“Back to the Future” fans in Southcentral Alaska got a chance to see their favorite time-travel machine in person on Friday.

Are you weekend pilot?

Where do you travel?

What do you use the plane for most often?

Tell us about your adventures.

HOST: Charles Wohlforth

GUESTS:  TBA

PARTICIPATE: Facebook: Outdoor Explorer (comments may be read on-air)

LIVE BROADCAST: Thursday June 13, 2013. 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday June 13, 2013. 7:00 – 8:00 pm AKT

SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via

•  iTunes 
• Email
• RSS Feed
• Podcast for any

Go to OUTDOOREXPLORER.ORG

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Have you tested out the new single track trails in Anchorage?

What did you think?

HOST: Charles Wohlforth

GUESTS:  TBA

PARTICIPATE: Facebook: Outdoor Explorer (comments may be read on-air)

LIVE BROADCAST: Thursday June 6, 2013. 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm AKT

REPEAT BROADCAST:  Thursday June 6, 2013. 7:00 – 8:00 pm AKT

SUBSCRIBE: Receive Outdoor Explorer automatically every week via

•  iTunes 
• Email
• RSS Feed
• Podcast for any

Go to OUTDOOREXPLORER.ORG

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Water is life, for fish, birds, humans—all living creatures. How healthy is the water in Anchorage’s backyard playgrounds? (Potter Marsh photo by Cherie Northon)

Ah, spring! And right on its heels, a glorious Alaska summer, we hope.

This is the time of year when we peel off an armor of winter jackets, hats and boots—ready to feel that sun on our backs and faces.

We go outdoors to play hard, whether that’s a dip in a local lake, paddling around in canoes and kayaks, or exercising our dogs with games of swim-and-fetch.

And I didn’t even mention fishing, often more important than sleep when the reds are running.

What these loved activities all have in common is water—which we assume is clean and fresh. We live in Alaska, right? With pristine environments that our Lower 48 cousins only dream about.

Well, let’s test that assumption. This Wednesday on Hometown Alaska, we’ll feature two water-savvy scientists who can give us a report card on Anchorage’s local recreational waters, creeks, streams and lakes.

How healthy are they? What’s helping and what’s challenging their stability? What can Alaskans do to keep them fish-friendly?

Typical view walking along Little Campbell Creek. (Photo by Cherie Northon)

Cherie Northon, the education director for Anchorage Waterways Council (AWC), and a representative from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, will join host Kathleen McCoy to discuss what’s behind swimmer’s itch, fecal coliform from dog poop, the impacts of sediment and the benefits of vegetation in and around our area waterways.

Creek Cleanup this year is May 18, sponsored by the AWC and the Anchorage Parks Foundation, including a community celebration at the Cuddy Family Park near the Loussac Library from noon-3 p.m.

Learn what you need to know about the water you’ll play in all summer. We welcome your questions and concerns, so give us a call at 550-8433 and join the conversation.

GUESTS:

In the studio

• 
Cherie Northon, executive director, Anchorage Waterways Council
  

LINKS:

Anchorage Waterways Council
Adopt-a-Stream

PARTICIPATE:

• Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752  (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
• Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
• Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)

HOST: Kathleen McCoy

LIVE BROADCAST: Wednesday, May 15, 2013. 2:00 – 3:00 pm (Alaska time)

REPEAT BROADCAST: Wednesday, May 15, 2013. 7:00 – 8:00 pm (Alaska time)

SUBSCRIBE: Get Hometown, Alaska updates automatically — via email, RSS or podcasts

HOMETOWN ALASKA ARCHIVE

Northern Limits Trailer from Galen Eggleston on Vimeo.

Choosing a road-less and trail-less route, they followed the caribou trails for much of their journey from Bellingham, Washington to Kotzebue Alaska. Recorded at the Snow Goose theater in Anchorage,  listen to Caroline Van Hemert and Pat Farrel talk about their 2012 adventure traveling by rowboat, ski, packraft, foot, and canoe along  the Inside Passage, the Coast Mountains, the length of the Yukon Territory, the Arctic Coast, and the Brooks Range, this week on Addressing Alaskans.

