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This would be a terrible time to have a ticket booked to Hawaii, now that winter has decided to play spring for a while. Isn’t this weather just great? What a difference a couple of weeks make. Our woodpile had been getting low, so with the break in the weather we’ve been able to re-supply. We’ve been outside without coats and hats, which then makes you feel like you’ve lost something — namely about 20 pounds. The cats have been outside for a change — climbing things and freaking out, the vehicle starts without a fight, and I even put our dog’s food bowl outside. A break from the drool!

But I know this warm-up can’t last forever. I remember last year’s March temps that hovered around 20 below all month.

That’s probably all right though. I know I’ve got at least one friend who is already realizing how soon spring will be here and then she has to face “The List.” All Alaskans know about “The List.” It starts in spring and doesn’t go away until late September.

Things could be worse. We could be stuck in Hawaii right now. Yuck.

Festival of Lights wrap-up

If you missed last weekend’s festivities, mark your calendar for next year. Despite a brutal wind, a good crowd came out to watch the Polar Bear Plunge and do a little shopping at the trade fair and galleria. Later that night, I was really impressed by the fireworks show, which probably lasted 15 to 20 minutes. Awesome! Thanks go out to the Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event and got us to forget about winter for a minute.

Free homebuilding workshops

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension is offering two free workshops this weekend. The first one is from 1-4 p.m. Friday at the Delta Career Advancement Center. Rich Seifert will present a course called “Retrofitting Your Home.” Then on Saturday, Rich will teach a workshop titled “Cold Climate Homebuilding Techniques” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also at the Delta Career Advancement Center. This workshop includes a manual and a CD. Topics for both workshops will include windows, ventilation, cold climate options, retrofitting, indoor air quality, roofs and foundations. To register, call Christy Roden at 895-8324.

Spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Alexis Flynn

A little girl who needs a kidney transplant is getting some help from local residents. Plan on coming out to the Clearwater Lodge on Saturday from 6-8:30 p.m. for a spaghetti dinner to help support Alexis and her family as they raise funds for the procedure. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. From 8:30-9:30 p.m., there will be an auction and then local band The Legends will take the stage. Tickets to see only the band are $5.

Alexis was born on Nov. 15, 2005, and was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. She is in need of a lifesaving kidney transplant.

Donations may be made in person at any Wells Fargo Bank branch location using account number 8837027047 or mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association at 2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN, 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA with “In Honor of Alexis Flynn” written on the memo line of the check. Secure credit card donations are also accepted online at http://www.cotaforalexisf.com/.

If you would like to volunteer to assist in fundraising activities, please contact Rose Edgren at 895-4043.

Hockey team grabs championship

Congratulations to the Delta Huskies hockey team, which beat undefeated Glennallen to take the Greatland Conference State Championship. Great job guys!