On numerous occasions, I have seen several postings published that took great delight in bashing the little "village by the river". The majority of these postings came from individuals that have very close ties to this wonderful little community, a community "that is what Alaska use to be". Anchor Point and the Anchor River is recognized throughout the world for some world class fishing, in both the Anchor River and our marine fisheries. The Anchor River is a destination point for those fishermen, that enjoy fishing for the sake of fishing.
This weekend was a historic weekend for Anchor Point, your choice of recreational opportunities abound. The Anchor River Silver Salmon fishery is just short of excellent, however, this weekend you can also enjoy playing or simply being a spectator at the First Annual Fireweed Meadows Invitational Golf Tournament. Remember that golf course that someone posted pictures and made some snide remarks about, the fairways look good and the greens are professional. The driving range has also been very popular for those that just want to practice their dressing techniques. If golf is not your bag, on this weekend, you can drive down the road one half mile from the golf course and river to enjoy the Alaska State Championship Motor Cross races. Race teams from throughout the state have converged on this little community for this event.
Why is this happening in Anchor Point? Well, it is easy to analyze, the "little hamlet by the sea" does not have a river in which you can find great Silver Salmon fishing. However, they do have a abandon gravel pit out on Coney Island that you can fish shoulder to shoulder and hopefully snag a salmon if you have properly rigged up the way the local tackle shop across the street has demonstrated to you. The Lions Club of this little hamlet sponsors the Motor Cross races, but not within the City Limits of Homer - to much noise and pollution! Don't even think about a Jet Ski on Kachemak Bay, that is a felony charge but they do allow jet boats access to the same water. Although the climate is more susceptible to golf courses and there is a small 9 hole course available for your use, but it is similar to playing
"wacky golf" in a pasture. Now don't get me wrong, I am not putting the little hamlet down, I was raised in this fine community, my children grew up in this same community, but the landscape, although beautiful has changed over the years. Perhaps, you have to be "territorial" to appreciate what has actually occurred to some of our smaller communities and especially our larger cities like LA. To analyze this, I have set up a simple standard of profiling Alaskan's. "Territorial" is those of us that remember the qualities of Alaska prior to Statehood. "Earthquakers" are those Alaskan's that arrived in Alaska prior to the great earthquake of 1964. "Pre-pipeliners" are those individuals that arrived within the state prior to the development of the North Slope. "Pipeliners" are those that arrived in Alaska to make their fortune during the construction of the pipeline. "Pre-Zobels are those that arrived in Alaska prior to the passage of the Permanent Dividend Fund". "Ron and Penny Alaskans" are those that came to Alaska after the Supreme Court decision that ruled the dividend payments could not be made based on the length of residence in Alaska (the longer you lived here the greater the amount of the dividend). "Dividenders" are those that moved to Alaska to take advantage of the dividend that we all now receive on a equal basis, regardless of length of residence. "Carpetbaggers" these are those that come to Alaska with a small handbag and head south to live and spend the money they made in Alaska, this group would include fishing guides, commercial fishermen, lodge owners, tour companies, and oil field workers that commute to and from Alaska to work, earn their bucks and head south to enjoy the "good life".
What affect has this had on Alaska, in 1960 the population of Alaska was 226,167 people, which is less than the current population of LA. By the year of 2004 the population increased to 655,435. In 1960, a total of 236 violent crimes occurred in Alaska, by the year 2004 that same crime rate rose to 4,159. In 1960, a total of 47 rapes occurred by 2004 this statistic rose to 558. Anchor Point may be a sleepy little village, but the great thing about it is that it is what Alaska use to be. The only murder that we have had here occurred last spring, but it does not really count because she was killed in LA and then dumped on our beach! How fortunate we are, those of us that live in the little village by the river.