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Top Stories Did you hear the Buzz? Seldovia's 4th Annual Chainsaw Carving Competition is just a week away!
This is the 4th year that Seldovia will be hosting a fabulous display of art in motion on Memorial Day Weekend! 6 carvers will be arriving in Seldovia, Alaska on May 21st to begin a 3 day Chainsaw Carving Competition. The carvers will draw for the logs that day, and from 8am to as late as 9pm the chainsaws will come alive - releasing incredible masterpieces from the unassuming local spruce.
The first year, we had no idea what to expect. We imagined rough looking carvings, lacking in detail, but large and impressive works of art. Instead, we watched with amazement over the three days of carvings as these rough 6-8 foot logs became incredibly detailed masterpieces, from the nautical to the fanciful, each piece was a winner! We ended up with a swimming mermaid plucking a pearl from a clam shell, with coral coming up from the ocean floor and swimming fish about her! A fisherman, with hat, vest and sunglasses, all in stunning detail. There were whales, eagles dueling over a salmon, a dragon and another mermaid! I don't think there was a single person who wasn't completely in awe of the transformation of these logs right in front of their eyes! It was a complete delight to see the process of art in motion.
Another fun aspect of the competition happens every day at 5pm. For one hour, each carver is given a smaller log to create something in that short period of time - they are called the "quick carves" to be auctioned off after the awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon! These pieces range from wall hangings, to halibut chairs, jumping salmon, hugging bears and swimming otters! We even had a Sponge Bob Squarepants, turtle, chameleon, eagle, flower and whale tail bench! This is a great event, where the crowd gathers to claim a piece of art for their own. The funds raised from the auction are used solely to support the following year's competition. We will award each carver $1,000 for participating, along with awards for People's Choice, First, Second and Third Place honors.
We have enjoyed three years of carving delight in the heart of Seldovia! The carving competition takes place right on Dock Street and Main - across from the ferry terminal facing our gorgeous Seldovia Bay. The Tustemena comes in on the 21st with the carvers, and then on Sunday she will be in port for the final award ceremony and auction of the quick carvings. The three day carvings - called lovingly by the artists as "masterpieces" are donated by the carvers to the Seldovia Chamber of Commerce to be placed around town at businesses - where locals and tourists alike can enjoy them for years to come! We have 18 carvings already about town, and with this year's additions, we will have 24 gorgeous pieces of art on display! This is a great excuse to visit Seldovia, see and participate in an event that leaves a lasting mark on our community by the sea.
We do have two more reasons to come to Seldovia this Memorial Day weekend:
1) Our first annual Human Powered Fish Derby will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday, with awards and a Fish Fry on Sunday evening!
2) Painting Party on Display - there will be a group of artists painting our trash bins to be placed about town! You may even be able to offer a hand in the process!
Click here for the full schedule for the Chainsaw Carving events! Join us in Seldovia this year for Memorial Day! Check out our portal website: www.Seldovia.com for more photos and information about our community by the sea! We would love to see you here!
Seldovia's First Annual Human Powered Fishing Derby!
This Carving will be given away at the fish fry/award ceremony Sunday evening. The winner will be chosen randomly from all entrants! Prizes for biggest salmon, halibut, bass and most unusual fish. Lots of other prizes too!!
