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Vol. 49, Issue 203
In the news Alaska university program offers to help deployed students FAIRBANKS — A new program through the University of Alaska Fairbanks offers to waive fees for local service members who will be deployed during the upcoming academic year. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports the program came about following a March announcement that Fort Wainwright’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division will be deployed to Iraq later this year. Jackie Morton, director of the university’s Department of Military and Veteran Services, says the program is a way to show thanks. The university says the program is open to any active-duty soldier or airman or Alaska National Guard service member stationed in the Fairbanks North Star Borough who is deployed as part of a named military operation during fall 2019 and spring 2020.
Officials warn about Juneau bear that charged man JUNEAU — Alaska state officials are warning people about a brown bear that charged a man at Juneau’s Salmon Creek Trail. The Juneau Empire reports the bear emerged from the brush and charged at the man twice last Sunday as he was running along the trail. The man was not hurt in the encounter about 1 ½ miles from the trailhead. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says in a report that the bear ran into the woods, turned around and went back on the trail after charging and roaring at the man. The Division of Wildlife Conservation has posted signs at the trailhead, warning about the bear. The division says it found the report of the encounter credible. — Associated Press
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The business of baking Soldotnan’s booze-infused cookies go big By VICTORIA PETERSEN Peninsula Clarion
Molly Blakeley had no idea adding booze to her cookie dough would be such a hit. What started as a sweet addition to her taco truck has quite literally gone international. Blakeley’s cookies are gourmet. Her “London Fog” cookie is infused with earl grey and lavender teas, vanilla vodka, with a white chocolate chip crunch topped with lemon glaze and sprinkled with edible lavender. Her No. 1 seller is the maple bacon cookie, which is packed with white chocolate chips, smoky pieces of bacon and infused with Jameson whiskey, topped with a maple glaze and even more bacon pieces. The alcohol cooks out, but the flavor stays in the cookie, Blakeley said. Last year, Blakeley sold her lodge, which housed a restaurant and bar, and opened a halibut taco truck
Molly Blakeley holds up one of her maple bacon cookies that comes in her Molly B’S Bingerz cookie subscription boxes, on Thursday, May 16, in Soldotna. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
with her son in Soldotna. To meet requests for desserts, Blakeley whipped up a batch of cookies, and splashed some brandy left over from
the bar she formerly owned. The cookies sold out within 10 minutes, she said. Next, she tried whiskey and the cookies were gone in a half
an hour. “I was like ‘what’s going on with this,’” she said. After the summer sea-
See BAKE, page A2
Company clears early hurdle for North Slope oil project ANCHORAGE (AP) — A company seeking to develop a large oil project on Alaska’s North Slope has won a key federal permit. Alaska’s Energy Desk reported that Papua New Guinea-based Oil Search announced that it had received a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its Pikka development, which is planned west of Prudhoe Bay. The permit was issued Tuesday, Corps spokesman John Budnik told The Associated Press by email. The permit is one of many the project will need to advance. The company also needs dozens of state and local permits. State analysts say the project has potential to contribute significantly to future Alaska production. See OIL, page A2
Luxury cruise line returns to Alaska after 20 years By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
On a Saturday earlier this month, the Queen Elizabeth was quiet. The croquet court was empty. The heated relaxation beds were vacant. The Midships Bar, which serves more than 13,000 combinations of gin and fizz, was closed up. There were hardly any attendees for afternoon tea. The passengers of the luxury ship, from the Cunard cruise line, enjoy the lavish amenities on board but also wanted to get out and see Juneau, where the ship was in port for the day. The Queen Elizabeth, commissioned in 2010, is the third and newest ship in the British cruise line’s fleet, and made its first ever trip to Alaska earlier this month. Cunard, a cruise line that has been an innovator in comfortable cruising, hasn’t sent a ship to Alaska in 20 years, but Cunard Public Relations Manager Meryl Press said management started looking to Alaska due in part to popular demand. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to bring the Queen Elizabeth over
The Grand Lobby on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is pictured on Saturday, May 18. (Alex McCarthy/Juneau Empire)
from Japan and do Alaska here,” Press said while giving media members a tour of the ship. “It was something that our guests really wanted, so that’s why we will be in
Alaska this year, and next year and hopefully for many years to come.” The Queen Elizabeth will make a few runs to Alaska this year (starting in Vancou-
Classic rock super group headed to Soldotna By JOEY KLECKA Peninsula Clarion
Index
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P E N I N S U L A
Monday, May 27, 2019 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Showers
An all-star cast of rock ‘n’ roll names will light up Soldotna for a Wednesday night concert. For the first time at Soldotna Creek Park, Scrap Metal will bring back the hits and rewind the clock for what’s expected to be a throwback evening of classic rock. Scrap Metal publicist Melissa Kucirek said the biggest attraction of Scrap Metal is the chance to see the leading men and women of 1980s classic rock groups in concert for one night, while other concerts and music festivals tend to string out the rock stars over the course of See ROCK, page A3
ver) and has already scheduled 10 trips to the state in 2020, Press said. The cruise line isn’t alone in its interest in Alaska, as a record number of cruise passengers (about
See LINE, page A3
Aspen Hotel opens in Homer this week Staff report Homer News
Lita Ford will be one of the six performers at Scrap Metal, a concert to be held Wednesday, at Soldotna Creek Park. (Photo provided by by Gene Kirkland)
1.3 million) is expected to come to Juneau this summer. Hardly any of those visitors will arrive in comparable style to the Queen Elizabeth.
Homer’s newest hotel opens on Monday, May 27, on the Sterling Highway across from Safeway and the Chevron gas station. The Aspen Suites Hotel is the latest hotel in the chain to open in Alaska. “We’re so excited to have our seventh Aspen Hotel opening in Homer,” Carol Fraser, regional director of sales and marketing, said in a press release. “The location next door to the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center with a new walkway connecting the two properties will be a great partnership for conference travelers and tourists.”
Located on Beluga Slough, the hotel offers views of the slough, Bishop’s Beach and Kachemak Bay. The sidewalk connects to Islands and Ocean as well as a trail to Beluga Slough and the Old Town area of Homer. Open year round, each suite is fully furnished with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, twoburner cooktop stove and all cooking and eating utensils. Aspen Suites includes complimentary wifi, an exercise room and lobby coffee. Two meeting rooms can accomodate from 10 to 60 people. It will employ about 20 workers. “With the addition of See HOTEL, page A3