FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Featuring the best of Fairbanks
SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2018
2
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Congratulations to the 2018 Readers’ Choice winners 6,400 votes cast online and in print. The results are fascinating. A few of the categories have repeat winners, but there are some surprises scattered in as well. What it shows is how diverse and thriving Interior Alaska’s businesses and activities truly are. It’s wonderful to scan the lists and see an old favorite
2018
1
FOOD AND DRINK Asian Fusion 1. Asiana 2. Fushimi Japanese Fusion 3. Pho House
ST
Fai rb
a n k s, A l a s k
or find out about a new business. Let us know if there are other categories you’d like to see next year, as well. Email digital@newsminer.com These Readers’ Choice Awards aren’t possible without you, the readers. Thank you for participating and we hope to see you again in 2018. Look for the 2018 Readers Choice
a
Chinese Food 1. Pagoda 2. Bamboo Panda 3. Beijing Hot Pot & Asian Cuisine
2018
2
ND
Fai rb
a n k s, A l a s k
Japanese Food 1. Fuji 2. Shogun 3. Ajimi
a
2018
3
Thai Food 1. Nim’s House of Thai 2. Lemongrass Thai Cuisine 3. Thai House
RD
Fai rb
a n k s, A l a s k
BBQ 1. Big Daddy’s 2. Bad 2 da Bone 3. Ivory Jack’s Bloody Mary 1. Boatel 2. Oasis 3. Pump House Breakfast 1. Michele’s Cafe 2. Cookie Jar Restaurant 3. Sam’s Sourdough Cafe Brunch 1. Two Rivers Lodge 2. The Pump House 3. Pike’s Landing
a
//,"' 0$ .,($. $ )0,.ÂŽ
Bring this ad to get in
FREE!
$)) 0. "' ) /( .$ )0,. ",* ,*$./ //,"' 0$/ $ )0,./ +" 4 333 0. "'/"& "&)$ ",*
theblueloon.com
F24532458
Every Friday Night - Latin Every Saturday Night - Club Loon
Thank you for voting for us Best Place for Dancing!
certificates on the walls of your favorite businesses in just a few weeks. Julie Stricker Online Content Director Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
& +( 5,1 %,. 5,1. 2,0$/ 6 0&'/ 3,1)# +,0 !$ -,//'!)$ 3'0&,10 *5 3,+#$.%1) ")'$+0/
F24532459
T
housands of readers have spoken out about what they like best about Fairbanks’ restaurants, businesses, activities, entertainment, shopping, sporting events and service and medical personnel, and here are the results. We had an overwhelming response to the poll this summer, with more than
Saturday, July 28, 2018
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Thank You,
FAIRBANKS. We’re Honored By Your Votes: 1st Place - Dr. Jean Tsigonis, Family Medicine (TVC) 2nd Place - Dr. Jeffrey Banks, Pediatrics (TVC) 3rd Place - Dr. Brian Accola, Family Medicine (TVC) From left, Annie, Natalie and Chris Neubauer are pictured at the Boatel. The popular women-owned bar has been serving Fairbanksans for nearly 50 years, including locals’ favorite Bloody Marys. NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO
1st Place - Denali Pharmacy (FMH) 1st Place - Salad Bar (FMH)
Tanana Valley CLinic Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Denali center
3513 Industrial Avenue • 456-7829
F75532359
3
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
F24532372
4
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
5
FOOD AND DRINK
Cup of Coffee 1. McCafferty’s 2. Sunrise Bagel & Espresso 3. Bucko’s Coffee
Hamburgers 1. Monderosa 2. Brewsters 3. Frostbite Foods
Pizza 1. College Town Pizzeria 2. The Hungry Robot 3. East Ramp Pizzeria
Desserts 1. College Town Creamery 2. Jo’s Oven 3. Wolf Run
Italian Food 1. College Town Pizzeria 2. Geraldo’s Italian 3. Gambardella’s
Prime Rib (not steaks) 1. The Turtle Club 2. Two Rivers Lodge 3. Lavelle’s Bistro
Fine Dining 1. 229 Parks 2. Lavelle’s Bistro 3. The Turtle Club
Margarita 1. Miguel’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine 2. Gallo’s Mexican 3. Mayan Palace
Salad Bar 1. Cafe at FMH 2. The Turtle Club 3. Fred Meyer
Food Truck 1. Spice 2. Frostbite Foods 3. (tie) Hard Eats 3. (tie) El Sabor
Mexican Food 1. Taco King 2. Miguel’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine 3. Gallo’s Mexican
Sandwiches 1. Alaska Cheesesteak Company 2. Great Harvest Bread Company 3. Friar Tuck’s
! ! www
F29532402
F64532206
" $ " $ ! " $ # & % ' # ! ! ! ! ! " " # # " $ ! ! $ ! ! ! # " " ! $ " $
6
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Bill and June Rogers were just looking for a music venue when they opened McCafferty’s 18 years ago. Readers voted McCafferty’s coffee the best in Fairbanks in the 2018 Readers Choice Awards. ERIC ENGMAN/NEWSMINER
XXX DUPXOQJ[[B DPN t $PMMFHF 3PBE 'BJSCBOLT t 0QFO VOUJM 1.
