Our 4th Annual Craft Invitational Chainsaw Carving Competition brought Many Visitors to Seldovia in 2009!    
by Jenny Chissus Photos by Mary Glover

1st Place - Scott Thompson	2nd Place - Derrick Stanton	3rd Place - Jordan Anderson People's Choice
Scott Hanson	Jimmy Kitchens	Stephen Hopkinson

This year's competition was amazing! We had six eager carvers who set to work at the sound of the horn to release these incredible creatures from each log. It is always a pleasure to be witness to the emersion of each masterpiece, as it grows from an idea into physical fruition.

This year we had quite a few visitors who came regularly to check on the progress of the carvings. There were many folks who expressed to me that they had come specifically to Seldovia for this very competition! Some had come last year at this time, and "happened" upon the carving contest, and therefore had returned. Others, heard about the event and made it a priority to come to Seldovia for the Memorial Day weekend.

We had a great turnout for the "quick carves" each day, as well as a nice crowd for the award ceremony and auction on Sunday. It was a fabulous event, and thanks to all those volunteers, sponsors and donations of food, lodging and services - our carvers had a great time too - and promised to return next year!

Thank you Derrick, Jimmy, Jordan, Scott H, Scott T and Stephen for coming to Seldovia! It has been a pleasure getting to know you!

Thank you to the following sponsors for making this event a success!

Alaska Grace, Alaska Tree Tops Fishing Lodge, Alaska Tribal Cache, Boys & Girls Club of Seldovia, Central Suites B&B and Internet Cafe, City of Seldovia - Matt and Manfred and Tim Dillon/City Manager, Crab Pot Grocery, Dancing Eagles, Dave Cloninger, Dillon & Dillon Construction, Gerry Willard, Gordon Giles, Harbor Inn, Herring Bay Mercantile, Homer Electric, Jim Hopkins, Mad Fish Restaurant, Main Street Market, Mike Webber, Seldovia Chamber of Commerce, Seldovia Fire & EMS Services, Seldovia Fishing Adventures, Seldovia Fuel & Hardware, Seldovia Medical Clinic - Doc & Cheryl Reynolds, Seldovia Native Association, Seldovia Property, Seldovia Rowing Club, Seldovia Village Tribe, Steve Kroll, Tide Pool Restaurant, Tim & Lisa O'Leary, Tom & Mary Glover, www.Seldovia.com, Winter Watch.

Thank you also to the Chainsaw Competition Committee for all your hard work, planning, organizing and taking great care of our carvers: Kurt & Joni Reynertson, Gerry & Shirley Hurley, Tom & Mary Glover and Sonny & Jenny Chissus.

First Ever Human Powered Fishing Derby in Seldovia was a Great Success in 2009!     
Story by Tim Dillon and Photos by Mary Glover

The first annual “Human Powered Fishing Derby” was a great success. We had twenty two boats participate over the course of two days this past Memorial Day Weekend. Many boat styles were registered, from classic Balogh-rowboats to a couple of peddle-powered paddle boats, and numerous shapes and lengths of kayaks in between. The weather cooperated and gave calm seas for the most part, with winds building toward the end of the second day of fishing. For many this was the first endeavor of fishing from a human-powered craft and the first day was a bit of a shake-down cruise for most, working out the kinks and intricacies of fishing from small craft. The take of fish was a bit meager as a result, that first day. We saw some small halibut, respectable gray cod catches, the ubiquitous Irish Lord, black bass, and a few flounder. However the next day with a full day’s experience behind the anglers, things picked up. The winners of all categories were caught the second day and are as follows: Biggest King Salmon 16 lb $150 Chris Lillo Biggest Halibut 22.5 lb $100 Toby Seville Biggest Cod (tied) 4.5 lb $50 Amelia Dillon/Allison Miller Biggest Irish Lord 3 Lb Tidepool lunch Chris Pollack Biggest flounder 2.25 lb Tidepool lunch Amelia Dillon Most unusual fish ? Smokey Bay Round Trip Ticket Mark Janes A grand fish-fry followed the final weigh-ins Sunday evening with plenty of tempura halibut and teriyaki salmon to go around. Joni Reynertson worked very hard at providing salads and desserts and did a wonderful job of doing so. The award ceremony allowed many participants to win prizes through a drawing from the following very supportive local merchants: THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO: SMOKEY BAY AIR HOMER AIR THE GEAR SHED THE TIDEPOOL RESTAURANT SELDOVIA FUEL & LUBE THE LINWOOD BAR & GRILL CRAIG HIGMAN MASTER CARVER SCOTT HANSON CHAINSAW CARVER Kirby Corwin’s name was picked for the grand prize drawing, winning the beautiful and large carved king salmon (photo below with Tim Dillon), donated by the very talented chainsaw carver Scott Hanson. Thank you again Scott. Kirby, in a very magnanimous gesture, donated the carved salmon to the Linwood where it will hang with a plaque commemorating the Seldovia Human Powered Fishing Derby and will allow space for a new name each year for the next lucky winners of the grand prize drawing in years to come. Quite a few people stopped me on the street and said they will be joining us next year as many of them realized they have a kayak or small rowboat languishing in their backyards. I say, come on out next year. The more the merrier. It may be bigger in subsequent years to come, but I dare say it will be hard to be better than this first derby. If this derby did one thing I hope it was for all to realize it takes just a very small effort to row or paddle a short distance from home and catch dinner from the vast bounty of the sea that is at our doorstep.

