You may be interested in this proposed rezone of the Horner property on the north side of the Chena River just upstream of the University Ave bridge (and the mouth of Noyes Slough). Note that this will be heard by the Borough Assembly at their mtg tomorrow evening at 6 pm.
From Anna Plager:
Cam,
Thanks for helping to spread the word on this LAST MINUTE rezone request by Ice Alaska that will be heard THIS THURSDAY at the 6 PM FNSB Assembly meeting. The ordinance 2012-003 will not only rezone the Ice Alaska
properties that they need to operate, but it goes way beyond that to rezone the entire Chena River bend (an area larger than Pioneer Park) to commercial use (currently single family zoning). They propose to build 192 4-person housing units clustered close together, most of which are piled 4-layers deep along the sandy banks of the Chena River. The borough planning department’s 50-foot waterway protection zone setback won’t make much difference to the visual quality and riparian zone impact of that huge development. They plan to start laying sewer/water/power to the riverfront this summer.
Thanks for your valuable time on this important matter,
Anna
Here are some support files with more information:
Monday night Kayaking pool sessions begin again on at Hamme Pool on January 9, 2012. They are held every Monday night except for January 16 and February 20 until mid May. Get back in your boat and be ready to get on the rivers when they break up this spring. Meet other paddlers, and talk up boating adventures. Practice paddling, rescue, and rolling skills from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. No formal lessons are offered, but paddlers are often willing to share some tips and skills with new boaters. Kayak polo with pick-up teams (often chosen by boat colors) has run from 9:00 to 9:30 pm during the past several seasons. ( Hamme pool staff indicated that we would need to check on this time at the first session). Please be sure to clean out all the alders and silt from your last run of the season, and get those vole nests out of your boat before bringing it to the pool . Bring a helmet if you plan to join the kayak polo game (face masks are recommended!). You can call Hamme Pool for more information at 459-1086.
Last July two Fairbanks paddlers (John Morack and Tom Paragi) and a couple from Outside canoed an 80 mile loop through BIG lakes and a glacial river in Katmai National Park. They will share a 40 minute program of still and video photography including brown bears and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
Where: upstairs room at Food Factory, 44 College Road
When: Wednesday 14 December, 7PM (arrive to order food at 6:30 PM)
We’re happy and relieved to report that the Web site is restored to its former state. It’s too bad that some people have no better outlet for their creativity than to vandalize sites. Thanks for your patience, and see you at the pool starting in January!
The Fairbanks Paddler’s website was recently vandalized by a hacker. Currently, only the first page is visible, and menu links aren’t working. Please be patent as our volunteer web guru restores our full website.
The Fairbanks Paddlers annual meeting and potluck dinner will be held Friday, November 4, 2011 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks located at 4448 Pikes Landing Road, across from the Princess Hotel, off Airport Way.
Come swap paddling stories of days gone by, plan for next year’s season, and enjoy the food and entertainment.
The agenda will be as follows:
6:30 Gear Swap – Suggested 10% donation to the Fairbanks Paddlers.
7:00 Potluck – If you last name begins with A-Z, bring food!
7:30 Business Meeting – nominations will be accepted for new board members.
7:50 to 9:00 Guest Presentation
Dinner entertainment will feature a magic show performed by a prominent member of the local paddling community.
Following the dinner and meeting Paul Schauer will share perspectives of growing up paddling Alaskan Rivers and a multimedia presentation that highlights adventures on some of the state’s premiere whitewater runs.
Paul Schauer was born in Fairbanks and raised on rivers throughout the Last Frontier. Growing up in a paddling family and community, Paul spent countless childhood days floating Alaska’s rivers in a raft or canoe. At six weeks old, he was initiated to camping with boaters in the Alaska Range. He received his first kayak when he was 6 years old. With the kayak rigged with training pontoons, he began to explore the gravel pits and ponds around Fairbanks with family. Slowly, he graduated from training pontoons and advanced to moving current on the Delta Clearwater and Chena Rivers. After learning how to roll in Hamme Pool, he began to explore the Nenana River with the Fairbanks Paddlers club. Now, 20 years after receiving his first kayak, he continues to expand his horizons, exploring challenging rivers in the land of the midnight sun. At age 26, he has paddled more than 40 Alaskan rivers. During the past summer, Paul’s repertoire included over a dozen of the state’s premiere Class V whitewater runs. Paul’s growing YouTube library of artfully edited helmet camera videos document the kayaking and packrafting adventures he shares with his crew. Paul, a graduate of Lathrop High School and University of Alaska Anchorage currently resides in Anchorage, where he works as a hydrologist for the USGS.
