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Troller off Kingsmill Point, Chatam Straight
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Ketchikan: Enchanted Forest Holiday Gala Raises Over $30,000 for Diabetes Education - It was a winter wonderland in the Enchanted Forest at Ted Ferry Civic Center this past Saturday evening Party goers enjoyed gourmet dinner, dessert, and dancing the night away to the fabulous Rain City Band.

A table of attendees who work for the hospital at the gala.
Photo courtesy PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center

PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center stated in a news release they were pleased to have the opportunity to host the annual Enchanted Forest Holiday Gala after the Chamber of Commerce took a year’s hiatus. The evening’s proceeds will be used to support early diabetes education and management services for members of the local community.

The event brought in just over $30,000 thanks to the donations from Taquan Air, who sponsored the venue; MyPlace, who covered the band; and First bank who purchased the trees & wreaths.

The gala featured a small forest of designer-decorated treed sponsored by a number of local businesses including First Bank, Ketchikan Visitors Bureau, Dawson Construction, The Landing Best Western, RhineCo Interiors & The Day Spa, Guardian Flight, Christmas in Alaska, Alaska Marine Lines, and the Downtown Galleries: Soho Coho, Scanlon Gallery, Starboard Framing and Gifts, and Chinook and Company. Each tree was covered in gifts and decorations ranging in values up to $5,500 with themes such as Art Lovers, By the Sea, Ketchikan Adventures, Christmas Extravagance, Holiday Baking, Family Safety, and Emojis.

The trees and a number of wreaths were up for silent and live auction along with a few dream vacations.

First Bank found a way to create a tree that would not only support the evening’s intended program, diabetes education, but to keep on giving. They donated and decorated a tree containing gifts intended for those in need such as socks and stuffed animals. Vice President and Community Development Officer Sheila Kleinschmidt then proceeded to secure the winning $1,350 bid and announce the First Bank Board’s intention to donate the tree and all its gifts to Community Connections. - More...
Thursday AM - December 15, 2016

Southeast Alaska: Consolidated UA's College of Education to be located at the University of Alaska Southeast - Yesterday, the University of Alaska Board of Regents approved unanimously in an 11-0 vote to establish a single University of Alaska (UA) College of Education and to locate the administrative center for the College at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) in Juneau.

The board first voted on consolidating the three education schools into one, and then voted on the location recommendation, which was amended by UA President Jim Johnsen to put forward UAS rather than the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) as the administrative home for the college. In doing so, the board directed Johnsen to take the necessary steps to establish a single College of Education for the University of Alaska, including seeking approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and assembling a planning team.

“The selection of one institution is not the denigration of another,” said Regent John Davies. “We need strong programs at all our universities and UAS is the right choice to lead our College of Education.”

Johnsen said he decided to amend his recommendation after listening to the input from many individuals citing the importance of teacher education as a signature program for UAS and expressions of concern over the economic impact of a move. Johnsen also cited UAS’ innovation and creativity in course delivery, as well as its nimbleness. The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and UAF are larger institutions, Johnsen said, with much broader missions. UAS will make the College of Education its number one priority. Although UAS will serve as the lead campus, faculty and courses will still be delivered from UAF and UAA.

“UAS is ready, willing and able to work with UAF, UAA, and school districts to ensure that our teacher-graduates are ready to provide a 21st century education for Alaska’s students,” said UAS Chancellor Rick Caulfield .- More...
Thursday AM - December 15, 2016

Alaska: Two Kenai Residents Sue Borough over Its Unconstitutional Invocation Policy That Limits Who May Give Invocations - Yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska filed a lawsuit against the Kenai Peninsula Borough on behalf of Lance Hunt and Iris Fontana, two Borough residents who are standing up to challenge the Kenai Borough Assembly’s unconstitutional restrictions on who may offer invocations at the beginning of the Assembly’s public meetings.

