RSSEducation

Congratulations Seldovia Graduates! Part I of V – Taylor Morgan Haller

| May 13, 2014 | 0 Comments

by Jenny Chissus

This week, we are honoring our 5 Seldovia graduates, Alexandria (Xandria), Aydana, Chaela, Kaitlyn and Taylor!  5 beautiful girls with 5 stories to share about their Seldovia experience in school and community!  This is part I of V in a series this week!  Graduation will be held at Susan B English school on May 20, 2014 at 4:00pm in the school gymnasium and all are welcome to celebrate with our graduates and families!

There is one exception as Aydana Omar will be leaving Seldovia for Kazakhstan on Monday, the day before graduation, so there will be a Community Graduation/Certificate Ceremony for her on Sunday, May 18th at the Sea Otter Community Center at 4:00pm, with a potluck to follow – and all are welcome!

TaylorPortraitCongratulations Taylor!

Gazette:  What is your “Seldovia” story?
Taylor:  When I was younger, my dad was in the army for 13 years, so we moved around a lot, and I do mean a lot.  Before we moved to Seldovia we spent a few years in Washington. My parents came to us kids and we had a family meeting. We, as a family, decided we were going to move to Seldovia. June 28th we came off of the Kennicott into this beautiful town and that is when my life changed.
TaylorCamera I can remember getting off the boat in the car and Kaitlyn and a few other people were standing there to wave to us.  A part of me missed Washington, but a part of me knew that I was home.

TaylorTiffanyBeing in Seldovia has let me do things I would never be able to do. For example, walk around town with my friends or stay out till midnight on teen night. I remember the first year I was here, every time I wanted to go outside I asked my dad, out of habit. He finally got annoyed with me asking every day if I could go outside and he said that I don’t have to ask anymore because if I do something, it would get to the other end of town before I even got home. He knew I would be safe.

TaylorChanceLiving in Seldovia has given me wonderful opportunities. I played volleyball for 3 of my 4 years.   I attempted to play basketball my junior year and I enjoyed being the girls’ basketball team manager!   I was part of student council 3 of my 4 years and president and vice president throughout the last 4 years.   This year I am also part of the National Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Board.  Also, being in Seldovia I have been able to have a summer job every year, which is a lot of fun!  All in all, I love Seldovia and how everyone cares. Seldovia is just very homey.

TaylorYoungGazette:   As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Now, as a senior – what do you want to be when you grow up? How has that changed?
Taylor:  As a child I wanted to be anything and everything! Like any child, I wanted to be a firefighter, a doctor, a princess, (oh if only I could be a princess) a singer and a marine biologist. But I think my true passion lies in cooking.  I think it started to come out in middle school, but started showing more here in Seldovia. Through the last four years I have had the privilege of having foods class with Mrs. Bornheimer and it has been my favorite class every year.  I love to cook!

TaylorCheerGazette:  What are some of your favorite school memories? Seldovia memories? Favorite school memories?
Taylor:  Well where do I begin? I think my favorite memories always happen on volleyball trips. This year we got to do co-ed. Having the boys on the team was a BLAST! There was NO drama at all and they kept everything fun. One of the funniest things I can remember was last year when I was obsessed with One Direction. I made a cake and put a lot of decorations on it, and in the corner of the cake I put 1D on it. The whole cake was eaten except the part that said 1D! Everyone teased me about it for like 2 weeks!

TaylorDadAnother one of my favorite memories in school was when Seth and Kaitlyn would sing “Believe” by Cher.  Mr. Winters was our teacher at the time, and when they came to the part “Do you believe in life after love?” Mr. Winters said very loudly, NO!  I laughed so hard. One of my favorite Seldovia memories is whenever I have a bonfire with all my friends. My friends are the greatest people in the world.

Gazette:   What are your plans this summer? This next year?
Taylor:  This summer I will be working my own hot dog stand called Main Street Munchies. That is the only thing I really have planned. This next year my best friend from Washington will be moving up here. We will both be going to KPC the following year. This next year we plan on working before we go off to college.

TaylorAshleyGazette:   Growing up requires a lot of help – who do you want to thank? Who made a big impression on you and has influenced you in a positive way? Who deserves a “Virtual Rose”?
TaylorTiffanyTaylor:  I would like to thank many people. Mom and Dad, thank you for dealing with me the last 18 years. I know I have been a pain but thank you for never giving up on me even though I’m probably the most stubborn person in the house. Thank you for raising me right. You guy are the best. Jenny, thank you for everything you’ve done to help me with my photography. It means a lot to me. Ms. Montgomery, thank you for all the hard work you put into me and all the other students. You are an amazing teacher and friend! Mrs. Bornheimer, thank you for paying out of your own pocket most of the time just to do foods class. We all love that class and I am so happy you did it our senior year. Ms. Sensenig, thank you for being our advisor and helping so much with everything.