2009 Solstice Music Festival - Memories Made    
Story by Susan Zerwick and Photos by Susan Mumma

Last weekend’s ninth annual Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival filled 3 days with good times, great music, and some very funny moments. The town was overflowing with performers plus all the people who came to listen to the music and attend workshops, song circles and jams. The Susan B. English School Commons was standing-room-only for the two evening performances. The audience came early, left late, and had a great time in between.

Every year the Seldovia Arts Council brings artists who are at the top of their genre to be our Festival headliners. This year Mary Jane Lamond, Gaelic artist from Cape Breton Nova Scotia, filled that bill. Mary Jane sang in Gaelic to ancient melodies to which she gives a modern twist. With her was fiddler and stepdancer Wendy MacIsaac, who charmed audiences with her warmth and quickness on the fiddle. Patrick Gillis with his ‘upside down and backwards’ guitar technique provided accompaniment. Comic interludes were provided by emcee comedian Robert Post. A physical actor from Columbus Ohio, Robert enthralled his audience as Burglar Burt bungling a night of crime, and Inspector Wesley Bloom. Bloom solved the murder of Lord McNaughton in a skit that required 6 rapid-fire character changes using only hats, a wig and impeccable dialects. Yes, one simple black panel can become an automobile, a castle door or a bathtub when in the hands of Robert Post.

There were a total of 49 artists on the festival stage this year, from Anchorage’s 11-member Celtic group Back Alley Banned to singer/songwriters like Jaime Michaels and Emily Kurn. Radoslav Lorkovic was back playing stellar boogie woogie piano, and returning favorite Robin Hopper performed a heartfelt tribute to Mary Webber, to whom this year’s festival was dedicated. Local acts Red Mountain Ramblers, Billy Goat and Tim Davis all gave fantastic performances to a wildly enthusiastic audience, and Betsy Scott wowed us all with, among other tunes, her own ode to neighbor Joe Fleckenstein. Many of the artists joined together for a collaboration piece as a grand finale to the festival. Thanks to all of the many artists who shared their great talents with us on the festival stage.

The Seldovia Arts Council, and especially the festival committee (Director: Susan Mumma, Publicity: Susan Zerwick, Financials: Darlene Crawford, Stage Manager: Laurel Hilts, Housing Director: Jerry Stranik, Transportation Director: Tania Spurkland, Stage Set Up Director: Tobin Spurkland and Hospitality Director: Suzie Stranik) worked very hard though out the year to make this a great festival. But in addition it took the involvement and dedication of this community, including the many individual and business sponsors plus those who went out of their way to house, feed, and transport the artists, set up and take down the venue, publicize the event and do the myriad of other tasks that go to staging such a big event. What a great effort by all and what a wonderful weekend to remember.

Independence Day 2009 was Sunny and Bright!
by Jenny Chissus

Wow, what a fantastic 4th of July weekend! We would like to say that the weather is always like this.... but that wouldn't be true - we were absolutely spoiled this weekend, with great sun, beautiful days and lots of activity for visitors and locals to enjoy! Pictures say a 1000 words, so here goes!