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

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

By TNews Staff

A cluster of eager "Explorers" from an after-school program sped from Girdwood School to the Forest Service building Thursday to dig up spuds in an annual potato harvest. 

Among potatoes dug up from three patches were "Tlingit potatoes", a potato grown in Southeast Alaska for possibly more than two centuries. The Tlingit potato is a variant that may have been brought by early indigenous traders thousands of years ago.

"Though the potatoes aren't well suited for French frying, they're perfect in soups, where their creamy texture and somewhat buttery flavor complement salmon," Tim Lydon wrote in a an article for Hakai Magazine. Lydon is the Forest Service's lead gardener and helps run the Explorers program.

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

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/annual-potato-harvest-yields-of-bevy-of-spuds

By Brooks Chandler

TN Contributor

Both ends of the career spectrum of what Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage said was “the greatest occupation in the world” were recognized on Saturday at the Girdwood Fire Station.  

Following presentation of badges and helmets to six men who had recently achieved Firefighter 1 status, Girdwood’s Rich Parry was feted for having served as a firefighter and paramedic for a half century.     

Rich is a “legend” said Girdwood Chief Michelle Weston. Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance was on hand and read a Girdwood Board of Supervisor’s Resolution thanking Parry for five decades of service to Anchorage and Girdwood.  

Rich focused his remarks  at the ceremony on the new members of GVFD.  Rich said he was “proud of you all” and “happy to serve” alongside them as they endeavored to serve the Girdwood community.

Read the complete interview and more photos at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/local-firefighter-celebrates-50-years-of-service

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Mushrooms were everywhere over Labor Day Weekend: a collection on the ground at a trailhead, an assortment on the tailgate of a pickup truck, and, especially, in Girdwood's Community Center where foragers had gathered a sample of every species found during the annual Fungus Fair.

Despite the veritable cornucopia, this year's collection was smaller than previous years, said organizer and local mycologist Kate Mohatt. 

Mohatt said mushrooms are arriving the latest in 17 years of Fungus Fairs, a phenomenon that is occurring across the Pacific Northwest due to warmer summers. Warmer summers are a byproduct of the fossil-fuel driven climate emergency. 

As she spoke just outside the center Sunday afternoon, Mohatt glanced back in to see how visiting mycologist Steve Trudell's presentation was going.

Trudell spoke about the history of mushroom identification in Alaska. The first surveys were conducted in 1899 when railroad tycoon Edward Harriman gathered a team of 23 scientists aboard his steamer for a two-month expedition. 

Read the entire story and more pictures below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/mushroom-count-low-for-this-years-fungus-fair

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

The Lion's Club celebrated 25 years of annual "rubber ducky" races this Saturday with three races of bobbing, yellow ducks and a split-the-pot trebuchet fish launch. 

It rained, at times heavily, during the duck launch and harvest, but that did not stop yellow-vested Lions from wading into California Creek to net duckies released upstream minutes earlier.

With this year's effort, the Girdwood Turnagain Lions Club surpassed its fundraising goal, said Lions organizer Kathy Trautner.

"There were only about 25 onlookers in the pouring rain," Trautner wrote in a message. "Girdwood Lions plan to add some activities to this fundraiser in the future and we have some new Lions with fun ideas.  

"This is our only annual fundraiser to support our many community projects like food bank, scholarships, an end-of-school BBQ, eyeglasses and exams. We added a quilt raffle this year to raise funds to build the John Trautner picnic pavilion at the Lions park," Trautner said.

Read the entire story and more photos below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/lions-ducky-race

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Sitting outside Girdwood's school with his dog, Jack, Sean Kelliher took measure of what he'd just seen, a swath cut into a forest for a road to a planned subdivision some call "Holtan Hills."

He said Jack picks the route for their walks and this Saturday morning chose the middle Iditarod Trail.

"It took me by surprise," he said. "It's sad to see the nature back there wiped out." said Kelliher, an 11-year local resident. 

He said the fact that unanimous opposition to the project from residents and local government just makes the clearcut swath more distressing

"It seems like a project that the entire community was against and vocalized our collective concern about and yet it's going forth anyway. It's disappointing."

Two Hydro-Ax mulchers and an excavator were unloaded at a gate near Girdwood's school Thursday afternoon. A worker said the equipment would be used to clear a right of way for a municipal water utility and, when asked whether required permits were secured, only said "she'll have it."

It turned out the heavy equipment was actually being staged to plow a new road into the rainforest and a right of way permit issued Thursday, the day before, was posted on the entrance gate Friday. 

