In Brief

January 20th 3:20 am | Hannah Heimbuch

ASNA receives grant for breast cancer awareness program

For the sixth year in a row, the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program awarded the Arctic Slope Native Association grant funding to continue their Screening for Life program. SFL educates North Slope residents about early detection and assists women in finding affordable breast cancer screening options in Barrow. The program also provides taxi vouchers to Barrow women in need of transport to screening appointments.

This year's grant totaled $35,000, and will go toward continuing the program's success in Barrow as well as providing outreach in other North Slope Borough communities. This includes Atqasuk, Kaktovik, Nuiqusut, Point Lay and Wainwright.

SFL has reached approximately 3,000 women since 1994 and completed nearly 6,500 mammograms. Its mission is to improve education about and treatment for breast cancer among the women of the North Slope.

The Avon Foundation for Women was founded in 1955 and seeks to improve women's health and well being across the globe.

Deadline approaches to apply for storm relief funds

Alaska residents in the direct path of November's major Pacific storm may still apply for several different types of relief funds, though the deadlines are fast approaching.

Federal Public Assistance is available for state, tribal and local governments and some nonprofit organizations for repair of facilities. Qualifying organizations, which experienced facility damage due to storms in the North Slope Borough, the Bering Strait Regional Educational Attendance Area, the Lower Kuskokwim REAA, the Lower Yukon REAA and the Southwest Region REAA may call (907) 428-7102 by Jan. 21 to apply for assistance.

Those individuals or families needing assistance with damaged homes, personal property and modes of transportation may qualify for the State Individual Family Grant and/or Temporary Housing programs. Call (855) 445-7131 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to apply for assistance. Applicants should be prepared with lists of damage, ownership documents, insurance information and personal identification. The deadline to apply for state assistance is Feb. 3, 2012.

Alaska leaders voice concerns about tsunami debris

Almost a year has passed since a tragic earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan's coastline, casting 25 million tons of debris into the North Pacific. As the first of this flotsam begins to appear on western coastlines in Washington and Alaska, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich are opening local and national dialogues about the potential effects on Alaska's coastal ecosystems.

Murkowski is holding a roundtable discussion at the UAA campus in Anchorage featuring representatives from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation. The event will be webcast at Murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Social-Media.

Begich has put his support behind a proactive approach to major ocean debris by con-sponsoring the Inouye bill - or the Trash Free Seas Act - which addresses the NOAA's Marine Debris Program. Senator Begich said in a release that he strives to bring timely marine issues to light, including response planning to major events, dealing with potentially hazardous debris, Marine Debris Program funding and public outreach.

Nearly half a million in Alaska Clean Water grants available

The Department of Environmental Conservation announced this month that it had $495,000 open to communities and citizen groups with projects that restore and monitor Alaska's endangered water bodies.

"ACWA grants have very positive impacts on water quality and aquatic habitat throughout Alaska," said Michelle Bonnet, DEC's Director of Water, in a release. "We encourage local governments, Native groups, and watershed councils to apply for grants that address priority water body needs."

The DEC and its partners in this project - the Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Game - targeted polluted water restoration, at-risk water monitoring, maintenance of healthy septic systems and green infrastructure as good candidates for the ACWA grants. The DEC began accepting grants Jan. 4 and will continue to solicit them until Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. More information can be found at dec.state.ak.us/water/acwa/onlineACWAapp.htm.

ASRC acquires Southeast Alaska construction company

McGraw's Custom Construction, Inc. has been operating out of Sitka in Southeast Alaska for more than 30 years. ASRC announced this month it purchased and will continue to run the company under the ASRC Construction Holding Company.

ACHC oversees six construction companies that have collectively executed more than $1.2 billion dollars worth of projects in the last 10 years. Construction is one of ASRC's five major business interests.

One more day to bid on Idita-Rider Musher Auction

Hopefuls have until Friday, Jan. 20 to bid for a ride with their favorite musher during the first 11 miles of the 2012 Alaska Iditarod. The Idita-Rider Musher Auction is one of the Iditarod Trail Committee's primary fundraisers to support the sled race.

So far, every musher has at least a $500 minimum bid, and six have gotten to the top bid of $7,500. This includes last year's champ, Kotzebue resident John Baker.

For an even more unique experience, the Ultimate Adventure comes with a $25,000 price tag and includes a photo with all of the 2012 Iditarod mushers, a spot in the ribbon cutting ceremony at the race's start, that 11 mile front-seat ride in a sled, and a flight and room with Rainy Pass Lodge where the ultimate adventurer will serve as a checkpoint checker.

Iditarod XL begins Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. in downtown Anchorage.

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