newsminer.com

Not to be sensationalistic about this, but the Denali Elementary School first-graders plant to attack aliens today.

They plan to head to Creamer’s Field and go after the bird vetch, which is a lovely name for an invasive plant that doesn’t belong in these parts.

The first-graders, taught by Christine Villano and Deana Martin-Muth, have been part of a yearlong research project on the problems that occur with this plant that grows along fences, roadsides and in the forest. The problem is that the vetch slows the growth of native plants.

It was introduced in Alaska a century ago as a forage crop, but escaped cultivated fields and has spread like wildfire.

The kids will look for mats and vines of the vetch and pull them up.

One of the impressive parts of this project is that Katie Villano, who worked with her mom on this project, received her master’s degree Sunday from UAF. She studied ecology and biology in graduate school.

The first-graders did tests this year that show the bird vetch seems to grow better in areas that have been burned. So this is something for land managers to watch for as part of fire response planning.

•••

HELPING OUT: The friends of Nathan Burgess and his family are planning a spaghetti feed fundraiser May 21 at Monroe High School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Silent auction items are welcome to join a growing list of donations. Call Charlie Whitaker at 388-2305 if you can donate items or want tickets.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and $20 for a family.

This is to help the Burgess family deal with huge medical bills associated with Nathan’s fight against cancer.

The son of Andy Burgess and Lin Gale, this West Valley student has been fighting this life-threatening illness for more than a year.

The Nathan Burgess Donation Account is open at the Wells Fargo Bank branch at University Avenue and Geist Road.

Deposits can be made at any Wells Fargo Branch or checks can be sent to: Wells Fargo Bank, 794 University Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99709.

Eric Troyer, a family friend, is handling the account. If you have questions, call him at 455-6641 or write to him at etcl@acsalaska.net.

•••

RETIREMENT: Teacher Claudia Hall and principal Mary Short are retiring, but the Pearl Creek PTA doesn’t want them to go without a sendoff.

Former students of Hall and Short and their families are invited to join the current crop of Puffins on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for a social. It will be outside the school on the playground, weather permitting. If it rains, the cake and punch will be served inside the school.

“We would love it if past students and parents came and shared stories and were able to bid our retirees a fond farewell and thank them for their many years of service to the children,” said parent Liz Kane.

•••

CLEANUP: It seems that we missed a spot or two.

Various areas were not cleaned up Saturday, which means that there is still work to be done. Any more volunteers?

Perhaps we need a Cleanup Month instead of a Cleanup Week.