By Fayrene Sherritt
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent
Kenai Peninsula School District Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones recently led a Hope School community meeting Jan. 9 at the Hope School. At the Jan. 14 meeting of the Kenai District School Board, he made a positive report recommending that the school remain open for the 2008-2009. He reported that with the expectations of the possibility of 13 students for the school year beginning in August, the required ten students count would be met. He also reported to the board how great the meeting was. His was surprised when so many of the community choose to attend the meeting even though they have no students in the school. He thought he would just be meeting with students and their parents.
Jones indicated the School District is looking at “Distance Education” as a way to broaden classes available to small school in the district. The Board expressed that they still have concerns about having the needed student count next fall. The next step and meeting will be the School Board meeting where the budget will be passed. The date of the meeting is expected to be April 21 when the funding for schools will be approved. Assistant Superintendent Jones encouraged residents and parents to contact him with any additional questions or comments. He can be reached at 907 714-8888 or djones2@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
APC board member, Beth Kaser, reported that Hope/Sunrise Advisory Planning Commission met on Jan. 24 in the Hope Social Hall. Marcus Mueller and Paul Voeller from the Kenai Borough Land Planning Department presented conceptual survey designs for the two future subdivisions for Hope. The Borough will be requesting proposals for specific subdivision design which will include roads and underground utilities.
It is expected that the construction and realignment of Resurrection Creek Road will begin this summer. Discovery Road will connect through to Resurrection Creek Road with most lots being accessed from Discovery Road.
Specific information regarding the disposal of subdivision lots will be the topic of the next Hope/Sunrise APC meeting to be held March 6, Thurs. 7:00 p.m. at the Hope Social Hall. Subdivision maps, minutes of meetings, and agendas are posted on the Hope/Sunrise APC link at www.borough.kenai.ak.us. Meeting information is also posted in Hope at the Post Office, Alaska Dacha, Library, and Tito’s Discovery Cafe.
The graduation ceremony and celebration for Donna DeFrance will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Hope School. Donna is graduating early having finished all the required classes at the end of first semester. Paul Story, Augusta Lind and former graduate Brian Abrego will be the guest speakers for the program. There will be refreshments after the program and all Hope residents are invited to join in the celebration of the first girl to graduate from Hope School.
Hope School students will be taking orders for Valentine flowers and candy again this year to help raise funds for the end-of-the-year field trip. The trip will be to Sitka late April or early May. Anyone who can donate airmiles or companion tickets please call the Hope School. A Silent Auction Fundraiser will be in March this year. Traditionally this event has been their biggest fundraiser and has always generated lots of community interested and participation. Per Angie Motoyama there have already been some pretty cool donations given. However more are needed so please consider contributing an item for the silent auction. All the proceeds will go directly to the PTA and ultimately to the students through sponsoring students on field trips, purchasing supplies, healthy snacks and other class materials. Please contact Angie Motoyama at 782-3202 if you can help or can donate items to the auctions.
Recently Chugach Electric Association, Bradley W. Evans Acting Chief Executive Officer, sent a letter to their customers in Hope. The letter provided an update on the service to Hope and Sunrise. Their goal is improved service and they are currently following a plan “The Hope Line Relocation Study” that was completed in January of 2006. The study can be found at:
httpl//www.chugachelectrict.com/news/projects/Hope_Relo_Report_010506_2.pdf
“The plan calls for improved access to the power line right-of-way from the Seward and Hope highways, includes right-of-way vegetation control and clearing, avalanche damage avoidance, and relocation and strengthening of the line to mitigate weather impacts; however, with an overall price tag of approximately five million dollars Chugach will not be able to complete this plan all at once or without partnerships. Nevertheless, Chugach has committed to undertake portions of this plan, as well as, other outage mitigation activities.”
Chugach entered into a clearing partnership with USFS from mile 11 through mile 14 of the Hope Highway. The work began in mid-December. Chugach hope to complete the work in this section prior to next winter. Chugach has also applied for tree-clearing funds through a FEMA sponsored mitigation program. “It is intended that these funds, if granted, will be used for additional clearing from mile 5.5 to mile 18 of the Hope Highway. If you have questions please contact Phil Steyer at 762-4766 or phil_steyer@chugachelectic.com.
The Hope Community Library invites residents to stop by to check out books-on-tape. With new bookshelves these tapes have been complied into a new area and there are lots of good books, DVDs and VCRs to choose from. The Library is normally open Monday, Wed., Fri., Sat. and Sun. from noon to 3 p.m.
A reminder for all you sweethearts, Bowman’s Bear Creek Lodge is taking reservations for their 4th annual Feb. 15 Valentines Day Dinner and sleigh ride. Every year has been sold out so don’t forget to make your reservations for their yummy dinner. Dinner and cabin packages are also still available at 782-3141.
Doors of the Hope Christian Church open every Wed. morning at 8:00 a.m. for coffee and breakfast is served to 10 a.m. All are welcome to come for a free breakfast. Following breakfast, the Food Bank is open Wed. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Any folks needing to take advantage of the food pantry, outside the regular hours, please contact Burgins at 782-1002.