2021 AUGUST 61 NORTH MAGAZINE

Natasha Webster & the Fall Arts Preview

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Andy Pennington / Publisher

Arts + Culture

Nina Wladkowski / Editor Brandi Nelson / Ad Director Jian Bautista / Graphic Designer & Production Coordinator Natasha Webster / Cover Photo

4 - 5 / Fall Arts Preview 6 - 7 / Artist profile: Natasha Webster

Contributors Bailey Berg, Amy Newman, Kirsten Swann Sales Kiera Clark, Krystyna Rickett, Ryan Estrada, Victoria Hansen

Food + Dining 8 - 9 / 5 Vegetables You Should Cook on Your Grill 10 / 6 Tips for Perfect Summer Pies

Shopping 11 - 12 / Business highlight: That Feeling Co. 13 - 14 / Open for Business

Home + Real Estate 15 - 16 / Growing Crops the Indoor Way 18 - 19 / Spruce Up Your Home for Little Money in a Short Time

Health + Fitness 20 - 21 / Savor the End of Summer, Safely 22 - 23 / 4 Ways to Protect Against Skin Cancer (Other Than Sunscreen) 24 - 25 / 4 Reasons to Eat Blueberries 26 - 27 / How to Prevent Bug Bites All Summer Long

Cover: Local Artist Natasha Webster | Fields of Fuchsia | 30 in x 48 in Acrylic, oil pastels, spray paint and art marker on gallery wrapped canvas

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Fall Arts Preview

Photo courtesy Alaska Youth Orchestras

How the show went on after the curtain fell on a pandemic year, and the gradual return of stage lights.

by Amy Newman Any other year, a Fall Arts Preview would be overflowing with plays, musicals and concert performances to keep Anchorage residents entertained and venues packed through the winter. But despite declining COVID-19 case counts and more than one-half of eligible Anchorage residents with at least one dose of the vaccine heading into summer, 2021 still isn’t quite like any other year.

When Anchorage ordered the doors of all non-essential businesses shuttered last March, performing arts organizations scrambled to keep the arts alive. Like other aspects of pandemic life, that meant going virtual, whether Zoom rehearsals or recording performances to upload and stream on the web. The offerings weren’t as robust as prior seasons, but they gave performers an outlet and let people feel, if only for a short time, that the world extended beyond the four walls of their home.

The Anchorage Museum digitized its content and made entire collections available online. The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and Anchorage Concert Chorus stitched together performers’ home recordings into a single concert performance. The Alaska Junior Theater (AJT), which typically hosts up to 100,000 guests each season across five performances, commissioned two original productions for Anchorage and Mat-Su School District teachers to watch with students online.

The decision to go virtual, however, came with some trepidation.

“Giving them something that is similar to what they watch on the

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television every day, especially with everybody being online, I was hesitant to go virtual,” explained Lanie Dreas, executive director of AJT. “It’s not as good as being live, which is the whole point.”

Though virtual performances can’t replace the experience of seeing it live, there were unexpected bonuses. Cyrano’s Theatre Company devoted time it would have otherwise spent in rehearsals and production to upgrading the theatre and strategic planning.

Anchorage Youth Orchestras reevaluated its mission and will move from selecting “the cream of the crop and getting them ready to play” to “creat[ing] educational opportunities for children from very early on,” said Executive Director Denise Brown-Chythlook.

Going virtual also allowed organizations to reach a much wider audience.

“We know that it’s [the online exhibits] been accessed by not just people in Anchorage, but people around the world, which is kind of fun to see,” said Anchorage Museum CEO Julie Decker of its virtual collections. “So, in some ways, the reach has been … beyond what would happen in a normal program.”

Before diving into this fall’s offerings, a program note: A mere few months before this issue went to print, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had relaxed its guidance on large, indoor gatherings, and the Municipality removed both its mask mandate and emergency declaration. The unexpected change meant performing arts organizations had just begun discussing their fall

Photo courtesy Anchorage Concert Chorus

Anchorage Museum Borealis: Life in the Woods, by photographer Jeroen Toirkens and journalist Jelle Brandt Corstius, set to open November 19 at the Anchorage Museum, explores the stories and people of the Circumpolar North’s boreal zone.

Alaska Junior Theater Due to uncertainty over field trip policies for the fall, AJT will again offer performances online, with no in-person performances. Dreas said the season will likely include a newly commissioned piece in addition to last season’s productions by Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience Band and the Soul Street Dance Co. The Anchorage Concert Chorus’ 2020 Holiday Pops Concert put together individual recordings from every performer to stream online. This year’s live, in-person concert is scheduled for December at the Atwood Concert Hall. schedules. As such, this preview is not an exhaustive list of what is in store, with most organizations expecting to add more performances as the season draws closer. And, of course, schedules are contingent on no further restrictions being placed on indoor events.

With that caveat in mind, here is how Anchorage’s performing arts organizations plan to ensure the show will go on: Alaska Chamber Singers The Alaska Chamber Singers’ annual Christmas concert is tentatively for December 10-12; the times and venues have yet to be confirmed.

Anchorage Concert Association The Anchorage Concert Association will host a series of free, outdoor summer concerts: Hawaiian reggae band H3 were at Lions Park on July 15; the Super Saturated Strings performed at Chanshtnu Muldoon Park on July 28; and Spenard Jazz Fest musicians will play on August 12 at Westchester Lagoon.

For fall, the ACA has several confirmed shows at the Performing Arts Center and is finalizing details for several others, Executive Director Jason Hodges said. On October 30, Hawaiian singer-songwriter Paula Fuga, a three-time guest artist at The White House who has recorded with Ziggy Marley and Jack Johnson, will play at the Atwood Concert Hall, followed by Canadian singer-songwriter Royal Wood on November 5.

Alaska Youth Orchestras Alaska Youth Orchestras is “plowing through as best we can with a normal season during abnormal times,” said Brown-Chythlook.

Their first live concert since last March — and the first conducted by new music director Maestro Bruce Wood — is scheduled for after Thanksgiving at the Performing Arts Center.

