ping Figgertoes

Wasilla crosses its fingers for Iditarod start
WEATHER: The city last had the proper snow and cold in 2002; officials are
hopeful again.

By RINDI WHITE
Anchorage Daily News

Published: February 2, 2007
Last Modified: February 2, 2007 at 03:15 AM

WASILLA -- It's been five years since anyone cheered for Iditarod mushers as
they began their 1,100-mile race to Nome from the town that calls itself the
Home of the Iditarod.

Race fans, cross your fingers; 2007 might be the year the Iditarod comes
home.

Officials with the city and the Iditarod say snowfall this year could be
enough to bring the Iditarod restart back from Willow to Wasilla. The
Iditarod Trail Committee will make the final decision, typically about a
week before the race.

"This looks like the year it might happen," said Wasilla Public Works
director Archie Giddings.

Snowfall data for Wasilla this year was not available. Monthly reports from
the Alaska Climate Research Center show nearby Anchorage received 77 inches
of snowfall as of Jan. 31. The city normally has about 41 inches by this
date, according to the center.

Tuesday, the 45-degree weather was nowhere near ideal Iditarod temperature.
When Iditarod mushers last rode to Nome from Wasilla, in 2002, they left
from Bumpus Ballfields on Mystery Avenue. The race day temperature was below
zero, and snow squeaked underfoot.

But it's only early February, and a lot more weather can happen before the
March 4 restart, Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said Tuesday.

"We still have time," St. George said. "You never want to anticipate this
(warm weather). We got such great snow and we had really cold weather in the
beginning to firm things up."

As far as the Iditarod Trail Committee is concerned, Wasilla is the favored
starting spot.

"Our plan always is to put our efforts into restarting here," St. George
said. "The consensus on the board is, Wasilla is our first option --
period."

If mushers leave from Wasilla, they'll depart from the Wasilla Multi-Use
Sports Complex, a facility built with the Iditarod in mind. The $18.2
million ice rink, turf court and conference space opened in 2004.

Bruce Urban, director of Wasilla recreation and cultural services, said
plans for the building at first contemplated mushers whooshing in one end
and out the other as fans cheered from rink-side seats. That idea was
discarded to make way for other uses, but city leaders say the parking lot
is an ideal place to stage the restart.

"The city, to the best of my knowledge, has always hoped that we would have
the restart here at the Sports Complex. That's really what the goal was from
the start," said Urban.

Unfortunately, light snow or warm weather has plagued Wasilla ever since the
building was completed. Each year brought the announcement that the restart
would be held instead 30 miles up the road in Willow. In 2003, race
officials had to go all the way to Fairbanks to find suitable race
conditions.

Alaska's shifty weather is one reason the Trail Committee always has a
backup plan. An ample amount of snow is not the only factor, St. George
said. It's about trail quality and dog safety.

Eighty-seven mushers are signed up to race. With as many as 16 dogs in each
team, that's 5,568 paws pounding the snowpack into gravy within the space of
a few hours. The snow underfoot can't be light and downy or even gritty
sugar-snow.

"You have that many teams and you've got to be able to pack down enough
trail that you never hit bare ground," St. George said.

Iditarod trail breakers are already checking conditions on the path mushers
would likely take if they were to leave from Wasilla, from the Wasilla
Multi-Use Sports Complex to Mack Road and along Knik-Goose Bay Road.

Wasilla city officials said they're making plans, too.

Urban said the city has stockpiled snow in the Sports Complex parking lot.
More could be hauled in closer to the event, Giddings said.

"We can pull this off without a big deal," Giddings said.

Parking will be a bigger issue, Urban said. Last year, between 15,000 and
17,000 people watched as mushers hit the trail at Willow Lake, St. George
said.

There's enough space for mushers and event coordinators at the Sports
Complex site on South Mack Drive, but spectators will have to be brought in
by the busload from elsewhere in the city, Urban said. The city has
typically paid for transportation to the race staging area. Transportation
details have barely begun to be discussed.

St. George said staging the restart in Wasilla makes economic sense for the
Iditarod Trail Committee. Staging it in Willow is costly.

"There's less infrastructure in Willow," St. George said. "In Wasilla, the
city takes more of a lead in the role. They develop not only the project
plan, but they make sure we have all the services in place we need to build
this."

