thecordovatimes

From Salmon to Jammin’, Cordova’s got it all

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:16:00 -0800

Near the peak of the season’s salmon migrations, Cordovans will gather for a packed July weekend to celebrate their famous Copper River wild salmon. The fourth annual Copper River Wild! Salmon Festival toasts salmon in food, music, arts, running events and education for all ages.

Music and art workshops for all ages will take place throughout the long weekend, including a Wednesday evening workshop with “X-tra Tuff” ’zine editor Moe Bowstern to create shadow puppets for her performance on Thursday evening at The Taste of Cordova, an evening cook-off event at The Reluctant Fisherman Inn.
Salmon-filleting demonstrations at 5:30 p.m. Thursday will be followed by a Copper River salmon cook-off featuring the most creative salmon dishes Cordova has to offer. Moe Bowstern will be on hand to share her fisher poetry and a chinook salmon puppet show for kids, followed by Alaskan artist Ray Troll and Friends playing some “fishy tunes.”

Salmon Jam music events will be held Friday and Saturday nights. This year’s headline group for Friday and Saturday evenings is the Alaska band “Sweating Honey.” Annie Staninec, a dynamic fiddle player, is returning to the Salmon Jam stage again this year along with other instructors from Cordova’s 4-H Music Camp (July 12-18), a week where youth from throughout Alaska practice with top bluegrass musicians.

Saturday’s Alaska Salmon Runs road race events feature a King Salmon Marathon, a Sockeye Half-Marathon, a Coho 10-K, the Smolt 5-K, and a one-mile fun run/walk. Marathoners travel to this destination marathon to take in the fantastic race course scenery along the Copper River delta – mountains, glaciers, blue water lakes and wildlife. Massage tables await the runners after the race, and a salmon barbecue at the end of the day celebrates the day’s achievements of all walkers and runners.

Kids and families can learn about salmon together on Saturday afternoon enjoying the Small Fry Arts and Education activities. Troll will do drawing workshops throughout the afternoon, and PWS Science Center education staff will help kids (of all ages!) try their hand at making fish prints. Representatives from the Native village of Eyak and the U. S. Forest Service will lead other fun hands-on educational activities. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Mobile Aquatic Education Lab will be stationed in Cordova and open for visitors throughout the weekend, as well as the Slammin’ Salmon, a mechanical bull/salmon for the more adventurous festival-goers to ride!

Other weekend activities include a square dance hosted by Cordova 4-H Music Camp and a two-part songwriters workshop with Jeff Kanzler on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Most Copper River Wild! Salmon Festival events are held at Mount Eyak Ski Hill, with views of Orca Inlet and Cordova’s working fishing fleet harbor. Alaska Salmon Runs runners will meet at the hospital parking lot Saturday morning. For a more detailed listing of events, prices or for more information, visit www.copperriverwild.org.

Cordova’s fast ferry service makes it easy to join the fun: www.amhs.state.ak.us. Air service is provided by Era Aviation, www.flyera.com and Alaska Airlines, www.alaskaair.com. For more visitor information, check the Cordova Chamber of Commerce at www.cordovachamber.com or call Martin Moe at (907) 424-7260.

Event organizers include Cordova Arts and Pageants, PWS Science Center, the Copper River Watershed Project, the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Salmon Runs, 4-H Music Camp and many dedicated community volunteers.

Ott receives award from Alaska Center for Environment

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:15:00 -0800

Author/activist Riki Ott was honored with the Alaska Center for the Environment’s Ocean Champion 2009 award at the Ocean Film Festival in Anchorage in June.

The Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE) is Alaska‘s largest homegrown citizen’s group working for the sensible stewardship of Alaska’s natural environment. With 7,000 dues-paying members from throughout the state, Alaska Center for the Environment works to protect wild places, foster sustainable communities and promote recreational opportunities.

Since 2003, the Alaska Center for the Environment has hosted the Alaska Ocean Festival on the Delaney Park Strip in downtown Anchorage. This year, the festival drew more than 8,000 attendees interested in celebrating the diversity of the oceans and in learning more about ocean advocacy and marine conservation.

Each year during the Alaska Ocean Festival, ACE recognizes one outstanding Alaskan who has made a significant contribution toward making the oceans cleaner and safer.

This year, ACE named Ott as the 2009 Alaska Ocean Festival Ocean Champion.

ACE executive director Toby Smith thought Ott was a perfect fit for the award. “Riki has persistently fought to make whole both the waters and people damaged in Prince William Sound 20 years ago,” Smith said.

“Her fateful prediction of a huge spill, immediately preceding the actual tragedy, is a clear indication of her insight into the dangers inherent in moving resources through fragile environments. The award, a custom stained glass work by local artist Lynn Dixon, was presented at the Alaska Ocean Festival by Smith in recognition of Ott’s tireless ocean conservation work

Ott was pleased and proud to win the award. “Very fun and quite a surprise. Winning awards like this give me a chance to talk about what I’ve been doing for the past seven months and why this is relevant now to Cordova -- human rights vs. corporate rights, specifically human health factors,” Ott said.

“Good news on the movie “Black Wave,” we’re getting our story out. It is a genuine need for me to have people understand what happened to us,” Ott said.

The “Black Wave” is a film depicting the legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Ott has a leading role in the film which premiered last year. Black Wave director Robert Cornellier said the film is up for a prestigious award in Canada. “Black Wave has been bought by an environmental cable U.S. network that will broadcast the feature version this coming fall,” Cornellier said. “Also the “Black Wave,” has been nominated for best documentary by the Academie de la Television (the French Canadian Emmy Awards). Producer Paul Carvalho and I were also nominated for best screenplay.”

Ott has written two books to try to spread the word. Ott’s first book, “Sound Truth/Corporate Myth,” spoke to the hard science surrounding the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Her second book “Not One Drop,” takes you into her childhood as she champions the environment with her father as her teacher.

Both books will be used as a speaking platform that Ott intends to take around the world. “If you dig deep enough, you realize that America is in the midst of its own economic crisis caused by corporate greed,” Ott said. “Something is fundamentally wrong with America when we privatize profits and socialize the risk. I hope to create a citizens movement using the legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez oil spill really affects the whole world. We have learned that the oil is more toxic than anyone thought; we need to get off oil. It is causing global warming and poisoning people.”

Make a plan: it can save your life

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:12:00 -0800

The first step towards protection in the face of a disaster, as was discussed last week, is to prepare a Family Disaster Plan. Assuming your family has taken steps to become informed of the potential disasters the next is to actually ‘make a plan.’

Haven’t gotten that far? Check out the Web site www.cityofcordova.net.

