“This book will inspire people to work with and for their neighbors in all kinds of ways!” —Bill McKibben, author of Falter Heather Lende was one of the thousands of women inspired to take an active role in politics during the past few years. Though her entire campaign for assembly member in Haines, Alaska, cost less than $1,000, she won! And tiny, breathtakingly beautiful Haines isn’t the sleepy town it appears to be. Yes, the assembly must stop bears from rifling through garbage on Main Street, but there is also a bitter debate about the fishing boat harbor and a vicious recall campaign that targets three assembly members, including Lende. In Of Bears and Ballots we witness the nitty-gritty of passing legislation, the lofty ideals of our republic, and the way our national politics play out in one small town. With her entertaining cast of offbeat but relatable characters, the writer whom the Los Angeles Times calls “part Annie Dillard, part Anne Lamott” brings us an inspirational tale about what living in a community really means, and what we owe one another.

Birds, mammals, fishes, lepidoptera.

The author's "Project demonstrating excellence" combines the three fields of contemporary art history, criticism, and management, and is derived from two projects called "Found & assembled in Alaska" and "John Hoover : art & life." "Found & assembled in Alaska" concerns an exhibition of found-object art made in Alaska and an accompanying catalog publication. The contemporary artists were interviewed and biographical profiles were developed. The project "John Hoover : art & life" involved development of a publication and traveling exhibition for John Hoover, an acclaimed Alaska Native artist whose work in cedar carving is based on Aleut and Indian myths.

"Molly Rettig leads readers through pivotal moments in modern Alaska's history that have not only built the Alaska we see today, but also created moments of great contention such as gold and oil. She ties the stories of people who lived during these times to her own story of discovery and change. The book starts with her arrival to Alaska, naive and unaware, where readers will learn and evolve with her as she comes to new realizations"--