Opinion: Why I’m stepping out of the GBOS race
By Brett Wilbanks
The reason that I put my name forward first to run for GBOS was to ensure that our community was being heard. From my participation in municipal government, activity in local service area committees, and first hand experience developing in Girdwood, I see where there are improvements that can be made. But the issues for our community go deeper than that.
Currently, there is a culture in GBOS where community groups and committee input to the board is routinely softened or dismissed to defer to assembly priorities. This has a negative impact and is to the detriment of our community. This current culture harms our town, especially when assembly interests are prioritized over local needs. There are several recent examples where deference is given to assembly interests, without garnering the support of our local community.
Last year was a terrible example of how divisive a local service area board election can get. This is a time when Girdwood needs unity as we define our own solutions and express our own vision. The last thing that I want for our town is anything that takes the focus away from the common problem and turns neighbor against neighbor.
Read more of his opinion at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/k1eq7ecrr4806w43jxndlz1vidctd1
Opinion: Communities know what is best for their community
By Emma Kramer
The Holtan Hills Development is a poor use of public lands and it may lead to adverse effects on all MOA taxpayers. The public record shows that the proposal is not supported by the Girdwood community, additionally, it’s socially and fiscally irresponsible and will exacerbate our current socio-economic issues.
These issues include: only a single road in/out for evacuation, limited access to food and family services, lack of progress in our Girdwood Industrial Park, limited trash collection, STILL NO RECYCLING, lack of shelter for folks experiencing homelessness, variable electricity and wastewater capacity issues, and SEVERE housing shortage with trends in the wrong direction, and no incentives to stop.
To read more:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/opinion-communities-know-what-is-best-for-their-community
Turnagain Arm's Childcare Crisis is Fixable.
By Thea Ritter
Little Bears Board Member
The only licensed childcare center serving Girdwood, Bird, Indian, Portage and Whittier is Little Bears Playhouse, a nonprofit operating out of a very small facility built in 1960 by volunteers.
Not only is the building too small for Girdwood’s childcare needs, but the snow load of the roof is such that parents are asked to sign a waiver acknowledging this structural risk to allow their children to attend. The facility is only large enough to accommodate 30 children.
Alyeska Ski Club releases Coca-Cola Cup Race Results
2024 Coca Cola Cup results and pictures courtesy of Alyeska Ski Club are included. There were 42 women and 33 men who participated in solid racing conditions over the past weekend.
To read more:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/alyeska-ski-club-releases-coca-cola-cup-race-results
Movie Review— Buried: The Alpine Meadows Avalanche
By James P. Sweeney
TNews Contributor
My name is Jim Plein. I was the avalanche forecaster for Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. Jim's lips move, his teeth are crooked, he clears his throat and sighs but he says nothing for 15 seconds. He closes his eyes–the lens moves closer. He’s wrinkled gray, has a buzz cut, a goatee and wears a Patagonia fleece coat. He takes his time and says, So maybe I’ll cut here for a minute.
I press pause. I know this story and twenty-two words into the movie, it hits me like an avalanche.
Gear Up! Gear Exchange Buys and Sells
Calling all gear lovers! Gather up your gently used outdoor gear and clothing. Girdwood has a new business in town. The Girdwood Gear Exchange opened this past summer giving Girdwoodians an opportunity to buy and sell gear.
It is owned and run by Mara Hall who followed the consignment model when creating her new business. This model benefits the consignor, who makes money by selling used items, while the buyer gets quality gear at a discounted price.
Mara, who loves thrift shopping and clothes, started her career selling women’s clothing at markets. When the commercial space at her current location opened she bought it hoping to expand. Instead of going to Anchorage, her hope is that locals will utilize her store.
The Gear Exchange is located at 599 Alyeska Highway. December hours are: Friday & Saturday 11-5; and Sunday & Monday 11-3.
The Gear Exchange is currently taking winter clothing and gear, but will transition to summer gear when the seasons change.
Go check out the Girdwood Gear Exchange and you might just walk out with a new Patagonia jacket that you didn’t know you needed
Opening Day a Wash
By Harper Landry
TNews Contributor
There was skepticism amongst skiers and riders when Alyeska announced that they were opening the mountain Nov. 24, the earliest day in a decade.
That skepticism turned to sheer excitement when recent blizzards and ongoing snowfall led riders to anticipate an epic full mountain opening pow day.
Where we landed was somewhere in between.
Alyeska followed through and got the mountain open early but a shift in weather to rainfall and warm temperatures resulted in a limited opening and groomed slushy slopes.
Chair 3 (Bear Cub Quad) and Chair 7 were open from 10-5. Resort management cited safety reasons for the limited opening.
An email sent out by the Mountain Manager Duane Stutzman informed passholders that the new ticket system adopted would not recognize the passes that were purchased in the spring/summer of 2023.
The email directed passholders to ticket offices to exchange passes. Some passholders were unaware of this change, but lifties at Chair 3 had great attitudes and graciously let passholders through and directed them to the ticket offices to update their passes.
The weather was blustery, rainy, and unseasonably warm with temperatures in the low forties. This didn’t stop skiers and riders from having fun and being clearly excited to be shredding in November.
Nor did limited mountain access stop the Alyeska Ski Club racers from training. The two functional lifts had congestion at times due to the racers which usually train on Chair 4.
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.
Girdwood hosts Homer Police forum on ‘Parenting in the Digital Age’
On a recent Friday evening in Girdwood, a much anticipated guest speaker came to Girdwood thanks to outreach and support from the Public Safety Advisory Committee and Girdwood Board of Supervisors. Lieutenant Ryan Browning of the Homer Police Department engaged parents and youth in a frank conversation about the real life risks of youth social media usage, cyberbullying, sexting.
Lt. Browning’s time as a police officer, and personal experience as a father of two teens himself, inspired him to create his two hour presentation “Parenting in the Digital Age.” Over the last year Browning has traveled all over the state of Alaska sharing his thoughtful, engaging, and at times provocative, two hour program with the goal of helping parents and teens open up a dialogue about what they’re seeing and experiencing online.
Girdwood's Ava Earl Releases New Album, Helps Power Northwestern U. Running Team
In fourth grade at Girdwood Elementary, Ava Earl had to write a self-reflection on her school performance: "What are you good at? What are your weaknesses?"
Assessing her strengths wouldn't be hard, she was an exemplary student, star runner and already showed a proclivity in music.
But there was one thing she scolded herself on, something that could cause her teachers' "mild frustration", and something, as it would turn out, for which women are typically chided for more than men.
Talking--being--too much.
That accusation became the title of Earl's latest album, her fourth, released Sept. 15
Girdwood’s Grizzlies prepare for the new school year
Summer is soon coming to an end for Girdwood’s Grizzlies who will be coming back to the classroom at the Girdwood K-8 School.
Girdwood’s K-8 Principal Kari Anderson said she is looking forward to a positive year ahead and talked about what families can expect for the new school year and what’s new for the first quarter.
Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium
The Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation would like to invite you to our fifth annual PWS Natural History Symposium on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. What started as an offering to summer guides has grown into a highly anticipated free community event. Join us in person at the Public Safety Building in Whittier or online for the latest in news and research from around PWS!