Stories Of The Day

Submitted Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 10:34pm
Seldovia Shines & Focuses on Health
by Alix Chartier

Submitted Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 10:15pm
Thoughts to Ponder - The Dragon In My Garage
by Carl Sagan - submited to the Gazette by Kevin Gain

"A fire-breathing dragon lives in my garage."

Suppose (I'm following a group therapy approach by the psychologist Richard Franklin) I seriously make such an assertion to you. Surely you'd want to check it out, see for yourself. There have been innumerable stories of dragons over the centuries, but no real evidence. What an opportunity!

"Show me," you say. I lead you to my garage. You look inside and see a ladder, empty paint cans, an old tricycle -- but no dragon. "Where's the dragon?" you ask. "Oh, she's right here," I reply, waving vaguely. "I neglected to mention that she's an invisible dragon."

You propose spreading flour on the floor of the garage to capture the dragon's footprints. "Good idea," I say, "but this dragon floats in the air." Then you'll use an infrared sensor to detect the invisible fire. "Good idea, but the invisible fire is also heatless." You'll spray-paint the dragon and make her visible. "Good idea, but she's an incorporeal dragon and the paint won't stick." And so on. I counter every physical test you propose with a special explanation of why it won't work.

Now, what's the difference between an invisible, incorporeal, floating dragon who spits heatless fire and no dragon at all? If there's no way to disprove my contention, no conceivable experiment that would count against it, what does it mean to say that my dragon exists? Your inability to invalidate my hypothesis is not at all the same thing as proving it true. Claims that cannot be tested, assertions immune to disproof are veridically worthless, whatever value they may have in inspiring us or in exciting our sense of wonder. What I'm asking you to do comes down to believing, in the absence of evidence, on my say-so. The only thing you've really learned from my insistence that there's a dragon in my garage is that something funny is going on inside my head. You'd wonder, if no physical tests apply, what convinced me. The possibility that it was a dream or a hallucination would certainly enter your mind. But then, why am I taking it so seriously? Maybe I need help. At the least, maybe I've seriously underestimated human fallibility. Imagine that, despite none of the tests being successful, you wish to be scrupulously open-minded. So you don't outright reject the notion that there's a fire-breathing dragon in my garage. You merely put it on hold. Present evidence is strongly against it, but if a new body of data emerge you're prepared to examine it and see if it convinces you. Surely it's unfair of me to be offended at not being believed; or to criticize you for being stodgy and unimaginative -- merely because you rendered the Scottish verdict of "not proved."

Imagine that things had gone otherwise. The dragon is invisible, all right, but footprints are being made in the flour as you watch. Your infrared detector reads off-scale. The spray paint reveals a jagged crest bobbing in the air before you. No matter how skeptical you might have been about the existence of dragons -- to say nothing about invisible ones -- you must now acknowledge that there's something here, and that in a preliminary way it's consistent with an invisible, fire-breathing dragon.

Now another scenario: Suppose it's not just me. Suppose that several people of your acquaintance, including people who you're pretty sure don't know each other, all tell you that they have dragons in their garages -- but in every case the evidence is maddeningly elusive. All of us admit we're disturbed at being gripped by so odd a conviction so ill-supported by the physical evidence. None of us is a lunatic. We speculate about what it would mean if invisible dragons were really hiding out in garages all over the world, with us humans just catching on. I'd rather it not be true, I tell you. But maybe all those ancient European and Chinese myths about dragons weren't myths at all.

Gratifyingly, some dragon-size footprints in the flour are now reported. But they're never made when a skeptic is looking. An alternative explanation presents itself. On close examination it seems clear that the footprints could have been faked. Another dragon enthusiast shows up with a burnt finger and attributes it to a rare physical manifestation of the dragon's fiery breath. But again, other possibilities exist. We understand that there are other ways to burn fingers besides the breath of invisible dragons. Such "evidence" -- no matter how important the dragon advocates consider it -- is far from compelling. Once again, the only sensible approach is tentatively to reject the dragon hypothesis, to be open to future physical data, and to wonder what the cause might be that so many apparently sane and sober people share the same strange delusion.

