Little Bears Annual Rummage Sale

The Annual Little Bears Rummage Sale is Friday, May 18. You can drop off items from noon to 6 p.m. Sale hours are May 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Every year, a great number of donations are received, and all who attend can find awesome deals. Proceeds benefit Little Bears Playhouse, Girdwood’s own non-profit childcare and learning center.

For more information, contact Kerri Dowd at 345-7448.

First Wood Bison Calf of the Season Born at AWCC

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center welcomed the first of what they expect to be many wood bison calves this Wednesday. Center staff reported a cow in labor around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9. The calf was born around 4:30 p.m. No name has been chosen, but several are under consideration by Center staff.

“This is the opening of the flood gates,” said Mike Miller, executive director of the Center. “We are expecting around 40 calves this spring, and once we see the first one of the season, we’ll start to see numerous births over the next week or so,” he said. The birth of the first calf came just in time for Mother’s Day, always a special day at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

“It is always our big celebration of spring,” said Miller. “We always have a couple of different calves born by Mother’s day, and we welcome our community to the Center to enjoy our facility, and to see the strides we’ve made in pursuit of our mission in the past year.”

The wood bison are part of a historical effort to return this species to lands it once roamed in Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reclassified the species from endangered to threatened.

With this reclassification, the wood bison could be released into the wilds of Alaska as early as 2013.

Alaska Marine Highway begins Bellingham-Whittier service

The Alaska Marine Highway began running its Bellingham to Whittier ferry service last month. This is the second year in a row the route has been offered. The first ferry departed Bellingham on April 14, and left Whittier April 19.

“It’s back and the same as last year,” said Danielle Adkins, marketing director for the Alaska Marine Highway System. “Cross-Gulf is always popular, and people appreciate the direct route.”

The ferry ride takes four-and-a-half days with stops in Yakutat, Juneau and Ketchikan. The ride is so popular that it is sold until August, said Adkins.

“You can put the car onboard with you and get off at the port with all of your belongings,” she said. “It’s a convenient way to travel with your vehicle.”

The last boat will leave Whittier Sept. 10 and Bellingham Sept. 15.