Alaska

Alaska Vol. 1, No. 9 october 2008 Free Pioneer Press Proudly Serving the MatanuSka-SuSitna and denali BoroughS Snowbound Playground sports InsIDe: Page 6 SvHS croSS country Local athletes placed well in state meet. Fetal alcoHol SyndroMe For parents and parents to be, information is power. Wild Woods Park in Talkeetna looked like a winter wonderland with its first coating of snow. It gathered more snow the second week of October. Volunteer landscaping crews completed their work just in time. PHOTO BY JOHN R. MOSES sIgns to Look For: Community Enrichment Classes Revived By John R. Moses ALASKA PIONEER PRESS TALKEETNA — Community Enrichment Programs will begin in Talkeetna and Trapper Creek in a matter of weeks, thanks to a grant from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough administered by the school district. A Borough official said programs have already begun in Willow. There will be no such workshops or other activities at most Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District campuses this fall. The non-profit Valley Healthy Communities Program board, charged with organizing an ambitious new program in schools throughout the Borough’s central core, lost its only staffer and has yet to get together for planning sessions. Talkeetna Elementary School and Trapper Creek Elementary School will be the sites for the newest classes and activities. Borough Community Development Director Linda Brenner said a district assistant superintendent picked up paperwork early this month to get the ball rolling. An agreement worked out last spring between the Borough and the schools made the process of getting the funds flowing between the two public entities much easier than during the last school year, she said. robIn song: Page 8 Talkeetna’s grant, which was not finalized at press time, was to be $12,000. Trapper Creek was to see a $6,000 grant. Willow’s program got in the neighborhood of $5,000. “It should begin in a couple of weeks,” said Talkeetna Elementary School and Trapper Creek Elementary School Principal Jodi Picou. Amy Jurasek will lead Trapper Creek’s program, which will feature a preschool program Mondays and Wednesdays and an after school sports program. Fridays after school will be an open gym day with a movie. See PROGRAMS, Page 5 Swan Magic The tundra swan migration is a breathtaking sight. Jonathan Durr: Page 4 Classifieds Page 7 Letters Page 3 Entertainment Guide Page 7 InDex: Survival SkillS Knowing about the basics of woodsmanship is a matter of life and death. Page 5 By John R. Moses ALASKA PIONEER PRESS October Ground Breaking Set for School was July 16th, and another meeting is planned soon. We still plan to complete construction in 2009, barring more challenges,” Duffy said. Public Works Director Keith Rountree is upbeat about making project deadlines and opening the facility in time for the class of 2010 to attend the new campus, and thinks an agreement can be made soon with school district insurers. The Borough takes the project management role for the Borough’s school board in construction of new and replacement facilities. It wants the insurance firm that covered the old high school to pay the cost of full replacement. That includes building code updates and other things needed to build a 21st century school. That firm wants to pay the cost of replacing only what existed. The firm and the Borough are millions of dollars apart. Borough managers recently had a meeting “in anticipation of another meeting with the insurance company this month. We are all hoping that it is a final meeting, too,” Rountree said. “We are also working with our manager and finance director to award two safety-related additive alternates to construct an alternate access road with sidewalk,” Rountree said. “We are trying to get the road roughed in now, as it will help ease some of the congestion on-site with heavy equipment as well as make it safer for trucks entering and exiting the site during construction.” Crews are rushing to get the concrete poured before freeze-up. PHOTO COURTESY BOROUGH DPW SUNSHINE – Snow was on the ground by the first full week of October, but work is still going strong at the site of the new Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High School. A public groundbreaking ceremony is set for Friday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. “Construction continues to progress well with the excavation, backfilling of the building, underground earthwork and construction of the concrete footings and exterior walls, though the rainy weather has hampered the progress somewhat,” Borough Manager John Duffy reported. “Insurance claim negotiations are ongoing. The most recent negotiation meeting with the insurance firm Page 2 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS October 2008 News By John R. Moses ALASKA PIONEER PRESS Politics Gets Local When Candidate Comes to Town TALKEETNA – All politics may be local, as the old saying goes, but one candidate for U.S. Congress made Talkeetna a stop Sept. 24 for an informal “meet & greet” at Tanner’s Coffee Cabin. Ethan Berkowitz, a Democrat challenging longtime Republican incumbent Don Young, swept down the George Parks Highway from Fairbanks after a stop in Healy the day before and a night spent in a dry cabin. Berkowitz spoke with a few residents about national and statewide issues and was interviewed by Sue Deyoe of KTNA public radio. This month, Berkowitz and Young faced-off in a debate. Young campaign spokesperson