Hope Happenings

By Bianca Durrant
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent

Often I wonder why one would choose to race up a steep mountain. I’m all for the Long View but racing to get it? This curiosity reached a crescendo standing near the finish line of the men’s Mount Marathon race on July 4. In the runners came, some battered and hobbling, some steady in their stride with grins out to there; all had the telltale red thighs that spoke of the 1,500 foot climb and descent they had completed. I stood leaning over the plastic orange fencing, supporting the runners with claps and hollers and, every few minutes, I stood silently while digesting a recently consumed peach danish. My thoughts were on the runners’ journeys being reflective of the human tradition to push the limits of our mental and physical selves. Ah yes, testing ourselves puts us in the space where the mind can quiet down and when it’s all over, you are a little bit more your own hero.

Hope Wagon Trail Run This Weekend

This Sunday July 18 is the annual Hope Wagon Trail run and raffle drawing. Get to Hope early and pre-register for the 11 a.m. run at the Social Hall. The raffle tickets will be available up to and the morning of the event. They are just $2 apiece and there are over thirty prizes. This year’s prizes include the exquisite stained glass quilt made by Linda Graham and Fayrene Sherritt. Unfortunately, since Hope Happenings will surely win the quilt, everyone will have to set their sights on another of the myriad prizes.

Artifact Friendly Lighting for the Museum and Poetry Reading

Diane Olthius has the following news from the Museum: The Hope Historical Society has been awarded an Alaska State Museums 2011 Grant-in-Aid to purchase 44 LED light bulbs for the museum’s display areas. Curators prefer LED bulbs for their gentle impact on precious textile and paper artifacts. These bulbs are also long lasting with an estimated life of twenty years.

In other news, a visit from talented poetry reader Dave Thompson reciting Robert Service Gold Rush poems awed the museum volunteers and they invited him back to Hope for a repeat performance. Be awed for yourself, the poetry reading will take place at the museum on July 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Word to the Spray

There have been a couple of sightings of brown bears in the Ferrin/Hub area. The sightings have been of a sow with two cubs. So, yes, the most sensitive kind of bear, a mama, is wandering around these parts. Please take care to secure all trash and food products in bear-proof containers. And most importantly, walk loudly with a big stick. I mean a big can of bear spray! By now, we all have heard about the bicyclists who were attacked by a sow brown bear on Resurrection Trail July 6 and their tremendous success in staving off their attacker with the use of bear spray. It works, and it could save your life.

Hope’s Newest Business Promotes the Scenic Route

Lee’s Bikes is the aptly named bike rental business that just opened its doors in Hope. Owner Lee Hall offers an array of rental bikes to allow the savvy visitor a peek into Hope life as we live it and outside the confines of a car. His rates are reasonable and, especially for the Anchorage traveler that wishes the bike had made it in the car, quite justifiable. Biking is the quintessential mode of travel in our small town. Bikes are quick enough to be time efficient and slow enough to enable one to enjoy the ride. Call Lee’s Bikes at 782-3114.

Hope Inc. Highlights

A Hope, Inc. meeting held July 8 boasted a high number of attendees despite the historically low attendance that occurs for Hope, Inc. meetings held during the summer months. Nothing like the implementation of a light to get the troops all riled up. Alaska Department of Transportation representative Scott Thomas explained the ins and outs of the crosswalk/streetlights that are being implemented at the Hope Highway/ Resurrection Road area. Certain schools that meet criteria for safety improvements are mandated to have a crosswalk with lights put in.

A DOT evaluation determined that Hope School fell into the “unsafe” category and should be “improved.” Due to the number of residents expressing disdain for the light structures, Mr. Thomas said that it may be possible to downsize the scale of the project. He will get back to Hope when he has more information.

Hope, Inc. members approved spending $2,500 to replace the emergency stairs behind the library. Does this mean that soon the community will be able to use the lovely and bright upstairs area of the library?

Hope, Inc. Vice-President Greg Kaser announced that after October’s Hope, Inc. meeting he will retire from his volunteer position. Mr. Kaser has been in charge of facilitating major Hope projects for the last couple of years. Hope Happenings would like to extend a great, big “thank you” to Greg for all of his amazing efforts.

Got Books?

The Hope Library is always looking for your used book donations to help stock library and book sale shelves. Please drop your donations off any time and feel good about giving discarded print material a second life.

Contact Hope Happenings

Your thoughts, methods, and leads of all things Hope needs a loving home. Come home at: hopehappenings@live.com.