Anchorage, AK

It is that time of year again, Thanksgiving. A time to remember all the many blessings that we have enjoyed in our lives.

With the bleak economic news constantly in the headlines, some may be thinking that there is not much to be thankful for this year. But blessings do abound in our lives and all around us. Just take a moment to sit quietly and begin to take stock and you will find you are wealthier and more blessed than you think.

Share your wealth and your blessings this year by sharing your Thanksgiving meal with a neighbor, a senior citizen, a co-worker or someone who is ill. You will be much richer for it. If you do not know anyone to invite, then you can share with those who are in need by donating to your local church food drive or to the many of the organizations sponsoring free Thanksgiving Dinners.

Free Thanksgiving meals will be served at the following locations:

• Bean's Cafe: Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 1-3 p.m. Bear's Cafe is located at 1101 E. Third Avenue . For information, call 274-9595.

• Salvation Army: Thanksgiving dinner will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Central Middle School , the school is located at 1405 E Street. For information please call 276-2515 or visit their website www.salvationarmy.org/alaska.

• University of Alaska Anchorage: Thanksgiving dinner will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Lee Gorsuch Commons building (aka UAA Commons). For information, call 786-1205 or visit their website www.uaa.alaska.edu.

Anchorage can be proud and count it a blessing to have people who have organized these free Thanksgiving Dinner events, made donations, and for those who will take the time to cook and serve the meals. Be sure to put these volunteers who give so freely on your list of "things to be thankful for".

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has announced the recent launch of it's new website, Prospector.com.

Businesses big and small, local and global are using the Internet to research business demographics, opportunities and potential locations. AEDC believes that Prospector.com will become one of the most powerful business recruitment tools ever developed in the State of Alaska .

AEDC has developed a website for businesses around the globe to access available commercial properties and specific business data for the Anchorage area. This comprehensive online tool allows the business community to access data regarding the dynamic business atmosphere in south-central Alaska .

Anchorage Prospector.com offers a "one-stop-shop" experience for businesses looking to move to or expand in the Anchorage area. The portal offers businesses information including business planning, economic data, infrastructure, demographics and geographic data.

Anchorage Prospector.com allows users to search for available commercial properties determined by their specified search criteria. The accompanying interactive maps not only displays the location of the property, but the streets and surrounding byways, beneficial transportation data (ie, railroad) as well as nearby educational facilities, parks and points of interest.

Prospector.com provides the user the opportunity to create reports based on their particular wants and needs. These analytic reports include information such as the area's demographics, consumer expenditures, business and workforce data and employee wages. In addition, reports can be created that will analyze an area's competition and/or business in the area which will compliment and support their business or product.

If you are a business owner or are considering opening a business in the Anchorage area, Anchorage Prospector.com is a business tool that will prove invaluable to you.

It is Veteran's Day, a day to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and to honor all those who have served and are currently serving this nation in the Armed Forces.

Fly your flag, tie a yellow ribbon or bolt a license plate.

I know you have seen the Support Our Troops license place all over Anchorage and points beyond. I just wanted to remind you that it is not too late to get your own and you do not have to wait until your license renewal to purchase these special plates. You can order your plate at the Alaska DMV website or you can go directly to your nearest DMV location.

The Support Our Troops specialty license plate was created as a way to thank all of our service men and to give them a very public display of our support. If you have not joined the ranks of those who have bolted these distinctive plates to their cars, what better day, than Veteran's Day, to do so?

The extra cost is still only $20. All proceeds are donated to the Support Our Troops® organization.

Read On:

How the Plate Came To Be

Other Ways You Can Support the Troops

It's Veterans Day -- take a moment to think about the people

A Veterans Day Message

The History of Veteran's Day

Nation Salutes Those Who Served on Veterans Day

The City of Lights is a nickname associated with Anchorage , Alaska during the winter months.

Winter days are short and the nights are long in Anchorage . Sunrise at this time of year is around 8:45 am and sunset is around 4:40 pm, equaling about 7.5 hours of daylight. With more dark hours than daylight hours, the Municipality of Anchorage is often bathed in the glow of lights.

Each year the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce sponsors the "City of Lights " program in which it encourages business owners and residents to turn on their lights. The City of Lights event is sponsored each year to promote a brighter and safer city. Everyone is encouraged to decorate the exterior of their homes and businesses with small miniature lights. There is some friendly competition between neighborhoods; each striving to be the brightest and best.

Now, I know that we are all concerned with green living and saving energy but when you live in a land that has about 85 days with only 5 - 8 hours of daylight, lighting becomes very important and not for the ascetic reasons but for the reasons of safety. There is less crime and accidents in well lighted areas.

This year the Municipality of Anchorage will not only be lighting our beautiful city with street lights, but will be lighting 16,000 of them with LED light bulbs. So, for all of you who are concerned about green living and convservation, we are doing our part in regards to sustainable living. The new lights are expected to use 50% less energy and will save Anchorage taxpayers about $360,000 per year! Residents and businesses also decorate with LED mini lights.

So, let the City of Lights shine all night long! It is quite a sight to behold, all those millions of sparkling white lights, especially when they are reflected on the snow.

The economy is not so scary here in Anchorage, Alaska .

This Halloween season there are more than scary costumes to put our nerves on edge. For all of us, the national and global economy reports have become scary in themselves. I am happy to report that here in Anchorage and the State of Alaska things seem to be not so scary after all.

A recent news release by our Mayor Begich's office states that Anchorage has been named one of the Top cities in the nation to weather the current economic storm. As cited by the article, both Business Week and the Wall Street Journal have reported on the strength of Anchorage 's economy. Reasons cited were energy demands, tourism, and military presence. The Mayor's office added Anchorage 's fiscal responsility to the list.

While other cities have reported loss of jobs and higher unemployment statistics, Anchorage 's unemployment rate has decreased in the past year.

While other cities have struggled with the housing recession and the deflation of home prices, the real estate values in Anchorage have not only maintained their value, but have also increased in value as well. Anchorage , Alaska 's real estate is being considered as a wise investment even for those in the lower 48.

While other cities and states have experienced further turmoil with loss of property taxes due to the high rate of foreclosures and decrease in property values, our city has been able to lower property taxes for its property owners without sacrifice and while maintaining growth.

While other cities and states' budgets reach crisis levels with lots of "red ink", the Anchorage budget has remained balanced and in the "black".

While other cities are cutting back on services and implementing city government layoffs, Anchorage is still servicing its citizens with quality services and its employees are secure, knowing they have a job in the morning.

I am not saying that there will be no economic repercussions here in the state of Alaska or in Anchorage . I am saying that we are positioned well to weather the storm and that the economy is not quite as scary in Anchorage as elsewhere.