SeldoviaGal
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Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz
by David Tessler
We need your help! We are encouraging Alaskans throughout the state to look for and report Rusty Blackbirds whenever and wherever they see them through the Spring migration. We are researching the disastrous decline of this species, and are coordinating a continental effort to record observations throughout their migration to track migratory patterns and dates.
- What: Report migrating Rusty Blackbirds!
- Where: Statewide outside.
- When: April 12-May 31.
The Rusty Blackbird has declined by 90–98% since 1966, and continues to decline by a rate of 5%–12% per year. The causes of decline aren’t well understood, so researchers are scrambling to find out more. Please help! All you have to do is look for Rusty Blackbirds and report your observations online in eBird or on a written data sheet. If you go out looking but don’t see any, that’s important to report also. For information go to ak.audubon.org/rusty-
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
David F. Tessler
Regional Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Diversity Program
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Wildlife Conservation
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99518
Phone: (907) 267-2332
Fax: (907) 267-2433
Email: david.tessler@alaska.gov
Web: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/
Media Drive Extended Through April – Win an iPad Mini!
by Jenny Chissus
Minecraft Castle
It all started during one conversation with Tracie about library funding. What funds our Seldovia Public Library has, through grants and fundraising, and how that money is spent. An important thing I learned in the conversation, was that there are many folks who check out the DVDs and audiobooks, but that the inventory was very limited. According to Tracie, the funds available for buying new materials often do not allow for media materials. So, I wanted to help, and offered to donate a brand new iPad Mini for a media drive!
Many of us have movies we have only watched once or twice, music CDs or audio books that we no longer listen to, and they are collecting dust and using up space in our shelves, and we’d like to share with others! This is your chance! The library has also opened up the media drive to video games! This, I believe is a real bonus! First of all, video games aren’t cheap, and secondly, you never know if you are going to enjoy a game until it is played! And secondly – it brings young people into the library! In Seldovia we don’t have a video/game rental store, so this makes perfect sense that we can offer these items to the community through our public library!
Please take a few moments to dig into your collection, and see what you would like to offer the library in exchange for a ticket for a chance to win the iPad Mini, and a guarantee of supporting the library and adding value to the community options for entertainment and learning!
Also – as you read Tracie’s great commentary on the status of the library, please note that your participation in this media drive is a huge help to our inventory and the appeal of the library so THANK YOU! Also, there are many things going on at our small library that benefit our whole community, and should you be interested in offering cash donations to our library – that is always welcome!
I also shot a few questions to Tracie, to give you a little more background! So here we go!
Seldovia Village Tribe Seeks New CFO
Chief Financial Officer Manages and oversees the financial aspects of all grants, contracts, and self-government compacts the Seldovia Village Tribe may be awarded to include the SVT Health & Wellness community health center in Homer and the Seldovia Bay Ferry, LLC. Works closely with CEO and accounting staff. Prepares quarterly reports for the Tribal Council. Reconciles IHS and BIA Compact annually. Prepares OSG and corresponding Indirect Rate. Full time 40 hours per week. Generous benefit package. Please see job description for complete list of expectations and requirements.
Meet Aidana Omar – One of Seldovia’s Exchange Students
by Jenny Chissus
Aidana Omar
Living in a small town, we immediately notice all the new faces, and this beautiful, smart, cheerful and friendly one, came to us all the way from Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan! Aidana was placed with Shad and Tiffany Haller, along with another exchange student, Souleymane Sidibi from Mali for the 2013-2014 school year.
Aidana is an exchange student with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) for Russian and Asian students. Aidana mentioned that with over 8,000 applicants, only about 700 students were accepted for the program in 2013-2014.
The FLEX Program (Future Leaders Exchange) is funded by Congress under the FREEDOM Support Act and administered by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program’s goal is to provide an opportunity for high school students from Eurasia* to experience life in a democratic society in order to promote democratic values and institutions in Eurasia.
FLEX students live with host families, attend school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. The program places special emphasis on leadership skills and seeks ways for participants to develop these skills during the school year. Upon their return home, students will apply their leadership skills at home and become involved in a well-established FLEX alumni network. Find out more about the FLEX alumni network and program at exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/flex.html. – taken from the FLEX site
Seldovia’s Mixed 6 Volleyball Team
Gazette: Did you have a difficult time getting accepted into this program?
Aidana: I applied as a Freshman and as a Sophomore, but didn’t make it to the final round of interviews until this year. It is very competitive. I am very lucky and honored to be a part of such a great program.
Gazette: When did you know you were coming to Seldovia, Alaska and that you Continue Reading
Public Invited to Attend April 29 Scoping Open House in Seldovia
Press Release by Alaska DNR
(Anchorage, AK) – The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will host an open house on Tuesday, April 29, to gather public input on its planning process for revising the Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park Management Plan. The meeting will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Multi Purpose Complex located at 259 Seldovia Street in Seldovia.
The purpose of the plan revision is to address issues the park is facing due to changing patterns in recreational use and increased visitation, as well as updating recommendations for park management and facility development. Additionally, a trail plan will be developed to provide specific guidance for trail management and development in these areas. An initial open house was held in Homer in November 2013 and additional scoping events will be scheduled in Homer, Port Graham, and Nanwalek.
Planning staff will be available at the Seldovia meeting to discuss issues, gather information, and learn more about current or future goals and uses related to the management plan revision. The open house is an opportunity for the planning team to include local input in the early stages of plan development.
To view the existing park plan and learn more about this process, visit: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/plans/kbay/kbayplan.htm
Written comments are encouraged throughout the planning process. The deadline for submitting initial scoping comments is May 15, 2014. They can be sent via mail, email or fax to: Kachemak Bay State Park Planning, 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1050, Anchorage, AK 99501, Fax: 907-269-8915, Email: shawana.guzenski@alaska.gov.
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