Photo courtesy of Keith Freeman
Snail-A-Thon attendees pose for a photo after the picnic.
By Susanna LaRock
Turnagain Times
Cooper Landing Correspondent
Cooper Landing Cleans Up Roadside
You may notice that the Sterling Highway shines as you drive through Cooper Landing. That is due to the work of many wonderful volunteers who participated in the Cooper Landing Community Clean Up this spring. People started cleaning May1 and got out to clean different sections of the highway and side roads all the way through May 17. The Sexy Senior Dumpster Cleaners did an excellent job, cleaning five miles of the Sterling Highway, and collecting 43 bags of litter. Thanks to the help of all of the hard working volunteers, the Sterling Highway was cleaned from Mile 40 all the way to Mile 53. Snug Harbor and Quartz Creek Roads were also cleaned. Even the school children got out and cleaned up litter around the school parking lot and Helen Rhode Park. Ice cream, donated by the Community Club, will be served at the school for all volunteers on Wednesday, May 19.
School Children Enjoy 22nd Annual Environmental Awareness Day
On Thursday, May 13, the children from Cooper Landing, Moose Pass, and Hope Schools traveled to Trail River Campground for the 22nd Annual Environmental Awareness Day. Kathleen Toth Stauble of the Forest Service organized the event. She has organized this event for twenty-two years to teach the youth of our area about the environment where they live. There were six different learning stations that the children visited throughout the day, with a break for lunch at noon. Various biologists who work for the Forest Service ran each booth. The children learned all about bats, and about the life cycle of salmon. They got to try out a primitive tool used by natives to throw spears with greater speed and accuracy, called an atlatl. They learned how to keep their homes safe from forest fires, and how energy from the sun is used throughout the food chain. It was a fun day of learning and enjoying the Chugach National Forest.
30th Annual Snug Harbor Snail-A-Thon a Cooper Landing Tradition
Community Members gathered in the parking lot of the Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May15, to participate in the 30th annual Snug Harbor Snail-A-Thon. Yvette Galbraith worked hard to organize this year's event, and with the help of many volunteers, it was a fun day for all. Thirty-six walkers, bikers and runners signed in and began the five-mile race to the picnic sight at Waikiki Beach. There were checkpoints at each mile with water and encouragement for all. There was a bonfire, with cowboy coffee waiting for people as they finished up their five miles. The weather was chili, so all enjoyed the fire. Many participants brought salads and desserts for the picnic, and there were hot dogs and buns provided by the Community Club. Prizes were given for the fastest runner and biker, the person who picked up the most litter along the way, and this year's snail (person in last place), won a trophy hand carved by Rabbit. Money was raised for the Community Club, to help with maintenance of the Mona Painter Community Hall.
16th Annual Co-Ed Slow Pitch Softball Tournament Set to Start
This year's tournament, as always, will be held at the softball field at the Community Center off Bean Creek Road. It will start May 28 and run through June 6. Dan Michels is the organizer of the tournament. There are ten teams competing, with Alaska Wildlands and Alaska River Company playing the first game at 7 p.m. on May 28. Cooper Landing Emergency Services is operating the concessions and holding a silent auction for the length of the tournament, as a fundraiser. There will be good food and great things to bid on. Check the schedule at the Community Club, and come out and cheer on your favorite team.
Susanna LaRock is the new Turnagain Times Cooper Landing correspondent.
