Arctic Quest 2

Load up with new products at local markets

New things to look for at the local markets this week include: Cook Inlet king and sockeye salmon, radishes, strawberries, onions, nagoonberry plants, Chinese cabbage, red currant syrup and flax seed bread.

Stop by a market or two and load up for the week.

According to Arthur Keyes of Glacier Valley Farm and Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics things are really picking up speed.

"We have had another great week farming out here in the Valley," Keyes says. "In the fields I saw my first squash blossoms on Friday. We should have zucchini in two weeks or so."

"Summer is gaining steam," Bean says. "Every week more veggies jump onto the harvest list, which is very exciting. But, we are also very happy to be able to catch our breath a little during this transition period between planting season and heavy harvesting."

This week at the Spenard Farmers Market the focus is children with "Kids Day" scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. "under the windmill" on Spenard Road.

Some of the special events include a Make It/Take it booth sponsored by Home Depot, a sidewalk chalk art area by Blaine's Art and a Blooming Artist Youth Booth featuring Laura Gordon. Additionally, Matanuska Creamery will offer free milk and cookies. (And big kids can sample some of the creamery's cheese curds in garlic dill, salsa, chive and onion, Italian and ranch flavors.)

Some vendor highlights include: daikon and cherry radishes, red and white onions, chives, rhubard and raspberry plants ( Ba-Lescas Brothers Produce ); green bell pepper starts, tomato plants, rhubarb strawberry jam and homemade goat milk soap ( Sexton Farms ); Alaska native plants, including birch, aspen, wild geraniums, nagoonberries, bluebells and dwarf fireweed ( Bonnie Scherer's studio and farm ); fresh rhubarb, strawberry plants, Boyne raspberry starts and red currant syrup ( Midnight Sun Farm ); Kachemak Bay Oysters ( Northern Lights Oysters ); and mixed greens, pac choi and Chinese cabbage ( Chugach Farm ).

The Spenard market accepts Quest cards. The food stamp pilot program is sponsored by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Quest cardholders need to stop at the information booth before shopping. For more information, visit www.spenardfarmersmarket.org or facebook.com/spenardfarmersmarket .

Arctic Quest 2

The snow king's evil son wants earth to be a gigantic, solid blue ice marble and we're not ready to be frozen so let's foil his plans before we turn into popsicles! Earth simply cannot become an icy prison for all living creatures. To reverse this most unfortunate situation, you've got to solve challenging inlay puzzles. Use your special powers to help you win, including water elements that can fill in the empty pieces of a puzzle and fire elements that can burn through all of your hard work!

Hands-on Social Studies : Grade 2

Under Polaris, an Arctic quest

The Best Men's Stage Monologues of 2000

Issues for debate in environmental management, selections from CQ researcher

Scientific American