Fayrene Sherritt
“Gold Rush Peck" teaching the star of "Cash and Treasures" cable show how to pan for gold. The film crew had a ball filming in Hope.
By Fayrene Sherritt
Turnagain Times
Hope Correspondent
|
Fayrene Sherritt “Gold Rush Peck" teaching the star of "Cash and Treasures" cable show how to pan for gold. The film crew had a ball filming in Hope. |
On June 14, during a beautiful sunny day, the production crew and cast of “Finding Cash and Treasures”, from the Travel Channel, visited Hope. They began their day of filming at the Hope/ Sunrise Historic and Mining Museum with a personal tour provided by Ann and Billy Miller. Later in the morning they met up with gold miner “Peck” at Bowman’s Bear Creek Lodge where he was having coffee with the locals. Peck gave them a lesson on gold panning down by the Sea View near the mouth of Resurrection Creek.
After a delicious lunch at Bowman’s, they traveled up Bear Creek Road by four-wheeler with local miners, Greg Kaser and Kelly Keisling where they filmed and participated in a dredging operation. After cleaning the sluice box, they were rewarded with the found gold they discovered and were happy to take home to San Francisco. The 30-minute program, about Hope, will air sometime in the fall on the Travel Channel.
With all the fire danger that continues to be in the area around the Hope and Sunrise, it is very important to be very cautious again this spring and summer. Late May there was a grass fire that the Hope Sunrise Volunteer Fire Department brought under control before any real damage was done. If a person lights a fire that escapes control due to inadequate preparedness, they may be subject to criminal penalties for violation of the Alaska Statutes. If you see smoke, please report it to 911. This summer is expected to be a dry and warm one. Before lighting a fire, please check to see if there is a Fire Ban in effect in Hope or Sunrise. Fires are only allowed in designated fire pits.
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) held two working group meetings at the Hope Library on Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday, June 7. The both days, members discussed chemical dispersants use as an oil spill response method and a long-term environmental monitoring program for Prince William Sound. PWSRCAC is an independent non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote environmentally safe operation of the Valdez Marine Terminal and associated tankers. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and a contract, guides their work with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. PWSRCAC’s 18 member organizations are communities, including the Kenai Peninsula Borough, in the region affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, as well commercial fishing, aquaculture, Native, recreation, tourism and environmental groups. For more information, visit their website at www.pwsrcac.org.
Beth Kaser provided the following report for the Hope Sunrise APC which met on May 24 at the Social Hall. Conceptual subdivision plans were reviewed for areas 12 and 22 in the Hope area. It was agreed that area 12 would include the realignment of Palmer Resurrection Road, which will allow for additional three or four lots in area 12. The lots, in both areas, range from 1.5 to 2.5 acres in size. There is no date set for the sale of these subdivision lots.
At the APC meeting on June 7, the actual plats for areas 12 and 22 were presented and reviewed. Community property owners were contacted by mail with maps including the conceptual subdivision plans. The APC recommended approval of the Alaska State Land Surveys for both areas. Jason Skaaren resigned his commission due to business and family obligations. If you are interested in serving on the Hope Sunrise APC, contact the office of KPB Mayor John Williams for an application.
The next Hope Sunrise APC meeting will be Thursday, Aug. 2. If there is any urgent business to attend to, we will meet July 12, Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the Hope Social Hall. Meeting minutes, notices, and agendas are posted at Alaska Dacha, Tito’s Discovery Cafe, U.S. Post Office, and the Library. The community is always invited to participate in the APC meetings.
Beth Kaser also reported that Hope has a new summer resident, Eddy Ruschman, a Forest Service Intern with the Seward Ranger District. He has been assigned to the Hope Historical and Mining Museum for two months. Eddy’s home is Evanston, Illinois, which is near Chicago. He has just completed his first year of college. While in Hope, he will help with the restoration of the Forest Service “Smokey’s” Cabin to make it habitable for himself and future interns. He will help with landscaping and other projects around the museum.
The museum is open daily from 12:00 to 4:00 and is staffed by volunteer helpers. Stop by and view some of the new displays, including miniature buildings of early Sunrise City built and donated by Lynn Copoulos’ father. The museum features many local books, cards, CD’s and gift items. Say hello to Eddy while you’re there!
State Representative Mike Hawker has been successful securing financial support for community priorities in Girdwood, Whittier and Hope. The fiscal 2008 capital budget, SB53, includes funding that will benefit the Turnagain Arm communities. Appropriations will be available on July 1, after the capital budget is signed into law. The following appropriations were earmarked for Hope: $20,000 Revenue Sharing for Hope Inc., $25,000 to Hope, Inc. for Community Develop-ment and $25,000 to Hope, Inc. for Public Safety Needs. The monies are to support continued public safety, EMS, community planning and facility improvements as determined by the community.
The Wagon Trail Weekend of events is scheduled for July 14 and July 15 in Hope. The morning of the July 14, there will be the ever-popular Pancake Breakfast held at the Hope Social Hall 8 a.m. to 11 am. Check for posted notices for possible Saturday night events at the Hope Social Hall. On Sunday morning the 5-K fun run will begin at 11 a.m. followed by a BBQ and Bake Sale at the Social Hall. This year’s raffle is just as great as in the past. There are 35 items on the list with the top six prizes being a rifle, shotgun, three $400 gift certificates and the very popular “Floral Stain Glass Quilt” made by several ladies in Hope. The raffle drawing will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday. Two dollar Raffle tickets are available at Alaska Dacha, Bowman’s Bear Creek Lodge, Grounds for Hope, Hope/Sunrise Museum, Hope Library Gift Shop, Scott Sherritt’s Fine Art Gallery and Gifts, plus on the front porch of Tito’s Discovery Café on weekends.
The 2007 Hope Chamber community brochure, with a map of Hope, is now available at all the businesses in Hope. It has a list of hiking trails and other things to do while in Hope. Be sure to ask for one when you visit Hope.
The Hope Community Library held a fundraiser the end of May. The garage sale brought in $438 to help with the library’s expenses now that it is an independent community library. The library still needs more volunteers to help keep the library and gift shop open this summer and look for future fundraisers designed to help cover the expenses. The Library, Gift Shop and the Book Shed are open most days from noon to 4 p.m. There are many new items in the gift shop and lots of good used books to select from in the Book Shed. Locals and visitors are all welcome. Pocket books $1 and hardbacks $2 unless priced otherwise.
The Girdwood Clinic will be open 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday July 21, upstairs at the Hope Library for Hope residents or visitors should they have a need to be seen. Please give the Clinic a call at 783-1355 to make an appointment.
The Food Bank pantry will continue through the summer to provide basic food provisions to those members of our community that may have a need. The food bank is open on Wed. 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Those folks needing to take advantage of the food pantry, outside the regular hours, please contact either Tom Burgin (350-1318) or Joyce Burgin (830-5307). If you are in need of food, please come utilize this free service.