Ann Miller/Hope Sunshine Historical Society
The new burl arch sign for the Museum is the work of seven volunteers led by Billy Miller and Scott Sherritt.
|
Ann Miller/Hope Sunshine Historical Society
|
By Fayrene Sherritt
Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent
Valerie DeFrance is the winner of the National Paramedic of the Year award. DeFrance resides in Sunrise jjust outside of Hope, Alaska and is best known nationally and internationally for her web sites “EMSNetwork News” and the “EMS House” (of DeFrance) Valerie is licensed as a Alaska Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic, (MICP) a registered National EMT Paramedic (NREMT-P) as well as an EMT I, II and III Instructor, Certifying Officer and Paramedic Course Coordinator. She began her EMS career in Hope 1984 and continues to be the EMS Chief and Training Officer for Hope/Sunrise EMS in Hope, Alaska.
The award goes to the Paramedic who has significantly contributed to EMS at the community, state and/or national level. The award is presented by the National Association of EMTs, an organization that is one of the first associations of EMTs and paramedics that represents paid and volunteer EMS workers worldwide and serves Emergency Medical Services personnel through advocacy, educational programs and research.
The award will be presented to DeFrance during the national EMS Expo in Orlando, Florida. Among other prizes she also wins an all expenses paid trip to EMS Expo to receive her award at a banquet to be held on October 13, 2007. Congratulations Valerie on this very deserved award and recognition. Hope is very lucky to have you and your training! We thank you for your many years of service.
The sun shone on the Hope and Sunrise Historical Society’s July 21st get-together. Attendees walked under a striking new Hope and Sunrise Historical and Mining Museum arch. The entrance, made from a long burl log, is ‘sister’ to the Nome Iditarod arch and the work of seven volunteers led by Billy Miller and Scott Sherritt. Over forty members and friends filled the museum grounds’ picnic tables, including a guest from far-away Tahiti. The potluck was graced with fresh salmon and melon. Everyone enjoyed the wonderful carrot cake prepared by Ann Miller for Lynn Copoulos’ birthday. Surprise cakes are becoming such a historical society tradition, that a Hope teen asked if the society could have a potluck every week.
This year has been the museum’s most productive. The day’s program was titled ‘Brag Fest,’ spotlighting three recent society accomplishments. During the first talk, ‘Holland to Sunrise,’ Rosemarie Knecht reported on her recent visit to Holland. There, she found the home village of Capt. Brandt who died in 1896 while transporting Turnagain Arm Gold Rush miners to Sunrise.
The second, ‘Oskar’s Place,’ featured Diane Olthuis talking about selecting the exhibits inside the 1904 schoolhouse on the museum grounds. The committee, spearheaded by Janet McCabe, furnished the cabin with objects of the era and in keeping with the personality of the young teacher. Thanks to the tailoring skills of Linda Graham, an ‘Oskar’ mannequin wears a suit similar to one in a 1904 photograph.
Greg Kaser gave ‘Smokey’s,’ as the third talk. He described how volunteers swiftly finished the interior of the 1950 cabin on the museum grounds, once used by Forest Service trail crews. The task cost less than $600. The building became housing for Forest Service intern, Eddie Ruschmann, while he is on loan to the society. Everyone present thanked Eddie for his assistance in completing so many projects at the museum.
Lynn Copoulos’ father, Harry Meens, who lives in Nova Scotia, built ten miniature copies of early Sunrise buildings for HSHS. These amazing models can be seen at the bunkhouse on the museum grounds.
Several members stayed for the historical society general meeting. All were pleased that Alaska State Museum is granting the society money to purchase an oil stove for the museum. Beth Kaser offered to communicate with the Forest Service on future interns. She reported that there is still need for a few 1950-era furnishings for Smokey’s. Anyone having objects to donate can call the museum, 782-3740, between noon and 4:00. Greg Kaser spoke about his plans to build a kiosk for the life-size Smokey placard. The society gave him permission to remove many of the cottonwood trees on the museum grounds. Diane Olthuis said that she would start computer cataloging the photograph collection this fall. The public is invited to visit the museum, open noon to 4:00 every day through Labor Day Weekend.
The next general meeting of HSHS will be held on the Hope Museum grounds Saturday August 18th with a potluck at 11:30. The program, at 12:30, will be a walking tour Patterns of Hope”. Join Diane Olthuis on a 1?-hour walk through the Hope Historic District. The silhouette of old Hope is of many small buildings. Early Hope architecture was attune to the direction of the wind, the location of the sun, and the desire to shovel less snow and chop less firewood. The public is welcome to attend.
The next Hope Sunrise APC meeting will be Thursday, August 2nd, Thursday at 7:00 pm at the Hope Social Hall. Meeting minutes, notices, and agendas have been posted at Alaska Dacha, Tito’s Discovery Cafe, U.S. Post Office, and the Library. The community is always invited to participate in the APC meetings.
The Food Bank pantry will continue through the summer to provide basic food provisions to those members of our community that may have a need. The food bank is open 10 to 11 am. Those folks needing to take advantage of the food pantry, outside the regular hours, please contact either Tom Burgin (350-1318) or Joyce Burgin (830-5307). If you are in need of food, please come utilize this free service.