Cooper Landing News:

Photo by Brandy Happy birthday to a special lady, Alice Puster, surrounded by friends: Marjorie VanKooten, Dean Birmley, Mona Painter, Jim Richardson, Pinkie Richardson, Jan Mitchell, Jacque Greenman, Anne Engbers, Martha Brewer, and Mayme Ohnemus. Not pictured, but part of the celebration, were Al and Pat Fleetwood, Jola, and Kay Windous. .

By Mona Painter
Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent

Well-known photographer from the 1960’s through the 1980’s, Alice Puster, was surprised by friends on her eighty-first Valentine’s Day birthday at Elaine’s Place, an assisted living facility in Anchorage where she now resides. Alice and close friend, Martha Brewer, drove to Alaska in 1962 and made their home in Anchorage where Alice worked for the Anchorage Daily Times. Assignments had her on the Iditarod Trail, at the start up of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, covering the aftermath of the 1964 earthquake, and photographing a bowhead whale hunt in 1978 in the Arctic Ocean. In 1979, Puster won the Alaskan of the Year Governor’s Award.
Puster retired in 1990 and lived in Cooper Landing until a year ago. She took up video filming and put together movies of local activities such as the annual softball tournaments, a snowmachine trip to Upper Russian Lake, and building the kitchen-bathroom addition on the community hall in 2000. She was quite disappointed when she wasn’t there to record the first flush. Alice was one of the Sexy Senior Dumpster Cleaners and went to Juneau on both of the SSDC’s fund raising trips to the capitol. We were all impressed by the special greeting she received from Governor Tony Knowles who became her friend during photo sessions when he was mayor of Anchorage. Many of Puster’s videos are in the Cooper Landing Museum collection.
“How quickly can you put it together?” and “What services will be offered?” were the questions most heard at the Feb. 16 meeting at the community hall to discuss a primary care community health center for Cooper Landing with Central Peninsula Health Centers Inc.’s Executive Director Stan Steadman, the board chairperson, planning and financial officers, and other staff. Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor John Williams sent his support by letter and KPB Assembly President Ron Long emailed his positive remarks to Carrie Williams, chair of the local committee. Cheryle James, Kim Neis, Shirley Knapp, Anne Engbers, Anna Wheeler, Kathy James, Brandon Harrison, Norma Gibson, and Rhonda Rogalski are the other committee members. Those in attendance were eager to get the program moving toward a CPHC satellite. The next step is to approach the Rasmuson Foundation to request funding to do a Cooper Landing planning and needs assessment study. Williams said they appreciate help from Alaska Primary Care Assoc. as they go through the process and look forward to working with Regan Mattingly.
Deanna Hoy hosted a baby shower for Shannon Judy on Feb. 4 and Shannon’s friends, old and new, filled Deanna’s home. Shannon and Brandon Judy have a little girl, Cassidy, who is eager to see her baby brother. Former resident now living in Girdwood, Maggie Porter, was at the shower. Maggie is Shannon’s sister and also expecting a baby soon. They posed for bookend silhouette pictures in front of the sliding glass doors and compared anatomical aspects.
Arden Holbrook is catering the Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corp. Inc.’s Honey Glazed Ham Dinner March 1 at the community hall. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children. Dinner includes appetizers, ham, Arden’s famous scalloped potatoes, vegetables, salad, dessert, and beverages. Arden catered the library raffle party in Nov. and also cooks for Heavenly Lodge guests.