Start, this week, with the following four tasks:

• Meet with family members and talk about what the local hazards are. Explain the potential hazards our city faces to your children and explain that, as a team, your family will prepare for those potential dangers. Include your caregiver in this conversation. Choose an “out-of-town” contact.

• Make sure everyone has that phone number handy. After a disaster, everyone should call this person. Why? After a disaster, it is often easier to make a long-distance call than a local one. This way you can check on the status of one another.
Decide where to meet after an emergency, two places, actually.

• Choose one place right outside your home for a sudden localized emergency, like a house fire. Choose another location outside your neighborhood in case your home is not readily accessible.

• Complete a Family Communication Plan. See the Web site http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/ECCard.pdf for an example of the information each family member should carry with them. This Web site offers an emergency wallet card that can be printed, filled out and distributed to each family member. This information should also be posted next to the home telephone.

Your time and effort in finishing these activities could save a life or save you significant heartache. It is difficult to find that time, but it is time well spent.

As always: Be prudent. Be ready. Be prepared.

Joan Behrends is the emergency management planner for the city of Cordova and can be reached at 907-424-6117.

Top of the food chain

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:11:00 -0800

No, he doesn’t watch “The Deadliest Catch.” No, he’s not a former Bering Sea crab fisherman. No, he doesn’t live in Alaska, he lives in Las Vegas. But he does move about 600,000 pounds of Alaska red crab a year.

And he does it with gusto.

So much so that in June in Soldotna he was given an award from Global Food Alaska, an independent, private initiative of individuals, companies and organizations that collaborate to enhance the food and related businesses in the state. The award, Alaska Champion, recognizes an individual who has brought an Alaska product into the world’s spotlight.

That, Rob George has done. In fact, you could say he has single-handedly put Alaska crab into restaurants and onto plates nationwide long before captains Sig Hansen or Keith Colburn became reality TV stars.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in the industry that would disagree when I say I’m the one with the most passion in this business,” George said. “It’s my whole thing, my big baby.”

It’s a marketing miracle that has brought him riches he never imagined, but success came with an unwavering vision of product quality and personal relationships with his customers.

“We monitor the total chain of custody,” he said. “We have traceability — we know which boat caught it and where it’s going.”

Unlike other crab brokers, George only does crab clusters, not cut-up, single-leg claw packs.

“The crab goes to the butchering station and it’s butchered in half, the hard carapace shell comes off, then there’s gilling and cleaning, it’s packed raw and goes through cooking, then pre-chilling then pre-chilling again, but it’s never frozen,” he said, referring to the fresh-cooked crab he ships during the season.

During the various crab seasons he also has frozen cooked crab produced in order to keep his customers supplied when the season closes.

“I have 400,000 pounds of frozen cooked crab from Dutch on a container ship to sell over the course of the next six to seven months,” he said. “Hopefully, it’ll run out by the next season.”

During the various Alaska crab seasons he ships gift packs of fresh crab to individuals throughout the U.S.

“I love turning people onto such great crab,” he said.

Red king crab season starts Oct.15, as does opilio snow crab, bairdi snow crab, Bristol Bay red king crab, Pribilof blue king crab, St. Matthew blue king crab and Pribilof red king crab.

October tours
October is when the crab season goes into full press and Dutch Harbor teems with crabbers.

For that month, he’s developed the Crab Connoisseur Tour, where his customers come up to Dutch Harbor, and while they pay for their air fare and hotel, he takes them through the processing plants, out on a crab boat, they get to talk to Alaska Fish and Game staff and the Coast Guard, and have a crab dinner at the Grand Aleutian Hotel. There is complimentary Crab Broker gear.

“We go out beyond the blue buoy and dump some gear — not out in rough seas, but just to meet the captain and crew,” he said. “It’s great marketing, and people really love it.”

They bring home bragging rights and the ability to say to friends and family, “Oh yeah, I went out on one of those ‘Deadliest Catch’ crab boats.”

Then number of clients attending has jumped from three to five to 30, he said.

The tour has even been used as a fundraiser for a hospital in Florida, with the package tour selling for $20,000 for a ticket for two people — everything included.

He hasn’t gone all the way out to sea on a crab boat, but says he wants to in the next couple of years — it’s one part of the supply chain that he hasn’t experienced. The desire to experience everything that affects his business is another factor that has broadened his vision and approach to his business.

And much of the success he owes to his own drive and the warm partnership with the late Richard Osterman of Dutch Harbor.

“Richard called and he said ‘king and snow crab.’ I listened, and for some reason we just clicked,” he said. “We talked over the next few days and crazy me gets on a plane and flies up to Dutch Harbor and met Richard, who at that time was with Royal Aleutians Fisheries. It opened my eyes to fresh-cooked crab.”

Then Osterman went his own way, but Royal Aleutians wanted George to work with them.

“I wouldn’t go around Richard, but he called and said he had no problem with it,” George said. “I’m very ethical.”

It’s still a family owned business and hasn’t gone to public trading.

He said that sometimes he just sits back and thinks of all the poundage and all the money and just murmurs “Wow, I’m selling a lot of crab.”

But the $8 million in annual revenue isn’t what drives him, he said, and greed is a word he hopes is never applied to him.

“Greed never plays a part in what I do,” he said. “If you let greed pay a part in this, you’ll make bad decisions.”

Dimitra Lavrakas can be reached at 907-348-2419 or 800-770-9830, ext. 419.

What’s your reason for running? Tell us and become part of top 10

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:10:00 -0800

What motivates you to get out and walk or run? Some good reasons to make the effort are: because your back is stiff, because endorphins are cheaper than drugs, because it shapes your legs, or because you need a break from meeting everyone else’s needs.

If any of these sound familiar, or you have your own reason, join the Alaska Salmon Runs on July 11. Runners and walkers of all gaits and paces will be on the road for a day of getting out together.

There’s a distance for everyone – one mile walk/fun run, 5K (3.125 miles), 10K (6.25 miles), half-marathon (13.1 miles), marathon (26.2 miles). Don’t let the distance intimidate you. For most people, running a distance event is about completion, not competition.

Take these five easy steps if you’re just getting into running. Start by walking for 30 minutes until it feels easy. When normal walking becomes easy, walk briskly for 30 minutes. When walking briskly is comfortable, insert a few 30- to 60-second jogs after walking for five minutes and work up to jogging for 30 minutes over a month.

Increase the running segments as you feel stronger, always avoiding discomfort, and take walk breaks (one minute per every five to nine minutes of running). If you want, increase the total time to 40 minutes three times a week (Galloway’s Book on Running, 2002).

You can, and should, take walk breaks, and do so without shame. Olympic marathoner Jeff Galloway advocates loud and clear about the benefits of running for five minutes and walking one minute throughout an entire marathon. Your legs will much tire less quickly, you’ll run faster during those intervals when you are running, and you’ll probably finish ahead of those who insist on “toughing it out.”