Michael Anderson could not be reached for comment about future Mat-Su area events. mer vice president Al Gore. Begich, on Oct. 11, met in Palmer with student government representatives, including a contingent from Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High School led by teacher Patti Bills. Election Day is Nov. 4. Democratic U.S. Congressional candidate Ethan Berkowitz (LEFT) was interviewed by Sue Deyoe (RIGHT) of KTNA Radio inside Tanner’s Coffee Cabin on Sept. 24. Residents Shelly DeNike and Greg Campbell also spoke with Berkowitz. In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Ted Stevens remained at press time on trial in Washington, D.C. for alleged failure to report gifts from former VECO oil services company boss and longtime ally Bill Allen. This has left Stevens’ opponent, Senate Race Continues Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, to cover the state with appearances while the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee paid $700,000 for attack ads. Part of one ad included Stevens’ FBI-taped phone conversation with Allen about possibly going to jail. A Stevens radio ad linked Begich to for- PHOTO BY JOHN R. MOSES • Proposition One – Repeal of the Borough’s power plant regulation ordinance – FAIL • Proposition Two - Transportation/ road bonds in the Palmer-Wasilla area – PASS (This measure failed in upper valley precincts.) • Proposition Three - School safety bonds and campus improvements – PASS •Proposition 7 - Caswell Lake Fire Service Area – PASS • Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Board - Ole Larson beat incumbent Pat Purcell; Brian Sullivan and Myrl Thompson ran unopposed. Borough Election Results SOAR... EIGHTS NEW H TO WithTRANSNORTHERNservice in eight, nine AVIATION TransNorthern Aviation offers charter air and nineteen passenger aircraft. 733-3300 tinson Holly S ER BROK Old-Fashioned Service John C onno Realtor lly ® We specialize in helping buyers and sellers of homes, cabins, land and commercial properties on or off the road system in the area north of Willow-Caswell, Montana Creek, Sunshine, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Petersville, and properties along the Alaska Railroad. We are members of the Alaska Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and can help you with any property on the market (whether it is listed with us or another company). oleman Stop by our office in the blue cabin at Mile 11.5 Talkeetna Spur Rd. Patti C or® — after business hours there’s still info available (also at Moore’s Realt Hardware, Mile 0.3, Talkeeetna Spur Rd.) Passenger, Freight & Combination Charters TRANSNORTHERN AVIATION Aircraft Charters “Can Do!”is our bottom line. www.transnorthern.com 3752 Aircraft Drive, Anchorage (adjacent to Anchorage International Airport) 907-245-1879 October 2008 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS Page 3 Airstrip and Subdivision Draw Crowd in Talkeetna By John R. Moses ALASKA PIONEER PRESS Birch Creek Landing Plans Under Platting Officer Review TALKEETNA – Something unusual happened at the Talkeetna Community Council, Inc.’s October meeting -- a heated discussion that raged for an hour and a half over construction of an airstrip this summer and creation of an adjoining subdivision off Birch Creek Boulevard. About 30 people came to the Talkeetna Public Library that night to discuss a subdivision of land sought from the Borough by two local men developing a fly-in community. Their plans were withdrawn last year due to public opposition. Business partners Tim Costello and Drew Haag of Creative Investments, LLC built the airstrip after dropping plans for their Birch Creek Landing subdivision, and now want to create a less formal kind of subdivision called a “waiver” subdivision. Instead of creating 19 lots all at once, they hope to use a Borough option that allows them to create three separate lots no larger and 5 acres each. Those lots could be further subdivided into those original 19 lots. “No comment,” said Costello when asked about future plans for the subdivision. Haag could not be reached for comment. The Community Council serves as an advisory body to the Borough, and is asked to weigh in on proposals within its jurisdiction going before Borough boards. A small portion of the agenda, noting a request for a waiver subdivision of the site of the Birch Creek Landings subdivision, became most of the meeting. Council Chair Loudon Wilson said the debate was heated at times. The council unanimously voted to TRAPPER CREEK — Jill Choate will teach two of her basket designs at the 27th Annual Convention of the Association of Michigan Basketmakers in Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 22-26. The designs are titled, “African Tower” and “Antler Porkypod.” Choate started weaving baskets while living in Montana, and has since published articles in many special interest magazines here and across the nation. Her craft was also showcased in a book, “Baskets: A book for Makers and Collectors,” by Billie Choate Designs Picked for Mich. Convention Ruth Sudduth. The award-winning weaver has taught on nationwide tours and was chosen to be one of 95 designs taught at the Michigan convention from a pool of 295 designs. send a letter to the Borough stating that the crowd was split and there was no clear community consensus about the project. Partisans from both sides clashed Oct. 6 over the development this summer of an airstrip on the land, and the developers’ use of the waiver