Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Revisiting America

This will be my last posting from Ketchikan, a quickie, and I'll go into more detail later, you've heard that before?
Last Sunday I attended First Baptist Church again. Had intended to go to the Catholic church, but didn't realize the Mass started at 9:30, even though I was up, just not ready. Baptist church met a lady who grew up in Mobile, here because her husband is in the Coast Guard. So nice, and we knew about the same places and a few people.
Sunday afternoon Nicole and I attended a rehearsal of the production, "Anything Goes", since I wouldnt be here for the actual performance. Very talentedmix of people, some teen-agers, young couples, middle-aged, and a delightful 80 year old,former mayor of Ketchikan and the Bourough and a mainstay of the theater and performing arts here. He was singing and dancing as ably as everyone else. All areas of the arts is really promoted here.
Then we went to The Narrows restaurant for a bowl of clam chowder, and sampled appetizers. Many of the restaurants are participating in something like a "Bobby Flay Throwdown" and they were trying out different sauces, cooking techniques, etc: on the foods they were given, and we got to give our opinion on the results. Lot of fun, eventhough we were inn the Bar on a Sunday night (the restaurant area was closed).
Met a friend of Nicole's, a professional diver, native of Ketchikan, and in the conversation he asked if I had ridden in a float plane, my answer being "no", he said he would make arrangements for me to do that on Monday.
So, Monday at 1:30 p.m., I was at Pacific Air and was the "ride-along" for the trip to deliver people and cargo to four different places on Prince of Wales Island. How exciting, and I'll never be able to adequately describe the scenery. So fun, and such nice people.
And yesterday I was interviewed by the local daily newspaper, "The Daily News", pictures and all. She really didn't have to ask me questions because I have so much to say about the trip. Anyway, they'll send me copies whenever they run the story.
This ends another great month. Leave on the ferry at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, arrive back in Bellingham, Washington, Friday morning, and then to Taos, New Mexico.
I'm packed, but the car isn't yet, such heavy rain, but I will not miss the ferry, the next one in another week. More news later.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Revisiting America

Thursday night Nicole and I visited the Pioneer Home for the Thursday night Family and Friends dinner. It was an opportunity for me to meet James' mother, Nicole's mother-in-law, Jane Church, a resident there for the last year and a half. She's a beautiful lady, in her early nineties, and very aware and able to talk about everything.
The home was beautifully decorated with Halloween things, if you can say Halloween stuff is beautiful, and the five-course meal was great, thanks to the new food director, a nice lady from Georgia, we sounded the same. An appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and dessert, and all tables were waited on, your water glass never got below half-full, by Boy Scouts from one of the local troops. They were so young, efficient, handsome in their uniforms, polite and I'm sure participating to help earn one of their badges. Regardless, they did a great job, probably something most of them had never done before.
The entertainment was by Dave Rubin and band, and I'm beginning to see that they are such an important part of the community because they play at so many events. (I did go by The Point yesterday while they were there playing and Dave and I swapped tapes, his mostly featuring him and some of his songs and mine, the one that Regina and I had done at the concert.) So, I will leave a little bit of me in Ketchikan).
The Pioneer Homes are like our Nursing Homes, this one right on the main street making it so convenient for family and friends to visit. The average age for the residents is "86 years young", Jane being is her early nineties.
Another feature of this home is they are registered as an Eden home which has the philosophy that family, friends, pets, and plants all contribute to creating a "human habitat" by revitalizing relationships and encouraging residents to be involved with activities that help alleviate loneliness, helplessness and boredom.
Also, the Home provides a respite care program which provides 24-hour care for up to two weeks for individuals in the community who need short-term assistance for a scheduled period of time.
Another focus is the enlistment of volunteers and there were many there that night.
It was a very enjoyable evening, and just another part of life in Ketchikan.

