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TOP STORIES
OIL AGAIN FLOWING THROUGH PIPELINE Oil gushed through a repaired trans-Alaska oil pipeline Sunday morning, sparing the state millions of dollars in losses in oil-related taxes but leaving nearly 200,000 gallons of crude for workers to clean up. Oil companies were told they could pump at full levels through the 800-mile line at 7 a.m., nearly three days after a man shot a hole in it, spewing 285,600 gallons of crude. Phillips Alaska Inc. was pumping oil to full capacity within 12 hours, a spokeswoman said. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. officials expected to be at a similar level by 7 p.m. Sunday. Those and other oil companies form the consortium Alyeska Pipeline Service Co, which operates the pipeline between Prudhoe Bay and Valdez. The pipeline was shot at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Oil flowed uncontrolled from the bullet hole for more than 36 hours until Alyeska capped the leak at 3 a.m. Saturday. Alyeska installed a permanent plug at 11:25 p.m. that day. Despite the 2 1/2-day shutdown, oil supply from Alaska to the West Coast was not interrupted. Alyeska had millions of barrels of oil in Valdez and kept tanker shipments on schedule, said Tim Woolston, spokesman for Alyeska. A longer delay might have interrupted oil shipping, in which case the state could have lost up to $3.1 million in oil revenue each day. Oil-related taxes constitute 78 percent of the state's operating budget. Cleanup crews have salvaged 88,541 gallons of oil spread over two or three acres, but oil pumping slowed Sunday as workers waited for a filter necessary to strain and clean the oil before it could be re-transported. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation, Alyeska Pipeline and other agencies responding to the spill are still developing a long-term plan for the cleanup. It will take several weeks to pump oil from pools on the ground, Woolston said. It will take months longer, possibly through next summer, to clean up the rest of the oil, he said. After snowfall, cleanup will be much more difficult, he said. One option might be to remove brush, trees and soil. In some cases, they may leave the oil-soaked earth in place and treat it, Woolston said. Sunday, 45 workers helped clean the spill, and 10 of them worked the night shift. The spill response team sent home its pipeline repair, fire response and oil relocation workers Sunday morning. Workers plugged the pipeline's bullet hole Saturday with a plug called a Thread O Ring. The pipeline had been sealed shut early that day, allowing workers to make permanent repairs. The pipeline flow was restarted at 3:24 a.m. Sunday and was fully operating four hours later. Workers installed the Thread O Ring by threading the bullet hole in the pipeline and then screwing in a half-inch metal plug. Then they welded a palm-sized cover over the top of the plug. Reporter Tim Pryor can be reached at tpryor@adn.com or 907-257-4310.
CITY CLOSES WORONZOF PARKING LOT Now that things are heating up in Afghanistan, don't plan on driving out to Point Woronzof to look at the sunset. The point, famous for its views of the mountainous west shore of Cook Inlet and jets flying overhead, crosses airport property and so falls under Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport's newly tightened security measures, said Dennis Fradley, spokesman for Anchorage Mayor George Wuerch. The airport and city on Friday decided to close the parking lot 12 hours a day. They increased the closure to 24 hours a day Sunday, the day the United States and Britain sent warplanes and missiles into Afghanistan. The airport's director wouldn't say whether the attacks sparked the longer closure. "It would indicate our level of increased security," said airport director Mort Plumb. City and airport officials applied a handful of protective measures they hope will make the city and airport less vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The Point Woronzof car lot closure is a high-profile example. "Like every community in the United States, we are on heightened alert," Fradley said. "Airports obviously are one of the areas where we have extra caution." Drivers on official business near Point Woronzof will be allowed to pass through a checkpoint on Northern Lights Boulevard at Postmark Drive, Plumb said. That includes, for instance, Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility workers. The checkpoint may move back to Boeing Drive in 36 hours, Plumb said. Bikers and runners may still visit Point Woronzof on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Also Sunday, the airport began searching the 15 to 30 small aircraft and 200 or so cars and trucks that pass from the less secure general aviation area outside the airport's fence to the main part of the airport. It will usually take two to seven minutes for each car or plane to be inspected, though in some cases it could take longer if security officers see something suspicious, Plumb said. City officials took less noticeable action Sunday. City Manager Harry Kieling and Emergency Operations Manager Tracy Matthews met in the city's Emergency Operations Center half an hour after learning of the strikes in Afghanistan. Ultimately the city decided not to increase police and firefighters on duty, Fradley said. Reporter Tim Pryor can be reached at tpryor@adn.com
METRO
THERE'LL BE NO OPEN HOUSE FOR HELLS ANGELS PROPERTY Shhhh. The real estate agent can't let anybody inside because the Hells Angels are a very secretive outfit. But the bikers' clubhouse on a back street in Spenard is for sale. "Anybody wants to buy it, I got to talk to one of the guys," said Tim Hume, an agent for NextHome Real Estate. Then maybe they'll get to see the house. The Hells Angels, a national motorcycle club with a chapter here since 1983, wants to sell its clubhouse on Dorbrandt Street off 36th Avenue. The members need a bigger place, Hume said. Club members would not be interviewed. According to the agent, "they're very quiet. They like to be left alone." Hume describes himself as a former Hells Angel "prospect" but never a full-fledged member. He said he's not authorized to talk about how big the group is or what it does. He noticed one day in May that the members had put up a sign trying to sell the clubhouse by themselves, Hume said, so he sought the listing. The asking price is $85,000. Brenda Smart, who lives in an apartment down the street, briefly considered buying it this summer. But she couldn't reach Hume at the time, so didn't get inside to check it out. Smart was attracted by the gardening possibilities in the big, level back yard, which she said is neat except for a pile of metal objects. "The surveillance cameras didn't bother me," she said. As for the house: "It'd be a scrap-the-place-and-start-over job." White paint is peeling from the one-bedroom ranch. It's an ordinary structure with certain embellishments -- a plaza in front with benches and a barbecue that lends itself to gatherings, plus the Hells Angels signs and symbols. A red mailbox features the club's trademark deathhead and wings; a wooden arch over the driveway with "Hells Angels" written in red across the top hints at the group's colorful, notorious past. In 1987, 14 Alaska Hells Angels, described in contemporary news accounts as nearly the entire state membership, were arrested and charged with drugs and weapons violations and conspiracy to murder rival gang members. The arrests were part of a national roundup. The conspiracy to murder charges arose from allegations that Hells Angels members planned to retaliate for the killing of Hells Angel John Cleve of Anchorage in August 1986. Cleve was killed in a Louisville, Ky., bar. After a 12-week trial in Louisville that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, two national Hells Angels leaders were convicted of felonies, a handful of Alaskans were convicted on a related misdemeanor, and most of the Alaskans were found not guilty. That's the latest big news about the Anchorage Hells Angels chapter. "They haven't done much of anything after than investigation," said Anchorage police Detective Doug Pickerel. "They're past middle age." Some residents along this narrow three-block section of Dorbrandt Street say clubhouse habitues have been fine neighbors. "I've spoken to several of them. They have families. They care about their families," said Peter Basargin, who lives in a brown log house right next to the clubhouse. "I haven't seen any type of violence or anything bad around here whatsoever." Steve Heimel, an Alaska Public Radio Network producer who lives a couple of houses away on the other side of the clubhouse, said mostly no one is there except on weekends. Some Saturday mornings, a dozen or two older guys done up in leather gear ride motorcycles up and down Dorbrandt, Heimel said. They fill up the plaza in front of the clubhouse. "They're all talking and getting ready. Then they come roaring out. It's kind of magnificent. They just go blasting off to wherever they are going to ride that weekend." Heimel and Basargin are convinced the Angels' presence has kept down crime on their street. Heimel said he sees gang graffiti and teenage boys with baggy pants just blocks away but never on their stretch of Dorbrandt. "It's just as good or maybe even better than living by a police station," Basargin said. On the other hand, Spenard Community Council president Tom McGrath thinks the clubhouse is an eyesore and hopes its sale will be cause for renovation. Some buildings, including a triplex and a four-plex, already look spruced up but other houses are in pretty poor shape. "Nobody's going to upgrade your property if you have a building next door with gun ports," McGrath said. Reporter Rosemary Shinohara can be reached at rshinohara@adn.com and 907-257-4340.
PROJECT MAY HURT WILDLIFE Soldotna -- A $90 million high-power transmission line intended to ensure cheaper, more reliable electricity may come at a cost to bears, moose and other wildlife on the northern Kenai Peninsula, according to a recently released draft environmental impact study. Called the southern intertie, the line from Anchorage to Soldotna has been proposed by a group of six electric utilities led by Chugach Electric Association. The large spur line, a duplicate of a single existing transmission line snaking through the Kenai Mountains between Anchorage and the Peninsula, would take off from Oceanview Park in south Anchorage, dip under Turnagain Arm and then follow the route of an existing Enstar natural gas line that slices south through a remote corner of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Mystery Creek. The project would widen an existing 50-foot-wide clearing for the natural gas pipeline to 200 feet and build an overhead power line alongside the underground gas line, according to Chugach officials. The goal of the southern intertie, and a similar northern intertie between Healy and Fairbanks, is to shore up the connections between Fairbanks, Anchorage and Homer. The northern intertie has completed its environmental review, and that project is out for bid. To the utilities, the proposed route through the Kenai refuge is the least expensive and safest way to widen a long-known bottleneck between Anchorage and the Peninsula. The second line would keep Peninsula residents' lights and heaters running without interruption if one of the lines failed, such as when an avalanche knocks out the Kenai Mountain transmission line. It also will nearly double the amount of electricity that can flow back and forth, allowing relatively cheap hydroelectric power generated at Bradley Lake near Homer to be sold off the Peninsula, according to Phil Steyer, Chugach spokesman. But the proposed line isn't popular among conservationists and some wildlife managers. There is a fear that a 200-foot-wide clearing through the forest would further fragment the refuge, which already is bisected by the Sterling Highway. Bears and other animals require vast, unrestricted acreage to prosper. It may allow more people to venture deeper into the backcountry, which puts brown bears at increased risk of being shot. And the line could hamper efforts to ignite controlled burns that create habitat for moose, said Jim Hall, assistant refuge manager. "We are concerned. We are concerned for the same reason the Audubon Society is concerned and the same reason people who moose hunt in the area are concerned," Hall said. "Before long you have a refuge in name only." In addition, he said, the transmission line could become a visible scar across an otherwise unblemished view of the Kenai Mountains. It would be visible from the Swan Lake canoe system north of Sterling. The environmental impact statement describes the Enstar route's potential effects on wildlife "to be long term and significant." Hall said refuge managers would prefer the utilities choose a second route that starts in Nikiski and follows Tesoro Alaska's fuel pipeline north to Anchorage. It skirts the refuge along the Peninsula bluff north to Point Possession before diving along the bed of Turnagain Arm. While the Tesoro route would be only 62 miles long, compared with the 73-mile Enstar route preferred by the utilities, it would still cost $10 million more to build and pose more risks, said Dora Gropp, the intertie's project manager. The higher costs stem largely from the submerged portion of the transmission line. Turnagain Arm is wider, its tidal flow harsher and its bed rockier near Point Possession, Gropp said. The power line would be more susceptible to damage. Steyer stressed that the preferred route would be built in winter using ice roads, and he said no additional roads would be left behind once construction was completed. Other options, including a second line parallel to the existing transmission line through the Kenai Mountains, have been rejected because they were deemed too expensive or failed to meet the goal of a more robust, more reliable power system. Copies of the environmental impact statement are available for review at libraries and at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Soldotna. They also are available on CD. The deadline for comments on the draft is Dec. 5, and the agency in charge of the review, the U.S.D.A. Rural Utilities Service, has scheduled three public meetings. The first is Oct. 30 in Washington, D.C. The others are 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Wilda Marston Theatre in Anchorage's Loussac Library and 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers in Soldotna. In the end, the Rural Utilities Service, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will determine which route will be allowed and which rules will be associated with it. The utilities will then decide whether they can complete the project. The three agencies are expected to publish the final impact statement in spring. After last-minute comments are taken, a final record of decision should be made by fall 2002. Construction could begin by 2004. Reporter Jon Little can be reached at jlittle@adn.com or at 1-907-260-5248.
