By Dyanna Barnes
Turnagain Times
Whittier Correspondent
City Council News
Whittier City Council and City Officials will be attending the 2011 Alaska Municipal League 61st Annual Local Government Conference from Nov. 6–11 in Fairbanks.
City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday’s of every month at 7 p.m. in the Public Works Building, Council Chambers. Please call City Clerk for more information at 907-472-2327 Ext.4.
Planning and Zoning News
By Terri Wilson
The Whittier Planning and Zoning Commission is full swing into the update of the Comprehensive Plan and we need your input. Do you want great streets, family friendly neighborhoods, more public places for our community, family and friends to meet? Is fishing or boating what makes you happy, or would you like great parks, hiking, camping and other recreational options? Let us hear from you.
Be watching and listening for the upcoming dates and times of the public hearings that will provide you, the citizen, a chance to share your ideas on the future of Whittier. They will be posted on the community bulletin boards, in the Turnagain Times, and the local radio station KCHU 88.3 FM. We are very interested in your vision of the future of this wonderful community. Together we can make Whittier amazing!
If you would like to be added to the mailing list or have questions, please call Terri Wilson at 472-2327 option 1, or email to: twilson@whittieralaska.gov.
Port and Harbor and News
By Terri Wilson
The Port and Harbor Commission meet on the third Saturday of each month in the P-12 Building, Council Chambers. The next meeting scheduled for Oct. 15 will begin at 11 a.m.
The Whittier Harbor had a busy and productive summer season. As we move into fall, the Harbormaster is tending to maintenance and repairs of the Harbormaster Building, annual maintenance of the generators and equipment, and general cleanup and shut down of parking lots and public restrooms. Longer operating hours, additional signage and improvement in procedures added to the success of the season and provided a more enjoyable Whittier experience for our visitors.
School News
Whittier Community School’s enrollment doubled since the first day of school. Thirty-seven students are currently enrolled in grades preschool through twelfth grade.
Students, teachers, and community members participated with youth and adults from Chenega Bay, Tatitlek, and Fairbanks in a VOICE Communication training led by the Voyage to Excellence team and trainers from Washington D.C. Students will be presenting a Community Needs Survey to Whittier community members. Whittier citizens are encouraged to pick up a survey available at a variety of locations, fill it out, and return it to one of several drop boxes around town.
Whittier School is looking for a new shirt design. Community members are encouraged to create a logo to be used on T-shirts and hoodies. Logos can be emailed to sburgoon@wht.csd.gcisa.net or dropped off at the school.
The Halloween Carnival will be held on Oct. 31 from 5– 6 p.m. at the school gym. Come dressed in your costumes and participate in the costume contest, fun games, and pumpkin carving. Food will be available for sale. Volunteers are needed! Please contact Stephanie Burgoon or Andrea Korbe if you are interested in volunteering at the carnival.
Church News
Whittier Community Church was busy this summer entertaining internationals that worked with Great Pacific Seafood’s. Much of the time was centered on food and other activities like movies, Bible studies and of course church. The Kozy Corner store and the Harbor store also helped with hospitality by their spontaneous contributions of food.
Many of the workers came from the Ukraine and Taiwan; others came from Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Poland. All were able to speak broken English and being such a diverse group would need to use English to speak to each other. The Seamen’s Ministries provided Bibles in their languages. Florimdia the pastors wife would prepare eggs and breakfast rows for the 11 a.m. Sunday service.
The young men and women would come and eat, sing and listen to Pastor Kevin who would give the message. Many of the workers were quite talented and some volunteered to help out with the music by playing their guitars and others would learn praise hymns in English and do special music for the group. What I think it comes down to, is that these international workers did not just come to take but they gave what they had, their presence, their talent, their humor and even some ethnic dishes.
We are grateful for their participation and we are richer having gotten to know them. Sunday Services in BTI Ptarmigan Room 11 a.m.
Halloween Events
The Inn at Whittier will be open all winter and is hosting a Halloween Costume Party on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. with a scavenger hunt, costume contest, music and dancing! Call 907-472-3200 for reservations and details.
The Anchor Inn is open all winter and is hosting a Halloween Costume Party on
Saturday, Oct. 29 at 9 p.m. There will be a Costume Contest, music and Karaoke.
Whittier Fish Derby Results
Halibut 1st - $1283.21
Rog Bagnell - Coalville, UT
Halibut 2nd - $641.60
Matt Clay - Anchorage, AK
Halibut 3rd - $213.87
Tibor Molnar - Wasilla, AK
Salmon 1st - $816.59
Kerri Rehak - Wasilla, AK
Salmon 2nd - $408.29
Adam Caves - Anchorage, AK
Salmon 3rd - $136.10
Gary Demoss - Demascus, OR
Small Fry 1st - $233.31
Isaac Lalonde - Anchorage, AK
Small Fry 2nd $116.65
Charlene Clark - Anchorage, AK
Public Meetings
Dyanna Barnes and Mr. Courtney Larsen, local regional Aflac Insurance Consultant, will present to the Whittier General Public about Health Indemnity Insurance. To those that do not have any health insurance, Health Indemnity Insurance is a must-have necessity; to those that may currently have major medical health insurance, it is a supplementary to assist in meeting high deductibles and co-pays.
Mr. Larsen will discuss how health indemnity insurance can benefit and protect individuals and families via cash benefits paid directly to the insured for medical expenses and also for daily family living expenses such as rent, mortgage, and auto loan payments, transportation, and food, etc. Inclusive, he will also highlight the purpose of life insurance as a family financial planning tool and the difference between whole and term life insurance. Individual consultations are also available. Everyone is invited snacks and coffee provided.
When: Wednesday, October 19th from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Begich Towers Homeowners Lounge. For more information contact Dyanna Barnes at 907-360-1960.