subdivision process to accomplish their goals in stages. Some fear the development would create more noise in what is now a quiet area. Among them was Ruth Wood. She said neighbors to the west of the property did not oppose the development, but said the impacts would be the largest for people on the north and south end and to the east. “I own the property on the south end of the airstrip,” Wood said. Outgoing Council member Rob Holt said some neighbors of the development were enthusiastic about the work that has been done and do not oppose the waiver subdivision request. The airstrip has already made life easier for them by creating easier access and bringing power lines closer. “Better roads and electricity is what it meant,” said Holt. Holt said the waiver process is perfectly legal and feels the council vote to send a letter of “no consensus” went in the developers’ favor. He also thinks that those who opposed the 19lot development and the waiver request have little to worry about given the state of the economy; his forecast is for slow lot sales and small planes as occasional users. Whatever the Borough platting officer rules about the waiver subdivision request, it could face a lengthy appeals process if opponents take the matter to the Platting Board and to the Board of Adjustments. The airstrip itself is a done deal. The strip is officially logged with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as of June 5, 2008, as an operational airport that sits at an altitude of about 400 feet above sea level. It is listed as being located six miles away from Talkeetna, and has the FAA identifier number of 51AK. Its dimensions are listed as 2,680 by 50 feet, with a turf surface. Costello is listed as the manager of the private strip, which is See SUBDIVISION, Page 4 BEAUTIFY AND PROTECT YOUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT. GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ove dN se m 5 ber —1 4 The Mailsack Dear Editor, This is written to express the Talkeetna Historical Society’s concern about the deterioration and neglect of the Weatherell-TaraskiRust building (the picture of which appears on page 13 of the September issue of the Pioneer Press). This structure (listed as one of the 10 most endangered buildings in Alaska by the AKASSOC for historic preservation) is essential to our listing on the National Registry of Historic Places, and to the preservation of our past. We seek everyone’s advice and ideas on how to maintain and preserve the Weatherell Cabin before it, too, becomes just a memory. Sincerely, Michael Kelly, Director Talkeetna Historical Museum Talkeetna Clo HERITAGE HOME CONSTRUCTION, INC. • INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PAINTING • NEW CONSTRUCTION • EXTERIOR RECONDITIONING: LOG HOMES/NATURAL WOOD • HIGH-QUALITY WORK FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED & BONDED LOCAL REFERENCES SERVING THE UPPER MAT-SU VALLEY 733-4803 354-7390 (Cell) r10harmsel@gmail.com Open Noon —8 p.m. Closed Tues. & Wed. 733-Book (2665) Talkeetna Ron Ten Harmsel Page 4 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS October 2008 Magic of Swans Bird In the cabin, hard at work on a painting one late September afternoon, I heard my name being yelled excitedly from outside. Jerking open the door to see what was going on, I found the caller standing, pointing up to the sky. I stepped to the edge of the porch, looked up, and stood stunned as the leading edges of three “V”s of swans came into view above the edge of the forest northwest of the cabin. For a full second or two I stood awestruck, then the word “camera!” flashed across my brain. I dashed inside, grabbed my trusty Olympus and sprang back to the top of the porch stairs. There were easily four hundred great white birds winging overhead. Their plaintive calls identified them as tundra swans. They were magnificent, etched against the clear blue sky, lit up by an early afternoon sun. My hands trembled with excitement, so the two videos I made came out a bit jiggly. I couldn’t fit all the birds into one frame without zooming out, in which case they all would have been tiny dots. Instead, I focused on sections and managed to get a couple of decent photos. The swans were heading southeast, and all too soon they were disappearing over the treeline in the distance, leaving us humans standing motionless, still marveling at Nature’s migration spectacle. Alaska is the breeding ground for three species of swans; trumpeter, whooping, and tundra. Whoopers and tundras each have a wingspan of six to seven feet. The trumpeter’s is six to eight feet. The whoopers have an extensive bright yellow saddle covering 1/2 or more of the upper bill. Tundras sport a bright yellow spot on the black bill just in front of each eye. Trumpeters have a red stripe where the upper and lower bills meet. Most distinct is the call of each species. The trumpeters, aptly named, issue a low-pitched trumpet-like “ko hoh.” The whooper, also aptly named, emits a low-pitched “whoop whoop,” usually in flight. The tundra has a high-pitched, often quavering, clear, singing “oo-oo-oo,” accentuated in the middle. The tundra swan is named for its nesting habitat. Usually they build their nest mounds on dry upland sites, sometimes many yards from water. Occasionally they will build nests on small islands. During migration they will rest in wetlands, on lakes,rivers, and salt water. Sight — By Robin Song Alaska Pioneer Press Editor & Publisher: John R. Moses