Kenai

Hello, neighbors.

Have you noticed we have a lot more light at the end of our days than we had a month ago? It's great when the daylight begins to lengthen by four minutes a day, because it means we get 28 more minutes of light a week, which figures out to almost two hours a month. Before we know it, the midnight sun will be upon us, and we will be griping about the RV traffic. Once we get through January, the worst of the winter is behind us. Now if we can just hang in there until breakup, we'll have winter in Alaska licked.

I know area residents who prefer winter to summer, due to allergies, love of winter sports and other unfathomable reasons. Actually, this has been a rather sweet, mild one when you compare it to the extreme conditions that have existed in other parts of our planet this season.

As a fund-raiser for Kenai's LeeShore Center and the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, peninsula women of all ages can have an opportunity to ski together during the Tsalteshi She Can Ski Race at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 6 on the trails behind Skyview High School. Register from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 5 at Kaladi Brothers in Soldotna or at 9 a.m. Feb. 6. This event is to encourage women to get out and enjoy winter, the camaraderie of other women and raise some money while they're at it.

Call Leslie Boyd at 283-9113 for more details.

Here's a true harbinger of spring. If you are a gardening buff you might be interested in the Central Peninsula Master Gardeners winter lecture series. Bob Wheeler, Forestry specialist for the Cooperative Extension Service, will give an in-depth presentation on hazard trees from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building on Kalifornsky Beach Road. The presentation will teach you how to assess your own trees for growth and damage.

The series is open to all folks. No registration is required, but if you have questions, you can call Janice or Vicki at 262-5824. Come meet and greet fellow area gardeners. This group also will host the Master Gardeners Conference on Feb. 11 and 12 at Kenai Peninsula College.

At 6 p.m. Thursday at Paradisos Restaurant in Kenai, Central Peninsula General Hospital will sponsor its monthly educational Dine and Discuss event. Emergency physicians Drs. Bob Ledda and Chris Mickelson will speak on wilderness medicine and winter safety — timely topics for our part of the world.

Call 714-4500 to make reservations for the event.

Congratulations to Laura Williams for her selection at CPGH's employee of the year. Laura is a CNA who works nights. Her selection was based on a flood of nominations lauding her for her outstanding teamwork and her incredible compassion, steadfast dedication and sincere devotion to patients and their families. More than 60 employees were nominated for this honor, which speaks well of the caregivers at CPGH. Thanks to all of you for the services you provide all of us on the central peninsula.

KDLL, the peninsula's public radio station, will have its annual meeting and open house at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the KDLL studio for members and listeners. The meeting will be held first, then the open house.

If you are a quilter and would love to share your creations with other quilting aficionados, you may be interested in entering the third annual Kenai Quilt Exhibition at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center. Photos of your entries must be received by Feb. 4, and the selected participants will be notified by Feb. 11.

Anyone with quilting experience is welcome to enter up to three pieces, ranging from quilts to wallhangings, wearable art to polar fleece. Here's a chance to show off your talents. Entry forms can be picked up at the center.

Happy birthday today to Jeanene Dederick, James Bookey, Gina Ellis and Angeline Quiner; Wednesday: Gladys Routh, Larissa Bon, Kelsie Nunez and Doris O'brien; Thursday: Judy Coltrin, Julie Ann Mullins and Jon Tuttle; Friday: Shannon Fitt, Michelle Rochon, Ray Elledge, Joanna Hollier, Ed Call and Michele Alexander; Saturday: Jacinda Corning, Paul Morrison, Lucille Gritmacker, James Clark and Steve Black; Sunday: Kelly Bookey, Peggie Ogburn and Charlie Smith; and Monday: James Ogburn, Lin Wheeler, Jennifer Ellis and Shaelee Dailey.

Keep well, and I hope you don't get the flu. Wash your hands frequently, drink lots of water and stay out of crowds.

Joan Hansen can be reached by phone at 283-5872 or by email at hansjoan@alaska.net