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The National High Altitude Research Administration released a forecast for solar activity this morning at 4am Alaska time. The forecast was prompted by higher than usual solar activity over the past two months, and the expectation that this activity will continue for several more months. Meg Farmer, NHARA’s Assistant to the Director, added that the press release was expedited due to current conditions. It read: “the result of the ongoing solar storms will be significantly heightened electromagnetic activity over a majority of the Northern Hemisphere for several hours beginning near GMT 1800, (10:00am A.S.T.). This will lead to a higher than likely expectation of significant Aurora Borealis of a magnitude only seen once in a twenty year span. Such Aurora can become visible by daylight.” By phone, Farmer’s Assistant, Gyle Errart (err-art), said “Those that have seen auroral displays in daylight can attest to the subtly hypnotic effect of a rippling sky, but it is often the sound that they remember.” Errart said “there is reasonable expectation that the activity should persist for four or five hours.”

The irony of the largest display of Northern Lights in the last twenty years occurring just as we have begun to enjoy the growing daylight aside, the press release discussed occurrences that will continue throughout the early summer. Farmer’s release read “These abnormally large solar storms produce a significant amount of electromagnetic energy which affects the earth’s magnetic fields in largely unpredictable ways, producing abnormal behaviors for conveniences usually taken for granted.” Farmer continued “by example, a similar solar event in Norway, Switzerland, and Fooland in 1973, led to verified reports of common household appliances switching on and/or off without human intervention, television and radio transmissions slowing for extended periods, and in an era before auto-start, people returning to their parked cars to find their engines running.”

Errart added, “now that we are in a computer age, there are outcomes that we don’t have the experience to predict.” With regard to today’s solar activity, Errart suggests “anticipating any need for electrical appliances, and making use of them before the expected solar activity”. He offered, “charge your cell phones and computers, grind a little more coffee, stuff like that. It’s going to be a few hours, but you could go outside, and look at the sky.”

Given the timetable for the peak of today’s solar activity, there’s a good chance that the most intense displays will happen when the sun is at its highest point in the daytime sky. Farmer cautions however that even though you may not see anything spectacular, you may still feel the effects on the ground. Farmer suggests that there are some common sense steps people can take to reduce the possibility of personal injury or property damage. “Just simple things”, Farmer cautions,”like unplugging electric appliances and heaters, and making sure your car or truck is parked with the parking brake on and the transmission in neutral, can help insure that this event is a safe and pleasurable one.”
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A KTNA listener added this phone message to the conversation: click here for audio link

The council met Monday night for the regular monthly meeting.  Council chair, Sharon Montagnino reported on a work session the Board had in December and said they would do everything in their power to hold brief meetings, but being effective and accomplishing a lot at the same time.

The council plowed through a fairly hefty agenda Monday night and adjourned by 9 pm.  A public water source for Talkeetna area residents, revenue sharing, recycling efforts, snowmachine complaints and other topics were covered in the meeting.

The Board unanimously approved the revenue sharing projects as presented by committee chairman Howard Carbone.  The committee received numerous praises from people who had attended meetings or participated in the process.   Six projects for the 2009 round of revenue sharing funds were approved.  If the Borough approves the Council’s recommendations, Sunshine Transit will get $5000 for operational funds, the Talkeetna Cemetery will get $3600 to fix the cemetery gates, KTNA community radio will receive $1000 for studio equipment to assist in news development, Northern Susitna Institute receives $4600 for program development and Roger Robinson is set to receive $500 to install a state of the art composting toilet near the Talkeetna River to help clean up the riverfont.   The Su Valley Moose club project at the high school received $5500 to fund the initial phase of their work. Eight applications were originally received with two dropping out of the process.  Listeners can stay tuned to hear more in depth reports on some of these projects.

All projects need to be completed by January of 2012.  The committee is beginning the selection process for 2010 next month.

