The Ice Cream Shop Celebrates 25 Years
By Jasper Fleming
TNews Contributor
This week's “scoop” of Girdwood was the local Ice Cream Shop's 25th Anniversary. There was a celebration on the weekend of April 18th-19th. The community gathered at the shop in old Girdwood for a free raffle, live music and, don’t forget, ice cream!
We came out to interview owner and longtime Girdwoodian, Carol Makar on her local shop.
“How did the idea of opening an ice cream shop materialize?”
“I used to work at a Dairy Queen, ” Carol said. Back when she was younger, Carol had a job working at a Dairy Queen. She would make different kinds of ice cream concoctions for the people that would come by. “Then I went into education and kept that in the back of my mind,” she says.
After she retired, Carol built a home with her husband but there were two things in life he didn't like: cottonwood trees and dogs. One day the spot where the ice cream shop is today became available and Carol noticed it was up for rent. After a day of running with a neighbor's dog, she came home to her husband and said, “You know Bud (her husband), I’m going to give you an ultimatum. Either we start an ice cream shop, or I get a dog.
”A couple days later her husband went to the place open for rent and not a week later Carol was signing a lease agreement.
“What efforts were put forth to make the ice cream shop part of the community?”
“We have partnered with Little Bears, Challenge Alaska, FVCS, Girdwood School, Alyeska Ski Club, Forest Fair, and probably a bunch more that I have forgotten” Carol says. “We hire as many local people as possible.
Read the entire story below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/ice-cream-shop-celebrates-25-years
Glacier Valley’s Heliport and Explosives Depot moves closer to construction
By Chase Berenson
TNews Staffwriter
At the March 9th meeting of Anchorage’s Planning and Zoning Commission, the Commissioners unanimously passed PZC Case 2026-0042 to change the definition of the Girdwood Airport (GA) zoning district in a way which would allow a heliport and explosives depot to be built in the southeastern reaches of Glacier Valley. There is a lot to unpack in that sentence, but this work ensures the safety of Alaskans will improve while driving the Seward Highway in winter.
According to Alaska Statute (AS) 19.05.030 the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT) has nine legally enshrined duties, and number seven on the list is to “develop and implement an avalanche control plan to protect persons who use public highways.” To perform that duty, the DOT created the Snow Avalanche Program to improve motorist safety by reducing avalanche hazards while also minimizing avalanche-related traffic delays and road closures. The Snow Avalanche Program has existed since the 1970s and their tools and methods of work have changed dramatically over the decades.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Developer Presents Idea for New ‘Boutique’ Resort in Girdwood
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A "global hospitality group" is eyeing land in Girdwood to build an estimated $150 million luxury hotel next to Alyeska Resort, a developer announced Monday at a Land Use Committee meeting.
The group's point person, Nathan Braun, 32, told local residents the "boutique" hotel would have 80 rooms with another 60 for its workers, and that an "alpine coaster"—a type of mountain rollercoaster—could supplement the new resort.
Though he has yet to speak with Pomeroy Lodging, Alyeska's owner, Braun said, "let me make it clear this is not a competition" with the Resort.
Braun, who is from Brooklyn, said he is working with "Monarch Hospitality Group". The company's website has few details and, though Braun said he has a team of nine people, he would not disclose with whom the group is planning to partner, the names of investors or his company's net worth. He said his group has not developed any hotels and is based out of New York.
As its sole agent, Braun registered Monarch Hospitality Group with the State in late February.
The "Glacier Creek Resort" has a single-page website but is little more than an idea at this point, Braun said, and the area he is targeting, a bench just up-valley of the Alyeska Hotel, is unsurveyed. He said he's only been to Alaska once as a child.
When asked how he chose Girdwood for a hotel, Braun said he is "passionate about travel". "I'm good at geography," he said. "This is what I do."
"I don't know what grabbed me to look at it," he said. "I don't have the right answer. I just thought of it. Is that a good answer for you?
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/developer-presents-idea-for-new-boutique-resort-in-girdwood
‘Corduroy Crush’ held Sunday on fresh snow
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The Kenai Mountain-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area and the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club held its third "Corduroy Crush" Sunday at the 5K course on a fresh inch of spring snow.
