Keeping Kenai Lips Kissable For The New Year

Concerned about standing under the mistletoe with chapped lips and cracked skin? Fearless Wellness Dr. Deb Kiley offers some simple advice for keeping your largest organ healthy in cold weather.

 Fearless Wellness Dr. Deb Kiley: “The wind and the cold weather are going to dry out your skin and cause damage which will make it age, but it also can cause cracking which doesn’t feel good.”

Kiley suggests drinking water before you are thirsty, as you actually lose more water in winter cold than you do in the summer heat.

Fearless Wellness Dr. Deb Kiley: “We can see our breath in the winter, and that breath that you see going out is water vapor that you are losing from your body, so you need to replace that.”

Besides hydrating with water, Kiley recommends adding to your outer layer with rich emollient creams instead of lotions.  She suggests rubbing organic coconut oil on hands at night, then covering them with cotton gloves so it doesn’t leave a greasy transfer on your bedding.

To girlie for you? Kiley shrugs and says that the old reliable cure is perfectly acceptable.

Fearless Wellness Dr. Deb Kiley: “Interesting, the Environmental Working Group rates petroleum jelly as a one, which is low hazard. Putting petroleum products on my skin is not my first choice, but it is not a bad choice, and it is good and thick. So if you are going out in the big wind at a low temperature then it can be protective.”

Kiley adds that we should keep winter showers warm not hot, and be sure to apply moisturizer to damp skin.

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Congress Wraps New Fort Greely Missile Field With A Bow In Last Vote Of Year

Thursday, the House of Representatives passed a supplemental appropriations bill for disaster relief and a continuing resolution for funding government operations.

Tucked inside of language granting Military and Veterans funding was a provision for the necessary costs to detect, defeat and defend against the use of ballistic missiles as requested by Department Of Defense.

The measure allocates $200 million for a new missile field in Fort Greely.

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan R-AK: “That’s a lot of jobs, and it just shows how strategically important we are.”

Just over a month ago, the Trump administration asked Congress to appropriate $2.1 billion to expand the missile-defense base on Fort Greely.

The request included $200 million to pay for the construction of a fourth missile-silo field at the base. The remaining amount would be used to buy and emplace 20 interceptor missiles in the new field.

The three existing missile fields at the base on Greely now accommodate 40 of the nation’s 44 ground-based midcourse defense interceptors. The GMD system is designed to destroy an incoming enemy missile while it’s still above the atmosphere.

Fort Greely was selected as a site for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system after the United States announced that it would withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Over the last fifteen years,  the United States government has been developing the Greely missile defense installation, initially planning to deploy a total of 25 to 30 anti-ballistic missiles by 2010.

With the continued development of an intercontinental ballistic missile program by North Korea, Fort Greely has expanded. In early November, Boeing Company, the GMD system’s prime contractor, completed the installation of the 40th interceptor at the Greely missile-defense base.

That was the last of 14 additional interceptors that the Obama administration had ordered in 2013, after a previous confrontation with North Korea over its development of an offensive ballistic-missile system with nuclear warheads.

Fort Greely is near the Great circle line from North Korea to the continental United States.

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$5 Alaska Grown Challenge Generates Strong Sales For Producers

The $5 Alaska Grown Challenge encourages Alaskans to spend a fiver weekly on Alaska Grown products like vegetables, dairy, meat, and grains at their local retailers.

This successful consumer-driven Alaska Grown marketing campaign helped some Alaska farmers sell out of many of their 2017 products.

The State of Alaska says that if all households were to participate in the weekly five-dollar challenge, it would add tens of millions of dollars back into the local economy every year.

The Division of Agriculture worked with grocery retailers statewide to develop the campaign, which encourages stores to create unique displays promoting the campaign and the Alaska Grown products they carry.

Participating local retailers include Carrs-Safeway, Walmart, Fred Meyer, and Save-U-More.

Consumers will find the Alaska Grown logo on quality local products that meet the established grade standards for the top two USDA or state grades for the particular item.

All food products will be 100% locally grown except in the case of processed food items which must contain at least 75% Alaska grown content.

With expectations of further market growth with the continuation of the campaign in 2018, Bell’s Nursery announced it intends to increase the production of tomatoes and cucumbers by 20 percent and the Alaska Flour Company added products to 23 additional retailers throughout the state.

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Small Vessels Get Break From Incidental Discharge Regulations

The Alaska Delegation announced Friday that it was able to Secure a temporary extension for vessel incidental discharge for fishermen and small boat operators.

The legislation was sent to President Donald Trump’s desk to extend an exemption for Alaska fishing and commercial vessels less than 79 feet in length from EPA incidental discharge regulations.

The temporary extension is effective until January 19, 2018, and replaces a moratorium on enforcement that expired Monday.

Congress is working on a permanent exemption to what lawmakers call a patchwork of burdensome federal and state regulations for vessel ballast water and incidental discharges.

Bill sponsor Senator Dan Sullivan R-AK says that without the stopgap measure, small vessel operators and fishermen would be forced to obtain EPA permits for even the most basic activities such as washing fish guts off decks and hosing out fish holds.

