2010 Hanshew Middle School Band

Not many people in political circles know that I credit music with saving my life.

I started playing the piano when I was six-years-old. I often kicked and screamed about practicing, but my mother was determined and I continued through my entire school career.

In sixth grade, I discovered the snare drum and concert band. I absolutely loved playing music with a group. That was around the time that I discovered that music was an escape from the insanity of my life at home.

Unfortunately in high school, I discovered that drugs and alcohol provided a different kind of escape. I dropped out of any band activity, though I continued with piano. My grades plummeted and it became clear that with only a 2.5 GPA junior year, I wouldn’t be getting into a decent college…

…until I started auditioning as a piano major. Suddenly, I was accepted at schools we couldn’t afford, like Temple University and Berkley School of Music. I received some modest scholarships to a couple of smaller schools but ended up going back home to Ohio and The University of Dayton. It was there that I truly fell in love with their much-touted marching band and was a member all four years. My membership in that band was my lifeline at a time when I was sinking deeper into alcoholism and depression.

When I made it to Alaska and sobriety, music reclaimed me. I even made a very tiny living for several years in the Anchorage music scene. Those were some of the best years of my life.

Music has now come full circle in my family. Morrigan took piano lessons for awhile. However, when a music teacher in grade school taught the kids to play penny whistle, we discovered that my daughter had a knack for the woodwinds. She started on the clarinet in sixth grade band and after only a couple of months, auditioned and was accepted into the Honor Band.

While the idea that music enhances math skills has been long claimed, recent studies show a more direct correlation between music and algebra:

Helmrich divided the students into three groups: Those who had received formal instruction on a musical instrument during the sixth, seventh and eighth grades; those who received choral instruction during those same years; and those who received no formal musical training.

She found the students who studied music significantly outperformed their peers. “Formal instrumental instruction impacted algebra scores the most,” she reports. “Choral instruction also affected scores, but to a lesser extent.”

From our experience, my husband and I noticed that as our daughter started to learn clarinet in sixth grade, she began to struggle less with her algebra assignments. Now, she’s two-years ahead in mathematics.

The video below is of the 2010 “Sonic Boom,” the end-of-the-year mass-performance of all sixth grade bands in the Anchorage School District.

If Governor Sean Parnell and Mayor Dan Sullivan have their way, this long-time Anchorage tradition may disappear, along with the entire sixth-grade music program.

Per the Anchorage Symphony website:

We learned that last week the ASD Music Supervisor received a request for information from a school board member about the potential cost savings if 6th grade band and orchestra were to be eliminated.

The school board will have its final reading of and will be voting on the ASD budget on Thursday, Feb. 9, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the ASD Education Center Board room.

We can express our opinions regarding the importance of 6th Grade Band and Orchestra in the following ways:

1. Call or email the school board. To email the school board, send one message to SchoolBoard@asdk12.org and all seven members will receive it.
2. Testify at the Feb. 9 meeting. People can sign up to testify via the same email address or can call 742-4312. Testimony is taken in the order received.
3. Attend the meeting [5530 E Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage] to show support for music education. Please wear concert dress or all black.

The most important message is children must start an instrument early in life; middle school is too late. Personal stories have a big impact, especially from young people. This program has been cut over the years. Students used to start instrumental music in 4th grade, then the program was cut to starting in 5th grade and several years ago the program was cut to a 6th grade start. This year, 91% of ASD 6th graders are taking band and orchestra!

Remember: in order to testify at a School Board meeting, you must sign up with the Superintendent’s Office to testify at the meeting any time before 5:30 p.m., or one hour prior to the start of the meeting, whichever is earlier.

Cutting the sixth grade music program is just the latest of the bad possibilities from a school board that is desperate to find a solution that is least hurtful to the least number of students. If there is no increase in funding, the prospects are bleak. Those of you who read The Mudflats know that we’ve been spending quite a bit of time explaining what is happening to education in Alaska. We’ve told you about the several $$ million in outrageous fees Mayor Dan Sullivan has tacked on to the Anchorage School District and how he refuses to tax to the property tax cap. We’ve shared in several posts about Governor Parnell’s severe underfunding of the Department of Education in the budget currently before the Alaska Legislature. We’ve also described the horrible cuts the Anchorage School District is facing.

