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ARTICLES
Turnagain News set for second NewsMatch Challenge
Turnagain News set for second NewsMatch Challenge

November and December donations to triple

Story by Brooks Chandler

TNews Contributor

Money may not grow on trees but November and December donations to the Turnagain News will sprout another year of non-profit local journalism for Turnagain Arm.  

For the second consecutive year TNews has received a NewsMatch challenge grant.    

NewsMatch is sponsored by the Institute for Nonprofit News. INN describes NewsMatch as “a collaborative fundraising movement to support independent public service journalism.”  

"Collaborators" are local readers and sponsors of Turnagain News and a national network of philanthropic foundations and donors. According to INN, since 2017, NewsMatch has helped raise $330 million nationwide to “jumpstart emerging newsrooms”.  

The concept of the Newsmatch challenge is straightforward. 

The first $3,000 in individual contributions received by TNews in November and December will be matched two for one.  Donations above the $3,000 threshold will be matched one for one.   TNews hopes to receive $6,000 in individual donations. 

This will grow to $15,000 in funding for 2025 operations.   

“Turnagain News is pleased and grateful for local support and the vote of confidence from INN.  TN has gotten off the ground. The ability to keep flying in 2025 will be directly tied to local support of the NewsMatch challenge,” said TNI publisher Jon Scudder.

To donate click on the “DONATE NOW”  banner on the top of the masthead at turnagainnews.org. 

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/turnagain-news-set-for-second-newsmatch-challenge

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ARTICLES
Girdwood Trails Marathon: A Reflection

Story by Brian Pautzke

Photos by Deb Essex

TN News Contributors

Sometime in the middle of the night the rain stopped.  The race coordinators had been checking the river depth at the hand tram crossing and Plan A was still a go.  There has been Plan A and Plan B ever since the hand tram closed.  Either we get to cross the river or we run back through town.  This year Plan C was suggested the night prior when two days of rain had not shown signs of abating; the river crossing safety guide was authorized to turn racers back if the conditions were deemed too dangerous. As luck would have it, racers woke to a clear, cold morning.  Runners could be seen mozying around the neighborhood warming up their legs and encouraging their body to get its poop in a group.  

I had been awake since 5:30.  No need for an alarm.  A distance runner needs ample time to prepare mentally, physically, and with Body Glide.  I loaded my tank with coffee and set off for the race start at the Alyeska Day Lodge.  On the way to the start I listened to “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” instead of my usual Franti jam “Follow Your Heart”, what inspired the switch I cannot say.  Between the coffee and the sports hype music, I felt as ready as usual.  This would be the 9th running of the Girdwood Trail Race, and only Melanee Stiassny and I have the honor of having done it every year (as far as we know).  

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-trail-marathon-a-reflection

Alaska joins growing number of states considering crackdown on cellphones in schools

By Claire Stremple

Alaska Beacon

Alaska has joined a growing number of states that are considering cellphone restrictions in schools.

Alaska’s Board of Education and Early Development directed the state’s education department to create a policy that limits the use of cellphones in schools during class hours at a meeting this month.

Currently, there is no statewide cellphone policy in Alaska and any restrictions must be set at the district or school level. A number of schools have already done that.

The principal of one such school, David Booth of Palmer High School, implemented a cellphone ban as a pilot program this year. He described the results as transformative.

“Cellphones distract kids,” he said. “There’s no way around it.”

Cross Country: Native Alaskan Ava Earl stars as squad climbs to new heights

By Henry Frieman, Sports Editor

The Daily Northwestern

Girdwood, Alaska, population estimated at 2,500, sits in a valley at the base of Mount Alyeska, a ski resort in the winter and a hiking destination in the summer. The mountain town has one main road, a two-lane highway surrounded by hemlock and conifer. 

There is one elementary school, but the nearest high school is 30 miles away in Anchorage. There is a fire department, but no police station. Further away from the resort, the paved roads turn to gravel. 

It was on the gravel paths and dirt trails of the Alaskan woodlands where Northwestern cross country runner Ava Earl, now a senior, fell in love with running.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/ava-earl-carries-alaskan-roots-to-nu-cross-country-stardom

‘Stars Over Girdwood’ class views Comet

By John Gallup

TN News Contributor

The Stars Over Girdwood class was finally able to catch up with comet 2023 ATLAS A3 as it made its way back out into the outer solar system recently.

It was right at the edge of naked eye visibility, with better eyes than mine could just make it out, but binoculars showed it well, and phone cameras were able to pick it up surprisingly easily.

