The snow is melting fast, school is in its final weeks, and the sun isn’t setting until the late evening. It is time for another year of Seward Little League! The Kickoff and Registration Event will be at 12 PM Noon THIS SATURDAY April 27th at the Little League Field [...]
More than 100 NYO participants were in Seward Friday March 22nd through Sunday, March 24th to compete in Qutekcak Native...
Two surfers played like seals in the green surf at Fourth of July Beach on Saturday. It was quite entertaining! Submitted...
Jasmine Perea goes for a layup in Friday’s game against Houston. Heidi Zemach photo The Seward High School Girls...
PRESS Release:
Seward, Alaska, March 19th, 2013— The Seward Chamber of Commerce, Conference and Visitors Bureau announces that applications for the 86th Annual Mount Marathon Race® are currently being accepted.
Runners hoping to race in 2013 must submit their completed application by Midnight on March 31, 2013. Applications can be completed online at www.seward.com. Application fees are $65 for adults and $25 for juniors. Veterans and 2012 finishers have priority, with the remaining slots filled through a lottery system. Lottery results will be announced by mid-April 2013.
The Mount Marathon Race®, as folklore tells it, began as a casual bet between two sourdoughs. The race became an organized event in 1915 and has grown in popularity since, becoming one of the most well loved aspects of the July 4th Celebration in Seward.
The second oldest foot race in the country, The Mount Marathon Race® consists of a grueling 3,022 foot climb over rocks, roots, cliffs and waterfalls. Runners experience a spectacular view over Resurrection Bay, but only briefly, before hitting the turn around point and racing down to the crowd packed Forth Avenue and that magical finish line!
For more information, refer to www.seward.com or contact the Seward Chamber of Commerce at 907-224-8051; PO Box 749, Seward, Alaska, 99664.
3-Gun in the Great North!
5/25/13 and 5/26/13
Shooter’s meeting at 8am sharp.
Divisions: Open, Tactical & Production.
Match fee: $100, $75 if you register prior to 5/1/13.
Round count:
Pistol: 150
Rifle: 150
Shotgun: 100 shot, 10 slugs
Ammunition restrictions:
No steel shot.
Absolutely no steel core or bimetal rifle or handgun ammunition will be allowed.
There will be a generous prize table including a random draw.
For additional information contact:
Pat Messmer
e-mail: messmer@gci.net
or
Kenneth Rose
e-mail: kenrose78@yahoo.com
Riding an area we call Prison Break Peak and Peppered Peak in beautiful Seward, Alaska with Josh Milligan, Ryan Burnard, Amber St. Amand, Zack Bell and myself.
Seward Alaska Splitboarding from Ben Rininger on Vimeo.
From runnersworld.com
For the past 16 years Tom Walsh has spent every Independence Day on a mountaintop above Seward, Alaska, tallying the agony.
Walsh is the lead midcourse timekeeper for the Mount Marathon Race, the second-oldest mountain footrace in the world and, after the Iditarod sled-dog race, the most famous race in the 49th State.
Contrary to its name, the Mount Marathon Race isn’t a legend for how far it stretches through the vastness of Alaska, but rather for how much unpleasantness it crams into so small a package. Starting in downtown Seward, racers run a half-mile to the foot of Mount Marathon, then scrabble about 2,900 vertical feet straight up cliffs and mud and shale before finally staggering to Race Point. There, Walsh and others note their time and bib number, hand them water, and send them hurtling back downhill in what more resembles free-fall than running—over snowfields and rock fields and waterfalls and crags—until they reach the finish line back on the streets of Seward.
All of this occurs in 3.1 to 3.5 miles, depending on your route, and on trails so close to town that spectators waiting at the finish line can follow nearly every tortured step high on the mountain. By yardstick the contest is briefer than a postwork jog around Central Park. By every other count—sheer adrenaline, lung-bleeding exhaustion, potential for disaster per mile—there may be no other run like it in the world. Blood flows freely. Bones break frequently—arms, shoulders, cheekbones, legs. Sometimes, worse happens. The race has been run 85 times, and it is wildly popular. As an isolated people who long ago learned to make their own fun, Alaskans will tell you without much hyperbole that Mount Marathon is their Olympics.