Submitted Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 11:43pm
Honoring a Dear Friend In Seldovia
by Community

Happy Birthday Mattea!
I'm so glad we are cousins!

Love - Marina

Submitted Friday, March 12, 2010 - 7:38pm
SVT Offering Great Kids Programming Over Spring Break
by Laurel Hilts

Submitted Friday, March 12, 2010 - 7:24pm
Please Join Us For The Upcoming Clean Harbors Meetings!
by Tim Robertson

Submitted Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 10:27pm
Guest Principal To Speak On Standards Based Education
by Sherry Hingley, SBE Principal

To: Parents and Community Members

I would like to invite everyone to a meeting on Friday, March 12, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. at Susan B. English School.

We as a school are deeply committed to the academic achievement of all students. Several staff members have visited other schools and attended various workshops pertaining to Standards Based Education. This instructional method has been implemented into River City Academy, a Soldotna school in the KPBSD system. Gregg Wilbanks, the principal, will be here to present the Standards Based Educational Model and answer questions you may have.

The Standards Based system educates all students to the highest levels, empowers them to own and lead the learning process, helps them realize their dreams, and equips them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Students move at their own pace through developmental levels in standards, rather than age-based grade levels. Students also must meet an acceptable level of performance.

We would like all parents to attend these meetings and provide your input into this workshop.

Sherry Hingley
Susan B. English School

Submitted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 8:51am
The Bookworm
by Tamara Blodgett

The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deaver

A new author for me, Deaver sets a pace that starts with a bang and never slows down. If the mood strikes for a [very] solid mystery-thriller, then this is the novel for you.

Deputy Brynn McKenzie as the protagonist is an angst-driven, hard-on-herself perfectionist that gets the job done without shirking her duty.

After a dropped 911 call, McKenzie's Sheriff directs her to ascertain a [ potential] problem at an isolated lake residence bordering a state park. It's the end of a long day at work, the residence is at the outer edge of their jurisdiction in addition to McKenzie's anxiety of the water. However, she trudges out the door in decent spirits as she fully anticipates a mistaken dial.

Upon arrival, she abruptly discovers that what should have been a benign 911 call is in reality a double, execution-style murder. Taken aback, McKenzie responds quickly to the assassins who lie in wait on the property. Narrowly missing getting killed herself she soon encounters an ungrateful survivor of the murdered couple. If this were not enough she must also navigate the wilderness at night without the use of her weapon and cell phone. Along the way, it becomes apparent that the assassins are not the only challenge the night harbors.

This book rocks and rolls all the way to an unreal climax that is almost impossible to anticipate. Beside the fantastic plot turns, Deaver is a master at creating a main character who is believably flawed but still likable.

This is a complex plot and has been reviewed as such ( some may get “car sick” from the plot turns). I found it a can't-put-down read for sure. These types of complicated, intricate plots are what make a book interesting and this was no disappointment on that score.

5/5 Stars
Genre: Thriller
Sub-genre: Drama
Age: Teen+
Elements: Violence, Peril, Child-Endangerment, Mild Drug Reference/Trafficking

Check out the Seldovia Public Library for this and other fine books!

Submitted Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 8:59am
Seward Highway Closed North of Girdwood Due To Avalanche
by Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

This morning's avalanche on the Seward Highway occurred at milepost 98.5. The road is closed to traffic in both directions. DOT&PF maintenance and operations crews are responding to the Seward Highway to begin snow and debris removal following an early morning avalanche. The highway is closed and is expected to reopen later this afternoon. The road is covered in snow measuring about 75 feet long and six feet deep. For updated road conditions visit 511.alaska.gov or call 511.

UPDATE 9:11am Tuesday morning: A second avalanche has occurred on the Seward Highway about three miles south of Girdwood near milepost 87. The highway will be closed at milepost 39 (Sterling/Seward Wye) for northbound traffic on the Seward Highway.

