April 18, 1939: Glacier Bay National Monument (established in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge) was enlarged to over 2, 069,760 acres by President Roosevelt, using the Antiquities Act. He created the largest unit in the national park system at the time.
April 19, 1999: A major explosion from Shishaldin Volcano on Unimak Island erupted on this day and again on April 23, 1999. The closest settlement is False Pass, 37 miles away. The explosive event that continued through May that year was the largest at Shishaldin during the last 175 years. (Above photo taken by R. McGimsey on April 23, 1999.
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April 17: Joint session of the House and Senate will meet to consider the governor’s appointees; this meeting has been delayed until 1 pm.
Got a spare kid-sized bike? Cycle Alaska is looking for used 12-inch, 16-inch, 20-inch and 24-inched wheeled bikes in functioning condition. They’ll be repaired by and donated to Pastor Tari’s summer lunch program at Shepard of the Valley Lutheran Church and the AWARE Shelter in Juneau. Contact John at Cycle Alaska, 1107 West 8th Street, Juneau, and contact John if you have any questions, [email protected].
April 19: Good Friday, commemorates the crucifixion. Note that next year it’s on April 10.
April 20: Rep. Sharon Jackson hosts a community conversation for District 13, Eagle River, Chugiak, at Piccolino’s, 12801 Old Glenn Highway, from 2-4 pm.
Earthquakes so far this year: 13,543 is the number of earthquakes in Alaska, give or take a few dozen since publication. Keep up with Alaska’s rock and roll here.
April 23: Meet and Greet with Congressman Don Young on the Kenai, at Ammo Can Coffee, 35559 Kenai Spur Highway, 5:30-7 pm.
April 25-27: Alaska Press Club at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Public Media. Awards and lofty speakers. Draft schedule here.
May 4-5: Jill Stanek was a registered nurse in the Labor & Delivery Department at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, when she discovered not only were abortions being committed there, but babies were being aborted alive to die without medical care. When hospital leaders said that they would not stop, Jill went public and has become a national figure. You can hear her in Anchorage and Wasilla. Tickets here.