Following years of local opposition and vote to postpone by the Anchorage Assembly, the Assembly suddenly reversed and approved the so-called "Holtan Hills" project last winter. Since then, a municipal land manager said she didn't expect development would occur this year.

(Story Photo by Sean Kelliher; Top Photo by Soren Wuerth)

Read the entire story and more pictures below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/machines-tear-path-through-old-growth-forest-in-unannounced-road-into-holtan-hills

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

After managing years of gross wayside toilets, scary pull-outs, dangerous biking shoulders and narrow winter travel in Turnagain Pass, a multi-agency effort is underway to improve safety and access to trailheads leading into the backcountry in the pass.

At a cost of around $65 million, a Seward Highway corridor redo from the end of Turnagain Arm up and over the pass to Canyon Creek would connect current pullouts with a paved pathway, create larger pullouts for backcountry ski and snowmachine destinations and widen the highway for snow removal. 

Planning is underway on the route, from mile 56 to mile 75, and, during a meeting last Tuesday, in Girdwood's community room, the public was invited to check out the vision so far.

An 11-mile pathway and other projects have price tags "a lot of uncertainty baked into those costs", said project manager Cole Grisham. 

But the idea is to connect the campgrounds with a pathway that could align alongside the highway or "meander" through the forest. "The greatest need for the pathway is to connect the [Bertha Creek and Granite] campgrounds," said a representative for Dowl Engineering.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/planning-underway-for-turnagain-pass-upgrades

By Jim Sweeney

TNews Contributor

Kristen Faulkner wasn’t even supposed to be in the Cycling Road Race at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She had been slated to compete in the track team pursuit, but when her teammate Taylor Knibb bowed out of the road race, opportunity came knocking and Kristen opened the door and lined up to race with 92 of the world’s greatest female cyclists early Sunday morning.

Her parents, Jon and Sarah of Homer and Girdwood, Alaska waited at the finish line beneath the Eiffel Tower. Kristen had won the US National this year, but her folks could’ve never known what was going to happen Sunday in the City of Love.

Kristen is the granddaughter of Stumpy Faulkner, the longtime Glacier Valley icon. She has skied Alyeska her whole life. Her parents own Stumpy's old home, a short walk from Alyeska’s slopes. Kristen’s always been driven, it’s a Faulkner trait. She rowed on the varsity crew at Harvard and is known as an animal in the gym.

The race starts with attacks just a few miles into the 157.6 kilometer (98 miles) competition and these assaults continue until a strong breakaway is established with two riders from Afghanistan, one from Israel, one from Vietnam and a neutral rider. The group works well together and develop a six minute lead over the peloton.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/opinion-womens-gold-medal-cyclist-has-proud-roots-in-alaska

By Hannah Dillon

TNews Associate Editor

Lewis Leonard is the passionate founder of Girdwood’s community radio station Glacier City Radio, KEUL 88.9. Leonard spoke with Turnagain News to elaborate on how his exciting life led to the creation of Glacier City Radio. 

Leonard was born and raised in Anchorage and grew up in the alleys of 4th Avenue, and, in junior high, developed an interest in audio and electronics.

At Anchorage’s West High, Leonard delved more into radio, theater and photography. One summer out of highschool he was a sports photographer for The Anchorage Times. 

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/glacier-city-radios-lewis-leonard-recounts-years-of-interesting-experiences

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

An Anchorage board erased hundreds of acres preserved as natural space from Girdwood's comprehensive plan Monday, rejecting pleas to consider the community's preference to keep the land from being developed for subdivisions.

Anchorage's Planning and Zoning Commission, in a 5-2 vote, endorsed suggestions from the city's planning department that would dramatically change Girdwood's update of a nearly 30-year-old area plan. 

The commission's decision, which serves as advice for a subsequent Anchorage Assembly determination, allows much of the land designated as "open space", "future parkland", or "vegetative buffers" to be clearcut, filled and developed. 

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/anchorage-board-endorses-sweeping-changes-to-girdwood-comprehensive-plan

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Anchorage's planning department is recommending changes to Girdwood's Comprehensive Plan that vastly conflict with community priorities and, in some cases, favor support for private interests, according to a letter published last week.

Notable among 11 changes proposed by the agency is the designation of land in the upper valley from "open space" to "mixed use", a designation sought by Alyeska Resort which has said it needs the land for its future development plans.

Reaction was swift when a notice was posted Sunday on Girdwood's Facebook page.