Revisiting America

Out of the 26 days I've been in Ketchikan, it has rained 23 days, most of those days, all day, sometimes taking a lunch break, but most days non-stop. Usually a soft, slow rain which can be taken care of with a rain-type windbreaker. I'm still amazed that it is not very cold, but of course being on the water, etc" all that makes the difference. I knew it would be that way so it hasn't stopped my getting out and doing things. Now today, 8:00a.m., and there's a mimi-storm raging, wind blowing, raining very hard, still quite dark. This will probably be a day I won't venture out, it's Saturday, nothing really happening, good day to finish my book and plan the things I have left to do here.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Revisiting America

My blog is supposed to be about me and my travels, but what could be more important and exciting than telling about a new great-grandson, born several hours ago, to Lauren and Elliot Brown, 7lbs. some ounces, I didn't listen to that part well enough, 21 inches long, and named Mason Reed Brown. Baby and both parents doing well, and having already seen pictures, Mason is a beautiful, healthy, baby boy. How exciting and wonderful that all is okay!
It started raining Sunday morning and has just now stopped, not quite full daylight yet, and the wind isn't blowing. But that didn't keep a friend, Agnes Moran from picking me up yesterday for a ride up in the mountains, following some roads that she hikes on everyday. I went to the end of the road again, but this time all that was left was the hike, straight up, the mountain, Brown Mountain. The scenery couldn't have been more beautiful, sun shining or what. You could almost see the top of the mountain through the mist, but you could see the waterfalls. There was no start or finish, just the waterfall. Hope my pictures turn out. Made several stops to be able to view the Harriett Hunt Lake, Knudson Cove, and made a rest stop at Agnes's home, beautiful, right on the water, big picture windows in the living and dining areas. Why would you ever want to leave home?
But Agnes does, being a very active, wife, mother, Bourough Council member,on many other boards and committees, and being a Ketchikan native, so in tune to the needs and wants of the community. It was such a pleasure to spend time with her, and how would I ever have seen that part of Ketchikan without her taking the time. I loved it and hope I was able to convey to her how much I appreciated and enjoyed the tour and spending the time with her.

Revisiting America

Saturday night, the 15th, Nicole and I attended the 16th Annual Alaska Day Auction, benefitting the Holy Name Catholic School. Wow, was it an affair. Probably close to 300 people there including those behind the scene workers, kitchen help, auctioneers,(2), five emcees, those selling tickets for the different raffles and door prizes, the bookkeepers, the teachers connected with the school. A crowd, but a fun time. Nicole said any given year they would clear between $75,OO0 to $80,000 dollars. There were wonderful things for the live auction and many tables of things for the silent auction. And did I mention the wonderful buffet cooked and served by parents of children of the school. You can imagine the food it took to serve that many people, and it was all quite good. The evening was so well organized, but with 81 items, plus some add-ons, we only stayed through item number 61, after 9:00 p.m., so never heard when it finally did end, nor have I heard the amount raised, it will be interesting to find out. Just another wonderful example of community supporting community.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Revisiting America

Ketchikan was cited a few years ago as one of America's Top 100 Small Arts Communities. 2011 was designated as the Year of the Artist, this bringing to the community focus a wide range of events, highlighted by carvings to video, bluegrass to weaving, culinary art to watercolor. Native artists, some internationally known, work in traditional forms from carving to weaving, and most local galleries are owned and operated by resident artists. Maybe it's good that some are closed for the season because you would never be able to visit all of them. I've already mentioned some that were recommended, but not by any means a good represenative list of all that is here to see.
I met Dave Rubin at The Point last Friday, after lunch and his music session, and we visited "The Rock", a staturary monument featuring representations of Ketchikan's pioneers. I had mentioned this monument before but he told me all about his idea for the monument, how it all came about as far as city approval, financing, location, etc:. It is a most detailed staturary, 7 figures representative of the many diverse occupations of the settlers.
I am so impressed with this person, Dave, who arrived in Ketchikan in 1983, at the urging of a friend, part of a folk-rock band, "Tattoo". Dave is a New York City-bred painter, songwriter, singer, guitarist, saxophonist, and has been described as being able to turn up anywhere with a brush, or a horn, or a six-string. He started painting as a child, attended several New York schools of art, and is still painting landscapes, portraits, and of course, is well known because of "The Rock". After pictures on the dock with the monument we went to The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, which was closed, but Dave knew the director and we were able to go in and see a series of portraits of Native elders and young leaders, so beautiful I might add. While there we did tour the Center, with Dave's explanations, and I didn't have to read every plaque. He also has an exhibit representative of his work hanging in the Center. It's amazing the doors that have been opened for me because they have a key, or someone knows someone. I'm so fortunate.
Church yesterday at First Baptist Church of Ketchikan was great. A real Southern Baptist, active, mission-minded, prayer-led church. Their purpose, "To lead people to God through a faith relationship with Jesus Christ and to equip the whole church to become Great Commission Christians." His message did focus on equipping and preparing ourselves, as well as the church, for service.
Raining, which is quite incidential now, so rather than come home and wonder what to eat, went to "Annabelle's" for their wonderful clam chowder and crab cakes, plus a salad, no dessert this time. Then came home to an evening of reading and dozing, and sorta looking at the things I need to do in the 10 days I have left here. It's exactly what the saying means, Time Flies".

