Guitar-playing Black Bear design wins Forest Fair 2024 Logo
By Harper Landry
TNews Contributor
The Forest Fair committee recently announced the winning 2024 Girdwood Forest Fair design, a black bear plucking a guitar.
It was designed by Felicity Jones from Homer, Alaska. The winner received $50 and 2 free T- shirts.
Forest Fair swag will be sold the first day of Forest Fair at the T-Shirt Booth. The 2024 Forest Fair dates are July 5, 6, and 7th.
The days will be filled with music, entertainment, food, and shopping at local vendors’ booths.
There is no entry fee so support the Girdwood Forest Fair cause by buying awesome gear!
Following Reconsideration Girdwood delivers no vote on Glacier Creek Development
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The Girdwood Board of Supervisors voted again on a controversial plan by Alyeska Resort owner Pomeroy Lodging to carve a subdivision out of public land near Glacier Creek.
This time, the Board voted against Phase 4 of Pomeroy's proposed master plan, which includes a road and housing in a popular recreational area and is designated "open space" in the community's latest comprehensive plan.
"I felt conflicted," GBOS Co-Chair Briana Sullivan wrote in an email. During the reconsideration meeting, Sullivan switched her vote to no after voting yes during Monday's meeting.
During Monday's meeting board members voted 3-2 in favor of an amendment that would endorse development in the upper valley. Supervisors Brian Burnett and Jennifer Wingard joined a 22-2 consensus of participants in a land use meeting a week earlier that approved all phases of Pomeroy's development, but excluded the Glacier Creek phase.
Without gaining access to develop the municipal land, a Pomeroy manager has said the other phases are not viable.
"I did not think our board's vote would turn out the way it did," Sullivan wrote. "The outcome did not sit well with me after the meeting and the following day. My motion to reconsider would give the body a chance to apply our rules and procedures, which is a basic practice in local government, to essentially redo our vote from Monday in case anyone wanted to change their vote and thus the outcome."
Critics of the Glacier Creek phase said the old-growth rainforest area—popular for recreational cross-country skiing, hiking, mushroom foraging and berry picking—have led to its designation as "open space", setting up a conflict over future use of the public land, which is managed by Anchorage's Heritage Land Bank.
But Willam Laurie, Pomeroy's development manager, said the development, with mixed housing, nordic trails, a warming hut, parking and a lateral gondola to its hotel serves the community's interest. He said the planned subdivision would include smaller, more affordable housing units.
Supervisor Mike Edgington, who along with Guy Wade voted twice in favor of Pomeroy's plan, said although there is a "contradiction" between Alyeska's master plan and the community's area plan, he thinks Pomeroy's general goals are good and details can be ironed out along the way.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/following-reconsideration-girdwood-delivers-no-vote-on-glacier-cree-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
Memorial Day Event to be held in Whittier
By: Brooks Chandler
TN Contributor
The Chugach Arts Council has organized a unique Memorial Day celebration honoring six U.S. Army members who perished in a helicopter crash on Portage Glacier while assisting victims of the Good Friday earthquake in 1964.
Chugach Arts Council Director Marie Wagner told TN the “Maynard Mountain Heros” will be recognized in a ceremony held at the Princess Cruise Ship Terminal in Whittier beginning at 1 pm on May 27. Family members of 1st Lieutenant Robert J. Gilbert who perished during the “Operation Helping Hand” mission ferrying relief supplies to Whittier will be in attendance and will also spend a few days in Girdwood. According to Ms. Wagner the event will feature poetry readings, Yup’ik , Tsimshian and Polynesian dance groups and Celtic music performed by Mary Schallert & Lisa Maloney.
Exhibits will honor the military service of Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Women, VietnamWar veterans, Coast Guard members and Gold Star families.
The gathering will participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m.for all those who died in military service to the United States. This is a minute of silence done at 3 pm local time across the United States.
Those wishing to attend should take either the 11:30 or 12:30 tunnel in and plan to return on the 3:00 or 4:00 tunnel opening.