Thank you, Fairbanks, for your #1 votes for both our locations!
F75532264
-PDBUFE BU .FSIBS "WF 'BJSCBOLT XXX DPMFHFUPXODSFBNFSZ DPN t .PO 4BU BN QN t 4VO QN
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
7
McCafferty’s serves up home-roasted coffee and a community feel By Erin Granger EGRANGER@NEWSMINER.COM
B
ill and June Rogers did not open McCafferty’s with the intention of starting a coffee shop, but 18 years later, they’ve been voted the Best Coffee in Fairbanks. “We’re musicians and having played music all of the last half of the last century and we had a recording studio in our house and it was getting a bit busy with commercial customers coming in, so we were looking for a place to get and we noticed an ad in (the News-Miner) for this building,� Bill said. The Rogers bought the building now known as McCafferty’s coffee shop to put a recording studio in the basement of the building. “Then we decided there was nothing happening on the ground floor and we thought ‘Well it’s every musician’s dream to have their own place to play’ and so we put a stage here and installed cables for micing the stage and studio and started playing music here,� Bill said.
It was June’s idea to start the cafe though. “If you’re going to have people listening to their recordings or live music, you need to serve them something so then we put the counter in,� June said. “What I always say is McCafferty’s is the front for a recording studio,� Bill said with a laugh. McCafferty’s roasts its own coffee and has for the past 15 years. Bill said he and June wanted to specialize in their own product. But, ultimately, coffee is not the central focus of the cafe. Bill said the cafe serves mostly locals and has had a loyal customer base of regulars for many years. “We’re not all about coffee. We are more about people and neighborhood,� Bill said. “There are a lot of coffee shops here in town and there are four roasting facilities here, so it’s really not difficult to find good coffee here in Fairbanks, Alaska, but we stress the importance of people and the importance of community.� Contact staff writer Erin Granger at 459-7544. Follow her on Twitter: @FDNMPolitics.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank You! For putting your confidence in us. Thank You for your support at this locally owned business!
'/'0 1/ ,+ !# ,,( 333 $ !# ,,( !,* )' #.050 00,,
.'" 5 ,+" 5 1#/" 5 #"+#/" 5 5 --,'+0*#+0
907-488-6973 | 981 Risse Rd | www.rissegreenhouse.com
F40528883
,))#%# , " '. +(/
F64532351
F64532351
' #.05 00,, 3 +0/ 0, 0& +( ,1. !)'#+0/ $,. 2,0'+% 1/ 0&# 00,, &,- '+ '. +(/! !,005 5 0/, 6 .( '+!#+0 00 %,",+10/ 6 .'4#5 .0
8
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Trainer Michael Flanagan works with a client in this 2015 News-Miner file photo. Readers voted Flanagan the No. 1 personal trainer in the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Flanagan dedicated to keeping his clients in shape By Robin Wood RWOOD@NEWSMINER.COM
M
ichael Flanagan has spent most of his adult life in gyms around Fairbanks working as an personal trainer — so it’s no surprise he’s regularly voted one of the top three personal trainers in the News-Miner Reader’s Choice awards, taking home top honors this year. More than 20 years ago Flanagan started out at American Fitness, a small gym on College Road, before working other locales the Nautilus Center and Jungle Gym, all since closed. After a stint working at the Univer-
sity of Alaska Fairbanks, Flanagan decided it was time to go it alone — or more accurately, as a pair. With his wife, Phoebe Flanagan, the couple have operated 40 Below Fitness at 3174 Davis Road for almost a decade, offering both personal training and group classes. “A lot of gyms probably cater to the millennial crowd. I think that we kind of have a clientele that’s maybe a little older, 35 and older,” Michael Flanagan explained. 40 Below Fitness also offers prospective clients a free consultation and one free personal training session. Flanagan suspects his longevity and commitment to Fairbanks contribute
to his popularity as a exercise coach. A former radio disc jockey, Flanagan was born and raised in Fairbanks, and years of personal training have built him a loyal clientele and positive wordof-mouth. People interested in improving their fitness and losing some weight need to take baby steps, according to Flanagan. “You never want to start an exercise routine with the goal of trying to lose a lot of weight really fast; the body has to adapt,” he said. Flanagan said group classes are a great, affordable option for exercise because dedicated eight-week courses and group camaraderie help people stick to a routine.
