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The 2009 Anchorage International Film Festival takes place from December 4-17 this year at Bear Tooth (1230 W 27th Avenue), 4th Avenue Marketplace (333 W 4th Avenue), Anchorage Museum (121 W 7th Avenue) and Out North (3800 DeBarr Road) around Anchorage. Independent films will be showcased at this festival. The great outdoors seems to be a huge focus of the films this year, with movies like “Mount St. Elias”, a film about three climbers that ski their way down Alaska’s second tallest mountain. “Mount St. Elias” is only one of seven Alaska films that center on Alaska’s great outdoors. The opening night film will be “Hipsters“. The screening starts at 7pm, with the gala party to follow at 9:30pm). Tickets are now on sale at the Bear Tooth (1230 W 27th Avenue). An All Films Pass ($75) will allow entry to all screenings except for the opening night film. If you want to include the opening night film, gala parties and workshops, you can purchase an All Films & Events Pass for $95. For more info about tickets, please call 907-276-4200.
For a rundown of the movies, times and venues, please visit the Anchorage International Film Festival website. I hope you are able to get out to the 2009 Anchorage International Film Festival during the next couple of weeks. It’s a great event that shines a nice spotlight on Anchorage.
The movie “Dear Lemon Lima” will be screened at the Anchorage Film Festival this Sunday, December 13, 2009. The movie’s screening will begin at 5:30pm and will be held at The Bear Tooth (1220 W 27th Avenue, Anchorage AK). Fairbanks, Alaska, teenager Vanessa Lemor (Savannah Wiltfong), pours her heart out into the pages of her diary, while dealing with her first heartbreak. While her narcissistic ex-beau Philip reinvents himself as one of the popular kids, Vanessa remains stuck in a lonesome state of adolescent awkwardness, intent on winning back her beloved. Together with a gang of endearing social outcasts, Vanessa enters her school’s Snowstorm Survivor competition, a misguided event inspired by the World Eskimo Indian Olympics, convinced that sporting victory will be her way back into Philip’s heart.
Not only does “Dear Lemon Lima” deal with teenager heartbreak while coping with growing up in a native community, but star Savannah Wiltfong is the granddaughter of one of our licensees and is a local Alaska Native. Visit Dear Lemon Lima’s official website for more information. Please come out to The Bear Tooth this Saturday to view the “Dear Lemon Lima” screening at the Anchorage Film Festival and support one of our local girls in this fabulous movie about Alaska Native life.
The Anchorage Fire and Police departments will be competing once again in their annual hockey competition game, Guns ‘n Hoses. The Guns ‘n Hoses event is held each year as a charity event for local charities. This year proceeds will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. Last year’s event raised about $31,000.
The “Guns” hockey team, of course, represents the Anchorage Police Department while the Hoses hockey team represents the Anchorage Fire Department. The game will be played at the Sullivan Arena on Sunday, December 13. It should be an exciting game, as the Guns try to even up the “score” and the Hoses fight to maintain the their lead in the most games won. The Hoses have won 6 of the 8 games played over the past years.
Those attending the game will also be entertained with various demonstrations by both the Anchorage Firefighters and the Anchorage Police, including a demonstration by the K-9 and SWAT units. Sparky (Fire Department mascot) and Buddy Bear (Police department mascot) will be on hand to give out special goodies to all the children. Those attending should also remember to bring their ice skates, as they will be given the chance to skate with the players on both teams after the game.
You may purchase Tickets for the Anchorage Guns ‘n Hoses Hockey game at any police or fire station or from the Anchorage American Diabetes Association. Tickets are only $7 per person or you may purchase a family pass (6 people) for only $25.
The 2009 Anchorage International Film Festival takes place from December 4-17 this year at Bear Tooth (1230 W 27th Avenue), 4th Avenue Marketplace (333 W 4th Avenue), Anchorage Museum (121 W 7th Avenue) and Out North (3800 DeBarr Road) around Anchorage. Independent films will be showcased at this festival. The great outdoors seems to be a huge focus of the films this year, with movies like “Mount St. Elias”, a film about three climbers that ski their way down Alaska’s second tallest mountain. “Mount St. Elias” is only one of seven Alaska films that center on Alaska’s great outdoors. The opening night film will be “Hipsters“. The screening starts at 7pm, with the gala party to follow at 9:30pm). Tickets are now on sale at the Bear Tooth (1230 W 27th Avenue). An All Films Pass ($75) will allow entry to all screenings except for the opening night film. If you want to include the opening night film, gala parties and workshops, you can purchase an All Films & Events Pass for $95. For more info about tickets, please call 907-276-4200.
