Pauline Hofseth

The new Eagle River Town Center has broken ground and construction has begun. The new town center will include a library, shops and city offices.

The Town Center has been designed to revitalize the area and bring city services to one location. The project is anticipated to bring new revitalized growth and economic strength to Eagle River.

The Eagle River Parks and Recreation service area contributed one million dollars to the project. Another million dollars for the project was granted by the Rasmuson Foundation. The State of Alaska 's legislature granted $1.9 million in funds. The citizens of Anchorage voted for a bond measure that will add another $500,000 in funds for the cost of the project. The total cost is expected to be $6.7 million at the time of completion.

The Eagle River Town Center will be a 43,000 square foot mall that will accommodate a police substation, emergency operations center, Eagle River Parks and Recreation, community meeting rooms and an expanded library. Other municipal services will also be housed there.

The Eagle River Town Center will also have a new 40,000 square foot health club. The building for the health club is currently owned by the Alaska Club, currently being renovated.

The Eagle River Town Center has been a community priority for many years. The community has worked hard to make this dream a reality. The City of Anchorage and the residents of Eagle River are happy that dreams do come true.

The Anchorage Fire and Police departments will be competing once again in their annual hockey competition game, Guns 'n Hoses.

The Guns 'n Hoses event is held each year as a charity event for local charities. This year proceeds will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. Last year's event raised about $31,000.

The "Guns" hockey team, of course, represents the Anchorage Police Department while the Hoses hockey team represents the Anchorage Fire Department. The game will be played at the Sullivan Arena on Sunday, December 13. It should be an exciting game, as the Guns try to even up the "score" and the Hoses fight to maintain the their lead in the most games won. The Hoses have won 6 of the 8 games played over the past years.

Those attending the game will also be entertained with various demonstrations by both the Anchorage Firefighters and the Anchorage Police, including a demonstration by the K-9 and SWAT units. Sparky (Fire Department mascot) and Buddy Bear (Police department mascot) will be on hand to give out special goodies to all the children. Those attending should also remember to bring their ice skates as they will be given the chance to skate with the players on both teams after the game.

You may purchase Tickets for the Anchorage Guns 'n Hoses Hockey game at any police or fire station or from the Anchorage American Diabetes Association. Tickets are only $7 per person or you may purchase a family pass (6 people) for only $25

The Hillside area of Anchorage is growing rapidly; faster than any other Anchorage community and plans are underway to plan its future.

Currently there are approximately 8,500 homes in the Hillside area. The projected growth (10,000 - 15,000) calls for another 5,000 homes to be added to the area.

The Hillside area has much of the undeveloped space in the Anchorage Bowl. Much of this space is steep and hard to develop. Construction higher up the hillside can cause major problems for the homeowners located down the hill.

A district plan is entering its final stages after being developed by Hillside residents, city planners and consultants. The plan will guide development, population growth, open space, trails, roads, water and sewer service.

The new plan is in drafting stages, it will replace the Hillside Wastewater Management Plan and address issues more specifically than what has been outlined in the Anchorage 2020 Comprehensive Plan.

Some of the major proposals in the drafted plan are:

• Development requirements for building on the steeper slopes and the higher elevations of Hillside . Requirements for buffer zones, open spaces, trails, and roads will be established as well as drainage plans to deal with runoff.

• Building permit regulations and requirements to be expanded to include the southeastern portion of Hillside which falls outside of Anchorage 's Building Safety Service. This proposal will need to be approved by Hillside residents.

• Creating a new and larger service area to build and manage roads and drainage improvement. The possible creation of a separate entity to manage drainage and watershed problems. Fees would be charged to landowners for the financing of the "entity".

• Expand Anchorage 's tax-supported service area to include all of Hillside and would include also extend (about a mile) into Chugach State Park . The expansion would allow for community parks, park access, park maintenance and parking areas. The City of Anchorage would market bonds to finance the projects.

City planners have listened to the residents of the Hillside area. They are listening and responding all comments and suggestions concerning Hillside 's future. Although the official deadline for comments was yesterday, your input will still be considered if you make them in the next couple of days according to Chris Beck of Agnew Beck Consulting.

The Hillside plan will now go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then will be redrafted. In a few months public hearings will be held, once again. Begin checking the Hillside District Plan website for hearing dates around February.

The Hillside District plan is expected to be finalized and sent to the Anchorage Assembly by next summer.

Hillside District Plan Links:

Hillside District Plan website (www.hillsidedistrictplan.com) offers information on all the issues, who to contact and an online comment form

Live Hillside WebCam - see what's happening on the Hillside

Sign up for our Hillside District Plan newsletter, and receive periodic email updates.

It is that time of year again, Thanksgiving. A time to remember all the many blessings that we have enjoyed in our lives.

With the bleak economic news constantly in the headlines, some may be thinking that there is not much to be thankful for this year. But blessings do abound in our lives and all around us. Just take a moment to sit quietly and begin to take stock and you will find you are wealthier and more blessed than you think.

Share your wealth and your blessings this year by sharing your Thanksgiving meal with a neighbor, a senior citizen, a co-worker or someone who is ill. You will be much richer for it. If you do not know anyone to invite, then you can share with those who are in need by donating to your local church food drive or to the many of the organizations sponsoring free Thanksgiving Dinners.

Free Thanksgiving meals will be served at the following locations:

• Bean's Cafe: Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 1-3 p.m. Bear's Cafe is located at 1101 E. Third Avenue . For information, call 274-9595.

• Salvation Army: Thanksgiving dinner will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Central Middle School , the school is located at 1405 E Street. For information please call 276-2515 or visit their website www.salvationarmy.org/alaska.

• University of Alaska Anchorage: Thanksgiving dinner will be served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Lee Gorsuch Commons building (aka UAA Commons). For information, call 786-1205 or visit their website www.uaa.alaska.edu.

Anchorage can be proud and count it a blessing to have people who have organized these free Thanksgiving Dinner events, made donations, and for those who will take the time to cook and serve the meals. Be sure to put these volunteers who give so freely on your list of "things to be thankful for".

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has announced the recent launch of it's new website, Prospector.com.

Businesses big and small, local and global are using the Internet to research business demographics, opportunities and potential locations. AEDC believes that Prospector.com will become one of the most powerful business recruitment tools ever developed in the State of Alaska .

AEDC has developed a website for businesses around the globe to access available commercial properties and specific business data for the Anchorage area. This comprehensive online tool allows the business community to access data regarding the dynamic business atmosphere in south-central Alaska .

Anchorage Prospector.com offers a "one-stop-shop" experience for businesses looking to move to or expand in the Anchorage area. The portal offers businesses information including business planning, economic data, infrastructure, demographics and geographic data.

Anchorage Prospector.com allows users to search for available commercial properties determined by their specified search criteria. The accompanying interactive maps not only displays the location of the property, but the streets and surrounding byways, beneficial transportation data (ie, railroad) as well as nearby educational facilities, parks and points of interest.

Prospector.com provides the user the opportunity to create reports based on their particular wants and needs. These analytic reports include information such as the area's demographics, consumer expenditures, business and workforce data and employee wages. In addition, reports can be created that will analyze an area's competition and/or business in the area which will compliment and support their business or product.

If you are a business owner or are considering opening a business in the Anchorage area, Anchorage Prospector.com is a business tool that will prove invaluable to you.