Group classes cost between $200$250 for an eight-week session. Personal training classes run $35 for a 30-minute session, and couples get a $5 per person discount In the past, Flanagan worked more with women, but over the years his male clientele has grown, and now “guys are more willing to say I want some help getting in better shape.” For those wanting to join the Flanagan’s gym, contact information can be found on their website, www.40belowfittness.com. And, as the name suggests, “We’re open no matter what,” Flanagan said. Contact staff writer Robin Wood at 459-7510. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMcity.
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
9
FOOD AND DRINK
Seafood 1. Two Rivers Lodge 2. Alaska Salmon Bake 3 (tie) Pump House 3 (tie) Turtle Club
Steaks (not prime rib) 1. Two Rivers Lodge 2. Lavelle’s Bistro 3. Pump House Microbrewery/Distillery 1. HooDoo Brewing Company 2. 49th State Brewing Company 3. Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co. HooDoo Brewing Company was the top-ranked microbrewery in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll. NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO
,(-5 , -!! 0'-, -$ $',# "',',% ', !-6y /201'! 1+-0.&#/# 2018
2018
PR
I M E R I B
SEA FOOD
2018
SA
IN E
L AD BAR
F
2018
DININ
Thank You
to all our customers!
G
L)
ANT (OVE
PRAWNS
I M E R I B
SA
L AD BAR
*0- #/3',%
"# ! T $#
t Gift Sh s e B
$"#!
Best Gift Shop
',,#/0 ,!*2"# * " /
*" 1##0# 4y 7 F '/ ,)0 * 0)
,(-5 -2/ ,-, 0+-)',% #01 *'0&+#,1 7 .#, 50 ##) 7 444 * 0) ,12/1*# !-+
457-3883
PR
op
F# 12/',% 2/ Famous
R
Mon-Sat 6-10pm 2, .+
We truly appreciate your business over the years! 488-3014 • 6565 Richardson Hwy., Salcha, Alaska
F64532327
TA UR
#1
ST V AU RANT SER
F24532416
SE A F O OD
AL
G
R ES
DININ
RE
F
IN E
IC E
Your #1 Votes helped us place...
10
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Local Sports Team 1. UAF Rifle Team 2. Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3. UAF Hockey
Local Sporting Event 1. Open North American Championship 2. Ice Dogs playoffs 3. Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race
Tourist Attraction 1. Riverboat Discovery 2. Trans-Alaska oil pipeline viewpoint 3. Chena Hot Springs Resort
Complete Landscaping & Excavating! 2016 1st Place Ribbon for Landscaping Land clearing • Erosion Products Leach Pits • Concrete Slabs, Walls, & Curbing Retaining Walls Fence Work Fabric and Ground Covers
Shannon Fortune, Agent Retired Military 324 Old Steese Highway Fairbanks, AK 99701-3126 Bus 907 452 1385 Fax 907 452 1387 Call 907 244 7038 shannon@shannonfortune.com www.shannonfortune.com
New Lawns • Driveways Excavating & Grading • Hydroseeding Embankments • Site Work
“Thank You, Fairbanks, For Voting Us #1 Dentist!”
“THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CLIENTS, AND TO OUR FAIRBANKS COMMUNITY, FOR VOTING US YOUR #1 REAL ESTATE COMPANY!”
FAIRBANKS OFFICE 600 3rd Street, Suite 102 Fairbanks, AK 99701
From Dr. Dirk Menard and his staff
907.456.4653 F64532415
QDQRRNGHQWDO FRP
State Farm Bank® NMLS ID #139716 NMLS MLO #864413
F64532388
www.labrenzlandscaping.com • Licensed, Bonded, Insured - Lic. # 26170
2759 College Road • 479-9396 • Fax 479-9455 • “We do it right the first time!”
F29532400
Thank You for Voting Again Fairbanks!
