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T U R N A G A I N
VOL. 17, NO. 24
TIMES
Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass
December 18, 2014
Following the lead:
A mushing season
with Nic Petit
By Marc Donadieu
Turnagain Times
This is the first of a
continuing series on
musher Nic Petit, who
is based in Girdwood.
His season will be
covered through the
2015 Iditarod.
Part 1
The memory of scratching from the 2014 Iditarod
still burns brightly in Nic
Petit’s mind. Eight months
later, there is still a competitive fire when he speaks about
it. He becomes slightly more
animated with words and gestures, contrasting with his
usual laidback demeanor. He
knows how close he was to
achieving something, even if
it wasn’t a first place finish.
A top five finish in last
year’s Iditarod was not out of
reach, Petit felt, which would
have topped his best finish of
sixth place in the 2013 Iditarod. Awful trail conditions were
punishing other mushers. His
dogs were strong. They were
running well and looking
healthy, getting compliments
from race veterinarians at
every checkpoint. Then the
unthinkable happened on the
way to Unalakleet.
See Back Page,
Nic Petit: Following the lead
Plans to fluoridate
Girdwood’s drinking
water tops GBOS agenda
By Marc Donadieu
Turnagain Times
The Dec. 15 Girdwood Board of Supervisors meeting was
highlighted by the issue of adding fluoride to Girdwood’s
drinking water, which emerged again with new information about future plans by Anchorage Water and Wastewater
Utility. Other top agenda items included a bid for $275,000
that was accepted to construct the elevated running track for
the Girdwood K-8 School. The supervisors also spoke about
the need for Girdwood residents to run for two open GBOS
seats in the April 15, 2015 municipal election.
Two presentations were also given at the beginning of the
meeting. The first was about the Seward Highway projects in
Bird and Indian. The second addressed Iditarod musher Nic
Petit who is looking to establish a kennel and mushing tour
operation in Girdwood.
The issue of drinking water fluoridation was brought up at
the November GBOS meeting. Afterwards, Supervisor Sam
Daniel investigated further into the matter.
“I spoke with Chris Kosinski [public affairs] at AWWU,
and he said that in the past, the water has been fluoridated. In
2013, they had a piece of equipment that broke down at the
treatment facility and, therefore, the water has currently not
been fluoridated. There are plans at AWWU to put that equipSee Page 14, GBOS Meeting
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PERMIT NO. 353
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Postal Customer
Inside this Issue
In Memory ................................3
Cooper Landing News ...............5
Powder Hound ..........................6
Hope Happenings .....................7
South Anchorage News .............8
Manitoba Ski Resort .................9
Mountain News ......................10
Health Watch ..........................14
Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times
Girdwood musher Nic Petit shows his puppy Curtis at his kennel in Willow.
Curtis and his fellow puppies were born July 7.
12 seized Girdwood dogs
steadily improving at
Anchorage animal shelter
By Marc Donadieu
Turnagain Times
The 12 malnourished mushing dogs that
were taken from a kennel located on land near
the Girdwood Airport on Nov. 12 are gradually regaining their health at the Anchorage
Animal Care and Control Center on Elmore
Road. As the dogs recover, there is no timeline or estimate for when they will become
available for adoption.
“The dogs continue to gain weight, they
continue to make progress, and we continue to take care of them with walks, good
food, and a warm place to sleep,” said Laura
Atwood, the Public Relations Coordinator
for AACCC. “They are doing well. They are
gaining weight. They are active and alert.
They all seem to be really healthy. They just
needed to be rehydrated to gain weight.”
The 12 dogs and one deceased dog were
owned by 50-year-old Girdwood resident
Dario Martinez, a well-known dog musher
and owner of Chugach Express Dog Sled
Tours. The day after the dogs were taken into
protective care, Martinez was found dead
hanging from a tree in downtown Anchorage
of an apparent suicide.
AACCC became involved after being
contacted by a Girdwood resident. “We received an email,” Atwood said, “we call it
a request for assistance, where a citizen saw
the dogs and was concerned about how they
looked, so we asked animal control to check
on the animals. Our officer responded to that
request, and when he got on site he was con-
Photo courtesy of AACCC
An underweight mushing dog is one
of 12 being cared for at the Anchorage animal shelter after being seized
from a Girdwood kennel Nov. 12.
cerned about the state of the animals, so he
contacted the state troopers.”
When an animal control officer reviews
a site and believes intervention is required,
Alaska State Troopers or the Anchorage
Police Department are contacted to come to
the site to determine if the animals need to be
taken into protective custody. Based on what
troopers saw when they arrived at the kennel,
they made the decision to put the 12 dogs into
protective custody at AACCC.
“The dogs were underweight at the time,”
said Atwood. “There was no food or water
See Page 15,
Seized Girdwood Dogs Recovering
Page 2
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
The Girdwood Scene
By Paddy Notar
Turnagain Times Elf
Well, the holidays are
finally upon us. That means
shopping for people we care
about and shopping for people
that we don’t care too much
about but will complain for
eternity if we don’t get them
a gift. There are plenty of
those on everybody’s list. Regardless, this time of year is
a time when you relax, don’t
get too mad at anything, and
are thankful for what you
have. That is, unless you’re
a Chicago Bears fan. Then
it’s just scratching your head
wondering why Jay Cutler
isn’t a gift that was wrapped
up and placed under some
other team’s tree this year.
Oh, how Mindy and Selena
must feel.
Speaking of feeling something, if you’re feeling in the
mood to help the little ones
get into reading, don’t hesitate
to come down to the Gerrish
Library on Dec. 19 for the PreSchool Story Time. It begins
at 10:30 a.m. for 3-5 year olds
and is the last story time of the
year. Dec. 20 will be the last
Lapsit for the little ones that
are babies up to two years of
age. It will be held at 10:30
a.m. and is also the last of its
kind until January. On Dec. 23
there will be a family movie
afternoon beginning at 4 p.m.
at the Gerrish Library. Call
343-4044 to find out the title
of the G-rated film. I’m thinking something with Santa but
just go and be surprised.
Of course, all libraries and
just about everything else in
the state will be closed on
Dec. 25. On Dec. 27 the Girdwood Library will be having
their Community Games
event featuring classic board
games and some new ones for
all ages to experience. There
is nothing on the planet better
than Monopoly. The only
people that don’t like it are
those that never win.
On Dec. 31 the Gerrish
Library will be having a build
and create with Legos event.
That will be going on from 2-4
p.m. and the ideas of what you
can do with Legos are endless.
The library will be closed at 5
p.m. that day and will also be
closed on New Year’s Day.
Sakura Asian Bistro will
open for the winter season at
The Hotel Alyeska on Dec.
19. They will be open every
Friday to Monday at 5 p.m.
There will also be Monday
night sushi roll and beer for
$10.
Holiday Night Skiing will
be going on from Dec. 19 to
Jan. 3, excluding Christmas
Eve and New Year’s Eve,
from 4-9 p.m.
The resort also has a
kiosk at the 5th Avenue Mall
in Anchorage on the third
floor. There you can buy gift
cards that can be used for lift
tickets, dining, spa treatments
and much more. They will be
open every day from noon to
6 p.m. until Dec. 24. I never
know what to get people so a
gift card is always a good bet.
Hang around with them when
they go to the resort, drinking
and eating, and when the bill
arrives say, “Hey, why don’t
you pay for everything with
that gift card I gave you?”
That way you’ll feel like part
of the present. At least that’s
my twisted way of looking at
it.
Speaking of gifts, Santa will
Photo courtesy of Chuck Taylor
A lighted animal display is one of many at the Alaska Zoo’s Zoo Lights.
be coming down to the resort
on Dec. 23 to the Columbia
Ballroom. The fun goes from
6-9 p.m. and the king of the
snow scene will arrive at 7
p.m. Call 754-1111 for details
on dropping off a wrapped
gift for a child with his or her
name clearly marked. This is
a great event and the last on
his calendar before he heads
home to prepare for the big
day. Santa always finds time
for Alyeska Resort.
Andy Mullen will be playing
at the Sitzmark on Dec. 26
and 27 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
and being the gift giver that
he is, the show is free. Absolutely do not forget that the
New Year’s Eve Torchlight
Parade and Fireworks will be
happening on Dec. 31 from 9
p.m. to midnight. Wasteland
Hop will be playing at the
Sitz from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The cover charge is $10, and
it is a 21 and over show. Buy
tickets early as this event will
sell out well before the New
Year. Take the shuttle or walk.
There will be a lot of people
attending, and it’s not worth
the hassle of trying to drive.
Bring a house key and leave
the rest of your keys on the
kitchen counter. This will be a
great show.
If you’re in Anchorage or
heading that way, be sure to
check out the New Year’s Eve
events going on in the Town
Square in downtown. The
festivities go from 5 p.m. to
2 a.m. and a huge fireworks
show will happen at 8 p.m.
The Hotel Captain Cook will
be holding a Rewind Party
featuring music from the 70s,
80s and 90s. That will be happening around 9 p.m. Is there
anything better than 80’s
music? No, there isn’t.
Don’t forget to stop by the
Girdwood Center for Visual
Arts at 194 Olympic Mountain Loop to find gifts that will
truly last a lifetime. They will
be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
throughout December with
over 30 artists creating some
phenomenal works. You’ll
be sure to find something for
that special someone. Always
support your local artists.
That’s it for me. Before we
know it, the Solstice will soon
be here and time will begin to
go the other way, in a matter of
speaking. Take it easy on the
roads as the snow is bound to
fall and the winds on the arm
will pick up. Wave to the idiots
that fly by you and end up in a
ditch and hope they only hurt
their car and no one else. Have
fun, be safe, bring in food to
the Food Bank of Alaska, or
buy groceries for someone
who needs a good meal and
have a Merry Christmas.
Bryan Epley
Broker and Partner
Sharnee Epley
Associate Broker
and Partner
Ryan Donovan
Associate Broker
Celebrating 20 years!
The Turnagain Times is
published the first and third
week of each month by
Midnight Sun Communications,
LLC, Girdwood, Alaska.
By Mail:
P.O. Box 1044
Girdwood, Alaska
99587-1044
Publisher & Editor
Ken Smith
Associate Editor
Marc Donadieu
Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass
By Phone:
(907) 783-1135
By Email:
[email protected]
Production Artist
Matthew Bailey
© 2014 Midnight Sun
Communications, LLC
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 3
Opinion
PADDY WAGGIN’
I was five years old when
I first noticed an old Christmas stocking stitched closed
at the top, sitting on the
branches of our family’s
Christmas tree. I never asked
about it. After all, I was five
years old and the only thing I
was focused on was my own
stocking and gifts. It wasn’t
until many years later, and
seeing the same stocking on
the tree every Christmas that
I decided to ask my father
about it. He told me a story
that made me look at the holidays, family, and life in a
completely different way.
Up until the age of 22
years old, I always thought
my mother was an only child.
I never knew that she lost her
six-year-old sister to a fire. I
never knew she had a brother
who was hit by a car when
he was coming home from
meeting his friends at a restaurant. He was hit before
he even made it out of the
parking lot. All of these years
I had thought the pictures
of people I didn’t recognize
that hung in our house were
distant relatives from the
early 1900s. They were all
portraits, so I never assumed
that they were part of anyone’s life and my mother
never talked about any of
them.
When I asked my father
about the stocking, he sat
me down with a half-lit cigar
in his hand and explained
about her other siblings first.
