The Tripod, February 2015

The Tripod Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance February 2015 Thanks to all those members who renewed and to new members who joined. Together we will continue in our work to promote the Trail. Survey results Forty members completed the membership survey, here are the results showing how the board goals were rated ●Continue Iditarod Trail to Every Classroom (iTREC!) program in partnership with the U. S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Very important 17 Important 8 Somewhat important 9 Not very important 2 Not important 4 ●Increase Alliance membership. Very important 23 Important 3 Somewhat important 10 Not very important 2 Not important 2 ●Complete Iditarod Trail easement project in partnership with the state of Alaska. Very important 19 Important 12 Somewhat important 6 Not very important 0 Not important 2 No opinion 1 ●Work with the U. S.

Forest Service to complete the southern trek of the Iditarod Trail from Seward to Girdwood. Very important 19 Important 11 Somewhat important 7 Not very important 1 Not important 2 ●Help fund safety cabin construction and trail clearing projects in partnership with the Iditarod Trail Committee, Bureau of Land Management and communities along the Trail. Very important 18 Important 17 Somewhat important 3 Not very important 2 Not important 0 Thanks to the members who participated. Any comments on the results are welcomed.

The Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance promotes public awareness of the Iditarod Trail and its gold rush and Alaska Native heritage by encouraging education programs and historical research, assisting in the protection, improvement, maintenance and marking of the trail, developing partnerships that foster stewardship commitments and support from land owners, local communities, organizations and others. The trail for all seasons Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance PO Box 2323, Seward AK 99664 IditarodHTA@gmail.com http://www.Iditarod100.org Remember when you file for your 2015 Permanent Fund Dividend on line, you can donate all or part of it to the Alliance through the Pick, Click, Give Program. The Tripod Iditarod musher in anti-suicide video Pete Kaiser, a part Yup’ik Bethel born musher, and his dogs star in a new anti-suicide public service announcement.

Kaiser, who will be running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for the sixth time this year and this year’s winner of the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race, urges viewers never to give up even “when you think you’re all alone in this world or you think you can’t take it anymore. Suicide is never the answer.” The video is the latest effort of Drew’s Foundation, a Bethel-based organization born out of one family’s grief over the suicide of a loved one, to fight suicides. Alaska’s suicide rate is the worst or some years nearly the worse in the nation. So far the video is on Facebook, You-Tube and the Drew’s Foundation web site Don Reardon, a writer who grew up in Bethel and is now an associate professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage wrote the script. Donlin Gold and the regional Suicide Awareness Intervention and Healing Coalition donated money to produce it. appreciative of her talent.

While much of the work comprises copies of the work of famous artists, there are some original studies which have been treated in a manner indicative of much ability and artistic merit. A study of roses, from the original by Longpre probably has attracted the most attention. In this the artist has displayed rare skill and ability. Several delightful landscapes are also on view, and the exquisite taste with which the colors have been handled together with the excellent quality of the drawings, has resulted in the production of some really meritorious work. The artist has in the course of completion a timely poster which will undoubtedly command much attention.

It represents a Red Cross nurse enveloped in the folds of the American flag, and is entitled “Neutrality.” The model who posed for the central figure was one of Iditarod’s young women, and the artist has succeeded in depicting a charming portrait. The picture gives the impression that to fight and bleed for one’s country would be no great hardship if attended by such a nurse. This creation of Mrs. Thornton is destined for the cover of a prominent Eastern magazine. The work of Mrs. Thornton will be on display for some days yet and those of our citizens who have not yet visited the exhibit should do so, as it will amply repay them. Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance Board From the past… “Iditarod Pioneer” February 13, 1915 INTERESTING ART DISPLAY AT LOCAL BUSINESS HOUSE There has been on display for the past week or more at the store of Miss. M.

Peterson a display of water color paintings, the work of Mrs. Lottie Thornton, which has created a great deal of interest. The exhibition has been somewhat in the nature of a surprise to many of the residents of Iditarod and the comments passed upon it have been highly complementary to the artist and (left to right) Mark Nordman, Iditarod Trail Committee, Richard Burnham, Yukon Region, Jonathon Sewall, At Large # 4, Leo Rasmussen, Norton Sound Region, Jules Mead, At Large # 5, Erin McLarnon, At Large #1, Judy Bittner, Cook Inlet/Susitna Region, Mike Tierney, Kuskokwim Region, Lee Poleske, Kenai Region, Dan Seavey, At Large #2; not pictured, Debby Retherfrod, At Large # 3