It's good for the city, too. A recent study conducted by Anchorage
consulting firm Northern Economics showed that the restart in Wasilla brings
as much as $1.6 million to local businesses. It also solidifies the city's
reputation as the host of the big event. Wasilla economic planner Casey
Reynolds said it what puts Wasilla on the global map.

"The Iditarod is really the state's only internationally recognized event.
Having it here in Wasilla really brands the city without having to go
through what Anchorage just went through. It's really something special we
have here. We'd very much like to keep it and grow it," Reynolds said.


--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

On Feb 2, 9:21 am, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
> Wasilla crosses its fingers for Iditarod start
> WEATHER: The city last had the proper snow and cold in 2002; officials are
> hopeful again.
>
> By RINDI WHITE
> Anchorage Daily News
>
> Published: February 2, 2007
> Last Modified: February 2, 2007 at 03:15 AM
>
> WASILLA -- It's been five years since anyone cheered for Iditarod mushers as
> they began their 1,100-mile race to Nome from the town that calls itself the
> Home of the Iditarod.
>
> Race fans, cross your fingers; 2007 might be the year the Iditarod comes
> home.
>
> Officials with the city and the Iditarod say snowfall this year could be
> enough to bring the Iditarod restart back from Willow to Wasilla. The
> Iditarod Trail Committee will make the final decision, typically about a
> week before the race.
>
> "This looks like the year it might happen," said Wasilla Public Works
> director Archie Giddings.
>
> Snowfall data for Wasilla this year was not available. Monthly reports from
> the Alaska Climate Research Center show nearby Anchorage received 77 inches
> of snowfall as of Jan. 31. The city normally has about 41 inches by this
> date, according to the center.
>
> Tuesday, the 45-degree weather was nowhere near ideal Iditarod temperature.
> When Iditarod mushers last rode to Nome from Wasilla, in 2002, they left
> from Bumpus Ballfields on Mystery Avenue. The race day temperature was below
> zero, and snow squeaked underfoot.
>
> But it's only early February, and a lot more weather can happen before the
> March 4 restart, Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said Tuesday.
>
> "We still have time," St. George said. "You never want to anticipate this
> (warm weather). We got such great snow and we had really cold weather in the
> beginning to firm things up."
>
> As far as the Iditarod Trail Committee is concerned, Wasilla is the favored
> starting spot.
>
> "Our plan always is to put our efforts into restarting here," St. George
> said. "The consensus on the board is, Wasilla is our first option --
> period."
>
> If mushers leave from Wasilla, they'll depart from the Wasilla Multi-Use
> Sports Complex, a facility built with the Iditarod in mind. The $18.2
> million ice rink, turf court and conference space opened in 2004.
>
> Bruce Urban, director of Wasilla recreation and cultural services, said
> plans for the building at first contemplated mushers whooshing in one end
> and out the other as fans cheered from rink-side seats. That idea was
> discarded to make way for other uses, but city leaders say the parking lot
> is an ideal place to stage the restart.
>
> "The city, to the best of my knowledge, has always hoped that we would have
> the restart here at the Sports Complex. That's really what the goal was from
> the start," said Urban.
>
> Unfortunately, light snow or warm weather has plagued Wasilla ever since the
> building was completed. Each year brought the announcement that the restart
> would be held instead 30 miles up the road in Willow. In 2003, race
> officials had to go all the way to Fairbanks to find suitable race
> conditions.
>
> Alaska's shifty weather is one reason the Trail Committee always has a
> backup plan. An ample amount of snow is not the only factor, St. George
> said. It's about trail quality and dog safety.
>
> Eighty-seven mushers are signed up to race. With as many as 16 dogs in each
> team, that's 5,568 paws pounding the snowpack into gravy within the space of
> a few hours. The snow underfoot can't be light and downy or even gritty
> sugar-snow.
>
> "You have that many teams and you've got to be able to pack down enough
> trail that you never hit bare ground," St. George said.
>
> Iditarod trail breakers are already checking conditions on the path mushers
> would likely take if they were to leave from Wasilla, from the Wasilla
> Multi-Use Sports Complex to Mack Road and along Knik-Goose Bay Road.
>
> Wasilla city officials said they're making plans, too.
>
> Urban said the city has stockpiled snow in the Sports Complex parking lot.
> More could be hauled in closer to the event, Giddings said.
>
> "We can pull this off without a big deal," Giddings said.
>
> Parking will be a bigger issue, Urban said. Last year, between 15,000 and
> 17,000 people watched as mushers hit the trail at Willow Lake, St. George
> said.
>
> There's enough space for mushers and event coordinators at the Sports
> Complex site on South Mack Drive, but spectators will have to be brought in
> by the busload from elsewhere in the city, Urban said. The city has
> typically paid for transportation to the race staging area. Transportation
> details have barely begun to be discussed.
>
> St. George said staging the restart in Wasilla makes economic sense for the
> Iditarod Trail Committee. Staging it in Willow is costly.
>
> "There's less infrastructure in Willow," St. George said. "In Wasilla, the
> city takes more of a lead in the role. They develop not only the project
> plan, but they make sure we have all the services in place we need to build
> this."
>
> It's good for the city, too. A recent study conducted by Anchorage
> consulting firm Northern Economics showed that the restart in Wasilla brings
> as much as $1.6 million to local businesses. It also solidifies the city's
> reputation as the host of the big event. Wasilla economic planner Casey
> Reynolds said it what puts Wasilla on the global map.
>
> "The Iditarod is really the state's only internationally recognized event.
> Having it here in Wasilla really brands the city without having to go
> through what Anchorage just went through. It's really something special we
> have here. We'd very much like to keep it and grow it," Reynolds said.
>
> --
> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> BetsyB

