Kathy | KDPR Virtual

Durham School Services Continues to Expand its Footprint in Alaska with New 10-Year Partnership with Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District

May 17, 2022

Lisle, IL and Wasilla, AK – Durham School Services (DSS), a leader in school transportation, will begin a much anticipated and exciting 10-year partnership with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) in Wasilla, AK starting this July. This will be DSS’ second venture in Alaska as it currently serves the students of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. The new partnership with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District will allow DSS to expand its role as a positive change agent in Alaska, contributing to the betterment of the Wasilla community through its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program.

For the next ten years, DSS will work collaboratively with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District to run an estimated 148 routes to transport its students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Buses will be equipped with best-in-class safety monitoring systems and technology such as Zonar, Lytx DriveCam, Gatekeeper CCTV cameras, and two-way radios.

“We are embarking on an exciting new journey with Durham School Services,” said Dr. Randy Trani, MSBSD Superintendent. “We chose DSS to serve our community after careful consideration based on safety, reliability, and quality of service. We are looking forward to this new partnership.”

“Each community has its own unique needs when it comes to student transportation. This is especially true for Wasilla because of their unique climate and terrain,” said Jim Ring, Senior Vice President of DSS’ West Operations. “We did our research and really took time to learn firsthand about the school district and community’s needs. We will hit the ground running this summer and provide the Mat-Su community with the safe and reliable service for which we have been known for the past century.” If you are interested in making a positive impact in your community, consider joining the Durham School Services team in the Mat-Su Valley area. Durham School Services offers competitive wages, paid training, sign-on bonuses, health, dental, and life insurance, 401k with match, paid holidays and sick time, the option to bring your child on the bus with you as you work, and more. Learn more and apply online.

**Pictured: Durham School Services school bus in Wasilla, AK.**

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services is dedicated to the safety of our students and People, transporting more than *one million students daily and employing approximately 20,000 drivers across North America (*Pre-COVID Figures). For more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services has earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities we serve.

New Alaska Documentary Seeks to Raise Awareness About Lymphedema, A Common Side-effect Following Cancer Treatment

May 4, 2022

HOMER – A newly released film, “Not So Swell,” produced by Homer-based Affinityfilms, aspires to educate doctors, patients and the general public about lymphedema. The 30-minute film and a series of 16 shorter segments are now available for free viewing by Alaskans at www.affinityfilms.org/not-so-swell/. Lymphedema is a swelling in the arm, torso or legs that is caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system, which is commonly the result of lymph node removal or radiation damage following cancer treatment.

“Nearly 250 million people worldwide have lymphedema, but amazingly, even many people within the medical field are just becoming aware of it,” says Mary Katzke, owner of Affinity Films, which produced “Not So Swell.”

Katzke had breast cancer 30 years ago and recently experienced lymphedema firsthand, which inspired her to create a film, a video library and a list of online resources anyone can use to learn more. The project is sponsored by the Mat-Su Health Foundation and Alaska Run For Women. The Lymphedema Education and Research Network (LE&RN) also assisted with the project and will be sharing the film with its network. The film is available to Alaskans for free. All others can download it for $14.99.

Others involved with producing “Not So Swell” include Robyn Bjork of Wasilla. She is the founder, CEO/president and executive director of education for the International Lymphedema & Wound Training Institute and a physical therapist who is an expert in the field of wound care and lymphedema management. Leslie Moore is a certified lymphatic therapist (CLT) from Anchorage’s Anodyne Pain and Wellness Solutions who has been treating edema conditions since 2005. Moore has attended international lymphatic symposiums and met with world-renowned lymphatic specialists and surgeons to broaden her knowledge and referral sources. However, she says her best education comes from patient experiences on a daily basis.

Up to 40 percent of people who are treated for cancer end up with lymphedema. Others are born with it (although it’s a different type of lymphedema). Early detection is important because treatments can prevent severe consequences later on. With the proper treatment, lymphedema symptoms can be managed and controlled. The short clips included on the website also include staff training sessions that physicians and others in the medical field can use to inform their staff about lymphedema. Physician offices also can contact Katzke at MaryKatzke@gci.net to request a supply of rack cards that have been produced to promote the informational website and film. Speakers are available to talk to groups about lymphedema.

Affinityfilms, Inc., is a nonprofit media production company formed in 1982. The company has a long history of coordinating projects around cancer. Others have included six documentary films on cancer, many public service announcements (PSAs), wellness calendars and the photo exhibits “Alaskans in Pink” and “Pandemic Portraits”, currently exhibiting around the state. Learn more at www.affinityfilms.org.