UPDATE 9:39am Tuesday morning: Kenai Peninsula DOT&PF crews are installing changeable message boards at Moose Pass on the Seward Highway and at Sterling Highway's milepost 45 for all northbound traffic notification that the Seward Highway northbound is closed. This will provide ample turnaround for large trucks and refuge for motorists. Barricades and signs will be placed near Seward Highway milepost 39. Southbound traffic on the Seward Highway will remain open for any travelers on the road, south of the avalanches at mileposts 98.5 and near milepost 87.

UPDATE 2:13pm Tuesday afternoon: DOT&PF crews estimate clean up efforts on the Seward Highway at milepost 98.7 will be completed by 2:45 this afternoon. Shortly afterwards, the highway will be open to traffic from Anchorage to Girdwood (milepost 90). The Seward Highway from milepost 38 (Seward/Sterling Wye) to Girdwood (milepost 90) will remain closed until the avalanche that occurred three miles south of Girdwood (near milepost 87) is cleared and avalanche zones in Turnagain Pass have been evaluated for potential avalanche events. The remaining section of the highway from milepost 38 to milepost 90 is expected to be opened between 6 and 9 p.m. tonight, if avalanche dangers are not identified at Turnagain Pass. DOT&PF recommends travelers continue to monitor the 511 website for regular updates at 511.alaska.gov or by telephoning 511.

UPDATE 2:43pm Tuesday afternoon: The Seward Highway is now open to traffic between Anchorage and Girdwood.

UPDATE 4:03pm Tuesday afternoon: DOT&PF inspections of avalanche zones between Girdwood and Seward have been evaluated and no immediate action is required. Message boards at Moose Pass on the Seward Highway and at Sterling Highway milepost 45 are being removed.

UPDATE 4:29pm Tuesday afternoon: DOT&PF crews have completed clearing all avalanche-related snow and debris from the Seward Highway. The highway is now open to all traffic in both directions.

Submitted Monday, March 8, 2010 - 5:42pm
HEA Notice - Power is Out All The Way Down Jakolof Bay Road to McKeon Flats
by Melissa Carlin - Homer Electric Association, Inc

Dear Seldovia,

Due to the extreme weather, there is an outage from Seldovia all the way down Jackolof Bay Road to McKeon Flats. The City of Seldovia is currently on generation. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating and crews will not be able to get over there to patrol the line at this time. As soon as the weather breaks, crews will be dispatched.

POWER UPDATE: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 12:27pm

POWER UPDATE: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 11:44am

The outage from Jakalof Bay Rd. to McKeon Flats has been restored. There will be a momentary outage this morning between McDonald Spit and Seldovia as we disable the standby generation. Thanks for your patience!

Submitted Monday, March 8, 2010 - 3:59pm NOTICE - Blizzard Warning On Kachemak Bay by Bonnie Hanson - KPB - Office of Emergency Management

UPDATE: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 2:42pm WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENAI...SOLDOTNA...HOMER... COOPER LANDING 242 PM AKST TUE MAR 9 2010 ...BLIZZARD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM AKST THIS EVENING... STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 40 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS THIS EVENING. THESE WINDS ARE A RESULT OF A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER COOK INLET ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW THAT MOVED ONSHORE OVER PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND LAST NIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TOWARD MIDNIGHT AS WINDS DIMINISH AND SNOW TAPERS OFF TO SHOWERS. WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENAI...SOLDOTNA...HOMER... COOPER LANDING 348 PM AKST MON MAR 8 2010 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM AKST TUESDAY... A POWERFUL STORM WILL TRACK ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF TODAY AND THEN MOVE INLAND OVER THE EASTERN KENAI PENINSULA TONIGHT. NORTHEAST WIND 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH SNOW TO PRODUCE VISIBILITIES OF ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE WEST THIS EVENING 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY MORNING WHEN THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

Blizzard On Main Street - 3:35pm - Monday the 8th	Don't loose any treasures under the snow!