The Seldovia Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring their first annual “Human Powered Fishing Derby”, Saturday and Sunday May 23 & 24 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm with weigh-ins taking place at 6:00 pm at the Seldovia harbor scale. All makes and models of rowboats and kayaks are welcome. A $ 25 entry fee will be charged for each fishing rod; one boat may have more than one person yet only pay for and fish one rod if desired. There will be cash prizes, local merchant prizes and a general drawing of entrants for a beautiful chainsaw-carved salmon donated by carver, Scott Hanson. A fish fry (fish that are caught in the derby) and potluck will be held in conjunction with the chain saw carving contest at 6:30 pm Sunday evening. There are a number of beautiful, hand-built rowboats in Seldovia that will be on display and hopefully taking part in the fishing, as well as numerous models of kayaks. This event is being organized and run by long time resident and rower Tim Dillon. In this day and age where we all depend so heavily upon gasoline and oil, we are striving to take a step back into the past traditions and history of Seldovia and sponsor an event that is clean, quiet and independent of petroleum-based fuels. Come out and partake or just enjoy and cheer on the rowers and paddlers as they depart each morning at 9:00 am or upon their return and weigh-in at 6:00 pm. Everyone in Seldovia is welcome to partake in the fish fry and potluck Sunday evening, so come on out. Far Far Away in Seldovia! May 2nd was the night at the Prom - for the entire community. What a great evening filled with happy youth, beautiful dresses, fancy tuxes, fantastic food - catered by the Mad Fish - yum! This year we were joined by the students from Nanwalek who stayed longer after the Tri-schools two week course to partake in this annual event. Please enjoy the photos included in the photo story below!
Click here to view complete photo story! Baby Grayce Born to Mikie & Michelle Geagel!
Born to Mikie and Michelle Geagel. Grandparents are MaryAnne and Frank Agli and Mike and Connie Geagel of Seldovia, and Gerald and Sherry Bateman of Hermiston, Oregon. Big sister Samantha and Big Brother Dakota were anxiously awaiting her arrival. Samantha and Dakota are both doing very well in school. Samantha has recently taken up a 2 month hip-hop dance class and is loving it. She is hoping to possibly take some ballet classes this summer and Dakota is hoping to join pee-wee wrestling the next time it rolls around. First Ever Cancer Walk in Seldovia
At the end of the morning full of visiting, learning and sharing great health knowledge at the Health Fair Saturday morning, it was certainly on the forefront of many Seldovians minds...how important it is to be mindful of our health, and to be thankful each day that we are healthy and strong.
A group of 20 or so gathered on an absolutely beautiful sunny Seldovia day in front of the Seldovia Conference Center to honor our friends and family who have fought and continue to fight the battle with cancer. We left around noon for Outside Beach, at varied paces. We had a few "professional walkers" - they led the group, to the casual Sunday afternoon strollers. (literally - we had babies in tow!) We were quite the parade down the "highway" to the beach. Once at the beach, we all were given a flower - generously donated by Sunni Hilts to honor our loved ones. They floated peacefully on the water, and we all took a private moment to reflect, pray and remember those we love who have been affected by cancer. Unfortunately, it is a disease that has touched us all, in some very real way. From those who have fought the battle and who are cancer-free, this was our way to celebrate with you and for those who are right in the middle of the fight we walked and prayed for your strength and healing. We have lost a number of Seldovians in the recent years to cancer, and though health is a very private matter, each life is woven through the other in a very special way in a small community like Seldovia. Each person leaves an imprint on the community, on the people and the spirit of our town. We desperately miss each person that is lost, as they leave behind a void that will not be filled, and we honored those friends and family today by remembering them, and supporting each other.
Thank you to Laurel Hilts who planned and organized the event, and to all who participated, and we hope to see you all at the walk again next year! Susan B. English Doubled in Size! Susan B. English’s high school student body temporarily doubled in size in April as visiting students from Nanwalek joined them for two weeks to pioneer a new class in workforce development. Small town Alaska was at its best in a show of cooperation, flexibility, and resourcefulness. Students and staff from both schools, community volunteers, and visitors all pitched in to make the class a success.
In order to simulate real world working conditions, students were required to stay at school until five o’clock every day. They divided their time between days at Kasitsna Bay laboratory, construction classes in the shop, online certifications from OSHA and ServSafe, regular classes, and seminars from guest speakers. In the shop class, Paul Chissus led the students in construction skills, and by the end of two weeks, they had built a shed. For the seminars, speakers introduced students to job opportunities in Alaska as well as taught useful skills such as money management, first aid, and employability skills. The Alaska State School Board Association put on a leadership workshop on the weekend, so some of the students worked through their days off.