Badminton Goes Viral Holds Alaska State Badminton School Team Championships

Presented by Badminton Goes Viral, a nonprofit group promoting youth badminton

WHO: Badminton Goes Viral, a nonprofit group promoting youth badminton

WHAT: Alaska State Badminton School Team Championships

WHEN: Saturday, April 2, 2022

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Chugiak High School

A total of 134 teams and 268 students will participate in this co-ed badminton tournament, including youth ages eight to 18 from the Anchorage School District, Mat-Su Borough School District and Lower Kuskokwim School District. This is the third year the championships have been held (2018, 2019 and 2022) and participation is up by 60 percent.

Badminton is the second most-played sport in the world. It is unique in that there is little, if any size, weight or gender advantage or disadvantage. Anyone can play.

Three-time Olympic badminton pro Howard Bach will be present at this year’s tournament in Alaska. Bach won the 2005 World Badminton Championship in men’s doubles with partner Tony Gunawan. He retired in 2013, but continues to work to promote the sport of badminton. Bach will be doing two demos and a life story chat during the tournament.

The public is invited to come watch the badminton play, and admission is free. Masks are recommended, but not mandatory. The tournament also is a fundraiser for Chugiak High School.

# # #

Great Alaska Sportsman Show is Back After Two Year Hiatus

ANCHORAGE – It’s been a long winter, and two years since outdoors enthusiasts have been able to gather, but the 2022 Great Alaska Sportsman Show is ON for Friday through Sunday, April 1-3. The show is a great way to learn about the latest outdoor gear, hunting, fishing and outdoor adventure advice and services, and Alaskans can take advantage of show specials to get the gear they need to enjoy the outdoors this summer. The 37^thannual Great Alaska Sportsman Show has moved to a new venue in 2022 – Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center in downtown.

Over 200 vendor booths will fill the trade show area on the first floor of Dena’ina Center. There also will be a seminar area on the show floor, offering free hourly educational seminars. Concessions also will be available. Show hours are 10 am to 8 pm on Friday, April 1, 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, April 2 and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday, April 3. Admission is $11 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Special rates will be offered on Friday for seniors 60 and over from 10 am to 12 noon for $6.50 and for military with ID from 4 to 8 pm for $6.50 The same military and senior discount will be offered again on Sunday from 10 am to 12. Although we will not have our fishing or casting pond at the show this year, we are already planning and building the show up to pre-covid size, and will be bringing back all the same feature favorites in 2023.

“We are so excited to welcome our long-time vendors and several new businesses to the 2022 show,” said Steve Shepherd, Show Manager of the Great Alaska Sportsman Show. “I think we are all anxious to get outside and to have some fun this summer. All the information, advice and gear you need to get started will be present at this show.”

The 2022 Great Alaska Sportsman Show will feature boat, off-road vehicle, RV and camper vendors located outside of Denaina Center on 7^thAvenue. In the first floor trade show arena, you’ll find booths featuring hunting, boating, fishing and hunting advice, products and services. Tourism representatives from Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, the Mat-Su Valley, Seward, Soldotna, Valdez and Whittier also will be available to answer questions about everything to do in their areas. Fish and Game Wildlife and Fish Biologists and a number of vendors and other experts will present hourly, free seminars throughout the show. Included are presentations on Cold Water Survival, Halibut 101, Off-Grid Solar options, hunting, fishing, flyfishing and much more. A full list of seminars will be posted on the website soon.

Show attendees should be aware that there are currently no city or state mandates in effect for COVID-19. Everyone attending the show is encouraged to wear a mask, social distance and to wash their hands frequently, according to their personal comfort level.

The closest parking for showgoers is on the street at meters (free after 6pm Friday and all weekend) or for $1/hour at the 6^th& H Street Garage. The Linny Pacillo Parking Garage will be open for parking after 5:30 pm on Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday, also for $1/hour. Learn more at www.greatalaskasportsmanshow.com.

New Short Film Encourages Parents to Get Savvy About Their Children’s Use of Social Media

January 10, 2022

Anchorage –Victims for Justice has teamed with Affinityfilms, Inc. to produce a new, 10-minute film aimed at keeping Alaska kids safe while using online communication tools. “A Million Strangers In Their Pockets” was developed to address the increasing violence that youth are being exposed to as they use social media and the Internet. The video can be viewed on Victims for Justice’s website at victimsforjustice.org (hyperlink to https://vimeo.com/663019068)

“As times have changed with technology and social media, our responses need to change,” said Victoria Shanklin, executive director of Victims for Justice. “This film is the first step to inviting parents and youth to think about and discuss how they are engaging. It also offers some useful tools and tactics for developing safer habits.”

