Trails Committee asks riders to take snowmachines elsewhere
After numerous sightings of snowmachines in Girdwood on non-motorized trails, including the bike path, the Trails Committee and GBOS is preparing an educational campaign to remind recreational users that there are NO public trails or properties approved for motorized vehicles in Girdwood Valley. The only areas snowmachines are allowed in Girdwood is on private land by permission.
Snowmachines pose a hazard to trail users not on motorized vehicles, and are causing concern with some users, particularly when sighted on the bike path, which was put in place specifically to protect pedestrians from vehicles.
Girdwood Cemetery on track for completion as soon as 2011
Heritage Land Bank (HLB) has outlined a list of potential sites for the proposed Girdwood Cemetery, including locations along Crow Creek Road and near the Airport.
Tommy O’Malley, who initiated the project, says Bill Mehner of HLB has offered a choice of nine potential locations. Sites must be a minimum of five acres in size, have good drainage and soil quality, and, according to O’Malley, should have the best view in Girdwood.
Some of the sites proposed include an area on either side of California Creek, near the old gravel pit near the Seward Highway and Glacier Creek, in the planned Holton Hills development area bordered by Crow Creek Road and the trail to the Girdwood School, a plot directly across the street from there, one at the end of Monarch Mine Road, and past the Alyeska Tram parking lot.
O’Malley prefers a designated location at the end of the airport runway near Our Lady of the Snows, but will be working with a task force to identify the pros and cons of each location to present at future GBOS and Land Use meetings.
Mehner, Director of HLB, has been very positive about the project, suggesting a two-year completion might be within the scope of reason. HLB has also asked the state for 400k for planning and design of the cemetery, which is unprecedented as HLB has never asked the state for funding before.
How is Chapter 9 working for you?
South Anchorage and Girdwood Assembly Representative Jennifer Johnston wants to know what you think of the current Chapter 9, which outlines planning and zoning requirements specific to Girdwood.
Residents are asked to send their input to Girdwood Board of Supervisors at GBOS@muni.org. Suggestions for revisions that need to be made are requested to present to the assembly for the on-going Title 21 re-write, of which Chapter 9 is a part of. Residents will also be able to provide their input in person at this Monday’s GBOS meeting at the Girdwood Library and Community Center at 7 p.m.
Girdwood Center for Visual Arts hosts art shows
For January and February, artists from around the state are invited to add their flair to the Give’s winter shows.
January’s show, “Out With the Old and In With the New,” presents art created by recycled materials. As the cold freezes up everything - sometimes including an artist’s creativity - this show got the wheels turning. The objective was to gather found objects or unwanted items and give them a new life as art.
Be sure to take an art break and visit the showing at the gallery through the month of January.