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Hope Happenings
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page 5
Lively Arts
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T U R N A G A I N
TIMES
Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass
VOL. 17, NO. 22
PEAKS OVER HOPE
November 20, 2014
Girdwood residents and
businesses to receive
lower insurance costs
A positive fire protection evaluation
raised fire safety rating
By Marc Donadieu
Turnagain Times
During the Girdwood Board of Supervisors meeting
Nov. 17, Fire Chief William Chadwick announced that the
Girdwood Volunteer Fire Department recently received an
excellent evaluation by the Insurance Services Organization, allowing for significantly lower insurance costs for
residents and businesses in the near future. The GBOS also
passed three resolutions and approved a letter of support
for a proposed Girdwood Cemetery.
Chief Chadwick stood at the podium in the meeting
room to deliver the good news about the fire department’s
recent evaluation and what it means to Girdwood residents
and businesses.
Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times
Mountains peaks over Hope receive a dusting of fresh snow.
DOT presents proposals
for Seward Highway
Improvement projects
planned for Indian and Bird
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities held an open house at the Indian Valley Bible Chalet
Thursday, Nov. 6. The evening meeting allowed the public to
comment and review two proposed projects to improve the
Seward Highway between mileposts 100 and 105 between the
communities of Indian and Bird.
The first proposed project is the “Seward Highway Left
Turn Lanes,” which is part of the Highway Safety Improvement Project. The project will add left turn lanes and lighting
at the Boretide Road and Sawmill Road intersections in Bird
next to the Essential 1 gas station.
The second proposed project is “Seward Highway MP 100105,” which is part of the 3R Project to resurface, rehabilitate,
and restore the highway. The project will add a mile of multiuse pathway from Indian Road to Indian Creek on the north side
of the highway, and rehabilitate the Bird Creek Bridge.
Both of these projects are in the preliminary design stage,
and the environmental impact documents are expected to
be completed in 2015. Construction would begin in 2017,
pending the acquisition of right-of-way and the availability of
See Back Page,
Highway Improvement
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ANCHORAGE, AK
PERMIT NO. 353
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
Girdwood dog musher Dario Martinez
found dead in downtown Anchorage
His 13 dogs were seized by Animal Care and Control the day
before his death; one dog was dead and 12 were underweight
By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
By Marc Donadieu
Turnagain Times
Inside this Issue
Paddy Waggin’ ..........................3
Forest News..............................4
In Memory ................................4
Cooper Landing News ...............6
Powder Hound ..........................7
Mountain News.........................8
FVCS News ...............................9
Trooper Report ........................10
See Page 11, GBOS Meeting
The body of a man hanging from a tree in
downtown Anchorage on Thursday morning,
Nov. 13, has been identified as 50-year-old
Girdwood resident Dario Martinez, a wellknown dog musher. The Anchorage Police
Department on Tuesday, Nov. 18, publicly
identified the body as that of Martinez after
attempts were made to notify his next-of-kin.
“Over the past few days, APD Officers have made numerous attempts to try
to contact NOK (next-of-kin), who are believed to be outside of Alaska, but officers
have been unsuccessful in making contact,”
the Anchorage Police Department said in
an emailed statement. “If there are any
other family who have not been contacted
by police, we ask that they please call Sgt.
Det. Markiewicz of APD’s Homicide Unit at
786-8582.”
The day before Martinez’s death, his 13
dogs were seized in Girdwood by Anchorage Animal Care and Control officers after
receiving an email that the dogs appeared to
be suffering from neglect.
“The investigation into the cause and circumstances surrounding the animals’ neglect is
closed unless new information is learned,” the
troopers said in a statement emailed Nov. 18.
A day after the dogs were seized, the Anchorage Police Department received a phone
call around 10 a.m. from a passerby who saw
a deceased body hanging in a tree next to a
parking lot of an office building at 750 West
Second Avenue, said police spokeswoman
Jennifer Castro. She said no foul play was
suspected and the death appeared to be a
suicide.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, at about 1:32
p.m., Anchorage Animal Control officers requested assistance from Alaska State Troopers to respond to Martinez’s residence in reference to a report of animals in need of care.
Animal control officers located and seized
13 emaciated dogs, of which one dog was
already dead due to lack of food, water, and
care it was stated in a dispatch report by the
troopers.
The dogs were transported to the Anchorage Animal Shelter where they are recovering. As of Tuesday, Nov. 18, the Animal
Control updated the condition of the dogs,
stating that the dogs were eating well,
gaining weight and were active and alert.
“At this point, it is most important to
gradually replenish their nutritional status,”
stated Dr. Myra Wilson, Anchorage Animal
Care and Control veterinarian and director.
“AACC staff is caring for the dogs’ nutritional and social well-being.”
For many years Martinez operated
Chugach Express, a sled dog tour operation
based at the end of a dirt road near the Girdwood airport. His highly trained Alaskan
Huskies were the focus of Martinez’s life,
and dog mushing was not only a business
but a passion for him.
A Celebration of Life for Martinez is
being planned by some residents and business owners of Girdwood to be held at either
the Sitzmark Bar and Grill or Challenge
Alaska during the first week of December,
said Judd Crosby, owner of the Silvertip
Grill restaurant in downtown Girdwood.
Page 2
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
The Girdwood Scene
By Paddy Notar
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Well, it’s that time of the
year when everything is dark
including the best part of
the turkey. Yes, the year is
flying by and hopefully we’ll
be enjoying winter solstice,
opening up Christmas gifts,
and then gaining our sunlight
back. Until then there are
many things going on including Thanksgiving dinners,
music and the beginning of
the ski season.
On Nov. 26, Alyeska
Resort is having Pass Holder
Appreciation Day from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s the one day
where season pass holders
get some private time to ski
all on their own before the
mountain opens up to the
general public. Check the
resort website for details.
Also on Nov. 26 is the snow
film series Pretty Faces. It’s
a film on women who love
skiing, and there are plenty
of them out there. There will
be three free showings at the
Sitzmark at 6, 8, and 10 p.m.
Nov. 27 is opening day for
skiers, and it runs from 10:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Boretide Deli and Sitzmark will
open for the winter season,
which will last seven days a
week until the it’s over. There
sitzmark
music pass
Add a Sitzmark Music Pass to your Season Pass
for only $100 & get in to every show and event!
Winter 2015
Jan. 2 & 3
Jan. 30 & 31
Feb. 20 & 21
Mar. 5, 6 & 7
Mar. 12, 13 & 14
Mar. 27 & 28
Apr. 3 & 4
Apr. 9, 10 & 11
Apr. 16, 17 & 18
Leftover Salmon
Hot Dog & Ski Bunny
Young Dubliners
Deadphish Orchestra
Jerry Joseph &
the Jack Mormons
Michal Menert
Keller Williams
Mother Hips
w/Guest Nicki Bluhm
Photonz
will also be a Thanksgiving
buffet at the resort with seatings at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 p.m.
The price is $46 for adults
and $23 for children 6-12.
Check the website for more
details.
On Nov. 28 and 29, The
Dirty Hands will be at the
Sitz from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
They’re a little bit of country
and lot of something else. I
think most people will enjoy
their music, and the show is
free. Everyone enjoys that
part.
Dec. 1 is military Monday.
Bring your ID to get discounts on lunch, rental equipment and free lift tickets. If
you don’t know how to ski,
then you’re really in luck
because there will also be
discounts on ski lessons. This
deal is always one of the best
of the year at the resort, so
don’t miss out. If you’re not
in the military, hurry up and
enlist. Hopefully you’ll get
the proper paperwork in time
to go skiing. Just kidding.
The mountain, of course, will
be open to everyone, but you
must have your military ID to
get all the perks. It’s a small
thank you to those that help
keep our country safe.
Trivia is coming back to
the Sitz on Dec. 2 from 7-9
p.m. Bring your friends or
just yourself and train your
brain for a couple of hours.
On Dec. 5 and 6 The Whipsaws will be coming into
the Sitzmark to play. The
shows are going on from 10
p.m. to 2 a.m. They’re free
and are 21 and over only
please. Seeing The Whipsaws
without having to hand over a
nickel is a great deal, so take
Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times
A sunset illuminates the sky over Turnagain Arm.
advantage of it and dance the
night away. Then again, if
you dance like me, you might
want to just have a drink and
watch other people.