If you don’t want to run in the Alaska Salmon Runs, please consider cheering on the runners on the road that day. And we can always use volunteers. This year we’re looking for musicians to play along the course or help with handing out drinks at water stations.

Finally, send me your Top 10 reasons for running (runningwild@copperriver.org) — maybe we’ll use them on the course.

Kristin Smith is the executive director of the Copper River Watershed Project and can be reached at 907-424-3334.

Governor’s fish council selections approved

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:09:00 -0800

Two of Gov. Sarah Palin’s nominees to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council have been approved by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Robert “Ed” Dersham and Dan Hull will begin their terms in August.

Dersham currently serves on the council and has been reappointed. Hull has been an active public participant at council meetings and has served on council committees.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional councils established by the 1976 Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act, later renamed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, to oversee management of the nation’s marine fisheries. The council has jurisdiction over 900,000 square miles of ocean from three to 200 miles off Alaska’s shores, and has primary responsibility for managing pollock, cod, halibut, sole and other groundfish.

Dersham, of Anchor Point, is a 23-year charter boat operator in Lower Cook Inlet who served on the Alaska Board of Fisheries for more than eight years, including three years as chair and two years as vice-chair. He was involved in developing and chairing the joint protocol committee for coordination between the fisheries board and the North Pacific council. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Oregon and is retired from a career as a special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. He has served on the council since 2008.

Hull, of Anchorage, has been an active fisherman and vessel owner for more than 25 years, fishing for salmon and halibut out of Cordova. He holds a master’s degree in marine affairs from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. Hull is currently a board member of Cordova District Fishermen United and is a member of the Alaska Sea Grant Advisory Committee.

Cordova Little League season comes to an end

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:08:00 -0800

Cordova Little League ended the season last Saturday under sunny skies. Head umpire Bill Howard wanted to encourage the players to continue to use the baseball fields even though the structured season has ended. “A lot of money and effort have gone into these fields. They are here for the players, please use them to practice and play ball. Do not let them sit empty.”

As a fun way to wrap up the season, Cordova Little League president David Reggiani administered a pop quiz for the players at the end of each game. The Tee Ball divisions (ages 5-7) were reminded of the Little League Pledge. The pledge taken on by the players at the beginning of the season includes a promise to play fair, strive to win, but win or lose – always do your best. Parents promise to teach all children to play fair and do their best, positively support all managers, coaches and players, respect the decisions of the umpires, and praise a good effort despite the outcome of the game.

The older players were provided different game/play situations and were asked to make the right call (i.e. safe, out, did the run score, etc.) “Thanks to all the Little League players, sponsors, coaches, and volunteers. The season and weather were absolutely wonderful. Having only three rainout games in Cordova for the entire season was truly remarkable.”

Mothers praised the work of Molly Reggiani who worked tirelessly behind the scenes with the uniform committee and snack shack to keep everything running smoothly.

Cordova recreation leader Crystal Shapleigh thought the season was very successful. “This program teaches good sportsmanship and it gave my son a better perspective of the game,” Shapleigh said.

Mount Eccles Elementary physical education teacher Jeff Hamberger had three children in the league, and his wife Denise was a coach. “We were blessed with great weather for the season. Thanks to everyone for making this such a good summer recreation program.”

Joy Landaluce can be reached at 907-424-7181.

State creates director of rural education position

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:08:00 -0800

As news spread of some rural Alaska schools facing possible closure because of low enrollment,

the state’s Department of Education and Early Development announced it is accepting applications for the new position of director of rural education.

According to the department, the intent is for the director to help bring about education reform through a variety of approaches, including bridging the cultural differences between rural communities and the public education system.

“The position reflects state’s philosophy of valuing public schools and formal education and, at the same time, valuing Alaska’s diverse cultures and the rural ways of life and knowledge,” Alaska Education Commissioner Larry LeDoux said. “When we blend these, we have strong schools that belong to their communities.”

Meanwhile, the superintendents of two interior Alaska school districts say six rural schools are in danger of closing next year because of low enrollment.

The schools under scrutiny are in Central, Stevens Village, Takotna, Beaver, Anvik and Shageluk.

Districts see major state funding cuts when enrollment falls below 10 students at a school.

“The rules for funding schools are set by the Legislature,” Department of Education and Early Development officials said in a statement. “Any long-term answer will have to come from the democratic process of deciding what laws to have and how to spend public funds.

“Last year the Legislature passed House Bill 273, which eases the financial pain to districts with declining enrollments. Basically, their loss of funding is no longer sudden. Instead, they gradually lose funding over a four-year period.

“This gives districts the opportunity to look for solutions, perhaps less than ideal, such as spreading out their funding to continue to cover the small schools’ costs, or transitioning the students into correspondence programs. Sometimes a district is able to continue with a small school for a while and then the enrollment rises and the state funding is restored to a higher level.”

Joe Banghart of the Iditarod School District says Shageluk, Takotna and Anvik project 12 to 14 students but could drop below that.

Yukon Flats district superintendent Woody Woodford says schools at Stevens Village, Beaver and Central have been on the borderline. Their student count will not be known until the last week in September.

Both superintendents say long-range planning is difficult when districts are worried about enrollment.

As for the director of rural education position, National Education Association-Alaska president Barb Angaiak applauded the move to create the position.

“It’s absolutely needed,” Angaiak said. “It’s a good idea on the part of (LeDoux).”

The rural director will build the capacity of the department, school districts and rural communities to meet the academic needs of rural students. The fundamental task is to engage communities in their schools and to assist educators in working with the communities. It is a hands-on, community-level position.

The director will work with local school boards and schools; parents, elders and other community members; Native and rural government and service agencies; the University of Alaska and other universities and research entities; and other resources for schools in rural communities.

“The director will be an integral part of the department’s team that works for comprehensive improvement in low-performing schools,” LeDoux said. “The director will be a leader in implementing the Alaska Education Plan to ensure academic success for rural Alaskans, and will supervise the implementation of the state’s cultural standards for schools.”

The position will be based in Juneau and involve extensive travel.

“The way we envision it, this won’t be a person sitting in an office in Juneau,” said Eric Fry, the education department’s information officer. “This person will go out in the field constantly.”

The position would pay approximately $6,740 to $7,215 a month, depending on experience, and receives the usual state benefits. It is an exempt position and is not represented by any collective bargaining unit.

Applicants should see www.eed.state.ak.us for more information. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. July 31. Fry said the department hopes to make the hire in August and have the rural director working by September.