He told me how my mother
didn’t talk about her brother
or sister with many people.
It was her own thing that she
kept very close to her heart.
After he was done telling the
other stories, he pointed to
the stocking on the tree and
then went over and picked
it up to show to me. Honestly, it was the first time I
had ever seen anyone touch
it. My mother would place it
on the tree when no one was
around, and I swear it was as
if it magically appeared.
Dad didn’t go into his usual
story telling mode where he’d
stay standing and be a little
dramatic. He actually sat
down, which made me listen
even more carefully. The cigar
had gone out by then, which I
was happy about because he’d
move his hands when talking
and the smoke would billow
into your face. It didn’t matter,
though, it wasn’t leaving his
hand and you never complained anyway. You just dealt
with the burning, watery eyes
quietly.
He started by telling me
how my uncle John was a
bomber pilot in WWII. He
and my mother were relatively close in age and he taught
her how to dance. I laugh
thinking about what kind of
PADDY
NOTAR
1930s dancing he taught her.
Sometime later, after I mentioned it to her, she told me
that he used to do the foxtrot
and some swing dance where
he pointed his forefinger
in the air by the side of his
head. It’s tough to explain,
but I think I’ve perfected
the moves as best I can. My
mother gave me a lesson but
that generation just moves
differently.
Right after Christmas,
in 1944, my grandmother
got that visit that no mother
wanted to get. It was from
their local priest and an Army
officer. My uncle’s plane was
on a mission and went down
over the mountains of Yugoslavia on its way back to a
base in Italy. It was a B-24
Liberator – heavy bomber.
My uncle was the tail gunner
– a position on the plane that
had the shortest life span. It
happened in early December of 1944 and he had just
turned 19 years old. It took
two months to find the plane’s
wreckage and the bodies. My
uncle is buried in Lockport,
NY. I’m amazed at the heroes
who are willing to fight for
our country at such a young
age. In one instant, my grandmother had lost her third
child and became a Gold Star
Mother.
It’s interesting looking back
because the only photographs
I ever saw of my grandmother
with any of her children are
just her and my mom. They
both looked so happy in the
picture in their backyard in
upstate New York that I never
would have thought there
was any kind of pain that you
might see in someone who
lost three siblings.
Maybe it was just part of
the times back then, or maybe
it was my mother being
strong as she always has been
and not wanting to let anyone
see her grieve. Mothers like
to protect their children and
sometimes it’s from their
own haunting past.
My father went and
grabbed a package of pictures that were placed deep in
the back of my mother’s desk
drawer. There were photos of
her siblings and other family
– dozens of them. He showed
them to me and talked about
how my mother always said
I looked just like her brother.
We both have curly hair and
the Smith “chins.” In the 22
years I had been on this earth,
I never knew any of it. I just
sat back and listened.
Then my father explained
how grandma put my Uncle
John’s childhood stocking
on the tree, with boxes of
tiny toys in it and waited for
him to come home from the
war. Perhaps it was her way
of hoping that if she thought
of him as a little boy nothing
bad could happen to him. I
don’t know.
He never made it home, as
many sons didn’t, and the top
of the stocking was quietly
stitched shut and handed
down to my mother after my
grandmother’s death. It’s put
on our tree every year as a
reminder of how important
people are that you may have
never had the pleasure of
knowing. At least that’s what
it means to me. I think to my
mother, it means remembering a brother who once taught
her how to dance and then
left to defend his country and
gave the greatest sacrifice one
could give – their own life.
Christmas is a good time
to tell someone close to you
about somebody they would
have been proud of knowing
better, or at all, for that matter.
The story of my uncle is the
most humbling and thoughtful present I ever received.
I think my mother explained it to me best when she
said, “You would have liked
him, Patrick. He enjoyed
helping people and he had
a great sense of humor. I
couldn’t have asked for a
better brother.”
In Memory TERRENCE RAYMOND “TERRY” ONSLOW
February 20, 1945 ~ November 25, 2014
Longtime Girdwood resident Terry
Onslow passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 25,
2014 at Providence Alaska Medical Center
following a short, unexpected illness. He
was 69. Father Leo Walsh officiated at the
Celebration of Life at Challenge Alaska on
Thursday, Dec. 11 and funeral Mass in conjunction with regular Mass at the Our Lady
of the Snows Chapel Sunday, Dec. 14.
“Terry touched many people’s lives and
was loved by many for his strength of character, loyalty to friends, sense of humor, and
willingness to stand up for what he believed
was the right thing. The world shares our
loss of a really good man. Terry was always
larger than life and lived a very full and busy
life. We miss him greatly,” said his family.
Terry was born Feb. 20, 1945 in Missoula, Mont. to Donald Raymond and Kathryn
Smith Onslow. He studied Anthropology at
the University of Montana Missoula prior
to beginning a varied and interesting career
that included working as a logger, volunteer
firefighter, skilled carpenter, ski patrolman
(Stowe, Vt., Bridger Bowl, Mont., and Big
Sky, Mont.) and ending his Montana career
as Big Sky Resort mountain manager. While
at Bridger Bowl, he met the love of his life,
Judith Jean Robertson, whom he married in
1976 in a joint Catholic/Protestant ceremony at the Gallatin Canyon Soldier’s Chapel.
Ultimately, the skills from his early professions led to becoming an Avalanche
Forecaster for the State of Alaska, based
in Girdwood, where he moved his family –
wife Judy and daughter Erin (born 1982) –
in September 1983. He served the State of
Alaska for over 27 years, retiring in 2011,
working countless hours, including holidays and weekends, to ensure that Alaska’s
travelers remained safe from avalanches on
highways. His many achievements included
his work on the Road Weather Information
System, which allows for improved public
safety and road condition information, and
ongoing improvements to avalanche safety
along the Seward Highway avalanche corridors.
Terry was active in the Catholic Church
in Girdwood and instrumental in the building of the Our Lady of the Snows Chapel including The Meadows Community Center,
which was completed in 2005. Terry was
also active in the avalanche community
made up of international snow scientists
and the Avalanche Artillery Users of North
America community where he was an instructor.
Following his retirement from the state
of Alaska in 2011, Terry devoted much of
his time to his favorite pastimes: spending
time with his family and boating in Prince
William Sound aboard the Elena – shrimping, fishing, exploring, and enjoying the
company of fellow boaters. He also spent
much of his time woodworking, which was
a lifelong enjoyment, and creating wooden
masterpieces on his lathe. He was active in
the Alaska Woodturning Association and
enjoyed introducing others to woodturning.
Terry was active in the Girdwood community and enjoyed spending time with
friends he made over his 30 plus years of
living in the area. He enjoyed cooking for
community events and for his family. He
also loved traveling, and in addition to his
worldwide snow science-related travels,
Terry enjoyed his visits to Tahiti, France,
Russia, Hawaii, Argentina and more.
Terry is preceded in death by his mother
and father. He is survived by his beloved
wife of 38 years Judy Onslow of Girdwood,
Alaska, daughter Erin Pennings (Klark) and
grandson Emmett Pennings of Anchorage,
Alaska, brother Tim Onslow of Missoula,
Mont., son from a previous marriage Erik Dix
of Nieafu, Tonga, cousins in Alaska, Montana
and Texas, as well as many, many friends
whom he considered family. His ashes will
be scattered in Prince William Sound during
the summer 2015 boating season.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests
donations to the Terry Onslow Memorial
Fund: P.O. Box 744 Girdwood, AK 99587
or Wells Fargo #6422725892, which will be
used to complete the exterior rockwork on
the Our Lady of the Snows Chapel that he
so loved.
Page 4
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
FVCS News
By Briana Sullivan
Special to the Turnagain Times
For the last 15 years, Mike
and Stefanie Flynn, owners of
The Bake Shop, have invited
children to decorate delicious
cookies in December. Families and kids were able to embellish holiday cookies with
colorful frosting and plentiful
treats.
The best part: a no mess,
friendly atmosphere, with
all proceeds from this event
donated to FVCS. Thank you
Mike and Stefanie for your
generosity and making this
event possible. This is a tasty
holiday tradition in Girdwood
for many. We hope you took
advantage of the additional
holiday programs provided by
FVCS, and keep doing your
snow dance.
Tis the season for giving.
Four Valleys is pleased to be a
charity that can receive donations through AmazonSmile.
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of
purchase price to FVCS when
one orders items from AmazonSmile. While shopping for
the holiday season or future,
please select FVCS before
shopping. We appreciate you
selecting us as your nonprofit.
For those sustaining their
giving on a more local level,
FVCS is on the Pick.Click.
Give list for 2015. We are
excited to be included among
this extensive registry of
worthy causes. Give locally
this PFD season and don’t
forget to file for your PFD beginning Jan 1. Share this news
as we wrap up 2014.
Time to delineate the upcoming classes FVCS has to
offer our community. Chess
Club for all ages is still happening, in addition to Kung
Fu, which is being offered
until Jan. 20 for kids through
adults. Preschool Playgroup
Tuesdays also runs through
Jan 20.
Pilates with Patty Wednesday mornings through Jan.
21 is ideal for balance, both
physically and in life. You
already knew that if pilates is
a part of your life. Look for
new kids’ yoga classes Jan.
14 with Briana, and remember
ten and five punch passes are
available as gifts too. Hip-hop
booty, abs, and core returns
Jan. 13-March 3 for age 18
plus. The Nordic Ski with
Chelsea Holmes has been
postponed, so stay close to
the FVCS website and newsletters to keep informed. Visit
fourvalleys.org often for good
habits.
The Turnagain Times
wishes all our readers a
Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year!
Photo courtesy of Briana Sullivan
Girdwood youths decorate holiday cookies at The Bake Shop.
Letter to the Editor
Glacier Valley Transit
asks for your support
To the Editor:
Public transportation is vital to Girdwood’s
growth and economic development. Glacier
Valley Transit (GVT) strives to meet the community’s needs by providing affordable and reliable public transportation. Many of our community’s residents and visitors rely on GVT to
get to work, trailheads, ski slopes, local shops
and restaurants.
The cost to ride the bus is $1 per trip and
buses run on a fixed route throughout town.
Dial-a-Ride services are available for those
in need of handicap accessibility. GVT’s ridership numbers have steadily increased since
2007 with nearly 75,000 riders per year. This
public transportation system is also contracted for large community events in Girdwood
including Forest Fair. All buses are equipped
with handicap lifts, ski and snowboard racks in
the winter and bike racks in the summer.
Girdwood does not qualify to be included in
the Municipality of Anchorage’s People Mover
System; therefore, GVT relies on Federal Transit
Authority grant money to cover a portion of operating expenses. Even with federal and state
grant money, GVT operates at a loss of approximately $60,000 each year. In order to continue
providing this valuable service to residents and
visitors, GVT needs the support of local business and the community.
GVT is a private nonprofit 501c company
and all donations are tax deductible. Those
donating $500 or more will have their name/
logo and a link to their website placed on our
website. Businesses donating $2,000 or more
will receive advertising space inside the buses.
Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.
We would like to thank the following for
their generous donations last year: The Ice
Cream Shop, The Double Musky, Chugach
Adventure Guides, and The Landromall.
There is one seat open on the Glacier Valley
Transit Board. If you are interested in it, please
feel free to contact us.