COMEAU OPPOSES CONFERENCE CHANGE After dozens of teachers balked at a proposed change in parent-teacher conference schedules, Superintendent Carol Comeau will ask the Anchorage School Board today to keep conferences the way they have been for years. Anchorage has traditionally split three consecutive days in half for elementary school conferences, using half for teaching students and half for talking to parents. But the state's former education commissioner, Rick Cross, decided last year that a school day does not count as a school day unless students are in class for five hours. Bob Roses, the Anchorage Education Association president, e-mailed a proposed schedule to 2,000 Anchorage elementary teachers two weeks ago: Students would attend class for five hours on Nov. 6, 7 and 8. The remaining hour or so in the school day would leave teachers time to hold two or three conferences. That Friday, Nov. 9, a scheduled in-service day, would be used for conferences too. "The majority said it was inequitable and unreasonable to expect them to do two conferences a day, then all day long on Friday, and expect the quality of the conferences to be upheld," Roses said. There wouldn't be time to meet all the parents, teachers told Roses. Anyone who couldn't make it Friday would have to hope for one of the few slots during the week. Teachers figured the conference schedule would require them to work extra hours, Roses said. "Which a lot of them would have had to do anyway," he said. "But it almost mandated that was what they would have to do. "They didn't think it was fair to the parents who couldn't make it (Friday), and they didn't think it was fair to the teachers who would have to schedule these large number of conferences and reduce them down to where they wouldn't mean anything," Roses said. Comeau appealed for a waiver to Shirley Holloway, the new state education commissioner. Holloway granted the request last week so Anchorage can stick to its old ways and count those half-days as full days. "To do conferences with any integrity, you've got to have more time," Comeau said. "It's really the first opportunity parents have to see how Johnny and Susie are doing." Holloway also granted a waiver for the April conferences. Comeau will ask the board to approve the calendar change. The new schedule would give elementary students half-days Nov. 7 and 8, leaving the remaining hours for conferences. The in-service Nov. 9 will be available for conferences also, Comeau said. Calendars already sent home from some schools said the conferences would be held four days, Nov. 5-8. That is incorrect, Comeau said. Conferences will change at middle and high schools this year because of the new five-hour-day rule. In the past, students left early and conferences were held for a couple of hours in the afternoon. After a break, conferences resumed in the evening. This year middle school students will leave half an hour early on Nov. 7, with conferences running from 4 to 8 p.m. High schoolers will follow the same schedule on Nov. 8. Instead of sit-down conferences, secondary school parents circulate through larger rooms like the gym or cafeteria and chat for a few minutes with teachers. "It's more compact," Comeau said. "We think it will be more efficient." Reporter Katie Pesznecker can be reached at kpesznecker@adn.com or 907-257-4589.
PIPELINE SECURITY ON THE TABLE Fairbanks -- A U.S. Senate committee plans a hearing Tuesday on how to protect the country's energy supply from attack, but so far there seems to have been little discussion of what, if anything, to do about the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Given that a single bullet hole shut the pipeline down Thursday, its security will certainly come up Tuesday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sources in Washington, D.C., told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. "If I were a betting man, I'd bet it would be discussed," said Bill Wicker, spokesman for majority Democrats on the committee. The hearing is designed to "receive testimony on critical energy infrastructure security," according to a news release from Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., committee chairman. Specifically, the committee will look at a proposal from the Interior Department to "provide for the protection of dams, facilities and other resources under its jurisdiction." The Interior Department oversees federal agencies that review pipeline operations in Alaska. Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, the ranking Republican on the committee, said Congress has an obligation to give the president the tools he needs to protect U.S. shores. "Ensuring our energy security is a critical part of these preparations," Murkowski said. Willie Hensley, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.'s representative in Washington, said he had not heard of any legislative proposals directed at Alaska pipeline security. "It's a whole new ballgame in terms of how people are looking at public infrastructure," he said. "It's going to take awhile for people to think through what threats are out there. At what point does the company's responsibility end and the government's begin?" Wicker said legislative language has yet to be drawn up. Wicker noted that the Energy Committee has had closed hearings with pipeline industry groups. Bill Hickman, spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, said most of the nation's pipelines are buried. The trans-Alaska oil pipeline was built above ground in many places to prevent warm oil from melting surrounding permafrost, which would cause the ground to buckle. Access to above-ground sections of pipe could be made more difficult by blocking off access roads and banning travel on the right of way. Alyeska's Hensley noted that the Dalton Highway, which parallels the line from Livengood north, as for many years not a public road north of the Yukon River.
SEA OTTER CRASH ALARMS BIOLOGISTS Sea otters used to frolic and feed in reefs near Cold Bay just off the western end of the Alaska Peninsula. No more. "That place used to be lousy with sea otters," said Douglas Burn, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist with the sea otter program in Anchorage. "To not see them there, clearly something is wrong." The sea otters of Southwest Alaska are in big trouble. They could be "circling the drain," Burn said Wednesday. Exactly what is causing populations in Southwest Alaska to crash remains largely a mystery to wildlife biologists, who are alarmed at recent aerial surveys that show the dramatic decline in a huge area along Alaska's coastline. Biologists for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service already knew that sea otters in the 1,000-mile stretch of islands known as the Aleutian chain that extends from the Alaska Peninsula had declined by about 70 percent. Aerial surveys done in 2000 and 2001 to parallel a study done in 1986 have set off more alarm bells. They show that densities are low in the six major island groups of Southwest Alaska, said Angela Doroff, another biologist in the sea otter program. Between 1986 and 2000, sea otters in the northern Alaska Peninsula declined between 36 percent and 56 percent to 5,756. The decline was even more startling in the southern Alaska Peninsula, where numbers between 1986 and 2001 declined between 91 percent and 92 percent to just 1,844. Between 1994 and 2001, sea otters in the Kodiak archipelago declined 40 percent to 5,893. "We have no evidence that the decline is stopping," said Rosa Meehan, head of Fish and Wildlife's marine mammal program in Anchorage. "We had a red flag before. We have a much bigger red flag now." Estimates put the number of sea otters in Alaska at about 74,000 -- down from approximately 100,000 in the mid-1980s. About 90 percent of the world's sea otters live in coastal Alaska waters. While sea otters in Southwest are declining, populations in Southeast and Southcentral appear to be either stable or increasing. Biologists are considering a number of factors for the decline in Southwest, including starvation, disease and contamination. But predation by killer whales is the best guess, in part because biologists are finding so few carcasses. "Something is taking them out," Burn said. Killer whales may be going after sea otters because there are fewer Steller sea lions to hunt, said Marilyn Dahlheim, a biologist with the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, which is conducting a three-year study to count killer whales in an area of Southwest Alaska. During a six-week trip in July and August, biologists spotted 15 or 16 groups of killer whales. In 1992 and 1993, 12 groups of whales were spotted each year during similar trips. "We really don't have a good handle on population size," Dahlheim said. Scientists are taking skin samples to determine which whales are residents and which are transients. Resident whales feed primarily on fish, while transients feed on marine mammals. Other factors could be at work, Meehan said. Scientists are looking at climate changes, including El Nino, which causes an abnormal rising of ocean temperatures and tends to move warm air into western Canada and Alaska, creating fiercer storms. Biologists will look closely at the few places in Southwest Alaska where sea otters are concentrated. Those places include sheltered areas on the north and south sides of Adak Island, and Port Moller, Nelson Lagoon and Izembeck Lagoon on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. It is important given the sharp decline in Southwest populations to keep tabs on the health of sea otters in other Alaska waters. They may be needed to repopulate areas now bereft of sea otters, Doroff said. Alaska's sea otters can make dramatic comebacks. They were hunted nearly to extinction at the turn of the last century with numbers in the United States and Russia dwindling to about 2,000 before commercial hunting was banned in 1911. For information bout the sea otters population, go to: www.alaska.fws.gov/ea/sotter/index.html