Matt Nevala can be reached at 907-348-2480 or 800-770-9830, ext. 480. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fishermen ignore closure, catch 100 kings

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:04:00 -0800

In an act of civil disobedience, people on six boats left the village of Marshall on Friday to go subsistence fishing on the Yukon River when such activity was closed and caught 100 king salmon in their gillnets, said one of the protestors.

State and federal authorities have severely restricted king salmon on the Yukon this summer in an effort to help the struggling run recover.

Villagers along the lower Yukon say they’re suffering.

Commercial fishing for kings hasn’t been allowed, and subsistence fishing has been limited to two 18-hour openings each week.

King salmon has long been a staple food along the Yukon. Residents dry or freeze the fish to eat year round. Also, commercial fishing for kings usually provides one of the few opportunities for villagers to make money.

This summer’s restrictions are worrying residents who don’t have enough king salmon to last the year, said Nick Andrew Jr., a member of the Ohagamuit tribal government, based in Marshall.

Andrew said he and five others went fishing late Friday night, when subsistence fishing was closed. They caught three totes of kings about 10 miles upriver from Marshall, a village of about 400.

“It’s now June 29,” Andrew said. “Usually by this date everyone’s subsistence king salmon needs are met and on the drying racks and in the freezers and salted.

“But as we speak only 20 percent of the village’s king salmon needs have been met. It’s a bad situation.”

The fishermen saw no wildlife troopers and weren’t cited, he said.

They returned to Marshall and quickly cut the fish for drying and freezing. Then they delivered it to widows, elders and disabled residents, he said.

One elderly woman cried when her portion was delivered, he said.

Andrew said the protest fishing was sanctioned by the Ohagamuit and Marshall tribal governments.

Earlier this summer, Andrew, in a letter published by The Tundra Drums, said he and others would get their kings, even if it meant going to jail or getting a ticket.

“Our original intent was to protest,” he said. “We went out there all gung ho, ready to bear a grin and go out for a cause. The Lord provided us our fish and no law enforcement.”

Villages along the lower Yukon have had a long, hard winter that followed similar restrictions to king fishing last year, he said. Many Yukon fishermen blame the Bering Sea pollock fleet for inadvertently catching too many river-bound king salmon on the high seas.

Village governments have requested fishery disaster declarations. The state has said it can’t declare such a disaster. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke is considering a request.

Alex DeMarban can be reached at 907-348-2444 or 800-770-9830, ext. 444.

FEMA reports progress in funds for flood victims

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:02:00 -0800

More than $235,000 in federal assistance has been approved for Alaska residents to help them recover from the 2009 spring floods and ice jams, according to a news release from federal and state officials.

As of June 25, 225 homeowners and renters have applied for disaster assistance and 220 of those homes have been inspected, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reported. Grants awarded to date total $235,218 to 21 applicants, which includes: $137,911 in housing assistance to cover temporary rental assistance, home repairs and replacement; $97,307 in other needs assistance to cover essential personal property losses, medical, dental, funeral, transportation or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

Individuals may receive assistance in the form of a check or an electronic funds transfer to a bank account.

“Our goal is to have everyone in suitable permanent housing by Sept. 15,” said Doug Mayne, federal coordinating officer. “In addition to money, FEMA and DHS&EM are looking at other ways to provide assistance to individuals and families to meet their housing needs.”

Those who did not apply while teams were in their village have until Aug. 10 to register for federal-state assistance. To apply, call the FEMA toll-free registration number, 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY), between 3 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Registrations can be completed online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Applicants can call the FEMA Alaska help line, 877-444-0829, with any questions about federal assistance. The Alaska helpline is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Halibut travel up the Copper River

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:57:00 -0800

In the tradition of community sharing, building connections and strengthening relationships, the proposition of delivering fresh-caught halibut to residents of the Copper River Basin on behalf of Cordova’s commercial fishing fleet seemed like a no-brainer. Add a beat-up SUV, a warped sense of geography and a tagalong 2-year-old to the mix and I was left to figure out how to get 280 pounds of halibut donated by local fishermen up to the far reaches of the Copper River.

Two weeks before the big trip, and after pondering the how’s, who’s and where’s, I contacted Chantelle Pence of Chistochina who became my chaperone on the trip. Chantelle contacted seven upriver tribal council offices to explain CDFU’s project and arrange the seafood hand-off, and kindly offered me the use of her beautiful little cabin perched on the banks of a Copper River tributary in Chistochina.

The day before departure, I drove down to Trident Seafoods to pick up the halibut. As I loaded the boxes into my car, I realized the extent of my space deficiency. In a last minute panic, I ambled down to Cordova’s local Seafood Sales van to seek some expert advice from owner Ken Roemhildt on how best to transport the halibut upriver. I needed to figure out how to ensure it would keep in top-notch condition – cool and preferably frozen for three days in the back of my somewhat rustic vehicle. Ken suggested that costly insulated boxes with gel ice would be the way to go.

Second in line at the Seafood Sales counter was local pet store owner Osa Schultz, who overheard my dilemma – not to mention financial predicament and offered a compelling and generous solution. Twenty minutes later, I loaded 10 large boxes into the back of my car, emblazoned with signage depicting curious verbiage such as “Live Tropical Fish.” The boxes had previously been used to transport tropical fish from warmer climates up to Osa’s pet shop.

Later that evening, after a few logistical quandaries concerning limited freezer space for 280 pounds of frozen product, I went to bed – ready for the big trip.

My alarm didn’t quite go off as predicted the next morning, and I had to solicit my husband’s help at 7 a.m. to rush down with me to sort and load the halibut into 25-pound increments before boxing, gel icing and taping up, ready for departing on the ferry. We made it just in time. My son Peter, my beat-up peacock blue SUV and I were on the ferry, well on our way north to Valdez and onward to the Copper Basin.

Arriving to Valdez some three hours later, we made a quick stop to the local Carrs Safeway to fill a small cooler with three days worth of food and water, before hitting the road to meet Chantelle at the Kenny Lake junction pull out. Peter and I got there early as conditions through Thompson’s Pass were better than expected. Turns out, this particular pullout was a regular spot for Copper Basin residents to pick up people or convene. Eager to start offloading some of the fresh halibut, I struck up a conversation with a fellow in a red truck parked next to me – awaiting the arrival of his kids from a rafting trip. I offered him a halibut fillet to which he turned down declaring his dislike for all things “fishy.” Turned out he was a dipnet guide based out of Chitina on the Copper River. Interesting connection.

After Chantelle turned up, we drove down to the tribal village at Chitina. The first delivery went well, and Chantelle was able to pick up some electronics for recycling killing two birds with one stone. Despite a light rain, Peter was able to stretch his legs on the community playground. I was glad for the dreary weather as it kept the back of my car cooler to better preserve the frozen state of the halibut.