Victims for Justice and Affinityfilms plan to partner with a variety of others – from school districts to mayors, Governor Dunleavy, tribes, law enforcement agencies and health officials at the community and state level – to get the film viewed by as many Alaskans as possible. The film offers parents and other caregivers some basic tools to try to keep children in their care as safe as possible while using social media such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and other platforms. The advice includes encouraging parents to know about, monitor and discuss their children’s social media interactions. It also addresses simple things such as turning phones off and storing them in another room at night, individually or collectively as a family. A recent upsurge in school vandalism inspired by TikTok exemplifies how social media can influence young people to take actions they might regret later. The film is appropriate to be viewed by families together, or by adults, teens and tweens separately or in classroom settings.

“Alaska youth, like other people across the world of all ages are increasingly influenced by what they see and read on the Internet and through social media,” says Shanklin. “We hope this video sparks conversation about how we address the challenges this new technology age brings with it.”

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) about this video project can be found at https://vimeo.com/662496566. Those interested in helping to spread the word about the video can request a poster by email to vshanklin@victimsforjustice.org.

Victims for Justice was founded in 1985 to serve victims of violent crimes and to further violence prevention efforts across the state. Learn more at www.victimsforjustice.org.

Affinityfilms, Inc. is an Alaska-based nonprofit media production company formed in 1982. The company has a long history of coordinating projects around various health and social issues. Learn more at www.affinityfilms.org.

# # #

Pandemic Portraits: A Glimpse Into Real Life Stories of Alaskan Women Fighting Cancer During the Pandemic

November 16, 2021

Contact: Mary Katzke, Affinityfilms, (907) 250-6897

Think life during the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard? Imagine what it’s been like for Alaskans who have been fighting cancer. Add the terrifying experience of chemotherapy, radiation and being immune compromised during a pandemic to the list of other effects such as isolation, loneliness and lack of access to health care – yet many Alaskans have survived and thrived. Pandemic Portraits, an exhibit honoring Alaska women who have faced cancer during COVID is a new Affinityfilms, Inc. project, and can now be experienced at the Loussac Library-Atrium.

“We wanted to honor the women who have been doing ‘double duty’ – cancer treatment during the pandemic,” said Affinityfilms producer and director Mary Katzke. “It’s important to understand the experience these women have been through, and how courageous they’ve been against all odds.”

Pandemic Portraits includes a photo and an audio story of 16 Alaska women from across the state. Fifteen different photographers took the photos. Author Deb McKinney wrote two- to three-minute narratives about each woman’s story. By clicking on a QR code on each photo, you can listen to narrator Michelle Conklin read the stories, allowing for insight into the journey each woman faced.

The stories within Pandemic Portraits are as unique and heroic as the women profiled. Jacqui Gorlick of Anchorage faced cancer for the second time in 2019, but as she fought breast cancer, she was determined to be in the delivery room when her grandson was born. COVID protocols didn’t allow that to happen. Crystal Waterbury of Homer had to make fast decisions when she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. She shares her fears of going to work and being around other people while she was immune compromised. Vickie Panamarioff of Ouzinkie had to move to Anchorage to fight cancer that is not curable and had spread to her bones. She spent Christmas Eve of 2020 alone in the hospital’s COVID unit after getting a lung infection. She longed to return to her home on an island near Kodiak to just experience normal again. Desiree Rodriquez spent her 27^thbirthday alone in a Seattle hotel while fighting her second bout with cancer. Yet she found simple joy in the people who sang happy birthday to her that day. Rodriguez is now thrilled with her decision to train a Goldendoodle as her service dog.

Pandemic Portraits will be on display, through the end of November at Loussac Library in Anchorage. Other Alaska communities interested in hosting the exhibit can contact Katzke to arrange for the exhibit to visit in 2022. There is no cost, other than covering shipping costs for one large box.

Pandemic Portraits is sponsored by the Alaska Run for Women and the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

Affinityfilms, Inc. is a nonprofit media production company formed in 1982. The company has a long history of coordinating projects around cancer. Others have included six documentary films on cancer, many public service announcements (PSAs), wellness calendars and a previous photo exhibit called “Alaskans in Pink,” which is permanently housed at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. To schedule the exhibit, or to learn more about Affinityfilms, go to www.affinityfilms.org.

