The first ever North Pole Christmas in Ice, as an event, is over but what a phenomenal
event it was! Consider that the North Pole Christmas in Ice was conceived
and birthed in less than 100 days! It brought together people from both North
Pole and Fairbanks. It solicited an international selection of ice artists. It attracted
people from across the nation and the State who came because they saw the event on
the internet! It drew the attention and cameras of local media and Home and Garden
TV (HGTV), which will air the North Pole segment in November 2008. It served as a
catalyst for decorating and lighting up the rest of the City and surrounding Community.
It shows us what sustained activity we’re truly capable of. Well Done!
enjoy our community!
I want to give a huge “Thank You!” to the many sponsors, volunteers and festival vendors
who made this a memorable event. First, to Flint Hills Resources, without their
generous $20,000 donation, this event would not have even begun! BP Exploration
(Alaska) was also generous with a $10,000 donation. Other significant contributors
included: Pagoda Restaurant, Spirit of Alaska FCU, Gavora Inc., Hector’s Welding,
Sourdough Fuel, Santaland RV Park, Powerhouse Construction, the City of North
Pole, Petro Star, Alaska Petroleum, Sourdough Fuel, Alaska Pacific Freightways, the
Historic Lacy Street Theater Ice Museum, Duracell, Rivers Wood Products, Magic
101.1 and Water Wagon. Vendors, who braved the cold each weekend from noon to 9 p.m. included the Knights
of Columbus, the North Pole Community Chamber of Commerce, various sports
teams and student groups from North Pole and Eielson High Schools, and especially
the North Pole High School ROTC. There were almost 90 dedicated volunteers who worked from a couple hours to many
days, working thousands of incalculably valuable hours! How can we truly thank you?
One way is by listing your names here, so that your friends and neighbors can say,
“thank you,” as well: Kelly Ahren, Julianne Anders, Dona Apger, Rick Aslley, Arron
Barch, Linda Breiner, Dick Brickley, Hoa Brickley, Reggie Brim, Rocky Carter, Rena
Clark, June Cloyd, Francie Cork, Willy Cork, Don Dahlke, Maribell Dolan, Judy
Dunkee, Bobby Eaton, Jean Erickson, Julie Fogarty, Holly Fox, Beth Fritts, Kelli
Fritts, David Gatch, Sharon Geese, Janet Griffin, John Griffin, John Hanchett, Shirley
Hanchett, Ross Hanson, Darrel Hearns, Steve Hightower, Rikki Homchick, Sharron
Hunter, Doug Isaacson, Lynnea Isaacson, Katrina James, Jim Kannasto, Virginia
Kaufman, Larry King, Mary King, Heather Losinski, Brian Lundy, Jessica Lundy, Josh
Lundy, Robin Lundy, Ronald Meier, Jim Morgan, Susan Murray, Kreig Neyhart, the
North Pole Fire Department, the North Pole Public Works Department, Patti Ogino,
Andy O’Grady, Renee Petroske, Lara Poirrier, Carole Pratt, Kalvyn Pugh, Andie Rice,
Ed Rogers, Brenda Sadler, Eleaner L. Smith, Preston Smith, Ethel Stoneman, Don
Swarner, Derek Taylor, Jeannette Therriault, Ron Therriault, Victoria Thompson,
Dick Tomany, Edith Tomeny, Don Trometter, Patrick Trometter, Michelle Tu, Sean
Tu, Trish Warner, Aino Welch, Klaus Welch, Mike Welch, Arwen White, Tim White,
Erika Williams, Joe Wisneiski, Joseph Wisneiski, Bonnie Woldstad, Ken Woldstad,
and Theresa Woldstad. My apologies if I’ve missed anyone! As a public event, North Pole Christmas in Ice is over….but the work is already underway
preparing for 2008! If you want to be a part of the continued activity, give the
Mayor a call at 488-8584 or call Preston Smith at 488-8824, or contact Ice Alaska at
451-8250. Although the cameras are no longer “Live” you can still view the event at
http://www.icealaska.com/videocam/08Cam/np8/NP801.html . As a side note, many of the volunteers are also gearing up for the World Ice Art Championship held in Fairbanks from February 26 to March 23, 2008. If you bought a season pass to Christmas
in Ice, it is good for the upcoming event, too. What a great way to enjoy our community!
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