March 1, 2012 - Turnagain Times

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Hope Happenings
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Mountain News
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T U R N A G A I N
TIMES
Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass
VOL. 15, NO. 5
March 1, 2012
Tyoneks not to blame
for Cook Inlet beluga
population decline
Tribal members claim an influx
of northern native hunters led to
the whales’ plummeting numbers
Part 3 of a three-part series
By Jim Magowan
Turnagain Times correspondent
“Everybody is beating around the bush about what happened
to the beluga whales. I know what happened, they got hunted,
they got killed by hunters that moved to Anchorage from up
north,” said Frank Standifer, president of the Dena’ina Alaska
Native village at Tyonek, who, along with other family members,
met for an interview to discuss the decline of the Cook Inlet
beluga whale population. “We didn’t do it and we’re not going
to take the blame. We only took one or two whales a year. It was
market hunting by hunters from up north that did it. They made a
lot of money selling beluga meat. In the ‘70s and ‘80s there were
thousands of belugas. We used to see them all the time from our
fish camp on the North Forelands. We watched kings (salmon)
jumping out of the water to get away from the beluga.”
“We watched them jump out of the water to catch kings,”
added his wife Sue. “When the beluga caught a king they would
toss it and play with it like a cat plays with food.”
See Page 11, Cook Inlet Belugas
Eastern Aleutian Tribes
board votes to keep
Whittier Clinic open
By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
The board of directors of Eastern Aleutian Tribes voted unanimously last week to keep the Whittier Clinic open. Six months
ago the board was considering closing the clinic because it was
losing money – over $1 million since 2004.
The board’s decision to keep the clinic open was made in large
part because of a federal grant of $100,000 that was approved
this year.
“The board was really concerned that we maintain health
care in Whittier for people who can’t get to Anchorage to get
care,” said Michael Christensen the executive director of Eastern
Aleutian Tribes, Inc. “There was a threat six months ago that the
funding would go away as the federal government began doing
budget cuts to the lowest utilization clinics. We have very low
utilization at the clinic.”
The Whittier Clinic had 789 patient visits last year, less than
See Back Page, Whittier Clinic
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ANCHORAGE, AK
PERMIT NO. 353
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
Inside this Issue
Around the Arm ........................2
Letters to the Editor ..................3
In Memory ................................3
Cooper Landing News ...............5
Out of the Town .........................6
Moose Passings........................7
Trooper Report ..........................9
News Briefs ............................10
Ken Smith/Turnagain Times
Indian and Bird business signs must be moved by July 1 to comply with the DOT.
DOT gives final notice to Indian
and Bird businesses to move signs
They must be moved out of right of way by July 1
By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
In 2004, the state Department of Transportation sent letters out to businesses in Indian
and Bird located along the Seward Highway,
notifying them that they had to remove
their business signs from the right of way to
comply with a voter approved state law that
made it illegal to have outdoor advertising
visible from the road.
Seven years later, two businesses have
complied and five have not. On Feb. 17, the
DOT sent a letter to the last holdouts, giving
them a July 1 deadline to comply or else the
department would come done and remove the
signs.
A copy of the letter sent to the Bird Ridge
Motel, one of the noncompliant businesses,
was obtained by the Turnagain Times. On
page 2, a paragraph stated “If the sign is not
removed by July 1, we would be left with no
other choice but to remove the sign through
our own action. In that event, we will place
the sign on your property (with your permission) or store it at another location for either
your subsequent retrieval or the department’s
disposal following a 30-day hold.” It was
further stated that the cost of removal would
be paid for by the business.
Erik Lambertsen, owner of the motel,
staunchly maintains a position that businesses
have a right to advertise with a sign near the
road, and that the DOT is usurping that right.
“The DOT is trying to establish their right
to the air space above the right of way, and
their idea is to take down any – what they
consider – clutter,” he said. “I think they consider signage to be clutter and not something
that they want to encourage.”
The state legislature passed a law stating
that the “presence of billboards visible from
Alaska’s highways endanger Alaska’s uniqueness and its scenic beauty. It is the intent of
the people of the State of Alaska that Alaska
shall forever remain free of billboards.”
And the business signs in Indian and Bird
are considered such unsightly billboards. The
Seward Highway is also a highway designated as a “Scenic Byway.” The non-compliant businesses that received a letter from
the DOT are: Bird Ridge Motel, Birdhouse
Garage, Diamond Jim’s Liquor Store, Brown
Bear Saloon and Turnagain House restaurant.
The two businesses that had signs in the
right of way but removed them are the Indian
Bible Chalet and Essential 1 gas station.
Shoreside Petroleum, owner of Essential
1, challenged the DOT in court to allow for
an encroachment permit to leave its roadside sign, but the Alaska Superior Court on
Sept. 18, 2009 upheld the decision of a review
panel of the state Department of Transportation to deny Shoreside’s request.
Since that ruling, the DOT has been
working to remove all signs in the state as authorized by the state to manage and maintain
the right of way and keep it clear of encroachments and illegal outdoor advertising. As was
stated in the letter, “This decision upheld the
department’s legal position and reinforced our
responsibilities for stewardship of the public
rights of way.”
The state also risks losing federal dollars
to maintain the Seward Highway as well as
other state highways if it does not comply
with the anti-billboard law.
“It’s always a danger that we could lose
federal money,” said Jill Reese, the DOT right
of way agent overseeing the process of sign
See Back Page, DOT Orders Signs Moved
Page 2
Turnagain Times
March 1, 2012
Around the Arm
By Paddy Notar
Turnagain Times Correspondent
The Academy Awards happened. The only movies that I
saw that were nominated for
anything were The Muppets
and Midnight in Paris. They
both won an award so I must
have good taste. I could watch
The Muppets a dozen times. It’s
a very good movie. Of course
Midnight in Paris is about a
writer, so why wouldn’t I rent
it and not return it for three
weeks? Woody Allen is one of
the best.
Speaking of the best, I
highly recommend the Sushi
Garden’s
Hamachi.
It’s
similar to yellow tail and
incredibly fresh. I went to
Sushi Garden on Huffman
last week and was very impressed with all of the dishes
I tried. I’m a big Ahi tuna
sashimi fan but everything
from their miso soup to the
Udon noodles was just deli-
cious and fresh. I had a head
cold, like everyone else, and
loaded up on the wasabi. It’s
not the cure, but it sure clears
your head up for a while. The
chefs are friendly, know what
they’re doing and give you
tastes of all sorts of things.
If you’re on Huffman
across from Blockbuster
Video, do yourself a favor
and go there and say hello to
the new owners Danny and
his wife. Danny’s a former
commercial fisherman and
brought in some new great
sushi chefs, including a very
talented head sushi chef.
You’ll recognize him in his
bright green shirt.
What were the only three
movies to win Best Picture,
Best Director, Best Actor, Best
Actress, and Best Screenplay?
Answer to follow.
The Roundhouse Museum
and Girdwood Inc. are having
a benefit Mardi Gras party on
March 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9
p.m. It’s being held at Hugh
and Liz Ashlock’s cabin at
120 Kitzbuhl Road in Girdwood. For $40 you get beer,
wine, pizza, more food, and
beer and wine. How much
do you spend on a night out?
That’s what I thought. The
best part of it all is that proceeds are going to the Roundhouse Museum. There will be
a costume contest as well, so
dress accordingly.
I’m simply amazed at how
many events Alyeska Resort
can have. The USASA is
having a rail jam competition on Friday, March 2 from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday is
the slope-style competition
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Right
before and during all of that
fun, where, if I participated
I’d break my neck, is Lucero
playing at the Sitzmark on
Thursday, March 1 through
Saturday, March 3 from 10
p.m. to 2 a.m. Yes, you’ve
heard about them before.
They’re an alternative country
punk band from Memphis
and they are worth seeing.
They’ve put on some nice
shows at Alyeska and I hope
they come back this summer
and do another one of their
fun, outdoor concerts. Tickets
are $20 in advance in $25 at
the door.
Seven Glaciers restaurant
continues their Sunday special
for locals with a $49 prix fixe
menu by Chef Jason Porter. It
goes on from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
through April. Jason is one
of the best chefs around. Do
go and try it once. It’s worth
every penny.
Wednesday, March 7 is
Absolut Trivia night at the
Sitzmark from 8 p.m. to 10
p.m. It’s a chance to show
your smarts and impress your
friends or look like an idiot.
After a couple of Absolut
cocktails, I’d say the latter.
Answer to the trivia question: “It Happened One
Night,” “One Flew Over the
Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Silence
of the Lambs.”
Don’t forget about Open
Mic night at the Sitzmark with
Julia Dykstra. It goes on every
Monday from 9 p.m. to midnight. So, bring your harmonica have some Absolut and let
loose. It’s always a good time
and Julia is the best host in
town. Or is it hostess? Great,
now I want a cupcake.
Don’t forget about pushing
the clocks up on March 11.
It’s time for daylight savings
time. What two states don’t
touch their clocks? Arizona
and Hawaii do not get involved in the daylight savings
time issue.
Drive safe and don’t be
afraid to pull over if someone
in their four-wheel time
machine is too cool to stay
more than two feet from your
bumper. You’ll live longer and
your family will appreciate it.
Spring is almost here. Enjoy.
