Turn back the pages — Sept. 1, 1977
Compiled by Julie Rosier
New principal seeks collaboration with the Skill Center — Hope’s little wooden school house, closed for the past seven years, opened this week with an enrollment of nine children. However, the school may close again come October if local residents cannot find one of two more students, according to Hope mother Linda Graham. Graham reported that Dr. Paul Gallaher, Kenai Peninsula Borough School Superintendent, told her there must be at least eight students enrolled to keep the school open, and that kindergartners do not count. Two of the children who will attend Hope School this fall are kindergartners. One mother, living at Silvertip, is not enthusiastic about hauling her daughter back and forth to school, and enjoys teaching correspondence classes. But her daughter, a second grader, wants to go to school with other children. All the other families are highly in favor of school starting up again. Hope residents tried to open their school last year, but did not have enough children. “Typically, people come here with preschoolers, or with school age children, and try correspondence school for a while, then move back to Anchorage,” Graham said. “Last year we had eight kids to enroll, then one family left, and school closed. This year, only two of the children enrolled last year still live in Hope. But if we don’t make it this year we’ll try again next year.”
Football weekend being planned — “People in Seward travel more than folks in most towns this size,” says Bob Kern of Horizons Travel. “They like to take lots of little vacations, so I’ve organized a weekend tour to Seattle and a Seahawks versus Denver Broncos football game. It’s the first tour Horizons Travel or Seward have had. If it’s a success, I’m planning other short tours, plus longer ones to Hawaii and Las Vegas.” The Seattle football tour, including overnight hotel accommodations, meals, football tickets and transportation to the game, is available for $249 persons — about 30 percent savings — if 15 people sign up. Bob planned this first tour in response to local interest in a sports trip, he said, especially one involving a Seattle Seahawks game. “Probably because Seward High School athletic teams are named the Seahawks, too,” Bob surmises. Football weekenders will depart Anchorage Oct. 1 at 8:30 a.m. and return by 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 2 — but those who would like to stay in the Seattle area longer can spend as much as 21 days there.
Reduced meals available for some students — The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has announced its policy for free and reduced price meals and milk served under the National School Lunch and Special Milk Programs. Local school officials have adopted the following size income criteria for determining eligibility: Family size, one child, free lunch, income scale $4,910 and for reduced price, $7,660. For two children, $6,450 and $10,060. “Income” means income before deductions for income taxes, insurance premiums, bonds, etc ., according to D. E. Kirkpatrick, Superintendent of Auxiliary Services for the school district. Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk. In addition, families not meeting these criteria but with other unusual expenses due to unusually high medical expenses, shelter costs in excess of 30 percent of income, special education expenses due to mental or physical condition of a child and disaster or casualty losses are urged to apply. Application forms are being sent to all homes in a letter to parents, according to Kirkpatrick. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.
Will offer craft classes — The “Private Eye,” Laurie Leary’s new gallery and crafts shop at Mile 19.5, opened Sunday with demonstrations by several local craftspeople, including Kathy Sawyer, who did soapstone carving; Billy Elge, a woodcarver; and leathercraftsman Carl Elde. Leary offers a full line of supplies for needlecraft, including imported yarns, needlepoint patterns, Scottish and British woolen yardage. She also has a kiln and will fire your ceramics and pottery. The studio will be the scene of a series of classes in quilting, bargello, ceramics, latch hook, and other crafts this fall, taught by Leary and her mother-in-law, Thelma Forsyth. Hours are one to six Monday through Friday, and ten till four Saturday and Sunday until the end of September when they will be changed depending on class enrollment. All this week customers who sign the guest register at the Private Eye will have a chance to win a prize—mufflers, needlepoint pillows, and ceramics pieces—in a drawing to be held Saturday. Laurie Leary invites you to come out and try your luck.
Beautiful Downtown Moose Pass — Seems like only yesterday I was informing the kids I would not be a short order cook all summer. The time sure has slipped by fast, must be because we’ve had such a nice summer. The mountains are becoming obscured by the smoke from distant forest fires. Everything is so dry, lots of people are out of water. Hope it rains before it snows. Cliff Judkins is working steadily on his new restaurant. Looks good, now we’ll get to see what kind of a cook Star is. Cliff has the ideas and Star is supposed to carry them out. So Cliff says. Wonder who long it will take them to get a pancake turner caught in his teeth? Did you know they have frozen yogurt at the store? In good flavors too. Becky McDonough is now working at Estes Bros. Their turnover in personnel just about equals that of the Jockey Club. Amazing! Nolan’s garden is beautiful, flowers abound, as is Betty Ainsworths and Lela’s and Marge’s, Bass’ and Condits’, hmmm, must be missing quite a few because everywhere you look there are riots of color (the only kind I like). The Reiths attended the state fair in Palmer as did the Fergusons. Lowell, De and Karen went on the first day.