If you would be interested in volunteering to help with the eventcontact Ms. Wagner at info@chugachartscouncil.org
For the agenda, please see the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/memorial-day-event-in-whittier
Turnagain Arm Women fight breast cancer at ‘Run for Women’ events in Anchorage and Girdwood
By Jon Scudder
TNews Publisher
Pink of all shades will flow with bright clothing, ribbons, flags, balloons, decorations, and fun fabrics galore on June 8 in Anchorage at the University of Alaska Anchorage and in smaller, subdued form in Girdwood.
“The sea of pink is full of women of all ages and abilities, radiating enthusiasm and support,” said Briana Sullivan, Girdwood’s Alaska Run for Women coordinator. “It is certainly exciting to feel a part of this live and significant fundraiser.”
Fighting breast cancer in Alaska has been a historic mission the Alaska Run for Women have been undertaking since beginning in 1993, now celebrating its 32nd year.
Read the entire story and how to register:
LUC votes down Alyeska Plan
Alyeska Plan to develop Upper Valley rejected by Land Use Committee
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Girdwood's land use committee dealt a blow to Alyeska Resort's development plans Monday when it voted against a housing complex planned in a popular recreational area.
The committee supported the Resort plans to develop areas near its hotel, but rejected a third phase a subdivision between its hotel and Glacier Creek.
Without a guarantee of development of nearly 100 acres of municipal land, the rest of the plans, for an "Alyeska Village" and "Moose Meadows" complex are all but dashed, according to Willam Laurie, a land manager for Pomeroy Lodging, which owns the Resort.
"For the whole project to be completed, it all needs to be done," Laurie said, referring to a three-phase $350 million expansion planned over the next nine years.
The proposed housing, near Glacier Creek, would cap other developments near the Resort's hotel such as a convention hall, a 9,000 square foot ski school, condos, community housing, and what it calls "workforce housing". It would lease land to contractors for an ice rink, recreation center, and childcare center.
Read the entire story here:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/alyeska-plan-to-develop-upper-valley-rejected-by-land-use-committee
Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium to be held May 13-14
The Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation (PWSSF) is hosting their sixth annual Prince William Sound Natural History Symposium May 13-14, 2024, at the City Building in Whittier and online.
This year’s theme is “Hope for a Sustainable Prince William Sound.” Sessions on Monday, May 13th, are from 1-5 PM at the City Building in Whittier; this half day is geared towards the outdoor education and guiding community. Sessions on Tuesday, May 14th, will be presented in hybrid format (9AM-5PM at the City Building in Whittier and online via Zoom) and will feature the latest PWS news and research, including cultural history, marine life, landslide updates, and more. Both days are free and open to the public. Please register at https://princewilliamsound.org/2024nhs2024nhs. Recordings will be posted on princewilliamsound.org in June.
“PWSSF initially started the Natural History Symposium to provide high-quality information for the guides and other educators bringing visitors to our region. It quickly became popular with the general public and is now a highly anticipated annual community event with attendees from communities around Prince William Sound (PWS), the state of Alaska, and the Lower 48, as well as international viewers online,” shares Dr. Charla Hughes, PWSSF Executive Director. “The Symposium audience is not limited to day-of attendees: the session recordings we post each year are an excellent free community resource for educators and anyone interested in learning more about PWS.”
"I am so happy to see the Natural History Symposium continue to grow and evolve each year. This year we are expanding to two days of presentations with more than 25 experts. If you work or spend time in Prince William Sound, there is no better way to get informed and excited about the year ahead," says PWSSF Board Chair William Melton.
The PWS Science Center will also be hosting a watch party in Cordova on Tuesday, May 14th.
PWSSF is grateful to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, the Oil Spill Recovery Institute at the PWS Science Center, the PWS Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council, and their many partners and members for making this event possible.
(Article courtesy of Prince William Sound Stewardship Foundation)
Girdwood Community Garden has room to grow
By: Brooks Chandler
Itching to get your fingers dirty and grow your own? Plots are available in Girdwood’s community garden. Though currently snow covered the Community Garden is soon to be a thriving green space located between the Girdwood Chapel and Girdwood Brewery on Girdwood Chapel property.
