In this Issue (hide)
The entire waco web site is a “newsletter.” It is not as familiar as the Willow Breeze however, so this page is an experiment is replacing the ’Breeze with an electronic edition in a more comfortable format.
This is a “proof of concept” test. Much of the printed ’Breeze contains material that is already present on this web site (that is part of the idea behind the web site). The “Electronic Edition” automatically pulls those sections where they already exist, to make printing or reading a copy more convenient.
Where a local group chooses not to contribute to the web site, the Editor has to retype their comments and manually insert them into this section (as though she was preparing the paper edition for the printers).
So, the electronic Breeze then extracts the latest news from the web site, adds in the manually typed content, and presents a “Willow Breeze” that is as up-to-date as possible. This saves you from having to point and click individual sections for news of local groups (but agenda, minutes, correspondence etc., are not included here, we are only trying to reproduce the traditional ’Breeze).
Let me know what you think, or give me ideas for improvement. Mary Shreeves, Editor
Thank you all who came and voted for the new and renewing Board applicants. We were pleased at the unanimous support for the slate of candidates! Just over 70 people came to share their opinions by voting. I am pleased to present: Linda Oxley, Chair; Dana Hills, Secretary; Roni Widner, NE Rep; Madeline Gocke, NE Alt; George Howard, SW Rep; and Jane Thistle, SW Alt. I am also pleased to report that Linda Anselm has accepted the position of NW Rep for this 2nd year of that term.And a big thanks to Zolari and Slade Avalon who rescued volunteers found stripping and rewaxing the auditoriumfloor. It is once again beautiful, shines as if new!
A very exciting development for Willow: a 4H group is being established and a main focus of their work will be recycling.
May 5 is our next WACO meeting with at least 2 items on the agenda that we need your opinions about:
The revisions of the Fish Creek Management Plan are also rapidly moving thru the process towards adoption. Feedback previously obtained was partially incorporated. There are only a few more hoops to be jumped before it will be reviewed by the Borough Planning Board and then on to review and likely adoption by the Borough Assembly. For those a little fuzzy on boundaries, the Fish Creek area walks up from the south up to and including about ½ the area around Red Shirt Lake, and behind the Big Lake and Nancy Lake area.
At the April WACO meeting, the community voted to write a letter to MSB that the Deception and Rogers Creeks drainage units be designated ‘Resource Management’ with a secondary label ‘Public Recreation/Watershed Lands’ as the Borough finishes the process to update its Forest Management Plan. The deadline for official feedback was over (we did submit a letter requesting protection anticipating the likelihood of such a vote), but this vote of the community may be important as the process continues forward. The areas that seem most impacted are east of the Parks, throughout the Willow area.
With regard to the continuing issue about where the Rail Spur will be located: we have sent a wonderful packet of supportive letters to protect Willow and it’s lifestyle to all the regional, state and federal leaders who will likely be involved in trying to influence the outcome of the EIS process. We will continue to remain very active on this issue on behalf of the community of Willow.
Locally let’s not forget our wonderful Comp Planning group. They continue to define the base of the required chapters, recognizing that as they work thru the parts of each, there will likely be changes to the chapters that went before. The information that becomes available in each of these meetings has been incredible—we have a great group of people invested and learning who will lead us in the direction we need to go! Their next meeting is this Thursday, May 1, 630PM. It is worth your time to go and listen.
And a little word about next year’s Carnival!! The theme chosen at the annual meeting is ‘Alaska Statehood’ to help celebrate Alaska’s 50th birthday!! Pat Madigan and Shirley Wakeman will be co-chairing the event planning—stay tuned for frequent updates. Rumor has it that a big Carnival prize has already been secured…
And last but not least, this Saturday, May 3 is the Blue Tarp and Carhartt Ball at the Community Center. All will have great fun, and all proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank and to our Willow Elementary School.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Comp Planning meeting May 1, the Blue Tarp and Carhartt Ball on May 3 and the WACO meeting May 5! Until then let’s watch spring unfold before our eyes and be grateful that it is coming!