Don’t forget that Jack Sprat
is having its Thanksgiving
multi-course meal as well.
Frans Weits will be offering
gnocchi that will melt in your
mouth as well as his usual free
range turkey with all of the
fixings. Jack Sprat has some
of the finest wines around to
accompany the feast. Check
their website for more details,
and call them in advance for
reservations. This event sells
out early, so don’t wait.
If you’re heading into
town, you still have time to
get your tickets for the Nutcracker Ballet going on at the
Performing Arts Center. It’s
a ritual every year for some
people to bring in the holiday
season, and for others it may
be your first time. Adults
enjoy it just as much as kids,
and there are plenty of restaurants in downtown to dine at
before or after the show.
Don’t forget that the Gird-
wood Center for Visual Arts
is open on the weekends from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout
November. They will change
to seven days a week in December. They have a number
of different artists offering their works and nothing
would make a better gift for
someone. They’re located at
194 Olympic Mountain Loop,
next to the Bake Shop. Always
support your local artists.
That’s it for me. I wish
I had more to share, but it’s
always a little quiet before
the mountain gets into full
operation. After Thanksgiving, things will get busy. Can
you believe we’re approaching the end of November? As
always, take it slow on the
road, and let the idiots fly by
you. The turkey they make in
the hospital isn’t as good as
the one you’ll have at home.
If you go into Carr’s
Safeway on Huffman, be
sure to donate $10 and a bag
of food that goes to a needy
family. It’s important that
we take care of one another.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving.
Bryan Epley
Broker and Partner
Sharnee Epley
Associate Broker
and Partner
Ryan Donovan
Associate Broker
BEERS ON TAP / 21 & OVER / FOOD ‘TIL LATE
Celebrating 20 years!
full schedule online @ thesitzmark.com : 907-754-2275
The Turnagain Times is
published the first and third
week of each month by
Midnight Sun Communications,
LLC, Girdwood, Alaska.
By Mail:
P.O. Box 1044
Girdwood, Alaska
99587-1044
Publisher & Editor
Ken Smith
Associate Editor
Marc Donadieu
Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass
By Phone:
(907) 783-1135
By Email:
info@turnagaintimes.com
Production Artist
Matthew Bailey
© 2014 Midnight Sun
Communications, LLC
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Page 3
Opinion
PADDY WAGGIN’
The elections are over and
so is Mark Begich’s tenure as
a U.S. Senator. There will be
no more phone calls to your
homes or smart phones, no
more finding your mailbox
stuffed with useless flyers
that you never bother to look
at, and no more kids knocking on your door trying to talk
you into voting for someone
that only they believed in, and
never met, because they were
getting chump change to do
so.
What I find so humorous
is Begich taking two weeks
to concede the victory to U.S.
Senator-elect Dan Sullivan.
I think, deep down, he just
can’t believe it. Even after the
Associated Press called the
election Begich still wouldn’t
give in. He talked about the
remaining 9,800 ballots or
so which were in Juneau and
needed to be added into the
mix. This is a guy that simply
doesn’t understand when he
is done. Even his concession
was laced with arrogance as
he talked about winning 10
out of the 16 districts in Anchorage and how his Senate
race was one of the closest in
the country. Who cares? A loss
is a loss. Just say, “Congratulations” and move on. Nope,
not Begich. Regardless, there
will be no more living in the
D.C. world, no more senate
patch on the jacket or being
looked at as influential.
And worse, he gets to join
that tiny club of U.S. Senators that were defeated after
only one term in office. After
20 years in politics, he’s back
to square one. Come January,
Begich is unemployed.
What’s next? Maybe he’ll
run after Murkowski’s seat
in two years. After all, he’s
a got a thirst for D.C. that
nothing else will ever quench.
Nonetheless, it would be a
bad move as Alaska is definitely back to being red and
Murkowski is now quite powerful with her taking over the
chairmanship for the Energy
and Natural Resources Com-
PADDY
NOTAR
mittee. It’s a big position and
will only help Alaska. Let us
also not forget that her power
on the Senate Appropriations
Committee just moved up
with Republicans taking over
the majority. Maybe Begich
could run against Don Young
or become mayor of Anchorage again, but do any of those
really fill the void of losing a
U.S. Senate seat?
Begich lost not because
Sullivan was a better candidate or better educated –
which he was – but because of
the simple reason that the majority of voters don’t like him
as much as he thinks they do.
For most Alaskans this was
karma coming full circle and
biting him for doing so many
things wrong during his political career – not only as U.S.
Senator – but also as a mayor
who fudged numbers and left
Anchorage with a deficit that
was even larger than his ego.
After the election, I talked to
a person who used to work
in his mayoral camp and he
said, “Begich had it coming. I
won’t deny that.”
People want their voices
heard and they want their
opinions to be taken seriously. Begich and the other
Democrats that blindly sided
with Senate majority leader
Harry Reid and President
Obama, lost accordingly, and
it should be a lesson to anyone
who thinks that voters aren’t
watching. They were tired of
Marky Mark and the Obama
Bunch.
You don’t get to abuse
your power and go against the
grain of what the people want.
When that happens your adversaries run to the polls, and
those that you thought liked
you, hide and stay at home on
election night. There were no
large amounts of the minority vote or women running to
the polls to say, “Begich is our
man.” Instead, the opposite
occurred. The voices of Alaskans feeling robbed by Obamacare, and not being asked
what they thought, or being
ignored when they spoke out,
showed up in force on election
night.
People say that this wasn’t a
referendum on the Democrats
but, rather, a quiet nudging by
voters that we should all learn
to get along. Sure it was. Just
like a mugging in a dark alley
is a way to introduce yourself
to someone. No, I don’t think
this was people asking anyone
to get along. I think this was
a message to politicians like
Begich to get out of politics
altogether and make room for
someone else – anyone else.
People were angry. They
were upset that Begich turned
on Uncle Ted and then looked
for a house in Washington
while Anchorage scrambled
to find the funds to pay for
his poor bookkeeping. His six
years as mayor were like an
irresponsible kid with a credit
card that had no limit. Did he
really think people were going
to forget that?
Begich supporters kept
saying, “All I hear is that Mark
voted with Harry Reid and
Obama 97 percent of the time.
It’s getting old.” So what?
It was a fact, and I love that
Begich tried to dismiss it as if
it weren’t that important. Do
you know why things become
cliché? It’s usually because
they’re pathetically true. That
basically sums up Begich’s
first and only term as our U.S.
Senator. For six years he was
a Reid and Obama “yes” man
and he paid the price.
Alaskans will be holding
Sullivan to the same high
standard. Otherwise, people
will give him the boot as well.
In the meantime, we finally
will have some checks and
balances on the Obama administration even though I can
guarantee you that he will be
utilizing his executive privilege in a way that we have
never seen before, but at least
Begich won’t be there celebrating the abuse of power.
He’ll be home wondering
what went wrong and deciding
whether politics is really his
thing anymore. Then again, if
he just didn’t bug people with
kids knocking on their doors
every day, sending out an
endless amount of flyers that
filled the muni recycle bins,
and inundating people with ir-
ritating phone calls during the
election, he might have had a
better chance. Who thought
that was a good approach for
an incumbent anyway? It was
a bad move by his campaign
people and made him look
desperate instead of confident.
Either way, if Begich is
thinking about running for
another office, I think he
should take a lesson from
legendary football coach,
Vince Lombardi, who said,
“Winning is habit forming.
Unfortunately, so is losing.”
Read the Turnagain Times online
or download a PDF of the printed version:
www.turnagaintimes.com
You can also find useful stuff like
tunnel and ferry schedules,
road conditions, weather and more.
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Page 4
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Forest News
By Carolyn Seramur
Special to the Turnagain Times
Cutting your own holiday
tree is a favorite activity this
time of year. The Chugach National Forest has just the place
to find that magical tree free
of charge where each household or organization is allowed
one tree. More specific guidelines are on the Christmas Tree
Cutting quick link at www.
fs.usda.gov/chugach.
Make
sure you are on land managed
by the Forest Service and be
south of Bertha Creek (MP 65.5
Seward Highway) to find your
tree. Get a fresh spruce, and
have a happy holiday season.
Seasonal Reminders
Crow Creek Road is not
maintained for public use in
the winter. There are no pullouts or trailheads plowed for
public parking along the road.