It is fading as it leaves the sun’s radiation behind, to return in 80,000 years or so. We may make another foray out on Saturday, if the clear weather holds, but here’s what the phone cameras picked up earlier this week.

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NEWSMATCH FUND DRIVE HAS BEGUN!

$800 RAISED

Turnagain News has been nationally selected to participate in the INN NewsMatch fund drive where donations in November through December are matched up to three times for donation of less than $1,000. Keep great news coming to the communities in Turnagain Arm!

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ARTICLES
Annual Sports Swap a Community Affair
Annual Sports Swap a Community Affair

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Take a couple of local nonprofits, stir in 150 volunteers, sprinkle liberally with school students, and add a dash of eager, gear-hungry skiers, riders, and Nordic enthusiasts. 

Set this concoction on an early November day when the winter’s first crust of snow hugs the edges of parking lots like frosting on a cake.

The result? The annual Girdwood Ski and Sports Swap—a beloved community event hosted by Four Valleys Community School.

"This is such a community event," said longtime volunteer Jacky Graham. "I love to see people come together to support Four Valleys. Girdwood is the best community in all of Anchorage."

As gear-hunters milled around Alyeska's expansive Daylodge hall, Four Valleys Executive Director Beks Rumley described some impressions of this year's Swap.

"This year we've had less skis and way more clothing," Rumley said, "and I've seen a lot of families shop together."

Nordic gear is always a favorite and the Swap is excellent place to shop for mid-layers, she said. 

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/annual-sports-swap-a-community-affair

Muni Land Bank isn’t selling Girdwood Industrial Park, Yet
Muni Land Bank isn’t selling Girdwood Industrial Park, Yet

By Soren Wuerth and David Nyman

TNews Editor and TN Contributor

Following concerns that Anchorage is planning to sell land in Girdwood's Industrial Park, the municipality's Heritage Land Bank sought Thursday to dispel conjecture of an imminent land disposal and to assuage the public the idea is only up for discussion.

Girdwood's Industrial Park is a 15-acre area, near Girdwood's transfer and wastewater facility, has a long history of use by various Girdwood contractors, the Girdwood Valley Service Area and Girdwood Fire Department.

In her report to HLB's Advisory Commission, director Tiffany Briggs said the industrial park the department is considering selling is the "Maui" industrial park in Anchorage and that her staff was only discussing "future options" for the Girdwood's industrial park.

HLB's Emma Giboney wrote Friday that her department will meet with the Girdwood Board of Supervisors Monday to get feedback on the industrial park's value and how to address it in HLB's 2025 work plan

Read the entire story at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/muni-bank-isnt-selling-girdwood-industrial-park-yet

A Lifetime of Mountain Memories
A Lifetime of Mountain Memories

By Clark Fair

KMTA Contributor

When I was 14 years old—long before I understood the concept of pacing myself—my father decided to take our family on a hike up from the heart of Cooper Landing into the valley holding the headwaters of Slaughter Creek. Dad strapped my four-year-old brother into a backpack and grunted his way along the difficult, rocky ascent, while my mother and younger sister tottered along behind him.

I was reaching the age at which I was losing enthusiasm for “family time” and desired more to be in the company of friends. In a tacit acknowledgement of this adolescent switch, my parents had allowed me to bring along my buddy Monte, a junior high classmate. Together, we were irrepressible in our energy and enthusiasm, racing up the trail ahead of everyone else, chattering like monkeys.

Eventually, all of us reached the saddle—a nexus for decision, where one can choose to rest before descending to the car, drop into the boggy Slaughter Creek drainage for further exploration, climb an adjoining ridgeline to the west, or embark on numerous bushwhacking options. There, my father stepped apart from the rest of us and took a somewhat fuzzy color photograph of the family reclining in the soft moss, proof that all of us on this July 1972 adventure reached the same goal.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/a-lifetime-of-mountain-memories

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ARTICLES
Girdwood Board reverses community decision on Alyeska Development
Girdwood Board reverses community decision on Alyeska Development

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

The Girdwood Board of Supervisors, in a 3-2 decision Monday, rescinded an earlier community vote that rejected a subdivision proposed in a popular recreational area.

The board's move tells municipal planners it has no objection to plans by Alyeska Resort to build an assortment of housing, roads, parking lots, a tram and in the Glacier Creek watershed north of the town's airport.

The GBOS has since voted to reconsider its Monday vote and will discuss the reconsideration at a meeting Thursday at 1 p.m.

"I suspect [the vote] will be changed," said Supervisor Mike Edgington on Wednesday. "We're basically going back for a re-do."

He said he feels Pomeroy's goals for development are sound, but the location the company has chosen for development isn't.

