Editor's note -- This is part two of two in a look back at the community events of 2004.

Valley Life editor

The second half of the year is always filled with fun -- from the Alaska State Fair right through the holidays. During the second six months of 2004, Alaskans set world records for giant melons, and helped thousands of children enjoy Christmas.

July

In July, the Valley said good-bye to a family that touched the lives of thousands of students. The Schleichs moved to Greece, where Karl is serving as a principal of an elementary school, the same position he held in the Valley.

In mid-July, another Valley resident made a big move across the world -- Rocco Moschetti took a job in Iraq, where he is protecting U.S. soldiers from disease-carrying bugs and other pests.

"I haven't talked to anybody who said they were going for any other reason other than money," Moschetti said. "It pays real well. There's a certain risk, but you have to deal with it. You could get killed, but you could get killed driving your truck in Alaska.

"My wife has driven the same car forever, it had over 300,000 miles on it and it died right before I left," Moschetti said. "Maybe I can get us out of debt, buy her a car.

"But there really are other reasons I decided to do it. I thought I had to do it because I can do some good in the world," Moschetti said. "This will be the most important thing I've ever been a part of. If I can go protect our troops and do good for the people, I have to do it."

August

While Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France for the sixth time, a Valley resident was hopping on her bike for an equally impressive reason -- to help raise money and awareness for five life-saving donations -- blood, apheresis, bone marrow, cord blood and organs and tissues.

Marg Volz, a pediatric nurse practitioner at The Children's Place, biked from Seattle to Florida with 13 other riders for the event.

The Alaska State Fair got started, and the biggest attention-grabbers were the fruits and vegetables. Palmer grower Scott Robb garnered the headlines with a 64.8-pound cantaloupe, which set the world record -- his fourth in the giant produce.

"Some guys are out fishing, hunting, riding Jet-Skis, four-wheelers. I don't do any of that. When summer comes, I'm there," Robb said, pointing to his garden. "It's my passion. It's my wife's passion. It's what we do."

September

The month began with the end of the Alaska State Fair, complete with concerts from Smashmouth and other big-name artists. The final tally for the vegetables was impressive -- Robb added to his list with a fifth world record for his 39.2-pound turnip. A third world record fell, for giant kohlrabi. State marks were also established by two Palmer growers -- Robert Thom in the green cabbage division, and Ron Castor for his parsnip. Nikiski grower J.D. Megchelsen set a state record with a 707-pound pumpkin.

In mid-September, Palmer resident Dr. Alex Hills and his wife headed to southern Chile, where he is working with a university to help establish wireless communications. Hills is the inventor of Wi-Fi, which has revolutionized wireless Internet around the world.

In late September, Noreene James received the state's Outstanding Older Worker award. Even through she's 76, she punches the time clock every day as a certified nurse's assistant.

"I just love my job. It is so gratifying, and I just love the people I work with," James said at a Valley Hospital staff meeting, where she was the center of attention.

October

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at Carrs in Wasilla, a storewide effort raised $15,000 for awareness and research, through donations by employees and customers. There even was a survivor's wall, where pink handprints were signed by survivors.

At the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry, rock and roll took center stage. Executive Director David Wharton put together an exhibit that features photographer Andrew Kent's life spent touring with the legends of rock and roll, like the Grateful Dead, The Who and Jim Morrison.

"He's my oldest fly-fishing buddy," Wharton said. "Over the years I watched his work get more and more well known. I started seeing all these pictures around his house, and when I came up here, I wanted people to be able to see them."

Halloween Hollow was once again a roaring success, as the annual fund-raiser for the Special Santa program attracted thousands of kids to Raven Hall. Businesses and community groups set up games for the kids to play, and of course, there was plenty of candy.

November

The annual Veterans' Day celebration at the Wall of Honor was filled with people paying tribute to the men and women who served and who are still serving in the military.

In mid-November, Wasilla's Adele Morgan released her third CD. The singer/songwriter has won numerous awards and earned recognition for her musical talent, and the CD was yet another item on an already-impressive musical r/sum/.

"My experiences in Nashville have always been good, but I saw a lifestyle I didn't really want to live," Morgan said. "I feel like wherever you are planted, bloom. And that's what I've done.

"In Nashville, they asked if I was ready to play 152 concerts a year, that they'd tell me how to dress and what songs to sing," Morgan said. "My daughter was young at the time, and I'm more committed to being a wife and a mother more so than to music."

The middle of November sent a lot of people to the dentist -- Wasilla High School hosted a fund-raiser by importing Krispy Kreme doughnuts from Seattle. The school raised $10,000 by bringing in 2,000 dozen of the delightful pastries.

November closed with an uplifting event -- the first-ever Sports Challenge Day, which brought together students with disabilities and those without for a day of sports, and team-building.

"We are finally starting to break some stereotypes, and events like this really help promote unity," said Jim Balamaci, the president and CEO of Special Olympics Alaska. "The next generation will not have those stereotypes, they will be one community. We're showing that by pairing athletes together, they all can be very successful and make a lifetime commitment to physical fitness."

December

Palmer's Jackie Ivie got some great early Christmas news -- her book, "Lady of the Knight," was picked by a national publisher. Ivie has been writing for years, although this is her first that has been published -- and she has made a heck of a debut. The historical romance was purchased by Zebra, a national publishing house, and is being published as part of the Zebra debut series.

The book has received positive acclaim, including on Amazon.com, where the book is available.

Hilary Gardner, a former Wasilla resident who now sings professionally in New York City, returned home for a Christmas concert, which received rave reviews from those in attendance. She also released a CD that was sent to troops deploying to the Middle East, and money made through the sales of the CD were used to mail even more copies to troops.

The year closed on another good note, as the Special Santa program helped distribute thousands of toys to hundreds of families around the Valley, putting smiles on everyone this holiday season.