The garden is a project of Turnagain Community Services, Inc., a Girdwood-based non-profit organization. TCS President Alice Simmons said the garden aims to provide sustainability, unity and growth for Girdwood residents.
Betty Charnon, TCS board member and volunteer, manages the garden.
She said the garden includes one plot dedicated to growing produce for another TCS endeavor, the community Food Pantry.
The garden is more than just a place to grow food and flowers, According to Charnon.
“It serves as a gathering spot for neighbors to come together, share knowledge and build lasting friendships,” she said.
Annual fees to offset operating costs are $25 per season. Needs-based discounts are available.
Charnon said those interested in having a plot (which includes access to space in the new greenhouse!) can fill out the application form available at: https://www.girdwoodchapel.com/community-garden/ (or: email TurnagainCommunityServices@gmail.com or call 907-783-0127) to request an application form).
On May 18, the Community Garden is holding a plant sale fundraiser. The sale will feature mature and starter annuals and perennials and perhaps some veggi starts. The sale will be held at the Girdwood Brewery from 11 am to 4 p.m.
(The writer is a board member of Turnagain Community Services, Inc).
Girdwoodian Cabot Charles Christianson passes away
Change of Sitzmark Time is 12 to 3 pm Saturday.
Attorney and lifelong Alaskan Cabot Charles Christianson, 71, died on March 3, 2024, from cardiac arrest, while skiing with his family at Alyeska Resort. Cabot was born in Sitka, Alaska, on Dec. 20, 1952, where his parents homesteaded an island in Sitka Sound.
For Cabot, "The Island" was a magical place to grow up, which led to his lifelong passion for wild and natural places and the sea. He later moved to the Lower 48 to live with his mother during the school year, with summers in Sitka. Cabot graduated from high school in Norwalk, Conn. A scholar-athlete, he excelled in math, captained the chess team and won the Connecticut State Wrestling Championship. He graduated from Swarthmore College in 1975, with a B.A. in economics with high honors. In 1978, Cabot graduated from Stanford Law School and moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to begin a 46-year law career specializing in commercial law and bankruptcy.
Cabot was an outdoorsman and adventurer. He kayaked from Seattle to Sitka in college, a 40-day, 800-mile voyage with a friend in a two-man kayak, subsisting on peanut butter, chocolate and clams. He hiked the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada and hunted mountain goat on Baranof Island.
In 1983, Cabot married Cynthia Pickering, also an attorney. For over four decades they skied, sailed and kayaked, and built and frequented their cabins, in Kliuchevoi Bay near Sitka, in Girdwood, Alaska, and in the San Juan Islands. One of their favorite trips was skiing and dogsledding at Wonder Lake. But, their biggest adventure was raising their three boys: Nicholas, Charles and Kieffer. Cabot is fondly remembered enjoying stories with his sons in the evenings, from Treasure Island to Sherlock Holmes.
Homestead life fostered the ingenuity and self-reliance which were hallmarks of the man Cabot became. His children refer to his ability to solve building and other off-grid challenges, as his "island boy skills." Cabot's work life as an attorney was no less creative, where his attention to detail and facility with numbers shone. Cabot was devoted to his clients and found great satisfaction in helping Alaskans with their businesses. From a recent client, "He took care of my company like it was his own."
Cabot believed in the power of education. He served as an elected member of the Anchorage School Board, and as trustee for schools and a children's camp.
Cabot was noted for his quiet charisma. His wife said "He had an elegant mind." Cabot's boys said that he challenged them to be the best version of themselves and encouraged them to attack seemingly insurmountable problems head-on.
Cabot is survived by his wife, Cynthia; children, Nicholas (Sarah), Charles (Courtney) and Kieffer (Josefin); grandchildren, August, Astrid and Estelle; mother, Faith Medlin; and siblings, Kord, Thor (Jessica) and Tanya. His father Warren Christianson predeceased him. A Celebration of Life will be held in Cabot's honor at the Sitzmark in Girdwood on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 3 p.m. A church service will be held at 10 a.m., on May 11, at Our Lady of the Snows in Girdwood. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions in Cabot’s name to the Sitka Conservation Society, the Food Bank of Alaska or WildSalmonCenter.org. (Obituary donated by the family)
Avalanche at Alyeska Resort prompts Closure of Tram and two lifts
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A small avalanche broke loose in the early morning hours from Alyeska's headwall prompting the ski resort to close two ski lifts and its tram on the last day of the company's spring Slush Cup carnival.
