Lucky Thirteen Brings Magic to Revamped Theatre Conference

Lucky Thirteen Brings Magic to Revamped Theatre Conference
By Ron HolmstromSpecial to The Star
CIVIC CENTER - When confronted with a report about his untimely demise, Mark Twain once said something to the effect that reports of his death had been highly exaggerated. The same might be said of the Thirteenth Last Frontier Theatre Conference.
Although the presence of Dr. Joanne McDowell and Edward Albee is greatly missed, there is during this year's opening weekend, a terrific mood among the attendees. The Play Lab is packing in playwrights, actors and theatre fans, the evening presentations are certainly well attended and the conversations in the halls of the civic center are as spirited as ever.
For what may be found wanting in the absence of the likes of Albee, John Guare, Lloyd Richards and the luminaries of the American theatre, there still seems to be the general feeling among attendees that 'we are all in this together.'
There is no way, for those who have attended in the past, to not miss the ever-present hands-on guidance of Jody McDowell. Her spirit fairly haunts the halls of the event. But, the tireless efforts of Interim College President, Doug Desorcie and Conference Coordinator, Dawson Moore have produced a seamless transition for the 13th annual presentation.
While we shall certainly miss the dry wit and wisdom of Albee, the brilliant goofiness of Guare and the quiet intelligent commentary of Richards, among others, there remains a certain passion for the work done here. The Play Lab goes on, the seminars and discussions continue to inspire and of course, the Fringe Festival still threatens to guarantee that the most avid of theatre junkies will get absolutely no sleep for the next few days.
Some of the highlights of the first couple of days have been the Alaska Film Festival's presentation of Shawn Ku's 'Pretty Dead Girl,' a musical/comedy exploration of fun in the morgue, Perseverance Theatre's fast paced production of 'Columbinus,' a dramatic examination of the tragic school killings and the Monday evening showcase of Alaska's own brilliant Jill Bess in her one-woman show, 'The Mommy Dance.'
It has also been a joy to welcome back former UAA theatre Professor, Michael Hood, whose presence has been sorely missed for many years. Those in attendance seem to be enjoying the labs and seminars and the short plays and one acts have been largely well received. There are many opportunities to catch new shows by playwrights from all over the country and some locals as well, such as Andy Day's ten-minute play, 'Equal Opportunity.'
Plus the evening shows in the center's theatre are always followed by a reception with the guests and attendees. So, pick up a program and have some fun this week. Take in a show at the theatre conference.

Valdez Welcomes John Hozey as New City Manager

Valdez Welcomes John Hozey as New City Manager
By Lee Revis Editor, Valdez Star
CITY HALL - The Valdez City Council chose the former Administrative Director for Senator Ted Stevens in Washington D.C., John Hozey, as the new city manager for Valdez. "He was the best qualified," said Mayor Bert Cottle after the council announced its decision last week.
Hozey was hired after a flurry of activity last week when the city brought in the three final candidates for the position which has been vacant since February of this year.
The three candidates, which included Hozey, took tours through Valdez, met with the public and did extensive in person interviews with the council last week, which included addressing the council as if they were making a report in real time. "They all three were excellent candidates," said Cottle, who called the decision a very tough choice.
"I felt like it would be easy for me to do a good job here," Hozey told The Star during a brief interview at the public reception held at the Civic Center on the evening of June 15 when asked why he was looking at Valdez. He says he enjoyed his time in D.C. but had only left Alaska to be closer to his mother who lived in Philadelphia when he went to the east coast back in 2000 to work for Senator Stevens. Hozey was employed as Assistant Borough Manager for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough from 1997 till 2000. He also said he and wife Rhonda, who also got to make the rounds in Valdez, were looking to bring their sons, ages 12 and 13, back home to Alaska.
As the city's top administrator, Hozey will face many a challenges as he steps into the void left by former City Manager Dave Dengel. While the city faces an economic slump and a declining tax base, issues ranging from forced borough incorporation to the fight to bring a natural gas pipeline to Valdez are just a fraction of the issues facing the city at this time.
Hozey will be taking command at city hall on August 15, at a salary of $90,000 a year.