LINKS:

• Caroline and Pat website
  
• Caroline and Pat: Photo gallery

BROADCAST ON KSKA: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. (Alaska time)

REPEAT BROADCAST: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. (Alaska time)

RECORDED: April 16, 2013 at the Snow Goose theater in Anchorage

SPEAKER: Caroline Van Hemert and Patrick Farrel

HOST:  The Wilderness Society and Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges

Addressing Alaskans features local lectures and forums recorded at public events taking place in Southcentral, Alaska. A variety of local organizations host speakers addressing topics that matter to Alaskans. To let us know about an upcoming community event that you would like to hear onAddressing Alaskans, please Contact Us with details.

SUBSCRIBE: Get Addressing Alaskans updates automatically via e-mail, RSS or podcasts.

ADDRESSING ALASKANS ARCHIVE

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Where to go, what to see and how to enjoy in-state Alaska adventures "on the cheap" before summer's hoardes of tourists arrive.

Living in the wild is one of Alaska’s primary attractions, but just how wild do you want it?  Many hunt and fish. Some go for extreme sports, or climb rocks and ice, and some guide others in wilderness adventure.  But some choose seasonal hard work in the wild, leaving them time for other explorations.  Explorations they will be sharing on the next  Talk of Alaska.

HOST: Steve Heimel

GUESTS: 

• Christine Byl, trail worker, author, “Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods”
• Callers Statewide

PARTICIPATE:

• Post your comment before, during or after the live broadcast (comments may be read on air).
• Send e-mail to talk [at] alaskapublic [dot] org (comments may be read on air)
• Call 550-8422 in Anchorage or 1-800-478-8255 if you’re outside Anchorage during the live broadcast

LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. on APRN stations statewide.

SUBSCRIBE: Get Talk of Alaska updates automatically by e-mail, RSS or podcast.

TALK OF ALASKA ARCHIVE

Can tooth decay, dental caries, be reversed if discovered early? How safe is fluoride and how effective is it in preventing tooth decay? How can you prevent gingivitis and gum recession? Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed? On the next Line One we will be discussing dental health and answering your questions about caring for your teeth with pediatric dentist Heidi Ostby and adult dentist Shannon McGrane.

LINKS:

• CDC: Community Water Fluoridation fact sheet
• CDC: Oral Health Resources
• MedlinePlud: Dental Health
• MouthHealthy.org
• mychildrensteeth.org
• Simple Steps for Kids Smiles poster

HOST : Dr. Thad Woodard, Anchorage pediatrician

GUESTS:

• Heidi Ostby, DDS,  pediatric dentist 
• Shannon McGrane, DDS, adult dentist
  

LIVE BROADCAST:  May 13, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. (Alaska time)

REPEAT BROADCAST: May 13, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. (Alaska time)

DR. WOODARD’S FAVORITE HEALTH AND SCIENCE LINKS:

• Cleveland Clinic
• Mayo Clinic
• MedlinePlus
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• HealthyChildren.org
• American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology
• American College of Allergy,  Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)
• Science Based Medicine
• Quackwatch
• Super Smart Health

SUBSCRIBE: Get Line One: Your Health Connection updates automatically by:

• E-mail
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• Podcast
  

LINE ONE: YOUR HEALTH CONNECTION ARCHIVE

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L-R Ian Hendren (Jethro), Mariah Schachle (Elly May), Laura Horning (Granny) in VPA’s Beverly Hillbillies

“Come and listen to a story about  man named Jed” or better yet, come and listen to a story about Valley Performing Art’s stage production of the classic TV sit-com, The Beverly Hillbillies opening May 10th and running through the 26th in Wasilla. Director Larry Burton and VPA’s PR Director Tammy Parker come “set a spell” with Jean and Steve this week on Stage Talk.

• VPA Facebook

HOSTS:

• Jean Paal, theater critic
• Steve Hunt, theater critic, director, playwright

GUESTS: 

• Larry Burton, Director, The Beverly Hillbillies at VPA
  
• Tammy Parker, PR Director, The Beverly Hillbillies at VPA
  

ORIGINAL BROADCAST: Friday May 10, 2013 at 2:45 p.m.

SUBSCRIBE: Get Stage Talk updates automatically — via:

• E-mail
• RSS
• Podcasts

STAGE TALK ARCHIVE

Listen Now

Alaska ACLU head Jeff Mittman is leaving the state for another post with the organization.

An ACLU press release does not disclose what his new job will be, but says that an interim Executive Director will serve while a national search goes on.

ACLU Alaska President Donna Goldsmith praised Mittman for raising the profile of the organization during his five years of service and expressed confidence that Joshua Decker would do a good job continuing to protect the constitutional rights of Alaskans.

