For those who love to fish, the Mat-Su Valley is the place to be this May.  The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) have reported that most of the lakes in Palmer and Wasilla AK have been ice free for more than a week and there is no better time than now to start fishing.  The Mat-Su Valley AK lakes are stocked with many catchable sized fish, including such types as rainbow trout and Dolly Varden char.

You can read about the latest places for good fishing in Mat-Su Valley AK from alaskaoutdoorjournal.com or visit Three Rivers Fly and Tackle’s website.

And for information on buying or selling property in the beautiful Mat-Su Valley AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

The Mat-Su Valley’s community-minded members engaged in a clean-up last week that helped refresh the look of the area.  This time of year allows volunteers to see the liter that has been left behind before and during the snowy months, and is a time to beautiful public places for the benefit of the entire community.  Last week over a hundred volunteers did just that, with a successful clean-up of Palmer AK.  Other organized clean-ups for the Mat-Su Valley are scheduled this month and can be found at the Frontiersman.  But you don’t have to wait for an organized clean-up to do your part in keeping the area looking gorgeous.

And for information on buying or selling real estate in the beautiful Mat-Su Valley AK, including Palmer and Wasilla, contact the experienced and friendly Kristan Cole Team today.  Your dream home is waiting for you!

Coming up from May 12-14, Mat-Su College is offering a photography workshop called “Digital Photography: From Camera to Print.”  This workshop will be taught by award-winning instructor Barry McWayne and is designed as a three-day study on camera types and their features, as well as using computers, software, and inkjet printers optimally for the best digital photos.  Barry McWayne is a noted Fairbanks, AK photographer and curator emeritus of the Museum of the North who, after more than 40 years as a photographer, has made a smooth transition from film to the digital world.

Class size is limited, but the workshop is open to all skill levels.  More on Bruce McWayne at the Frontiersman online.

And for more information on buying or selling property in the beautiful Mat-Su Valley AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

A team of consultants from an Austin, Texas based company known as TIP Strategies Inc. presented their strategic plan for economic development in Mat-Su Valley AK last week.  This strategic economic plan is all about attracting more high-wage jobs to the area.  TIP managing director Jon Roberts presented the idea of providing Anchorage businesses the opportunity to operate in the Valley.  It was also suggested that borough officials form a business-retention program to help existing businesses grow locally, and address the lack of high-quality office space available in the Valley.  Although many of the suggestions offered at the Wasilla AK luncheon last week by TIP seemed somewhat controversial to many, it is up to the community to follow it or not.

For more on this economic plan, which involves 80 small steps to economic development in Mat-Su Valley, visit ADN.com.

And for more information on buying or selling real estate in Mat-Su Valley AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Although growth in Mat-Su Valley AK has shown signs of slowing down, the area is still growing.  As reported earlier this year in state population estimates, the Mat-Su Valley is seeing their average growth rate per year which was 3.8 from 2000-2009 fall to 2.6 percent.  But Mat-Su Borough officials are indicating that 2.6 percent is a healthy growth rate and will continue to be a good thing for the area.  With the addition of some 25,000 residents in nearly the past decade, demand for local services has been driven up, enlivening the economy.

The state population growth figures have been fairly accurate in the past, but there is a margin of error in reporting these statistics in general; the 2010 census data for next year is expected to prove a great baseline for state use in planning the future of Mat-Su Valley.

For more information on Mat-Su Valley AK news, visit Adn.com

For more on real estate in Mat-Su Valley AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

The 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is underway in Willow AK.  This unique and exciting sled dog race is an annual event and involves sled dog racing enthusiasts from all over.  This year almost half of the 120 volunteers to help teams get safely to the start were from other states who enjoy the work and being involved with the dogs.  Each volunteer has to be trained by taking the Iditarod’s dog handling class to be sure everyone has the proper gear and methods of dealing with dog teams.  These volunteers are required to be at a level of fitness that will allow them to jog beside the team and do other strenuous checks to ensure safety. One volunteer, as reported by the Frontiersman, came from as far as South Africa to be a part of the races this year.