Ari Endestad won his second Crush 5k. Endestad, a nationally-ranked sprinter who won in 2023, said the course felt like "Olympic conditions" with such soft snow. Endestad duked it out with fellow Alaska Pacific University racer Kai Meyers before pulling away in the last kilometer.
"That was harder than I thought it would be," Endestad said at the finish line.
For the APU skiers Girdwood's 5k loop marked the start and end of a season of racing. After the race the two went out and skied another lap.
A full story will follow up later this week
Full results can be found at the link below:
https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=347978&did=444532
Aggrieved Hope Residents and Creekbend Reach Agreement on New Rules for Music Venue
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Under the purview of a retired superior court judge, a group of residents in the tiny, end-of-the-road town of Hope have reached a deal with operators of a popular music park.
A memorandum of understanding, struck between Creekbend Company and Friends of Hope, was forged March 20 and cleared the state Alcohol Control Board this week. It sets allowable noise levels, limits attendance, and regulates parking at the venue, among other conditions.
"Overall, I'm feeling very good about it," said Liam Bureau, vice president of Friends of Hope. "It feels very fair to me. In the true definition and spirit of compromise, both parties conceded significant things. And that's what allowed us to meet in the middle."
Conflict between some property owners and Creekbend has been brewing since the company began to expand its event grounds, add music acts and amplify sound. They complained about cars blocking driveways, public inebriation and unauthorized camping in a community that lacks a local police force and relies on a volunteer fire brigade.
"Based on what had happened so far—really the last almost decade leading up to this—this will be certainly the largest conversation that's happened around this topic within the community, and also this will lead to the most concrete changes of anything so far," Bureau said.
Messages sent to Creekbend were not returned in time for publication.
From now on, according to the MOU, no more than 700 people can attend an event at Creekbend and it must designate at least three "amplified-music-free" weekends between May and September in the coming year.
Sound levels at the company's property cannot exceed 65 decibels between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. and the MOU limits noise to 50 decibels outside those hours.
Read the entire story at the link below:
DOT plans for years of Seward Highway construction
By Chase Berenson
TNews Staffwriter
The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT) has been receiving bids for multiple projects in March that have potential to impact Girdwood residents and frequent Seward Highway drivers. Two different projects both had due dates for bids last month: a project to install variable speed limit signs and a project to resurface the pavement of the Highway.
The announcement of these projects comes just weeks after the controversial Safer Seward Highway project public comment period ended on February 27th.
One of the two projects is looking for vendors to plan and design variable speed limit (VSL) signs for the Seward Highway from milepost 90 to milepost 118, or approximately from Girdwood in the south to Rabbit Creek Road in the north. This encompasses the entire area of the Safer Seward Highway project plus nine additional miles. VSL signs allow the DOT to modify the speed limit of the Seward Highway electronically, particularly in adverse conditions such as winter weather. This work will be paired with VSL installations on the Richardson Highway near Fairbanks.
The DOT claims that this project will reduce car crashes caused by winter weather because the speed limit will be dynamically adjusted based on weather and road conditions in real-time. The VSL installation project will also integrate real-time data from the DOT’s Road Weather Information System (RWIS) sites and traffic count stations. During the design phase of the project, the DOT intends to install four more traffic count stations and multiple new RWIS sites to ensure there is enough data to make educated decisions along the entire VSL section of the Highway. The DOT anticipates installing at least 16 VSL signs in the 28-mile stretch of the Seward Highway. This project is modeled after a similar VSL project on Interstate 80 in Wyoming.
Within this section of highway, the speed limit is currently a fixed number which does not change due to conditions. From milepost 90 to approximately milepost 100, the speed limit is 65 miles per hour (MPH); from approximately milepost 100 to approximately milepost 118, the speed limit is 55 MPH. This speed limit does not change with the weather or road conditions, however even if driving under the posted speed limit drivers could still by cited by the Anchorage Police Department for violating 13 AAC 02.275(a) which states, “No person may drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent considering the traffic, roadway, and weather conditions.”
