Cooper Landing Gem- June 2024

Monthly Newsletter

June 2024

Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center

Dear Members,

Board Of Directors

Summer is upon us and the Regatta is behind us. We had a beautiful day for the Regatta and we had a very nice turn out for the event. The line up of boats was small but mighty. It appeared that everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves.

Thank you to Eagle Landing, Sunrise Inn, Prospector Johns, Kenai River Drifters Lodge, Inn at Tern Lake, Our Place Rentals, Best Route Productions, Jason Lesmeister Guide Service and Wildman’s for their sponsorship and help.

All funds raised this year went to support of Kenai River Sportfishing Association and our gorgeous Kenai River.

We are on summer break at the Chamber to see to our businesses, but will start to meet again in September. Enjoy your summer!

Thank you, Cheryle James President

President Cheryle James Wildman’s 907-290-1213 Vice-President Open Treasurer Shirley Wilmoth Our Place 907-598-1270 Secretary Rose Hetrick Inn at Tern Lake 907-288-3667 Director Jason Lesmeister 907- 351-3036

Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce PO Box 809 Cooper Landing, Alaska 99572 info@cooperlandingchamber.com Newsletter Layout & Design by Best Route Productions

2024 Regatta Champions

Shane Andrews & Kail Allen

17th Annual Regatta Race Completion Times Place

Time

Team

1st

1:02.17

Shane Andrews and Kail Allen

2nd

1:06.45

Tommy Balk and Braeden Young

3rd

1:10.28

Sean Norris and Linnaea Gossard

4th

1:20.03

Shannon Martin and Rachel Sullivan

Thank you to all that participated in the Regatta!

Photo by: Best Route Productions

1

st

Congratulations to Shane Andrews and Kail Allen with Drifters Lodge for taking first place in the Cooper Landing Regatta! This is their first year earning the championship title, they took second place last year. Tommy Balk and Braeden Young took second place this year. Sean Norris and Linnaea Gossard took third place. Shannon Martin and Rachel Sullivan took fourth place and claimed the famous red lantern.

Teams as they launch into the race after the shotgun start.

Thank you to all who participated in the Regatta! We appreciate your participation and support for the Kenai River Sportfishing Association.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for helping make this a successful event.

All proceeds benefit the Kenai River Sportfishing Association and their efforts to protect the Kenai River.

Photos by: Best Route Productions

Regatta teams from left to right: Shane and Kail, Tommy and Braeden, Linnaea and Sean, Rachel and Shannon.

June 2023 — 3

1st

2nd

Shane Andrews and Kail Allen from Drifters win first place in 17th Annual Regatta.

3rd

Braeden and Tommy

Red Lantern

Rachel and Shannon

Sean and Linnaea

Best Costume

Team Hawaii

Photo by: Best Route Productions

Click here to view the Best Route Productions 2024 Regatta Photo Album

Photo by: Best Route Productions

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Our Place Rentals

Thank You to Our Volunteers We’d like to extend a big thank you to the volunteers that helped during the Regatta!

A big thank you to Lisa Dickinson for starting the race off with the shotgun start and to Martha Story and Brian Montalbo for keeping the official time of the racers. Thank you to Eagle Landing Resort for hosting the prerace Barbecue and to those who donated additional food dishes. Thank you to Sunrise Inn for hosting the Awards Ceremony and providing snacks for the gathering. Also, thank you to the companies who donated prizes for the competitors and to young Hattie for drawing the names for the door prizes.

Brian reading mid point times.

Hattie pulls winning tickets.

Lisa provides the official start time for the race.

Martha and Brian pose with their timers before the race start.

Thank you for supporting the Kenai River Sportfishing Association We fund or create programs to protect and/or rehabilitate fish habitat; we fund research on the health of Alaska rivers and other fresh waters and fish populations; we fund or staff programs to educate children, the general public and our government/business leaders on fish and water conservation; and we advocate at the government level for sustainable and equitable fisheries management.

The Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) is a professional 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization headquartered in Soldotna, AK. KRSA’s original focus was on the Kenai River. We have recently begun expanding our efforts to protect fish and fishing throughout the state.

