Mona Painter/Turnagain Times
Mountains are mirrored in Kenai Lake for the Snail-a-thon picnic May 16.
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Mona Painter/Turnagain Times |
By Mona Painter
Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent
Community clean up—the work of many
Thanks to Shelby Lubich, our local Raven AmeriCorps member, and a host of volunteers for the community clean up over the past two weeks. Several miles of the highway through the Landing and some side roads were cleaned. I know that Nick LeMieux, Mayme Ohnemus, and Geneese Peterson worked on the highway on the east end of town. Ice cream cones were served for all volunteers at the school in the afternoon on May 15.
Perfect weather for Snail-a-thon fundraiser
The 30th Snug Harbor Snail-a-thon May 16 was a whole lot of fun for a whole lot of people on a beautiful sunny day. Once again Shelby Lubich worked to make Cooper Landing a better place. This time she had help from Birch AmeriCorps member Virginia Morgan, and Yvette Galbraith. Men, women, and children walked, ran, and biked along the five miles of road from the Catholic Church to the Snail-a-thon (aka Waikiki) beach site. Gary Galbraith came to the picnic via his classic cigarette boat and Leah Smith paddled her kayak over from near Quartz Creek. Prizes were given to those collecting trash on the way, to the fastest runner, to the last one arriving and more. Darwin Peterson’s wooden tripod over the campfire by the flat rook held a chain and hook for his big pot of cowboy coffee. A rainsquall headed towards the event, but it never reached the picnic site although it drenched parts of the community. This was a fundraiser for the community club with the money designated for upgrades for the softball field and bleachers.
1928 Model A draws attention to museum
Keith Freeman parked his 1928 Model A Ford at Cooper Landing Museum on May 17, opening day of the summer season. It added some vintage class to the area and was admired by many who stopped by. The day was so warm, the volunteers moved chairs outside to enjoy the sun and several people did double takes as they drove by on the highway and turned around to find out what was going on. Ladonna Herbert brought pots of blooming flowers to add to the scene. We are eager to get the flower boxes filled. Lorraine Temple stopped by to say she would once again have husky dogs in the pen at the museum. Her dogs have been popular with museum visitors and we’ve had lots of people wondering if they would be back.
Drift boat race and chili competition May 27
The 6th Annual Kenai River Regatta, a two-man drift boat race to the Sportsmans Lodge boat launch, begins about noon in front of Eagle’s Landing. Registration takes place at 10 a.m. at the Kenai River Bridge in the center of town. It costs $20 per racer entry fee. A good place to see the race is from the pullout across the river from Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge as the boats come through the Shellhorn rapids. An awards ceremony and chili cook-off begins at 3 p.m. at the community hall pavilion.
Everyone is welcome to bring a pot of chili for the contest and a chance to win $100. All you can eat chili is $10 per adult and $5 for each child. Prizes will be raffled and all proceeds will benefit the Cooper Landing Walkable Communities Program. For more information or to donate prizes or food call Alec Lamberson at 595-2126.
Softball tournament offers ten days of entertainment
And just when you thought there couldn’t be more fun, the 15th Annual Cooper Landing Slowpitch Softball Tournament begins on May 29 at the softball field at the community center off Bean Creek Road. Dan Michels is the tournament organizer and there is a maximum of ten teams. The team entry fee is $75. Call Dan at 595-1425 extension 1301 to reserve a team spot. Cooper Landing Emergency Services is once again handling the tournament concessions. A silent auction takes place during the tournament. Prizes will be displayed inside the community hall. June 7 is playoff Sunday. Look for signs for more information.