Summer

The Children's Lunchbox, a group that partners with Bean's Cafe, kicked off its summer meal program on Monday, delivering and serving up free lunches and dinner for kids at a couple of sites in Anchorage. Fifty-six lunches were served at the Muldoon Boys and Girls Club, a number which drew praise from program director Lynnette Ortolano. "On average, the Boys and Girls Club serves about 90 to 100 a day. On the first day of summer, this is a really good turnout," Ortolano said.

by Channel 2 News staff Monday, June 21, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- It looks like summer gas prices are starting to climb. Average gasoline prices in Anchorage have risen two cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.37 per gallon Sunday. The national average increased almost four cents per gallon in the last week, bringing the national average to $2.73 a gallon. Sunday's prices were almost 50 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago.

by Channel 2 News staff Tuesday, June 29, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Anchorage Public Library's "Live at the Library" summer concert series continued Tuesday with a mix of jazz tunes. Many people spent their lunch hour listening to Melissa "Jazz Mom" Fisher perform outside the Loussac Library.  The concert series returned to the library's lawn after being rained in the last two weeks. Some locals have made attending the concerts a summer tradition. "We come two times a week on Tuesday for 'Live at the Library' and then the girls get to go up and check out some show for the week, and the next time they go and check out some books," said parent Missy Mathews.

If the weather keeps up the way it's been, 2011 very well could prove to be another record low year for sea ice in the Arctic. The big annual thaw is well underway in high-pressure conditions that are very similar to 2007; when climate researchers recorded the lowest ever level of summer sea ice. “That is a pattern that we know tends to melt a lot of ice. It’s very warm,” said Mark Serreze, Director of the National Snow and Ice Data...

The Muscular Dystrophy Association's Summer Camp came to a close Friday. It was a great getaway for kids this summer, after it was canceled last summer due to the H1N1 swine flu. This year's camp only had to contend with the rainy weather. Campers from across the state were able to enjoy a week of fun, adapted just for them. Many campers say their favorite activity is the horse-drawn carriage, courtesy of Jon Nauman along with Rainbow Connection's Annie Mabry. “Kids like us can come out and we can do all this stuff, like horseback riding,” said MDA camper Katlyn Pacillo.

An increased number of wasps this summer is keeping at least one local exterminator busy. Ken Perry, owner of Pied Piper Pest Control in Anchorage, says so far this season he has put poison on more than 100 wasp nests, compared to only about 25 last summer. "When you have a heavy snow load like we had this winter then they're just fine under there sleeping and waiting for the snow to go away until they can start going out and making nests again," Perry says. On Tuesday, he dealt with at least ten wasp nests.

by Channel 2 News staff Sunday, July 18, 2010 ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Port of Anchorage is offering an up-close look at local economic action with free tours of the port this summer. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., you can take a free bus tour of the port. Buses leave every 30 minutes from the Alaska Railroad corporate office. Along the tour, port guides point out the features that make it Alaska's premier port. There's also a stop at the port itself for free food.

The Anchorage Market and Festival opened for the summer this weekend, one week earlier than it did last year. Vendors say cooler temperatures are keeping some people away from the outdoor market opening weekend, but they're still planning on a busy season. Some vendors, like Papa B's Fruits, are adding another summer season to decades of business at the market. "It's all indicative of an early season-- the type of fruit, the temperature, the number of people--- slim numbers of people.

by The Associated Press Saturday, May 29, 2010 FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- Time to break out the fans in Fairbanks. Alaska's second-largest city recorded back-to-back 80-degree days Wednesday and Thursday and is poised to stay above that mark through the weekend. The temperature reached 82 degrees late Thursday afternoon, breaking the 20-year-old record for that date. The National Weather Service says it's doubtful any more records will be set this weekend.

Middle-school students got hands-on experience with math, science, and technology Monday at the first day of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Science Camp. Throughout the 12-day camp, held at the University of Alaska Anchorage, students will design bridges, build miniature windmills and dissect salmon. But for the camp's kickoff, the 54 students learned how to build computers, installing everything from the hard drive to the software. "They get to keep the computer if they finish the 8th grade and pass Algebra I, so that's the only stipulation for the computer.