Cooper Landing Gem April 2021 by Cooper Landing Chamber

Monthly Newsletter

April 2021

Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Board Of Directors

Dear Chamber Members, Spring is on it’s way! As I sit here writing this, the April showers are in full force so if these are any indication, we should have an abundance of blooms in May!

Vice-President Carrie Williams Alaska Outdoor Woodstoves 598-1633

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our Regatta query. We’d love to have you join our meeting on at 10:30 on Wednesday, April 7th at Wildman’s. We are putting together a committee to work on a Christmas time event and are still looking for volunteers. If you are interested, please let us know. Enjoy the warmer weather. Sincerely, Barbara Mosher Chamber President

President Barb Mosher Wildman’s 598-8088

Treasurer Shirley Wilmoth The Hutch B&B 595-1270 Secretary Rose Hetrick Inn at Tern Lake 288-3667 Director Allison Reeves Grizzly Ridge 595-1260

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

Monthly Member Spotlight:

KENAI CACHE OUTFITTERS

enai Cache Outfitters, is conveniently located near the Russian River Confluence on the Sterling Highway. Just one mile East from one of the most popular fishing destination on the Upper Kenai, the Kenai Cache is a onestop shop for all of your fly fishing needs. Established in 1983, the Kenai Cache offers a fully stocked fly fishing shop, cabin rentals, guided fishing trips along the Kenai River, and custom fish processing.

GETTING OUTFITTED

The Fly Shop offers the largest and mo complete selection of fly fishing equipm in Cooper Landing Alaska. We carry a h selection of all the big brands you expe from a full service tackle store for your Alaska Fishing Trips. Brands such as Ro Galvan, Lamson, Abel, Redington, Nauti Pflueger, and Gloomis to name just a fe are available for your inspection.

We also made it a point to ensure that we h a full range of rods for the various applicatio from trout to the mighty Kenai King Salmon we have the rods and reels you are looking f Make sure you visit our Orvis & Simm’s Pro for the latest must have equipment, gadgets clothing from the best names in the industry We carry a full selection of Orvis rods, reels jackets, clothing, fly line and gadgets.

MEET THE OWNERS Like most Cooper Landing residents, the love of hiking, fishing--and all things outdoors--lured Julie and David Gaines to Alaska. In 2019 they found themselves making a life change and purchasing the Kenai Cache. “Once we came to Alaska and realized how beautiful it is. We knew immediately that we wanted to live here full time. We bought Kenai Cache because Cooper Landing has always been so special to us. And of course who doesn’t love the beautiful Kenai River? What’s not to love? Every day this place becomes more special. We have truly met some of the best people here,” explains Julie. The family traveled 4,000 miles across country from Kentucky to begin their journey as Alaska business owners. Julie and David decided to quit their jobs and take a leap to pursue their dreams. They sold everything they had that wouldn’t fit into a 16-foot box trailer and camper. Two dogs, two cats, and their five year-old accompanied them on the drive North. “It was a very long process, but we can say it was worth it all.” The scenic beauty attracted the family to the area, but they discovered the Cooper Landing community was just as welcoming as the landscape. “The community is one of a kind, they have welcomed our family with open arms and have always been willing to help if that is what is needed. Also looking outside and seeing the Kenai River and the beautiful mountains that follow is just breathtaking every time, even after a year and a half. We are so thankful for Cooper Landing and wouldn’t change anything.”

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Contact Kenai Cache: 907-595-1401 www.kenaicache.com kenaicacheoutfitter@gmail.com 14899 Sterling Highway Cooper Landing, AK 99572 Background Image: Best Route Productions

April 2021 — 3

Cooper Landing Senior Citizen Corporation

Senior Haven Community Garden Many thanks to the volunteers from the Cooper Landing Emergency Services and the Kenai Lake Baptist Church! The volunteers helped build new raised garden beds in Snug Harbor Senior Haven’s Community Garden. All the materials were funded by the CLSCCI Endowment Grant.