Text from the KRSA Website

Since 1984, KRSA has been a leading advocate for fisheries conservation in Alaska, working diligently to ensure Alaskans’ recreational fishing rights are protected and the fisheries are healthy for generations to come.

Click Here to Learn More

7

Cooper Landing Trails Surveys Worth Your Time The following could mean money or support for our community. Please take the surveys by clicking on the buttons below and following the website directions. If you’d like more information, read below: Office of Emergency Management is reviewing their Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

OEM Mitigation Plan • Having concerns included in the Mitigation Plan makes it easier to seek grant funding to resolve the problems.

• List your concerns for hazards in our area. You can offer solutions as well.

• Are you concerned about the landslide at MP 50 and the harm it does to Cooper Creek as well as blocking the highway?

• We face seasonal floods. You can share details where a particular problem exists.

• Do you have concerns about worsening rain events and those that happen in the winter due to cryosphere (climate) change? What problems do you see with how those rains run-off?

• Do you feel our cellular and internet system allows efficient and consistent notifications regarding emergencies in progress? Where do we need improvement?

• Is our community ready for the next earthquake? How might the borough support better preparedness?

• Do you wish to support CLES in a particular way? We need a well and pump system to efficiently fill tanker trucks for fire-fighting. Any other needs that KPB could support?

• Read about other hazards on the CLAPC website to prompt your thinking. Click on the first support document for the May 8th meeting: https://www.kpb.us/planning-dept/ planning-commissions/cooper-landing-apc

Thank you for taking the time to enter your concerns with KPB through these surveys.

June 2024 — 8

Safe Streets For AlL (SS4A)-Comprehensive Safety Plan borough-wide.

The borough is working on a program called the Safe Streets For All initiative. This is for all roads (State, Borough, Cities). Consideration is given for vehicles for sure, but also includes pedestrians, bicycles, ATVs and school ingress and egress. Potential suggestions for improvements can be construction, maintenance, enforcement, lighting – really anything that would reduce serious accidents. We all use the roads and this has the potential to lead to good changes in the future. Once on the website, click on the survey button.

Safe Streets for All (SS4A)

Local Concerns?

How do you feel about…

• The state of the existing Sterling Highway roadway?

• The lack of shoulders on the Sterling Highway MP 45-56? Why? • The sloughing bluff at MP 50 that slides and blocks the highway?

• Are the steep roadside grades of the Sterling Highway roadway of concern? Why? • Do the curves allow line of site to safely negotiate the roadway?

• Do you want to safely travel the Sterling Hwy or other corridor by foot, bike, or pushing a wheelchair or stroller? Do you have a business that would benefit from that kind of safe access for guests? What specifically blocks this? Would a separated pathway infrastructure help?

• Do you feel safe walking or biking the bridges at Cooper Creek or Schooner Bend? Any other bridges in our area need attention?

Why? • Are you and your kids comfortable walking or riding a bike on a highway shoulder next to vehicles? How about on Bean Creek Road?

• Are you concerned about roads in Cooper Landing other than the Sterling Highway?

Pins • The survey will ask you to drop three pins on a map to identify problem areas. If the problem you are highlighting with one pin exists for a segment of roadway, list the mileposts for the whole segment. For example, Sterling Hwy MP 45-56 lacks shoulders.

• When dropping pins, try to give MP (milepost) notation when you can. There is a sheet attached to this message that lists mileposts for the Sterling Highway MP 45-60.

• Be specific in what you feel the danger or concern is. Why do you hold your concern?

• If a bridge problem is the same or similar for another bridge you can name them both with one pin.

See next page for a listing of features by milepost on the Sterling Highway.

June 2024 — 9

Cooper Landing Mileposts These are approximate and for reference only. Directions are from east to west.