Linda Oxley, Chair
WACO News
At the request of State Parks, the Willow Trail Committee hosted a “summit” of trail organizations, officials from borough and state land management agencies and many regular ol’ trail folk. Up for discussion was a proposal to have a groomed and signed winter trail from Big Lake to Denali State Park by February of 2009. This would be accomplished by trail organizations and funded through the State grooming pool (snowmachine registration money). Working groups were organized for route selection and trail signage. If you would like to be apart of a working group or would like more information, contact Vic Stanculescu at 495-6212
Many Willow residents have expressed an interest in pedestrian trails around residential areas. A couple of suggested locations were Long Lake Rd and Michigan St. Since the Willow Health Organization and the Mat Su Health Foundation have identified pedestrian trails as a priority for healthy lifestyles, grant funding may be possible. A working group is being organized to expore possibilities. If you are interested in being part of this project, please contact Nina Davidson at 495-1112.
It’s time to start thinking about grant projects, again. The State offers three excellent funding sources These are: 1. Recreational Trail Grant (all kinds of trails and funded from Fed. hwy money) 2. SnowTRAC Grant (snowmachine trails and funded from snowmachine registration). 3. Alaska Trails Initiative (similiar to the Recreational Trail Grant). The MSB’s Bed Tax is another good source that benefits tourist related facilities and trails. If you have ideas or suggestions for projects, please come to our next trail meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 7pm at the WCC.
If you would like to be placed on the WTC email list or have questions, call 495–6368.
Latest news from the Borough
The Willow Bridge Club will be holding a Bridge Class next Friday, 3rd of August at 7PM at the WCC, as part of the Willow Comunity Enrichment Program. For more information call Pat Steige 495 5004.
Local Groups
The first meeting of the planning team was October 11 at 6PM at the Willow Elementary School with 25 out of 34 members present. The purpose of the meeting was to begin the transportation piece of the comprehensive plan.
Eileen Probasco, MSB Planner explained the planning process. Brad Sworts, MSB Transportation Planner discussed the Rail Corridor. Dennis Linnell, PE of HDL gave information already gathered on Willow transportation issues and then took input from the team regarding other plans and issues. Notes of meetings etc., are now available directly from the Borough’s web-site at http://www.matsugov.us/planning/WillowCompPlan.cfm
All meetings and programs are scheduled at the Willow Community Center Main Hall at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
(This is a tentative schedule ~ please check back for updates)
2008
The garden has been cleaned up and the Harvest Pot Luck was a wonderful success. Thank you to all who participated. The garden was absolutely beautiful this year and thank you to everyone who made it happen. For more information, please call Karen at 495-6636 or Shirley at 495-5267.
Willow Road Service Area CIP list is posted in the Commons Area of the Willow Haven Senior Housing. The CIP list will be put in the Community Center when the RSA bulletin board is reinstalled. All RSA board meetings will be held at the Willow Haven Commons Room until further notice. All previous RSA meetings have been advertised in accordance with Borough code, for the past 10 years, in the Frontiersman along with any special meeting requirements. The RSA meetings schedule is as follows, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend: September 27, 2007 – 7pm December 27, 2007 – 7pm (subject to change)
Attention Willow Runners and Walkers! The Willow Running Club is starting up again with scheduled runs/walks at 6pm on Mondays and Thursdays. If you are interested please contact sleddog@mtaonline.net or call Andrea at 495–2205 (email preferred). Our goal is to have fun exercising and see the trails and back roads of Willow. We also go to runs/walks in the Valley and Anchorage and plan to host events in Willow. Hope to see your fleet feet!
The Annual Willow Health Fair is on Sat. April 26, 9 - 12n at the Willow Community Center. The first 100 people to register will get a 50% discount on blood tests. Hear a keynote address by Dee Dee Jonrowe at 10 am. There will be free pancakes and smoothies made healthy along with many door prizes and fun. Volunteers are needed in all categories. To sign-up for blood test or further information call Nina Davidson at 495-1112.
