AK Gal's Web Musings

A public workshop discussing midtown Anchorage growth will be held in the conference room of the Loussac Public Library from 6-8:30pm on Thursday, November 19, 2009.  A special presentation is scheduled for 7pm, with a discussion following.  The Midtown District Plan has gone through several incarnations over the last couple of years.  The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) wants to hear any public comments, criticisms or ideas.  They are happy to implement anything that makes the Midtown District Plan stronger.  The deadline for all Anchorage residents to make public comment on the Public Review Draft are due by December 15, 2009.  The final review will be submitted at that time.  You can download a copy of the Public Review Draft here.  All public comments can be made in person at the public workshop on Thursday, November 19th, via email to Tana Klunder at klundertg@ci.anchorage.ak.us or via snail mail to:

ATTN: Midtown District Plan
4700 Elmore Rd, 2nd Floor
Anchorage, AK 99507

All snail mail must be received well in advance of the December 15, 2009 to be considered to be included in the final review.  Please make plans to come to the public workshop for Midtown Anchorage Growth on Thursday, November 19th to make sure to get your thoughts and opinions considered for this important project for the Anchorage economy.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate expert

The Anchorage swine flu vaccinations have been delayed due to a shortage of H1N1 vacine.  The Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services (ADDHS) will not be providing vaccinations at their clinic this week.  However, the Anchorage School District will be providing the H1N1 vaccine to elementary school children this week as previously scheduled.  The ADHHS does not have a new date scheduled yet to resume group shots for the public.  As soon as more shipments of vaccine come in, they will continue providing free vaccinations in their clinic.  The Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center will continue to provide free shots Monday through Friday.

For the latest information on the availability of H1N1 vaccine through the Department of Health and Human Services, please visit the ADHHS website.  The delay is only temporary.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate expert

The H1N1 vaccine is now available for FREE to kids ages 2-18 in Anchorage.  While the vaccine to help prevent the "Swine Flu" is limited to children in this age bracket for now, it is expected to be available for everyone over the age of 6 months as soon as more shipments arrive, which should be very soon.  Right now, the Anchorage Department of Health wants to focus on the children that are at highest risk for hospitalization.  The vaccine will be available at the Neighborhood Health Center every Monday through Friday from 8-11am and 1-4pm.  The vaccine will be administered as long as it is available.  Regular shipments are expected to continue over the next several weeks.

The Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services is planning to make the H1N1 vaccine available on a much larger public scale to Anchorage residents throughout November and December.  And it will be absolutely FREE to the public.  The Anchorage School District is expected to start offering FREE H1N1 vaccinations for all their students beginning in November as well.  To find out who is offering the vaccine and where you can get it, please visit the Municipality of Anchorage's website.  Bookmark it and visit it often, as dates and times are updated daily.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate expert

The Alaska State Fair was named one of the best events (Top 100) in North America (U.S. and Canada) by the American Bus Assoication in 2008.  The Anchorage Daily News has published some special interest stories about the Alaska State Fair.  So, I thought I would give you a little history about its orgins and growth.

The Alaska State Fair traces its roots to 1936, when the farming colonists in the Matanuska Valley decided to celebrate their accomplishments in establishing a successful community in the valley.  The fair has been an annual tradition, except for the years 1942-1946 due to World War II.  The Matanuska Valley Fair Association was formed in July of 1936.  As it happened, the Knik River Bridge, which linked the valley to Anchorage, opened about the same time.  The opening of the bridge and the existing railroad make it possible for residents throughout the Alaska Territory to come together.

The first fair was a four day event starting on September 4.  Among the events at the first fair were baseball games, a horse race, boxing matches, a baby contest and, of course, a Fair Queen.  Because the fair was a celebration of success, there were hundreds of agricultural entries, including giant cabbages.  The traditional giant cabbage competition of today actually began in 1941, when Max Sherrod won the $25 prize for his 23 pound cabbage.

Much has changed and much has been added to the events and exhibits of Alaska's State Fair, but the fair has remained a time to celebrate the success of our endeavors. S o "Get Up, Get Happy" and visit the Alaska State Fair.  See you there!