Alyeska Announces Slowdown on Strategic Reconfiguration

Alyeska Announces Slowdown on Strategic Reconfiguration
By Lee RevisEditor, Valdez Star
VMT- With little fanfare or notice, Alyeska President and CEO David Wight announced that some phases of the planned automation and restructuring of the Valdez Marine Terminal, what the company calls "Strategic Reconfiguration", are being put on the back burner and changes still on the forefront will be moving ahead at a slower pace than original planning called for.
"We're moving forward with some projects," said Alyeska Spokesman Mike Heatwole, citing office consolidations and the water source for firefighting as examples what issues are still on the frontline. "It's going to be more incremental," he said.
Heatwole also said the company is making purposeful moves to switch from salt water, its current water supply for fire suppression, to a manmade fresh water reservoir to be located inside the terminal and that the company is actively studying the engineering of the project. He also said the company is looking at the various functions and capabilities in the numerous offices and they are taking a very close look at what functions can be consolidated over the next several months. "There's lots of offices throughout the terminal," says Heatwole, who added that there may be "corresponding staff reductions" after studies are complete on which office functions can be combined.
Issues surrounding the removal of crude oil storage tanks, retrofitting remaining tanks with floating roofs and vapor control are now under long term evaluation according to Heatwole. Plans for hooking up the terminal to the Copper Valley Electrical Association's power grid are also on hold. "The information we've gotten required further study," he said.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company employs roughly 300 people directly at the Valdez Marine Terminal and approximately 200 more through subcontractors says Heatwole. System wide, the company directly employs around 900 across the state, not including contractors.
Heatwole stressed that the goal of Alyeska remains the same, a less complex system without compromising safety.
In its heyday, the pipeline pumped over two million barrels of crude oil a day from the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay to the receiving terminal in Valdez. Production on the slope has slowed considerably in the last few years to about half that, according to company literature.
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, which is responsible for running the Valdez Marine Terminal, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the remaining pump stations, is owned by the oil producers who hold leases on the crude oil wells on the North Slope. BP, ConocoPhillips and Exxon are the top producers operating in Alaska.

Salmon Smolts Released into Long Awaited King Pond

Salmon Smolts Released into Long Awaited King Pond

By Pat Lynn
For The Star

VALDEZ – The King salmon have arrived. That is to say, the King salmon smolts, 160,000 strong.

The smolts were dumped into the man-made King salmon pond at Old Town Wednesday afternoon after a trip by tanker truck from the state hatchery at the Fort Richardson army base.

So ends a decade-long struggle on the part of the City of Valdez to find a permanent home for the annual release of the salmon smolts.

The smolts will remain in their "imprint" waters for five days before the nets are opened and they are released into ocean waters where they will feed and fatten up.

In three to five years, the mature salmon will return to their imprint waters in the pond and create a huge non-commercial fishery for shore side anglers, particularly children and visitors.

The release of the smolts into their holding net marked a milestone for the city, particularly Lisa Von Bargen, the director of community development.

For a decade and more, the city has been looking for an appropriate release site. The smolts have been dumped at Anderson Bay, the Solomon Gulch hatchery, Six Mile Creek, the Small Boat Harbor, the Glacier Stream and other locales. None was appropriate and none created the expected return fishery.

Four years ago, Ms. Von Bargen seized upon the Old Town site and the idea of building a pit on the cobble beach where the Old Town swimming hole used to be. Sounded like a good idea.

Not so fast, declared the state and federal governments. Before any dig began, no fewer than five government agencies stepped in, demanding a permit for this, a permit for that, a public hearing, a comment period and the like. Even an archeologist was summoned to do some discovery digs to make sure the city was not disturbing a site of significance and, perhaps, destroying some antiquities. But nothing of value was found.

Even the Valdez city council, which deals in permits, hearings, comment periods and such, became frustrated.

At one point, Council Member Bob Leisy threatened to round up some of his friends with heavy equipment and declared, "I'll dig the damn pit myself."

On Wednesday of last week, four years after the site was pinpointed, the tanker truck arrived with 160,000 smolts on board. Ms.Von Bargen, equipped with a smile, was on hand as the tanker truck pulled in.

"I think it's fantastic," she declared. "I can't wait for the fish to return."

She commended the Valdez Fisheries Development Association for setting up the holding pen, feeding the smolts and releasing the tiny fish from the tanker. "What a great partner," she exclaimed.

Then three men from the Solomon Gulch hatchery, Dustin Wagner, Matt Britt and Rich Corcoran hauled out a hose and released the King salmon smolts into the pond. It marked a happy ending for the long King salmon saga.