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
11
F24532457
Saturday, July 28, 2018
12
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
The GoodSinse marijuana retail and cultivation facility on Davis Road was chosen by readers as their favorite cannabis retailer in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll. Above, a marijuana plant in the flowering or “budding” stage at GoodSinse. ERIC ENGMAN/NEWS-MINER
Readers choose GoodSinse as favorite cannabis retailer By Amanda Bohman ABOHMAN@NEWSMINER.COM
T
his humble little mom-andpop pot store has a huge following, reportedly serving about 400 people a day. The secret that has made the business successful—News-Miner readers selected GoodSinse as their favorite marijuana store in an annual poll—is simple: Good product, good prices, good service, according to multiple customers interviewed on a recent Tuesday morning. “People are really friendly here,” said customer Mike Pierce Jr. “They give you good suggestions. The products are good.” GoodSinse, discreetly located along
Davis Road, was one of the first marijuana retailers to open in Fairbanks. It is owned by a young couple, Daniel and Danielle Peters, who are also marijuana cultivators. The store is small and understated with one display case. Two television screens hang on a wall, listing the strains, prices, whether it’s indica, sativa or a hybrid and the percentage of THC. “We’re more about the product than the place,” said general manager Shaun Huot. They offer more than 30 different cannabis strains of their own and from other cultivators statewide, though Huot said most of the marijuana sold at GoodSinse was grown in Fairbanks.
The store offers mostly bud along with THC-infused fruit snacks, prerolled joints and marijuana concentrates. Huot said GoodSinse was the first store to offer deals and specials to clients via text message. On April 20, the unofficial national weed holiday, GoodSinse offered joints for $1. People reportedly lined up out the door. GoodSinse served more than 1,000 people, Huot said. “When a new store opens up, we don’t see a drop in our sales,” he said. Cat May is one of their main budtenders. The 55-year-old, selected by Alaska Leaf Magazine as budtender of the month in May, has lived in Fairbanks since 1985. She knows many of her customers by name.
Some will insist on buying their cannabis only from May, Huot said. “Cat is a staple here just like the weed,” he said. Others talk to May about their lives and seek advice. May said a few customers have become personal friends. “I think we make people feel at home,” she said. “We don’t pressure anyone. We give them all of the time that they need.” Friendly budtenders are what keeps John DeRushe coming back. “I found this store once I moved here, and I really enjoy it,” he said. “I enjoy seeing the same faces when I come in ... I stick with things I like.” Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 4597587. Follow her on Twitter:@FDNMborough.
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Personal Trainer 1. Michael Flanagan, 40 Below Fitness 2. Tina Ferringer, F&H Fitness 3. Christian Hood, Anytime Fitness
Theater/Performance Company of 2017-18 1. FLOT Jr. 2. Fairbanks Concert Association 3. Fairbanks Drama Association
Tanning Salon 1. Sun Fix Tanning Salon 2. Turbo Tans 3. Beach House
Place for Dancing 1. UAF Pub 2. Blue Loon 3. Howling Dog
13
2018
Fai rb
a n k s, A l a s k
a
Tattoo/Body Piercing 1. Liberty Tattoo 2. Sublime Line Tattoo Studio 3. Evergreen Tattoo Company
PERSONAL CARE
Barber Shop/Hair Salon 1. Dimensions Salon 2. Elements 3. JM Hair Studio
Antique Shop 1. Blue Door Antiques 2. Thriftiques Antiques 3. Stella’s Superstore
Nail Salon 1. US Nails 2. Happy Nails 3. Allure
SHOPPING
, ,
! " # # ! #
$" +%) !& $"' %& ## +%)& *%( ' !$ (
! # "
F75531160
www.purcelltire.com
/-%(!) .,$$. .%$ &-.*,&# !&,"!)'- ,!&) $+*.
0 +,/#$ ,$$ *).$--*,& #*(
F75532315
'( %%#
( %&+
14
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Patty Mongold, president and CEO of Mt. McKinley Bank, stands in her office in this 2015 file photo. Mongold said the bank’s customer service and attention to client needs are behind its top ranking in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll. NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO
Thank you Fairbanks!
R ES TAURANT
We have joined forces with Baker & Associates and Rural Alaska Insurance And we are all now proud to be part of
RAPLINE LOUNGE
HUB International Northwest, LLC
488-6815
F24532413
907-456-6646
F24532427
On August 6, 2018 we will be moving to our new location at 3180 Peger Rd., Suite 120 Fairbanks, AK
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
15
Mt. McKinley Bank valued for service, low fees By Amanda Bohman
ABOHMAN@NEWSMINER.COM
M
aybe it’s the posh downtown lobby. Or the kind lending department. Or the refreshing restraint when it comes to bank fees. Readers of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner named Mt. McKinley Bank, the oldest and largest local financial institution, their favorite bank of 2018 in an annual poll. Bank President Patty Mongold said that what makes Mt. McKinley stand out from other financial institutions is a strong desire to meet customers’ needs. Customers express appreciation about the bank’s willingness to offer special attention, she said. “The lenders know the products and never try to sell a customer on what is best for the bank, we always look at deals as to what is best for the customer,� Mongold said in an email. “On the deposit side, our employees look
“
We have many customers who relocate to the Lower 48 who don’t change their bank because of the personal service we provide.� — Patty Mongold, president/CEO of Mt. McKinley Bank
at every customer with one thought, how can we give them the deposit products that will cost them the least and provide them with exactly what they need.� The bank’s goal is to pay account holders the highest possible return while providing lending and banking services at the lowest possible cost. Mt. McKinley Bank started in Fairbanks in 1965 with the goal to encourage financial growth and to provide a local alternative for home mortgages.
