Governor, Cabinet to Serve at Weekend Picnics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2004 No.04-192

Governor, Commissioners to Serve at Annual Picnics Summer Parties Take Place in Anchorage Saturday, Fairbanks Sunday

(Juneau) - Governor Frank H. Murkowski and First Lady Nancy Murkowski will host the annual Governor's Picnics this weekend in Anchorage on Saturday, July 24, and in Fairbanks on Sunday, July 25.

The governor and members of his Cabinet will be on hand at both events to meet with and serve the thousands of visitors expected to attend the traditional annual summer celebrations, which are presented free of charge to the public.

"Nancy and I are looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends and making some new ones at the picnics," the governor said. "I've also invited my commissioners to be there to join in the fun, to help serve lunch, and to give Alaskans the chance to get to know the people who are doing so much to serve them every other day of the year."

In Anchorage, the picnic will be held on the Delaney Park Strip, on Ninth Avenue downtown, from noon to 4 p.m. The event includes: face painting, children's games and prizes, cartoon animal mascots, balloons, tours of Alaska National Guard Pave Hawk helicopter, Hummer and Quake Cottage, virtual reality goggles, the Bloodmobile and the Department of Fish and Game's aquatic classroom. A mobile office will accept public opinion messages and offer help to residents in dealing with state agencies.

In Fairbanks, the picnic will be held at Pioneer Park, in association with the Golden Days celebration. The event starts with the governor and first lady leading the Kid's Parade starting at 12:30 p.m. The picnic continues until 4 p.m., and will include balloons, animal mascots, and presentation of prizes for the best children's parade costumes, for the Red Green River Regatta duct-tape boat race, and for Golden Days competitions for the best-dressed man and woman and the best-decorated business.

Both picnics offer free picnic food and a variety of entertainment. The governor's annual non-partisan picnic is an Alaska tradition dating back to the state's first governor, Bill Egan. The events are funded by local businesses and are presented at no public expense.

For additional information, visit the governor's website at: http://gov.state.ak.us/ or call the governor's office in Anchorage at 269-7450, or in Fairbanks at 451-2920.

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