It was getting late, and we had a two hour drive ahead of us to get back to Chistochina, so we decided to continue the remainder of the deliveries the following day. After arriving, and settling in to our cabin (and battling an army of angry mosquitoes), we retired next to a roaring fire where we roasted marshmallows.

Bright and early the next morning we hit the road. Two minutes later, we arrived at the Chistochina village council office and delivered the first box of halibut for the day, along with an array of materials such as recipe cards and information on the project. There were a few inquisitive glances at my delivery of what appeared to be tropical fish. All questions concerning the content of the box were answered when I proudly pulled out and presented one of the large, frozen fillets of delicious Alaska halibut contained within. Curiosity quickly turned to craving, and I soon learned that ocean-caught halibut to a fresh-water community was a rare luxury.

Next on the itinerary was a two-hour drive to Mentasta. Between catching glimpses of the tumultuous Copper River, I was amazed at the breathtaking scenery all around. Sculpted mountains with steep cliff faces surrounded by flowing greenery and wild flowers. Turning off down a dirt road, we eventually arrived at the Mentasta village council office. I was a little nervous about how the gesture of gifting halibut would be received, but it went well. The staff seemed very appreciative and took recipes and information about the program to share with the elders and tribal members during the disbursement of fish.

On to Gakona, Gulkana, Tazlina we drove, pulling in for our finally delivery to the Copper Center tribal council office by late afternoon. Following a tragic house fire earlier in the week, plans were in the works for a community dinner to help the surviving Mother of the two young children who perished. Speaking with the council representative, it was determined that the halibut would be used during the benefit dinner. A terrible tragedy, but I was glad that I could help if only in a very small way. Glancing at Peter in my rearview mirror and pulling back onto the highway, I couldn’t imagine what that poor Mother was going through.

To lift our spirits, Chantelle suggested we make an important stop – to The Fishing Widow. Oh boy, was that polar bear hair good! I’m talking about icecream. Alaska made, and mighty fine too. The Fishing Widow is a quirky little store, currently undergoing renovations, that speclializes in Alaska made foods and gifts. A rare gem, and one in which I will definitely keep on the mind during future travels to the Copper Center. Peter enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the car for a moment, and soon thereafter was smothered in Mango ice cream from head to toe. What 2-year-old doesn’t have at least one messy ice cream adventure in his short list of life experiences?

Driving back to Chistochina, we discussed and evaluated the effectiveness of my efforts to reach out and connect with communities upriver. Chantelle and I agreed that the project was a success, and that CDFU should definitely continue sharing halibut with folks upriver for years to come.

Peter and I spent one last night in our peaceful cabin, and hit the road early the next morning to drive to Anchorage and catch a ferry back to Cordova. I had set aside one small box of halibut, just in case, and had not used it during the previous day’s deliveries. I decided to drop in, unannounced to the Ahtna office in Glennallen and give the rest of the – still frozen – halibut to them. Gloria Stickwan and Kathryn Martin were not around as they were helping with the benefit dinner at the Copper Center, so I left it with staff to put in the office freezer for a rainy day.

With an empty cargo hold, and a full tank of gas thanks to a quick top up at the “Hub” gas station, we were on our way to Anchorage. Along the drive, sun-lit hillsides emphasized the ominous skies filled with dark rain clouds, looming in the distance. Sun showers soon washed the dust from the car, and cleared the dead bugs from my windshield.

Driving behind a large truck heading in the same direction, a small rock kicked up. Like a hummingbird next to a woolly mammoth, the small chip in my windshield that resulted was nothing in comparison to the large crack that already ran from one side of my windscreen to the other. Aside from this minor incident, and after 700 miles of driving, I felt relieved that my old, run down rig had made the haul thus far.

Passing through Eureka and the Matanuska Glacier area I was once again taken aback by the spectacular scenery. Towering rock formations jutted out of the rolling hillsides in striking formations, contrasted against high snow-capped peaks, and I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road. Four hours of driving sped by in no time.

We made the tunnel opening at Whittier, embarked and three hours later disembarked the ferry. Finally back on familiar soil and with a clear sense of direction, I drove home – past the ferry docks and busy cannery buildings and turned into my street just before hitting downtown Cordova. Less than a minute later, I stepped out of my reliable, trustworthy and dependable car, glad to be home after a whirlwind trip. It was then that I heard an unusual “pffffssshhhhhh.” My front tire was leaking air at a rapid pace.

Despite this somewhat unfortunate occurrence, I was relieved that my tire had held out during the big trip upriver. An image flashed to my mind of Peter and I stuck on the side of the road somewhere – I had not taken the spare with me as there was not room for it. Flat tire and all, we were home at last, following a very successful, interesting and worthwhile journey, delivering Cordova ocean-caught halibut to other communities that share our waters of the Copper River.

I am appreciative of all of the wonderful connections I made with communities upriver on behalf of the Prince William Sound commercial fishing fleet, and hope to meet with everyone again next summer.

Rochelle van den Broek is the executive director of Cordova District Fishermen United and can be reached at 907-424-3447.

Kelp box racing part of Fourth of July

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:56:00 -0800

Kelp box derby racing made a comeback during our centennial celebration in 2008. The ever-popular sport of soap box derby racing was brought to life in Cordova by R.J. Kopchak in 1976 and modified to include derby cars made of kelp boxes. At that time, Kopchak was the director of the Eyak Youth Center, the predecessor of the Bidarki Recreation Center. His rules for racers were simple: The race car had to be built with at least one piece of a kelp box, it had to be steerable and it had to be stoppable. The design of the cars was left to the imagination of the builders — and what imaginations they had.

The styles of the cars varied widely as entrants tried to outdo each other each year. Some builders stuck to the classic kelp box design and simply mounted kelp boxes on wheels that were steered by ropes attached to the front axles. Others preferred the soap box style and turned into real engineers, designing aerodynamic cars. Sleek and shiny and loaded with weight in the nose, these racers sped down the hill in a blur of colors.

As Kopchak knew back then, winning the race is only a small part of the fun. The true value in the sport lies in bringing parents and children together to work on designing and building their cars. Imaginations are put to work as entrants dream up ideas and scrounge for parts for their cars. The competition is always friendly, and the fans line the streets to cheer for their favorite entrants. Businesses can get into the action by sponsoring entrants and painting their store names on the cars.

Now’s the time to start designing and building cars for this year’s race. We will have a Stock Division (unmodified kelp box race cars) and a Soapbox (open) Division. A limited number of genuine kelp boxes have been discovered and are available upon request, so contact us early. We’ll also have a display at the chamber that will include pictures showing a few of the race cars from the past, pictures from the 2008 races, and Ed Maxwell’s 1979 orange soap box car. We hope there are other race cars in residents’ storage around town. Dust them off and bring them out for others to see.

