Monthly Archives: February 2008

It’s not too late to sign up for Cooperative Extension’s cold climate homebuilding and retrofitting workshops Feb. 22-23 in Delta.

Rich Seifert will offer his newly developed course, “Retrofitting Your Home” from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Delta Career Advancement Center and his Cold Climate Homebuilding Workshop will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 23, also at the Career Center.

Both workshops are free.

To register for either workshop, call 895-4215.
For more information, call Seifert at 800-478-8324 at the Fairbanks Extension office.

Cooperative Extension Service Presents the“Retrofit of Existing Homes” Taught by Richard Seifert, UAF Energy and Housing Specialist

Topics to be covered: Windows, Ventilation, Cold Climate Options, Walls, Roofs, and Materials

Where: Delta Career Advancement Center (DCAD)
When: February 22nd, 2008 — 1 – 4 p.m.
Cost: FREE!! Registration required. Includes manual.

To Register: Call Christy Roden at 895-4215A must for anyone anticipating retrofitting their home in the next year!

America’s Arctic UniversityUAF is an aa/eo employer and educational institution

Cooperative Extension Service Presents the“Cold Climate Homebuilding Techniques Workshop”taught by Richard Seifert, UAF Energy and Housing Specialist

Topics to be covered: Windows, Ventilation, Cold Climate Options, Retrofit, Indoor Air Quality, Roofs, and Foundations

BUILD FOR THE FUTURE! THIS COURSE IS MORE TIMELY THAN EVER!

Where: Delta Career Advancement Center (DCAD)
When: February 23rd, 2008 – Saturday – 9a.m.-5p.m.
Cost: FREE!!
Registration required. Includes manual and CD

To Register: Call Christy Roden at 895-4215
A must for anyone anticipating buying or building in the next year!

The DNW asked readers last week to submit their reasons for living in Delta. We had a couple of residents submit their replies. If you would like to post your reason for living in Delta, please send your reply to webeditor@deltanewsweb.com , subject reading Why I Live in Alaska

Submitted by Kevin Ewing – The best persons to answer this question are the numerous Delta residents that have left the last frontier and moved back to the U.S. (because they hated it here) just to move back after only a couple of years living “outside”. A few years ago I was in Juneau (is that in Alaska?) deer hunting with my brother. We were sitting under a large spruce tree to get out of the freezing rain that had been falling mixed with snow all day. It was mid November and the temperature when I had left Delta was -25, the temperature there was +25 and I was wet and freezing. My brother (who had lived in Fairbanks in the early seventies) turned to me and asked “How can you stand living up there in the cold interior of Alaska?” My answer was to hunker down deeper into my rain coat, pulling the hood farther over my head and mumble “you have been away from god’s country to long!”

Submitted by Neoma Slaton/Delta Junction – I live in Alaska for several reason but the one that means the most is my daughter and her family. Other than that I love this state for the people, wildlife, and its beauty. I moved here two years ago and can’t think of any other place that I would want to live out my life…. God Bless Alaska …..

My name is David L. MacKellar, I am with the American Legion Post #28 of Grand Haven, Michigan. Lawrence Michael “Smurf” Veihl had been a member of our Post. His brother Garrett Veihl is our “Commander” at our post. I am helping our Historian put together a scrap book for our commanders year in service.

Lawrence “Smurf” Veihl passed away on 10-23-07 and Garrett Veihl was not able to make it to his brothers funeral.

I had heard that the committee was going to name a park after Mr. Veihl. I was hoping you could send me any information you can on the funeral and the park project.

Garrett is also on our Honor Guard and on my Rifle Team, we attend about 52 funerals a year and this one we all missed for our member. Any thing you could send me would be Great.

Please call the Delta News Web if you can help with this request 895-4919 or email . Thank you.

Anchorage, AK. – February 11, 2008 – For those people looking to find the man or woman of their dreams, Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that complaints against matchmaking and online dating services are on the rise and many consumers across the U.S. have gone looking for love but only found a headache.

The stigma that using dating sites was geeky or sad has fallen away as more people have found happiness by meeting people on the Internet. As new companies and service become more popular over time, growing pains become more apparent as well.

Consumer complaints filed with BBB on dating services increased 73 percent in 2006 over the previous year, reaching 2,525 complaints altogether. While final complaint numbers for 2007 are still forthcoming, early analysis shows that the number of complaints in 2007 are expected to again reach record-breaking levels for the industry.

“Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars on online dating sites alone every year and as the popularity of the industry increases so does the number of complaints BBB receives,” said Robert Andrew, President and CEO of the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “Whether you’re willing to pay thousands for a matchmaker or 50 dollars a month for a Web site membership, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into and exactly how to get out of it.”

The demographics and caliber of available singles promised make up 35 percent of the complaints. Many complainants said they were matched with singles that did not meet their specified criteria – including whether the singles they were interested in smoked, were educated, not religious, lived too far away, and, in some cases, whether they were still married.

Poor or rude customer service makes up 17 percent of the complaints while high pressure sales tactics comprises 13.7 percent. Many complainants reported being intimidated or outright duped by sales associates into signing up for matchmaking services.

Dissatisfaction with the number of arranged dates makes up 15.1 percent of the complaints. Matchmaking services often say they have a database of thousands of singles in the area and promise a minimum number of dates. Complaints show that matchmaking services often failed to deliver on the quota of promised dates.

The BBB recommends the following tips when considering a matchmaking site:

• Think with your head, not with your heart. If you’ve just signed up for a matchmaking site and you suddenly have three people contacting you before you’ve even put up a profile or picture, reconsider joining. Ask yourself if you’ve been on for a reasonable amount of time to actually have real people see your profile and decide to contact you.
• Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics. Watch out for sales techniques where a site claims that a price is “good for this day only” or associates may pressure consumers into sign a contract. Take the time to read over any contracts you agree to in order to make sure you know what you’re getting into.
• Watch out for automatic renewal programs. Many subscription-based sites on the Internet offer automatic renewal to make it easier for consumers to remain members without having to constantly renew their membership. However, many matchmaking services sign you up for automatic renewal by default. If you don’t want to be renewed automatically at the end of your subscription, make sure you figure out how to turn off that feature early in your membership.
• Don’t fall in love with the advertising. Beware of claims such as “an exclusive network of people,” “for sincere daters only,” and “beautiful singles just like you.” Online Web sites don’t discriminate against who joins their site outside of members who pay.
• Do your homework. Go to www.bbb.org to get a free reliability report on the matchmaking site you’re considering. The Better Business Bureau’s reliability reports provide valuable information on companies.

About the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington – Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 907-562-0704 in Alaska, 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org

Delta/ Greely, AK – With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. In Fort Greely, volunteers are raising funds for transplant patients like local Alexis Flynn.

Rick Reesher, 49, of Delta Junction, formerly of Ceres, NY, lost his life in a house fire on January 28, 2008.

Pantheon, a steel drum band from Fairbanks, will perform in the old library room (located in City Hall) directly after the fireworks display at approximately 8 pm on Saturday, February 16 in Delta.

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 105 votes
COL. Besch (Missile Defense Agency): 50 votes
LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 50 votes
Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency) – 43 votes
Rich Rogers (Missile Defense Agency) – 33 votes
Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center) – 27 votes
Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 23 votes
Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 20 votes
Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 10 votes
Katrina Vecchiarelli: 10 votes
Doug Patrick – 8 votes
Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 6 votes
Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes
Chris Johnson: 5 Votes
Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 3 votes
Vern Heintz (Delta Junction Volunteer Fire Dept.) – 1 vote
Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) – 0 votes
Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service) – 0 votes

*Nominee names are only posted after they have accepted the challenge
*Nominees and their votes are updated weekly

We’ve got some good competition for this year’s Polar Bear Plunge. So far there are 18 candidates, and among them, the 3 with the most votes will jump into a freezing pool of water on Saturday, February 16 at 4 pm in the Delta High School parking lot, with the community of Delta Junction watching it all!

You can place your vote/and or nominations in Polar Bear Plunge cans placed around Delta at Jack’s Liquor, IGA Food Cache, Mt. McKinley Bank, Buffalo Center Diner, Buffalo Center Service, Wells Fargo, Buffalo Bar, Clearwater Lodge, Alaskan Steakhouse, the Moose Lodge, and Sawmill Creek Lodge or on Ft. Greely at the post office or chow hall.

Nominations are 5 bucks a piece and once someone is nominated you can vote for them at $1 each vote. You can vote as many times as your hear desires.

Polar Bear Plunge cans are checked weekly and the tallies are updated and listed on the cans.

Voting cans will be at the aforementioned locations up until February 15 AFTER THAT, votes will still be accepted at the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS GALLERIA & TRADE SHOW up until 2pm. UNTIL THEN, it will remain a mystery as to who the 3 jumpers will be. There is always time for throwing in a handful of votes at the last minute for the ones YOU would like to see jump!