Together We Can
The mission statement of Girdwood Health Clinic Inc. (GHCI) is for a nonprofit clinic providing health care to all visitors and residents of the Turnagain Arm communities of Girdwood,
Hope, Bird Creek, Indian, Sunrise and Portage regardless of ability to pay. Turnagain Arm
Health Center (TAHC) owns the clinic building and has funds acquired from the lease of the
building for the past 6 years. GHCI owns and operates the new nonprofit clinic in the building
owned by TAHC. Together these two organizations have the resources to develop a Community Health Center (CHC) for the entire Turnagain Arm Area.
TAHC began in 2004 with the mission to establish a nonprofit Community Health Center. In 2005 TAHC wrote
a grant and received the old Post Office from the Denali
Commission. In 2006 TAHC rented the old Post Office to
Girdwood Clinic, a private clinic. The private clinic paid
to renovate the gutted Post Office building into a functional clinic. GHCI was formed in October 2010 with a
mission to transform the private Girdwood Clinic into a
nonprofit clinic. On Dec. 22, 2011, GHCI received nonprofit status from the IRS and began operation as a nonprofit clinic
by assuming the business of the private clinic. Their first action was to implement a discount sliding scale fee schedule
to provide low income insured and uninsured persons with basic health care services. With the support of TAHC and the
funds they have received from renting the building, the new nonprofit clinic would be able to work towards Community Health Center status and apply for
funds to expand services and build a new clinic building. GHCI has asked TAHC to join them to work together for a sustainable nonprofit CHC for the entire
Turnagain Arm area. There are more than 25 federally funded CHCs across Alaska from Ketchikan to Kotzebue. Together we can build one too!
Please send you comments supporting the merger of TAHC and GHCI to:
GHCI, P.O. Box 1130, Girdwood, AK, 99587; email girdwoodhealthclinic@gmail.com
TAHC, P.O. Box 1426, Girdwood, AK, 99587; email turnagainarmhealthcenter@gmail.com.
Tax deductible donations may be mailed to GHCI at the above address. We are having a community meeting
at the Girdwood Community Center from 7 to 8 P.M., Wed., March 14th, to unveil our plans for the Girdwood
Health Clinic expansion and the Hope satellite project.
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
Production Artist
Matthew Bailey
Serving Indian, Bird, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Hope, Cooper Landing & Moose Pass
By Phone:
(907) 783-1135
By Fax:
(907) 783-1136
By Email:
info@turnagaintimes.com
© 2012 Midnight Sun
Communications, LLC
March 1, 2012
Turnagain Times
Page 3
Opinion
PADDY WAGGIN’
We’re slowly, but surely,
losing family structure in this
country. Fifty percent of women
in their 20s are now having kids
out of wedlock, and almost
every marriage seems to fail.
You only have to look at your
friends or siblings to see what
I mean.
I remember being 10 years
old and every Sunday I would
put all of the sections of the
New York Times together
at a newsstand at four in the
morning, meet my parents at
church and then we’d all head
out to breakfast. We went out
to breakfast every Sunday, and
it was one of those things you
looked forward to the entire
week.
Sometimes we’d drive to
go get cider doughnuts about
15 miles away. That was considered a real treat, and the
doughnuts, warm and covered
with cinnamon and sugar, were
some of the best you ever had.
The farm had an apple orchard
and farmers market, and we’d
spend half a day climbing trees
and sitting in the sun.
It seems like in today’s
PADDY
NOTAR
world family time is spent in
front of the TV or playing a Wii
bowling game. What happened
to everyone spending time together and talking about their
lives?
I cherish the memories of
going over to my grandmother’s Italian grocery store and
spending time with my cousins.
We would sit elbow to elbow
in her small kitchen while she
brought out course after course
of the best Italian food on the
planet. She took seven hours
just to make her tomato sauce.
Everything was made from
scratch, including the wine.
Nowadays, it’s a drive thru
or frozen pizza and we don’t
talk about our day. We just eat
as fast as possible so we can
go Google something. It seems
like we’re in a big hurry to run
in a circle. What happened
to talking to one another and
having a nice meal? What happened to connecting to your
siblings, relatives and friends?
When can you honestly say
is the last time that you made
dinner for everyone that you
care about and asked how
their lives are going? It doesn’t
happen enough.
I remember homeless people
coming around my grandmother’s grocery store. It didn’t
matter what day or time it was.
No one was ever turned away.
She offered them a meal and
told them to take whatever groceries they needed and to pay
her when they could. My father
used to say if he had a dime for
every dollar they owed her he’d
be a millionaire.
I remember sitting down
next to a few homeless men on
a Sunday. I didn’t care. I wasn’t
brought up to judge people like
that. They were hungry, kind,
and my grandmother wanted to
make sure they had a hot meal.
It was pretty simple to under-
stand. The part that I despised
the most was having to go out
to her garden and pick the vegetables that she would cook
with. She would always say,
“Pasquale, go pick me three
eggplants and some tomatoes.”
The problem that I had was
that grandma had 400 pounds
of chicken manure placed all
around the garden. They were
the most incredible, sweetest vegetables in the world but
the garden smelled really bad.
Life is a trade off with things
like that. I could have a great
meal, but I had to deal with all
of the elements that went into
achieving it. As I got older, I realized that sometimes the tastiest things in life don’t smell so
good at first.
When my grandmother was
diagnosed with cancer, my
father, his brother and his sister
decided that she couldn’t keep
running the store. Her energy
was gone and she wasn’t
getting better with time. She
passed away soon after. I’ll
never forget waking up from a
nap and telling my father that
grandma said goodbye to me. I
fell asleep in the afternoon and
had a dream that she waved
goodbye and kissed me on the
cheek. After an hour, the doctor
phoned my father to tell him
that she didn’t have long to live.
She passed a couple of hours
later. I didn’t feel bad because
she lived the life she always
wanted. Grandmas are the best.
Family is the most important thing in the world. At least
that’s what my mother and
father taught me. Siblings and
all others in your circle can be
a royal pain but you never turn
your back on them. Sure, you’ll
have some serious ups and
downs, but somewhere, sometime, down the road, you’ll
laugh about them together as
you sit down to a hot meal or
cider doughnuts and talk about
what’s going on in your lives.
You don’t need a million dollars
to hang out together in a tree or
pick vegetables for a meal with
you cousins.
Like the late comedian
George Carlin once said, “The
other night I ate at a really nice
family restaurant. Every table
had an argument going.”
Clinic is important to
our community
nities. If we want to guarantee the clinic will always
be here for us, we must help
it transform it into a government sanctioned Community
Health Center.
On Dec. 22, a discount
sliding fee scale schedule went
into effect at the non-profit
Girdwood Clinic. People with
no insurance or high deductible insurance can now get
free or more affordable care.
The clinic’s board of directors has submitted an application to the state of Alaska for
a budget appropriation sponsored by Sen. Cathy Giessel.
If we receive funding from the
state, a telemedicine cart will
be installed in Hope making
our clinician here in Girdwood accessible to their community as well, and it will
fund expanded hours.
Please write a comment
on Rep. Mike Hawker’s 2012
Constituent survey and ask for
his support.
Letters to the Editor
Turnagain Arm Health
Center should give
building to clinic
To the Editor:
Turnagain Arm Health
Clinic is “dedicated to promoting health and wellness…” TAHC owns a building; Girdwood Health Clinic
needs a building to operate.
Obviously, the clinic needs the
building to continue its valuable service to our community. TAHC should promote
health by giving the building
to GHC.
TAHC states it is dedicated
to promoting health; why then
are they involved with property management? TAHC continues to be very evasive about
their plans for the building, ignoring questions and postponing answers. Is it a possibility
that a personal agenda may
be driving whatever decision
they reach?
Barbara Bowers
Girdwood
To the Editor:
Have you ever been out
of your mind in excruciating
pain? Until I was hurt in an
accident, I never fully appreciated having a clinic close to
home. Receiving medication
to make the pain go away was
a huge relief!
A sustainable health clinic
in Girdwood is important to
the Turnagain Arm Commu-
In Memory BRENT WILCOX
Sep. 25, 1956 ~ Feb. 20, 2012
Brent G. Wilcox, 55, died unexpectedly in
Girdwood, Alaska on Monday, February 20,
2012.
He moved to Alaska and started working at
Alyeska Resort in July 2001 as a doorman. He
was quickly tapped to be a reservationist where
he moved up the ranks over the years. Brent was
promoted to Revenue Manager in the fall of 2009
where he has been a critical part of the hotel’s
pricing and forecasting team.
Adept with technology platforms and complex
hospitality booking systems, Brent worked handin-hand with a variety of hotel departments in establishing sound practices and policies for hotel
rates, package and overall guest service.
“Conscientious and dedicated, Brent was one
of the resort’s hardest workers,” said Mark Weakland, general manager of The Hotel Alyeska. “He
never stopped learning, always taking on new
challenges as they presented themselves. Brent
will be greatly missed.”
During his tenure at the resort, Brent was recognized multiple times by the Alaska Hotel &
Lodging Association’s annual Stars of the Industry program and received numerous employee of
Jacky Graham
Girdwood
the quarter nominations by his supervisors.
Brent was born in Pasadena, California and
grew up in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He attended La Jolla Country Day School, The Choate
School in Wallingford, Connecticut and graduated with honors from the film school at UCLA.
He loved to write and he loved music but most of
all he loved sharing his special perspectives and
special musical selections on public radio.