Submitted Monday, March 8, 2010 - 3:23pm
Seldovia July 4th, 2010 Button Contest!
by Darlene Crawford

Submitted Thursday, March 5, 2010 - 11:14am
Seward Highway Closed Intermittently for Avalanche Control
by Department of Transportation

DOT&PF will close the Seward Highway intermittently for avalanche control operations at milepost 20 to Ptarmigan Creek Bridge beginning at 12:38 p.m., today for two hours. Avalance control work will also occur today on the Seward Highway between mileposts 35 and 38 at 1:33 p.m., for approximately two hours. Motorists should expect delays upto 45 minutes.

Submitted Thursday, March 5, 2010 - 11:11am
AMHS - A Great Way To Visit Seldovia, Alaska
by AMHS

Submitted Thursday, March 5, 2010 - 10:27am
NOTICE - Blizzard Warning Comes Our Way
by Bonnie Hanson - KPB - Office of Emergency Management

WESTERN KENAI PENINSULA-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF
...KENAI...SOLDOTNA...HOMER...COOPER LANDING - 939 AM AKST FRI MAR 5 2010

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM AKST SATURDAY SOUTH OF NINILCHIK...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM AKST SATURDAY.

A STRONG LOW NEAR KODIAK MOVES OVER NORTHERN COOK INLET THIS EVENING. COLD AIR ON THE BACKSIDE OF THIS LOW WILL PRODUCE STRONG WESTERLY WINDS ALONG WITH MODERATE SNOW SHOWERS SOUTH OF NINILCHIK. THE RESULTANT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES BEGINNING THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS WILL SLOWLY IMPROVE SATURDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ALL TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.

Submitted Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 10:55pm - Updated Friday, March 5, 2010 - 10:18am Thanks to The Many Friends of Bill Schorr by Jill Towne and Bev Lewanski with photos by Linda Smogor


	Photo above - unknown photographer

Submitted Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 10:32pm
City Notice - Sailboat To Be Destroyed
by Mary Klinger - City Clerk

Submitted Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 4:45pm
NOTICE - Blizzard Warning Along Turnagain Arm
by Bonnie Hanson - KPB - Office of Emergency Management

WESTERN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WHITTIER...SEWARD...GIRDWOOD...MOOSE PASS, 416 PM AKST THU MAR 4 2010

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM AKST FRIDAY ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY AND SOUTH TO TURNAGAIN PASS...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM AKST FRIDAY ALONG TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY AND SOUTH TO TURNAGAIN PASS.

A WEATHER FRONT WILL BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO EASTERN TURNAGAIN ARM AND PORTAGE VALLEY...EXTENDING AS FAR SOUTH AS TURNAGAIN PASS...BEGINNING EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND LASTING UNTIL LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SOUTHEAST WIND WILL INCREASE IN THE MORNING TO 70 TO 85 MPH...WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW REDUCING VISIBILITIES BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. AS WINDS DIMINISH IN THE EVENING... CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Bonnie Hanson
Secretary
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Office of Emergency Management
253 Wilson Lane
Soldotna, AK 99669
907-262-2095 P
907-714-2395 F

Submitted Thursday, March 4, 2010 - 4:04pm
Update on Seldovia Sea Otters Basketball
by Chelsea Suydam

On Saturday night, the Seldovia Lady Sea Otters played the game they had long been anticipating. Knowing they would be facing one of their toughest competitors, they started the game ready and willing to win on their home turf. And the girls didn’t disappoint – they won the game, resulting in Seldovia finally defeating its long time rival, the Ninilchik Wolverines. But, the Otters didn’t win easily. The game was definitely close, with a mere three points separating the two teams’ total scores.

The game began with the Seldovia girls strong and in control. In the first few minutes, Seldovia scored with some well-executed layups, putting them in the lead by at least six points. By the end of the first quarter, Seldovia was still ahead. Then came the second quarter, proving to be more difficult than the first. The Otters struggled to hold their ground as Ninilchik upped their score and managed to, at one point, tie with their opponents.

