Billy Goat Plays on the 30th

by Seldovia Arts Council

It’s Time for Another Mystery

by Jan Yaeger

The Seldovia Museum thanks Henry Kroll III and Chris Reid for their great information about the bearing board that was featured as the Seldovia Museum’s October Monthly Mystery!

For November, we have chosen an image from our photo collection that we would like to learn more about. And of course we always welcome information about any of the items in our collection,  as well as your stories of life in Seldovia!

Seldovia Featured in a Premier Episode of “Buying Alaska”!

by Jenny Chissus

Many of you remember the 5 men in black with big cameras this summer, as Paper Route Productions came to Seldovia for a total of 6 days to film 5 properties in the our area for the new show “Buying Alaska” on Discovery’s channel Destination America – for us, we can access it on Dish Network channel 194!  Take note – it is also listed as “Selling Alaska” on their website – so don’t miss it!

You keep asking, and now we know – the premier episodes will air this coming

Sunday, October 21
at 6:00PM and 6:30PM
Dish Network Channel 194

Sunday, October 28
at 6:30pm
Direct TV Channel 286

Episode 2 will feature John and Paulie Carluccio’s log cabin on Seldovia Bay!  This is a beautiful cabin, built by local log wright, Tim Dillon. Many Seldovians have had the opportunity to visit this Alaskan log home, which is listed with Seldovia Property.

While they were filming, we took a tour down Main Street, and rented an electric vehicle from Tom and Peggy for the trip out to the cabin.   There will be other

SOCC Fall Happenings

by Damara Burnett

Alaska Ocean Film Festival 2012

Elude sea monsters in Holland, track exotic oceanic species, canoe from Valdez to Whittier and garden on the ocean floor at this year’s Alaska Ocean Film Festival.

Friday, October 19th
Screening at 7pm
SBE School Commons
Admission: $5 adults; children are free (through 12th grade)

The Alaska Ocean Film Festival features ten short films on saltwater adventure, coastal cultures, and marine science from Alaska and around the world. The films explore our connection with the ocean and connect us to a larger, saltier world. They are brought to you by the Alaska Center for the Environment and the Seldovia Arts Council. Join us to reflect on the importance of the oceans’ vital ecosystems.

Celebrate our ocean bounty with:

• Aleutian Aquatics, Sean Harper
• Team Clark Goes Canoeing: Valdez to Whittier, Dan Clark
• Into the Deep with Elephant Seals, Sedva Eris
• Capture: A Waves Documentary, Dave Aabo
• Landscapes at the World’s Ends: Antarctica, Richard Sidey
• Birdathlon, Rachel Lewis and Karen Lewis
• The Coral Gardener, Emma Robens
• Eating the Ocean, Jennifer Galvin
• The Majestic Plastic Bag, Jeremy Irons
• Monsterboards, Matthew McGregor-Mento

Kenai Heli Ski – New Operation, Based in Seldovia

by Jenny Chissus
Skiing photos by Kenai Heli Ski, Local Seldovia photos by Jenny Chissus

I had the great opportunity to visit with Njord and Chad on one of their trips to Seldovia this past winter.  They were here to meet with the community and were checking out the slopes for this upcoming winter 2013 Heli ski season in the mountains surrounding our beautiful waterfront community of Seldovia!

Now, as the first snow has already fallen (Yes, in September!) we are looking ahead to an upcoming season of Heli Skiing in the Seldovia mountains!  Winter is on the way, and this is a great opportunity to introduce you to a new business coming to Seldovia this winter and Njord Rota, co-owner of Kenai Heli Ski!

First, a little info:  Kenai Heli Ski has 4 helicopters and one Snowcat available for inclement weather (when the ceiling is too low, or the weather too bad for helicopters) in order to promise their skiers over 100,000 vertical feet of skiing during a 6 “ski days” trip!

Their weeklong packages will include transportation from Anchorage to Seldovia, lodging, meals, guides and equipment.  They will provide skis (bring your own snowboard if that is your equipment of preference) and most importantly avalanche airbags for each skier.  They are the only company providing this very important safety equipment (through their partner Backcountry Access) to clients at no extra cost.  Check out all the important safety measures they are committed to, from equipment to experienced and trained guides who have medical training and mountain guide certifications as well as advanced avalanche training.  First priority is always safety – and the second is FUN!

This Heli ski operation is going to be an exciting aspect to the winter months in our quiet community off the road system.  I live here year round, and come September, it is just us “locals” who spend the entire winter in Seldovia.

I had the opportunity to talk with Njord on the phone the other day about the upcoming winter – and pick his brain a bit about the hopes and dreams for his first season in Seldovia.