editor@akpioneerpress.com Business Manager: Gale A. Moses ads@akpioneerpress.com Correspondents and Columnists: Jonathan Durr, Robin Song, Bill Rodwell, Gale A. Moses VFW corNer When young swans mature, after their first few years, they choose a mate. The pair mate for life and also choose a nesting territory to which they will return each year. They will vigorously defend their large territories while raising three to five cygnets. They incubate for one month, then spend the rest of the summer raising seven-ounce cygnets into fourteen-pound adolescents, ready for the long migration Outside. While the exact lifespan will vary, one banded tundra swan was recorded at 21 years old. Swans have captured our imagination down through human history. They have been immortalized in myths and legends. They are essential symbols in rituals from India, Greece and England, and to the far North. Swans are transformed into men and women in legends, pulls chariots of the gods, and are helpers to seekers of peace and wisdom. Tracing back to the Stone Age, swans are connected with life, death, and the soul in European and Native American cultures. Siberian tribes believed the swan was the mother of man, the eagle the father. Swans embodied human souls, and to kill one was to die. The ballet “Swan Lake” was based on this legend, debuting in Moscow in 1877. Swans symbolized the mystic journey to the Other World, in ancient Greece. Plato and Socrates both believed swans sang just before they died, hence the phrase “swan song”. Pythagoras believed that all good poets passed into swans at death- a ‘reward’ for well-sung words. Shakespeare was given the title “Swan of Avon” when the great bard died. A great white trumpeter swan sits at each of the four directional points, in Navajo legend and conjures up the winds with the beating of huge white wings. (Indeed- the 40-pound adult trumpeter swans have wings powerful enough to break a man’s leg.) Maybe it was deeply-embedded instinct which caused me to stand and gaze in silent awe at the sight of these birds in flight. I have never seen that many swans flying together before, nor have I seen that many tundra swans. Perhaps it will prove The tundra swan migration is a sight to behold. PHOTO BY ROBIN SONG to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. And what a perfect one it was; a rare sunny day with few clouds, trees in their waning autumn glory, and sun-kissed white feathers lit up against a deep blue sky. Their calls haunt my psyche, and my heart longs to fly with them. Maybe my soul will pass into a swan when I leave this earthly plane, if I prove worthy of such an honor. SubdiviSion From Page 3 equipped with a wind indicator. Outgoing Council member Wendy Battino, who missed the Oct. 6 meeting due to a late flight, said the issue wasn’t on her radar screen as something that would attract a lot of debate that night. She has visited the area and saw road construction this summer to the property. She noted that prior to the waiver subdivision request the developers had seemed willing to work with the community. “They just went ahead with it, which was a shame,” Battino said. The contentious meeting happened a day before Billy FitzGerald, Doug Gaulteri and Sharon Montanigno were elected to the Community Council along with re-elected incumbent Jok Bondurant. Contender Larry Dearman won 50 percent of the votes, but that wasn’t enough to capture a seat. Write-in votes were for Aaron Benjamin, Geri Denkewalter, Arthur Mannix, Pete McCullough, Kathy Trump and Nancy Trump. Benjamin, along with Holt and Battino, did not run for re-election. The Susitna Council, formerly the “Y Council,” elects its officers next month. VFW & House Committee Meets The Alaska Pioneer Press is a general interest newspaper circulated in the Upper Susitna Valley and the Denali area and at select businesses in Palmer, Wasilla, the Denali National Park area and Anchorage. Send us your event announcements, birth announcements and story ideas, by e-mail to editor@akpioneerpress.com or by mail to P.O. Box 353, Talkeetna, 99676. Our phone/FAX number is 733-6397 (NEWS). The Myron F. “ACE” Ebling VFW Post 3836 VFW & House Committee Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Post Home in Talkeetna, on Veterans Way & D Street. Call 733-3836. Bingo Night Oct. 17 at Post 3686 The Myron F. “ACE” Ebling VFW Post 3836 hosts Bingo Night on Oct. 17. Doors open at 7 p.m. and bingo starts at 8 p.m. There will be a door prize and lots of other great prizes as well. Bingo is held on the First and Third Fridays at Post 3836 in Talkeetna on Veterans Way & D Street akpioneerpress.com October 2008 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS Page 5 Tales From the Trail By Jonathan Durr To Build, or Try to Build, a Fire The inspiration for this story came from a recent misadventure of my nephew, Christopher Birdsall, his friend Andy Lee and another sidekick. They went to the Indian River on a camping/fishing trip in bad weather. During an excursion, Chris and their friend fell in the river. Upon returning to camp they discovered that a bear had destroyed their camp. All but one single size tent and one sleeping bag were shredded. Andy, who is a first-rate woodsman, tried valiantly to get a fire started but everything was simply too wet. The result was a miserable night of shivering and fighting off hypothermia. Years ago my brother and I kayaked down the Indian into the Susitna River then to Talkeetna. Where the Indian meets the