There are still a few vendor spaces left for the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS GALLERIA & TRADE SHOW SET FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FROM 10AM – 4:30 PM.

There are approximately 6 spaces left. Vendor spaces are 10 feet wide and are $20 each.

This year’s show looks to be a good one with high participation. It’s one you don’t want to miss out on!

For more information contact the Delta Chamber of Commerce by e-mail deltacc@alaska.net or call 895-5068

The Delta Lions Club Raffle is going on right now! The grand prize is a freezer (approximately 9 cu. ft.) with 1/2 beef and 1/2 pork (cut and wrapped by Delta Meat & Sausage). Second Prize is a $500.00 gift certificate from Granite View Sports & Gifts. Each ticket is $5. Winner need not be present to win. Drawing will be at the Delta Lions Easter Egg Hunt at the Deltana Fairgrounds March 23, 2008. Tickets are available at Granite View Sports & Gifts and from Delta Lions Club members.

Are you tired of the cold? With the temperatures so cold this week, we are glad that we have summer photos to remind us why we live in Alaska. We definitely don’t stay in Alaska for the cold weather, but the summers are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you to our local photographers the past couple of days for reminding us of warmer, greener days to come.

According to wunderground.com we are still looking at temperatures ranging from highs -10 to -20 below for daytime temps, but we are going to be feeling the winds again. Still looking at -35 to -40 for night time temperatures. The children will all be returning to school on Monday. The -50 should be gone by then.

Just think, once we get past February, we are on the upswing of things. The weather will be warming, the days are getting longer, and the sun is shining longer as well. Summer is on the way. It just takes a little longer for it to arrive in Alaska.

Enjoy a couple of photos from our local photographers. Click on the images for photo enlargements.

Rachel John (Phillips) proudly displays a fly caught fall coho from our very own Clearwater River. It’s easy to forget the wonderful fall weather we were blessed with as we stroll to the woodpile and casually notice the thermometer buried at minus 50 below! Image by Dwight Phillips

Remember days like this? I took this picture at a friends wedding in Fairbanks last August. Photo Courtesy Steve DuBois

Sometimes people from the lower 48 ask, why do you live in Alaska with those temperatures? What is your response. Please send in your reasons for living in Alaska to webeditor@deltanewsweb.com and the DNW would like to publish the comments, starting on Monday, February 11.

Title it “Why I Live in Alaska” If you would like to submit your name with your reasons, please make sure you include that in your post. Otherwise, the comments will be posted Anonymously.

Anchorage, AK. – February 4, 2008 – The tax process can be an intimidating and complicated one. In recent years, the Internal Revenue Service has tried to simplify the process but the number of forms and variety of methods to file can be daunting. Many consumers prefer to hire a tax preparer or use computer tax software to help them prepare their taxes instead of trying to do it all themselves. The local Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be aware of scams from individuals claiming to be calling from the IRS and to be selective when choosing a method for filing taxes.

Recently, the IRS issued a warning regarding a combination telephone and email scam using the IRS name involving proposed advance payment checks. Individuals claiming to be IRS representatives are contacting consumers and requesting social security numbers and other private information, promising to send consumers a rebate, advance payment check, or other refund. Scammers also try to obtain checking account and routing numbers by saying these will be used for direct deposits.

“Many consumers will trust someone who claims to be from the IRS or other government agency,” said Robert Andrew, President and CEO of the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “The IRS will never contact a taxpayer to request social security numbers or account numbers, and consumers should be extremely careful when releasing this information to anyone.”

Tax preparers are required to maintain proper licensing in each state they prepare taxes in. In other words, a tax preparer with a business license in Alaska cannot file for an individual who lives and works in Washington unless the preparer is also licensed in Washington.

“Hiring a tax preparer to do the paperwork is very tempting, but consumers need to remember that hiring someone else does not relieve them from the responsibility for the accuracy of the filing,” said Andrew. “Consumers are responsible for their own tax filings, even if someone makes mistakes along the way.”

Computer tax software has developed over the years to become an easy-to-follow interview that guides consumers through the complicated filing process. However, consumers need to know exactly which version of software to buy so that it covers all of their needs. Intuit’s TurboTax software comes in Basic, Deluxe, and Home & Business editions while H&R Block makes TaxCut in Premium and Home & Business editions. Both companies also offer methods to file your taxes online using products they offer through their Web sites.