We look forward to your support. For more
information on routes, schedules, and Dial-A
Ride services please visit www.glaciervalleytransit.com or contact Dawn Johnson, GVT
Grant Administrator, at 907-754-2251 or Sam
Marshall, GVT Operations Manager at 907382-9908. Donations may be sent to Glacier
Valley Transit, P.O. Box 249, Girdwood, AK
99587. Thank you.
Di Whitney
Vice President
Glacier Valley Transit
Girdwood Chapel News
Girdwood Chapel is celebrating the Advent
season with “The Journey,” a special sermon
series that focuses on the historic journey to
Bethlehem. Morning services are each Sunday
at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., and Advent Funday
School for kids is at 11 a.m. each Sunday.
The Children’s Christmas Eve Pageant will
be held at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve in the Columbia room of the Alyeska Hotel. All kids are
welcome to participate.
Please note these details.
Pick up a costume and stay for a rehearsal on
Friday, Dec. 19, 5-6 p.m. at Girdwood Chapel
(located at the corner of Alyeska Highway and
Timberline in Girdwood).
Meet at the Hotel Alyeska Dec. 24 at 3:30
p.m. for rehearsal. The pageant is at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 21, the Food Pantry will be
open from 2-4 p.m. Join us from 5:30-7 p.m.
for “Community Christmas” – an open house
and bonfire with Blessing of the Skis and
Snowboards, Christmas carols, cookies and
hot chocolate.
Christmas Eve services begin at Girdwood
Chapel at 7:30 p.m. with a traditional service
featuring a guest cellist and candlelight. At 11
p.m., a casual Christmas Eve service will be
held, singing Christmas carols and welcoming in Christmas morning. Feel free to come in
your pajamas.
The Girdwood Chapel is located at the
corner of Timberline and Alyeska Highway in
Girdwood.
For questions or more information, email
pastor Sandy Ward at rev.sandy.ward@gmail.
com or call the church office at 907-783-0127,
or check the church website: www.girdwoodchapel.net.
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 5
Cooper Landing News
By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent
Where is Winter?
With the Winter Solstice right around the corner,
Cooper Landing residents are
all asking the same question.
Where is winter? With every
snowfall there has come a
warm up and a downpour of
rain. With little to no snow
on the ground, it doesn’t look
much like winter. Some locals
don’t mind the lack of snow,
happy to put off that inevitable
winter chore – snow removal.
For those who live in Cooper
Landing for the joy that the
wintertime brings, this lack of
snow is maddening. One thing
is for sure; there will definitely
be some people asking Santa
for snow in Cooper Landing
this year.
Final Month for
Library’s 30th
Anniversary
Celebration
December is the final
month for the Cooper Landing
Community Library’s 30th
Anniversary
Celebration,
and in honor of the 30th Anniversary there is a “Giving
Tree” in the library all month.
Patrons and volunteers decorate the tree with tags that
have printed on them the
titles and the costs of books,
movies, and audio books that
have been requested.
A patron who wants to give
to the library to honor its 30th
year of operation can put his or
her name on a tag and donate
the actual item on the tag or
donate the amount of the cost
of the item so that the library
can purchase it. What a great
way to give back to a wonderful library that has given so
much to the community.
community comes together
to watch a Christmas performance by the students,
and to eat a wonderful meal
with friends and family. This
year, as in years past, Cooper
Landing senior citizens will
donate the ham. The community will provide the side
dishes and the desserts, and
there will be some special
guests after the performance.
This fun family event will
begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Cooper
Landing School Gym.
Last Chance to get
Submissions in for
Cooper Landing
Directory
Cooper Landing Community School is compiling contact
information for local residents
and businesses in order to
have a new Cooper Landing
Directory available for sale
in April of 2015. December is
the last month for locals and
businesses to submit their information. This directory is a
valuable reference for all who
live in Cooper Landing and
their guests. If you have not
yet submitted your information, you can find the forms at
the Cooper Landing Community Library or online at www.
clcommunityschool.webs.
com.
Friday Night Book Club
and Boxing Day Gift
Exchange
This year’s annual Friday
Night Book Club and Boxing
Day Gift Exchange will be
held on Friday, Dec. 26 at 7
p.m. at the Cooper Landing
Community Library. The book
discussion will be on Wild by
Cheryl Strayed. Bring a snack
to share, your favorite holiday
drink, and a wrapped gift (regifting is encouraged).
Cooper Landing School
Christmas Performance
Closures and
Cancellations for the
The students, staff and vol- Holiday Season
unteers at Cooper Landing
School have been busy preparing a performance for the
annual Christmas Community Potluck. Every year the
The Cooper Landing Community Library will be closed
Dec. 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1 in
observance of Christmas and
New Years. Volleyball night
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License #AK157293
Susanna LaRock/Turnagain Times
Like much of Southcentral, Kenai River and Slaughter Ridge have received little
snow this month.
at the Cooper Landing School
will be cancelled Dec. 18 and
25 and Jan. 1.
Holiday Movie Night at
Cooper Landing School
Just in case parents and
kids are getting bored with the
long holiday break, Cooper
Landing Community School
is presenting a Movie Night.
Monday, Dec. 29 at the
Cooper Landing School Gym
from 7-9 p.m. Kids should
bring their parents to see Elf
starring Will Ferrell. There
will be popcorn available.
This is a free fun event for the
whole family.
Read the Turnagain Times online
or download a PDF of the printed version:
www.turnagaintimes.com
Find useful stuff like
tunnel and ferry schedules,
road conditions, weather
and more.
Page 6
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Powder Hound
Here we are entering the
holiday season with copious
amounts of rain and warm
temperatures. It’s been great
to see folks getting out on the
weekends in the backcountry, which has been holding
up fairly well, at least after a
short hike up to the snowline.
The rain has made it difficult to
get amped for the season, but
when the temperature cools
and the rain turns to snow, we
all want to be ready to rip.
Whether you’ve been hitting
the gym, doing your squats at
home, biking or playing some
pond hockey, you will be
happy to have strong legs when
the mountain turns into our
winter playground. The snow
has been stacking up nicely at
high elevations to create a very
strong base that will help turn
this into a great season in the
coming months.
Due to variable conditions,
we’ve been seeing a lot of
boot work necessary to make
for comfortable feet on long
tours and chopped up powder
on chair 6. Although the lack
of resort skiing has postponed
the willingness to get set up
for winter, this is actually a
great time to get all geared up.
Get the proper maintenance
done on your equipment for
when the big dump comes
along and we all start getting
more vertical on our passes!
This is also a great time to get
loaded up on the proper gifts
to make you popular around
the tree this year. We have
created a list of the 10 most
popular gift ideas for your favorite ski buddies this season.
Custom Foot Beds
The top of the list is always
a pair of Custom Foot Beds.
This has been a hit for anyone
who skis more than 5 days
per season. Many folks feel
that it’s not completely necessary, but once you ski with a
foot bed and feel the comfort
and warmth of never having to
touch your buckles throughout
the ski day, you will never ski
without custom arch support
again.
Intuition Liners
With a boot shell that
still has plenty of days left,
molding a custom liner will
bring that boot back to feeling
brand new, not to mention they
are the warmest liners on the
market.
at night or before hitting the
slopes in the morning to keep
the stoke level high. And depending on how focused you
are, you can actually learn a
few techniques and earn style
points when you figure out
how to stomp that trick you’ve
been watching the pros do over
and over again.
FlyLow Gloves/Mitts
This is certainly a perfect
gift for anyone that enjoys
the outdoors. Treated leather
gloves/mitts that look great
and perform well in all conditions.
Helmet/Goggles
Helmets go by the wayside
too often. Most helmets designed for skiing are meant
to withstand one solid hit.
The foam can break apart
even if the shell still looks
healthy. When thinking of a
new helmet, consider a couple
models that are multi-impact
to save yourself and others the
risk of injury down the road.
Base Layers
One can never have enough
base layers. Patagonia and
Under Armour are our favorites.
Gift Certificates
For those of you at a loss of
what to get your loved ones,
as long as they like skiing/
snowboarding, they’re sure to
like a gift certificate to their
favorite ski shop!
Boot Heaters &
Heated Socks
Since we’re on the topic of
warm feet, boot heaters and
heated socks are very nice to
have on those cool days come
January and February. Keep
those feet the same temperature from first to last chair.
Nobody likes having to head
into the lodge during a great
day to warm his or her feet.
T-Shirts/Hoodies/Hats
For simpler gift ideas, tshirts and hoodies are terrific
stocking stuffers. Whether it’s
a shirt from your favorite ski
shop or a local artist’s design
(Hulin, Kittiwake and Alaska
Roots), your friends and family
will rock it with pride.
Fat Tire Bike Rental
Say the skiing happens to be
minimal over the holidays, a
gift certificate for a bike rental
is a great way to get the legs
moving and have some fun
with friends and family.
Ski Movies
As the darkest time of the
year approaches, ski movies
are a great way to pass time
WINTER HAIKU
Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times
Snowy mountain peaks / Through the quickly moving clouds / Above Portage Lake
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 7
Hope Happenings
By Jeannine Jabaay
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent
Despite the remarkable
lack of snow, the Christmas
spirit is undeniably obvious
in the little community of
Hope. With the well-attended production of Frosty the
Snowman put on by the Hope
School, the resurrection of a
once-loved and again delightful holiday bazaar, and the upcoming Town of Hope Christmas Party, celebrations and
festivities are everywhere.
When the late-night darkness
settles over Hope, the lights
of the homes and Christmas
lights are even more brilliant.
There may be no more serene
and lovely time to visit Hope
than during the holidays.
The Town of Hope
Christmas Party
The Hope Christmas party
has something for everyone:
log cabin, warm fire, twinkling lights, Santa Claus, hot
cocoa, burn barrels, friends,
loved ones, presents and the
holiday spirit. It’s an annual
event that is highly anticipated by the entire community
of Hope. On Saturday, Dec.
20, you are invited to share in
one of the most glorious small
town traditions.
The annual Town of Hope
Christmas Party, held at the
105-year old Hope Social
Hall, is just around the corner.
The Social Hall will be completely transformed into a
winter wonderland. Mr. and
Mrs. Santa Claus will be
singing, sharing the Christmas
story, and passing out homemade Christmas stockings full
of treats.
Bring your family, invite
your friends, and celebrate an
old fashioned Christmas with
your loved ones. And don’t
forget to grab your camera
and a dish to share. You will
not want to miss out. Contact
Shirley at 230-0679 if you
plan to bring a child, so that
she can make sure Santa
brings his or her gift.
Public Comment
Invited on Proposed
Manitoba Mountain
Recreation Site
Southcentral Region Land
Office has made a preliminary
decision to offer a 10-year
lease to AK Mountain and Wilderness Huts Association for a
1.6-acre recreation cabin and
yurt site, located near Manitoba
Mountain at the Hope Y on the
Seward Highway. This project
would replace the current hut
that has been deemed uninhabitable. Public comment
is invited on this decision by
5 p.m. on Jan. 6. Comments
and questions should be sent
to Brandon Tucker at brandon.
[email protected]. The full
decision can be found at www.
dnr.alaska.gov/comments/pics/
pubnotfrm.htm.
What You Missed
The quarterly Town Hall
meeting of the Hope Village
Council, DBA Hope, Inc.,
was called to order on Nov.
22 in the Hope Social Hall.