Brent’s passion for public radio led to over 30
years on air and fans worldwide. His first show
was in Los Angeles on KCRW 89.9 FM with his
show FRGK (Funny Rock God Knows), then
moving to Cambria, California, he took his fans
to “Dreamland” in San Luis Obispo.
For the last 11 years, Brent shared his love for
world music, progressive and alternative rock,
avant-garde, and experimental music with his extended family at Girdwood’s independent radio
station KEUL 88.9 FM. His radio show “Smoke
and Mirrors” aired every Sunday from 7 p.m. to
10 p.m. He was also the station’s Jazz music director.
Locals always knew they could find Brent
around town enjoying a good meal and a science
fiction book. Brent is survived by his mother,
Jane, and siblings Sarah, Rick, Ron and Dean.
Page 4
Turnagain Times
March 1, 2012
Hope Happenings
By Shyla Malone
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent
These snowy days, when
the wood smoke hovers above
the tree line, the log cabins
nestled into their woodland
settings and the mountains
playing peek-a-boo behind
the clouds, remind me of
how lucky I am to live in a
place with such rustic beauty.
Living in this woodland paradise comes with hazards as
well, with all this snow, the
moose have moved down to
graze, roaming our yards and
roads. Many have calves,
so be careful and keep an
eye on your animals if they
go outside; there have been
reports of a few of the moose
charging a couple people and
injuring a few pets.
Otherwise, I see a lot of
people getting out and enjoying the last few beautiful days of winter we have
left, whether they’re taking a
stroll or going for a snowmachine jaunt. In the next couple
of weeks, the snow will start
to melt away, the air will get
warmer, and winter will slip
into spring.
School News
The middle school class
on healthy snacks is going
great, they learn how to make
healthy nutritious snacks for
themselves. They also provide
the snacks for the students and
parents that attend the snowboarding lessons at Alyeska,
as well as the students who
remain at the school.
The K-3 classes are learning about plays and will be
performing a rendition of the
Lion and the Mouse sometime in March (the date was
unknown as of this writing).
There are only four more
lessons of snowboarding left.
The students are sure going to
miss this, as it is one of their
favorite school activities.
Hope school has picked
out a Physical Education specialist. Charlie Stephens from
Soldotna will come to our
school and help out in the P.E
class and program. He starts
on Monday and will come
once a month until the end of
the school year.
Grades K-7 will start a
Jump Rope for Heart P.E
program on Monday as well.
This program will teach them
basic jump rope skills and
possibly a few tricks. It also
promotes a fun way to keep
your heart healthy.
Congratulations to Shane
Cork for getting his driver’s
permit.
Ameri-Corps
There is an exercise class
for seniors at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. This class is doing
really well from what I hear
and is super fun, so if you’re
interested, stop by or call Lisa
Simono at 301-2499.
Lisa Simono has been
spring cleaning the recycling
shed located at the Discovery
Café. Just a little reminder, if
you have any plastic bottles
with the numbers 1 and 2 on
them, please bring them to the
recycle shed. Also crushed
aluminum cans, the Parent,
Teacher, Student, and Community Association gets 30
cents a pound for all donated
aluminum cans.
If you wish to recycle yourselves that’s fine as well, by
promoting recycling, the hope
is to lessen the impact these
items have on our landfills.
Mrs. T and Hope students
will be handing out aluminum can crushers after school
to those people who signed
up with Lisa for one. If you
would like one and didn’t sign
up, call Lisa Simono at 3012499.
Library News
The library book club has
chosen the mystery book
“Dark Mirror” written by
Barry Maitland as their book
for March. They will meet on
March 24 at 3 p.m. If you’re
interested in the book club,
call the Hope Library at 7823121.
The library is in the process
of giving away all their VCR
tapes for free. They want to
get rid of them before the end
of March to make room for
new DVDs. If no one comes
to claim them, they will go to
the dump.
Permanent Fund Dividend
applications are located at the
library, if you are in need of
one, stop by the and one of
the superb volunteers can help
you out.
The library is open everyday from noon to 3 p.m., depending on volunteer schedules. A list of volunteers and
their schedules is posted on
the library’s front door and
on the bulletin board of the
post office. There is also a
wide new selection of DVDs
and books for you to peruse
through.
Church News
Church is every Sunday
at 3 p.m. The food bank is
on Thursdays from noon to
1 p.m., and Bible study is at
3 p.m. on Thursdays. This
Sunday, Feb. 19, there will be
a church potluck held immediately after church services.
Other News
Hope EMS department
has seven new Emergency
Trauma Technicians: Maura
O’Connell, Eric Johnson, Lisa
Simono, Joyce Burgin, Tom
Burgin, Alex Ipalook, and
Herbie (who works for Nova).
Congratulations to you all,
and thank you for volunteering.
Tito’s Discovery Café will
be open from March 1 to April
20.
Poem of the Month
Glittering yellow nuggets,
Oh so hard to find
Loony you’ve driven most
Despite their golden dreams.
– Shyla Malone
State of Alaska
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Division of Mining, Land and Water
Realty Services Section
550 West 7th Avenue Suite 1050 A
Anchorage, AK 99501-3759
ADL 231275
Proposed Partial Reconveyance
Federal Mining Claims AA-56277, AA-56278, AA-56282 and AA-56283
The Division of Mining Land and Water has made a preliminary decision under AS 38.05.035(e) and
(b)(9) to reconvey to the United States of America approximately 40 acres of erroneously conveyed
State land, located within the S½ of Section 34, Township 11 North, Range 2 East, Seward Meridian,
Alaska. The reconveyance consists of those portions of four federal mining claims located within the
S½ of Section 34, located roughly four miles north of Girdwood.
The public is invited to comment on this preliminary decision. A copy of the Preliminary Decision is
available from the address above or by contacting Diane Sam at (907)334-2550 or by email at
diane.sam@alaska.gov. Comments must be in writing and received at the above physical address,
email address or fax number (907-269-8509) before 4:30 p.m., on April 2, 2012, in order to be
considered. Be sure to reference ADL 231275 in your comments.
Following the comment deadline, all written responses will be considered and this decision may be
modified to incorporate public comments. Only persons who comment during the public comment period
will be eligible to file an administrative appeal of the Final Finding and Decision. A copy of the Final
Finding and Decision will be sent to any person who comments on the Preliminary Decision. The final
decision will include appeal instructions.
The Department of Natural Resources, complies with Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of
1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services or special modifications to
participate should contact the TTY number 907-269-8411 or the address above.
The Division reserves the right to waive technical defects in this notice.
/s/ Jerri Sansone, Chief, Realty Services Section
•
Published: March 1, 2012
March 1, 2012
Turnagain Times
Page 5
Cooper Landing News
By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent
Local Fisherman Takes
Plunge into Icy River
Saturday, Feb. 25, was a
beautiful day to go fishing
on the Kenai River. The sun
was shining it was a balmy
9 degrees and the water was
beautiful. Local fly fishing
enthusiasts, Fly Bob and
Gary Brown were out enjoying what nature had to offer
when Fly Bob stepped on to
some thin ice on the river and
fell through. Gary Brown witnessed him fall and immediately called 911.
Local volunteer fireman,
Andrew Brown heard the
call on the radio at about
10:40 a.m. and was the first
to respond. State Troopers responded and got to the scene
of the accident quickly as
well. Jonathan Osowiecki,
volunteer fireman, drove the
fire truck with strong ropes
and a sled gurney to the scene
of the accident.
The two troopers and two
volunteer firemen worked to
get Fly Bob out of the water
as quickly as possible. They
tied a loop at the end of a rope
and had Fly Bob put his head
and one arm through. They
pulled him through 15 feet of
ice before they finally got him
on top of some ice that would
hold him and got him onto
the sled gurney, so they could
pull him to the ambulance and
emergency crew standing by
with equipment to help Fly
Bob after his cold water emersion.
Fly Bob spent nearly 20
minutes in the icy waters of
the Kenai River and had to be
Life Flighted out after his very
scary ordeal.
1st Annual Snowshoe
Softball Extravaganza
Huge Success
Saturday afternoon Feb. 25,
many Cooper Landing residents gathered at the Community Hall and ball field for the 1st
Annual Snow Shoe Softball Extravaganza. The event was the
idea of local, Charlotte Curry
and local BIRCH AmeriCorps
member, Kristen Troxclair
Fuller helped to plan it. Funds
were raised for the Cooper
Landing Fire Department in the
form of donations from participants and spectators. Over 90
residents and friends got out for
this fun event.
There was a snow shoe
softball game, with costumes
encouraged, ice skating for
the kids, with an ice skating
rink provided by the Cooper
Landing Volunteer Fire Department, ice bowling, and a pot
luck.
There was also a raffle with
prizes donated by local businesses and artists, and there was
a trophy for the winning team
made by Rabbit, and prizes
given for best costumes. The
participants signed up before
the game and were put on the
red team or the yellow team.
The red team was the victors in
the end and the winners of the
trophy.
Sean Norris won first place
in the costume contest with
his golfer costume complete
with clubs, a nod to the previous issue of Turnagain Times in
which the event was mistakenly called 1st Annual Snowshoe
Golf Ball Extravaganza. Many
volunteers worked to make
this event possible, including
RAVEN AmeriCorps member
Krissy Route, and Volunteer
Firemen, Dan Michels, Dan
Osborne, Carl Allendorf, and
Andrew Brown.
