Fairbanks, Alaska
October 1, 2011
The voice of Interior Alaska since 1903
2011
WINTER guide
Eric Engman/News-Miner
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011 Eric Engman /News-Miner
Our winter begins when it gets here
Taking advantage of the fresh snowfall, UAF photojournalism student Josh Straub takes a snowboard run down the UAF Sledding Hill next to the Student Recreation Center in October 2010.
There is no set date in Fairbanks By TIM MOWRY tmowry@newsminer.com When does winter officially start in Fairbanks? According to the calendar, it’s Dec. 21, but anyone who has spent at least one winter in Fairbanks is smarter than that. Winter arrives a lot earlier than that in Alaska’s secondlargest city. But when? Is it when the first snow falls? When the first snow sticks? Or is it when the tempera-
ture drops below zero for first time? Or 20 below? Or 40 below? “July 1,” meteorologist Scott Berg at the National Weather Service in Fairbanks said when asked when winter begins in Fairbanks. “We start our count for snow over on July 1.” While the meteorological year does indeed start on that date, Berg said there is no official starting date for winter in Fairbanks. “We define it as when we get an inch of snow on the
Alaska Department of
Transportation & Public Facilities
Winter Driving Tips 1) Know the conditions: • Weather conditions, visit: www.arh.noaa.gov/ hazards.php • Road conditions, visit 511.Alaska.Gov or call 511 from any phone. 2) Prepare your vehicle: • Make sure your vehicle is winterized! • Check the following: tire pressure, defroster & heater, battery & lights, motor oil, antifreeze, belts, hoses, filters, brakes, brake fluid, wiper blades and windshield washer fluid.
ground that stays there,” Berg said, speaking for the National Weather Service. “Once we start building our snowpack.” According to weather service records dating back to 1930, the average date for the establishment of a snowpack of at least 1 inch or more at Fairbanks International Airport is Oct. 18, but the date varies from late September in some years to early November in others. The average date of the first measurable snowfall, meanwhile, is Oct. 1. If it’s temperature that you’re using as a barometer for when winter begins, the average date the temperature drops below zero for the first
4) Drive with your headlights on. 5) Watch for snow removal equipment: • Stay at last 200 feet back and don’t pass on the right. • Remember that snow removal equipment can cause white out conditions when driving too close.
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ruary in the northern hemisphere, he said. Another formula for defining seasons in Fairbanks is to take the range in daily average temperatures in Fairbanks — minus 9 for the coldest and 64 above for the warmest in Fairbanks for a total of 73 — and divide that by 3. That way, winter is defined as the coldest third of the temperature range and it doesn’t force the seasons to be the same length. Using that method, winter runs from Oct. 27 to March 23 (average temperature from -9F to +15F); spring is March 16 to Apr 27; summer is April
Outdoor Clothing and Gear
3) Reduce your speed: • Drive according to the conditions! • Remember that posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
www.dot.alaska.gov/winter-conditions.shtml
time is Oct. 28. If that’s not cold enough for you, the average date of the first 20 below temperature is November 19. Using the equinoxes/solstices as the start and end of winter is not very accurate in most northern latitudes because winter lasts longer than three months and summer is shorter, meteorologist Rick Thoman said. The darkest quarter of the year is the solstice, from Nov. 6 to Feb. 5, Thoman said. The coldest quarter of the year in Fairbanks, based on the normal temperature, would be about Nov. 24 to Feb. 23. For simplicity, meteorological winter is usually declared to be December through Feb-
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
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The Woodway would again like to thank the Fairbanks, North Pole and surrounding communities for their continued loyalty over the last 33 years. Our community has continued to grow and change over the past few decades, and The Woodway has striven to adapt, improve and diversify to meet our customer’s needs. In the last few years there have been all sorts of stores opening and closing that have sold different types of heating appliances. The Woodway welcomes new competition as it helps us to assess what we do more critically and enables us to offer the community even more. This last year has afforded us the opportunity to help people take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit which enables a homeowner the ability to recieve up to
$300.00 on a qualifying wood or pellet stove. On top of this, the Borough is continuing its Woodstove Changeout Program by incentivizing eligible residents to upgrade their older woodstoves to cleaner solid fuel burning devices. These newer appliances, both wood and pellet, assist in cleaning up our air. These newer woodstoves help people to burn up to a third less firewood! The Fairbanks North Star Borough Air Quality Improvement Program Wood Stove Exchange Program is going strong, and with the changes made to the program since June, more people are able to participate with more options within the program. Specifically. Now, if you trade in your old non-EPA stove, (be it wood or coal), and upgrade to an efficient EPA certified wood stove, the payout is up to $2500 for the stove.
If you elect to remove a wood or coal stove, and agree not to use a wood stove for 10 years, the payout for the removal is $3000. You can install a wood pellet stove or pellet boiler if you want in its place, as pellet stoves and pellet boilers are considered exempt from the program. If you have a rental unit or a commercial property with a wood or coal stove, and would like to participate in the replacement or removal program, now you can! Before, rentals and commercial properties were not allowed to be in the program, but the vote was unanimous to allow them to be able to participate. To apply for the program, you must live within the PM2.5 non-attainment boundary. (For more information on the Borough program, please call 459-1005). Don’t forget The Woodway also has local pottery and art that is displayed throughout the year and new artists are featured along with refreshments throughout the winter months on the First Friday of every month starting in November. We also offer our “Light the Fire” classes free of charge on Saturday mornings where folks can come in and ask questions and learn how to start a fire properly and operate their stove as efficiently as cleanly as possible. The Woodway would again like to thank the community for its trust over the years and look forward to keeping interior Alaska warm for many winters to come.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
WINTER Continued from Page 2
28 to Sept. 24; and autumn is Sept. 25 to Oct. 26. A modification of that formula is to make winter and summer be the bottom and top quarter of the range, and spring and fall everything in between. By that method, winter is Nov. 3 to March 13; spring is March 14 to May 6; summer is May 7 to Sept. 16; and autumn is Sept. 17 to Nov. 2.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES BY MONTH (LAST 30 YEARS) • • • • • • • • •
Month September October November December January February March April May
High 54.6 31.9 10.9 4.8 1.1 10.0 25.4 44.5 61.0
Low 35.1 16.5 -5.7 -12.9 -16.9 -12.7 -2.5 20.6 37.8
Mean 44.9 24.2 2.6 -4.1 -7.9 -1.3 11.4 32.5 49.4
All temperatures in Fahrenheit
AVERAGE DATE OF LAST LOW TEMPERATURE OF -20 OR BELOW March 14
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH A LOW TEMPERATURE OF -40 OR LOWER 11 (most in past 20 years is 18 in 2008-09)
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH LOW TEMPERATURE OF -20 OR LOWER
AVERAGE DATE OF FIRST LOW TEMPERATURE OF -20 OR BELOW
47 (most in past 20 years is 61 last winter)
Nov. 19
FAIRBANKS WEATHER FACTS Information below is based on National Weather Service records dating back to 1930, with some earlier records included as noted.
AVERAGE DATE OF FIRST MEASURABLE SNOWFALL Oct. 1
AVERAGE DATE OF LAST MEASURABLE SNOWFALL April 22
AVERAGE DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF WINTER SNOWPACK (1 INCH OR MORE) Oct. 18
AVERAGE DATE OF LOSS OF WINTER SNOWPACK (1 INCH OR MORE) April 22
AVERAGE SNOWFALL 65.0 inches
AVERAGE SNOWFALL BY MONTH (LAST 30 YEARS) • September — 1.8 inches • October — 10.8 inches • November — 13.2 inches • December — 12.1 inches • January — 10.3 inches • February — 8.1 inches • March — 4.9 inches • April — 2.9 inches • May — 0.9 inches
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
Winter and your car: It can affect your health, too By ANDREW SHEELER For the News-Miner Remembering to plug — and unplug — your vehicle can be a hassle. But when the temperature drops, the benefits to your health and wallet can be worth the aggravation. According to “Air Quality Fairbanks,” a publication released by the Fairbanks North Star Borough, vehicle exhaust contributes to as much as 30 percent of the fine particulate (PM 2.5) pollution in the Interior. In cold temperatures, high levels of PM 2.5 can become trapped low to the ground and become a breathing hazard, especially for the young, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions. A review by the State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin found that as PM 2.5 levels rise, so too does the risk of stroke or respiratory tract infection in people under 65. “This is Fairbanks, not some abstract concept,” said Cathy Cahill, a professor of atmospheric science at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Cahill said air quality in the winter can be a big deal, and by plugging in people can help decrease the PM 2.5 levels and their attendant risks. If reducing your chance of stroke isn’t enough, there’s also a strong financial incentive to plugging in your vehicle when the temperature drops to 20 degrees or colder. For one, plugging in helps keep the engine warm. A warm engine prevents the oil from thickening, which can lead to hard starts and costly engine repair issues. Plugging in also helps prevent the engine from freezing and requiring a jump to be restarted. On extremely cold days, it can be tempting to leave your car running when you run in to the store. Not only does this produce substan-
On extremely cold days, it can be tempting to leave your car running when you run in to the store. Not only does this produce substantially more pollution than if you were to turn your car off and then back on again, it also presents a prime opportunity for a car thief. tially more pollution than if you were to turn your car off and then back on again, it also presents a prime opportunity for a car thief. Fairbanks Police Chief Laren Zager said there is a correlation between cold temperatures in the Interior and incidents of car thefts. “People are walking, they don’t want to be walking. They see a car running and they take it or they’ll sit in it,” Zager said. Zager cited the “underlying good advice” of not leaving keys in a vehicle because doors can be unlocked and windows can be broken. “That’s getting easier and easier to do if you get an autostart,” said Colin Craven, of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. He said there are some “simple rules of thumb for people to follow” when it comes to winter driving. Craven stressed the importance of winterizing your vehicle and making sure it’s in good running condition. He also recommended riding the city bus or carpooling with family whenever possible. Eric Engman/News-Miner
Extension cords fill almost every plug in the lower Commons parking lot at the University of Alaska Fairbanks as people make sure their vehicles will start in 40-below-zero Fahrenheit weather.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
WINTER SCENE
School snow days are rare By REBA LEAN rlean@newsminer.com
on getting kids out of bed while waiting on word of school closure, it might It may sound counterbe more efficient to start intuitive, but the farther planning warm outfits for North people live, the fewer children to wear outdoors at snow days they come to bus stops and during recess. expect. School recess is held outIn Fairbanks, school can- doors until temperatures cellations because of weath- reach minus 20 degrees. er are few and far between. Layering is a good place Heavy snowfall, extreme low to start when dressing kids temperatures and icy roads for the cold. Long underare often expected and usuwear goes a long way to ally only a combination of keep body heat close to its all conditions merit a cansource. Sweaters and sweatcellation. shirts can be removed in the The Fairbanks North warm classroom and added Star Borough School Disbefore going outdoors. Coats trict website states, “It is very unlikely that the school should be more than a shell, but having the waterproof district will close schools layer is helpful in snowy simply because of cold conditions. weather.” Rather than holding off Snowpants or snowsuits
are not required by the school district, but they make long recess periods go by comfortably in the cold. Accessories like hats, mittens, scarves and boots can make all the difference in a matter of minutes in freezing temperatures. During a short recess, students can think up all sorts of activities. They often run around sweating or spark up a wet snowball fight. The wetness seeps into materials like cotton and can make a person colder. Fabrics like wool, polypropolene or fleece stay dry and warm. When it is too cold for the outdoors, the schools will hold indoor recess. Contact staff writer Reba Lean at 459-7523.
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Bent birch trees covered in ice dot the forest in January at the Birch Hill Recreation Area.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
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Sledders take advantage of record-breaking warm temperatures to ascend and descend the Beluga Field sledding hill in December on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
Winter weather and burning wood go hand in hand By TIM MOWRY tmowry@newsminer.com
Please see WOOD, Page 11
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• Originally published October 2010 The number of people cutting their own firewood to cut down on heating bills has increased dramatically in the last few years. Not surprisingly, so have the number of house fires related to burning firewood. “There was a definite increase last winter,” fire chief Mitch Flynn at the Steese Volunteer Fire Department said. “The problems mostly revolve around chimneys not being cleaned enough and people using green firewood.” Those two problems go hand in hand, Flynn said. Burning green or wet firewood causes more creosote buildup in the chimney. Creosote is the black, tarry substance that sticks to the side of the chimney. If the creosote ignites, which it often does, it causes a fire inside the chimney. “When that heats up and gets out of control it damages the chimney,” Flynn said. “That creosote builds up to a higher temperature than the chimney is designed for.” That in turn weakens the chimney to the point that it allows too much heat to radiate out, causing a condition called pyrolysis, which is the slow decomposition of combustible materials like insulation and wood from heat, Ernie Misewicz, assistant chief for the Fairbanks Fire Department, said. Over time, the ignition temperature drops, making them more prone to igniting during a chimney fire. The three main causes of fires related to any alternative heating appliances, including woodstoves, are improper installation, improper use and improper maintenance, Misewicz said. One of the problems Mise-
wicz often sees is lack of proper clearance around a chimney when it’s installed. Most manufacturers require at least 2 inches of clearance around a chimney. Chimney need to be installed, inspected, used and cleaned according to the manufacturers specifications, both Flynn and Misewicz said. Another common problem, Misewicz said, is people burning green firewood, which results in creosote buildup. That problem is often compounded when people don’t clean their chimneys, he said. The best way to reduce creosote buildup is to burn dry wood, according to longtime Fairbanks chimney sweep Charlie Whitaker, owner of A-Chimney Sweep. “If you burn wet or green wood you don’t get a complete burn,” Whitaker said. “You end up with a lot of creosote in the chimney.” The general rule of thumb is not to burn firewood with a moisture content higher than 20 percent. Firewood should be split and covered for at least one summer before it is burned. Moisture meters are available in wood stove shops around town for $30 to $40, Whitaker said. If you get one, be sure to split the wood and test the moisture in the middle of the wood, not just the ends, he said. How often the chimney should be cleaned depends how often and how the stove is used, and what kind of wood is being burned, Whitaker said. “It really depends on how hot the fires are, how efficient the stove is and how dry the firewood is,” he said. If you’re burning hot fires with dry wood, little maintenance is required, Whitaker said. If you burn slow, smolder-
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
Winter is the pinnacle of our sports season By DANNY MARTIN dmartin@newsminer.com You can spectate or participate when it comes to several activities in the winter In the Fairbanks area. For example, if you want to sit in the stands and enjoy a hockey game, there’s the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League and the Alaska Nanooks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Ice Dogs are the defending USA Hockey Robertson Cup national champions for Tier II Junior A hockey and they play their home games at the Big Dipper Ice Arena. The Ice Dogs have 28 home dates scheduled at the Big Dipper for the 201112 season, starting with a two-game series against the Odessa (Texas) Jackalopes on Oct. 7-8. The games begin at 7:30 each night. For information on tickets, call 452-2111 or visit the team’s web site at www. fairbanksicedogs.pointstreaksites.com. The Nanooks, the NCAA Division I hockey program for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, play their first home
John Wagner/News-Miner
A member of the Face-Off Club helps assemble the large inflatable mascot of the Alaska Nanooks prior to a game against Union College during the Brice Alaska Goal Rush at the Carlson Center. games against Mercyhurst College and the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush on Oct. 1415 at the Carlson Center. The Mercyhurst contest starts at 8:05 p.m. on Oct. 14 and the Nebraska-Omaha matchup gets underway at 7:05 p.m. on the final day. The Alaska Anchorage
Seawolves are also participating in the tournament but the Nanooks won’t face their intrastate rival that weekend. The Rush is among 17 home dates for the Nanooks at the Carlson Center, including their CCHA opening series against Western Michigan on Oct. 21-22 and their regular-season and Alaska
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Income Guidelines 100% of Median Income: Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6
facilities to satisfy their appetities — the Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Area on Fort Wainwright; Moose Mountain Ski Resort; and Mount Aurora Skiland. The Birch Hill Ski and Snowboard Area also offers tubing, ski lessons and night skiing and snowboarding. Information about times, rates, rentals and snow conditions are available by calling 353-7053 or visiting its web site (www.ftwainwrightfmwr.com/birchhillski.html). Moose Mountain, located off Moose Mountain Road near the intersection of Murphy Dome Road, possesses more than 1,250 feet of vertical terrain that ranges from the bunny slope at Moose Meadow to the steep and deep North Slope. The resort offers runs for all ability levels and a lift which consists of capacity turbo-charged terrestial trams. Call 459-8132 or visit www.shredthemoose.com for more information. Mt. Aurora Skiland is located at Cleary Summit by taking the Steese Highway to Fairbanks Creek Road and turning right on Skiland Road. The facility is open Saturdays and Sundays, whenever enough snow is available. It offers beginner to advanced slopes for skiers and snowboarders and features the Silver Star Double Chairlift, the farthest north chairlift in North America. More information is available by calling the Skiland office at 3892314, its lodge at 389-3624 or going to www.skiland.org. Please see SPORTS, Page 11
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Airlines Governor’s Cup Series finale against Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 25. For ticket information, call 474-NOOK (6665) or visit www.alaskananooks.com. For adults who desire to skate on an odd-man rush or deliver shots from the high slot, there is the Fairbanks Men’s Hockey Association and the Fairbanks Women’s Hockey Association. The men’s organization is conducting its winter registration and the women’s association’s next registration session is scheduled for December. For more information on the men’s organization, visit its web site at www.fairbanksmenshockey.com and for the women’s association, go to www.fairbankswomenshockey.pucksystems.com. The area’s ski trails and slopes will soon be filled with snow and there’s plenty of opportunities to stride on a trail or carve a turn on a slope. The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks is an abundant resource for Nordic (cross country) skiing in this part of the state, particularly information about lessons, area trails, trails conditions and upcoming events. Membership also is avaiable in the organization and more information can be found at its site, www.nscfairbanks.org. Among the popular Nordic venues in Fairbanks are the Birch Hill Recreation Area, the Creamer’s Field trails and the West Ridge Trails at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Downhill ski lovers and snowboarders have three
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
11
SPORTS: Out on the ice Continued from Page 10
The Fairbanks Snow Travelers offer rides and events for snowmachine lovers and its web site (www. snowtravelers.org) features a trails database. Registration is required for the web site. The organization has a membership meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the Noel Wien Library. For those who want a winter activity in liquid water rather than on or with frozen water, the Fair-
banks North Star Borough operates swimming pools at the Mary Siah Recreation Center and Hamme Pool, both of which are near Lathrop High School, and at the Wescott Pool in North Pole. Information about fees, times and activities can be found by clicking the Facilities link on the borough’s Parks and Recreation web site (www.co.fairbanks. ak.us/parksandrecreation/) or calling 459-1070. Contact staff writer Danny Martin at 459-7586.
WOOD BURNING WISDOM • Follow manufacturers specifications when installing, using and cleaning a woodstove and chimney. • Burn only well-seasoned wood, i.e. wood that has been split and covered for at least one summer. • Don’t store any combustible items around a woodstove or chimney, such as firewood, newspaper or clothing. • Inspect and clean your chimney before and during the winter. • Don’t burn slow, smoldering fires. The hotter the fire, the less creosote buildup. • Don’t burn trash and newspaper in the wood stove. • Anyone with questions regarding chimney or woodstove installation should call their local fire department. The North Star Volunteer Fire Department in North Pole will perform woodstove safety inspections for homeowners in that service area. The department also offers free use of chimney brushes to clean chimneys.
WOOD: Proper burning Continued from Page 9
ing fires with green wood, the chimney will need to be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent creosote buildup. “You can have the most efficient stove made and if you don’t use it properly it won’t do any good at all,” Whitaker said. Anyone with questions regarding chimney or woodstove installation should call their local fire department. The North Star Volunteer Fire Department in North Pole will perform woodstove safety inspections for homeowners in that service area, said fire prevention officer Lt. Charles Potter. The department also offers Contact staff writer Tim Mowry free use of chimney brushes to at 459-7587.
11386318 10-1-11 WS
clean chimneys, Potter said. Wood burners should inspect their chimneys before they start using them in the fall. “Look down there with a flashlight,” Flynn said. “Make sure you don’t see any abnormalities.” Do not spray water into a chimney to douse a chimney fire, Flynn advised. “Sometimes that causes warpage and failure,” he said. The best thing to do in the event of a chimney fire is to shut off the air flow to the stove and call the fire department, Flynn said.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
SNOW JOB
Even in the winter, be sure to seek the sun amount of daylight outdoors helps her patients. Jamie Marschner, presi• Originally published dent of Alaska Skijoring and October 2010 Pulk Association, thinks it Cabin fever can become is important to get as much an epidemic in Fairbanks’ sunlight as possible in the winter months. As the hours winter. of sunlight dwindle, people’s “I make a point to get out energy tends to drain along between 10 and 2 every day,” with it. she said. The darkness can confuse As a result, she believes your brains into believing it helps ward off the sympyou’re tired all the time. toms of SAD. She notices the Sometimes, the effect can effect darkness has on people have even more serious in the area, including her consequences. Seasonal husband. She says if people Affective Disorder sympdon’t get their daily dosage toms include lethargy and of sun, they tend to dislike overeating. People’s sleeping Fairbanks and move after schedules can be thrown off just a couple years. and their moods worsened One way to make sure to because of it. get some sunlight in a day is Sharon Hollansbe at the to use lunch breaks to head University of Alaska Fairoutside. An hour-long lunch banks encounters a lot of break in the height of Fairstudents with depression banks’ winter sun is perfect issues. for a short walk or chilly Many of them know run. that the lack of light durIf more time is available, ing winter months affects set up a schedule and force their mood, while others yourself to catch some rays are unclear why they feel each day. depressed. In some cases, At Running Club North’s Hollansbe recommends those website, information on runstudents check out a lightning in cold weather menbox that is said to simulate tions “when the city and sunlight and help improve surrounding low areas are moods. blanketed with ice fog, it’s She also recommends get- a psychological lift to run in ting outside while there is the hills where you can at daylight, but, “there is not least see (but not feel) the much motivation sometimes sun.” when they’re depressed.” Breaking free from cabin She notes that any exerfever may mean extreme cise is important for stutemps, but it also may give dents, but it is hard to tell you a better chance of avoidfor sure whether the small ing depression. By REBA LEAN rlean@newsminer.com
A laska Bird Observatory
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College Road
x
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Ski, Inc., 2315 Skiland Rd., Fairbanks, AK 99712 Phone: (907) 389-2314 • Fax: 389-2002 • email: mt.aurora@att.net PAYMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY November 1, 2011 Please list name followed by pass type. Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________
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Advancing the appreciation, We understanding, and are conservation of birds and here their habitats through research and education.
John Hagen/News-Miner
A snowplow clear berms on the Steese Highway near Eagle Summit. The plow must clear this section of the road several times per day to keep it clear from blowing snow. Visible under the snow plume is a car that was stuck in the snow from the previous night.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
Don’t forget your pets when it comes to the cold By REBA LEAN rlean@newsminer.com • Originally published October 2010 Dogs, cats and other pets face a difficult season. People who might be worried about whether or not their car will last through the cold or if their pipes will freeze should also consider their pets that normally spend time outdoors. Dr. Val Stuve at Aurora Animal Clinic can think of many issues pet owners face with winter approaching. Cats that normally spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer eating mice and voles should get checked for worms, and the same goes for dogs. Stuve said that there are new topical medicines that make it easy to remove parasites. Antifreeze for cars is a major attractant for animals; its sweet taste is hard to
Pet owners should be aware, especially if they’re located farther away from town, that winter is trapping season. Animals that get caught in traps can have severe loss of circulation to their extremities, creating a huge risk of frostbite. ignore but is extremely dangerous to consume. Pets can end up with kidney blockage, which is difficult to both diagnose and treat. Owners should be aware, especially if they’re located farther away from town, that winter is trapping season. Animals that get caught in traps can have severe loss of circulation to their extremities, creating a huge risk of frostbite. Sometimes amputation is the only option. Outdoor dogs need adequate housing and extra
nutrition. Stuve recommends that when checking a dog’s weight by feeling its ribs, check without gloves on. “You should be able to barely feel the ribs,” he said. If fingers can fit between the ribs, the dog is most likely malnourished. While outdoor pets are the major concern for pet owners, indoor pets need a little extra consideration in the winter months, as well. Fall is the best time to help the animals prepare for the real onslaught of cold.
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At Blue Ribbon Grooming in Fairbanks, Beverly May has winter preparation for pets down to a science. She has noticed that a lot of people bring their pets in for a shedless treatment in the fall. “Shedding can be an issue when you have your pet inside more,” she said. May also said that people tend to be more concerned with pet odor with the presence of their animals inside more often, so she often has customers who want a cleaning. “You want them more pleasant to be with,” she said. On top of shedding and odor, owners should be concerned with their pets’ nail lengths. Nails tend to grow longer during the winter months, when the rocks and dirt that normally keep the length down have disappeared underneath snow.
May advises pet owners to keep their pets’ regular appointments with groomers. Some people believe that letting their pet’s hair grow out in the cold months will keep them warmer but May disagrees. Houses are normally kept at warmer temperatures in winter, and come January and 40 below temperatures, pets whose hair has grown out and become matted need help, and shaving is often the only way to fix the situation. Pets walking away with a thin coat of fur in the coldest time of year is not a smart solution. Giving an indoor or outdoor pet an extra thought this season could make it much more comfortable or even save its life. Many coldweather informational brochures are available at local veterinary offices. Contact staff writer Reba Lean at 459-7523
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
Protect your home against the ravages of winter for free; others charge a nominal fee. MacGregor says unless there’s been a Windows and doors hailstorm, roofs can go without profesBefore you get slammed with a yuleOld, cracked or shrinking caulk is a sional care for five to 10 years. tide to-do list that’s longer than Santa’s top reason warm air escapes from the on Christmas Eve, make sure your home. Products like Thermwell Door Insulation home is tucked in tight against winter MacGregor says many homes, even Weather Stripping, available for less than abuse. Taking simple steps now to safe- $10 at hardware and home-improvement new construction, are poorly insulated. guard your home against seasonal wear stores, can increase energy efficiency by This leads to indoor chill and high utiland tear will save time and money in about 20 percent. Leaky windows can be ity bills. A good insulation company can the future, as well as ensure the safety look inside walls to make sure the insucovered with shrink-to-fit plastic. of all who pass over its threshold. lation is up to snuff. It usually is free Roof for a professional’s opinion. Another reason to winterize? Inspect for damage and leaks. Garage Heating costs this season are expect- “You’re looking for obviously damaged ed to rise about 20 percent, according to or curling shingles, or sandy granules In homes where the garage is the Department of Energy. The Denver on the roofing materials,” MacGregor attached, check the adjoining wall to Post chatted with Paul MacGregor, a make sure it is sufficiently insulated for says. Call a roofing contractor for anyradio personality known as Mr. Fix It, energy efficiency and to prevent autothing serious. Some will survey a roof By ELANA ASHANTI JEFFERSON The Denver Post
about cold-weather home care.
mobile fumes from wafting into living spaces. Never store anything of value on the floor.
Pipes and sprinklers Failing to drain sprinklers before they freeze can lead to broken valves, burst pipes, frozen faucets and water damage to the house. Garden hoses split when they are left attached to faucets during the winter. Swampcooler water lines and sprinkler systems should be drained.
Driveway and sidewalks Standing water seeps into driveways, sidewalks and steps, freezes, expands and then causes them to crack. Outdoor surfaces also deteriorate
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16
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, October 1, 2011
Paid Advertising Content
NOKIAN TYRES FROM FINLAND Now Available in Fairbanks NORDIC SMART Located on the banks of the Nokia River, Nokian Tyres has been producing tires for a Nordic climate since 1904. In 1936 they produced the world’s first snow tire, the Hakkapeliitta, and made coldweather climate history. Since then, Nokian has remained the worldwide leader in winter driving safety. Nokian’s philosophy: Tires are the only things connecting you to the ground. And, as Interior Alaska knows, this close to the Arctic Circle there often is no ground. Tires are the only thing connecting you to ice and snow.
FRICTION TIRES Getting good at the connection between vehicles, ice and snow has been Nokian’s sole focus for over 70 years. Their line of tread includes “Friction” tires as well as studded tires. Friction tires (known as studless tires in the U.S.) were developed for the shoulder seasons of spring and fall when weather is often unpredictable.
SERIOUS STUDS But when winter finally settles in, it is time to get real and carry some bite. Tire
studs are serious Finnish business. When legislation instituted harsher restrictions on road wear in Europe, Nokian refused to hang up its cleats. Instead of abandoning their studded line of tread, Nokian responded by developing a lightweight carbide-titanium stud that lasts and grips, as well as satisfies DOT demands.
NON-TOXIC Nokian’s 70-year romance with arctic safety doesn’t stop with driving. Health has become a focus. Nokian is the first company in the world to have fully eliminated high-aromatic (HA) oils in its production. HA oils are the by-products of oil refining and are classified as carcinogens. Nokian has developed a way to replace HA oils with natural oils such as canola in the manufacturing process. This move by Nokian not only benefits them in Finland where the tires are produced, it benefits every community in which the tires are consumed. As tires wear, hundreds of thousands of pounds of tire compound are released into the air and soil. Nokian has found a way to make this by-product of the commuting habit both non-toxic and non-
12 Years of Service & Repair
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HIGHER MPG The tire industry has developed a term known as “rolling resistance.” Low rolling resistance translates to broad fuel savings over the life of a vehicle. In plain English, "rolling resistance" refers to the amount of energy it takes to smash a round piece of rubber flat for an instant, as a tire grips the road. This momentary deformation of the tire, and the amount of energy it requires, can be regulated with smart structural and material choices in tire design. The downside of creating a tire with low rolling resistance is that it focuses on getting rid of the connection between the tire and the road. Through creative chemistry, metallurgy and design, Nokian has developed the leading ice and snow tires with the most economic rolling resistance in the industry.
NORDIC SMART Nokian has done one thing for over 70 years: Manufacture tires for people who live near the Arctic Circle. They have never branched out to find other markets. They
Steve Levey, owner of Fairbanks distributor Metropolitan Garage, proudly displays new Nokian tires. are at home, much like Interior Alaska, in the cold, dark and ice. Their challenge isn’t to find new markets, but to try and satisfy one very demanding clientele. Made in Finland, Nokian Tires are one of the few things made specifically for Fairbanks. See the research and full line of tires at Metropolitangarage.com.
Nokian Nokian Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV Hakkapeliitta 5 Stability and Grip for Challenging Winter Conditions
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carcinogenic.