Girdwood Comp Plan final vote likely Tuesday
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Girdwood Comp Plan final vote likely Tuesday

Assembly to Decide on Future of Wild, Public Lands in Girdwood. Final Vote On Comp Plan Likely Tuesday, Following Public Testimony

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

The Anchorage Assembly may make its final ruling Tuesday night on a sweeping plan that charts the course of land use in the valley for years to come.

At stake are two wild areas that Girdwood's community wants to protect as open space but that Anchorage's planning department has targeted for housing.

The Assembly will decide the fate of nearly 100 acres of old-growth forested land between Glacier Creek and the Alyeska Resort that the resort's owner, Pomeroy, has included in its development plans.

"This is the last public hearing and I expect them to make a decision," said Mike Edgington, the chair of Imagine!Girdwood, an organization formed to guide a 30-year-old plan through a public process that, organizers say, had contributions from 900 Girdwood residents.

Edgington predicts there will be three versions of plan on the table for discussion by the Assembly Tuesday night: a version with changes by the muni's planning department, an "S" version that sustains Girdwood's original plan calling for open space in the contested areas, and, possibly a new "S1" version that could "narrow down" housing allotments.

The planning department and Pomeroy won a vote from an advisory panel last summer that allows for the Canadian company to develop housing and other amenities in an area designated for "open space" and trails. 

Testimony so far has been almost universal in support of a land plan that includes open space and housing near pre-existing development. 

Earlier this year, representatives from the muni's planning department met with Imagine!Girdwood's board to recommend five changes including eliminating size allowances for vegetative buffer strips called for in Girdwood's plan, some technical changes in parcel sizes, and adding a 500-foot strip of housing on the western edge of Alyeska Basin of up to 30 lots, Edgington said.

The planning department also continued to take issue with the Girdwood Plan's allocation of remote and wild public land—called "the mitten" for its shape on a map"—as open space and recommended its designation as mixed use allowing Pomeroy to build 365 housing units. 

Planners said in a memo to Imagine!Girdwood that Pomeroy's housing would address a "severe housing shortage". 

"The shortage has been described as 'crises' that forces locals out," the memo states.

Yet, in order to build enough housing in Girdwood that will yield year-round occupancy, the community would have to add 2,000 residences over the next decade, Edgington said, since 85 percent of homes being built are so-called "dark homes". 

Read the entire story at the link below:

"We have loads of housing. It's just that most of it is empty," he said.

There will likely be a final vote on the comprehensive plan Tuesday and it is the public's last chance to give testimony, Edgington said. 

"This is like a battle, an important battle. It may be a decisive battle. But it's not the final battle," he said. "But I don't like war analogies."

Testimony on the Assembly's can be given in writing, in person or over the phone. In order to give testimony via a phone, a form needs to be completed by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. 

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-comp-plan-final-vote-likely-tuesday

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Federal firings hit U.S. Forest Service in Alaska, with at least 30 jobs cut on Thursday
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Federal firings hit U.S. Forest Service in Alaska, with at least 30 jobs cut on Thursday

By Corinne Smith

Alaska Beacon

At least 30 federal workers with the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska have been terminated immediately, as of Thursday, according to the National Federation of Federal Employees union.

“We got word yesterday that there were going to be 3,400 terminations of probationary employees within the U.S. Forest Service nationwide, and those terminations started at midnight,” said Matt Brossard, a national business representative with NFFE, speaking Friday at 10 a.m. 

“There were 30 employees terminated yesterday,” he said, in Alaska. “I don’t have any numbers of what has occurred today, but I would say that there’s been a significant increase in that number, just from what we’re seeing in other areas of the country.”

Brossard said the firings will have an immediate and severe impact nationwide. “This is going to severely handcuff the agency’s ability to perform the necessary work that we do,” he said. “Whether it’s wildland firefighting, recreation facilities, visitor centers, this mass termination is going to affect every function in the national forests.”

The union, which represents over 110,000 federal employees nationwide, joined a coalition of labor organizations in filing a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the firings by President Donald Trump’s administration, and what they say is an attempt to gut the federal workforce. 

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, urges the court to intervene in the federal terminations, challenging the firing of probationary employees. The lawsuit also alleges that the federal administration has pressured employees to voluntarily resign, and the large-scale reduction in federal workforce violates the law.

“It’s going to be a waiting game to wait and see what the courts are willing to do to support federal employees,” such as putting a stay on the firings, Brossard said. He added that the union is looking at filing a temporary restraining order to prevent further firings. 