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Revisiting America

One more totem sight to mention. The Saxman Native Village Totem Pole Park is located 2 1/2 miles south of Ketchican, has similar artifacts as those at the other locations, but during the tourist season you can see carvers at work. Nathan Jackson is considered the foremost Tlinglit artist, in wood carving and jewelry making, and I understand works mostly by commission.
We met Woody Anderson walking around the park and he graciously consented to talk to us about Saxman and the area in general. He does some carving and it's displayed at "Crazy Wolf Studio". I did visit this studio and met the owner-artist, Ken Decker, a native of Ketchikan, wife-owner, Monica. Ken paints, makes drums, teaches art at one of the local schools, and was so easy to talk to and question about the area and his work.
Marge, Shirley, nor I opted to take the tram, 130 feet up the hill, to the Cape Fox Lodge, situated above downtown Ketchikan. One feature of the Lodge is a collection of Native art unlike any other found in the world, very interesting and displayed so beautifully. The Heen Kahidi Restaurant was waiting for us for lunch and Shirley finally ordered King Crab (such a helping, well over a pound of meat, that I got to bring it home and finish later). The food was good, but the setting was spectacular, we did linger a long time after lunch. Such a beautiful building, built in the trees, looking down on Ketchikan, Creek street, and you're even able to see the main street. A good view too of so many of the houses that have only steps leading to them, not streets. That is one of the most unique things about this place.
I definitely need to visit an "Overeating Anomyous Meeting" and I think Shirley and Marge would agree, because after our meal at Cape Fox Lodge we all were miserable. So, stayed in for Shirley and Marge to pack, play a few more cards, get up early Tuesday morning and I did take them to the airport, via the ferry, it was raining(so what), and this would make it easier for them, besides I hated to see them go and wanted to visit as much as possible. (long, run-on sentence, okay?) Nice airport, very accomodating and easy to get around in. Marge, needing a wheelchair, said everyone the entire trip had been so helpful and accomodating, which is great. Once past check-in I couldn't talk to them anymore so came on home , really to do nothing for a while.
Nicole and I met for lunch on Wednesday, at The Point again, especially to go with Dave Rubin to see the monument in town that commemorates the settlers of the town. After that we visited The New York Hotel (1924), still in business, up-dated rooms, somewhat, beautiful woodwork, The Scanlon Art Gallery, very up-scale, and in business since 1972,considered Alaska's Major Art Center, the owner a friend of Nicole, I've already mentioned Crazy Wolf Studios, Parnassus Book Store, in the process of moving to a new location, but able to see the wonderful collection of books, art, gifts, etc:, then strolled some on Creek Street, wooden streets with the rushing Creek below. I do hope some of my pictures in the book will help you get a feel of the uniqueness and quaintness of this place, along with the business of this place. It's like it never really stops.
Out my windows you see planes, helicopters, boats of every description, and we're right on the main street, so cars, motorcycles, constantly. But, then you realize there is "one main street" and one Narrows Inlet for everything that moves.