Independence Day under the undying Arctic sun can be warm and lingering and nectarine-sweet. Last July 4 wasn’t one of those days. By afternoon the weather was as bad as Walsh could ever recall—windy and rainy, high 40s. He and coworkers had been on the mountain since morning, first to work the women’s race, then the men’s race that began at three o’clock.
A bit after five o’clock a longtime racer straggled to Race Point, a false summit marked by a large rock. The racer said he was the last guy. Walsh and his shivering comrades waited about 45 more minutes, then headed down the empty peak.
The Mount Marathon course roughly describes a treble clef—runners don’t descend the same route they ascend—and as Walsh hiked down that afternoon, he saw another man slowly climbing, about 100 yards away, and dressed lightly as racers do, in black shorts, black T-shirt, black headband. It was more than two hours since the winner had broken the tape down in town. “How far am I from the top?” the racer called out.
“About 200 feet,” Walsh yelled back.
The Seward Tsunami Swim Club is anticipating its annual fund raiser, The Swim a Thon on March 29, 2013. On Feb 28 the club will “ KICK OFF” the event. Swimmers will be armed with pledge forms and enthusiam to begin canvassing the community for support, either in the form of a pledge per length, or a donation. Seward Tsunami Swim Club (STSC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation run by an all-volunteer board with the help of many parent volunteers and the support of our high school pool and staff. STSC is open to children from kindergarten through 12th grade, is affiliated with Alaska Swimming and USA Swimming, and has been providing a positive after-school competitive swim experience for the youth of Seward and Moose Pass since 1988.
Our swimmers learn the fundamentals of both recreational and competitive swimming in a way that promotes confidence and self-esteem. They also gain valuable experience in developing life skills such as self-discipline, goal setting, and being a positive team member. Club members practice daily after school and attend at least one meet a month. STSC also sponsors The Candy Cane Splash – our annual home meet which is attended by over 90 swimmers from area swim teams.
Our club has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. This year we have 53 registered swimmers in ages ranging from 6 to 17. Our club proudly represents Seward in peninsula meets as well as championship meets in a variety of locations in Alaska and the lower 48.
The Seward Tsunami Swim Club funds this positive youth opportunity through monthly club dues, meet fees, and our spring Swim-a-thon. We have been able to offer season scholarships to swimmers and keep our monthly dues affordable through fundraising and the generous support of the community. The club also purchases needed training/pool equipment with these funds.
So…. Fund raising will start February 28th. The Swim a Thon will take place March 29. Please be prepared to sponsor one of our swimmers when they call on you, or consider making a donation directly to the club.
Please make your tax deductible checks out to “Seward Tsunami Swim Club” at the above address. If you have questions about our club, please call Peggy Hamner 362-6034
Thank you for taking an active interest in giving the youth of the Seward area an opportunity to develop physical conditioning and self-confidence needed to attain future life goals.
Sincerely,
Peggy Hamner, President
By Heidi Zemach for SCN
Seward High School and the town generally will be extremely busy over the next few days and this weekend, even if those sturdy yellow school busses have to drive through snow blizzards to get here.
The Seward Seahawk Classic basketball tournament is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, February 7-9 at Seward High School. Meanwhile, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl will use the other half of the school February 8, 9, and 10. The visiting basketball teams are expected to bring an additional 72 student athletes into the school, not including fans and coaches. NOSB will bring another150 students, plus many more coaches, timers and other local volunteers.
The SHS Winter Formal is on Saturday, February 9th, at Seward Elementary.
If you have not seen it before, NOSB is a great event, where you can sit in as student contestants answer rapid-fire questions related to our marine environment. Test your own knowledge against theirs, privately of course, and learn from the correct answers. There are also oral scientific presentations by each team, who come here from across Alaska. They are accompanied by Power-Points, often with interesting photos, graphics, and sometimes even video. Sit in and learn about some cutting-edge research being done on important issues such as Ocean Acidification, Global Climate Change, over-fishing, who knows? Here’s your chance to learn from these enthusiastic budding marine scientists.
