For Jane - The Valdez Star Police Blotter

If you didn't read this blog two years ago, one of the "highlights?" was the weekly Valdez Star police report. Not quite like the report in most cities. Here are some of our favorites from 2011

 It is a law in AK that a slow vehicle must pull over if there are more than 5 cars behind it.

The paper seems to have replaced reporters with more colorful language "beating the crap our the of female  passenger", but they're still uniquely Valdez. Here are the best from the last few months -

HUH? Talk about an all-purpose Medical Center!

I hope they arrested this guy!!!

and my new favorite -

The "Morning Mountain" report July 3 840 AM

                Valdez          Wilmington
Sunrise    4:14 AM          6:04 AM
Sunset    11:21 PM          8:27 PM

Unfortunately it looks the same for tomorrow (sad face)

Yesterday we had to stop by Animal Control - they have slightly different animals to control!

Photos of a few of the "guests". I didn't go to the cat area and didn't take photos of the dogs. It's too sad - all pitbulls.

New food truck in Valdez. They're going to be open from 11 - 10, 7 days a week until October. 

We were down at the dock last evening when people were cleaning their fish - the gulls were loving it!

We both think this looks like fun. I bet Jeff, with his hockey talent, would be a natural.

Todays Holidays 

 Compliment Your Mirror Day

"Today  is Compliment Your Mirror Day.

Now, here is what you need to do.........

Stand in front of your mirror with your eyes closed. Put a big smile on your face.... a big smile. Now, open your eyes. Isn't the picture of the person in your mirror absolutely stunning!? The person in your mirror is beautiful (or handsome).

So, compliment your mirror for displaying this beautiful person. "

Flower of the Day: Delphinium

Recipe of the Day: Okra and Tomatoes

 Disobedience Day

Flower of the Day: Queen Anne's Lace

Recipe of the Day: Onion and Carrot Kabobs

 Stay out of the Sun Day    We'll have no problem with this one!

Flower of the Day: Iris

Recipe of the Day: Smokey Barbecue Sauce

Birthdays Today

July 3, 1927- Ken Russell, director

July 3, 1930- Pete Fountain, jazz musician

July 3, 1947- Dave Barry, humorist

July 3, 1956- Montel Williams, TV personality

July 3, 1962- Tom Cruise, actor

July 3, 1963- Taylor Dayne, singer

This Day In History

The first cultivated strawberry is displayed by Michael Kent (1806)

For more July 3rd events, birthdays, etc,   

http://www.historyorb.com/day/july/3      and in Alaska 

http://www.historyorb.com/countries/usa/alaska

The "Morning Mountain" July 2 9:15 AM

                Valdez          Wilmington
Sunrise    4:13 AM          6:04 AM
Sunset    11:22 PM          8:27 PM

The following is from The Official Alaska Website - Alaska.gov

Common Misconceptions About Alaska

Most visitors have pleasant surprises in store when they come to Alaska. Three common misconceptions concerning Alaska are weather, road conditions, and prices.

Bad Weather

Over a third of all vacation/pleasure visitors found the weather better than expected. During the summer, average daytime temperatures throughout the state range from the 60s to the 90s.

Bad Road Conditions

Almost the entire length of the Alaska Highway is asphalt-surfaced, and approximately half of the roads in the state’s highway system are paved.

High Prices

Contrary to popular belief, prices throughout Alaska are generally quite reasonable. To help illustrate the cost of a vacation, the following chart provides high and low prices for a few of the basics. More specific pricing may be obtained in the Official State Vacation Planner.

Meals Expect variety in price and in menu. Deluxe Hamburger Salmon Dinner Breakfast $5.00-9.95 $18.00-25.00 $3.00-11.00 Accommodations Rates reflect the low tariff in the off season the high in the summer months. Hotel/Motel, Standard Hotel/Motel, Deluxe Bed & Breakfast Wilderness Lodge Private Cabins $40.-90. $90.-145. $45.-80. $150.-425. $20.-100. Camping Reservations suggested. Campsites RV Hookup From $5.00/day From $10.00/day

Sightseeing Half-Day City Tour Flightseeing Whale Watching 3- and 4-Day Cruises From $9/person From $90./hour From $90./day From $300./day Fishing Alaska sportfishing licenses for nonresidents are available in Alaska sporting good stores or from an outfitter. 3-Day Nonresident License 14-Day Nonres. License Charter Boat Fishing $20.00 $50.00 From$120.00/day Rentals Bicycles Cars/Vans Canoes/Kayaks From $20.00/day From $25.00/day From $40.00/day

**************************************************************************************************************

Not from Alaska.gov!