The bank grew, opening new branches in the 1990s and 2000s. Mt. McKinley Bank began offered commercial banking in 2000. Today the bank has about 23,000 customers, Mongold said. Some have moved away from the area but continue to keep accounts at Mt. McKinley Bank. “We have many customers who relocate to the Lower 48 who don’t change their bank because of the personal service we provide,� Mongold said. “We
even have a few who live in foreign countries now and still don’t close their accounts here.� Great service is a common theme in reviews of the bank posted online. “I always get good customer service anytime I have problem,� one reviewer wrote on Facebook. Mt. McKinley Bank is also a big supporter of the community. In 2017, the financial institution helped 92 nonprofit agencies, donating a total amount of $160,482, according to Mongold. The bank employs 78 people who contributed 800 volunteer hours at area nonprofits. Mt. McKinley Bank is also a valued local employer. Twenty-four employees have been with the bank for more than 10 years. Of those, seven employees have longevity exceeding 20 years and six have more than 30 years of employment at the bank.
Contact staff writer Amanda Bohman at 4597587. Follow her on Twitter:@FDNMborough.
# (& % ' "' " #! * "' '# & + #% #$' " #(% $ "'& #% ' &' '* "'+ + %& #% ##& " (& & #(% )#% ' % " #(& (%& %+ " Mt. McKinley Bank would like to thank everyone who took time to vote.
"' " #! % " #(& (%& %+ " F17532456
F17532381
We are your local community bank and are happy to serve Interior Alaska.
16
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Barnes & Noble has an “endless bookshelf,” says Nicole Galagan, community business development manager. Just about any book a reader wants is either on the premises or a couple of keystrokes away.
Barnes & Noble voted best local bookstore By David Jones
DJONES@NEWSMINER.COM
W
here do you go if you want a good cup of coffee, some conversation, and a good read? If the answer’s not Barnes & Noble, then you’re missing out. Though Barnes & Noble may have won the honor of being Reader’s Choice for best bookstore two years in a row, the business is more than just a place to buy books. Located at 421 Merhar Ave., the store has strived since its 2006 opening to be both a store and a place where people want to gather, a place where people feel welcome, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. “We really want to be a destination where families and friends can hang out,” said Nicole Galagan, community business
development manager for Barnes & Noble. “A place where you can come and grab a coffee, meet with a friend, use our free WiFi.” One of the store’s biggest draws is the large fireplace situated next to the cafe, surrounded by comfortable chairs that are almost always occupied, chairs that beckon you to take a seat and get lost in a grand new adventure — or reminisce over stories of long past. A bookstore is nothing without books, however, and Barnes & Noble has those in spades, touting their “endless bookshelf.” “What we like to say is if we don’t have it in the store, that’s OK — it’s probably in stock, and we can get it shipped to the customers,” Galagan said. Customers can browse an extensive product lineup: books, games, magazines, toys, music and DVDs. If you can’t make a decision on what to get, Barnes & Noble can help with that too, with book-
sellers across the store — which includes the baristas — offering personalized recommendations on that next piece of entertainment. “We really try to have personal conversations when we’re making those recommendations, not just ‘Here’s a book that’s on promotion,’” Galagan said. “We really want to make that connection with the customer. And if I’m not an expert in something, there’s going to be someone in the store who is.” Barnes & Noble has also given back to the community over the years, attempting to increase literacy and education throughout the state. The store has given more than $80,000 back to the community in the last 2 1/2 years through book fair fundraising programs, along with supporting schools all the way up to the North Slope with textbooks and curriculum. David Jones is an editorial assistant at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
The fireplace and reading area is one of the most popular spots in the Fairbanks Barnes & Noble book store. Barnes & Noble was voted the best local book store in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll. PHOTOS BY DAVID JONES/NEWS-MINER
Saturday, July 28, 2018
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
The Splash and Dash East crew takes pride in making sure customers’ cars are spotless when they’re done.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
17
DAVID JONES/NEWS-MINER
Splash and Dash East takes title of best car wash W team has taken over. “We focus on having an excellent management team and ‘team atmosphere’ amongst all employees,� Stefano said. “You’re more than just an employee if you’re working here.� Customers of the East car wash can expect four tiers of cleanliness — the Basic Splash, Super Wash, Ultimate Wash and the famous Lava Wash which, thankfully, will only melt the dirt and grime and not the rest of your car. Customers can also get their vehicle detailed at Splash and Dash East, whether quickly through express detailing or more thoroughly through full detailing, a service which Splash and Dash West does not offer. When asked why he thought customers voted Splash and Dash East