In the third quarter, the game remained suspenseful with the Wolverines just trailing behind the Otters. Whether due to exhaustion, slowing their pace to that of their opponents, or some other reason entirely, the girls just didn’t have the initial spark they started off with. After a loud awakening from their coach to “wake up,” the Otters immediately grew more serious and played with more vitality. Near the end, the Wolverines did get frighteningly close to tying up the score, as Seldovia had some trouble landing their shots. But, the home team pulled through and was able to retire for the night as champions!

The boy’s team also came out victorious Saturday night. Though the game did count as a region seeding game, Ninilchik brought their junior varsity team down to play against the Nanwalek Eagles, who wore Seldovia’s jerseys. Being a fairly new team with only six team members, Nanwalek has struggled against the harder teams in their region. But, the Eagles were on top of their game on Saturday, as they reached a score in the 60’s, beating Ninilchik by far and increasing their confidence.

Both the girls and boys head off to regions this week. The girls are seeded third in the region and have beaten their two top contenders, CIA and Niniclhik. They have a good chance at making it to state, and will definitely have this opportunity on their minds as they play. Nanwalek is seeded seventh. Please wish the Seldovia girls and the Nanwalek boys luck!

Peninsula Conference Tournament @ Kenai Central
Featuring: Cook Inlet Academy, Ninilchik & Seldovia

Peninsula Opening Round: Wednesday, March 3th

1:00 p.m. Boys #4 vs #5
2:45 p.m. Girls #4 vs #5
4:30 p.m. Boys #3 vs #6
6:15 p.m. Ninilchik Boys vs Nanwalek KSRM 920 AM

Peninsula Day-Two: Thursday, March 4th

1:00 p.m. Boys Loser #2 vs Loser #3
2:45 p.m. CIA Girls vs Winner #1 KSRM 920 AM
4:30 p.m. CIA Boys vs Winner #1 KSRM 920 AM
6:15 p.m. Ninilchik Girls vs SELDOVIA KSRM 920 AM
8:00 p.m. Boys Winner #2 vs Winner #3 KSRM 920 AM

CHECK WEB SITE to see when these will be broadcasted….. www.radiokenai.net

Peninsula Championship Day: Friday, March 5th
Peninsula Double-Back Day: Saturday, March 6th

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010 - 10:45pm
Seldovia Chamber of Commerce Meeting This Thursday
by Darlene Crawford

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010 - 10:33pm
Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Wants Your Input
by Tom Sloan - Click directly on flyer below to go to the survey.

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010 - 10:27pm
Seldovia Arts Council Meeting
by Darlene Crawford

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010
SOS Has a 24 Hour Course for Spill Response Scheduled
by SOS

The SOS Team's 24 HOUR HAZWOPER CLASS will be held this week, March 2, 3, 4, 2010 in the training room. All attendees should be in the training room on Tuesday, March 2nd at 7:30am for registration. Classes will be held from 8AM-5PM, on all three days of training. Though SOS will be managing the majority of the fees for this course, there is a $30.00 fee for each participant. Please make checks payable to SOS Response Team. If you have any questions call 234-7400 or 399-3992.

This course is training for marine oil spill response workers required under HAZWOPER, the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard, Title 29 of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.120. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established HAZWOPER to protect workers involved in hazardous substance emergency response and cleanup operations. The SOS Team worked with the US Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to develop this training for those interested in participating in oil spill response during the emergency phase of an incident.