"We propose a plan that takes years of work [only] to be completely ignored because Anchorage knows what's better. They tax us, they regulate us, and then [we] have no representation and are ignored," one commenter, "Brice Jon", posted.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/anchorage-planning-office-overrides-community-vision-on-area-plan

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

By Hannah Dillon

TNews Associate Editor

A rainy Saturday began with a parade of Girdwood community members, some dressed as colorful butterflies and mushrooms, and some with elf ears and cloaks. (All costumes were,  of course, accompanied by Alaska’s signature shoe, the rainboot.)

The 49th annual Forest Fair was held on July 5, 6 and 7. This year’s theme was “bubbles and bugs” which gave the Forest Fair the energy of a fantasy land. 

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. the Girdwood parade began at the Alyeska Day Lodge and traveled down the Alyeska Highway. Fire trucks, giant dolls, decorated cars and people dressed as bugs – with an abundance of bubble wands – marched their way towards the Forest Fair, tossing candy to eager children.

A “yellow brick road” began just past the bridge over Glacier Creek. Colorful signs painted by community members directed Forest Fair attendees under the bridge and through a foot path marked by rocks painted yellow along the way.

The end of the yellow brick road opened to the sound of music, the smell of food, laughter and rain tapping the top of vendor tents where people could buy and sell unique and handmade wares while eating fresh corn-on-the-cob. 

Walking muddy pathways one wound through a maze of vendors inviting fairgoers into tents to keep dry and purchase unique and intricately made items. 

Some of the eye-catching booths included a henna stand, gem surveying, wand making, mushroom grow kits, face painting, hand-crafted Indigenous bead work and basket weaving.

These vendors were just a few of the over 200 according to Alaska News Source.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/following-a-yellow-brick-road-under-a-bridge-to-the-forest-fair

By Hannah Dillon

TNews Reporter

 Tommy O’Malley sat on a wooden bench on the patio of Alpenglow coffeehouse Wednesday and used a pink marker to draw the petals of a flower as he explained the tradition of pin painting to Turnagain News.

The sound of excited chatter filled the coffeehouse and surrounding area. Community members mingled, laughed and helped each other with their flowers as they sipped their drinks and painted tiny roses under warm lighting.

 “Usually, we do it [painting] some place you can drink and after a while people start cleaning their brush in their merlot,” said O’Malley jokingly.

Dozens of pin painters gathered around O’Malley as he introduced a new watercolor technique and flower design to the interested audience. 

O’Malley said the idea for this particular technique came to him while he was on a plane. The painter did not have the supplies he would normally use for his artwork – but he did have a set of washable markers. 

O’Malley demonstrated the evolution of a simple floral outline into a recognizable rose through shading and color placement. With just a few strokes of his markers and paintbrush, O’Malley created the spiral blooming of a flower. 

The bright colors of the markers faded to a pastel hue when water was applied and painted across the thick sheet of paper.

After the short demonstration, painters took their seats inside Alpenglow and on the patio, each with a set of washable markers, paper and water glasses provided by O’Malley. 

Read the entire story at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/pin-painting-party-a-traditional-precursor-to-girdwood-forest-fair

By Jeff Samuels

TNews Contributor

US Forest Service staff and Girdwood community members gathered June 6 for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a landmark event for the town. 

The Glacier Ranger District headquarters has leased land since 1988 from the Heritage Land Bank (HLB) where its buildings are situated, a little over eight acres adjacent to Monarch Mine Road and the Alyeska Highway. 

After a long administrative process, the Forest Service was able to purchase the land they occupy, a culmination of years of hard work by Forest Service and HLB staff. 

By acquiring the land, the Forest Service has the ability to pursue capital investments on the property, including a long-needed new bunkhouse for seasonal staff and increased office space. 

With newer and expanded capacity in seasonal housing, recruitment efforts stand to benefit as potential employees can have alternatives to higher cost housing options in the community. Girdwood shares a similar problem with many Alaskan towns of having very limited and expensive long term housing available. 

Additional improvements could include a trailhead for the lower Iditarod and Bird to Gird Trails. 

Engineering staff with the Chugach National Forest’s Supervisor’s Office in Anchorage are already at work designing these projects.  

Glacier District Ranger Chris Stewart cut the ribbon as dozens of onlookers applauded.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/forest-service-finally-buys-land-beneath-its-girdwood-heaquarters

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

It is unlikely development of the so-called "Holtan Hills" subdivision will occur this year, said the director of a municipal land office, though a portion of the land—groves of old-growth rainforest behind Girdwood's school—was conveyed to a private developer in early May.

"I wouldn't anticipate that [developer CY Investments] would start this year. I guess it really depends on when they get through planning and zoning. But, I mean, we're in to June right now and construction season has already started," said Tiffany Briggs, director of the Municipality of Anchorage's real estate division.