# # #

Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives Completes New Office and Future Community Housing Center

Work on Adjacent Six-Plex of Apartments, Crane Hill, to Begin This Summer

HOMER – Fifteen years after it hired its first staff member, Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives (KPHI) held a grand opening for it’s brand new office in Homer today. The housing non-profit also announced that it will open a Homer Community Housing Center in the same building, and will break ground on six new apartments this summer on an adjacent lot.

“We believe there is a real need for affordable housing in Homer, and are excited to not only be building a six-plex this summer, but also to be offering a community housing center where people can come to find out where housing is available,” said KPHI executive director Steven Rouse. “We envision the center as a place where Alaskans will be able to take housing classes, hold meetings, do research and apply for housing.”

KPHI’s office, located at 4201 Ronda Street, offers modern work space for KPHI’s four employees. In the other half of the building, there will be a large meeting room outfitted with computers, audio-visual equipment and other resources to help support anyone who is looking for housing on the Kenai Peninsula. The new office building and community center is being funded with KPHI money, and by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC) Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Under the program, KPHI purchased a foreclosed property, fixed it up, then sold it and reinvested the profits to build its new office and the community center. A Tier 1 grant from the Rasmuson Foundation will help to pay for furniture, technology and equipment for the Housing Center.

KPHI also announced today that it will break ground in June on a new multi-family housing project, Crane Hill Apartments. When completed in February 2019, KPHI will be offering two, one-bedroom, two, two bedroom and two, three-bedroom apartments to people who earn 30, 50 or 60 percent of the HUD determined Area Median Income (AMI). Depending on income, size of family and the size of the apartment, rents will run from $XXX a month to $XXXX per month. Three ground floor apartments will be designed for individuals with a mental or physical disability.Priority for renting will be given to veterans, the homeless or those on the public housing wait list.

Crane Hill development funding comes from AHFC’s Goal Funding and the National Housing Trust Fund. It also is supported by a $7,500 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation and an additional grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. Homer’s Planning & Zoning Commission will consider a request for a conditional use permit at their meeting tonight, so that work on Crane Hill can begin. KPHI anticipates it will start taking applications for the six apartments sometime around Christmas 2018.

Last month, KPHI opened its first development in Kenai, a six-plex called Clear Pointe, which is very similar to the building planned for Homer. KPHI also announced last month that it was starting the first phase of Kenai Meadows, a six-unit senior housing project next to Clear Pointe. Construction will begin in June and it is expected to be complete by February 2019. That development will provide two, one-bedroom apartments and four, two-bedroom apartments with accommodations for mobility and sensory impairments. One of the senior housing apartments will be income restricted for an individual or couple who earns 30 percent of the AMI.

For the last 20 years, KPHI has been providing low-income, senior and special needs housing to residents of the Kenai Peninsula. KPHI currently manages more than 100 units of affordable housing in Homer, Seward, Soldotna, Ninilchik and Kenai. Learn more at www.KPHI.net.

Great Alaska Sportsman Show Celebrates 35 Years

ANCHORAGE – Sunny weather, melting snow and increasing light means most Alaskans are getting anxious for summer fun. Get the latest outdoor gear, hunting, fishing and outdoor adventure advice and services by attending the 35th annual Great Alaska Sportsman Show this weekend. The show runs from Thursday, April 5 through Sunday, April 8 at Sullivan and Ben Boeke Arenas in Anchorage.

Nearly 400 vendor booths will pack Sullivan Arena and both sides of Ben Boeke Ice Arena for the state’s largest trade show. Attend hourly free workshops and seminars, let the kids (12 and under) catch their first fish in the Kid’s Fishing Pond, practice your skills at the Flycasting Pond and take advantage of show-only specials on outdoor gear and services.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been presenting the Great Alaska Sportsman Show for 35 years,” said Steve Shepherd, president of Aurora Productions, Inc. “This show has become a spring tradition for outdoor enthusiasts across Alaska and I’m pleased to say that we have most of the mainstay guides, vendors and nonprofits returning this year, as well as some new and exciting offerings.”

The Great Alaska Sportsman Show runs for four full days: Thursday, April 5 from 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, April 6 from 12 noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and, Sunday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 ($10, plus $1 city tax) for adults, $3 for kids 2-12, free for kids under two and $6 for parking. A full show pass is available for $22, allowing you to come all four days of the show (must purchase on Thursday or Friday only).