It is very, very important for folks to attend the Anchorage School Board Meeting and let their voices be heard. However, that MUST be followed up by contacting Governor Sean Parnell, Mayor Dan Sullivan, the Anchorage Assembly Members and the Alaska State Senators and Legislators. They must be told how important Alaska’s public schools are on a personal level.

I’ll see you on Thursday!

**UPDATE** (NOTE: There is no official action on the table at this time to cut 6th grade band/orchestra programs. The concern of music teachers/parents/musicians across the city comes from the fact that a member of the Anchorage School Board requested information as to the cost of the programs and currently, the Board is trying to figure out what cuts to make. When you testify Thursday, realize the Anchorage School Board is not the villain. Anger and frustration over the budget situation must be directed constructively (in a civilized way) at Governor Sean Parnell, Mayor Dan Sullivan, the Anchorage Assembly Members and the Alaska State Senators and Legislators. They are the ones who hold the purse strings.)

by Linda Kellen Biegel

I attended a wonderful, Alaska star-studded fundraiser for The One Anchorage Campaign Sunday morning (before the Super Bowl) at former Governor Tony Knowles’s house. It was great to see everyone:

Governor Tony Knowles, Alaska Constitution signer Vic Fischer and former Anchorage Assemblywoman Jane Angvik.

Blake Merrifield, candidate for the Alaska Legislature against Wes Keller (R-Wasilla) talking with Governor Knowles.

Jeff Mittman, Executive Director of the ACLU

Former Mayor of Anchorage, Matt Claman

The Knowles’ dog

I was disappointed that I had arrived at the event just after Senator Mark Begich made a rousing speech. However, I had an unexpected reminder as I was leaving of how politicians are different in Alaska (in a good way).

It seems that one of the guests got her car high-centered in next to one of the giant snow berms that Anchorage has as a result of our record-breaking winter. I saw a number of folks trying to help her get out but as I was walking slowly with my cane, a healthy, tanned man sprinted by me carrying two shovels.

It was our former Governor. (Yes, I did note that he is older than me and was sprinting.)

He immediately got to work trying to get the car unstuck. That’s when I pulled out my camera.

Yes, I was taking pictures and not helping. I have blown discs in my neck and back, dammit…and I was offering lots of verbal “help!”

The shovels weren’t working because they couldn’t get them wedged between the snow and the car.

I said, “If you had some kind of heavy duty pole or a stick, you could more easily loosen the snow.” When I said that, I gestured with my right hand…the one that contained the cane.

I said, “Perhaps a stick like this cane in my hand would help?”

I handed it to Governor Knowles and he crawled on his stomach, shoving the cane under the car to loosen the snow. (I didn’t take a picture of that. A gratuitous booty shot of my former Governor just seemed somehow wrong.) Another woman used it at the front part of the car to loosen the snow there.

Happily, the guest was then able to drive the car out of the spot without a push.

As we were all going our seperate ways to our cars, Tony Knowles was standing in front of me, grinning, holding out the shovel he was using. It had a gold plaque on it. He explained that it was presented to him (ground-breaking for the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, perhaps?)

“I knew this thing would come in handy some day,” he laughed!

So on top of championing the cause of civil rights for all, he’s not afraid to get dirty/snowy! I just can’t picture the politicians I’ve met from other states lying on the ground to dig snow out from under someone else’s car. However, I can picture many of the ones I’ve known in Alaska, male and female, doing just that. It was a nice reminder that we are surrounded by “real people up here,” especially since the news has made it quite obvious that is NOT the case nationally!

The next time it’s snowing another foot or it’s the 5th day of below-zero temperatures and I ask myself, “Why are we here?” — I’ll remember this.

Last week, I listened-in on an Alaska Public Offices Commission hearing regarding an old friend of ours here at Mudflats, Mr. Bob Griffin.

You remember Bob:

– In April 2011, he ran on his status as a veteran and a pilot in order to win a seat the Anchorage School Board (he lost), in a campaign best-known for the accusations of illegal yard signs. He was also one of Mayor Sullivan’s chosen-ones in that campaign, receiving donations from the both the Mayor and his wife.

– In May 2011, Mr. Griffin showed some questionable judgement through the methods he used to conduct an unscientific study for a local conservative organization.

– In July 2011, he was appointed by Mayor Sullivan to the Budget Advisory Committee advising the Municipality and the School District on how they should budget their money.

