Seven age divisions competed in the children’s
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 5:27 am
“A lot of us are on pretty steep slopes out here, and we have a lot of shade. And this site had been empty for years,” said Sally Bibb, a Community Garden. “There used to be a hatchery here, so we had this great big open space here with pretty good sun exposure, proximity to water, parking, and it was flat.”
Gardeners still have to contend with cold winds coming off Sheep Creek and the Gastineau Channel, so many use hoop houses and other coverings to shield their plants. They have the most luck with kale, potatoes, lettuce and other hardy species, and this year, garlic is doing well.
“Every year, people are trying little different combinations of things,” Bibb said.
While each volunteer has their own garden bed s country email list and plots, community patches of rhubarb, strawberries, and raspberries are a group effort.
“It really brings together people from our neighborhood. I’ve lived out here my whole life, and I’ve met neighbors here who I’ve seen, but I’ve never had conversations with. I’ve met them here in this garden. So it’s been a really nice addition to our neighborhood,” Bibb said.The annual Douglas watermelon-eating contest at Savviko Park launched Independence Day 2025 festivities on July 3.
contest, with each participant receiving a silver dollar and the choice of a miniature flag or a beach ball. The victor of the 7- to 8-year-old group, Addi Johnson, said the contest “made her really happy.”
Competitive watermelon eating is a family affair for the Johnsons. Addi’s sister, Nora, competed with the 10-year-olds, and their father, Dominique Johnson, took the adult title. Cheers echoed off the shelter walls for every melon contestant, with photographers capturing their feats.Up the hill on St. Ann’s Avenue, soapbox car derby time trials were underway. About 45 kids rolled down a short ramp on a trailer positioned at the summit, speeding to the bottom of the avenue. Two rows of tires narrowed the pavement track to prevent collisions with the crowd of spectators lined up behind the barriers. Each rider’s precise time was recorded in preparation for the July 4 main derby event, always held after the Douglas parade.
Gardeners still have to contend with cold winds coming off Sheep Creek and the Gastineau Channel, so many use hoop houses and other coverings to shield their plants. They have the most luck with kale, potatoes, lettuce and other hardy species, and this year, garlic is doing well.
“Every year, people are trying little different combinations of things,” Bibb said.
While each volunteer has their own garden bed s country email list and plots, community patches of rhubarb, strawberries, and raspberries are a group effort.
“It really brings together people from our neighborhood. I’ve lived out here my whole life, and I’ve met neighbors here who I’ve seen, but I’ve never had conversations with. I’ve met them here in this garden. So it’s been a really nice addition to our neighborhood,” Bibb said.The annual Douglas watermelon-eating contest at Savviko Park launched Independence Day 2025 festivities on July 3.
contest, with each participant receiving a silver dollar and the choice of a miniature flag or a beach ball. The victor of the 7- to 8-year-old group, Addi Johnson, said the contest “made her really happy.”
Competitive watermelon eating is a family affair for the Johnsons. Addi’s sister, Nora, competed with the 10-year-olds, and their father, Dominique Johnson, took the adult title. Cheers echoed off the shelter walls for every melon contestant, with photographers capturing their feats.Up the hill on St. Ann’s Avenue, soapbox car derby time trials were underway. About 45 kids rolled down a short ramp on a trailer positioned at the summit, speeding to the bottom of the avenue. Two rows of tires narrowed the pavement track to prevent collisions with the crowd of spectators lined up behind the barriers. Each rider’s precise time was recorded in preparation for the July 4 main derby event, always held after the Douglas parade.