Anchorage Parks & Recreation
December Volunteer of the month
Charles Utermohle
Charles Utermohle is a volunteer who is
always there to lend a helping hand at
many events promoting healthy lifestyle
living. Charles was raised in Fairbanks
where he graduated from the University of
Alaska and did his undergraduate work at
Arizona State University receiving a
Doctorate in Anthropology. Charles did not
move to Anchorage until the 1990’s when
he was hired by Exxon to help with the oil
spill cleanup. He then secured a position
with Fish and Game for ten years. Charles
currently works for the State of Alaska
Health Department in the Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion Section.
When Charles moved to Anchorage he discovered the Coastal Trail and Westchester
Lagoon and found the place he wanted to be. Charles used the trail as a place to enjoy
physical activity but he realized he could also pick up trash with a trash grabber while
he ran on the trails with out slowing down. Making the trails clean seemed like the right
thing to do so the area is cleaner for others to enjoy.
Charles has an infectious spirit and he makes others want to work with him on events
as well as enjoy recreating together. He volunteers his time with Nordic Ski Club
Events, the Bicycle Club, The Anchorage Running Club and was Race Director of the
Trent/Waldron Half Marathon which starts and finishes at Westchester Lagoon, the
Fireweed 400 Bike Race, a two day 300 kilometer tour from Sheep Mountain Lodge to
Valdez and the Frosty Bottom 50/25 which helps people train for the Little Susitna 50
Kilometer Race.
Charles spends many hours enjoying and caring for our parks and trails. When you
see Charles out and about tell him thank you.
Charles Favorite Quote:
“It is never just one thing.”
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
November Volunteer of the month
Tim Kosednar
Tim Kosednar has been volunteering
for Parks and Recreation for several
years caring for Margaret Sullivan
Park and Westchester Lagoon.
Tim is an advocate for parks and
more importantly, having recreation
opportunities for youth as well as
adults. Tim also uses our trails to
commute throughout Anchorage as
well as our bus system.
Tim came to Anchorage in 1989 and
has watched our city grow as well as
opportunities for Frisbee Golf within
our parks. Tim is a member of the
“Alaska Disc Golf Association” and
has been a working member of the
group as they
create more
opportunities for people to learn and
play Frisbee golf. When the course
at Westchester Lagoon/ Margaret
Sullivan Park was first created they
had an object course which meant
that different things within the park
were the areas you tried to throw your Frisbee to, then tone poles were placed on the course and bike
tire baskets were created in 2001. By applying for a grant from Anchorage Parks and Recreation they
were able to purchase baskets and placed them in parks. At Margaret Sullivan Park we have a 9 hole
course, Kincaid Park has an 18 hole course and Russian Jack Springs Park has a 9 hole course that is
located along the golf course. The “Alaska Disc Golf Association” organized events at these courses to
attract new members.
Tim likes to stay at Margaret Sullivan Park as it is near his house and he hopes to keep the park in great
shape, but he would like to place a few baskets in neighborhood parks so children have an opportunity
to recreate near home without need of transportation, and prevent overuse of the Margaret Sullivan Park
site.
Tim was born the year the Frisbee was invented so he may have been predisposed to be an advocate
for exercise through throwing Frisbees.
If you have questions about golf clinics or general questions about Frisbee golf you can call him at:
272-0515.
Tim’s Favorite Quote:
“Carpe Discus” Grab a disc and play golf
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
October Volunteer of the month
Erick Stamer
Erick Stamer has been
an Alaskan all his life,
born and raised in the
Kenai area.
As a teen Erick owned
his own business and
has always been ready
to try new challenges.
He moved to Anchorage
and has been working in
the hotel industry for six
years.
Erick
began
his
volunteer service for
Anchorage Parks and
Recreation two years
ago.
When we have a special event Erick is our man. Erick is the bright spot
who has been the Big Bad Wolf and progressed to becoming Horton for
“Horton Hears a Who” at Recreation Special events. Erick is there when
we have a Clean and Green in a park, Park Report Cards, park fix ups and
other special events. As you can see he is very versatile and willing to help
when help is needed.
Staff at Parks and Recreation appreciate all the time Erick has given to
make events happen, so if you see Erick tell him Thank You.