The Anchorage Assembly approved the transfer of 60 acres of city land in February to CY Investments following a year and flood of letters, testimony, and local government decisions opposing the plan for a large-scale subdivision in Girdwood. Critics of the plan have said it will do little to solve Girdwood's housing demand and only exacerbate existing demands on infrastructure.

CY Investments is required to hold a public meeting in advance of securing a permit from the Anchorage's Planning and Zoning Commission. So far, no date has been set.

The company plans to build 58 homes in the first of three phases to total more than 100 single-family homes, condominiums and duplexes. With the skyrocketing cost of housing in Girdwood—a 443 square-foot studio was recently listed at almost $500,000—it is unlikely, say housing experts, that local families who work in the community will be able to purchase homes in "Holtan Hills". 

According to data compiled for Girdwood's comprehensive plan, of housing demand in coming years, 75 percent will be needed for lower and middle income households. The lowest cost of an "entry level" home in the planned subdivision would cost $500,000, developer Connie Yoshimura said during a town hall meeting in 2022.

Of 25 housing units sold last year all were sold as second homes or quickly converted to short term rentals, according to Girdwood Board of Supervisors member Mike Edgington.

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/holtan-hills-development-unlikely-this-year-says-real-estate-director

By Harper Landry

TNews Contributor

The 2023/2024 school year has come to an end. At Girdwood School it was filled with learning, and more learning as well as some field trips, skiing, run for HeArt, field day, intensives, and more.

As we spend the next three months preparing for the next school year we would like to congratulate and thank three retiring teachers. Maggie Donnelly, Dave Robinson, and Leola Rutherford.

Maggie Donnelly has been Girdwood School’s kindergarten teacher since 2011. She has coached track, cross country running, and cross country skiing during her years at Girdwood School. Before teaching at Girdwood, Ms. Donnelly taught kindergarten at Kasuun Elementary for 10 years. We will miss Ms.Donnelly greatly and we hope she has a relaxed, fun-filled retirement.

Dave Robinson was our 7th and 8th grade language arts and science teacher. He taught at Girdwood School for almost two decades and he helped coach many middle school sports for many years. He will be spending most of his time traveling, biking, hiking, skiing, and of course reading. We wish him an adventure filled retirement.

Leola Rutherford was our 6th grade teacher who recently accepted a STEM educator position with Alaska Resource Education. Ms. Rutherford excelled in teaching STEM and technology. Her knowledge will be missed at Girdwood School but we wish her the best at her new job!

Girdwood School will be welcoming in Brian Pautzke who will be teaching middle school science and Soren Wuerth who will be teaching middle school language arts. We will also be welcoming in Hailey Rose who will be the new kindergarten teacher.

By: Brooks Chandler

Turnagain News Contributor

Suzanne LaFrance was the clear favorite among Girdwood voters in the April 2 mayoral election. LaFrance received 64 percent of the votes cast for mayor according to results certified by the Anchorage Assembly on April 23.

This compares to 36 percent of votes for LaFrance city-wide. Mayor Dave Bronson finished a distant second in Girdwood with 15 percent of votes cast.

Citywide Bronson received only 473 votes less than LaFrance, a difference of less than 1 percent. In Girdwood LaFrance received 387 votes more than Bronson.

LaFrance was also favored by 46 percent of Indian/Bird Creek voters receiving 59 votes compared to 39 votes, or 30 percent, for Mayor Bronson, LaFrance's closest competitor.

The results in other South Anchorage precincts, many of which LaFrance represented as an Assembly member, were more mixed. The certified results show Bronson outpolling LaFrance in the majority of South Anchorage and Hillside precincts.

According to the Municipal Clerk’s office, 808 of Girdwood’s 1,949 registered voters participated in the April 2 election. That equals a 41 percent turnout. Indian/Bird Creek did even better turning out 43 percent of 302 registered voters. City wide turnout was 30.4 percent.

Mayoral preference was not the only result where Girdwood votes varied widely from Anchorage votes. Proposition 7, the Cemetery Bond, was favored by 455 of 792 Girdwood voters (57.4 percent). Area wide only 43.5 percent of voters favored Proposition 7.

Proposition 7 included bonding to create a cemetery in both Eagle River and Girdwood plus make improvements to the existing cemetery in downtown Anchorage. Because cemetery service is an “area-wide” service all property owners in Anchorage would have repaid the proposed bonds through property taxes.

No Eagle River precinct supported Proposition 7. All 7 downtown Anchorage precincts plus Government Hill joined Girdwood in voting yes on Proposition 7.

The official certified results by precinct can be found at www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Elections/Election%20Results/2024-0423%20StatementOfVotesCastRPT.pdf