Sign painted by local artist Jillian Konopa

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” – Alfred Austin April 2021 — 4

Cooper Landing Community Club The Cooper Landing Community Club would like to thank everyone that helped out with and enjoyed recreating on the groomed snow trails this season. Their efforts helped our community and its visitors to take advantage of great recreational opportunities at the Russian River Campground, the Quartz Creek Area and new this year, an area near the Devil’s Creek trailhead. The Devil’s Creek site, with great views and sun exposure was a highlight! If you haven’t checked it out yet, there is still time. We would like to extend a special thank you to all of the individual groomers: Erik Route, Elijah Spray, Ed Holsten, Lou Prill, and David Story. There was a lot of snow to keep up with this year! Thanks also to Janette Cadieux and Theo Lexmond for their early season prep and continued maintenance efforts. Thanks to the Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corporation, Inc. Endowment Fund for the grant providing a new roller, repair parts, and storage shelter. A special thanks to the Seward Ranger District for their continued partnership with our Trails Committee to improve this recreational access. Thanks also to Alaska Rivers Company and Alaska Wildland Adventures for providing vehicle support to move equipment throughout the season. Also, thanks to Cooper Landing Brewing Company for donating gifts for the groomers. The efforts of these individuals and organizations provided great options for outdoor recreation this winter and afforded parents, kids, families, individuals, and teams, to get outside and connect with the land, or just each other for a social ski with a friend in the sun! Thanks to all that made it possible!

Thank You Ski Groomers! Contact Us: cooperlandingcommunityclub@gmail.com www. cooperlandingcommunityclub.com Cooper Landing Community Club

Photo by: David Story

April 2021 — 5

Page 6

Cooper Landing Lynx News

Welcome to Hogwarts This spring third and fifth graders are learning through a thematic unit organized around the beloved fairy tale, Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling. The book is being brought to life by the imaginative mind of Ms. Krissy. As any true fan would, she has completely re-decorated the classroom to fit the storyline and created themed activities for student discovery— from painting posters to creating the Platform 9 3/4. When the students returned to school after spring break, they arrived to find a mystery afoot. A single clue read “Solve the problems, crack the code.” With excitement and enthusiasm, the students got right to work. Large papers were hanging on the wall filled with math problems for each student. Individually they completed ten questions and used the answers to match up to a secret code. Then as a team they used the code to reveal the secret message. The message led the student to finding their Hogwarts acceptance letter and a second clue.

Having read up to chapter six in the first book, the acceptance letters were thrilling. The second clue required the students to crack an alphabet-based code that led them to their Hogwarts Express train tickets. Principal Douglas Hayman DHayman@KPBSD.org Teacher Thomas Gossard TGossard@KPBSD.org

Inst. Aide Kristine Route KRoute@KPBSD.org Secretary Donna Tucker DTucker@KPBSD.org

Cooper Landing School 19030 Bean Creek Rd. Cooper Landing, AK 99572 907-595-1244 fax 907-595-1461

April 2021

With tickets in hand, the students entered the “train station” in the hallway. Here they found a brick wall with the numbers nine and ten on each side. Much like Harry, they approached the wall and entered through the middle. On the other side, train tracks with the number 9 ¾ hanging above led them into the classroom.

The sounds of “whoa”, “wow”, and “YES” filled the room when they entered. Squeals of delight echoed around as they checked everything out. Students found reading cloaks and special wand pencils on their desks.

On the right-hand side of the room, sits the owlery where Hedwig the snowy owl is perched waiting for his friends. Blank canvases set the stage for the owl research and art project. Students will each pick an owl of their choice and study the species. They will learn about the habitat, the food web, and the lifestyle of their owl before writing a research essay. The students will then learn how to draw and paint the owl on the canvas. Along the back wall of the classroom sits the “potions” class. Here students will be learning about the basic properties of matter and chemistry. They will be reviewing solids, liquids, and gases before discovering polymers, density, and basic chemical reactions.