Call Jenny: 907-234-8000

New Timberframe Home
Beachfront in Town
Unobstructed Views of Kachemak Bay, Illiamna & Redoubt Mountains
Click here, or on photo for more information

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010
Harvard University Offers Free Tuition To Qualified Honor Students!
by Sandy Geagel

Harvard University announced recently that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H.. Summers said, "When only ten percent of the students in elite higher education come from families in the lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. "

If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on, qualified undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free, no tuition and no student loans! To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year, visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010
The Bookworm
by Tamara Blodgett

Twisted by Andrea Kane

Sloane Burbank works as a free-lance law enforcement consultant who was a former FBI agent. When her current contract is a missing person that was a childhood friend, it quickly becomes personal. Sloane wishes to widen the “capture net” of their perpetrator and enlists the help of current FBI agent and former lover, Derrick Parker. Although the FBI, with Parker in charge, are already involved in the case, there has been little progress. After Burbank comes on board, the dynamic changes through a series of intuitive leaps of knowledge and shrewdness on her part. Aided by Parker's investigative research they soon overcome their differences to work together as a smooth team once again.

Soon it becomes obvious that Sloane herself may be the ultimate target. Parker becomes distracted by insuring her safety which ultimately leads to her capture. A great thriller combined with mystery and a surprise, catalyst ending that leaves the reader with the “feel good.” No bitter “aftertaste” in this work.

This author is great at combining different genres together for a “tight” read that is perfect for the person that is not interested in a singular genre but appreciates elements of many. This is mainly a thriller with mystery and a touch of romance. It's not a “cannot-put-it-down,” but is definitely entertaining.

4/5 Stars
Genre: Fiction/Thriller
Sub-genre: Criminal/Mystery
Age: Mature
Elements: Human Peril, Suspense, Mild Profanity, Sexuality

Check out the Seldovia Public Library for this and other fine books!

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010
District 35 Democrats Caucus in Homer
by Bob Burns

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010 (Repeat Article - still looking for theme ideas!)
Do You Have An Idea For This Year's 4th of July Theme?
by Seldovia Chamber of Commerce

We’re looking for a theme for this year’s Fourth of July Celebration – which will be a 2 day event, held on July 3rd AND 4th. There’s a box at the Post Office to put your ideas in—Deadline March 2nd, 2010. You can also email your ideas to Darlene by clicking here.

Here are some interesting facts that might inspire some creative thinking!

Seldovia Chamber of commerce is more than 75 years old.
2010-- Anniversary - 65 years since City of Seldovia became a First Class City!
State of Alaska is 51 years old.

Some of the previous themes: Coming Home, Just Another Day in Paradise, Celebrating Alaska's 50th.

The theme is carried through the decorations and parade, and the 4th of July Button. The ballots will be read and a decision for the theme will be voted on at the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce meeting on March 4, 2010. Keep your ideas coming, and please put your name with them, as there is a Mystery Prize for the winner of the theme competition!

During t he month of March we will be having the annual contest to design the button for the 4th of July Celebrations, based on the theme that was selected by the Chamber. The designs will be collected and displayed for the April meeting, and a decision will be made as to the winner of that competition! So, if you have an idea and design - you have two different opportunities to submit your ideas!

Thank you in advance for participating in this year's challenge!

Join our Chamber Meeting this Thursday, March 4th at noon @ the Tidepool!

Below you can see Kathleen George's awesome design for the 2009 button!

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010
Travels By Truck, Plane, Ferry and Foot
Photos and Story by Ricky and Sevea Sueltenfuss

It has been a little over a month since Ricky and Sevea returned from their great adventure, traveling from Homer to the Caribbean! Click here or on the photo below to go directly to the Spotlight page for the full story and many beautiful photos!

Submitted Monday,March 1, 2010 (Repeat article - please consider donating to SBE for the auction!)
Booster Club Auction - April 10th, 2010 - Donations Needed!
by Dianne Gruber

Hey all you Otter Fans...

It’s the Annual Booster Club Dinner & Auction time again!

That’s right folks, get out your hi-lighter and mark your calendar for April 10th as we are planning the traditional Dinner and Auction evening where all proceeds go toward funding our kids travel for their academic and athletic endeavors.

Mark Janes has stepped up as our auctioneer and we have also secured the culinary expertise of Pumi to be our host cook for the event, but we need your help too.