Anchorage Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Sherri Burkhart Reddick said ASO’s 2021-22 season will be different from last year, but “how far we get to go to what people remember as normal, I’m not sure yet.” The ASO won’t finalize any decisions until it can assess the comfort level of patrons and performers for a return to in-person productions.

Cyrano’s Theatre Company Cyrano’s season opens in October with Ripcord, by David LindsayAbaire, which Producing Artistic Director Teresa Pond calls a “madcap, twisted” comedy about two elderly women and reluctant neighbors at an assisted living facility. Other performances (dates uncertain) include 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder, about a group of 1950s Midwestern widows whose annual quiche brunch is interrupted by a nuclear bomb threat; the comedy Fallen Angels by English playwright Noel Coward; and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Ending the year, Celtic sextet Lunasa, called “the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet,” will perform on December 11; singersongwriter and mandolin player Chris Thile performs December 12.

A decision on whether The Nutcracker will return this holiday is expected by summer.

Anchorage Concert Chorus The Anchorage Concert Chorus’s annual Holiday Pops Concert is scheduled for December (date uncertain) at the Atwood Concert Hall. Managing Director Stephen McLallen said he expects to live-stream the concert for those who cannot attend in person.

Photo courtesy Alaska Junior Theater

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For artist Natasha Webster, a certain kind of interaction sparks a special kind of joy. These are the moments when kids stop to watch her paint, or people pause to comment on the specific subjects of her work.

“Seeing their faces and their reactions, and hearing people say, ‘Oh, we want to see more Black art in Alaska,’ or ‘My children, they see someone that looks like them doing art, and they love art’ — it melts my heart every single time,” Webster said. “Those are moments that are so priceless, because it is often that — particularly in a space like a museum or gallery, unless you’re in a community that has had the resources and the history to create these spaces — our children won’t see it. They won’t see people like them, they won’t see paintings that look like them and that tell their story.”

Webster aims to change that.

A self-trained painter and poet, she’s one of the acclaimed young Black artists whose influence has begun to reverberate throughout Alaska art and culture. Her work focuses on issues of human justice, social justice, mental health, women’s rights and empowerment, driven by a passion for positive change, equality and affording opportunities for those who may be underestimated. Her paintings have been displayed in Alaska and Outside; she’s taught classes, served as a virtual artist-inresidence at the Anchorage Museum, and as a member of an advisory panel for the museum’s 2021 exhibit “Black Lives in Alaska: Journey, Justice, Joy.” The exhibit, on view through Feb. 13, 2022, features archival photos and collected materials showcasing the richness and resilience of Black lives in Alaska; corresponding events included a family art class and a panel discussion with local artists. Working with Webster on new programs for museum audiences was “a gift,” said Community Outreach Archivist Julie Varee.

“She just has this great perspective that she brings to anything,” Varee said. “She’ll have an idea, and then she’s able to explain it in a way that is accessible to non-artists, and it’s always this fresh, interesting vision.”

It comes from a lifetime of experience, a deep well of curiosity and a growing network of community.

Raised in a military family, Webster grew up in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and beyond, traveling to places across America and around the world, exploring new ways of creative expression along the way. As a child she sang, wrote songs, doodled, colored, made up skits, and later fell in love

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Party of One | 36 in x 48 in Acrylic, oil pastels and art marker on gallery wrapped canvas

with art after taking a class in high school, she said. But she went on to study sociology and her professional career turned to social work, the field that eventually brought her to Alaska in 2014.

The state shaped and sharpened her focus in more ways than one.

She started experimenting with new materials and mediums, and her experiences in social work — and as a Black woman in the workplace — began to weigh heavily in her art. Her pieces shifted from “super abstract” creations to pointed, poignant reflections of lived experience.

Having authentic artwork and actually reflecting my community — it gives people a space to say, ‘Ok, it’s not just me.'

“I either worked in certain situations that shone a light on those issues needing to be addressed, or I witnessed and experienced certain things that made me want to say, ‘I’ve experienced this, I’ve seen this, how can I express either my understanding of it, or a solution to the problem?’”

Webster said.

For inspiration, she looked to other Black artists, in Alaska and then nationwide: Nina Simone, James Baldwin, Jean-Michel Basquiat. She found similarities in their struggles and passions and hopes for a better community; they galvanized her to keep painting about things that matter, issues of injustice and individual impacts of racism, “things that are hard to talk about.”

“It was trying to find a voice in a chaotic environment that really, really informed who I was inspired by — certain artists who do talk about the injustices that minorities endure,” Webster said. “I feel like it helped me to express those things in a productive, creative way, but also to show other people, in a creative way, ‘You’re not alone.’”

Art opened the door to new connections in Alaska. Along with Anchorage artist Vonnie Gaither, Webster helped plant the seeds for the grassroots collective African American Artists of Alaska. Together,

Photo courtesy Natasha Webster

they created their own spaces.

Webster built out her own website (tashawebster.com) to host and sell her art, and shared her work via pop-up events in various Anchorage venues. She sold her first large original work during a show in the lobby of a local yoga studio; she participated in First Friday exhibits and live painting shows, and felt energized every time someone paused to watch, to absorb, to connect.

“Having authentic artwork and actually reflecting my community — it gives people a space to say, ‘Ok, it’s not just me,’” Webster said.

That kind of representation has a ripple effect throughout the community.

When it came to “Black Lives in Alaska,” Webster’s ideas included a skin tone-inspired color scheme proposal, complete with Fenty Beauty makeup swatches as examples, museum staff said: The proposal was embraced by the group and incorporated into the final exhibit, introducing warm new shades to the previously austere white walls of the museum itself. The idea was innovative and poetic and political, bringing new meaning to the concept of representation, the chief curator said.

“She’s a really great example of a young artist in an active role around organizing and carving out space,” DuBrock said. “Young artists need role models like (that) … she’s a great role model for younger folks.”

Webster dreams of one day having a space of her own; a gallery to share her ideas and artwork in a permanent venue.

“I just want to create,” she said. “To create from a space of freedom, to express my voice without filters ... to continue to inspire other young people of color that they can do it, too.”

