Applause

Many make Soldotna awards banquet evening to remember

The 42nd annual Soldotna Chamber of Commerce awards banquet was truly a successful event enjoyed by many in the community. Thanks to everyone that attended this special evening held on behalf of our award recipients.

We would also like to thank everybody that made the evening such a success: Skyview High School Jazz Band; emcee Pat Cowan, Sammie Cole for heading up the decorating committee of Betty Obendorf, Claudea Templeton, Tim Pope, and Janet St. Claire (it was beautiful); Pastor Jonathan Pedersen for the invocation; Soldotna After the Bell students for making all of the snowflake decorations; all of the award presenters; Elks Lodge 2706 for a fantastic dinner; Isabelle's Fine Catering; Sammie Cole, chair, Terry Coval, Lisa Wimmer, Betty Obendorf, Janet St. Clair, Kjell Reisung and Pastor Jonathan Pedersen for serving on our scholarship committee; and, last but not least, the Soldotna Chamber Awards Committee which consisted of Jocelyn Coghill, chair, Mike Frost, Mike Sweeney, Paul Gray and Pete Sprague.

On behalf of the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce board and staff, our thanks to everyone who helped make this year's awards banquet a memorable occasion.

Justine Polzin, Executive director

Soldotna Chamber of Commerce

North Peninsula chamber says thanks for awards banquet support

The North Peninsula Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for their time and contributions recently made on behalf of our 2001 annual awards banquet, held on Feb. 3. The evening was very enjoyable and would not have been a success without their participation. It is with great appreciation and thanks that we acknowledge the following businesses and individuals: Alaska Anvil Inc., Alaska Communications Systems, Alaska Petroleum Contractors, Austin Industrial Inc., Carlile Enterprises Inc., Engine & Equipment Repair, Kenai Chrysler Center, Nikiski High School Ninth Grade Class, Peak Oilfield Service Co., Peninsula Clarion, Phillips Petroleum Co., R & K Industrial, Tesoro Alaska Petroleum, The Lighthouse Inn, Unocal Alaska, Udelhoven Oilfield System Services Inc., Teri Carter, Sharon Burdick, Eileen Rinc, Nikiski Fire Department, and Fred and Bonnie Miller.

Susan Wilcox, Treasurer

North Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Many contribute to success of Challenge to Quit Program

The Tobacco Control Alliance of the Peninsula would like to express our thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped make the first Challenge To Quit Program a big success. The Challenge to Quit Program is designed to offer incentives to teen-agers who want to quit smoking. We had six young people sign up and take the "Challenge" and two who were successful in quitting smoking/chewing for 30 days! Congratulations to these two young people!

Special thanks to go to Margaret Lanier of the Alaska Native Health Board who developed the program and helped us get started. Thanks also to National Bank of Alaska (and our own wonderful Kathy Gensel) for help in setting up one of the first group activities; to Soldotna High School students Epris Escolta and Lucy Kriner for all their hard work; to Judy Downs of Safe and Drug Free Schools (whom I would be lost without); to Pat Nolden for his willingness to take time out of his busy schedule to talk with these young people; and to Buckets Restaurant for their help in providing weekly incentives for students trying to quit.

Special thanks to Belva Pierce of Anchorage for her willingness to share her experience, strength and hope in order to help these young people successfully meet the "Challenge." You are wonderful, Belva!

And, last but not least, thanks to the young people who took the challenge to quit smoking/chewing for 30 days. For those of you that did not make it the entire 30 days, don't quit trying and don't get down on yourself. Ask any former adult smoker how many tries it took them to quit. Don't give up -- set another date and try again, and again, and again. Call me if you need help.

Thanks to all of you.

Patti Truesdell, Coordinator

Tobacco Control Alliance of the Peninsula