Attendees were informed
of the capital improvement
request submitted to the
Kenai Borough for $40,000
to create a bike path leading
from the transfer station to
the bridge located just past
downtown Hope. While this
money would not be sufficient for the entire project,
those gathered were in agreement that the residents of
Hope would gladly provide
labor and in-kind help where
needed. Also covered in the
meeting was the need for additional EMS responders. A
call was made for additional
volunteers.
The final subject addressed
was the rental of the Hope
Social Hall. In the third quarter
2014 Town Hall meeting, it
was voted to suspend further
rentals of the Social Hall until
a committee could address
the concern of ill use of the
historic building from recent
renters. The committee did
in fact meet, but because a
quorum was not recognized
in the November meeting, a
vote could not be made on the
recommendations of the committee. The next town hall
meeting will be scheduled for
a day in February 2015, and
all local residents are encouraged to attend. The President
of Hope, Inc., Jim Skogstad,
can be reached at 229-1430
for more information and
meeting minutes.
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 play time.
Photo courtesy of Jeannine Jabaay
A light covering of snow settles in Hope along Six Mile Creek.
Children ages 4 or younger
are encouraged to participate.
For more information call
Shannon at 351-8063.
Church News
The Hope Church welcomes the entire community to share in a Christmas
potluck on Sunday, Dec. 21,
immediately following the
service at 3 p.m. Combining
the celebration of the birth
of Christ and foods prepared
by some of the best gourmet
cooks in the state makes for
the perfect share-a-dish experience. Weekly church services start at 3 p.m. each week.
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.
Youth Game Nights
Got a kiddo between the
ages of 8 and eighteen? Kick
them out of your house and
send them on over to the
Stavish residence each Thursday from 7-9:30 p.m. for a
weekly game night. Rousing
tournaments of Yahtzee, Monopoly, Sorry, Bingo, Cribbage, Backgammon, Battle-
ship, and many more are sure
to ensue. The group will not
be meeting on Christmas Day
or New Year’s Day.
Husky Herald Available
The December edition of
the Husky Herald, the Hope
School newspaper, is currently available at local businesses around town, as well as the
Hope Library and Post Office.
This monthly publication is
written entirely by the students, staff and volunteers of
the local school. Pick up your
copy to read about the goings
on of the school from the perspective of the students.
Page 8
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
South Anchorage News
By Amy Newman
Turnagain Times
South Anchorage Correspondent
New Roundabout and
Winter Break Fun
It seems like just yesterday
when we were giving thanks
and stuffing ourselves with
roast turkey and pumpkin pie.
But take a quick peek at the
calendar and you’ll see that
Christmas is just a week away.
As 2014 winds to a close, make
sure to take a break from the
frenzy of the holidays to spend
time with your family and
friends, and savor the blessings of the season. And, if you
have some time off, get out and
enjoy this beautiful city we are
fortunate enough to call home.
Rabbit Creek Road
Roundabout to be
Constructed
A proposed roundabout at
the Rabbit Creek Road and
Golden View Drive intersection is expected to be listed as
the first priority for construction
once the Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (AKDOT&PF) commissioned report is finalized.
The AKDOT&PF, in conjunction with the Federal Highway
Administration, selected nine
intersections throughout South
Anchorage and Hillside with
safety or operational concerns
to be analyzed by a local engineering firm. The report will
analyze existing operations at
each intersection, offer proposed alternatives and rank
each project to prioritize construction according to the
study website.
The intersection was chosen
because continued development in the area is expected to
increase traffic patterns, which
will further impact the ability
of vehicles to make left hand
turns onto Rabbit Creek Road
and onto Golden View Drive.
The steep grades on Rabbit
Creek Road make placement
of stop signs unsafe. You can
review the proposed changes to
each of the nine intersections,
as well as review a sketch of
the proposed roundabout, by
visiting southanchorageintersections.com.
Hilltop Ski Area Open
The
post-Thanksgiving
storm that blanketed South
Anchorage with snow allowed
Hilltop Ski Area to finally
open but under preseason
conditions. The presence of
sticks, rocks, stumps and bare
spots due to low snow covering means only the Caribou,
Turkey Trench and King
Salmon runs are open. Visit
the Hilltop website at http://
hilltopskiarea.org for condition updates and hours of operation.
Hillside Nordic Trail
System Groomed
The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage has begun
grooming and maintaining
the Hillside Nordic, crosscountry and multi-use trails.
They report the trails are fast
but thin with low snow covering in some areas. Check
out the NSA’s trail grooming
report before hitting the trails
at http://nsaatrailgrooming.
blogspot.com.
Holidays at the Zoo
You’re supposed to let
sleeping dogs lie, so make
sure not to disturb the animals
when you visit Zoo Lights at
the Alaska Zoo. The annual
lighted animal parade leads
zoo visitors past large, colorful, and sometimes animated
displays of moose, musk ox,
and a variety of other animals;
even Santa himself makes an
appearance. Colorful canopies
of lights add to the festivities
and help guide the way. Visit
Zoo Lights daily from Dec.
18-Jan. 4 (with the exception
of Christmas) from 5 p.m. to
8 p.m. Admission is $5 per
person for annual pass holders
and $7 per person for non-pass
holders. Children under 2 are
admitted free.
If you need to keep the kids
busy during winter break, the
Alaska Zoo is offering daily
adventure camps for children
ages 6-12. The camps, which
run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
focus on animal care and conservation. Each session includes an animal encounter
and chat with the zookeeper.
Frosty felines, zoo keeping
101, wolves and otters are just
a few of the camp topics. Each
camp costs $70 for annual
pass holders, $85 for nonpass holders. Call 341-6432
to make a reservation, or visit
the camp page at https://reservations.alaskazoo.org/Info.
aspx?EventID=7.
Pre-School Open Gym
at AT&T Sports Pavilion
With winter break starting
Dec. 19, the little (and not-solittle) ones may need a warm,
dry spot to try out the new
bikes, trikes and scooters they
found underneath the Christmas tree. The AT&T Sports
Pavilion, located at 11051
O’Malley Centre Drive, opens
up one gym every weekday
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the
kids to run around and work
off that pent-up energy. Bring
basketballs, bikes, scooters,
even roller skates and let the
kids run wild. The cost is $5
per child.
Girdwood football
players finish season
in championship style
By Bryan Epley
Special to the Turnagain Times
It all started a little over
eight years ago with a small
ad for Pop Warner Football.
Four boys and their families
committed to almost daily
practices in Anchorage. It
ended on Oct. 24 with a state Photo courtesy of Bryan Epley
title in a 20-6 win over the Girdwood football
West Anchorage Eagles in players Preston Epley
the Large School Champi- (left) and Colin Thomponship Game for the South son were key players
Anchorage High School for South High School,
Wolverines.
Girdwood’s which won the Large
Preston Epley (DE) and School Championship.
Colin Thompson (QB and
LB) contributed to the defeat of the defending state champions in their second meeting of the season.
The Wolverines, who went undefeated this season in
the Cook Inlet Conference and outscored their opponents
397-77, were stunned with a close score at halftime after a
55-9 finish against the Eagles earlier in the season. However,
the Wolverines came out and controlled the second half of
play to secure their third state title in just ten years since the
opening of the school.
“I am grateful for the experience I had playing football,”
said Epley. “It taught me a lot about trust, friendship and
teamwork. It meant more to me than just the game. As for
being state champions, we had to work hard every day on the
practice field as a team and overcome individual and team
adversity.”
“I spent several years I can’t replace with my friends,
playing a great game under good coaches and programs,”
said Thompson. “We won several championships along
the way and to finish like we did was perfect. I really encourage the young kids in Girdwood to pursue playing
football.”
Epley and Thompson are members of a team that posted
the highest grade point average of any team in the state.
Preston (3.45 GPA) is planning to pursue a college education
in Utah at Weber State University, while Colin (3.2 GPA) is
planning to attend the University of Nevada, Reno.
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Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 9
Development of Manitoba Mountain Ski Resort
moving forward
By Jeannine Jabaay
Turnagain Times Correspondent
A sustainable, community-owned ski resort is in the
works on Manitoba Mountain.
Dubbed the Manitoba Mountain Ski Resort in Alaska,
the location is just east of the
Hope cutoff along the Seward
Highway. Additionally, several
government agencies, nonprofits, and local organizations see
the Manitoba Mountain as a
hub for ecotourism. Steps to
partner together are underway.
The Kenai Borough is
looking to acquire the land
around the Hope Y as part of
their Municipal Lands grant.
The mountainous area would
be developed in a partnership
with Mountain Riders Alliance
(MRA).
Dave Scanlan, founding member of the MRA,
says, “There’s currently a lot
of whitewater kayaking and
rafting that happens there. Recreational gold mining, some
more commercial gold mining,
and things like that are currently happening there in the
summer. We see a lot of potential for developing mountain
biking, zip lines, Frisbee Golf,
and other activities. And then
for winter time, [it’s a] great
location for some groomed
Nordic trails. And then we’re
working to restore the old
Manitoba Mountain with a
small community-focused ski
area that could really dovetail
nicely into the Hope Y land.”
Scanlan estimated the
titling and planning process
could take several years. When
asked how the MRA and the
Borough would develop the
land together, Scanlan said,
“What we like most is that the
borough would own the property and the recreational assets,
and then our Mountain Riders
Alliance would help develop
a local community cooperative to help manage the facility under a management philosophy that really values the
social component and integration of the community and
local businesses.”
Another
organization
working in tandem with the
MRA is the Manitoba Mountain Ski Area Restoration
Project. The MMSARP is
working to reestablish lift
access to the lower, and eventually upper peaks of Manitoba Mountain, which previously existed between 1941 and
1960. The Chugach Mountains
are famous for their treacherous and high-adrenaline backcountry terrain. And while
Manitoba Mountain would
serve as a launching point for
extreme riders, it would create
access to the gentler lower
pitches of the mountain. With
minimal infrastructure and a
community-supported focus,
inexpensive lift tickets would
trump a real estate-based resort
approach.
“The paradigm of corporations and their focus on box
amenities, real estate, and
theme park attractions will be
replaced with ski areas that get
back to focusing on what is important, providing uphill transportation and on-snow recreation,” said Jamie Schectman,
CEO of MRA.
Manitoba is slated to be
“green and simple” with two
big rope tows powered by alternative energy that will take
riders to classic Alaska terrain.
“The technology is there for
major ski resorts to start truly
considering using solar, wind,
micro-hydro, geothermal and/
or biomass energies to fuel
their resort’s energy needs,”
said Schectman. Battling the
red tape, wading through the
permitting process, and gathering the funding are the current
obstacles.
“Partnered with the Mountain Rider’s Alliance, the
project vision is akin to ski
hills of old, community based
and club supported. The
project is likely still years
away from coming to full fruition,” said Jason Leslie of Off
Piste Magazine. “Not surprisingly, some local skiers who
have been quite content with
the unimproved status of the
area are dubious of any attempt
to improve upon it. Rest
assured, Alaska has an abundance of space to do whatever
you darn well please. Between
these exciting new ventures,
and a mind-boggling vastness
of terrain, folks on the Kenai
Peninsula should have plenty
to look forward to.”
To that end, the Department of Natural Resources has recently approved a
request from AK Mountain
and Wilderness Huts (Alaska
Huts), to build a cabin/yurt
on Manitoba Mountain on 1.6
acres of land. According the
state’s website: “The [Kenai
Area Plan] recognizes the
significant tourism and recreation values of the area, and
specifically makes mention
of the various outdoor activities popular throughout the
region, including sightseeing, photography, backcountry skiing, hiking, mountain biking, snowmachining,
hunting, fishing and camping,
which are all consistent with
the intent of Alaska Huts’ proposal.”