COMMUNITY DATEBOOK TODAY Anchorage: In-service day. Mat-Su: Taco Snack, chilled canned fruit, carrot sticks, milk (white or strawberry). TUESDAY Anchorage Elementary: tacos or nachos or corn dog, pineapple bites and cheese, apple, milk. Middle: pizza with additional entrees offered, fruit and vegetable, bread, milk. Mat-Su: Belgian waffles with syrup, sausage links, chilled canned fruit, Icy Juice Cup, milk (white or chocolate). BLOOD BANK Blood Bank of Alaska is back to normal operations, and donations can be made from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 4000 Laurel St. Appointments are recommended -- 563-3110 in Anchorage, 1-907-260-5672 in Soldotna and 1-907-376-1195 in Wasilla. Walk-ins accepted as time permits. TODAY COMMUNITY Alaska State Literacy Association conference continues for educators today, and a presentation by renowned literacy educator Regie Routman will be televised at 9 a.m. on ASD Cable Channel 43 at 9 a.m. Anchorage 4-H Program Open House, part of National 4-H Week, 2-8 p.m., Cooperative Extension Service Office, 2221 E. Northern Lights Blvd., Room 130. There will be presentations and exhibits on 4-H in Anchorage and a special cake to celebrate 100 years of 4-H in the United States. New members welcome. (786-6300) Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's Make It Monday Forum, noon (doors open at 11:30 a.m.), 4th Avenue Theatre. Ernie Hall from Alaskans United and Sen. Dave Donley will make a presentation on state budget issues. Cost is $14 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers; $5 for coffee only. Parking will be validated for the 6th Avenue Garage. Anchorage School Board, 4:30 p.m. Special School Board meeting, and the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m., 4600 DeBarr Road. (333-9561) Army Field Band/Soldier's Chorus, performance, sponsored by Armed Services YMCA, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), Atwood Concert Hall, Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are free (limited to four per person) and available at the center, the Anchorage Community YMCA on Lake Otis Parkway or Armed Services YMCA locations. The band, the Army's official touring musical organization, will also perform at Colony High with a 1 p.m. school performance and a 7 p.m. public performance Tuesday. The musicians also have been performing around the state and will visit Sitka on Oct. 14 and Juneau on Oct. 12. Meet the Seawolves, 12:30-2 p.m., University of Alaska Anchorage bookstore. This is an opportunity to rally support for the team and to meet UAA's new hockey coach, John Hill. Everyone is invited, especially children. (Pat, 786-4751) People for Emergency Preparedness Planning for Animals (PEPPA), 7 p.m., Jitters Coffee Shop in the Eagle River Shopping Center next to the Texaco station. Anyone interested in volunteering welcome (428-7042). Red Cross Day at Spenard Builders Supply is Columbus Day, today, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The company will sell "United We Stand" T-shirts with proceeds going to the Liberty Disaster Relief Fund. There will also be free hot dogs, apple pies and lemonade. ON THE TOWN Brown Bag Lunch Series, "Designing for Community: Eight Strategies for Community Success," featuring community planner Chris Beck, noon-1 p.m., City Hall, Mayor's Conference Room, No. 830. Bring your lunch. Topics to address include means to minimize regulation; standards for site development for buildings; creating successful, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use town centers; improving connections to natural setting; telling good stories, linking people to place. (Doug Van Etten, Assembly member, 273-7742) WORKSHOPS Cheerleading camp is offered by East High cheerleaders for boys and girls in grades 6-12, 7 a.m. with pickup no later than 5:30 p.m. at East High. Students are asked to dress appropriately and pack a sack lunch. Registration available 7-8 a.m. at the event -- $25. (Doris McCoy, 830-6710) Boating skills and seamanship classes run 7-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Oct. 8-Nov. 28, Wendler Middle School, 2905 Lake Otis Parkway, with registration at 6:30 p.m. today -- $52. (Richard Fairbanks, 248-4431) Sign Language Playgroup, 9:45-10:30 or 10:45-11:30 Mondays, for infants, toddlers and their parents to learn sign language, taught by Kathy Sage and Janelle Rogers. The next session starts today. (346-4366) TUESDAY COMMUNITY Alaska Cold Water Divers, 7 p.m. in Room 336 of the Frontier Building at the corner of 36th Avenue and C Street. Scuba divers and people interested in diving are invited. (Joe Gallagher, 229-2004) Alaska Rose Society, 7 p.m., Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova St., featuring "Growing Roses from Seeds." (Robert, 333-1481) Alaskan Prospectors Society, 7:45 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 725 W. Ninth Ave. Public welcome. The program will be "1972 Prospectors' Trip to Northeast Alaska" by Cleo McKahan. (248-1060) Diabetes Support Group, 7-9 p.m., United Way Building, 1050 W. Fireweed Lane, first-floor conference room. Dr. Leslie Glasgow speaks on kidney disease and its relationship to diabetes. Mat-Su Breast Cancer Support Group, 7-9 p.m. in Classroom C of the Valley Hospital Medical Center in Wasilla. For more information or a list of upcoming topics or to schedule a ride, call Jan, 376-8689. Retired Public Employees of Alaska October meeting, 10 a.m., Anchorage Senior Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave., with speaker David Torres of Merrill Lynch. (349-1160) ON THE TOWN "The Freeze Up Follies," 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, Fly By Night Club, 3300 Spenard Road. Tuesdays through Thursdays are smoke-free nights. Friday and Saturday, the Fabulous Spamtones play sleazy jazz and R&B after the show, no cover -- $12-$19. (279-SPAM) WORKSHOPS Dudes and Dames square dance lessons, 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Chugach Optional School, 1205 E St. -- free for first three lessons. (243-3760, 333-5748) Ikebana workshop, led by Glenne Lemereis, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 27, Pioneer Schoolhouse, 437 E. Third Ave. -- $25 per lesson. (694-4066) Mountain View Neighborhood Planning Workshop, 7-9 p.m., Leake Temple AME Zion Church, 430 N. Hoyt St., focusing on the needs and concerns of the residents in the eastern half of the Mountain View neighborhood. (Niki Burrows, 274-1179, or Allen Kemplen, 677-8428) Winter camping clinic, led by Andrew Cutting, 7 p.m., REI, 1200 W. Northern Lights Blvd. (272-4565) COMING UP Information Technology Expo & Conference, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 16-17, Egan Center, 555 W. Fifth Ave. Representatives of Apple, Adobe, Cisco, Microsoft, Novell, Compaq, Citrix and more than 100 other national and Alaska companies will be present. Events include E-enabled City Summit, Rural Communication Forum, Wearable Technology Fashion Show, Do-it-Yourself Web Design Tutorial and more. Registration available at www.sourdough.net. (277-7469) Mayor's Charity Ball, the eighth annual, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, Hilton Anchorage, with this year's beneficiaries the Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, American Diabetes Association, Girl Scouts Susitna Council and The Music Machine. Tickets cost $75 individual, $750 table of 10. For information about tickets, call 345-8718. UAA Faculty Authors Celebration, honoring Dr. Robert Fortuine of the UAA biomedical program, Monday, Oct. 22. His book "Chills and Fever" is considered a classic, and he has a new book, "Words of Medicine." (786-4759) HOW TO SEND DATEBOOK ITEMS Send information for Around Anchorage (one week in advance if possible) by fax to 258-2157, e-mail to jszabo@adn.com or mail to P.O. Box 149001, Anchorage 99514.
COURT RULES ON NEIGHBORS' FEUD Juneau -- A feud between a Ketchikan couple and an Oregon woman who owned rental property below their hillside home went all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court. Pointed biblical messages painted on the roof of a duplex owned by Leta Trask didn't rise to the legal definition of "outrageous," the state Supreme Court said in an order handed down recently. The ruling caps a dispute over construction debris from a fire at George and Elizabeth Lybrand's home that saw the two neighbors building their own retaining walls to separate the properties and eventually filing competing lawsuits alleging unneighborly behavior. "It's been a mighty expensive disagreement. It seems to be a lot over very little," said Robert Erwin, an Anchorage attorney who represented Trask. When they were unable to resolve the dispute, Trask eventually painted biblical passages on her roof below the Lybrands' home. "Do unto others" and "Love Thy Neighbor" and a large painted crucifix accompanying the words "Youre welcome George L." were among the messages. "My wife just got out of the hospital after being unconscious for a long time, and we came home to this," George Lybrand said Friday. "It's pretty bizarre what she's done," he said. Lybrand filed a lawsuit in Ketchikan Superior Court in April 1998 to get Trask to remove the messages. He also alleged the messages caused his wife to suffer emotional distress and trauma that required professional therapy. Trask and her husband, Robert, filed a countersuit for trespassing and other claims. The trial lasted four days, Erwin said. Superior Court Judge Michael Thompson dismissed the lawsuit against Trask, ruling that the words weren't outrageous enough to meet Alaska's legal definition of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Lybrand was ordered to pay a dollar for trespassing, and Trask agreed to quit painting her rooftop. "She was told by the lower court to take my name off of it," Lybrand said.
CRIMESTOPPERS Police look for information Bethel Police Department needs help solving a 5-year-old missing person case. On the morning of Sept. 26, 1996, Bethel police made contact with 17-year-old Stella Evon because she was out past curfew. An officer drove Evon to her sister's apartment, and Evon left the apartment between 5 and 6 a.m. and has not been seen or heard from since. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a blue hooded sweat shirt with a Georgetown logo on the front, a brown leather jacket, jeans and black shoes. Today, Evon would be 22. She is a Native woman, 4 -foot-11, about 100 pounds. She has brown eyes and waist-length curly brown hair. If anyone has information about her, call Crimestoppers at 561-7867. You may remain anonymous. If your tip leads to an arrest, you will be eligible for a cash reward. Anchorage police are searching for Glen Pete Cordero, who is wanted for parole violations stemming from a 1992 conviction in Utah for attempted homicide and sexual assault. Cordero has relatives in Sutton, and he is known to hang out in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough areas. Cordero, 30, is 5-foot-8 and weighs about 180 pounds. He has long brown hair and blue eyes. Cordero is deaf and communicates through sign language. He has tattoos on his arm, back and chest. Cordero may try to flee Alaska, possibly for Utah, where he has friends and relatives. If you have information about his whereabouts, call Crime Stoppers at 907-561-7867. You may remain anonymous. If your tip leads to his arrest, you may receive a cash reward.
SITKA CONTENDS WITH KNOTWEED Sitka -- Japanese knotweed is spreading in Sitka and choking out native plants. Local writer Richard Nelson is waging a campaign to wipe out the nuisance, and the U.S. Forest Service has joined the effort. Nelson said he had never heard of the plant until a couple of years ago when he watched a large clump of knotweed engulf a salmonberry bush. "That opened my eyes," Nelson said. "And I realized, this is the Schwarzenegger of the plant world." Michael Shephard, a Forest Service ecologist, participated in a knotweed surveillance study sponsored by the agency. He said knotweed could easily advance up the surrounding mountains into avalanche chutes. Once it establishes a foothold in Sitka, it could spread along the shoreline or estuaries, Shephard said. The detritus from native plants that would normally fall into the streams would be reduced, potentially affecting insect and fish populations. "It disrupts the entire cycle of the aquatic ecosystem," Shephard said. Brad Krieckhaus, a biological technician with the Forest Service, said that as far as he has seen, the plant doesn't offer anything in the way of food or nutrition for surrounding organisms. "It's pretty much just a nuisance," Krieckhaus said. Nelson also fretted about its strength against salmonberry bushes. "I have salmonberry jam every morning," he told the Daily Sentinel in Sitka. "I don't want to lose those bushes." Shephard said the knotweed was probably brought to the area in the 19th century as an ornamental plant from Great Britain. He said the British Isles already have a huge problem with it, to the point that one community has hired a person solely for the purpose of eradicating it. States like Washington and Oregon have taken action against knotweed, classifying the plant as "noxious" and imposing fines for raising it privately. Even with the use of herbicides, getting rid of large patches of knotweed can take up to eight years of repeated intervention, Krieckhaus said.