For a rundown of the movies, times and venues, please visit the Anchorage International Film Festival website. I hope you are able to get out to the 2009 Anchorage International Film Festival during the next couple of weeks. It’s a great event that shines a nice spotlight on Anchorage.
A public workshop discussing midtown Anchorage growth will be held in the conference room of the Loussac Public Library from 6-8:30pm on Thursday, November 19, 2009. A special presentation is scheduled for 7pm, with a discussion following. The Midtown District Plan has gone through several incarnations over the last couple of years. The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) wants to hear any public comments, criticisms or ideas. They are happy to implement anything that makes the Midtown District Plan stronger. The deadline for all Anchorage residents to make public comment on the Public Review Draft are due by December 15, 2009. The final review will be submitted at that time. You can download a copy of the Public Review Draft here. All public comments can be made in person at the public workshop on Thursday, November 19th, via email to Tana Klunder at klundertg@ci.anchorage.ak.us or via snail mail to:
ATTN: Midtown District Plan
4700 Elmore Rd, 2nd Floor
Anchorage, AK 99507
All snail mail must be received well in advance of the December 15, 2009 to be considered to be included in the final review. Please make plans to come to the public workshop for Midtown Anchorage Growth on Thursday, November 19th to make sure to get your thoughts and opinions considered for this important project for the Anchorage economy.
The Anchorage swine flu vaccinations have been delayed due to a shortage of H1N1 vacine. The Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services (ADDHS) will not be providing vaccinations at their clinic this week. However, the Anchorage School District will be providing the H1N1 vaccine to elementary school children this week as previously scheduled. The ADHHS does not have a new date scheduled yet to resume group shots for the public. As soon as more shipments of vaccine come in, they will continue providing free vaccinations in their clinic. The Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center will continue to provide free shots Monday through Friday.
For the latest information on the availability of H1N1 vaccine through the Department of Health and Human Services, please visit the ADHHS website. The delay is only temporary.
The H1N1 vaccine is now available for FREE to kids ages 2-18 in Anchorage. While the vaccine to help prevent the “Swine Flu” is limited to children in this age bracket for now, it is expected to be available for everyone over the age of 6 months as soon as more shipments arrive, which should be very soon. Right now, the Anchorage Department of Health wants to focus on the children that are at highest risk for hospitalization. The vaccine will be available at the Neighborhood Health Center every Monday through Friday from 8-11am and 1-4pm. The vaccine will be administered as long as it is available. Regular shipments are expected to continue over the next several weeks.
The Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services is planning to make the H1N1 vaccine available on a much larger public scale to Anchorage residents throughout November and December. And it will be absolutely FREE to the public. The Anchorage School District is expected to start offering FREE H1N1 vaccinations for all their students beginning in November as well. To find out who is offering the vaccine and where you can get it, please visit the Municipality of Anchorage’s website. Bookmark it and visit it often, as dates and times are updated daily.
Trick or Treat Town in Anchorage is an annual event that promotes Halloween fun in a safe environment. Held October 23 and 24 at the ACS Warehouse (600 Telephone Ave, Anchorage), kids are allowed to dress up and come out to fill their bags with Halloween treats. On Friday, October 23rd, kids can go trick or treating at 5:30pm or 7pm and on Saturday, October 24th, they can attend the 12pm, 2pm, 4 pm or 6pm sessions. Tickets for the event are now on sale at www.anchoragemuseum.org. This is the 18th year in a row that the museum has held this great family event. Proceeds from the $7 tickets will go to benefit both the museum and the Imaginarium. However, if you wait until the day of the event, it will cost you $10 to get in the door. Get your tickets now! With a turnout of 14,000 people last year, these tickets are not expected to last long!
The Alaska State Fair was named one of the best events (Top 100) in North America (U.S. and Canada) by the American Bus Assoication in 2008. The Anchorage Daily News has published some special interest stories about the Alaska State Fair. So, I thought I would give you a little history about its orgins and growth.