More lawsuits have been filed by women against former state probation officer James R. Stanton, already convicted of charges related to allegations of sexually preying on his clients.

The Anchorage Daily News reports that 11 women are suing Stanton and the state, contending that something should have been done.

Stanton worked on alcohol cases and the lawsuits contend that he was using his position of power to gain sexual favors long before his plea deal in 2010.

The women’s attorneys are asking the court to disclose Stanton’s personnel records. He served 3 and a half months and is currently out on probation himself.

Photo by Rebecca LaGuire, KCAW – Sitka

When you’re a teenager, looks matter. But one girl in Sitka decided that those concerns were trivial, and shaved her head for a cause much bigger than herself. By choosing to go bald, she was supporting childhood cancer research across the U.S.

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“My name is Celia Lubin. I’m 15-years-old and I go to Sitka High School.”

Like a lot of teenagers, she has a rebellious streak.

“My hair is purply, browny, blondy and its braids, and yeah,” Celia said.

She does a bunch of activities, like swimming, soccer, drama & debate, concert band, and she has her own radio show. But she’s doing something that very few teenage girls would do.

Photo by Rebecca LaGuire, KCAW – Sitka

“I am shaving my head for St. Baldrick’s,” Celia said.

Over the past decade, St. Baldrick’s Day has become a major fundraising event for pediatric cancer research. It all began in 1999 when a group of insurance executives in Manhattan shaved their heads in solidarity with young cancer patients.

At the Sitka event, Celia is the only teenage girl in line to go bald. She says cancer affects everybody’s lives.

“Probably everyone knows someone who’s had cancer,” she said. “It’s kind of devastating to think about, but it’s so common that everyone knows someone.”

Celia heard about St. Baldrick’s from a family friend and the main organizer of the event, David Vastola. He’s a doctor at SEARHC and has treated kids with cancer. He says because pediatric cancer is less common than adult cancer, it receives much less funding for research. Celia wants to give these sick children her support in a tangible way.

Photo by Rebecca LaGuire, KCAW – Sitka

“People who do chemo and lose their hair, it can be kind of isolating I think, so showing them support, not only with money and ‘hey I’m raising awareness for this cause,’ but, I’m going to stand there with you,” Celia said.

At the St. Baldrick’s event at the Sitka Elks Lodge, men and boys are sitting in barber chairs on stage, while local hair stylists shave their heads. A little boy is walking around collecting pledges and stuffing them into an envelope. There are about 100 people sitting at the tables, eating dinner and watching the action.

Lubin’s mom, Lisa Busch, says she was skeptical about her daughter’s decision at first.

“I thought, really?? Can we pay you to not shave your head?,” Lisa said.

But now?

“I’m feeling pretty good about it. I’m feeling really excited for Celia. Just like proud of her for doing this. Wondering what she’s going to look like bald,” Lisa said, laughing.

“They didn’t really have a lot of say. If they did object, I was just like, ‘Hey, I’m not doing drugs. I’m raising money for cancer,’” Celia said.

At the Elk’s Lodge, the announcer introduces Celia to the crowd.

“Who, at 15 years old, would have shaved their head? This is a very brave young lady…”

“I’m a little bit nervous but I’m really excited,” Celia said.

Celia’s hair is wavy and hangs past her shoulders. It’s brown with fresh dark purple streaks running randomly through it. The hair stylist who’s going to cut Celia’s hair helps the teen get comfortable.

Casey: “What’s your name?”

Celia: “Celia.”

Casey: “I’m Casey. I shaved my head last year. It’s awesome. You’re gonna love it. Ready?”

Casey: “Alright, here it goes.”

Because Celia recently dyed her hair, her scalp has some purple spots on it.

Photo by Rebecca LaGuire, KCAW – Sitka

“Yeah. i figured that would happen,” Celia said.

After Celia has her head completely shaved, she walks over to a table where her parents and friends are sitting.

“It looks great. It looks so good. I’m proud of her. She has a nice shaped head. I’m a lucky papa,” they said.

“It feels so good. I’ve never felt anything like this before,” Celia said.

Celia raised nearly $3,000 in pledges for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Since 2004, the national organization has contributed more than $100 million to fight pediatric cancers.

Celia does not see her participation as just a stunt.

“I know that I had a cancer free childhood and it was really great. I just think it would be really scary for kids my age and younger to have to go through something life-threatening illness like cancer, and I want to be able to help a little bit,” Celia said.

And she’s not worried about her lost locks. She says it’s just hair and it’ll grow back.