Panelists Include:
Bobbie Calice, Apocalypse Design
June Rogers, Fairbanks Arts Association & McCafferty’s
Jack Wilbur, Design Alaska
Amy Nordrum, Downtown Association
Dave Atchison, Alaska Tent & Tarp
Sean O’Shea, Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation & Fairbanks First

FAIRBANKS May 13, 2012 – Thousands of Alaskans turned out in Fairbanks on Saturday to say “thank you” to the men and women in uniform in what was one of the largest military appreciation events in the state’s history.

The Salute To Our Military Parade honored more than 5,000 active, veteran and wounded members of the military in a parade through downtown Fairbanks that ended in a packed celebration at Pioneer Park.

The parade kicked off at 10 a.m. from the Fort Wainwright main gate, worked its way on a 3.5-mile route through downtown Fairbanks and ended at Pioneer Park, where thousands of families and supporters showed up for an afternoon celebration with hot dogs, activities and music.

“It makes me proud that the city of Fairbanks supports the military,” said U.S. Army Major David Bragg, as he enjoyed the post-parade celebration with his wife and three children. “The amount of people here says a lot about the city.”

The showing of thousands of supporters dotting the 3.5-mile parade route made military family members, many of whom are stationed far from home, feel welcome.

Army wives Kelly Lindstrom and Alexis Brown, from Nevada and Georgia, respectively, brought their daughters out to see their husbands, who are part of the recently returned 4,000-plus members of the U.S. Army Stryker Brigade, take part in the parade.

With American flags in each hand, Lindstrom said the Fairbanks community, as well as the on-base community, has done an excellent job at making the military feel welcome and supported.

“It’s amazing for everybody to give back to the soldiers,” she said, “because what they give to us is a lot. It’s nice to have our husbands and everyone in uniform recognized for all the wonderful work. It’s amazing, it’s an amazing feeling.”

The level of community support also made veterans like Alan Simpson, who served in Vietnam and multiple later tours of duty, feel supported. Simpson, who returned to a strong anti-war sentiment, said Saturday was good to see.

“It’s sure different from my day,” he said. “I’m so proud of these guys and girls, they worked hard and they deserve it. This should be in every town in the U.S.A.”

The event included more than 5,000 uniformed men and women from Fort Wainwright Army Base and Eielson Air Force Base.

The parade included more than 4,000 members of the recently returned 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, 1,100 members of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 150 members of the 354th Fighter Wing and 150 members of the 168th Air Refueling Wing.

Specialty branches of the military, including explosive ordnance dispel, emergency response vehicles and an air traffic control tower were also part of the parade.

The parade also had some high-level attendees, including U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, as well as many state and local officials.

The event was organized by dozens of volunteers and the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. And even though the turnout likely rivaled the popular Golden Days Parade, chamber of commerce Executive Director Lisa Herbert said it’s a one-time event because deployment schedules happened to line up perfectly so such a high number of military members were in town.

Contact Fairbanks Daily News-Miner staff writer Matt Buxton at 459-7544.

The Alaska Farmers’ Market-Quest Card Program is a new grant created in 2012 by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (Division of Public Health and Division of Public Assistance), Alaska Department of Natural Resources (Division of Agriculture), and University of Alaska Fairbanks (Cooperative Extension Service). The grant was designed to increase access to healthy, local foods in low-income areas of the state by encouraging farmers markets to accept food stamps on behalf of all qualified vendors. The award money will help the Downtown Market expand outreach to low-income customers this season by paying for a new wireless card machine, shiny new stickers to identify payment tokens, and staff time spent operating the program at the Market each week. The Downtown Market was awarded a total of $7,200 through this grant.

The 2012 Alaska Grown Cooperative Marketing Program offered by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Agriculture, gives certified Alaska Grown producers a chance to collaboratively market a product that they sell. The Fairbanks Downtown Market has been awarded $2,000 to develop 3-5 programs throughout the summer that will highlight Alaska Grown products in Fairbanks and certified growers at the Downtown Market including Calypso Farm, Rosie Creek Farm, Tundra Walker Studio, and Dave’s Greenhouse. Patrons will be able to sample and learn about Alaska Grown products from these and other businesses, including downtown restaurants like Lavelle’s Bistro, l’assiette de Pomegranate, and Julia’s Solstice Cafe that make it a point to source Alaska Grown products. Stay tuned for a full schedule and details on these programs.

The 2012 Fairbanks Downtown Market and Downtown Association of Fairbanks Community Services would like to thank these grant administrators for seeing the potential of the Downtown Market and supporting efforts to revitalize downtown Fairbanks with the tried-and-true medicine of good food and strong community.

Visit the downtown market online!

Jess Vanderzanden, Melissa Osborn, and Jeremy Worrall Receive American Association of Airport Executives Accreditation

May 2, 2012, ANCHORAGE Alaska –The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) is pleased to announce the following employees earned the designation Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) from the American Association of Airport Executives: Jesse Vanderzanden, Fairbanks International Airport Manager, and Melissa Osborn, Chief of Operations for Fairbanks International Airport; and Jeremy Worrall, Maintenance & Operations Superintendant for DOT&PF Northern Region.