Read the entire story at the below link:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/alaska-senate-approve-18-year-old-alcohol-servers-plus-16-year-old-restaurant-workers

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Community comes out to support Challenge at Annual Gala
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Community comes out to support Challenge at Annual Gala

By Allison Sayer

TNews Staffwriter

On February 1, Challenge Alaska welcomed about 680 guests and 40 volunteers to their annual fundraising gala at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. The theme was “Wild West,” and attendees dressed in their best cowboy attire.

 Challenge is well known in Girdwood for its adaptive ski and snowboard program. They also offer opportunities for intellectually or physically disabled Alaskans to master archery, cross country skiing, water sports, hockey, tennis, mountain biking, and many other sports.

Ski racer Anna Boltz, who has spina bifida, captivated the crowd with her keynote address. She described her journey from being strapped into a tiny sit-ski at the age of two to racing at the national level now at age 18.

Through her experiences at Challenge, Anna has found community, independence, and focus. “This is what I want to do with my life,” she said, “I want to train. I want to race. And I want to be around these people.”

“I don’t feel like I have a disability when I ski,” she said, “I feel free… I can be a teenager and go out and ski with my friends… I can go wherever I want on the mountain.”

 Anna has formed lifelong relationships with her fellow racers and coaches. She credited Performance Director Jeremy “Jaha” Anderson with helping her push the limits of her comfort zone, even recounting a crash right underneath the chairlift that resulted in a bloody nose but no other injuries. 

 Executive Director J. Nathan “Nate” Boltz, who is Anna’s father, described Challenge’s vision during his words: “When the mission is complete, Alaskans of all abilities will have equal access to sports, recreation, and community.”

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/community-comes-out-to-support-challenge-at-annual-gala

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Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Girdwood Art Institute offers Fine Arts Camps

By Tommy O’Malley

TNews Contributor

Through careful financial management and with support from the Girdwood community, the Girdwood Fine Arts Camp has been able to offer Art Technique Classes through the fall and winter for school children through adults.

Arts Camp has been offering these art classes tuition free.

The classes have included portrait drawing and painting; Finger painting for adults, Stained glass; and PLAYDOH, (not Plato) for adults; making ROBOTS using Artistic Intelligence; PLAYDOH and Hey Clay for children; and Ice sculpture for children and adults.

All together there have been nine classes offered with 148 students participating.

Coming up are Printmaking and Collage for school children and teens, Batik style Silk scarf making, Wire Jewelry, Encaustic landscape painting, Tye Dye and Watercolor painting with more to come.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-art-institute-offers-fine-arts-camps

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Look Up to the New Moon Night Sky to see the Old Wanderers
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Look Up to the New Moon Night Sky to see the Old Wanderers

By John Gallup

TNews Contrbutor

Ancient civilizations spent a lot of their evenings looking up and telling stories about what they observed. 

They noticed that almost all the bright things they saw in the night sky moved very slowly westward with each passing night and returned to the same place in the heavens at about the same season of every year. 

However, five of the brightest objects didn’t follow this pattern. They behaved oddly, wandering back and forth against the slow-moving background. 

The ancient Greeks called them “planets,” which is Greek for “wanderers.” They seemed to confine their wandering to a narrow strip in the sky, the same stripe that the Moon and Sun moved through. 

Three of them moved east across the night sky against the background, but all three stopped moving east and moved back to the west for a period of time, stopped again, then resumed their easterly course. 

The other two were stranger yet. They would bob up in the morning or evening sky, rise to a point, then fall back down to disappear from where they rose, only to reappear in the morning sky, rise to about the same angle from the horizon, then turn around and head back down. 

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/look-up-to-the-new-moon-night-sky-to-see-the-old-wanderers

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Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

PSAC Seat D vacant

Public Safety Advisory Committee Seat D is currently vacant. Qualified individuals must be registered to vote in the Girdwood Valley Service Area. Term for this seat is through Spring 2026. GBOS will make appointment at their next​ regular meeting.

To apply, send an email with your resume and/or letter of interest to:

GPSAC
PO Box 390
Girdwood, AK 99587
or email it to GBOS@muni.org​

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Grocery shoppers willing to pay more for Alaska Grown produce, study finds
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Grocery shoppers willing to pay more for Alaska Grown produce, study finds

By Yereth Rosen

Alaska Beacon

How much are Alaskans willing to pay for produce that is homegrown? A newly published study has some answers: a significant premium, especially when they have information about the benefits of locally grown food.