Brrrrrr

Betsy, this is shocking news, but new Consumer Reports taste tests
says McDonald's brew trumps Starbucks for a lot less $$. Maybe, but I
just can't bring myself... If you try, let me know.

Fig

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

"Figgertoes" <figtoes@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1170443054.308112.295370@k78g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> On Feb 2, 9:21 am, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
>> Wasilla crosses its fingers for Iditarod start
>> WEATHER: The city last had the proper snow and cold in 2002; officials
>> are
>> hopeful again.
>>
>> By RINDI WHITE
>> Anchorage Daily News
>>
>> Published: February 2, 2007
>> Last Modified: February 2, 2007 at 03:15 AM
>>
>> WASILLA -- It's been five years since anyone cheered for Iditarod mushers
>> as
>> they began their 1,100-mile race to Nome from the town that calls itself
>> the
>> Home of the Iditarod.
>>
>> Race fans, cross your fingers; 2007 might be the year the Iditarod comes
>> home.
>>
>> Officials with the city and the Iditarod say snowfall this year could be
>> enough to bring the Iditarod restart back from Willow to Wasilla. The
>> Iditarod Trail Committee will make the final decision, typically about a
>> week before the race.
>>
>> "This looks like the year it might happen," said Wasilla Public Works
>> director Archie Giddings.
>>
>> Snowfall data for Wasilla this year was not available. Monthly reports
>> from
>> the Alaska Climate Research Center show nearby Anchorage received 77
>> inches
>> of snowfall as of Jan. 31. The city normally has about 41 inches by this
>> date, according to the center.
>>
>> Tuesday, the 45-degree weather was nowhere near ideal Iditarod
>> temperature.
>> When Iditarod mushers last rode to Nome from Wasilla, in 2002, they left
>> from Bumpus Ballfields on Mystery Avenue. The race day temperature was
>> below
>> zero, and snow squeaked underfoot.
>>
>> But it's only early February, and a lot more weather can happen before
>> the
>> March 4 restart, Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said Tuesday.
>>
>> "We still have time," St. George said. "You never want to anticipate this
>> (warm weather). We got such great snow and we had really cold weather in
>> the
>> beginning to firm things up."
>>
>> As far as the Iditarod Trail Committee is concerned, Wasilla is the
>> favored
>> starting spot.
>>
>> "Our plan always is to put our efforts into restarting here," St. George
>> said. "The consensus on the board is, Wasilla is our first option --
>> period."
>>
>> If mushers leave from Wasilla, they'll depart from the Wasilla Multi-Use
>> Sports Complex, a facility built with the Iditarod in mind. The $18.2
>> million ice rink, turf court and conference space opened in 2004.
>>
>> Bruce Urban, director of Wasilla recreation and cultural services, said
>> plans for the building at first contemplated mushers whooshing in one end
>> and out the other as fans cheered from rink-side seats. That idea was
>> discarded to make way for other uses, but city leaders say the parking
>> lot
>> is an ideal place to stage the restart.
>>
>> "The city, to the best of my knowledge, has always hoped that we would
>> have
>> the restart here at the Sports Complex. That's really what the goal was
>> from
>> the start," said Urban.
>>
>> Unfortunately, light snow or warm weather has plagued Wasilla ever since
