Black Bear enters Whittier Tunnel, delays trafficThe Anchorage Assembly and Mayor Mark Begich recognized supporters of the Anchorage Library Renewal Initiative at the Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
The Assembly issued a proclamation to Laureate Donors, who have donated $25,000 or more to the Anchorage Library Renewal Initiative.
The Girdwood Branch Library was one of the beneficiaries of The Laureate Donors, which included the State of Alaska, The Denali Commission, Paul B. Crews Jr. and Betty J. Crews, and Girdwood, Inc.
The Anchorage Library Renewal Initiative was launched in 2006 to improve library operations, increase outreach to the community and fund a $22 million-plus capital campaign to upgrade library facilities. Donations from these groups provided funds in part for the construction of a new building for the Scott and Wesley Gerrish Branch in Girdwood.
Black Bear enters Whittier Tunnel, delays trafficA black bear entered the Whittier Tunnel at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The bear entered on the Whittier side, causing a brief traffic delay. The bear walked about 1,600 feet into the tunnel to safe house 8 when it was scared back out of the tunnel by a tunnel employee who drove a truck towards it, flashing lights and honking the horn, which was enough to coax the bear back out of the tunnel. It was the first time a bear had ever entered the tunnel. The bear was not charged a tunnel entrance fee.
Pavement of Ruane Road is currently underway. The road is being upgraded from a gravel road and is the access road to the Girdwood Transfer Station and Solid Waste Service Station. It is also the road that will be used to access a proposed Industrial Park on Heritage Land Band property. Seacoast Construction out of Anchorage is paving the road at a cost of $400,000 paid by Heritage Land Bank, Anchorage Water and Waste Water Utility and Solid Waste Services. The project is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, 19, of Girdwood, is one of three women named to the snowboardcross B team on the U.S. Snowboarding team despite a mysterious injury Saturday in the season-opening World Cup race.
Chythlook-Sifsos reported sharp pain in her knee when she landed a jump at the competition in Chapelco, Argentina. A visit to the emergency room after being forced to drop out of the competition revealed no bone or ligament damage.
Chythlook-Sifsos was the overall winner of the prestigious Jeep King of the Mountain series last year, and is awaiting MRI results to see what the rest of the season may hold.
A Land Use subcommittee was formed at the last LUC meeting in hopes of developing a community cemetery in Girdwood. The Heritage Land Bank is currently working on locating five potential five-acre sites and the Land Use subcommittee will decide which of the five sites will be most desirable.
Despite some skepticism from the Girdwood Board of Supervisors noting the prevailing gravel beds throughout the valley and the limited lots available, HLB Director Bill Mehner says they are willing to cooperate and try to find a solution.
Girdwood Board of Supervisors member Jim Henderson tendered his resignation Monday due to family business in Indiana, which could require his presence for up to six months.
The position will be filled by appointment and resumes will be accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Contact GBOS secretary Amy Johnson at 753-8146 for more information.
Fire Chief Bill Chadwick and the Girdwood Fire Department wishes to thank the community for their help in raising $5,200for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry’s Kids in their annual fundraiser.
Chugach Electric is beginning planning for an expensive substation improvement project in Girdwood.
The first phase of the project, which could be five years down the road, involves fencing the entire six-acre property in old Girdwood and replacing overhanging switchgear units with low profile, metal-clad units, according to a presentation by Phil Steyer at the September Board of Supervisors meeting.
These are the early first steps in eventually adding the additional infrastructure required to support Girdwood’s power needs as growth demands it, as well as adding a second feeder line throughout the valley which makes it possible to get power back up more quickly in the event of a large outage.
These long-term goals are anticipated to be occurring sometime between 2015 and 2020.
More immediately, Chugach Electric representatives are seeking public input regarding fencing options for the large property, which runs parallel to Alyeska Highway near the Tesoro Mall. The fence will be 13.5 to 14 feet tall and will run the length of three lots, which will make it a major feature to anyone coming or going in Girdwood.
Steyer will represent the plan for public comment at the next GBOS meeting. Until then, comments and suggestions can be directed to Chugach Electric manager Dora Grapp at 762-4626 or by e-mail at dora_grapp@chugachelectric.com.