Governor's picnic all about community

Since it's an election year, it's hard to imagine a nonpolitical appearance by Gov. Frank Murkowski. Yet that's just what's on tap for Friday in Wasilla.

The governor and several members of his administration will be flipping burgers, grilling hot dogs and serving up a host of free locally supplied food at a community picnic from 4 to 8 p.m. at Iditapark. The event is part of the annual governor's picnics traditionally held in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

The Mat-Su event, the first since former Gov. Tony Knowles hosted one here in the 1990s, is local though and through, including how it came to be. At an appearance last summer at a weekly luncheon meeting of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Murkowski saved time to take questions from the audience. Since it was just days before his Anchorage and Fairbanks picnics, someone asked him why there's no picnic in the Valley.

The governor politely suggested that Mat-Su residents could attend one of the already scheduled events. That was that, until chamber director Cheryl Metiva took the microphone and put Murkowski on the spot by issuing a follow-up challenge, saying she'd help organize a local picnic if the governor agreed to host one. He did.

Such talk is cheap in the political world. But a year later, Murkowski, with the help of a lot of local folks, is following through.

Friday's family-oriented event is for the entire Valley community. There is no cost to attend and all food and entertainment is free.

Underscoring the truly local theme, donations of cash to help offset the cost of the event were offered by the cities of Palmer and Wasilla, as well as the borough, and a host of Valley farmers and purveyors of food and services contributed to the event, too. Live music will be provided by four local musical acts, and there also will be a special performance by the Summer Youth Camp of Valley Performing Arts.

Toss some children's games and activities into the mix, along with some friendly competition - in the form of a tug of war between the Wasilla and Palmer chambers of commerce - and the makings are there for a fun time for all.

There is so much going on commanding the attention of the governor and his staff. Another special session of the Legislature is in session for the purpose of making headway on important oil- and gas-related issues, and there's also the distraction of the campaign - no small matters. So we appreciate that Murkowski is taking a break to come host a bash in the Valley.

Congratulations to everyone who helped make it a reality.