newsminer.com

HEALY — There’s a bright side to the high gas prices in Healy this summer.

Parents and community groups joined forces and launched an eight-week summer sports program for youngsters that proved to be immensely popular.

Instead of driving to Fairbanks every week to play soccer or softball, families stayed home and played those same sports in their hometown.

“I think we accomplished our goal,” said Tina Graham, one of the organizers.

That goal was to provide a non-competitive, no-cost, community activity that would provide exercise, fresh air and fun for children.

The all-volunteer program, created for ages from pre-school through fifth grade, offered soccer, T-ball and softball games twice a week for eight weeks.

There was no charge for participants. The entire program was primarily funded by Usibelli Coal Mine, First National Bank of Alaska, Kids In Motion and Railbelt Mental Health. The cost? Sports equipment — soccer balls, bats and softballs.

Volunteer parents and teenagers ran the program.

The teens were part of a pilot leadership/service program through Denali Service Learning and didn’t get paid money for organizing practices.

What they did receive was maybe even better — a two-day, all-expenses-paid climbing trip to Grapefruit Rocks, off the Elliott Highway, with Tri-Valley School teacher Mark Martin.

They also received special letters of commendation in their school files.

“They practically ran the program themselves,” said Stephanie Stickle. “Those kids were the anchors, because adults were always rotating in and out.”

When organizers experimented with this program last year, activity tapered off after a few weeks. This year, that didn’t happen.

An average of 53 players attended every session. Stickle, who is the meticulous number cruncher of the group, calculated 606 players for the entire session — that is, of course, players counted every time — and 216 spectators total. Donated time by the teens — a total of 112 hours.

A dedicated core group of parents debriefed this week and are already planning next year. Other parents also helped make it happen, but be sure to thank Tina Graham, Stephanie Stickle, Cori Fisk and Selena Dixon. They saved many families a lot of money in gas and a lot of highway driving time.

JJ Carter fundraiser

Come to a spaghetti feed fundraiser at the Tri-Valley Community Center on Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Johnny “JJ” Carter, 20, who was seriously injured while playing paintball a few weeks ago.

He is currently confined to a wheelchair with multiple injuries and is looking at four to eight months of recovery time.

What is really chilling is the medical cost information on donation jars around the community: Intensive care: $60,000; Medevac flight: $10,000 — I stopped reading after those two items.

JJ has no insurance, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Steve Barb memorial

Friends and family will gather Saturday to remember Steve Barb and to share memories, stories and photos. Steve Barb was a longtime resident of the area.

The information I have is that friends will meet at 4 p.m. at the Valley View Memorial Cemetery in Healy, and then share a potluck at the Lions Club park at Otto Lake at 5:30 p.m.

There have been suggestions that the potluck may take place at the Tri-Valley Community Center instead. Check the post office bulletin board to confirm the location.

Town hall meeting

Democratic state Rep. David Guttenberg and Democratic state Sen. Joe Thomas are planning a town hall meeting in Healy on Aug. 20, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Tri-Valley Community Library.

They want to hear whatever is on your mind.

Gomez souvenirs

In Healy, we don’t care what Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are doing. We care about Scotty Gomez.

The NHL superstar left a few autographed shirts and baseball caps at the Denali Salmon Bake recently and asked his pal, owner Jason Motyka, to share them with local kids.

At last weekend’s annual river festival, Jason gave those special items to a couple of teens on the Denali Water Safety Team, who also happen to be avid hockey players.

Ask Jesse Arbuckle and Zach Cizmowski if you can see them. But I don’t think they’ll let you borrow them.