Young Entrepreneurs Bring Lemonade, and Style, to Fair
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Tucked in a tent guarded by three enormous cottonwood trees, 11-year-old Hazel Kavaganis tallied her day's fortunes.
"I sold half my stock, a bunch of people signed up on my website, that I'm still working on, and, what else?" she said, clicking long, colorful fingernails.
One a table beside her lay sets of 10 hand-painted Gel X Nails. Months before the Forest Fair, Hazel began to craft a product line for a booth she calls "Talk to the Hand".
She ended up making 33 kits, some painted like bumblebees, others green and black aliens, others jade, others crimson, some pink.
The nails are hot sellers. Names and email addresses crowd a clipboard resting nearby.
"This is her deal," said her father, Bill, a masseuse at the Alyeska Nordic Spa, who sat nearby. "But she gets her entrepreneurial skills from her mom."
And each year, there's been something different for the young entrepreneur. Last year, it was embroidery and magnets.
"Everybody thought it was cross-stitching. But it was embroidery," said Hazel, who wants to go to college for cosmetology and hopes to open a salon someday.
Hazel operates one of several "Kid & Teen" booths at the Fair, a vending reservation that gives younger people the opportunity to "take on the entrepreneurial skills to vend and create unique products," according to the Fair's website. Kids 12 and under receive free booth space while teens will have to pony up $150 for a space.
There are 32 kids booths. Last year's event had "an overwhelming number of applicants", the website reported. Only hand-crafted items are allowed to be sold.
"We are so grateful to the Forest Fair for making space available for kids," Bill said, looking on.
Forest Fair, in its 51st Year, Launches This Weekend
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Tara Starlight was putting the final touches on her booth "Starlight Coffee" when a volunteer approached. "Do you want some coffee?" she asked. "This one's on the house."
She was ready to go Thursday afternoon with a beverage menu of coffee, cold brew, mocktails and a special concoction called "Raspberry Danish": cold brew with a cream cheese soft top.
Starlight is in her second year as a vendor and took an opportunity to move her stand to a new location near the ballfield fence. "I can see the main stage from here," she said, smiling. Last year she said she sold at least 1,000 cold drinks alone.
Her crew is her family. "The teenagers are sleeping in the back of the van," said Starlight, who works for the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition.
Meanwhile, across a cluttered path, the Talkeetna Spinach Bread crew was busy assembling its stand. The widely popular food booth began more than two decades ago, said owner Ross Benischek. He nodded toward his son Finn, 22. "During our first year, my wife was pregnant with him," Benischek said.
Since lines are long for the crispy, garlicky, cheese-topped bread, Forest Fair volunteers moved the youth performance stage closer to the bread stand's queue, said Terri Adkins, the event's vice president. Youth performances run 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Saturday.
And while a couple new food booths have cropped up—like "Papaya Tree", which sells Southeast Asian street food—a main attraction may be the Fair's revamped wine garden.
Read the entire story and more pictures of the Forest Fair at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/forest-fair-in-its-51st-year-launches-this-weekend
Local Trails Get Love by the Buckets
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A group of 30 teenagers and three adults added 20 tons of gravel to sections of the Iditarod Trail this week—all by the bucketful.
Passing orange buckets in a 600-foot bucket brigade, the city-run "Youth Employment in Parks" team had completed by Thursday much of the middle portion of the Iditarod trail that runs adjacent to Crow Creek Road.
The group added 100-feet of turnpike—gravel beds enclosed by logs—over four days, according to Kyle Kelley, Girdwood's service area manager.
See more photos at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/local-trails-get-love-by-the-buckets
Commentary: Dirt Bikes Aggravate Timberline Neighborhood
By: John Gallup
Girdwood Resident
I’d like to address a neighborhood problem that is getting worse, at least here on Timberline.
We are seeing and unfortunately hearing an increasing number of unlicensed dirt bikes traveling up and down the street. Recently a smaller kid went by with no helmet, and that kind of pushed the issue over the edge for me.
The problem is worse on the weekends, but happens throughout the week as well, especially now that school is out.
I’m conflicted on this issue because growing up in suburban LA we did this kind of thing all the time in our neighborhood, and managed to survive the encounters with curbs, cars, and each other.
Part of the problem is that there isn’t anywhere in Girdwood for off-road motorized recreation, so the roads are the only venue that’s left.
I’ve contacted WPD on this issue and they have suggested that I contact the individuals myself, but at this point I really feel that it is a public safety issue.
Another complication is the arrival of very fast electric bikes, which are quiet but equally unsafe the way some riders use them. Without enforcement the 20 mph speed limit is a joke.
I’d be happy to discuss the establishment of some kind of off-road site in Girdwood for these kids, maybe at the industrial park, but the traffic on Timberline is crazy enough already without adding dirt bikes to the mix.
Obituary: Sharon Chandler Stiassny Scudder
September 12, 1955 - June 2, 2026
Our beloved Bubbe, Sharon Scudder, died from a rare form of cancer: Cholangiocarcinoma.
She is survived by her loving husband, Jon Kenyon Scudder, beloved sons and their wives, Aaron Yoel Stiassny (Julie-Pierre Leclerc), Ari Benjamin Stiassny (Melanee Raney-Stiassny), and Elliot Noah Stiassny (Amy Kirkham), stepdaughter, Tara Scudder, and mother-in-law, Kathryn Scudder. Moreover, she leaves her beloved grandchildren, Mia, Col Dov, Taz, Pierre-Samuel (Sammy), Julien, twins Josette and Charlie, Jacob, and Dana. She also leaves her first husband, Lloyd, and his family and wonderful sisters-in-law, Vivian Stiassny and Ginny Efronson, and their families.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/wgi9ksy0q9anl722d312tgv8c3zo5v-ycm5a
Portage Lake Tsunami Could Reach Turnagain Arm and Whittier
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A hulking mountain face slowly sinking toward Portage Lake could collapse and send a massive wall of water hurtling into the Portage visitor center and down a valley six miles to Turnagain Arm, according to experts and a Forest Service emergency action plan.