Alaska grocery shoppers on average were willing to pay $1.90 extra for a head of lettuce if it was labeled as “Alaska Grown,” the study found. When given information about locally grown products’ benefits to health, the environment and the state economy provided by products with the “Alaska Grown” label, that premium jumped to $3.31 on average, the study found.

The study is based on surveys and interviews of shoppers at Anchorage grocery stores and farmers markets. The surveys and interviews were conducted by University of Alaska Anchorage students; the study was led by Qiujie Zheng, an associate professor of business analytics at the University of Maine. Zheng was previously at UAA.

While the surveys and interviews were conducted several years ago, in 2018, Zheng said she believes the results still stand.

The COVID-19 pandemic that came later may have changed food consumption patterns worldwide, she said by email. “However, due to Alaska’s unique geographical location, I believe that the state’s agricultural supply and consumers’ fresh produce options have remained relatively stable over the past few years,” she said.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/grocery-shoppers-willing-to-pay-more-for-alaska-grown-produce-study-finds

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Commentary: Savoring the Darkness in Alaska
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Commentary: Savoring the Darkness in Alaska

By Tim Lydon

Alaska Beacon

In my part of Alaska, not far from Anchorage, winter solstice is always a dark day, but not because of the lack of light. Instead, I lament the impending loss of winter’s long nights, with all their calm and beauty.

This makes me a contrarian amid all the hoopla over returning light. Yet, as we freefall into a climate-changed world, it seems more people are giving darkness and its benefits a fresh look.

Read the entire opinion at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/opinion-savoring-the-darkness-in-alaska

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Alaska DOT&PF Awarded $1.13M for Avalanche Mitigation Technology along the Seward Highway Corridor
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Alaska DOT&PF Awarded $1.13M for Avalanche Mitigation Technology along the Seward Highway Corridor

By David Nyman

TNews Contributor

With the weather visiting southcentral this week, new funding to support southcentral avalanche mitigation efforts is timely. Alaskans traveling the Seward Highway between Anchorage and Seward will get a safer highway with the Avalanche Mitigation Alert Detection (AMAD) project that was recently awarded $1.13 million award as part of a Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant program. This grant program is a  component of the bi-partisan infrastructure law and from US Department of Transportation.

The AMAD project being led by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (AK DOT&PF) will utilize cutting-edge remote avalanche control systems and forecasting technology to mitigate significant avalanche risks along the Seward Highway corridor. The Seward Highway is a National Highway System (NHS) route and one of Alaska's busiest roadways, serving as a vital connection between the Kenai Peninsula, Seward and Anchorage, for commerce, residents, and visitors alike.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/alaska-dotamppf-awarded-113m-for-avalanche-mitigation-technology-along-the-seward-highway-corridor

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Opinion: ‘Girdwood’ missing in Assembly’s view of our Comprehensive Plan
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Opinion: ‘Girdwood’ missing in Assembly’s view of our Comprehensive Plan

By Brian Burnett

Girdwood Resident

“It is so unfortunate that where once we spent hours agonizing over what trees needed to remain to protect Stumpy’s Trail or Enchanted Forest, we will now be agonizing over whether the road there should be paved or gravel.” – Girdwood Wanderer

Being a part of Anchorage has never been smooth; from 1977 when over 80% of Girdwood did NOT vote in favor to join the Municipality to when Anchorage voters declined to bond a local cemetery that over 80% of Girdwood voters approved to self-fund. However, we have carved out a great place to live and we are in the process of mapping out the future of Girdwood for all of us living here and all of Anchorage that comes here to recreate. Regardless of set backs, we continue to move forward and drive events and actions to be the community we all want to live in. We are now putting forward a new comprehensive plan for our community. We have rolled up our collective sleeves to engage the community in the multi-yearprocess of achieving a vision for G’wood. This effort is no different than Forest Fair, the community playground, GVFD and the fire station, or the Scott & Wesley Gerrish Library. Girdwood works together to build solutions regardless of support from Anchorage.

Read the entire story at the link below:

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Task force report identifies ways to make child care more available and affordable in Alaska
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Task force report identifies ways to make child care more available and affordable in Alaska

By Yereth Rosen

Alaska Beacon

Child care shortages could be addressed by a combination of actions to help families with subsidies and help providers work through what is currently a daunting bureaucratic process, according to a new task force report released by the Alaska Department of Health.

Recommendations to expand child care options came in the second and final report of a task forceestablished last year by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The Governor’s Task Force on Child Care report, released on Dec. 27, follows an earlier report released last year.

Altogether, they contain 56 recommendations for action.