>> the
>> building was completed. Each year brought the announcement that the
>> restart
>> would be held instead 30 miles up the road in Willow. In 2003, race
>> officials had to go all the way to Fairbanks to find suitable race
>> conditions.
>>
>> Alaska's shifty weather is one reason the Trail Committee always has a
>> backup plan. An ample amount of snow is not the only factor, St. George
>> said. It's about trail quality and dog safety.
>>
>> Eighty-seven mushers are signed up to race. With as many as 16 dogs in
>> each
>> team, that's 5,568 paws pounding the snowpack into gravy within the space
>> of
>> a few hours. The snow underfoot can't be light and downy or even gritty
>> sugar-snow.
>>
>> "You have that many teams and you've got to be able to pack down enough
>> trail that you never hit bare ground," St. George said.
>>
>> Iditarod trail breakers are already checking conditions on the path
>> mushers
>> would likely take if they were to leave from Wasilla, from the Wasilla
>> Multi-Use Sports Complex to Mack Road and along Knik-Goose Bay Road.
>>
>> Wasilla city officials said they're making plans, too.
>>
>> Urban said the city has stockpiled snow in the Sports Complex parking
>> lot.
>> More could be hauled in closer to the event, Giddings said.
>>
>> "We can pull this off without a big deal," Giddings said.
>>
>> Parking will be a bigger issue, Urban said. Last year, between 15,000 and
>> 17,000 people watched as mushers hit the trail at Willow Lake, St. George
>> said.
>>
>> There's enough space for mushers and event coordinators at the Sports
>> Complex site on South Mack Drive, but spectators will have to be brought
>> in
>> by the busload from elsewhere in the city, Urban said. The city has
>> typically paid for transportation to the race staging area.
>> Transportation
>> details have barely begun to be discussed.
>>
>> St. George said staging the restart in Wasilla makes economic sense for
>> the
>> Iditarod Trail Committee. Staging it in Willow is costly.
>>
>> "There's less infrastructure in Willow," St. George said. "In Wasilla,
>> the
>> city takes more of a lead in the role. They develop not only the project
>> plan, but they make sure we have all the services in place we need to
>> build
>> this."
>>
>> It's good for the city, too. A recent study conducted by Anchorage
>> consulting firm Northern Economics showed that the restart in Wasilla
>> brings
>> as much as $1.6 million to local businesses. It also solidifies the
>> city's
>> reputation as the host of the big event. Wasilla economic planner Casey
>> Reynolds said it what puts Wasilla on the global map.
>>
>> "The Iditarod is really the state's only internationally recognized
>> event.
>> Having it here in Wasilla really brands the city without having to go
>> through what Anchorage just went through. It's really something special
>> we
>> have here. We'd very much like to keep it and grow it," Reynolds said.
>>
>> --
>> Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
>> BetsyB
>
> Brrrrrr
>
> Betsy, this is shocking news, but new Consumer Reports taste tests
> says McDonald's brew trumps Starbucks for a lot less $$. Maybe, but I
> just can't bring myself... If you try, let me know.
>
> Fig
I have sipped various blends from various vendors and Starbucks still wins
my taste test! Dunkin Donuts seeems the worst in my book. I seldom go there
and buy the grounds in the grocery store.

