The Anchor Point Snow Rondi saw high energy and mass turnout last weekend. Featuring a five-day schedule packed with new and returning events, the annual winter festival organized by the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce had something fun for everyone.
Cloudless blue skies and sunshine boosted everyone’s moods as they braved high winds and below-freezing temperatures to line up for Saturday’s parade, a key Snow Rondi feature each year. Participants in this year’s parade included Western Emergency Services, the Anchor Point Senior Center, Chapman School staff and students, the Homer OPUS Chapman Eagle Ensemble, the Kenai Peninsula Trail Blazers 4-H Club, and others.
Following the parade were kids snowshoe races held at Fireweed Meadows golf course. Anchor Point youth strapped on snowshoes for this casual event and participated in short-distance races or relays until they tired themselves out. At the end, relay racers were given medals for first, second and third places according to the order in which each relay team finished.
Community Awards
The chamber of commerce also revived the Anchor Point Community Awards this year.
In previous years, awardees were chosen by the chamber. This year, however, choosing the winners was a community effort. The chamber put it to Anchor Point residents to nominate community members for each award category and, beginning in February, cast their votes to determine the category winners.
Traditional categories included Youth of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Educator/Faculty of the Year, Business of the Year and the Golden Deed Award. The chamber also created a Lifetime Achievement Award which was given out for the first time at the awards ceremony on Saturday.
More than 70 community members, businesses and organizations were nominated for this year’s awards.
2024 Community Award Winners
Youth of the Year: Zayne Adams
Citizen of the Year: Heidi Adams
Senior Citizen of the Year: Jolayne Soplanda
Educator/Faculty of the Year: Heidi Stokes
Business of the Year: VFW Post 10221
Golden Deed Award: The Adams family (Jake, Heidi, Zayne and Jaxen)
Lifetime Achievement Award: Clifford and Cheryl Shafer
Snow Rondi Dog Show
The Snow Rondi Dog Show returned for a second year in bigger and better form. Held in the Chapman School gym, 20 dogs were registered and had the opportunity to show off and perform tricks for the gathered audience and judges.
This year’s judges were Claudio Lagoa, owner of the recently established Chugach Animal Clinic in Anchor Point, Pam Carpenter and Dave Webb. The show was sponsored by the Anchor Point Senior Center and hosted by emcees Dustin Poindexter and Van Hawkins.
A raffle was also held at the show, with prizes including dog beds, toys and treats, and bags of dog food. All proceeds from the raffle were dedicated to funding future Snow Rondi Dog Shows.
2024 Snow Rondi Dog Show Award Categories
Biggest Dog: Wellington, 4-year-old Great Pyrenees. Owner Emily Knapp.
Smallest Dog: Oscar Mayer, 3-month-old Mini Dachshund. Owner Emily Knapp.
Best Manners: Cheddar, 1.5-year-old Australian Shepherd. Owner Mary Simondsen.
Funniest Dog: Ollie, 2.5-year-old Goldendoodle. Owner Nan Williams.
Most Unique: Mr. Rodgers, 4-year-old All-American (mutt). Owner Mia Roberston.
Best Costume: Doxy, 11-year-old Mini Dachshund. Owner Bobby Ness.
Dog That Looks Most Like Its Owner: Rosie, 1.5-year-old Labradoodle. Owner Chelsea Anderson.
Judges’ Choice, 1st Place: Ollie, 2.5-year-old Goldendoodle. Owner Nan Williams.
Judges’ Choice, 2nd Place: Cheddar, 1.5-year-old Australian Shepherd. Owner Mary Simondsen.
Judges’ Choice, 3rd Place: Doxy, 11-year-old Mini Dachshund. Owner Bobby Ness.
For more information on the 2024 Snow Rondi events, visit the Anchor Point Snow Rondi Facebook page.
Chapman School students and cheerleaders march in the annual Snow Rondi parade on Saturday, March 2 on Milo Fritz Road in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News) Delcenia Cosman/Homer News Rox Shafer (front) leads the pack during the Snow Rondi kids’ snowshoe races on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Fireweed Meadows golf course in Anchor Point, Alaska.
Anchor Point youth run towards the finish line during the Snow Rondi kids’ snowshoe races on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Fireweed Meadows golf course in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point youth run a relay during the Snow Rondi kids’ snowshoe races on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Fireweed Meadows golf course in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce board of directors president Dawson Slaughter presents the Golden Deed Award to the Adams family (pictured from left to right: Zayne Adams, Heidi Adams, Jake Adams. Not pictured: Jaxen Adams) during the Community Awards ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the VFW in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Commander Chuck Collins (left) accepts the Business of the Year award on behalf of the VFW Post 10221 during the Community Awards ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the VFW in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce board of directors president Dawson Slaughter (right) presents Chapman School principal Heidi Stokes with the Educator/Faculty of the Year Award during the Community Awards ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the VFW in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce board of directors president Dawson Slaughter (right) presents Heidi Adams (left), canteen manager at VFW Post 10221, with the Citizen of the Year Award during the Community Awards ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the VFW in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Ollie, a 2.5-year-old Goldendoodle, performs a trick for the judges with owner Nan Williams at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Ollie was awarded Judges’ Choice 1st place. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Wellington, a four-year-old Great Pyrenees, shakes paws with owner Emily Knapp at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Wellington was awarded “Biggest Dog” by the judges. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Rosie, a 1.5-year-old Labradoodle, sits obediently for owner Chelsea Anderson at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Rosie was awarded “Dog That Looks Most Like Its Owner” by the judges. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Three-month-old mini dachshund Oscar Mayer is carried by his owner to the judges’ table at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Oscar Mayer was awarded “Smallest Dog” and Judges’ Choice 3rd place. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Cheddar the Dog sits in a box and waits patiently for a treat from owner Mary Simondsen (left) at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Cheddar the Dog, led by owner Mary Simondsen (right) leaps through a hoop at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Cheddar and Simondsen won “Best Mannered” and Judges’ Choice 2nd place. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Owner Mia Robertson leads her dog, Mr. Rodgers, as he tracks a birch oil-scented Q-tip at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Robertson and Mr. Rodgers were awarded “Most Unique” by the judges. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Bobby Ness awards Doxy, an 11-year-old mini dachshund, with a treat for performing tricks at the Snow Rondi Dog Show on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in the Chapman School gym in Anchor Point, Alaska. Costumed as a pair of frogs, Ness and Doxy were awarded “Best Costume” by the judges. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