MP 44.9....... Sunrise Inn MP.45 ......... Our Pt of View Road MP.45.5 ...... “the Rock Cut” S turns MP.46 ......... Avalanche Run Out MP.46.5 ......Cooper Landing Volunteers Adopt a Highway sign MP.47 ......... the old Hoffmeister Property, just before Kenai Lake Cabins and Tackle Shop MP.47.5 ......Wildman’s MP.48 ......... just past Boat Launch Drive and bridge MP.48.5 ...... between The Hutch and Museum MP.49 ......... Atkinson’s Drive, Nelson St, and Caribou Heights Circle MP.49.5 ......Little Jim Circle and across from Cooper Dam road MP.50 ......... just before Alaska Wildland at The Alaskans at Cooper Landing condos MP.50.5 ......Cooper Creek and Sacketts MP.51 ......... just past exit of North Cooper Creek Campground MP.51.5 ...... the curve before Kenai Cache and Gwin’s MP.52 ......... Kenai Cache / Gwin’s Curve MP.52.5 ......Russian River Campground entrance MP.53 ......... Schooner Bend Bridge by Resurrection Pass Trailhead MP 53.2.......Resurrection Pass Trailhead MP.53.5 ...... the curve after Resurrection Pass Trailhead and service road MP.54 ......... 50 mph curve MP.54.5 ......Leaving Chugach National Forest sign, close to the river MP.55 .........Russian River Ferry, “Sportsman’s Landing” MP.55.5 ......first river-side pull-out past Ferry Crossing; just past BIG river curve MP.56 ......... large wetland and ponds on river-side; gravel cut across from river MP.56.5 ......second river-side pull-out between Ferry Crossing and Fuller Lakes Trailhead MP.57 ......... just before Fuller Lakes Trailhead MP.57.5 ...... after Fuller Lakes Trailhead; guard rail close to river MP.58 .........Jim’s Landing; Skilak Loop Rd.

June 2024 — 10

Cooper Landing Community Club The annual softball tournament is in full swing as we inch toward Solstice and summer is upon us! There was a successful 2-day Community Club Firewise Clean up event. We appreciate the 40 plus locals who showed up to help and Chugach Electric sending down a crew to move and mulch the winter fell trees not only at the Community Hall, but also at the Cemetery. A special thanks to Dan Michels for his time and his tractor, the ‘lumberjacks’, Dan Osborne, Gary Galbraith, Ray Wilkes and all who helped!

Alaska Wildland Adventures provided a whole crew on Sunday which was fantastic! Such a great turnout that got the hall, ballfield, outhouses and property whipped into shape with a good spring cleaning!

We had a well-attended meeting on May 16th with presentations from District Deputy Forest Service Range Tim Lorenzini on recommissioning the RAC; Jonathan Tymick, Marcus Forkner, Shaun Combs project manager for DOT MP 45-60 Bypass Project and Andy Loranger & Jeff Bouschor on Wildland Fire Prevention and Preparedness.

For full minutes of the meeting, please go to: https://docs.google. com/document/d/1l85ZtSm1EjqDsgi3QzFxOx5V8z8NgsPjY72lkRQc uVs/edit Chugach Electric continues to be a presence in Cooper Landing getting specific areas cleaned up and we have been assured they are not going away and to be patient as they whittle away at the issues. Carlos Tree Service has been seen along MP 50 on the highway, Bean Creek Rd., Snug Harbor Rd. and various other areas. The borough Division of Land Management has endorsed collecting trees that are obviously in easements under the power lines. Many trees are limbed and just lying there; you do not need permission to go onto these properties. If you are a property owner and would like to invite people to get trees off your land, perhaps post a sign to that effect?! Please be careful where you park and think about orange safety cones while you work.

Come check out the softball tournament, our fabulous silent auction and get one of the best deals in town for dinner! Thank you to all our local organizations helping out with concessions.

And you won’t want to miss our national anthem at the beginning of each game sung by John Thomas and Rachel Altmann…our community is graced. ~The Cooper Landing Community Club

Contact Us: officers@cooperlandingcommunityclub.com www.cooperlandingcommunityclub.com Cooper Landing Community Club June 2024 — 11

Gwin’s Lodge GWIN’S LODGE... as someone said G-wins! Be a winner!