Here are some tips to consider to avoid scams and to help you choose how to file your taxes this year:

• Check your tax preparer’s licensing. Many tax preparers do not have the proper business licensing. Make sure the tax preparer you intend to use is properly licensed by calling the Alaska Business Licensing Program at 907-269-8173 or email them at license@alaska.gov. You can also refer to state of Alaska’s Business License website: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/search1.htm.
• Choose the method that makes you feel the most comfortable. If you feel unsure of filing taxes yourself, locating a reliable tax preparer may be more appropriate. If you like to take control of your own taxes, using a software package or filing online may fit you better.
• Make sure you buy the right software package. Several companies sell computer software to help consumers file their taxes. However, consumers need to select the right package, especially if they have special needs like owning a business, renting property, or being self-employed.
• Protect yourself from identity theft. Identity thieves use a victim’s personal data to gain access to financial accounts and run up charges on credit cards, apply for new loans and credit cards, and even file fraudulent tax returns. Make sure you choose a tax preparer that you trust before handing over pages of documents filled with personal data.
• Consult your local BBB. Go to www.bbb.org to get a free reliability report on a tax preparer. The Better Business Bureau’s reliability reports provide valuable information on companies.

About the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington:

Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 907-562-0704 in Alaska, 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.

(February 4, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska) – Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell announced today that the University of Alaska Anchorage moved to Phase 2 of the Alaska Elections Security Project. Lieutenant Governor Parnell and the Alaska Division of Elections commissioned the University to study the security and accuracy of the state’s current voting systems and procedures.

To read the Phase 1 full report and the Executive Summary, please click here.

To offer feedback on the report or suggestions to the University review team, please click here.

Gwen Leivdal (Alaskan Steakhouse): 70 votes

Mike Paschall (Delta Wind): 23 votes

Jon Loschiavo (Missile Defense Agency): 15 votes

Patsy Ewing (Clearwater Lodge): 10 votes

COL. Besch (Missile Defense Agency): 6 votes

Svetlana Malyk: 6 votes

Arlin Pyatt (Sawmill Creek Lodge): 6 votes

Chris Johnson: 5 Votes

Katrina Vecchiarelli: 5 votes

Youth Pastor Brian Whitson (First Baptist Church): 3 votes

LTC. Hildreth (49th Missile Defense Battalion): 3 votes

Tim Barker (Chugach/Alutiq) : 0 votes

Bruce Grossman (Frontier Baptist Church): 0 votes

Adam Schneider (Buffalo Center Service): 0 votes

Jeff Lipscomb (Cold Regions Test Center): 0 votes

*Nominee names are only posted after they have accepted the challenge
*Nominees and their votes are updated weekly

A major, widespread transition to alternative energy over the next five years is a fact of life. And it is not going to be completely painless. However, just like a good medicine will save a dying patient, alternative energy will save the world. That’s kind of a large concept to grasp, so to be more specific, it will save your world, the one you live in now.

The question of whether alternative energy is competitive with oil, gas and coal is no longer a valid question. That is like saying, “My child has a broken arm. Should I put a cast on it and give him some pain medication or should I hit it with a really big hammer?” One will heal the child’s arm and the other will cause extreme pain and long term or permanent damage. The continued unfettered burning of fossil fuels will kill billions of people and make this world unrecognizable. So the real question is, do we have the means today to meet the energy demands of the world using clean, reliable, renewable resources? The answer is a resounding, “Yes we do!”

Will making the transition to alternative energy be expensive? Of course it will. So is treating cancer, housing criminals in prisons and, getting a college education. Does that mean society should stop doing those things? Of course not. Will reducing CO2 emissions be devastating to the American economy? Well, let’s see; hundreds of thousands of new jobs will be created, industries such as concrete, steel, copper, aluminum and neodymium magnets will get a huge shot in the arm (more jobs, lower prices), uninhabitable desert regions will suddenly be useful… Where’s the devastation?

The painful part of this transition comes in paying the up front costs of building new power plants and transmission lines. This is the setting of the bone in that child’s broken arm. It hurts, but it must be done. The pain medicine can come from the oil industry.