Geologists fear a landslide-triggered tsunami more than 1,000 feet high could, like sloshing water in a bathtub, sweep through valleys, enter the 2.5-mile long Whittier Tunnel and even breach the 500-foot Portage pass, sending muddy water and debris into Passage Canal.
Yet, as catastrophic as it sounds—and given growing concern about landslides, sporadic news coverage and heightened awareness—few warnings have been issued about the possibility of a major disaster at a popular tourism destination that opens Friday.
"You think about some dramatic event like a tsunami on Portage Lake and it sounds pretty implausible until after it's happened. And that's kind of an instinct we, or at least a lot of people, have," said independent geologist Bretwood "Hig" Higman, who has consulted for the government on a number of landslide risk zones.
Portage's Begich, Boggs Visitor Center, a popular tourism destination that sees up to 1,000 visitors a day, sits directly in the path of a potential tsunami and 2.5 miles from the toe of Portage Glacier.
Higman estimated a catastrophic tsunami at Portage has one in 30 yearly chance of occuring and a wave that magnitude would give a person two to four minutes to evacuate. The landslide is currently moving at a rate of a meter per year.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/wgi9ksy0q9anl722d312tgv8c3zo5v
For Local Graduates Longtime Friendships Continue
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Levi Williamson and Teagan Kuber grew up together in Girdwood. For nine years, they attended the same small local school and graduated with only 14 others.
They both went to high school in Anchorage, Kuber to South and Williamson to West.
Four years later, they would find out, in October, that they would not only be going to the same school on the other side of the planet, but they would be dorming a couple walls away from each other.
More phot coverage to come later. Read the entire story at the link below..
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/for-local-graduates-longtime-friendships-continuenbsp
Alaska to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month under new law
By Corinne Smith
Alaska will recognize Hispanic Heritage Month under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
The month recognizing Hispanic heritage will be September 15 to October 15 each year. The legislation encourages schools, community groups and other public and private organizations to honor the history and culture of Hispanic Americans.
Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, is the bill’s sponsor, and said in a statement that the month is a time to honor and celebrate “the rich cultural tapestry that Hispanic and Latino Americans have woven into the fabric of our nation.”
There was no bill signing ceremony. A spokesperson for Dunleavy’s office said the governor signed the bill to acknowledge those contributions. “He believes it is important to recognize the rich traditions, history, and achievements of Hispanic Americans,” said Jeff Turner, Dunleavy’s communications director, by email Tuesday.
The period also marks the anniversary of the independence of several Central American countries from Spain, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Mexico.
“While Alaska may seem distant from the heart of Latin America, the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Alaskans to our state’s history, culture, and economy are undeniable. From pioneers and settlers to artists, educators, and business leaders, Hispanic and Latino individuals have made significant impacts in every corner of our state,” Gray-Jackson wrote.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/alaska-to-recognize-hispanic-heritage-month-under-new-law/
UPDATE: Water Spout likely just a Freeze-Thaw Drainage Issue
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
A gushing fountain of water near Girdwood's School was likely due to a backed-up french drain and is outside city water utility's purview, according to a local official.
"It appears it is a curtain drain, or a French drain, that helps drain water from the school play field," Kyle Kelley, Girdwood's service area manager, wrote in an email.
"The Field drain was probably frozen underground and built up pressure with the spring melt, and got over 1.5 inches of rain yesterday in that storm cycle," Kelley wrote. "It finally broke open and gushed out from the water buildup, giving the appearance of a broken pipe."
Kelley said by the time he inspected the area, water was "back to flowing slowly out under the vegetated mat like it was installed to do."
A spokesperson for AWWU said the draining water was not part of its infrastructure.
Water Spews from Underground Pipe Between School and New Road
An underground water pipe near a new access road to the planned "Holtan Hills" development has sprung a leak and was gushing a fountain of water as of Monday evening.
It's too early to tell whether it's a pipe with a leak or a break, said Eugene Tapley, an operator with the city's water utility, AWWU.
Water sprouting from the ground just below a school fence and uphill from the new access road was reduced to a trickle by 7 p.m.
Tapley said it will take some time to determine the source of the problem, possibly a week, though the utility will have more information by Tuesday.
"We've got our best guys on it," he said.
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
Holtan Hills Commentary: The Fight Is Still Not Over
By Julien-Didier Stiassny
Commentary Contributor
Four and a half years ago Holtan Hills was proposed as an idea. Almost 100% of Girdwood locals opposed the idea.
There was a phase of meetings and arguing over it. "Halt Holtan Hills" signs appeared and the town came together to stop the project.
In January of 2023 the Anchorage Assembly decided not to go on with Holtan Hills. For Girdwood it was amazing that our forest was not going to be destroyed.
But in January of 2024 all of a sudden Holtan Hills was happening because the developers had snuck the idea back in without Girdwood knowing. It had been denied, but a small group of people who knew they would make money from it decided that they wanted it to happen.
Another phase of meetings happened. I went to one of the meetings and can say that I was not happy with it. Connie Yoshimura, the developer, deflected challenging questions so that we didn’t get an answer about what is going to happen with the project. It just shows what people will do to get a second home or another car.
Progressing with Holtan Hills will release around 12,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to my calculations. Although this is very small compared to large emissions from fossil fuels, all developments in the past five years make up around 35 percent of global emissions. That has warmed the earth by 0.063F or 0.035C.
Read the entire commentary at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/holtan-hills-commentary-the-fight-is-still-not-over
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:
‘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