This project will include many phases of work, including planning, design, public involvement, speed study, utility coordination, and others. After two years of project planning and design, construction is scheduled to begin on May 15th, 2028. As of April 1st, there is no publicly available information on which companies submitted bids for this work nor for how much they bid.
The other Seward Highway project is looking for companies to resurface the pavement of the Seward Highway from milepost 90 to milepost 99. This work is outside the geographic extent of the larger Safer Seward Highway project, and is fully encompassed within the VSL project area. In addition to resurfacing the Seward Highway itself, this project will also resurface the Indian to Girdwood Bike Path, more commonly known as the Bird-to-Gird, within the same area of Highway mileposts 90 to 99. More than simply resurfacing the pavement of the road and path, this project will also include repairs to culverts and upgrades to guardrails and signs along the Highway.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/dot-plans-for-years-of-seward-highway-construction
Girdwood Sees Record Turnout for Local Anti-Trump "No Kings" Demonstration
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Organizers estimate eight million people hit the streets in yesterday's "No Kings" demonstrations across the country.
If Girdwood is any indication, it was the largest day of protest yet seen since Donald Trump took office a little over a year ago.
All four corners of Alyeska Hwy. and Hightower Rd. were packed with locals holding signs and banners. Organizer Emma Kramer counted 110 at one point, the highest seen locally in the 10 held since the start of Trump's election.
"There was one in the summer where we had numbers close to this, but I think we exceeded it by 20 or 25 people," Kramer said.
A variety of signs fluttered in the crowd, highlighted by morning sunshine rounding Max's Mtn.
"I think the message here was 'bring a friend' because chances are you and your friend will both find reasons for things you wish were different, things you want to change, things you can't stand by and watch happening," Kramer said.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Forum Gives Girdwood Residents Insight into Candidate Positions
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Candidates for local and Municipal office had a chance to share their views Saturday night in a forum hosted by Turnagain News.
The forum, held in Girdwood's Community Center, gave an audience of around 50 insight into candidates' views on key local issues.
It was attended by three candidates for an Anchorage Assembly seat representing South Anchorage and Turnagain Arm as well as three candidates vying for two seats on Girdwood's Board of Supervisors.
One of the two open positions on GBOS, Seat E, pits the sons of two prominent Girdwood families: Nick Crews and Brice Wilbanks. There is only one candidate running for Seat D, Amanda Tuttle.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/0rokiizb9y4x2g2f0glmsdkqfyiyk1
You can listen to a recording of the Candidate Forum at the below link:
Girdwood P&R Publishes Draft Parks Master Plan
By Allison Sayer
TNews Staffwriter
Girdwood Parks and Recreation has published a draft Parks Master Plan. According to Girdwood Service Area Manager for the Municipality of Anchorage Kyle Kelley, “This plan is to capture the improvements that the community wants to see in its future parks. The plan will guide Girdwood Parks and Rec in future planning, fundingand prioritizing of improvement projects for each park parcel. This plan will build on the park facilities and infrastructure we have now in our current parks.” The plan is meant to provide guidance for decisions over the next ten to fifteen years.
The only currently funded project is a new picnic pavilion in Lions Club Park, secured by grant and fundraising efforts by Girdwood Lions Club. According to Kelley, construction on this will begin in 2026.
A wide range of desired facilities is listed throughout the Girdwood area. Numerous strategies have been proposed for making these a reality, including partnerships with commercial, public, and non-profit entities.
According to the plan document, “[Survey] respondents expressed the highest levels of support for volunteering, community-led fundraising, and municipal bonds dedicated to Girdwood parks. A majority of respondents also indicated support for a visitor-paid tax, such as a bed tax or recreation tax, while increased facility rental fees received lower overall support. Overall, the survey indicates a preference for public investment and community participation over reliance on user fees.”
The document, available at https://girdwoodparksplan.com/, describes desired enhancements for Girdwood Park (a.k.a. Forest Fair Park), Moose Meadows Park, Lions Club Park, Town Square Park, and a proposed “Glacier Creek Park,” in addition to identifying areas for future parks.
The highest community priority identified for the Girdwood Park and California Creek Park area is improved year-round restroom facilities. Reconfiguration to avoid user conflicts, addressing flooding and drainage concerns,upgrading existing playground equipment, and adding covered features to the skate park are also proposed.