Consumers and government at all levels, need to invite the oil companies to get out of the “oil business” and into the “energy business.” The need for oil is always going to be here. There are just too many wonderful products made from oil. If oil continues being burned at current rates, all known oil reserves will be depleted within forty to fifty years. Then how will all those other products that benefit mankind get made? Oil companies already have the infrastructure in place for distribution of materials and construction of power plants. They have enjoyed record profits and government tax breaks for years. Moving into the alternative energy industry would be no more difficult than changing gears on a bicycle.

A good way to encourage oil companies to get behind alternative energy and significantly cut energy costs right away is to stop buying gas and oil. At least the part used to heat domestic hot water. In Alaska, domestic hot water accounts for up to 40% of annual home heating bills. With as little as two flat plate solar collectors, a small parabolic dish (2’ diameter) and a 626 cubic foot under ground storage tank, enough heat can be stored to supply all of the domestic hot water for most Alaskan households, including a period of 90 days with no solar input during the dead of winter. If a solar water heating system is installed before the end of this year, a 30% federal tax credit up to $2,000 is still available.

Switching over to alternative energy in phases now will greatly reduce the pain of a large government mandated changeover later. It will never be less expensive to buy or build a solar hot water system than it is right now. The results will be immediately observable in reduced fuel bills and it will have a positive impact on the world we live in.

Submitted by Al Turinsky

Anchorage, AK — January 31, 2008 — A new report issued today by the Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP) helps to arm businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with the tools needed to protect themselves and their customers against the theft and misuse of personal and financial information. Developed through a partnership of more than 70 leading organizations from the public and private sectors, the IDSP has created a single, comprehensive resource that promotes access to and implementation of tools and processes that can help to minimize the scope and scale of identity theft and fraud.

The report is freely available as a pdf download from the Panel’s website.

Launched in September 2006, the IDSP was established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Better Business Bureau (BBB) to identify and catalog existing standards, guidelines, and best practices related to identity theft prevention.

Panel members considered the entire life cycle of identity management: from the issuance of identity documents by government and commercial entities, to the acceptance and exchange of identity data, and to the ongoing maintenance and management of identity information. Hundreds of documents – including the applicable laws, regulations, proposed legislation, white papers, and research studies and reports – are identified in the catalog.

The report also includes recommendations for business and government agencies to:
enhance the security of identity issuance processes to facilitate greater interoperability between the government and commercial sectors; improve the integrity of identity credentials; strengthen best practices for authentication; augment data security management best practices such as the use and storage of Social Security numbers; create uniform guidance for organizations on data breach notification and remediation; increase consumer understanding of ID theft preventative strategies, including the benefits and limitations of security freezes.
“We brought together a diverse group of identity protection experts to create a valuable and accessible resource – something that was needed but didn’t yet exist,” explained Joseph Gurreri, chairman of the IDSP, and president of CorporatePlanningGroup.NET. “Together, we identified a broad spectrum of materials that can be used by businesses and government agencies to strengthen the way they protect the personal data for which they are responsible.”

“The IDSP report is a much-needed approach to fight a crime that totals $49.3B and affects 8.4 million victims each year,” said James van Dyke, president and founder of Javelin Strategy & Research. “As businesses and government agencies standardize their identity-handling processes, fewer people will be victimized, more criminals will be thwarted, and the costs of identity crimes will drop.”

Key analysts, industry leaders, and members of the IDSP will lead an online discussion of the report and its findings beginning today, January 31, at 2 p.m. EST; interested parties can access the report and the webinar via the Panel’s website.

“The organizations involved in the IDSP have demonstrated their commitment to reducing a major threat to consumers and the economy,” said Gurreri. “Now it is time for other market players to join forces with us to combat identity theft and bolster fraud prevention.”

About IDSPThe Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP) is a cross-sector initiative that works to create a single resource of standards and guidelines that businesses and other organizations can use to prevent and respond to identity theft and fraud. Jointly sponsored by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI; www.ansi.org) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB; www.bbb.org), the IDSP’s nine founding partners are AT&T; ChoicePoint; Citi; Dell Inc.; Intersections, Inc.; Microsoft; Staples, Inc.; TransUnion; and Visa Inc. Founded in September 2006, the Panel leverages ANSI’s unique expertise as coordinator of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system with BBB’s extensive experience in advancing trust in the marketplace, and includes participation from all affected marketplace stakeholders. For more information, visit www.ansi.org/idsp.

About the BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington. Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by BBB accredited businesses. The mission of the BBB is to promote the highest ethical marketplace relationship between businesses and consumers through self-regulation, education, and information. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 907-562-0704 in Alaska, 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.