to be the best carwash in Fairbanks, Stefano said: “Superior quality, excellent customer service, and the initiative to have a standard that
is above reproach. We take serious pride in all customer’s vehicles.�
David Jones is an editorial assistant for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
( "# $ & %# " $ $ ! ' $ ' $ %# $" $ )
SP76337
orkers at Splash and Dash East, winners of the 2018 Reader’s Choice for best car wash, doesn’t mind getting wet in their quest to keep every car clean that comes through their car wash. “We guarantee a clean car every time,� said Trevor Stefano, operations manager for Splash and Dash. “We do quality control checks before letting vehicles leave and afford all customers the opportunity to inspect their vehicles.� Though Splash and Dash West has been around since 2002, Splash and Dash East opened in 2007, and the business as a whole has expanded to Anchorage and Wasilla in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The business was run by Sam Makaar for the last 17 years but recently a diversified management
18
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards The Bread Line at Stone Soup was named the top nonprofit in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll.
ERIC ENGMAN/NEWSMINER
Bread Line fights local hunger on several fronts By Erin Granger EGRANGER@NEWSMINER.COM
B
read Line Inc. began in 1984 as a small group of people with backpacks full of sandwiches. Thirty-four years later, the nonprofit organization is the umbrella for four other programs all addressing the issue of hunger and poverty in Fairbanks. “Stone Soup Cafe is what we’re probably most known for,” said Bread Line Inc. Director Hannah Hill. “That is a soup kitchen. We have a head chef and a sweet team of volunteers who come in here and feed as many people as we can in a day.” Right now that’s sitting at about 140150 served in the morning, which consists of a hot, sit-down meal, coffee and a sack lunch to go. In the afternoon Bread Line uses the facilities for the Stone’s Throw pro-
gram, which is a culinary job training program. “It’s for people who are looking to build pathways out of poverty to their own economic stability despite facing some pretty serious barriers of their own,” Hill said. This year the program graduated its biggest class yet with 100 percent retention. All graduates were hired within an unprecedented 24 hours of graduation. Stone’s Throw is visiting the Fairbanks Youth Facility this summer to teach the facility’s younger members self-sustainability skills, Hill said. “Our last two programs are Kid’s Cafe, which is the third Saturday of every month. We invite families from the Fairbanks community to come and kids help prep food for the following week, learn about food insecurity and
the importance of volunteerism and being a good citizen of Fairbanks,” Hill said. Bread Line also runs the Fairbanks Community garden located nearby between 11th and 12th avenues on Lacey Street. The garden features 40 raised beds to grow food for the programs as well as assisted living facilities in the downtown area. Each program serves a different purpose but ultimately take aim at the central issue of hunger in Fairbanks community. “In a lot of ways, we’re a last line of defense for people. Given the demographics that we serve here in the soup kitchen, it’s a lot of people that do not have access elsewise or who have enough trouble interfacing with the programs that are available,” Hill said. “Because of the caliber of people we
have working here, we able to sort of point people in directions and connect them with resources.” Many of these issues are centered in the root issue of a lack of adequate resources. “There is a lack of adequate mental health resources in this town which I would say easily account for many of the daily difficulties that we see here, be it addiction issues, or untreated mental illness or homelessness,” Hill said. “It all wraps up into a cycle of poverty that is hard to break if you don’t deal with root causes. “We’re a big believer in the story of self and people being able to take control of their own narrative. Resiliency is a huge part of the human characteristic and that’s what we support here.” Contact staff writer Erin Granger at 459-7544. Follow her on Twitter: @FDNMPolitics.
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
19
"# # ! $! "#"
"# # "
O
P
G I F T S H
!
F64532204
! # $! ! # ! ! " !% # " ( ! " !% # " ! % ! # " % !' &&& ! % ! # " % !' &&& !
Attractions
20
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Marvin Kokrine runs his team toward the finish line in the 2017 Open North American Sled Dog Race. The GCI Open North American Championship is the longest continuously run and unofficial “Most Prestigious� dog sled race in the world. It was voted the top local sporting event in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll. ROBIN WOOD/NEWSMINER
C elebrating
R O VIC D E
O OD D
ES S T TC C FO F O HH IN IN SESE EE
B ST BE
RES ESTT C E AU HRIN NSTE SFO AE
B
&
ES T C HINESE FO
O D
N Pole!
