By Fayrene Sherritt Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent
Saturday, Dec. 20, the Annual Hope Christmas Potluck will be held at the Hope Social Hall. The celebration begins at 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to bring a dish and join in the festive party. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be dropping by for a visit with all the kids, young and old. Shirley Wisdorf and her helpers will decorate the hall again this year. The old fashion Christmas spirit will brighten the Hall. Gordon Wisdorf and Chuck Graham will put up a large Christmas tree, which will be covered with decorations. Special thanks to Jim Skogstad for removing the snow in front and around the Hall. Come join in for some good ole fashioned fun and fellowship.
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Photo courtesy of Marsha Shea Alaska District Manager Diane Horbochuk and Postmaster Linda Graham cut the ribbon at the Hope Post office Grand Opening. |
November 1, Doug Nielson of Nielson Construction, Inc. handed over the keys for the new Hope Post Office all finished and ready for the old post office to move to its new location. The new Hope Post Office is located just off the Hope Highway on Palmer Creek Road and Logman. The old Post office was closed on the 21, for the move, and reopened November 22 for mail delivery to the Hope residents.
An official Open House was held Dec. 9 during a major power outage in Hope. The glow of the green exit signs added a bit of light as Hope residents enjoyed cake, coffee and a tour of the facilities. Diane Horbochuk, Alaska District Manager and Postmaster Linda Graham did the honors cutting the ribbon. Also representing the Postal Service was Dwight Stampflee, Manager of Operations both visitors are from the Anchorage office.
December 8, Hope’s weather that day was a heavy rain, which turned to snow in the evening. By the next morning approximately two feet had fallen. With the trees covered by wet rain, the branches were heavy with the load of snow on the limbs. Midmorning Dec. 9, the power went out all along the Hope Highway.
Chugach 9-man crew found two major breaks, one on the Seward Highway side of Sunrise and the other one between Sunrise and Hope. Both breaks were located in difficult locations for repairs to be made. There was also other damage to tops of the poles complicating the repairs. For the first time in a couple of years, Chugach put the community on the large generator for power. It took two to three days for the work to be completed and the community returned to the normal power supply. The Hope Christian Church invited the crew to breakfast and the fellows enjoyed a warm breakfast of biscuits and gravy before heading back out to work in the snow. Our thanks go out to Chugach Electric, and their crew, for their continued efforts to supply power to Hope.
At the annual Hope/Sunrise Volunteer Fire Department’s meeting, Nov. 26, Henry Motoyama was re-elected Chief, Dwayne McBride-Assistant Chief, Kelly Keisling-Captain, Dan Hawksworth-Training Officer and Lana Scanlan-Secretary-Treasurer.
Several members of the HSVFD attended the multi-agency avalanche training held December 13 and 14 in Turnagain Pass. This 2-day training event was held for the benefit of regional emergency responders and volunteer search and rescue organizations. The HSVFD two snowmachines and the rescue sled were taken to be used during the training.
Because of declining enrollment at Hope School, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has offered Lennie, our teacher of many years, a great job in Soldotna. It is a career opportunity that she felt she couldn’t pass up and is excited about the challenge. District personnel are being very helpful with the mid-year transition. She begins her new job January 5. The Yoter family will continue to make Hope their permanent home. A heartfelt thank you, Lennie, for your years of service and best wishes for your new position. At this writing, there isn’t any information to report regarding who will become the new teacher or how the KPBSD will fill this teaching position beginning in January.
December 13 was the first game of the season, which kicked off between Whittier and Wasilla Lake. Stephen Finger and Clayton Davidson practice with the Whittier players three times a week under the coaching of Jeremy Lancaster. There are three tournaments scheduled for this season. December 18 Whittier will play against Lumen Christian School. Their next game will be January 16 with Whittier vs. Valley Christian School. Hope’s basketball players appreciate Coach Lancaster including them with the Whittier’s team.
Students Stephen Finger, Ashley Motoyama and Deanna Shepherd recently finished their art lessons with local artist Scott Sherritt. They learned to how to prepare their canvas, to use oil paints and the blending of colors. Their finished artwork will framed for them to keep.
The doors open at 8 a.m. each Wednesday morning and breakfast is served until 10. All are welcome to come. Following breakfast, the Hope Christian Church Food Bank is open Wednesdays 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.