PUBLISHER'S NOTEBOOK: Did you feel the earthquake?

That’s probably the most asked question in Alaska on Tuesday morning, after a tremo earthquake that registered 8.2 off the coast near Kodiak. I felt our house shake but went back to sleep. It’s not the first one I felt here in Alaska. I woke up about an hour later to a text asking if my family was okay.

“Okay from what?” I thought. After checking the Frontiersman website to see what happened and knowing we were safe here in the valley I began searching for news around the State. I came across a live video feed on Facebook from Larry Pestrikoff in Kodiak. People from all over the world were tuned into his video. Pestrikoff was very unassuming and laid back in his reports.

“Those are harbor lights there you’re seeing. Nothing really to report but thanks for watching.” He peaked at about 3,600 viewers many from the lower 48, Australia and South Korea. One person suggested to Pestrikoff that he should crack open a beer while waiting to see if a Tsunami was going to hit Kodiak. “No thanks, I’m six years sober.”

Then the viewers turned from curious on lookers to supporters of Pestrikoff and his successful sobriety. For a brief moment Larry Pestrikoff felt worldwide support. We shared the video on the Frontiersman Facebook if you want to view it.

In other earthquake and Facebook news, Alaska Memes shared the CNN Facebook post about the Alaska earthquake prompting one CNN Facebook follower to comment, “Well, I hope they don’t start asking the USA for money and aide. We are tired of helping other countries in the world except our own.”

Do you ever feel that Alaska is the Rodney Dangerfield of the United States? We don’t get no respect! Maybe we should put together a Pick. Click. Give. for this guy to take some geography lessons.

101 years of Wasilla

Saturday was a fun day and evening at the Curtis Menard Sports Complex as the City of Wasilla celebrated its 101st anniversary. Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. was free family skate day. The skating rink was full of kids of all ages having a great time. Mayor Bert Cottle cut the birthday cake with Ms. Frances Banish, 101 years young. Banish turns 102 this week and promised to come back next year to cut the cake at the 102nd year celebration. That evening was the adult party with a 1950’s twist. Transportation & Industry Museum of Alaska presented vintage vehicles from the past. There were photos from Wasilla in the 1950’s on display, a hula hoop contest, a 50’s costume contest and a local rockabilly band performed.

Miss Alaska presents at Chamber

Miss Alaska Angelina Klapperich is making the rounds on her year-long tour. She presented yesterday at the City of Wasilla Greater Chamber of Commerce. She took us on through her journey from her childhood in Wasilla to her top-15 finish at the Miss America pageant. She was named Miss Congeniality, which is voted on by the contestants and Klapperich was a unanimous choice. She is spreading her platform message of ‘compassion’ throughout the state. She will be visiting the area schools and supporting the Mat-Su School District’s The Great Kindness Challenge. There is an act of kindness checklist that the students will be working on this week and hopefully the rest of their young lives. Klapperich’s message is a simple one.

“You never know what someone else is going through and a random act of kindness could make all the difference,” she says.

Next time you go through the check out at a grocery store or the drive thru at a fast food restaurant, give the person on the other side a smile and a sincere, “How is your day going?” or a simple compliment. Pay it forward. It’ll make someone’s day.

Thank you for reading the Frontiersman!