"Just in the manner of safety," said Duane Stutzman, mountain manager for the Resort. "There were no injuries, no damage, nothing like that. Just a pure safety and cautionary move on our part to enhance the safety of our guests and our resort employees."
The slide, which occurred at 2 a.m., will not impact Sunday's Slush Cup activities and the Resort will still have its "Passholder's Day" Monday, albeit with only Chairs Three and Seven open, Stutzman said.
He said closing the lifts and the tram was a collaborative decision of the Resort's snow safety team and its mountain operations department.
"It's not how we wanted to end the season," he said. "We debated whether to not continue those two events [Passholder's Day and an employee party] and thought we should just go ahead and continue it just on a limited basis."
The slide is the second on the mountain in a year. An avalanche May 11 swept down the mountain from its north face to just behind Alyeska's hotel, displacing pond water from two kettles above.
In its final forecast for the season, the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Centerhas rated avalanche potential as "considerable" for the area.
"This is a spring wet slide, mother nature-triggered," Stutzman said.
LaFrance Carries Girdwood in April 2 Election
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
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
Four Valleys Community School seeks women for Alaska ‘Run for Women’ Team
By Briana Sullivan
TN Contributor
Four Valleys Community School is organizing a team for participants from Girdwood. This is a free event with a fundraising goal for Breast Cancer Resources for women in Alaska. Click the story link for an updated event poster.
The event is on Saturday, June 8. Register at https://www.akrfwregistration.org/team/4380
For information, email Beks at BBrumley@fourvalleys.org.
Alaska Long Trail BLM comment period open
By Barb Crews
Girdwood Trails Committee Chair
At the Alaska Long Trail BLM listening session last Monday evening in Anchorage, it was announced that people can comment on the possible National Scenic Trail designation only until April 19.
Here's the link to the map comment site:
https://logansimpson.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/reporter/index.html?appid=c2de6a60f56a474083849ebb9896b7ba
‘Corduroy Crush’ Nordic Ski Races held with 85 athletes
By Jeff Samuels
TNews Contributor
The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club (GNSC) and Kenai Mountains- Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (KMTA) teamed up again this year to host the 3rd annual Corduroy Crush Nordic Skiing event on Sunday, April 7th at Girdwood’s 5K Nordic Loop.
About 85 athletes of all ages participated in three events: a 2K snowball biathlon, a 5K timed race, and a team relay.
KMTA’s Executive Director, Rachel Blakeslee, and GNSC’s board member, Briana Sullivan, coordinated logistics and volunteers to manage the event. Participants were greeted by a bluebird spring day and warm temperatures, with a deep winter base of snow still covering the skiing trails. Families basked in the sunshine as the races took place.
Skiers were fueled by hot drinks and sweet rolls from the Alpenglow Coffee House and The Bake Shop.
“Every year we host this race I’m astounded by the selflessness of those who come out to support with their time, energy, and resources,” said Rachel. “This year, we had 33 volunteers from Girdwood, Anchorage, Seward, Moose Pass and more show up on the most beautiful, sunny Sunday to help out… We talk a lot about preserving and celebrating our living heritage in the KMTA. This is what it’s all about.”
As a fundraiser, about $2,000 was generated from registration fees to support KMTA’s youth outdoor school programming.
In addition to Alpenglow Coffee House and The Bake Shop, other sponsors included Powderhound Ski Shop, Birch & Alder, The Ice Cream Shop, Mooses Tooth, Girdwood Brewing, and Alyeska Resort.
For more information on The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, visit their website at: https://skigirdwood.org/. For more information on the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, visit their site at: https://kmtacorridor.org/.
KMTA hosts additional race events each summer at the Spencer Whistlestop and on Hope's Palmer Creek Road. Find more information on upcoming events on their website.
