Girdwood 2023 Budget Shows Surplus
By: Brooks Chandler
TN Contributor
Girdwood's local government had a surplus of nearly $400,000 in its 2023 budget, savings that are a result of lower than expected costs for road maintenance, lower expenses for parks and the fire department's decision to hold off on buying a new fire truck.
Actual expenses for the Girdwood Valley Service Area in 2023 were $388,288 under budget.
Read the entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-2023-budget-shows-surplus
POACHER’S LAST RUN
By Jim Sweeney
TNews Contributor
The helicopter hovers eighty to hundred feet above the valley floor creating a tornado of snow. Each time it tries to land, it is engulfed in white, so that the pilot has to pull back to see.
The helicopter is small, with a blue bottom, a white top and an Alaska State Trooper badge on its side.
The helicopter flies off, circles once and comes back for another try. No cigar this time, either. The obnoxious bird takes off on another loop and this time slows down as it flies over. The garble from the helicopter’s loudspeaker is swallowed by rotor wash but Mark Norquist and Matt Howard get the message. It’s too dark and there is too much snow flying around for the helicopter to land.
Dave "The Poacher" Pettry will spend the night of March 14 next to Tincan Creek.
Read the entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/poachers-last-run
KMTA and Girdwood Nordic Ski Club join in celebrating spring skiing with Corduroy Crush event
By Jon K. Scudder
TNews
The third annual Corduroy Crush Ski Race is just around the corner Nordic skiers!
“The event is a collaboration with Girdwood Nordic Ski Club and Kenai Mountains Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area to highlight the history and trails in Girdwood valley, which are of course right in the Heritage Area,” said Briana Sullivan, Secretary of the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club.
This year she and Rachel Blakeslee, Executive Director of KMTA, are organizing the event. The groups together recognize the significant history here and one of the main objectives of KMTA is to share in the access of the corridor, so this is one small example of that in a celebratory way.
Read the entire story at:
Mayoral Candidates Give Views in Girdwood Forum
By Soren Wuerth
TNews. Editor
During a forum in Girdwood four candidates for Anchorage mayor gave their views on a panoply of issues, including local housing, school funding and even calls for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Palestine.
The candidates who showed up to the Friday night forum in the community center—Chris Tuck, Suzanne LaFrance, Bill Popp, and Nick Danger—all made an effort to show their "Alaskaness", "Anchorageness" and, in some cases, their "Girdwoodness".
All the candidates are decades-long residents, and showed nostalgia for earlier times when, they said, Anchorage was a more friendly place when, as Popp put it, people were more optimistic and when "people drove around with jumper cables in their car", as LaFrance said.
Now, there is acrimony, a sense of defeatism, discouragement and low morale, they said.
"We started getting stuck in the now," Popp said. "We've lost our vision."
LaFrance asked, "How do we restore trust and confidence?"
The forum, sponsored jointly by Girdwood's Rotary Club and the Turnagain News, had many questions about local land use and the four candidates were well aware of a rift between Girdwood and Anchorage, one that widened after the Anchorage Assembly voted in favor of a "Holtan Hills" subdivision. That idea has been widely panned by the community.
In answering questions, some from a moderator, some from the audience and some, in a yes or no "lightning round", the candidates discussed their views on conflicts over local housing, staffing issues in Mayor Dave Bronson's Administration, and taxes.
Developer Connie Yoshimura joined an audience of about 40 and took a seat in the first row of chairs. Her company, CY Investments, plans to develop at least 60 acres in virgin forest near Girdwood's school. Alyeska resort owner Pomeroy has announced it also hopes to acquire public land managed by the municipality's Heritage Land Bank for development.
Nick Danger, who said he used to live in Girdwood and once served on the Girdwood Board of Supervisors, suggested Girdwood and Eagle River split off from Anchorage in a sentiment palpable in a nascent "Free Girdwood" movement.