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Premium Health News Service, EatingWell.com

Cooking vegetables on the grill imparts a delicious smokiness. Here are cooking instructions for five vegetables particularly well-suited to grilling, but these are just the beginning.

1. Artichokes

2. Bell Peppers

Amount for 4 servings: 1 pound

Amount for 4 servings: 2 large peppers

Prep: Halve and scoop out the choke if it’s prickly. Brush with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil) and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground pepper — or with a flavoring combination of your choice.

Prep: Halve, seed and stem the peppers. Brush with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil) and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground pepper — or with a flavoring combination of your choice.

Grilling time on medium-high: Turn occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 8 minutes total.

Grilling time on medium-high: Turn occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 5 minutes total.

Nutrition information per serving (with oil, salt and pepper): 85 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 6 g fiber; 252 mg sodium; 422 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Folate (19% daily value), Magnesium (17% dv), Vitamin C (14% dv).

1 Carbohydrate Serving.

Nutrition information per serving (with oil, salt and pepper): 54 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 5 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 148 mg sodium; 173 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (127% daily value), Vitamin A (16% dv). 0 Carbohydrate Servings.

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3. Corn Amount for 4 servings: 4 ears Prep: Husk the corn. Brush with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil) and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground pepper — or with a flavoring combination of your choice.

Grilling time on medium-high: Turn occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 8 to 12 minutes total.

Nutrition information per serving: 120 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 2 g fiber; 161 mg sodium; 277 mg potassium. 1 Carbohydrate Serving.

4. Portobello Mushrooms Amount for 4 servings: 4 large Prep: Remove stems and scrape out gills with a spoon, if desired. Brush with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil) and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground pepper — or with a flavoring combination of your choice.

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Grilling time on medium-high: Turn occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 6 to 8 minutes total.

Charters

Nutrition information per serving (with oil, salt and pepper): 50 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 4 g fiber; 153 mg sodium; 299 mg potassium. 0 Carbohydrate Servings.

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5. Zucchini Amount for 4 servings: 1 pound Prep: Slice diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Brush with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil) and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground pepper — or with a flavoring combination of your choice.

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Grilling time on medium-high: Turn occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, 4 to 6 minutes total.

Nutrition information per serving (with oil, salt and pepper): 49 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 5 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 148 mg sodium; 284 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (20% daily value).

0 Carbohydrate Servings.

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What’s better than a perfectly tart slice of fruit pie on a warm summer evening? Maybe a scoop of ice cream with it! Fresh fruit pies are a delicious way to make use of the season’s strawberries, raspberries, peaches, plums, blueberries or nectarines, but the crust needs to shine just as much as that amazing summer fruit.

Here, EatingWell magazine’s expert Test Kitchen staff members share six essential tips for making perfect, healthier pie crust. Pie-crust novices and seasoned pros alike can use these tricks to ensure a crust that’s flaky and delicious — ice cream optional.

1. Use the right flour.

3. Swap in healthier fats.

I love the taste of butter and know it can’t always be replaced, especially in baked goods, but to keep saturated fat in check, use canola oil instead of butter as much as possible. Tablespoon for tablespoon, butter has seven times more saturated fat than oil.

Experiment with your favorite recipe by replacing half of the butter with a heart-healthy oil like canola or walnut oil.

4. Make sure your water is ice-cold.

The colder the water, the less likely the butter is to melt while you knead your dough. And, believe me, you don’t want your butter to melt. By keeping it solid until the pie is baking in the oven, you will create a much flakier pie crust.

At EatingWell, we recommend using a mix of whole-wheat pastry flour and all-purpose flour in our crust, even if you’re using a recipe that calls for all-purpose flour. Why? The pastry flour has less glutenforming potential, keeping baked goods tender. Also, you get a boost of fiber from the whole wheat (12 more grams per cup) and more essential B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. Some people like the nutty flavor of whole-wheat flour. Others don’t. So we use a mix of all-purpose and whole-wheat pastry flour to tone down the wholesomeness of the whole-wheat.

5. Don’t overwork the pie dough.

2. Be sure to measure the flour accurately.

6. Refrigerate the pie crust before rolling it out.

Keep in mind that for any baking, it’s important to measure your flour properly. Don’t just scoop into the flour with the measuring cup. That technique adds a lot of extra flour to the measure and can result in dry baked goods. EatingWell’s technique for properly measuring flour is to spoon the flour into your measuring cup, then scrape across the top with a knife to level it off.

Pie dough likes to be cold from the beginning. By chilling your pie dough for an hour or more before rolling it out, you are more likely to keep the butter solid, so that it melts more slowly as your pie bakes. This, in turn, will make for a flakier pie crust. And that will make for a pie to remember.

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Some people see the small bits of butter in the dough and try to knead it until they have disappeared. Overkneading hurts the flakiness factor, and forms gluten, making the dough tough. Instead, cut your butter into small pieces and quickly rub them into the dry ingredients until the pieces are smaller but still visible. It should only take a few quick kneads to bring the dough together. And it’s less work on your part.

For Anchorage plant shop, community cultivates growth

by Kirsten Swann

At least once a week, Wasilla resident Briseida Avalos makes the drive into Anchorage, bound for an oasis of lush greenery in an industrial section of town. Inside That Feeling Co., customers are greeted by the aroma of espresso, a bright wave of viridescent vegetation and the warm touch of afternoon sunlight flooding through frosted glass.

The popular Anchorage coffee and houseplant shop has been a regular destination for Avalos since the day it opened more than a year and a half ago. An administrator of the 8,700 memberstrong Facebook group “Alaska Houseplant Enthusiasts,” Avalos is one of the many Alaskans who now count themselves among That Feeling Co.’s frequent customers.

“The whole vibe that you get there — full of love and peace, the way you’re greeted — it made it an amazing experience, and it’s something that has never changed,” Avalos said.

That vibe plays a big role in the business’s blossoming success: After opening in early 2020, just weeks before the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shop found ways to pivot, innovate, survive and even thrive. Today, it’s preparing to repot itself into a new space in downtown Anchorage.

