The Upside
Special education highlighted in Partner’s Club Superhero Hockey Game between high school rivals
Players from the West and Chugiak varsity boys hockey teams sported Batman and Captain America jerseys with special education students’ names on the back.
From mittens to groceries: Meet the woman helping kids thrive at Anchorage’s Russian Jack Elementary
Marti Guzman is a family service coordinator. She helps families overcome challenges so their kids can stay in school and thrive.
The Glenn Highway Christmas tree, an Alaska roadside icon, will keep shining
Jason Tolstrup, the Wasilla man who made sure the tree stayed lit for nearly 20 years, died in April. His twin brother will switch on the lights Thanksgiving Day.
Anchorage middle schooler triumphs in national civic engagement competition
Since age 6, Romig Middle School student Emily Brubaker has been advocating for legislation that would amend federal law and require health insurance companies to pay for congenital anomaly treatments.
Spanish, Yup’ik, Lao and more: Anchorage School District students speak a combined 112 languages
Anchorage is home to some of the most diverse public schools in the country. The school district relies on specialized programs to support its many students with language needs.
Nome woman finds business success with a modern take on a traditional garment
In a few years, Alice Bioff’s Naataq Gear has found thousands of Alaska customers for high-performance atikluks.
Hotel Captain Cook bellman retires after 44 years of witnessing Anchorage’s evolution
Ron Owen has spent his career welcoming dignitaries, celebrities and tourists from all over the world as a bellman at the Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage. In doing so, he’s become an informal ambassador for the city.
A woman-owned Anchorage thrift store pays it forward to Alaska charities
People who shop at and donate items to FashionPact select charities to receive 30% of the sale. “Knowing I’m having a real impact makes it worth it,” said owner Brittani Clancey.
A mom couldn’t find Yup’ik language books for her kids, so she made her own. Now, orders are rolling in.
Nikki Corbett and illustrator Katie O’Connor won a grant and, while juggling their responsibilities as parents and small-business owners, designed a coloring book for teaching the Yup’ik alphabet to young language learners.