The days were filled with activity, but students were still not excused from their regular classes. They kept a good attitude about the extra responsibilities. The evenings were filled with activity, too. Since the Nanwalek kids stayed overnight in Seldovia, volunteers sponsored basketball games, open swim, and pottery to help them pass the time constructively. The pool was a hit for the Nanwalek kids, and they expressed appreciation for the volunteers who opened the pool and life guarded for them. Students from the two schools were shy with each other at first, but by the end of two weeks, they had made new friends and were sad to part with them. Since SBE’s prom was scheduled for the Saturday after the class ended, the prom committee invited their new friends from Nanwalek to stay. They did, and their presence injected extra energy into the event. Working hard and putting in long hours was tiring for students from both schools, so in the end, they danced off their exhaustion. One Seldovia student commented playfully, “It was great to have boys that dance at prom.” The joint prom was a fun way to end the memorable two weeks. Looking Fine in 2009!
The "Apple" of Seldovia's Eye? - Sean Reynolds makes news with Klingon iPhone App!
Seldovia's Water and Sewer Construction Schedule and Map 2009
City had our own "Old Faithful"!
The Seldovia City Council convened together with the following members present: John Colberg, Tom Glover, Dean Lent, Allison Miller, Gerry Patrick and Walter McInnes. Councilman Glover presided; City Manager Tim Dillon participated by phone and City Clerk Mary Klinger took minutes. Treasurer's Report - none Ordinance Introduction Ordinance 09-12, A Non-Code Ordinance of the City of Seldovia, Alaska, Appropriating Funds of Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2010 Introduction only, no discussion, public hearing set for May 27, 2009
Proclamations - none Public Presentation Prior Notice - none Committee and Advisory Board Reports SOS: The Husky II boom watch continues. Old Business - none New Business Cutting Down or Destroying City Property As City cleanup was done this month, the City Manager would like to remind everyone to not cut down trees or remove items from City property without talking to the City Manager first. Ordinances are in place that will take care of any problems.
Red Mountain Road (McInnes) Councilman McInnes asked that the City find a way to help support Jack Thomas's road work at Red Mountain. For several years, Jack Thomas has used his own equipment and money to maintain the Red Mountain and help keep it safe and drivable for everyone Recently, the Chamber of Commerce donated $400 to Mr. Thomas to help with the cost of maintaining the Red Mountain Road and Councilman McInnes would like the City to come up with a way to also help.
Informational Items Not Requiring Action - none City Manager’s Report , see below. Manager, Council and Mayor Comments Concerning Items not on the Agenda Several councilmen thanked members of the audience for attending Next Regular Meeting May 27, 2009 >> Repeat story The removal of the gross contamination from the Husky II is complete. Approximately 95-99% of the petroleum contaminants have been removed and it is estimated that there is only 250 - 1,200 gallons of material left. During the course of the work, a small hole ( approximately 1"x 2") broke through the hull and was quickly sealed by workers and divers. Chadux has installed a bilge alarm that will start a flashing a red light if the water level rises in the bilge. The light is right in front of the wheelhouse - click on the photo below to see the red light location.
Current efforts center around keeping the vessel stable and checking it every 2 hours. SOS is watching the waterline and continues to maintain the oil boom. It is estimated that it will take at least 30 days for the government agencies to work out the most cost effective details of disposing of the boat. As we receive updates, we will post them Rep. Paul Seaton Newsletter (repeat story) Greetings from Juneau the day after the end of the first session of the 26th Legislature.
