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Santa Claus and other members of the North Pole community will get a chance to stimulate their minds and appetites during the sixth annual Taste of North Pole and UAF Day next Saturday at North Pole Plaza Mall.

This great event is becoming a spring tradition in our fair city where people can sample tasty treats from local restaurants and also learn everything they ever wanted to know about higher education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

UAF Day at North Pole will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. while A Taste of North Pole will be held from noon to 2 p.m.

The university will once again partner with the North Pole Community Chamber of Commerce to coordinate the event, which showcases UAF by creating a “mini-campus” at the mall.

A number of different departments from the university will be on hand to present information on everything from academic offerings to events and summer camps. A highlight will be a performance by the UAF Clarinet Quartet.

On the Taste of North Pole side of things, restaurants in the North Pole area will offer samples of their cuisine from 12-2 p.m. as a fundraiser for the North Pole Boy’s and Girl’s Club. There is a $10 fee to participate in A Taste of North Pole and all participants will receive a North Pole menu guide.

In addition to learning about UAF and sampling menu items from restaurants, there will be entertainment and door prizes. All in all, this is a great opportunity to eat a bit, learn a bit, and emerge from hibernation and see how your friends and neighbors fared over the winter.

Boys and Girls Club is in peril

At the North Pole City Council meeting last Monday, Mayor Doug Isaacson stated that he had received word that the North Pole Boys and Girls Club is continuing to have financial problems and had planned to shut down May 16. He said the Boys and Girls Clubs have been hit hard by funding cuts and the City Council recently approved a $5,000 grant to assist the North Pole club in staying open. In addition, all profits from the Taste of North Pole will go toward keeping the club open.

However, this is just a stopgap measure, and more help is necessary to keep the club operational. The North Pole club needs to raise $20,000 immediately. If you wish to donate you can call 488-7838.

The Boys and Girls Club of North Pole is a great place for our young people. It serves between 30 and 70 youngsters every day, helping them with homework, teaching them about computers, and giving them all sorts of activities and community projects. It would truly be sad if they closed their doors for good.

Elementary school holds performance

Here is a “don’t miss” opportunity for theater aficionados. North Pole Elementary School is putting on a musical theater production of “Mulan.” This is not a small production. The show features a 45-member cast, costumes, music and choreography. Lois McKinnell of the school said the performance provides great family entertainment.

There was a performance last night and the final performance is tonight at 7 p.m. in the North Pole High School auditorium.

In addition to being elementary entertainment at its best, the production is pretty inexpensive. Cost is $4 for adults and $2 for children.

Google Maps covers North Pole

Jeff Jacobson, in the North Pole Chamber of Commerce newsletter, says the City of North Pole and surrounding area is now available for viewing in the Google Maps Street program that recently added Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau to its site. To take a virtual tour of any of the cities, log on to maps.google.com and click on the “street view” button. Find Alaska and click on the Fairbankscamera. From there just drag the mouse south to North Pole.

One cool feature is that you can send the link to your friends and family Outside and show them exactly where you live.

Interestingly, according to Google Maps, there is still a lot of construction on Santa Claus Lane, including a detour. The real life truth is that our roundabouts are all complete and working well. No detours.

North Pole planning commissioner sought

Here are two opportunities for local residents to serve as representatives of our town.

The Planning Commission has an opening for a planning commissioner for North Pole and this person must be a resident of the North Pole.  The Planning Commission prepares and recommends to the Borough Assembly in the area of municipal planning, mapping, comprehensive planning, zoning functions, and a variety of other areas. Supported by the Community Planning Department, this very active board meets twice a month.

There is also an opening on the Planning Commission Advisory Committee for a person to act on behalf of North Pole. This person does not have to be a resident of the city but Mayor Doug Isaacson stated the advisor should be prepared to represent North Pole.

For more information on both positions call Mayor Isaacson at 488-8584.

Summer festival plans in progress

Is it too early to think about the Summer Festival? Maybe, but I’ll let you know anyway that the theme this year will be “Patriotic Santa.”  Lord of Life pastor retiring

Mayor Doug Isaacson read a proclamation during Monday’s council meeting honoring Pastor Kathrin Radach, who has served the congregation of Lord of Life Lutheran Church since 1998. Although she is retiring, Pastor Radach and her husband plan to stay in the area.

NPHS Talent Show to be held Friday

The NPHS Talent Show and Solo Ensemble Showcase will be held Friday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. and sounds like it will be great fun. Organizers say there will be a silent auction, deserts and “many marvelous acts highlighting those going to the Alaska State Solo Ensemble and also other variety acts featuring NPHS students.”

Sponsored by the PTSA and the NPHS music department, the cost is $5 per person, which includes the show, dessert and entertainment.

If you have questions, contact Michelle Daml of the NPHS PTSA at 488-7663.

Life is taxing

Ah, tax season. What a joy it is. Here are some of my favorite quotes, all of them anonymous:

“There is no child so bad that he or she can't be used as an income tax deduction.”

“Congress does some strange things. It puts a high tax on liquor and then raises the other taxes that drive people to drink.”

“Some of us can recall when a person who had to pay income tax was considered to be wealthy.”

“Taxation is the gentle art of picking the goose in such a way as to secure the greatest amount of feathers with the least amount of squawking.”