By Willow Hetrick
Turnagain Times
Moose Pass Correspondent
Moose Pass Summer Solstice Festival
Each June for the past 22 years, Moose Pass has come together to celebrate the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice. Members of the Sportsmen's Club, a non-profit community organization, organizes the Summer Solstice Festival. For the two days of from June 20-21, community members and visitors will gather together for food, games, music and general family fun to raise money for the Moose Pass Sportsman's Club to maintain our community hall, support our fire department and library, and provide activities for our children. On Saturday the community will be at the town center from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Live music starts Saturday at noon with the Pretty Damn Close Band, 150 Grit, Full Sail, Good Daze, Element 47, and ends with the 1120's.
On Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Elite 9 will be playing. There is great beer on tap, and an always willing dance partner. Picnic tables that can often be reserved for a group of friends, although towards the end of the night the majority of the crowd is busy dancing around. The Moose Pass ladies donate their famous baked goods to be sold at the bake sale, which will last all weekend. The town center will be full of vendors offering a variety of one-of-a-kind goods. There will be locally made arts, crafts, and jewelry not often found anywhere else! The kids will be able to play carnival games for prizes, paint their faces, and make a variety of crafts if they so please. Locals will be running the BBQ and will be cooking up burgers, hot dogs, and chicken served with homemade side dishes. T-shirts and beer mugs designed by local artists will also be for sale on both days.
Moose Pass Summer Solstice Kayak Race
Our parents can remember fifteen years ago at the annual Summer Solstice celebration when local community members would race their kayaks across Trail Lake. Well, the kayak race is back! Teams of two and singles alike are welcome to enter in the race from downtown Moose Pass to the railroad trestle and back to Moose Pass via kayaks on Trail Lake. The race will be on Saturday June 19 at 2:00 p.m. Participants must provide their own boats. There is no entry fee this year, and there are great prizes to be won! Please contact Ryan Gaule at rgaule@gmail.com or 206.914.6012 or Willow Hetrick at willowhetrick@gmail.com for more information about the race.
How is Marshmallow?
I'm sure all of you remember the tragic story of an injured swan last year at Tern Lake. Marshmallow was shot in the side (through her wing) by an arrow..gone wrong? We don't think so. She was rescued two times by the Alaska Sea Life Center and friends: once to remove the arrow, and another time when they realized that she was not leaving with her mate for migration. Although she showed no signs of infection from her wound, aviculturists thought that her wing muscles has stiffened and atrophied due to lack of use. Marshmallow was offered a new home at the Northwest Wildfowl Farm in Washington where there were already populations of both wild and captive and trumpeter swans. I was able to contact Lynn Dye at the Northwest Waterfowl Farm about how Marshmallow is doing. Lynn said that she is doing fine; her wing has lifted up, as opposed to being droopy like it was when she arrived at the farm. Although her wing has lifted, she cannot fully extend it and is not able to fly. She has settled in with the other swans, geese and ducks at the farm and spends her days looking for food, socializing and going for long wanders.
Moose Pass Methodist Church Celebration
The Moose Pass as the community turned out to say goodbye to Pastor Peter and Karen on May 16. A BBQ and fire kept was outside to help those keep warm outside despite the chilly wind. And the joyful singing of hymns inside after dinner warmed our spirits. Peter still has another month as the pastor, but with the VBS and Construction VIM teams coming in a few weeks, it was easiest to celebrate now.
Moose Pass Methodist Church Summer Schedule
Beginning May 24, Moose Pass Methodist Church will resume the summer hours. Service will begin at 9:00 a.m. Pastor Peter Perry invites visitors to come and worship. Over Solstice weekend in Moose Pass a Volunteer in Mission Team will be at the church helping with much needed and awaited renovations.
Avalanche Acres Softball Team Takes 1st Place
The 16th Annual Co-Ed Cooper Landing Slow Pitch softball tournament was held at the softball field at the Cooper Landing Community Center on Bean Creek Road. It started on May 28 and ended in June 6. There were ten teams competing this year. Avalanche Acres had no people in the dugout this year as compared to their opponent, Princess. The team members were Sarah, Jesse, Lou, Monica, Ryan, Dave P., Claire, Dave S. (who has been playing on the team for at least 15 years!!), Caleb, Chase and Adreinne. The championship win stemmed from an awesome team effort and solid pitching by Lou's; he did not walk anybody! Jessse Labenski hit and home run with two team mates in front of him. Chase was awesome in the outfield and had some clutch catches. Avalanche Acres won every game this season, great job Moose Pass Avalanche Acres.