Join the fun and become a mentor to the next generation of racers. Volunteer to help the Fourth of July committee keep the kelp box derby race tradition on track in 2009.

Martin Moe can be reached at 907-424-7260 and Dixie Lambert can be reached at 907- 424-5146.

Latest Exxon decision welcomed by fishermen

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:55:00 -0800

Nearly $500 million in interest on punitive damages resulting from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill could be distributed by early fall after Exxon decided not to appeal a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month.

Exxon will pay about $470 million in interest on more than $507.5 million in punitive damages following the 11-million gallon spill of crude in Prince William Sound, company spokesman Tony Cudmore said Monday.

As the 20-year court battle winds down, many plaintiffs are relieved that the interest portion will be paid out.

Kodiak lawyer Matt Jamin, an oil spill plaintiff, was happy to receive the good news. “We are all unhappy with the U.S. Supreme Court decision to reduce the punitive damages, but this is a step forward for the 33,000 plaintiffs. Herring and salmon claims should be dispersed by early fall for those claims that are uncontested.”

Exxon Valdez oil spill plaintiffs were originally awarded $5 billion. A jury decided in 1994 that Exxon should pay $5 billion in punitive damages. In 2006, a federal appeals court cut that amount in half.

The U.S. Supreme Court last June reduced the $2.5 billion punitive damages amount to $507.5 million.

Cordova Mayor Tim Joyce thinks it is fitting that Exxon has decided not to contest the interest. “I think they understand it was a losing battle and that the bad public relations would not help them in their quest to be involved in a gas line project.”

The decision is a turnaround for the company. Since the mid-1990s, Exxon has appealed court rulings on punitive damages.

Fisherman R.J. Kopchak said it is good to get a portion of what Exxon owes.

“It is still not near enough to pay for the loss of the herring fishery,” he said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski noted, “While I am still extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to reduce the punitive damage award, it is my hope that the interest will help the victims of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history recover a small part of their losses and not allow 13 years of appeals to deprive them of any more justice.”

Exxon argued unsuccessfully that if interest had to be paid, it should be calculated from the date the punitive damages were set last by the Supreme Court. But the appeals court said interest on the $507.5 million judgment should run from 1996, when the original settlement was entered into court records, at a rate of 5.9 percent.

Legal battles over the Exxon Valdez spill appear to be winding down. The only remaining sum in dispute is $70 million in court fees, Cudmore said.

Plaintiffs’ attorney David Oesting said the plaintiffs have “clearly prevailed” in the case, even if the original $5 billion judgment was drastically reduced.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Joy Landaluce can be reached at 907-424-7181.

Wildlife trooper heads to Marshall to investigate fishermen

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:32:00 -0800

A state wildlife trooper is headed to the village of Marshall to investigate subsistence fishermen who said they fished during a closed period in an act of civil disobedience.

The Yukon River fishermen told reporters they caught 100 king salmon on Friday to feed their elders and others in need.

Wildlife Trooper Dan Dahl, based in the nearby village of St. Mary’s, said he will fly to Marshall today, July 1, to investigate.

If the facts show the law was broken, he’ll forward charges to the district attorney’s office.

The men could be forced to pay a “speeding-ticket”-like violation that costs each fisherman $200, Dahl said.

“The point I want to make is we see the whole picture involved here and respect the cultural and traditional values, but we want to make sure we do what’s right and fair to the rest of the lower Yukon,” Dahl said.

State and federal fish managers have strictly reduced subsistence fishing on the Yukon River this year, saying the king salmon run is in jeopardy and more fish need to get spawning grounds.

King salmon that swarm up the Yukon by the tens of thousands are the staple of the lower Yukon subsistence diet, having fed entire villages for generations.

Marshall resident Nick Andrew Jr. and others have told newspaper reporters that they fished in six boats. They have said subsistence fishermen aren’t responsible for the poor runs – they largely blame the Bering Sea pollock fleet, which inadvertently catches and tosses away thousands of king salmon – but said they’re bearing the brunt of the restrictions.

Alex DeMarban can be reached at 907-348-2444 or 800-770-9830, ext. 444.

Civil disobedience on the Yukon; Marshall fishermen ignore closure

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:33:00 -0800

In an act of civil disobedience, fishermen in six boats left the village of Marshall on Friday to go subsistence fishing on the Yukon River, though fishing was closed, said one of the protestors.

The group caught 100 king salmon in their gillnets.

State and federal authorities have severely restricted king salmon on the Yukon this summer in an effort to help the struggling run recover.

Villagers along the lower Yukon say they’re suffering.

Commercial fishing for kings hasn’t been allowed, and subsistence fishing has been limited to two 18-hour openings each week.

This summer’s restrictions are worrying residents who don’t have enough king salmon to last the year, said Nick Andrew Jr., a member of the Ohagamuit tribal government, based in Marshall.

Andrew said he and five others went fishing late Friday night, when subsistence fishing was closed. They caught three totes of kings about 10 miles upriver from Marshall, a village of about 400.

“It’s now June 29,” Andrew said. “Usually by this date everyone’s subsistence king salmon needs are met and on the drying racks and in the freezers and salted.

“But as we speak only 20 percent of the village’s king salmon needs have been met. It’s a bad situation."

The fishermen saw no wildlife troopers and weren’t cited, he said.

They returned to Marshall and quickly cut the fish for drying and freezing. Then they delivered it to widows, elders and disabled residents, he said.

One elderly woman cried when her portion was delivered, he said.

Andrew said the protest fishing was sanctioned by the Ohagamuit and Marshall tribal governments. Ohagamuit created the resolution and the Marshall council approved it.

Earlier this summer, Andrew, in a letter published by The Tundra Drums, said he and others would get their kings, even if it meant going to jail or getting a ticket.

“Our original intent was to protest,” he said. “We went out there all gung ho, ready to bear a grin and go out for a cause. The Lord provided us our fish and no law enforcement.”

Village governments have requested fishery disaster declarations. The state has said it can’t declare such a disaster. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke is considering a request.

Alex DeMarban can be reached at 907-348-2444 or 800-770-9830, ext. 444.

State seeks role in offshore lease lawsuit

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:59:00 -0800

The state has moved to intervene in a federal court case in which the Native village of Point Hope seeks to rescind dozens of leases issued by the federal government under an offshore oil and gas lease sale conducted for federal waters in the Chukchi Sea, according to a news release from the attorney general’s office.

