Dachshunds invade Girdwood
Rotary and Girdwood Brewery Coordinate Fall Festival Fun
By Brooks Chandler
TN Contributor
With impeccable timing the Girdwood Rotary Club hosted its second Fall Festival at Girdwood Town Square Park Saturday on the first day of fall, Sept. 21.
Dry skies and a blessed burst of afternoon sun lent a soothing aura to fairgoers wandering past a variety of booths.
The sense of community was palpable as friends and neighbors reconnected. Kids played corn hole, “Ring the Stump” and blew giant bubbles in the park center. Pumpkins abounded and provided a lovely backdrop for family photos.
But dogs were by far the stars of the fair—not only the hot dogs sold next door from one of Girdwood’s newest food trucks—but a stunning array of dachshunds.
Who knew so many of these “hot dogs” lived in Anchorage and Girdwood?
Yet there they were parading from the park to Girdwood Brewery in a variety of costumes: green checked hats, pink boas, hot dog coats, and doggy lederhosen.
Neither dogs nor dog owners seemed uncomfortable to be seen in such finery. Traffic was backed up on Alyeska Highway as dozens of dogs and owners crossed from the bike path to the brewery where a dog race was held. Results were not available at press time.
Read the entire story and see more photos at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/dachshunds-invade-girdwood
Girdwood Board reverses stance on Gas Line
Residents appeal State’s approval of controversial project
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The Girdwood Board of Supervisors recently declined to support an appeal against a contentious gas line proposal, despite previously voting to oppose the pipeline project. This decision comes after the Girdwood Land Use Committee had voted to support the appeal.
Enstar Natural Gas Company proposed a 20-foot-wide, mile-long pipeline through an old-growth rainforest in the valley over a year ago.
The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) later approved the plan, citing a 52-year-old section line easement.
Although Enstar boasts a "system-wide 99.99 percent reliability rate," a company official stated last year that a new pipeline is needed to serve as a backup for the existing line. The proposed route involves tunneling beneath Glacier Creek from Ruane Road and then clear-cutting a swath to Virgin Creek Road.
In its approval letter, the DNR repeatedly noted that certain concerns were "beyond the scope of the decision." However, the department's approval did not sit well with local residents, some of whom drafted a letter appealing the state's decision.
This letter was presented to Girdwood's Land Use Committee, suggesting an alternative route with a lower environmental impact that aligns more closely with Girdwood's comprehensive plan.
"We were never able to talk with Enstar about alternatives," said Jennifer Wingard, a GBOS member, during the land use meeting. "That conversation never happened."
Jay Rokos, a land manager, stated that the DNR does not propose alternative routes, stating that it is Enstar's responsibility. Enstar has claimed that factors such as cost, safety, and engineering were considered in its routing decision, but it did not clarify whether community concerns and environmental impacts were also taken into account.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-board-reverses-stance-on-gas-line
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.
‘Stars Over Girdwood’ Astronomy Community Class begins
By John Gallup
TNews Contributor
One of the advantages to the end of summer is the arrival of the Astronomy season!
We have a window of time in the fall from about the 3rd week in September through mid November when it is finally dark enough early enough, but it’s still reasonably warm to be outside.
In addition, the atmosphere can be stable enough to provide what astronomers call “good seeing,” that is, a clear view through the telescope without a lot of the wobble which is common this far north, and in the mountains.
There are several good night sky apps for your devices, either free or cheap, just aim your phone up and the app will show you the constellations and name the stars, planets if present, and anything else of note in the view you select. Teach yourself the night sky!
We will be offering the Community School class “Stars over Girdwood” again for those interested in taking a look at what’s up there. Featured this fall will be a good look at Saturn in the evening sky, the Andromeda Galaxy, a couple of planetary nebulas and a few globular clusters.
So what are these things? Sign up and find out! Call out will be by text message on most clear nights.
A warning: there may be as few as three or four nights which fit this description, so you might have to be prepared to forego doing something else to enjoy the night sky. Or it could be clear for a month!
State OKs Gas Line through Virgin Creek Forest
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A proposal to punch a gas line through old-growth rainforest near Virgin Creek in Girdwood was approved last week after a year hiatus and despite widespread condemnation of the idea.
A year after gas company Enstar promised "further review" of a plan for a 20-foot wide, nearly mile long pipeline, the state Department of Natural Resources gave the company the go-ahead citing a 52-year-old section line easement.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/state-oks-gas-line-through-virgin-creek-forest
Mushroom count low for this year’s Fungus Fair
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
Bike Park geared to add two miles of new trails
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A city land manager has allowed a local mountain bike club to build two additional miles of hilly, curving paths through a forest near Girdwood's 5K ski loop.
But the decision, made last week by the city's Heritage Land Bank, requires approval by the Anchorage Assembly and it obligates the local bike group, "Bikewood," to raise enough money to build the trails.