The transformation represents the results of a consistent labor of love.

“We wanted to curate a really community-oriented space,” said co-owner Tanya Val, sipping coffee on a low couch surrounded by foliage and light in the shop one spring morning. “We wanted to make sure everyone felt safe and comfortable here.”

Those feelings were part of the business plan from the beginning.

When Val opened the shop with her husband (then-fiancé), Carson Baldiviez, they found themselves inspired by the self-care and contentment that came from filling their own space with something green and alive.

“It’s very fulfilling to watch something grow,” Baldiviez said. “It’s really nice to feel you’re thriving with your plants, and you’re bringing them good watering and light schedule and they’re happy — it really does make you feel good.”

Inside the shop, plants cover nearly every surface — lined across tables, spilling from shelves, tucked into corners, arranged in rows on the floor. They overflow through open doors into neighboring Johnny’s Produce, giving the grocery owned by Baldiviez’s parents a lush, forest-like feeling. Customers can find

Photo courtesy Tanya Val

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everything from tiny, delicate air plants to thick, sturdy snake plants, climbing vines and assorted cacti. There are more than 100 varieties at any one time, and the shop brings in around 1,000 plants a week, Baldiviez said.

The greenery shares the space with a range of familiar, sustainable local goods. Customers can order drinks sourced from Uncle Leroy’s Coffee or Indigo Tea Lounge; gift shop selections include handmade products by Happy Mountain Designs, Fringe + Fiber and Waterbody (a skincare line from Wrangell). Shop merchandise is printed locally by Alaska Serigraphics.

These community connections have kept the shop rooted from the start.

On opening day in early 2020, word spread across social media.

In the Facebook group “Alaska Houseplant Enthusiasts,” a posse of plant lovers made plans to visit.

By the end of the day, the store was nearly sold out, Baldiviez said.

At the same time, the shop continues to find ways to cultivate support for the community. Working with its employees to identify specific needs and causes, it has hosted fundraisers for the Alaska SeaLife Center and for Pride; it held It’s really nice to feel you’re a virtual benefit concert in support of the thriving with your plants, women’s health initiative Let Every Woman Know. It remained deeply supportive and you’re bringing them of the community and the community good watering and light reciprocated, through the lockdown and beyond. schedule and they’re happy

In the whirlwind weeks that followed, word spread like wildfire, and the shop embraced its role as a budding community space.

They hosted a pop-up market for 10 local makers; they brought live music and a food truck into the parking lot. When the pandemic prompted the first wave of lockdowns just a few weeks later, they pivoted to curbside sales and virtual events: Val and Baldiviez tapped their professional backgrounds in marketing, graphic design and photography to build out a new website, and quickly. They were overwhelmed by the customer response.

“They were on our website like they were buying Taylor Swift tickets,” Baldiviez said.

The craving for plants was widespread and well-documented. In the new era of hunkering down and working from home, people

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were hungry to fill spaces with more greenery, more growth and more life, the owners found. From online retailers to local shops in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and beyond, house plant-based businesses reported increased sales and surging customer interest, according to local news reports.

“We didn’t know plants were going to take off to the extent they have,” Val said.

For Avalos, the Wasilla green thumb, the combination of plant and personal care is cathartic. The feeling of fresh dirt in her hands is healing; the individual attention from shop staff is a consistent bright spot. It became common for customers to find cute handwritten notes tucked into online orders, “the little things that can literally change someone’s day,” Avalos said. And those little things have a cumulative effect.

Now the shop is preparing to move into a new space, an openconcept indoor market shared with Johnny’s Produce, La Bodega and Fire Island Bakery. They’ll transplant their business from East Dowling Road to the edge of downtown, but the roots remain as deep as ever. The growth is a testament to the nurturing power of houseplants, and the symbiotic power of community.

“We’ve seen how supportive Anchorage is — in a bigger way than we thought,” Baldiviez said. “We’ve been feeling the love from so many people.”

Open for Business

Anchorage unveils new places to eat, shop and play

by Bailey Berg

It may feel hard to believe, but there were restaurants, breweries, shops and other businesses that were created over the course of the last year - quite a few of them, in fact.

After overcoming the inherent challenges due to the pandemic, the future feels hopeful for these seven Anchorage businesses that recently flicked on their “open” signs, or are planning to soon.

Jeepney Filipino Hawaiian Fusion Food

For years Jeepney, named for the colorful public buses found throughout the Philippines, has served in-the-know Alaskans out of their roving food trucks. Within the last year the brand has opened, not one, but three brick-and-mortar restaurants in Anchorage. The first is in a strip mall at 9191 Old Seward Highway, the second is in the commissary at Joint Base Elmnedorf-Richardson, and the third is in the former Alleyway Grille near the corner of Arctic Boulevard and Fireweed Lane.

And yes, the food trucks are running still, too. The menu features Hawaiian favorites - think loco moco, kalua pork and poke bowls - Filipino mainstays, like pork adobo, lumpia and dinuguan, and dishes that marry the two, such as the fusion burrito that made them a household name.

Cafecito Bonito

Those hankering for a caffeine hit with a twist don’t have to look further than Cafecito Bonito. Many of the drinks here have a Latin American flair, like the horchata latte, inspired by a cinnamony-sweet rice milk drink popular in Central America; and the Mexican Chiapas cold brew, an iced coffee topped with crema de tequila cold foam. However, Estrella RodriguezNorthcutt, who runs the coffee shop single-handedly, is happy to make any of your other favorite java-based beverages, too.

The 6307 DeBarr Road shop also carries scones and pastries, as well as vegan, keto-friendly and gluten-free treats.

Tent City Taphouse

Considering this new gastropub is named after Anchorage’s humble roots, it makes sense that it continues to pay tribute to the state with a menu that calls upon largely local ingredients.

Popular favorites include the Arctic Cioppino, a soup made with halibut, salmon, king crab and shrimp; and the Halibut Alaskana, which serves halibut olympia style with creme fraiche, smoked lemon pan jus, braised fennel and house mashed potatoes. If that weren’t enough, the Taphouse carries a rotating selection of two dozen hard-to-find craft brews from around the state.

