The Gitana Mirochnik / The Citizen
The Associated Press
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, seen with daughter Piper, right, and Willow, holding son Trig, could be visiting Auburn in June.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, seen with daughter Piper, right, and Willow, holding son Trig, could be visiting Auburn in June.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is planning a possible visit to Auburn for the city's first Founder's Day celebration.
The tentative plan was confirmed by spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton Wednesday afternoon.
“The governor is very excited about the possibility. It is tentatively on her schedule and she absolutely hopes to be there but this far out, we are not absolutely ready to confirm it,” Stapleton said.
The festival will be an annual event celebrating the founding of the city of Auburn and some of its most influential citizens. This year's theme is the 50th anniversary of the statehood of Alaska.
The connection between Alaska and Auburn is apparent, said Peter Wisbey, executive director of the Seward House.
“The ties between William Seward and Alaska are certainly clear. Seward, as the secretary of state, helped purchase Alaska in 1867 and the city of Auburn in 1959 celebrated Alaskan statehood with a huge parade,” Wisbey said.
“I think it was the desire of the city and the Seward House to recapture that community spirit 50 years later and clearly, in her role as governor of Alaska, (Palin) is the natural person to extend the invitation to.”
In planning the event, there were discussions about how beneficial it would be to celebrate Seward because of the 50th anniversary of Alaska becoming a state and the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, said David Stapleton, who sits on the Seward House board of directors and is also Meghan's father.
“All the events that we've had celebrating Seward's life have involved the monumental achievement of the purchase of Alaska from Russia. ... We've had dignitaries from Alaska in the past come to certain celebrations for Alaska. So, it was natural to see if we could have the head of state of Alaska grace us with her presence,” he said.
The governor's spokeswoman said Palin is honored and is hoping she is able to attend.
“More than a century ago, an Auburnian, Secretary of State William H. Seward, recognized Alaska's inherent value,” Stapleton said. “As Alaska celebrates 50 years of statehood, Gov. Sarah Palin appreciates the invitation and looks forward to the possibility of celebrating the life of that man who continues to be recognized throughout Alaska.”
Founder's Day
Tentative schedule and events for the Founder's Day (June 6) festivities:
• A parade through downtown Auburn beginning at 11 a.m.
• A ceremony following the parade with a guest speaker
• Arts and food vendors
• Music and entertainment throughout the afternoon
• An evening of dancing with the Joe Whiting Band beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information on Founder's Day, please contact committee chairperson Sheli Graney at 252-0950 or sheligraney@yahoo.com
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
The tentative plan was confirmed by spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton Wednesday afternoon.
“The governor is very excited about the possibility. It is tentatively on her schedule and she absolutely hopes to be there but this far out, we are not absolutely ready to confirm it,” Stapleton said.
The festival will be an annual event celebrating the founding of the city of Auburn and some of its most influential citizens. This year's theme is the 50th anniversary of the statehood of Alaska.
The connection between Alaska and Auburn is apparent, said Peter Wisbey, executive director of the Seward House.
“The ties between William Seward and Alaska are certainly clear. Seward, as the secretary of state, helped purchase Alaska in 1867 and the city of Auburn in 1959 celebrated Alaskan statehood with a huge parade,” Wisbey said.
“I think it was the desire of the city and the Seward House to recapture that community spirit 50 years later and clearly, in her role as governor of Alaska, (Palin) is the natural person to extend the invitation to.”
In planning the event, there were discussions about how beneficial it would be to celebrate Seward because of the 50th anniversary of Alaska becoming a state and the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, said David Stapleton, who sits on the Seward House board of directors and is also Meghan's father.
“All the events that we've had celebrating Seward's life have involved the monumental achievement of the purchase of Alaska from Russia. ... We've had dignitaries from Alaska in the past come to certain celebrations for Alaska. So, it was natural to see if we could have the head of state of Alaska grace us with her presence,” he said.
The governor's spokeswoman said Palin is honored and is hoping she is able to attend.
“More than a century ago, an Auburnian, Secretary of State William H. Seward, recognized Alaska's inherent value,” Stapleton said. “As Alaska celebrates 50 years of statehood, Gov. Sarah Palin appreciates the invitation and looks forward to the possibility of celebrating the life of that man who continues to be recognized throughout Alaska.”
Founder's Day
Tentative schedule and events for the Founder's Day (June 6) festivities:
• A parade through downtown Auburn beginning at 11 a.m.