"If I were the mayor, which I probably won't be, I'd push for that, two cities," said Danger, who wore a black, long sleeve North Face shirt with an Alyeska Resort logo. Danger, handlebar mustached and with a faint tattoo on his bald crown, sat with his hands folded in front of him.
"I remember when a long-distance phone call to Anchorage was 75 cents," he said. Danger, who said he is part-owner of the Buckaroo Club, talked mostly from his personal experience as a homeowner in Anchorage and former oil company employee.
Danger said the problem is not jobs, but a population who doesn't want to work. "I had a kid who worked on the Slope and made $6,000 a week and he quit because he missed his dog," Danger said. "I mean really?"
Chris Tuck, a legislator in Juneau and former union boss who wore a blue sport coat over a blue sweater, jeans and leather dress shoes, said he would look at reforming codes around short term rentals and restore "dilapidated buildings" in Anchorage as a way to address housing issues.
"We're going to have another record tourism year this year ... and that means people want to do short term rentals," Tuck said. "Short terms rentals means its unavailable for local residents to have housing. Our population is shrinking but our housing is getting more and more restrictive. Why is that?"
Suzanne LaFrance said she would listen to the community and see how new housing proposals would fit in with Girdwood's just-released comprehensive area plan.
"It's got to be a partnership, as far as the municipality's role," said LaFrance, who wore a maroon sport coat over a flowery blouse. "We've seen in the past when a community isn't involved from the get-go how the best possible outcome is hard to reach."
Bill Popp, in a checkered button-down, asked, "If not here, then where do you want development in the Girdwood basin? I've honestly got a lot of mixed signals talking to different people in Girdwood depending on who I'm talking to and where they live or where they like to recreate. No, no, no, not there. And I get that ... but also, when do we compromise?" Popp said.
During the "lightning round", candidates held a "yes" or "no" card above their heads. Only Tuck spoke during the round, prompting moderator and Rotary President Howard Earl to express his doubts that "everyone was clear on the 'yes' or 'no' concept. Later, Tuck said he thought the lightning round asked candidates to "impose something on the community" and didn't give candidates a chance to explain.
In that series of questions, candidates differed only on a handful of issues with Danger being a frequent outlier. Danger indicated that he neither believed Joe Biden was duly elected president nor that climate change was really occurring.
On a question of whether Girdwood should separate from the Municipality, only Danger signified, "Yes". Tuck qualified his view by saying, "I don't live in Girdwood. It's your choice."
All candidates affirmed they would support a cemetery bond, that Pomeroy should be required to build affordable housing if they get municipal land, and that the HLB Advisory Commission should meet in Girdwood when the disposal of municipal land in Girdwood is discussed.
Tuck was the only candidate to flash a "yes" card to support a recent resolution presented to the Anchorage Assembly calling for a bilateral ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
"Peace is always better than war," Tuck said.
Girdwood Homeless Population Doubles
By Brooks Chandler
TNews Contributor
There are more than 47 persons living in tents, trees, cars, trucks, trailers and campers on the street or in the woods of Girdwood, according to a local survey.
A year earlier the number was 22.
The 2024 “count” was conducted January 29 through in person interviews, Girdwood resident Linda Mankoff told the Girdwood Board of Supervisors at Monday's meeting.
Only persons who volunteered their names were included.
Mankoff, who is a patient assistance program coordinator at the Girdwood Health Clinic, coordinated local participation in conjunction with a nationwide homeless survey.
She estimated another 20-25 unhoused residents declined to be counted.
The official count will be reported to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development by the Clinic. Based on the data, homeless Girdwoodians may qualify for federal assistance later in 2024.
Who are these people? Ms. Mankoff said many are employed in the Valley—in the service industry and as young professionals. She said some of the working homeless told her market rate rents would consume 50 percent of their income.
Mankoff told GBOS many live with some fear of being forced to leave their “spot”.
Ava Earl Crushes Mile Record
Nails Second Fastest Time for Alaska Woman Runner
By Harper Landry
TNews Reporter
Local Girdwoodian Ava Earl just ran the second fastest mile time in Alaska's women's history.
