Centennial Picnic May 4 to celebrate Cordova birthday

JOY LANDALUCE

April 25, 2008 at 10:50AM AKST

Plans are under way for the Cordova Centennial Community Potluck, Picnic and Pie Social, to be held from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.

"We will close down Main Street and utilize the occasion of the centennial to celebrate our entire community’s history with food, music and entertainment," said Martin Moe, executive director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce.

Volunteers are organizing this event with support from the Chamber of Commerce and the city of Cordova.

Everyone is encouraged to get involved. Event volunteers so far include Sandy King, Patti Kallander, Ria Hill, Toni Godes, Libbie Graham, Kim Kiml, Lynne Steene, Jennifer Gibbins, District Ranger Dan Logan, Bruce Cain, Kent Thelen, Sam O’Toole, Annette Janka and others.

King and Graham are helping to coordinate the potluck.

"We have great cooks here, and it is always a treat to share our favorite dishes," King said. She encouraged anyone with questions to call her at (907) 424-3373

Grilled fish, hotdogs, hamburgers, punch and iced tea will be provided. Other featured items on the menu include smoked lox, contributed by Hap Simmons.

"I had a sample the other day, it is delicious," Hill said.

Logan and Cain are leading a "cook, stack and sweep team." Kallander, Godes, Kiml, Janka and O’Toole are organizing entertainment.

Kallander is planning balloons and festive streamers along Main Street and is looking for volunteers to help. Godes, Janka and O’Toole are assembling musicians and poets for entertainment along Main Street during the picnic and during the Pie Social.

Kiml is planning children’s games on Main Street, including traditional games from the turn of the century.

The Native Village of Eyak will display a traditional umiak on Main Street. Free centennial portrait photos will be taken in the Labor Hall.

A choice of costumes and backdrops will be offered. In addition, the Parent Teachers Association will sell photo buttons as a memento of the picnic and a fundraiser for the playground.

Irene Webber is organizing a display of vintage items and collectables for display in the Copper River Watershed Project. The Chamber of Commerce will be selling a collectable Cordova Centennial coin, offered in four combinations of copper, silver and gold.

Lynne Steen and Kiml are organizing the Pie Social, a traditional turn-of-the-century gathering with a contemporary twist. The event will take place beginning at 3 p.m. at the Masonic Hall and include an exhibit of quilts, live music and storytelling.

"Delicious homemade pie and ice cream is the real draw of course," Steen said.

Anyone willing to help put up a tent or man a grill is asked to call Logan and the U.S. Forest Service at (907) 424-7661 or Cain, the executive director of the Native Village of Eyak, at (907) 424-7738.

For more information about the event, call the Chamber of Commerce at (907) 424-7260.

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