Blazy Mall Olympics yield fun, food and matching grants
Those suffering from post partum Winter Olympics were treated to a pleasant afterhours cure at the Blazy Mall recently, thanks to the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. "We try to make our monthly Afterhours business support groups bigger and better, and more fun each time. So this time we centered in on the aftermath of Olympic fever, and Donna's of Donna's Gifts at the Blazy Mall held the opening ceremonies at 5:00pm with an official torch lighting, and then Mug's had a coffee bean toss, and there were other games and events throughout the Mall. Frames and Things had a squirrel toss, and snow golf and premiered their new do-it-yourself framing shop at the Mall. Then upstairs the Kenai Watershed Forum had a water challenge that was quite a challenge indeed," Soldotna Chamber executive director Michelle Glaves told the Dispatch.
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The Kenai Watershed Forum (KWF) has been located in the Blazy Mall for the last 14 years and is in the middle of raising funds to remodel the former DOT house at Soldotna Creek Park for their new headquarters. In the spirit of the Afterhours Olympics, Sky Carver and the Carver Family Fund issued a $5000 match challenge pledging to match dollar for dollar up to $5,000 in total gifts pledged starting that night, February 25th, and continuing for two weeks. According to Josselyn O'Connor of the KWF, by the time the closing ceremonies of the Blazy Mall Olympics had concluded that night, over 60% of the match had been met. At the end of the two week, challenge estimates were that KWF had exceeded the match by several thousand dollars. "We are amazed, thankful, extremely appreciative and quite frankly overwhelmed by the support and generosity of this community," said O'Connor.
To find out about the squirrel toss, you'll have to check out the new Frame-It-Yourself shop in the Blazy Mall next to Frames & Things. "We've put in a ready made frame section here at the Mall that is kind of a do-it-yourself opportunity, with fitting tables, compressors, and all the hand tools where you can put everything together yourself and we have all the supplies available here for you to create your own frame. All you need to do is bring in your piece and select the type of frame you like and you have a choice of regular glass framing or conservation framing with acid free material and UV glass. We have all the hardware to complete your project and you walk out with a finished piece," explained Pat Lytle of Frames & Things.
Soldotna Chamber Afterhours events are organized and staffed by volunteers known as the Chamber Ambassadors. "We have about ten ambassadors now from various businesses in the local area, and we are the front runners for the Chamber. We are the first ones in line to volunteer and coordinate the business afterhours monthly program, and tonight have become pro-squirrel tossers," laughed Robin Sullens, lead SCC Ambassador. The next Business Afterhours is scheduled for Thursday, March 25th, at the Peninsula Center Mall and the new 27 Red Salon and following that April Fools day an afterhours event is being planned at the K-Beach Red Diamond Center the home of Country Financial. For more information call the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce at 262-9814.