Revisiting America

There are hundreds of retail shops, art galleries, restaurants, different types of lodgings, transportation services, buses, ferries, rental cars, water taxis, float planes, charter fishing, guided tours, museums, public restrooms, phones, cash machines, all geared to the huge influx of tourists arriving from May to September. Since I'm here in the off-season, many things are closed, but there is enough to become acquainted with Ketchikan, and it's great without the crowds.
Tongass Trading Center offered every kind of wear for this weather, every brand, every price range, and hundreds of every item, it seemed.
Friday for lunch, we met Nicole at The Point, a trendy cafe, on the waterfront, a combo playing during the noon hour (wonderful, happy group playing and singing my kind of music), wonderful soups, salads, and sandwiches, and a special, home-baked cookie, your dessert, with each order.
Another reason for going there was to meet with Dave Rubin, wonderful artist-sculptor, musician, that I'll tell you about later. The Point is also a one-stop shopping area for all kinds of yarn, beading, (classes are offered in knitting, beading, etc:)as well as a great display of local artists works.
From what we are seeing, there are many, many talented, gifted, people in this town.
After lunch we rode to the north end of the island, not quite as picturesque as the south end, but nevertheless beautiful, along the water, very dense woods, and again, took a picture of the, "END".
Visited The Totem Bight State Park to see another selection of totems and a clan house carved beginning in 1938 by Natives working with traditional tools to copy fragments of historic poles that had mostly rotted away. Who remembers the CCC, the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps? This project helped save a Tlingit and Haida culture that had been essentialy outlawed until that time. There must have been 20 poles, some 60 feet tall, most very intricately carved, and in a perfect spot. The clan house was quite large and would house as many as three families. The setting, at the site of an old fishing camp, beautiful cove on the edge of Tongass Narrows.
Friday night took us to The Narrows for supper. Again, on the waterfront, good food, owner who came to our table and talked about Ketchikan. Of course, we all want seafood, but haven't tried King Crab yet.
Denise and Nancy did some shopping Saturday a.m. while we stayed home and geared up for the Alabama game and I cooked a tail-gate meal, barbecue ribs, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, even a dessert.
Sunday, early a.m., took Nancy and Denise to the ferry(they would not let us take them across to the airport), bid them good-bye, and came home to get ready to visit the Lutheran Church at 11:00.
It's like every Sunday, whatever church I'm attending, knows the message I need to hear and prepares it just for me. That was the case again this time. Wonderful message, friendly people, beautiful, old building, good crowd, and I'm happy to say, some children there, very out-going, up-beat pastor, communion, coffee hour after church, and a credo worth mentioning, "Called by Christ, to Invite, Equip and Send".
The Landing Restaurant at the Best Western Hotel called us to lunch where, again we had clam chowder, salmon steaks(which were very good, I had been kinda dreading ordering it because I had eaten some before that was "tasteless", but this was an exception), and by this time, my refrigerator is almost full having taken "doggy-bags" home with us, with no dog at home, and most of the left-overs never eaten.
The "Tongass Trading Triangle" had every kind of souvenier imaginable, clothing, jackets, raingear(every store has this), a nice rather inexpensive shop.
I haven't mentioned cards at all because I'vve had no one to play with since Janie(by the way, she is better, responding to medication, therapy, and all else that goes along with it)went home, so it was nice to play again, but not to lose as badly as I did.

