Fairbanks Ak Real Estate News & Info

This morning the thermometer outside my kitchen window said it was a balmy -12. Yep. That's twelve degrees BELOW zero. Brrr. If this is your first foray into the arctic you might be feeling as though you've been dropped off in an icy abyss. Take heart, this will feel warm at -60, I promise.

First things first though; winter survival. Take it seriously, as old man winter can be an unforgiving old coot.

Alaska is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. With millions of acres of unspoiled wilderness right out our back door, there's something for everyone. Watching the temps drop doesn't curb our desire to be out and enjoying the beauty of nature, it just changes how we dress for it.

What is there to do when hell freezes over? Snow machining, hiking, cross country or downhill skiing, dog sledding, aurora watching, warming your bones in the mineral hot springs and ski-joring among many others. Of course, we do occasionally trade our carharts and bunny boots for more cultured pursuits. Both the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre and the Fairbanks Symphony Association have a full winter calendar for those days you just don't feel like braving the weather. Watching the mercury drop also means hot buttered rum and snow cream... at least in our house. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Have questions about what to do and where to do it? Send us an email... we're always happy to help.

Belonging to a family in which cancer has taken a hearty toll I can think of nothing else I would so love to see wiped from the face of the earth. Perhaps brussel sprouts, but first things first. As evidenced by the little pink ribbons popping up everywhere, most folks know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Thanks to the addition of mobile mammogram clinics in '95 and '97 and new units in 2003 and again in 2006, the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska serves a vast area from the Bering Sea to the North Slope and just about everywhere in between.

The Center also hosts an education outreach program. One such program is the Breast Health Clinic being held this Saturday October 11th and again on October 25th. From their website;

..."For women interested in learning more about Breast Self Exams & breast health. The class will include a lecture and practice session. The instruction will be provided by Jo Miller PA/C (certified physicians assistant) who is a certified clinical breast examiner through the National Consortium of Breast Centers..."

For more information or to register for the upcoming clinic, please call the Center office at 907.479.3909 or email bcdc@acsalaska.net.

According to the National Cancer Institute there have been almost 185,000 new cases of breast cancer and 41,000 deaths in 2008 alone. As they say, early detection is the key. Make the appointment that could just save your life.

In this case it is easy being green. Alaska Green Star is holding a fall recycling event this Saturday and Monday from 10:00AM - 4:00PM in the back parking lot of the Westmark Hotel on 8th and Noble (Google Maps Link). Green Star collected 12 tons from the recycling drive in April - a number they're hoping to match or exceed.

According to the National Safety Council approximately 41 million computers became outdated in 2004 and 63 million in 2005. That number was expected to reach upwards of 500 million in 2007. Research shows that 75% of outdated, unused computers are stored and awaiting disposal.

Electronic equipment contains a myriad of hazardous materials. A typical desktop computer contains between 2-4 pounds of lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, lithium, brominate flame retardants and phosphorus. Do something green and recycle your old unwanted electronics.

The electronics you turn in will be sorted and packed for shipment to a recycling center in Seattle (the closest recycling plant). Many of the materials in those old electronics items such as the plastics, glass, steel, gold, lead, mercury, cadmium and fire retardants can be recaptured for reuse. The recycling process separates CRT's and other equipment into component parts, some of which will be used to reduce our demand for raw materials and of course, reduce the amount of waste pouring into the landfill.

There is a nominal cost for disposing of your old electronics ranging from .50 cents to $38 depending on what you wish to recycle. A bulk discount was offered in April although no mention has been made of it for this even. Regardless, get together with your friends and colleagues and get rid of that old equipment you're not using.

Get involved. This is something we can all easily do to protect our pristine environment.

There are a few items that will not be accepted; video and audio cassette tapes, smoke detectors, loose batteries, vacuum cleaners, household electric appliances without a circuit board (toasters, vacuum cleaners, etc.). For more information please contact Interior Alaska Green Star at (907) 452-4152 or info@iagreenstar.org.

With energy costs in Alaska still some of the highest in the nation, it's no surprise that the cost of heating fuel has been a major topic of discussion in Fairbanks lately. While my crystal ball is on the fritz it's a fairly safe bet that heating costs will be significantly higher this winter than last. However, there are some things you can do to ease the pain of seeing the fuel invoice hanging on your door.

Shopping for the best price goes without saying, but don't forget to see what programs are available to help with the cost, such as;

* Cash Discounts: Ask if your fuel company offers a discount for cash payments and/or immediate payments.

* Employer Plan: Ask if the fuel company offers a discount plan to employees of your company?

* Builder/Contractor Discount: If you have a new home, ask if your builder gets a special rate and if you can be on their plan.

* Multi-Property Discount: If you own several properties, you could be eligible for a discounted per gallon rate.

Budget plans are another very popular option in the Interior. The fuel company will estimate the total cost of fuel for your home for the winter and divide that amount by 12 months. A home with an annual heating oil expense of $6,000 will be billed $500 per month.

Another important reminder is to sign up for auto-fill with your fuel company of choice. With auto-fill your fuel company will keep your tank full by making a delivery (generally) once a month. You'll get a significant price per-gallon discount by being an auto-fill customer. Those folks who order small quantities of fuel at a time often pay as much as 30%-35% more than auto-fill customers. Ordering an emergency after-hours delivery because you ran out of fuel will cost even more - in cost per gallon and damage from a freeze up.

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