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TURNAGAIN NEWS

’What are they doing down there?’

Alpine lupine, lazy in the sun, muses, the survey marking of the upcoming development of the Holtan Hills subdivision planned to start ground construction July 7. Read the editorial below. (Photo by Soren Wuerth)

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Editorial: ‘Action’ is the Antidote to Despair
Editorial: ‘Action’ is the Antidote to Despair

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

On July 7, SHOW UP

A fundamental purpose of a free press is to serve as a watchdog on power. It's right there in the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting ... the freedom ... of the press..."

Even our nation's founders knew they—and their projects—needed to be watched.

"Bearing witness" is also a form of nonviolent resistance. It often takes courage to not look away from injustice. 

Witness is one of the quietest, yet most powerful forms of nonviolent resistance. To witness is to stand present—to injustice, to suffering, to oppression—and refuse to look away. It is an act of moral courage that declares: “I see, I will not be silent, and I will not allow harm to happen unnoticed.” In a world where denial and distraction often shield systems of power from accountability, the simple act of being present becomes radical, writes Kate Laverty of a Belfast, Ireland intercommunity fellowship.

On Monday, July 7, clearcutting, digging and filling of a beloved Girdwood rainforest will commence. 

Monday brings development of a subdivision no one in town went on record to support. 

Everyone locally, that is to say, dislikes "Holtan HIlls".

What is insidious about the "Holtan Hills" affair is the way it was approved:  Anchorage Assembly members slipped it through on a winter day after first postponing it indefinitely and after ignoring countless community comments, testimony, letters, local votes and even resolutions from sympathetic councils in town

Read the entire editorial at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/editorial-action-is-the-antidote-to-despair

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History of Girdwood’s Past: Alyeska Hotel and Community —working together

By Larry Daniels

TNews Contributor

Thought from the past…

When the hotel was in the permit phase, it became obvious that wetlands would be impacted and the project would need a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. Both the Arlberg crossing of the moose meadows and the parking lot across from the hotel would require filling a wetland permit. Corp regs require replacing habitat or preservation of other habitat.

Early in concept development, a pond was depicted in front and it appeared to be an enhancement to the site. We decided to propose the development of the pond as an offset for impact to other habitat.

There was also a small stream adjacent to the building. So, the pond had a source of water and a connection to a stream that had a small, silver salmon run. The pond was designed as an over-winter shelter for young salmon fry.

30 years later, did the pond perform as designed?  Little fish jumping after insects and a small flock of geese with little goslings, occasional moose visits are evidence that it has performed as intended.

Baby Goats? No Kidding! Girdwood's Library Hosts Goat Fest

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

The most popular Gerrish Library event possibly ever?  

Baby goats, of course.

Eleven baby goats, 1-month to 3-months-old, cuddled, butted heads, and trotted in a knee-high fenced enclosure outside the library Wednesday while scores of two-legged kids petted, chased or separated—as in the case of the head-buttters—the four-legged kids.

Cries of "can we bring him home?" were met with only a frown by a mom. Only one Girdwoodian bought a kid and quickly named it, "Fireweed."

Chugiak-based The Tiny Homestead brought the goats as part of Anchorage Public Library's Summer Discovery series. Besides "meet and greets" with goats, The Tiny Homestead sells goats and raw milk from an Eagle River farm managing 50 goats—milkers, bucks and babies.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/baby-goats-no-kidding-girdwoods-library-hosts-goat-fest

Girdwood Giants Advance to Championship with thrilling 1-0 victory over Angels in Semifinals

By Kyle Kelley

Girdwood Giants Head Coach

In an exhilarating semifinal showdown at the City Wide Tournament, the Girdwood Giants Little League Baseball Team clinched a nail-biting 1-0 victory against the Angelson Monday night. The Giants’ success was fueled by outstanding pitching and stellar field defense, showcasing their determination and teamwork as they edge closer to claiming the championship title.