The last mile of Crow Creek
road, up to Crow Pass Trailhead, is not plowed and when
snow allows will have a snowberm to block access. This road
and the Crow Pass Trail across
large avalanche-prone slopes
and are not recommended for
winter travel.
In addition, the Winner
Creek Gorge Trailhead along
Crow Creek Road is not maintained or plowed.
The Hand Tram across
Glacier Creek on the Winner
Creek Trail was closed as of
Oct. 22 for the winter season.
Portage Valley recreation
access is limited by snow. The
Forest Service and Department of Transportation generally keep the following sites
plowed: Moose Flats, Explorer
Glacier, Five Fingers and near
Portage Lake and the Visitor
Center. The Visitor Center is
closed until May, 2015.
Portage offers opportunities
for skating on small ponds and
wetlands, cross-country skiing
on the Trail of Blue Ice or
across frozen lakes. Four-inch
thick ice is recommended to
support foot traffic.
Portage and other popular
recreation areas are also
popular furbearer trapping
areas. Please use caution
because strong-scented baits
used by trappers can lure your
dog to the trap.
Campground
gates
at
Bertha, Granite, Black Bear
and Williwaw have been
closed for the winter. Winter
camping is allowed on most
of the forest. Make sure you
locate your camp away from
avalanche prone slopes.
Winter motorized use areas
are open when adequate snowpack has accumulated, which
is generally by Dec. 1.
Firewood Collection
To keep homes warm
many use firewood, and firewood gathering is allowed
across the Chugach National
Forest for personal use. Please
respect other land ownership
in regards to knowing where
you are taking wood. Taking
only dead wood is one of the
cutting guidelines, which can
be found at the quick link Firewood Gathering at http://www.
fs.usda.gov/chugach/ or as a
handout at the Glacier Ranger
Station Office.
No log decks are currently
available with the firewood
gathering permit system.
Granite Creek Revegetation
Enhancement Project Area,
which is located just southwest
of Granite Creek Campground,
is the only area you need a firewood permit. This area is the
only place where gathering of
standing live trees (under 6” in
diameter) is allowed. If you’d
like to cut in this area, come
into the ranger station for a free
permit that is good through the
end of the calendar year.
Trail Conditions
Double check current status
of trails by calling the Glacier
Ranger Station Office MondayFriday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 7833242. Get out and recreate in
your Chugach National Forest.
Trails Presentation
In addition to skiing,
skating, snowshoeing and
snowmobiling, trapping is also
a forest activity that occurs
primarily in winter. Traps can
be found in the deep woods or
even near your favorite trail.
Usually they pose no danger
to a human, but a curious dog
following its nose or barreling
through the snow can run into
problems.
Alaska Department of Fish
and Game trapping regulations
can be found at www.adfg.
alaska.gov under the hunting
link. The trapping season has
started already and is open
through the end of winter and
even into May. Seasons vary
with species and location.
A Shared Trails Presentation by Alaska Trapping Association will be presented to
inform the local community
on Wednesday Dec. 3 at the
Glacier Ranger Station Office
in Girdwood at 7 p.m. A 25minute video and discussion on
traps and snares, with tips on
how to free something caught
in a trap or snare, will be followed by question and answer
session. This presentation has
sometimes been coined as a
Dog Safety Workshop. Come
learn how to keep your dog
safe around traps.
The Alaska Trappers Association’s website: www.alaskatrappers.org has a short clip of
the 25-minute video that will
be shown at the presentation.
Sharing Alaska Trail’s DVD
is available for borrowing or
checking out at the Glacier
Ranger District Office during
office hours on Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 783-3242
if you have any questions.
Carolyn Seramur is the Program Support Assistant at the
U.S. Forest Service Station
in Girdwood, Glacier Ranger
District Office Chugach National Forest.
In Memory KATHLEEN “KITTY” SCANLON
August 31, 1958 ~ September 26, 2014
Kathleen “Kitty” Scanlon lived her
life to the fullest, achieving quality over
quantity, and inspiring all who knew her
until she finally surrendered to cancer on
Sept. 26, 2014 at Providence Hospital in
Anchorage. She was 56 years old.
Kitty was born in Detroit, Mich. on
Aug. 31, 1958. She earned a degree in
political science from Northern Michigan University in Marquette. Her love
of skiing took her on to Utah and ultimately Alaska in search of a longer ski
season. Kitty settled in Girdwood in the
late 1980s, working at the Sitzmark as
a bartender and establishing a reputation as “that red-headed girl who runs on
Alyeska Highway every day.” She also worked as a bartender and caterer
at events at the Egan Center and the Sheraton, but in 2000 decided to fulfill
an ambition to earn a law degree.
She returned home to Michigan for this endeavor and graduated cum
laude from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich. in 2003,
immediately heading back to Anchorage and the mountains she loved.
After a few years as a lawyer, Kitty had the courage to say, “I don’t really
like this line of work after all.”
She went on hiatus and took a job at REI and devoted her free time to
skiing, hiking and biking. Diagnosed with cancer in 2009, Kitty faced her
new adversary head on, working as a ski host for Alyeska Resort through
multiple courses of chemotherapy, bouncing back after every setback,
skiing Christmas Chute with enthusiasm at every opportunity in the winter
and hiking Bird Ridge most Sundays in the summer. She especially enjoyed
walking the Coastal Trail, logging 5 miles a day almost every day.
Kitty will be remembered for her brilliant smile and ability to listen
with focus and intent. Kitty is survived by her parents, Joe and Mary
Scanlon, sisters Margaret (Jeff) Daniel, Micheleen (Jeremy) Mantei,
brothers Joe and Pat Scanlon, and nieces Elise Daniel, and Mackenzie
and Emma Mantei, all from Mich. She was preceded in death by an infant
sister Michelle. Kitty’s memorial service will coincide with the 6 p.m.
Mass at Our Lady of the Snows in Girdwood on Sunday, Nov. 30, with
Father Leo Walsh officiating. A celebration of life will follow at the Sitzmark at Alyeska Resort.
In lieu of flowers, Kitty requested donations to Hospice of Anchorage or
the Providence Oncology Rehabilitation Program.
JEFFREY WAYNE COLLINS
July 30, 1973 ~ November 6, 2014
Jeffrey Wayne Collins passed away
on Nov. 6, 2014 surrounded by his
family. He was 41 years old.
Jeffrey was born July 30, 1973 in
Olney, Ill. and was the beloved husband
of Christina Collins, a loving brother of
Greg Collins and sister Cynthia Field,
son to Larry Collins and stepmother
Susan Hoblit.
Jeffrey also leaves behind a stepson
Aiden Hennigen, whom he enjoyed
playing catch with and watching grow up as a young man. He cared very
deeply about his family.
After living in Indiana and Illinois, Jeffrey moved to Girdwood in 1998.
It was there that his love for the outdoor activities flourished. He especially
enjoyed fly-fishing and relished showing pictures of the one that didn’t get
away.
After spending several years in Girdwood, Jeffrey moved to Bird Creek.
There he met many friends and played for the Brown Bear Softball Team
during the Kidney Foundation Tournament. His athletic ability was appreciated as much as his sense of humor.
Jeffrey was always quick with a joke and enjoyed making people smile.
While in Alaska, Jeffrey became a very successful sales representative
with 3M. He was often in the top tier of account executives throughout the
country and thoroughly enjoyed meeting with customers and assisting them
in growing their businesses.
With his positive attitude about life, developing relationships were second
nature to him.
He was proceeded in death by his grandparents Ermal and Clara Mae
Meador and Larkin and Edna Mae Collins. He is survived by his wife Christina Collins; his stepson Aiden Hennigen; his mother Janie Collins of Iuka;
his father Larry Collins and stepmother Susan Hoblit of Atlanta, Ill.; his
brother Greg Collins and wife Amy of Teutopolis, Ill.; his sister Cynthia
Field and husband Matt of Vienna, Va.; his uncle and aunt Greg and Mary
Ellen Meador of Robinson, Ill.; his Uncle Jerry Collins of Friendswood,
Texas; his uncle and aunt Mike and Mary Richards of Friendswood, Texas;
and his aunt Sarah Collins of Friendswood, Texas. He is also survived by
his goddaughter Aubrey Elizabeth Collins, Liam Jeffrey Collins, Gibson
Gregory Collins, and Alexandra Claire Field.