Carl Allendorf spoke before
the game and explained that the
Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire
Department would be applying
for a grant through Alaska State
Division of Forestry. The Grant
is a 10 percent cost shared
grant through Rural Volunteer
Fire Assistance. The goal was
to raise $1,000 through donations from the community and
use the money from the grant
and donations for much needed
equipment. At the end of the
day the Snowshoe Softball
Extravaganza raised $706. An
anonymous donor made up the
difference and the $1,000 goal
has been reached.
Fun was had by all who attended and the community will
look forward to this becoming a
yearly tradition.
Training Opportunities
for Those Wanting to
Volunteer for Cooper
Landing Emergency
Services
6:30, and 7:30 p.m. Please call
the Cooper Landing School
595-1244 to make reservations
for this delicious corned beef
and cabbage dinner, served by
Cooper Landing School students. Get out enjoy a great
meal and a Cooper Landing tradition, and show your support
for Cooper Landing School.
March 10 Ski Event
at Russian River
Trauma Campground Trails
An Emergency
Training Class will be offered
in Moose Pass March 2, 3, 4,
9, 10, and 11.
An EMT 1 Bridge Class will
be offered through Moose pass
Fire/EMS Department March
16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, and
31; April 1, 6, 7, 8 and 14. Both
of these classes are great training opportunities for anyone
interested in volunteering for
Cooper Landing Emergency
Services or Fire Department.
Please call Cheryle James for
more information.
St. Patrick’s Day
Dinner March 7
There will be a fun ski event
March 10 at the Russian River
Campground ski trails starting
at 2 p.m. Depending upon conditions, there will be skijoring,
classical, and skate ski friendly
competitions, with special recognition for those participating
in all three events. There will
be a bonfire cook out and all
are encouraged to bring snacks
and beverages to share.
This event will be a fundraiser to support groomed ski
trails. Ski Cooper Landing pins
made popular by Shelby will
be available for purchase, they
are a limited edition item.
Sackett’s Roadhouse will
have specials available that
evening for participants in the
event. Get out March 10 show
you support for the folks who
work so hard to bring Cooper
Landing groomed ski trails,
and enjoy the beauty of skiing
Cooper Landing.
Free Specialty Clinic at
Senior Housing Raven’s View Commons
Peninsula
Community
Health Services, in conjunction with Cooper Landing
Health Clinic, is offering a
free specialty Clinic March
16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
the Senior Housing Raven’s
View Commons. There will
be free skin cancer screenings. If a biopsy is needed the
cost will be the responsibility
of the patient. The fee will be
eligible for a sliding discount
or billed to insurance. Patients
should bring insurance cards.
There will also be free fall risk
assessments available.
The Annual St. Patrick’s
Day Dinner Fundraiser has had
a change of date. The dinner
will be held at The Sunrise Inn
on Wednesday, March 7. There
are seatings available at 5:30,
Double Musky Inn
Cajun Cuisine
Girdwood, Alaska
Since 1962
“Laissez les bon temps rouler!”
Closed Mondays
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday .................. 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday ........................ 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Page 6
Turnagain Times
March 1, 2012
Out of the Town: Anchorage Bowl Arts & Entertainment
By Robin Rosemond
Special to the Turnagain Times
Fat Tuesday has come and
gone in New Orleans. The
Crescent City has quieted
down and only two people
were shot. I haven’t walked
so much in ages. That’s what
you do in New Orleans. You
walk. You can also ride your
bike, which is a practical and
pleasant way to travel here.
There are no hills and the bicyclist is treated with respect,
unlike Alaska where you can
get run over by a truck at any
moment.
New Orleans has a way
that is slow and easy. It gets
under your skin and you feel
apart of something wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, I
miss the ice and snow and
I miss Fur Rondy! You can
still participate in all the local
madness of Rondy through
March 6.
March 3, The Jack River
Kings are playing at The Tap
Root. This great local band
is comprised of some of the
best rock and country musicians Anchorage has to offer.
Its members obviously enjoy
playing music together, and
the result is a blend of country
and power rock. They will
rock the Tap Root and the
great thing is there’s room to
dance! So order some wings
and a beer and indulge in the
great melodies of this feel
good band. Tap Root, 3300
Spenard Road. For more information call: 345-0282.
Lamb Of God is plying the
Egan Center March 9.The
bands title Lamb of God (in
Latin Agnus Dei) appears
in the Gospel of John, with
the exclamation of John The
Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of
God who takes away the sin
of the world” in John 1:39
when he sees Jesus.
Although in Christian
teachings, Lamb of God
refers to Jesus Christ in his
role of the perfect sacrificial
offering, specific Christological arguments disassociate it from the Old Testament
concept of a “scape goat”
which is subjected to punishment for the sins of others,
without knowing it or willing
it. These teachings emphasize that Jesus chose to suffer
at Calvary as a sign of his
full obedience to the will of
his Father, as an “agent and
servant of God”.
The Lamb of God title
has found widespread use in
Christian prayers and as a
form of contemplative prayer.
Agnus Dei has also been the
subject of musical settings
by well known composers.
It’s fitting that Lamb of God,
the heavy metal band that’s
coming to the Egan center
March 9 is arriving in early
spring to rock the house!
Family Tree and UP Concerts are bringing Lamb of
Robin Rosemond/Turnagain Times
Nothing says heaven like ribeye steaks at Leatha’s in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
God to Alaska for one show
only. Decepticide, Kallahan,
Chased Through The Woods,
and Dire are the opening acts.
This is an all ages show. Full
bar will be available with
proper ID. Tickets are $40
advance, $45 day of show.
The Egan Center 555 W 5th
Avenue. For information call
(800)-745-3000.
The
SpiN
Electronic
Music Festival is coming
March 10 to the Egan Center.
This promises to be a journey
into a fresh dimension of
Light, Sound, and Themed
Stage Design. SPiN, Alaska’s
Electronic Music Festival
marks the beginning of Alaska’s entry into world festival
scene. This should not to be
missed. With headline acts
including Matt Darey, StoneBridge, Matt Aubrey, and
Holevar this festival is likely
to sell out; so buy your tickets
in advance! For more information call: 469-271-1412
Illusionist Magician Eric
Giliam brings his magic to
the Discovery Theatre stage
March 11 for two performances. Top Shelf Entertainment is proud to introduce
local boy Eric Giliam, Alaska’s finest professional ma-
eberle
gician and illusionist. This
show is certain to be Eric’s
finest to date with the debut
of several grand illusions sure
to leave the audience in awe.
The all-ages show will demonstrate to the audience that
not everything seen on stage
can be explained. Tickets are
available at CenterTix.net or
263-ARTS.
Traveling north through
Mississippi on Fat Tuesday,
we searched for a good BBQ
spot and found Leatha’s for
a late lunch. On the road to
Birmingham, in Hattiesburg,
Mississippi Leatha’s BBQ has
a well-deserved four stars on
the internet. It’s a laid back,
family owned restaurant with
humble appeal. They were
out of beef ribs, so we ordered
ribeye steaks, cole slaw, fried
potatoes, potato salad and
baked beans. Deliciousness. I
will go back. There’s a photo
of Leatha’s family hanging
on the wall of the historic restaurant. Leatha’s BBQ: 6374
US Highway 98 Hattiesburg,
Mississippi. For information
call (601) 271-6003.
Write to me: rosebud61155@
mac.com or check out my
blog: www.rosemondpost.com.
EYECARE
South Anchorage
Providing Family Eyecare for Turnagain Arm
and South Anchorage
Comprehensive eye exams, contacts, glasses
and vision therapy in a state of the art facility
Located on the corner of Old Seward and O’Malley across from Lowe’s
Now accepting new patients
“Life is worth seeing”
Tel. 344-3700
1 0 9 9 8 O’M a lle y C e nt r e D r iv e , A nc hor a ge A K 9 9 5 1 5
March 1, 2012
Turnagain Times
Page 7
Moose Passings
Willow Hetrick
Turnagain Times
Moose Pass Correspondent
Sportsmen’s Club
Annnual Meeting
The Moose Pass Sportsmen’s Club held its annual
meeting on Jan. 25 at the
Community Hall. The club
elected officers for 2012.
Jan Odhner replaced Mark
Kromrey, who graciously
served as President for three
years. Bobbie Jo Kolodzieski
replaced Judy Odhner, who
served as Vice President for
five years. Dawn Campbell
and Ben Ikerd agreed to serve
additional terms as Secretary
and Treasurer respectively.
The audience acknowledged their appreciation for
those who have dedicated
so much of their time to the
community. The meeting’s
agenda also included presentations from community
organizations. Phil Ingersol, Fire Captain with the
Moose Pass Volunteer Fire
Company, discussed accomplishments and goals for that
group. Jill Buttrey, librarian
for the Moose Pass Library,
discussed the library issues.
One of the topics postponed
was a meeting to discuss the
building security and access
to portions of the building
with keys and locks.
Jeff Hetrick gave a short
presentation on the Moose
Pass Advisory Planning
Commission. The Club also
canvassed the attendees and
membership (some absent)
to agree to various committee
assignments for the Annual
Solstice festival, June 23-24,
2012. The minutes from the
meeting will be available at
the next meeting.
Kenai Peninsula
Borough Assembly
Report
Our
Valentine’s
Day
meeting began with a joint
budget work session with the
Kenai Peninsula Borough
School District administration and several school board
members. The administration
presented their preliminary
2012-2013 budget. The intent
is to maintain current programs, and to accomplish this
they are requesting approximately $1.25 million above
the current local support, in
addition to the use about $2.5
million of their fund balance.
