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Seldovia’s Santa Shop Serving Youth Around the World
by Jenny Chissus
The Santa Shop is a great way for infants to high school students to go shopping on their own for their friends and family. Due to the fact that we are off the road system and there are limited opportunities for shopping, the Santa Shop has been a way for our youth to buy (they name their price on each donated item that they purchase) gifts on their own, have them wrapped and ready for Christmas! This been a tradition in Seldovia since at least 2006 when Laurel started it as Director of the Seldovia Boys and Girls Club. When asking Laurel about it, she wasn’t sure if it had a previous “life” in Seldovia, but I personally don’t remember having this opportunity for young shoppers before that time – at least since we moved here in 2002.
The Santa Shop is open for just a few hours from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Friday the 13th of December. It is held in the Susan B English cafeteria and once 5:00pm rolls around, the gifts will be gathered up so don’t be late! Make sure your young family members get a chance to buy something special on their own this year! The left over items are often donated for distribution in the Christmas food boxes for local families or to pack in the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes each year.
Regarding the monies earned from the sale of the donated items, each year seems to be different. Early on, the money went to the Boys & Girls Club, then one year it went towards the monies raised by the Winters for a farm in Africa. The Santa Shop has also supported Good Vibes (a Seldovia after school activities program for young kids) and funds have also been used to purchase items for the Christmas Child Shoeboxes. This year it has yet to be determined where the proceeds will go. When asked about this, Laurel replied “I was considering possibly the Alaska Red Cross to help some of the villages that have had natural disasters recently.”
This is such a charitable event, donating unused or “in like-new condition” items for local kids to shop, and additionally supporting children locally and internationally from our community of Seldovia! When I asked Laurel what items tend to FLY off the shelves, she mentioned: “Kids love pretty things for their moms, fun things for their siblings, and guy things for their dads. We just ask that the donations be quality items in good condition. Gift wrap, bows and ribbon are in short supply this year, so we could definitely use some of those if people have any spare items around.”
If you would like to donate items (including wrapping paper, tissue, bows or cards) – please take them to Tina at the front desk upstairs at SVT, and if you want to be a part of the event and volunteer to help kids shop or to wrap gifts – you are so welcome to come and help on Friday! Thanks for showing your Christmas Spirit of Generosity!
Visit With Tim Dillon – Building in Seldovia – Part I
by Jenny Chissus
Foundation poured, and getting covered to cure.
The late arrival of winter to Seldovia has truly helped out a few projects going on about town! The first one we’d like to discuss is the long-awaited start to the pavilion along the waterfront! If you had a chance to notice, the construction of the new pavilion has begun! Fortunately, the weather held out and the cement pour for the foundation was completed before the freeze and snow!
Tim Dillon – Dillon & Dillon – took a few minutes to give us a brief update on the history and progress of our new pavilion – and it is truly VERY exciting! This is going to be such a welcome addition to our Seldovia infrastructure! Thanks Tim for taking the time to answer a few questions!
PLEASE NOTE: Meeting at the SOCC Tomorrow at NOON to discuss Seldovia signage – more about that below…
Gazette: Tim, the pavilion has been an idea for many years. Can you give us a brief history about how the project came about and how you became involved?
Tim: The Glovers initiated the concept of a gateway pavilion many years ago. The concept was to construct a building that would be the entrance, gateway, into our Continue Reading
Washington DC Close-Up Trip Raffle
by Vivian Rojas
SBE Students: Olivia, Marina, Thor and Xandria are showing off this gorgeous handmade quilt donated by Alta Colberg.
This beautiful lace knit wrap throw was made and donated by Alta Colberg. The drawing will be held December 23rd, 2013, and the winner will be notified by phone.
If you are interested in sponsoring this great educational trip to Washington DC for our students, you may either:
Contact the school and leave a message for Vivian and she will happily send a student your way as long as there are tickets available!
OR
If you would like to contact and purchase the tickets from a student directly, please touch base with any of the following CLOSE UP students: Thor Burt, Devin Chissus, Marina Chissus, Calem Collier, Chaela Hilts, Aidan Phipot, Xandria Swick and Olivia Turner.
Thank you Alta for your very generous donation – and thanks to the community for supporting our trip!
Kris Lethin Explains Reasoning Behind His Quest for Annexation
by Jenny Chissus
Seldovia has a lot going on these days, and one of the big issues swirling around in the talking circles has been the quest by local resident Kris Lethin regarding the pursuit of annexation of the entire Seldovia Recreational District into the city of Seldovia. I thought it best to give Kris the floor, and let him explain his position and why he feels it’s a positive opportunity for Seldovia.
Should you be interested in knowing more, there are links in this article, as well as an opportunity to express your thoughts at the next City Council meeting on December 11. But for now, I wanted to thank Kris for taking the time to answer a few questions, and get us all up to speed on his thinking so that folks can make intelligent and informed decisions on their own!
Gazette: Kris, there is a lot of talk about your pursuit to annex the whole Seldovia Recreational Service area into the city of Seldovia. Tell us about your proposal.
Kris: The Seldovia boundary (annexation) issue has been simmering for decades in Seldovia. There’s been an assumption that nothing could be done because any effort would be turned down by those living outside of Seldovia City Limits without knowing about the constitutionally created Local Boundary Commission that was created to resolve Continue Reading
Storytelling Concert Tomorrow!
by Jan Yaeger
Don’t Miss Out!!!
Jack Dalton, Master Teller
Free Storytelling Concert
Tuesday, November 26 @ 7:00 pm
SVT Conference Center
Homemade cookies, hot cider and laughter for all ages! What could be better?
Check out a clip of Jack telling a portion of “The Boy Who Ate Too Much” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf4spK0rYv8
Questions? Call or email Jan: 435-3245 or jyaeger@svt.org
Seldovia Time