In both meetings, community members expressed criticism, skepticism and dismay about Pomeroy Lodging's plan to acquire nearly 100 acres of municipal land in the upper valley for housing.

Read the entire story at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-board-reverses-community-decision-on-alyeska-development

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Turnagain Arm Women fight breast cancer at ‘Run for Women’ events in Anchorage and Girdwood
Turnagain Arm Women fight breast cancer at ‘Run for Women’ events in Anchorage and Girdwood

By Jon Scudder

TNews Publisher

Pink of all shades will flow with bright clothing, ribbons, flags, balloons, decorations, and fun fabrics galore on June 8 in Anchorage at the University of Alaska Anchorage and in smaller, subdued form in Girdwood.

“The sea of pink is full of women of all ages and abilities, radiating enthusiasm and support,” said Briana Sullivan, Girdwood’s Alaska Run for Women coordinator.  “It is certainly exciting to feel a part of this live and significant fundraiser.” 

Fighting breast cancer in Alaska has been a historic mission the Alaska Run for Women have been undertaking since beginning in 1993, now celebrating its 32nd year.  

Read the entire story and how to register:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/turnagaain-arm-women-fight-breast-cancer-at-run-for-women-events-in-anchorage-and-girdwood

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Girdwood Community Garden has room to grow
Girdwood Community Garden has room to grow

By:  Brooks Chandler

Itching to get your fingers dirty and grow your own?  Plots are available in Girdwood’s community garden. Though currently snow covered the Community Garden is soon to be a thriving green space located between the Girdwood Chapel and Girdwood Brewery on Girdwood Chapel property.  

The garden is a project of Turnagain Community Services, Inc., a Girdwood-based non-profit organization.  TCS President Alice Simmons said the garden aims to provide sustainability, unity and growth for Girdwood residents.

Betty Charnon, TCS board member and volunteer, manages the garden.  

She said the garden includes one plot dedicated to growing produce for another TCS endeavor, the community Food Pantry.  

The garden is more than just a place to grow food and flowers, According to Charnon.  

“It serves as a gathering spot for neighbors to come together, share knowledge and build lasting friendships,” she said.  

Annual fees to offset operating costs are $25 per season.  Needs-based discounts are available.  

Charnon said those interested in having a plot (which includes access to space in the new greenhouse!) can fill out the application form available at: https://www.girdwoodchapel.com/community-garden/  (or: email TurnagainCommunityServices@gmail.com  or call 907-783-0127) to request an application form). 

On May 18, the Community Garden is holding a plant sale fundraiser.  The sale will feature mature and starter annuals and perennials and perhaps some veggi starts.  The sale will be held at the Girdwood Brewery from 11 am to 4 p.m.   

(The writer is a board member of Turnagain Community Services, Inc).

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Alaska newspaper publishers worry about bill ending some public notice requirements
Alaska newspaper publishers worry about bill ending some public notice requirements

By James Brooks

Alaska Beacon

The Alaska Senate voted without dissent Monday to allow the Department of Natural Resources to stop publishing some public notices in local newspapers.

Senators approved Senate Bill 68 by a 17-0 vote. It now advances to the House for consideration. Sens. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel; Bert Stedman, R-Sitka; and Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, were excused absent.

Before the final vote, newspaper publishers unsuccessfully asked legislators to reconsider their plans. Allowing the state to control its public notice process poses transparency risks, they testified, and it likely will harm papers’ finances, potentially reducing the amount of independent reporting available in Alaska.

Read more at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/alaska-newspaper-publishers-worry-about-bill-ending-some-public-notice-requirements-2

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Potter Marsh Watershed Park is on the Horizon
Potter Marsh Watershed Park is on the Horizon

Great Land Trust has been working with Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) Heritage land Bank and GCI to conserve 300 acres of important hillside watershed features that are critical to sustaining the vibrant habitat of the Potter’s Marsh, located between Golden View Drive to the east and Old Seward Highway.

“We are thrilled how this project is proceeding and it is nice to be doing a project in Anchorage at this scale as these opportunities are few and far between,'“ said Dave Mitchell, Conservation Director with Great Land Trust.

“We select our projects based on prioritizations that look at wetlands and anadromous streams and adjacency to protected areas and we try to collect all the data we can and rank and put it into GIS and rank land based on conservation value,” he added. “This property actually ranked number one.”

Set between the old and new Seward highways, Potter Marsh is a portion of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge is Anchorage’s gateway to Turnagain Arm. The new Potter Marsh Watershed Park will be owned, operated and maintained by the MOA Parks and Recreation Department.

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