Erick’s Favorite Quote:
“To Infinity and Beyond” by Buzz Lightyear
Nominated by: Andrea Koesters, Programmer
Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
September Volunteers of the month
Sharon Cissna & Sid Atwood
Sharon Cissna
and
Sid
Atwood are a
true Alaskan
love
story.
Sharon
and
Sid dated 47
years ago and
then went on
to
separate
ambitions.
Both became
widowed and
found
each
other again three years ago and
m a r r i e d .
Sharon has been very busy working as a legislator for the State of Alaska and Sid came up to
join her.
Sharon started the U-Med at Goose Lake Park four years ago. Sharon finds volunteer groups
to work at this event to promote healthy lifestyles through nutrition and recreation. Sharon
works directly with business and community groups to find participants for the event. Sid helps
Sharon at these events and is always there to jump in and help where ever help is needed.
Sharon has also helped acquire Federal monies to help upgrade the building at Goose Lake
Park.
Sharon and Sid have both been volunteer participants at Clean and Greens at several parks.
They are both willing and able to help beautify our parks.
This summer they traveled 500 miles down the Yukon River by canoe to visit the villages along
the river to acquire first hand information on their health care needs.
Sharon also took time this summer to train students with Highland Tech about how to do
service learning projects.
Sharon and Sid lead a healthy lifestyle and bring that to meeting with healthy snacks and
lunches for the participants.
This summer they had a new addition to their family. They gave “Tucker” a pound puppy a
home.
Sharon and Sid both have a very strong feeling on the importance of parks to families and kids
for physical and mental health.
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Andrea Koesters, Programmer
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
August Volunteer of the month
G. Gordon Pyle
Parks and Recreation’s
volunteer of the month for
August is a very pro active
person. G. Gordon Pyle
came to Alaska in 1973 from
Sacramento, California. G
wanted to make sure his
move would be full of good
fortune so he moved here on
April 2nd to avoid April 1st.
He worked building the
Alaska pipeline as a pipe
layer for Morrison Knutson
and helped lay the pipe to
Valdez.
When G retired he wanted to
make a difference in his
neighborhood. He joined with
other neighbors to make Old
Hermit Park a great place to
visit. G is a master gardener
and has used his skills to create beautiful flowers in many of the yards across from the
park and he also has cultivated plants from our Adopt a Garden program into the park
as well. Since 2003 G has mowed, watered, and cared for this park to keep it green
and beautiful. G also takes the leaves and grass to compost bins he build behind his
house to recycle into great soil that is used throughout the neighborhood and in the
flower beds. G’s Portuguese heritage leads him in his quest to garden and care for the
land.
If you go to Old Hermit Park, please stop and thank G Gordon for all the work he does
to help nurture this park for all to enjoy.
G Gordon’s Favorite Quote:
“Happiness is a Habit, Cultivate It”
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
July Volunteer of the month
Friends of Cross Park
Bob and Arlene Cross
Park is located on the west
side of Birch Road, just
north of Whispering
Spruce Dr. This 10-acre
plot of land was donated to
the local community in
1955 by Bob and Arlene
Cross
pioneering
homesteaders in the area.
It has since been used as
a recreational area and
community center.
Through the efforts of a
local citizens group
(Friends of Cross Park) the
land was deeded to the
Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) in 1995. Through several generous grants from the
MOA the Friends group has made considerable improvements to the park, including
landscaping, parking, an improved horse arena, basketball court, and playground
equipment. The park continues to be a focal point, providing a sense of community to the
area.
While the MOA covers general maintenance such as grass cutting, the majority of the
park upkeep is done by volunteers of the “Friends” group through the MOA Adopt-a-Park
program. The group is composed of a community-minded residents, many of whom live in
Sky Ranch Estates.
The Friends Group holds work parties twice a year to take care of general park upkeep
such as brush cutting, trail maintenance and flower garden upkeep. Volunteers also
make regular park “patrols” to maintain park quality and help deter vandalism
We are continually seeking volunteers to help maintain this neighborhood gem.. If you
would like to help please contact Joe Kurtak or Trisha Herminghaus at H345-5512 or
watch for our signs advertising work parties.