It is uncertain that there
will be any increase in state
funding, and also the negotiations with employee groups
makes this a very preliminary estimate. At our regular
meeting we heard a presentation from Dan Bevington, the
KPB Floodplain Administrator, on the status of floodplain management and KPB
Chapter 21.06 implementation. Much of the 2011 overview involved actions taken
in the Seward-Bear Creek
Flood Service Area.
We had four ordinances
up for public hearing, and
passed all four by unanimous consent. These included approving the KPB energy
policy guide, appropriating
$240,000 from the interest gained from the Spruce
Bark Beetle fund to fund the
program through June, and
appropriating funds from the
Central Peninsula Hospital
plant replacement and expansion fund for renovating the
hospital’s imaging department. Of local interest, Ordinance 2011-42 authorized a
land exchange of 0.56 acres in
Seward between the borough
and the City of Seward.
The details of the Seward
utility’s use of the property
and the improvements on the
land acquired by the Borough
on the Seward school property remain to be detailed
by the City Council and the
School District. We passed
seven resolutions on the
consent agenda. One supported Chugach Electric’s application for State assistance on
improvement to the Hope/
Sunrise power distribution
line system, stemming from
the outages this winter, sponsored by the Mayor.
Two ordinances were
moved on for public hearing
on February 28. Ordinance
2011-19-71 would appropriate $35,000 to pay for outside
counsel to defend against
a lawsuit brought by the
Kahtnu Ventures group that
was proposing the ambulatory surgical center in Kenai.
The other appropriates
funds from the State through
SB 84 to provide vocational and technical instruction
to grades 9-12. Seward will
receive $179,898 for an addition to the Seward High
School shop from this appropriation. Ordinances moved
to public hearing at our 3-13
meeting, include Ordinance
2011-19-70 which would appropriate $200,000 to hire
consultants to determine the
course of action to pursue regarding curtailing health care
costs.
Ordinance
2011-1972 would appropriate $4.7
million to construct a radiation oncology facility at
CPH, although discussions
with a private group, which
is proposing a center adjacent
to the hospital, may negate
this. We also have an ordinance appropriating funds to
purchase new sales tax software. Our next meeting will
be February 28th. As always,
I can be reached at 224-6784,
or smcclure@borough.kenai.
ak.us, and the information
on all meetings is available
atwww.borough.kenai.ak.us.
The Seward Annex office is
also available for information.
Forest Service
Trails Updates
By Irene Lindquist
Many phone calls from
folks concerned with venturing out after reading the
Chugach National Forest Avalanche updates. Awesome,
thanks for checking on conditions. But also have had
folks needlessly cancel trips
to cabins on Seward Ranger
District winter used trails in
areas safe from avalanches.
For more detailed information please call the following people in the categories
listed: Avalalanche specific information on Seward
Ranger District, primarily
for Summit Lake area call
Alex Mclain at 288-7710,
cabins call Pat Cook at 2887711, winter used trails/area/
cabins call Mike Fitzpatrick
at 288-7714, Pat O’Leary at
288-7702, Irene Lindquist at
288-7748 and John Eavis at
288-7701.
Snowpack has settled
with the warm temps this
past week, freezing at night
will help make travel a little
easier, though, off trail travel
by snowmobile is still a
chore. More areas of overflow beneath snow to watch
out for, and ice/snow bridges
that have collapsed making
travel up creek and river
bottoms a bit more difficult
and challenging.
So where’s the good
news? Travel with classic
skis or snowshoes through
the woods are very good due
to the ever-increasing snowpack. Lots of good exploring,
especially when you can’t
find the trail because of all
the snow. Exit Glacier Road
to the glacier is packed and
in great condition, possible
to skate ski, though grooves
make it more challenging.
Check out Seward Nordic Ski
Club and Cooper Landing
Grooming Report websites
for latest groomed trails.
ANCHOR INN
For reservations call 1-877-870-8787
Vacation Condos for rent • Hotel Accommodations
Affordable Rates • Satellite TV • FREE Parking
Phone in Room • Full Service Restaurant • Laundromat
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Free Shuttle Service Call for details
Why stay elsewhere when the Anchor Inn offers
inexpensive, attractive lodging, close to
Girdwood, by beautiful Prince William Sound!
Phone: 472-2354 Fax: 472-2394
P.O. Box 750 • Whittier, AK 99693
email: info@anchorinnwhittier.com
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Page 8
Turnagain Times
March 1, 2012
Mountain News
By Amy Quesenberry
Special to the Turnagain Times
Lucero at the Sitzmark
Lucero returns for three
nights this weekend, March 1,
2 and 3. The punk/alt-country
band will play whiskey-soaked
tracks from their eighth album,
Women & Work, scheduled to
be released on March 13. Integrating horns, pedal steel guitar,
keyboards and even a full-on
gospel chorus, Women & Work
is a fully realized Memphis
country-soul record. The Saturday night of Lucero is part
of Odom Southern Wine and
Spirit’s theme night presented
by Jameson Irish whiskey and
Pabst Blue Ribbon. Participants dressed in southern rock
costumes will be eligible to win
prizes. Show starts at 10 p.m.,
21 and over. Tickets are available online, at the Sitzmark and
Ticket Offices, or by calling
754-2275. $20 advanced, $25
day of show.
Beer Dinner
Alyeska and Denali Brewing
Company are hosting a beer
dinner on Sunday, March 4 at
the Sitzmark Bar & Grill. A
special three-course menu designed by Chef Jason Porter
will feature Halibut Sliders
paired with Agave Gold, Beer
Cheese Soup paired with Single
Engine Red, and Braised Short
Ribs paired with Matt Porter.
Dinner will be served
between 5 and 8 p.m. and the
cost is $39 per person. An optional Chuli Stout Ice Cream
Float can be added for $5. A
representative from Denali
Brewing Co. will be on hand
to answer questions and share
stories about the brewery.
Military Monday
Alyeska thanks the Armed
Forces with a day of free lift
tickets on Monday, March 5.
Military members also get 50
percent off gear rentals (excludes demo) and lunch specials at Glacier Express and
Sitzmark. Special room rates
are also available. Offer valid
for immediate family members
with military ID. Jared Woods
will perform après ski music at
the Sitzmark from 3 to 7 p.m.
“Get Out” Sale
If your ski and snowboard
gear has seen better days, it
might be time to forgo the duct
tape and update your look.
During the month of March at
Alyeska Mountain Shop and
Max’s Sport Shop you can
save 20 percent off on outerwear and up to 30 percent with
purchase of jacket and pants
together. Save 20 percent off
skis and snowboards and up to
30 percent a full system purchase that includes bindings.
Featured brands rotate weekly
throughout March and include
Salomon, Burton, Bonfire
and 686. Look for additional savings at Glacier Gift &
Gallery and Sundry Shop.
Pipeline Masters
The Third Annual Pipeline
Masters Super Pipe Comp
will take place on Saturday, March 10 at 5 p.m. The
event is open to skiers and
snowboarders ages 13 to 17
and 18 and up. Prizes provided by Zaks Boardroom
and Alyeska Mountain Shop.
Register at the Ticket Office
until 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Entry $25. Helmets
required. Call 754-2275 for
more information.
Absolut Trivia
Join Dana and Jen every
Wednesday at the Sitzmark for
Absolut Trivia Night in March
and April. Teams of up to six
people can compete in this epic
battle of wits. All players will
be entered in a raffle to win a
private snowcat for twelve,
and additional raffle tickets
will be awarded to those who
purchase Absolut cocktails.
Games begin at 8 p.m.
McNally & Hot Sauce
Shannon McNally and Hot
Sauce will play three nights
at the Sitzmark on March 8,
9 and 10. Shannon McNally
is an alt-country singer-songwriter with a sultry, mellow
CONTINENTALAUTOGROUP.com
OVERFLOW
voice. Her band is called Hot
Sauce. Show starts at 10 p.m.,
21 and over. Tickets are available online, at the Sitz and
Ticket Offices, or by calling
754-2275. $10 advanced, $15
day of show with two-for-one
tickets on Thursday night.
Potcheen on St. Patty’s
Ultimate party band from
Colorado Potcheen will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at
the Sitzmark for three nights
on March 15 to 17. The band
plays Irish pub standards with
flavors of bluegrass, zydeco,
punk, jam, blues & rock all
rolled up in a pirate sensibility. The Saturday night of
Potcheen is part of Odom
Wine and Spirit’s theme night
presented by Jameson Irish
Whiskey and Guinness Stout.
Dress in green and win prizes.
Show starts at 10 p.m., 21
and over. Tickets are available online, at the Sitz and
Ticket Offices, or by calling
754-2275. $10 advanced, $15
day of show with two-for-one
tickets on Thursday night.
Alyeska Chugach Open
The 2012 Chugach Open
will showcase Alyeska’s challenging double black diamond
terrain with select venues typically not open to the general
public, testing even the most
experienced freeriders. The
three day competition is scheduled for March 22 to 25.
New this year! Top men
and women ski and snowboard
finishers will be entered in the
World Heli Challenge Alaska
in Valdez. Open to all disciples, divisions for 18 and older
and juniors (ages 13 to 17). To
register for the Chugach Open
go to www.alyeskaresort.com/
chugachopenregistration.
