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THE SKAGWAY NEWS.
Returning in full swing Page 3
Students of the month Page 3
Scenes from a fashion show Page 2
Sk a g w ay, A l a s k a
April 8, 2022
$1.50
Dyea Road graded, doesn’t get an A grade By Melinda Munson Dyea Road users making bets on when the road would first be graded in 2022 got their answer as the several day process started March 29. Deb Boettcher, who drives the state road every day to walk her dogs, was relieved. “Finally they fixed the potholes,” she said. “It was really bad this winter.” She considered placing “Adopt a Pothole” signs up for April Fool’s, but her plot was foiled by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT). “It’s a lot better,” she said. Although she noted new potholes were already forming. Boettcher said she creeps down the gravel road at 15 mph but even that didn’t save her car from damages. She recently had a flat tire repaired and her brake line broke, having dislodged and rubbed against a tire. Dyea resident John McDermott also travels the Dyea Road daily. “I understand the frustration everybody has. You can’t grade a frozen road,” he said. Assemblymember Orion Hanson reminds residents that the next six weeks of freezing, unfreezing and precipitation will result in a muddy mess on the Dyea Road. “That’s the reality of what it’s like,” he said. “It’s light years better than it was 40 years ago.” This year will bring particular challenges as Skagway faces its first somewhat normal cruise ship season following the 2020 storm with flooding and landslides that (see page 2- Dyea)
Photo by Jaime Bricker
Atlin Ryan competes in the one hand reach at the Native Youth Olympics in Juneau, April 2-3. Ryan placed third in the junior high category. See more pictures on page 5.
‘It’s David Sedaris! In Skagway!’ By Melinda Munson About a year ago, Donna Griffard, Skagway Arts Council president, was musing over who she’d like to add to Skagway’s performance schedule. “One day I was sitting here thinking, who do I want to see?” Griffard said. She went big. She reached out to best-selling author David Sedaris’ agent. “Oddly, she emailed me back,” Griffard said. And thus began the Skagway booking of humorist David Sedaris, who just so happened, was planning a tour to Fairbanks and Anchorage. Griffard knew the community, used to paying $10 per ticket, would have a hard time affording the usual rate of $100. “I pleaded small town, hit really hard by the pandemic,” she said. Sedaris’ team lowered the fees and with financial help
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from Skagway Library, Skaguay News Depot & Books and Visit Skagway, the remote town of 800 will meet the man with the distinctive voice, kind soul and biting sense of humor, who has sold over 12 million books. “I’m still in disbelief,” Griffard said. The rest of Skagway is pretty worked up. Jen Thuss, along with her two dogs, was first in line at Skaguay Books to purchase her tickets. “It’s David Sedaris! In Skagway!” she said. Griffard, afraid that out of towners would snatch up the tickets, arranged for half to be sold in person at the bookstore with the other half available over the phone. With approximately 180 tickets available for the May 17 show, and one wheelchair spot reserved for Skagway’s oldest resident Bea Lingle, tickets were gone within
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days. Due to the unique nature of the event, the protocol will be different than most Arts Council shows. “Normally there is no etiquette in Skagway,” Griffard joked. “This is a different kind of thing where it’s a quiet, soft-spoken person.” Doors to the F.O.E. #25 Eagles Hall will open at 6:15 p.m. Masks are required. No photography or filming is allowed inside the building, not even for the media. No food or drink is permitted. Ticket holders may only reserve their individual seat upon entrance. Books will be available for purchase before and after the presentation or patrons can bring their own copy for Sedaris to sign. “He is a very gracious person who will stay until the very last book is signed,” Griffard said. A bookplate for Sedaris’ newest work, “Happy-Go-
Lucky,” which comes out May 31, can be signed and later placed in the fresh release. Skaguay Books will also have a collection of Sedaris books for sale prior to the author’s arrival. The library will host a Choose Your Own Sedaris Book Club April 20 at 11:15 a.m. As the Arts Council is busy preparing for Sedaris’ visit, they continue to offer noteworthy events. April 15 is the 32nd Annual International Folk Festival. Musicians and storytellers of all ages are invited to participate, including group and solo performers. Professional artists and “those who dabble” can showcase their talents starting April 15 at the 14th Annual Spring Show of Winter Work at AB Hall. The show will last two weekends to accommodate the Eagles Con(see page 3- Sedaris )
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