Memorials may be made to Jeffrey W. Collins Memorial Fund in care of
Dr. Dan Laheru, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, 1651 Orleans St.
Room 4M09, Baltimore, MD 21287.
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Page 5
Hope Happenings
By Jeannine Jabaay
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent
It comes as a great surprise
to many that the quiet, rural
towns of Hope and Sunrise
were once the largest communities in Alaska.
Before Anchorage was
even on the map of Alaska,
the mining towns of Hope and
Sunrise, separated by a mere
8 miles, had over 8,000 residents – most of whom were on
a quest to find gold.
Today, the census indicates
192 year-round residents. Although the grand crowds from
100 years ago have dwindled
to a mere 16 dozen individuals, the history and culture of
the area remains alive.
Even in the quieter months
of winter, much activity,
society, and even adventure
abounds.
Tiny Tots Hour
Got a little one anxious to
run around, kick things, build
things and run run run? Then
Thursdays from 10:30-11:30
a.m. will soon become your
favorite hour of the week. The
little guys are invited for a
school gym takeover.
Bring your child to the
Hope School for a time of
learning, exploring and creative activities in a parent-supervised playtime.
Children ages 4 or younger
are encouraged to participate.
For more information, call
Shannon at 351-8063.
Church News
The Hope Christian Church
invites the community to join
them in weekly services on
Sundays at 3 p.m. This afternoon schedule is the perfect
start time to afford a leisure
morning, an early afternoon nap, and then a time of
worship.
Dig in deeper with the
weekly Bible studies for
women on Thursdays at 1 p.m.
followed by a co-ed Bible
study at 3 p.m. And for those
in the Hope area with a financial need, the church opens its
doors with a food bank each
Thursday at noon (or by appointment).
For more information, visit
www.Facebook.com/HopeChurchAlaska.
Ladies Luncheon
Calling all of the loveliest
members of the Hope Social
Club. Ladies Luncheon is scheduled to be held at Cherryl’s on
Friday, Nov. 21 from 1-2 p.m.
Head on over for some great
company and delicious eats.
The Greatest Pies
Ever Baked
Think your pie baking
skills are the best around? You
might be right! And now you
can prove it.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, the Hope School will
be hosting the Pie Auction &
Baking Contest, a fundraiser
for the PTSCA. Tuesday, Nov.
25 at 6:30 p.m. will mark the
time in history that the greatest pies ever baked in Alaska
are announced.
Baking categories will
include: Judge’s Choice of
Fruit Pie, Cream Pie, Savory
Pie, Dessert (other), Prettiest
Pie, Ugliest Pie, Most Interesting Pie, Pie that Raises the
Most Money, and Most Pies
Submitted. Each pie entry
should include one pie to be
auctioned and one pie to be
judged.
Coffee and cocoa will
be served during the lively
auction. For $20, you can be
a part of the pie throw. More
information can be had by
calling 782-3202.
Open Gym Night
Come in out of the cold and
get active. The Hope School
opens its doors every Tuesday
from 6-7:30 p.m., and all are
invited to participate.
Open Gym Night has seen
events such as highly competitive games of basketball,
gourmet chefs in active practice, bendy gymnasts flipping
and twisting, and quiet readers
engrossed in books from the
school’s library. Stop in and
join the fun.
Teen Game Night
Challenge
Calling all 11-18 year olds.
Get your competitive caps
ready for the Monday Night
Teen Game Night held at
the Hirshey Cabin (Alaskan
Byways B&B) on Monday,
Dec. 1 from 7-9 p.m.
At Teen Game Night, you
are guaranteed to either win
or lose, but either way you’re
in for an epic evening of great
fun.So grab a friend or two
and head on over for a night
you won’t soon forget. Call
Derrick or Jeannine at 7481111 for more information.
Youth Game Nights
Got kiddos between the
ages of 8 and eighteen? Kick
Photo courtesy of Bianca Durrant
Cross-country skier Mike Durrant enjoys fresh snow in a valley in Hope.
them out of your house and
send them on over to the
Stavish residence each Thursday from 7-9:30 p.m. for a
weekly game night.
Rousing tournaments of
Yahtzee, Monopoly, Sorry,
Bingo, Cribbage, Backgammon, Battleship and many
more are sure to ensue.
Husky Herald Available
the Husky Herald, the Hope
School newspaper, is currently available at local businesses around town, as well
as the Hope Library and Post
Office.
The
December
issue
will be released during the
first week of December.
This monthly publication is
written entirely by the students, staff and volunteers of
the local school. Pick up your
copy to read about the goings
on of the school from the perspective of the students.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The November edition of
The Whittier Harbor intends to sell the impounded vessel RAIDER Reg#8525 (sailboat)
by public auction at 4:30pm on November 17,
2014 at the Whittier Council Chambers in Whittier Alaska. The owner of an impounded vessel
may repossess the vessel if they pay all outstanding fees and charges owed to the Whittier Harbor
with a cash only payment and remove the vessel
from the City of Whittier, on/before November
16, 2014.
Persons interested in bidding can inspect it on
November 17, 2014, 10am to 4pm. The winning
bid must be paid within 24 hours of auction close
and arrangements made to remove the vessel
from the harbor by 4pm on November 20, 2014.
Cash and certified checks will be accepted for
bid payment. MINIMUM BID: $8,351.65.
Page 6
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Cooper Landing News
By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent
STILL AWAKE
Kingfisher Roadhouse
Raises Over $1,000 for
Cooper Landing School
Dominic
Bauer
and
Shannon Meredith, owners
of Kingfisher Roadhouse,
decided to donate all the proceeds for their last night of
business in 2014 to the Cooper
Landing School. It was a fun
night with mostly locals eating
wonderfully prepared meals
and supporting the school.
When the night was over,
Shannon and Dominic and the
little staff that they had at the
end of the season had raised
over $1,000 for the Cooper
Landing School. The money
was presented to Cooper
Landing School’s Parent Advisory Committee and will be
used to help pay for the students to have ski lessons at
Alyeska as part of their physical education program.
Recycled Fashion Show
Postponed
The 3rd Annual Cooper
Landing Recycled Fashion
Show has been postponed
until the spring of 2015. If you
would like more information
or would like to keep track of
this event and when it is happening, you can find that information at www.facebook.com/
events/367893603379622.
Volleyball Two Nights
a Week
Cooper Landing School
will be hosting Volleyball
Nights on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. in
Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times
A black bear at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage surveys its snow-covered pen.
the school gym. This is a free
event for anyone age 18 and
up. Participants are encouraged to wear non-marking
shoes. This is a great way to
get out and enjoy some activity in the great indoors during
these winter months.
National Novel Writing
Month
November
is
National Novel Writing Month.
Melissa Shirley Fish will be
hosting writer workshops
every Tuesday night from 5-7
p.m. at the Cooper Landing
Community Library. Bring
your writing abilities and your
imagination to celebrate the
season for writing.
drink, and relax in our cozy
library with some stimulating
conversation.
will be meeting at the Cooper
Landing Community Library
Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. to
discuss the novel The Sisterhood by Helen Bryan. Everyone is welcome to join in the
book club discussion. Bring a
snack to share, your favorite
Cooper Landing Emergency Services is a small volunteer ambulance service and
fire department made up of
local EMTs and volunteers.
The Board of Directors is
looking to hire somebody for
a paid part time contract position to be the Chief of the
Emergency Services and a
small Fire Station.
Under the general direction of the CLES board of
directors, this person would
be responsible for development and implementation of
Cooper Landing
Emergency Services
Book Club Meeting
Seeks Professional
Friday Night Book Club Administrative Services
administration and management services as delegated.
This person would be expected to manage the emergency
medical services program and
day-to-day procedures for the
fire department.
The Board of Directors is
looking for somebody with a
minimum of 10 years of increasingly responsible firefighting and EMS experience,
five years of which must have
been as a fire officer or equivalent managerial role with a
career or combination fire department. Pay will be dependent on experience.
The deadline for application and resume submissions
is Dec. 21. Contact Carrie
Williams for more information at 598-1633 or cles@
arctic.net.
