Cooper Landing Gem- February 2023

Dear Members,

We have had a few days that it actually felt like spring was in the air. Mother Nature of course was fooling us as it has dropped below freezing again. The days are getting longer and for those in the shadow of Cecil Mountain for the past few months, the sun is going to be creeping over his peak daily.

There have been a lot of activities at the Baptist Church. The most recent the chili-cook off which was a great success. They have another one planned for this month. Great way to warm up a January.

The Upper Kenai Visitors Guide is now completed and has been sent to the printer. The digital version is available for viewing now.

We are beginning to plan for the 2023 Regatta, held in May. Start thinking about getting those muscles in shape to win!

Per the Chugach National Forest website the Russian River Campground will not open until May 29th this summer. There is no update posted for the 2023 summer.

We want to welcome our new members to the Chamber:

• Kenai Lake Baptist Church

• Our Place Rentals

• Resurrection Trail House

• Sourdough Dru’s Gifts & Gold

• Trail Lake Lodge

Thank you to all our members for their continued support with memberships and advertising in our Upper Kenai River Guide. May you all have a prosperous year!

Happy Valentines!

Cooper Landing Community School Activities

Our local non-profit Community School program is offering the following activities:

2023 Planner Jam - Friday, February 24, 1-3pm, Community Hall

Melissa Fish is going to get the fire crackling and set up big work tables and ambience suitable for quietly setting up your planners, calendars, any organizing you might like to do, in a slightly social situation. You can bring tea or snacks and enjoy two hours of cozy productivity in the Community Hall. Ages 12+.

Walk or Workout - Mondays-Fridays (school days only), 7:30-8:30am and 2:30-3:30pm, Cooper Landing School Gymnasium.

Walk laps, or use the step climber, rowing machine, universal weight system, and free weights. Adults only, please.

Tot Time! - Mondays and Wednesdays, 12-1pm, Cooper Landing School Gymnasium

Bring the little ones out to play with friends, run in the gym, and work off some energy.

Yoga - Now on Thursdays, 9am, Cooper Landing Community Hall

With focus on breath work, strength and yoga flow, our hope is to create a space and a practice for all community members that will be progressive through the winter. Note: We will be practicing with music. Bring your own mat. Props and modifications will be available. $5 per session. Call/text Dusty Byrd for more information, 907-202-0129.

Volleyball - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6pm, Cooper Landing School Gymnasium

Adults only. Please have clean, non-marking shoes to play in.

All activities during school hours (afternoon Walk/Workout and Tot Time) require participants to first complete a school volunteer application, found here. When the application has been approved, you will be notified by email. You can then participate in these activities. Please feel free to stop by the school between 9am and 3pm for assistance with this application.

If you have ideas for future activities or would like to teach an adult or youth class through Community School, please contact us at cooperlandingcommunityschool@gmail.com.

Contact Us:

cooperlandingcommunityschool@gmail.com

www.clcommunityschool.webs.com

Cooper Landing Emergency Services

CLES Receives AK DHSS Grant to Address Substance Abuse/Misuse Linkage to Care

Cooper Landing Emergency Services was awarded a grant from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services in conjunction with the State of Alaska Office of EMS in late 2022. The requested funds were dedicated to the purchase of technologies that would enhance the linkage to care for clients suffering substance use/misuse. CLES was able to acquire several significant items that will certainly enhance care for such clients with addiction disorders. CLES relies heavily on community donations and grant monies to fund purchases beyond normal operating costs. We continually strive to provide the highest quality level response to any fire or EMS emergency in the Cooper Landing response area. As such, we are constantly evaluating our tools and technology to ensure we have the most upto-date reliable equipment that will best serve the community.

As we identify deficits or areas of needed improvement, we prioritize funding based on availability and need.

As part of this grant, CLES was able to purchase a Laerdal MegaCode Kelly™ simulation manikin to aid in training our volunteers in the management of patients suffering substance use disorders such as acute opioid overdose. This manikin has many functionalities that can simulate conditions that can be treated by both basic EMS providers as well as advanced Paramediclevel providers. Training on this manikin will significantly increase the quality of care we provide to this patient population.

CLES volunteers practice CPR on a patient suffering a potential overdose.

CLES volunteers treat simulated overdose patient with Narcan.

In addition to the manikin, CLES was able to purchase a subscription to training software that provides online EMS training in many areas including those on substance abuse/misuse to improve caregiver proficiency and knowledge. Most patients CLES encounters require EKG and vital sign monitoring. Another technology acquired was the ability to electronically transmit all data and vital sign data to the receiving hospital when a patient is transported for further care. This technology will expedite the patient’s care on arrival at the hospital. Lastly, CLES was able to purchase a CPR meter that measures the effectiveness of chest compressions. In recent years, significant emphasis has been placed on chest compressions as a predictor of outcomes for patients suffering cardiac arrest. This new meter will guide the provider to perform the most optimal chest compressions. Overall, this grant award will significantly

Cooper Landing Advisory Planning Commission

CLAPC will be holding its February 8th meeting as planned. One topic of discussion will be the Kenai Penisula Borough draft Affordable Housing report.

The meeting will not be physically open to the public, but one can participate through Zoom.

enhance CLES’s ability to enhance the linkage to care for patient’s suffering substance abuse/ misuse. Unfortunately, the main highway corridors to Seward and the South Peninsula pass through the Cooper Landing response area and as such, CLES sees a significant number of patients annually suffering substance abuse issues. CLES is poised to provide optimal care to this population over the coming years.

Cooper Landing Library News

2023 In-Person Book Club - 6pm @ library

February 3 Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Zoom Book Club Dates - 9am Video Call (email cooperlandinglibrary@gmail.com to be added to the Zoom list)

• February 21 The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

• March 21 King Peggy by Peggielene Bartels

Winter Library Hours

Monday 1-3 pm

Tuesday 3-5 pm

Wednesday 1-3 pm

Thursday 1-3pm

Friday 1- 3 pm

Saturday 11am - 2 pm

Contact Us: 907-595-1241

These books are available for checkout at the library! Click

cooperlandinglibrary@gmail.com

www.cooperlandinglibrary.com

Cooper Landing Community Library

Cooper Landing Gem News

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