The Tanana Valley Watershed Association is sponsoring a Noyes Slough clean-up on Saturday, September 10th. They will meet at the Lions Recreation Area Picnic Shelter at the corner of College and Danby roads. The clean-up begins at 9:00 a.m. and the picnic begins at noon. The TVWA will provide all necessary clean-up supplies, including canoes if you don’t want to get your own grunged up. They also provide the picnic!
The Second Annual World Famous Farthest North WOODEN BOAT RENDEZVOUS will be held August 27th, 2011!
What:
A celebration of old, wooden and homemade canoes, kayaks, umiaks, wherries and more. All paddlers are welcome and frankly, we need to have you there to help us select our prize winners.
When:
Saturday, August 27th at 3 PM
Where:
Meet at Graehl Landing, set shuttle, put in by 3:30 and paddle to the take out at Peger Road.
Grills, plates, napkins, flatware, and condiments will be provided. Bring some meat for the BBQ and a side dish to share. The BBQ will be held at the Peger Road take out. There will be PRIZES too! One more thing, life jackets are required..
Special Guest: Meet Bill Miller, 3rd generation wooden canoe builder and fiddler from New Brunswick!
Sunday, August 28th Attend a special workshop with Bill Miller on Sunday at Larry Fogelson’s shop. The workshop will begin at noon. Call 479-6828 for more information.
Participation to both events is free to Fairbanks Paddlers members and non-members alike. All are welcome!
For more information and to RSVP call: 457-4324
Are you a musician and would you like to help serenade us as we paddle down the Chena? Inquire at 457-4324.
The Denali Adventure Festival is now over two weekends: Aug. 13 and Aug. 19-20. The Nenana River Wildwater races have been re-scheduled for August 19 and 20, eliminating the conflict with the Six-Mile Festival.
The 2011 Denali Adventure Festival events include:
Running Race
Wildwater Events
Make-Your-Own-Boat Parade
Live Music
Schedule:
Fourth Annual Mt. Healy Challenge:
Saturday, Aug. 13, 12 noon
Bison Gulch – Mile 243.5 Parks Highway
2-mile race up Mt. Healy (ascent only)
1800-feet gain elevation
$15 entry fee
Proceeds to Benefit Tri-Valley School Student Council
Sponsored by Running Club North and First National Bank Alaska
Nenana River Wildwater Races
Friday, Aug. 19
5-9 pm – Denali Outdoor Center at Otto Lake -Pre-event registration and BBQ
6 pm – Make Your Own Boat Parade, Otto Lake
Sponsored by Denali Water Safety Team
Saturday, Aug. 20
12 noon – 35th Annual Downriver Race to Twin Rock Rapid, for all craft
Jonesville Bridge-Miles 238 Parks Highway
3 pm – Wildwater Rodeo – whitewater kayakers perform stunts for points
Location TBA
$5 entry fee per wildwater event
5-9 pm – Awards Ceremony/Live Music49th State Brewing Company
Mile 248.4 Parks Highway
Live Music: Mudge Familiy Band
$5 donation suggested, ALL proceeds donated to Denali Arts & Humanities Alliance
Brought to you by:
Running Club North
First National Bank Alaska
Kids In Motion
Denali Outdoor Center
49th State Brewing Company
Denali Water Safety Council
Tri-Valley Student Council
Additional information contact kcapps@mtaonline.net or call Kris Capps 907 683-2781.
Come out and watch (or compete in) one of the craziest, most action packed extreme races of the year, with kayakers and pack rafters battling head-to-head through a difficult whitewater canyon (excellent spectator access!) and come enjoy a cold one while dancing to the live music of Big Fat Buddha at the rivers’ edge. The 4th Annual Six Mile Festival will be held on Saturday, August 13th. The main festival grounds is located 3.4 miles down the Hope cut-off road on the river bank, just a scenic one hour drive south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. The schedule:
11:00 am – event sign-up
12:00 pm – racers & spectators drive upstream to the 1st canyon racing area
1:00 pm – extreme mass-start race through 1st canyon (kayaks & pack rafts)
4:00 pm – whitewater rodeo at the main festival area
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Big Fat Buddha live music at the main festival area w/ riverside bonfire party, beer, and free raffle
8:00 pm – 2:00 am – riverside party
Free event, free entry, free raffle, free beer, free camping, free live music show… donations (small or generous) are appreciated and encouraged to help pay for the band and set-up costs! Looking forward to to seeing you all there!
