Fairbanks, AK

As can be attested to by the photo's on the right side of my blog I'm somewhat of an amateur photographer. Over the years I have taken tens of thousands of photo's that now sit in steamer trunks, photo albums, are stored on CD's and online and even have a few stacked in shoe boxes waiting to be organized. I've found it's a great way to take my mind off work. Scotch also works well but that's another story.

Watch The magic of the aurora

Last week a friend emailed me to say that the northern lights were going to be active that night. After dinner I decided to drive around the lake to see if I could catch them in action. As it turns out they didn't make much of an appearance while I was out so I spent an hour shooting light pollution from several points around the lake. As I'm driving along the river road I see a perfect photo op across the river to an open field. I stop the truck, get out and set up the tripod for the shot. Now, I'm doing this at about 10:15 at night with temps hovering around -15. 10:15 at night in Fairbanks in November isn't exactly bright. As a matter of fact it's downright dark as coal. I set the camera in place and turn around to turn the truck off and kill the lights. I focus in on the shot and click the shutter button. In this level of darkness it takes about 3 minutes for the camera

to gather enough light for the photo. As I'm standing there I look across the river and see something moving. The cold must have been causing my brain juices to congeal because it took me a few minutes to even think bear despite seeing this sign go up recently.

Now, Mr. Bear is across the river from me... I think. All of a sudden I blink and he's headed my way in what appears to be a dead run. I stand there (more proof my brain was freezing) and wonder "...is he on this side of the river or not? No, he's too far... isn't he??" Realizing I can't really tell how close he is I grab the camera (still attached to the 6' tripod no less), open the door and step up on the running board only to end up flat on my a$$ looking up at the night sky. "Holy chit, get your fat ass up," I'm thinking. Covered in snow thanks to 5" of fresh powder that was still falling, I get up and jump up in the drivers seat just in time to see him top the bank of my side of the river.

Moral of the story... This ain’t called the Last Frontier for nothing. We live in their country and if you think you see a bear, don't ‘think’ about it too long or you'll be a midnight snack... Had I waited a day I could have taken these from my own yard. Gotta love life in Alaska.

There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies.
-- Sir Winston Churchill

My family and I are blessed. We have a roof over our heads, we have our health and we don't have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. At %*#@ pounds, heaven knows that I could certainly do with a few less trips to the kitchen. Like many, our cupboards and pantry are full. Open the doors at any given moment and you'll find a snack or meal sure to satisfy darn near any craving.

Sadly, many are not that fortunate. According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 38 million Americans (15 million children) live in homes where there isn't enough to eat. Regardless of how they got to that point, it breaks my heart to think of anyone, but certainly a child, going hungry because there isn't anything in the house to eat.

Consider this your holiday call to arms. From now until Christmas We will be collecting non-perishable items to be donated to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank. Canned vegetables, soups, pre-packaged meals, rice, pasta, etc. are all welcome. The next time you go to the grocery store, pick up a few extra cans of vegetables or a box of pasta (or two) for the food bank. Open your pantry and bag up a few of those cans that have been sitting on the shelf. Hunters are encouraged to donate fresh game or items being rotated from the freezer.

Last year the Fairbanks Community Food Bank fed more than 30,000 people with 1.7 million pounds of donated food items. With folks are feeling the pinch of a slowing economy our help is needed now more than ever. We will have a collection box set up for you to drop items off at the office or we can arrange to pick your donations up. Carriage House Realty agents and staff have made an initial donation of 50lbs of food items and will match individual donations pound for pound. Last year we were able to donate almost 150 pounds of food. We hope to exceed that number this year... with your help we can.

For more information or to arrange a drop-off or pickup, please call 907-699-6024 or email jesse@the-spouses.com.

I would encourage all my fellow ActiveRain members to join me in organizing a food drive in your city. If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. -- Mother Teresa.

God Bless!

Sometimes you just have to wonder what people are thinking... if they're thinking or if they've just planted their heads firmly up their considerable.... well, you get the idea.

It was reported this morning that a historic local business lost their eminent domain fight with the State of Alaska. It seems as though the city planners, with the help of our elected officials, are content to destroy yet another piece of Fairbanks past in the name of progress.

In 1901, Felix Pedro (ne Felice Pedroni) and his partner Tom Gilmore, stopped to rest while on a 165-mile hike to Circle City to purchase supplies. While resting on the hill above Farmers Loop, Pedro noticed a smoke plume rising in the distance. A days hike later the duo discovered that the smoke was from the steamboat, the Lavelle Young.

The Lavelle Young was depositing E.T. Barnette, his wife, five men and 130 tons of freight at what would become the city of Fairbanks. In 1902 Pedro discovered a massive gold deposit north of Fairbanks. In 1903 Judge James Wickersham ensured Fairbanks survival over Tanana City, a rival trading post at the confluence of the Chena and Tanana Rivers, by moving the Third Judicial District headquarters to Fairbanks.