Attorney General nominee Dan Sullivan said: “One of my highest priorities as Alaska’s attorney general is to vigilantly safeguard and defend Alaska’s interests, particularly as they relate to economic opportunities for Alaskans and the balance of state and federal rights and responsibilities. This case entails both such interests.”
Sullivan must be confirmed by the Legislature but will serve in the role until lawmakers reconvene in January

“The ultimate outcome of this case will likely have enormous economic consequences —either positive or negative — for the state of Alaska and our citizens,” Gov. Sarah Palin said.

Sullivan added that the state’s intervention is “necessary to protect the state’s interests, which are extensive and cannot be adequately represented by the other parties in this proceeding.”

The plaintiffs contend that the decision by the U.S. Mineral Management Service to conduct the lease sale for the outer continental shelf, along with the environmental impact statement underlying that action, violated federal law, including the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit seeks to void all of the leases issued in the sale. If successful, this lawsuit conceivably could set back development of the OCS for decades.

The case was filed in January 2008. The plaintiffs have filed for summary judgment, and responses from the federal government and from intervening parties Conoco Phillips and Shell are due July 17.

In the pleadings filed by Sullivan, the state argues that its intervention is now important because of the change in the federal administration this year: “Although the state hopes its interests will continue to be aligned with those of the federal defendants, in an abundance of caution, the state must act to ensure its interests are protected until such time that the new federal administration’s policy positions are fully articulated.”

The memorandum to the court describes the state’s significant interests in the litigation, observing that the oil and gas industry is the largest part of the private employment sector in Alaska and provides 90 percent of the general fund revenue for state government. “If these activities are curtailed,” the state notes, “Alaska will be harmed by the loss of property tax revenues, employment, and income to local communities.”

Oil from the Chukchi Sea could lower the unit cost for all oil if shipped through the trans-Alaska pipeline, thus increasing state royalties and taxes from development on state lands, said Kevin Banks, acting director of the Department of Natural Resources’ Oil and Gas Division. Eliminating this potential would frustrate the state’s goal of realizing the constitutional imperative for maximizing resources for the benefit of all Alaskans, he said.

Alaska earns chapter in White House climate report

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:57:00 -0800

A new White House climate change report devotes a chapter to Alaska, where temperatures have risen twice at twice the rate of the rest of the country in the last half-century.

The state is the front line of climate change. Annual temperatures have risen 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit in 50 years and are projected to rise another 3.5 to 7 degrees by midcentury, the report states.

The report, a compilation of current science, translates what that change means in practical terms:

• Sea ice is melting, meaning shipping and resource extraction can expand. Arctic ice could be gone during summers by the end of the century.

• Marine species are moving, mostly northward. Fishermenwill have to go farther to get to the most productive commercial fisheries. Alaska Natives may have trouble getting the walruses and seals they subsist on.

• Coastlines are eroding tens of feet per year, and that rate is picking up. Villages like Newtok and Shishmaref are crumbling into the sea and having to decide between relocation and expensive engineering solutions.

• The coasts and the Bering Sea are getting stormier, throwing off autumn barge delivery schedules and making commercial fishing more dangerous.

• As the permafrost melts, the land sinks. This will add between $3.6 billion and $6.1 billion, or 10 to 20 percent, to future costs for publicly owned infrastructure by 2030. That’s not including the cost of the thawing to private property.

• In the last 30 years, the number of days each year that the Department of Natural Resources allows oil-and-gas-related truckers to travel on tundra ice roads has halved, from 200 to 100.

• The average area burned in North American wildfires each year — affecting subsistence resources and clean air — tripled from the 1960s to the 1990s. Alaska’s wildfire burn area is conservatively projected to double by midcentury and triple by 2100.

Alaskans weigh in
During a teleconference addressing climate change impacts on Alaska, Vernor Wilson of the World Wildlife Fund joined several other speakers from around Alaska to share their thoughts about the report.

Wilson, a Yup’ik who comes from a Dillingham fishing family, said that he’s from the younger generation of those concerned about the environment.

“It’s good to know that this report came out and it confirms what is going on here in Alaska. We have some of the largest fisheries left in the world. The greatest wild fisheries left. And this report says that those fisheries could be shifting northward and that is very concerning for me because as a fisherman and as somebody from the world’s largest fisheries of Bristol Bay and who depends on it, these stocks could move forward and that could have devastating impacts for our industry in Alaska, our fishing families, our communities.”

The impacts on the economy in Alaska would be devastating, Wilson said.
“There’s not only concern about fisheries in Bristol Bay, there’s concern from around the Bering Sea about coastal erosion and permafrost. My village of Dillingham was visited by the Army Corps of Engineers last January and they had to come up with a plan to further reduce the coastal erosion. Dillingham is just one community across the Bering Sea. What is going to happen to the hundreds of villages on the Bering Sea, along these rivers, where our people have been living for thousands of years?
He suggested that Alaska could be part of the solution by getting off the dependence on oil and by stopping “short-term toxic proposals like offshore drilling and Pebble mine.”

“In Bristol Bay we have a lot of renewable energy resources that could be tapped such as geothermal, wind, tidal and wave generation. We have the potential … We need to take action now,” Wilson said.

Sarah James from Arctic Village shared impacts she’s seen from climate change in Northeast Alaska. James is the chairwoman of the Gwich’in steering committee and she has lived in Arctic Village her entire life. She said that people there are still solely dependent on caribou, 75 percent to their food is still wild meat — caribou, moose, fish and other small animals and birds and duck.

“Climate change is very real in the Arctic. It’s placing the animals — disturbing to the animals — their way of life and in return they affect our life. In my lifetime, you know, I see a lot of growth. A lot of vegetation that comes in as it gets warmer and warmer.

“We don’t get cottonwood trees. A cottonwood tree is down the road from me, which it never was. I remember back from 1950, and that’s really strange. And we never had beaver. Now beaver is something that we have here. So as the climate change come in the animals come in with it, the growth. And many, many lakes was lost within the Gwich’in nation,” James said. “A lot of lakes dried up.

“I think this is a violating of human rights. I think we need to take it to U.N. and say you know we got to stop what we’re doing to the Earth.”

Jeffery Short, Pacific Science director for Oceana, remarked that although the report doesn’t contain new science, what’s new is that “finally the U.S. government is leveling with the American people about the dire future we all face from ignoring global warming for so long.”

The scientific community has been aware of this on a continuing basis and the report is based on scientific literature through 2008, Short said, but what’s different is the government is promoting it, which hasn’t been seen in the past.

“They provided a compelling synthesis showing how all the different intricate pieces of this big climate jigsaw puzzle fit together and it shows how fast change is coming and how serious the impacts will be,” Short said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hydroelectric project honors politicians’ efforts

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:49:00 -0800

A plaque dedication ceremony took place at Power Creek hydroelectric project earlier this month to honor legislators and governors of the state for their financial support over time in funding half of the construction cost. Electric Cooperative board president Hap Symmonds told the group that since January 2002, Cordova has saved 8 million gallons of fuel. Also, 2,002 tons of nitrous oxide emissions have been avoided and 9.4 million in diesel pass-through costs have been saved, Symmonds said.