Susitna, at that time, there was a log jam which caused the Indian to hook a hard right turn of 90 degrees just before we entered the Su. We hit it and fought to keep from being sucked under the log jam, then we were upside down. I surfaced in the fast current, urgently grabbing gear. Fortunately, I grabbed the paddles while Steve secured the kayak. Wet and cold, we nonetheless began the long journey downriver. It wasn’t long, however, that we were both shivering. We pulled onto an island and started a fire. Steve and I have been schooled since we were kids to have plenty of waterproof matches with us. Believe me, this is one time it really paid off. Everything was damp. I found a piece of dried wood and with my knife carved away the damp surface then started whittling dry shavings. Steve had found some dry tinder protected by a log and soon we had a roaring fire going. We dried out, made tea, and then we were on our way. In 1992 Carl Besece and I were deep in the swamps draining Freeman Lake. These were the days when we were trapping the old fashioned way—dogs and snowshoes. The weather was about the ProgramS From Page 1 Requests for suggested class topics were posted on Talkeetna-area bulletin boards weeks before the announcement. Kathleen Fleming, one of two program coordinators hired at Talkeetna Elementary last year, said on Oct. 10 that no firm planning had started yet. Picou confirmed that Fleming was tapped to run the programs, as she has in recent years. While the ball is rolling in the Upper Valley, it isn’t even on the court south of Willow. Mat-Su Community Health Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley said she does not speak for the Healthy Communities Program, but knows “right now that program is on hold.” “It’s not a done deal,” Ripley said. The two foundations share some board members, but Ripley could not provide a contact. The new foundation used to have an office at the new ATT Sports Center on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, but that office is no longer staffed, she said. The Mat-Su Community Health Foundation assisted in the new foundation’s organization process, helping the Healthy Communities Program by holding its funds while the new foundation achieved nonprofit status. Earlier this year a feasibility study was presented to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District indicating that a robust program would be in place by the start of this school year. Ripley noted that the goals of the new foundation are ambitious and costly, possibly more costly than the amount of cash the foundation has on hand to run the program. worst possible; it had been dumping wet snow and rain for days—icicles hung from the tree branches. Finally soaked and miles from home, we called a halt and proceeded to build a fire. No go. It was the only time in my life I couldn’t start a fire. Believe me, it was a long wet journey to Back Lake. Fortunately, my dad had figured we were having a tough time. He himself had spent many tough days on the trail. He had fired up the sauna which was hot and ready when we got home. This experience modified my survival kit as I realized that sometimes lighters and matches are not enough. I always carry some form of tinder. I prefer the packs of tinder sticks which can be found at gun shops and Army surplus stores. A variation of this can be found at Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart, etc. Another trick is to take some regular cotton balls and saturate them in Vaseline. These compact very well and I carry them in a film canister. These are good for starting fires in less than ideal conditions. Yet another trick to starting a fire in wet conditions is, if you are on a snowmachine or an ATV, simply dunk a few pieces of dry spruce boughs in your gas tank. This works well in emergencies when you must have a fire. Several winters ago the late Ron Nelson and I were in the middle of nowhere when Ron went through the ice, getting his feet wet. It was cold enough that we knew we needed a fire. The weather was dry and we were in the middle of a dead black spruce swamp. I found some dry grass, busted up some dry spruce limbs and presto—instant fire. Ron dug in his survival bag and found that his good wife Kim had snuck a pair of dry socks into his kit. Half an hour later, we were dry and on our way. This is how it should be done. I’ve lamented before on how I’ve seen a decline in basic woods skills St. Bernard’s Church Hosts Holiday Bazaar over the years. I’ve been out with a number of people who thought technology was all they needed to keep or get them out of trouble in the bush. When I was a boy, my dad, my brother, our friend Kelly Ernst along with great Alaskan bushmen of a bygone era like our friends Gene Pope and Dick Rusk of Western Alaska would take off on three day hunting/ trapping trips with little more than some Hudson Bay blankets, jerky, tea and sugar and an old No. 10 can with a bailing wire handle to serve as a tea pot. Now I see Panzer divisions heading up the Chase trail loaded with enough weapons to start a war, claymores, satellite communication devices, parachutes, hand grenades, the latest GPS devices, chain saws, etc. But I wonder how many of them can really start a fire or improvise an emergency shelter. It’s not only me who’s been alarmed by the loss of bygone skills. Several major outdoor publications have published excellent articles in recent years wondering where our woodsmanship has gone — at what point had it