Ski Inn planned for downtown Girdwood Public Safety Task Force
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T U R N A G A I N turnagaintimes.com VOL. 19 NO.4 FREE TIMES Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & South Anchorage February 18, 2016 Public Safety Task Force moves Ski Inn planned for forward amidst Muni-Trooper dispute downtown Girdwood By Jon Scudder Turnagain Times The Girdwood Public Safety Task Force met Feb. 11 at the Girdwood Community Room to discuss recent developments and inform citizens about what happens after the upcoming municipal election April 5, which will include a ballot proposition for Girdwood voters to choose whether or not to fund local police service through a property tax rate hike. “The public safety ballot initiative is locked down and ready to go,” said Sam Daniel, co-chair of the Girdwood Board of Supervisor, and PSTF cochair. The cost for police service to the Girdwood Valley Service Area residents is $615,000 a year, utilizing Whittier as the police option. GVSA residents currently pays the second lowest tax rate in the Municipality of Anchorage. Daniel told the full audience about a recent letter from Municipal Attorney William Falsey who challenged the Alaska State Troopers decision to leave the Girdwood post, and another letter by Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards refuting the city’s claims. In the letter Falsey wrote, he quoted Alaska Statue 18.65.080, which states the Troopers, are to enforce criminal laws throughout the state, using the Borough of Juneau as an identical example. In practice, Falsey said the troopers are the primary source of law enforcement for all Alaskans who live in places that do not have local certified police officers. “The Municipality appreciates that your organization is facing difficult budgetary and internal challenges,” wrote Falsey. “We also recognize that AST (Troopers) retains some amount of flexibility in how it will enforce the state’s criminal laws. But we do not believe it is within the discretion of AST to leave an area of the state entirely without general law enforcement services.” He continued, “I am therefore writing to confirm my understanding that, regardless of whether the Troopers maintain a post within the Municipality, the Alaska State Troopers will continue to provide general law enforcement services to areas of the MOA that are not served by a local police force.” Richards asserted in his response the Alaska statute quoted by Falsey is permissive and not mandatory. He also disputed Falsey’s understanding of the distribution of law enforcement resource in Juneau. “The Juneau Police Department is responsible for law enforcement activities in the entire City and borough of Juneau. AST generally provides search and rescue services only, and assistance as needed.” In closing, Richards added, “AST will continue to provide three troopers to do traffic enforcement on the Seward Highway from the Girdwood area, and will back up the Anchorage Police Department in that area as needed.” Daniel offered his view on the letters stating that “One of the concerns Tom (GBOS member Tommy O’Malley) and I have was that the question of when the state and municipality would resolve the issue of whether the troopers have a responsibility to respond in Girdwood if there is no other police presence,” he said. “We were concerned that this issue wouldn’t be resolved prior to the election. It appears clear now what the state’s position is.” He added, “Until someone decides to file a lawsuit against the state of Alaska, it is unlikely we are going to get trooper coverage in Girdwood after July 1, 2016.” See Back Page, Public Safety Task Force By Jon Scudder Turnagain Times The Girdwood Land Use Committee met in a special session Monday followed by the Girdwood Board of Supervisors monthly meeting to hear initial plans for a new inn proposed for downtown Girdwood. Long time Girdwood resident and business representative, Jeremy Cerutti, introduced the proposed business, Ski Inn, to both boards. It will be located at 189 Hightower Road, formerly Alta House Vacation Rentals, and now owned by Kurt Erikkson. The building is in the heart of downtown between the Silvertip Grill and the Girdwood Health Clinic, and adjacent to Town Square Park. “All our rooms will be unique,” said Cerutti, referring to the eight-bedrooms, with the largest room having twoqueen beds. “We plan on making it something that will stand out that people will come in to and think is kind of neat.” He added that rooms will be available nightly with a projected spring opening. “It’s really exciting for me to hear new businesses that are opening up…that’ll serve visitors and create opportunities for people to work,” said GBOS member Tommy O’Malley. “There is a need for alternative lodging,” said Cerutti. “It’s something I always thought would be a great idea. I think it’s going to be beneficial to the community, especially to the downtown business district.” The project has been submitted to the Municipality of Anchorage for a Major Site Plan Review, with future, more detailed, presentations slated for next month’s board meetings. Under the proposed plan, the first two levels of the building will be for commercial use and third level being residential. Cerutti said there will be significant improvements, such as added landscaping. There will also be rooms with private and shared bathrooms, with a price range between a Bed and Breakfast and The Hotel Alyeska. Guests will have a drop-off area on site, which will comply with the American with Disabilities Act. Parking will be available at the Town Square with continental breakfast provided. He said the location is great with close proximity to restaurants and the shuttle. “I’m really excited about it,” said Cerutti. Gerrish Library Manager brings passion for reading to job By Kate Sandberg Special to the Turnagain Times Traveling to 37 countries in 21 years demonstrates a true passion for learning about foreign cultures. Claire Agni, Girdwood’s Gerrish Library Manager, has just that passion. Having traveled with her family since she was six years old, she then started traveling alone after college graduation. Through working PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 353 ECRWSS Postal Customer in major cities, such as Rome, or volunteering for short-term projects in South America and Africa, she has made friends around the world. “Travel is a big part of my life, and I am always thinking of where to go next,” Agni said enthusiastically. Agni’s other major passions are reading and libraries. To the good fortune of the Four Valleys area, she has managed Girdwood’s library since Inside this Issue The Girdwood Scene..............................2 South Anchorage News.......................4 FVCS News......................................6 Cooper Landing News.....................7 Mountain News................................8 Lively Arts......................................9 Trooper Report................................10 Powder Hound.....................................11 September 2015. However, Agni didn’t always like to read or visit libraries. She never read for pleasure as an elementary school child. “Everyone in my family liked to read, but not me,” Agni said. However, reading Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot when Agni was 12 or 13 changed that. Now she devours books for pleasure, primarily young adult fantasy and historical fiction, and her eyes light up when she talks about libraries. Agni graduated from Polaris K-12 School in Anchorage then went on to graduate from Alaska Pacific University (APU) with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies, Creative Photo courtesy of Gerrish Library Clair Agni is in her first year as the Gerrish Library Manager. A world traveler who has visited 37 countries, Agni is also an avid reader and a fan of young adult fantasy and historical fiction. Writing and English. During her undergraduate years, she worked at the UAA/APU Consortium Library where she See Page 6, Gerrish Library Manager Page 2 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 The Girdwood Scene By Gretchen Matt Turnagain Times Correspondent The Young Dubliners are starting their 2016 tour in Alaska this month and will be playing at the Sitzmark on Feb. 19 and 20, making this the fifth year in a row that they’ve played in Girdwood. As well as touring across the Lower 48, the band will be reaching as far as the lead singer’s homeland of Dublin, Ireland. Keith Roberts of The Young Dubliners is in fact, an Irish rocker, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that the band can simply be summed up as “an Irish rock band”. I had the opportunity to speak with the lead singer and talk about just how hard it is to fully and honestly describe the band in words. A lot of media’s first impressions simply come from the band’s name. “We were just playing – young guys from Dublin, started a band, so that’s what everybody called us, but we didn’t have a name,” he said “For a year, we had different ideas for names and then people started calling us The Young Dubliners. And then we got the record deal. They didn’t want to change it because we started to sell out the rock scene in Hollywood, like weird venues we shouldn’t even be in. And we started to get in there and sell the places out and the name stuck and so, ya know, ten records later, twenty years later, do I wish, perhaps, I had chosen a different name? You know it! It sort of allows people to pigeon-hole us.’’ Roberts elaborated that pigeonholing can be felt from the buzzword descriptor that is “Celtic rock”. “All the sudden ‘Celtic rock’ kind of became a thing,” he said, “and anybody who plays anything Irish is a ‘Celtic rock’ band, and it’s a bummer because it’s definitely not. So we really just wanted to be a band that wrote songs that used whatever uniqueness we had from the fact that we were from a different part of the world. And it was always a blend of American music and Irish- never Irish first, then American… I think now we defined our own sound which is a rock band that writes songs that has Irish influence and rock influence and we try to just write whatever comes out of us and not force any type of genre on it.” With over 20 years and six albums under their belt, The Young Dubliners have had time to shape their music into something that can’t be described in two words. Similarly, we talked about the other major players in the “Celtic rock” industry and surprisingly what it is like to constantly be compared to them. “Most people in America nowadays would be like, ‘Oh you mean you are like Flogging Molly or like Dropkick Murphys,’” Roberts said, “and we have such history with those bands, that we know them so well and have played with them- we have had such a part to play in their careers and them in ours. And yes, when Pandora started people started listening to Dropkick Murphys and Pandora started putting Young Dubliners on there. We now have so many young fans who say that they heard us on their Flogging Molly Pandora station and couldn’t believe there were so many different tempos in the music.” It seems that Roberts has come to terms with the comparisons between bands in similar genres. He also only had good things to say about Girdwood, and Alaska as a whole. “It’s great because it’s one of the places where we absolutely love because these are music lovers, he said. “You never get that feeling that you are just entertaining Photo courtesy of Leif Ramos Alaskan band Hope Social Club will be headlining Alyeska’s Telepalooza. Left to right band members: Aaron Benolkin, Tony Restivo, Sean “Spiff” Chambers, Rik Nielsen, Tim Haren and Melissa Mitchell in the middle. Originally their name was the Sociables, but they changed it due to several other bands with the same name. people at a resort. I mean, it’s a real true show that we’ve always had there and we love it. And that’s what bands do, when you have gigs that you feel relevant, that you feel get your music and they dig it, not only do you play your best but you want to go back.” When asked if he will be skiing this winter, Roberts said that the band has a rule against extreme sports while on tour. Instead, he admitted that he can be found in Girdwood relaxing at Chair 5 with a bloody Mary. The weekend after The Young Dubliners on Feb. 25 and 26 Alaskan band Hope Social Club will be headlining Alyeska’s Telepalooza event. The folksy instrumental band previously known as The Sociables was created from local Alaskan musicians to collectively form Hope Social Club. It consists of lead singer Melissa Mitchell, Sean “Spiff” Chambers, Aaron Benolkin, Tim Haren, Tony Restivo, and Rik Nielsen. Restivo was most notably known for his work on bass for the Girdwood regulars The Photonz, and Benolkin on guitar for The Whipsaws. Don’t miss this free show! The Alyeska Snow Classic is almost here! This annual split-the-pot fundraiser is a fun way to play while supporting Four Valleys Community School. Tickets will be available throughout March at local Girdwood businesses and from Four Valleys Community School board members. Submit your guesses of snow depth March 1-31 for measurement on Alyeska’s closing day. Check out Alyeskasnowclassic.org for more information and look for this sweet Snow Classic logo by Dawn Gerety around town. By Phone: (907) 783-1135 By Email: [email protected] By Mail: P.O. Box 1044 Girdwood, Alaska 99587-1044 T U R N A G A I N TIMES Owner Publisher & Editor Ken Smith Production Artist Opus Studio, Inc. Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & South Anchorage The Turnagain Times is published the first and third week of each month by Midnight Sun Communications, LLC, Girdwood, Alaska. © 2016 Midnight Sun Communications, LLC Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Page 3 Opinion PADDY WAGGIN’ Do you have any heroes? We all have them. They’re people that are selfless, eager to help, and are always looking out for the well being of others. They’re like the young man in Wasilla who pushed his friend out of the way of an oncoming car and ended up losing his own life. Let me ask you this question: are any of your heroes politicians? Have you put your head on the pillow at night and thought, “I’m so thankful that Cathy Giessel helped oil companies get $5 billion in tax credits,” or “I’m proud of Mike Hawker and how he helped put a brand new legislative building in downtown Anchorage?” Who knows, maybe there are those that think our political landscape is filled with heroes but I’ve yet to meet any of them. We need heroes in politics if for nothing else than to make people believe that our country isn’t heading down a divisive path where it’s all party politics with very little thought of what’s in the common person’s best interests. Our veterans are heroes, but yet they still wait months and months for treatment and many end up on the street homeless, lost and trying to figure out why they mean so Paddy Notar little to our representatives. Have our U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan even made a dent in all of the red tape that makes it practically impossible for veterans to get the help that they need? I’d like to see Murkowski and Sullivan go and try living on the street and eating at Bean’s Café while the Veterans Administration tells them it will be about six months before anyone is available to see them, and they’ll need to fill out about 20 documents that need eight levels of approval before that can even happen. I don’t think our legislators want to go that route, though. That would require a different kind of champion, one who is sympathetic and tucks their own morality away for a moment and tries to lend a hand. Basically, a true hero is a person who wants to do the right thing, even if they don’t like it at the time and swallow their self-righteousness. Later, they thank themselves. That doesn’t sound like any of our elected representatives – does it? Letter to the Editor No need for Girdwood taxpayers to fund police services To the Editor: This community does not need a $620,000 taxpayer funded solution for a “policing problem”. Reading the trooper report every month for years and years there are three main categories of incidents. Foremost is highway stops by the troopers, who will continue to be responsible for these after the Girdwood post closes. The second are drunk drivers associated with the bars, mostly involving visitors, on the big ski weekends. The third are the multiple incidents associated each year with Forest Fair. Remaining incidents involving Girdwood residents you can count a year’s worth on one hand. Our modest policing needs can be solved by hiring a local sheriff and buying a used police cruiser. The sheriff can have office space in the Fire Department. Total cost should not exceed $100,000 per year. We should require our sheriff to live in Girdwood that way he can take his boy fishing on Saturdays. Think Andy Griffith. Maybe we need to hire a parttime deputy, but we probably won’t find one as funny as Don Knotts. Any solution on law enforcement needs to come with reductions in non-essential programs to make it cash neutral to taxpayers. I would start by eliminating the paid Municipal Liaison position (previously reported in this paper at $65,000 per year) and tightening our belts on payments for other community programs. Paying $620,000 to the city of Whittier each year merely enriches that community on the backs of Girdwood taxpayers and is grossly out of proportion to our needs. Paul Wharton Girdwood For some strange reason we just don’t have that today within our political arena. It’s like the residents of Girdwood and other places in the state and country asking why we don’t test fluoride from China when it comes off the boat in its raw from. That would make sense with something that is more toxic than lead. Instead, let’s wait until it goes into the water and we’ll see what happens. Ask anyone in Flint, Michigan if waiting to see what happens is a good idea. Here was Murkowski’s response to me when I asked her the fluoride question, via Karina Petersen, her Alaska Communications Director. “This is the information that she (Sen. Murkowski) learned, stating “you are correct that the majority of the fluoride comes from China, although addition of the fluoride to drinking water is subject to regulation. Let me know if you ever need anything in the future.” Actually, Ms. Petersen, I would, it’s called an answer as to why the EPA doesn’t test it when it comes off the boat? Instead, we wait until it’s in the system and in our bodies. But I’m not a big donor, and I just write for a small town paper. Therefore, don’t expect Murkowski to become a hero for my cause or yours for that matter. You need some serious donor dollars for that kind of attention. I just got the PR response which is somewhere between no response and, well, no response. You, as a voter, are considered to have the most powerful voice with a click of a button but even then our elected officials have no problems bypassing the will of the majority and then creating laws that they’re more comfortable with. Assembly members Patrick Flynn and Bill Evans know all about that. When Proposition 5 came out for a public vote in 2012, 57 percent of Anchorage residents said they did not want equal protection for lesbian, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgenders, yet in 2015 Flynn and Evans went on to sponsor an ordinance which passed the Assembly and was signed into law by Mayor Berkowitz that called the vote, “A clear expression.” Nice sentence, Mr. Berkowitz. Is there an ending to it that you left out? They even named it the Evans-Flynn ordinance. It couldn’t be the “Fair Protection for All” ordinance? That’s nothing more than your dollars paying for an ego trip, but it is a cute name. Personally, I don’t think anyone should be denied equal protection in our society because of their sexual orientation. It’s a no-brainer to me, and shouldn’t we try and educate people that we think made a bad choice? Apparently not with Evans and Flynn. After all, they know more than all of us, and the majority of taxpayers simply don’t matter. Aren’t our representatives supposed to be an extension of our own vote? Why wouldn’t a person, especially an elected official, embrace the only true form of democracy in this land? The people cast their vote and you repealed it because you somehow know better? That’s not heroic, that’s just arrogant. Maybe there’s a reason a 74-year-old socialist is beating Hillary Clinton. Maybe, just maybe, the millennials do have an idea of a political hero. We need our politicians to be more forthright, take up our causes and to educate voters if they disagree with a majority of us. In the end, we need our politicians to think about the people they represent and not themselves or their Wall Street friends. I think actor Gene Hackman summed up my thoughts about our politicians when he said, “The difference between a hero and a coward is one step sideways.” Page 4 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 South Anchorage News By Amy Newman Turnagain Times South Anchorage Correspondent I’m finishing this week’s column on the tail end of baking and frosting 36 cupcakes for my daughters’ 7th birthday party. I swear every year will be different, but it’s always the same – I inevitably find myself up well past midnight the night before the party, critiquing my decorating skills and wondering why I stress so much about a handheld treat the kids barely pay any attention to beyond making sure it gets into their mouths. Oh well, there’s always next year. There’s still a lot going on in South Anchorage this month. The New Years’ Resolutions must have all been tossed aside, because there’s a variety of foodrelated events to choose from. And a candidate forum in anticipation of the April 5 municipal election and a flyfishing class are indications that spring is on its way – a much better predictor than the groundhog, in my opinion. Enjoy the rest of the month. Knife and Scotch Classes at South Restaurant Not together, of course. Learning how to slice and dice while consuming copious amounts of Scotch could quickly turn dangerous. Instead, South is offering two different classes the final two Saturdays of this month. On Feb. 20, become a kitchen ninja and learn basic knife techniques from South’s expert staff. Afterward, you’ll get a chance to nosh on the food you spent the afternoon slicing and dicing (and they’ll pull out the alcohol once the knives are safely stashed away). Each participant goes home with a Wusthof paring knife, too. Join bartender Levi, South’s resident Scotch expert, on Feb. 27 to learn about and sample one of the world’s most popular liquors. Six different samples will be paired with special appetizers prepared by Chef Shane. Classes are $95 each and begin at 3 p.m. Call 7709200, or visit the front desk, to reserve your spot. Polar Bears RELY ON ANCHORAGE’S EXPERT FOR YOUR HOME FINANCING. Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Stanford NMLS Unique Identifier #205117 Assistant Vice President Sr. Mortgage Loan Originator (907) 261-3444 direct [email protected] Apply online 24/7 jeffstanford.net License #AK157293 International at the Alaska Zoo A few friends were having an exchange on Facebook recently about whether or not the world’s polar bear population is actually declining. The conversation turned out to be extremely timely, as the Alaska Zoo is hosting a free lecture on polar bear conservation efforts. Geoff York, senior director of conservation with Polar Bears International, will speak about polar bears, life in the Arctic and conservation efforts. The event takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Alaska Zoo Gateway Hall. Pizza, Beer & Flies at Mountain View Sports Learn how to fly ties, or just prep for this year’s season with fellow anglers, at Mountain View Sports’ Fly Night on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Some materials will be provided, but feel to bring your own. Moose’s Tooth will provide the pizza and beer. Mountain View Sports is located at 11124 Old Seward Hwy., off O’Malley Rd. 2016 Municipal Candidate Forum The Anchorage Hillside’s Home and Landowner Association (HALO) will host a candidate forum at O’Malley’s on the Green on Wednesday, March 2 from 6:30-9 p.m. Meet municipal assembly and school board candidates, hear their take on the issues and ask questions so you’ll make an informed decision on election day. Bonds and propositions on this year’s ballot will also be discussed. All assembly and school board candidates have been invited and, based on turnout from prior years’ events, most, if not all, are Photo courtesy of South Restaurant Join South Restaurant Chef Shane for a culinary tour of the tapas of Spain on March 1. expected to attend. The Great Alaskan Bed Races Fur Rendezvous is right around the corner, and the Great Alaskan Bed Races at Hilltop Ski Area are back. Grab three teammates, find a costume and your fastest mattress, and race down the mountain for the trophy and $200 cash prize. Afterward, enjoy a drink at the Beer Garden, hosted by Koot’s. Register online now at www. hilltopskiarea.org, or the day of the races starting at 11:30 a.m. Tapas Dinner with Chef Shane at South If a meal comprised entirely of appetizers sounds delightful, then you’ll want to make reservations for South’s tapas dinner. For those who are unaware, tapas are small plates of Spanish appetizers or snacks, and can be either hot or cold. Chef Shane will be highlighting small plates from central Madrid and the coastal regions of Spain, and each dish will be paired with sparkling cava, rioja wines and South’s signature Barcelona style Gin & Tonics. The dinner costs $100 per person; stop by the front desk or call 770-9200 to reserve your spot. American Heart Association Dinner Fans of Bravo TV’s Top Chef may remember Andrea Beaman from the show’s inaugural season. Beaman is a natural food chef who advocates the use of nutrition and whole foods to harness the body’s natural healing powers. She attributes a complete diet overhaul to eliminating her thyroid condition. Beaman is bringing her cooking and coaching to South to benefit the Anchorage chapter of the American Heart Association. Join her for a cooking class and sit-down dinner on Thursday, March 3. Class is limited to 26 people - six at the counter ($250 per person) will enjoy an up-close and personal look while Beaman cooks, and 20 at the table ($200 per person). The cost of the tickets is tax deductible. Visit http://bit.ly/20Z20Mv to register. Winter worship In the heart of Girdwood ... Girdwood Chapel A United Methodist Church open and welcoming to all Located at the corner of Alyeska Hwy. and Timberline in Girdwood Sunday Morning Worship 8:30AM short service • 10AM main service 11:15am – Funday School for kids In the TESORO MALL Open 7 days a week Sunday through Thursday 11am-10pm Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm Deliveries after 3pm everyday! Home of Girdwood Food Pantry • Room and building rental available Community Pastor Rev. Sandy Ward www.girdwoodchapel.net • 907-783-0127 • [email protected] P.O. Box 1068, Girdwood, AK 99587 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Page 5 Hope Happenings By Jeannine Jabaay Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent 35-year member of the Hope Village Council.” announced and discussed at the public hearing. www.KenaiChristianChurch. org for registration information. Zoning Fines, Legalized Marijuana and Emergency Response Vehicles A jam-packed Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the Assembly Chambers in Soldotna. Public discussion and written comments will be heard and addressed. Residents of Hope and the Kenai Borough are asked to engage in the conversation to discuss zoning issues in the neighboring towns of Hope, specifically Moose Pass and Cooper Landing. Ordinance 2016-03 is drafted to repeal an ordinance indicating fines and ambiguity to land use and establish new regulation, such as nonconforming buildings, visible storage, derelict vehicles, on-street parking, excessive traffic (20 round-trip vehicle Photo courtesy of Derrick Jabaay trips per day), livestock, poultry Local resident Chloe Jabaay visits the horses in downtown and pets. Hope and provides a grassy snack. The Central Emergency Area is requesting the use of reserve community activities. And with management of our game is bond funds for the purchaser of the recent winter opening of absolutely critical.” Emergency Response Vehicles. Tito’s Discovery Cafe, tourism Walker said that Bond proceeds in the amount of has begun trickling back in Trimmingham “spent decades $2,795,137.58 on Feb. 2, and unseasonably early. in the Alaska outdoors, and the Kenai Peninsula Borough bring a wealth of knowledge would like to use that money Waste Station is Moving to the Board of Game.” A as a portion of a $4.4 million The Hope Village Council recent press release issued dollar purchase of additional invited Lanie Hughes, by the governor’s office emergency response vehicles. Environmental Coordinator of states, “A life-long resident The Kenai Peninsula is the Kenai Peninsula Borough, of Hope, Guy Trimmingham proposing to enact the Marijuana to share at the quarterly Town guided hunters on the Alaska Regulation committee Hall Meeting on Feb. 13 at the Peninsula, the Alaska and and establish the Planning Social Hall. Hughes shared the Chugach Mountain Ranges, Commission as the local results of the 2016 Hope Solid the Kenai and Talkeetna regulatory authority within the Waste Transfer Site Survey. Mountains, and in Kodiak for Kenai Peninsula. Additionally, Nearly 75 percent of the survey nearly 30 years. While being the Assembly will address responses returned were in favor an active hunter himself, Mr. local protests of state marijuana of moving the waste station to Trimmingham also appreciates licenses, permit requirements the fire department site. General the value of balancing certain for marijuana establishments, comments regarding the new non-consumptive uses along and amend an ordinance location included, “Fits into with the more traditional ones. regarding the enforcement of community Land Use Plan He has worked for over 20 marijuana violations. (already used for public service) years as an instrumentation, The Marijuana Task and centrally located,” “Good electrical, and fire and gas Force supported a boroughaccess options,” “Lower cost specialist for Udelhoven issued counter permit for for development,” and “Reduce and now BP Alaska. Mr. marijuana establishments operational costs by sharing Trimmingham has served on at its Jan. 20 meeting. Land plowing and sanding with the Kenai Peninsula Fishery use recommendations of the HVFD.” Hughes indicated that Subsistence Board, and is a Marijuana Task Force will be Quilting Class Continues at the Hope Library If you’ve ever been interested in quilting, now is your chance! Hope’s librarian, Susan Anderson, is offering a community-wide quilting class on Saturdays at 3 p.m. Classes have been on hold for 2 weeks, and they will start up again on Feb. 20. The next classes will focus on paper piecing for quilting, which is ideal for wall hangings. The ultimate project will be a collaborative quilt that will be sold this summer by the library as a fundraiser. Church News The Hope Church welcomes the community to join them in their weekly interdenominational worship services held on Sundays at 3 p.m. Coffee and dessert immediately follow each service, and a highly anticipated all-church potluck is held on the third Sunday of every month. The Hope Christian Church has launched its ladies’ Bible study on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. This fellowship time is open to any and all women who would like to join. The location will be in a different lady’s home each week, so call Dovie at 7829733 for this week’s details. Additionally, the church offers a food bank ministry on Thursdays at noon. A general Bible study follows the food bank at 3 p.m. each Thursday. For more information, visit Facebook. com/HopeChurchAlaska. If it weren’t for the extremely icy roads, one could hardly tell that it is winter in Hope. The green grass from the summer of 2015 is more visible in most areas than is the snow of this winter. While this has most definitely affected the regular winter activities of crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing and snowmachining, those folks who call Hope “home” yearround are busy with many other this will be the direction taken by the Borough. Hope Resident Appointed to the Alaska Board of Game Congratulations to Guy Trimmingham who was recently appointed by Gov. Walker to the Alaska Board of Game. The board’s mission is to set policy related to the management of the Alaska’s wildlife resources. Gov. Walker said, “Alaskans have such a unique relationship with the state’s wildlife resources, proper Valentine’s, Live Music, and Tito’s Discovery Café If you missed it in January, now’s your chance to remedy it! Tito’s will again be hosting live music and a fire on the deck on the last Saturday of February. Stop by and join the most happening public event in Hope to experience a true small town phenomenon community! Tito’s winter hours continue to be Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will occasionally be open late for dinner on Saturdays. Dishes include homemade soups and pies, some breakfast and lunch items, and a full beer and wine selection. Be sure to follow the Discovery Café on Facebook for the most current information. Call 782-3274 or make contact through the Tito’s Facebook page. Men’s Retreat Calling all men who want to get away, rejuvenate, and get spiritually renewed! The Hope Christian Church invites you to join them at the Solid Rock Bible Camp Men’s Retreat on Feb. 26-27. At only $65 dollars per attendee, this experience is affordable and uplifting. Visit Hope School News And they’re off! Well, soon they will be, anyway. The Washington D.C. trip has been paid for in full, and tickets for April 17 have been purchased for 4 of Hope School’s students to be part of a one-in-a-lifetime experience in our nation’s capital. A huge “thank you!” to all who pitched in to fundraiser and donate to our town’s kiddos The Hope School PTSCA invites the community and families to join in the monthly planning meetings. These meetings take place on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30 p.m. at the Hope School. Additionally, a leadership group has started for middle school students on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. These meetings take place in the library. Contact Ms. T. or Mr. Yoter for additional information. Page 6 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Four Valleys Community School News By Briana Sullivan Special to the Turnagain Times Outdoors to Indoor Kinder Ski and Junior Nordic Ski Club enjoyed a break in the rain last week during a pleasant hour for their first practice. Kids were gliding along the soft magic carpet snow for perhaps their first time on Nordic skis in months. Thank you to Brian Burnett and Alyeska Resort for access to the magic carpet especially for the FVCS Nordic Ski program. Boys and girls were all smiles, clipping into their featherlight cross-country skis and hands free of poles while they hopped, ran, fell, got up, and played games. They familiarized themselves with these skills, circling the groomed slope, before skiing through a colorful obstacle course set up by volunteers. Puffy animals, bright cones, bridges, and hulahoops made for fun objects to ski around, under, and through. Thank you to coaches Ari Stiassny and Gabrielle Hoessle for coordinating the program this year and making it happen. Thanks also to volunteers Kari, Matt, and Briana. Visit the FVCS Facebook page for fun photos of the day, plus Valentines Day themed programs that took place over the last weeks. April is not here yet, although it sure may feel like it. Tennis Anyone? It’s time for tennis with tennis pro Aaron Haines. Recall that great summer sport with much attention in the news earlier this month? With the beautiful Girdwood School gym and new outdoor tennis courts in Girdwood this summer, getting skills honed with this unique indoor tennis opportunity is perfect timing. Learn basic tennis skills and improve your game. Tennis I and II begins April 3. Reference the dates and commit. Your child will be glad you did. Alyeska Snow Classic Coming Soon Guess the snow depth on Mt Alyeska. March is getting close and that is when the guessing begins! This fun split the pot fundraiser is a guessing game similar to the Nenana Ice Classic. Visit many local businesses to purchase tickets and make your guesses. The Alyeska Snow Classic takes place March 1-31, when participants can submit guesses on tickets for a measurement on April 17 on Mt Alyeska. Thank you to the following businesses who will have tickets to purchase and a Snow Classic Bucket for dropping your guesses in: Alyeska Ticket Office, Brown Bear Saloon, Chair 5 Restaurant, COAST Pizza, Slack Tide Gallery, Jack Sprat, Powder Hound Ski Shop, Silvertip Grill, Tesoro in Girdwood, CPG, Alyeska Accommodations, the Bake Shop, the Merc, and Anchorage locations Steam dot and AK Yogurt Lounge, both in O’Malley Centre. Wait, refresh, what do I do? Answer: Purchase tickets from a FVCS Board Member or local business listed above - let’s say 10 tickets to increase your chances by 10. Next, write down your guesses and drop your lucky stubs into a Snow Classic container at any of these locations. The guesses you submit refer to a snow depth on Mt Alyeska, taken on April 17. Guess anytime in March and then wait until April 17 for the official measurement. That is the fun of this game. And if you win, you split the pot, which means 50 percent of the monies raised will benefit FVCS and 50 percent will go to the closest or spot on guess on the Alyeska Snow Classic measuring stick. If a parent wants a Ready-toRead kit for either newly born, toddler, or pre-school children, Agni can order it from Anchorage. The kits include age-appropriate books, toys, and music for check out. She can order any other item that Loussac Library checks out to Anchorage patrons, including book club bags of books. If a reader wants Agni to create an activity for the Gerrish Library, she encourages him or her to stop by the library to talk to her. “For instance, I created the book club because somebody stopped by and requested one,” Agni said. For book or movie purchases, she encourages patrons to suggest a purchase at http://apl.muni.org/ LibraryMaterialRequest/. Agni and the Girdwood Library Boosters, a group to support Agni and the library, encourage everyone to drop by the Library and Community Center foyer to view the collection of glass book spines. Each spine’s title is created by the donor(s) of $100 to the library. Forms are available there. All support is welcome, and any donation amount may be sent to Girdwood Library Boosters, P.O. Box 1102, Girdwood, AK 99587. Gerrish Library Manager Continued from page 1 learned to love archival work. “It just happened to be APU’s 50th anniversary, and I worked on a display panel for that. I got to learn so much APU history. That was my first foray into librarianship,” she said. And from that moment on knew she wanted to be a librarian. After her undergraduate college experience at small, local APU, Agni launched herself into New York City’s Pratt Institute where she earned a master’s degree in Library and Information Science with Advanced Certification in Archival Studies. She fell in love with New York’s museums and libraries and thrived in the noisy, vibrant city. “I could go to sleep with the window open,” Agni said. After graduation and travel, Agni came back to Anchorage and worked in the Anchorage Museum archives, at Alaska Resources Library and Information Services, and then Loussac Library in Anchorage. After being hired to manage the Gerrish Library, she moved to Girdwood with her Newfoundland dog, Glory. Agni’s primary goal for the library is to attract locals to it and have them come back over and over again. “I want to make the library the best possible space it can be and to provide the programs and materials that people want,” she said. Agni realizes that on a sunny day, the usage may be down, but she encourages everyone to visit the library as much as possible. Programs include a monthly book club for adults, Family Storytime on Fridays, LEGOs on Saturday, family films on Saturday, and many other events throughout the year. The Anchorage Library calendar displays all Girdwood and Loussac events at http:// anchoragelibrary.evanced. info/signup/EventCalendar. aspx, and Gerrish Library has a Facebook page. Happy Skiing this New Year! Call Us to keep Your Teeth Shiny and White! Total Patient Care IV Sedation • Implants • Invisalign • 3M Incognito Braces • Teeth Whitening Smile Design • Same Day Crowns • Same Day Wisdom Teeth Jon Scudder/Turnagain Times Former Girdwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bill Chadwick received a GBOS resolution honor from Tommy O’Malley, GBOS supervisor for fire, safety and cemetery. Chadwick served for 17 years as fire chief guiding and overseeing the department, strengthening the qualifications of the membership and providing exemplary service to the Girdwood community. Also recognized was Bob Dugan. 4050 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 200 Anchorage, AK 99508 www. Family FirstDentistry.com "T" is here and continues to enjoy seeing our Girdwood patients! 907.562.2820 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Page 7 Cooper Landing News By Susanna LaRock Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent Cooper Landing School’s Battle of the Books Team Wins 1st Place Wednesday, Feb. 10 was a very exciting day at Cooper Landing School. The morning started with the two fourth grade students and a local third grade Connections student sitting down to a table with Tommy Gossard and a telephone. Mr. Gossard called the third and fourth grade team at another school in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, and the battle began. Students from both teams were asked questions about the 15 books that had been selected for their division this school year. Cooper Landing School came out on top in their first battle. At break time all of the students looked at the plaques on the wall in the gym. They noticed several plaques from past Battle of the Books team. Cooper Landing School had, on more than one occasion, taken second and third place in the 7th and 8th grade division. All of the students, even the ones not competing, began to dream of another plaque on the wall. And the team battled on. By lunchtime, the team had won two more battles and the student’s enthusiasm over the team competing in the finals was palpable. The team members sat in the classroom at the large table that they had been battling at all day. Mr. Gossard set up a Link conversation with the three other schools competing in the competition and the officiator. Everybody met and talked about their love of reading and the Battle of the Books, and the final battle began. Cooper Landing School once again came out on top, and the 3rd and 4th grade team became the first at Cooper Landing School to win first place in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The team and all of the students were absolutely elated; there was much celebration, and much talk about the hard work it took to win first place and the hard work ahead to prepare for the statewide competition on Feb. 25. Cooper Landing Emergency Services to Reduce Service Area In the small community of Cooper Landing there is very little infrastructure. Cooper landing is not a city and therefore lacks the funding for services that many who don’t live in a rural community may take for granted. Folks in Cooper Landing, however, manage to offer several services to the community through the hard work of many dedicated volunteers. Cooper Landing has a fabulous library completely staffed by volunteers, a thriving Community School run by volunteers, a recycle center run by volunteers, a fabulous group of seniors who pulled together to secure the senior housing development and who keep a community garden thriving on their property, and a volunteer emergency services and fire department. People in Cooper Landing recognize that in order to have the services that a community needs to not just survive but also thrive, everyone needs to contribute. That being a reality, the emergency services, the people who run the ambulance and are trained to help in the case of a medical emergency, have been worn thin and their numbers have been dwindling. There have been many pleas to the community, via the Community Crier, for people to step up, come to EMT/ETT trainings, and volunteer to help the emergency services. Dan Michels, the president of the CLES board, and other board members have been considering options to deal with the issue of not having enough volunteers to effectively run an emergency services. For many years now the people who volunteer for CLES have been responsible for running on ambulance calls from Ingram Creek, at the ‘Welcome to the Kenai Peninsula’ sign, to Gene Lake Hill; this is an 85-mile long service area. Volunteers have been making ambulance calls that often times could take up to 8 hours. One of the options that the board is seriously considering is reducing the service area so as not to burn out the few volunteers that they have, and in the hopes that others will be willing to volunteer if the commitment is not so time consuming. Recently Dan Michels, the president of the board for CLES, had a meeting with Mike Navarre, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Mutual Aid Agreement between CLES and Central Emergency Services. The Mutual Aid agreement states that CES will help CLES if there is a call that is beyond the capacity of the volunteers for CLES, for instance if there is a need for an EMT III and CLES does not have one. The agreement, however, does not cover an emergency situation in which CLES is out of service due to a lack of volunteers. It has been the case in recent months that CLES has had to go out of service because there was nobody there to answer calls. Michels said, “Essentially, when CLES is out of service, from Gene Lake Hill to Ingram Susanna LaRock/Turnagain Times Cooper Landing School’s 3rd and 4th grade team celebrate their victory with coach Tommy Gossard. Creek is no man’s land.” The possibility of CLES reducing its service area was discussed at the meeting held with Dan Michels, two other CLES board members, the mayor, and representatives from state EMS and Soldotna Dispatch. Michels asserted at that meeting that the board planned to put the issue to a vote at a meeting in February, and he asked, “If our service area is reduced, who will respond to emergency calls?” He said that there was no answer to that question and that the mayor requested that the board wait on the vote in order to have more time to come up with a solution. The board will now be voting on the issue at the May meeting and inevitably the service area will be reduced. In the mean time, there are days when CLES has to call out of service, which essentially means that the whole stretch of highway from Gene Lake Hill to Ingram Creek is without an ambulance service. Gun Club Selling Raffle Tickets The Cooper Landing Gun Club is raising funds selling raffle tickets for a 3-Gun Reload Raffle. Tickets for this Cooper Landing Friends of the NRA Raffle tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100. When you buy tickets, you are helping to raise funds for the Cooper Landing Gun Club and you will have a chance to win a Kimber 8400 Classic .300 Win Mag Rifle, a Benelli Nova Camo 12 gauge Shotgun, or a Ruger GP 100 .357 Mag Revolver. Three Hundred tickets will be sold, and the drawing will be held on Saturday, April 2 at noon during trap shooting. This is a reload raffle, which means that the first ticket drawn will give the winner first choice of guns or the choice to put their name back in for a chance to win all three guns. Friday Night Book Club The February Friday Night Book Club meeting will be held at the Cooper Landing Community Library on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. The discussion will be about the novel, ‘The Children Act’ by Ian McEwan. Bring your favorite drink and a snack to share, and enjoy a great conversation in the cozy atmosphere of your local library. Page 8 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Mountain News By Ben Napolitano Special to the Turnagain Times Free heels, Free Tibet – Telepalooza is back at Alyeska Telepalooza is Feb. 26-28. It’s a celebration of the telemark community that includes • Open to all disciplines • The venue for this event is rowdy. Starting at the upper tram terminal, racers will skin up Mighty Mite then ski down to Most Neglected Rope Line where they will skin back up into Glacier Bowl, change over quickly and then ski down to Photo courtesy of Ben Napolitano Girdwood PE student McQuade Ellis takes full advantage of POW skiing for gym class! clinics, fun races, demos, live music, and tons of fun, raffle drawings for gear, and tons of other prizes. Proceeds from the charity raffle benefit SheJumps. org, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the participation of women and girls in outdoor activities. This year’s theme: “Where The Wild Things Are.” All races are FREE as is music each night, by one of our local favorites, The Hope Social Club! We have some great races and competitions for those brave enough! Check out the website for more information! Schedule of Events: North Face Vertical Challenge S/He who laps North Face most wins • Friday, Feb 26th - 9:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Race Time • Registration starts at the Ticket Offices on Feb 21st at 9:30am limited to the first 50 people. • Open to all disciplines Classic Telemark Race w/ Rapaloosa finish • Saturday, Feb 27th - 2:00 p.m. • Costumes are Mandatory! • Registration starts at the Ticket Offices on Feb 19th at 9:30am and ends at Noon on race day. • Telemark Only Uphill/Downhill Race • Sunday, Feb 28th – 11:00 a.m. • Registration starts at the Ticket Offices on Feb 19th the finish line on Silver Tip. King & Queen of the HillHead-to-Head Dual Slalom • Sunday, Feb 28th - 2:00 p.m. • Registration starts at the Ticket Offices on Feb 19th and ends at Noon on race day. • Telemark Only Lots of Jam Legends on Stage – David Nelson Band at the SITZ The David Nelson Band is an original San Francisco based jam band currently celebrating its 20th anniversary and is still rockin’ strong! The band was established in 1994 and features current founding members David Nelson, Barry Sless and Mookie Siegel and long term members Pete Sears and Wally Ingram. Don’t recognize any of those names? Let’s break down the list of legends in this band to fully get an understanding of the magnitude of talent starting with the front man, David Nelson. David has played with a few famous names such as Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and Phil Lesh and Friends. He rips on the guitar, mandolin and vocals. Barry Sless, Bass player and Pedal steel guitar has performed with such acts as Great American Taxi, Phil Lesh and Friends, Moonalice and Flying Other Brothers. Then there’s bass player Pete Sears. This English born rocker melted faces with his psychedelic riffs and mesmerizing play. Pete has worked with everyone in the game including John Lee Hooker, Rod Stewart, Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship and Moonalice just to name a few. Mookie Siegel is on keyboard and also dominates the accordion. Mookie was also in Phil Lesh and Friends along with Kingfish and Kettle Joe’s Psychedelic Swap Revue. And it wouldn’t be a band without a drummer and Wally Ingram is a master in his trade. Performing with Sheryl Crow and Jackson Browne this American based drummer is most famous for his work in the band Timbuk 3. The stage is clearly staked with talent and this threenight musical run at the Sitz is shaping up to be an absolutely fantastic show but if that wasn’t enough to motivate you and your friends, there’s more. Each night, at the end of the first set, K2 will be giving away a new pair of skis or a snowboard. Concert goers will receive a raffle ticket at the door and the winner walks with free gear! One more reason to come out to a show on a Thursday night? Not only will ladies be FREE on Thursday night but the Sitz is throwing a theme party! Given the musical style of David Nelson Band the Sitz is hosting a ‘Summer ‘69” theme party. So come out in tie-die and your best free spirit attire and get ready to jam! Tickets are $10 and are available online at TheSitzmark.com or at any Alyeska ticket office. Seven Glaciers – Now OPEN on Thursday Town Leaguers and Thursday night skiers rejoice! Seven Glaciers will be open Thursday night’s starting Feb. 18 operating dinner and the cocktail lounge from 5-10 p.m. Night skiers will be able to stop in for a bite to eat, a Fizz or other beverage while taking a break from making laps. But Thursday nights at Seven Glaciers isn’t just for the ski crowd so take advantage of an extra night of Seven Glaciers operations. For dining with a view visit Seven Glaciers, Alyeska’s AAA Four Diamond award winning mountain-top luxury restaurant. Offering signature Alaskan entrees in an elegant atmosphere, the Seven Glaciers experience is extraordinary from start to finish. Your journey begins with a scenic aerial tram ride that takes you high above The Hotel Alyeska to 2,300 feet above sea level. From this mountain-top perch, Seven Glaciers is surrounded by nature from every direction. This means that every table Photo courtesy of Ben Napolitano February 9 was a deep day on the North Face. Alyeska has received 563 inches of snow since Oct. 1. features panoramic glacier and water views for a truly unique Alaskan dining experience. Chef Aaron Gilman has carefully crafted the Seven Glaciers’ menus with an emphasis on locally available produce, seafood and game. Seven Glaciers boasts an award winning wine list and full bar to perfectly complement your meal. Please leave room for dessert; the Baked Alyeska cannot be missed. Seven Glaciers is also open Friday – Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. reservations are strongly recommended. Tel. 754-2237. shows start 10pm | full schedule & advance tix online $20 FEb. 19 & 20 Young Dubliners Celtic Rock FREE FEb. 26 & 27 Hope Social Club Local Favorites Ladies FREE $10 Thurs! maR. 3, 4 & 5 David nelson band Legendary Jam band WIN K2 SKIS! th eme Th u rs d ay n igh t ’69” is “S umme r o f vip ConCERT paCkagES avaiLabLE Stay at The Hotel alyeska + concert tickets & more! Reserve online or call 907-754-2111 beers on tap | 21 & over | food ‘til late | TheSitzmark.com *based on double occupancy. Subject to availability, taxes and fees. Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Page 9 Lively Arts By Ron Holmstrom Turnagain Times Correspondent This has been a great season for local theatrical productions and the next two weeks will be seeing the opening of three new shows and the final performance of the first installment of Anchorage’s new dinner theatre. First up is the Feb. 19 opening of Our Voices Will Be Heard by Vera Starbard downtown at the Sydney Laurence Theatre. The play was commissioned by The Alaska Native Heritage Center for the Alaska Native Playwrights Project. Voices is a powerful mother- daughter journey that reveals how generations face the choice of continuing to perpetuate – or disrupt – family violence. Through the lens of fiction, and the palette of Alaska Native Storytelling, the playwright tells the true story of her mother’s strength against impossible pressure. Our Voices Will Be Heard weaves together legend and truth in a fierce call for healing and forgiveness. The play by Tlingit/ Dena’ina Athabaskan writer Starbard, began as a short story she wrote when she was 18 years old. The story, The Eyes of Love, was about the sexual abuse she had experienced at the hands of an uncle and the journey that she and her mother took. When Starbard was accepted into the Playwrights Project, she chose to turn that story into a play, but to craft it from her mother’s perspective. The setting is now a 19th Century Tlingit village and the playwright was inspired by the ancient stories told to her by her mother, which now weave in and out through the play. There is a short video available, featuring Starbard and Jack Dalton, one of the actors from the show who plays the role of The Storyteller. Well worth the watch, you can find the video here: http://www.ptalaska. org/video-our-voices-willbe-heard/ Voices had its world premiere last month in Juneau and will be playing at the Sydney through Sunday, February 28. For show times and ticket information, go to centertix.net or call 2632787. Also downtown, Cyrano’s will be hosting Toss Pot Production’s workshop production of Kevin Armento’s Good Men Wanted. Set during the American Civil War, Good Men Wanted is based on hundreds of true stories, says playwright Armento. Five women leave their identities and the safety of their feminine domain behind to join the war efforts -- as men. It is a tale of warriors, woven from the lives of women, divided from their true selves as mothers, wives, sisters, and lovers, to become men to become soldiers. This is not a tale of North vs. South, but a tale of gender divided. Why did they do it? Anger? Revenge? Excitement? Even compassion? Whatever the reason, they were the secret soldiers in a war that changed America forever. Directed by Carrie Yanagawa and starring several of Anchorage’s best-known actors, Good Men Wanted will be TossPots’ second fullystaged production. There will be a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Thursday Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. It opens on Friday, Feb. 26 and runs through March 20 and plays Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The play was first read at Cyrano’s as part of Toss Pot’s popular Readings for the Dark Times, a continuing series of staged readings of new works presented for the Anchorage audience. The response from the reading convinced the folks at Toss Pot to produce the play in its now fully-staged production. To read more about this play and all the other projects being planned, go their website at tosspotproductions.org for tickets, go to centertix.net or call 253-2787 RKP Productions and Out North will be presenting Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, also opening on Feb. 26. Although seldom performed, the play contains perhaps the best known stage direction of any play, ever: “Exit pursued by a bear!” The play is directed by Teresa K. Pond with monologue assistance from Dave Dahl, a noted Shakespearean scholar who was brought in from Arizona specifically for this project. Originally classified as one of the bard’s comedies, it was later called one of his later romances, since the final two acts are comedic and actually supply a, (mostly,) happy ending. Briefly: King Leontes’ queen becomes pregnant and the king becomes wildly jealous, accusing the queen of adultery and ordering the new-born daughter to be abandoned on the sea coast during a bleak winter. Found and raised by a kindly old shepard, the young princess is eventually recognized and reunited with her father and his court. This play runs from Feb. 26 through March 13 at Out North Contemporary Playhouse. Fridays and Saturdays at 7 P.M. and Sundays at 3 p.m. For tickets and more information, go to Out North’s website at outnorth.org or tickets may be purchased at the door. Out North is located at 3800 Debarr Road. With one of the cast members eaten by a bear every night, this program seems VERY Alaskan. This is the last chance to catch the first dinner theatre production of Lounge Lizards at the Anchorage Lofts Hotel at 4th Avenue and C Street. Playing Friday, Feb. 19, Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. this raucous comedy, (with a terrific dinner,) has been selling out, so book those seats now at centertix.net or call 263-2787. The Lofts has become something of a local entertainment mecca with their lively Music Lounge, which kicks in at the end of every performance of Lounge Lizards. Plus, they have now added Helicopter Tours with Egli Air AND two audience members will be selected by raffle each performance of Lizards for a free helicopter tour above Anchorage. Also, the Lofts is offering 35 percent off on their hotel rooms to anyone with a ticket stub from ANY Centertix show. A great deal for Out-Of-Towners! Lizards has been a terrific experience for all of us at Last Gasp productions. Our partnership with the Anchorage Lofts continues to provide a fine home for our shows. Lounge Lizards will be returning in midMarch for a second run with new cast members Corinne Rollman and Jeremy Gaunt, so stay tuned. Lastly, thank you all for viewing my column here every edition and for tuning in to my weekly Your Entertainment Link on Thursday’s 9 p.m. News on FOX-4 TV. I am always happy to provide some insight into all the fun stuff to do around our great town. Page 10 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 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. Driving While License Revoked, False Information MILE 105 SEWARD HWY—February 1 at about 10:39 p.m., troopers contacted Jason Dixon, age 30 of Anchorage, on a traffic stop near mile 105 of the Seward Highway. During the course of the stop, Dixon provided a false name to the Trooper. Dixon was also found to be driving on a revoked driver’s license. Dixon was released after he was issued a misdemeanor citation charging him with making a false report and driving while license revoked. Warrant Arrest BIRD—February 3 at approximately 3:06 p.m., troopers contacted Michael Wool, age 25 of Indian, at the Birdhouse Garage. A records check revealed Wool had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for Failure to Appear for a Bail Hearing. Wool was arrested and remanded to the Anchorage Jail. Bail was set at $2,500 plus court approved third party. Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries HOPE—February 4 around 4:27 p.m., troopers responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash with injuries involving a sport utility vehicle and a commercial semitruck near mile 71.2 of the Seward Highway. The crash investigation determined Mikayla Wallace, age 21 of Anchorage, was operating a late model sport utility vehicle traveling southbound. Brandon Henry, age 27 of Anchorage, was operating a mid-2000’s semi-truck pulling doubles and was traveling northbound. There was heavy rain coming down and the sport utility vehicle apparently hydroplaned. Wallace was unable to control the vehicle as it sideswiped the semi-truck’s rear tires and the front tires of the first trailer. Henry was unable to stop or avoid the collision with the sport utility vehicle. Wallace and her 16-year- old passenger were wearing seatbelts and sustained non-life threatening injuries. Wallace had her infant daughter secured in an infant car seat in the center back seat area of the sport utility vehicle. The infant was uninjured. Wallace and her 16 year old passenger were transported to an Anchorage area hospital by ambulance. Henry was uninjured. The sport utility vehicle was a total loss and was towed from the scene. The semi-truck and trailer sustained more than $500 damage and had to be towed from the scene. Warrant Arrest GIRDWOOD—February 5 around 11 p.m., troopers with the Bureau of Highway Patrol Girdwood Team stopped on a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu near mile 114 of the Seward Highway for speeding. The passenger, Lorenzo La Dale Brown, age 26 of Anchorage, was found to have an outstanding Anchorage Police Department $250 arrest warrant for failure to appear, for no insurance. Brown was arrested for the warrant and later transported to the Anchorage Jail where he was remanded on the $250 warrant. Motor Vehicle Collision COOPER LANDING— February 6 at approximately 9:58 p.m., troopers responded to a single vehicle accident at mile 61.5 of the Sterling Highway. An investigation revealed Hollie Lauritsen age 38 from Soldotna was traveling southbound on the Sterling Hwy when she lost control of her vehicle on icy roads. There was minor damage to the vehicle and the vehicle was drivable. Everyone in the vehicle was wearing their seatbelt and alcohol was not a factor in the accident. A Tribute to KMTA National Heritage Area Founding By Kaylene Johnson-Sullivan Special to the Turnagain Times Jim Richardson, 88, a founding member of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm Corridor Communities Association passed away January 3, 2016. He and his wife, Pinkie (Muriel) had just moved from Alaska to Washington. Years ago, a group of Alaskans from the eastern Kenai Peninsula were traveling on the East Coast and noticed an interesting group of places known as National Heritage Areas. These areas celebrated the heritage and culture of a geography that was significant in the forming of our nation. Jim heard about National Heritage Areas at a Kenai Peninsula Historical Association meeting. He and others started to rally around a National Heritage Area for Alaska to celebrate the rich history of the Kenai MountainsTurnagain Arm. The group formed the KMTA Corridor Communities Association and organized the efforts to receive the Congressional designation for a National Heritage Area in Alaska. For nearly a dozen years, Richardson and other cofounders of the KMTA CCA advocated for the National Heritage Area designation. The designation came with grant funds to support grass roots, community projects tha¬t would tell the story of the region. Finally, in 2009, with Senator Lisa Murkowski ROAD PROBLEMS HOTLINE Girdwood Service Area Road Maintanence Department To report a road problem please call: 343-8374 Photo courtesy of Pinkie (Muriel) Richardson Jim Richardson was a strong advocate and co-founder of Alaska's first and only National Heritage Area. introducing the legislation, President Obama signed the bill that formed the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage area. Richardson was involved in the National Heritage Area until his retirement from the Board of Directors in May of 2015. At his retirement celebration, he expressed how gratified he and his wife, Pinkie, were to watch the KMTA NHA grow into a program that benefited the people and communities of the region. Richardson came to Alaska in February 1964. Pinkie and their children joined him a month later on a memorable day in Alaska’s history. Just two hours after their plane landed at the Anchorage airport, the 1964 Earthquake rocked the region – the largest earthquake on the North American continent to date. The Richardson’s were long-time volunteers in the community. Along with the National Heritage Area, they helped establish the Camp Fire program in Alaska. Jim attended Oregon State University where he earned Bachelor and Master degrees in forestry. He retired from the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska in 1985. His wife, Pinkie, and two children, Katheryn McKinney and Brit Ritchey, survive him. The Kenai MountainsTurnagain Arm is indebted to Jim and Pinkie Richardson, along with other founding members, for their work in the creation of Alaska’s first and only National Heritage Area. For more information about the work of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area, visit www.kmtacorridor.org. Classified Advertising Up to 25 words for $20 • 25¢ each additional word Email: [email protected] Tel: 783-1135 • Fax: 907-783-1136 P.O. Box 1044, Girdwood, AK 99587 All classified ads must be paid in advance either by including payment when placing the ad or charging it to a VISA or Master Card. Please mail, email or fax your order with payment. Furnished apartments for rent in Whittier: Studio $600, 1 BR $700, 2 BR $850, 3 BR $950. Utilities included. Call (907) 472-2398. Girdwood Lots for Sale: All utilities, in flat, sunny locations with best views. Call Tim at 632-8467. Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Page 11 Powder Hound By Kirra Sherman Everything hurts except for my feet You may have been the one on the chairlift reminding me to “parallel” as I descended down ashcan the other day, and rightfully so. It’s like I forgot everything Miss Brooke Edwards has been teaching me lately in our lessons. As I verbally defended my wedge christie with a cheeky laugh, I was sufficiently humbled a moment later. I caught an edge and ejected from one of my skis, rolling down a few times over. It felt like: splat, wham, landing on my back, and hard. It was the first time in a while I felt so grateful to be wearing a helmet, holding my precious head. And I knew in that moment that I was in trouble. Falling down at 20 hurts, but at my age, I knew I’d feel it acutely in the coming days. I say this with all due respect to everyone older than I. Moreover, my legs feel like they’re about to fall off, and my neck is tweaked to the point that I have to roll over and lift with my whole body while holding my head to get out of bed. I also have to turn my entire torso to look at you if you’re on my left. Don’t misunderstand, I am not complaining. I’m just saying “Ouch!” At this point, the only thing that doesn’t hurt are my feet, thanks to Powder Hound. My ankles are a little sore admittedly, but I’m starting to realize that falling is a part of skiing, and so is pain. I have aches in muscles I didn’t know I had. I limp, stiff to the gills, on my way out of bed to the sink every morning as I rise to the sounding powder guns. Our ski tech, Colin Hewitt, says that is what a ski season feels like. And ski season might mean different things to different people, but I am speaking of a “ski as much as you can” ski season, whatever that means to you personally. At Sakura sushi Monday night, which by the way was packed as usual, I ran into a friend, who we watched crash into a snowboarder two nights before. I asked if he was still feeling it. He said, “oh yeah I’m still feeling that one.” “That one?” I curiously questioned. “Well, which one?” he asked, as if there were more and now he was confused which I’d meant. “That snowboarder from seeing you at 7 G’s with Brooke,” I reminded him. “Ahhh, yeah, that isn’t the one I’m still feeling” and as if seeing the look in my face, he added, “you know, when you ski a lot, you crash a lot,” with an innocent smile on his face. I chuckled and thought to myself how my minor crash is nothing compared with what this young man might experience on a regular basis. So now I’m feeling like a wuss. But seriously, everything hurts except my feet. Here’s the thing: it’s worth every stiff pain. And I’ll take back nothing, even the aches, even the pains. Even if I seriously injured myself (knock on wood). I said last week how I’m falling in love with skiing in a way that’s unexplainable, and its probably the same reason many of you have wrapped your lives around the ski life, for better or worse, richer or poorer. This is what it is. This is what it takes. I do it for the feeling it gives back to me. Photo courtesy of Kirra Sherman “The Payoff” on Center Ridge at Alyeska Resort. Adam's Camp Alaska would like to thank the Girdwood community for your outstanding support of our therapy camp for the past three summers. Thanks to the following business and individuals, the lives of children who experience autism, and their families, have been changed for the better. We look forward to seeing you again in July 2016! Alaska Back Country Access and Andy Morrison Alaska Red Cross and Carolyn Coe Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Sarah Howard and Erin Leighton Alyeska Accommodations Alyeska Resort and Di Hiibner and Darren Hawes Chair Five Restaurant and Spike Farley Challenge Alaska and Beth Edmands-Merritt and Johanna Brown Chugach Adventures and Melanee & Ari Stiassny, Molly Liston, Kat Jacobs, Justine Siemens and Erin Henszey Coast Pizza and Mike Mroczynski and Michelle Reiman Crow Creek Mine and Kate & Nate Toohey Girdwood Chamber of Commerce Girdwood Chapel and Pastor Sandy Ward Girdwood Community Center and Kyle Kelley Girdwood Fire Department Girdwood Health Clinic Girdwood Rotary Girdwood Suite Retreat House and Sue & Bill Connell Glacier City Snowmobile Tours and Chris Roberts, Connie Cooley, Nick Petite, Jeannie and Tim Glacier Ranger Station and Jennifer Ilse Indian Valley Meats Jack Sprat Restaurant and Frans Weits Jennifer Hughes Photography Portage Glacier Tours Subway of Alaska (Girdwood) and Michelle Reiman and Cheryl The Bake Shop and Stephanie & Mike Flynn The Ice Cream Shop and Carol Makar Sarah Bartholomew Vernon Brown David Connell Laurie & Mackie Derrick Anne Gore and David Hart Just Jen Lynn & Terri Johnson Alec Kay Erin Kilbury Nick Laughlin Jahna Lindemuth Mera Matthews and Chester Gilmore Tami McCann Patty & Mark Melchert Toni Restivo and Rex Penny Vadla Mitch Vandenberg Jennifer Wagner and Tim Seaver WWW.ADAMSCAMP.ORG Page 12 Turnagain Times February 18, 2016 Public Safety Task Force Continued from page 1 broad areas that they must service around Southcentral and the state due to cuts to their budget and reductions in trooper numbers, but they will have a presence on the Seward Highway. “Currently, we have three troopers in the borough highway patrol unit,” he said. “We used to have 19 assigned to the Southcentral, Fairbanks area, but now we have three, and we will be focusing our enforcement efforts on the Seward Highway because it’s a high fatality highway and very busy traffic.” But, he said, the Legislature may cut more from the AST budget, perhaps $3.5 million in the next budget cycle, which would amount to eight additional troopers being released, “and there is talk on the Senate side that we will lose more troopers,” he said. Later in the meeting, Opalka clarified a question about the Whittier Police Department’s experience and capabilities. “They are no different than any other small community’s law enforcement office,” he said. “They do not have the expertise…of in-depth investigations,” said Opalka, referring to the lack of equipment, training and time. Whittier would secure the scene, obtain medical care and await Troopers to do the investigation. If the ballot initiative doesn’t pass and APD responds, “Believe me, they are going to send a bill to the GBOS,” said Opalka, referring to Girdwood compensating the MOA for police services. Daniel added, “As we go forward, we are going to work on informing the community so they know what they are really voting on, and answering as many questions as we can.” Bill Chadwick, PSTF member and former fire chief, expressed the urgency of getting a draft contract solidified if the initiative is approved. “I am really uncomfortable with the time frame,” he said. “We vote in April, the election is certified two weeks later, that gives us May and June to come up ©Ralphkristopher Coincidentally, raising the stakes is the start of Forest Fair July 1 with several thousand visitors coming to Girdwood, along with other area-wide events such as the Seward’s Mount Marathon, which would likely consume the troopers ability to respond. PSTF board member Mike Opalka, a retired trooper, said the Forest Fair security aspect is still uncertain in light of the situation. Based on Daniel’s understanding from Cockrell, “They (troopers) are not coming into Girdwood Valley. They are not responding, that is the responsibility as far as their concerned of the MOA and Anchorage Police Department.” He added that in a life-threatening event, such as a homicide, either the troopers or APD would respond. Minor crimes, such as thefts or house burglaries, trooper reports would be logged, but not responded too. “Our primary focus moving forward is to educate the community on the ballot proposition and to prepare for the potentiality we may enter into a contractual agreement with the city of Whittier,” said Daniel. We will also continue to address what type of contingencies can be made if the ballot proposition fails and we are left without any public law enforcement in Girdwood.” When contacted by the Turnagain Times, Cockrell addressed the troopers’ position on responding to incidents outside of the municipality and Girdwood policing areas. “Essentially if there’s a crime in progress where somebody has a life-threatening situation, we would certainly respond and contain the scene until the Anchorage Police Department responds,” he said, “and then we will hand it over to them. If Whittier is in Girdwood, we would turn it over to them. We will provide back up to both, but we will not be conducting criminal investigations.” He added that troopers are straining to cover the with a contract.” The proposed Whittier Police contract is for three years with a cost to taxpayers of $118 for every $100,000 of assessed property taxes annually. “That’s the reason we want to start now and get things rolling” Daniel responded. “The best part of Girdwood is that we have so many involved, engaged and intelligent people here. If we use all of our resources we can do great things.” The PSTF then proceeded to establish public information and contract committees, and a recommendation for a future five-member public safety committee to advise the GBOS should the ballot initiative pass. Developing a contract was designated as the highest priority by the PSTF after several citizens questioned how the contract would be implemented and monitored. “There’s a lot of things to work out,” admitted Opalka, who summed up the general consensus. Informational projects proposed by the PSTF are another public meeting, informational booths, surveys, fact sheets, newspaper articles and a Glacier City Radio Show, where listeners can get their questions answered. Half of Girdwood citizens are part-time residents and unable to vote unless registered here, according to Daniel. He said all Girdwood property owners who live outside the local area were notified by mail of the Townhall Meeting held in November 2015. “I certainly feel a responsibility to the property owners that live in Anchorage who own property here in Girdwood,” said Daniel. “They contribute hugely to the quality of life in our community, and we have a responsibility to keep them informed on what is going on down here.” A Girdwood and Whittier Police Service Proposition Voter Information Meeting is scheduled for March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Girdwood Community Room. 907-754-2111 offer expires telepAloozA FeB. 26! "Where the Wild things Are" ©Ralphkristopher FRidAy sAtuRdAy stAy & ski FRee FRom peR NiGHt* $129 iNcludes 1-NiGHt stAy (suN - tHuRs) & 2 FRee midWeek liFt tickets. AlyeskAResoRt.com Feb. 26 28 10:30am - 5:30pm: North Face Vertical challenge 2pm: classic telemark Race with Rapaloosa (costumes are mandatory!) suNdAy 8:30am: uphill/downhill Race 2pm: king & Queen of the Hill 3:30pm: Icebug "Get a Grip" 5K All events are FRee! plus clinics, demos & raffles! prizes will be awarded for top performers. Registration starts on Feb. 19. sign up at either ticket office. Full schedule & details online at AlyeskaResort.com seVeN GlAcieRs WiNe diNNeR sunday, February 28 | 7pm lawer estates, calistoga, california With a special chef’s tasting menu to complement and enhance the 5 select lawer estates wines. $149 per person tram ride included with reservation *Based on double occupancy, subject to availability, taxes and fees. Blackout dates: Feb. 28 - march 26 Reservations: 907-754-2237 | Hotel packages: 907-754-2111
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