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Shawna Popovici, South East & Central District Manager
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
June Volunteer of the month
Jim LaBau
Jim LaBau came to Alaska in 1960 to
continue his career as a Federal Forester. He
worked in Juneau until 1975 helping develop
a tree inventory for our State. Jim moved to
Anchorage in 1979 to work in the research lab
and continue with his work within our vast
forests. His job took him all around our great
state and he was able to enjoy the vastness
of our forests and see new and exciting areas
along the way with only five bear encounters
during his travels.
Jim began his career as a volunteer for Parks
and Recreation in 1993 by helping develop
KFQD Park. The park was a result of
development of the subdivision around it and
the focus was to try and keep the park as
level as possible so it would have more uses.
Jim worked to plan and develop a park with a
gazebo and trees surrounding the parkland.
He planted trees and began wrapping them
for moose protection in 1996. Each year he
replaces the trees who die during the winter
and they have brought the number of trees up to 100.
Jim also volunteers at Lyn Ary Park with the Turnagain Methodist Church as a school business
partner with Turnagain Elementary School. They do a large spring cleanup of Lyn Ary Park
each year to get the park ready for summer. They also do special lunches for the teachers at
the school, a bike safety event, and traffic control on the 1st day of school.
Jim has a great love of parks and trees and has worked within his community of Bayshore to
develop a pocket park for his neighbors to enjoy.
Jim is a great volunteer who is always willing to help out with our parks. We want to thank him
for all his help in our parks.
Jim has a favorite poem that is a foresters poem.
Munch, munch, munch
Listen to ‘em crunch
Its always time for lunch
In the deep dark forest by Al Harris, Retired Research Forester, Juneau, Alaska
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
May Volunteer of the month
John Beavers
John Beavers is a very active member of
our community. As a recently retired
United States Postal Carrier, he knows his
neighborhood and his neighbors.
John has been involved in the “Baxter Bog
Citizens Advisory Committee” for many
years. The neighborhood wanted to
beautify their area so they created a flower
bed near Baxter Bog about 12 years ago.
The first bed was made with wooden
pieces to create a raised bed. The wood
did not last, so they decided to build a
better flower bed with boulders and
cement in 2000. John, with the help of
twenty neighbors, plant this flower bed each spring and they maintain it all summer
long. The flowers originate from our Municipal Greenhouse and he is part of our Adopt
a Garden program. They have a neighbor who allows them to use their water
throughout the summer.
John learned about the former Treemendous program through Parks and Recreation
when 1,000 trees were given away each spring. John saw a need for trees in his
subdivision and was able to get his neighbors to submit applications to get their free
tree. He assisted in planting and the care for these trees they planted in their yards.
John has become a Johnny Appleseed for his community to help everyone enjoy their
homes and take pride in their neighborhood.
When you drive around Baxter Bog Park look for the beautiful flower bed and if you
see John or his helpers working in the flowers, stop by and tell him thank you.
John’s Favorite Quote:
“Keep on trying”
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks & Recreation
April Volunteers of the month
Jeannette & Joe Seale
Our April volunteers of the
month have been caring for a
section of the Chester Creek
Trail for ten years after moving
to the area. Jeannette and Joe
have lived in Alaska for 40
years and decided to try condo
living so they would have more
time to enjoy the summers and
they discovered the perfect
spot along the Chester Creek
Trail. They wanted to have a
presence in the park so they
volunteered as Adopt a Trail
volunteers to add another set
of eyes into the parkland. This
gives them the opportunity to
enjoy the beautiful scenery and
wildlife, but with the ability to make the trail their backyard. Jeannette and
Joe watch out for the stream and any damming that happens with debris
and trash put into the stream. They have kept this clean for all to enjoy.
Jeannette loves to ride her bike on the trail and she has a basket on the
front with trash bags with her in case she sees anything that needs to be
cleaned up along the way.
The pond along the trail is a gathering place for people as well as water
fowl which makes it a very busy spot. They both enjoy watching out for
and watching for the birds who visit this area.
Jeannette's favorite quote:
“God gave us responsibility to take care of the world and if everyone did a
little all our work would be light.”