OPINION
At war American and British forces began the military phase of the campaign against Afghanistan-based terrorism Sunday. Bombs and missiles that we ardently hope reached only terrorist- and Taliban-related targets were unleashed in what must be a relentless determination to put Al-Qaida and its affiliates out of business. Timing and preparation have been the core issues for a month in the military strike against perpetrators of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Bush administration needed both time and patience to gather a sound response -- diplomatically and politically as well as militarily -- to the outrages in New York and at the Pentagon. That the United States took the time to build world support, especially with the Taliban's former ally Pakistan, was to the credit of American purposes and ideals. That President Bush has continually stressed the difference between intolerance for terrorism and respect for Islam is both morally and strategically important. The need is to stop a few tens of thousands of terrorists and their fanatical supporters, not to do battle with a billion or more Muslims. The humanitarian dimension of the campaign will help. The outside world has stepped up efforts to help Afghan refugees, and Sunday's bombing included airdrops of food and medical supplies for the people of Afghanistan. With 4 million refugees reported in or around Afghanistan, the human need is acute. So too is the job of putting Al-Qaida out of business. From Sept. 11 onward it has been apparent that a military component was required along with political and diplomatic efforts. It was bad enough that the Taliban government both oppressed its own people and sheltered Al-Qaida's terrorism before Sept. 11. When it refused afterward to disentangle itself from Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida, the Taliban became a necessary target as part of the terrorist infrastructure. We have learned the terrorists' murderous capability and intent. We know there is a chance that they will develop the capacity to deliver nuclear, biological or chemical terror down the road. That is why the times leave no room for neutrality in this campaign. That is why 38 nations, so far, are part of Operation Enduring Freedom, begun Sunday. Americans will regret this campaign, as any peace-loving people would. But they will support it -- with deep resolve and for as long as it takes. President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, after a week in which they masterfully put forth the case against Al-Qaida and the Taliban, spoke forcefully Sunday to the purposes of the strike. It was Prime Minister Blair who best touched the bottom line when he said the dangers of inaction were "far, far greater" than the dangers of the operation. And it was President Bush who once again made the key distinction in stressing that the civilized world's quarrel is with terrorists, not Muslims. "We are the friends of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith," President Bush said. "The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name." The debate here is not about sex education or the First Amendment, but about what age the schools should make available to kids sexually explicit educational materials. Good call Comeau's common sense Carol Comeau, superintendent of the Anchorage School District, has recommended restricting access to the book "It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health." It's a good call. At bottom, the debate is not about sex education or the First Amendment but about at what age the schools should make available to kids sexually explicit educational materials. That's a closer question than the hot-button issues of sex ed and freedom of speech. What Superintendent Comeau did was draw a slightly more cautious line than the district's Controversial Issues Review Committee. Her recommendation is to restrict the book in elementary schools, meaning that it would be unavailable to grade school students without parents' permission. It would stay on the shelves for middle school or high school students. Given the graphic nature of some of the illustrations in the book, this is a good idea. The book is well done, and its premise is a healthful one: that, for the most part, what young people experience, feel, fear and worry about in their sexual development is normal. The illustrations are neither lewd nor pornographic, especially when taken in context. The book provides information about sexuality with down-to-earth prose, a subtext with bird and bee characters that reflect both the bold and shy sides of adolescence, and an approach both respectful and light. Some illustrations, however, are too much for grade school students. Not every parent will want grade school-age children to look at pictures of male and female masturbation, a couple making love, a young man putting on a condom or a young woman examining herself with a mirror. This isn't a matter of censorship. For good reason, young children aren't full participants in the free flow of information. On the whole, they're not ready for full participation. Under Ms. Comeau's recommendation, those parents who want their children to see the book could make arrangements with the libraries; other parents wouldn't have to worry about their children looking at material beyond their age. The border line in this case is somewhere near middle school age, and that's where Ms. Comeau would put it. Not every decision to restrict a book is an assault on the First Amendment. Sometimes it's just common sense. We hope the School Board agrees. So, there you have it. The North Slope producers have come out and flatly stated that neither the governor's highway route nor the "over the top" route would pay the 15 percent return on investment they have used in their assessements of natural gas pipeline projects. This conclusion, on top of the other unanswered questions stirred up by choosing either route through Canada, pretty much nails down the coffin lid. It's been an interesting road show, and I don't blame the producers for conducting it. They were responding to the public's demand to do something with the gas, and the huge spike in natural gas prices last winter spurred everybody on. But a gas pipeline to the Lower 48 isn't going to happen, no matter how much we wish it were so. On the other hand, the Trans-Alaska Gas System (TAGS) project to Valdez still lives. It is still viable. It is still economical. It is an all-Alaska line that would provide Alaskans jobs during construction and on into the future during operations. It would also bring clean-burning, inexpensive natural gas to the Interior and to communities all along the Richardson Highway. Yukon-Pacific, the permit holder for the TAGS line, estimates their project would cost $10 billion, significantly less than the $15-17 billion the projects through Canada would cost. They also estimate they can deliver LNG to the U.S. West Coast for $2.10 per million BTUs, way under the $3 it will cost West Coast users to obtain LNG from foreign sources. And, they expect to be able to deliver LNG to Asia, where Alaska has had customers for 32 years, for about $2.62 per million BTUs. I have not been a cheerleader for any particular project, although it would definitely be advantageous to my hometown of Valdez to have the TAGS project. However, the handwriting on the wall seems pretty clear to me. The producers are not enamored of either the governor's highway route or the over-the-top route. The objective, now, is to get them enamored of the TAGS project. The oil companies are not going to do something that is not in their best interests if they don't have to. They are responsible to their bottom line and to their shareholders. I don't have a problem with that -- capitalism, after all, is a huge part of what made America great. To get the oil companies to see that the TAGS project is now in their best interest, just as it is in Alaska's best interest, will take a concerted effort on several fronts. First, the Citizens Initiative for an All-Alaska Gasline has been authorized to obtain signatures and try to gain placement on the November 2002 ballot. This initiative would create a publicly owned port authority to oversee private construction and operation of the gas pipeline to Valdez. I would encourage Alaskans to support this approach or the port authority blueprint put forth by the local governments of Valdez, Fairbanks and the North Slope Borough. Second, the producers need all the encouragement we can give them to do the right thing. Alaskans should take every opportunity to thank them for their past and current involvement in our state and our communities. At the same time, ask them to get on board with the All-Alaska Gasline; to agree to hire Alaskans at fair wages to build it; and support a project labor agreement to expedite the whole process. Finally, it is true that the Legislature holds various sized hammers over the oil companies, but has been less willing over the past 20 years to use them than many Alaskans think we should. While the symbiotic relationship between the state and the oil companies has produced countless benefits for Alaskans, the oil companies are still getting the best deal in the world on the North Slope. In my view, it has been worth the $100 million or so they have spent on studying alternative gas pipeline routes to the Lower 48 to keep the Legislature -- and those who would impose taxes for sitting on the gas -- at bay. We will be encouraging them to do the right thing, too. The pipelines through Canada were just pipe dreams. We should now acknowledge that and get on with more realistic proposals. Let's start with TAGS. Rep. John Harris, R-Valdez, represents District 35 (Prince William Sound and Richardson Highway communities) in the Alaska Legislature.
LETTERS Not in our town: KKK distributors should be arrested for littering Saturday, Sept. 29, I saw what appeared to be a piece of litter at the end of our driveway. How right I was. An organization called the National Alliance had left a calling card. What I found was a small plastic sleeve with 2 small rocks for weights and the most outrageous propaganda I have ever read. It said: "Not in our town. MLK III GO HOME!" The address for this supposed outfit is of course a post office box. These people skulked around before dawn (sound like terrorists to me) and didn't even venture up to peoples' doors. They left their garbage on the streets and should be arrested (no, I'm not kidding) for littering. Remember, Al Capone went to jail for tax evasion. The point is, however we can slow these people down legally, we should. I did not ask for their garbage so it is litter. They give a phone number which is a long tape recording of their Aryan philosophies. I lost the connection eventually. I called the police department and there had already been a complaint assigned to an officer. These people are the Ku Klux Klan. NOT IN OUR TOWN. -- Rose Dufault Anchorage Chickaloon peace officer aids motorists ignored by troopers During our recent visit to your beautiful state we experienced a blowout on the Glenn Highway. While we sat there with our emergency lights flashing we were passed four times by Alaska Highway Patrol cars, but none of them stopped. Finally a peace officer from the Chickaloon Village stopped and asked if we needed assistance. His stopping to see if we needed help, putting his patrol vehicle behind us with lights flashing, and then staying with us until our tire was repaired and we were ready go was, in our opinion, outstanding public service. We just wanted him to know how very much his assistance was appreciated. We think your state patrol needs patrolmen the caliber of Officer Cordero. -- Stephen Mandle Federal Way, WA Expensive Elmore Road extension doesn't pass common sense test The proposed $8 million extension of Elmore Road should not be built. Not because it ruins a quiet suburban neighborhood but because it is unsafe. The plan can be reviewed on the Internet at www.crweng.com. The intersection of Huffman and Elmore will encounter increased traffic volume. There are steep hills east and north of the intersection. The hills are too steep to install a traffic light. The plan calls for dedicated right and left turn lanes. Just west of the intersection is Huffman Elementary. Imagine six inches of new snow, an intersection with left turn traffic backed up into the through lane and a school bus headed downhill. The alternative is to build one access to the new school via DeArmoun and not extend Elmore. Why build Elmore? The only reason given by the planners is that "it's in the long-term plan." If you live nearby or have a child that attends the elementary or will attend the new high school please let your elected officials know that extending Elmore is unsafe. This plan just doesn't pass the common sense test. -- Jim Mackin Anchorage Anchorage hospitality soothed visitors during frightening times We were returning from a backpacking trip in Denali National Park on September 11 when we heard about the terrorist attack upon America. Our travel plans brought us back to Anchorage on September 12, hoping to fly home to California. Fortunately, our own personal lives were only disrupted by our being stranded for three days while the commercial flights were grounded. It seemed like an eternity, though, and there was some trepidation about the safety of flying. It was, and still is, such an emotional time for Americans. Anchorage rallied through this tragedy and became a haven for its stranded travelers. From a woman waving a large American flag at the passing vehicles from a freeway overpass to Tony Carter of the Copper Whale Inn making sure a room was available for us until we called him the minute before we finally loaded on a plane, we knew Anchorage was a safe community. These people and many more made a bright spot in our hearts during an otherwise very sad time. -- Alice and Brion Dunbar Grass Valley, California Clinton's gone; nominally literate Bush generates war, recession Make no mistake, I love America, even though I very often disagree strongly with its leaders and jingoists. I love the ideals of America, America at its best. I love the civil freedom we are guaranteed, including the freedom of speech and freedom to peaceably dissent from the opinions of others. I may strongly disagree with what others say, but, as the saying goes, I will try my best to defend their right to say it. I will also fight for these freedoms, these American ideals. However, I will not support religious intolerance, bigotry or bashing people of different skin color or religions who are themselves peaceful. I will not fight for diminishment of freedoms or for anything running against the American ideal. One other thing: Isn't it great that the Clinton era is over? Recession, war since Bush came in. My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is over. I certainly hope our nominally literate president doesn't advance too strongly his characterization of our war with terrorism as a "crusade," as I heard he did the other day. There was enough of that back in the Dark Ages. This war should not be about religion, but instead a struggle for ethics and decency. There's a profound difference. -- Jim Starr Fairbanks How many Americans must die before it's OK to defend ourselves? I see the "peace movement" coming out suggesting in a twist of logic that the bombings are our fault. That we shouldn't go to war. That we should appease countries and terrorists. Terrorism supported by nation-states will never cease unless action is taken. History proves this. One is a fool to ignore the facts. The terrorists count on a large peace movement that gives no solution but pacification. This would undermine the resolve of our nation. The peace movement would have us blame ourselves. In doing this, we will allow terrorism to be justified. The value of American lives is cheapened. How many innocent men, women and children must die before one would allow us to defend ourselves? Must we wait until terrorists kill again? Would one leave the innocent at the mercy of those who prescribe genocide? There is no reason to justify the terror of September 11 nor allow it to continue. There is a time when peace is only assured with vigilance. We must bring terrorists to justice. This means fighting for peace with all available methods to protect us and prevent future bloodshed. This is the only way real peace is achieved. -- Duane Cunningham Anchorage Americans must stand defiantly in face of terrorist strikes I was in Europe on Sept. 11 when the World Trade Center tragedy occurred. Although shocked, I was not really surprised as history clearly demonstrates that religious fanaticism of all varieties is capable of the most horrific atrocities. The one thing that every American can do to combat these acts is to stand defiant. This means taking sensible precautions without overreacting. It is essential that everyone go about their lives in a normal as manner as possible. I flew from London to Montreal, to Newark, to Anchorage as scheduled. I will fly on my vacation in January as scheduled. Growing up in London during World War II, we were bombed at night and I went to school the next day, we were bombed again and I went to school during the blitz, the V1s, and the V2s. We must not let fear paralyze us because then the terrorists will have succeeded. As this episode clearly shows, the danger is not from ballistic missiles but here on the ground. Money should be diverted from the ABM program to expand our emergency preparedness to deal with future attacks which are inevitable as it is not possible to totally prevent determined men who are willing to die for their beliefs. -- Peter Jenkins Eagle River Ben Franklin's words are worth repeating in wake of terror attacks What happened on Tuesday, September 11, was a horrible tragedy. Many U.S citizens are saying we need to take away some of our civil liberties for more safety. Trading our civil liberties is not what we need to do, what we need to do is add more safety to our lives! Freedom is what makes America strong, if we take some of it away we could collapse. We could be destroyed by the terrorists. In worst cases, become a Third-World country. That would be very, very terrible. A famous man named Benjamin Franklin once said that if we're willing to trade our freedom for safety we don't deserve either. In other words, is our safety worth sacrificing our civil liberties? If we do give up some of our civil liberties we could start to turn into the countries that have no rights or privileges like the people that live under the Taliban. That would not be good. Don't be fooled into thinking we need to sacrifice some of our freedoms for safety. We need to maintain our freedoms because those rights and privileges are what make America, "the land of the free." -- Chelsea Murnan 6th Grader Sand Lake Elementary Anchorage Pipeline vandal should stay in prison until he pays full restitution I was very disturbed to read about the fellow shooting a hole in the trans-Alaska oil pipeline ("Bullet pierces pipeline" Oct. 5). As a former employee of Alyeska Pipeline, I worked for many years on Alyeska's Contingency Planning projects. These efforts included many spill drills in Valdez, developing computerized systems to be used during crisis management and developing computerized predictive corrosion models. All of this energy was directed toward the single goal of keeping oil off the ground and out of the water, and recovering from unpredictable accidents. Alyeska may not be everyone's perfect corporate image, for whatever reasons, but I know from firsthand experience that thousands of hours and millions of dollars were poured into spill avoidance and recovery efforts. Needless to say, it made my blood boil to hear of this wanton, irresponsible and deplorable act of senseless vandalism, especially when put in the context of the events of the past month. Lock him up and throw away the key until he makes FULL restitution. If that means that he works for minimum wage picking up trash along the pipeline right-of-way for the next 20 years, so be it. -- Tony Vita Anchorage WalMart parking lot flag thief is a coward, not a patriot October 3rd in the WalMart parking lot next to the Dimond Center, someone stole a magnetic American flag from the door of a green Suburban. I am proud to be an American and for years have proudly displayed the American flag on my home as well as on my vehicles. Whoever stole this flag has no right to display it, or to claim their patriotism as they are no more than a cowardly thief, no better than the terrorists who hide in the shadows. -- Betty Harriman Anchorage Speaking of tree-cutting, how many trees were felled making the trails? Isn't this just about the funniest thing you've read? I'm talking about the article "Tree clearing angers passers-by" (Sept. 27), where trail-users are alarmed at some missing trees. "A swath of trees" cut. Of course, we must make the accusing point that they were cut by the "owner of a $731,000, six-bedroom home." It had to be someone with money to cut down trees. Really? How much money was spent to make the trail in the first place? And how many swaths of trees were cut for that? How much of the environment was permanently changed for the enjoyment of just a portion of our population? I find it amazing that people see only to the end of their noses when making such statements. Right now plans are being discussed to cut many more trees for additional trails. As if there aren't enough trails already! Where is that "social conscience and an environmental awareness" on that one? I have no objection to the trails, but there are a lot of people who don't use them and would just as soon see the effort/money put elsewhere. And I can sympathize on losing a view. We used to have a very grand, sweeping view of the mountains, but now the neighbors' trees erased all that. Trees are pretty, but so are other parts of our environment. -- Nita Meierhoff Anchorage Don't stereotype one group; many students are to blame I am a senior at Dimond High School and would like to point out the misconception that all of our problems with underage smoking and other community issues occur across the streets and in the surrounding woods of our high schools ("Student board looks for smoking answers" Sept. 30). To further stereotype these students as drug abusers, smokers, and agitators is wrong. Even though these students may dress differently, their attitudes and actions are quite similar to the rest of the student body. It is not only the neighborhoods that get trashed, but also our student parking lots and surrounding school grounds that suffer when the rest of our "responsible" students drop their burger bags by their cars as they come from lunch. Also, the group of students that hang out across the street are not the only ones who smoke. There are many athletes and I would even venture to suggest students in leadership positions who do the same. The school board, along with the rest of Anchorage, should not demonize the kids across the street, but help our students become better citizens in order to solve problems. It must be made clear that at Dimond many students from all realms are doing their best to stop the littering and disrespect that has caused so much trouble and anger. We are standing united as a school. -- Amy Downing Anchorage Murkowski sinks to new depths in trying to force ANWR issue The depths to which our congressional leadership can sink have been significantly lowered by Sen. Murkowski's attempt to get drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge linked to legislation to pursue sanctions against countries supporting terrorists and a bill to stimulate the economy. After initially rejecting the tactic as "inappropriate," Murkowski now is willing to make the nation less secure in order to "get an energy bill to the floor" ("Murkowski set to stall Senate" Sept. 28). What he really wants is an oil bill. His shortsightedness is shocking. The United States could save as much energy as exists in ANWR, in one day, by switching to energy-efficient light bulbs. Moreover, as Arctic Power spends state money to lobby for oil companies, we increase our dependence on all oil, including foreign sources. If drilling proponents had succeeded ten or more years ago, where would ANWR oil be? Gone. Where would and will we be? Still dependent on oil, including foreign sources. The Green Party of Alaska is the only political party in Alaska that supports protection of ANWR. Since its inception, the Green Party has sought an energy policy that will spur our economy while decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. Only by decreasing demand can we lessen our addiction to all oil. -- Steve Cleary, Co-Chair Green Party of Alaska Saving bonds a great way to help stumbling economy Purchasing savings bonds may well be one of the better ways for Americans to help with the economic shock waves that hit with the horrific events on Sept. 11. The federal government will soon need "low-cost loans" to fund increased security and national defense measures, and to help the airline industry get back on its feet. Bonds are also an investment in the economy, because money flows to private companies that provide the necessary products and expertise. The government may soon make a pitch for Americans to "Buy Bonds" as it has done in past times of conflict and war. Until then, we wanted to share the idea and some information with fellow citizens. We learned that the current savings bond interest rate is 4.50 percent at www.savingsbonds.gov. That's better than current money market or one-year CD rates. This rate is good only until Nov. 1, when the Treasury Department will review bond rates. What do you want to bet it goes down? A $1,000 bond costs $500 now and takes 30 years to mature, but it can be cashed in anytime after 6 months with prorated interest. We also found that one can buy over the Internet. -- Stephenie & Paul Wheeler Anchorage Get rid of evil'? What about the wrongs against Native Americans? I heard the president talking about getting rid of "evil", referring to the Sept. 11 attack on America. I am compelled to reflect on the history of this country. First, I've been told that lying and stealing are "evils." Most of the lands on this continent (including ANCSA) were stolen through deceitful means from the Native Americans. Who is going to rid us of this evil? I say no one. We have lived with this evil for nearly six hundred years. Native Americans have lived with terrorism, starting with the annihilation by Christopher Columbus. Sand Creek and Wounded Knee in the Lower 48 and the bombardment of Angoon by the U.S. Navy in Southeast Alaska are specifics. It is estimated there have been 10 to 20 million Native Americans slaughtered since Columbus came. Despite these facts, Native Americans have served with honor and distinction in the U.S. military. More Native Americans per capita have served in the Armed Forces than any other ethnic group in this country. The Jewish people cannot make such a claim about serving in the German army after World War II. For having lived with evil for nearly six hundred years and serving honorably in the military I propose we Native Americans are an advanced civilization. An advanced civilization need not kill needlessly when responding to terrorism. -- Hugh Walker Fairbanks This will involve all Americans, not just the soldiers sent to fight It is important that the American public be well informed so they should not drift into a funk of complacency that would not relieve them from the responsibility of constant vigilance. This is not just Bush's war. We were attacked on our own home soil, and we know this is only the beginning. Therefore, this war involves every American, not just those we send overseas. It is not possible for us to return to normal now because we have been raped of our carefree innocence and we feel the pain of all the terrorist victims the world over. We have a choice to actively take part in the detection and apprehension of these infiltrators or to idly sit by and hope that the myriad government agencies will get in a cooperative lockstep to prevent the next disaster. The public knows when a sinister stranger is in its midst, but by tradition we honor and respect other people's privacy. This was proven by recent events to be lethal to our personal welfare, and common sense dictates we can no longer afford some of this luxury. It is past time that the Neighborhood Watch is expanded to every nook and cranny of our nation. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge has been appointed to direct the new Office of Homeland Security and he will be the man to see. -- Evan Cundiff Homer Rules have changed; pipeline should be contained in Alaska Petroleum companies operate from the precept that construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope is contingent upon economic projections based on traditional data techniques of the 20th Century. Alaskans are functioning in the 21st century, where circumstances beyond our control have changed the way things work, perhaps forever. Regardless of current gas prices, due to unsettled world conditions, Alaska's energy resources are increasing in value and becoming most vital to the well-being of our nation. The North Slope may be far away from Kansas City, but it's a lot closer than Saudi Arabia. The security of Alaska's oil and gas fields and pipelines is now linked to our national security. Threats to gas and oil production can best be countered if the delivery infrastructure is on U.S. soil. When we consider how to value and deliver our Alaska gas resources, we need to adapt our thinking. Remember, somebody just changed the rules in the middle of the game. During these volatile times, is it appropriate for corporate bean counters, operating from a private economic perspective, to determine the security policy and economic well-being of our state and nation? The time for an all-Alaska gas pipeline has just arrived. And it can best be built in Alaska, by Alaskans. -- John Whiting Eagle River It's always a good time to display red, white and blue This is in response to a letter from Jim White (Continental Auto, please save your Red, White and Blue Sale' for July" Oct. 2) wherein Mr. White was "appalled" by a local business having a "Red, White and Blue" sale so close to the Sept. 11 attack on our country and stating that July is the appropriate time for such an event. I believe Mr. White has missed the point. Our president has called us to get back to the business of America. With that, businesses all over our city, state and country are boldly, proudly and patriotically displaying our "colors." Whether it is with flag displays, banners or ribbons, the red, white and blue are prevalent throughout our communities. I, for one, as a military veteran want to thank and, yes, salute every business and family that is taking the time and effort to show their patriotism by proudly waving the red, white and blue and incorporating a sense of national pride into what they do, showing gratitude, and acknowledging we are a great and blessed nation. What I do find appalling is that it took this tragedy to awaken and then wave our banners. Please, let's not keep our flags, our pride, our colors in the closet only to be displayed on July 4th. -- Brad Alexander Anchorage Spiritual, religious aspects should be discussed more Thank you for the Compass opinion piece published Oct. 1, "Keep children spiritually healthy." The article was very encouraging. Mr. Block did a great job of pointing out the wonderful strengths that are inherent in children and how those qualities can be, and need to be, supported and nourished by our communities. I appreciate that these are demanding times and that there are many complex issues challenging all thinking and caring individuals. Much attention is given to the moral, legal and ethical questions surrounding these issues. However, all too often the spiritual and religious aspects of these important matters are left out of the discussion. I commend the Daily News for providing its readers with a much needed spiritual perspective on the health and well being of our children. -- Ron Mangelsdorf Palmer
VOICE OF THE TIMES With Comeau's good decision . . . Sanity returns SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT Carol Comeau made a sensible decision on handling of the sexual health book "It's Perfectly Normal." Comeau decided that the book should have restricted access in elementary school libraries but remain on open book shelves in middle schools. In short, she decided what was appropriate for the age levels of the kids. The book is an award winner and contains valuable information about human sexuality. The complaints from parents and community members related largely to its illustrations, which ranged from people hugging to having sex, masturbating and examining themselves with mirrors. If the School Board adopts her recommendation on Monday, the book will be available in elementary schools on a reserved basis rather than on open shelves. The Anchorage School District has 61 elementary schools and nine middle schools. "It's Perfectly Normal" was available on open shelves in 16 schools at both levels. Comeau said all but one of the principals at elementary schools affected supported taking it off the shelves. Three of the principals said children at their schools took the book into schoolroom corners to giggle over the pictures. Comeau said she thought most elementary kids didn't really read the book, but flipped through the pictures instead. Though some will scream foul, Comeau's decision is not censorship. It's just a sensible decision about what's appropriate for children of a certain age. That's her job and she proposes to do the right thing. Out of orbit SOME TIME ago, we told you how the Los Angeles County tax assessor was angling to tax eight satellites valued at about $800,000 -- and in a geostationary orbit above the equator. Assessor Rick Auerbach, buoyed by a 3-decades-old court opinion, had claimed the satellites, owned by Los Angeles-based Hughes Electronics, should be included on the county's tax rolls. He said they are no different than other movable property subject to taxes, such as boats or construction equipment, and he said the satellites could bring in millions for the county, the Associated Press reports. The California Board of Equalization, in 5-0 vote, has decided that Auerbach was way out of orbit, and it prohibited state and local taxation of satellites. That's good news for Hughes Electronics and taxpayers everywhere who find themselves routinely fighting to keep government bureaucrats out of their pockets. In Los Angeles County, at least, taxes may be pricey, but they never will be sky-high.