A small, elevated plaza is proposed between the skate park and the playground. Sloped grading could provide amphitheater-style seating for summer performances and a small sled hill in the winter.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-pampr-publishes-draft-parks-master-plan
Commentary: Solid Waste fees increase and ideas to save money
By John Gallup
Commentary Contributor
I read with interest the article in the TN concerning the increase in dump fees. A few of those contributing are misinformed concerning the fees, and the obvious Girdwood-style workarounds that can reduce trips to the transfer station.
First, for decades the services provided to Girdwood have been underwritten by Anchorage ratepayers. The income collected paid only a small fraction of the total cost of operating the Girdwood station.
I suspect that even with the current increase in fees Girdwood still doesn’t operate in the black, so the subsidy continues. I’d welcome being proven wrong on this, but I’m pretty sure I’m right.
Second, in a connected community we should be able to consolidate loads easily. The rates state “bag or can,” and a 30 gallon trash can will hold 3 kitchen sized bags of trash, and $10 will buy you 3 full cans, or 9 bags.
I built years ago a bear-proof garbage shed behind my garage which holds 3-30 gallon cans, (right now we only use two.). It has survived a couple of ursine assaults basically undamaged.
Read the entire commentary at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/commentary-solid-waste-fees-increase-and-ideas-to-save-money
100 Percent Dump Increase Beleaguers Local Residents
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A new rate increase that doubles the cost of trash disposal at municipal transfer facilities has some local residents storing their garbage and others laying a course to fight the fee.
Paying $10 to throw out a single bag of garbage is a high cost for a single person living paycheck to paycheck, said a municipal employee who declined to be identified.
"There are elderly people stockpiling stinky trash in their house because they don't have a shed," the source said.
The price to throw out one-to-four bags shot up from $5 to $10, a 100% increase. A load of a cubic yard or less went from $10 to $15 and a truck load climbed from $20 to $27.
Only a small part of the increase, 5 percent, pays for "rising operating costs" of Solid Waste Service, according to a flyer from the self-funded utility.
The bulk of the extra cost is a $4 surcharge to fund a "Healthy Spaces" crew of workers tasked with cleaning parks and other public spaces in the municipality.
The measure, championed by Anchorage Assembly Member Chris Constant, passed the Assembly in September and took effect in January. At a press conference two weeks ago Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said the Healthy Spaces program added 10 year-round positions.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/100-percent-dump-increase-beleaguers-local-residentsnbsp
Noncommercial Shrimp Season Reduced, Commercial Season Closed for 2026
By Allison Sayer
TNews Staffwriter
On February 26, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced the noncommercial (sport + subsistence)spot shrimp fishery would be open from May 1 through June 8, and fishers would be limited to two pots. This is over six weeks less than last year, and almost four months shorter than the 2024 season.
The guideline harvest limit (GHL) in the 2026 noncommercial fishery is 29,782 pounds. Managers determine the GHL as a proportion of the estimated population, which has declined each year since 2021. Pot and season limits are then implemented based on the limit.
The 2025 GHL was 54,311 pounds of shrimp, and the season was open May 1 though July 31 with two pots. During 2025, fishers exceeded the GHL, catching 60,234 pounds. The noncommercial fishery catch has exceeded the GHL for seven of the past seventeen seasons, despite managers implementing pot and season limits.
ADF&G commercial and sport fishery staff hosted an online meeting February 12 to discuss shrimp research and take public questions and comments. According to Area Management Biologist Brittany Blain-Roth, about 130 people tuned into the meeting.
One bright spot presented by Fisheries Biologist Alissa Cole was the 2025 shift in commercial and noncommercial season opening days from April 15 to May 1 reduced the percentage of egg-bearing females taken in the harvest- from 36% of the fishery to just 5%. Presumably, the later date gave most females time to release their eggs before being harvested.
Cole shared population estimates come from an annual survey that has been performed in October throughout Prince William Sound since 1992.
Read the entire story at the link below
Commentary: Safety In The Backcountry Yields Lessons For Current State of Affairs
By Brian Kramp
Commentary Contributor
“S**t is f****d,” Zach said while we were skinning up the cat road in search of some soft snow.
