The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a press release reminding Alaska residents that the Coast Guard no longer handles recreational boating registration in the state. Alaska residents must now register their recreational boats through the state Department of Motor Vehicles. For additional information, call 907-269-3750 or visit (www.state.ak.us/dmv/reg/boat.htm).

Chugach Alaska Corp. has acquired from the U.S. Forest Service a portion of the old village site of Kiniklik, one of the eight major historic villages of the Chugach Native people in Prince William Sound. The lands transferred include numerous historic graves of Chugach ancestors and significant religious ruins of a Russian Orthodox Church. According to a corporation statement, the Chugach people view the acquisition as the "just return" of a significant cultural resource to its rightful owners. The acquisition will allow the entire village to be managed as a unitary complex in accordance with the corporation's cultural resources program, according to John Johnson, Chugach Alaska's cultural resources manager.

Kudos

The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Wayside and Trail near Haines received a "TEA Challenge" Award at a recent meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in Indianapolis. The trail was recognized for its project to increase visitors' opportunities to observe the unique congregation of eagles in the preserve while mitigating environmental impacts. The award was named for the Transportation Equity Act of 1998 that increased funding for transportation enhancement projects.

The Cook Inlet Tribal Council has received the Presidential Environmental Youth Award. The award recognized the reforestation efforts of participants of CITC's Summer Youth Enrichment Camp at Ninilchik. Camp participants planted thousands of spruce tree seedlings in an effort to reverse the effects of the spruce bark beetle epidemic on the Kenai Peninsula. Grace Ishnook, Margaret Kaloke and Renee Hathaway, individual camp participants, received the award.

Porcaro Communications, an Anchorage-based advertising agency, has received a second place Award for Outstanding Creativity in the 30th annual International Mobius Advertising Awards. The recognition was given in the humor category for a radio commercial entitled "Duct Tape" written and produced for General Communication Inc. and featuring GCI ad personality John O'Hurley. The Mobius Awards attracted thousands of entries from 31 countries this year.

Media

The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra performs its first concert of the New Year, "Let Freedom Ring," at 8 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Former Gov. Jay Hammond is slated to narrate Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" as part of the program. For ticket information, call 907-263-2787 or visit (www.tickets.com).

A special performance by the Famous People Players of Toronto, Canada, is set for 4 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts to benefit the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The Famous People Players, a world-renowned theater company, present a life-sized puppet performance. For more information, call the Anchorage Concert Association at 907-272-1471.

Much obliged

New lighting and snowmaking equipment for the Tanaka lift at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood was made possible by grants from the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games and the Rasmuson Foundation. In March, the resort will be the site of the alpine skiing competition during the 2001 World Games.

Sundries

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded a $120,000 grant to Alaska Housing Finance Corp. The grant will be targeted to outreach the Community Housing Development Organization program, the HOME program and the Supportive Housing Programs. Under-served populations will be targeted and on-site training will be emphasized. AHFC's proposal included a $40,000 cash match and $20,000 in-kind match over the life of the grant.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corp. board of directors approved a $500,000 loan to the Aleutian Housing Authority, a regional Native housing authority, under the AHFC's Loans to Sponsors Program. The authority will use the funds to assist people of lower- to moderate-incomes to purchase new or existing homes in various rural communities of the state.