The session is over! Both the House and the Senate worked together to avoid any last second jam-up and this was the most calm adjournment since I have been in the legislature. There were minor blow-ups on specific issues but they were mostly around issues relating to one or two members and their district needs. There is also a general contention between those people coalesced around opposing the AGIA license issued to Trans Canada and those supporting continuing with our contract, and this flowed over into resolutions, budgets, and personal interactions. By next session we will have to resolve the issues so that lack of appropriation for the 50/50 reimbursement does not slow down the process and we actually get to an open season bid in mid 2010. Click here to view entire newsletter (pdf) Sen. Gary Stevens Capitol Report (repeat story) GAVEL FALLS ON LEGISLATIVE SESSION Click here to read the full Report (pdf)
Do you know someone seeking a degree in the Marine Science field? Let the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America help with the MASNA Scholarship.
The State of Alaska , on behalf of the Juneau Statehood Committee, commissioned bronze medallions commemorating Alaska’s 50th anniversary celebration which can be purchased by non-profit organizations for fundraising purposes. The medallions were designed and produced by the same company that designed medallions at statehood back in 1959. A limited supply can be purchased from the Kenai Peninsula Borough by contacting Michelle Blackwell at 714-2336. The medallions will sell for $50 each and are limited to five medallions per organization.
Seldovia Boys & Girls Club Quarterly Newsletter - Click here . . . It’s graduation the next day for our seniors, and summer officially begins (though we all have to admit that we’ve had it great these last couple of weeks – keep the sun coming!). The Seldovia Boys & Girls Club will be closed for the week of May 25 – 29, but will reopen on Monday, June 1st for the summer. Clubhouse hours will be from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Mondays – Fridays. Be looking for postings of hours for pottery, karate and music, plus special activities. As we wrap up the school year, let me take a moment to express my thanks to the folks that have worked so hard on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club and the children in our community. Vivian Rojas headed up our Power Hour after school homework club and worked diligently with our kids each day to get their homework done. Ronene Gain was there alongside with her every day to make sure the kids were well-fed and working hard on their lessons. They both volunteered the extra hours needed when kids had to stay to get their work done. Dede Higman kept the pottery studio open each Monday and shared her amazing talents with our members and folks from the community; she even put in extra hours recently to work with the kids visiting from Nanwalek. Additionally, Dede did the necessary data entry to help with our monthly, quarterly and annual reports. Chris Oliveira served as the Clubhouse den mother and was there to greet and hang out with the kids after school each day. She could always be counted on for a good listening ear whenever kids wanted to talk. She also could be found working hard at assembling a new puzzle and encouraging the kids to join in. Rob Rurka taught karate classes, gave private music lessons, and organized four different rock bands. He also volunteered countless hours playing ping pong, encouraging musicians, and practicing his music for the band The Xtratufs. In addition to these great staff members, we also had the support of organizations in the community: the Seldovia Village Tribe donated the funds to cover the expense of keeping the Club open last summer, and also paid for one of our Power Hour positions. SVT partnered with the Club and provided staffing for art afternoons, Play Group’s visits to the Clubhouse, Teen Open Gym, and Friday Teen Nights. Additionally, they held special events at the Clubhouse throughout the year. Susan B. English School provided facility use for our Power Hour, Pottery, and Gym programs, and the City of Seldovia provided a pass-through grant from the State of Alaska, helping insure funding was in place. We were also able to partner with the Seldovia Arts Council, the Seldovia Bible Chapel, and we were encouraged by donations of time, money and goods from many members of the community. Thanks to all of you for your commitment to helping keep the Seldovia Boys & Girls Club a “positive place for kids.” Laurel Hilts Any questions, contact: Laurel A. Hilts, Unit Director Seldovia
City Manager's Corner by Tim Dillon, City Manager City Manager Report 4-23-09 to 5-13-09 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
GOALS:
Seldovia Police Report by Chief A.W. Anderson, Seldovia PD Police have been dealing with an assortment of different items since last report.
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Movie Review
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If anyone sees the bilge alarm light flashing red, PLEASE call the authorities IMMEDIATELY! Call one of the numbers below:
Marine Science Scholarship Opportunity! 
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