There was no question in my mind what he was referring to (the state of our politics).
Staring down at my ski tips, a realization struck me. I’d been making an implicit assumption that someone, at some point, would step in and save the day. Surely our institutions would self-correct. Our country is strong and stable.
Right?
Now I know better. No one is coming to save our democracy.
In the backcountry, we check the forecast before heading out. We constantly look for new information, communicate objectives with our partners, and turn around when conditions aren’t right. It requires humility and a willingness to adjust course.
Dysfunctional momentum is a real danger. And just like in the backcountry, we need to be ready to rescue ourselves.
My period of grief and apathy has run its course. I’m ready to participate.
What does that look like, for me?
I’ve realized that telling my wife she’s wrong never makes me a winner. Instead, we try to share our individual experiences, make an honest effort to understand each other, and agree to move forward together.
That’s also how our country can, and should work.
If our democracy is going to survive, it will be because enough of us choose curiosity, engagement, and compromise over anger or resignation. Enough of us talk to our neighbors instead of consuming ragebait.
Read the entire commentary at the link below:
Trump Protest Draws Two Dozen locals
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Just over two dozen souls braved subzero temperatures in Girdwood Saturday to register dissatisfaction with the way Donald Trump is handling federal affairs.
Bundled against the wind and passing "Hot Hands" around, protesters received overwhelming support from motorists—thumbs ups, waves, and honks.
Organizer Emma Kramer said she was disturbed by news that the United States and Israel attacked Iran, but didn't have time to make a sign specific to that issue.
So she grabbed one of about 20 she had prepared.
This one read, "Love thy neighbor and love thy Constitution".
"We're keeping opposition to the Trump regime going," Kramer said of the monthly rallies. "We like catching folks as they're coming into town. It's good to see Girdwood's got soul."
Paul Crews brought yellow and blue flags to show support for Ukraine.
"Someone's gotta show support for Ukraine and it's not the government," he said.
Despite a biting cold, protesters stood at the corner of Alyeska and Hightower for more than an hour. Jacky Graham held out for most of that time before bundling up her sign to leave.
"It's fogging cold," she said under a halo of breath.
See more pictures at the link below:
A Community Collaboration – Gratitude Tree Donation Wall Mosaic for New Little Bears Playhouse
By Allison Sayer
TNews Staffwriter
On February 19, Girdwood, Inc announced local artists Tommy O’Malley and Thalia Wilkinson will create a donor wall mosaic for the new Little Bears Playhouse lobby. The facility is scheduled to open this fall. Locals have seen Wilkinson and O’Malley’s mosaic work in Girdwood’s public spaces including on concrete culvert planters and Town Square Park.
According to a press release issued by Girdwood, Inc, “The design will feature a large tree made of stained glass with branches reaching out eight feet on either side of the trunk. Connected to the tree will be over a hundred leaves in dozens of shades of green glass. Names of donors will be etched into the trunk, branches, and leaves.”
Girdwood, Inc also shared much of the glass used in the project was donated by the late Jim Kaiser’s estate and thanked Kali Bennett for the gift. Kaiser created countlesscommunity stained-glass projects throughout Alaska, including making art with past Little Bears students. He also donated financially towards the new building before he passed away.
The artists have given a deadline of February 28 for a finalized donor list so they can go forward with crafting the tree’s components.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Chugach Electric project continues in Girdwood
By Chase Berenson
TNews Staffwriter
Chugach Electric, the electric utility that serves the Turnagain Arm, is continuing work on the replacement of the Girdwood to Indian transmission line. This work is happening in the wetlands between the Seward Highway and the Alaska Railroad track and intersects Toadstool Drive. Chugach has contracted with Sturgeon Electric to complete the work.
The Girdwood to Indian transmission line covers approximately 12 miles of the utility’s Quartz Creek Transmission Line, a 90.4-mile line that runs from Cooper Landing to Anchorage. This line was built 64 years ago and is reaching its end of life, and Chugach has been replacing the line in sections. Approximately 36 miles of the line had already been replaced prior to the start of the Girdwood to Indian section, and this is the sixth section to be replaced. Once completed, this piece of critical infrastructure will ensure reliability between hydroelectric plants on the Kenai Peninsula and power plants in the Anchorage area.