Nominated by: Nancy Beardsley, Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks and Recreation
March Volunteers of the month
Town Square Rink Rats of the Anchorage Curling Club
For the past three
Decembers, a curling rink
has magically appeared in
the ice at the Town Square
Winter Center Ice Rink in
time for the Grand Opening
Celebrations.
Under the
solstice winter sun and
starry skies, Anchorage
Curling Club members have
donated their time and
materials to embed a curling
rink composed of two
houses (the rings), out of
boundary and hog lines in
the ice in an effort to bring
the Olympic sport of curling
to the park and the public.
Working with Alpine Services, these dedicated “Rink Rats” have come down as early
as 6:30a on the three tournament weekends to shave, sweep and level the 124 ft rink,
shovel unwanted snows, roll out and string the snow fence, haul in the 16 granite rocks
weighing 42 lbs each and set the rink up for monthly tournament play. These hardy
members have set the rink for play in balmy teens down to as low as -15 degrees
below zero in order for the tournament to be played later that day.
Anchorage Parks and Recreation would like to honor their commitment to outdoor
curling and making the Town Square Winter Center Ice Rink a happening place.
Members of the Anchorage Curling Club who are the Town Square Rink Rats are Ken
Bauer, Hilda Bauer, Marty Schultz, Kenny Nore, Jimmy Gibson, Mike Peters, John
McCleary, Greg Benoit, and Steve Lambert.
So when you skate at the Town Square Winter Center and see the blue and white
circles with curlers throwing the granite rocks, sweeping the ice to bring the rock into
the house, think of the “Rink Rats” who have created so much fun in their behind the
scene efforts to bring an Olympic winter sport to downtown.
Nominated by: John McCleary, Trails, TrailWatch & Special Projects Coordinator
Anchorage Parks and Recreation
February Volunteers of the month
AFROTC
AFROTC (Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps) have become very important
volunteers for Parks and Recreation. They are quick to volunteer and help us with
events throughout the year as well as plant and maintain the 11th Air Force Memorial
flower beds at Merrill Field. The AFROTC began in 1920 and Detachment 001 began
at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2000. Their mission is to develop quality
leaders for the Air Force and their core values are “Integrity First, Service Before Self
and Excellence In All We Can Do”. AFROTC has shown this ability at several event’s
from helping with the Turkey Trot and Haunted Trails to being major players at our
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 50 Bikes/50 Kids event. Twenty nine cadets gave 93 hours
of service at this event. AFROTC has helped with several outdoor events during the
past few years and their example is to be envied by all.
AFROTC’S Slogan:
“ DET 001...SECOND TO NONE! ”
Nominated by Nancy Beardsley Volunteer Coordinator
Anchorage Parks and Recreation
January Volunteer of the month
Ed O’Neill
Ed O’Neill is a life long Alaskan who gives
many hours of his time to our community. Ed
organized volunteers to clean parks that
were not easy to adopt. He began adopting
parks in 2003 and now adopts eight parks
with his group ARBRA (Anchorage
Responsible
Beverage
Retailers
Association.) As a business leader Ed could
have just kept busy running his business but
instead he jumped in to create a group to
help work with the homeless, inebriates and
visitors who live and gather in our parks. Ed
decided to do something about it so he funds
volunteers to clean the parks, trails and
homeless camps throughout Anchorage. Ed
wants to find a solution for the homeless
problem so he has been working on the
Mayor’s task force to develop a 10 year plan
for Anchorage. The plan will help people
down on their luck find housing and get them off the streets.
The mission of ARBA is to implement solutions for cleaner, safer camps with
compassionate outreach for the homeless. Including basic amenities for homeless
visitors choosing an outdoor hostel experience in our all American Great Land City of
Anchorage.
Ed works with the police who notify him when a homeless camp is found, then he hires
workers from Bean’s Café to go with him and clean out the site. After he has
everything in bags, he contacts Community Work Service to haul it away.
When you see Ed and his crew out cleaning up a park or trail, stop and thank him for
all he has done for our community.
Ed’s Favorite Quote:
“ A Clean Camp is Usually a Safe and Secure Camp”
Nominated by Nancy Beardsley Volunteer Coordinator