Mona Painter/Turnagain Times
A version of strip poker was a welcome break during the two and a half day Cooper Landing Community School quilting retreat held at the school by Jeanne Acton. Fabric strips were used for betting on the poker hands.
By Mona Painter
Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent
Quilt retreat a productive and fun event for all
Sixteen women with sewing machines, sergers, cutting boards, and mounds of fabric spent two and one half very busy days in the school gym, Sept. 18-20, during Jeanne Acton's first Cooper Landing Community School's quilting retreat. Several quilts were finished, nine women took Jeanne's jacket class, and Jan Mitchell took a group through the construction of a snap bag using pieces of a metal tape measure for the closures. Jeanne broke up the work with games of “strip” poker and Bingo with appropriate prizes of fabric, patterns, and quilt books. Recycle Me! is the name of Jeanne's next sewing class scheduled for Oct. 21.
The class will turn an old pair of jeans or Carhartt's into a pretty bag. A mystery quilt class is scheduled for Nov. 6-8 at the school. Call 595-3094 or email tommyginny@arctic.net for more information and to register for Community School events. Events are open to all, not just Cooper Landing residents. Anchorage, Wasilla, and Copper Center were represented at the quilt retreat.
Community Club meeting highlights many local activities
The Cooper Landing Community Club meeting Sept. 24 gave folks a chance to catch up with the many activities of the club and other groups. Following are some of the reports.
At the CLCC meeting, Deb Carlson had copies of the 27-page draft of the Cooper Landing Walkable Community Project for the club, the library, and the local advisory planning commission. This draft plan is the result of a series of meetings, a two-day design charette, and the fortuitous connection with the Native Village of Eyak who had received a grant from the Federal Transit Administration. It's all there in the draft plan, which gives Alternative Transportation Planning to Address Congestion and Road Impacts Near the Russian and Kenai Rivers. Look at the plan and give your input. The next Walkable Community meeting is Oct. 20.
Teacher Tommy Gossard described advanced technical capabilities available at the school which include high school classes available online, three new laptop computers with touch-screens, first graders doing PowerPoint programs, students learning to use the new interactive Smart Board, and planning for the space night event with the inflatable planetarium. He invited all interested to drop in, read to a child, and see the Smart Board.
Yvette Galbraith gave the results of the annual Paddle Battle on Sept. 17 where 31 players, children and adults, competed for the titles of King and Queen of Pong at the school. Over 50 people watched the games and the event raised $1000 for the CL Community School thanks to many sponsors. Butch Reger beat last year's champion Gary Galbraith, Hongye Sun won the women's division, and Phillip Rhodes and Jimmy Milne took first and second places in the youth's division.
CLCC supported via motion Sandra Holsten's grant for trail grooming equipment for $23,000 for a roller compacter, a groomer, and a specially geared snow machine. For this winter, Soldotna trail folks will loan equipment for grooming.
Carrie Williams as president of the Cooper Landing Health Center, presented recommendations for the $19,600 that will be available early next year from the state through the Kenai Peninsula Borough for community funding. Nine non-profit groups involving seniors, the school, the recycle center, the Nov. health fair, the museum, the health center, community promotion through the Chamber of Commerce, and emergency services were included. CLCC approved the list by motion.
Karl Romig advised the CLCC that the Regional Advisory Council will be meeting in Cooper Landing in mid-Oct. RAC's are the links between subsistence users and the Federal Subsistence Board.
Katie Green spoke for CL Emergency Services and said income was down 30 percent from 2008 while expenses were up. New officers are: President Dan Michels, Vice president Mary Louise Molenda, Treasurer Scott Davis, and Secretary Carrie Williams.
The next community club meeting is Nov. 5. Iditarod musher Danny Seavey will give a presentation before the meeting.