Today is:

 I Forgot Day

    World UFO Day

This day in history:

2. President Garfield is shot. His struggle to survive lasted 80 days until his death on September 19th. (1881)

2 The Lawrence Welk show premieres on television.(1955)

Birthdays:

July 2, 1908 -Thurgood Marshall, first African-American Supreme Court justice

July 2, 1932- Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's

July 2, 1937- Richard Petty, auto racer

July 2,1937- Ron Silver, actor, director

The "Morning Mountain" report July 1 8:50 AM

                 Valdez          Wilmington
Sunrise    4:11 AM          6:03 AM
Sunset    11:23 PM          8:27 PM

Our friends from Valdez, Judy & Everett Bartlett, just emailed this photo of the Mama Bear and her quadruplets from last year. All 5 are still alive and in Valdez - apparently a rarity to have all 4 cubs survive the winter.

This is from Wikipedia -

Newborns 

"The average lifespan in the wild is 18 years, though it is quite possible for wild specimens to survive for more than 23 years. The record age of a wild specimen was 31 years, while that in captivity was 44 years. Average annual survival rates for adult bears is variable, ranging from 86% in Florida to 73% in Virginia and North Carolina. In Minnesota, 99% of wintering adult bears were able to survive the hibernation cycle in one study. Remarkably, a study of black bears in Nevada found that the amount of annual mortality of a population of bears in wilderness areas was 0%, whereas in developed areas in the state this figure rose to 83%. Survival in subadults is generally less assured. In Alaska, only 14–17% of subadult males and 30–48% of subadult females were found in a study to survive to adulthood. Across the range, the estimated amount of cubs who survive past their first year is 60%." (Carnivores of the World by Dr. Luke Hunter. Princeton University Press (2011), ISBN 9780691152288)

"With the exception of the rare confrontation with an adult brown bear or gray wolf pack, adult black bears are not usually subject to natural predation. Black bear cubs tend to be more vulnerable to predation than adults. Known predators of bear cubs have included bobcats, coyotes, cougars, wolves, brown bears and other bears of their own species. Many of these will stealthily snatch small cubs right from under the sleeping mother. There is a single record of a golden eaglesnatching a yearling cub. Once out of hibernation, mother bears may be able to fight off most potential predators. Even cougars will be displaced by an angry mother bear if they are discovered stalking the cubs. Flooding of dens after birth may also occasionally kill newborn cubs. However, in current times, American black bears fatalities are overwhelmingly attributable to human activities. Seasonally, tens of thousands of black bears are hunted legally across North America, with many more being illegally poached or trapped. Auto-collisions also may claim many black bear lives annually."

These are their photos of the quadruplets from this year -

Alaska Facts

Compass Points

Alaska boasts the northernmost (Point Barrow), the easternmost (Pochnoi Point on Semisopochnoi Island in the Aleutians), and the westernmost (Amatignak Island in the Aleutians) points in the United States."

July, 2013 Bizarre and Unique Holidays Month: National Blueberry Month National Anti-Boredom Month Unlucky Month for weddings National Cell Phone Courtesy Month National Hot Dog Month National Ice Cream Month Week Event: Week 2 Nude Recreation Week July 2013 Daily Holidays, Special and Wacky Days: July 1st  Build A Scarecrow Day - first Sunday in month Flower of the Day: Petite Yellow Marigold Recipe of the Day: Smoky Barbecue Sauce  Canada Day (Dominion Day) no flower or recipe listed!  Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day Flower of the Day: Wildflowers Recipe of the Day: Ice Cream Pie  International Joke Day Flower of the Day: Bamboo Recipe of the Day: Banana Cream Pie 1 U.S. postage stamps went on sale for the first time. (1847) 1 Taxes begin to be withheld from paychecks. (1943) 1 ZIP codes go into use. (1963) Famous Birthdays July 1, 1916- Olivia De Havilland, actress July 1, 1934- Jamie Farr, actor July 1, 1942- Karen Black, actress July 1, 1952- Dan Aykroyd, actor July 1, 1961- Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, married Prince Charles July 1, 1961- Carl Lewis, Olympic champion, track star July 1, 1967- Pamela Anderson, actress, "Baywatch"

We took a walk yesterday on the path behind our apartment. Here are a few photos -

They mean it about motorized vehicles. The path is groomed in the winter for cross-country skiing.

Our first scat of the summer

and our second.

It doesn't really show it, but the water is moving quite fast. The heat wave from last week has created high water (for here).

The birds are not very respectful of Bette.

Expansion joints Valdez style

Our only wildlife sighting