Thumbs up. What’s for lunch: The Denali Borough School District has embraced a smart, forward-thinking approach to student wellness and workforce readiness. The launch of Alaskan Bounty for Children (ABC) is a major win — not just for hungry kids, but for the community. Free, nutritious lunches served five days a week at all three schools will ensure students are fueled and ready to learn, while the added vocational culinary training gives high schoolers a hands-on pathway into the hospitality industry. That’s a recipe for long-term success, especially in a region where tourism and food service are vital sectors. Thanks go out to Tonglen Lake Lodge General Manager Cali Best, Chef Jake McGlew and the whole team behind ABC for making this vision a reality, and to the local nonprofits like Denali’s Neighbor to Neighbor and the Healy Valley Lions Club for their backing. This is the kind of locally-driven innovation rural Alaska needs — feeding kids today and preparing them for tomorrow.
Thumbs up. Park relaunch: Thumbs up to the Fairbanks North Star Borough for breathing new life into Veterans Memorial Park — a long-overdue upgrade that honors service while welcoming the community. With accessibility upgrades, a new concrete plaza and a layout anchored by a fixed pavilion and history kiosk, the park is finally seeing some upgrades. Local contractor GHEMM Solutions is taking the lead on the project after delivering a full-scope bid under budget, which allows for more of the borough’s dollars to stretch further. It’s also great to see community voices — especially veterans — shaping the final plans, including the removal of grills to preserve the park’s purpose. The new benches and ADA-compliant pathways ensure this space remains inclusive and comfortable for all, especially older veterans. A special salute goes to the Kiwanis Club of Fairbanks and others stepping up to sponsor park features — proving once again that Fairbanks takes care of its own. This is more than just a facelift; it’s a meaningful investment.
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Thumbs down. Farmed fish frights: You’d think House Bill 111 — the farmed fish bill — proposed flooding Bristol Bay with mutant tilapia the way some folks reacted. Instead, it’s a smart, clearly written bill that bans salmon farming, protects wild stocks with strict containment and sterility rules, and opens the door to local food production in a state that imports the bulk of what it eats. But never underestimate Alaska’s ability to punch itself in the gut when given a chance to diversify its economy. The sky-is-falling crowd spun doomsday scenarios about sterile trout in tanks somehow destroying the wild salmon brand — as if a Fairbanks-raised char is going to dethrone Copper River kings. Fearmongering isn’t policy, and hand-wringing over optics won’t solve food insecurity in rural Alaska. HB 111 is the kind of cautious innovation we need — and it deserves more than the knee-jerk paranoia it got in its April 10 committee hearing.
Thumbs down. Spring flooding: Breakup is here, and Interior Alaska is rolling the dice on flood risks like it’s a springtime tradition. With years of historic floods and ice jam disasters behind us, communities on the waters’ edge know to be on alert. The Chena Basin is sitting on a snowpack buffet, and if we get a sudden warm-up, we’re going to be dealing with a lot more than muddy boots. Areas from Manley to Moose Creek need to be on high alert — not just crossing fingers and hoping for the best. This isn’t the time for “wait and see†— it’s time for sandbags, evacuation plans, and staying plugged into weather alerts. Floods don’t care about optimism; they care about physics. So Interior Alaska, don’t get caught wading in hindsight — plan ahead, stay safe and don’t treat flood warnings like background noise.
Thumbs up. Cleanup Day: Dedicated Alaskans are gearing up for Cleanup Day on May 10. This annual event is a shining example of community spirit, as volunteers across the region unite to clear debris revealed by melting snow. In Fairbanks, Golden Heart Clean Up Day is coordinated by various local organizations and encourages residents to tidy up their communities with volunteers known as “Heavy Haulers” assisting in collecting the filled bags. These efforts not only beautify our towns but also foster a sense of pride and responsibility among residents. A heartfelt thank you to all the organizers, sponsors and volunteers who make Cleanup Day a success year after year. For more on the day, see tinyurl.com/fnsb-cleanup.
Thumbs up. From waste to resources: The Fairbanks Community Food Bank has rolled out “Ferm,†its new biodigester that’s turning food waste into garden gold. This is a win-win for Interior Alaska — cutting down on landfill waste while giving local gardeners and farmers a boost with nutrient-rich fertilizer. The machine not only supports food security by helping grow more food, but it also shows how innovation and community spirit can work hand in hand. Special thanks to the five local Lions Clubs and the Fairbanks North Star Borough for making this forward-thinking project possible. By transforming spoiled produce into something productive, the food bank is proving that every scrap has value. This project is a model of sustainability, stewardship and local resilience. Here’s to less waste, stronger gardens, and a more self-reliant Fairbanks.