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/task-force-report-identifies-ways-to-make-child-care-more-available-and-affordable-in-alaska

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Assembly Postpones Vote on Area Plan
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Assembly Postpones Vote on Area Plan

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Forested land targeted for development in Girdwood was called, among other things, "magical", "cherished", a "paradise", a "crown jewel" and containing the "largest trees in Anchorage", during testimony Tuesday night on Girdwood's Comprehensive Plan.

Two densely-forested parcels, one near Virgin Creek and the other by Glacier Creek, would be protected "open space" in an update of Girdwood's 30-year-old area plan. 

But that conception is being contested by Anchorage's planning department which aims to include housing in those places.

(Photos by Carson Baldiviez)

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/assembly-postpones-vote-on-area-plan

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Anchorage to decide Girdwood’s future in Land Plan Vote
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Anchorage to decide Girdwood’s future in Land Plan Vote

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

A sweeping land plan that could determine Girdwood's future as either a sprawling resort town or a mountain community with an intact rainforest is scheduled for a vote in a little more than a week.

Should the Anchorage Assembly adopt the city's changes to Girdwood's comprehensive plan, the town could see hundreds of acres of Girdwood's old-growth rainforest habitat cleared for subdivisions, roads, businesses and resort expansion.

Besides 500 acres included for development in the plan, hundreds of additional acres of public lands could be added, including remote lands sought by Alyeska Resort for development as well as forests and wetlands along Virgin Creek, where a group, decades ago, hoped to build a golf course.

The plan comes with few conditions on the size of homes in most areas and even whether anyone lives in them, a trend facing many Western mountain towns with ski resorts, said Mike Edgington co-chair of the Girdwood Board of Supervisors   

"We're not here to sell things in strip malls," Edgington said Wednesday during a meeting. "There's places that do that very well. That's not what Girdwood is for. Girdwood exists and this economy exists because of the environment. There's always going to be a point where additional development starts cannibalizing the whole essence, purpose and economic value of the community." 

Read the entire story here:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/anchorage-to-decide-girdwoods-future-in-land-plan-vote

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

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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Girdwood Trails Marathon: A Reflection
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

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

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

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.”

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‘Stars Over Girdwood’ class views Comet
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

‘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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First ever Pickleball Tourney held
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

First ever Pickleball Tourney held

By Seth Beaubien

TN News Contributor


Girdwood’s first pickleball tournament was a smashing success as the Girdwood School gymnasium echoed Friday night to the sound of cracking drives, deft dinks and admiring applause. 

Four Valleys Community School Executive Director Beks Rumley and Jarrad Griffith aced the planning, and created a competitive round robin and double elimination bracket set that ensured court time and fun was had by all.  

“It was incredibly fun all around, and really encouraging to see so many of the Girdwood Pickleball Club members on the courts tonight," Rumley said. 

"We had a handful of pals drive in from Fairbanks, Anchorage, and even Homer--a true commitment to the sport, and a great example of its accessibility. We are stoked to have our first ever pickleball tournament completed, and with so much success. We cannot wait to plan for the next one in the Spring!” 

(Pictured are Amy (left) and Gus who received award for the Most Improved Players. (Photos by Seth Beaubien)

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/first-ever-pickleball-tourney-held

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Girdwood Middle School Boys Basketball Team Dominates Season, Finishes Undefeated
Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Girdwood Middle School Boys Basketball Team Dominates Season, Finishes Undefeated

By Coach Kyle Kelley

TN News Contributor

The Girdwood Middle School boys’ basketball team concluded its 2024 season with an impressive 8-0 record, showcasing its exceptional teamwork and skill while playing against other Middle Schools throughout Anchorage.

(Editor's Note: Coach Kelley leads local sports programs including Girdwood School baseball and basketball)

Read the entire story at the link below:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-middle-school-boys-basketball-dominates-season-finishes-undefeated

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Education Jon Scudder Education Jon Scudder

Glacier Creek Suspension Bridge comment period announced

Girdwood Trails Committee is applying for Recreational Trails Program Grant funds for the Glacier Creek Suspension Bridge and Interpretive Center. If awarded, funds will be used to complete construction of the new bridge and Interpretive Center on the Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood from 2025-2027.

Public Comment or Opposition can be submitted by calling 907-343-8373 by email: tylerms@muni.org or by mail to: Girdwood Trails Committee, C/O Girdwood Parks and Recreation, PO Box 390, Girdwood, AK 99587. Deadline for Comment: Oct. 31 2024.

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