Seven Glaciers Expands Dinner Schedule
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In addition to lunch and
dinner on Fridays, Saturdays
and Sundays, Seven Glaciers
will now be serving dinner
starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The last day
of service for the 2011/12 ski
season will be Sunday, April
22.Seven Glaciers will resume
summer hours on May 25 and
will be open daily for dinner at
5 p.m. through early October.
The popular Seven Glaciers
Wine Dinner series offer
guests a custom chef’s tasting
menu paired with a featured
winery. The dinner on March
25 will feature Duckhorn from
Napa Valley. Dinner will start
at 7 p.m. and seatings are $165
per person. For restaurant reservations call 754-2237 or
go online at OpenTable.com.
J Mascis+The Fog
J Mascis is founder of altrock band Dinosaur Jr. and
creator of some of the modern
rock era’s most signature
chops. Do not miss J and his
band The Fog for two nights on
March 30 and 31 in the Daylodge. Doors open at 7 p.m.
and Eric McFadden takes the
stage at 8 p.m. Eric McFadden
will also perform at the afterparty at the Sitzmark following the Daylodge show for $5.
Tickets cost $20 advanced and
$25 day of show. 21 & over
only, please.
Northface Vertical
Challenge Results
This year’s Northface Vertical Challenge was held Feb.
24. The women’s and men’s
Alpine winners were: Danielle Shannon, 42 laps and
John Love, 47 laps. Justin
Grebe was the Snowboard
winner with 42 laps and Gavin
Ramsey was the Telemark
winner with 41 laps. Visit
www.turnagaintimes.com for
complete results.
March 1, 2012
Turnagain Times
Page 9
TROOPER REPORT
The Alaska State Troopers
reported the following incidents. Any charges reported are
merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
Motor Vehicle Collision
MILE 96.8 SEWARD
HWY—Feb. 13 at approximately 2:46 p.m., Troopers
arrived at a single vehicle crash
near mile 96.8 of the Seward
Highway. An investigation revealed Scottie Lackie, age 17 of
Anchorage, was traveling North
in a green Ford Escape. Lackie
lost control of the vehicle on
slush-covered roads, slid off
the highway, and struck a sign.
Lackie reported wearing his
safety belt and received no injuries. Damage to the vehicle was
estimated at $3,000. Alcohol
was not a factor.
Motor Vehicle Crash,
Damage
GIRDWOOD—Feb. 13 at
3:47 p.m., Troopers responded
to a report of a motor vehicle
crash involving two vehicle at
the intersection of the Alyeska
Highway and Alyeska View in
Girdwood. This crash was reported as a damage only crash.
The crash investigation revealed
Matthew Edward Malecha, age
17 of Girdwood, was operating
a late ‘90s pickup truck traveling southbound on Alyeska
View. Valerie Anne Delaune,
age 52 of Homer, was operating
a late ‘80’s station wagon type
vehicle traveling westbound on
the Alyeska Highway. Malecha
failed to stop for a posted stop
on Alyeska View at the Alyeska
Highway. Delaune was not able
to stop or avoid a collision with
Malecha’s vehicle. Delaune’s
vehicle clipped the back end
of Malecha’s vehicle. Malecha’s vehicle sustained minor
damage. Delaune’s vehicle sustained more than $500 damage.
Both vehicles were drivable.
Both drivers were using seat
belts, and there were no injuries.
Driving While License
Revoked, DUI Felony
MILE
97
SEWARD
HWY—Feb. 13 at 2:40 p.m.,
Troopers responded to 97 mile
of the Seward Highway for
a report of a vehicle that had
driven off the highway and was
stuck in a snowberm. Troopers
arrived and contacted Fotinia
Kuznetsoff, age 41 of Willow,
the driver of the vehicle. The
subsequent investigation revealed that Kuznetsoff had
been driving her vehicle while
her license was revoked for 2
prior DUI convictions. Kuznetsoff was arrested for Driving
While Licensed Revoked.
Kuznetsoff was transported
to the Girdwood Trooper post
where she was found to be
impaired by alcohol. Kuznetsoff was subsequently charged
with felony DUI and remanded
to the Anchorage Jail. Bail was
set at $12, 500.
own recognizance with a
future court date.
Motor Vehicle Collision
Motor Vehicle Collision
MILE
70
SEWARD
HWY—Feb. 13 at around 4:58
p.m., Troopers were providing
traffic control for a 2007 black
semi pulling doubles stuck in
the southbound lane near mile
70 of the Seward Highway.
Michael M. Benedicto, age
33 of Anchorage, was driving
a green 1995 Chevrolet SUV
traveling northbound. Benedicto lost control of his vehicle
after seeing the semi stuck on
the highway. Benedicto was
unable to regain control of his
vehicle and struck the semi.
The semi was operated by
Robert J. Phillips, age 61 of
Wasilla. Both drivers reported
having no injuries. Benedicto
was wearing his seatbelt. Phillips was not wearing his seatbelt because he had just got
into the vehicle before the collision. Both vehicles sustained
over $2,500 in damages.
INDIAN—Feb. 22 at 6:48
p.m., Troopers responded to a
single vehicle rollover at mile
106 of the Seward Highway.
Troopers contacted Natalie
Hamilton, age 25 of Hope.
Hamilton was northbound on
the Seward Highway when
she lost control of her vehicle
and drove off the side of the
road. Hamilton was uninjured
and was wearing her seatbelt
at the time of the collision. No
improper driving was detected and Hamilton was released
from the scene. Weather and
road conditions were factors in
the collision.
DUI
GIRDWOOD—Feb.
19
at about 12:30 a.m., Troopers conducted a traffic stop on
a red Jeep SUV for an equipment violation at 0.5 mile of the
Alyeska Highway in Girdwood.
An investigation revealed that
the driver of the vehicle, Shaun
A. Champion, age 34 of Girdwood, was driving while impaired by alcohol. Champion
was arrested and transported to
the Anchorage Jail. Bail was set
at $500.
Driving While License
Revoked
GIRDWOOD—Feb. 21 at
about 7:20 p.m., Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a gray
2011 Ford SUV for a moving
violation near mile 2.5 of the
Alyeska Highway. The driver
was identified as John M.
Puffer, age 38 of Sugar Land,
Texas. An investigation revealed Puffer was driving with
a revoked driver’s license.
Puffer was issued a Misdemeanor Citation for DWLR
and a Minor Offense Citation
for the moving violation. The
vehicle was released to a licensed driver.
Driving While License
Revoked
MILE
93
SEWARD
HWY—Feb. 22 at around
3:13 p.m., Troopers contacted
Regina Nieuwenhuis, age 24
of Anchorage, for a moving
violation near mile 93 of the
Seward Highway. A records
check revealed Nieuwenhuis’
driver’s license was currently
revoked. Nieuwenhuis was arrested and transported to the
Girdwood Trooper post. Nieuwenhuis was charged with one
count of DWLR and given
Minor Offense Citations for
the moving violations. Nieuwenhuis was released on her
Motor Vehicle Collision
INDIAN—Feb. 22 at 5:51
p.m., Troopers responded to
a damage only, two-vehicle
collision at mile 103 of the
Seward Highway. Troopers
contacted Breta Brown, age
38 of Nikiski and Sze Pang,
age 35 of Anchorage. The two
drivers were northbound on
the Seward Highway when
both vehicles collided. No injuries were reported and all occupants were wearing seatbelts
at the time of the crash. Road
surface and weather conditions
were factors in the collision.
Motor Vehicle Collision
MILE
98
SEWARD
HWY—Feb. 24 at around
noon, Troopers responded
to a single vehicle rollover
near mile 98 of the Seward
Highway. An investigation revealed Joseph Yukiah Nichel,
age 38 of Soldotana, was
driving a 2006 Toyota Tacoma
pickup northbound when he
lost control of his vehicle, slid
across the southbound lanes
sideways and hit the snow embankment causing the truck to
roll two times in the ditch. All
occupants reported wearing
seatbelts and received minor
injuries. The motorists refused
medical treatment. The vehicle
was estimated at a total loss.
Water Rescue
COOPER
LANDING—
Feb. 25 at around 10:40 a.m.,
dispatch received a call of
man in water on the river at
the bridge in Cooper Landing.
Bob Overman, 57 of Cooper
Landing, was walking on the
ice to get into position for flyfishing. He broke through the
ice and went into the water.
Overman was able cling to the
ice while his fishing companion, who was on the other bank
of the river, called for help. The
witness stated that Overman
had submerged at least once.
First on scene was a member
of the Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire and Rescue and an
Alaska Wildlife Trooper. The
two used a parachute cord tied
to a backpack to throw out to
Overman. After several attempts Overman was still in
the water but approximately
10 feet close to shore. A second
member of the Cooper Landing
Volunteer Fire and Rescue
arrived on scene. He was able
to put together a makeshift
lasso to throw out to Overman.
Overman was able to get the
lasso wrapped on his arm so
he could be pulled out of the
water and 25 yards closer to
shore where the ice was thick
enough to support his weight
and the weight of the three rescuers. Overman was loaded
onto a rescue sled and pulled
to an ambulance waiting at a
residence nearby. The ambulance transported Overman to
an airstrip and LifeMed flew
him to an Anchorage hospital.
Overman had been in the water
for approximately 18 minutes.
