A look at what's ahead

I like to do these periodic calendar update columns just to let you know about events that may or may not get much publicity. Some of the items I will mention have received some advertizing and others haven’t received much, if any yet. We’ll start with the more publicized events in chronological order.

The Alaska Gun Collectors Association (AGCA) spring gun show starts tomorrow at Raven Hall on the state fairgrounds in Palmer. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continues through Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults. A free shuttle bus will bring folks from the red gate to the front door of Raven Hall. That’s a handy help for those of us finding the long walk into the fairgrounds can be a bit much this time of year.

The next weekend, April 26-27, sees the second annual Houston High Gun and Outdoor Show held at the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center in Big Lake. The doors open at 10 a.m. Admission is $5 with proceeds going to support Houston High School athletics and other school activities.

I’m going to digress here a bit. I was invited to attend a shooting event at the Grouse Ridge Shooting Facility north of Wasilla on Tuesday evening, April 29. This activity is a fundraiser/meet-and-greet for Jim Colver, who is running for state representative over in the new district (I think that’s what he told me) created on the east side of the borough. This district stretches from Valdez to Delta Junction and includes significant areas outside the Mat-Su.

Jim currently holds a seat on the Mat-Su Assembly and has been involved with the Mat-Su School Board in past years. He also currently serves as the vice-chair of the Mat-Su Fish and Wildlife Commission and in that capacity has been very active in working on fish and game issues having an impact on Valley residents. I’ve worked with Jim on the commission for the past four or five years and occasionally observed him at borough assembly meetings. He’s a “git-er-done” kind of guy in my experience.

For the record, Jim does not represent my district on the assembly and if he gets elected as a state representative, he will not represent my district there either. He’s just a good guy. If you live in the area where Jim is running for state office and you want to meet him, this would be a good opportunity. If you want to donate to his campaign, you can do that too. I’m planning to go and see if I can actually hit one of those little flying “skeets” after almost 50 years of not having shot at one. If you’re there, don’t laugh too loud while watching me shoot – I have delicate feelings!

I mentioned this next event about a month ago, but here’s a reminder. The sixth Annual Brianna Gregory Memorial SuperShoot will be held at the Grouse Ridge Shooting Facility north of Wasilla on May 10, beginning at 10 am. The shoot is a 100-bird sporting clays walkthrough and is a National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) sanctioned match. Registration cost is $120 for an individual or $500 for a squad of five members. Registration forms are available online or contact Neil’s Lock and Safe in Wasilla. The match is open to anyone 10-years of age and older and any experience level. Medals and awards will be presented to the top shooters in each category.

A Saturday breakfast buffet will be offered from 8:30 -9:30 am for which you are asked to pre-register. Lunch is included in the shooting registration fee or you can purchase a guest lunch for $20.

This shoot is a fundraiser for the Brianna Gregory Foundation which is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with life-threatening illnesses. Specifically, the fundraiser benefits cystic fibrous research and the Children’s Hospital at Providence.

If you’re not a shooter or interested in this event but would like to help the foundation, you can find out more information by visiting the foundation’s website at www.briannashope.org. Scroll down the menu on the left side of the homepage to “how to help.”

Beginning in May, all three classes for the ADF&G Hunter Education certification programs (basic, bowhunter, and muzzleloading) begin in earnest in the Valley. For more information and the schedule of classes, visit the Hunter Education webpage on ADF&G’s website. Look under “education” on the main webpage menu.

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.