Gwin’s Lodge Roadhouse is starting up breakfast on June 1st from 7AM to 10:30 AM. I tried some of the items today and was impressed! Lunch starts at 11 AM. A separate dinner menu will be forthcoming. There’s a 12oz Ribeye we had as a special... we will have a few more dinner items like that. We are open till 10PM. The bar is open later if it’s busy. The ToGo shop will now be an ICE CREAM SHOP. We need several staff: 2 for Ice cream, 2 for tackle gift store, 1 cook, 2 for dishes, 1 for housekeeping. 1 for maintenance. An application is online at GwinsLodge.com and email is Reservation@GwinsLodge.com 907-398-3987.

-Keith Mantey

Contact Us: reservation@gwinslodge.com www.gwinslodge.com Gwins Lodge

Tessa Hulls Author Visit Tessa Hulls, a writer/artist/adventurer (who has spent many years working seasonally and biking solo around various parts of Alaska), is on a book tour with a new graphic memoir titled Feeding Ghosts. She will be biking through Cooper Landing and has agreed to come to Cooper Landing Community Library for a presentation on June 19 at 7pm.

Here’s an article about her book.

Click below to learn more: A Writer’s To-Do List: Learn History.

Learn Chinese. Learn to Draw Comics.

June 2024 — 12

Cooper Landing Library News Your library card provides you access to your account through our online catalog, to manage reserves, renewals, checkout history, and more. Your library card also provides you access to the Alaska Digital Library. If you would like help navigating any of these features, please email us at cooperlandinglibrary@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you in the library soon!

Virginia Morgan Volunteer Director

Book Club The following book club meetings will be in-person: June 18 - The Women by Kristan Hannah July 16 - How to Know a Person by David Brooks August 19 - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

New Library Hours Monday 1-3 pm Tuesday 1-3 pm and 5-7pm Wednesday 1-3 pm Thursday 1-3 pm Friday 1-3 pm Saturday 11 am-2 pm

Contact Us: 907-595-1241 cooperlandinglibrary@gmail.com www.cooperlandinglibrary.com Cooper Landing Community Library

June 2024 — 13

Cooper Landing Senior Citizen Corp. Inc

The Sexy Senior Dumpster Cleaners thank our community for coming out in support of the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. 35+ folks came out and did a fantastic job! It couldn’t get done without you! Some of the participants are pictured below.

Contact Us: clscci@arctic.net PO Box 552 907-595-3000

June 2024 — 14

2024

The Builders and the Butchers The Jangle Bees

Hope Social Club

Blackwater Railroad Tickets available at the door OR purchase online 30 days before event at: WWW.EventBrite.com

June 2024 — 15

Happy Father’s Day June 16th Photo by: Best Route Productions

2024 Upper Kenai Visitors Guide Now Available Print versions are available at the Chamber office and at the following businesses: Wildman’s, Sunrise and Gwin’s. You can enjoy the digital copy on any computer, tablet, or phone.

Click Here to View

June 2024 — 16

Alaska State TrooperS Soldotna — Seward

ADMINISTRATIVE LINE 907.262.4453 FOR EMERGENCIES CALL 911 Crash Report Forms: reportcrash.alaska.gov Report A Crime: dps.alaska.gov/crimereport

SUBMIT A TIP Text “AKTIPS” to 847411 or SCAN QR to download app

Record Requests: dpsalaska.justfoia.com/publicportal Pay Fines: records.courts.alaska.gov Recruitment: dps.alaska.gov/AST/Recruit Fingerprinting: Not available - Contact VIP Alaska, Inc (907)335-1935

Physical Post Locations

Dps.alaska.gov/AST/Tips

Soldotna Post: 46333 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Soldotna AK Office Hours: 8am-4:30pm Monday-Friday Seward Post: 201 3rd Ave, (2nd floor), Seward, AK Office Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday* All offices are closed on State Holidays

www.dps.alaska.gov

June 2024 — 17

Cooper Landing Gem News Do you have business or organization updates you would like to share with the community?

All Chamber Members are invited to submit updates and information to the monthly newsletter. Contact us for more information.

Contact Us

Happy Birthday 6/3 6/6 6/7 6/9 6/10 6/10 6/11 6/12 6/22 6/22 6/24 6/26 6/27

Yvette Galbraith Riley Hemingway Jim Carlson Mona Painter Barb DeMattia Melissa Fish Karl Romig John Corbey Connie Bensler Brandon Harrison Brad LaRock Lisa Dickinson Ann Hanson

Happy Anniversary 6/10 Richard and Mary Dreifuerst 6/23 Kathy Recken and Nick Vanderhoff

Photo by: Best Route Productions

Photo by: Best Route Productions

June 2024 — 18

2024 Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce & CVB Please support our local businesses!