Alaska State Fair Maps and Directions
Alaska State Fair Schedule

Alaska State Fair Highlights Timeline:

1936 - The first Matanuska Valley Fair.
1938 - Permanent fairgrounds are acquired.  The Palmer Pioneer Home now resides at the former fair site.
1941 - Fairgrounds acquired an additional 14 acres.
1941 - Giant Cabbage Contest is established.
1947 - 160 Exhibits
1948 - 205 exhibits
1950 - Carnival rides are added to the fair's attractions.
1951 - An air show is added to the fair's attractions.
1956 - The Fair Board petitions to make the fair the official Alaska State Fair.
1960 - 25th Anniversay attended by John F. Kennedy.
1967 - Fairgrounds acquires its present day location.
1975 - The Colony Village is established.
1997 - Pioneer Plaza and Raven Hall are completed.
1998 - The fair sets its largest attendance record: 361,804 in 18 days.
1998 - The fair set the record for the most exhibit entries: 10,890.
2000 - Fair buries time capsule to be opened in 2036.
2000 - The largest cabbage in the fair's history at 105.6 pounds (grown by Barb Everingham).
2001 - Fairgrounds acquires additional 40 acres, including the Rebarchek gravel pit.
2002 - Fairgrounds acquires the Rebarchek farmhouse along with another five acres of land.
2003 - The fair acquires the Hamilton farmhouse and an addition of 40 acres of land in exchange for the Rebarchek gravel pit.
2004 - The fair opens the Green Gate and Railroad Depot.
2007 - The fair acquires title to the Don Sheldon Events Center.
2007 - PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) features the fair's colorful flower and herb gardens, as well as the giant vegetables grown in Alaska.
2008 - The state of Alaska and the Alaska State Fair celebrate 50 years of statehood.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate resource

Veterans or active duty military personnel can move to Alaska and immediately qualify for in-state tuition assistance.  The tuition assistance program is being offered to military dependents as well.  The previous requirement of two-year residency for tuition assistance has been eliminated for any active duty personnel, veteran or their family members for all university campuses in Alaska.

The in-state tuition assistance can be combined with the new Post-911 GI Bill (effective August 1). Veterans who take advantage of the offer from Alaska University and qualify for the new Post-911 GI Bill will find that their education is practically free.  Funds can be applied to tuition, books and housing costs.

Any veteran, veteran's dependent (spouse or child) or active duty personnel may take advantage of the Alaska University tuition assistance.  However, the Post-911 GI Bill funds are limited.  Only the veteran or one of their dependents can receive funds for an undergraduate degree.

The tuition assistance being offered to veterans and their families can result in a big savings per semester.  If your tuition for a semester at an Anchorage university is $6,000, you would save about $4,000 after the tuition assistance was applied.

Veterans, this may be the opportunity of a lifetime.  You can move north to Alaska and live in one of the greatest states in the nation while saving a bundle on your education.  There are 16 campuses in Alaska.  My favorite, of course, is Anchorage.

University Virtual Tours:

    * UA Anchorage
    * UA Fairbanks
    * UA Southeast (Juneau)

For Tuition Assistance Information:
University of Alaska Anchorage: www.uaa.alaska.edu/financialaid/veterans.cfm
University of Fairbank:http://www.uaf.edu/veterans/.

For GI Bill Information:
Post-911 GI Bill www.gibill.va.gov.

Pauline Hofseth - Your Guide to Anchorage Real Estate

Our new Mayor, Daniel Sullivan, is asking you to participate in a survey on how to best balance the Anchorage budget.  Mayor Sullivan is taking the time to step back to look at the city services for cost-effectiveness before making decisions on how to spend your tax dollar.

I know that we all have opinions about making Anchorage a better place to live, how the municipality can serve us better and how money should be spent.  Many states and cities have found themselves out of money because they have tried to spend their way to prosperity.  The only way to prosperity is through common sense budgeting and spending within that budget.  Living through overspending and borrowing is an inevitable road to disaster.

Each and every one of us must prioritize the way we spend money, especially if you want to save for the future.  Mayor Sullivan seems to recognize the fact that the municipality must do the same.

Please take the time to send your ideas for improvements and budget cuts. Let the Mayor and his administrators know what they can do to serve you better.

Anchorage Survey - if this link does not open the survey page, please go to the municipality website at: http://socsurvey.muni.org/.

Pauline Hofseth - your Anchorage real estate resource guide