With more than 1,000 dogs involved in the races, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race has an enthusiasm behind it that draws a huge fan base each year.

For updates on the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, visit the Frontiersman online.

For information on buying and selling property in Anchorage, including Palmer and Wasilla AK, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

New Ski Facility expected in 2011

The new Hatcher Pass Nordic skiing facility plans are moving forward in Mat-Su Valley AK.  This month, Steven Noble, the project engineer for DOWL HKM, presented to the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau about what to expect for this skiing facility project.  The environmental impact statement is expected to be completed in November, and design work should wrap up in April of 2011.  Construction is slated for next summer which will include a parking lot, transit hub, and access road.  Noble pointed out that the environmental impact statement is being done very quickly for this project, as most federally funded projects take 5 to 10 years to complete this stage.  After the draft of the environmental impact statement is brought to the public eye in April, there will be about 18 months of time for public input.  The new Hatcher Pass Nordic skiing facility is anticipated to be operational in fall of 2011.

For more news on the latest developments in Mat-Su Valley AK, visit the Frontiersman online.

And for all your Mat-Su Valley AK real estate endeavors, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

One of Mat-Su Valley AK’s very own is representing the U.S. in the Vancouver Winter Olympics this year.  Kerry Weiland, a determined hockey player, was named to the U.S. Olympic women’s ice hockey team last December where she made her debut in the Winter Games with a 12-1 win over China.  As reported in the Frontiersman, friends, relatives and former coaches all attested to Weiland’s determination to realize her Olympic dreams.  Weiland was also credited as being the first girl to be named first-team all-conference in boys’ ice hockey at Palmer High, and later at the University of Wisconsin she became the first player to be named All-American in the history of the Badgers’ women’s hockey program.

For more on Weiland, including career highlights and achievements, visit the Frontiersman online.  And be sure to stay tuned to the Winter Olympics!

For all your real estate needs, whether buying or selling property in Mat-Su Valley AK including Palmer, Wasilla, and Anchorage Alaska, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

The Mat-Su Valley has recently been seeing some new project plans from the Alaska Railroad Corp. coming to light.  The plans for a rail service to Port MacKenzie aren’t new, but more detail was allotted the public last week when Evangelo’s restaurant in Wasilla AK allowed placards explaining the Valley projects to be posted, with officials from Alaska Railroad Corp. ready to answer questions.  Some of the detailed projects include the Mat-Su Borough’s plans for rail service to Port MacKenzie, new bathrooms at Talkeetna station, new concrete and steel supports for the Matanuska River bridge, and the straightening of tracks in Wasilla.  The straightening of the tracks will be targeted at the area south of the Parks Highway in the Fairview Loop area, and the project is expected to be done in phases.

For more details on these projects visit the Frontiersman online.

For more information on real estate in Mat-Su Valley AK including Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer properties, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.

Finding a real tree in Mat-Su Valley AK for the Holidays

Finding that perfect Christmas tree is a tradition for many families and the Mat-Su Valley AK area has some great places to go to keep the tradition alive.  In Anchorage AK visit Bob Smith’s Minnesota Christmas Trees or Northern Pacific Enterprises to find that lovely evergreen that will be the centerpiece of your holiday festivities.  Available tree types can include the wonderful aroma of Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Fraser Fir, full Norway pine, the green/blue-green of Scotch Pine, White Pine, Colorado Spruce, and White Spruce.

And remember a few tips for keeping your tree fresh throughout the holidays:

• Shake off any loose needles before setting up the tree and give it a second cut before setting it in a bucket of water.
• Keep your tree properly watered and regulate the temperature of the room the tree will be displayed in to about 65 degrees.

For more information on AK tree farms visit americantowns.com.

For more information on buying or selling homes in Anchorage AK including Wasilla and Palmer, contact The Kristan Cole Team today.