JUNE 20, 2014  

Happy Solstice!

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year! In Alaska, this means that we have 22 hours of daylight. This year is the first summer solstice to fall on a Saturday in eight years, and it won’t happen again for another eight, so come out and celebrate with us!

Friday Night – World Refugee Potluck

Catholic Social Services will begin this weekend’s festivities by celebrating World Refugee Day in Davis Park from 4 – 7 p.m. This event will be a potluck where you can sample foods from the various ethnic communities Anchorage has opened its arms to. I'll be there serving up some food, so stop on by!

Refugees come to Alaska from their home country because they fear persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The U.S. welcomed nearly 60,000 refugees in 2012 alone, protecting these people who could not receive protection in the place they called home.

Catholic Social Services assists refugees who are settling in Alaska. Some fun facts CSS notes:

• 577 refugee and asylee clients throughout Alaska were served in fiscal year 2013.
• During FY 2013, 82% of all employable adults engaged in the program were gainfully employed and 94% of these retained their initial employment for more than 3 months.
• By the end of their first year in Alaska, on average 80% of the refugee families no longer relied on public assistance.

If you cannot make the potluck, and want to learn more, visit CSS’s Refugee Assistance page here.

Pista Sa Nayon

Visit Delaney Park any time between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. tomorrow for the Filipino American Community’s 2nd annual Pista Sa Nayon!

The event is free and open to the public, with the Santa Cruzen Procession from 9 a.m. to noon. All day long, our Anchorage Filipino Community will be hosting live entertainment, cultural showcases, community vendors, and family friendly games!

Hungry? Authentic Filipino food will be available for purchase!

Meanwhile, nearby…

The Downtown Partnership is hosting a Solstice Festival from noon to 6 p.m. on 4th Avenue, all the way from C to L Street. This year’s festival features:

• The Hero Games, a friendly competition between Alaska’s first responders charging through obstacle courses, bucket brigades and different relays.
• The Solstice Sawfest, a live chainsaw art carving spectacular! Pieces of art will be judges at the end. Come see who’s chainsaw carving skills is the best of this year’s festival!
• The Children’s Rainbow Factory, which includes “Beauty and the Beast,” a puppet show production put on by Steven’s Puppets, a kayak pool, giant sandbox, petting zoo, and rides, just to name a few! *Please note that the Bungee Bounce & Tons of Fun Inflatables require a fee to ride!*
• Local roller derby team, the Rage City Roller Girls will play a Solstice Showdown in Town Square at 2:00pm! Don’t miss this unforgettable flat track match under the sun!
• The Pro Skateboarding Demo, showcasing skateboard skills from professional skateboarders and local team members.
• The Taste of Anchorage Food Zone, featuring delectable treats from local Alaskan chefs as well as the Alaskan Arts & Crafts portion, which showcases beautiful pieces of art & various goods sold by local vendors.
• Fur Rondy Street Hockey Tournament going on all afternoon!
• NEW THIS YEAR: Solstice Break-Fest, a break dancing promo and competition put on by the Illaskan Assassins!
• Click here for the festival map and more information about the Anchorage Downtown Partnership.

After the Solstice Festival, head over to the bluffs above the Alaska Railroad’s depot for an ADP-sponsored FREE outdoor concert, the GCI Centennial Summer Solstice Concert. The concert features the Spin Doctors and is appropriate for kids and families.

Mark Your Calendar

Don't Forget - Next Saturday, June 28, is the Mountain View Street Fair. Visit me and Senator Ellis from noon to 4 p.m. at Clark Middle School for food, music, kids activities, and information about what Mountain View has to offer you!

Sincerely,

Representative Geran Tarr