That same year (1903) Samson Hardware opened for business in a small wood-framed building on the banks of the Chena River. For over a century Fairbanksans have relied on Samsons Hardware to provide the tools, equipment and expertise necessary to live here. They have seen chain stores come and go and have held their own against the likes of Lowes and Home Depot. Housing an expansive collection of antique tools from Fairbanks historic mining-town years, Samsons Hardware is as much a museum as a hardware store. Make no mistake though, this is the hardware store of hardware stores.

105 years later District Court Judge Mark Wood ruled that the State of Alaska had cause to take the Samson property under eminent domain and gave the historic business until December 15th to vacate. The building is to be razed to make way for an absurd traffic revision, which includes the building of a bridge to connect Illinois Street to Lacey Street in an effort to ease downtown traffic congestion.

When this plan was first conceived in the late 70's Fairbanks had a thriving downtown. Thanks to pathetic community planning by the City of Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Fairbanks has watched as businesses vacated the downtown core. Expansion occurred westward toward the airport for a number of years until the Bentley Trust began selling property on/near the Johansen. Today Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Sportsmans Warehouse, Fred Meyer, Alaska USA Financial Center, Carls Jr., Holiday Inn and several other businesses have built in east Fairbanks.

There is definitely a need to improve flow and sight-lines on Illinois Street, but Fairbanks does not need the major traffic revision currently being promoted and there certainly isn't a need to apply eminent domain to destroy a piece of Fairbanks history to achieve it.

I have called Fairbanks and Interior Alaska home for a very long time and have seen a great many changes. Some have been positive while others have been downright disastrous. This particular change is both unnecessary and idiotic.

The only way we can save Samon's is to make our voices heard. Speak out... we can save this historic icon.

Barry Hooper, P.E. Engineering Manager State of Alaska, DOT&PF 2301 Peger Road Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 (907) 451-2218 barry.hooper@alaska.gov

Jim Whitaker, Borough Mayor Fairbanks North Star Borough 809 Pioneer Road Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 (907) 459-1300 (907)459-1102 (fax) mayor@co.fairbanks.ak.us

Historic Photo's of Samson's Hardware As these are copyright protected images, please follow the links.

View of Samson's from First Avenue - Spring break up 1907

Samson's Hardware - Spring breakup 1914

Samson's Hardware - Winter 1931

Samson's Hardware - 1950's

View of Samson's during the flood of '67

View of Samson's during the flood of '67 (2)

Samson's as it looks today (View 1 - View 2)

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to get dressed up as nuns and go bar hopping. ha. Just kidding. It's time to let the kids and grandkids go from door to door in an organized panhandling troupe in hops of scoring lots of sweet treats.

Thanks to a grant from the Alaska Highway Safety Office, officers from the Fairbanks Police Department, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Police Department and Volunteers in Policing will be patrolling city neighborhoods between 5:30 - 9:00PM giving out glow sticks to trick or treaters. These glow sticks will help Fairbanks trick or treaters be more visible as they wander from house to house in the dark.

Halloween Howl, 10:30 a.m., wear your costume and get set to howl at a special Halloween storytime for ages 3-6. Noel Wien Library Berry Room, 1215 Cowles St. Free. 459-1052

Steese Area Volunteer Fire Department haunted house, 5-8 p.m., featuring haunted houses for both older and younger children, with candy and toys. Free. 585 Steele Creek Road. 457-1508

Halloween at the UAF Museum, 5-7 p.m., see bats, bears, birds, bugs and more in the museum’s research labs, for children ages 12 and under with adult supervision. Free admission with donation of canned food for the Fairbanks Food Bank. UA Museum of the North, 474-7505

Halloween at Barnes & Noble, 6 p.m., with trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt, costume contest, games and more. 421 Mehar Ave. 452-6446.

Skarland Hall haunted house at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The public is invited to attend. From 7-8 p.m. the haunted house will be free and open for children 15 and under. The ghouls come out from 9-10 p.m. for teens and adults. Admission is $2 and parental supervision is required for younger children.

Surviving a Fairbanks Winter
By: Fairbanks Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton

This morning the thermometer outside my kitchen window said it was a balmy -12. Yep. That's twelve degrees BELOW zero. Brrr. If this is your first foray into the arctic you might be feeling as though you've been dropped off in an icy abyss. Take heart, this will feel warm at -60, I promise.

First things first though; winter survival. Take it seriously, as old man winter can be an unforgiving old coot.

Alaska is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. With millions of acres of unspoiled wilderness right out our back door, there's something for everyone. Watching the temps drop doesn't curb our desire to be out and enjoying the beauty of nature, it just changes how we dress for it.

What is there to do when hell freezes over? Snow machining, hiking, cross country or downhill skiing, dog sledding, aurora watching, warming your bones in the mineral hot springs and ski-joring among many others. Of course, we do occasionally trade our carharts and bunny boots for more cultured pursuits. Both the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre and the Fairbanks Symphony Association have a full winter calendar for those days you just don't feel like braving the weather. Watching the mercury drop also means hot buttered rum and snow cream... at least in our house. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Have questions about what to do and where to do it? Send us an email... we're always happy to help.