He says Congress should be forthcoming with a permanent solution in early in 2018.

Senator Lisa Murkowski R-AK, in the joint written statement, suggested the standard rule was nonsensical, which, according to the EPA itself, does not help regulate pollution discharges properly.

Thursday, the Senate unanimously approved legislation to extend the exempt period. Alaska Congressman Young ushered the legislation to quick and final passage in the House earlier Friday.

Senator Dan Sullivan, Chairman of the Senate Coast Guard Subcommittee, worked to pass the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, which was most recently included in S. 1129, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017.

Sullivan says the legislation would provide all fishing vessels and small commercial vessels with a permanent exception to incidental vessel discharges and create a consistent, uniform regulatory structure that would restore efficient and cost-effective commerce while ensuring environmental protection of our nation’s ports and waterways.

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ANWR, ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, DON YOUNG ALASKA, DORENE LORENZ, LISA MURKOWSKI ALASKA, THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT

The small independents who depended on reimbursement from the State for oil and gas exploration may be getting a check in 2019, under Governor Walker’s proposed Alaska Economic Recovery Plan.

The Legislature ended what some called an over-generous cash credit program with the passage of HB111.

Tax credits have been credited with once dead Cook Inlet production rising up 80% since 2010, and the robust activity of smaller independent producers and explorers like Hilcorp, Caelus Energy, Repsol, and Armstrong.

After the State backpedaled on paying the tax credits, Caelus Energy delayed drilling of Smith Bay.  The field is perhaps one of the largest finds in recent history on the North Slope – holding up to 2.4 billion barrels of crude.

As part of the Alaska Economic Recovery Plan, the Walker Administration proposes to pay off the $900M remainder of outstanding future-obligations to independent oil and gas exploration companies at a lower rate.

It is hoped that the payments will create more confidence in the State for independent producers, which will equate to greater investment.

The State plans on offering a 10% discount rate in the fiscal year 2019. The rate will be lowered to a 6% discount rate in exchange for an override royalty interest in the well.

To fund payment of these outstanding credits, the state will issue bonds with the discount covering the cost of borrowing.

No Cocktails And No Dreams To Be Allowed For Alaskan Distillery Owners

Monday, ABC Board voted unanimously to put the proposal of forbidding distillery employees from mixing cocktails in their tasting rooms out for public comment.

The measure will force distilleries to serve alcohol separately from mixers, asking the customer to shake up their martinis on their own.

The suggestion has caught the attention of those in Juneau.

Senator Peter Micciche

Senator Peter Micciche: “It’s a relatively new industry in Alaska, and we are doing our best to provide reasonable sideboards to what can occur in a tasting room.”

The proposal adds new subsections to the law, suggesting tasting room staff may not combine the distillery’s product with any other manufactured product but may serve separately non-alcoholic ingredients, including fruit juices, spiced and flavored mixers, garnishes, and carbonated beverages.

It further defines distillery’s product as a distilled spirit made or distilled on the premises of the licensed facility, which may bring into question the industry’s ability to create blended whiskeys.

The board will also give further contemplation to Director Erika McConnell’s question about what activities should be restricted in tasting rooms.

The current law states that live entertainment, televisions, pool tables, dart games, dancing,  game tables, and other recreational or gaming opportunities on the premises where the consumption occurs are forbidden.

McConnell put the kibosh on activities such as First Friday art shows, yoga classes, and fundraisers.

The board is accepting public comment on the measure and may review it at their January meeting in Juneau.

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Walker Proposes 1.5% Payroll Tax To Cover State’s Deferred Maintenance

As goals shift from filing the gap to fueling the economy, local contractors in 60 Alaskan communities will be put to work on deferred maintenance projects.  Governor Bill Walker is hoping this statewide sweetener will make his failed payroll tax more palatable to Legislators.

Governor Bill Walker I-AK: “To stand by and watch our economy spiral downward, to watch our unemployment continue to rise, is unacceptable.”

In its new rendition, Walker’s payroll deduction will only be collected over three years—and is expected to generate $800 million. The Administration projects this initiative will create well over 1,000 jobs while removing debt from the budget.

Walker asked the Legislature to consider the tax in the fourth special legislative session but found no will enforce an income tax when the State was in a recession.

Former Speaker of the House, Representative Mike Chenault R: “Last session there was not enough support to do that, so he is going to have to get out and work with the Legislature in enacting that, and see if he can find the votes to pass it.”

But the Senate Finance co-chairs have been struggling to resolve growing deferred maintenance issues with the State’s infrastructure. Senator Bishop proposed a modified school payroll tax last year intended to cover the leaky roofs on schools around Alaska.

Senator Tom Begich: “There was a lot of traction that that was getting within the Majority, so I think the Majority might be interested- I mean that is the sell.”

On the deferred maintenance list are repair projects for schools, the Pioneer Home, courts, highways, and harbors.  It also includes popular community needs and housing investment programs like the Weatherization Program and AHFC’s Housing Facility Maintenance Program.

