Bulletin 5/13/12

Minto land claims settled

Seth-de-ya-ah Corp., the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act village corporation for the village of Minto and the Minto Village Council, recently completed a multi-year effort to identify all of the ANCSA Section 14(c) land claims for the village and the surrounding 69,000 acres of Seth-de-ya-ah Corp.-owned lands. The ANCSA 14(c) provision is an essential step in clearing clouded land title and providing a land base for private and public development. Section 14(c) provides for residents, businesses, nonprofits, airport operators and the communities transfer of title so they own the land they occupied when ANCSA passed on Dec. 18, 1971. This provision also includes land for future expansion of communities. ANCSA calls for village corporations and local ANCSA landholders to adopt policies, accept applications, and make land claim determinations instead of a federal agency doing so.

Comeau fund established

The Carol Comeau Endowment Fund was recently established by the Alaska Community Foundation in honor of Comeau and her dedication to the youth of Alaska. The fund will benefit the Anchorage Schools Foundation to support local schools. The fund will support Anchorage students in perpetuity, distributing small grants to allow teachers, principals, nurses and counselors to support innovative educational projects and the emergency needs of students for food, clothing and toiletries. The fund also will support initiatives that focus on early childhood education within the Anchorage School District. Grants range up to $500. Comeau is retiring in May after more than 40 years with the Anchorage School District. She was a founding member of the Anchorage Schools Foundation Fund when it was established in 2006 and still serves on its advisory board. More information is at www.alaskaschoolsfoundation.org.

FCVB recognizes visitor industry

The Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau acknowledged the contributions of bureau members and other individuals and organizations for their support of the local visitor industry at its 2012 annual Awards Banquet on April 28 at the Alaska Dog Mushers Hall. The Golden Heart Award was presented to photographer Leroy Zimmerman, for his exceptional hospitality, commitment and effort on behalf of Fairbanks visitors. The Aurora Award was presented to co-recipients Warbelow’s Air Ventures and Northern Alaska Tour Co. for their consistently exceptional contributions to the development and increase of the Fairbanks visitor industry. The Jim and Mary Binkley Award was presented to the Lodge at Black Rapids for its creativity, innovation, courage and entrepreneurialism in the introduction of a new attraction for the benefit and enjoyment of visitors to Fairbanks. The Raven Award was presented to Ice Alaska for promoting a distinct local, statewide, national and international interest and awareness among prospective visitors. The Gold Pan Award was presented to outgoing board chair Suzy Fischer for her exceptional commitment to the organization.

Mad Dog Graphx wins awards

Mad Dog Graphx has won four honors from the 18th annual Communicator Awards, a leading international awards program recognizing creative excellence for communications professionals. In addition, work from Mad Dog has recently been included in six new books on graphic design. Mad Dog won communicator awards for annual reports created for Food Bank of Alaska, the Alaska Community Foundation and Anchorage Project Access, as well as for a promotional piece designed for Pyramid Printing. Since January, Mad Dog Graphx has appeared in four new books by David E. Carter, best-selling author of more than 110 books about graphic design. Mad Dog’s work also appeared in books from Rockport Publishers, and in the LogoLounge Master Library Series book. Michael Ardaiz and Kris Ryan-Clarke are the creative team behind Mad Dog’s award-winning designs. Founded in 1996, Mad Dog offers a range of creative and production services, specializing in corporate, retail, and brand identity development, and advertising and marketing design.

Farm Family of the Year nominations sought

The Division of Agriculture encourages the public to provide nominations for the 13th Annual Farm Family of the Year Award. This award recognizes the efforts of Alaska farmers by honoring one family epitomizing the spirit of this vibrant industry. A winning family will be judged on the quality of Alaska Grown products rather than quantity, plus community involvement, overall farm family image and involvement in agricultural industry organizations. Nominations are due on June 29 and should offer details about the family and how its members fulfill the criteria. They can be mailed to Amy Pettit – Farm Family, Alaska Division of Agriculture, 1800 Glenn Hwy, Ste. 12, Palmer, AK 99645, faxed to 907-745-7242 or emailed to amy.pettit@alaska.gov. The award is sponsored by the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union. It will be presented at the opening day at the Fair Board Reception on August 23.

Kenai middle-schoolers top KidWind Design Challenge

Pure Energy, a team of middle-schoolers from the Aurora Borealis Charter School in Kenai, topped the charts at the 2012 KidWind Design Challenge, a statewide competition that tests students’ ability to design a wind turbine that creates the most electricity. The team produced 14,303 milliwatts of electricity, besting the 22 high school and middle school teams that participated in the challenge and took first place in the middle school division. Team Turbie, from the southwestern Alaska town of St. Mary’s, won first place in the high school division. Students work in teams of four to create a turbine from the ground up and must also create a multimedia presentation explaining their process and what they learned. Team Vertigo from Mt. Edgecumbe High School and The Smarties from Hoonah Middle School received awards for their presentations. The complete list of winners in the high school division is as follows: first place was Team Turbie from St. Mary’s School in St. Mary’s, generating 3, 512 mWs, second place was Team Kwethluk from Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka for 2,736 mWs, and third place was LeBoom from Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka for 1,774 mWs. In the middle school division: first place was Pure Energy from Aurora Borealis Charter School in Kenai for 14,303 mWs, second place was Endless Energy from Aurora Borealis Charter School in Kenai for 13,953 mWs, and third place was tied by Wind Devils from Tustumena Middle School in Kasilof for 9,158 mWs and Smarties from Hoonah Middle School in Hoonah for 5,932 mWs due to their high presentation score.