Page 10
Turnagain Times
March 1, 2012
NEWS BRIEFS ••• NEWS BRIEFS ••• NEW BRIEFS
President Obama
appoints Girdwood
tour operator to
National Advisory
Board for U.S. Travel
and Tourism
Girdwood-based tour operator Kirk Hoessle, president of
Alaska Wildland Adventures,
was appointed by President
Obama to the National Visitor
Industry Advisory Board for
U.S. Travel and Tourism.
Hoessle was recommended by
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich.
“I learned about it in the
last week of December and
was formerly sworn in Jan.
19 down in Orlando, Florida,”
he told the Turnagain Times.
“I had been asked by Sen.
Begich’s office, and told that
they were submitting names
to the Secretary of Commerce.
I was one of the names being
considered, but I didn’t know
I’d be at the top of the list or
anything. The Secretary of
Commerce was interested in
getting some of the smaller
companies represented.”
Alaska Wildland Adventures began operating in Girdwood in 1989. It has 12 yearround employees and 100
seasonal workers. They have
a base operation in Cooper
Landing where they offer
rafting and fishing trips from
a renovated historic hunting
lodge in the Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge on Skilak
Lake.
Hoessle said the newest operation is a joint venture with
the native village corporation
of Port Graham in Aialik Bay
outside of Seward west of
Resurrection Bay.
“That’s a 16 cabin totally
wilderness lodge built on
native lands,” Hoessle said,
“and we worked really hard to
limit our impact.”
The mission of Alaska
Wildland Adventures is low
impact, small group tours led
by naturalist guides to better
understand and appreciate
Alaska wilderness, he said,
“and at the end of the day
come back to a comfortable
lodge and life’s amenities and
do it again the next day.”
As for his position on the
advisory board, Hoessle said
he’s been asked to represent
the small business sectors he
participates in and the region
itself.
“I’m a point man for Alaska
tourism,” he said, “and I’ve
been trying to take a broader
Alaska perspective as well as a
smaller business perspective.”
The time involved on the
board is not great, he said,
with quarterly meetings,
generally short meetings in
between committee work and
phone conferences.
“It’s something I’ve looked
at carefully and requires
about 20 to 40 hours of work
a quarter,” he said, “and we
do a lot of reviewing of draft
documents for the Secretary
of Commerce.
As for pay, there is none
for the position, he said, and
board members are obligated
to pay their own travel expenses.
“It’s strictly an all volunteer experience,” he said. “For
me, I look at it as a continuing education, and you look at
the roster of board members
and there are CEOs of Visa
and U.S. Airways, and other
very large corporations, and
restaurant owners, boat operators, visitors bureaus. It’s
a very diverse group to learn
a lot from and form initiatives that will benefit us here
in Alaska.”
Girdwood skier
survives avalanche
that kills three
Former Girdwood resident
Classified Advertising
Up to 25 words for $20 • 25¢ each additional word
Email: info@turnagaintimes.com
Tel: 783-1135 • Fax: 907-783-1136
P.O. Box 1044, Girdwood, AK 99587
and pro freeskier Elyse Saugstad survived an avalanche that
killed three in Stevens Pass
ski area in Washington state
around noon Sunday, Feb. 19.
She was part of a group of 13
that were descending down a
commonly used backcountry
route outside of the boundaries of the ski area, reported
ESPN.com.
The three people killed
were Freeskiing World Tour
head judge Jim Jack, Stevens
Pass Director of Marketing Chris Rudolph and skier
John Brenan – all residents of
Leaveworth, Wash.
Saugstad, 33, who grew
up skiing in Girdwood, credited an air bag device in her
backpack that she deployed to
saving her life. The avalanche
carried her and the three deceased skiers about 2,0003,000 feet.
Saugstad’s head and hands
were all that could be seen
above the snow when rescuers
arrived about 10 minutes after
the slide. All of the people in
her group were experienced in
backcountry skiing, and they
all had avalanche rescue gear.
Girdwood named one
of the World’s Best
Ski Towns by National
Geographic
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN CHURCH
All church services are held in the basement
of the Begich Towers Building.
• Sunday Morning Service @ 11:00am
• Tuesday Family Bible Study @ 6:30 pm
(Childcare provided when requested)
• Wednesday Children’s Bible Study @ 6:00 pm
• Saturday Men’s Fellowship Group @ 7:00 pm
• Self-Defense Club for ages 10 and up
Friday @ 5:00-5:30 pm
Sunday @ 4:00-4:30 pm
The world has discovered Girdwood and Alyeska
Resort. National Geographic
last month listed it as one of
the top 25 World’s Best Ski
Towns. It was included as
“Best For: Off-the-beatenpath powder hounds with an
*Classes are $10 per week and a permission slip
is required for every participant.
For more information, please call
Pastor Kevin Jones at 472-2483
Family First Dentistry
The new home of the
Girdwood Dental Center
The Doctors, “T”, and the rest of our staff are
here to welcome you in Dr. Joe’s absence.
Thank you Girdwood
for a great year!
All classified ads must be paid in advance either by including payment when placing the ad or charging it to a VISA
or MasterCard. Please mail, email or fax your order with
payment.
Girdwood Lots for Sale: Located on Tanner Circle. Beautiful mountain views in Alyeska basin. Call Tim at 907632-8467.
Alaska Statewide Land Sale: The Alaska Mental Health
Trust Land Office is holding a competitive sale of parcels
throughout Alaska. Lots are approximately 0.65 to 9.76
acres in size. For further information view the Trust Land
Office’s website at www.mhtrustland.org or call (907) 2698422.
Studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments for rent in
Whittier Off-season rates: Studio $800, 1BR $1,000, 2BR
$1,300 and 3BR $1,600. Utilities included. Call 472-2398.
40 miles south of Anchorage
(and its international airport),
life in this humble hamlet of
2,000 revolves around skiing
and snowboarding.”
Alyeska was also touted as
a ski area where “crowds are
nonexistent” and it was recommended that visitors come
in March when there’s enough
sunlight to ski for 12 hours a
day.
Time will tell how much
of an impact the listing will
have. We’ll see how the lift
lines look in March and April,
especially with the exceptional snowfall this year.
aversion to glamour.”
On the National Geographic website, Girdwood
was described as “A former
gold-mining town carved out
of the forest at the foot of the
famed Chugach Mountains,
Girdwood has refashioned
itself into Alaska’s premier ski
town. Hippies and ski bums
flocked here in the 1970s
and a luxury hotel at the ski
area’s base notwithstanding,
its laid-back, frontier-style
ambience remains intact.
Many roads are unpaved and
Carhartt clothing is a popular
fashion choice. Situated about
Ne
Pat w
& C ients
hi
We ldren
lcom
e
Total Patient Care
4050 Lake Otis Parkway, Suite 210
Anchorage, AK 99508
www.familyfirstdentistry.com
Ph: (907) 562-2820
Fax: (907) 562-6781
Call “T” for an
appointment
IV Sedation
Implants
Invisalign
Teeth Whitening
Smile Design
Same Day Crowns
Same Day Wisdom Teeth
March 1, 2012
Turnagain Times
Page 11
Cook Inlet Belugas: Overhunting by northern natives
blamed for drastic decline in whal population
Continued from page 1
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) a division
of the National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in charge
of managing and protecting
marine mammals, including
Cook Inlet beluga whales, ever
since the Marine Mammals
Protection Act (MMPA) was
adopted in 1972. Most authorities agree that the beluga
population was at least 1,000
animals, probably about 1,300,
when the MMPA became law,
although Standifer believes
there were a lot more than that.
By the late 1980s the Cook
Inlet beluga population was
declining. Based on annual
counts since the end of the
1990s, the current population
is estimated to be 300 or less
(284 belugas were counted in
the 2011 survey), and the Cook
Inlet beluga faces a very real
threat of extinction.
“We only took one or two
whales a year, only what we
needed to eat,” Standifer said.
“When they (Alaska natives
from the north) came here they
took a lot of whales. The meat
was sold by George’s meat
market. I bought a piece there
for $40 a pound. They made
a lot of money selling beluga
meat.”
According to Standifer, a
piece of beluga meat bought
at the market was tested and
found to match Cook Inlet
beluga genetically.
Standifer was adamant
about who traditionally hunted
belugas in Cook Inlet before
the influx of hunters from the
north. “We (Tyoneks) were the
only ones hunting beluga in
Cook Inlet.”
Barbara Mahoney and Kim
Shelden of the Protected Resources Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service reported in their research paper,
“Harvest History of Belugas,
Delphinapterus leucas in Cook
Inlet,” that Alaska supports
this was true, at least during
the 20th century.
The population of Tyonek is
about 190 people. The hunting
methods of the Tyonek, and the
hunters from up north were different, according to Standifer.
“We always harpooned
them first, before we shot
them, so we would not lose
them when they sank,” he said.
“The harpoon points were attached to bladders that would
float and show where sunken
whales were. They just shot
them. Sometimes the whales
sink very quickly after they
are shot, so if they didn’t get
to them fast enough, they sank
and were lost. Sometimes they
would shoot 50 whales, but
only get 25.”
NMFS bases much of its
beluga mortality computations
on the number of carcasses
washed ashore. A NOAA Fisheries New Release dated Jan.
9, 2012, contained the following statement by Doug Demaster, Alaska Fisheries Science
Center Director: “Only three
dead belugas were reported
this year, which indicates that
large numbers of mortalities
did not occur in 2011.”
