Hope Happenings

By Fayrene Sherritt
Turnagain TimesHope Correspondent

Hope Inc. Meeting and Cooper Landing Health Center presentation

The quarterly meeting of Hope, Inc. will be held Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at the Hope Social Hall. Cooper Landing Health Center President Carrie L. Williams will present information regarding their efforts to establish a primary health care center under the Federal 330 Program. Recently all residents were mailed a survey of health needs. The group is working toward the common goal of “everyone receiving needed health care, regardless of their financial circumstances.” Establishing local, accessible primary care is critical to the health of residents, as the nearest medical facility to any of our communities is at least 50 miles away, and a minimum hour’s drive, summer or winter. After the presentation Hope Inc will hold their meeting. All residents and members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Kenai Borough fills vacancy on Hope’s APC Board

Fayrene Sherritt/Turnagain Times The newest member of Hope’s Advisory Planning Commission (APC), Bianca Flores-Durrant, is sworn in by Crista Hippchen, KPB Land Planning Officer at recent meeting. The Board welcomes their newest member after a year of the seat being vacant.

The Hope/Sunrise Advisory Planning Commission recently met on March 19 in the Hope Social Hall. Crista Hippchen, Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Planning Officer, swore in the newest member of Hope’s APC Board, Bianca Flores-Durrant. Bianca fills a yearlong vacancy and she is a welcomed addition to the Board.
Mayor Carey and several representatives from the Land Planning Office attended the meeting. The main discussion was how the twenty-two subdivision lots should be sold. Five lots near Bear Creek are on hold until land transfer occurs from the Forest Service.
The Hope/Sunrise APC unanimously decided that the “lottery” option should be used to dispose of the lots. It is their hope that the lottery system is the fairest option and will encourage families to live in Hope. The KPB Assembly will have the final decision as to how the lots will be disposed. Mayor Carey will support our local APC recommendation. Construction on the subdivision roads and utilities will begin in May.

Local student is semifinalist in the “Caring for the Kenai Contest”
Congratulations to Ashley Motoyama who was recently declared a semifinalist in the “Caring for the Kenai Contest.” This contest, which was open to all High School students on the Peninsula, asks for students to devise projects that will improve the environment of the Kenai Peninsula or increase emergency disaster preparedness. Not only will Ms. Motoyama received a prize, but the Hope School will also receive $500 because their students entered. This money is used to purchase science equipment, buy science texts, and pay for travel to museums and other science related activities. Ashley’s project was on paper conservation. She urges all of us to remember that every piece of paper has two sides. Just the simple act of turning a piece of paper over and using the second side could save millions of trees and many, many dollars.

Community celebration to be held for Stephen Finger and Lennie Yoter
Although Hope’s resident Stephen Finger decided to finish his final high school year in Whittier, there will be a graduation celebration for him. It will be held Friday evening May 15 at the Hope School. Also that night at the school, all former students of Mrs. Yoter are invited to the “Years of Service” ceremony for her. After the program, at Bud and Jeanne’s home, there will be champagne with hors d’oeuvres and an open house sponsored by Beth Kaser and Jeanne K. Berger to further honor Lennie.

Hope School fundraiser
A good meal, good company, and a good cause came together at the Hope Christian Church Easter dinner fundraiser on April 7. In the gym packed with over 50 people, everyone enjoyed the dinner and friendly conversation. Over $400 was raised for the Hope School end-of-the-year trip. This year the trip is to Maui. Ten students and four adults will make the trip beginning May 24-29. To everyone who donated air miles, tickets or even cash to help pay for the tickets, a very special thank you.
The Hope students, along with the students from Cooper Landing, have been learning woodworking in the Hope School shop taught by Jim Skogstad. The students are making birdhouses and appreciate his expertise.

DOT conducts survey to upgrade highway safety zone around school
Per Scott Thomas, State of Alaska DOT Right-away department, the recent survey work that was done over a two-week period is part of a Federal program “Dollars for School Zones.” The Hope School is part of a 26-school program to upgrade the highway safety zone around the school’s area. This program is for both the Kenai Peninsula schools and the Mat-Su schools. The department is in the beginning stages of the program and any construction projects will not happen until summer 2010. Two sets of flashing yellow lights are to be installed in the 20-mph zone near the Hope School. The lights will flash 20 minutes before school and 10 minutes after school.

New chef at Bear Creek Dinner House
Kent and Melanie Bowman have hired a talented new chef for the summer season. Carol Rivard will be coming to Hope fresh off a season in Antarctica. Carol is currently vacationing in New Zealand and will be on staff by late May. Also new to Hope is Sue Alonzo, who hails from Georgia, she will be prepping food for Bowman’s Dinner House and scooping ice cream at Sweet Mo’s Ice Cream and Candy shop which is located across from the Hope Museum. Café winter hours are Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Upcoming Hope Chamber meeting
The Hope Chamber meeting was held on April 11 in the Hope Community Library. Gina Motoyama and Bianca Durrant presented information on the Chamber’s new web site. The new site should be posted and available online by May. They are currently loading the photos and the new web address will be announced in the next issue. Lots of volunteer hours have gone into creating this new web site for Hope and it is something for everyone to enjoy.
Election of officers was held with Todd Bureau-President, Gina Motoyama-Vice President, Bianca Durrant-Treasurer and Susan Anderson-Secretary. The annual cleanup day is planned for May 23 with everyone to meet at noon at Tito’s Discovery Café. Another meeting is planned for May to discuss possibly adding more events for the annual Wagon Trail 5K weekend.

Public Health Nurse to visit Hope

Friday May 1, the Public Health nurse will be at the Hope School from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. If additional information is needed, please contact their office at (907) 224-5567.

Food Bank and Community Breakfast

The doors open at 8 a.m. each Wednesday morning and breakfast is served until 10 a.m. All are welcome to come. Following the free breakfast, the Hope Christian Church Food Bank is open Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Any residents needing to take advantage of the food pantry, outside the regular hours, please contact Burgins at 782-1002.

Photo:
Fayrene Sherritt/Turnagain Times
The newest member of Hope’s Advisory Planning Commission (APC), Bianca Flores-Durrant, is sworn in by Crista Hippchen, KPB Land Planning Officer at recent meeting. The Board welcomes their newest member after a year of the seat being vacant.