On Griffin’s campaign website from last year, he went out of his way to make us feel good about donating to his School Board effort. He stated: “I haven’t accepted any special-interest donations for my campaign, only small individual contributions…”

However, it’s what Mr. Griffin did (or didn’t do) with the donations he received that got him in trouble.

On October 14, 2011, the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) Staff filed a complaint against Bob Griffin. In the complaint, they alleged that he “filed inaccurate and incomplete campaign disclosure reports for the 2011 Anchorage Election” and “failed to disburse surplus campaign funds within 90 days of the election.”

During the investigation, it got even more interesting.

The APOC Staff discovered that Mr. Griffin also:

–accepted a cash contribution “in excess of the statutory limits”;

–accepted anonymous contributions;

–converted campaign funds to personal income, and…

–did not forfeit the anonymous funds to the State of Alaska.

After hearing and reading the Staff report, we can see that the money amounts involved are small. However, that’s a point that cuts both ways. It should have been easy for Mr. Airline Pilot to rectify the problem. APOC Staff gave Mr. Griffin from July 26, 2011 to October 14, 2011 to fix the errors in the reports and rectify the financial issues…three 1/2 months. Griffin was warned in September that if he didn’t fix the problems, APOC Staff would be forced to file a complaint. However, the thing that makes me shake my head in utter disbelief is the blatantly disrespectful, disgraceful and uncaring behavior exhibited by Bob Griffin during the entire process. The fact that this is a Mayoral appointee is beyond-the-pale.

Directly from the Staff Report:

Staff acquired the full scope of Respondent‟s violations through the investigation process. After the Complaint was filed, APOC Staff repeatedly requested Mr. Griffin‟s bank records, both orally and in writing. The bank records were not provided voluntarily and Staff subpoenaed the records from Mr. Griffin. The records were not provided until the original due date of the staff report, November 14, 2011.

Respondent’s records showed a number of irregularities. While the records did show the majority of the campaign money was disbursed in a timely fashion, deposits did not match the reported contributions. Moreover, cash withdrawals were made from ATMs in various states. Mr. Griffin told Staff he transferred money from his personal checking account into the campaign account to access cash on work layovers in Hawaii and California because his personal bank cards were not working. However, due to bank fees for the withdrawals, Mr. Griffin withdrew $11.75 more than he transferred.

Staff asked for detailed bank records for the campaign account. On November 21, 2011, Mr. Griffin provided specific records to help explain the discrepancies. At that time, Respondent self-reported an undisclosed contribution of $250 during the 24 Hour reporting period and $64 dollars in undisclosed, anonymous cash contributions (one from March 3 and one from March 25). As of the date of this Staff Report, no 105 Day Report has ever been received and the public still does not have information regarding that reporting period.

That brings me to the day of the hearing, January 12, 2012. I called-in to the teleconference number at APOC, expecting a hearing like the ones I’ve attended before. However, all we heard was the Staff report because Mr. Griffin was too craven to show up and testify.

As a result, the Commission was left with only the Staff Report on which to base their ruling:

After consideration of the Staff report and evidence, the Commission adopts the Staff report in full including the recommendations that Respondent forfeit $79.61 to the State of Alaska; return $100 to Rob Timmons within 60 days; pay a civil penalty of $4000 and pay $1700 for Staff costs; and, that Respondent attend an APOC candidate training program prior to running for office again.

$4,000 is one of the highest civil penalties I’ve ever seen lodged against a candidate.

Meanwhile, we have this deplorable, corrupt individual serving as an appointee to Mayor Sullivan. (Sound like Bill Sheffield, anyone?) Currently, Griffin is shadowing School Board and Assembly Meetings and giving budget advice. Bob Griffin did not turn in one accurate finance report from his own campaign! What business does he have giving anyone advice?

After all, in Griffin’s own words…from the blog on his campaign site titled “Privilege to Serve”:

During my 20 years as an Air Force fighter pilot and Army attack helicopter pilot, I made a pretty universal observation about my coworkers: the best public servants are not very motivated by money; many of the worst ones are.

Yes, Bob, we couldn’t agree more.

Mr. Mayor, get rid of this guy.

—————————————————————–

If you want to contact Mayor Sullivan about Bob Griffin:

Use this EMAIL FORM.

Call the Mayor’s Office at (907) 343-7100

If you wish to contact the Anchorage Assembly about Bob Griffin:

Here is the email for all Assemblymembers: wwmas@muni.org

If you would rather call your individual Assembly member, here is the PHONE LIST.

A Move to Amend rally on Anchorage’s Federal Court House steps on the second anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling “Citizens United”
will be one of many rallies all over the country on (hopefully) all 100 federal court steps in the nation.

The ANCHORAGE CHAPTER OF movetoamend.org will host a rally on “Legalizing Democracy and Challenging Corporate Personhood” in an attempt to raise awareness to Overrule the Supreme Court and reestablish a government of, by, and for the people. The local educational rally will be at the Federal Court House @ 7th and C, from 11am-1pm on January 20th.

The rally will focus on how Anchorage can join the national movement against Corporate Personhood. Attendees will be able to show support by signing an endorsement of this resolution: Corportations are not people, money is not speech. Collected signatures will eventually go to the Anchorage Assembly.

“Corporate Personhood” commonly refers to court-created precedent that gives corporations constitutional rights intended solely for human beings. “Corporate personhood is not an inconsequential legal technicality. The Supreme Court ruled that a corporation was a ‘legal person’ with 14th Amendment protections before they granted full personhood to African-Americans, immigrants, natives, or women”, states David Cobb, a national spokesperson for Move to Amend and an attorney helping to lead the coalition.

“We are inspired by historic social movements that recognized the necessity of altering fundamental power relationships,” said Cobb. “America has progressed through ordinary people joining together—from the Revolutionaries to Abolitionists, Suffragists, Trade Unionists, and Civil Rights activists through to today. Move to Amend is a long-term effort to make the U.S. Constitution more democratic.”

“We are a diverse coalition with deep roots in communities nationwide. We recognize that amending the Constitution to restore the power of the people over corporations will not be easy, but we know correcting the Supreme Court is imperative to the progress of our nation,” stated Cobb.

Over 300,000 people have signed an online petition supporting a constitutional amendment at www.MoveToAmend.org which states: that money is not speech, a corporation is not a person, all corporations are subject to regulation, all campaign contributions will be disclosed and allows for no loopholes. The amendment will put people in charge of our government, and corporations in their proper place.

The local rally will take place on January 20th on the Federal Court House steps at 7th and C. For more information visit: MoveToAmend.org or the local facebook page.

Some silliness for a Saturday. It reminded me of my dad who would, every time he had a fortune cookie, ceremoniously look through the half-spectacles on the end of his nose, unfurl the fortune, and in a very grave tone say, “Help. Help. I am being held prisoner in a Chinese cookie factory.” It always made me laugh, even though I knew it was coming.

Cordova sees about 89 inches of rain and 125 inches of snow per year.

[Photo by David Little, and shared on Facebook by David Otness, both of Cordova.]

Many of you may remember Roger Ranch. Even if you didn’t know him personally, I wrote a piece on his tragic passing which happened last year at this time. Friends of Roger (Heather Aronno of Alaska Commons and Roger’s love Lennie Moren) have decided to carry on his memory in a really beautiful way. I’ve already given a Christmas present to the fund. It felt good to know that I did it for, and because of Roger. It’s a meaningful way to carry his memory and his good works on. Here’s a description from the website.

The Roger “Bones” Ranch Christmas Fund is dedicated to the memory of our friend, Roger. He passed away on December 21, 2010. It is in his memory that we hope to continue making positive change in the world through the generosity and compassion he demonstrated on a daily basis.

The mission of the Roger “Bones” Ranch Christmas Fund is to adopt a family in need so they can receive gifts and needed items for the holidays. Any surplus funds will be used to purchase items like socks and shaving kits, which will be donated to the homeless in Anchorage at Bean’s Cafe.

Roger inspired those around him to embody the better aspects of human compassion and equality. May his memory continue to inspire others to improve themselves and the lives of the others.

Apologies, but we do not currently hold 501(c)(3) status, and so are unable to provide a tax receipt for donations. However, you will receive a confirmation e-mail if you make a contribution. Please forward any questions or concerns to boneschristmasfund@gmail.com

Anchorage, Alaska. December. Blowing snow. Roadside seafood.

This just made me smile.

An actual sign in the window of a Chinese restaurant in New York City.  Gave me a nice chuckle.