ANCHOR INN
For reservations call 1-877-870-8787
Vacation Condos for rent • Hotel Accommodations
Affordable Rates • Satellite TV • FREE Parking
Phone in Room • Full Service Restaurant • Laundromat
Cocktail Lounge • Grocery Store • Gifts & Souvenirs
Free Shuttle Service Call for details
Short-term and Long-term
Condo Suites available for rent
Phone: 472-2354 Fax: 472-2394
P.O. Box 750 • Whittier, AK 99693
email: info@anchorinnwhittier.com
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Page 7
Powder Hound
It was a great summer,
but our favorite season is approaching again folks. We
may be having a bit of an
awkward start to the season,
but we all know that this is
Alaska and the snow can
come overnight to make up for
the late fall rain we’ve been
getting. It’s been great seeing
those of you getting after it in
the backcountry lately, and
I hope it only continues as
the snowpack becomes more
stable and old man winter
turns on his magical charm in
the Chugach.
However, we need to all
make sure our gear is in line
and in functioning condition
before the slopes get good.
Nobody wants to be caught
on a powder day wishing he
or she had taken care of boot
problems before standing at
the top of a fun line, pausing
while their feet get blood flow
and watching everybody else
track it up. This is the time
of year when all the ski veterans make sure to perform a
thorough check on all of their
equipment to make sure their
bases aren’t dry, their boot
buckles all function, their outerwear still has some waterproofing left and, of course,
that their foot beds still have
life left.
If you do not have a foot
bed, now is the time because
there is absolutely no ski boot
on the market that will ski at
its potential until there is a
supportive element under the
foot. And if you do not know
what a foot bed is, then your
boot fitter has not done his or
her job of informing you on
just how comfortable a boot
can feel, even after a long day
on the mountain.
There are many types of
arches and just as many types
of support to accommodate
them, but I will save you from
too much boot fit jargon in
this week’s column and get
back to the basics.
Make sure that your gear is
in working order. If you are in
the market for a new pair of
boots (and yes, the technology
has changed a lot in the past
decade), there is no better time
than now to get set up. Your
local ski shops have a full inventory at this time of season
and at this time only. When
you are deciding on where to
shop for new boots, make sure
it is where you will be spending most of your time skiing.
It is well known that boot
fitting is a bit of a process, and
there are a ton of small tweaks
that can be done to perfect the
feel of the boot. This can be
an easy few minutes off the
hill if you can ski up to where
you purchased the boots and
have a professional boot fitter
make a quick adjustment to
get you back out enjoying the
day. And in case you haven’t
heard, Powder Hound is now
the proud home of four certified, highly trained boot fitters
to take care of your every
Read the Turnagain Times online
or download a PDF of the printed version:
the snow comes, it will be
an epic season that we’ve all
been waiting for. We look
forward to seeing all of you in
the mountains this winter.
2015
XV CROSSTREK
www.turnagaintimes.com
You can also find useful stuff like
tunnel and ferry schedules,
road conditions, weather and more.
need whether you purchased
your boots with us or anywhere else.
So hold on, keep your legs
strong and get excited. When
Love where it takes you.
2015 Subaru
XV Crosstrek Limited
• Power Sliding Moonroof
• Heated Front Seats
• 6-Speaker Audio
• Much more!
26 CITY
34 HWY
The 2015 XV Crosstrek boast 34 highway mpg with standard Symmetrical
All-Wheel Drive plus 8.7 inches of ground clearance. It gives versatility and
traction to tackle rough terrain, back roads, or anywhere on the map. Add a
spacious interior, a flexible cargo area with 60/40-split folding rear seats, and
standard integrated roof rails, and you’ll have plenty of room for everything, to
make your day one to remember.
Photo may vary from actual vehicle.
MPG: Based on 2014 EPA mileage
estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy
methods beginning with 2008 models.
Use for comparison purposes only. Do
not compare to models before 2008. Your
actual mileage will vary depending on how
you drive and maintain your vehicle.
INTERNATIONAL & OLD SEWARD • ANCHORAGE • 563-2277
Page 8
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Mountain News
By Amy Quesenberry
Special to the Turnagain Times
Meet the athletes and win
great prizes!
Sitzmark Opening Day
Live at the Sitzmark
The Sitzmark Bar & Grill
will open for winter season on
Wednesday, Nov. 26 to coincide with Season Pass Holder
Ski Day. There will be 3 free
showings of Lynsey Dyer’s
all-girl ski movie Pretty Faces
at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. The 10
p.m. show is 21 & over only.
The first concert of the
winter will feature a free show
by The Dirty Hands on Nov.
28 and 29. Self-described as
twangy, pork slangin’, booze
sippin’, blues rock, this show
is sure to be a rowdy kickoff
to ski season at the Sitz. Other
upcoming free shows include
The Whipsaws on Dec. 5 and
6 and Bluegrass Ball on Dec.
12 and 13. Don’t miss out
on the first big show of 2015
with legendary jam band Leftover Salmon on Jan. 2 and 3.
Tickets cost $30 and can be
purchased online or at 907754-2275.
Aurora Sunday Brunch
Nothing says Sunday like
football, brunch and Bloody
Marys and the Aurora Bar &
Grill will be serving all three
on Sundays from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. The brunch menu
features eggs benedict three
ways: classic, Florentine
and salmon. There are also
omelets and other creative egg
dishes. Add a $7.50 Absolut
Bloody Mary for the perfect
Sunday fun day.
Yoga Classes
With the ski season rapidly
approaching, it’s a great time
to start using consistent yoga
practice to build strength and
flexibility before hitting the
slopes. Yoga will not only
make you ski or ride stronger and harder but also help
you avoid injuries. With the
winter schedule beginning
Dec. 2, Alyeska Resort will
be hosting yoga classes Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30
p.m., Saturdays at noon and 5
p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
and 7 p.m. The cost per class
is $15. A ten pack punch card
is available for $120. Classes
and punch cards can be purchased at the Spa at Alyeska.
Tentative Opening Day
– Nov. 27
Opening day for the
2014/15 ski season is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 27.
The resort plans to be running
the lifts for skiing and riding
from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,
conditions permitting. The
Read the Turnagain Times online
or download a PDF of the printed version:
Live Music Every Weekend
#holysitz
ALYESKA RESORT | GIRDWOOD, ALASKA
www.turnagaintimes.com
OTC Web Design
“Your imagination is the only limitation ”
FREE
NOVEMBER 26
Snow Film Series:
PRETTY FACES
An All Female Ski Movie
3 Shows: 6, 8 & 10 pm
FREE
NOVEMBER 28 & 29
The Dirty Hands
Twangy Booze Sippin’
Blues Rock
FREE
DECEMBER 5 & 6
The Whipsaws
10 Years of Hard-Driving Rock
DECEMBER 6:
Ski Patrol Auction – 8 pm
BEERS ON TAP / 21 & OVER / FOOD ‘TIL LATE
full schedule online @ thesitzmark.com : 907-754-2275
OF F TH E C H A I N
www.otcwebdesign.com
lack of snow at this time could
affect Alyeska Resort being
able to open as scheduled, but
we remain optimistic. Crews
are ready to begin snowmaking operations as soon as
Mother Nature cooperates and
the rest of the winter staff is
standing by until the next big
storm. As we get closer to the
big day, announcements will
be made on specific terrain
and chairlifts open to the
public. Think snow!
Alyeska Resort also tentatively plans to open the ski
area on Wednesday, Nov. 26
exclusively to our 2014/15
season pass holders for
Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day. Lifts are scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. Make sure to check the
online snow report or call the
SKI-SNOW hotline (907-7547669) for confirmation on lift
and trail status.
Mountain Learning
Center
The Mountain Learning
Center team is looking for enthusiastic skiers and riders to
join our team of instructors
for the 2014-15 winter season.
The 2-day Instructor Training Course is designed as a
training program for anyone
interested in improving their
teaching skills. Job offers will
be extended to selected participants upon completion of the
course. The course is scheduled for Dec. 6 and 7, and the
registration deadline is Nov.
30. More details are available
online.
Registration is now open
for the Alyeska Heroes Snowboard Team, a Saturday or
Sunday program for riders
ages 8-12. This multi-week,
all-day program will improve
snowboarding skills from the
basics of linking turns to accessing the whole mountain
with skill. The registration
deadline is Nov. 30. Register
online or call the MLC at 907754-2280.