The science behind this
statement is not spelled out.
There are no studies cited that
show the relationship between
carcasses washed ashore and
the number of whales that actually die. Dead whales that
sink may float to the surface
as gasses from decomposition
increase their buoyancy. No
studies of the frequency rate
of this happening have been
cited. The cause of death may
be a factor. A carcass with numerous bullet holes might vent
the gasses and remain on the
bottom.
It would appear that estimating the mortality from the
number of carcasses washed
ashore is an inexact science.
Standifer does not believe
the number of carcasses
washed ashore is a reliable
indicator of actual mortality.
“There is a strong rip (tide)
running down the middle of
Cook Inlet,” he said.
Randy Standifer, Frank’s
son, who is vice president of
Tyonek and is on the Cook
Inlet Marine Mammal Commision agrees with Frank, a
whale that went down in the
rip would be carried out to sea,
not washed up on shore.
Another factor possibly
contributing to the beluga
decline is killer whale predation. The NMFS estimates that
killer whales take about one
whale per year on average.
The Standifers feel it is probably higher than that.
“Five or six years ago, we
saw killer whales chase two
belugas up onto shore near our
fish camp on the North Forelands,” said Frank. “In recent
years, the killer whales seem
to be coming further up the
inlet.”
NMFS biologists have said
that the primary means they
have for estimating killer
whale predation is sightings of killer whale attacks,
usually by fishermen, and
finding carcasses of beluga
washed up on shore that show
signs of being attacked by
the whales. The percentage
of killer whale attacks that
result in remains that wash
up on shore is unknown. Also
unknown is the percentage of
observed attacks that is actually reported. There is no data
on what percentage of attacks
is observed.
“The killer whales often do
not kill the belugas, they just
bite off their flippers so they
spiral down to the bottom,”
said Randy.
There is no data available
Jim Magowan/Turnagain Times
Frank Standifer, president of the native village of
Tyonek along with his grandson Rocky (center) and
son Randy (right). Frank and Randy are fighting to
preserve traditional hunting of Cook Inlet beluga.
on how often this happens and
whether it is likely to result
in a carcass being washed to
shore or carried away in the
rip.
Poaching,
a
potential
source of mortality, is virtually ignored in NOAA discussions of what is happening to the beluga population.
Since poaching is illegal, it
may be difficult to detect.
Standifer thinks there is very
likely some poaching going
on because the meat can be
sold for $40 to $50 per pound.
How much, if any, poaching
occurs, is currently a matter
area of speculation.
“Everything
else
has
poaching, why not beluga?’
said Frank.
Randy also commented
on the tagging attempts by
NMFS. “For a couple of years
they went out and only tagged
one or two because they didn’t
know how to catch them. Then
they called on us, and we went
out and tagged a lot more.”
Frank has another concern.
“Part of our culture is being
lost,” he said. “It has been so
long since we have been able
to hunt beluga, our children
are losing the taste.”
One of those children is his
grandson, Rocky, who sat in
on the interview.
“Randy and I have hunted
beluga, but Rocky never
has,” said Frank, obviously
distressed that his grandson
was losing this element of his
culture.
“We think we (Tyoneks)
should be allowed to take one
beluga a year,” said Frank,
“and this is what we are going
to fight for.”
NOAA feels differently.
The current recovery plan provides that before a whale can
be harvested, the population
must average 350 for a fiveyear period. The first five-year
period ends next year. Unless
a whole lot of belugas suddenly show up in the count, the
chance of the average hitting
350 is close to zero. Even if
the population really rebounds
in the next few years, the earliest a whale will be legally
taken is 2018.
If a harvest is allowed after
the next five year period, how
will that affect the Tyoneks?
NMFS does not recognize individual native groups’ rights
to a particular resource. If the
beluga population averages
350 for a five-year period, who
gets to harvest the one whale
allowed? The 190 Tyoneks
might be competing with
every other Alaska Native
who wants to hunt the whale.
If there is a drawing, the 190
Tyonek applications could be
in the bowl with 20,000 or
more other applicants. The
chances of a Tyonek getting
the permit would be less than
one in ten.
Testimony found on the
NMFS website by Joe Blatchford, a native Alaskan who
Standifer says moved to this
area from up north, includes
statements that Blatchford
wants to preserve his rights to
hunt Cook Inlet belugas.
In the eyes of the Tyonek,
those rights were taken from
them and given to every other
Alaska Native, and the exercise of those rights is what led
to the mass killing of the Cook
Inlet belugas.
Page 12
Turnagain Times
March 1, 2012
DOT Orders Signs Moved
Continued from page 1
removals. She is now in her third
year on the job. “The state has an
agreement with the federal government. There was an overwhelming
vote against billboards. You can’t
have any advertising off a business
site advertising the business, no
more than you could put your sign
on a neighbor’s property; you can’t
put it on the right of way.”
Reese stressed that the DOT
is not trying to be onerous in the
process, and they want to work with
businesses to make this a painless
process.
“We’re trying to be as lenient as
possible,” she said, “but the impetus
is on us to make some effort and
that the court can see we’re going in
the right direction. We are starting
a program of removing signs from
encroachments, and we’ve been
able to do that in several communities. We’re not telling them that
they have to take the signs down,
just move them from the right of
way.”
However, for some businesses,
moving signs back further is not an
option because they’re too close to
the buildings. Diamond Jim’s liquor
store sign is one example. The historic sign is about 10 feet from the
front door. It survived the 1964
earthquake when it was located in
Portage. After the earthquake, it
was moved to its current location in
Indian.
Whittier Clinic
Continued from page 1
When they removed the sign
from Portage and relocated it to
Indian after the earthquake, the
DOT told Marylou and her husband
that as long as they moved it 50 feet
back from the highway, it would be
okay.
“That’s why we’ve got it where
it is,” she said. “It’s 50 feet from the
middle of the highway. And that’s
why we have it there.”
But it appears the sign’s days of
illuminating owner Marylou Redmond’s storefront are nearing its
end.
“Do you really think they’re
going to take it down?” Marylou
asked. “I don’t think they will, do
you?”
In the past, when the issue came
up to remove her sign, Marylou
said she would chain herself to
the sign before she’d allow it to
be taken down. When asked if she
still maintains that position, she answered with quiet laughter, “I don’t
know anymore, I just don’t know
anymore.”
It appears the uncertainty is over
for these Indian and Bird businesses, and the fight in them is gone
after nearly 8 years of battling the
DOT.
All that is left now is to comply.
Or is it?
“They said I have 30 days to
respond,” said Marylou. “I’m going
to send a letter to Don Young and
Mike Hawker. I’m writing that
letter now.”
two patients per day. In comparison, Anchorage will have 15 patients before
lunch at their clinics, Christensen said, and they will see 789 patients per
week.
The clinic received much needed support from the city in the form of
free rent in the Begich Towers as well as other expenses being covered like
phone bills.
The city is also looking into moving the clinic from the cramped thirdfloor space it currently occupies to a larger space on the first floor. The plan
is to move the clinic to a large room where the city council used to hold
meetings and renovate it to meet the needs of the clinic.
The EAT board said it is willing to continue to operate and fund the clinic
so long as it can fund itself. In 2011 alone the clinic lost $183,000.
“Our plan is to operate it at break even,” Christensen said. “We’re not
concerned about making any money, but we don’t want to lose money.”
Cost-cutting measures are being implemented to run the clinic in the
black, he said, such as cutting back the days it will be open from five to two
days per week; however, a full-time office employee will be available five
days a week to answer phone calls and schedule appointments.
“We realize that cutting back to two days a week will have a negative
impact of some patients,” Christensen said, “and we hope that the city will
consider increasing financial assistance. Their commitment will allow us to
operate more hours and more days, but the Eastern Aleutian Tribes board
has been really clear that they will no longer fund it in the red.”
Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc. is a non-profit corporation owned by seven
tribes that got together to provide health care in the Aleutian Islands. Assets
of the organization total $8 million. Christensen said the organization operates health care clinics in the communities of Adak, Akutan, Cold Bay,
King Cove, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon, Sands Point and Whittier, and the
Whittier clinic is the only one running in the red.
“All the other communities are providing more financial support,” he
said. “They’re all fishing villages primarily. They have dock harbor fees,
fish fees, all the resources Whittier has, but Whittier has chosen to put their
resources in different places. None of these communities has more resources than Whittier, they just have different priorities. But I do appreciate the
city making an effort.”
Now as a part-time health care facility, the EAT board approved of hiring
a mid-level provider for the clinic – a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant from Anchorage with one person on duty at a time.
“Our vision is to have the healthiest people in the nation, and we want
that for Whittier as well,” Christensen said.
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1 - 3 .............Live at the Sitz: Lucero ~ Southern Rock Theme
5 ...................Military Mondayy | Après Ski with Jared Woods
5 ...................Open Mic Night
7 ...................Absolut™ Trivia Night
8 - 10 ...........Live at the Sitz: Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce
10.................Alyeska Pipeline Masters Superpipe Comp
12.................Open Mic Night
14.................Absolut™ Trivia Night
15 - 17.........Live at the Sitz: Potcheen ~ Irish Theme
19.................Open Mic Night
21.................Absolut Trivia Night
22 - 25.........Alyeska Chugach Open
30 - 31.........Live at the Daylodge: J Mascis+The Fog with Eric McFadden
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Get Out Sale
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March Events
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