On Feb 2, 2:04 pm, "Figgertoes" <figt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Feb 2, 9:21 am, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Wasilla crosses its fingers for Iditarod start
> > WEATHER: The city last had the proper snow and cold in 2002; officials are
> > hopeful again.
>
> > By RINDI WHITE
> > Anchorage Daily News
>
> > Published: February 2, 2007
> > Last Modified: February 2, 2007 at 03:15 AM
>
> > WASILLA -- It's been five years since anyone cheered for Iditarod mushers as
> > they began their 1,100-mile race to Nome from the town that calls itself the
> > Home of the Iditarod.
>
> > Race fans, cross your fingers; 2007 might be the year the Iditarod comes
> > home.
>
> > Officials with the city and the Iditarod say snowfall this year could be
> > enough to bring the Iditarod restart back from Willow to Wasilla. The
> > Iditarod Trail Committee will make the final decision, typically about a
> > week before the race.
>
> > "This looks like the year it might happen," said Wasilla Public Works
> > director Archie Giddings.
>
> > Snowfall data for Wasilla this year was not available. Monthly reports from
> > the Alaska Climate Research Center show nearby Anchorage received 77 inches
> > of snowfall as of Jan. 31. The city normally has about 41 inches by this
> > date, according to the center.
>
> > Tuesday, the 45-degree weather was nowhere near ideal Iditarod temperature.
> > When Iditarod mushers last rode to Nome from Wasilla, in 2002, they left
> > from Bumpus Ballfields on Mystery Avenue. The race day temperature was below
> > zero, and snow squeaked underfoot.
>
> > But it's only early February, and a lot more weather can happen before the
> > March 4 restart, Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said Tuesday.
>
> > "We still have time," St. George said. "You never want to anticipate this
> > (warm weather). We got such great snow and we had really cold weather in the
> > beginning to firm things up."
>
> > As far as the Iditarod Trail Committee is concerned, Wasilla is the favored
> > starting spot.
>
> > "Our plan always is to put our efforts into restarting here," St. George
> > said. "The consensus on the board is, Wasilla is our first option --
> > period."
>
> > If mushers leave from Wasilla, they'll depart from the Wasilla Multi-Use
> > Sports Complex, a facility built with the Iditarod in mind. The $18.2
> > million ice rink, turf court and conference space opened in 2004.
>
> > Bruce Urban, director of Wasilla recreation and cultural services, said
> > plans for the building at first contemplated mushers whooshing in one end
> > and out the other as fans cheered from rink-side seats. That idea was
> > discarded to make way for other uses, but city leaders say the parking lot
> > is an ideal place to stage the restart.
>
> > "The city, to the best of my knowledge, has always hoped that we would have
> > the restart here at the Sports Complex. That's really what the goal was from
> > the start," said Urban.
>
> > Unfortunately, light snow or warm weather has plagued Wasilla ever since the
> > building was completed. Each year brought the announcement that the restart
> > would be held instead 30 miles up the road in Willow. In 2003, race
> > officials had to go all the way to Fairbanks to find suitable race
> > conditions.
>
> > Alaska's shifty weather is one reason the Trail Committee always has a
> > backup plan. An ample amount of snow is not the only factor, St. George
> > said. It's about trail quality and dog safety.
>
> > Eighty-seven mushers are signed up to race. With as many as 16 dogs in each
> > team, that's 5,568 paws pounding the snowpack into gravy within the space of
> > a few hours. The snow underfoot can't be light and downy or even gritty
> > sugar-snow.
>
> > "You have that many teams and you've got to be able to pack down enough
> > trail that you never hit bare ground," St. George said.
>
> > Iditarod trail breakers are already checking conditions on the path mushers
> > would likely take if they were to leave from Wasilla, from the Wasilla
> > Multi-Use Sports Complex to Mack Road and along Knik-Goose Bay Road.
>
> > Wasilla city officials said they're making plans, too.
>
> > Urban said the city has stockpiled snow in the Sports Complex parking lot.
> > More could be hauled in closer to the event, Giddings said.
>
> > "We can pull this off without a big deal," Giddings said.
>
> > Parking will be a bigger issue, Urban said. Last year, between 15,000 and
> > 17,000 people watched as mushers hit the trail at Willow Lake, St. George
> > said.
>
> > There's enough space for mushers and event coordinators at the Sports
> > Complex site on South Mack Drive, but spectators will have to be brought in
> > by the busload from elsewhere in the city, Urban said. The city has
> > typically paid for transportation to the race staging area. Transportation
> > details have barely begun to be discussed.
>
> > St. George said staging the restart in Wasilla makes economic sense for the
> > Iditarod Trail Committee. Staging it in Willow is costly.
>
> > "There's less infrastructure in Willow," St. George said. "In Wasilla, the
> > city takes more of a lead in the role. They develop not only the project
> > plan, but they make sure we have all the services in place we need to build
> > this."
>
> > It's good for the city, too. A recent study conducted by Anchorage
> > consulting firm Northern Economics showed that the restart in Wasilla brings
> > as much as $1.6 million to local businesses. It also solidifies the city's
> > reputation as the host of the big event. Wasilla economic planner Casey
> > Reynolds said it what puts Wasilla on the global map.
>
> > "The Iditarod is really the state's only internationally recognized event.
> > Having it here in Wasilla really brands the city without having to go
> > through what Anchorage just went through. It's really something special we
> > have here. We'd very much like to keep it and grow it," Reynolds said.
>
> > --
> > Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
> > BetsyB
>
> Brrrrrr
>
> Betsy, this is shocking news, but new Consumer Reports taste tests
> says McDonald's brew trumps Starbucks for a lot less $$. Maybe, but I
> just can't bring myself... If you try, let me know.
>
> Fig