Revisiting America

TOTEM POLES
This is the first thing we all wanted to see.
Thw Totem Heritage Center houses a priceless collection of 19th century totem poles and other carvings, retrieved from the Tlingit (the "T" is pronounced like a "k")Indian villages at Tongass Island and Village Island, and from Haida village of Old Kasan, on Prince of Wales Island. In order to be near schools, churches, and the canneries, mines and sawmills that offered employment, these villagers moved to Ketchikan and other towns at the beginning of the 20th century.
With the permission of Native elders, The Alaska State Museum and the Alaska Native Brotherhood, carried out the retrieval of the totem poles, with the elders providing valuable cultural and historical information about the poles. The Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Forest Service provided technical assistance.
Poles in the Heritage Center were carved by Native artists during the heyday of totem pole carving on the Northwest Coast between the middle and end of the 19th century. They are preserved as they were found, all severely weathered, many with the original paint, but much of the original detail intact showing the skill and sophistication of their carvers.
Traditionally, totem poles were carved to honor important individuals, commemorate significant events, and to proclaim the lineage and social standing of their owners. They have great cultural importance because of their tangible references to the people, events, stories, and legends that figure in the oral histories of these Northwest Coast Native peoples. They are not religious objects and have never been worshipped. While the figures on a totem pole might be readily recognizable, the pole's significance or "meaning" can only be known if one knows the purpose and occasion for which it was created, as well as the individuals, groups, or stories associated with it. This information was traditionally introduced when the pole was raised, and then passed down orally from one generation to another,much of the information lost with the passing of time.
The totem poles preserved in the Totem Heritage Center were all carved from the wood of the Western red cedar which dominated the coastal forests from Washington to Southeast Alaska. The red cedar has been the "tree of life" for the Native peoples of the region for thousands of years, using all of the tree for different purposes. The inner bark provided fiber for baskets, mats, rope, and clothing. Dugout canoes up to sixty feet long were fashioned from the trunks, and large communal houses were built with massive cedar posts, beams, and planks. The red cedar was the ideal material for the totem poles because of the straight grain of the wood, it was easily carved, and highly resistant to rot.
The Heritage Center is dedicated to the preservation of the cultural traditions that gave rise to the magnificent totem poles on display, as well as offering classes and workshops about these groups of people in order to strengthen and perpetuate these traditions for future generations. Tours are provided, rotating exhibits and a wonderful collection of baskets, regalia, carvings, and photographs, an extensive library of books, magazines, slides and videos, can be accessed-all of this is available in addition to the totem poles. Needless to say, we spent quite a bit of time in the Center, but we're not through with totem poles.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Revisiting America

One of the first things we all wanted to do was ride to the "End" of the island. We went south out of town and loved the secnic ride, lush forests, speectacular views of the coastline surrounded by mountains, several beautiful waterfalls, bald eagles sitting on logs in a cove, even a water otter, of course it was in the water but called that because of the cove it was in, many old ram-shackled buildings which added to the quaintness of the area, but finally reaching the sign that said, "END". The last few miles were on gravel road, so we were determined to reach the end. Of course, all of this is documented with pictures
which yhou'll never see because of my inadequate use of the computer.
We do tend to time our sightseeing by our mealtime, so we were back in town in time for lunch at "Annabelle's, a famous keg and chowder house according to the menu which was printed like a newspaper and dating back to March 1927. The restaurant was housed in the Gilmore Building, a hotel, but was closed for rennovations but the restaurant decor and furnishings were of the period, so beautifully done. White tablecloths, silver, china, beautiful high-back chairs around the tables, fabric seats for the booths-very elegant, and great service.
The food was excellent. We all started with clam chowder and later claimed that to be the best of all the many places we ate. We ate a variety of things ,with the crab cakes getting rave reviews. My wonderful carrot cake dessert was the biggest of all so half of it came home with me. We would all like to eat there again.

Revisiting America

The longer I wait the harder it is to blog and I did say I would wait until after Shirley visited to tell you about so many of the attractions here.
I was so excited to see Shirley, Marge, Nancy and Denise walk up the ramp from the ferry and finally be in Ketchikan, Alaska after having left Birmingham around 4:00 a.m., with stops in Atlanta (naturally), Seattle, and then the ferry ride from Gravina Island, only three minutes, but the only way to get here. Do you remember the congressional scandal, "The Bridge to Nowhere"? That would have been the bridge connecting Gravina Island to Ketchikan, but it never happened, so the ferry ride.
I hadn't given much thought to five of us riding in my vehicle, but the back seats were removed to give me more storage room, so Shirley was the one who sat on a little box, with a cushion on top, between the two middle seats. She didn't seem to mind, said it was quite comfortable, until I braked quickly and it sent her plunging toward the front. It didn't happen too many times to which Shirley said, "thank goodness". Needless to say, they were all quite weary so we all retired early after a light supper of soup, salad, and sandwiches.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Revisiting America