Vortex VR

If, when you think about arcades, your mind goes to old-school classics like Pac-Man and Galaga, you’re going to be in for a surprise at Vortex VR. The business, at 549 W. International Airport Road, Suite B8, focuses entirely on virtual reality games, spanning the entertainment spectrum from sports and shooting to those focusing on education and music. The games, which can be played solo or with a group, are fully immersive and use cutting-edge technology to transport you (virtually) anywhere.

FashionPact

A secondhand clothing store in downtown Anchorage opened this summer with the goal of helping others within the community. Each item at FashionPact, 575 Ingra Street, retails for $5, $3 of which will be kept by the business. Where the other $2 will go is decided by the donator and the purchaser — each is allowed to choose a charity to support. Some of the charities include Alaska Trails, Straw For Dogs and AK Child & Family. '

Magnetic North Brewing Company

Opening a new brewery in a competitive market like Anchorage isn’t easy, and it’s even harder during a pandemic-related lockdown. Though Magnetic North Brewing Company opened on April 11, 2020, it’s chugging right along. In addition to 61°north | August 2021

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serving craft beer, the business on 8861 Golovin Street also offers classes to guide newbie brewers through the process, from milling their grain to canning their batch.

At present, course attendees can make either a pale ale, a milkshake IPA, a black IPA or a wheat ale, and get the bragging rights that come with a successful brew day.

Moose’s Tooth

Ok, this one isn’t entirely new, but the announcement of a second Moose’s Tooth is exciting, particularly for anyone who has waited in their notoriously long lines for one-of-a-kind pizza and craft beer. Moose’s Tooth, second of its name, is set to open in fall or winter this year (or possibly early 2022) in what was formerly La Mex at 8330 King Street. Unlike the original location, the new restaurant is slated to have a full bar and will also have two large decks and a substantial parking lot. That’s something we can all say “cheers” to.

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2021 | 61°north

By Lori Zanteson | Premium Health News Service, Environmental Nutrition Newsletter Farming is moving indoors to help bring fresh food to urban environments and, ultimately, to feed the world efficiently, sustainably and cleanly. To feed a rapidly growing population, costly farming practices need to change. Industrial agriculture is responsible for over 70% of the global water supply, hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides in the U.S. alone, the loss of arable farmland and a high carbon footprint. Indoor agriculture is successfully tackling many of those challenges. It may not be a cure-all for all that's broken in modern agriculture, but it's certainly a leap into the future of farming and food production.

What is indoor farming?

Indoor farming is growing plants or crops entirely indoors. Often seen on a small scale, like a home greenhouse or basement, it usually refers to large scale commercial farming, popular in large cities where plots of land are not easily available or ideal for growing crops. Urban locations are being used to bring fresh, local produce to communities where it's not always accessible. Many utilize vertical farms (multilevel, green walls), which maximize the plants grown in a small area, producing far more than traditional outdoor, soil-based farms.

There are many variations of indoor growing methods, but hydroponics, aeroponics and artificial lights are commonly used to provide plants with nutrients and light needed for them to grow. Some indoor farms, like greenhouses, utilize a combination of natural and simulated resources, such as natural sunlight and liquid nutrient fertilizers. Others are completely controlled by the farmer. In controlled environment agriculture (CEA), farmers determine precise amounts of light exposure each crop receives, the nutrient levels provided, moisture levels and temperature. Not all crops are grown indoors, but lettuces, herbs, tomatoes and fruits are popular.

Eco-friendly?

Indoor farming is more efficient and uses fewer resources than traditional farming methods. A fraction of indoor farm space has the same crop yield as a much larger outdoor space. In fact, it's 100 times as productive as traditional agriculture. Indoor crops need less water (85% to 95% less), no pesticides, and grow twice as quickly because the climate, weather and seasons are controlled. They are also located in large cities, and are closer to consumers, so they don't travel long distances to market.

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Fewer food miles

Health impact

Reducing food miles, the distance food travels to consumers, helps indoor farms keep a low carbon footprint. "When greenhouses or other indoor agriculture systems can be put in place near consumers, the fuel and other energy involved in transporting and storing the foods can be reduced.

This can be a very positive thing, especially when considering issues such as food access barriers or large urban population centers," says Robin Currey, PhD., Director of Sustainable Food Systems at Prescott College, Arizona. Traditionally grown produce is generally grown in a large, central area and then shipped to cold storage, then transported across the country before it's finally delivered to markets. Indoor agriculture all but eliminates the polluting emissions of food distribution.

Indoor farmers claim that control over environmental conditions, including sunlight, fertilizer nutrients and no pesticides, improves crops in terms of health, nutrition, quality and flavor. In addition, the closed growing environment helps minimize risk of contamination from foodborne illness from factors like animal waste or tainted groundwater that can affect traditionally grown crops.

High energy Reliance upon high-tech indoor systems that include lighting, heating, cooling, hydroponics and more takes a lot of energy. Depending on climate, that can mean a significant environmental cost. A study published in a 2015 issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production found that heating greenhouses in France used so much energy that the tomatoes grown in them had a higher carbon footprint than imported tomatoes grown in unheated greenhouses in Morocco. Although Currey agrees the energy use is significant, she says "But with growth projections of upwards of 14 percent per annum in the controlled environment agriculture sector and energy accounting for upwards of 30 percent of operating costs, we can be assured that companies will be looking for energy and thus cost efficiencies."

How nutrition compares "The nutrient content of any plant is dependent on two global factors: genetics and environmental conditions," says Currey. Vitamin A content of one variety of pepper, she explains, can vary from another variety by a factor of nearly 20,000. Plants also get their nutrients from the soil, or in the case of indoor farming, from the soilless medium in which they are grown.

"Unsustainable agriculture can and does deplete the soil, leaving little for plants to uptake," says Currey.

"Sustainable agriculture in healthy soils results in healthy plants that can have higher micronutrient contents than a similar variety grown in a depleted soil." So, depending on the nutrient concentration, plants getting nutrients from hydroponic fertilizers can be as nutritious, or even more so than those grown in nutrient-rich soil.