There are also parent/teacher conferences. With the co-curricular events occurring in the evening, Seward High will host Parent/Teacher Conferences on a more traditional schedule. The morning sessions will run from 8:00am-11:00am and the afternoon sessions will run from 12:00pm-3:00pm on both Thursday, February 7th and Friday, February 8th. Feel free to contact your teacher directly and schedule an appointment (even if it is outside of our Parent/Teacher schedule). You can do this by calling the schools’ main number at 224-3351, or by emailing your child’s teacher directly. Their email address is their first initial and last name @kpbsd.k12.ak.us.
Seward High is now web streaming all of its sports events. To access Seward High co-curricular events online, simply go to our homepage The Seward High Webcast (live stream) can be found under “Important Links” on the right side of our homepage (near the bottom). The school also is looking for broadcasters so that they can add audio commentary during events. If there are latent sports broadcasters out there, contact SHS Principal Trevan Walker at 224-9077 or twalker@kpbsd.k12.ak.us
Free Avalanche Awareness Class Saturday Feb. 9th 10am-3PM, Seward AK
(Still 10 am (I noticed an older post) at new Seward Library just a reminder if interested we have room! See you there)Updated 2/8/2013
Topics covered include: Human Factors, Terrain, Snowpack and Weather, and Avalanche Rescue including avalanche beacon practice. Come join us if you want to learn about avalanche safety or just want a review.
Sponsored by Chugach National Forest
Location Seward Library, 239 6th ave, Seward AK
For information contact: Alex McLain Avalanche Specialist at (907) 288-7710 or 362-3720 (cell Phone).
Bring some warm clothes since we will be outside for a few hours and an avalanche beacon if you have one.
Seward Seahawk’s Athletic Booster Club Fundraiser
Dessert Silent Auction
Friday, February 8th
at the Seahawk Classic Basketball Tournament
5pm – 8pm – Seward High School
Come watch the games, cheer on the home team and bid on some delicious desserts!
Winning bids will be awarded at 8pm.
Anyone wishing to donate a dessert for the auction, please contact Kim Reierson at 224-3351 week days, 224-3228 evenings/weekends or at skiprei@gci.net.
Join Travis Beals, 2013 Iditarod Rookie and owner of Turning Heads Kennel, at the Seward Brewing Company this coming Thursday December, 6th from 5-7 for family night. Kids will enjoy playing dog sled themed games, and young and old alike will enjoy meeting a few members of Beals’ kennel — including some puppies, and learning about mushing. Beals has lived in Seward his entire life and has owned and operated his own kennel since the age of 14. He is an accomplished racer having placed second in the 2009 Jr. Iditarod. He also received the humanitarian award for best dog care in the 2010 Tustumena 200, and recently finished 3rd in a very competive field for the Northern Lights 300. Beals’, 21, is tremendously excited for the upcoming Iditarod; it’s been his goal since grade school.
“I love mushing and there is nothing more satisfying than sharing my passion.” He is looking forward to meeting the young faces in Seward Thursday night. “I got interested in mushing when I was a kid, so sharing it with kids is something really special. You never know, who you could be encouraging,” he said. “I hope to inspire a new generation of Seward mushers.”
Thursday’s festivities will also include a chance to take a picture with a dogsled and to try on some mushing gear. In addition to racing, Beals recently started offering dog sled rides this summer out of his home on Exit Glacier Road to help pay for his racing. Learn more about Beals at his website, www.TurningHeadsKennel.com and on facebook at www.facebook.com/TurningHeadsKennel.
By Heidi Zemach for SCN
The City Council Monday approved a new three-year contract with AVTEC, Alaska’s Vocational Technical Education Center, with a 4-1 vote that costs the city $500 more per month ( from $1,000-$1,500) to rent out key portions of AVTEC’s recreation building, while also lowering the number of hours that the center is open for use.
The building, with a large gym facility, racquetball court, weight room, exercise room and locker rooms, will be open Monday through Friday from 2:00-9:00 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m-6:00 p.m.
The negotiated contract actually benefits both the city and AVTEC, said Assistant City Manager Ron Long. The hours cut were not cut back as greatly as the city had earlier anticipated, he said, and AVTEC still gets the benefit of getting more city funding toward its own higher operating costs, and having janitorial service for the ground floor of the building provided by the city. The City Parks and Recreation department had to give up some of the office space it had been using, or pay more however, as the technical college needs more office space due to the student dormitory remodel project. Parks and Rec staff will still get to use the check-out window and storage area.