April 25 Friday 4-6:00 p -Volunteers are needed to set-up tables and chairs
April 25 Friday 6-6:45 p -Volunteer Training and pre-registration for blood tests
April 26 Sat 7:30a -Volunteers arrive to set-up booths and get blood tests
April 26 Sat 9-12 n -Willow Health Fair open to public
April 26 Sat 11 am -Health Fair RACES start 5K Adult and 1K Kids
The Annual WHO meeting is April 8. All meetings are held at the Community Center at 7 pm. New board members will be elected. The Treasurer position is open. Please call 495-1112 if interested. You are invited to become active in the health of your community.
The 2008 Willow Race Series will get underway at the Winter Carnival. There will be a series of 6 races for runners and walkers happening over the year. A Willow organization will be promoted for each race. The races are sponsored by Willow Health Org. Inc. funded by grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. Event schedule is as follows:
Willow Winter Carnival 5K (to benefit WACO) Feb. 2nd
Willow Health Fair 5K/1K Adults/Kids (to benefit WHO) April 26th Entry_Form.pdf Δ
Freedom 4 miler (to benefit Willow Veterans) July 4th
Red Shirt Lake Trail Run 6 miler (to benefit Willow Trails Committee) Aug. 2nd
Dog Dash 5K (to benefit Willow Dog Mushers—WDMA) Sept. 27th
Oktoberfest Run 5K/10K (to benefit the local Food Bank) Oct. 18th
For more information about any of these races, or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Andrea at 495-2205, or andreahaltmann@yahoo.com or Yvonne at 495-0105, or yvonneleutwyler@yahoo.com
Click here for more info on individual races. Online entry forms are now available!! Entry_Form.pdf Δ
If you have any questions please contact. Tony DeLucia, President. 495-3424.
This fall we will be having a Basic Firefighter class. If you are interested in joining this would be the time! You are invited to stop by the Fire Station on Tuesdays at 7pm. Please contact Sally at 907-373-8800 for more details. If you are between the ages of 14 and 18 and have completed 8th grade and are interested in Firefighting, please call Dawn at 907-495-6728 to join the Explorer program. Kel Jacobs, Captain/PIO
Odds and Ends
If anyone finds an injured or orphaned wild bird, you can call the Alaska Wildbird Rehab Center in Houston. They will direct you on where to bring it, or arrange to have it picked up. Please be sure an orphaned chick is actually alone, often parents will leave a young bird for short times to find food, or if flushed from the nest. Call 892-1670 (in Houston) or 230-7049 (cell phone) for assistance.
Support your Chamber of Commerce. Call Jim for information at 355-4700, or go to our web site at willowchamber.org.
We are pleased to be open again. We thank all those who volunteered and helped the library and all those who checked out holdings to help with the move. Come in and see the rejuvenation, painting and carpeting.
The library congratulates Ann Dixon on her new library position at the Willow Elementary School. We welcome Marian Charles who is now doing the story hour programs.
Story Hour is Tuesdays at 11AM: Oct 2: Animals of the North; Oct 9: Fire Safety Day; Oct 16: Loose Tooth; Oct 23: Happy Hedgehogs; Oct 30: Happy Halloween.
Fish Tacos – Jaki Motter (the best recipe!!)
Fish:
White fish is best, any amount you want to use.
Dip in milk, then coat with Italian Bread Crumbs.
Fry in hot oil until brown. Set on paper towel to drain.
White sauce:
Equal parts sour cream and mayo (can use low fat versions if you want).
Squeeze in fresh lime juice, to taste.
Add a little garlic salt, to taste.
Note: the sauce should be a little runny.
To Serve:
Corn tortilla, warmed. Add pieces of white fish, top with sauce, plus chopped cilantro, green onion,
and finely chopped cabbage. Top with salsa if you want.
Scattered Hairs
A place for the whole family to go to get a great haircut, color or perm.
For an appointment call Stephanie or Kaycee at 495–6090. “We are excited about being part of the Willow community and hoping we can make everyone feel and look Great!”
Located at Mile 64.5 on the Parks Highway.
July ‘07
Chinook Deli
Pizza, Subs, Sandwiches
Mile 70.5 Parks Hwy/inside Willow Island Resort.
11:00am–8:00pm Wed to Sun.
495–5560
Sep ‘07
Telephone exchange is 495– unless noted otherwise