Save the $6 parking fee by riding the free Shuttle Express, courtesy of Premier Alaska Tours. Buses start running at 3 pm on Thursday, 11 am on Friday and 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttles run 60 minutes after the show closes each day from both Midtown Walmart and Northway Mall.

Fish and Game Biologists and others with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game will present a variety of seminars on Stage 2 throughout the show. That includes presentations on Nushagak River king salmon, deepwater release and rockfish survival, fishing Kodiak’s road system and targeting Susitna wild rainbow trout. Fly fishers will want to practice and attend hands-on demos, and kids 12 and under have an opportunity to catch a fish for free in the Kid’s Fishing Pond. Visit the Author’s table to meet your favorite writers and get their latest books signed. Be sure to check out the latest in big adventure toys — from RVs to boats — in the parking lot outside.

Read the show program, see the complete list of seminars and download a Sportsman Show planning form at https://www.fishalaskamagazine.com/great-alaska-sportsman-show. Learn more at www.greatalaskasportsmanshow.com.
Aurora Productions, Inc., has been producing trade shows in Alaska since 1983. In addition to the Great Alaska Sportsman Show, the company organizes the Alaska Women’s Show and the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival.

Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives Completes First Housing Project in Kenai: Clear Pointe Apartments

Work on Adjacent Senior Housing Project,

Kenai Meadows, To Begin This Summer

KENAI – Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiatives (KPHI) announced the completion of its first housing project in Kenai today. Clear Pointe Apartments, located at 2390 Redoubt Avenue, is a two-story, six-plex that includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The new apartments will be rented to Alaskans who earn no more than 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). Depending on income, size of family and the size of the apartment, rents will run from $684 a month to $1,150 per month.

“This is our first project in Kenai, and it would not have been possible without the generous donation of land from the City of Kenai and our many partners who helped to provide innovative design and financing options,” said Steven Rouse, executive director of KPHI.

A market study KPHI commissioned prior to building Clear Pointe shows that there is a real need for housing to serve modest to low-income residents in Kenai. Three of the apartments are equipped to accommodate individuals with sensory or mobility impairments.One unit is restricted to a household with a physical or mental disability. Priority for renting will be given to veterans, the homeless or those on the public housing wait list. Each unit is equipped with an in-unit washer/dryer, a dishwasher and an outdoor storage area for each tenant. The building has a 5-Star+ energy rating and will soon have a nearby playground area for families.

Development funding for Clear Pointe was provided through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC’s) GOAL Program and by a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation. Local businesses involved in the project include Bezeck, Durst Seiser Architects and Planners of Anchorage for design, Nelson Engineering of Kenai for civil and structural engineering, Central Alaska Engineering Company of Soldotna for mechanical and electrical engineering and Sundance Construction Company of Kasilof for construction.

In addition to announcing the completion of Clear Pointe, KPHI also announced today that it has completed the transfer of land just east of Clear Pointe and has applied for a conditional use permit to begin building the first phase of Kenai Meadows, a six-unit senior housing project. Construction is expected to begin this June and be completed by February 2019. That development will provide two, one-bedroom apartments and four, two-bedroom apartments with accommodations for mobility and sensory impairments. One of the senior housing apartments will be income restricted for an individual or couple who only earns 30 percent of the AMI.

Anchorage Rotary Hosts Mayoral Candidate Forum

March 8, 2018

Contact:

Kathy Day, (907) 229-2470

Henry Penney, (907) 223-6639

M E D I A A D V I S O R Y

WHO: Anchorage Downtown Rotary

WHAT: Anchorage Mayoral Candidate Forum

Eight of the nine Mayoral candidates have agreed to attend a question and answer forum.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 13, 2018

12 noon to 1:15 p.m.

WHERE: Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center

Rotarians have developed a list of questions for the Mayoral candidates. Issues addressed will include Prop 1, the proposed ML&P/Chugach sale, crime and other matters facing our city. Kara Moriarty with the Alaska Oil and Gas Association will moderate.

Candidates who have confirmed their attendance include: Ethan Berkowitz, Dustin Darden, Nelson Godoy, Timothy Huit, Paul Kendall, Rebecca Logan, Matthew Mendonsa and Ron Stafford

With a membership of more than 220, Anchorage Rotary Club is the largest club in the largest Rotary District (District 5010) in the world. Since 1941, we have come together in an effort to make our community and our world a better place.

Media are welcome to cover this forum.