Alaska Huts is an Anchorage-based volunteer organization committed to supporting
“places in which hikers and
skiers can travel hut-to-hut.”
A previous structure known
as the Manitoba Cabin, originally built in 1936 as a mining
cabin, was deemed unsafe for
habitation by the U.S. Forest
Service in 2001. The renovation of that cabin was re-
Photo Courtesy of www.skimanitobamountain.com
Matt Reardon drops off the north side of Manitoba Mountain.
cently completed by Alaska
Huts as part of their mission
to provide “settings that foster
camaraderie and promote wilderness education and stewardship.”
The 1.6-acre location now
hosts the Manitoba Cabin,
two eight-person yurts, a fire
pit area, a firewood shed, and
two outhouses. Paths connect
all the structures, and meet
up with the main nearby trail
system. The approved proposal states that in addition to
the new structure “a small solar-charged electrical lighting
system is planned, as well as
possibly a sauna.”
Alaska Huts requested a
55-year lease, but because of
the small-scale of the property, the location off the road
system, and with the potential of a ski resort, a 10-year
lease was found to be in the
best interest of the state. The
site of the new cabin also sits
on an existing mining claim,
which could complicate a
longer term lease. At a whopping $107 per year, Alaska
Huts will acquire the 10-year
lease, barring any unforeseen
issues.
With many eyes on Mani-
toba Mountain, the area could
soon be flush with new commerce, year-round activity,
and increased recreational opportunities. And while some
are concerned for disrupting
the status quo, each group
involved appears unflinchingly determined to maintain
a minimal footprint while providing for those who currently
use the mountain.
Visit www.skimanitobamountain.com, www.alaskahuts.
org, and www.mountainridersalliance.com for more
information.
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Page 10
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Mountain News
By Ben Napolitano
Special to the Turnagain Times
Santa Celebrates at
Alyeska Resort
Tis the season to get together with loved ones, exchange
gifts and of course celebrate!
And no Christmas celebration
would be complete without
a visit from Saint Nicholas
himself. Alyeska Resort has
the inside scoop that jolly ol’
Saint Nick will be making
a special appearance at The
Hotel Alyeska on Tuesday,
Dec. 23 from 6–9 p.m. in the
Columbia Ballroom. Kids of
all ages are welcome to come
and sit on Santa’s lap to tell
him what they would like for
Christmas. Attention parents:
Make sure to tell all of Santa’s
helpers to drop off wrapped
gifts to the hotel front desk
with the child’s name and age
clearly marked for Mrs. Claus
as she will be on sight to help
hand out gifts and holiday
goodies. Gifts can be dropped
off starting Dec. 15 and must
be received no later than 3
p.m. on Dec. 23.
There is of course only
one Santa Claus, but here at
Alyeska we know a lot of our
skiers and riders have Santa
costumes hanging up at home.
We invite any skier or rider
to jump in a Santa Claus or
Mrs. Claus costume and hit
the slopes Wednesday, Dec.
24 for FREE! Christmas Eve
marks the annual Santa Skis
Free day at Alyeska. Skiers
and riders can stop by the
Daylodge ticket office or tram
ticket office and pick up a free
lift ticket good for an entire
day of fun on the slopes. Costumes must be complete from
head to toe for a free ticket.
December at the Sitz
The Sitzmark has three
great shows lined up to bring
2014 to an end and rock into
2015 starting with a winter solstice weekend party on Dec. 19
and 20 with Anchorage based
Eternal Cowboys. The Eternal
Cowboys are grungy, rough
around the edges and hard
rocking. They blend harmo-
FREE
DECEMBER 19 & 20
Eternal Cowboys
AK’s Favorite Country
Punk Rock Outlaws
FREE
DECEMBER 26 & 27
Andy Mullen Trio
Local Jammers
Return to the Sitz
NYE - DECEMBER 31
Wasteland Hop
Folk/Rock/Hip-Hop from
Fort Collins, CO
$10 | Buy tickets online
JANUARY 2 & 3
Photo courtesy of Ben Napolitano
An inversion covers Turnagain Arm as seen from the top of Mt. Alyeska.
nious beats with sharp acoustic guitar and scratchy vocals.
When you combine all of those
elements, you get a sound
that gets people out of their
seat and moving. Bring your
dancing shoes and get ready
to celebrate the shortest day of
the year. This show is free and
open to the 21 and over crowd.
Music will start at 10 p.m.
Straight out of Girdwood
comes Alaskan local boys
The Andy Mullen Trio on Dec.
26 and 27. Take a dab of jam
guitar, a dash of rock and mix
it up with some Bruce Springsteen and bam, you’ve got yourself The Andy Mullen Trio.
Music will start at 10 p.m., and
this show is free. Sorry kids,
this show is 21 and over.
Ring in the New Year with
a group who is making a big
splash in the hip hop scene,
Wasteland Hop. The Colorado based group brings a high
energy show perfect for partying and dancing well past midnight on Wed. Dec. 31. Come
by the Sitzmark and count
down the minutes until you
can say adios to 2014 and give
2015 a big hello. Tickets for
the show are $10 and on sale
now. Music starts at 10 p.m.
This event is 21 and over.
Leftover Salmon with
Guest Bill Payne
You’ve
seen
Leftover
Salmon at Salmonstock and
you’ve seen Vince Herman
roll through Alyeska with his
band Great American Taxi and
on Jan. 2 and 3 you can see
Vince Herman and the boys
from Leftover Salmon at the
Sitzmark as they bring their
bluegrass/jam band performance for what is sure to be
a sellout crowd. The Boulder,
Colorado based band will be
coming up to Girdwood and
bringing their good friend Bill
Payne of Little Feat with them.
Leftover Salmon has spent the
past 25 years playing all across
the map from rock ‘n roll bars
to bluegrass festivals to Phish
tours, and they show no sign of
slowing down anytime soon.
With crowd favorites like
“Liza” “Steamboat Whistle
Blues” and “Let’s Give a
Party,” Leftover Salmon will
be making the Sitzmark crowd
dance all night into the early
hours of the morning. Tickets
to this concert are $30 and
are currently on sale at www.
thesitzmark.com. This show is
open to those 21 and over and
will be starting at 10 p.m. with
doors opening at 9 p.m.
Great Winter Eats at
Alyeska Resort
Alyeska Resort’s restaurants are open and serving
great food as we roll through
December. Whether you’re in
the mood for sushi, pizza or
a steak filet, Alyeska has you
OTC Web Design
“Your imagination is the only limitation ”
Leftover Salmon
Legendary Jam Band
Back in AK!
$30 | Buy tickets online
BEERS ON TAP / 21 & OVER / FOOD ‘TIL LATE
OFF THE CHAIN
full schedule online @ thesitzmark.com : 907-754-2275
www.otcwebdesign.com
covered. Sakura Asian Bistro
is serving the best sushi in
Alaska every Friday-Monday
from 5-10 p.m. Check out the
daily roll and entrée specials.
Every Monday the chef offers
up the popular beer and a roll
special for just $10. Swing in
from 5-6 p.m. for happy hour.
Aurora Bar & Grill will
continue to operate seven days
a week beginning at 11 a.m.
throughout the winter season,
serving delicious refined
comfort food in a family atmosphere. Menu highlights
include fresh Alaska seafood,
steaks, gourmet sandwiches
and salads. Try one of our specialty pizza pies, including
Margherita, Alaska Seafood,
and Greek style or create your
own. The bar features an extensive wine list, specialty
cocktails and 42-inch TVs.
Grab a reservation at Seven
Glaciers, Alyeska’s AAA
Four Diamond award winning
mountaintop Luxury Restaurant. Offering signature
Alaska 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 mountaintop perch,
Seven Glaciers is surrounded
by nature from every direction.
This means that every table
features panoramic glacier and
water views for a truly unique
Alaska dining experience.
Chef Jason Porter carefully
crafts the Seven Glaciers menu
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 open FridaySunday from noon to 10 p.m.
Bore Tide Deli offers panSee next page,
Mountain News
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 11
Lively Arts
By Ron Holmstrom
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Even now that we finally
have some actual snow and
folks can start getting out their
skis, snowshoes, snowmachines and other winter toys,
there was never any fear that
we would be bereft of plenty
of fun stuff to do this winter.
Our local theater and concert
outfits promise plenty of great
outings for the cold dark
months ahead. Plus, although
scheduled for an as yet to be
determined start date in the
spring of 2015, a big-budget
feature film has announced
that it will be filming in Whittier, Alaska.
Described on Internet
Movie Database as an actionthriller, Hunter Killer will be
directed by Martin Campbell, known for such blockbusters as Casino Royale and
The Mask of Zorro. Alaska
company
SprocketHeads,
which recently put out a call
for resumes from actors and
crew, will be handling in-state
production services.
I had a chance to converse
with Lauren Kimball from
Sprocketheads via email.
Kimball had this to say about
the movie project: “This is a
blockbuster opportunity for
Alaskans to be part of a major
motion picture. Whether
you’re an actor or want to be
an extra, this is a chance to
really see how a movie gets
made, from being fitted for
wardrobe, eating craft services and catered meals to
being on set with the lights,
cameras and movie stars. We
are so excited to showcase our
amazing Alaskan talent.
Tell your readers to be sure
to like the SprocketHeads
Facebook page to be kept up
to date with casting calls and
audition information.” There
will be much more to report
here in the coming weeks, but
congratulations to SprocketHeads for landing a big movie
for Alaska! Stay tuned.
The wacky comedy Christmas Belles, at Anchorage
Community Theatre and featured here last edition, continues through Dec. 21, followed
by productions of a couple of
classics: Crimes of the Heart,
The Trip to Bountiful and more
right into spring. For information on all that ACT offers in
the coming months, check out
their website at www.actalaska.org or call them at 3444713. Tickets can be had at
www.centertix.net.
Playing at Cyrano’s is the
family musical Alexander
and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day, playing
through Dec. 22. After this,
the playhouse will feature The
Photo courtesy of Frank Flavin
Actors (left to right) Rodney Lamb, David Dunlap, Marty Baumann, Hillary Fisher,
Becky Sheridan and Katie Strock and Nathan Swan (seated), perform in the play
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” at Cyrano’s Offcenter Playhouse in Anchorage.
Ice Breaker by David Rambo,
directed by local theater
maven and actor’s coach Jill
Bess and starring Mark Robokoff and Sarah Baird, two of
Alaska’s favorite stage actors.
Cyrano’s offers “a new
play every month,” so there
is always an entertaining
evening to be had there. Cyrano’s website is www.cyranos.
org. Tickets available at www.
centertix.net or call 274-2599
for info.
There is always something
happening during the winter
months at the Alaska Center
for the Performing Arts and
Mountain News
Continued from previous page
oramic views of Turnagain Arm, the Chugach
Mountain Range, and seven “hanging” glaciers.