Candidates are required to meet a number of pre-requisites to earn this designation, and complete three phases. Each phase is designed to test one’s knowledge, comprehension and understanding of aviation management and requires a commitment, time and knowledge to successfully complete the rigorous program.

“I congratulate and applaud our airport managers as they advance our department’s competency as aviation professionals and their continued pursuit of excellence in airport management,” said Deputy Commissioner of Aviation Steve Hatter.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) oversees 254 airports, 11 ferries serving 34 communities, 5,700 miles of highway and 660 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of DOT&PF is to “Get Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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For more information contact Linda Bustamante (907) 269-8654 linda.bustamante@alaska.gov

NORTH POLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS DOODLE 4 GOOGLE STATE WINNER

May 2, 2012 – North Pole High School 10th grade student Alexa Bisso is the State Winner in the national Doodle 4 Google competition.

Doodle 4 Google is an annual competition in which a National Winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of their choice and the winning entry (doodle) is featured on the U.S. Google.com homepage.  Google also awards the National Winner’s school a $50,000 technology grant towards the establishment or improvement of a computer lab or technology programming.

Doodle 4 Google’s Guest Judges selected Bisso’s submission, A Jolly Trip to Old Victorian Age as a State Winner from among the 250 State Finalists that were first chosen by a panel of Google employees.  The doodles were judge based on their artistic merit, creativity and how well the artwork represented the theme, “if I could travel in time, I’d visit…”

Each of the 50 State Winners wins a trip to New York for an awards ceremony and a t-shirt printed with their doodles on it.  All 50 Regional Finalists will also have their doodle displayed in a special exhibit at the New York Public Library.

Although a panel of Google employees and guest judges selected the State Finalists and Winners, the public will vote for their favorite doodle for the National Finalists.  Online voting runs now through May 10, 2012, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  The highest ranking doodler from each grade group will be named as a National Finalist.  The National Finalists and Winner will be announced at the awards ceremony held in New York City on May 17, 2012.

The district congratulates Bisso and North Pole High School and encourages the community to vote for Bisso’s award-winning artwork.

Alexa Bisso Doodle 4 Google Submission
Online Voting

For more information contact:
Bridget Lewis, North Pole High School principal, 488-3761/bridget.lewis@k12northstar.org

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Celebrate Alaska Agriculture Day! Hear how local growers and local restaurants work together to offer fresh, delicious food and economic benefits to the Fairbanks community. Presenting speakers include: Frank Eagle, Lavelle’s Bistro; Mark Winans, Princess Riverside Lodge; Bernie Karl, Chena Hot Springs Resort.

FAIRBANKS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NAMES MAY MEMBER OF THE MONTH: Alaska USA Federal Credit Union

The Chamber’s “Member of the Month” Award program recognizes and honors businesses for their outstanding efforts in promoting a healthy, economic environment and for promoting the greater Fairbanks area as a great place for business and community. Alaska USA Federal Credit Union was named the “May Chamber Member of the Month” on Tuesday, May 1st at the Chamber’s General Membership Luncheon Meeting that was held at the Carlson Center.

The “Member of the Month” award program seeks to promote businesses or organizations that uphold the mission and values of the Chamber, model high ethical standards, practice excellent customer service, volunteer in the community and are socially responsible, committed to local economic growth, and supportive of greater Fairbanks residents and businesses.

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union was founded in 1948 and has a total of 85 employees in the greater Fairbanks area. In true Golden Heart fashion, Alaska USA FCU has donated countless hours and dollars to the community that they serve. A recent example of the Credit Union’s charitable giving is the “Holiday Giving Program” created by the employees of the bank. For the past three years, the employees have donated to the Boys and Girls Home of Alaska and filled the wish lists of over 30 children totaling over $3,000 each year. The employees of Alaska USA FCU also participate in Clean Up Day, Midnight Sun Festival, World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) and Chena River Run. Additionally, they have fundraised for both the Fairbanks and Bethel Community Food Banks, as well as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Lisa Hall, the local Regional Vice President of Alaska USA FCU also participates on many committees and Board of Directors. Hall believes that maintaining relationships with members of the Fairbanks and North Pole communities as well as with the local military is a priority for the banking institution. She has served on the Armed Services YMCA Advisory Board for two years, is the current president of the Air Force Association, and has served on several committees for the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. She also chaired the Chamber’s Community Partnership Day committee in 2010. In addition, Hall is also involved in the Downtown Rotary and UAF Alumni Association.

Alaska USA FCU has received the Reader’s Choice Award for the Best Banking Facility, the Frank Whaley Outstanding Contributor Award from WEIO, and the Military Appreciation Award as the top sponsor each year. Hall was also named a Top Forty Under Forty in 2011 and is a recent graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Fairbanks program.

Those interested in nominating a business or organization for the “Member of the Month” should contact Wendie MacNaughton, Membership Coordinator, at (907) 374-6704 or Wendie@FairbanksChamber.org or download the nomination form.

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For more information, please contact Lisa Herbert:
Phone: 374-6706 | Fax: 456-6968 | Email: lisa@fairbankschamber.org | www.FairbanksChamber.org