If only they did not use styrofoam cups. Ditto on the airlines. That
is all taste. Wonder if you can bring your own ceramic mug/cup to
either Mickey's or Starbucks!

--
Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
BetsyB

"turtletrot1" <turtletrot1@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:1170515167.834368.296190@p10g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...
> On Feb 2, 2:04 pm, "Figgertoes" <figt...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On Feb 2, 9:21 am, "betsyb" <betsy...@TRASHoptonline.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> > Wasilla crosses its fingers for Iditarod start
>> > WEATHER: The city last had the proper snow and cold in 2002; officials
>> > are
>> > hopeful again.
>>
>> > By RINDI WHITE
>> > Anchorage Daily News
>>
>> > Published: February 2, 2007
>> > Last Modified: February 2, 2007 at 03:15 AM
>>
>> > WASILLA -- It's been five years since anyone cheered for Iditarod
>> > mushers as
>> > they began their 1,100-mile race to Nome from the town that calls
>> > itself the
>> > Home of the Iditarod.
>>
>> > Race fans, cross your fingers; 2007 might be the year the Iditarod
>> > comes
>> > home.
>>
>> > Officials with the city and the Iditarod say snowfall this year could
>> > be
>> > enough to bring the Iditarod restart back from Willow to Wasilla. The
>> > Iditarod Trail Committee will make the final decision, typically about
>> > a
>> > week before the race.
>>
>> > "This looks like the year it might happen," said Wasilla Public Works
>> > director Archie Giddings.
>>
>> > Snowfall data for Wasilla this year was not available. Monthly reports
>> > from
>> > the Alaska Climate Research Center show nearby Anchorage received 77
>> > inches
>> > of snowfall as of Jan. 31. The city normally has about 41 inches by
>> > this
>> > date, according to the center.
>>
>> > Tuesday, the 45-degree weather was nowhere near ideal Iditarod
>> > temperature.
>> > When Iditarod mushers last rode to Nome from Wasilla, in 2002, they
>> > left
>> > from Bumpus Ballfields on Mystery Avenue. The race day temperature was
>> > below
>> > zero, and snow squeaked underfoot.
>>
>> > But it's only early February, and a lot more weather can happen before
>> > the
>> > March 4 restart, Iditarod spokesman Chas St. George said Tuesday.
>>
>> > "We still have time," St. George said. "You never want to anticipate
>> > this
>> > (warm weather). We got such great snow and we had really cold weather
>> > in the
>> > beginning to firm things up."
>>
>> > As far as the Iditarod Trail Committee is concerned, Wasilla is the
>> > favored
>> > starting spot.
>>
>> > "Our plan always is to put our efforts into restarting here," St.
>> > George
>> > said. "The consensus on the board is, Wasilla is our first option --
>> > period."
>>
>> > If mushers leave from Wasilla, they'll depart from the Wasilla
>> > Multi-Use
>> > Sports Complex, a facility built with the Iditarod in mind. The $18.2
>> > million ice rink, turf court and conference space opened in 2004.
>>
>> > Bruce Urban, director of Wasilla recreation and cultural services, said
>> > plans for the building at first contemplated mushers whooshing in one
>> > end
>> > and out the other as fans cheered from rink-side seats. That idea was
>> > discarded to make way for other uses, but city leaders say the parking
>> > lot
>> > is an ideal place to stage the restart.
>>
>> > "The city, to the best of my knowledge, has always hoped that we would
>> > have
>> > the restart here at the Sports Complex. That's really what the goal was
>> > from
>> > the start," said Urban.
>>
>> > Unfortunately, light snow or warm weather has plagued Wasilla ever
>> > since the
>> > building was completed. Each year brought the announcement that the
>> > restart
>> > would be held instead 30 miles up the road in Willow. In 2003, race
>> > officials had to go all the way to Fairbanks to find suitable race
>> > conditions.
>>
>> > Alaska's shifty weather is one reason the Trail Committee always has a
>> > backup plan. An ample amount of snow is not the only factor, St. George
>> > said. It's about trail quality and dog safety.
>>
