Anchorage business owners Tweetup to help fire victim

The Alaska Journal of Commerce posted a story by Gina Romero about the Tasty Tweets event I have blogged and literally spammed Facebook and Twitter about. Though I have never met Ryan Stanley in person, I do consider him a friendly acquaintance if not at least a friend. As I read his, and other updates on the morning of June 1st this year, I could not believe when he was "tweeting" about his house burning down. At first, I even thought it was some sort of metaphor for something else going on. As we found out later and saw the pictures, the family tragedy became all too real. Here's an excerpt from the article:

If you are on Twitter and follow other Alaskans, you may have noticed a series of tweets about a bake sale and Tweetup, called Tasty Tweets, set for Aug. 29 at Bella Boutique in Anchorage.

Valette McLay of Anchorage is an avid Twitter user. She helped spearhead Tasty Tweets, a bake sale and Tweetup for fire victim Ryan Stanley of Juneau. Photo/Gina Romero/For the Journal

It is the latest in a series of Tweetups - using Twitter to organize real-live meet-ups - that have been held in Anchorage since January, said John Proffitt, who is creator of AlaskaTweets.com, a Web site to inform those interested in local social media events.

Proffitt, who is known among Alaska's Twitter users, has organized a majority of the local Tweetups.

"I feel a kinship with many of the people I meet online, especially those I choose to follow on Twitter, and organizing these events lets me pay back that community for the affinity I have for the group," he said.

Ryan Stanley said he also feels a kinship with people in Alaska's online community. Stanley, who lives in Juneau, said he uses Twitter specifically to connect with Alaskans. Although he has not been able to attend the Anchorage Tweetups, Stanley said he stays involved with the group by looking at photos and by reading posts about the events.

"For the largest state in the union, it is the smallest state in the union. It's, I guess, a kind of unique thing you get to have a community that is spread out over such a large distance," he said.

Stanley is a social media super user. Twitter, Facebook and FriendFeed are a few of many ways he stays connected. He uses Twitter to network with Alaskans, Facebook for national and international contacts, and FriendFeed to interact with his professional circle.

His social networks are linked, so that one post goes to a variety of people. On the morning of June 1, 2009, a series of posts went out that touched many of Stanley's followers.

"OMG. I'm standing here watching my house burn. Unbelievable."

"Stunned."

"Holy Crap."

"RIP Pink House."

Stanley posted these in the early morning hours as he watched fire destroy his home and everything inside. The fire, determined as intentionally set, originated in the laundry room of his neighbor's apartment-style dwelling on Basin Road, Fire Marshal Dan Jager said. Since then, Stanley, his wife, Laura Hosey, and 3-year-old daughter, Meadow, have been trying to rebuild their lives.

You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/081509/bus_9_001.shtml

As I keep asking, please help in anyway you can.

Tasty Tweets

The Anchorage, Alaska Twitter community is coming together to volunteer its time and money to help out a friend — one we’ve never even met in person. Please join us in a random act of kindness. Help us get the word out about the August 29 Tasty Tweets Bake Sale via your nearest bulletin board, your blog, Facebook and more!

More news is coming soon, but for now, set your calendars for home-baked goods and a good cause:

Sat, Aug 29
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Bella Boutique / 2601 Spenard Rd / Anchorage, AK

We have more than 13 bakers preparing to fire up the ovens, break out the sugar and create cookies, cakes and pies, plus we’ll have coffee from Kaladi Brothers — you name it, the sweets will be ready for consumption and carry-out. And the plans include some fun stuff, too.

If you are interested in helping out, tweet a message to @Valette or send e-mail to bakesale@alaskatweets.com.

Say NO to Alaska Railroad Herbicide Spraying!

Here was the email I received and felt strongly enough about to reprint it. ACAT is a great organization with one of their biggest goals being the cleanup of US Military waste and pollution left behind in so many villages and communities throughout Alaska. Please help me to help them.

Join ACAT and support them.

ACTION ALERT -- August 2009

Say No to Alaska Railroad Herbicide Spraying!
Protect Water Quality, Salmon, and Community Health!

On July 15, 2009, the Alaska Railroad Corporation applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to spray a toxic mixture of herbicides along 90 miles of the railway system from the rail yard in Seward to Indian. The herbicide mixture includes the herbicide glyphosate and Agridex, a petroleum-based surfactant. The proposed herbicide spraying threatens salmon streams, drinking water sources, berry-picking areas, and neighborhoods in close proximity to the Railroad.

Please take action! Your voice can make a difference!

• Testify at public hearings scheduled in Whittier, Seward or Anchorage!
• Please see the notice of public hearings on the proposed permit at the Department of Environmental Conservation website.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE

WHITTIER: Monday, August 10—City Council Chambers, P-12 Building (intersection of Whittier Street and Glacier Avenue) from 4:00-6:30 PM

SEWARD: Tuesday, August 11—Seward Marine Center/RM Rae Education Building at 125 3^rd Avenue from 4:00-6:30 PM

ANCHORAGE: Wednesday, August 12—Marriott Downtown Hotel at 7^th and I Street from 4:00-6:30 PM

Talking points:

• Chemical control of weeds is unnecessary and harmful.
• Citizens of Alaska must insist on the use of safe, effective, non-toxic alternatives that will provide healthy jobs.
• The herbicide glyphosate is associated with harm to human health including endocrine, reproductive, and developmental effects. The petroleum-based surfactant Agridex contains a proprietary combination of chemicals including at least two that are considered as likely to cause cancer.
• Alaskans have spoken—people have successfully opposed the spraying of herbicides since the 1980s! In 2006, when the Railroad last applied for a permit to apply herbicides, strong public opposition prevented DEC from issuing the permit. Letters and resolutions of opposition were written by tribes, municipalities, and Borough governments including: Native Village of Eklutna, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Denali Borough, City of Seward, and Municipality of Anchorage.

Submit written comments: If you can’t participate in the public hearings, submit written comments no later than September 15 to Stephanie Stewart, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Email: Stephanie.Stewart@alaska.gov; Phone: (907) 269-7644; Fax: (907) 269-7654

Please contact Alaska Community Action on Toxics for more information at (907) 222-7714; email pkmiller@akaction.net; or visit our website.

Please DONATE. Join us as a member of Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) at $35/year, volunteer, or consider an additional financial contribution to support our work. Thank you.

Mission: to assure justice by advocating for environmental and community health. We believe that everyone has the right to clean air, clean water, and toxic-free foods.

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