In that light we are seeking that special combination of personally created craft items as well as other donations that will grab the interest of the crowd and help make toward an exciting and fun filled event.

So get out the paint, needles and thread and hammer and nails. Take a look around the house for that unique item you think you could part with to be added to the cause in our schools biggest fund raising event of the year.

If you are able to help us with a donation it would be great if you would RSVP your intent by calling or email the school at 234-7616 sgeagel@kpbsd.k12.ak.us or Dianne Gruber 234-7854 diannegruber@yahoo.com so we can list your item on our expected inventory. We are hoping to have all donated items delivered to the school by April 3rd or let us know if we can help and we will be happy to send a student by to pick up your donation.

Don’t forget April 10, You Really Otter Be There, it’s going to be great!

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010 Movie Review - Flight Of The Phoenix by Jonathan Hoard
	Sometimes it is the moments of greatest uncertainty that become the progenitor of the best that the human mind, spirit and body can accomplish. Where some shrink back, others rise up. Flight Of The Phoenix was released in 1965 and then remade in 2004. It seems the most recent trend in Hollywood is to forego seeking out new ideas and instead to remake old ones. If you are like me, then you don’t like someone messing with what you thought was a perfectly fine movie. When these remakes show up we are often critical of them because we struggle to not compare them with the original. There is certainly no comparing Jimmy Stewart with Dennis Quaid or the writing of the first with the latter. But that is not to say that the remake cannot be enjoyed in it’s own stead.
Both movies tell the intriguing story of a cargo plane flown by a hard-nosed pilot that crashes in the desert while ferrying a team of oil rig workers. With no real hope of rescue, the survivors struggle against despair and infighting. Forced to work together they slowly become a team. The drama of both films hangs upon the question of whether these survivors can build a plane out of the wreckage and fly themselves to safety. The greatest obstacle they face isn’t that of building a plane in the desert, but of learning to believe in the mission and work together to see it finished. Both movies are very entertaining and do a good job of taking the viewer along for the ride. I’ll be honest with you, I know nothing of what it takes to build or fly an airplane and even though the prospect of building one in the desert seems quite impossible, the premise makes for a very interesting story. These movies are a change of pace from many movies that rely upon “bad guys” to drive the drama. Here the bad and the good struggle inside each character. In the end it is hope that carries them home. You may never find yourself stranded in the desert, but undoubtedly you have experienced those dry and desperate times that often come crashing into our lives. I hope when those times come, you will not find yourself alone or without hope. Please e-mail me your comments at jm_hoard@hotmail.com.

Submitted Monday, March 1, 2010
Thoughts to Ponder - Keep On Dancing
by Veronica Hay

If you are feeling like you have gotten a little "off track" with your intentions this year, not to worry. Be gentle with yourself. Take a few minutes to remember to "Keep On Dancing".

What I have noticed lately, is that things don't always seem to happen for the reasons we think, and that can be perfect for us. I started several projects in the last few weeks, that did not work out the way I thought they would, or the way I wanted them to, thank God.

Because they did not work out, space was created for something much better to come into my life. And so, I was able to better understand, that it is not always about the end result of a choice or a project, but how taking that step to go for it in the first place, makes you feel.

What is important, is that you take some inspired action, because your vibration while you are doing something that excites you, and you are passionate about, is what will bring you the essence of what you wanted in the first place. It just may not come from where you thought it would. What is so freeing about all of this, is that it removes a lot of the fear around moving forward, fear that you may fail, be disappointed again, or even embarrassed. It gives you the courage to just step up to the plate and go for it, no matter what the outcome.

If you are feeling stuck, and afraid to take the next step, or any step for that matter, you will never achieve the life of your dreams. Life is not always about being comfortable. It is about moving forward, out of your comfort zone.

And the interesting thing about it is, that the more steps you take, the stronger and more confident you feel inside, where it really matters, and pretty soon you begin to realize that there truly is nothing that you cannot do, that anything is possible, just as long as you keep on dancing.