Jenna Clark and will be receiving his MBA in the spring from Cornell University in Ithica, New York.

Norma told me that they were excited to have their long-time friends Phil and Carol Shank from Indiana come for a visit in November. The couple brought their adult son, Daniel, who is paralyzed from his waist down from spinal bifida. Being confined to a wheel chair didn’t stop him from enjoying his visit to Alaska, however. He enjoyed the nature trail at the Kenai Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, enjoyed drives from Ninilchik to the Homer Spit and traveled the North Fork Road specifically to spot a moose. But they saw no moose. Norma said she prayed, “Lord, you know with Dan’s disabilities it would be so nice for him to see a moose before he leaves Alaska.” On Thanksgiving Day, they decided to go on a drive while their turkey cooked. While preparing to leave, they saw something move outside the window. “I had never seen a moose in our back yard before,” Norma exclaimed. “And there they were, a cow and two calves standing in full view!”

Around Town: Christy Drake and Debbie Cary share birthdays on Wednesday. (Jan 24)