Because the transmission line is fed by power sources to the north in the Anchorage area and the south on the Kenai, the flow of power into the Turnagain Arm communities largely won’t be directly impacted; while the line is being replaced, Girdwood will still receive power from the south while Bird Creek and Indian will still receive power from the north.
The Girdwood to Indian Transmission Line Rebuild project started in 2024, and 9.5 miles of it is complete. While driving the Seward Highway between Girdwood and Anchorage, it’s possible to see that the old latticework transmission line structures have been replaced with tubular structures and the new structures are sited on new pads. Beyond these most easily visible improvements, Chugach has also been installing new conductors, structures, guys, anchors, and foundations, plus removing the old equipment.
The last phase of this project is the section connecting Girdwood to the new line. The project plan originally called for this section to be completed between January and March 2025. The work is planned for the wintertime to mitigate potential environmental damage, as the wetlands and other areas of ground are frozen. However, the 2024-2025 winter was unseasonably warm in Girdwood, which prevented the wetlands from reliably freezing and delayed the work to 2026.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Hope Residents Take Action Against Popular Music Venue Creekbend
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A group of residents in the tiny, end-of-the-road community of Hope are taking their complaints about a popular music venue to a state agency in charge of alcohol permits. The group, Friends of Hope, says noise, traffic and public inebriation have gone too far.
The group, founded to challenge the festival operator's liquor license, has organized a non-profit and enlisted the help of an attorney.
The move has elicited an email alert by the company, Creekbend, which runs a restaurant and holds concerts and weddings on its property.
Creekbend has become a popular destination for weekend music fans, hosting bands from Alaska as well as national artists.
"We're not trying to close down his business at all. We want a few concessions from him to not have as many venues," said Jim Skogstad, who lives down the road from Creekbend and helped organize the group.
He said Friends of Hope seeks limits on Creekbend's noise level and that music from weekend festivals, which last year amounted to 44 events, can be heard throughout the small, historic town and goes as late as midnight on some days.
Efforts to convince Creekbend owner, Steve Thomas, to "slow down" by restricting noise levels and the number of events have been ignored, Skogstad said.
"[Thomas] has no intention of cutting back and is only moving forward," he said.
Thomas, reached via text Saturday, is on vacation and did not reply to a request for an interview. In email and social media posts, Creekbend went on the defensive.
In a post on its Facebook page, "Team Creekbend" said with "misinformation circulating, we feel it's important to share some context" and changes it has made to "reduce impacts", including increased on-site parking, additional signs, sound buffering, security, dumpsters and reusable cups.
In its post, Creekbend admitted "parking has been a recurring concern" and blamed "a town organization" for resisting efforts to "pursue infrastructure that supported our business".
Among documents on Friends of Hope's webpage is a Nov. 26 "Notice of Violation" by the state's Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board for unauthorized changes to Creekbend's establishment.
Of around 600 properties in Hope's valley only about 125 are occupied year round. The town center has only a dozen streets and is a popular visitor destination for hiking, fishing, rafting and mountain biking, as well as for the town's isolated, romantic and mining-era appeal.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Seven thousand pounds of marine debris removed from Whittier Harbor
By Chase Berenson
TNews. Staffwriter
Dive Alaska coordinated with multiple organizations to plan the 2026 Whittier Harbor Cleanup Day on Saturday, February 7th. This was the fourth annual event, and it brought out SCUBA divers and freedivers to scour the seabed of the Whittier Harbor and remove trash and marine debris.
This year was the largest event yet, with 158 volunteers participating. The weather was cooperative by Whittier standards, as the temperature was in upper 30s with rain. This was an improvement over previous years, where once the temperatures dropped below zero degrees and in another year the wind was whipping so strongly that it impeded cleanup efforts. At the event’s introduction, JD Stimson of Dive Alaska summed it by saying, “The wind isn’t blistering and the temperature isn’t frigid. If you did this before, you know this is a blessing.”