The Alaska State Fair traces its roots to 1936, when the farming colonists in the Matanuska Valley decided to celebrate their accomplishments in establishing a successful community in the valley. The fair has been an annual tradition, except for the years 1942-1946 due to World War II. The Matanuska Valley Fair Association was formed in July of 1936. As it happened, the Knik River Bridge, which linked the valley to Anchorage, opened about the same time. The opening of the bridge and the existing railroad make it possible for residents throughout the Alaska Territory to come together.
The first fair was a four day event starting on September 4. Among the events at the first fair were baseball games, a horse race, boxing matches, a baby contest and, of course, a Fair Queen. Because the fair was a celebration of success, there were hundreds of agricultural entries, including giant cabbages. The traditional giant cabbage competition of today actually began in 1941, when Max Sherrod won the $25 prize for his 23 pound cabbage.
Much has changed and much has been added to the events and exhibits of Alaska’s State Fair, but the fair has remained a time to celebrate the success of our endeavors. S o “Get Up, Get Happy” and visit the Alaska State Fair. See you there!
Alaska State Fair Maps and Directions
Alaska State Fair Schedule
Alaska State Fair Highlights Timeline:
1936 – The first Matanuska Valley Fair.
1938 – Permanent fairgrounds are acquired. The Palmer Pioneer Home now resides at the former fair site.
1941 – Fairgrounds acquired an additional 14 acres.
1941 – Giant Cabbage Contest is established.
1947 – 160 Exhibits
1948 – 205 exhibits
1950 – Carnival rides are added to the fair’s attractions.
1951 – An air show is added to the fair’s attractions.
1956 – The Fair Board petitions to make the fair the official Alaska State Fair.
1960 – 25th Anniversay attended by John F. Kennedy.
1967 – Fairgrounds acquires its present day location.
1975 – The Colony Village is established.
1997 – Pioneer Plaza and Raven Hall are completed.
1998 – The fair sets its largest attendance record: 361,804 in 18 days.
1998 – The fair set the record for the most exhibit entries: 10,890.
2000 – Fair buries time capsule to be opened in 2036.
2000 – The largest cabbage in the fair’s history at 105.6 pounds (grown by Barb Everingham).
2001 – Fairgrounds acquires additional 40 acres, including the Rebarchek gravel pit.
2002 – Fairgrounds acquires the Rebarchek farmhouse along with another five acres of land.
2003 – The fair acquires the Hamilton farmhouse and an addition of 40 acres of land in exchange for the Rebarchek gravel pit.
2004 – The fair opens the Green Gate and Railroad Depot.
2007 – The fair acquires title to the Don Sheldon Events Center.
2007 – PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) features the fair’s colorful flower and herb gardens, as well as the giant vegetables grown in Alaska.
2008 – The state of Alaska and the Alaska State Fair celebrate 50 years of statehood.
Veterans or active duty military personnel can move to Alaska and immediately qualify for in-state tuition assistance. The tuition assistance program is being offered to military dependents as well. The previous requirement of two-year residency for tuition assistance has been eliminated for any active duty personnel, veteran or their family members for all university campuses in Alaska.
The in-state tuition assistance can be combined with the new Post-911 GI Bill (effective August 1). Veterans who take advantage of the offer from Alaska University and qualify for the new Post-911 GI Bill will find that their education is practically free. Funds can be applied to tuition, books and housing costs.
Any veteran, veteran’s dependent (spouse or child) or active duty personnel may take advantage of the Alaska University tuition assistance. However, the Post-911 GI Bill funds are limited. Only the veteran or one of their dependents can receive funds for an undergraduate degree.
The tuition assistance being offered to veterans and their families can result in a big savings per semester. If your tuition for a semester at an Anchorage university is $6,000, you would save about $4,000 after the tuition assistance was applied.
Veterans, this may be the opportunity of a lifetime. You can move north to Alaska and live in one of the greatest states in the nation while saving a bundle on your education. There are 16 campuses in Alaska. My favorite, of course, is Anchorage.
University Virtual Tours:
* UA Anchorage
* UA Fairbanks
* UA Southeast (Juneau)
For Tuition Assistance Information:
University of Alaska Anchorage: www.uaa.alaska.edu/financialaid/veterans.cfm
University of Fairbank:http://www.uaf.edu/veterans/.
For GI Bill Information:
Post-911 GI Bill www.gibill.va.gov.
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