E B B
2 8
www.pagodanorthpole.com P 488-3338
F64532263
Y F
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
SHOPPING
Art Gallery 1. Phillips Art Gallery 2. Expressions in Glass 3. The Bear Gallery Book Store 1. Barnes & Noble 2. UAF Bookstore 3. Forget Me Not
Cannabis/Marijuana Retailer 1. GoodSinse 2. Pakalolo Supply Co. 3. Good Cannabis Florist 1. Arctic Floral 2. Safeway floral department 3. Santina’s Flowers & Gifts
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Furniture Store 1. House of Kustom 2. Sadler’s Furniture 3. Bailey’s Furniture
Liquor Store 1. Brown Jug 2. Fred Meyer liquor store 3. Gavora’s Fine Wine
Gift Shop 1. Knotty Shop 2. Steamboat Landing at Riverboat Discovery 3. If Only … A Fine Store
Pet Supplies Store 1. Alaska Feed Co. 2. Cold Spot Feeds 3. Petco
Jewelry Store 1. Bishop’s Jewelry Gallery 2. Taylor’s Gold-N-Stones 3. Gold Rush Fine Jewelers
Sporting Goods Store 1. Sportsman’s Warehouse 2. Beaver Sports 3. REI
Ladies Clothing Boutique & Vintage Clothing 1. In My Element 2. Fireweed Boutique 3. Value Village
Tools/Hardware Store 1. Samson True Value Hardware 2. Lowe’s 3. Home Depot
%HQWOH\ &DU :DVK 2OG 6WHHVH +Z\ )DLUEDQNV
1907
21
2017
1954
SAMSON HARDWARE
!# & & $ & &
# # # $ & %%% # # " % "
F64532329
2004
7KDQN \RX IRU \RXU VXSSRUW )DLUEDQNV
' ( !%"
F64532350
7KDQN <RX )DLUEDQNV IRU 9RWLQJ XV
facebook.com/fushimiak 0RQ 7KXU DP SP Fri-6DW DP SP 6XQGD\ SP SP
#* %%' $)"&* (
F64532262
2OG 6WHHVH +Z\ 6XLWH ( )DLUEDQNV $. 7(/ )$;
22
2018 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards
Snowmachine/motorcycle/ ATV/UTVs Dealer 1. Northern Power Sports 2. Delta Power Sports 3. Alaska Fun Center
Used Car Company 1. Affordable Used Cars 2. Kendall Auto 3. Seekins Ford Lincoln
We love what we do and appreciate the support of our community.
www.fairbanksakhomes.com F12509031 F29532401
Thank You Fairbanks!
Law Offices 1. Downes, Tallerico & Schwalm 2. Merdes Law Office 3. Law Offices of William R. Satterberg
%& ! #" & " $ %
F24532434
SHOPPING
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE/BUSINESS NEEDS
New Car Company 1. Chevrolet Buick GMC of Fairbanks 2. Kendall Auto 3. Seekins Ford Lincoln
Thank you Fairbanks, for voting us
#1 FUEL DISTRIBUTOR 1051 Van Horn Rd | Fairbanks, AK 99701
Tel: (907) 452-4477 | Facebook.com/AlaskaFuelDistributors F17532431
2018 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
23
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Automotive Service and Repairs 1. Chaz Limited Collision Express 2. University Chevron 3. Collision Masters
Car Wash 1. Splash N Dash East 2. Splash N Dash West 3. Bentley Car Wash
Heating Fuel Delivery Company 1. Alaska Fuel Distributors 2. Sourdough Fuel 3. Alaska Petroleum
Bank/Credit Union 1. Mt. McKinley Bank 2. Alaska USA Federal Credit Union 3. Denali State Bank
Cleaning Service 1. Service Master/Merry Maids 2. OCD Cleaning Services 3. C&A Cleaning
Home Builder 1. Stepping Stone 2. Big Street Construction 3. TS Construction
Connie & Alley Griego | Owners
% +( 4,1 #,. 2,0&+$ 1/ 0%" - +"/" "/0 1. +0 ap
ran t
-"+ 4/ ""( F64532328
,QGXVWULDO Fairbanks, AK 99709 FDFOHDQLQJ#DN QHW
t J Bes
2IĂ&#x20AC;FH 907.457.8260 &HOO 907.378.2051 Fax 907.474.9003
anese Restau
,+ %1./ * -* .& 0 * -* 1+! 4 -* -*
,))"$" ! 0" &. +(/
".2&+$ &+" "". %" ( ,10 ,1. ,+)&+" *"+1 333 #1'& ( ,*
F64532342
Licensed & Bonded
! " 907-451-5570 800-478-FEED
F29532399
$! $"# !" ! " & ! # ' $! % # " ' $! #!
