Photo courtesy of Crow's View Photography
Sub-Zero Motorsports took over the harbor front in Whittier Sunday, Sept. 20.
By Rob Cone-Clark
Turnagain Times Whittier Correspondent
Election Results: One city council seat yet to be decided
The votes of Whittier's Oct. 6 general election have been tallied.
Shawni Philips won City Council Seat (A) with 73 votes. Incumbent Peter Denmark had 46 votes and Katherine Jackson 17. Six ballots were blank.
City Council Seat (D) Larry Bussman and Jerry Vandergriff were tied as of this writing with 57 votes apiece. Ben Cottle came in a distant third with 23 votes. There were 5 blank ballots.
According to City Clerk Brenda Krol, 142 votes were cast out of 284 registered voters.
A winner must receive at least 40 percent of the votes or city code mandates a run-off election or coin toss. City officials were looking into which procedure to follow as of this writing.
The new council is expected to be seated at the next regular meeting Oct. 20. The first order of business will include election of Mayor and Vice Mayor. The current council consists of Mayor Lester Lunceford, Vice Mayor Jerry Vandergriff, Peter Denmark, Becky Cotner, Juan Cardenas, Mary Brenneman and Shannon Tolman.
Halloween Events Kick Off With Anchor Inn Costume Party
The Anchor Inn will hold its annual Halloween Costume Dance Party in the Overview Lounge Saturday, Oct. 31. The party begins at 8 p.m. with costume judging at 10 p.m. Free admission, live DJ, games, contests and cash prizes. Call 472-2354 for room and dinner specials.
The Inn at Whittier will hold an inaugural Halloween celebration. The all day event features dinner and appetizer specials starting at $3. Spectacular room deals are also available starting at just $99. For more information call 472-3200.
School News
There will be a Halloween Carnival at the Whittier Community School Friday, Oct. 30. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes food, games, pumpkin judging and costume judging. Prices to play games will vary from .25 cents to $1 to cover the cost of the prizes. Volunteers are needed to assist construction of a haunted house in the tunnel between the Begich Towers and the school. Call 472-2575 for more information.
The school is continuing to hold fundraiser lunches each Wednesday at noon. October lunches will benefit the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and lunches in November are to benefit the basketball team. The meals are priced below $10 and everyone is welcome.
Last month's fundraiser lunches raised $1,500 and helped pay for thirty-four tickets to the Lion King production in Anchorage. Those wishing to support these student activities can dial 472-2575 for more information.
The arts have been adopted this year as the project theme at the Whittier School. Student assignments this quarter are focused on the visual arts and have included studies in the science and application of color. Artists with a desire to share their knowledge and skill are invited to call the Whittier Community School at 472-2575.
New Public Works Director Arrives
After months of searching, Whittier welcomes a new head to the Public Works Department. Thirty-five year old Scott Korbe comes to us from Vancouver, Wash. His wife Andrea and children Kelsey and Stacy are settling in alongside him.
Korbe studied construction management at Central Washington University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He most recently worked as a project manager, juggling nine civil infrastructure projects ranging from sewer systems to roads to a million yards of earth moving and fill.
“I grew up in the construction industry,” Korbe said. “A family friend put me on a project when I was 15. I started as a laborer, moved to an equipment operator and by the time I graduated high school I was running half million dollar projects.”
“I went to work for Kiewit Pacific Co on a project in Haines. I then managed subcontractors in Valdez, Anchorage, Fairbanks and on the North Slope. My girl friend was graduating from college, so I returned to Washington,” he said. “She's now my wife.”
Korbe said he heard about the opening in Whittier from a friend, and he flew up in July to assess our town. “I was struck by the unspoiled beauty,” he said. Korbe accepted the job offer and arrived in mid September.
“I could see we had a very capable shop, with a good fleet of newer equipment and some well maintained older equipment,” he said. “I was impressed by the amount of experience in the department. In three guys, we have 38 years experience. The newest man just passed the five-year mark. They all know what to do.”
Korbe said he is also impressed by Whittier's drinking water. “We do regular testing and reporting, our water is so pure that there is no need for treatment,” he said. “We have twice won best tasting water in Alaska competitions.”
Korbe said snow removal was one of his immediate projects.
“Ben Lenitz and I are working on a forum or town-hall style meeting where everyone can participate,” he said. “We hope to avoid as many problems as possible.”
He said he also sees the need for more infrastructure planning.
“I'm working on funding for a long term replacement plan,” he said. “We can patch and fill for so long, but eventually things are completely worn out. We need to be planning now for those future expenditures.”
Korbe said he's a hands on manager. This was evident first hand as he personally lifted a pump out of a sewer station, following the interview.
Whittier's Second Annual Fall Bar-B-Que Held
In a celebration of community, all Whittier turned out Saturday, Sept. 26 for a spectacular evening of food, friends, music and fireworks. Organizer Shannon Tolman said, “We cooked over four hundred kabobs, the band played nearly five hours and I saw kids chasing dogs with sparklers.” He added, “I solicited donations from the locals and businesses around town and received tremendous support.”
Volunteer's set up picnic tables, flatbed trailers for a stage, brought salads, cakes, sodas and chips. The weather cooperated with clear skies. The Anchorage band 3rd Wheel Project began a mix of cover tunes at five pm. By 6 p.m., a steady stream of neighbors leisurely strolled towards the massive bonfire behind the Begich Towers. The Whittier Volunteer Fire Department managed the fire, adding wood and shoveling embers.
After a busy summer, all seemed happy to relax and visit. Most everyone was known to each other, but a few boaters arrived, saying they heard the music. Around 8:30 p.m. all were surprised by the din and glare of exploding fireworks. The unexpected show lasted about 10 minutes and drew thunderous applause and delighted cheers.
The annual cookout and bonfire is quickly becoming an appreciated bookend to a hectic season of visitors and activities.
Autocross Comes To Whittier
As the summer crowds departed, a new racing club came to Whittier. Armed with street-legal racecars, high-octane fuel and specialized insurance, Sub-Zero Motorsports took over the harbor front Sunday, Sept. 20. Screaming engines and screeching tires caused infectious excitement as a dozen racers sped around a meandering grand prix style course.
Lasting most of the day, the event pitted the competitors against one another via the clock on a timed route.
The crowd cheered as the blue #91 car shot foot long flames, shifting and roaring through every corner. Other racers spun out, plowed over cones or ran fast and flawless tracks. Locals were invited to race and neighbors rooted and shouted as R.C. Collins gunned his yellow corvette through the tight corners and short straight-aways.
The volunteer EMS stood by with the ambulance and the police department helped with traffic control.
“The harbor staff did an outstanding job of accommodating us,” said race organizer R.C. Collins. “We are planning a second Whittier event in the spring. We have insurance that will allow us to race on a larger track set up on the city streets. Again, locals will be invited to participate. Anyone interested in racing their car can contact us at gosubzero.com.”