“It is appropriate to have Rep. Bill Thomas here to allow us to recognize his leadership and persistence in making this project a reality,” Symmonds said. “The renewable energy of the Power Creek hydroelectric project will long serve the city of Cordova and Alaska. May the water continue to flow.”
Chief executive officer of the Cordova Electric Cooperative Clay Koplin spoke with pride as he announced to the group that the community was running on 100 percent hydroelectricity.

“One of the best things CEC is doing to reduce fuel use right now in Cordova is converting from high pressure sodium to light emitting diode street light fixtures. My funding source for this street light retrofit is green power credits from the Clean Choice Green Power program,” Koplin said.

“Enrollment has been slow at best, the more people/entities that enroll, the quicker we can convert our street lights. These green power credits have already bought in $40,000 toward these new fixtures. Future projects for these green power credits could be in developing more hydro, wind and conservation. Remember that you don’t have to live in Cordova or be a member of CEC to participate, so businesses from outside Cordova like Chugach Alaska, LFS Marine and AML

“For large businesses, our green power partner Sterling Planet will personally work with the company or corporation to maximize the benefits of green power for that business or corporation.”

For more information, contact the Cordova Electric Cooperative office at 907-424-5555.

Joy Landaluce can be reached at 907-424-7181.

Keeping Cordova kids safe from here to there

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:42:00 -0800

Linda Crider has joined the staff of the Native Village of Eyak to help direct a new grant project to create a comprehensive plan for alternative transportation for the Prince William Sound region.

She is also helping to write our grant application for the Safe Routes to School program, working with the Parent Teacher’s Association and school superintendant.
The group’s mission statement is to create programs and facilities that make it safe for the children of Cordova to walk or bike to school. The group also wants to encourage them to do so, as active independent healthy members of the community. This group intends under Crider’s leadership to make Cordova a safe walkable and bikable community.

The public meeting at St. Josephs on June 16 was a work group session to look over the present draft application for the Safe Routes grant and discuss the Alternative Transportation Planning grant.

The project has been ongoing for a year, thanks to the Safe Ways to School planning grant that was awarded to the PTA and the Cordova School Board.

The group is also working toward a bicycle friendly community designation for Cordova and projects related to the alternative transportation planning grant.
Jim Nygaard, superintendent of the Cordova School District, is really impressed with this group. “We need to engage the city, so they know our intent,” he said.

Said Bruce Cain, chief executive officer of the Native Village of Eyak: “We need to get organized and put a local plan together. We need to jump on the current popularity of trails,” Cain said. “A good local trail system could work to fix our culture and the values of our community.”

Crider said the highest priority for the work group was the safety on Whiteshed Road. “Speed reduction on Whiteshed Road is needed now. There are six blind curves and a 35 mile an hour speed limit with no permanent markers,” she said. “The police need to locate the movable traffic marker flashing 25 miles an hour on the first blind curve. Permanent markers that are flashing are needed, as well as a speed reduction. Also improvements are needed at the Copper River Highway section.”

Crider first came to Cordova six years ago to do interviews for a research project she was doing on communities after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. She has since finished her book “Children of the Bay” and a compact disc of Alaska Songs.

Crider ended the meeting with a short original song on her guitar. “Here in Cordova, we live to fish. Children make music, elders pick berries. Copper River salmon is our favorite dish.”

The Native Village of Eyak is hosting a bike festival at Hollis Henrichs Park at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 28. Events will include bike polo, bike limbo and some unicycle skill contests. For more information, call 424-7738.

Joy Landaluce can be reached at 907-424-7181.

Cutter Sycamore crew tries team triathlon

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:41:00 -0800

It was overcast, drizzling, chilly and windy — typical Cordova weather for a Coast Guard morale event. It had been sunny and beautiful all week, and would prove to be sunny and beautiful all the next week as well, but coastal Alaska was kind enough to provide special weather conditions for the Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore’s first triathlon relay on May 15.

Having been “voluntold” by the XO to come up with some ideas for fitness activities that would be fun for the crew, the Sycamore’s newly formed fitness committee tossed around the idea of having a triathlon. Soon realizing that only about three people would participate, they amended it to a team triathlon, relay-style.

After much discussion, most of which consisted of convincing “Dorsal Fin” Dorsey that if the swim was over 500 yards no one would sign up for it, the idea materialized into reality. There would be three-person teams, consisting of a swimmer, a biker and a runner. The swim was 500 yards, the bike course was nine miles, and a three-mile run ended the competition. The prize would be … well, there was plenty of time to figure that out later.

A signup sheet was posted on Sycamore’s mess deck, and team names started appearing on it throughout the following weeks – The Lightweights, Team No Name, Team You, Me and Him, Team Boo-Yah and Team Norris Beard. The smack-talking began almost as soon as the signup sheet had been posted. The participants consisted of anything from practiced athletes, to weekend warriors, to a guy who had ridden a bike a few times. As the triathlon drew nearer it was apparent that no one team had any major advantages over the others. Predictions circulated and trash was talked, but the winning team was really anyone’s guess.

On the day of the competition, the participants met at the Bob Korn Memorial Pool and began warming up. After the swimmers were informed that float devices were not allowed, they began churning the water with elegant and not-so-elegant strokes. The runners counted the swimmer’s laps, and shouts of encouragement could be heard from the bikers waiting in the viewing area, ready to dash to their bicycles as soon as their team’s swimmer slapped the edge of the pool. Seven minutes later, the first biker was on her way. The bicycling portion was a longer, lonelier event, where the competitors’ only company was stinging rain, an obnoxiously persistent head-wind and thoughts like, “Why the heck did I sign up for this?” or, “Now I see why they all shook their heads and laughed at my mountain bike.”

The competitors, crew and family members all waited at the town’s “Grassy Field” as the bike race dragged on. Suspense and speculation were rampant, as everyone guessed which biker would appear first. A shout went up when the first one was spotted down the road.

One by one the bikers crossed the finish line to slap hands with the runners, and the last leg of the triathlon was on. Less than 18 minutes after the first biker came in, his runner crossed the finish line. Team No-Name (John Baxstrom, Daryn Hughes and Josh Tighe), a quiet, unassuming group who’d signed up just days before the race, had pulled out a surprise first-place finish. Huddling under a gazebo in the wind and rain, they celebrated with fellow competitors and family while re-fueling on hamburgers, bratwursts and homemade desserts. Their prize: pride, bragging rights and a gift certificate for brick-oven pizza.

John White can be reached at 907-424-3434.