Tunnel Vision

A roundup of Whittier news

Compiled by Dyanna Barnes

The End of a “Tradition”

By Terri Wilson
Commission Clerk
Zoning Administrator

It’s the end of the Tradition. Yesterday, after three large cases of Crisco and a lot of man and machine power, the Tradition was successfully launched.  It currently floats peacefully next to a mother ship as if it were a whale calf just birthed. According to owner Paul Dale, the vessel is preparing for its journey home to Kenai where it will be refurbished into a Tender.

The tradition of the “Tradition” is finally over.  Now the City can move onward and forward with new projects planned for Smitty’s Cove.

Whittier Community School News

Whittier Community School begins classes for kindergarten through twelfth grade on Monday, Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. Preschool will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Twenty-four students are currently enrolled for the 2011-2012 school year. Stephanie Burgoon, Head Teacher, will be teaching grades 5-12 and performing administrative duties. Erika Swearingen will be teaching 3rd-4th grades. Shannon O’Brien will be returning to Whittier half-time and focusing on grades kindergarten through second grade. Mandy Sullivan will continue as the preschool teacher. Faleata Iosefa will be the secretary and custodian for the school.

A very busy summer of construction has given the school a new fire sprinkler system, carpet, windows, and paint. The Chugach School District Board will be holding their first board meeting of the year at the Whittier Community on Monday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. That evening, the students, staff, and board members are excited to host Back to School Night including a Grand Re-opening of the school. The Back to School Night/Grand Re-opening will be a dessert potluck so bring your favorite sweets. Come see what will be happening throughout the 11-12 school year! Festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12.

The Educational Advisory Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. in the school library. Please join the EAC to help make school-wide decisions based on what’s best for our kids.

Renew Your Greater Whittier Chamber
of Commerce
Membership

It’s time to start or renew Greater Whittier Chamber of Commerce membership for 2012.

The benefits of membership are numerous added to the value of being a part of a growing community, helping to shape and support the economic and business future. Applications can be downloaded from the website at www.whittieralaskachamber.org .Or by calling Kelly Bender at 907-529-0235. All membership applications must be received by Oct. 1, 2011

New Leader at Whittier Community Church

We are really excited! We have a New Leader and Church Strengthener. Kevin Jones moved here with his wife Florenda and their 3 children, Conner, Tobie, and Kasey on June 1st. Since May 29, they have been busy with outreach to the children of Whittier with activities such as Nerf Battle, Vacation Bible School, and community bible studies.  Also, they have been ministering to The Internationals & Seasonal workers here for the summer with home cook meals, encouragement, and fun, this being their home away from home.  We are always in need of food donations.  Our food bank serves those in need, unemployed, or homeless.  Please make non-perishable donations to Whittier Christian Community Church. Other church events are in the works: the youth group for ages 13-19, ladies bible study, men›s bible study, continuing with the children›s ministry, Thanksgiving, & Christmas events, & etc...       

Church service is every Sunday Morning at 11 a.m.

Sunday Night Potluck Dinner Fellowship at 6 p.m.

Thursday Night Family Bible Study @ 7 p.m.

Friday Night Family Movie & Popcorn @ 7 p.m.

All church events held at Ptarmigan room on the first floor of the Begich Towers until we get our new church location). Come & Visit Us! For information please call June Miller - Church Clerk at 907-472-2483.

Prince William Sound Museum News

Ted Spencer
Executive Director
PWS Museum

After the last dynamite blast echoed from the Whittier Tunnel in November of 1942, crews set to work laying the rail line through the hole in the mountain. Once completed, railroad trains began the rumbling activity that continues to this day. Millions of tons of materials come from the ships that dock at Whittier. Along with the material come the hundreds of thousands of people, initially World War II warriors, today cruise ship visitors.

The first rail vehicle to provide passenger service to Whittier was a 1927 gasoline powered self propelled rail car known as the Brill #114. In the early days of the tunnel, the tunnel was not ventilated. This was a problem in that the locomotives of the day were coal burning steam engines. This created all manner of air quality and ice formation problems inside the tunnel. The Brill was ideal as a smaller rig carrying light freight and pulling a passenger car that seated 60 passengers.

The Prince William Sound Museum commissioned Alaska railroad historian and master railroad model builder Patrick J. Durand to build a model of the Brill. The museum grade model is 1/29th scale, nearly 3 feet long and is faithfully detailed inside and out. The project took Pat nearly two years of work. The museum took delivery of this masterpiece on Aug. 2 and installed it within the exhibit “Steel Highway~the Alaska Railroad in WWII”.

An interesting side note is that Pat lived in Whittier as a lad in the 1950s. We are fortunate to have such a talent available to our museum development.

Whittier Comprehensive Plan Update

The Comprehensive Plan is developed by the citizens of the community through the Planning and Zoning Commission and adopted by the City Council. In the next few months the Planning Commission will have a series of workshops and Public Hearings to gather information from community members to update the existing plan. The Planning Commission would like to encourage participation from anyone interested in sharing their ideas. Please watch the local bulletin boards for dates and times of these meetings and please join in.

City Council Meets on the first and third Tuesday every month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Elections for Seat E and F will be held Oct. 4.

Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Homeowners Lounge – 15th floors in Begich Towers.

Ports and Harbor Commission meets on the third Saturday of every month at 9am in the Council Chambers.

Watershed Committee meets Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 12 p.m. Meeting place to be announced.

For more information please visit our website at www.whittieralaska.gov or call 907-472-2327.