The proposal taxes 1.5 percent of wages earned by Alaskans and non-resident workers, capped at $2,200 or twice the previous year’s permanent fund dividend amount—whichever is higher.

About fifteen percent of the revenue collected from the tax is projected to come from non-resident
workers, who in 2015 earned more than $2.7 billion.

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Don Young Now Most Senior Congressman At 44 Years

You can call him representative, address him as congressman, or refer to him by his new title, Dean of the House.

Don Young gains the title after Representative John Conyers, D-Michigan announced he was retiring from the seat he has held more than 50 years amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Young lost his 1973 bid against incumbent Nick Begich for the House seat. The Democrat Begich and House Majority Leader Hale Boggs of Louisiana were lost when a twin-engine Cessna 310 crashed en route to Juneau and was presumed dead by the time voters cast their ballot.  His body was never found.

Young won a special election that following spring, and has held the seat since. Upon Conyer’s retirement, Young will become the Dean of the House, a designation given to the most senior House member serving.  Young is a few years shy of being the longest-serving member of Congress, a title held by Democrat John Dingell who served on behalf of Michigan 59 years.

Senator Patrick Leahy D-Vermont is currently the most senior senator. Leahy’s served in Congress since 1975, two years after Young’s time in office began.

His tenure is dwarfed by the career of Ted Stevens, whose service extended from December 24, 1968, until January 3, 2009. Stevens was the longest-serving Republican senator in history at the time he left office; his record was surpassed in January 2017 by Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah.

Cruise Ship Traffic Continues Full Steam Ahead

The City of Seward Port Manager says that the Gateway to Alaska can expect up to 70 cruise ship
dockings in 2018, with six double ship days.

Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line all use the Port of Seward as the northern end of their 7-day Alaska Glacier Cruises sailing to and from Vancouver B.C.

It is also used by several major cruise lines as a “turn around” port for their Gulf of Alaska Cruises.

While Whittier has been the other end route, Anchorage is starting to fluff her feathers to make her nest more attractive to cruise ship traffic.

Holland America Cruises has a special two-week trip where MS Amsterdam stops at nontraditional ports like Homer, Kodiak and Anchorage.  While the number of visits is small, the prestige of the ships that make Anchorage a port of call is large.

City of Anchorage External Affairs Jim Jager: “We had ten scheduled visits in 2017, including the World.  So the World stopped in Anchorage.”

The World is the largest luxury residential ship on the planet. The residents, from about 45 countries, live on board as the ship travels around exotic ports of call from Antarctica to Greenland, staying in most ports several days.

Anchorage isn’t targeting the cruise ship market in its port development.

City of Anchorage External Affairs Jim Jager: “Our cruise ship visitation seems to be pretty stable.  I don’t anticipate that we will have a lot of growth just because of the other markets – Seward and Whittier -work for most of the cruise ship schedules much better than Anchorage.”

Should Fun Be Excluded At Distillery Tasting Rooms?

Ursa Major Distillery Owner Rob Borland: “She even goes to say that she wants to outlaw fun in a tasting room, which is kind of ridiculous.”

The “she” that Ursa Major Distillery Owner Rob Borland is referring to is the new Alcohol Control Office Director Erika McConnell, who some in the industry feel is taking Alaska’s fledgling distillery industry to task.

It is confusing to the public because beer tastings with food, entertainment, and all sorts of fun activities take place at brewpubs all over the state, even a few brave local wineries are allowed to offer customers the opportunity to sample their wares in a warm inviting environment.

Testifying before the ABC Board today, Jeff Landfield says…

Jeff Landfield: “I’m not even sure why this is a thing. Very supportive. We all like having a drink. No big deal.”

It is a big deal to those who interpret “entertainment” – an activity strictly excluded in the current law, as fun.

Ursa Major Distillery Owner Rob Borland: “She just wants people to come in, take a sample if they like the product, then they take a bottle and leave. She doesn’t want anybody lingering here or enjoying themselves in any way.”

The ABC Board listened to testimony from all around the state, before considering what direction to give.  Board members kept referring back to the Alaska Statute that allows for tasting rooms.

ABC Board Member: “It says there shouldn’t be entertainment and the amount that can be served, and that it’s specific to a tasting of that product for the public, and they can also make sales.  To me, that seems to be getting lost here.”

Senator Peter Micciche was vice-chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing committee in 2014, when the law that allowed tasting rooms in distilleries was passed as a means to help a new industry gain a competitive advantage over outside companies that sold their spirits in Alaska.

Micciche says they may be overthinking what the legislative intent was of the bill.

Senator Peter Micciche R D-O: “I certainly hope that the board doesn’t make an unrealistic interpretation, and go so far as to say that fun shouldn’t occur in a tasting room.”

The Board wasn’t complete when it considered the issue early Monday evening, Wasilla’s Rex Leath wasn’t able to discuss the public safety impacts, which could potentially be considerable when the possible addition of nearly 300 tasting rooms in Anchorage is added together.

The Board elected to table making a decision until its next meeting in January.