The Bore Tide Deli is a self-service dining
experience featuring soups, salads, chili, sandwiches, wraps, and snacks, now proudly
serving Boar’s Head deli meats. Whether you
are spending the days skiing in the snow or just
checking out the winter sights, Bore Tide Deli
is a memorable way to enjoy lunch at 2,300 feet
above sea level. Come grab some great food
and great views from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Recharge and Aprés Ski at the Sitz
Stop by Girdwood’s only slope-side bar &
grill: The Sitz. The Sitzmark is open seven
days a week and serves up a variety of food
from south of the boarder favorites to classics
like the Tanaka, build your own burger and
the popular Fire & Ice wrap. Grab your favorite brew from Alaskan, New Belgium, Sierra
Nevada and more. The full bar and great bartenders will mix you up any cocktail you want
or pour you a delicious glass of wine. Tuesdays all winter feature Absolut trivia with
great prizes up for grabs while Wednesdays
feature a wide variety of ski films and Hollywood movies. For a full list of events and live
music visit www.thesitzmark.com. The Sitzmark is open daily at 11 a.m.
Alyeska Resort hires new Director of Marketing
Alyeska Resort announced
the hiring of a new Director
of Marketing, who arrived on
the job this month. Eric Fullerton accepted the position of
Director of Marketing and is
working closely with senior
resort leadership and the marketing department with the
development and implementation of Alyeska’s strategic
marketing plan, it was stated
in an Alyeska press release.
“I am most excited about
Eric Fullerton becoming our new Director
of Marketing at Alyeska Resort,” said resort
owner John Byrne. “He is an award winning
expert with expertise in both online and traditional marketing. As an avid skier and outdoorsman, I expect him to fit in well cultur-
ally with our team at Alyeska.
Please join me in welcoming
Eric and his family to Girdwood.”
Fullerton comes to Girdwood, Alaska by way of Carbondale, Col. Fullerton has
built an impressive career in
marketing including work
with such companies as Blizzard Internet Marketing, Sport
Obermyer, Stay Aspen/Snowmass and the Aspen Skiing
Company. He also has extensive experience as a marketing consultant.
Fullerton holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from the University of California
Santa Cruz as well as an MBA in Internet and
Traditional Marketing from the University of
Phoenix.
for the holidays, the Anchorage Concert Association will
present the Celtic Woman
Home for Christmas Symphony Tour. Opening on Dec. 5,
this unparalleled all-female
ensemble continues to bring
joy with this family favorite celebrating the holiday
season.
This is a limited run of only
four shows, so for tickets,
showtimes and more information, the concert association’s website is www.anchorageconcerts.org and all of the
programs at the Performing
Arts Center may be found at
www.alaskapac.centertix.net
or call 263-ARTS (263-2787)
for tickets.
This season UAA has constructed a near-heroic model
of an Elizabethan Theatre on
their main stage and the next
production will be Tom Stoppard’s hilarious Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern are Dead,
a zany take on Hamlet seen
through the eyes of two minor
characters from the classic
tragedy.
Last up is William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead – A
True and Accurate Account of
the 1599 Zombie Plague. This
is a very wacky romp featuring Shakespeare, zombies,
sword fights, and some clues
as to how some of Shakespeare’s greatest plays came
to be. For tickets and further
information on this epic roster
of shows, go to www.uaatix.
com or call 786-4TIX (4849).
TBA Theatre Company is
presenting Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory from Dec.
12 through Dec. 20. This is the
classic Roald Dahl production
of Charlie’s visit to the factory
of the amazing Wonka. It’s
great family fare.
Also coming this season
will be A Midsummer Night’s
Dream, Mother Goose’s Maritime Mayhem and a special
“after-dark” presentation of
Speakeasy, a “real” speakeasy
at O’Malley’s On the Green
in January. Billed as dining,
dancing and gaming with
the nicest bunch of notorious
criminals you’ve ever met
at this audience immersive
musical review from an era
when gangsters still had style.
To check out this production
and all of the fun productions that TBA has in store for
you, check out their web page
www.tbatheatre.org or call
them at 677-PLAY (7529).
No Alaska holiday season
would be complete without
a good dose of Mr. Whitekeys and his Christmas in
Spenard at the Tap Root. Says
Whitekeys, “Christmas In
Spenard is two hours of satirical Alaskan musical comedy,
a live band, stunning singers
and dancers, a spectacular
High Definition multi-media
presentation, and approximately three minutes of sentimental holiday fluff.”
This show always sells out
and is popular with citizens
and tourists alike, so book
those seats early. This run is
limited to 12 shows, which
begin on Dec. 2 and continue
through Dec. 23 at 6:45 p.m.
Tickets may be had at www.
centertix.net or call 263ARTS (263-2787).
Lastly, the Alaska Overnighters will be making
another presentation on Jan.
10 & 11 at Grant Hall on the
APU Campus. The immensely
popular co-production of TBA
Theatre and Dawson Moore’s
3 Wise Monkeys has been
playing to sold-out houses for
many years.
These plays are written, rehearsed and finally produced
before an audience in one
24-hour period.
Since I have directed a few
of these and will be again for
this outing, I can say that for
the writer, director, cast and
crew, these are great, grueling
fun. We will have more information about the Overnighters in the weeks to come.
In the meantime, don’t
forget to tune in to my Entertainment Link feature on
FOX-4 TV every Thursday
night during the 9 p.m. newscast. Now get out there and
enjoy all the fun stuff.
Page 12
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
TROOPER REPORT
The Alaska State Troopers
reported the following incidents. Any charges reported
are merely allegations and the
defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.
Motor Vehicle Collision
- Damage
COOPER LANDING—
November 19 at approximately 6:41 a.m. troopers came
upon a vehicle crash near
milepost 39 of the Sterling
Highway. An investigation
revealed Michelle Quinn, age
37 of Cooper Landing, was
traveling southbound on the
Sterling Highway in a 1995
Chevrolet Suburban. Quinn
lost control of the vehicle on
ice-covered roads and struck a
guardrail. Quinn received no
injuries and reported wearing
her safety belt. Damage to
the vehicle was estimated at
$2,000. Alcohol was not a
factor.
Motor Vehicle Collision
– Damage
MILE
69
SEWARD
HWY—November 22 around
2:26 p.m., troopers responded
to a single vehicle collision
near mile 69 of the Seward
Highway. An investigation
revealed the driver, Reginald
Jeffrey Evans, age 43 of Anchorage, was driving a 2007
International Box Van northbound near mile 69 of the
Seward Highway when his
vehicle slid on snow/slush
and struck the guardrail. Total
damages to the box van were
estimated at approximately
$7,000. Damages to the guardrail were estimated at $5,000.
Evans reported wearing his
seat belt and was not injured.
No citations were issued.
Alcohol was not a factor.
Criminal Mischief,
Criminal Trespass
GIRDWOOD—November
28 around 10:45 a.m., a citizen
of Anchorage who reported
that an unknown person(s) had
thrown a large rock through
the front door of her residence on Mount Hood Drive
in Girdwood contacted troopers. An investigation revealed
that an unknown person(s)
had damaged the residence
between Nov. 25 and Nov. 28
causing approximately $500
in damage. If you have any
information about this crime
or any other please contact the
Alaska State Troopers at 907262-4453 or Crime Stoppers
at 907-561-STOP (7867).
Motor Vehicle Collision
ROAD
PROBLEMS
HOTLINE
Girdwood Service Area
Road Maintenance Department
343-8374
GIRDWOOD—November 29 at approximately 6:21
p.m., troopers responded to
a two-vehicle collision at
the intersection of Alyeska
Highway and Doran Drive
in Girdwood. An investigation revealed that Acesa K.
Roberts, age 31 of Anchorage, failed to stop his silver
in color 1998 Honda CVR at
a posted stop sign on Doran
Drive. Roberts vehicle collided with a red 1998 Subaru
Legacy driven on the Alyeska
Highway by Tileigh M. Love,
age 23 of Girdwood. There
were no injuries reported. All
occupants reported wearing
their safety belts. Alcohol was
not a factor.
Assault
GIRDWOOD—November
29 at approximately 1:35 a.m.,
troopers responded to the
Alyeska Resort for a reported assault. An investigation
at the scene, revealed Troy
C. Adams, age 47 of Girdwood, had allegedly assaulted a family member and left
the scene. Adams was later
located and arrested without
incident. Adams was transported and remanded to the
Anchorage Jail where he was
held on $500 bail and $250
unsecured bond.
Assault, Marijuana
Possession
GIRDWOOD—November
30 at about 12:40 a.m., troopers responded to a residence
off of Chateau Place in Girdwood for a reported disturbance. An investigation at the
scene, revealed Tad R. Whitmire, age 23 of Girdwood, had
allegedly assaulted a family
member and left the scene.
Whitmire was later located
and arrested without incident at a local bar. During the
course of the arrest Whitmire
was found to be in possession of marijuana. Whitmire
was then transported and re-
manded to the Anchorage Jail
where he was held on $250
C/C bail and $250 unsecured
bond.
Marijuana Possession,
Open Container of
Alcohol
MILE 100 Seward HWY—
November 30 around 2:31
p.m., troopers stopped a white
2007 Toyota pickup for an
equipment violation near
milepost 100 of the Seward
Highway. The driver was
identified as Brian Kari, age
40 of Anchorage. An investigation revealed Kari was in
possession of marijuana and
there was an open container
of alcohol in the vehicle. Kari
was issued a Misdemeanor Citation for Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance
6th and a Minor Offense Citation for the open container of
alcohol and released.
DUI, Driving While
License Revoked,
Driving With Limited
Driver’s License
MILE 90.5 SEWARD
HWY—November 30 at approximately 7:21 p.m., troopers responded to mile 90.5 of
the Seward Highway after a
2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
left the roadway and drove into
the ditch. The driver, Jeffery
Steven McDole, age 50 of Anchorage, was located nearby
at Girdwood Tesoro mall and
was arrested for driving impaired while under the influence of alcohol, driving with
a revoked driver’s license,
driving in violation of a limitation, and two outstanding
arrest warrants, a $250 Anchorage Police Department
penalty for failure to satisfy a
judgment for DUI, and a No
Bail time to serve warrant by
Anchorage Police Department
for domestic assault. McDole
was later transported to the
Anchorage Jail where he was
remanded with bail set at
$5,000.
Theft
GIRDWOOD—December
3 at 11:39 p.m., a Girdwood
man reported to the Alaska
State Troopers that on Oct. 17
at 8:20 p.m., an unknown man
and woman knocked on his
door requesting a cigarette.
The Girdwood man invited
them into his residence. They
visited in the kitchen area
for about 10 minutes. During
those ten minutes, the Girdwood man left them alone
for about 30 seconds. The
Girdwood man kept his prescription medications on the
kitchen counter. On Oct. 24,
the Girdwood man discovered
he was substantially short
on some of his medications.
The total dollar value of the
missing medications is estimated to be $60. The investigation is continuing.
Motor Vehicle Crash Damage
MILE
81
SEWARD
HWY—December 5 at about
5:40 p.m., troopers responded
to a non-injury motor vehicle
crash involving one vehicle
rear-ending another vehicle.
The crash investigation determined David Merrill, age 72 of
Kenai, was operating his early
2000s passenger car traveling
southbound near mile 81 of
the Seward Highway. Merrill
had one passenger with him.
Joseph Wedam, age 26 of Anchorage, was operating his
late model pickup truck traveling southbound in front of
Merrill. There was a flagger
with a stop sign for active
highway maintenance on the
roadway with a lane closure.
Wedam brought his vehicle
to a stop in line with several
other vehicles. Merrill was
unable to stop his vehicle
before crashing into the rear
of Wedam’s vehicle. Wedam’s
vehicle sustained rear bumper
damage and was able to drive
from the scene. Merrill’s
vehicle sustained heavy frontend damage with airbag deployment and had to be towed
from the scene. All persons
involved were wearing seat
belts and were uninjured.