Njord, where are you from and what is your experience with Heli-ski?  Currently I’m living in Glenwood Spring Colorado, but originally I’m from Kansas.  My father was a career military officer, so I’ve lived just about everywhere.  I’ve personnaly transitioned from being a guide in my youth to a career as a military officer and helicopter pilot to coming back to my roots as a guide.

With a new venture in Alaska, are you working with heli ski this winter in Colorado?  There is going to be very little happening this year for us in Aspen.  Chad and I are going to teach a couple of avalanche classes, but otherwise the focus is going to be on getting things ready for heli skiing in Alaska.

There are so many beautiful places to ski, why did you choose Seldovia?  How did you discover Seldovia?  I discovered Seldovia through Ted Stallings, with Aero Tech Inc., whom I’ve worked with as an aircraft provider for some of the defense work that I do.

What is special or unique about this ski package in Seldovia for your clients?  It’s special in that is mostly “undiscovered” for the helicopter skiing

Seldovia’s Tim P. Dillon Awarded Largest Scenic Byways Grant in the State

by Jenny Chissus

I had a great interview with Tim Dillon, from Dillon and Dillon Construction, who was recently awarded $246,500 (which was the largest grant in the state) from the Alaska Scenic Byways program for Seldovia’s  new  waterfront pavilion, community signage and repairs to our historic boardwalk!

What an achievement!  

Awards also went out to Seward for Iditarod national historic trailhead signs for $129,200, Haines Highway for restrooms and parking improvements $184,000, and a wildlife viewing tower along the Glenn Highway for $154,500

When asking Tim about the beginning of the project, he stated that it started a long time ago, as a concept for a pavilion along the waterfront.  Tom and Mary Glover were in on the beginning conceptualization of a structure for both community and tourist use.   From there, he had requested that the city develop some kind of committee/forum to address the development of the harbor front project.  The mayor appointed folks to the  waterfront development committee about 5 years ago, and Tim was selected as chairman.  The first step was to determine if it was a good idea for the community, and as a committee, they went through the process of seeking approval from the council, planning and zoning and after many community meetings, they finally received the approval from all the powers that be, for the use of the lot on the waterfront (where the crafters were set up this past summer 2012).

Last year Tim went in search for funding to assist in the creation of this pavilion project – with the understanding that there would be a lot of community effort and in-kind donations from individuals, businesses and the city.  He put in an

Thursdays = Craft Fair

 

by The Seldovia Crafters

Harpist Patrick Ball Returns to Seldovia – Accompanied by Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter

by Seldovia Arts Council

“Legends of the Celtic Harp” performs in the
Susan B. English School
in Seldovia, AK on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 7:30 PM.

“LEGENDS OF THE CELTIC HARP” is a musical journey into the heart of a legendary instrument. Three of the premier Celtica harpers in the world, Patrick Ball, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter have created a dramatic ensemble that takes you deep into the myths, magic and fabled history of this most captivating instrument.

The concert & storytelling event will take place at the Susan B English school at 365 Winifred Avenue Seldovia, AK 99663 on October 4, at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $8.00 for children, and $35.00 for families. More info (907)234-7614.

Patrick Ball is an American master of the Irish harp and a captivating spoken word artist. He has recorded twelve albums which have sold well over a half million copies internationally, winning national awards in both the music and spoken word categories. Patrick’s critically acclaimed concerts and solo theatrical productions have toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Ireland and the UK, and have been awarded grants by the California Arts Council and the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Association. www.PatrickBall.com

Lisa Lynne is a multi-instrumentalist and performer who has gained worldwide recognition for her original music featuring her Celtic Harp. She is widely acclaimed for composing memorable and heartwarming melodies on the Windham Hill/Sony music labels. Her groundbreaking “Hands-on-Harps” programs and work in Therapeutic music for over a decade has gained recognition from NBC, CNN, Fox News Atlanta and numerous newspaper and magazine articles including Wall Street Journal. www.LisaLynne.com

Aryeh Frankfurter is also a renowned Celtic harper multi- instrumentalist who went from virtuosic progressive rock violin to intricate Swedish folk and Celtic Music. He began with Classical violin at the age of three, his early studies and successes led him to explore various ethnic and international musical genres. Aryeh recently taught himself the rarely seen Swedish Nyckelharpa. His numerous critically and commercially successful albums have earned him credit as a musician, recording and performance artist of extraordinary talents and abilities. www.Lionharp.com

In addition to the Seldovia performance, Legends of the Celtic Harp will also appear in Anchorage on October 6th info 907-277-7727 and on October 9th in Valdez. Info at the Valdez Arts Council (907) 835-2786.

Gorgeous Fall Day

Enjoy this picture of a beautiful day in Seldovia, Alaska.