While nobody is pleased with the shortened hours for the public for indoor activities during the winter, Mayor David Seaward was particularly critical—especially that the building would not be open for use during the morning and early afternoons, when young children often use it.
Councilwoman Christy Terry suggested that the shorter hours would provide new opportunities for the private sector to take advantage of, or for private sector outsourcing by the city. Councilwoman Vanta Shafer added that new businesses, such as a bouncy ball place for toddlers to jump in, might do a good business here. Or perhaps Parks and Recreation could get more creative and find other spaces inside the community to hold activities, such holding the popular Tot Time in the library basement.
Mayor David Seaward suggested that the city administration may not have bargained hard enough for what they received. Long took exception to the suggestion that he had not “wheeled and dealed” enough, and told him so.
Meanwhile, the councilmembers’ point that the center’s loss would be the private sector’s gain put the mayor in a philosophical bind: he’s also been an outspoken advocate for the private sector replacing city functions when possible. Terry, Shafer, Valdatta and Marianna Keil voted in favor of the contract. Seaward voted against it. Jean Bardarson and Rissie Casagranda were both absent.
Team photo Valdez Tournament 2nd place finish
Seward Seahawk swim invite is coming this Friday and Saturday at the Seward pool.
Friday, October 5, will be diving events. Most of the help will be covered by our Seahawk swim team. If you can judge or officiate diving, let us know. Diving events will start at 3:45pm.
Saturday, October 6, will be swim events. Meet starts at 10 a.m. eight (8) timers are still needed on Saturday plus food and drinks for the hospitality room. If you can help with timing, or give time in another area, let us know.
Go Seahawks! Call 362-1225
Some photos from last years Seahawk Invite:
Volunteers doing announcing, timing an computer systems
Ready for the start
Swimmers in the water
The Seward girls and boys varsity teams are headed to the State cross country meet on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.
The girls cross country team earned their state berth with a third place finish in the Regions Meet in Soldotna last Saturday, Sept. 22. The Regions meet was to be in Seward and was moved very last minute to Skyview in Soldotna due to the heavy rains and flooding in the Seward areas.
Lady Seahawk State varsity runners will be: Laura Dyer, Lindsey Kromery, Alice Pfeiffenberger, Josephine Braun, Emily Brockman, Brooke Estes and Laura Kromery.
The Seahawk men runners won the Region Title.
State varsity runners on the guys team are: Tannen Berry, Paxson Berry, Michael Marshall, Miles Knotek, Brandon Moore, Keith Ivy and Matthew Moore are the
On Saturday, the ladies will race at 12:00 and the guys race starts at 1:30.
Go Seahawks!
The Seahawk swim team will be hosting a swim invite meet in Seward Oct 5 & 6. Diving will be on Friday afternoon and the swimming events on Saturday. Five Peninsula teams will be attending. Last year we had about 140 swimmers, coaches & officials. This is big for Seward’s pool and Seahawks team of 10 swimmers to host.
Volunteers will be needed for everything from food for the hospitality room to timers and officials on deck.
If you can help with the hospitably room needs or can be a timer, or give two hours for another area, contact 362-1225, or go to the our sign up sheet at the site below. Thanks for supporting Seward sports and schools.
Go Seahawks!
To sign up, go to:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080D48A8AC2EA46-home/3236272
NEWS RELEASE
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Contact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
Soldotna, September 21, 2012—The Region III Cross Country Running Championships scheduled for Saturday, September 22, 2012, at Seward High School has been moved to Skyview High School at the Tsalteshi Trails Wolverine Trailhead accessible from K-Beach Road, across from the Soldotna Sports Center. Race start time is 1:00, Saturday, September 22, 2012.
In the late afternoon on Thursday, September 20, 2012, after consulting with Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Services and other agencies working in the Seward area, a decision was made to change the venue. The decision was made in order to help facilitate logistics and safe transportation for all region teams who will participate, together with preparing the course at the new site. The City of Seward declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 1:15 p.m. in response to localized flooding.
Sixteen Alaska schools—including schools from Cordova, Kodiak, Valdez—are scheduled to compete in the Region III Championships. Athletes must compete in this event in order to qualify for the Alaska State Region III Cross Country Running Championships scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2012, at Bartlett High School Trails in Anchorage. (more…)