TaylorRobertGazette:  What would you do with your life if you KNEW you could not fail?
Taylor:  If I knew I would not fail I would open a small bakery/coffee shop. That is what I have wanted to do for the past two years.

Gazette:   Final thoughts?
Taylor:  My time in Seldovia was short but in the years I’ve been here I have made wonderful friends, I have learned and seen so much. Thank you to everyone who was there for me and everyone who never gave up. This is one of the saddest goodbyes I’ve had to say. I know I will see everyone around town, but this goodbye means the start of my new life, as an adult. So thank you to everyone who has helped me grow up into the person I am today. As I am writing this, my eyes are tearing up. I feel like I am saying goodbye for good. Where ever my life takes me, Seldovia will always be my home.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) returns to Seldovia!

| May 1, 2014 | 0 Comments

by Dan Nelson

CERT Banner

Have you ever wanted to find a way to contribute to the community if something major occurred?  The Community Emergency Response Team or CERT is a mechanism to do just that – we prepare for large scale emergencies and natural disasters and act as a bridge between our established responders and community members.  CERT training is an all-volunteer program that consists of basic training sessions that teach skills in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, and more.

Why take this training?  This provides basic skills in responding to an emergency or disaster in the community.  This isn’t a class if you are interested in becoming a firefighter or emergency medical technician.  Instead, this training is a primer on how to help during an event where normal response may be overwhelmed, such as a large scale earthquake or other natural disaster.

There is no obligation to volunteer or commit to additional training once the initial sessions are completed.

Class sessions include:

Thursday, May 8, 2014 6pm – 9pm Disaster Preparedness
Friday, May 9, 2014 7pm – 9pm Fire/Utility Control
Saturday May 10, 2014 9am – 5pmWednesday, May 14, 2014 6pm –9pm Disaster Medical Operations Pt. 1 & 2Light Search & Rescue
Thursday, May 15, 2014 6pm – 9pm CERT Organization
Friday, May 16, 2014 7pm – 9pm Disaster Psychology, Terrorism and CERT
Saturday, May 17, 2014 9am – 3pm Disaster Simulation

All class sessions will be held at the Susan B. English school  To reserve your spot in the class, please sign up online atwww.kpvolunteers.org/seldovia.asp.

There is no cost or obligation for the class, people of all ages (13 +) and physical abilities are welcome.  All supplies required for the class will be provided.  Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a starter kit of emergency gear.  If you have any questions, please contact Dan Nelson, program coordinator, at dnelson@kpb.us or at 262-2098.

Annual Women’s Gathering in Seldovia

| April 25, 2014 | 0 Comments

by Laurel Hilts
Women's Gathering Flyer

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic to Offer Services in Seldovia May 17th

| April 23, 2014 | 0 Comments

by Heather O’Connor

KBFPC tree LOGOKachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic (KBFPC) will offer clinical services in Seldovia on Saturday, May 17th in the Seldovia Medical Clinic.

Cindy Beske, ANP/CNM and KBFPC staff will offer high-quality, confidential services including well-woman health checks, breast exams and mammogram referrals, birth control consultations and supplies, emergency contraception, STD testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and counseling, and pre-conception counseling.

Rapid HIV tests will be available at no cost on a walk-in basis during the day. Samples are collected by oral swab or finger stick, with results in 20 minutes. Additional STD testing will be available with an appointment in Seldovia. STD/HIV testing is available daily as a walk in service at our clinic, 3959 Ben Walters Lane in Homer.

Previous KBFPC Seldovia clinics booked up quickly, so making an appointment early is advised. For appointments or information call 235-3436 or email clinic.kbfpc@ak.net.

KBFPC accepts private insurance and Medicaid in addition to offering affordable services on a sliding-fee scale to those who qualify. No one is ever turned away due to inability to pay.

KBFPC is a member-supported organization providing high-quality, low cost reproductive healthcare for women, men and families of the southern Kenai Peninsula. We offer a range of confidential clinical services for men and women, as well as youth education programs and community health outreach. For more information about KBFPC, go to kbfpc.org.

Heather O’Connor                      

Executive Director
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic (KBFPC)
3959 Ben Walters Lane
Homer, AK 99603
Heather.kbfpc@ak.net
www.kbfpc.org
907-299-7200
Fax 907-235-8346

What is Zentangle?

| April 23, 2014 | 0 Comments

by Tania Spurkland

To be held at the Lethin’s home on Main Street!
Zentangle

Seldovia’s Annual Health Fair Approaches

| April 22, 2014 | 0 Comments

by Robin Giossi

HealthFair 2014

Health Fair 2014 details