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
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
Annual Sports Swap a Community Affair
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Take a couple of local nonprofits, stir in 150 volunteers, sprinkle liberally with school students, and add a dash of eager, gear-hungry skiers, riders, and Nordic enthusiasts.
Set this concoction on an early November day when the winter’s first crust of snow hugs the edges of parking lots like frosting on a cake.
The result? The annual Girdwood Ski and Sports Swap—a beloved community event hosted by Four Valleys Community School.
"This is such a community event," said longtime volunteer Jacky Graham. "I love to see people come together to support Four Valleys. Girdwood is the best community in all of Anchorage."
As gear-hunters milled around Alyeska's expansive Daylodge hall, Four Valleys Executive Director Beks Rumley described some impressions of this year's Swap.
"This year we've had less skis and way more clothing," Rumley said, "and I've seen a lot of families shop together."
Nordic gear is always a favorite and the Swap is excellent place to shop for mid-layers, she said.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/annual-sports-swap-a-community-affair
Muni Land Bank isn’t selling Girdwood Industrial Park, Yet
By Soren Wuerth and David Nyman
TNews Editor and TN Contributor
Following concerns that Anchorage is planning to sell land in Girdwood's Industrial Park, the municipality's Heritage Land Bank sought Thursday to dispel conjecture of an imminent land disposal and to assuage the public the idea is only up for discussion.
Girdwood's Industrial Park is a 15-acre area, near Girdwood's transfer and wastewater facility, has a long history of use by various Girdwood contractors, the Girdwood Valley Service Area and Girdwood Fire Department.
In her report to HLB's Advisory Commission, director Tiffany Briggs said the industrial park the department is considering selling is the "Maui" industrial park in Anchorage and that her staff was only discussing "future options" for the Girdwood's industrial park.
HLB's Emma Giboney wrote Friday that her department will meet with the Girdwood Board of Supervisors Monday to get feedback on the industrial park's value and how to address it in HLB's 2025 work plan
Read the entire story at:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/muni-bank-isnt-selling-girdwood-industrial-park-yet
Alaska joins growing number of states considering crackdown on cellphones in schools
By Claire Stremple
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.”
Cross Country: Native Alaskan Ava Earl stars as squad climbs to new heights
By Henry Frieman, Sports Editor
The Daily Northwestern
Girdwood, Alaska, population estimated at 2,500, sits in a valley at the base of Mount Alyeska, a ski resort in the winter and a hiking destination in the summer. The mountain town has one main road, a two-lane highway surrounded by hemlock and conifer.
There is one elementary school, but the nearest high school is 30 miles away in Anchorage. There is a fire department, but no police station. Further away from the resort, the paved roads turn to gravel.
It was on the gravel paths and dirt trails of the Alaskan woodlands where Northwestern cross country runner Ava Earl, now a senior, fell in love with running.
Read the entire story here:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/ava-earl-carries-alaskan-roots-to-nu-cross-country-stardom
‘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.
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
A Lifetime of Mountain Memories
By Clark Fair
KMTA Contributor
When I was 14 years old—long before I understood the concept of pacing myself—my father decided to take our family on a hike up from the heart of Cooper Landing into the valley holding the headwaters of Slaughter Creek. Dad strapped my four-year-old brother into a backpack and grunted his way along the difficult, rocky ascent, while my mother and younger sister tottered along behind him.
I was reaching the age at which I was losing enthusiasm for “family time” and desired more to be in the company of friends. In a tacit acknowledgement of this adolescent switch, my parents had allowed me to bring along my buddy Monte, a junior high classmate. Together, we were irrepressible in our energy and enthusiasm, racing up the trail ahead of everyone else, chattering like monkeys.
Eventually, all of us reached the saddle—a nexus for decision, where one can choose to rest before descending to the car, drop into the boggy Slaughter Creek drainage for further exploration, climb an adjoining ridgeline to the west, or embark on numerous bushwhacking options. There, my father stepped apart from the rest of us and took a somewhat fuzzy color photograph of the family reclining in the soft moss, proof that all of us on this July 1972 adventure reached the same goal.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/a-lifetime-of-mountain-memories
Opinion: The Scenic View Signs of Scenic Turnagain Arm
By Dave Mc Cabe
Reprinted with permission from “Those Darn Peds”
Living in Anchorage we are mere minutes from one of the most scenic drives in the country. This is the Turnagain Arm portion of the Seward Highway. In a relatively short stretch of road there’s rugged mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and the marvels of one the largest tides on earth. The builders of the highway wanted to celebrate this beauty by adding turnouts so we could take it all in. Road signs were installed to indicate an upcoming scenic view. These signs themselves have become a subject of curiosity and amusement.
A few of the road signs are binoculars but most are simplified images of a camera. Like the largely-forgotten floppy disk representing the “save” function on a computer, the camera is generally recognized as the symbol for “scenic view stop.” The term for this object as a symbol that communicates a message is skeuomorph. Like the floppy disk, the camera is quickly becoming an anachronistic skeuomorph. It works for the time being since what else do we have? A simplified rendering of a cell phone? To many of us, this might just as well communicate dread.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/the-scenic-view-signs-of-scenic-turnagain-arm
Annual potato harvest yields of bevy of spuds
By TNews Staff
A cluster of eager "Explorers" from an after-school program sped from Girdwood School to the Forest Service building Thursday to dig up spuds in an annual potato harvest.
Among potatoes dug up from three patches were "Tlingit potatoes", a potato grown in Southeast Alaska for possibly more than two centuries. The Tlingit potato is a variant that may have been brought by early indigenous traders thousands of years ago.
"Though the potatoes aren't well suited for French frying, they're perfect in soups, where their creamy texture and somewhat buttery flavor complement salmon," Tim Lydon wrote in a an article for Hakai Magazine. Lydon is the Forest Service's lead gardener and helps run the Explorers program.
Read the entire story with more pictures at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/annual-potato-harvest-yields-of-bevy-of-spuds
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
Local Firefighter celebrates 50 Years of Service
By Brooks Chandler
TN Contributor
Both ends of the career spectrum of what Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage said was “the greatest occupation in the world” were recognized on Saturday at the Girdwood Fire Station.
Following presentation of badges and helmets to six men who had recently achieved Firefighter 1 status, Girdwood’s Rich Parry was feted for having served as a firefighter and paramedic for a half century.
Rich is a “legend” said Girdwood Chief Michelle Weston. Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance was on hand and read a Girdwood Board of Supervisor’s Resolution thanking Parry for five decades of service to Anchorage and Girdwood.
Rich focused his remarks at the ceremony on the new members of GVFD. Rich said he was “proud of you all” and “happy to serve” alongside them as they endeavored to serve the Girdwood community.
Read the complete interview and more photos at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/local-firefighter-celebrates-50-years-of-service
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