Indoor farming's movement toward smaller footprint agriculture using technology to produce healthy food in a sustainable way that can make local produce accessible to more people can potentially change the way we feed the world. While there are several factors to consider between sustainably grown outdoor crops and indoor grown crops, the goal is the same — to make fresh, nutritious food accessible to all.

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16 August

2021 | 61°north

ADvERTORIAL

the Great Land

by Connie Yoshimura 907-229-2703 connie@bhhsalaska.com | connieyoshimura.com The name Alaska originates from the Aleut word— Alyeska—the great land. And how true that is with over 424,491,046 acres of land, more than a total of 23 states. According to the 2020 census, Alaska’s population is 736,081 or 577 acres per person, providing a plethora of lifestyle opportunities including hunting, fishing, skiing, or hiking on the 280 miles of maintained trails in Chugach State Park. But be BEAR AWARE! There is a bear for every 21 Alaskans.

Anchorage’s Lake Hood is the world’s largest and busiest seaplane base with over 800 take offs and landings happening on a busy summer day. But no wonder with 7,993 active pilots living in Alaska and 747 recording landing strips. Aviation is not only a lifestyle but a lifeline for many of the 147 villages still in Alaska. Homer, Alaska is the Halibut Capital of the World but if you’re not into fishing it is also the world’s recognized peony capital, famous for its late summer blooms. Then, there’s Internationally recognized skiing at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, just a 25 minute drive from Anchorage where skiers train for the Olympics and come home to a city where you can walk downtown to Ship Creek and catch a salmon in the midnight sun.

But more than cabin living at Hatcher Pass, rope climbing and wind surfing along the National Scenic Seward Highway, Alaska’s lifestyle is a mindset. It’s a creative, I can do anything mindset. I can open a brewery; I can make the best Pho broth on the west coast; I can bake the best rustic sour dough bread and still run the mayor’s marathon in the midnight sun. Or just sit on my back deck and bask in the 22

hours of daylight on June 22 while smelling the lilacs. In the winter, I can watch the Iron Dog zip past my cabin on the north shore of Big Lake. I can pick golden raspberries down the alley in south Addition or pick rhubarb at a Colony Farm in Palmer, Alaska.

Technology now allows you to live anywhere and for many the choice is Alaska whether it’s a downtown condo with a view of the Chugach Mountains or in the mountains on three acres of land. Anywhere on the 424,491,046 acres, just as long as there is WIFI. Housing in Alaska is becoming more expensive. The average price of a single family home has appreciated 12.5% since the pandemic. Last month the average price was $422,270 and like most of the nation, there is a shortage of inventory. And like all buyers with a young family, Alaskans prefer a fenced backyard and a BIG garage for their outdoor toys and the Ford 150 truck with a full bed that pulls one of the 50,788 registered fishing boats in Alaska. However, the best buy in housing might just be an Anchorage condo at only $222,021. Homer is still an affordable second home market but perhaps not for long while Girdwood tops the chart as the most expensive place to live with the average price in 2021 of $866,000.

In Alaska, you can be a quilt maker, a master gardener, a tool driller on the North Slope, an Aleut basket weaver, own a resale clothing shop ,or a governor. It remains the country’s last frontier where you can do or become anything or anyone you want. It may be the 49th state but it is first in lifestyle and spirit. Welcome all to the great state of Alyeska.

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Home renovations can cost tens of thousands of dollars and take weeks — or months — to complete. But you don’t need major bucks or an entire season to give your place a new look.

Kerrie Kelly, chair-elect of the American Society of Interior Designers and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab in Sacramento, Calif., recommends these small home projects that don’t cost a lot of money but can have a big impact.

By Nellie S. Huang Kiplinger's Money Power, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

18 August

2021 | 61°north

Glam up a room. Upgrade a living or dining room with decorative molding at the crown or baseboard (roughly $20 for an 8-foot-long piece; a 10-by-12-foot room will need at least six). The catch is you must cut the corners at exactly 45-degree angles with a miter saw.

Says Kelly: “If you can’t wrap a present beautifully, you probably shouldn’t be cutting molding.”

After it’s installed, you’ll have to paint it. Stick with a semigloss.

Let there be light. Consider buying a “statement” chandelier for your dining room, says Kelly, that can also serve as artwork of a sort. Pay attention to size: A chandelier should be proportional to the table (use a measuring tape to visually assess how the fixture will fit in the space), and the bottom of it should hang between 30 and 36 inches above the tabletop.

Give the bath some color. Painting your bathroom cabinets, especially if they look dated, can be done inside of a week for less than half the cost of replacing them.

White or a light neutral tone in a semigloss or high-gloss finish can make a space look and feel more open. With unpainted wood cabinets, first sand off the burnished finish, which can take time, then paint. “If you see the grain now, you’ll see the grain after you paint it,” says Kelly. With cabinets that are already painted, first “paint a test spot with primer and a coat of semigloss paint to see how it shakes out,” she advises.

Punch up your front door. A gallon of paint — budget roughly $30 to $80 — and one afternoon is probably all you need to give your entrance a facelift and improve your home’s curb appeal. Consider a high-gloss red, lime green, navy or black, depending on your home’s architecture, says Kelly.

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The end of summer in Alaska often feels like a frantic time.

Suddenly, longtime locals notice telltale signs of impending winter: the fireweed has nearly all fizzled, popped and floated away; golden hues are creeping down mountain sides that were recently verdant; the sun, which only weeks earlier had nestled into the horizon well to the right of Sleeping Lady, is now setting hours earlier to her left.

While those summer days may be long, they terminate all too soon and the final few weeks of the season are frequently marked by adventure-lovers cramming in last-minute hikes, paddles and bike rides before the snow flies.

Another unmistakable sign of summer winding down? Injuries.

“One of the main things we see here, as a physical therapy office, is people getting out and doing too much too quickly,” said John Polonowski, a physical therapist at United Physical Therapy. Polonowski added that one of the most common forms of injury they see are tendonitis, a form of inflammation or irritation of a tendon in your shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees or heels, usually caused by overuse.