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Page 9
Lively Arts
By Ron Holmstrom
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Local holiday shows are
starting to appear around
town, so there will be plenty
for the whole family to do beginning this week.
Anchorage
Community Theatre (ACT), will be
opening Christmas Belles,
the wacky holiday comedy
this week on Friday, Nov. 21.
The story: A church Christmas program spins hilariously out of control in this
Southern farce about the
squabbling Futrelle sisters,
family secrets, a surly Santa,
a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator.
Director Don Gomes
told me about the show this
week: “I’ve not seen the play
before, but found myself
laughing out loud as I read
it the first time. I figured that
was a good sign. Directing
Christmas Belles has been
a great joy. The actors have
worked very hard and have
created some wonderful characters. The cast has been very
inventive. There were several
times when serendipity gave
us a real insight and addition
to a scene.
“This is a perfect show to
bring friends and family and
have a fun time. ACT will
have a barrel for folks to bring
non-perishables for the Food
Bank of Alaska. On Thursday, Dec. 4, anyone wearing
a Christmas sweater will get
$1 off the ticket price.”
ACT is located at 1133
E. 70th Ave, right off of Old
Seward. The show opens
Friday, Nov. 21 and runs
through Dec. 21. Showtimes
are Thurs. through Sat. at 7
p.m. and Sun. at 3 p.m. There
will not be a performance on
Thanksgiving. Tickets are
available at Centertix.net or
at ACT, 868-4913. ACT’s
website is at: http://www.actalaska.org.
The University of Alaska
Anchorage (UAA) opens its
theatrical season with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night or
What You Will. Directed by
Steven Hunt, this show kicks
off an entire season of Shakespeare-themed productions,
which will include Rosencrantz and Gildenstern and
William Shakespeare’s Land
of the Dead - A True and Accurate Account of the 1599
Zombie Plague. (More on
this play will be covered in
future columns.)
The director told me: “I
proposed this play because
it’s always been one of my
favorite Shakespeare plays.
It is both a love story as well
as a rambunctious comedy.
It contains some of Shakespeare’s most memorable
characters. Dan Carlgren has
created the facade of an Elizabethan Theatre on our stage.
We’re doing the play with
no scene changes, but allowing the play to flow from one
scene to another as it would
have been done in Shakespeare’s day. In this sense, we
are exploring the play organically in a space similar to the
one in which it was originally
performed. The costumes, designed by Lisa-Marie Castro,
are of the period as well.”
Twelfth Night plays Nov.
21 through Dec. 7. Curtain
Times: Friday & Saturday 8
p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. on the
Main Stage at UAA. Tickets
are on sale now at UAATix.
com or 786-4TIX.
Hunt also added, “In addition to the facade of the Elizabethan stage, we’ll also have
Photo courtesy of Tony Batres
Frankie (Ashlee Ray), Honey Raye (Jane Henriksen Baird) and Geneva (Kaichen
McRae) perform in the ACT production of Christmas Belles.
a sort of “groundling” area
– special seats that are right
up against the stage that are
at a lower price (extra for a
cushion!) for the audience to
get up close with the action.
Should be a lot of fun!”
For their holiday show,
Cyrano’s Theatre Company
(CTC) is presenting Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad
Day, the musical based upon
the award-winning children’s book and directed by
Janet Stoneburner. Judith
Viost wrote the book and
lyrics and the music is by
Shelly Markham, whom
many will remember from
CTC’s Cabaret Benefit this
past June. Opening night on
Friday is a benefit for Big
Brothers and Big Sisters with
a special post performance
party featuring entertainment
by composer Markham.
I had the opportunity to
speak with Ms. Stoneburner
about the show. She said, “I
had the pleasure of stage/production managing a version
of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very
Bad Day while I was working
at Alaska Theatre of Youth as
Director of Programs. Sandy
(Harper-CTC Artistic Director), and I were talking
about the current season at
Cyrano’s at a wedding and I
was telling her how much fun
working on Alexander had
been and everything just fell
into place. I’ve been blessed
with an amazing production
team with Nancy Caudill
(vocal coach) Brendon Mezzetti (music director) and
“MeMe” Jenkins (choreographer).”
Cyrano’s is located at 4th
& D downtown, and tickets
for the show are available
at Centertix.net. Showtimes
are Thurs. through Sat. at 7
p.m. and Sun. 3 p.m. Cyrano’s is also holding a children’s writing contest. Share
a “terrible, horrible, no good,
very bad day” story and you
could win a great prize. Also,
Friday, Nov. 21 will be Cyrano’s Day at Barnes and Noble
with discounts on books, celebrity readings from the
book and awards for the
writing contest. For more information, go to their website
at www.cyranos.org.
That wraps it up for
this edition, but watch this
column for more information
on all the doings this holiday
season. And please tune in
to Your Entertainment Link
every Thursday during the
FOX-4 News Hour at 9 p.m.
for my weekly segment on
all of the fun stuff happening
around town.
Chess Club Wednesday after
school through Jan. 21 will
sharpen concentration, logic
and mental calculations for all
levels. Many would agree the
younger ones could always
use sharpening and exercise
for a good night sleep.
Pre-school Playgroup will
take place in the Community
Room through Jan. 20, 9:3011a.m. for $3/child/class with
parent company. Play in an
open space with other small
children and meet new parents
and friends in our community.
Family Storytime every
Friday is at 10:30 a.m. at the
Girdwood Library for those
5 and under, featuring 30
minutes of stories, songs and
more. Lapsit is on Saturdays,
also at 10:30 a.m. for those
3 and under accompanied
by caregivers. Enjoy short
stories, songs and repetition.
Come join the literacy fun.
Adults Only Wednesday
Walking Club and Friday
Running Club can get you
moving during the week after a
long day. Just show up. FVCS
has a walking and running
club. Stroll with friends on
Wednesday evenings for one
hour or jog with a buddy.
On Fridays you can kick
into the weekend with a 6:30
p.m. running routine that lasts
30 minutes to one hour. See
the FVCS website for more
information.
Lastly, a little more fun
never hurt. It’s time to improve
your cross-country skiing
skills. Girdwood Masters
Cross Country lessons will be
offered again this season in
cooperation with Girdwood
Nordic Ski Club and Alaska
Nordic Masters. Skiers of
all abilities in both skate and
classic will meet Sunday
from 10-11:30 a.m. in Moose
Meadows.
Register online and commit
now to a winter season of
technique improvement and
more efficient skiing with
fun to boot. Sessions begin
Nov. 23, with conditions allowing. Keep in mind that
Punch Passes for Adult
Fitness Classes are available
for purchase. Make it a gift,
make yourself more flexible,
present and a communityminded contributor. Meanwhile, make sure our FVCS
page is a bookmark on your
favorite browser, like us on
Facebook and check often.
FVCS News
By Briana Sullivan
Special to the Turnagain Times
First and foremost, on
behalf of FVCS Board and
staff, we would like to express
a heartfelt “Thank You” to
each and every volunteer who
assisted with the Sport Swap
Saturday, Oct. 18. Because
of you and your participation
in this event, we are happy to
report that this year’s swap
was extremely successful. Not
only is this event a fundraiser
for Four Valleys Community
School, it is a great local volunteer opportunity that brings
out almost 100 volunteers annually.
Part of our mission is to
build community, and this
fundraiser is not only fun
and social, but also a valu-
able
community
service
that puts money back into
the local economy (your
pockets). Thank you Girdwood for participating and
to those who helped to make
this event possible. Special
thanks to Alyeska Resort,
which donates the use of the
Daylodge each year, and to
our local Subway for providing food for our volunteers.
Thank you for helping to
make the Sport Swap such an
incredible community event.
You are sincerely appreciated.
While there may seem like
plenty to do before the holidays take over your calendar, give the children of four
valleys opportunities that
will exercise their minds and
bodies.
Precipitation or sunshine,
Page 10
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
TROOPER REPORT
The Alaska State Troopers
reported the following incidents. Any charges reported
are merely allegations and the
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.
status revealed that he had
an outstanding warrant for
his arrest for alleged sexual
assault. Farah was arrested
at the scene without incident,
transported, and remanded to
the Anchorage Jail where he
was held on $10,000 bail.