5 Dogs Fishing

(907) 598-3525

Fish & Sons Kenai Charters

(907) 598-1065

Alaskan Angling Adventures LLC

(907) 595-3336

Grizzly Ridge

(907) 595-1260

Alaska Horsemen Lodge

(907) 595-1806

Gwin’s Lodge

(907) 595-1266

Alaska Outdoor Woodstoves

(907) 598-1633

Inn at Tern Lake (Moose Pass)

(907) 288-3667

Alaska River Adventures

(907) 595-2000

Jason’s Guide Service

(907) 351-3036

Alaska Rivers Company

(907) 595-1226

Kahtnu Spirit Lodging

(907) 299-2855

Alaska Troutfitters

(907) 595-1212

Kenai Cache Outfitters

(907) 595-1401

Alaska Waste

(907) 312-6267

Kenai Kayak Company

(907) 441-6753

Alaska Wildland Adventures

(800) 334-8730

Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area

(206) 920-9051

Angle 45 Adventures (Hope)

(907) 782-3175

Kenai Peninsula Econ. Dev. Dist.

(907) 283-3335

Bearfoot Publications

(907)320-1145

Kenai Peninsula Mayor

(800) 478-4441

Best Route Productions

(303) 570-2081

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

(907) 595-1425

Bike Cooper Landing, LLC

(907) 231-6793

Kenai River Float-n-Fish

(907) 519-0048

Boatman’s

(907) 202-1004

Kenai River Sportfishing Association

(907)262-8588

Camp Fire Alaska

(907) 279-3551

Kenai River Trout Anglers

(907) 599-0085

Cooper Landing Brewery

(907) 276-5044

Kenai Watershed Forum

(907) 265-5412

Cooper Landing Community Club

(907) 595-2169

Mystic Waters Fly Fishing

(509) 715-9697

Cooper Landing Community Library

(907) 595-1241

Our Place Rentals

(907) 595-1829

Cooper Landing Community School

(907) 595-1244

Resurrection Trail House

(907)202-6388

Cooper Landing Emergency Services

(907) 595-1800

Round Mountain Retreat

(907) 598-1333

Cooper Landing Fish Camp

(907) 595-3474

Salmon Run Lodge

(907) 595-2197

Cooper Landing Fishing Guide

(907) 599-0126

Seramur Home Services

(907) 599-0019

Cooper Landing Historical Society

(907) 598-1042

Sharon Saunders, GRI, Realtor

(928) 706-8901

Cooper Landing Rifle & Sportsman’s Club

(907) 599-0004

Sunrise Inn & Café

(907) 595-1222

Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corp.

(907) 595-3000

Talon Air Service, Inc. (Soldotna)

(907) 262-8899

Conoco Phillips

(907)276-1215

Trail Lake Lodge (Moose Pass)

(907)288-3101

Eagle Landing Resort

(907) 595-1213

Upper Kenai Cabins

(907) 595-3055

First National Bank Alaska (Soldotna)

(907) 260-6000

Wildman TR Inc.

(907) 595-1456

(907)288-3667

LUXURIOUS

ACCOMODATIONS

June 2024 — 19

June 2024 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1

2

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10

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12

13

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Fishing Opens

Father’s Day 16

17

18

Flag Day 19

24

30

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27

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29

Author’s Visit: Tessa Hulls 7 pm CL Library

Book Club CL Library 23

20

Live Music The Builders and Butchers CL Brewery

26

Memorial Day

Cooper Landing Library Hours Monday 1-3 pm Tuesday 1-3 pm and 5-7pm Wednesday 1-3 pm Thursday 1-3 pm Friday 1-3 pm Saturday 11 am-2 pm

Need the calendar on the go? Check out our digital version at: cooperlandingchamber.com/calendar.

Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce Newsletter Graphics & Design by Best Route Productions