The game, held at the Anchorage Abbott O’Rabbit Fields, was a true testament to the talent and hard work of the young athletes. The Giants' pitcher delivered an impressive performance, striking out fourteen batters, allowing only four walks, and keeping the Angels to zero runs. Meanwhile, the team’s defense was impenetrable, turning potential threats into easy outs and ensuring the scoreboard remained untouched by their opponents.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-giants-advance-to-championship-with-thrilling-1-0-victory-over-angels-in-semifinals

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New Outdoor Concert Series Brings Out Girdwood's Finest 
New Outdoor Concert Series Brings Out Girdwood's Finest 

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

For many years, between the late 90s and early aughts, a music scene percolated alongside  Holmgren Place in downtown Girdwood.

In a slumping one-room cabin called Studio B, the legendary Photon Band(later just "Photonz") rehearsed original jams, bluegrass staples and, occasionally, funky disco hits. 

As the space fell into disrepair and the Photonz drifted into different orbits, the crumpled shed and adjacent yard became an itinerant open mic—sans mic, que fire—for guitar pickers, jam sessions and sing-alongs. 

A winter evening might bear a footpath leading to stumps and rickety lawn chairs with dark, hunched figures and Old Crow Medicine Show renditions in gravelly voices.

Bordering the smoke-drifted yard stood a ramshackle second-hand store, "Thriftwood", and farther in back the building housed the offices of building contractor Ralph Brodin.

Some of those musical magicians have passed onto the cosmos like sparks from their fires: Sean, Jonas, Dusty, Dion, Dennis and Vesna. Everyone local heard them, were helped by them.

In the past few years, 148 Holmgren has experienced a revival mostly under the drive of longtime dancer, drummer and builder James Glover, 49, who worked with Brodin as a sub contractor and would go on to lease and eventually own two lots next to the Girdwood Laundramall.

When Thriftwood closed during COVID Glover went to work revitalizing the building, ripping out drywall from the ceiling, painting the walls black and replacing a deck with a paved path.

Last year, Glover opened the Raw Market, an upscale organic grocery store to "create a space for mindful living" where, says its brochure, "everything we do is guided by intention and a deep love for this place we call home." 

The market carries bulk ingredients, sells produce and fruit, juices and smoothies and now offers a kitchen menu.

"We're trying our best to have naturally-sourced food with the fewest ingredients possible," Glover said. "Everything in here you can be certain is as good as possible for your body, or as good as we can do on the planet right now."

Read the entire story and more pictures at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/new-outdoor-concert-series-brings-out-girdwoods-finestnbsp

Looming ‘Holtan Hills’ Construction Falls on Community Long Opposed
Looming ‘Holtan Hills’ Construction Falls on Community Long Opposed

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

A developer's news Monday that excavation for a major subdivision in Girdwood is imminent follows years of sweeping local opposition to the "Holtan Hills" project.

Speaking in multiple town hall, local board, and Anchorage Assembly meetings, in comments on social media, and through written testimony, hundreds of residents have expressed dismay at a plan conceived by developers and politicians outside community engagement.

On Wednesday, two local residents responded via text messages to news of impending construction. Both served on a board—Holtan Hills Housing Advisory Committee—formed years ago to investigate, evaluate, and make recommendations on the controversial proposal.

"As a 26-year resident, homeowner, small business owner, and parent, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Girdwoodians in a request to carve out some of the development proposal so that it could represent the greater desires of our community," said Emma Kramer, who served as the committee's co-chair.

"We offered a multitude of options to help keep its community character—from (short-term rental) restrictions, to deed restrictions, to requirements for a percentage of affordable housing, to zoning for both residential and commercial, to including affordable apartments. Time and time again, our committee was shut down. Ironically, the idea for the committee came from (the Heritage Land Bank, a municipal agency) and the Anchorage Assembly, and yet it offered no more power than a recommendation."