The only committee report came from revenue sharing committee chair Howard Carbone.  He reported that 8 applications have been received for the revenue sharing grant of $22,200.

Sunshine Transit asked for $4700 for operating funds, the Talkeetna Cemetery Association asked for $3600 to repair the cemetery gates, KTNA applied for $1000 for microphone recording equipment, the Northern Susitna Institute asked for $9400 for program start-up costs and Roger Robinson asked for $1000 which would go to help install a composting toilet at the mouth of the well-used Clear Creek area.

Larger requests are: $10,000 for a farmer’s market to be started, $10,100 for starting a youth and elder work education project through Homespun Productions, and Steve Harrison asked for over $22,000 to start a moose club at the Su Valley High School. The program would help students pick up roadkill moose, butcher and provide meat to community members in need.

The total funds requested amounted to  more than $62,500.  The amount available in this round of grant money is $22,200.  The project has to benefit residents in the Talkeetna Council area.

The committee meets soon to discuss which projects should take priority.  The top contenders will get forwarded to the Council’s Board of Directors and then on to the Borough for final approval and acceptance of funds.

Elizabeth Hartley, comptroller for the Borough confirms that the project, or projects, need to be completed by the end of 2011. Funds not used get returned to the state.

This is the second year that the PFD division offered the option to donate parts of one’s PFD to a nonprofit in Alaska. Compared to last year, all of Talkeetna’s participating charitable organizations saw a rise in donations through the Pick-Click-and-Give program.

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The 15th annual KTNA Art Auction

Sunday, September 5th————3pm ~ 8:15pm

Sheldon Community Arts Hangar

William Barstow ~ East Talkeetna

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This year’s featured artist is David Totten. For more information on David Totten and this year’s Art Auction, please use this link. You can also look at a gallery of available art work on KTNA Talkeetna’s Facebook page by following this link.

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LUNCH IS SERVED— Come on down to KTNA at Second Street. Lunch is served and the soup is on the stove. The hungry gentlemen opening the lunch buffet are  (left to right) KTNA fundraising coordinator Loudon Wilson, KTNA intern Suvan Sterling and two wonderful KTNA volunteers Stu Carnegie and Nick Condon. Photo by Diana Haecker

SUPPORTING KTNA— Longtime KTNA supporter, award-winning reporter and volunteer Amanda Randles writes in her pledge to KTNA in honor and memory of Michael “Mad Dog” Kelly. Please call in, pledge online or come by and visit to add your name to the list of proud KTNA supporters. Photo by Diana Haecker

IN THE STUDIO— KTNA volunteer Cari Sayre is in the studio this morning, playing classical music in one of our locally produced music shows instead of the usual Performance Today.  Our one-day fundraiser event continues with Susitna Valley Voice at 10 a.m., a call-in show hosted by Sue Deyoe, and the topic is the Village Park. Photo by Diana Haecker

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The PFD charitable contributions program is in its second year. Four Talkeetna organizations participate in the program. Those are the Sunshine Community Health Center, the Denali Arts Council, the Jessica Stevens Community Foundation and KTNA Talkeetna.

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Grantees: 

Palmer Arts Council    $7250

Family Promise Mat-Su (Mat-Su Valley Interfaith Hospitality Network) $5000

Friends of Mat-Su    $6500

Denali Arts Council    $7000

Valley Arts Alliance    $6250

Matanuska Community Health Care (The Children’s Place)   $7500

Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge    $5000

North America Outdoor Institute    $5250

Radio Free Palmer   $6500

Classroom With A View, Inc.   $3000

Talkeetna Community Radio, Inc.   $7250

Community Sports Inc (Sponsored by Mat-Su RC&D)    $5000

Willow Health Organization    $6250

Valley Performing Arts    $7250

Alaska Farmlands Trust Corporation    $2500

Alaska Wildbird Rehab Center    $2500

Mat-Su Ski Club     $5000

Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry    $3000