Ava is a local musician and athlete who went to Girdwood K-8 School and currently runs Division 1 at Northwestern University.
Being a student athlete is hard especially at such a prestigious school and it hasn’t always been easy, says Ava. She said she's learned how important it is to be resilient and to not give up when things get hard.
Ava says she has also learned better time management skills, how to use your resources, and how to ask for help.
Ava is very honored to be among some of her idols like (Soldotna runner and NCAA champion runner) Allie Ostrander, who she has looked up to since middle school when she started getting serious with running. Ava is proud of all the hard work she has put in to follow in Ostrander's footsteps and she hopes to someday be competitive at Allie’s level.
Ava’s outdoor track season is starting and she is hoping to get her 5k time into the low 15:20s which will help her in cross country next year.
Ava’s advice for younger runners is to make sure you are healthy and eating enough.
“You can’t run on broken legs or an empty stomach, and your coach shouldn't want you to,” she says.
When it comes to choosing a college to run at, she shared that it is important to look for coaches and teams that prioritize your physical and mental health.
“Let your love for the sport guide you, and know the difference between working hard and overworking,” Ava says.
Ava also recommends to start running at a low mileage. She ran at a low mileage until college and it worked out really well for her in the long-term.
As for her other role as a professional musician, Ava doesn't have a plan for her next album but she is always working on new music. She is hoping to put out new music within the next two years. But before then she is planning to do lots of performing.
Girdwood is super proud of Ava and we can’t wait to see what comes next!
Alyeska Resort announces plan to build housing complex
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Alyeska Resort announced it will build a 40-room, dorm-style housing complex near its hotel in the upper valley in coming years, a project that is part of a three-phase housing plan that would add 200 to 300 beds to the valley's rental market.
A Resort spokesperson made the disclosure Wednesday during a meeting of Girdwood's Housing and Economic Committee. Postcards from the Resort advertising a Feb. 7 community meeting began appearing in Girdwood post office boxes this week.
"We wanted to be a part of your conversation in workforce housing and let you know how many units we're planning in the years to come. and, ahead of the community meeting, it makes sense to keep an open dialogue with the [Housing and Economic Committee]," Willam Laurie, a planner for Alyeska's owner Pomeroy, told the group.
The dorm building would be followed by a cluster of six-plex and eight-plex apartments and, eventually, townhomes near the Resort's hotel. All the units would be open to residents of Girdwood and others, Laurie said.
Apartments in the dorm building would each have a bedroom and bathroom. The "co-housing" concept has tenants sharing a kitchen, laundry and communal space. The lower part of the dorm building would be lined with storefront and retail space would be "available to all Girdwood businesses and not just the Resort," Laurie said.
Laurie said the concept follows a survey of Alyeska staff in which the company received "400-500 responses".
"The upshot was they wanted private space. So private space with affordable housing," Laurie said.
While Laurie was vague on details, his news offers promise to a sorely-needed affordable housing crises, a demand cited by proponents of a massive subdivision of mostly single-family homes they call "Holtan Hills", which would be behind Girdwood's school. The Anchorage Assembly will hear testimony on the Holtan Hills plan Tuesday night.
Opinion: Giving ‘Public Comment’ on ‘Holton Hills’
By David Nyman
As AO 2023-137 is a new ordinance. All prior public testimony from Girdwood on the previous ordinance is not automatically attached to this new ordinance. There are several new Assembly members that did not vote last year. It is important they hear Girdwood voices.
During the previous Holtan Hills campaign the focus was on emails directly to Assembly members. These emailed comments became public only if the Assembly member chose to share them. Submission of public comments on the new ordinance to the entire Assembly do become part of the public record.