BUSINESS REGAIN FOOTING AS WORLD SHIFTS Q. Am I the only one who can't quite get back to work after the Sept. 11 events? I can't seem to focus on what I'm doing and I'm making dozens of mistakes. I feel like quitting my job and doing something more meaningful but I don't know what. I called the American Red Cross but they only have volunteer openings. My job just seems so unimportant that it's hard to take it seriously any more. A. Many employees travel to work each day wondering when and how hard the other shoe may drop. Some feel their nerves tingle when they hear a plane flying low overhead or hear the sound of distant sirens. Many question the meaning of what they do at work when the crisis now facing our country makes their job tasks feel inconsequential. On Sept. 11, our world shifted irrevocably. What happened in New York, Arlington, Va., and Pennsylvania gut-kicked each of us. Some of us relentlessly follow the latest news developments. Others of us shut our eyes and ears and say, "I don't want to keep hearing about this." All of us, however, need to regain our footing in a world that shifted. We regain our balance when we "get" what happened and decide how to change to adjust to the new reality. When Starbucks employees charged rescue workers for water to help World Trade Center victims, they clearly didn't "get it." What better signal could the rest of us receive for how we as a country have stopped feeling and seeing? How many of us still live in partial denial that we are at war and that "concerned with me, to heck with thee" won't cut it any more? "Getting it" includes realizing you may be wasting your time in a job that doesn't give you a sense of purpose. If this becomes your conclusion, take a skills inventory and look around you. What do you like to do, what can you do and what skills do you need to develop to get a job you'd find meaningful? If you feel you can do more with the skills you've already developed, perhaps you need to move on to a job with more impact or to turn your wake-up call into an opportunity by letting your manager know you'd like to do more. In short, come to terms in your work life with what President Bush meant when he said, "we'll not be defined by our time but we'll define it." Now is about making the best choices we can -- right from our place in the battle, our work sites and homes. You can be Walter Mitty and fantasize about how you'd be were you on the front lines or you can step up to the plate right from the spot in which you now serve. Terrorists take a country apart by creating fear and a sense of powerlessness and disillusionment. Terrorists win when we react in fear and lose our resolve and commitment. We fight back with our ability to face reality and move forward. Do you need to move on to a new job or instead change how you act in the job you now hold? Lynne Curry is a local management trainer and consultant. Her advice and opinion column appears Mondays. Questions for her column may be faxed to her at 907-258-2157 or mailed to her c/o Anchorage Daily News, P.O. Box 149001, Anchorage 99514-9001. Her e-mail is lynne@thegrowthcompany.net.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD Tuesday The Mat-Su Borough Small Business Development Center offers "Getting Started in Business" from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its Wasilla office. The seminar covers the basics of starting a business. R.S.V.P. to 1-907-373-7232. Tuesday The Alaska Travel Industry Association 2001 Convention, "Tourism -- Focus on the Big Picture," takes place in Anchorage at the Egan Center and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts beginning at 8 a.m. The complete program and registration forms are on the ATIA Web site at www.alaskatia.org. Wednesday The Mat-Su Borough Small Business Development Center offers "How to Write an Effective Business Plan" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Wasilla office. Learn what a business plan can do for you. Pre-registration is required. R.S.V.P. to 1-907-373-7232. Wednesday Alaska InvestNet sponsors "Matching Product and Market" from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott Hotel. Laura Milner of University of Alaska Fairbanks and Scott Miller of the McDowell Group will lead the seminar. To register, contact 1-888-393-3663 or www.alaskainvestnet.org. Wednesday Al Parrish, vice president of Holland America and the Northwest Cruiseship Association, presents "The State of the Visitor Industry Since the Events of Sept. 11th" to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at the Old Town Village Restaurant in Kenai. For more information, call 1-907-283-7989.
BUSINESS PEOPLE Jim Palmer will leave his post as vice president, Alaska external affairs for BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. on Nov. 1. Pat Presley, currently BP general manager of state government relations on the West Coast, will direct BP's Alaska external affairs organization. Presley brings 20 years of experience with state and federal governments. Palmer will stay on as senior political advisor for Alaska, a new position, to help Presley take over. Palmer joined BP in 1984. He plans to retire in February 2003. Dixie Hutchinson, formerly with public radio in Wrangell, is the new KNBA (90.3-FM) news director. She has 10 years of experience, and is now developing news programs with a Native focus. USKH Inc., an architectural, land surveying, planning, and multidisciplinary engineering firm, hired Steven Scott as survey instrument operator in the Anchorage office. Scott has 11 years of survey experience. Julianna Guy, former president of the Alaska Public Radio Network, has contracted with the WOMEN$fund of the YWCA as micro-loan coordinator. In her position, Guy will be handling all loan application procedures for businesswomen seeking loans of up to $10,000 with which to start or develop a small business in Anchorage and the Mat-Su area. Brett Walker has joined Aurora Electric Datatel as the network sales manager. Walker is focused on the task of developing long-term relationships with new and existing Aurora clients. He has more than 12 years of sales experience. Management training and consulting firm The Growth Co. Inc. hired Karla Jutzi as a senior associate. Jutzi has 20 years of experience as a trainer and facilitator, most recently with NEA-Alaska. She will conduct trainings and provide mediation and consulting services. Law firm Delaney Wiles Hayes Gerety Ellis & Young hired Ann Black and Kevin Donley as associate attorneys in its litigation practice group. Black, JD, has experience as a prosecutor with the U.S. Trial Judiciary and with criminal defense with the U.S. Air Force. Donley, JD, was assistant district attorney in Anchorage and a law clerk in the Superior Court of Alaska. Jeff Ranf was hired as senior vice president of employee benefits for Brady & Co. The company said he has 15 years management experience with employee benefits, most recently with McLaughlin, Piven, Vogel in San Francisco. Loren Church joined Sprocketheads as editor, the film and video production company announced. Church has an associate's degree in visual communications and experience as KTVA promotions producer. He will be in charge of post-production. Allstate Insurance announced Rob Enders joined the company as a personal financial representative. He will offer insurance products and mutual funds. Enders, formerly an agent with New York Life, has 12 years of experience in insurance and financial services. Nicole Neinas joined ECI/Hyer Inc. Architecture, Planning, Interiors and Development as an interior designer. Neinas has a bachelor's degree in interior design, and her National Council for Interior Design qualification. She has experience in all phases of design projects, including large office projects. Aurora Waldorf School of Alaska hired Peter Bennett as a first grade teacher and Patricia Campabello as a fifth grade teacher. Bennett has a bachelor's and a Waldorf Teaching degree. Campabello has two bachelor's and experience teaching seventh and eighth grades in Anchorage. Rural Alaska Community Action Program Inc. promoted Ginny Stocker to child development systems leader and Debi Baldwin to child development head start program leader. Stocker will supervise the Child Development Center, data and support and the training departments and will do program evaluation. Baldwin will oversee home-based and center-based programs, manage program operations, budgets and personnel. First National Bank Alaska promoted April Holloway to branch manager at its Palmer branch. Holloway has a bachelor's degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Holloway will oversee operations, make lending decisions and supervise a staff of 10. Lynne Johnson, University of Alaska Southeast development director, received the professional designation of certified fund-raising executive. The designation is given by an independent credentialing program in cooperation with leading philanthropic associations. Gary Bledsoe of UIC Construction Inc. was certified by Board Certified Safety Professionals as having an ergonomics specialty. The American Academy of Family Physicians announced it chose Dr. Cathy Baldwin-Johnson of Wasilla as 2002 Family Physician of the Year.
BUSINESS MEETINGS Monday Ernie Hall, Alaskans United, and state Sen. Dave Donley, R-Anchorage, talk about state budget issues at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce meeting at the 4th Avenue Theatre at noon. R.S.V.P. to 272-2401 or www.anchoragechamber.org in the Calendar of Events section. Tuesday The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce meets at the Riverside House at noon. Larry Persily, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Revenue, will speak. For more information, call 1-907-262-9814. The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce meets at the Mat-Su Resort at noon. State Sen. John Cowdery, R-Anchorage, will discuss airline safety, and Brad Connell, sales account executive for Alaska Airlines, will present an update on Alaska Airlines operations. Call 1-907-376-1299 for more information. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers meets at 11:30 a.m. at Peggy's Restaurant, 1675 E. Fifth Ave. in the upstairs conference room. Chris West from BP will speak on the North Slope development of BP Milne Point Unit S-Pad. Contact: Ed Ruebling, 550-8229. Wednesday The American Society of Women Accountants meets at noon at National Bank of Alaska, at C Street and Northern Lights Boulevard. Valerie Allmon, CWCP, will present "Some Things Every Manager and Supervisor Should Know About Workers' Compensation Insurance". One hour CPE is available. R.S.V.P. to Mary Mattson, mattsonm@ak.net or 271-5835. Watch Scott Gillespie of Travel Analytic Inc. in Ohio update his Web site at the Alaska Business Travel Association meeting at noon in the Anchorage Downtown Marriott Hotel, 820 W. Seventh Ave. Gillespie will discuss strategic sourcing of travel suppliers. For more information, contact kzak@ustravelak.com. The Society of Mining Engineers and Alaska Miners Association meet at noon at the Sourdough Mining Co. restaurant, 5200 Juneau St. in Anchorage. Dwight Bradley with the U.S. Geological Survey will speak on: "A Tertiary Slab Window in Alaska and its Resource Application." R.S.V.P. by noon Tuesday to Betty at 243-2185, fax 243-5526, e-mail akkenn@alaska.net. The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce meet at the Moose Lodge in Palmer at noon. Sammye Pokryfki, executive director of the United Way of Mat-Su, will talk about this year's campaign. For more information, call Dee Prickett at 1-907-745-2880. Al Parrish, vice president of Holland America and the Northwest Cruiseship Association, presents "The State of the Visitor Industry Since the Events of Sept. 11th" to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at noon at the Old Town Village Restaurant in Kenai. For more information, call 1-907-283-7989. Professional photographer Hal Gage speaks to the Alaskan Apple Users Group at 6:30 p.m. at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, 121 7th Ave. For more information, call 566-0956 or go to www.akappleug.org. Thursday The Alaska Support Industry Alliance meets at 7 a.m. at the Anchorage Petroleum Club, 3301 C St. Ann Spohnholz, executive director of Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium, and Kitty Farnham, learning and occupational development manager, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., will give a presentation on APICC and work force development. R.S.V.P. required. Call 563-2226, fax 561-8870 or e-mail thealli@gci.net. The Billikin Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals meets at the Millennium Hotel at 5:30 p.m. Deb Sandra of First Union Securities will present "Finances -- Investing for Women." R.S.V.P. by Tuesday to Carol Fuller at 345-5411. Go to www.alaska.net/~billikin for more information. Sharon Weiss of Illusions Too presents "Graphics. . .Formats and Design" at the Alaska Computer Society Users Group meeting at 7 p.m. at the Carr Gottstein Building, Alaska Pacific University. Weiss will discuss graphics formats, and how to choose the best one. For more information, contact marfel@alaska.net. The Alaska chapter of the American Marketing Association meets at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel at noon. Kellie Thomson, assistant vice president public relations officer, and Anita Foster, assistant vice president marketing officer, of Northrim Bank, will give a presentation on internal marketing. R.S.V.P. to 566-3911 or info@amaak.org. For more information, visit www.amaak.org. Kay Cashman of Petroleum News speaks to the North Peninsula Chamber of Commerce at noon at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Nikiski. Contact: Marty Anderson, 1-907-283-8095. Fritz Gunkel, drilling manager for Alaska BP Drilling and Wells, speaks at the International Association of Drilling Contractors meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Millennium Hotel, 4800 Spenard Road. For more information: 561-7458 or annegreen@gci.net. Friday The Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau meets at the Mat-Su Resort in Wasilla at noon. Robin Nobles of the Academy of Web Specialists will give tips on how to boost traffic to your site. R.S.V.P. by Wednesday to 1-907-745-5000 or info@alaskavisit.com. Tuesday, Oct. 16 Chugiak/Eagle River Women in Business Network meets at 9 a.m. in the Parks and Recreation conference room above the Garcia restaurant in Eagle River. Lynne Curry will present "To Stay in Business, Reach for Those Powerful Motivators!" R.S.V.P. by Friday, Oct. 12 to Cindy at 696-2273 or fax 694-8446. Thursday, Oct. 18 The Mat-Su Homebuilders Association holds its annual meeting, featuring the Showcase of Homes awards, at 6 p.m. at the new Evangelo's, Mile 40 Parks Highway. R.S.V.P. by Friday, Oct. 12 to 1-907-376-2666.
