Today, friends and family gathered at the Ft. Richardson National Cemetery to honor H.A. "Red" Boucher who passed away earlier this year. The ceremony was memorable for its Gun Salute, Folded Flag presentation to Vicky Boucher, Taps, Bagpipes, and a special poem tribute offered by Bob "Joker" Lupo (NGP Photo). Many mutual friends met under the little outdoor chapel canopy, including Dave Donley, Mike Felix, Joe Griffith, Johnny Ellis and many more. Red had always been intensely patriotic and public spirited, winning a handful of elective offices ranging from Fairbanks Mayor to Anchorage Assembly Member…from Lieutenant Governor to State legislator. Red had always been a nut for new technology, particularly in the world of the Internet and computing. He was always miles ahead of his competitors in using computers and high speed, high quality printers. He collaborated with Texas Instruments and MIT. While helping him with various campaigns decades ago, he acquainted me with Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock, an experience that affected Red’s outlook and political acumen and my own sense of trend strategy and marketing. Over ten years ago, Red called me one day and said, "You’ve got to get off Yahoo and start using Google." I did, but never purchased the stock. I hope he did. Coming to a ‘saving’ faith in Jesus Christ late in life, Red’s perspective changed to that of following the path set forth by the Holy Spirit. Probably for that reason, his last years were especially meaningful and comforting for his family and many friends. We spent many pleasant hours discussing oil and gas tax and pipeline policy over the years. -DH
Alaska Dispatch by Patti Epler. The notion that citizens should help oversee oil industry operations is getting some traction as state and federal lawmakers scratch their heads over what to do next about the Gulf oil spill and the escalating economic and environmental problems. Alaska Sen. Mark Begich (NGP Photo) has drafted legislation that would authorize citizen oversight commissions anywhere the industry operates, and other elected officials are considering similar measures.
(See our earlier story on this concept.)
(Here’s a comment from an Alaska Dispatch reader: Posted By: Yusef @ 06.17.2010 8:13 AM
I would like to remind Mr. Begich that our legislatures, state and federal, are designed to be institutions of "citizen oversight"? Our government is already, supposedly, "of the people by the people and for the people." It’s absurd to patch on citizen oversight over citizen oversight. If the first layer of citizen oversight isn’t operating, the additional layer won’t make it better.)
ADN/Legacy. Longtime Alaskan and prior Broadway/international dancer Margaret Auld Nelson Webber, 82, died May 20, 2010, in Anchorage.
Margaret Webber (wife of my dear friend Chuck Webber, NGP Photo) was born Aug. 8, 1927, in Staten Island N.Y., to Robert Livingston Nelson and Margaret "Peggy" Auld Nelson. Her Scottish parents enrolled Margaret in the New York School of Dance at 3 1/2 years of age. From that moment on, she never stopped dancing.
Margaret began her professional career under the tutelage of Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin. She danced in the Ziegfield Theatre for Billy Rose’s production of "The Seven Lively Arts." Margaret landed the lead in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s "Oklahoma" and toured with the national company coast to coast. She then joined the Broadway company in New York City and was finally chosen to tour for two and a half years with the same production in England, where she met the royal family.
She studied with Sadlers Wells Ballet Company, as well as The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her performances were wide-ranging, including all styles of dance. Back in the United States, she performed the lead once again, with the Rodgers & Hammerstein national company production of "Carousel." She branched out, performing in posh hotels and nightclubs and worked commercially, performing with her partners in "We Three" as well as on many television shows.
Margaret married the love of her life, Charles "Chuck" Webber, on Feb. 17, 1957, at Emmanuel Union Church on Staten Island, N.Y., and from there, relocated to Alaska to join her husband. She brought new ideas to the small town of Anchorage: a citywide dancing group. She was a leader and advocate for dance and instrumental in creating a civic ballet group. She choreographed, "The King and I," assisted by Linda Lorimer. Her dance career never stopped. She opened the Margaret Webber School of Dance.
Margaret and Chuck enjoyed family life and spending time on the water in their boat, "Arctic Princess." Margaret traveled worldwide with her husband for leisure and accompanied him on business trips. They were often joined by their daughter.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck, her brother, Robert Nelson, and is survived by her daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, who resides in the Anchorage area.
If the government we already have isn’t working very well for us, why is more government going to help? Why not propose substantive reform to the systems we have in place rather than adding additional layers to them? Is it because the one requires a thoughtful effort while the other, though good sounding, is mere knee jerk?