• A ceremony following the parade with a guest speaker
• Arts and food vendors
• Music and entertainment throughout the afternoon
• An evening of dancing with the Joe Whiting Band beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information on Founder's Day, please contact committee chairperson Sheli Graney at 252-0950 or sheligraney@yahoo.com
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 15 comment(s)
former resident of auburn wrote on Mar 20, 2009 8:38 AM:
Well, not surprised to read that you think MS. Palin is doing such a fine job. Like I wrote before, she should be doing a BETTER job, what with only 700,000 people to govern. (Very bewildering to hear that Hugo Chavez has had to donate heating oil to the Native Alaskans, since it costs too much for them to purchase. What with all the oil reserves, either MS. Palin or the PFD Commission should step in to help.) No comments about her shooting down wolves from a helicopter, just for 'bloody' fun? Her 'compassionate christianity'?
I'm disappointed, though, that neither of you answered my question about what would be happening if John McCain had become president instead. You either can't or WON'T give your opinions on what would be going on right now if McCain and MS. Palin were running the country. After all, you're such loyal supporters of the GOP; you're probably too scared to make personal comments, without being told what talking points to use by Limbaugh. When your political party ceases to exist, you won't know what to do or how to think. Very sad, to waste so much time and so much potential, being afraid to think for yourselves and live your lives on your terms. Well, maybe the Republican party can come back and be the way it was during the time of our beloved President Lincoln. If he saw what was going on with the GOP of today, I bet he would change party affiliations in a heartbeat. This definitely is NOT the party of Lincoln...
I will make this observation: If MS. Palin is the only person you Republicans have to run against President Obama; then he'll EASILY win re-election in 2012. Aah, how nice that would be, to watch MS. Palin try to be president. No matter how hard she studies or memorizes talking points, she'll NEVER be accepted as a serious candidate and she'll NEVER be elected president of this country...
Care to comment? "
daydreamer wrote on Mar 20, 2009 7:01 AM:
pentangelli wrote on Mar 20, 2009 6:18 AM:
DO YOU REALLY THINK THIS PERSON IS WORTHY OF "ANYONE'S" ATTENTION ? "
Oa wrote on Mar 20, 2009 4:01 AM:
redleg93 wrote on Mar 20, 2009 2:03 AM:
As far as the money we get back from the permenant fund (PFD), that is regulated by the PFD commission not the GOV, so get your facts straight before you go spouting off about my state. "
brew1234 wrote on Mar 20, 2009 1:39 AM:
brulin wrote on Mar 19, 2009 8:17 PM:
former resident of auburn wrote on Mar 19, 2009 5:01 PM:
You better believe I'm happy. Our President Obama is doing a fine job! :) By the way, it was Bush who started this spending of money by his tax cuts to the rich and super-rich and his Illegal and Immoral Invasion of Iraq. Also, from 1994 to January 2007 the Republican party was the majority in Congress and did they set their Neo-Con agenda! In the late 1990s the Republican majority in Congress pushed through Deregulations, telling everyone that companies and Wall Street could police themselves, and that the Federal Government has no business checking up on questionable trades or practices. We all see what happened with that: mainly the Banking Bailout, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Bernie Madoff. When GREED is allowed to go unchecked, people go crazy.
Also, the Republican majority in Congress passed EVERY SINGLE spending bill Bush asked for, no matter what the cost.
Do you think if things were reversed and John McCain had been elected president that he would be approving a Stimulus package to create jobs and help the working poor and middle class? I doubt it. He would be pushing for Permanent, Eternal tax cuts for the rich and super-rich, ignoring the rest of us, and planning on Invading Iran.
Our President Obama is cleaning up your guy's MESSES... "
teacher1 wrote on Mar 19, 2009 4:59 PM:
united we wish wrote on Mar 19, 2009 4:32 PM:
brulin wrote on Mar 19, 2009 3:37 PM:
Obama sure knows how to spend money the country doesn't have.
I am also a former resident and believe it would greatly enhance the celebration if the Governor could appear. This would not be about politics.
I plan on returning to Auburn to enjoy the celebration whether the Governor is able to appear or not. "
former resident of auburn wrote on Mar 19, 2009 1:19 PM:
Considering Alaska has about 700,000 people, compared to a population of over 19 million people in New York, it SHOULD be simple for Gov. Palin to run the state efficiently. But don't forget the cost of living is High in Alaska and only 5% of the oil money is given back to the population--it should be a heck of a lot more, due to the abundance of reserves. So, in my opinion, Gov. Palin is doing the Minimum of what she should be able to do for the people of her state. Not very impressive... "
former resident of auburn wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:49 PM:
chris van note wrote on Mar 19, 2009 12:41 PM:
united we wish wrote on Mar 19, 2009 11:40 AM: