Police protection in Girdwood dominates GBOS meeting
Transcription
Police protection in Girdwood dominates GBOS meeting
www.turnagaintimes.com FVCS News FREE page 6 Mountain News page 7 T U R N A G A I N VOL. 18, NO. 6 TIMES Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & South Anchorage March 19, 2015 Police protection in Girdwood dominates GBOS meeting Authorities and residents discuss solutions By Marc Donadieu Turnagain Times With the impending departure of Alaska State Troopers from their Girdwood post on January 1, 2016, nearly two hours of the March 16 Girdwood Board of Supervisors meeting was dedicated to exploring the limited options for maintaining police protection in Girdwood. Residents packed the Girdwood Community Hall to hear what the five supervisors and eight guest speakers had to say about police presence in Girdwood while contributing to the discussion with comments, concerns and questions. The eight guests invited to discuss the issue were George Vakalis, Anchorage City Manager; Dennis Wheeler, Municipal Attorney; Myron Fanning, Anchorage Police Department Deputy Police Chief; Jennifer Johnston and Bill Evans, Anchorage Assembly Members; and representatives for the Alaska State Troopers: Sgt. Michael Zweifel of Girdwood Post; Captain Andrew Greenstreet, E Detachment Commander based in Soldotna; and Colonel James Cockrell, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. Beginning the discussion Vakalis reviewed the issue, provided the highest cost estimates, the number of calls and types of calls for service, and summarized meetings he attended in the afternoon to explore options. “What we’ve been doing is looking at different possibilities as to what the needs may be down here when the partial pullout of the state troopers occurs,” Vakalis said. “In talking to the state troopers today, there is still a good possibility that there will still be coverage with at least three troopers on the highway. But there will be some times when that coverage will not be available. The bottom line is whatever we’re going to do, it really depends on what the community here wants to do and the level of service you feel is appropriate for your community.” Municipal attorney Wheeler explained what the Anchorage Municipal Code allows as far as creating a police service area or the expansion of a police service area. He said the first option is for Girdwood to create a service area, which would See Back Page, GBOS Meeting Alaska Board of Game rejects proposals to limit trapping in Cooper Landing By Amy Newman Turnagain Times Correspondent The Alaska Board of Game unanimously rejected two proposals initiated by Cooper Landing resident Ken Green and the Committee for Safe Public Lands and Trails to limit trapping in the Cooper Landing area, citing concerns over the breadth of the proposed restrictions. “I think their proposals would almost prohibit trapping in most areas,” said board member Pete Probasco. “I don’t feel there were any trails left.” Board members also felt that the Trappers Association had made a good-faith effort PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 353 ECRWSS Postal Customer to resolve the conflict, and encouraged both sides to continue to work together to reach a compromise. The Alaska Board of Game took public testimony last weekend on two proposals that seek to prohibit trapping near private property, roads and multi-use public lands in Cooper Landing and the surrounding area. Proposals 180 and 181, which are nearly identical, ask the Game Board to prohibit trapping on all private property and all public land within 250 feet of private property. The proposal also asks the Game Board to impose a 250foot setback requirement on most public trails, trailheads and campgrounds in Cooper Inside this Issue The Girdwood Scene .................2 Paddy Waggin’ ..........................3 Cooper Landing News ...............4 Powder Hound ..........................4 Hope Happenings .....................5 South Anchorage News .............6 Lively Arts .................................9 AK Skimeister .........................11 Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times Nic Petit inspects booties on his dogs at the Manley Hot Springs checkpoint during the Iditarod sled dog race. The temperature was -25º F. Following the Lead: A Mushing Season with Nic Petit By Marc Donadieu Turnagain Times This is the fifth article of a continuing series on Girdwood musher Nic Petit. His season is being covered through the 2015 Iditarod. Landing and the area from Tern Lake to Seward. The areas identified in the proposals are all currently open to trapping. Green, author of proposal 180, said the prohibitions are necessary to ensure the safety of residents and their pets that frequent these areas. “Cooper Landing is not a local-use bush community,” he said in a written statement that accompanied his public testimony. “It is a year-round trails and park destination for visitors, and is frequented by families and people who deserve reasonably safe recreational areas.” He said residents cannot let their children and dogs run freely along trails and on other public lands for fear they’ll get entangled in traps. Even leashed dogs are not safe, he said, because there is no way of knowing if a trap is set under the bush alongside the trail. Two of Green’s dogs On March 6, Girdwood’s Nic Petit was at his cabin in Willow getting ready to start his fifth Iditarod. Due to a lack of snow, this year’s Iditarod starting point was moved from Willow to Fairbanks. This year’s trail is a 979-mile run to Nome. Preparing gear and traveling to the starting lines and first checkpoints was an epic experience of constant movement. This reporter, who had no experience working with sled dogs and had never been to the Iditarod, was asked to work as a dog handler as part of Team Petit’s small crew. My job was to quietly wait around and do whatever I was asked. It was a fascinating 6-day learning experience that revealed so many unexpected details. On the afternoon before the ceremonial start in Anchorage, Petit asked me to drive to his cabin. Before my arrival, I needed to go to three stores in Wasilla to pick up two bails of straw (to keep sleeping dogs warm), two bags of Fast Track (an animal probiotic), two ganglines (lines that connect the dogs to the sled), and three tubs of freeze dried liver (for trail snacks). See Page 10, Trapping Limits Rejected See Page 8, Nic Petit: Following the Lead Part 5: Preparations for the Iditarod and then the race to Nome. Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Page 2 The Girdwood Scene By Paddy Notar Turnagain Times Correspondent Spring was here and then it disappeared, but something tells me it will be back for good over the next week or two. It was definitely not a good year to own a plowing service. Such is life in Alaska – unpredictable. Speaking of predictions, be sure to stop by the mayoral debate that the Girdwood Rotary is sponsoring on March 28 from 6:30-9 p.m. in the Girdwood Community Room. After the meet and greet from 6:30-7 p.m. the gloves come off as candidates will be answering questions on why they’d make a good mayor. Ethan Berkowitz, Andrew Halcro, Amy Dembowski, as well as others will be attending. If you don’t see Dan Coffey then you can assume he feels he has a comfortable edge over the others. Make sure to drill them on fluoride and pot. Dembowski will be terrified as she would rather have you smoking fluoride instead of marijuana. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard so don’t hold back. Jeff Crosby and the Refugees are coming to the Sitzmark March 19-21 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. If you like the sound of 90s rock and roll with the kind of lyrics that make you think about life just a little bit more than usual then this is the show for you. It’s also free, which is always nice, and the Alyeska marketing staff has done a great job at getting quality shows at no cost to the audience. Michael Minert will be one of the few shows where there will be cover charge at the Sitz. He comes in March 27-28 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. He was born in Poland and now lives in for Anchorage Mayoral Candidates Saturday, March 28th 6:30 - 9 pm at Girdwood Community Room 6:30 - 7 pm: “Meet & Greet” the candidates 7 – 9 pm: Ask the candidates questions. Learn about their Mayoral goals. Become informed to vote. Light refreshments served. This evening is an informational community service sponsored by the Girdwood Rotary. Colorado. How’s that for a mix of eastern and western? His music has the same influences playing off one another. The cover is only $15. That’s a great deal for this musician. When’s the last time a Republican became President without Nixon or Bush on the ticket? Answer to follow. The Girdwood Center for Visual Arts is having “The Painter and the Potter” exhibit going on throughout the month of March. Ed Zegzdryn and his daughter Marta Zegzdryn have some incredible pieces on display. Do stop by and take a look and also check out the GCVA website for details regarding their “Artcycled” project. Take your garbage and make something beautiful out of it. The GCVA is located at 194 Olympic Mountain Loop, next to the Bake Shop. Always support your local artists. The answer to the trivia question is Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Yes, it’s been that long without Nixon or Bush on the ticket for Republicans. Even I had to do a double-take. Make sure you pop in to Chair 5 for some NCAA basketball action. There is nothing better than a pizza, a pitcher of beer, and hoops. Anyone who loves basketball is watching the tournament and probably betting on their favorite team. Vegas will see a little over $2.5 billion in action during the tournament, according to the F.B.I., and that’s what they report. Something tells me there’s more money bet than that. If you’re heading into town there’s one last Friday and Saturday (March 20 & 21) showing of “Little Shop of Horrors” at Mad Myrna’s. Tickets are available online at $28, and I’ve heard it’s great show. Micaela probably knows the script from her high school days. What plays have you been in during your life? I was Jacob in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat” in eighth grade. My voice had a higher pitch than my sisters. It was a transition year. Middle school is tough on the male voice. You know it’s bad when you picked up a ringing phone, said hello, and the person on the other line said, “Hello Marianne.” Nope. That’s my mom. Every guy has been there. Also, Table 6 in mid-town has some new items added to their menu in Anchorage. Matthew Bailey/Turnagain Times Oso Loco’s pink caboose will open soon to serve up a variety of food By Matthew Bailey Turnagain Times Correspondent A pink caboose kitchen on wheels will soon be serving up an eclectic mix of food offerings including Mexican themed dishes in Girdwood. Oso Loco expects to open soon on Hightower Road next to The Grind, across from the Post Office in the Town Square. Some of the menu items that will be featured at Oso Loco are flavorful combos that include tacos, breakfast crepes, salad wraps, parfaits and veggie rice dishes. The menu is being put together by local resident Eva Weiss. She says her food truck looks to cater to people on the go. “Light and healthy is somewhat of the focus here,” says Weiss, “but we’ll have a few gut-busters too for the notso-picky eaters. The idea is to provide easy to eat food when you are having a stroll around town.” Weiss will serve breakfast and lunch during mid-day, but as the business develops, she hopes to stay open later on weekends to serve the late night crowd. “This is a quiet neighborhood and people live on either side of the building, so if late night clientele are still in party mode, it could compromise the late night option. But we’re hopeful.” In other Girdwood culinary news, Oso Loco may not be the only new eatery to pop up this spring. Hungry townsfolk wait in eager anticipation as construction continues in the old World Cup building, where another restaurant is said to be in the works by Double Musky co-owner Justin Persons. Some local residents recall Casa Del Sol and Maxine’s Glacier City Bistro as landmarks for great places to eat. With those options long gone, a couple new restaurants in Girdwood are certainly welcome. It’s a good stop over if you’re making the run to Fred Meyer off of the Seward Highway. You won’t find a better burger and the new pulled pork sliders and Southwestern Chicken Salad are delicious. They have specials every day from 3-6 p.m. Table 6 has turned into the restaurant to hit when coming into town or leaving. Also, try their soups. They’re always homemade and so are many of their breads. We need more places that start from scratch. That’s it for me. I’m pretty 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 tired from jet lag, but the sun is about to stick around for a little over 13 hours a day and the spring skiing is upon us. As always, watch the idiots flip their cars on the road for driving too fast and do make sure that you get out to the mayoral debate. It’s not just your right to vote but your civic duty and there is nothing worse than people complaining about a bad a politician. A simple vote can stop that from happening. Drive safe and take care. Publisher & Editor Ken Smith Associate Editor Marc Donadieu Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & South Anchorage By Phone: (907) 783-1135 By Email: [email protected] Production Artist Matthew Bailey © 2015 Midnight Sun Communications, LLC Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Opinion Letter to the Editor PADDY WAGGIN’ Life is always scariest when we realize our own mortality. It happens when we fall deathly ill, and it also happens when we watch our loved ones fade away. I’ve had both occur in my life, but nothing prepared me for losing my mother on March 5. As the baby of six, my mother and I were always close. She pampered me until the day she passed away. I remember her sending me boxes of food and $20 bills all through college. Mom even sent me care packages when I had a really good job and wasn’t concerned about money. That didn’t matter to her, though. It made her feel better to know that I was getting what she thought I needed – love and attention that only a mother could provide. Even my 56-year-old brother, still received $20 on his birthday and $10 on St. Patrick’s Day. The latter was her favorite day of the year, besides Christmas, probably because she was Irish and loved decaf Irish coffees with just a hint of Jameson and Bailey’s. Marianne Elizabeth Notar was one of the greatest people you could ever meet. My mom was the best. She taught my brother Joe how to hit a baseball as she was once a pitcher for the Willow Wonders in Lockport, N.Y. My mother also taught my brother Mike how to drive a car. She couldn’t stand having to run errands because Mikey would always yell, “I’ll drive.” She just wanted to drive herself and not worry about some teenager crashing her into a mailbox or a tree. It drove her nuts, but you’d never know it by the way she acted. There was never a negative reaction to anything you did. Sure, she’d be a little angry, but mom was the one that kept dad calm when you really screwed things up. He would want your head on a platter, but mom was there to keep things civil, and, in a worst case scenario, she would just cry. My father could never do anything about that. He’d fold under the pressure and apologize, followed by flowers and dinner out without the kids. They had a great life together and were married for 60 years. My father would always tell the story of their wedding day and how the nasty people of Lockport (my mother’s home town) stole his brand new windshield wipers from his 1955 Buick. He couldn’t believe that someone would steal a set of windshield wipers, and my mother defended her hometown by PADDY NOTAR telling him that he probably forgot to put them on the car. She never gave him an inch and, secretly, he loved that about her. They drove across the country to San Diego where my father had to report to duty for the Marine Corps. He talked about how the motels were $5 a night. He kept a ledger of all of their expenses. I was amazed at how little they spent – everything paid for in cash. He also made a point to tell the story of how my mother was driving one day and missed a turn. He mentioned it to her by pointing to the missed turn, and without hesitation, my mother turned at 35 miles per hour, thinking she could make up for it. My father screamed and the car ended up in a ditch somewhere in Nevada. I think that’s the story I’ve heard the most times from him, that and the stolen windshield wipers. Yet, they lasted 60 years never leaving each other’s side. When I asked him how their marriage lasted so long, he said, “Your mother is my best friend in the whole world. She’s the first person I want to talk to in the morning, and she’s the last person I want to spend time with before I go to bed.” It would only make sense that after my mother was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, she insisted on being placed in the same nursing home as my father. He’s been there for two years and my mother had lunch with him every day, before she became ill, and did nothing but tell the nurses how to handle him. She also brushed his hair with every visit. He couldn’t stand where she parted it, but wives usually do what they feel is best for their husbands, even when it comes to their hair. I will always remember how my mother put a cold wash cloth on my neck when I was sick, and how she read me books before I went to bed. She was always there for us, and she loved life. If mom was sick, the whole house fell apart. Now she’s gone, and it’s not just a house that feels empty, but a big piece of my Page 3 heart. I think you eventually fill that void with all of the great memories that you’ve accumulated through your life and the experiences you have with your new family. My mother loved all of us. When I walked through my parent’s house two weeks ago there was nothing but dozens of pictures of everyone except herself. She was the definition of selfless. In the end, I was lucky to have known her and twice blessed to have had her as my mom. I think she said it best when I had cat scratch fever at the age of 16. I was throwing up my guts and she consoled me with the usual cold wash cloth on my neck and said, “Don’t worry, Patrick, everything will be fine. I’m always here for you, no matter what. That’s what mothers do.” Thank you, mom. Girdwood Health Clinic needs your help To the Editor: I am writing to you and asking for your help and support. I met with Kerry Dorius our RN and Medical expert who has operated the Girdwood Health Clinic for the last 16 years. Kerry has done a great job providing health care for Girdwood and the Turnagain Arm communities, including Hope. Kerry and the Girdwood Clinic are known to take patients if they can afford healthcare or not. She has provided emergency health care service day and night and has made house calls. When my wife Nina was terminally ill with cancer, Kerry helped me and the boys more than I can ever explain. Unfortunately, this winter season or lack thereof has caused the Girdwood Health Clinic to lose over 50 percent of its business. She reduced her operating schedule, reduced staff and cut expenses. She even had challenges to meet payroll. Kerry asked me if I could help with fundraising for her nonprofit clinic to get over this critical period. May I please ask you as neighbors and friends to make a generous contribution. A donation form can be picked up at the Girdwood Health Clinic. We very much appreciate your support and thank you in advance. Chris von Imhof Girdwood Officials to test tsunami warning system Emergency Alert Activation is part of “Tsunami Preparedness Week” NOAA’s National Weather Service, the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Alaska Broadcasters Association plan to conduct a test of the tsunami warning communications system on Wednesday, March 25 at approximately 10:15 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time. The emergency test will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio, local television and radio stations. Residents in some communities may hear warning sirens. To avoid any confusion with an actual alert, the test will be canceled if there is excessive seismic activity within 24 hours prior to the test. Many television systems are programmed to scroll a standard emergency alert text message and in some cases, the message may not contain the word “TEST.” An audio message will say that the message is only a test, but if the volume is turned down or otherwise unheard, viewers may not realize the message is a test. In addition, siren audio may not contain the word “TEST.” Officials are asking coastal Alaskans to provide feedback online at ready.alaska.gov. The test is part of “Tsunami Preparedness Week” from March 22 to 28. During Tsunami Preparedness Week, emergency managers urge coastal residents to review information on what to do in the event of a tsunami. NOAA’s National Tsunami Warning Center Web site offers complete information, including the current status of tsunami warnings, advisories and watches. A list of frequently asked tsunami questions and answers as well as tsunami safety rules can be found on the center’s site under “Education.” Page 4 Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Cooper Landing News By Susanna LaRock Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent Sen. Micciche Talks to Local Subsistence Users and Business Owners When Sen. Peter Micciche came to Cooper Landing for a brief stopover on his Kenai Peninsula Town l Meeting Tour, he was expecting to be talking to a handful of concerned locals. Much to the senator’s surprise, there were around 30 local subsistence users and business owners waiting to talk with him at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 7. The Federal Board of Subsistence, during a public meeting Jan. 21-23, passed FP15-10, which will allow subsistence users to apply for a permit to use a gillnet in the Lower Kenai and the Kasilof Rivers. Since news about this landmark decision came out, residents of Cooper Landing have been buzzing about how they can get this decision reversed. Sen. Micciche’s Chief of Staff Larry Semmens opened up the meeting by explaining to attendees that he and the senator are very concerned about the federal action on gillnetting in the Lower Kenai River. Sen. Micciche explained that once he heard about the action and immediately started hearing concerns from his constituents, he got together with Sen. Mike Dunleavy and wrote a letter to the Federal Board of Subsistence. The floor opened up the meeting with attendees all voicing concerns from the impact on the trout and Dolly Varden population to the impact on the king salmon run, which has dwindled to the point of the fishery being shut down for the last couple of years. Many business owners in Cooper Landing make their living off of the fishing that happens in the Kenai River in one way or another. They are concerned about the impact on the Upper Kenai River if a subsistence group is allowed to put a gillnet in the lower river. Subsistence users who dipnet at the Russian River Falls through a federal subsistence program also voiced their concern, not about their subsistence rights but about the greater concern for the Kenai River and the impact on the different species. Subsistence users agreed that the subsistence fishery at Russian River Falls was working well. People are able to get their fish and there are no problems with it. It was expressed that the Ninilchik subsistence users have the same opportunity, and there was a question as to why they needed the right to put a gillnet in the river. Sen. Micciche listened to the concerns of the locals and agreed, stating that the decision, “Invites civil discourse and promotes separation of user groups that is not healthy.” He explained that once the decision in published in the Federal Register, there will be a thirty-day period for people to submit requests for reconsideration. He suggested that Cooper Landing residents take that time to write in to the Federal Board of Subsistence about the personal effect this decision will have on them. Sen. Micciche expressed his disappointment that the state agencies were not heard in the original decisionmaking. He said, “It doesn’t seem like Alaskan state rights are taken into con- sideration. We’re largely left out of the conversation.” The senator also expressed that he is perfectly willing to sit down with the Ninilchik Traditional Council and talk about other options. “I just don’t want to see another significant impact on this river,” Sen. Micciche said. The meeting encouraged residents, and there was a sense that a difference could be made. A letter writing party is being planned so that residents can get together and make sure their voices are heard. Don’t Forget the Polar Winds Concert Cooper Landing Community School will be presenting a classical music concert on March 19 in the Cooper Landing School gym at 7 p.m. The ensemble performing is called Polar Winds. It is comprised of the principal players of the woodwind and horn section of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. Roxann Selland Berry will be playing flute, Sharman Piper will play oboe, Karl Pasch will be playing the clarinet, Heather Williams will play the bassoon, and Darrel Kincade will play the horn. Maria Allison, pianist and teacher from the Kenai Soldotna area, will be joining Polar Winds for this concert. This event is free and all ages are welcome. Come and enjoy an evening of beautiful music. Book Club Meeting at Library The Friday Night Book Club will be meeting at the Cooper Landing Community Library on Friday, March 20 at 7 p.m. The discussion will be about the novel We Are Water by Wally Lamb. Bring a snack to share, your favorite drink, and enjoy some stimulating conversation in your local library. Community Club Meeting A Cooper Landing Community Club meeting will be held at the Cooper Landing Community Hall on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. One need not be a Community Club Member in order to attend a meeting; it is a good way to stay informed on what is going on in the community and what the Community Club does. Community School Hosts Family Movie Night Cooper Landing Community School will be hosting another Family Movie Night at Cooper Landing School on Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. The movie that will be showing is The Boxtrolls. This event is free with free popcorn for all. Bring the whole family to enjoy a rated PG movie and some theater-style popcorn. CLES Snowshoe Softball Fundraiser Cooper Landing Emergency Services will be holding its annual Snowshoe Softball Fundraiser on Saturday, March 28 at the ball field next to the Community Hall on Bean Creek Road. The games start at noon with snow or no snow; this is always a fun event for the whole family and a good way to support a great cause. Imagine everyone running bases in snowshoes with grass on the field. Powder Hound Gaining knowledge in the Chugach – a backcountry experience By Erin Kilbury I grew up in Minneapolis, Minn., where the only avalanches I had ever heard of were roof avalanches. Snowmachining meant you were going to be towed on a sled around a flat, frozen lake and skiing entailed 20-second runs down Buck or Hyland Hills. While roof avalanches are a real concern that deserve due respect and Buck Hill has groomed top racers like Kristina Koznick and Lindsey Vonn, its 310-foot vertical rise and Minneapolis’ average snowfall of 60 inches per year does not compare to the dynamic terrain and complex snowpack in Alaska. While living and skiing in Colorado for six years significantly reduced my gaper status, upon my arrival to Girdwood the Chugach still blew my mind. The dynamic terrain, exceptional skiers and the amount of snow that we receive are unparalleled to anything I’ve ever imagined. Backcountry skiing became a love for which I fell hard and fast. There is nothing more satisfying than climbing a mountain and skiing down it – the sense of accomplish- ment and thrill is enlivening and contagious (insert human factor). I’ve had the pleasure of skiing with partners who, for better or worse, I’ve felt safe with and trust my life with. This is a blessing and simultaneously a crutch that I’ve abused and overused. My lack of experience in the mountains and beginner’s understanding of snowpack is increasingly evident, so I decided to do something about it. I recently participated in the first Level One Avalanche Course at the Manitoba Hut, hosted by the Alaska Avalanche School (AAS). It was an inspiring, humbling and empowering experience that I highly recommend to anyone doing winter travel in the mountains. Whether you are new to Alaska’s terrain and snow or have been playing in the mountains your whole life, this course delivers highvalue, essential information for making safe and educated decisions. Over the weekend, a mix of lecture and field sessions bolstered my sense of competency, comfort and confidence for mountain travel through avalanche terrain and in- creased my respect for its elements. The course covered the basics of rescue skills, taught students to identify avalanche problems and signs of unstable snow, assess terrain, make trip plans, consider human factors and much more. While these skills may all be learned through a book, the opportunity of putting it all together and having the direction, feedback and life-long experience of the professional team of AAS is invaluable. They rightfully hold a reputation for having some of the best avalanche training programs and instructors in the nation. I felt enlightened by the team of leaders who displayed an intense dedication and zeal for their field. Additionally, my curious and intelligent cohort – a group of fifteen strangers who all became fast friends and will remain dependable trip partners for years to come – created an optimal environment for experiential learning. Being at the Manitoba hut allowed for long days in the field. We covered a lot of ground and observed a panoply of interesting snowpack and terrain situations. Photo courtesy of Tracy Christopherson A group of skiers celebrate on Manitoba peak. Along with the tremendous amount of learning that happened, my drive and commitment for spending time in the mountains was turned on. Every day I felt more comfortable and the skiing got better and better. By the last day, while there was no new snow, near surface faceting made for some great recycled powder and we were skiing some of the best turns of the year. I feel empowered in the decisionmaking process and confident knowing that when snowpack is the question, terrain is the answer. With this idea in mind, I’ll continue to seek the profound satisfaction that accompanies safe days climbing mountains and skiing down them. Happy touring! Turnagain Times Page 5 March 19, 2015 Hope Happenings By Jeannine Jabaay Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent Book Club Discussion Calling all bookworms. The Hope Library has announced its next book for the Book Club. Put on your reading glasses, sip a warm mug of tea, and crack open Fifty Miles from Tomorrow, an Alaska memoir written by William Hensley. The Book Club is open to all and will have the book discussion at the library on Saturday, April 4 at 3 p.m. Don’t miss it. Pizza! Pizza! Piping hot (straight from the oven), fresh ingredients (only the finest for our locals), and ooey gooey and cheesy. The Foods Class at the Hope School is offering mouthwatering pizzas made locally for Hope and Sunrise residents. This gourmet specialty will be made available on the first Thursday in both April and May. Order a cheese, pepperoni, veggie, or Thai chicken pizza, and have it delivered on Thursday, April 2. For only $18, a freshly baked pizza will be delivered to your door. Support the school in the most delicious of ways. Call Sarah at 782-3202 or Tahneta at 947-6961 to assure your delivery. Open Gym Night Come in out of the cold and get active. The Hope School has changed the night of the week for Open Gym to every Wednesday 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. 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 corporate 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. 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. Photo courtesy of Pam May A parasailer soars near Hope. Serving the Girdwood Dental Clinic Happy Skiing this Winter Season! We would love to see you before the end of the year! Total Patient Care ~ IV Sedation • Implants • Invisalign • Teeth Whitening Smile Design • Same Day Crowns • Same Day Wisdom Teeth 4050 Lake Otis Parkway Suite 210 Anchorage, AK 99508 www. Family FirstDentistry.com "T" is here and continues to enjoy seeing our Girdwood patients! 907.562.2820 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: [email protected] Page 6 Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 South Anchorage News By Amy Newman Turnagain Times South Anchorage Correspondent It has been another snowless few weeks in South Anchorage, and with the longer daylight hours, it’s starting to feel more like spring every day. And that means more opportunities to get outdoors, an increase in construction projects, and in April a new mayor is in town. Get out and vote Following the onslaught of robocalls and political mailers for the November 2014 election, Anchorage’s municipal election season has been so quiet in comparison, it may come as a surprise that Election Day is only three weeks away. But South Anchorage voters will help choose a new mayor, school board and service area board members on Tuesday, April 7. If you don’t know your polling place, visit http://gis. opendata.muni.org/anchoragepolling. Click on the magnifying glass at the top right hand corner of the page and enter your home address; the site will not only give you the address of your polling place, but directions as well. For a list of candidates, visit aws. state.ak.us/apocreports/campaign/AnchorageCandidates. aspx. New Retail/Office Space in Huffman Center Construction on 1389 Huffman Park Drive, the 11,115 square foot, two story retail/office building under construction in the Huffman Center should be completed by August said Linda Boggs, marketing director with Carr Gottstein Properties. Boggs said interest in the building has been high, and she has received many letters of intent from both professional and retail businesses. She also said a local restaurant plans to open a second location in the building but did not want to divulge the name until a lease has been signed. Boggs said the building’s location right off the Seward Highway makes it more accessible than businesses located near the Dimond Center, particularly when you factor in Dimond traffic. “We actually drove it, and you can almost be off the freeway and in the door in a minute because it’s just so easy to get in,” she said. “It’s a little further south, but as far as convenience and access, it really is so quick.” Earth Hour at the Alaska Zoo Zoo Lights ended earlier this month, so now it’s time to see the zoo with no lights. The Alaska Zoo will join hun- Photo courtesy of Carr Gottstein Properties/Image by ECI/Hyer, Inc. A new retail/office building at 1389 Huffman Park Drive is scheduled to open in August. dreds of millions of people, businesses and governments worldwide and turn off the lights for 60 minutes in celebration of Earth Hour, said Stephanie Hartman, the Zoo’s education director. Started in 2007 to raise awareness about climate change, Earth Hour has grown to include more than 160 countries, according to the official Earth Hour website. It is held on Saturday, March 28 from 8-10 p.m. A short presentation on Earth Hour precedes a candlelit walk through the grounds. Admission is free, but participants are asked to make a donation for Arctic animal conservation education and capital projects like the new Polar Bear exhibit. Visitors should also bring a 100 percent beeswax or soy candle for the candlelit walk. Contact Education Director Stephanie Hartman at 3416463 for more information. To read more about Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org. Get your kids outside with Skedaddle Want to get your children more active, meet new parents and enjoy the outdoors all at the same time? Then Skedaddle, a free outdoor, all-weather playgroup, is for you. Started in 2010 by Anchorage mom Lia Keller, Skedaddle’s mission is to provide children with unstructured, outdoor play while fostering their love of nature. When her boys were younger, Keller said she realized that their behavior, as well as the behavior of other children in her playgroups, changed when given a chance to be outdoors. “I soon saw that children playing outside behaved very differently with less bickering, no fighting over toys and more cooperative play,” she said. Skedaddle meets every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at different parks throughout Anchorage and Girdwood. And when Keller says “all-weather,” she means it. The group has met in subzero temperatures and in the pouring rain, so parents are encouraged to dress their children in appropriate clothing. On Tuesday, March 24, Skedaddle will meet at Oceanview Park, located at 13420 Jarvi Road. The park was renovated last summer to expand the play structures – two zip lines, a rock wall and platform swing were added – and to increase accessibility. To learn more, visit www. akskedaddle.com. FVCS News By Briana Sullivan Special to the Turnagain Times Nordic Ski all smiles The 35 kids participating in FVCS Jr. Nordic Ski Club and Kinder Ski program are nearing the final practice of the season, making the most of the extreme lack of white on the trails. “Junior Nordic has had its share of snow difficulties this winter, but kids’ spirits have remained strong,” said head coach Ari Stiassny. During one recent practice he said he, “had an amazing day of capture the flag with over 20 kids in the deep forest when our trails were gone. Thanks to Alyeska Resort, we have been able to ski the magic carpet area, which has been perfect for most ages.” Last week the kids were able to enjoy their own Girdwood Kid’s Nordic Day with obstacle courses, ski games, and a ton of fun on the magic carpet. First grade skier Mia said, “The obstacle courses were great, and capture the flag was so fun!” and Kinder Ski student Sammy added, “Kick the can was awesome.” Older skiers took off trail running before lacing up ski boots and joining the obstacle course, eventually racing each other and the clock around the magic carpet loop. Thank you to all the parent volunteers who make practices meaningful, getting kids outdoors, organized, and ready for fun. There are about 25 skiers in Jr. Nordic and at least six years of age in Kinder Ski. Food, cultural, healthy, and fun Days are longer and the FVCS has many classes to offer everyone in the family. Hit your body’s restart button with health, education, action, lifestyle, and support. Jump-start your spring with this 5-week class to end sugar and carb cravings. Materials and support provided from Optimal Health Nutritional Therapy LLC with local Nutritional Therapy Consultant. On Tuesdays March 17 to April 14 from 7-8:30 p.m., learn to whip up healthy meals for your loved ones with the Good Food Fast class. This three-class series will focus on a simple yet elegant meal each meeting with prep time under one hour. On Tuesdays March 24 to April 7 from 7-8:30 p.m., develop flexibility, strength and endurance for a longer, leaner feel with this conditioning routine. Pilates with Patty is here until May 6. As the morning sun shines, open up to this exercise program while you can. What are you waiting for? Join cultural anthropologist Dorrie Dean with basket weaving in this hands-on, fascinating class for ages 10 to adult. Each participant will use rattan reeds and learn to weave their own functional basket in the Tlingit, Haida, and Aleut/Aluutiq traditional technique. Additional information is provided to continue your own practice. It happens April 7, 6-7:30 p.m. Graduates of 2015 Senior Service Scholarship applications are due April 1 to the FVCS office. This scholarship is made possible by the Lions Club and FVCS partnership to honor our seniors Photo courtesy of Catherine McDermott The Junior Nordic group gathers before another round of snow-free activities. demonstrating community service, leadership, and academics. Forest Fair T-shirt Design Contest Forest Fair 2015 T-shirt submissions are also due April 1 at 5 p.m. to the Tourist Trap or FVCS office. The winner receives $50, 2 T-shirts and years of fame. Spring Fun Pre-K has lots to do with FVCS like DIY Bird Seed Feeders, Pine Cone Owls, and Pre-School Playgroup. Sign up quickly. Did you know that bats hibernate in the winter? Bats are all around us. Attend special classes with Alaska Fish and Game for both K-2 and third through fifth grades on April 21. Learn how you can help monitor bat population in the FVCS area. This class is part of the Citizen Science Alaska Bat Monitoring Program. Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Page 7 Mountain News By Ben Napolitano Special to the Turnagain Times The Sitz Music Calendar is Stacked for the remainder of March The Sitzmark is off and running in March with two great national touring acts remaining in the month. Fans of the Sitzmark concert venue are going to be ecstatic to see the performances of Michal Menert and Jeff Crosby & the Refugees, two acts who have rocked the Sitzmark crowds in past years. Up first is a free show featuring Idaho native, L.A. based Jeff Crosby & the Refugees. Gifted with a gritty and genuine voice that immediately feels familiar to fans of rock and country music, Idaho-born songwriter, singer, and guitarist Jeff Crosby has been writing songs, grinding out shows, and sharing his unique perspective of Americana throughout the United States and beyond for the better part of 10 years. Alongside him now to form The Refugees, brother Andy Crosby (bass) and Ben Brault (drums) have created a force of honest, provocative rock and roll that is quickly gathering both a fervent fan base and critical acclaim wherever they go. Closing out the month of March is quite possibly one of the most unique shows to grace the Sitzmark stage. Colorado based Michal Menert was born in then communist Kielce, Poland. During his childhood, Michal’s father exposed him to a wide variety of Eastern and Western music, giving his son fertile soil in which to plant his musical visions early on. Coming from a musical background of playing guitar, keyboards, and dabbling in a variety of other instruments gave Michal Menert a unique approach to composing his own musical style. He grew up in Colorado with Derek Vincent Smith of Pretty Lights. Together they played in several bands and challenged and inspired each other as they developed their own unique production styles. He co-produced the debut Pretty Lights album, Taking Up Your Precious Time, and has collaborated with Derek Vincent Smith on a handful of tracks since then. He also performs with Paul Basic under the name Half Color. Michal Menert was the first artist signed to the record label Pretty Lights Music, with the release of his album Dreaming of a Bigger Life in the spring of 2010. His sound combines obscure vintage samples from both Eastern European and Western vinyl with rich analog synthesis and organic hard hitting beats. It is a fusion of yesterday’s elements and tomorrow’s ideas. Tickets to this show are $15 and can be purchased at any ticket office, at the Sitzmark or at thesitzmark.com. Spring Carnival is right around the corner April also brings every Alaskan’s favorite spring weekend at Alyeska Resort, Spring Carnival! This year’s Spring Carnival takes place April 10-12, 2015 and promises to be one wild slope-side party with new events added to the classic schedule Alaskans have come to know and love. The festivities kick off Friday night at the Sitzmark with the Slush Cup costume contest. All Slush Cup hopefuls come dressed up and ready to shake their money makers for one of the highly coveted, fifty spots for Saturday’s event. Costumes need to be PG-13 and semi-functional as contestants still need to be able to ski/snowboard across the pond. The event starts at 6 p.m. and all winners must register that night for the next day’s Slush Cup. Saturday afternoon brings the big show: the annual Slush Cup event in front of the Sitzmark. For those of you who haven’t heard of Slush Cup before, here are the basics. Fifty brave souls dressed in ridiculous costumes ski or snowboard as fast as they can towards a slush filled pond and attempt to skim across the top, most fail in hilarious fashion. The few who successfully make it across are judged on air, speed and style. The winner gets a season pass to Alyeska Resort for the following season. The event starts at 4 p.m. but show up early for a great viewing spot and preevent festivities including product tossing, food venders and the Idiot Swim. On Sunday, an entertaining mix of events comes to the Sitzmark base area and kicks off with the Dummy Downhill at noon. This event incorporates backyard engineering with poor construction techniques. Builders construct a skiing crash-test-dummy and send it down the hill through an obstacle course where the dummies will inevitably crash, burn and die in that order. Judges are looking for originality, air, speed and crash/destruction. For the second year, Alyeska will be adding a summer time favorite the winter flare with the Snow Cup Downhill Mountain Bike Race at 9 a.m. Riders will attack a DH course on either their full suspension mountain bike or fat tire snow bike. Both styles of bike have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of which bike is used, the fastest time wins the day. Sunday’s most popular event is the XtraTuf Tug-O-War at 3 p.m. The rules are simple – pull on a rope and don’t end up in the pond. The winning team gets free XtraTufs from event sponsor Army/Navy. No festival would be complete without music and Spring Carnival will be rocking Friday – Sunday. Taking the Sitzmark stage starting at 10 p.m. will be San Francisco based Mother Hips with special guest Nicki Bluhm for a $10 show. Both Nicki Bluhm and The Mother Photo courtesy of Ben Napolitano The sun sets over Turnagain Arm as seen from the top of Mt. Alyeska. Hips have graced the Sitzmark stage before and performed to sell-out crowds. The Slush Cup concert will be no different. Advance concert tickets and more information on the bands can be found at thesitzmark.com. Come out to Alyeska and enjoy a weekend of fun celebrating spring in Alaska, but please keep the dogs at home. FREE MARCH 19, 20 & 21 Jeff Crosby & the Refugees FREE MARCH 27 & 28 EDM Weekend with Girdwood Trails Committee introduces new logo The Girdwood Trails Committee announces the creation of a new logo that will be seen around town and on local trails. There will be flyers, patches, signs, and stationery featuring the new logo. Conceptualized by Sarah Rink and designed by Heather Turning of Turning Heads Designs, it celebrates the Girdwood Hand Tram at Four Corners. The logo integrates boldly colored images depicting mountains, trees, water and land trails, and the hand tram. It will help identify the Trails Committee and project a unique image of Girdwood. Look for it! Michal Menert of Pretty Lights $15 APRIL 3 & 4 Keller Williams $20 Stay & Play with the ROCKSTAR PACKAGE Overnight, Resort Credit, T-shirt & Concert tickets BEERS ON TAP / 21 & OVER / FOOD ‘TIL LATE full schedule online TheSitzmark.com : 907-754-2275 Page 8 Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Nic Petit: Following the Lead Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times Girdwood musher Nic Petit leaves the Manley Hot Springs checkpoint for Tanana on Tuesday, March 10, early on in the Iditarod race. Continued from page 1 Shortly after my arrival, the relentless flurry of packing began as a snowy, wet evening descended. There is an incredible amount of gear and food needed for 16 dogs and one musher to compete in the Iditarod, which is known for its unpredictable, bitter weather across different regions of Alaska. There is gear for the dogs, the racing sled, and the musher. Some gear is mandatory, some is necessary, and some is optional. At Petit’s cabin in Willow, Team Petit consisted of Anais Amouret, Petit’s French lead dog handler, Isabelle Bouyeure, Petit’s mother who travelled from Normandy, France to see her son compete, and myself. Before the Ceremonial Start, Grayson Bruton joined us. He’s a sharp, insightful, and observant former Junior Iditarod musher who has been mushing since he was four. He turned 20 years old on the trip. Petit drew bib number 12 at the Mushers Banquet. When asked about his bib number, Petit replied, “That’s good for me.” The early start of the race allowed Petit to take advantage of fresh trail conditions and take the early lead going into the second checkpoint at Manley Hot Springs. His young, fast team has eight yearlings in their first Iditarod. Leading Petit and his dog team down 4th Avenue, with its recently loaded-in snow and sidewalk-lined crowds, was a quick blur. As soon as it was over, we hustled back to the truck and dog box to drive to Campbell Airstrip to get Petit and his dogs on their way to their Willow kennel for a final load in and drive to Fairbanks. Moving the official start from Willow to Fairbanks dramatically changed planning dynamics. Petit’s lead handler Amouret was unable to continue past Willow due to family obligations. That left Bruton, Bouyeure, and myself to support Petit at the restart in Fairbanks and at the first two checkpoints in Nenana and Manley Hot Springs. The trip north was an eyeopening experience for Bouyeure in many ways, which was her first winter visit to Alaska. She learned firsthand what her son does for a living and saw him compete in the world-renowned Iditarod. “It’s a very long trip to come over here,” Bouyeure said, “and I’m in a brand new world, so I’m learning everything as I go. Everything is a big surprise to me.” When Petit was young, Bouyeure saw how he had a strong resolve to do what he wanted on his terms. She knew he would not choose an ordinary career. “He always had determi- nation in whatever he does,” said Bouyeure. “Saying that I knew he was going to be a musher – no! There’s no way, but I knew it was going to be unconventional compared to what we do in France, which is basically the organized way before you hit 21.” Bouyeure made a couple of observations about her 35-year old son and what she has learned about him on the trip. She was impressed with Petit’s dedication and his ability to lead people easily to get them to do what needs to be done. She was also struck by his strong sense of individuality. “He is faithful to himself,” said Bouyeure. “That’s what I learned. That he keeps on going in his own direction and it makes sense because that’s his personality. Nico is himself as I have known him forever. He has a mind of his own. He does things his own way, and it works for him. I’m very happy for him because he’s doing exactly what he wants. What else could a mother wish for?” Joining us in the Fairbanks mushers’ lot the night before the restart were Connie Larose and Connie Cooley, both from Girdwood. These women, along with Bouyeure, were responsible for sewing sled straps and sponsor patches as well as teat warmers and penis warmers lined with fox fur. These wonderful women also supplied plenty of good cheer to keep our tired minds engaged inside the RV filled with six people and five female sled dogs. Bruton and I were there to do anything Petit requested to help prepare him for his journey to Nome, and we ran around until 4 a.m. There were endless tasks to be completed, such as filling clear plastic bags with frozen meat snacks such as 14-inch long beef/tripe meat sticks, chicken legs, chicken drumsticks, and beef/tripe patties. All of Petit’s gear had to be organized and ready to load. Then there were last minute sled preparations and adjustments that were all performed inside the 30-foot long, rented RV. When I wasn’t doing something, I was patiently waiting to be assigned my next task. During these slow times, I overheard Bruton and Petit discussing sled designs, dogs, competitive mushers, and other mushers, sometimes with humorous comments and observations. There are so many details and nuances to competitive sled dog racing, especially during the biggest event of the season. I quietly absorbed as much as I could. For a novice like me, working with Petit and Bruton was a fascinating learning experience about the subtleties and realities of competitive mushing. We caught three hours of rest before preparing Nic, the dogs and sled for the restart. It was a chaotic scramble to hook up the dogs and load the sled before getting in line for the restart. Nic was calm and focused through it all, even when he was assigning me tasks with the dogs and gangline that I had never performed before yet were routine for a dog handler. Not wanting to screw up, I asked questions when I wasn’t sure about something. Somehow everything worked out, and we started on time. Dog teams pulling sleds and mushers were running out of the lot, sometimes in a dis- orderly fashion. One team’s handlers couldn’t keep up with the energetic pace of the dogs, leaving humans diving and rolling for cover from charging dogs eager to run. Nic was finally in the starting chute making last minute checks on his sled and dogs as the countdown ticked down to zero. There was the soft thump of lunging dog paws and the hiss of sled runners on snow as Petit and his team moved by while gaining speed. Then he turned the corner and was gone. Nic and the dogs were off to Nome. We were driving south to meet him in Nenana, the first checkpoint, to give him his drop bag of dog food. Then we went back up to Fairbanks again and on to Manley Hot Springs, 156 miles away in the middle of the night with icy road conditions. Nic was tired and didn’t say too much on Tuesday morning at the Manley Hot Springs checkpoint, where he and his young dog team were surprisingly in first place. The -25 degree F. temperature was made bearable by the setting half moon and the rising sun on a memorable, clear morning. He joked about having to change his sock as he exposed his bare foot because he stepped in water inside the community hall. Minutes later he was disappearing into the distance on a steady trot to Tanana and moving closer to Nome. As of Wednesday, March 18, Petit still had 14 dogs in the race at the White Mountain checkpoint. His team was running in 10th place, only 77 miles from the finish line. Nic has a Facebook page and a website, so if you wish to follow him as a fan or make a contribution to his team, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Girdwood2Nome or http://www.teampetit.com. Mushing and competing in the Iditarod are expensive endeavors, and Nic relies on the generosity of sponsors to help him through a season of competition. Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Page 9 Lively Arts By Ron Holmstrom Turnagain Times Correspondent Although the details are sketchy at this time, Hunter Killer, the big-budget feature film that was set to shoot in Whittier this spring, is apparently moving to Louisiana. Rumors are that there may still be some second unit filming to be done in the fall in the Alaska coastal town. We hope to have much more information about this sad news for the next edition. Also, on the Alaska film front, there is, once again, a bill before the Alaska Legislature to end our film program altogether. SB39, introduced by Sen. Bill Stoltze is an act repealing the film production tax credit. This move should come as little surprise since then-Rep. Stoltze has been crusading to drive the film industry out of Alaska since nearly it’s very inception. I penned an opinion piece in the Turnagain Times’ March 6, 2014 edition concerning this situation. There has been a challenge to the film business in nearly every legislative session, led by Stoltze, but there has never been much support from his fellow legislators. This time, though, he has gained co-sponsorship for SB39 from Sen. Bishop, Huggins, Meyer, Micciche, MacKinnon, Coghill, Giessel and Dunleavy. Unless the citizens of Alaska rally to defend this potential boost to our troubled Alaska economy, this multibillion dollar global industry will certainly take Alaska out of consideration as a location for movie making. I will have in-depth coverage of this situation in the next issue, but the time is now to contact your legislators to encourage them to keep this program in place. As it stands, it is certain that there will be no more major motion pictures filmed in Alaska, since other states, such as New Mexico, Louisiana, Georgia, etc, are enthusiastically welcoming this huge industry into their states. The latest word from Juneau is that SB39 has moved out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and will now be considered in the Senate Finance Committee. If ever there was a time to diversify our economy and work to attract a huge industry to our troubled state, it is now. One $6 million Alaska ski movie has already relocated to Canada, with rumors of several others to do so as well. The budget for Hunter Killer was said to be between $50 and $80 million, so the losses to our state economy are already beginning. Contact your legislators and let them know your feelings on this matter. On a much brighter side, there is good news in local theater. Out North Contemporary Art House will be presenting the West Coast Premiere of Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne and directed by Krista Schwarting. The play was inspired by the “lavender scare” of the early 1950s in which hundreds of Americans were fired from government jobs amid accusations of “moral corruption”– an official euphemism for homosexuality. Perfect Arrangement introduces us to the U.S. Department of State employees assigned to develop the criteria for identifying and removing these security risks: Director of Personnel Bob Martindale and his secretary, Norma Baxter. Unbeknownst to the department, Bob and Norma are themselves closeted – they’re married to each other’s partners, Jim and Millie, as a cover. In order to maintain the façade for visitors, the Martindales and the Baxters have created lives as perfect as a 50s sitcom right down to the corny jokes and occasional product placements. But when an employee discovers their 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 secret and threatens exposure, the group discovers how difficult maintaining the illusion can be. The show will run from March 19 through April 4, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. For tickets and more information, go to their website at outnorth.org Downtown at Cyrano’s, the team of actress Elizabeth Ware and director David Edgecombe will be presenting two plays running on alternative days, Red Hot Patriot, a reprise of Ware’s hit onewoman show as outspoken columnist Molly Ivens from two years ago and a new play, A Woman by Design by Edgecombe and Ware, about Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the pioneer female architect who designed many of the destination structures around the Grand Canyon and is credited with helping develop the Southwest architectural style. Researched and created by David Edgecombe and Elizabeth Ware when they were on their sabbatical in Arizona last year, this play was created in the tradition of Libby, another one-woman show about a pioneering Alaskan woman, which also starred Ware. Libby won the “Five-Star Award” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and toured Alaska, including St. Paul Island, where Libby wrote her journals. Tickets may be had at centertix.net or by calling 263-ARTS. Cyrano’s website is cyranos.org. Also, March 21-29, TBA Theatre Company is presenting A Midsummer Nights Dream, William Shakespeare’s classic comedy of fairies, lovers and asses brought to life with the ragtime feel of the 1920s, by the same artistic team that brought you Macbeth, A Comedy of Errors and Romeo & Juliet. TBA’s productions of the Bard’s work are always raucous and fun, and this one promises to be a great chance to take in the antics of Puck and the misguided exploits of nobles, peasants and even a guy that somehow finds his head replaced with that of a donkey. So what’s not to like? Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Wendy Williamson Theatre on the UAA campus. Tickets and more information about this show and all of TBA’s doings are at their website tbatheatre.org or call them at 907-677-PLAY. That wraps it up for this installment of Lively Arts, but be sure to check future editions for all the news about what is happening around town and especially next edition for breaking news about Alaska’s troubled film industry. Lastly, check out my weekly Your Entertainment Link every Thursday on FOX-4’s 9 p.m. news. Now get out there and have some fun with your local lively artists! Page 10 Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 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. Thefts From Roadside Mailboxes INDIAN, COPPER CENTER, KASILOF, SOLDOTNA—March 2 while conducting a search warrant service on a vehicle in impound on a separate case, troopers located numerous stolen access devices including IRS W-2 forms, line of credit checks, paychecks, personal checks, and club membership cards. An investigation revealed these items were stolen over the course of the last 2-3 weeks from roadside mailboxes in the area of mile 94 of the Richardson Highway in Copper Center; roadside mailboxes near the intersection of Rainbow Valley Road and the Seward Highway in Indian; roadside mailboxes on Keystone Drive in Soldotna; and roadside mailboxes near the intersection of Cardwell Road and the Sterling Highway in Kasilof. The owners of the all of the recovered mail have been identified and contacted by troopers. Individuals who receive mail in at the above locations are encouraged to contact their banks, credit card companies, and the three major credit reporting agencies to alert them that their personal information may have been compromised by theft. Suspects in this case are in custody on unrelated charges. Charges pertaining to the thefts are pending. Subsistence Fishing By Proxy, Failure To Record Proxy Form WHITTIER—March 3 Larry Gilman, 54 of Whittier, was cited by Girdwood Alaska Wildlife Troopers for possessing three Alaska golden king crab without possessing the required completed proxy beneficiary forms. Arraignment for this offense is scheduled on April 7, 2015, in the Anchorage District Court. Driving While License Suspended MILE 90 SEWARD HWY—March 11 around 8:13 p.m., troopers stopped a yellow Ford van for a moving violation near milepost 90 of the Seward Highway. The driver was identified as Bonita Capwell, 44 of Kenai. An investigation revealed Capwell’s driver’s license was in sus- Road Problems hotline 343-8374 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 MasterCard. Please mail, email or fax your order with payment. 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. Furnished apartments for rent in Whittier: Studio $900, 1 BR $1,100, 2 BR $1,350, 3 BR $1,700. Utilities included. Call (907) 472-2398. Girdwood Lots for Sale: All utilities, in flat, sunny locations with best views. Call Tim at 632-8467. pended status. Capwell was issued a Misdemeanor Citation for Driving While License Suspended and released from the scene of the stop. The vehicle was released to a licensed person who arrived on scene a short time later. Search and Rescue MILE 76 SEWARD HWY—March 11 at about 1:07 a.m., troopers received a call requesting a welfare check on two people in a vehicle near mile 76 of the Seward Highway. The people in the vehicle were identified as Frank Standifer, 41 of Anchorage, and Brenda Cunningham, 39 of Anchorage. An investigation revealed that Standifer had a $10,000 felony warrant for Failure to Appear out for his arrest. Troopers responded to the area and found the suspect vehicle empty and began patrolling the area. Weather conditions included single digit temperatures and wind gusts. At 3:11 a.m. troopers received a phone call from Standifer requesting medical assistance due to cold weather exposure. He was located at mile 97 of the Seward Highway. Standifer was transported to an Anchorage hospital for treatment and was arrested on his warrant following his release from the hospital. He reported to troopers that he last saw Cunningham in the area of Bird Creek. Girdwood Fire Department and troopers patrolled the area and were unable to locate Cunningham. An Alaska State Trooper Helo helicopter was launched at daylight to search for Cunningham and located her walking along the highway. Troopers made contact with her at approximately 9:30 a.m. near mile 96 of the Seward Highway. Cunningham did not report any injuries and troopers transported her to her residence. Driving While License Cancelled MILE 97 SEWARD HWY—March 11 at approximately 10:32 p.m., troopers stopped a gray Chevrolet pickup near milepost 97 of the Seward Highway for an equipment violation. The driver was identified as Justice Elson, 23 of Girdwood. An investigation revealed Elson was driving with a cancelled driver’s license. Elson was issued a Minor Offense citation for a violation and a Misdemeanor Citation for Driving While License Cancelled and released. The vehicle was released to a licensed driver who responded for the vehicle. Operating Vehicle Under Influence of Drugs MILE 54 SEWARD HWY—March 14 at about 7:50 a.m., troopers received a REDDI report about a silver Ford Focus driving erratically northbound on the Sterling Highway near mile 54. At about 9:20 a.m., troopers in Girdwood located the vehicle near mile 99 of the Seward Highway where they contacted and identified the driver as Shelly Saling, 44 of Kodiak. An investigation revealed Saling was operating the vehicle under the influence of drugs and that she was in violation of her court-ordered conditions of release for a pending felony case. Saling was arrested and remanded at the Anchorage Jail in lieu of $2,500 bond. Driving While License Revoked, Driving in Violation of Limited License MILE 93 SEWARD HWY—March 15 at approximately 12:51 p.m., troopers received the report of a REDDI vehicle described as a dark colored Jeep traveling south on the Seward Highway near milepost 102. The vehicle was located and stopped near milepost 93. The driver was identified as Kenneth Thynes, 25 of Eagle River. An investigation revealed Thynes’ driver’s license was in revoked status. Additionally Thynes had a limitation placed on his driver’s license requiring an ignition interlock device. There was no ignition interlock device installed on the vehicle. Thynes was issued Misdemeanor Citations for Driving While License Revoked and Driving in Violation of a Limited License and released. The vehicle was released to a licensed driver who responded to the scene of the stop. Trapping Limits Rejected Continued from page 1 have been caught in traps, though they sustained no injuries. Green and the Committee for Safe Public Lands and Trails had numerous meetings with the Alaska Trappers Association in an attempt to reach a mutually agreeable solution, he testified. Negotiations broke down earlier this year when the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement. Green said only State Board of Game imposed regulations can adequately address his group’s concerns. “The ATA has offered informal verbal agreements, but it’s very questionable whether that would work,” he testified. “They are not binding or enforceable.” Without legally enforceable regulations, trappers and residents are left with no legal recourse if the terms of the agreement were violated, he said. Opponents of the proposal argued that it is overreaching. “These proposals do not focus on the populated areas of Cooper Landing and Moose Pass,” said Dianne MacLean with the Kenai Peninsula Chapter of the Alaska Trappers Association. She said the proposal’s language prohibiting trapping on “any roads leading to public or private property pretty much takes in all property, even remote little trails.” The requested 250-foot setbacks would also curtail water trapping and restrict the number of people who could participate in trapping, she said. “Along with some of the other restrictions we already have on the Kenai, it limits trapping to people who have the optimal level of mobility,” MacLean said. Tom Lessard, who divides his time between Chugiak and Cooper Landing, agreed. “Kenai Peninsula trappers have been getting squeezed for decades,” he said. “Large areas have already been designated no-trapping areas, and others are restricted to only smaller traps.” He further stated that the restrictions set out in Proposal 180 and 181 would make trapping even more difficult. “Two hundred fifty feet off the roadway looks like you’re starting to hit the hillside,” he said. “A lot of that is inaccessible, rough country.” Lessard also questioned whether the board has authority to issue regulations designed to protect public safety. He said such questions have been brought before the Game Board in the past, and that “the legal advice was the Board can’t act in regard to public safety.” Opponents also voiced concern that, if passed, private property owners would no longer have the right to trap on their own property or deal with nuisance animals causing damage to the property. As part of the negotiations, the ATA purchased and erected signs along popular trails recommending that trappers not set traps “near trails, turnouts, populated areas or other high public-use settings.” Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 Page 11 The 2015 AK Skimeister Challenge kicks off April 4 By Jeremy Anderson Special to the Turnagain Times With spring on the horizon and winter nearing its end, the 3rd annual AK Skimeister Challenge is getting closer. In under a month, on Saturday, April 4, upwards of 200 competitors will compete for the AK Skimeister title at Alyeska Resort. At the event, you can enjoy some food, music and comradery. If legs of the race need to be adjusted due to snow conditions, there are several back up plans in the mix. Race administrators Jeremy Anderson and Aaron Stiassny reported that the alpine leg is solid and crews are working out the fine details of the course. The fat bike conditions and trails are riding great right now, and there are many course options for this leg. The Nordic leg has two backup plans to ensure that there is a quality leg, and hopefully the Girdwood Nordic 5k loop will be open. The first backup Nordic plan will be setting a course that loops on the lower mountain of Alyeska Resort that runs from the day lodge to the hotel. There should be sufficient snow in early April on the resort beginner runs to make this a great second option. The third option is switching it to a running leg if there’s not enough snow. The race is a triathlon that starts out with an alpine downhill from the top of the tram at Alyeska Resort to the base of the Hotel Alyeska. There is an exchange point where the alpine switches to Nordic. The Nordic course starts at the Hotel Alyeska and connects with the new 5k Nordic ski trail that the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club built a few years ago. Once Nordic skiers make it back to the same exchange point, a fat bike leg follows the Nordic. The fat bike leg is roughly 10k as it winds to Winner Creek and back past the hotel to the Challenge Alaska building for the finish. Skiers can compete as individuals and do all three legs of the race or have a team of three people in which one person does each leg. This year Skinny Raven Timing will time the race, and electronic chips will be used for accurate timing of all competitors. This race is for everyone. Whether you are last year’s female AK Skimeister winner Kikkan Randall, a family looking for a good time, or you are a team of three who just love recreating outside, this event is for you. There are different classes for the event that allow each person to enjoy or compete to your desired level. There are prizes for each class as well. Prizes range from Alaska Airline Miles to gift cards from local shops to overnight cabin rentals for team winners. If you want to enjoy the recreation opportunities that Girdwood has to offer, have a great after party, and support a few local ski programs, then come on down for the day. The alpine part of the event starts at the top of the tram. Everyone lines up and when the start horn blows, it is a mad dash to the first gate, which is uphill from the tram about half way up the mighty might run. At the first gate, competitors click into skis or a snowboard and traverse across to the second gate, which is in the guts of the famous run Trapline. From there, it is a race to the base of chair 6, where racers will have to slow down and navigate a little maze to the top of Von Imhoff corner. From there the race continues down race trail and then connects to chair 7. It will wrap up at the backside of the tram at the base of the mountain, which is the exchange point for the Nordic to start. The Nordic part of the event starts at the exchange point by the base of the tram and connects with the new 5k Nordic trail that the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club maintains. The course for Nordic is actually about 6k when adding in the part of the course that takes participants to the 5k loop. Ari Stiassny has competed in the race the last two years and said, “The Nordic leg of the Skimeister was a blast last year. The transitions in any multi-sport competition for an individual are always a little bit of a panic mode. Some folks had it dialed with chairs and Nordic boots in skis already, where as, others and I were franticly trying to switch from clunky alpine boots to Nordic gear. “The 5 kilometer race on Girdwood’s New Nordic Trail was an intense heart throbbing sprint. I got passed by Kikkan Randall too early on and wanted to try and keep up with the Olympian, but she sped off within seconds and left me wondering, ‘How do you go so fast?’ I guess I didn’t train hard enough. This year we are fortunate that Alyeska Resort has offered to allow the Nordic leg to be on their snowmaking alpine runs. So, if winter doesn’t blanket us this March, we still will have a Nordic ski leg for the AK Skimeister. It’ll be nice to ski some new terrain and get back on the Nordic skis for the Read the Turnagain Times online: www.turnagaintimes.com Skimeister.” This leg starts at the exchange point and ventures off into the meadows behind the resort. After about 3k of a slight uphill pedal, it connects with the Winner Creek trails and then the Winner Creek Extension Trail. This extension trail is a really fun part of the course because it is more of a narrow single track that winds back and forth for about 2k. It has some uphill and some downhill and returns to the Hotel Alyeska. At the hotel, bikers connect with one final extension trail, which parallels the road that connects the hotel to the rest of Girdwood. This final part of the trail is about 2k and ends at the finish line at the Challenge Alaska building. Last year bikers finished this leg of the race in 30-55 minutes. Once you have crossed the finish line it is time to enjoy some good food, music, and friends. There will also be free demos from 907 Bikes and Alpine Gear from Powder Hound Ski Shop from noon to 4 p.m. Melissa Mitchell, Spiff, and Tony Restivo will be jamming for the afternoon along with a few other musicians from noon to 4 p.m. There will be a bonfire rocking to share stories of the day’s race. The whole idea of the afternoon after the race is to sit back, relax, have a good time, and toast to recreating outside. Photo courtesy of Eric Teela Last year’s AK Skimeister participants gather at the top of Mt. Alyeska. A silent auction will take up the entire main floor of the Challenge Alaska chalet with a huge variety of items to bid on. There will be local artist’s jewelry, photography, oil paintings, and glasswork. There will be adventure packages for different parts of the state that you can enjoy this summer. Desserts, premade baskets, ski and snowboard gear, and many other things will also be showcased at the auction. You can get a bidder number when you arrive to the event and the auction is open from noon to 5 p.m. for the day. At 4 p.m., we will do awards for the first, second and third place winners of each category. A new and exciting complement to the awards ceremony is a drawing for two unrestricted Alaska Airline tickets. Raffle tickets for this drawing are $20 per ticket and we are only selling 500 tickets. If you want raffle tickets please email [email protected] or call 907783-2925 because tickets will go fast! Even though this winter has been a low snow year with unseasonably warm temperatures, there is still time for you to win and beat this abnormal winter. All you have to do is be part of this fun event. You can be an athlete in the race (individual or team of 3), come get food and listen to music, or get a bid number and find your favorite items in the silent auction. Life is short, live it large, and get out recreating. Visit www.akskimeister.com for more information. The All-new 2015 Subaru OUTBACK Make Every Adventure Count 2015 Outback 2.5i Premium $28,738 Stk: #48657, Model: FDD-11 Advertised prices are valid thru March 31, 2015. Photo may vary from actual vehicle. MPG: Based on 2011 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. CONTINENTAL SUBARU • CONTINENTAL-SUBARU.COM INTERNATIONAL & OLD SEWARD • ANCHORAGE • 563-2277 Page 12 Turnagain Times March 19, 2015 GBOS Meeting Continued from page 1 containing the estimates was only made available to the GBOS and guest speakers. Supervisor Tommy O’Malley expressed shock at the estimates and their impact upon Girdwood residents. With the high estimates, the mill rate for taxes would nearly double to pay for police service in Girdwood after the troopers leave. “It’s asking people to pay as much for nine police as they are paying for all of the roads, programs, all of the parks and our whole fire department,” O’Malley said. O’Malley expressed concerns about staffing levels from an understaffed APD and response priorities for different types of calls for police service, especially with the distance between Girdwood and Anchorage. He also showed frustration about being asked to make a momentous decision with little time for public deliberation and few firm facts. More than anything else, the overriding theme expressed by the GBOS and community members was the need for police presence on the Seward Highway to maintain safety. The point was dramatically driven home when a woman said she has known 12 people who died in motor vehicle crashes on the Seward Ski HOME Highway over the years. In other business, Gerald Fox declared himself as a write-in candidate for GBOS Seat A. Michelle Gregersen declared herself as a write-in candidate for GBOS Seat B. The Municipal Election is on April 7, and there are currently no other candidates. Jen Weits spoke out against adding fluoride to Girdwood’s water during the public comment portion of the meeting. She announced that a coalition of local constituents has been formed to oppose fluoridation throughout Anchorage. The group is named “Pure Water Alaska” and has a Facebook page. since 1953 Jack White Real Estate For All Your Real Estate Needs Contact Erin at the Girdwood Branch of Jack White Real Estate Erin Eker Girdwood/AlyeskA speciAlist Broker in Charge (907)783-3493 Your Local Realtor® Since 2001 ©HagePhoto be paid for by increasing the mill rate of property taxes. The second option is to expand the Anchorage Police service area, which would also lead to an increase in the mill rate. Both options require a public vote to approve them. To create an Anchorage Police service area in Girdwood, an affirmative vote by only Girdwood residents is required. To expand the Anchorage Police service area, affirmative votes are required by both Girdwood and Anchorage residents. None of the GBOS or Assembly Members was optimistic about Anchorage residents voting to expand the APD service area, which ends at McHugh Creek. Wheeler stressed the importance of acting quickly to prevent a gap in police coverage. To keep Girdwood’s options open and allow more time for residents to discuss the level of police service wanted, it was recommended to place the issue on a potential mayoral runoff ballot in May with the choice to discard it being left open. “The trick here is timing because obviously we can’t put it on the April ballot,” Wheeler said. “There is a possibility if there is a mayoral runoff in the first week of May, we could have this issue on the ballot. The conversation is ‘do we put out a placeholder now because the Assembly has to initiate this process by ordinance.’ It has to have an introduction in an assembly meeting. There has to be a public hearing later. Then we implement the decision. That takes time.” He added that if the issue is not placed on the potential May ballot and approved, it will take much longer to implement any decision regarding policing in Girdwood. The scenario leaves open the possibility that Girdwood would face a gap or reduction in police coverage after the troopers leave in January 2016. The gap would remain until a final decision is made and enacted. At that point, Deputy Chief Fanning gave some admittedly upper end, rough estimates based on what an average officer costs. For three officers in Girdwood and three officers on the highway at 40 hours a week – not 24/7 coverage – the annual cost is estimated at $876,000. For 24/7 coverage (three 10-hour shifts, nine officers a day plus a sergeant for supervising), the annual estimate is $1.5 million. These high-end estimates are expected to decrease if a lower level of coverage is used. The estimates did not include one-time costs such as staffing and equipment. The handout Seven Glaciers Easter at Alyeska Sakura Asian Bistro Thursday: 5 pm - 10 pm Friday - Sunday: 12 pm - 10 pm Sunday, April 5 Sunrise Service at top of the Tram Egg Hunt in the Hotel Pond Courtyard Open Friday - Monday Easter Brunch Buffet Wine Cellar Dinner Seatings at 8 am, 10 am, 12 pm, 1 pm & 2 pm Adults $46, Kids (6-12) $23, 5 & under Free Reserve online or 907-754-2237 April 3, 4 & 5 Chef 's Tasting Menu & Paired Wines Reserve online or 907-754-2237 MARCH 19, 20 & 21 MARCH 27 & 28 APRIL 3 & 4 Stay & Play with the Jeff Crosby & the Refugees Michal Menert of Pretty Lights Keller Williams RoCkStAR PACkAgE FREE overnight, Resort Credit, t-shirt & Concert tickets $15 $20
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