Read more of the opinion at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/opinion-giving-public-comment-on-holton-hills
Public Hearing for Holtan Hills Scheduled for Jan. 9 and 23
By David Nyman
TNews Contributor
Anchorage Assembly Chair Chris Constant and co-Chair Meg Zaletel announced public hearing dates for the controversial Holtan Hills real estate transaction on Jan. 9 and 23.
The press release is as follows:
"Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel introduced a new proposal to dispose Heritage Land Bank (HLB) property in Girdwood to CY Investments for a multi-use residential development, “Holtan Hills," at the December 19 Regular Assembly Meeting. The new version would require the developer to designate a multifamily unit to a future Girdwood housing trust or non-profit entity and the(n) engage the Girdwood Board of Supervisors throughout the project."
HLB announces plan review
By Jon Scudder
TNews Publisher
The Heritage Land Bank announced the public review period for the draft 2024 Annual Work Program & 2025-2029 Five-Year Management Plan.
The public can review the draft 2024 Annual Work Program & 2025-2029 Five-Year Management Plan through Feb 9 and send comments to HLB@AnchorageAK.gov. The public should include the parcel or page number where applicable.
HLB is requesting comments by Feb. 9. A public hearing on the Work Plan is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 22.
Comments received during this period will be included and responded to in an appendix of the Work Plan. Any comments received after Feb 9 will not be included in the appendix but will be provided to the HLB Advisory Commission at the public hearing.
The public hearing for the Work Plan is tentatively scheduled for Feb 22. More meeting details will be sent out to the HLB mailing list and posted on the HLB website as the meeting approaches.
The Turnagain News will be following this story and update as details become available. The public is encouraged to reach out to HLB at (907) 343-7536 for more information. Their website is www.muni.org/HLB . Their email address is HLB@AnchorageAK.gov.
Holiday activities in Girdwood and Alyeska Resort
By James P. Sweeney
TNews Contributor
Girdwood and Alyeska are a winter wonderland right now. New Years is right around the corner and this is a list of activities in Glacier Valley for your enjoyment..
On December 29, the Jeffries will be playing the Sitzmark Bar. 9 pm $10, 21+.
On December 30, the Tyson James Band will be shaking the Sitzmark Bar. 9 pm $10, 21+.
Jack Sprat’s and The Spoonline will be serving a New Years Eve dinner with reservations.
On December 31, New Years Eve the annual Alyeska torchlight parade winds its way down the mountain between 9 and 10 pm!
Also on New Years Eve The Roland Roberts Band will be rocking the Sitzmark Bar starting at 10 pm.
A Seward Highway Safety Meeting
The sign-in table for a "safer Seward Highway" meeting held Wednesday in Girdwood was like a merch booth at a music festival.
A representative from HDR, a private environmental consulting firm, handed out Cotopaxi Fanny Packs, blue stress balls, and Nalgene water bottles.
"No, please, take one," said the young woman at the door. "We've got plenty."
Just inside, six pizzas covered a counter and a bowl of candy stood on a table with blank comment sheets and other handouts.
Signs lined both walls displayed maps with sections of the highway (McHugh Creek, Potter Marsh, and so on) highway design options (separated two lane, three and four lanes), breakdown displays of accidents and other informational graphics.
Soon about 20 people sat down while HDR consultants stood at the perimeter of the Community Center room.
Taking turns, four HDR consultants gave an overview that included a timeline, various highway construction alternatives, the purpose for the project, and the safety concerns that prompted what could be a billion-dollar investment.
Read the entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/a-seward-highway-safety-meeting
Calling All Heroes: Nominations for American Red Cross Awards Open
Calling All Heroes: Nominations for the 2024 American Red Cross of Alaska Real Heroes Awards are open
“A hero is someone who rises in the face of adversity and helps others in a true moment of need,“ said Anchorage Police Officer Jacob Raygor.
Officer Raygor and two of his fellow police officers were selected as one of the American Red Cross of Alaska Real Hero Award recipients in 2023. Raygor and his colleagues provided successfully evacuated another police officer that was injured in the line of duty and provided first aid which saved his life.