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“It is a pretty short, intense summer and a lot of times people come out of the gate a little hot, so slowing down and allowing your body to adapt to the stress helps mitigate potential injuries,” Polonowski said.

Tarah Sweeney, a physical therapist and owner of Progressive Physical Therapy echoed the sentiment, saying that she often urges her patients to not “do too much, too hard, too fast,” but rather to build up slowly, doing 10 percent more each week. If you were able to comfortably do a three hour hike last week, opt for a three-and-a-half or so hour hike next, rather than trying to bag a trail that will take nine hours.

Tendonitis is far from the only form of injury that can force outdoor-loving people to spend more time on the couch. Additional causes of injuries include: strain from poor posture while biking, hiking (particularly if you’re carrying too heavy of a backpack), paddling or even fishing; wearing improper footwear (hello, blisters); and cuts, scrapes, sprains and broken bones sustained from falls, among others. Being equipped with the right gear, Sweeney and Polonowski said, can make a big difference.

That includes applying sunblock to prevent burns and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, even though the days are getting shorter and colder.

Similarly, while there might not yet be snow, it’s

important to dress in layers and bring waterproof clothing. Hypothermia can occur around 40 degrees Fahrenheit — a temperature often seen in the Chugach Range this time of year — if you’re wet from rain or sweat.

If you do get injured outdoors, it’s important to treat it right away. If you get a wound, clean it with water — from your water bottle, not a stagnant lake — and antiseptic if you have it. If you fall and can get up, support the injury to avoid further harm, walk slowly and steadily to shelter and seek assistance. If the injury is particularly gnarly, call for help.

There are some injuries, like minor abrasions, that you can treat yourself and others that call for some professional help. If you’re not sure, it’s better to have medical personnel check the problem out rather than trusting your gut (or Google).

example, if you are planning on going for a hike, do some alternating knee lifts and high kicks, squats, torso twists and quad stretches.

Another way to reduce injuries, Polonowski said, is to do some cross-training. So if you’re a big hiker, spend your off-days walking the Coastal Trail, cycling near Chester Creek or playing a pick-up game of volleyball on the Park Strip. It’ll also help make the transition to winter sports like snowshoeing, skiing and snowmachining easier if you’ve been working various muscles in the offseason. Just because you’re in solid hiking shape, doesn’t mean you’re necessarily in good condition to send it down a mountain on a snowboard.

Polonowski also said that if you are starting to feel run-down — a frequent complaint during the tail end of summer — don’t be afraid to scale back. It’s better to skip one paddling trip than be sidelined from all winter sports because of shoulder injury.

There’s always next year.

Sweeney also suggests doing a dynamic warm-up before any activity to keep your body limber. For

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By Emily S. Ruiz, M.D., M.P.H. | Premium Health News Service, Harvard Health Blog

The longest day of the year may have passed, but there’s still plenty of sun in the sky.

While sunscreen is essential to lowering your risk for skin cancer, there are other simple, over-the-counter options you can incorporate into your summer skin protection routine.

Nicotinamide may help prevent certain skin cancers Nicotinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has been shown to reduce the number of skin cancers. In a randomized controlled trial performed in Australia (published in the New England Journal of Medicine), the risks of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were significantly reduced — by 23 percent. Nicotinamide has protective effects against ultraviolet damage caused by sun exposure. The vitamin is safe and can be purchased over the counter. We recommended starting the vitamin (500 mg twice a day) to all our patients with a history of a basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, or with extensive skin damage due to sun exposure. One caveat is that the vitamin must be taken continuously, as the benefits are lost once stopped.

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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, may have a modest effect on skin cancer prevention. A systematic review showed that the risk of squamous cell carcinoma was reduced by 15 percent with non-aspirin NSAIDs, and by 18 percent with any NSAID. Some studies of melanoma have also shown positive results; one found a 43 percent reduction in melanoma with continuous aspirin for five years, while other studies have failed to show any risk reduction. NSAIDs are known to inhibit an enzyme responsible for inflammation and pain, known as COX-2, which is overexpressed in squamous cell carcinomas. A limitation to many of the studies on NSAIDs in skin cancer is that the amount of NSAID taken varied. Especially at higher doses, NSAIDs are associated with other side effects, such as ulcers, and so I do not routinely recommend that my patients take these drugs to lower skin cancer risk.

Polypodium leukotomos Polypodium leukotomos is a tropical fern found in Central and South America that has antioxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects, and is being marketed as an oral "sunscreen." A small study of 22 patients showed that the fern extract altered the effects of UVB light (the more carcinogenic form of ultraviolet light) in 17 of the 22 patients to varying degrees.

However, it

is important to recognize that there are limitations to this study. First, it was unable to evaluate UVA light, which also causes skin cancer. Second, it is difficult to determine the most appropriate dose from the study.

The participants received two doses of 240 mg of polypodium leukotomos two hours and one hour before ultraviolet exposure, but it is not clear how best to advise patients to use it. So, you may wonder whether I recommend this to my patients. The answer is, not yet. But I do plan to try the extract myself and on my husband (who has a history of skin cancer) this summer.

Just keep in mind, this does not replace sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.

By homeschoolers, For homeschoolers

Watch your alcohol intake Although alcohol is not a classic "over-the-counter" product, it has been in the spotlight in the past year, as alcohol is estimated to be responsible for 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths. Two meta-analyses suggested an association between skin cancer and alcohol intake.

One study found that the risk of basal cell carcinoma increased by 7 percent and squamous cell carcinoma by 11 percent for every standard beer or small glass of wine each day. Another study showed a 20 percent increase in melanoma in drinkers, and the risk increased with the number of drinks. However, these studies didn't take into account other factors that could affect the results, some of which cannot be measured. One example is that ultraviolet light is the main factor that increases basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and alcohol consumption has been associated with behaviors that increase one's risk of getting a sunburn. So what is the recommendation? The American Cancer Society recommends limiting alcohol consumption to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

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And you still need sunscreen!

Since we have yet to find a magic pill that completely prevents sunburns and eliminates skin cancer risk, this is my plug for good old-fashioned sunscreen.