stopped being passed from generation to generation. TALKEETNA — Booths are available for $30 at the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Holiday Bazaar, which takes place Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church. There will be local crafts, beads, pottery and more unique creations. Lunch and baked goods will be for sale at the nearby Swiss Alaska Inn. Call Anita Pickielnok at 733-2884 for more information. WILLOW — Octoberfest is Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. in the Willow Communtiy Center. Admission is $10. Only 200 raffle tickets will be sold for the 7 p.m. drawing, which features $5,000 in monetary prizes. Willow Community Octoberfest Page 6 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS October 2008 SportS rouNdup Honors For Su Valley Su Valley High’s athletes excelled in the ASAA State 123A Championship on Oct. 4 in Palmer. Freshman Bailey Stevenson finished fifth overall in her event. Cross Country competitors from Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Heritage Christian, Kenny Lake, Anchorage Christian, Grace Christian and Valdez were at the event. In the Men’s 5,000 Meters 123A these runners posted the following times: 66 Tyler Figley 19:33 Jr 74 Bill Kelly 19:42 Jr 86 Skyler Hamler 20:08 Jr 95 Brandon Parry 21:27 Jr LEFT: Tyler Figley. ABOVE: Missy 96 Mike Stevenson 21:43 So Scott. Look for more Cross Country photos 99 Lee Bloczynski 25:34 Jr online at www.akpioneerpress.com. In the Women’s 5,000 Meters, PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRUCE HAMLER two Su Valley athletes posted the following times: 5 Bailey Stevenson 20:28 Fr 35 Missy Scott 22:28 Jr Houston Hawks End 2008 Football Season in Barrow Barrow’s gridders beat the Houston Hawks by 46-18 on Oct. 4 during a 1 p.m. game on Barrow’s relatively new field. The game was covered by national news media and even made ABC’s Nightline news magazine. That game sent Barrow to an unhappy matchup with Kodiak’s Bears on Oct. 10. Kodiak won 19-13 in Anchorage and will face the Soldotna Stars, which dispatched Eielson in an 69-33 drubbing. Final playoff games in the ASAA/First National Bank State Football Championships and award ceremonies take place at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 in the Anchorage Football Stadium. Commentary: Good Times for Local ‘Bikies’ By Mike Fisher SPECIAL TO THE PIONEER PRESS It was just after the turn of the 21st Century. Talkeetna had a great bike shop with a Specialized Cycles dealership. The Alaskan economy was rocking. Permanent Fund dividend checks were out. The bike shop had a brand new “double squishy” (front and rear suspension) high end Specialized Rockhopper bike on display. Few of us had ever seen such an amazing machine. It featured gnarly tires, a computer-designed 5 link rear shock system, and 27 speeds. This baby could summit Denali! My young friend was in love. Dividend check in hand, he made the biggest buy of his life. It served him well, seeing him through most of his high school years and saving his mom lots of gas money. But in so doing, it was damaged beyond practical repair. This was a sophisticated, highly evolved bicycle, requiring frequent adjustments, parts replacement, lubrication, and tender, loving care. High school students participating in sports, academics, music, part time jobs, and the social scene don’t have much time for wrenching on their bikes. The once proud Rockhopper became a cadaver and was consigned to Mike’s iron pile. Its frame, seat post, and crankset were broken. Its tires, brakes, chain, pedals and cogs were completely worn out or missing. Its wheels were loose and wobbly. Dead on arrival was the sad verdict. It stayed that way for quite awhile. Then Mike got an aluminum welder and started practicing this difficult art. His friends, Rob and Harold, provided advice and guidance. The early results were pathetic, but gradually improved. Then one day, Mike took the bike frame in and started welding it back together. The results were encouraging. H’mmmm, it sure would be fun to ride this great bike again! Many hours of work and hundreds of dollars in parts later, it is back on the road, but still needs more upgrades before tackling Talkeetna’s renowned X-Y Lakes singletrack trail. The old Rockhopper tracks straight and true. It rides over river gravel bar boulders as though they were pebbles. It is, once again, a good ride. Sometimes it is good to take on projects that make little economic sense just to remind ourselves that the almighty dollar should play only a minor role in our lives. If everything hinged on money with high wages and no volunteerism, we would not have the pleasures of Denali Drama, the new Wildwood Park for children, drag racing at Alaska Raceway Park, the Sunshine Food Bank, our system of non-motorized wilderness trails, the Free Box program, and FaSd From Page 8 tivities for thrills, • Poorly-developed conscience, • Excelled or slow speech and language development, •Inappropriate social interactions, •Hallucinations, •Poor concept of time, •Over exaggeration of things, • Unrealistic life goals or self-image, • Easily influenced or manipulated by others (or vice-versa), • Sensory integration problems, • Substance abuse and sexual curiosity at a very early age. Anyone who thinks that their child may be affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol can have them confidentially tested in a non-judgmental environment by contacting Theresa Sprague at 