PRODUCED BY KOBE RIZK
The MRAK Almanac is your place for political, cultural, and civic events, events where you’ll meet political leaders or, if you are interested in getting to know your state, these are great places to meet conservative- and moderate-leaning Alaskans.
6/7-9/15: Alyeska Resort’s bike park is up and running for the summer. The downhill biking facilities are open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 6 pm until September. Instead of the ski lifts transporting skis, they will now be transporting mountain bikes up the hill for riders. Alyeska will also host various downhill biking races throughout the summer for riders of all skill levels.
6/10: The Alaska State Commission for Human Rights meetin their Anchorage office at 9 am. There will be an opportunity for public participation, as well as discussion of the commission’s new executive director. Read the full agenda here.
6/10: Monday Markets at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. Visit between noon and 8 pm for an array of handmade local crafts, delicious food, and even live music at 7 pm.
6/10: First race of the summer for the Beaver Sports Paddle Race Series. The race begins at 7 pm in downtown Fairbanks and it’s free to enter with your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Facebook event here.
6/10: The Fairbanks City Council will hold a regular meeting at 6:30 pm. The council will consider an increase to hotel bed taxes as well as vote on new contracts for the electrician’s union and firefighter’s union. There will also be a period for public testimony. Read the agenda here.
6/10: The Homer City Council will hold a regular meeting at 6 pm. The council is set to hear public testimony on their new water service and public utility ordinances. Agenda at this link.
6/10: The Kenai Harbor Commission will meet in the Kenai City Council chambers at 6 pm. The commission is set to discuss capital improvement projects as well as hear public testimony. More information here.
6/10: The Seward City Council will hold a regular meeting beginning at 7 pm. There will be an opportunity for public testimony on agenda and non-agenda items. Full agenda here.
6/10: Regular meeting of the Wasilla City Council, will gavel in at 6:00 pm. There will be a period for public comments, meeting agenda here.
6/10: UAF Down Memory Lane lecture with retired UAF dean Joan Braddock, who will speak about her time at the university and her research. Begins at 7 pm in the Murie Building auditorium.
6/10: Goldpanners baseball team meet and greet in Fairbanks. Big Daddy’s will be providing free hot dogs, popcorn, and soda for all attending this fun event. This is a great opportunity to meet Fairbanks’ favorite local baseball team.
6/10-6/13: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be holding Benefits and Claims Clinics throughout the state. These clinics will take place in various locations at different times, so be sure to check out this link for further details.
6/11: The Bethel City Council will hold a regular meeting beginning at 6:30 pm in the council chambers. The council is set to discuss, among other things, the city budget for FY20. Click here for more details.
6/11: The Regulatory Commission of Alaska will be meeting in Anchorage to adopt new regulatory cost charges for public utilities in Alaska. More details here.
6/11: Bearwareness bear safety class at JBER. This free class will teach Alaskans how to live in harmony with Alaska’s many resident bears. Visit the Facebook link here.
6/11: Alaska Fly Fishers board meeting at the BP Energy Center in Anchorage. This meeting is open to all current members of the Alaska Fly Fishers. Those who are not members but are interested in fly fishing can learn more about the organization here.
6/11: The Haines Borough Assembly will be meeting at 6:30 pm in assembly chambers. The assembly will be voting on the final budget for FY20 as well as considering a new ordinance relating to required permitting for grading and filling vacant land. Read more here.
6/11: Fifty Years in Photos presentation at the Alaska Zoo in celebration of their 50th anniversary. The talk will commence at 7 pm and is included in regular zoo admission. Visit the Facebook event for more details here.
6/11: The Wasilla Chamber of Commerce’s HYPE (Harnessing Young Professional Energy) Committee will be meeting at 5 pm. Read more here.
6/11: The Wrangell Borough Assembly will hold a regular meeting at 7 pm. Click here to read the full agenda packet.
Alaska History Archive:
June 9, 1933: Happy 86th birthday to Congressmen Don Young, representing all of Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives. Don Young is currently the longest serving member of Congress and the only remaining member to have been in office during the presidency of Richard M. Nixon. Congressman Young first came to Alaska in 1959 and made the small city of Fort Yukon his home, eventually winning a special election for U.S. Congress in March of 1973.
June 10, 1996: Authorities announced that the Miller’s Reach Fire in Big Lake, Alaska had been successfully contained after burning for just over a week. The fire burned over 37,000 acres of land and resulted in the complete loss of nearly 350 man-made structures—this made it the most destructive fire in Alaska history, destroying more structures than all other fires combined. It was later estimated that the damage to property exceeded $10 million.