Motor Vehicle
Collision/Warrant
Arrest
Driving While License
Suspended
MILE
80
SEWARD
HWY—October 31 around
8:30 p.m., troopers responded to a single vehicle collision near milepost 80 of
Seward Highway. An investigation revealed that
Mahmoud M. Farah, age 22
of Anchorage, lost control of
a his 2006 Chevrolet Impala
and struck a guardrail. A
check of Farah’s license
GIRDWOOD—November
6 at approximately 9:35 a.m.,
troopers contacted Aaron J.
Richardson, age 21 of Anchorage, during a traffic stop
for a moving violation. An
investigation revealed that
Richardson’s driver’s license
was suspended for Failure
to Maintain Liability Insurance. Richardson was issued
a misdemeanor citation and
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Hiring an Executive Assistant: The Executive Assistant
provides support for the Executive Team and ensures the
smooth operation of the AWCC office, accounting, and
administrative functions. For more information go toalaskawildlife.org/about/jobs.
Firewood for Sale: $100 Qtr / $175 Half / $295 Full, plus
10 percent fuel surcharge. Free kindling, plus delivery fee
for Girdwood and surrounding areas. We can haul 2 cords
at once. Call Best Split Firewood at 727-5928.
Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments for rent in
Whittier: Winter Rates – Studio $600, 1BR $700, 2BR
$800 and 3BR $850. Utilities included. Call 472-2398.
Girdwood Lots for Sale: All utilities, in flat, sunny locations with best views. Call Tim at 632-8467.
City of Whittier seeks Harbor Technician: $14.58/
HR. Duties: Under the supervision of the Harbormaster
and Harbor Officer II, provides maintenance, repair and
safe use of all harbor facilities. To apply: Complete job
description, qualifications and application form can be
found at www.whittieralaska.gov. Submit completed applications to harbor@whittieralaska.gov by November 5,
2014: 2 p.m.
agreed to appear in court at a
later date for Driving While
License Suspended and a
minor offense citation for
Failure to Provide Proof of
Insurance. Richardson was
released without incident and
the vehicle was then turned
over to a licensed driver.
REDDI, Driving While
License Revoked,
Warrant Arrest
MILE
90
SEWARD
HWY—November
6
at
about 2:05 p.m., troopers
conducted a traffic stop on a
REDDI (Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately)
vehicle, a 1983 tan Chevrolet van near mile 90 of the
Seward Highway. Investigation revealed the driver,
Robert Yearwood, age 43 of
Anchorage, was driving with
a revoked driver’s license
and had an outstanding arrest
warrant. Yearwood
was
issued a misdemeanor citation
for Driving While License
Revoked. The vehicle was
released to a licensed driver
from Girdwood. Yearwood
was arrested and remanded
to the Anchorage Jail for the
warrant. Bail was set at no
bail.
Violation of Protective
Order
MILE 100 SEWARD
HWY—November 7 at approximately 10:30 a.m.,
troopers conducted a traffic
stop for a moving violation
near milepost 100 of the
Seward Highway in Indian
and contacted the driver,
Benjamin W. Brookshire,
age 52 of Kasilof. An investigation at the scene revealed
that Brookshire was in Violation of a Protective Order
issued by the Kenai Court.
Brookshire was released at
the scene without incident,
charges to be forwarded to
the District Attorney’s Office
for review.
Criminal Trespass
GIRDWOOD—November 8 around noon, troopers
were contacted by a citizen
of Anchorage who reported
that an unknown person(s)
had entered her residence
in Girdwood. An investigation revealed that several
people entered a residence
off of Davos Road on Nov. 7
and were confronted by the
homeowner’s family on Nov.
8 at which time they fled the
scene prior to the trooper’s
arrival. If you have any in-
formation about this or any
other crime please contact the
Alaska State Troopers at 907262-4453 or Crime Stoppers
at 907-561-STOP (7867).
Criminal Mischief /
Criminal Trespass
GIRDWOOD—November 8 at about 10:30 a.m.,
troopers were contacted by
a citizen of Girdwood who
reported that an unknown
person(s) had come onto her
property and slashed two
of the tires on her vehicle,
which was parked at her residence on Cortina Road in
Girdwood. If you have any
information about this or any
other crime please contact the
Alaska State Troopers at 907262-4453 or Crime Stoppers
at 907-561-STOP (7867).
Search and Rescue
COOPER LANDING—
November 9 around 4:26
p.m., troopers responded to a
report of a boater in distress
on Skilak Lake. An investigation revealed Eric Ohlson,
age 47 of Anchorage, became
stranded on Skilak Lake after
experiencing engine malfunctions and power-loss on
his 22-foot vessel. Central
Emergency Services (CES)
deployed a rescue vessel,
which ran ashore and stranded all four crewmembers near
Caribou Island. Air assets
were deployed through the
Rescue Coordination Center
(RCC); Ohlson as well as the
CES emergency responders,
were safely recovered. No injuries were sustained.
Motor Vehicle
Collision, Damage
GIRDWOOD—November
9 around 5:19 p.m., troopers
responded to a vehicle-tovehicle collision at the Girdwood Mercantile. An investigation revealed that Austin M
Keene, age 21 of Girdwood,
parked and left his 2006
Honda Civic unattended in
the parking lot. Investigation
revealed that it was struck by
another vehicle, which then
left the scene. If you have any
information about this or any
other crime please contact the
Alaska State Troopers at 907262-4453 or Crime Stoppers
at 907-561-STOP (7867). The
investigation continues.
Drunken Person On
Licensed Premises
GIRDWOOD—November 12 at approximately
10:51 p.m., troopers contacted Jamey Gioffre, age 37 of
Girdwood, inside the Chair
5 Bar. An investigation revealed Gioffre was highly intoxicated and a drunk person
while inside Chair 5 Bar.
Gioffre was arrested, transported, and remanded to the
Anchorage Jail. Bail was set
at $250.
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Page 11
GBOS Meeting
Continued from page 1
“Every five years,” Chadwick said, “the Insurance
Services Organization comes
up here and does an evaluation of our fire protection.
It includes our water supply
from the water utility and our
ability to take on truck water
to the areas that don’t have
hydrants. They evaluate our
pump capacity. They evaluate our personnel, our level of
training, and all of our ability
to take and put it all together
and operate it with a structure
fire.”
Chadwick explained how
the ratings have incrementally improved over the last
16 years that he has been
fire chief, culminating in the
current excellent rating. As
a result of the rating, insurance companies charge less
to insure structures because
there is less fire risk. “The
bottom line is it significantly lowers insurance costs,
significantly lowers rents, I
hope, because of it, and a significantly better environment
to operate a business in.”
Chadwick stated that this
rating places the fire department and its ability to respond
to fires among the best in
Alaska, and he gave credit to
the people whose efforts have
made it happen.
“These are some excellently amazing numbers,”
Chadwick said. “Just to put
this into perspective, there
are only two other fire departments in the state of Alaska
that made it to class 2. This
isn’t just the money we’re
putting into it. This is the
dedication to the people that
are coming to meetings. It’s
people that are showing up
on the calls and people that
are working really hard and
putting in the training hours.”
Before he left the podium,
Chadwick also urged drivers
to be safe on the highway.
“Please let’s drive carefully
out there,” he said. “It’s dark.
We don’t have a lot of snow
yet, and visibility is really,
really bad. Slow down. Take
it easy. Leave a few minutes
early. Enjoy the scenery. Let’s
keep as many of us alive as
we can.”
In old business, the GBOS
addressed three resolutions.
The first resolution dealt with
the Turnagain Arm Service
Coalition (TASC), which is
looking to construct a multiuse community facility to
house Little Bears Playhouse,
the Girdwood Health Clinic,
and a recreation center.
TASC’s goal is to develop a
viable model the three groups
can afford and bring benefits
to the community.
The board unanimously
passed a resolution showing
support for the application by
the Municipality of Anchorage for TASC to be accepted into the Foraker Group’s
Pre-Development Program,
which is part of the Rasmussen Foundation. The program
brings together a variety of
professionals to advise community organizations of the
best ways to manage their
projects and keep them sustainable.
Once the Municipality of
Anchorage signs the application, it will be submitted to
the Rasmussen Foundation
with the hope of TASC being
accepted and sponsored. This
sponsorship is the next step in
a lengthy process. The Heritage Land Bank has set aside
acreage where the facility can
be built, and in September the
GBOS unanimously voted to
assume the Municipality of
Anchorage as the owner and
operator of the facility.