The Harry Potter book series has been captivating audiences for over twenty years. In fact, it was this very series that inspired me to enjoy reading in the first place. I was nine when the series first came out, but at the time refused to read it (since it involved picking up a book). It wasn’t until my Grandmother attended a mid-night book release party for the Golbet of Fire to buy me a copy that I started to be curious. I can still remember the way the new cover felt and the pages smelled. It was the biggest book I’d ever been given! Something about it drew me in. Although, it wasn’t until I was in seventh grade on a crosscountry road trip with my parents that I started to read the series. We were visiting Mount Airy, North Carolina where the town of Mayberry was based in my Dad’s favorite show, Andy Griffith. We entered a gift shop near a model of Andy’s cop car hoping to find show memorabilia when I spotted a copy of the Chamber of Secrets for sale. After convincing my mom to buy it, I quickly started reading. From that point forward, I was hooked! Now I aspire to spread the joy of reading to future generations and I hope these kids are having as much fun with this project as I am! -Ms. Krissy

As the students continue to read the series, new learning elements will be added. An adapted version of Quidditch may be in the works.

Page 7

Alaska Wildfire & Mental Health Study Results Please join us on Earth Day, Thursday April 22nd from 12-1pm as we present the final results from this study. We will share findings regarding mental health during the 2019 wildfire season in Southcentral Alaska and support ideas developed for future wildfire seasons. There with be a Q&A session, an opportunity to exchange contact information with other interested professionals, and a discussion around next steps. This event will be held online via the Zoom meeting app. Register in advance for this meeting:

Click for Zoom Registration

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. On behalf of the team at University of Alaska Anchorage and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health we would like to thank you for your interest in this study, and for your commitment to the health and wellbeing of Alaskan communities.

Burn Permits Required Starting April 1st While much of Alaska is still buried under a thick blanket of snow, state law requires those wanting to conduct any open burning on state, private and municipal lands from April 1 through August 31 to get burn permits from the state Division of Forestry. This includes burning brush piles, using burn barrels, agricultural burning and burning of maintained lawns. Burn permits are free and are available at local state forestry offices in Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Glennallen, Haines, Ketchikan, Palmer, Soldotna and Tok, as well as local fire departments in many of those same areas. Permits can also be printed online at https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn. Burn permits contain instructions for safe and legal burning. Click for Burn Permit

April 2021 — 8

Tanisha Walters, L.Ac. Acupuncturist Holistic Healing Scholarship The Holistic Healing Scholarship Includes: • • • •

2 Acupuncture Treatments 2 Private Ashtanga Yoga sessions 2 Days of Nature Therapy: > Fly fishing with www.alaskaclearwater.com and > Paddle boarding with www.alaskariverscompany.com 2 Nights Lodging at www.kahtnuspiritlodging.com

This scholarship is open to ANYONE. Here’s how to apply... • In your own words, tell us who you are and why you would like this experience. (300 word max). • Email essay in PDF format as an attachment to: info@tanishawalters.com

• Deadline April 30, 2021

• Holistic Healing Experience occurs September 25-26, 2021 Please share with anyone who may benefit from this experience. For more information visit my website at: www.tanishawalters.com Health and Healing, Tanisha Walters, L. Ac.

Cooper Landing Library Our doors may still be closed to in-house browsing but we are actively providing materials through curbside pickup three times a week (Monday 1-3, Wednesday 9-11, and Friday 1-3). Just go to the library catalog to choose your materials and either call, email, or request through the catalog. There are new books and movies coming in on a regular basis so check out what we have added.

April 2021 — 9

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 informtion to the monthly newsletter. Contact us for more information. Contact Us

Happy Birthday 4/6 4/11 4/12 4/14 4/15 4/17 4/17 4/18 4/18 4/18 4/20 4/22 4/24 4/26 4/29 4/29

Jimmy Milne George Anderson Joyce Koppert Clara LaRock Barb Atkinson Jean (Nana) Sether Terry Robinson Gary McFadden Josie Wilkes Butch Reger Terri Tobias Cheryle James Cooper Morgan Gossard Katie Thomas Kristen Helgren Shirley Wilmoth

Happy Anniversary 4/30 Gary and Yvette Galbraith

Photo by: Best Route Productions

April 2021 — 10

2021 Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce & CVB Please support our local businesses! 5 Dogs Fishing