24
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Tourists have been learning about Alaska’s culture, history and transportation since Capt. Jim and Mary Binkley began taking visitors on river excursions in 1950. Over the years, the business grew from the Godspeed, a 25-passenger vessel, to the Discovery III, a 900-passenger vessel. Today, Capt. Jim’s grandchildren run the company and Mary B is still active in the business. Readers voted the Riverboat Discovery as the top tourist attraction in Fairbanks in the 2018 Readers’ Choice poll. NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO
2018 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards
Insurance Company 1. Ken Murray Insurance 2. State Farm Insurance 3. USAA Interior Designer 1. Joan Stepovich, Stage & Design Fairbanks 2. Rebekah Gray, Studio 3Twelve 3. Tamara Spaulding, Spaulding Interiors
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE/BUSINESS NEEDS
Landscaping Company 1. Mulcare Lawn Service 2. Labrenz Landscaping 3. Great Northwest
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
25
Nonprofit Organization 1. Stone Soup/Bread Line 2. Fairbanks Animal Shelter Fund 3. Fairbanks Community Food Bank Nursery/Garden Center 1. Plant Kingdom 2. Holm Town Nursery 3. Risseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greenhouse
F69532418
Saturday, July 28, 2018
+0".&,. "/&$+". % +( 4,1 #,. 4,1. 2,0"/ +! )"00&+$ *" /".2" 4,1 3&0% )) 4,1. " ) /0 0" +! +0".&,. "/&$+ +""!/ Y
F64532408
stageanddesignfairbanks.com joanstepovichrealtor.com
! # !"
7KDQN \RX )DLUEDQNV IRU YRWLQJ XV
/DZ )LUP <($56 ,1 $ 52:
F17532432
The Personal Attention You Deserve. The Advocates You Need. 300 Barnette St., Suite 200 | Fairbanks, AK 99701
Tel: (907) 474-4529 | www.goldenheartlaw.com
2018 Readers’ Choice Awards
Real Estate Company 1. Coldwell Banker 2. Hedgecock Group Real Estate 3. Somers & Associates
School 1. Hutchison High 2. Spruce Tree Montessori 3. Lathrop High
Realtor ® 1. Jonathan Bradish 2. Wes Madden 3. Traci Schachle
Taxi Company 1. Lyft 2. Uber 3. Arctic Taxi
Gym/Workout Center 1. F&H Fitness Studio 2. Planet Fitness 3. The Alaska Club, South
MEDICAL SERVICES
Dentist 1. Dirk Menard 2. Phyllis Pendergrast 3. Michael Helmbrecht
Thank you, Fairbanks, for voting us your #1 Jewelry Store! “Where Alaskans go to get Engaged”
F17532467
26
2018 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
27
A student at Hutchison High School works on an e-learning assignment. Readers chose Hutchison as the top school in the 2018 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice poll. NEWS-MINER FILE PHOTO
Doctor 1. Jean Tsigonis 2. Jeffrey Banks 3. Brian Accola
Pharmacy 1. Denali Pharmacy (FMH) 2. Fred Meyer 3. Safeway
Eyeglasses, Contacts 1. West Valley Vision Clinic 2. Eye Clinic of Fairbanks 3. Mountain View Medical Center
Physical Therapy Office 1. Equinox Physical Therapy 2. North Pole Physical Therapy 3. Sportsmedicine Fairbanks
Eye Care Professional 1. Brannon Mills 2. Michael Mavencamp 3. Damien Delzer
Veterinary Office 1. Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark 2. Mt. McKinley Animal Hospital 3. Aurora Animal Clinic
Veterinarian Dee Thornell Chiropractor Heather Gappert Hearing Aid Professional 1. Fairbanks Hearing & Balance 2. Northland Hearing Massage Therapist Flor Banks
F ree Brewery
THANK YOU FAIRBANKS
FOR VOTING US #1
Tours
& # $ " #!
1980 Van Hor n Rd. | www.nor ther npowerspor ts.com | 452-2762
F64532462
! # ! # %
%! $ " ""
#& !&# '-&*'-& '. % *!!)! -/ 0
F24532411
(#&$ #%,!( +% "
2018 Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards
$ # ! #! " ! ! #! $ #
! "
"
A % #!
F64532205
28