Sen. Kawasaki - Last E-News...For a Little While!

June 18, 2024

Dear Neighbors,

It is about a month after the session ended and summer is in full swing! Sweltering temperatures, sunshine and endless daylight has made Fairbanks the perfect backdrop for picnics, floating the Chena, fishing, bike riding, hiking—the list continues. Although the high temperatures and sunshine lead to a lot of summertime fun, make sure you and your family remember to apply plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated. In this edition, I’ll discuss more upcoming events in the community, events that I will be hosting, some exciting events I have attended recently and what it means for you, and how you can help others in your community during these high temperatures. This will be the last edition of my E-News until after the election primary, but I will continue to post updates on different social media platforms or through other means.

Juneteenth: A Celebration of Ending Slavery

Juneteenth, sometimes known as Jubilee, is named because on June 19, 1865, Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Texas nearly two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This year, Senator Elvi and I and several of the bipartisan Senate passed SB22 to make it an official state holiday as it was already a federal holiday since 2021. Therefore, tomorrow, Wednesday June 19^th will be both a federal holiday and an official state holiday-after the Governor signs the legislation!

Juneteenth has been celebrated in South Fairbanks for almost four decades continuously and I participated by volunteering to sling hot dogs and burgers, meeting neighbors and talking about what this important day means, not just to people of color, but to all Alaskans, past and future.

Upcoming Events I'm Hosting

This Wednesday, June 19, Representative Maxine Dibert and I will host a second Picnic in the Park. Join us at Kiana Park (1802 Kiana St.) for hot dogs fresh off the grill, chips, cookies, cold drinks and Otter Pops. This event is open to and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, so bring the whole family. The Representative and I hope to see you there!

This Friday, June 21, I’ll be holding a Coffee Chat bright and early at the new location of the Little Owl Café! Located at 418 3^rd Street Unit #2, the new Little Owl Café serves a variety of hot and cold drinks, as well as treats and snacks. If you are gluten-free, no worries—the Little Owl Café has plenty of gluten-free options of which to choose--and they actually taste like the real thing! If you are able, join me for a free drink and some conversation about what is happening in the neighborhood and what you would like to see for the future of Fairbanks!

Community Events for the Family

As per usual, the community of Fairbanks has come back to life and there are events going on all the time! Here are a few upcoming events the whole family can enjoy:

This upcoming Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Fairbanks Goldpanners baseball team will be playing the Seattle Studs at Growden Memorial Field, which is located at 201 Wilbur Street. Tickets to individual games can be purchased online. Games Wednesday and Thursday begin at 6:30 PM, Friday’s Midnight Sun Game begins at 10 PM but there will be plenty of activity even before the door opens at 8:30pm! Saturday’s game begins at 5 PM and Sunday’s game starts at 2 PM. See you there!

Do you enjoy music and/or relaxing in a beautiful garden? If yes, then check out Music in the Garden, which is held weekly on Thursdays at the UAF Georgeson Botanical Garden. Each week, two bands are lined up to serenade attendees with the first performance beginning at 6 and the second at 7:30 PM. Admission is free!

On Friday, June 21, the Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association is holding the 9 ^th Annual Fairbanks Food Truck Rally! This event will be held from 3 to 9 PM at 1901 Wilbur Street, admission is free and there will be plenty of activities to entertain the little ones. Last year’s event brought over 40 different food and craft vendors and this year’s rally is sure to be just as exciting (and delicious).

This Saturday, June 22, is the Annual Midnight Sun Run! The race begins at the UAF Patty Center, crosses through neighborhoods close to Geist Road, crosses through Riverview and concludes at Pioneer Park—a total of 10 km. The Start Line will be packed with tons of pre-race fun, including, but not limited to, live music, disc golf, an aerial silk performance, a Kids Zone and a costume contest and the Westgate and Taku Subdivision will be hosting their own brand of street activities under the midnight sun.

On Saturday, June 29, from 11 AM to 2 PM is the Grand Reopening of the Fairbanks Senior Center! Everyone is welcome to attend this event. The Fairbanks Senior Center closed back in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but its closing evolved into a two-year expansion and renovation project that utilized a combination of federal, state and philanthropic funds. This memorable event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, lunch (served at noon), live music and an immense amount of joy in a new era of serving the pioneers of our community.

The Fairbanks Drama Association has upcoming events and activities for community members of all ages that are certainly worth checking out! Registration for the Summer 2024 Drama Project (youth ages 5-18) is now open! The purpose of the Drama Project is to provide youth with theatre education and summertime opportunities for children. Theatre is a great way to get your kids moving, increase confidence and feelings of self-worth, improve public speaking and teamwork skills and is just fun! For more information on FDA’s youth drama sessions, visit their website or call (907) 456-PLAY (7529).

FDA also has an event that the parents and other adults can enjoy: on Saturday, July 13, FDA will be holding the 22^nd Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre “Under the Big Top Tent.” This event featuring several Fairbanks Famous local actors, an elegant dinner by Midnight Sun Catering, Cocktail Hour courtesy of Bobby’s Downtown and a silent auction is sure to be a blast! Get your tickets while you can, as seats are limited!

First Picnic in the Park of the Summer a Success!

The first Picnic in the Park at Slaterville Park was a great time—thank you to all who attended. I enjoyed talking with members of the community while we enjoyed our snacks. Your voice matters and is essential to the functioning of our community and our government. If you missed this one, do not fret, as I am holding another at Kiana Park on June 19. For more information about upcoming picnics and other events or call the office at 907.456.7423.

Restocking the Tanana went Swimmingly

On June 13, I got the opportunity to help the Alaska Department of Fish and Game release a whole new batch—3,055 to be exact—of catchable rainbow trout into Cushman Lake. I enjoyed learning about the hatchery process and what occurs between the hatching of fish to their release into our local lakes. The ADF&G stocks 114 individual lakes in Fairbanks, Healy, Delta Junction and Glennallen to provide anglers with dependable and diverse fishing opportunities. The Ruth Burnett Sport Fish Hatchery operates every day of the year and releases approximately 430,000 fish annually. What are you waiting for? Grab a pole, get your fishing license and start fishing!

Ways You Can Help Others This Summer

If you have extra bottles of drinking water or are willing and able to purchase some, the Fairbanks Bread Line, Inc. has put out a call for donations, as many Fairbanksans are facing an insecurity of clean and free drinking water. Your donation helps to keep members of our community safe and hydrated. Their office is open for drop-offs from 10 AM to 2 PM Monday through Friday. If you would like more information, call (907) 452-1974.

Did you know that only 2 percent of those in Alaska eligible to be blood donors choose to donate? 1 in every 7 hospital patients need blood. The current critical need is type O positive, O negative, and Platelets. If you choose to donate, make sure to eat well, drink plenty of fluids, and bring your photo ID (with birthday or SSN) to your appointment. Your donation saves Alaskan lives!

My Staff and I are Here for You

As always, I and my staff are still working for you. Feel free to contact my office and we will assist you with issues important to you and your family.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,