It's raining, but a beautiful day today, probably 45 degrees, cloudy. I would say, typical.
I attended Gateway Baptist Church yesterday, Pastor John W. Judson, an attendee of Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, in the area with wife and children for about 15 years. Small attendance, showing 50 as the highest number attending during the month of September, but again, as most churches I've attended, many opportunities for service and involvement.
Good message, good music, and very friendly people. Their statement says, "the friendly church that is standing by the gate and pointing the way to Jesus Christ". His message certainly did that.
All roads lead to Walmart. I found one, not a Super store, but very nice. And there is a Mall, with a MacDonald's, which I'm sure draws a lot of people.
Not a big variety of stores in the Mall, but there are hundreds of other shops to browse in around town. Nicole is going to help me sort out those that shouldn't be missed, as well as other attractions. And we must have a list of the best seafood restaurants, especially those that feature the best salmon in Alaska.
I've found a walking "trail" partly on the main highway, but mostly by the water, through a neighborhood, with barking dogs, every kind of boat imagineable on the water, docked float planes, every-size, shape, and kind of house, but a "doable" walk, probably close to 3 miles. Will time it the next time I walk to be sure I'm doing enough. And i haven't gotten up the nerve to walk in the rain yet, so that could be limiting. We'll see.
I must say I appreciate my readers, but as I come to an end of my adventure, please comment on what you want to know. It is becoming "same-o, same-o to me and I'm afraid you'll lose interest. Especially since I've been in Alaska, I'm lagging. I will try to "rev-it-up" a bit in the next few weeks because I've not really said much, okay?

Revisiting America

I'm afraid my venturesome spirit has become one of "I'll just wait, or I don't want to get out in the rain, or I'm not sure what to do first, or I'll just wait until Shirley gets here then I won't have to do it over again." I've chosen the latter apparently because I've done very little this week.
True to its billing, it has rained just about every day. Never a steady downpour, but a twenty minute rain, the sun come out, another rain, the sun, all day long. It doewn't matter, I'm in Ketchican, Alaska.
My landlady, Nicole, got us tickets to one of the very special events of the year here, the "Women of Distinction Annual Awards Dinner and Silent Auction". I knew that would be a way to meet a lot of people and learn about the WISH organization. WISH is a non-profit organization established in 1977 in Ketchican to provide advocacy for adult and child victims of domestic violence and sexual assult. The WISH organization sponsors the Women of Distinction celebration which affirms the extraordinary effort and commitment women have shown for community. This year celebrated the efforts of 5 women.
Women In Safe Homes (WISH)is a shelter, open 365 days a year, serving Ketchican, Saxman, Prince of Wales Island, Metlakatla, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Hyder. Victims needing shelter are transported to Ketchican from these outlying areas as well as support being given to assist volunteers in these communities. Last year 5,830 shelter nights and personal services for women, men and children were provided for those residing in southern southeast Alaska.
Pre-program music was provided by "Tears of Fancy" I would say music with a Celtic origin, with fiddle, guitar, lute, very nice and a sound not often heard. Then, during the program as each honoree was introduced a special music presentation was given, one of these the Ketchican Inter-tribal Drummers, native dress and dances. My first time to see something like this.
The Ted Ferry Civic Center was beautifully decorated, auction items were displayed around the room and the meal was prepared and served by members of the High School Soccer team and their parents. You could tell this wasn't their first year (it was the 4th)because everything ran smoothly. This was so much like our Library Auction at home, growing every year in attendance, more money raised each year, and a wonderful core of volunteers that can "get the job done".
Our table of eight was Nicole and myself, Choc Schafer, Agnes Moran (running for City Council woman), Lois and Lloyd Gossman, Ellen Bishop, and Anne Lucas, one of the founders of the program. All such nice people and supporters of community endeavors. I understand I'm to attend another event like this in several weeks, is that right, Nicole? Great!