Sunscreen has been shown to reduce both melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Randomized prospective studies in Australia showed that individuals who used daily sunscreen had a 50 percent reduction in melanoma and a 40 percent reduction in squamous cell carcinoma, compared to individuals who used sunscreen intermittently. So when the sun and warm weather beckon, remember to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 prior to going out in the sun, reapply every two hours, and apply liberally: 1 teaspoon to each arm, head and neck, front torso, and back; and 2 teaspoons to each leg.

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ideahomeschool.com/enroll 61°north | August 2021

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reasons to eat blueberries

By Jessica Ball, M.S., R.D., EatingWell.com Premium Health News Service

It’s no secret Alaskans love our wild blueberries - your health is all the more reason to grab a bucket and head out to your favorite berry picking location this season!

Even through ever-changing nutrition science and trends that come and go, blueberries continue to be viewed as a powerhouse — and for good reason.

Multiple studies have linked blueberries with healthier aging, better memory, decreased inflammation and more. Keep reading to learn about blueberry nutrition, why they’re so good for you and how to enjoy them in your diet.

Blueberry nutrition Compared to many other fruits, blueberries contain less naturally occurring sugar.

Wild blueberries are smaller than cultivated blueberries, but they pack a punch of blueberry flavor and nutrition. Wild blueberries have twice the antioxidant capacity of ordinary blueberries.

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2021 | 61°north

Frozen blueberries are a great option for when fresh berries are not in season. They are picked and frozen at peak ripeness, which also means peak nutrition. Their texture changes slightly as they thaw, but frozen berries are perfect for smoothies, baking and parfaits.

Healthy aging A diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps stave off age-related disease and cognitive decline, along with many other chronic illnesses. Blueberries, in particular, have a reputation for being jam-packed with antioxidants compared to other common fruits. Antioxidants are compounds that protect against the oxidative cell damage that naturally occurs with age, chronic sun exposure, environmental toxins and stress.

One recent study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, compared people who were given a daily drink with 11 grams wild blueberry powder to those who got an antioxidant-extract drink supplemented with fiber. After a month, the people who got the wild blueberries had better blood flow, and their immune response got more of a boost.

Memory Whether you’re worried about Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or just want to stay sharp, blueberries may help you. Flavonoids, including the anthocyanins in blueberries, protect and strengthen connections between neurons, making it easier for them to communicate.

To help your memory, you may want to try the MIND diet (which includes blueberries). The MIND diet is a fusion of the heart-healthy DASH diet and the all-star Mediterranean diet. Together, they form an eating pattern that can help keep you sharp.

Heart health Blueberries aren’t just brain food, as it turns out. Research conducted at King’s College in London studied the effects of eating blueberries on heart health and cardiovascular disease. In just one month, there were significant improvements in blood clotting and blood vessel function. The researchers suspect that anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries their color, interact with other compounds in the berries to confer these benefits.

Bottom line — All things considered, the tiny but mighty blueberry has some major health benefits. Whether you enjoy them fresh, blended into smoothies or baked into a whole-grain muffin, there are plenty of reasons to get your fill. With their potential benefits to aging, memory and heart health, we continue to believe in the power of blueberries.

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By Sue Hubbard, M.D. | Premium Health News Service, www.kidsdr.com

It is the time of year for bugs and bites, and I see a lot of kids with bites coming into my office. Parents ask, "What kind of bite is it?" And in most of the kids I see are having a reaction to a mosquito bite. Parents are extremely concerned that the reaction may be abnormal and lead to breathing issues or that the bite it is infected.

For some reason, baby and toddler skin just seems to swell more. That is not science, but my observation.

Maybe it's because they are "yummier"? At any rate, the best way to avoid "the mystery bite" is by using insect repellent.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children be protected from mosquitoes, as they may not only cause discomfort and itching but also several viral illnesses including West Nile, Zika and Chikungunya.

Insect repellents will also prevent ticks, some of which may transmit Lyme disease.

Both the AAP and Centers for Disease Control recommend the use of DEET-containing repellents for children 2 months of age and older. For young infants, it is often easy to protect them from bites by using mosquito netting over their stroller or car seat when they are outdoors. Once your child is older and hard to "contain" beneath mosquito netting, you may use a DEET-containing repellent and start with the lowest concentration (you will need to read the labels on each product).

The protection and effectiveness for DEET products of different concentrations is similar, but a higher concentration provides a longer duration of protection. Picaridin has also been approved for use in concentrations of 5 percent to 10 percent. The higher the concentration, the longer the duration of protection.

So choose accordingly. I often have several products at our house and decide which to use based on the length of time we are enjoying the backyard, the age of child or adult, and the method which I want to use to apply (spray, lotion, wipes).

You do not want to choose a product that contains both sunscreen and an insect repellent. Sunscreen should be applied about every two hours, and bug spray should be applied far less frequently.

I recommend applying the insect repellent with my hands rather than trying to spray a young child who is a moving target. I even put the bug spray on those precious bald baby heads (if over 2 months). At the end of the day, make sure to wash off the insect repellent.

Bath time for all!

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2021 | 61°north

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It is also important to dress appropriately if you are going outdoors. When possible, dress your child in long sleeves, pants and even socks, which will prevent bites. Avoid brightly colored and flowery clothes (may be boring), as these too attract insects.

It is also especially important to remove standing water around your house and yard. After a rain or watering, check any standing water and empty any residual water from buckets, candles, bird baths or empty pots. Standing water is an easy breeding ground for mosquito larvae. The type of mosquito that carries Zika also prefers to be close to houses, so it is really important drain standing water near your house.

Don't be afraid of using bug sprays on children, if you use them appropriately, as prevention is always preferable!

Dr. Sue Hubbard is an award-winning pediatrician, medical editor and media host. "The Kid's Doctor" TV feature can be seen on more than 90 stations across the U.S. Submit questions at http://www.kidsdr.com.

The Kid's Doctor e-book, "Tattoos to Texting: Parenting Today's Teen," is now available from Amazon and other e-book vendors.

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