Wasilla, Then and Now-1980s to 2011
Growing up in Wasilla, Alaska I can tell you things have changed!
The roads that were gravel or just dirt have mostly been paved or upgraded. We even have paved bike paths that go through town, around the Wasilla Middle School, through Wasilla Lake-Newcomb Park and around town.
The traffic lights have multiplied like bunnies! We had one, right on Main Street, back then.
We had a couple small grocery stores (Carrs and D & A Shoprite) and the one room Hernings/Teeland General Store. Now, D & A and Hernings/Teeland are closed but we have Carrs (Safeway), Fred Meyer (Kroger), WalMart, Target, 3 Bears box stores (like Costco or Sams) and many quick shops all over.
The mail was delivered to 'General Delivery, Wasilla Alaska.' I remember that building well because someone painted the state of Alaska on the side of the building. It was actually painted in such a way that it was the profile of a full black bear in the shape of Alaska. We have several zip codes now, post offices and annex stations, UPS, FED-EX and others. The bear has long been painted over to match the now mint green building.
We had two high schools, Wasilla and Palmer. It was Warriors vs. the Moose and Red Vs. Blue for rivalry. Palmer would host Wasilla at the 'Potato Bowl' football game in the fall (Palmer grows some awesome potatoes). Rivalry once prompted someone to dump a huge load of rotten potatoes on the football field as a prank. Now we have several schools, several mascots and even more school colors.
Homes have sprouted up where I used to ride my three wheeler.
Homes have been lifted an moved (or torn down) to expand roads or to add retail and shopping centers.
A field was cleared, a mall added, stores came and went. The mall was torn down after about a decade and is now home to Target, Walgreen's, Sports Authority, Taco Bell, Subway, Alaska Wild Berry Products and more.
We have restaurants for whatever your taste buds desire. American, Asian, Greek, Italian, Mexican, a few bakeries and at least on vegetarian friendly (more than just lettuce) and, of course, the standard fast food places too.
Wasilla has grown leaps and bounds since I was a kid. Some changes were necessary, others welcome but I still (at times) miss the way it used to be.
The photos to the left are of Seward Meridian. There were numerous homes that were purchased by DOT and then were (or will be for the once still there) moved. The other is a gas station on Knik Goose Bay Road that was there for as long as I can remember but is now gone.
This is where homes once looked out onto Wasilla Lake. The photo on the right is where the Cottonwood Creek Mall once stood.
Now the area is home to Fred Meyer, Kroger, Sports Authority, Subway, KFC, Carls Jr, Alaska Wild Berry Products and several more retail shops.
Wasilla, Then and Now-1980s to 2011
Jacque & Larry
Things to Do, Places to Go in Alaska, Santa Cop & Heroes Dance in Wasilla
December's Season of Celebration & Sharing ideas
The What:
Santa Cop and Heroes Barn Dance, 2nd Annual
The Where:
The Curtis D Menard Memorial Sports Center
1001 Mack Drive, Wasilla (off the Parks Highway, near Church Rd)
The When:
6PM Friday December 2nd, 2011
The Cost:
$15 per person, $25 per couple
The Why:
To raise funds for the Santa Cop and Heroes program. It is an outreach program developed to assist, visit and deliver food to the valleys elderly residents.
The Extras:
Not just because it is for an excellent cause, but they do have some fantastic entertainment and prizes to thank you for your community spirit and generosity. This years entertainment includes the country group the Ken Peltier Band with Ken (a local Palmer raised crooner with an awesome voice). Prizes include a trip to Denali, gift cards, a plane ride, a case of wine and much more.
Have fun this holiday and stay safe out there!
Jacque & Larry
Things to Do, Places to Go in Wasilla Alaska, Compete in a Gingerbread Competition!
Develop nerves of steel to (edible) glue all that yummy candy down to the spicy roof, walls and anything else that stands still. Here is your chance to create a Hansel and Gretal home for the tiniest of elves. Your opportunity to be inspired, create and build your own home in much less time than with two by fours.
The What:
Gingerbread House Contest
The Where:
The Wasilla Museum
323 N Main St. Wasilla AK
The When:
Drop off beginning 9AM Thursday December 1st
Drop off ends at 4:30PM Friday, December 2nd
Pick up entries no later than 5PM, December 3rd
The Why:
Gingerbread houses are fun, something to to as a family or group and you do not have to have any special training. THe winning entries will be displayed at the Wasilla Community Christmas Celebration on December 3rd, 2011
The Rules:
For rules and more information, click here.
Have fun and get creative! Of course, if you want to build a real home, visit us at Alaska Dream Makers for all your real estate needs.
Jacque & Larry
This is one we did a few years back. It was the pride and glory of all the gingerbread houses we have ever made, have since made and will probably ever do again. No kit was used in this one! The lake was created by melting hard candies on tinfoil (dangerous, so be careful not to burn yourself)!
Things to Do, Places to go in Alaska, Go to 'A Christmas Carol' at the VPA
'Tis the season to send Scrooge packing!
The Valley Performing Arts Center is currently holding performances of the Charles Dickens classic story A Christmas Carol. The theater opens each Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the final show on December 18th at 2PM.
Larry and I had a chance to go with some friends this past weekend. The cozy theater was full and it looked to be a good time with other locals. In the audience we saw a retired Alaska State Trooper, a former clerk at the Palmer court house, a local lender, a school teacher and our favorite local hospital admissions guru.
The mix of people in the theater was just as we expected-everyone is welcome. You also do not have to dress in your finest attire, there were jeans, slacks, dresses and furs.
A few of the actors really stood out and were extremely well studied. One was a little bitty guy that had no lines but at the end of the show, he without a doubt STOLE the show. We cant give it away, you will have to see it yourself!
Jacque & Larry
Things to Do, Places to go in Alaska, Go to 'A Christmas Carol' at the VPA
What is the Best School in the Area?
This is a really good question but, unfortunately, not one we can answer.
Even though I was raised in the area and went through school in Wasilla, my experiences may not be the same for your child. The teachers and the policies are vastly different (I remember a wooden spoon hanging in the junior high school principal's office for example).
When I was in high school, the only other school was Palmer and there was (and still is) a rivalry between the two. During the time I was in high school, Houston High opened and nearly half of the students at Wasilla vanished to the new school. Since then (mid-late 1980's) there are even more schools to choose from. Colony, Burchell, Mat-Su Career and Tech School as well as a handful of others. All schools are listed on the Mat-Su Borough School District website.
The best advice we can give to parents is to start your research as early as possible. The good news is that because we live here, work here and play here, we can not only give you the names, emails and phone numbers to all the school principals but often to teachers as well.
If we do not happen to know a teacher in the school, we would be happy to talk with some clients and friends in the school area you have questions on. You can ask them your questions and get answers directly from other parents with kids at the school.
While we cannot say which of the schools are best, another point of research is the school websites. There is a lot of information on each school and what they have to offer. If it is important to you for the schools to have state championships under their belts in certain sports and/or academics, have special academic programs that you find beneficial, drama programs, college prep and/or advanced placement classes this is a great source of information.
What is the best school in the area? We can give you all the possible resources available to us but you will have to decide for yourself (and your future Mat-Su School District student).
Jacque & Larry
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Alaska Real Estate experts, specializing in home sales around Wasilla, Palmer, MatSu real estate, Eagle River & Anchorage. Easily Search Alaska Foreclosures at www.AlaskaDreamMakers.info
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