BUSINESS SEMINARS Tuesday The Mat-Su Borough Small Business Development Center offers "Getting Started in Business" from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its office, 201 N. Lucille St. Suite 2-A, Wasilla. The seminar will cover the basics of starting a business, including the importance of good record-keeping and typical insurance requirements. Cost is $20. R.S.V.P. to 1-907-373-7232. The Alaska Travel Industry Association 2001 Convention "Tourism -- Focus on the Big Picture" takes place in Anchorage at the Egan Center and Alaska Center for the Performing Arts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The complete program and registration forms are on the ATIA Web site at www.alaskatia.org under the events button. Wednesday The Mat-Su Borough Small Business Development Center offers "How to Write an Effective Business Plan" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its office, 201 N. Lucille St. Suite 2-A, Wasilla. Learn what a business plan can do for you, whether you're new to business or already rolling. Cost is $20, and pre-registration is required. R.S.V.P. to 1-907-373-7232. Alaska InvestNet, a nonprofit statewide capital matching network, sponsors "Matching Product and Market" from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Anchorage Downtown Marriott Hotel. Laura Milner of University of Alaska Fairbanks and Scott Miller of the McDowell Group will lead the seminar. Cost ranges from $50 to $95. For more information or to register, contact 1-888-393-3663 or www.alaskainvestnet.org. Karla Jutzi of The Growth Co. Inc. offers "Presentation Skills" from 8:30 a.m. to noon at 2221 E. Northern Lights. Setting the stage, organization, calmness, audience participation and answering questions will be covered. Cost is $79. For more information, go to www.thegrowthcompany.net. A two-day National Seminars Group workshop, "The Essentials of Communicating with Tact and Finesse" runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Days Inn, 321 E. Fifth Ave. Cost is $395. Call 1-800-258-7246 to enroll. The Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor and the University of Alaska Small Business Development Center offer "Employer Payroll Taxes," from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Department of Labor, 3301 Eagle St. Room 101. The free workshop will help small business employers understand their employment tax responsibilities, and how to correctly prepare tax forms. Call 274-7232 for more information. Thursday "Recent Developments in Intellectual Property and E-Commerce on the Internet," sponsored by the Alaska Bar Association, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hotel Captain Cook. Hear about the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act and more, while earning 5.75 general CLE credits. Registration is $135. Fax to 272-2932, or go to www.alaskabar.org. Friday A pre-disaster preparedness seminar runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Anchorage Hilton, in the Denali Room. Rod Kaufman of the Building and Office Managers Association, and Major Mike Haller with the state Division of Emergency Services will give the presentation. Cost at the door is $85. R.S.V.P. to irene_tomory@chugachelectric.com or fax 762-4816. Call 762-4112 with any questions. "How to Write Better and Faster" is offered by the National Seminars Group from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Days Inn, 321 E. Fifth Ave. Cost is $195; less if also attending the company's communication workshop. Call 1-800-258-7246 to enroll. Saturday Victoria Gofman offers a six-week interior design course on basic decorating principles and residential design projects. Classes are held noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays beginning Oct. 13, at 1441 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Suite A. Cost is $125. R.S.V.P. to 274-4470 or designvsg@aol.com.
SPORTS
ACES SHOW FLASHES OF POTENTIAL At first glance, the Anchorage Aces seem to possess many of the components necessary to shrug off two straight losing seasons and again become a contender in the West Coast Hockey League. In a pair of exhibition losses to the speedy Colorado Gold Kings at the Soldotna Sports Center over the weekend -- Anchorage fell 3-2 and 4-2 -- the Aces showed off strong goaltending, excellent team speed and no shortage of skilled forwards. Granted, the Aces suffered their share of disjointed moments in the series, but many of those could be chalked up to a collection of players and a new coach, Butch Goring, who are still getting to know each other. The significant roster turnover from last season -- 14 of the 22 players who played against the Gold Kings are new to the organization -- meant chemistry between forward linemates and defensive pairings is in its early stages. Because the team has only been together 10 days, players still are learning each other's tendencies and capabilities. "There are times we look in sync and times we look very out of sync," Goring said. A case in point was the forward line of center Clayton Beddoes and wingers Dean Larson and Jeff Petruic. The line played decently Friday. Then, with one game under its belt, the line made an impact Saturday, scoring both Aces goals and generating plenty of scoring opportunities. Larson scored a short-handed goal off a feed from Beddoes and Petruic scored on a line rush after passes from Beddoes and Larson. "I think we've got a lot of potential," Beddoes said. "Once Butch has everything figured out and guys know their roles, we're going to be a great team." Goring gave special-teams time to an abundance of players in his quest to determine who will fit where. Nearly every skater logged time on the power-play or penalty-killing units, but during the season, special teams will be the province of fewer players. He rolled four lines both nights, but during the season, league teams generally use three lines. He gave his defensive pairings equal ice time, but during the season the top two pairings will likely get more ice time than the third pairing. The Aces were guilty of sloppiness that is to be expected in the preseason. They went long periods without finishing checks or even delivering them. They occasionally were caught out of position defensively. And they often passed up good scoring chances in search of better ones, only to squander the opportunity altogether. But they didn't lack for effort, not surprising for a bunch trying to impress a new coach and general manager Stirling Wright, and skating with the knowledge that at least a couple more roster cuts are forthcoming. "You could feel the pressure throughout the week," Larson said. "Guys had to make the hockey team." In goal, the Aces look set. Former NHL goalie Scott Bailey made 31 saves in the 3-2 loss. He was sound positionally, was excellent at seeing the puck through traffic and did well controlling his rebounds. Goalie Tom Lawson made 34 saves Saturday. "One thing's for certain," Goring said. "If they can continue to give us performances like that night in and night out, we'll win some hockey games." One shortcoming for the Aces could be on the blueline, where newcomer Jim Paek, the former NHLer, and veteran Ace Chris Newans were strong. Newcomer Shane Kenny showed flashes. Beyond those three, though, the Aces looked thin on defensemen. Wright said he was generally pleased with the talent he has assembled. "I think it's a lot stronger than we've had," he said. "I certainly don't think we'll get off to the slow start the team has the last couple of years. We're very talented up front -- maybe too much talent and not enough grit -- and Bailey did very well." The Aces open the regular season Saturday against the Gold Kings in Colorado Springs, Colo. Wright has until Wednesday to make his final cuts and submit his roster to the league, and he said he may take all that time to arrive at his decisions. "I want to take a chance to look at this in my head," Wright said after Saturday's game. "You don't want to react emotionally. Some guys have been real pleasant surprises. Some, to be honest, have been disappointments." Aces notes Goring used the same four forward lines both nights. Besides Beddoes, Larson and Petruic, the combinations were Kimbi Daniels with Trevor Jobe and Jarret Zukiwsky; Bobby Davis with Daniel Goneau and Tobin Praznik; and J.J. Wrobel with Bobby Cunningham and Avishai Geller. Goring said the two exhibition losses did nothing to temper his enthusiasm or optimism. "I'm not discouraged," he said. "Wins and losses in exhibition games are nothing to be overly concerned about." Daily News assistant sports editor Doyle Woody can be reached at dwoody@adn.com.
IN THE AREA TUESDAY RUNNING: Tuesday Night Race Series #5, 6 p.m. meet, Moseley Sports Center. HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Bartlett at Service, West at Chugiak, East at Dimond, Heritage Christian at ACS, all at 7 p.m.; Houston at Grace Christian, 7:30 p.m.
IN BRIEF TRIATHLON Alaskans compete in Ironman KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii -- Tim DeBoom overcame a three-minute penalty at the end of the bicycle ride Saturday to become the first American in five years to win the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. DeBoom, 30, of Lyons, Colo., holding a small American flag, crossed the finish line in an unofficial time of eight hours, 31 minutes and 17 seconds. Alaska had three finishers in the event, all from Anchorage. Harry Johnson placed 19th in the male 45-49 class in 11:11:08. Jeni Winegarner placed 20th in the female 40-44 class at 13:04:48 and Jan Nyboer was 31st in the male 55-59 in 15:30:29. Switzerland's Natascha Badmann repeated as the women's winner with a time of 9:28:37.
LIFESTYLES
TALENT OVERCOMES ALARMING START TO SYMPHONY SEASON The program originally announced for the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra season opener Saturday night was altered -- a response to "the tragic events of September 11th," conductor Randall Craig Fleischer explained. As has been the custom, the concert opened with the national anthem and "Alaska's Flag." These were followed by Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," in which the brass acquitted themselves nicely. Fleischer recited a poem he had written about the Sept. 11 catastrophes, calling upon music to "help our spirit rise." He then led the strings in "Air on the G String" from Bach's Suite in D Major, which often serves as an elegy among musicians. In this case, the piece saluted not only the victims of the terrorist attacks but longtime local symphony booster Emma Jane Palmer, who died in May. The Overture to Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute," which would have opened the concert as a merry and bustling introduction to guest artist Carol Wincenc had things gone as expected, went away. However, the flutist's part of the program featured more Mozart, his Flute Concerto No. 2 and a pair of stand-alone movements. The concerto seemed monochromatic and nagged by problems of coordination between soloist and orchestra. The two separate movements, the well-known Andante in C and a rarely- heard Rondo in D, sounded more lively. But Wincenc's biggest success came when she teamed up with her former student, Roxann Berry -- now the symphony's principal flutist -- for a quicksilver set of Variations on a Theme of Corelli, by Michel Blavet, and a sassy two-flute number titled "The Swingin' Sister Blues." As intermission wound down, a fire alarm sent not only symphony-goers from Atwood Concert Hall but emptied a dress rehearsal for the Once a Year Theater Company in Sydney Laurence Theatre and the Anchorage Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships wrapping up in Discovery Theatre. Fortunately, the weather was warm for October, the alarm turned out to be false and the crowds headed back in after taking in the night air for less than 30 unanticipated minutes. To make up the lost time, Fleischer announced, the players would dispense with all D's and E-flats. That was a joke, he added. What did get dispensed with was an entire movement of Gustav Holst's "The Planets." Delicate and difficult, maybe "Mercury" was more than the players could handle, although they dogged through it agreeably in a 1995 concert. The unexcised parts proceeded satisfactorily, especially the "Saturn" and "Uranus" movements, with good work in the brief solo passages, most notably from violinist Kathryn Hoffer. A huge and vocal ovation led to an encore, Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." Daily News assistant features editor Mike Dunham can be reached at adn.com. Carol Wincenc's flute soared Saturday when she paired with a former student, Roxann Berry.
