July 27, 2012

Dear Neighbors,

Summer Abundance

Something everyone can agree upon is how fast Fairbanks summers pass and how many great opportunities there are to get involved with our community. Last week we were busy celebrating Golden Days, the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics and countless other summer celebrations. In the coming weeks, as summer winds down, we will start to transition to a time of preparation - busying ourselves with berry picking, fishing and hunting to fill our freezers for the year ahead. And perhaps purchasing school supplies, or taking one final meander down the Chena River. I wish everyone a productive, safe and enjoyable end to the summer months.

Tanana Valley State Fair: August 3 – 10

I encourage everyone to make time for a trip to the Tanana Valley State Fair. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the bounty of the summer, take in a variety of entertainment and support local vendors. For up-to-date information on the fair schedule, please check here. And of course, if you see me at the fair, make sure to stop and say hello.

Time for School

The start of a new school year is just around the corner. Tuesday, August 21st marks the start date for Fairbanks North Star Borough students in grades 1-9, and the 22nd is the start date for grades 10 – 12. Do you have questions about enrollment? Click HERE. And for all general inquiries about the school year, please check out the Fairbanks North Star Borough website, filled with helpful information to make the transition back to school as easy as possible.

And speaking of schools… I want to congratulate Spruce Tree Montessori, Fairbanks first elementary Montessori school, located downtown on Second Avenue for their inaugural school year ahead. I worked hard down in Juneau to secure funding for Montessori schools in the last budget. Pre-K efforts and using a ‘parents as teachers’ early education model will really help to prepare kids to learn and grow.

A Year to Celebrate the Farthest North Girl Scout Council

The picture to the right was taken at the Farthest North Girl Scout Council headquarters. I was pleased to present the Council with an award to commemorate the hundredth year of the Girl Scouts. The Council continues to show leadership in our community through ambitious projects such as their “Go Green” building initiative. The Council will incorporate energy efficiency and eventually renewable energy improvements to their building to offset the high cost of energy. After all, the cheapest energy is that which is not used.

Final E-News for the Summer

To fully honor the ethical guidelines suggested by the Legislative Ethics Committee, I will not be sending out any e-news or legislative mail until September, after the Primary elections are over. Please remember, my office is always open for you to stop by, call or email. We will continue to work hard and hold regular office hours for the months to come. It is an honor to serve you in the Legislature.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,