The second unanimously passed resolution on the
agenda was to reallocate
$50,000 from the Undesignated Fund to Girdwood’s
Roads Capital Improvement
Fund. This resolution now
goes to the Anchorage Assembly for approval. By
placing the $50,000 into the
Roads CIF, the funds become
available to the GBOS to
manage road projects without
approval of the Anchorage
Assembly.
The third resolution, which
also passed unanimously,
was approval for funding of
an engineering study, design,
construction plans, and bids
to replace the culverts at Mt.
Hood, Davos Road and Lake
Tahoe Road. These three culverts have been identified as
priorities due to their deteriorating conditions.
“This is a low spot within
the drainage, and it’s prone
to build up of sediment that
comes down from the valley,”
said Kyle Kelley, Municipal
Liaison to Girdwood. “All
three culverts, more particularly Davos and Mt. Hood,
are starting to fail. They are
starting to crush in on the top.
These three areas have been
identified in the current drainage plan as priority fixes. The
board, with getting this study
and design completed, would
produce bid ready documents
and also permitting to do the
construction, and we’ll get a
solid, estimated cost for how
much it’s going to cost. From
there, we’ll determine how
we’ll fund the construction
part.”
The current estimate for
the study is $149,571, and
funding would come from
the 406 account, which existing funds can cover. The
project would be finished by
next spring. The project’s additional benefit would allow
the culverts to become approved fish passages because
the habitat will be improved.
The culverts are not currently
designated as fish passages,
Kelly said.
The final item of business was Supervisor Tommy
O’Malley’s request of the
board for a letter of support
for the development of longterm operations of a cemetery in Girdwood. The step
allows the board to continue
to get information about this
possible project. He said the
letter of support is not a commitment to build a cemetery,
which would require many
more steps, approvals and
studies.
“What we’re asking is for
the assembly to request an
ordinance to be written that
would allow the GBOS the
power to operate and maintain a cemetery here in Girdwood,” O’Malley said. “That
ordinance would be put on
the ballot to be voted on next
April in the municipal election, but only in Girdwood.”
The board unanimously
approved writing a letter of
support for the Girdwood
Cemetery to the Anchorage
Assembly.
Angel Tree program
is a Christmas gift for
children in need
By Robyn Kenny
Special to the Turnagain Times
The Angel Tree program provides a way for you to
give gifts to those in need at Christmas time. Without
the Girdwood PTA Holiday Bazaar being held this year,
we wanted to make sure the community is aware that the
Angel Tree will be set up outside of the Four Valleys Community School office beginning Dec. 1 for you to sign out
an angel.
The tree is set up to help local families with gifts this
holiday season. Boys and girls of all ages in our area will
be delighted when they find special gifts under the tree
that you, their secret Santa, have helped provide.
If your business or organization is looking for ways
you can help families this Christmas, the Angel Tree
Committee is always looking for more people to help our
community children have a better Christmas. Monetary
donations are also accepted. The money collected will
be used to purchase gift certificates to grocery stores to
help subsidize the food baskets provided to these families.
If you have any questions or know of any children that
might need some assistance this holiday season, please
call Robyn Kenny at 783-1395.
ALASKA
WILDLIFE
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Grassroots Strategies • Bear trust International • Rasmuson Foundation • Atwood Foundation •
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MILE 79, SEWARD HIGHWAY | PORTAGE, AK 99587 | 907.783.2025
w w w . a l a s kawildlif e.o r g
Page 12
Turnagain Times
November 20, 2014
Highway Improvement
Continued from page 1
federal highway funds. Both
projects are initially estimated to cost $30 million.
The goal of these combined projects is to make
this section of the Seward
Highway safer to drive by
maintaining the roadway and
eliminating hazards that contribute to accidents. “Both
of them are safety based
at their core,” said Sean
Baski, project manager for
AKDOT&PF.
When asked why the
changes were necessary,
Baski replied, “A number of
the accidents on this stretch
of the road are due to intersection related accidents.
Any community that is along
a major highway system like
the Seward Highway experiences issues where you have
conflicting local area turning
movements in and out of the
highway system.
“The approach that was
taken on by the department was to try to provide
a meaningful alternative in
the left turn pocket approach
to direct traffic into an area
without adding a much larger
facility.”
Baski said that the public’s
response to the projects has
been positive, but there are
still concerns to be addressed.
“In general, they are well received,” he said. “Now we’ve
heard some comments about
concerns with local access
in certain areas. There are a
couple of concerns because
it’s a safety corridor.”
One area of particular
concern is highway access
and the elimination of some
driveways where a piece of
property has multiple points
of access to the Seward
Highway.
“As part of the highway
safety improvement plan
project, one part was driveway consolidation and access
management to the highway
facility,” said Baski.
He said the reason for removing some of these access
points is to improve highway
safety by eliminating factors
that contribute to accidents
on this stretch of highway.
“Traffic engineers have
recognized for a long time
through studies that whenever you have an increase in
the number of driveways or
approaches to a facility like
the highway, it has an inherent increase in accident rates
along that same corridor,”
Baski said.
“With a safety corridor like
the Seward Highway, there is
an opportunity to try increase
the overall safety of the
highway system by removing
accesses where we can. Now
obviously we can only do
those in certain small areas
where there is already access
that’s available such as side
approaches or a number of
accesses going to one single
parcel.”
One of the pressing questions of the proposed project
concerns the Essential 1 gas
station and whether direct
access to the highway would
be closed in favor of access
from Sawmill Road.
“Right now the alternative that was presented at the
open house did have that,”
said Baski. “After a number
of comments, we’re looking
at impacts in that area. We
have meetings with the property owners.
“We’re trying to get a discussion with Alaska Trucker’s Association because they
represent the trucking industry to make sure we facilitate
all the needs of the users realizing at the same time we’re
trying to increase the safety
of the general public.”
Other concerns from the
public include minimizing
disruptions to areas of high
use.
“Part of the scope is replacing the bridge over Indian
Creek,” Baski said, “so there
are concerns over how to do
that without interfering with
the ball field and it’s parking
because it is used actively throughout the summer
and how construction would
impact that.
“There are also concerns
about, obviously from private
residents and businesses
along the way, where we do
need to widen the footprint of
the road to add the pathway.”
This situation means that
property and right-of-way
will have to be acquired to
go forward with the projects, including the addition
of a multi-use pathway from
Indian Road to Indian Creek.
“We’re adding one mile of
pathway from Indian Creek
up to Indian Road,” Baski
said. “In order to do that, we
will have to purchase acquisitions along the majority of
the parcel along that stretch.
Any time you’re acquiring
right of way, there are always
concerns there.”
When it comes time to
rebuild the Indian Creek
Bridge, a bypass bridge will
have to be built first to keep
the Seward Highway open
during this construction,
Baski said.
“First of all, you have to
still maintain traffic. The
Seward Highway cannot be
shut down. In order to construct a new bridge, you have
to construct a bypass bridge
off to the side of it.
“Once you construct the
bypass bridge, the contractor can remove the existing bridge and construct a
new one. In this case, Indian
Creek Bridge would have an
alternative bridge constructed next to it.”
The projects are expected to begin in 2017, but the
bridge replacement will probably drive the schedule of the
100-105 project, Baski said,
which will take anywhere
from a year to a year-and-ahalf to construct.
“I would conservatively
say two years,” he said. “For
the left turn lane project, that
can be done easily, half a
summer to a summer.”
Baski emphasized that the
public can still submit comments about the projects.
“The department of transportation always accepts and encourages comment,” he said.
“The sooner the comment is
made, the sooner we can take
it into account when we’re
developing our projects.”
Comments can be submitted
to the DOT website: www.
sewardhighway100-105.com.
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Sundays in the
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Thursday, November 27
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November 26 & 27
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Featuring Thanksgiving-themed
Chef's Tasting Menu on Nov. 27
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Lunch & Dinner Winter Hours:
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Reserve Online or call 907-754-2237
Complimentary tram tickets with advance reservations.
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4 pm, 5 pm & 6 pm
$46 Adults | $23 Kids (6-12)
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Reserve online or call 907-754-2237
Sunday Night Special
$49 3-Course Prix Fixe Menu
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GIRDWOOD, ALASKA
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800-880-3880