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/looming-holtan-hills-construction-falls-on-community-long-opposed

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Colorful Local Pride Parade Marks 5th Year—’Stand Up For Who You Are’

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Raising colorful signs, banners, flags and balloons, more than a dozen residents joined Girdwood's fifth annual Pride Parade Saturday to the hoots and horns of passing cars showing support.

More than a dozen marchers left the Daylodge walking the bike path to the brewery, stopped at a lemonade stand and continued down Alyeska Hwy. to Forest Fair's main stage. 

"I believe everybody should be able to say who you are and stand up for who you are," said Beverly Peterson. 

The local march is a grassroots effort not held in coordinated with Anchorage's Pride Parade scheduled for June 28. 

"It's not just about pride, but anybody should be able to say, 'I am...'," Peterson said.

See more pictures at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/colorful-local-pride-parade-marks-5th-yearstand-up-for-who-you-are

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STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

ARTICLES
Trump wants Congress to slash $9.4B in spending now, defund NPR and PBS
Trump wants Congress to slash $9.4B in spending now, defund NPR and PBS

By Jennifer Shutt

States Newsroom

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration sent its first spending cuts request to Congress on Tuesday, asking lawmakers to swiftly eliminate $9.4 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and various foreign aid programs.

The request for what are called rescissions allows the White House budget office to legally freeze spending on those accounts for 45 days while the Republican-controlled Congress debates whether to approve the recommendation in full or in part, or to ignore it.

The proposal calls on lawmakers to eliminate $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. That means NPR and PBS would lose their already approved federal allocations, if the request is approved by Congress.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in May seeking to block the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from providing funding for NPR and PBS, leading to twoseparate lawsuits citing First Amendment concerns.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/trump-wants-congress-to-slash-94b-in-spending-now-defund-npr-and-pbs

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Mount Spurr: Preparation Can Ease the Pain
Mount Spurr: Preparation Can Ease the Pain

By Allison Sayer

TNews Staffwriter

On March 12, The Alaska Volcano Observatory announced “an eruption [of Mount Spurr] is likely, but not certain, to occur within the next few weeks or months. The most likely outcome of the current unrest is an explosive eruption (or eruptions) like those that occurred in 1953 and 1992. Those eruptions each lasted a few hours and produced ash clouds that were carried downwind for hundreds of miles and minor ashfall (up to about ¼ inch) on southcentral Alaska communities.”

 Many simple, low cost preparedness tips are available from the Municipality of Anchorage Emergency Operations Center  and ready.alaska.gov. The common advice from these and other sources is to have a mask handy, stock up on relevant air filters, and put some forethought into what would happen if you must shelter in place somewhere.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/mount-spurr-preparation-can-ease-the-pain

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

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Raw Market: ‘Together, We Thrive’
Raw Market: ‘Together, We Thrive’

By Hannah Dillon

Assistant Editor

A red ribbon hung on the entrance to the Raw Market—just off Holmgren Ave. next to The Laundromall—as community members gathered around the store at 5 p.m. July 2. When the ribbon was cut, a new local market officially opened in Girdwood.

People quickly entered the intimately-sized store once the doors were open. Aesthetic lighting and plants hovered overhead as customers sorted through bell peppers, chocolate milk glasses, candles, locally made pottery, dried herbs, cherries and aloe vera plants.

Behind the register, employees created delicious acai bowls and smoothies for everyone in need of a cool treat on a warm sunny day.

Michelle Young, who, along with her husband James Glover, owns the Raw Market sat down with Turnagain News to discuss opening day and a little history of the store.

Young said the inspiration to establish a store like Raw Market stems from a visit to Maui, where nearly every small town had a juice bar that sold acai bowls, smoothies and juice. “We really loved the abundance of fresh food,” said Young.

Young’s experience with the fresh food available on the streets of Maui inspired Young and Glover to bring that experience to Girdwood.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/raw-market-together-we-thrive

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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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