>> > Eighty-seven mushers are signed up to race. With as many as 16 dogs in
>> > each
>> > team, that's 5,568 paws pounding the snowpack into gravy within the
>> > space of
>> > a few hours. The snow underfoot can't be light and downy or even gritty
>> > sugar-snow.
>>
>> > "You have that many teams and you've got to be able to pack down enough
>> > trail that you never hit bare ground," St. George said.
>>
>> > Iditarod trail breakers are already checking conditions on the path
>> > mushers
>> > would likely take if they were to leave from Wasilla, from the Wasilla
>> > Multi-Use Sports Complex to Mack Road and along Knik-Goose Bay Road.
>>
>> > Wasilla city officials said they're making plans, too.
>>
>> > Urban said the city has stockpiled snow in the Sports Complex parking
>> > lot.
>> > More could be hauled in closer to the event, Giddings said.
>>
>> > "We can pull this off without a big deal," Giddings said.
>>
>> > Parking will be a bigger issue, Urban said. Last year, between 15,000
>> > and
>> > 17,000 people watched as mushers hit the trail at Willow Lake, St.
>> > George
>> > said.
>>
>> > There's enough space for mushers and event coordinators at the Sports
>> > Complex site on South Mack Drive, but spectators will have to be
>> > brought in
>> > by the busload from elsewhere in the city, Urban said. The city has
>> > typically paid for transportation to the race staging area.
>> > Transportation
>> > details have barely begun to be discussed.
>>
>> > St. George said staging the restart in Wasilla makes economic sense for
>> > the
>> > Iditarod Trail Committee. Staging it in Willow is costly.
>>
>> > "There's less infrastructure in Willow," St. George said. "In Wasilla,
>> > the
>> > city takes more of a lead in the role. They develop not only the
>> > project
>> > plan, but they make sure we have all the services in place we need to
>> > build
>> > this."
>>
>> > It's good for the city, too. A recent study conducted by Anchorage
>> > consulting firm Northern Economics showed that the restart in Wasilla
>> > brings
>> > as much as $1.6 million to local businesses. It also solidifies the
>> > city's
>> > reputation as the host of the big event. Wasilla economic planner Casey
>> > Reynolds said it what puts Wasilla on the global map.
>>
>> > "The Iditarod is really the state's only internationally recognized
>> > event.
>> > Having it here in Wasilla really brands the city without having to go
>> > through what Anchorage just went through. It's really something special
>> > we
>> > have here. We'd very much like to keep it and grow it," Reynolds said.
>>
>> > --
>> > Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate and Starbucks!!
>> > BetsyB
>>
>> Brrrrrr
>>
>> Betsy, this is shocking news, but new Consumer Reports taste tests
>> says McDonald's brew trumps Starbucks for a lot less $$. Maybe, but I
>> just can't bring myself... If you try, let me know.
>>
>> Fig
>
> If only they did not use styrofoam cups. Ditto on the airlines. That
> is all taste. Wonder if you can bring your own ceramic mug/cup to
> either Mickey's or Starbucks!
>

I do bring my own cup where ever I go. and never have been refused service.
I have a 1 or 2 cup coffee maker and use them.

Betsy

In article <1170443054.308112.295370@k78g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
"Figgertoes" <figtoes@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Betsy, this is shocking news, but new Consumer Reports taste tests
> says McDonald's brew trumps Starbucks for a lot less $$. Maybe, but I
> just can't bring myself... If you try, let me know.
>
> Fig
I can't speak for all fast food places, but McCoffee is better than many other fast
food places. I haven't done a taste test lately, but a couple of years ago when we
were traveling in our RV full time, I noticed that McD and Denny's both had passable
coffee. Can't say that for Burger king or In-And Out.

Of course, nothing can top a home brewed pot of French Roast. (or is that Freedom
Roast?)

bobert --Soon to be moving to a larger house in a quieter neighborhood. I heard 3
sirens last week. :=)
--
Back up my hard disk? I can't find the reverse switch!

Bob in Carmel, CA