Hope Happenings

By Shyla Malone
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent

This past month Hope had its share of bear sightings, from black to grizzlies, the bears are out in force. If you’re out enjoying the great outdoors, keep in mind to be bear aware. There are a few things you can do to help prevent a possible run in with our furry friends. One NEVER carries open containers/packages of food; make sure if you have it that it’s wrapped in plastic and in a ziplock bag or vacuum sealed.

If camping, try to keep your food in your car, tied in a tree, or away from your camp area and put your trash in bear safe garbage cans.

Also, make a lot of noise when hiking, whether you’re singing a song, talking to people who are with you or to yourself, bears usually don’t want anything to do with people and if you make it clear you are a human, they will generally leave you alone.

Another option is to wear bells; bears generally don’t like noise. Bear spray is also a good defense.

Lastly, you can carry a firearm. These few suggestions can help you and the bears be more aware of each other, and let’s enjoy nature and the outdoors.

Hope Wagon Trail Run

The Wagon Trail Run is right around the bend, held on the second weekend in July. It’s a great way to have fun with the family and enjoy the outdoors. Raffle tickets are already being sold at the AK Dacha, Bowman’s Bear Creek Lodge, Grounds For Hope Espresso, Black Bear B&B, Sweet Mo’s Ice Cream Parlor, The Hope Library Gift Shop, Hope Museum, Sherritt’s Fine Art Gallery, and the Discovery Café during the weekend. You can also buy them at Hope’s Social Hall downtown the day of the event. All of the proceeds go to help out all the non-profit organizations around town.

There will be a pancake breakfast on July 14, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Hope Social Hall. The run will be held on July 15 along with the raffle and barbeque. Please come down and share this fabulous event with us.

Summer Fun Preschool

Summer fun preschool is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We have planned fun activities including: alphabet letters, numbers, coloring, making bracelets, planting seeds, play dough, Legos, and gym and playground time, and also story time. Some activities depend on the weather. One kid or eight, we don’t care.

Museum News

The museum is open daily from noon to 4 p.m. It has a lot of interesting history about our Hope and Sunrise area, and the history of mining of this area.

Wild Flower Walk

On Sunday July 8 at 10 a.m., there will be a wild flower walk. Meet at the museum to carpool Palmer Creek Road meadow, located half way to the switchbacks. Bikers should try to reach the meadow at about 10:15 a.m. Naturalist Marilyn Barker will be there to identify the wildflowers located in the meadow.

Library News

Right now at the library there is a tent/garage sale going on with many different treasures available. Stop by and take a look, you never know what you’ll find. If you have good used stuff that you would like to donate to the library garage sale, please bring them by. If you have stuff of your own that you would like to sell, you can man your table under the tents. The tents will be opened each day at noon and close at 4 p.m., through the rest of June.

This is a library fundraiser and we would appreciate any “I love it but I haven’t used it in 10 years” items you want to donate.

The library is open everyday from noon to 3 p.m., depending on volunteer schedules. A list of volunteers and their schedules is posted on the library’s front door and on the bulletin board of the post office. There is also a wide new selection of DVDs and books to choose from.

Also needed are volunteers for the summer hours. If you are interested please contact Susan Anderson at the library 783-3121.

Church News

Church is every Sunday at 3 p.m. The food bank is on Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m., and Bible study is at 3 p.m. on Thursdays.

Other News

Fish and wildlife transported a baby-orphaned moose with the help of a few Hope residents.