Merrill was issued a traffic citation for the crash.
Driving While License
Suspended
MILE 113 SEWARD
HWY—December 5 at 4:05
p.m., troopers conducted a
traffic stop on a blue 2014
Dodge for an equipment violation near milepost 113
of the Seward Highway in
the Traffic Safety Corridor.
Upon contact the operator
was identified as Christopher
C. Calkins 39 years of age of
Chugiak. An investigation revealed Calkins was operating
See next page,
Trooper Report
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 13
TROOPER REPORT
Continued from previous page
the motor vehicle with a suspended operator’s license for
failure to pay child support.
Calkins was issued a Misdemeanor Citation and he and
the vehicle were released to a
responsible driver.
Driving While License
Revoked
MILE 103.5 SEWARD
HWY—December 6 at approximately 11:50 p.m.,
troopers contacted Dewey E.
Eager, age 37 of Anchorage,
near milepost 103.5 of the
Seward Highway. An investigation revealed that Eager had
been driving a white Ford Explorer and ran out of fuel. Additionally, Eager was found
to have a revoked license for
continuing to Drive While
his License is Revoked
(DWLR). Eager was arrested
at the scene and Riggs Towing
towed the vehicle. Eager was
transported and remanded to
the Anchorage Jail where he
was held on $750 cash only
bail.
Vehicle Theft
GIRDWOOD—December
7 around 2:20 a.m., Spencer
W. Rhodes, age 30 of Girdwood, notified troopers that his
dark green Toyota 4-Runner
bearing Florida license plates
had been stolen from outside
the Sitzmark Bar in Girdwood.
An investigation revealed that
an unknown person(s) took
Rhodes’ vehicle from the
parking lot between Dec. 6
at 7 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 2 a.m.
Rhodes’ vehicle was later
located by troopers on Dec.
7 at 10 a.m. a short distance
from where it was reportedly
parked. If you have any information about this crime or
any other please contact the
Alaska State Troopers at 907262-4453 or Crime Stoppers
at 907-561-STOP (7867).
Driving While License
Suspended
MILE 107 SEWARD
HWY—December 7 around
5:35 p.m., troopers stopped a
2005 GMC pickup near mile
107 of the Seward Highway
for an equipment violation.
The driver, Keith Eugene
Lewis, age 25 of Anchorage,
was found to be driving while
license suspended (DWLS).
Lewis was issued a misdemeanor Alaska Uniform Citation to later appear in court for
DWLS and released on scene.
Motor Vehicle Collision
- Damage
MILE 90.5 SEWARD
HWY—December 13 at about
9:15 a.m., troopers responded
to a single vehicle collision
at mile 90.5 of the Seward
Highway. An investigation
revealed a 2001 Ford Ranger
operated by Russell Porter,
age 30 of Anchorage, was
southbound on the Seward
Highway at mile 90.5 when
he struck the guardrail after
losing traction on black ice.
No injuries were sustained.
The vehicle was towed from
the scene due to disabling
damage.
Motor Vehicle Collision
MILE
72
SEWARD
HWY—December 13 around
6:25 p.m., troopers responded
to a single vehicle collision
at milepost 72 of the Seward
Highway near Portage. An investigation revealed that Belaswami B. Selvam, age 40
of Anchorage, lost control of
his blue 2004 Mitsubshi Outlander due to slush buildup
on the highway. Selvam’s
vehicle struck a guardrail,
then crossed left of center and
entered the southbound ditch.
Selvam reported that he was
not injured in the collision.
Greatland Towing responded
to the scene and transported
Selvam and the vehicle back
to Anchorage.
Warrant Arrest
MILE
90
SEWARD
HWY—December 13 at approximately 2:27 p.m., troopers conducted a traffic stop on
a black 1988 Jeep SUV for an
equipment violation near mile
90 of the Seward Highway in
the safety corridor. An investigation revealed a passenger,
Eric Wilson, age 38 of Anchorage, had two outstanding
arrest warrants both for failure
to appear original charges
Driving While License Suspended. The driver was released from the scene. Wilson
was arrested and remanded to
the Anchorage Jail. Bail set at
$1,500 cash/corporate.
Warrant Arrest
GIRDWOOD—December 14 troopers contacted
Reavyn Heneghen, age 24 of
Read the Turnagain Times online
www.turnagaintimes.com
Kenai, near the Daylodge in
Girdwood. A records check
revealed she had an arrest
warrant for failing to appear
in court on an unrelated case.
Heneghen was arrested and
remanded at the Anchorage
Jail in lieu of $500 bond.
Soldotna, both received minor
injuries and were transported by Cooper Landing EMS
to Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna. All occupants
were wearing their seat belts.
The pickup was a total loss.
Alcohol was not a factor.
Motor Vehicle Collision
– Minor Injuries
Driving While License
Revoked
MILE
51
SEWARD
HWY—December 14 around
1:17 p.m., troopers responded to a single vehicle rollover
near mile 51 of the Seward
Highway. An investigation revealed the driver, Misti Rose
Giddens, age 28 of Soldotna,
was driving a 2004 Dodge
pickup southbound when she
lost control and the vehicle slid
into the ditch where it rolled.
Giddens and her passenger,
David Lee Kampstra, age 30 of
MOOSE PASS—December
15 at approximately 7:51 a.m.,
troopers stopped a maroon
1999 Dodge Durango for a
moving violation near milepost
29 of the Seward Highway.
The driver was identified as
Daniel Borja, age 51 of Anchorage. A records check revealed Borja’s driver’s license
was in revoked status. Borja
was placed under arrest and
remanded to the Seward Jail.
Bail was set at $500.
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Firewood for Sale: $100 Qtr / $175 Half / $295 Full, plus
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Marc Donadieu/Turnagain Times
Bird-like frost formations appear to take flight on the thin ice cover of Middle Fork Creek.
Page 14
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Health Watch
By Kenneth Waugh
Special to the Turnagain Times
Here we are on the cusp
of not only another awesome
ski season but also your
second crack at enrollment
in the online health insurance exchange. The open enrollment period began Nov.
15 and runs through Feb. 15,
2015. However, market place
plans purchased by the 15th
of the month don’t take effect
until the first of the following
month, so if your plan expires
Dec. 31 and you have not
signed up by Dec. 15 you may
have a gap in coverage.
The Affordable Care Act
of 2010 or Obamacare, as it
has become better known,
was enacted with the goals
of increasing the quality and
affordability of health insurance and lowering the number
of uninsured in America. The
intended mechanisms were
mandates, subsidies and insurance exchanges.
The latter was originally designed to be a state run
exchange that would have
allowed our state to control
not only which companies
were allowed to be involved in
the exchange but also to some
degree negotiate costs of the
plans and coverage provided.
Alaska declined and instead
elected to defer to the Department of Health and Human
Services. In doing so, it joined
27 other states in the federally
managed exchange.
Alaska also lost the discretion to limit rate increases, so again we reverted to
the federal community rating
system, allowing some hikes
in premiums on plans offered
this year.
Alaska also elected to not
expand Medicaid, which under
ACA would have covered individuals at 133 percent of the
federal poverty level, a change
from the current rate in Alaska
of 185 percent of the FPL, potentially creating a coverage
gap. However, the news is not
all bleak.
As of May 2014, approximately 20 million had signed
up for health care coverage
under ACA, and the percentage of uninsured dropped
almost 5 percent. This number
is significant when you consider the number one cause of
bankruptcy in the U.S. is due
to medical debt.
The Individual Mandate
still requires you to have
qualifying health insurance or
pay a penalty on your earned
taxes. In 2015, that cost is $95
per adult and $47.50 per child
up to $285 per family or 1
percent of income, whichever
is greater. However, next year
that jumps to $695 per adult
or $347.50 per child up to
$285 per family or 2.5 percent
of income or whichever is
greater. This step is done specifically to offset the risk of
the insurance pool not providing enough net premiums
to offset net payouts. Simply
put, the healthy help pay for
the sick.
In a bit of a surprise move,
on Nov. 10, the Supreme Court
decided to take up the case
of insurance subsidies made
by the Federal government
in the above-mentioned 27
states. At odds is the original
wording of the ACA, which
as written states that subsidies will be available through
“an exchange established by
the State.” The IRS has interpreted this phrase to allow
consumers to receive subsidies regardless of whether
the exchange is operated by
their state or the federal government. Opponents say that
the law is written clearly and
directs subsidies to state based
exchanges only. The case had
not fully made it through the
lower courts but there seemed
to be dissenting views, and
perhaps it would have found
its way into the higher court
anyway. However, on the eve
of open enrollment, there is
now considerable confusion.
I can say that subsidies will
remain in place until there is a
final ruling, and you still must
have qualifying insurance
or face a penalty – those are
certainties. For advice, shop
around. If you do nothing
and had a market place plan
last year, in most cases, you
will automatically be enrolled in that plan again if it
still exists. Keep in mind that
costs may have changed, preferred providers may have
changed or your needs may
have changed, so review your
available options.
Just make sure you don’t
get billed twice if you change
plans. Find out if you qualify
for financial help. Enter your
most up to date income information and see what assistance you might be able to get.
Know all the costs of the plan
not just the monthly expense.
Look at co-pays, out of pocket
expense, co-insurance and deductibles. And lastly, get help
if you are overwhelmed or
confused by the process.
We are fortunate to now
have two navigators right here
in Girdwood: Cathy Taylor
and Melissa Butterfield. They
can assist you with your application or questions you might
have concerning the Healthcare.gov website or online
market place. Call the Girdwood clinic at 783-1355 to
set up consultation with one
of these specialists. They have
received their training under a
federal grant and are providing this service to the community while also maintaining their regular positions, so
appointments must be scheduled. If you are not the type to
seek help, consider the Health
Sherpa website. With three
clicks I was able to compare
all the plans in our market
place. I could not buy a plan
on the site since the market
wasn’t open at that time, but
it was pretty easy to see what
was out there.
No matter how you go
about it, I encourage you to
avoid penalties, or worse yet,
medical bankruptcy. Get a
qualifying plan for 2015.
GBOS Meeting: DOT submits preliminary designs for
Seward Highway Indian-Bird projects milepost 100-110
Continued from page 1
ment back online sometime
in 2015.”
Daniel has arranged for
David Persinger, AWWU director of utilities treatment division, to discuss the plans at
the Jan. 19 GBOS meeting.
“He will be specifically talking about what plans
AWWU has for putting that
piece of equipment back
online and what impact that
equipment would have on the
drinking water supply,” said
Daniel.
Daniel wants to put the
community on notice and encourage community members
who are interested in this
issue to attend the meeting,
ask questions and make comments.
Sean
Baski,
project
manager for the Alaska Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities, spoke
about two Seward Highway
Projects along MP 105-110
between Indian and Bird.
Baski handles the highway
design section and final plans
for these projects, which are
about 75 percent completed.
The first project proposal
is the Seward Highway Left
Turn Lanes, which is part of
the Highway Safety Improvement Project. The project will
add left turn lanes and lighting at the Bore Tide Road and
Sawmill Road intersections.
The second proposed
project is Seward Highway
MP 100-105, which is part of
the 3R Project to resurface,
rehabilitate and restore the
highway. This project will add
a mile of multi-use pathway
from Indian Road to Indian
Creek on the north side of the
highway, replace the Indian
Creek Bridge and rehabilitate
the Bird Creek Bridge.