From left to right: ACLU staff attorney Eric Glatt, plaintiff Lance Hunt and ACLU of Alaska Executive Director Joshua Decker.
Photo courtesy ACLU of Alaska

Lance Hunt and Iris Fontana each gave separate invocations this summer, during a period when the Assembly allowed invocations on a first-come, first-served basis. Lance, an atheist, invoked the Assembly members’ common humanity to solemnize its July 26 meeting: he encouraged the Assembly members to overlook differences and to have empathy for one’s neighbors. Iris, who read an invocation from The Satanic Temple to solemnize the Assembly’s August 9 meeting, encouraged the Assembly members to use innate, human reason to guide their deliberations. In a direct response to Lance and Iris’s invocations—and to prevent them and other community members from giving similar invocations in the future—the Assembly adopted unconstitutional and discriminatory restrictions that limit who may publicly solemnize Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meetings. The restrictions limit that honor to members of religious associations that are established in and regularly meet in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

“I’ve lived on the Kenai since 1994,” said Plaintiff Lance Hunt. “I’m involved in my community and I try to make the Kenai a better place for my neighbors. My July invocation called on the members of the Borough Assembly to be good to everyone, to recognize our common humanity, and to have empathy for our neighbors. Just because I don’t belong to a religious association, I don’t understand why the Assembly felt the need to prevent me from offering a similar invocation in the future.”

“I grew up in Ketchikan and moved to the Kenai six years ago and plan to stay for the rest of my life,” said Plaintiff Iris Fontana. “As a psychology and anthropology major at the Kenai Peninsula College, I’m learning how to help people. As I study the world’s cultures and societies, I’m struck by how alike we all are. In August, I tried to inspire the Assembly members to use our common, innate human gifts of logic and reason as they deliberate on what’s best for me and my neighbors; last month, they told me that I could not give another invocation.” - More...
Thursday AM - December 15, 2016

Alaska: Alaska Restaurants to Pay $835,000 in Overtime and Damages Owed to 159 Employees - The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development has secured an agreement from Gallo’s Mexican Restaurants and Taco King, Inc. to pay more than $835,000 in overtime and liquidated damages owed to 159 employees in Alaska. This represents one of the largest recoveries of overtime wages secured by the department’s Wage and Hour Administration.

A recent investigation by the department found that Gallo’s Mexican Restaurants and Taco King, with multiple locations in Anchorage and Fairbanks, violated the overtime provision of the Alaska Wage and Hour Act and failed to maintain accurate payroll records. Previous investigations into the businesses found they were in violation of Alaska’s wage and hour laws and resulted in the collection of over $50,000 in unpaid wages and damages.

“Wage violations are not uncommon in the restaurant industry where workers may not know their rights or are afraid to speak up,” said Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas. “This enforcement puts money back where it belongs – in the pockets of hardworking people and their families.” - More...
Thursday AM - December 15, 2016

I understand why you couldn't care less which festive cups Starbucks uses, why you'd just as soon your grandchild be a dancing snowflake as an adoring shepherd, why "Season's greetings" resonates just as well as "Merry Christmas" with you, why you'd rather hear "Baby, It's Cold Outside" than Handel's "Messiah."

Maybe pompous ivory tower professors have lectured you that "everyone knows" the New Testament was written hundreds of years after the alleged events (and Second Corinthians was written with a Sharpie marker on the back of a Denny's napkin just last Thursday).

Perhaps endless sensationalized History Channel documentaries have filled your mind with paranoia about altered manuscripts and plots to suppress competing gospels.

Or maybe you remember your niece's podiatrist once said something or another about the Bible being full of contradictions and garbled translations and latter-day myths "and stuff."

Even after 30-plus years of teaching adult Bible classes, I have my own flashes of "But what if...?" uncertainty. But I have the assurance of "Seek and ye shall find" -- and resources for bolstering my faith.

Perhaps you know of those resources but are happy with your rock-ribbed atheism or your nebulous "spirituality."Perhaps there is an emptiness in your life, but you ignore it, like that "check engine soon" light on your car or the blood in your handkerchief when you cough.

Christianity has been derided as "wishful thinking," but skeptical forces have their own ulterior motives.

Embracing the "only drooling idiots believe in miracles," "Jesus was just a good man (if he even existed)", "Jesus's followers greatly padded his re©sume©" crowd can bring enviable SHORT-TERM peace of mind.

You can base your life on "fun, fun, fun." You don't have to question if your favorite uncle, the militant nonbeliever, was misguided. You don't have to think about sin or Judgment Day. - More...
Thursday AM - December 15, 2016