TOGETHER Sept. 30, 1951 Joyce and Gerald Sherman Joyce and Gerald Sherman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sept. 30, 2001, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Palmer. They renewed their vows. The Rev. Ben Burtch officiated. A reception followed at the Best Western on Lake Lucille in Wasilla. Hosts were their daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Doug Hall, and son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Vicki Sherman. The Shermans were married Sept. 30, 1951, in Kingsland, Ga. A month later, Gerald shipped out for an 18-month tour of duty in Korea. After he returned, they made their home in Rapid City, S.D. In 1965, Joyce and Gerald moved to Anchorage with their two children. In 1968, they purchased land in the Matanuska Valley and settled there. The Shermans were instrumental in establishing Immanuel Baptist Church on Trunk Road. Gerald worked in construction, ran a contracting business and worked in civil service at Fort Richardson, retiring in 1986. Joyce worked at various medical offices including Providence hospital. The Shermans have two grandchildren and enjoy traveling. They split their time between Alaska and Yuma, Ariz. Aug. 12, 1961 Sandra and Dennis Foreman Sandra Lea Foreman and Dennis Denton Foreman celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary Aug. 12, 2001, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. The Rev. James Wynne celebrated the Mass, at which they Foremans renewed their vows. Afterward, they attended a brunch at Harry's Restaurant. Four of the couple's six children were there: Aaron Foreman, Sean Foreman, Jody Foreman and Sarah Foreman. Daughter Rebecca and her family, who live in Alabama, and Joshua of Portland, Ore., were unable to attend. Their daughters-in-law, Kelley and Tina, three of their eight grandchildren and many longtime friends also attended. The Foremans were married Aug. 12, 1961, in Tucson, Ariz., while Dennis was serving with the Air Force. They had been high school sweethearts. After Dennis served in Germany, Vietnam and Denver, the couple moved to Anchorage in 1972. Dennis retired from the Air Force in 1980. He was ordained a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church and worked at St. Anthony's Parish and Our Lady of Guadalupe for many years. Now semiretired, he enjoys fishing and camping. Sandy has done child care in her home for many years and still enjoys caring for children. She is an avid walker and enjoys sewing and reading. Oct. 26, 2001 Sarah Mikos and Matthew Klebs Sarah Mikos and Matthew Klebs will marry Oct. 26, 2001, at Faith Lutheran Church. Sarah is the daughter of Carol and Jerry Mikos of Anchorage. She is a 2001 graduate of Grace Christian School and is employed as an office assistant for Klebs Mechanical. Matthew is the son of Shirley and Gary Klebs of Anchorage. He attended Service High School and earned an associate's degree in applied sciences from Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix. Matthew is a plumbing apprentice for Klebs Mechanical. The couple met at work. They enjoy golfing, snowmachining and the outdoors. Nov. 3, 2001 Kellie Stewart and Abad Senquiz Jr. Kellie L. Stewart and Abad Senquiz Jr. will marry Nov. 3, 2001, at Tanglewood Lakes Golf Course. The couple met while working together in the Anchorage Sports and Recreation Youth At-Risk Program. Kellie is the daughter of Beverly and Lee Stewart of Los Angeles. She is a 1985 graduate of San Pedro High School in California and earned a degree in fine arts from La Caminos Community College in Torrance, Calif. She also has a background in water-safety instruction and plans to complete a master's program in physical education. Kellie has a daughter and enjoys swimming and tennis. Abad is the son of Abad Senquiz Sr. of Anchorage and Minerva Senquiz of Anchorage. He is a 1980 West High School graduate and earned a degree in human services from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Abad served in the U.S. Army and is a member of the Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. He is a treatment coordinator for the Arc of Anchorage. He has three sons and three daughters and enjoys reading, martial arts, fishing, camping and computers. Abad also plans to complete a master's degree program. The couple plan to buy a home. Nov. 10, 2001 Sarah Wilson and Douglas Richardson Sarah Ann Wilson and Douglas Arthur Richardson will marry Nov. 10, 2001, in Stayton, Ore. On July 11, the first anniversary of their blind-date meeting, Doug proposed to Sarah at the Rhinelander Restaurant in Portland with a strolling minstrel serenading in the background. Sarah is the daughter of Gordon and Martha Wilson of Stayton. She is a 1993 graduate of Stayton High School and holds degrees in psychology and community youth services from Western Baptist College in Salem, Ore. Sarah is a social worker for the state of Oregon. Doug is the son of James "Jim" and Judy Richardson of Wasilla. A 1987 graduate of Wasilla High School, he is a graduate of Christian training centers in Tulsa, Okla., and works as a pharmacy technician in Salem. Doug wants to return to school to become a physician's assistant and eventually work overseas. June 16, 2001 Bronwyn and Robert Polley Bronwyn "Wyndi" Haynes and Robert Polley were married June 16, 2001, at the home of the bride's mother. A good friend of the couple, Andrew Berkowitz, officiated. Wyndi is the daughter of Georgi Haynes of Anchorage and the late Ken Haynes. She graduated from Steller Secondary School in 1986. Wyndi earned a degree in English and Spanish literature from Reed College in Portland, Ore., and a master's degree in teaching from Alaska Pacific University. She is employed as a teacher with the Anchorage School District. Bob is the son of Jane Polley and the late Bob Polley. A 1989 graduate of West High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in history and economics as well as a law degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. Bob is a child advocate for the Office of Public Advocacy. The outdoor ceremony was shared with family and a few close friends. Afterward, photos were taken at a memorial garden at Westchester Lagoon commemorating the bride's father. Bagpipers led the wedding party back to the bride's mother's home. Attending the couple were Jodi Haynes as maid of honor and Paul LaFrance as best man. Bridesmaids were Erin Schumacher and Katie Polley. Groomsmen were Greg Spils and Jason Haynes. Readers were Suzanne LaFrance and Scott Davis. Maestra Adela Jimenez of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, designed and hand-sewed the bride's dress. The bride and groom presented their mothers with white roses in memory of their fathers. The bride was given away by her mother while the song "Windy" by The Association played in the background. A reception was held the next day at Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood. The couple took a honeymoon trip to Costa Rica. July 1, 2001 Andrea and Clare Hovland Andrea Mikunda and Clare Hovland were married July 1, 2001, on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Andrea is the daughter of Robert and Judith Mikunda of Anchorage. She is a 1994 graduate of Bartlett High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business and management information systems from Oregon State University in Corvallis. Andrea is employed by Roundarch in Seattle as a consultant. She enjoys snowboarding, hiking and fishing. Clare is the son of Aurora and Dwight Hovland Sr. of Anchorage. He also graduated from Bartlett High in 1994 and holds a degree in business and marketing from Oregon State. Clare is employed by Media Passage in Seattle as an ad placement supervisor. He enjoys golf, playing guitar and fishing. Close friends and family joined the couple in a ceremony on the beach at the Kapalua Bay Hotel. Highlights included a Hawaiian soloist, conch heralder and hula dancer. The best man was Sean Dexter, and the matron of honor was Erin Speidel. Others attending the couple included groomsmen Matthew Pawluk, Anthony Bolido and Dwight Hovland Jr. and bridesmaids Robyn Mikunda, Jessica Mikunda and Rachel Gordon. Andrea and Clare spent their honeymoon in Lanai, Hawaii. July 1, 2001 Sally and Stephen Wild Sally Feay and Stephen Wild were married July 1, 2001, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sally is the daughter of Kathy Feay of Vancouver and Bernard Feay of England. She is a 1995 graduate of Sir Charles Tupper High School in Vancouver and earned early childhood education certification in Langley, British Columbia. Sally is a teacher for McGregor Day Care in Vancouver. Stephen is the son of Barbara and Jerome Wild of Anchorage. He is a 1996 graduate of Service High School and earned a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Oregon in Eugene. Stephen plans to seek employment in Vancouver and hopes to open a private studio for music lessons. He enjoys golf, bowling, sports and fantasy football. The couple met Dec. 31, 1999, at a millennium celebration at a dance club in Vancouver. They became engaged Dec. 31, 2000, at the same club. An outdoor ceremony was held at the Vancouver Museum in Vanier Park. The Rev. Sonny Vitaliz officiated. Joy Little was maid of honor, and Scott Shoji was best man. Bridesmaids were Gillian Hamer and Emily Feay. Groomsmen were Robert MacKay and Rob Miller. Jonas Wild was ring-bearer. A string quartet provided music; two of the musicians, Charles Peach and Carly Chan, were members of the groom's high school string quartet. Guests traveled from England, Australia and across the United States. The bride's brother Simon Feay designed a wedding Web site and was master of ceremonies at the reception. The groom's brother Matthew Wild played an original piano composition for the couple's first dance. A reception and dance were held at Heritage Hall, which provided a view of Canada Day fireworks in downtown Vancouver. The couple honeymooned for three weeks in Germany and England, visiting friends and relatives who were unable to attend. July 21, 2001 Jean and Jason Auberzinsky Jean R. Osborne and Jason Auberzinsky were married July 21, 2001, in Kettering, Ohio. Jean is the daughter of Nancy and Thomas Osborne of Seward. She is a 1998 Seward High School graduate and attended Cedarville College in Ohio. She plans to complete a registered-nursing degree at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. Jean is an emergency department technician at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Jason is the son of Sheila and John Auberzinsky of Dayton. He is a 1996 graduate of Stebbins High School in Dayton and studied at the University of Dayton. Jason is completing a fire science and paramedic degree at Sinclair Community College. He is a firefighter/emergency medical technician for the Riverside and Beaver Creek fire departments in the Dayton suburbs. The couple met in an EMT class. An outdoor ceremony and reception was held at Polen Farms. The Rev. Darrell Fairchild officiated. Britta Perry was maid of honor, and Kevin Auberzinsky was best man. Bridesmaids were Shannon Teague, Amanda Hart, Cheryl Elliott and Misha Brown. Groomsmen were Brian Osborne, Michael Teague, Jim Hart and Corey Mintz. The couple took a honeymoon trip to Disney World. July 20, 2001 Nicole and Brett Rogers Nicole Marie Marsh and Brett Alan Rogers were married July 20, 2001, at Hope Chapel in Anchorage. John Beier officiated. Nicole is the daughter of Jack and Debra Marsh of Anchorage. She attended Dimond High School and is employed as an account representative with Northern Office Supply. She has two sons, Billy and Jack. Brett is the son of Bill and Rosemary Rogers of Leesburg, Fla. He graduated from SAVE High School in 1988 and works for R&R Garage as a technician. He has two daughters, Jessica and Cayla. Attending the couple were Whitney Marsh as maid of honor, Bill Rogers as best man, Lindsay Marsh as bridesmaid and Dave Tonsing as groomsman. A reception followed at the couple's home. They enjoyed a honeymoon at the family's cabin in Sheep Creek. Aug. 11, 2001 Jill Heynen Gaskill and Brad Gaskill Jill Heynen and Brad Gaskill were married Aug. 11, 2001, at Bonnie Lake. Jill is the daughter of Nancy and Dave Heynen of Anchorage. She is a 1995 West High School graduate and received a bachelor's degree in biology from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Minn., in 1999. Jill spent a year as a volunteer teacher in Kenya. She is a medical student at the University of Washington in Seattle. Jill enjoys hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and traveling. Brad is the son of Candy and Jim Gaskill of Sioux City, Iowa. He is a 1995 graduate of North High School in Sioux City and earned bachelor's degrees in art education and ceramics from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Brad is a recreation specialist for Alaska Children's Services. He enjoys hiking, rock climbing and cross-country skiing. He plans to seek employment as a teacher in Seattle. The couple met through their church. An outdoor ceremony and picnic reception was held at the bride's family's cabin. Dave Kuiper, pastor of Crosspoint Community Church, officiated. Bridesmaids were Mandy Sena, Katie Simon, Kalie Gaskill and Kelsey Gaskill. Groomsmen were Jeremy Gaskill and Kirk Heynen. The wedding platform was built by the bride's father. Guests were ferried by boat to the ceremony. The cake was assembled and decorated onsite by the bride's aunt and featured Alaska blueberries. For their honeymoon, the couple briefly stayed at Sheep Mountain Lodge, then drove down the Alaska Highway to Seattle to their new home.
MIKE DOOGAN
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