352-1200. the Oosik Classic Ski Race. Many other cultural and sports pursuits would go away without supporters who work with little or no compensation. Be kind to volunteers. I think Talkeetna is wide open for a combined bicycle, ski, and sporting goods shop. One would hope that a local family with a bright, mechanically talented kid could budget $2,800 for tuition at one of the nation’s two bike technician schools. Females seem to be particularly adept at bike technology, perhaps because of their small, skilled hands and quick minds. One of the top biketechs at Slickrock, Utah is a woman. She charges $60 per hour. and folks are happy to pay it. A good Talkeetna location would be anywhere along our world class 14.3 mile non-motorized trail. It’s worth looking into. “Refrain from throwing your bicycle in public. It shows poor upbringing.” — Mountain-biking pioneer Jacquie Phelan Attention Talkeetna area students: Are you in the 6th to 12th grade? Do you go to Talkeetna Elementary, Trapper Creek Elementary or Su Valley Jr./Sr. High? Are you home-schooled? You may be eligible to apply for a VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) college scholarship worth up to $30,000. Students in 6th-, 7th- or 8th- VFW Essay Scholarship Competition grade can enter the “patriot’s pen” written essay contest and win a savings bond from $200.00 at the local level to $10,000.00 at the national level. This year’s theme is “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored.” Students in the 9th- through 12th-grade level can enter the “Voice of Democracy” audio essay contest and win from $2,000 at the local level to $30,000 at the national level including an all expense paid, 4-day trip to Washington, D.C. This year’s theme is “Service and Sacrifice by America’s Veterans Benefit Today’s Youth by ...” Students may contact their local school or the Talkeetna VFW Post #3836 at 733-3836, or Carol at 7332572, for further details. Other area students can contact their local VFW post. October 2008 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS Page 7 claSSiFied categorieS: 01 Help Wanted 02 Job Wanted 03 Items For Sale 04 Homes for Rent 05 Rental Wanted Classifieds 06 Real Estate/Homes for Sale 07 Lost and Found 08 Lost Pet 09 Free to Good Home 10 Misc. busIness & servIces DIrectory For Sale or Rent • 6637 W. Parks Highway Classified ads cost $15 for 20 words or less. Free To Good Home and Lost and Found ads are free. Call 733 NEWS or e-mail copy to ads@ akpioneerpress.com. Payment to P.O. Box 1024, Talkeetna, AK 99676 Land & Cabins 01 Help Wanted ADVERTISING SALES — The Alaska Pioneer Press needs a reliable, friendly and motivated person to service existing accounts and find new accounts in the Palmer/Wasilla/Houston area. Call John at 733-6397. Tanner’s Trading Post GROCERY ~ LAUNDRY ~ SHOWERS ~ ATM ~ ESPRESSO DELI SANDWICHES ~ SMOOTHIES ~ PASTRIES ~ SOUP ICE CREAM 03 Items For Sale BRASS BED HEADBOARD/FOOTER - King Size. Call 733-8500. STUDDED TIRES-USED - Four BF Goodrich Trailmaker Plus P185/75 R14 May need restudding. $20 each. 733-8500. MAIN STREET TALKEETNA, ALASKA (907) 733-2621 LOCAL ART BY LOCAL ARTISTS UPSTAIRS MAY 1 TO SEPT. 30th! Mike Stephan, Jr. President Mike Stephan, Sr. Manager Mile 48.5 Parks Highway on right before Pittman Rd. Mailing: HC 34 Box 2105 • Wasilla, AK 99654 1/2 Deli Sandwich & Soup $6.95 Ph: (907) 376-6451 • Pioneer Personals Find a walking partner or more right here. You get 20 words or less for just $1o. Woman Seeking Man — SWF, in 50’s, seeks man 50’s to mid 60’s. For romantic hikes, and general good-humored get-togethers. Talkeetna area. Must love dogs, walk gently this good Earth (non-smoker), and have a reliable vehicle. Contact Personal 008 c/o Alaska Pioneer Press, P.O. Box 1024, Talkeetna, AK 99676. ♂ seeking ♀ — Companion, 30s -50s to share life, Sheep Creek area. Good natured, reliable & open-minded a plus, so let’s talk. Contact Personal 012 c/o Alaska Pioneer Press, P.O. Box 1024, Talkeetna, AK 99676. PLUMB RITE, LLC PLUMBING & HEATING RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL New Construction Renovation Oil heater service Drain cleaning Serving Talkeetna & Upper & Lower Susitna Valley Repair broken water lines Winterization Pipe thawing Plumbing service cell: 841-6050 733-8301 Leroy Scott, Mechanical Contractor #32491 Licensed+Bonded+Insured Major credit cards accepted email: plumbrite@mtaonline.net CUT YOUR FUEL COSTS! Largest Ceramic & Pottery Supplier in Alaska Gift Shop • Homestead Museum Bud Longenecker & Family mudshack@mtaonline.net Mon. & Tue. 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Wed. & Thur. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat. & Sun. - 11 a.m. 3 p.m. CLOSED FRIDAYS (907) 376-5793 FAX - 357-1139 Off Mi. 10, Knik-Goose Bay Rd. Entertainment Calendar Oct. 16 CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION - Reopen on Halloween! Oct. 31 10 p.m. Monster Bash with Off Kilter Nov. 14 9 p.m. Open Mic Night w/host the Czar of Life (rep) Go to www.myspace.com/thefairviewinn for updates. FOR USE WITH Eco-One WOOD BURNERS The Historic Fairview Inn FORCED AIR OR HOT WATER SYSTEMS Your Local Alternative Heating Specialist Eric Runstrom P.O. Box 439 Talkeetna, AK 99676 IOLA Enterprises 355-3325 Hangar Door Cinema: The Bet Collector Tickets sold at the door, starting 7 p.m. $6 for DAC members/$8 for non-members. Mark your calendars! Hangar Door Cinema and Denali Arts Council present the remaining films in the Global Lens series: Friday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. The Bet Collector ( Philippines ) Sunday Nov. 9, 4 p.m. The Kite ( Lebanon ) Friday Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m. Opera Jawa ( Indonesia ) Saturday Nov.29, 7:30 p.m. Luxury Car ( China ) Sunday Dec. 14, 4 p.m. All For Free ( Croatia ) KTNA & Denali Arts Council present IN CONCERT Baka Beyond & Workshops - Baka Beyond brings its unique Celtic/African mix to Talkeetna. Concert Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar Tickets on sale soon at www.ktna. org or 733-1700 More info on the band http://www.bakabeyond. net/ Workshops Sunday, Oct. 26 1 p.m. Dance workshop with the artists of Baka Beyond 4 p.m. Music workshop with the artists of Baka Beyond More info on workshops coming later. Save the date. For more information or to express interest, call Diane Ziegner, 733-2310 or ziggy@mtaonline.net Whole Wheat Radio is on E. Birch Creek Boulevard just off the Talkeetna Spur near Mile 8. For more information call Jim at 733-2452 or visit wholewheatradio.org and click on the Events Calendar on the left-hand side. All events are Webcast on the Internet world-wide. Denali Arts Council SERVICE & INSTALLATION: HVAC-R STILL PROVIDING RELIABLE, QUALITY SERVICE TO THE UPPER SUSITNA VALLEY AT OUR NEW LOCATION HC 89, BOX 8451, TALKEETNA AK 99676 CLEAN BURNING, WOOD IRED HYDRONIC FURNACES • Commercial & Residential Heating • Commercial Refrigeration -F • Restaurant Equipment • Air Quality Control Products Licensed • Bonded • Insured 733-4850 Classified/Personals Ad Form Name & Address Payment (cash or local check) to: Alaska Pioneer Press P.O. Box 1024 Talkeetna, AK 99676 Call 733-6397 (NEWS) Classified Category # Whole Wheat Radio Phone Page 8 ALASKA PIONEER PRESS October 2008 Insight: Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder By Rhonda Kidd SPECIAL TO THE PIONEER PRESS Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are permanent birth defects caused by exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is the more recognized medical diagnosis. All children with disorders from prenatal exposure to alcohol have FASD, but only one out of every 10 children with FASD will get a diagnosis of FAS. Nine out of every 10 children who have FASD may not get a diagnosis of FAS but may have the same brain damage, neurological symptoms and behavioral challenges as children with full FAS. This is because the FAS diagnosis is determined by: • a set of facial features that are only present if a mother drank alcohol on the 19th,or 20th day of pregnancy; • a growth deficiency that is caused by exposure during the very beginning or very end of pregnancy; • and evidence of alteration in brain functioning and neurological disorders (which can be caused at any time during pregnancy. What is so important about what occurs when the body is first learning how to be a body and the brain is learning the vast majority what it would know about being a brain? Everything that goes into a woman’s body during pregnancy (and throughout breastfeeding) is written into the cellular makeup of our children. This time is their period of greatest learning and most rapid growth, as well as their time of greatest vulnerability. These are just some of many facts about prenatal exposure to alcohol available to us parents today that were not available to our parents. There must be changes for this generation. Sensory problems may cause intolerance to integration of bright lights, sounds, smells, temperature, taste, touch and emotions. This may overload the brain, causing behavioral outbursts, meltdowns, rages or complete shutdown. Sensory problems may cause difficulties with socialization, as well as difficulties with time, money, volatility and dealing with unstructured free time. Most infants with FASD are irritable, have trouble sleeping and eating, are sensitive to sensory stimulation and have a strong startle reflex. Infants may hyperextend their heads, arms or legs due to too much or too little muscle tone, or have serious problems with digestive disorders and constipation as well. Some infants may have defects of the ears, eyes, liver, heart, kidney, bladder or joints. The most serious characteristics of FASD are the invisible symptoms of neurological damage from prenatal exposure. Some of the symptoms that persist into adulthood are: • Attention deficits, • Memory deficits, • Hyperactivity, • Low self-esteem, •Difficulty with abstract concepts, • Inability to manage money, • Poor problem-solving skills, • Difficulty learning from consequences, • Immature social/emotional behavior, •Inappropriately friendly to strangers, •Lack of control over emotions, •Poor impulse control, •Poor judgment, • Eating/sleeping disorders, •Depression, • Suicide, • Confusion between make-be lieve and reality, •Seeking intense, dangerous ac See FASD, Page 6 Indoor Playground LET THEM BOUNCE OFF OUR WALLS INSTEAD OF YOURS • Open Daily • Targeted Towards Ages 2-12 • Keeping Kids Healthy and Making Exercise Fun • Fun & Safe Environment • Correspondence Vendor Approved School Field Trips/ Party Packages Available Getting That Empty Feeling! Your local financial cooperative can help! Get fast, affordable financing for a new or used gas efficient vehicle today. Apply 24/7 toll-free at 1-800-976-5198, in-person at any MVFCU Community Office or online at www.mvfcu.coop. www.bouncinbears.org Punch Cards & Gift Certificates Available 746-7530 www.mvfcu.coop Building Better Financial Futures Since 1948!