Bikewood built two short trails off the 5K loop in 2018 which it called "Earn Again" and "2 Cents."
Read the entire story below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/bike-park-geared-to-add-two-miles-of-new-trails
HLB approves adding area with short trail to Girdwood parks
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A small trail that meanders through the woods mostly along a road to Alyeska Hotel could become part of Girdwood's trail network.
The Winner Creek Extension trail is on land managed by the Heritage Land Bank, a real estate division of the municipality. Its commission voted last week to transfer management of 7.5 acres along Arlberg Rd to Girdwood Parks and Recreation.
Read the entire story below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/hlb-approves-adding-area-with-short-trail-to-girdwood-parks
Lions Ducky Race
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:
Machines tear path through old-growth forest in unannounced road into ‘Holtan Hills’
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:
Planning Underway for Turnagain Pass Upgrades
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
Tennis vs Pickleball: A Community Showdown
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A proposal to paint pickleball lines on Girdwood's tennis courts has raised a local racket.
It all started when pickleballers got in position to make a move onto Girdwood's tennis court, intending to paint new lines. A decision was made in a May parks department meeting to disallow the new lines and local pickleball players moved to reverse that ruling. The issue was discussed by the Girdwood Board of Supervisors during a June meeting, but it took no formal action.
GBOS supervisors said they have received many comments and letters on the highly controversial issue with no one quite smashing a tie-breaking ace.
Read the entire story here:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/tennis-vs-pickleball-a-community-showdown
Opinion: Women’s Gold Medal Cyclist has proud roots in Alaska
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
Glacier City Radio: Pirates and Politicians — the flight through Turnagain Arm’s ‘Hall of Mirrors’
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.
Thousands of CDs line the walls behind Lewis Leonard as he sits in the Glacier City Radio studio. Amps quietly play 88.9 behind the table where Leonard shares life experiences that led to the creation of Glacier City Radio. Later, Leonard gave this reporter a tour of his home and the original five-story 88.9 radio tower.
Leonard developed an interest in audio and electronics in junior high and, by high school, his hobbies led him to a job as a sports photographer with Anchorage Times. Leonard expounded on his experience traveling and working with other studios until KEUL’s formation.
Read the entire story here:
Girdwood Transfer Station changes hours of operation, adding Thursdays
The Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services has announced new hours for the Girdwood Transfer Station: Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Closed; Wednesday, Closed; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9: 30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, Closed. The Girdwood Transfer Station is closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Glacier City Radio’s Lewis Leonard recounts years of interesting experiences
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
GBOS Seat C Opens
GBOS Seat C is vacant, see full announcement by clicking the link below:
Vacancy announcement seat C July 2024
Individuals interested in completing the current term should send a letter of interest to GBOS: gbos@muni.org. Deadline for applications is Aug. 16.
Emergency Services investigate fatal crash that closed the Seward Highway
By Hannah Dillon
TNews Associate Editor
First reports of the Seward Highway closure began around noon on July 20. From approximately 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. northbound and southbound lanes were closed as the Anchorage Police Department responded to calls regarding the collision.
The collision investigation greatly restricted the flow of traffic as emergency personnel investigated the incident at Mile 114 in Potter Marsh.
Originally, the Anchorage Police Department made an online post indicating that they were responding to a “serious injury vehicle crash” where commuters could expect “significant delays for several hours.”
Upon further development, APD publicly released information regarding the crash and vehicle occupant condition. Initial indications were that a male driver of a Kia crossed a double yellow line and collided head-on with a Ford F150 that contained two adult occupants.
The Anchorage Police Department said in an online update at 5:40 p.m. “The adult male driver of the Kia was declared deceased at the scene; he was the only occupant in his vehicle. Both adult occupants of the Ford F150 were transported to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Alcohol is believed to be a factor on behalf of the Kia’s driver.”
According to an APD social media update, all lanes of the Seward Highway are open as of 6:37 p.m..
Anchorage Board endorses sweeping changes to Girdwood Comprehensive Plan
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
Turnagain News qualifies for NewsMatch Grant
On July 9, 2024 Turnagain News learned its application to participate in the 2024 NewsMatch program had been approved.
The concept is simple. Individual donations made to nonprofit newsrooms like TN this November will be matched one for one up to a maximum of $1,000.
The match is funded by a coalition of national funders. Turnagain News Publisher Jon Scudder said approval of TN’s application was “good news”.
“We are raising funds to support independent news reporting throughout Turnagain Arm,” said Scudder. “It’s important there is a news source for public interest, not private profit.”
In 2023 TN qualified for nearly $5,000 in matching funds. This support has been critical in enabling TN to build the initial capacity to deliver information and develop a non-profit newsroom.
The TN Board will announce the 2024 NewsMatch goal by Sept. 1. Mark your calendars and plan to participate beginning Nov.1!