Both of these projects are
in the preliminary design
stages, and the environmental
documents should be completed in 2015. The estimated
construction is expected to
begin in 2017-2018, pending
funding and the availability
of federal highway funds,
environmental permits, and
the appraisal and acquisition
of right of way process to
acquire the property needed
for the projects. Both projects
are initially estimated to cost
$30 million.
“One of the local impacts to
the communities of Bird and
Indian is the consolidation of
access to the highway,” Baski
said. “Right now there are a
lot of properties that have got
two to three to four driveways
right onto the highway system.
Statistically, over time, you
are going to have more accidents on the highway because
you have more access to the
highway.”
Conrad Milsap, who owns
property around MP 103, ex-
pressed concerns over the
current plans, which would
have a large effect on his
property.
“To make a bike trail like
they have on the poster there,”
Milsap said, “they’re going to
have to fill in lots and lots of
land on the land that I own.”
Milsap suggested using the
south side of the road to divert
traffic for a temporary detour
during construction because
that area is flatter and would
have less impact on the land.
Baski replied that the
detour on the east side would
have more temporary impacts
than permanent ones, and that
the reverse would be true if
the detour was placed on the
west side.
Next on the agenda was
a presentation by Iditarod
musher Nic Petit, who addressed the GBOS about his
interest in establishing a permanent kennel in Girdwood
and conducting mushing tours
in Moose Meadows. Petit expressed a desire to take over
the lease at the kennel by
the Girdwood Airport, formerly owned by Dario Martinez. The ensuing discussion
brought up myriad factors that
will complicate Petit’s effort;
however, the supervisors and
community members in attendance were sympathetic and
helpful with suggestions to
find a resolution for Petit.
The biggest obstacle is that
keeping a kennel at the airport
is not a part of Alaska DOT’s
plan for the airport’s proposed
expansion. The current design
of the Girdwood Airport is not
in compliance with contemporary standards, so changes
will have to be made when it
is expanded.
Board members suggested
finding another location in
Girdwood that is zoned for a
dog kennel, but the airport is
currently the only area with
that designation. The Southside Townsite was suggested
as a possibility because it’s
zoned for recreation. Another
suggestion was to approach
the Anchorage Assembly for a
zoning code change.
The matter of resuming
dog mushing tours in Girdwood is a developing issue.
Turning Heads Kennel, which
is based in Seward, presented
the Girdwood Trails Committee with a dog sledding operational procedures plan for
Moose Meadows at their last
meeting. Petit is expected to
present his operational plan
at the next Trails Committee
meeting on Jan. 6.
In other business, the upcoming April 15, 2015 election will have GBOS seats A
and B open and candidates are
sought for the volunteer advisory positions.
Supervisor David Chadwick announced that “Girdwood Board of Supervisors
Seat A and Seat B will expire
in April 2015. That would be
Erin’s seat and mine. If you’re
interested in being elected to
the Girdwood Board of Supervisors then please file with
the MOA Clerk office starting
Friday, Jan. 30. Filing for the
April election ends on Friday,
Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. For more
information about serving on
the Girdwood Board of Supervisors and if you qualify,
please contact the city clerk’s
office at 243-VOTE. Please
don’t do what I did last time,”
Chadwick said, “which is
drive into town to file at the
end of the day.”
Supervisors
emphasized
that it is critical for Girdwood
residents to step up to run for
these open seats or that Girdwood risks losing some say
in how their community is
operated. “The issue is that
the mayor can appoint [a supervisor] if no one runs for
the office,” said Supervisor
Tommy O’Malley.
Finally, Kyle Kelley, Municipal Liaison to Girdwood,
urged residents to move vehicles from the roads before,
during and after snowstorms.
Car owners will be given one
warning, and if the vehicle
isn’t moved within 24 hours,
it will be towed he said.
“I’ve towed 69 vehicles in
three and a half years,” said
Supervisor Tommy O’Malley,
who oversees the process.
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Page 15
Seized Girdwood Dogs Recovering
Continued from page 1
available to them. One dog
was deceased on site. That
was why the troopers made
the decision to put them into
protective custody.”
She said care has been
taken to make sure the dogs
get the nutrition they need to
gain weight. “We started them
first on a special diet that was
easy for them to digest,” said
Atwood. “Once it seemed that
they were digesting their food
properly, then we moved them
on to regular dog food.”
Though the dogs are not
ready for adoption yet, they
have recovered enough that
the AACCC is getting closer
to putting them up for adoption. However, there is no estimate yet on when they might
be available for adoption.
“We are in the process
of talking about that right
now with the director of
AACCC,” Atwood said, “and
at some point we will let the
press know when the dogs
do become available to the
public.”
The question of whether
it would be possible to adopt
the 12 dogs as a group, since
they are part of a mushing
team, was still being deliberated. “That is a difficult question,” Atwood said. “We have
had animals come in together
before. If it appears that those
animals get along well and
enjoy each other’s company,
we will do our best to see that
they are kept together. This is
a bit of a unique situation with
these animals. So we will just
have to see what happens as
time goes on.”
In order to assist in the care
of all the dogs, contributions
from businesses and individuals have been made to help the
dogs recover.
“There has been a really
great response,” Atwood said.
“We have had a couple of organizations that have donated
toys for the dogs, and we
have had an organization that
helped bathe the dogs. Individuals have also donated
toys, so it has been a really
great response from the community. They’re concerned
and very hopeful.”
Atwood also mentioned
another touching act of generosity toward the 12 dogs.
“One thing that just happened
today,” she said, “a gentleman in Eagle River who owns
huskies, he asked his parents
that instead of buying him a
Christmas present that he’d
like them to make a donation
to us for those dogs. That’s
really nice when people do
that type of thing.”
Read the Turnagain Times online
or download a PDF of the printed version:
www.turnagaintimes.com
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ANCHOR INN
For reservations call 1-877-870-8787
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Phone: 472-2354 Fax: 472-2394
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email: [email protected]
Photo courtesy of AACCC
Twelve underweight mushing dogs seized from a Girdwood kennel are being
cared for at the Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center.
In a press release, the
AACCC expressed appreciation to the people who contributed to help the dogs recover.
“AACCC is very grateful to
the businesses, organizations
and members of the community who have donated to the
care of these dogs. At this
time, AACCC is not in further
need of food or other donated
items for these dogs.”
Page 16
Turnagain Times
December 18, 2014
Nic Petit: Following the lead
Petit and his team were
taking a break at a favorite
place 16 miles before Unalakleet and before an 8-hour
layover there. That was when
he noticed something was
wrong with his dogs. They
looked too thin, and their
bodies were acting unusually in ways he had never seen
before.
“When I get them up and
going again,” Petit said, “I
noticed things I had seen a little
bit of right before we stopped,
but didn’t really amount to
much. About ten minutes after
we started moving again, I
started seeing some strange
twitching, and at the time I
wasn’t calling it twitching. I
was calling it loss of coordination. It just wasn’t right.”
He didn’t want to jeopardize the dogs’ health by continuing, so he made the decision to scratch.
“There were very strange
movements that were not
natural,” Petit said. “I pulled
over and thought about what
I had fed them. They looked
like they got poisoned. I’m
not accusing anybody of poisoning my dogs. That’s not
what I’m doing. There was
some chemical imbalance in
the dogs.”
Test results on the dogs and
their food, which took about
two weeks, would be needed
before Petit could learn more.
Petit and his dogs were
having a great run through an
exceptionally rough Iditarod
course in 2014.
“My dogs looked fantastic,” Petit said, “and they were
the best eating group on the
whole race. They were just
eager to go and happy and
chubby. We go through Kaltag
and load up a bunch of snacks
and think about the heat of the
day coming up, so we need to
make sure we keep the dogs
hydrated.”
Petit likes to take a variety
of food because if a dog or
two doesn’t want to eat what’s
offered, he has other options
to try to get calories into his
canines on the trail. Petit described the food he carried.
“The dog food consisted of
raw beef and raw pup mix,
which is a beef tripe/fat mix
sold by the local feed store.
I took chicken with the intention to keep them hydrated, the horsemeat, and a wet
snack, which means soaked
kibble.”
The horsemeat is the one
variable Petit cannot fully
account for, though he believes it is the culprit that sickened his dog team. The horsemeat was tested, but nothing
stood out. The meat was acquired from a horse that died
of unknown reasons and was
donated to Petit and another
musher who scratched after
feeding his dogs the same
meat and faced similar issues
with his dog team.
How horsemeat or something in it could affect dogs is
a question that will remain unanswered, which leaves Petit
resigned and a little frustrated
because these are important
details he wishes he knew beforehand.
What Petit now knows is
that when he scratched, his
dogs had a serious calcium
deficiency, which they had
never had before. “Of the two
dogs that they tested,” said
Petit, “the blood tests came
back the same – extremely
low calcium, at low, extremely low levels, which was a
chemical imbalance. That’s
why I scratched last year. Not
because I knew it was calcium.
I knew there was something
wrong with my dogs. They
weren’t healthy anymore.”
Petit was understandably
bothered over leaving the
race and was in great physical
shape himself. “I was in fine
shape. I was a little upset, but
I was fine.” However, media
reports at the time inaccurately claimed he was hallucinating due to a misunderstanding about comments he
made about his team. He has
had to explain the incident repeatedly to people who were
concerned for him when he
scratched from the 2014 Iditarod.
“I was not hallucinating,”
said Petit. “The hallucination comments came from me
running into Dave Branholm,
who came up and talked to
me right after I had decided
to scratch. He asked me what
was going on. All of a sudden
my dogs look skinny. The way
I described it was ‘I’m going
down the trail and all of the
sudden they look like their
bones are going to fly right
off of them.’ I didn’t see any
bones flying around. I just
used an analogy that said my
dogs looked bony, so bony
that it looks like their bones
are going to fall right off of
them.”
The two men disagreed over
their assessment of Petit’s dog
team. “In his eyes my dogs
weren’t skinny,” said Petit. “In
my eyes they were. They were
fat and happy in Kaltag, and
I wasn’t going to destroy my
dogs or my relationship to my
dogs by continuing in the race
when they didn’t look perfect.
When I win the Iditarod, I
want to have a healthy looking
team at the finish line, and not
a team that should have gotten
second place.”
At the dawn of a new
mushing season, Petit isn’t
dwelling on the last year’s
Iditarod and what might have
been. He was the 2011 Iditarod Rookie of the Year, and the
2013 Iditarod Most Improved
Musher, so his peers have recognized him as a competitor
with potential. He just turned
35 while training and preparing for his fifth Iditarod. He’s
also building his dog team for
future Iditarods.
His first race of the season
is the Knik 100 on Jan. 3. The
course runs 120 miles from
Knik Lake in Wasilla to the
Eagle Quest Lodge where a
mandatory 6-hour break is
taken. Petit plans to use this opportunity to develop yearlings
on his team supplemented with
some more experienced adults.
“I’m going to take all of
my young dogs that need to be
proven a little bit,” said Petit.
“They’re all going to do the
Knik 100, and we’re gonna
just let it fly. We’ll see what
happens. I’m pretty confident
about the Knik 100. We’ll see
what the yearlings can do.
Hopefully we’ll win that one.”
Petit 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/nicolasxpetit 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.
Your Winter Base Camp
©SimonEvans
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