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The family and friends of Hannah Solomon want to get the word out early about her 100th birthday and hope she receives 100 birthday cards.

That shouldn’t be too hard if a small percentage of the people she has connected with throughout the years take the time to write.

Her friends are invited to a potluck dinner on her birthday, Oct. 10, from 5-11 p.m. at the Chena River Convention Center.

Solomon, who was married to Paul Solomon for 46 years, had 17 children. Her family includes 68 grandchildren, 138 great-grandchildren, 122 great-great-grandchildren and 30 great-great-great grandchildren, with two new arrivals in the last week.

Born in Old Rampart, she is known for her work in helping get the Fairbanks Native Association started and for her artistic beadwork, examples of which are in many of the nation’s major museums.

She has lived in Fairbanks since 1965, and her mind remains sharp, though she spends a lot of time these days in a wheelchair.

“She is healthy, wealthy and wise,” said Daisy Stevens, one of her daughters.

She was the first employee of the Fairbanks Native Association and also was active with the Alaska Federation of Natives, Tanana Chiefs Conference and Doyon Ltd. since those organizations began, attending all the meetings.

“When she lost her sight, she had to give up her beadwork, but she could still crochet,” according to a legislative citation, honoring her for her 100th birthday. “After 9-11, Hannah crocheted a red, white and blue scarf for all her sons who had served in the armed forces. No one knew how she was able to coordinate the colors. She managed to crochet an afghan for all of her children.”

She plays a game of solitaire every night before bed. She welcomes visitors and enjoys their company. And if you come and shake her hand, even though she cannot see you, she will tell you your family tree and the stories she remembers of growing up.

In an interview 20 years ago, Solomon said everyone worked hard during her early years in Fort Yukon, and they loved the life.

“Our menfolk went out hunting; they went fishing; they trapped,” she said. “We had a happy life. We knew what we had to do.”

Solomon still lives in her house with help from her children, and she has a great memory of people she has known throughout the years. She thought for many years that she was born in 1909 because that’s what she had been told, but when her family ordered her birth certificate, they discovered she was born in 1908.

If you would like to mail her a birthday card, her address is:  Hannah Paul Solomon, 1512 22nd Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701.

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GREAT DEBATE: The League of Women Voters is hosting a municipal candidate forum Tuesday from 7-10 p.m. at the Borough Assembly chambers.  This is a great chance to hear what local candidates have to say about pressing issues facing local government.

The public is welcome to attend or listen on KUAC-FM.

The first hour is for the assembly candidates, followed by the school board, the North Pole City Council and the Fairbanks City Council.

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GIVING THANKS: John Vogt, a recent widower, has a debt he wants to pay.

“A lovely lady brought me a rhubarb pie for Father’s Day,” he said.

He didn’t get her name, and his neighbors in Aurora don’t know her name as she wasn’t in the neighborhood long.

He said he wants to get in touch with the woman and thank her directly for her kindness. His number is 452-3785.

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GONE TO IRAQ: The last large contingent of Fort Wainwright soldiers departed for Iraq on Thursday, with most of them flying out of Eielson on chartered jumbo jets.

There were more than 14 flights, using DC-10s, 747s, MD-11s, C-5s and C-17s.

The Stryker brigade has deployed more than 4,200 soldiers and 16 military working dogs.

More than 9,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were served to the soldiers by the tireless volunteers of the Armed Services YMCA.

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VENDING MACHINES: The vending machine at Lathrop that sells regular pop has a timer so that it shuts down between 7:20 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., per the school district “wellness” policy, according to the latest edition of the Lathrop Paystreak, the student paper.

The Paystreak also notes that the schools have shifted from Pepsi to Coke products with a change in vendors.

One of the headlines in the newspaper asks “Is ‘Tropic Thunder’ the greatest movie ever made?”

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DANCE POLICY: At West Valley High School, Principal Shaun Kraska sent home a copy of the school dance policies last week in advance of the homecoming dance on Thursday.

During a recent lunch with several of my friends at Gambardella’s, most on the plus side of 50, we reviewed the policy about the dress code, the simple “face to face and leave some space” rule and other specifics.

The West Valley parent at the table who brought the policy wanted to know if any of us knew what it meant when it said that “grinding” and “freaking” are prohibited. We could guess, but we weren’t 100 percent sure.

No one at the table has ever been nominated for membership in Mensa or been accused of knowing what’s happening with today’s youths, so we needed help. One of my friends called his college-age daughter.

It turns out that every self-respecting teenager knows what this means, but perhaps the school district should include a dance policy glossary for other parents in the clueless class.

If you have a comment or a column suggestion, contact me at cole@newsminer.com or 459-7530.