During a three-hour window, SCUBA divers and freedivers took to the water of Whittier Harbor to recover whatever they could find. Divers collected marine debris from the harbor floor and brought it up the boat ramp or the harbor docks, where volunteers above the water picked it up and hauled the waste to a sorting area near the boat ramp.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Girdwood celebrates First Friday at local businesses
By Allison Sayer
TNews Staffwriter
Several Girdwood businesses celebrated First Friday on February 6, hosting guest artists, musicians and makers. Visual artists Justin DeWolf and Kelsey Kroon exhibited their work at Coast Pizza and Girdwood Center for Visual Art, respectively, and were on hand to meet and greet with patrons.
Kroon’s work reflects both her upbringing in an Alaska maritime family and her current work crewing films and TV, often on the open ocean or Alaska’s shores. Recent work for a TV show brought her to Unalaska. She found buoys that escaped from trawls on the beaches there, brought them back, and painted them with animals to represent bycatch from the trawl industry.
Other pieces in the show were painted on pieces of marine trashher brother Branden cleaned from a beach in Akun, Alaska, while working for a tug and barge company. Kroon said she often collects beach trash in her travels. Sometimes it finds its way into her artwork, and sometimes she just disposes of it.
“Everything feels negative and downtrodden,” reflected Kroon, “at least I can try. Maybe it can help others to try, too.”
Kroon’s next big project is to help with the Alaska Wildlife Alliance fundraiser at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub on March 30.She plans to help with publicity, donate art for the silent auction, and gather art from other donors. A short film Kroon directed about salmon, Silver Rush, will be screened at the event.
Justin DeWolf has had several shows in Alaska. The work displayed at Coast Pizza was a mix of new pieces and work dating back to 2016.
DeWolf shared that, while he is currently well, he had recently been through “a health scare.” This brought about a period of introspection and inspiration for him. The three new paintings exhibited all depict roads in some way, a reflecting a “mood of where I’ve been and where I’m going.”
The roads in DeWolf’s paintings are also scenes “normal Alaskans have seen.” One painting shows a blur of headlights and taillights on the Seward Highway in the foreground, with a subtle yet intricately painted background of the mountains at night. “Tourists may not be on the Seward Highway at 1:00a.m,” said DeWolf.
In the future, DeWolf, a graphic designer by trade, hopes to be part of expanding local art events and gallery shows. He stated that even a few years after COVID, he doesn’t feel the same level of energy behind live events as in pre-COVID years. He hopes to be part of making arts events in the Anchorage area bigger and more vibrant.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/girdwood-celebrates-first-friday-at-local-businesses
Commentary: How did property assessments affect Girdwoodians?
By Brice Wilbanks
Commentary Contributor
Forty miles from City Hall, Girdwood property owners opened their 2026 assessments to find increases nearly double to those of their Anchorage neighbors. Assessed annually by the Municipality of Anchorage, the green-colored postcard describes what the Municipality assesses property owners’ land and building value to determine the basis of their annual tax bill.
This year, similar to last, property owners were shocked and dismayed. The median Girdwood property owner saw an increase of 8.2%, more than double the increase for Anchorage-bowl property owners, according to data from the municipality’s property appraisal division. While slightly smaller than 2024-2025, the increases continue to compound, squeezing property owners across the valley and inflating rents
Driving this variation is a major rework of the assessment methodology utilized by the municipality’s property appraisal division. Key changes included: removing the multiplier of building construction quality, utilizing publicly available sales data, and reducing the number of “market areas” from 400 to fewer than 20. Municipal Assessor Jack Gadamus, with the assistance of outside consultants, describes these reforms as “corrective in nature.”
Market Areas are abstractly defined by the Anchorage appraisal office as:
Not “Neighborhoods” in the traditional sense, but geographic areas where Cost-to-Comparable Sales “AV Ratios” are statistically aligned
This significant methodology shift, triggered a reduction from 400+ market areas to fewer than 20, forced evaluations to compete against each other based on sales data and proximity. This led to varying evaluations between properties within geographically constrained and isolated communities.
To understand how this major rework of assessment methodology affected Girdwoodians, let’s take a closer look at the data.
Read the entire commentary at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/commentary-how-did-property-assessments-affect-girdwoodians