(Click on the story title to see more pictures)
Getting ‘In The Loop’ for Girdwood’s First Friday Art Walk
By Chase Berenson
TNews Contributor
On the first Friday of every month, six businesses on Girdwood’s Olympic Mountain Loop welcome the new month by opening their doors from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday evening for an art walk titled Girdwood’s First Friday in the Loop.
Typical participants are Alpenglow Coffee House, Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts (GCVA), Jack Sprat, La Bodega, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, and Powder House Ski and Bike Shop. The businesses are going to try to maintain these events on first Fridays through the summer, and we checked out the event on Friday, April 5, to see what the experience is like.
There is no wrong way to approach the Loop on a first Friday, but we planned on starting at GCVA since it is arguably the most arts-focused of the participants and it’s conveniently located on the top of the Olympic Mountain Loop. We were surprised to see that GCVA was closed and wasn’t participating in this month’s event, and that feeling was shared by many people we ran into throughout the evening.
Read the entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/getting-in-the-loop-for-girdwoods-first-friday-art-walk
Alaska Civil Rights Group supports lawsuit to protect people who sleep on the streets
By Claire Stremple
Alaska’s American Civil Liberties Union has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against allowing local governments to punish people who sleep outside when adequate shelter is unavailable.
“Punishing a person who is forced to sleep in public because they have nowhere else to go violates our Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment,” the ACLU of Alaska wrote in a news release.
The organization joined a friend of the court brief in support of a lawsuit, Grants Pass v. Johnson.
Read the entire story at:
TRUCK DELIVERING DIESEL FUEL SPILLS 590 GALLONS AT ALYESKA RESORT
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A fuel transfer accident at Alyeska Resort in November caused one of Girdwood's largest ever fuel spills when an overfilled tank spewed nearly 600 gallons of diesel onto a gravel pad near a popular ski trail and above a small creek.
The spill has been mostly cleaned up, according to a state report, but a wooded hill near the site descends into a small creek and an oil sheen could be seen on the water weeks after the spill was reported. The creek, Moose Meadow Creek, flows into Glacier Creek.
"They're not done with [the cleanup] yet," said Mike Evans, an environmental program specialist for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
Read the entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/truck-delivering-oil-spills-590-gallons-at-alyeska-resort
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/truck-delivering-oil-spills-590-gallons-at-alyeska-resort
OPINION: The National Foundation for Governor’s Fitness Councils brings its multi-million dollar ‘Don’t Quit’ campaign to Alaska
Continuing his goal of ending childhood obesity and fighting mental illness, fitness icon Jake “Body by Jake” Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC), has kicked off the year by selecting the State of Alaska for its 2024 DON’T QUIT! Campaign. The NFGFC will deliver a state-of-the-art DON’T QUIT! Fitness Center to threeelementary or middle schools. School nominations will be accepted starting today until April 12. Visit www.natgovfit.org/apply-now, then click on your state seal to download the short application. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, so nominate your school today!
“In 2024, we are fulfilling our mission of putting fitness centers in every state of this great nation of ours,” said Jake Steinfeld. “For the last 40 years I’ve led the charge regarding the importance of physical activity as a way to combat childhood obesity. But the benefits don’t stop there. Exercise has also been proven to provide a positive affect on a child’s mental health as well. In fact, the most underutilized antidepressant is exercise! Our kids are our most precious resource and by providing them with a strong foundation in health and fitness, we will be helping them excel beyond their wildest dreams. It’s inspiring to see elected leaders like Governor Mike Dunleavy champion the DON’T QUIT! vision by jumping onboard and welcoming us into the great state of Alaska.”
Read entire story at:
Work underway on Girdwood to Indian power line
By Chase Berenson
TNews Contributor
Chugach Electric is anticipating 45-60 days of traffic control on the Seward Highway this May, June, and August to replace a transmission line between Girdwood to Indian, according to a March 12 presentation in Indian.
The 11-mile Girdwood to Indian section runs along the Seward Highway and is part of a 90.4 mile line running from Cooper Landing to Anchorage.
This line was built 62 years ago and is reaching its end of life.
Read entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/work-underway-on-girdwood-to-indian-power-line