(907) 598-3525

Grizzly Ridge

(907) 595-1260

Alaskan Angling Adventures LLC

(907) 595-3336

Gwin’s Lodge

(907) 595-1266

Alaska Heavenly Lodge

(907) 599-0022

Inn at Tern Lake (Moose Pass)

(907) 288-3667

Alaska Horsemen Lodge

(907) 595-1806

Jason’s Guide Service

(907) 351-3036

Kahtnu Spirit Lodging

(907) 299-2855

Alaska Home Grown Alaska Outdoor Woodstoves

(907) 598-1633

Kenai Cache Outfitters

(907) 595-1401

Alaska River Adventures

(907) 595-2000

Kenai Kayak Company

(907) 441-6753

Alaska Rivers Company

(907) 595-1226

Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area

(206) 920-9051

Alaska Troutfitters

(907) 595-1212

KPB Mayor –Charlie Pierce (Soldotna)

(800) 478-4441

Alaska Wildland Adventures

(800) 334-8730

KPBSD Superintendent

(907) 714-8836

Angle 45 Adventures (Hope)

(907) 782-3175

Kenai Peninsula Econ. Dev. Dist.

(907) 283-3335

Bean Creek Gallery

(907) 595-3488

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

(907) 595-1425

Bearfoot Publications

(907)320-1145

Kenai River Drifters Lodge

(907) 595-5555

Best Route Productions

(303) 570-2081

Kenai River Float-n-Fish

(907) 519-0048

Bike Cooper Landing, LLC

(907) 231-6793

Kenai River Fly Fishing

(907) 598-1400

Boatman’s

(907) 202-1004

Kenai River Trout Anglers

(907) 599-0085

Camp K on Kenai Lake

(907) 279-3551

Kenai Watershed Forum

(907) 265-5412

Conoco Phillips Alaska, Inc. (Anchorage)

(907) 276-1215

Mystic Waters Fly Fishing

(509) 715-9697

Cooper Landing Brewery

(907) 276-5044

Professional Testing

(907)598-1633

Cooper Landing Community Club

(907) 595-2169

Prospector John’s Pan for Gold

(907) 598-1808

Cooper Landing Community Library

(907) 595-1241

Round Mountain Retreat

(907) 598-1333

Cooper Landing Community School

(907) 595-1244

Salmon Run Lodge

(907) 595-2197

Cooper Landing Emergency Services

(907) 595-1800

Seramur Home Services

(907) 599-0019

Cooper Landing Fish Camp

(907) 595-3474

Sharon Saunders, GRI, Realtor

(928) 706-8901

Cooper Landing Fishing Guide

(907) 599-0126

Sunrise Inn & Café

(907) 595-1222

Cooper Landing Rifle & Sportsman’s Club

(907) 599-0004

Tanisha Walters, L.Ac. Acupuncturist

(303) 482-7176

Cooper Landing Historical Society

(907) 598-1042

Talon Air Service, Inc. (Soldotna)

(907) 262-8899

Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corp.

(907) 595-3000

The Hutch Bed & Breakfast

(907) 595-1270

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

Fish & Sons Kenai Charters

(907) 598-1065

April 2021 — 11

April 2021 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday 1

State Forestry Burn Permits Required until Aug. 31st.

Friday 2

7 CL Chamber Board Mtg. Wildmans 10:30 am CL Advisory Planning Commission Mtg. (via Zoom) 6 pm 14

CLSCCI Board Mtg. (via conf.call) 1:30 pm

Easter

Good Friday

April Fools 4

Saturday

AK Wildfire Mental Health Study Meeting (via Zoom) 12-1 pm Earth Day

Holistic Healing Scholarship Due

Cooper Landing Brewery Company Hours: Friday - Sunday 1-7 pm Balance & Brews 4-5 pm Beer available to go!

Cooper Landing Library Curbside Pick-up Hours • Monday: 1-3 pm • Wednesday: 9-11 am • Friday: 1-3 pm Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce Newsletter Graphics & Design by Best Route Productions