SEE MORE ON PAGE 2 READ MORE ON PAGE 2
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Music
PARLOR IN THE ROUND COMES BACK TO PALMER A SONGWRITER GAMESHOW WITH AN IMPROV TWIST!
MID-OCTOBER 2026
Contributed by Meggie Aube-Trammell and Kevin Worrell Parlor in the Round returns to the Glenn Massay Theater November 20, following an enormously successful first collaboration with the Palmer Arts Council last season. A large and enthusiastic audience welcomed Parlor to the Valley, and the Glenn Massay proved to be an ideal home for the show’s unusual mix of intimate songwriting, storytelling, humor, and spontaneous collaboration. This year, WellRounded Arts and the Palmer Arts Council are teaming up again to bring a new trio of songwriters, and an entirely new night of music, to the Glenn Massay stage.
This is not your typical songwriter showcase! Part songwriter round, part game show, and part musical improv, Parlor in the Round brings three artists together to trade original songs and stories before host Kevin Worrell leads them through a series of increasingly challenging musical rounds. As the evening unfolds, the familiar songwriter-round format gives way to collaboration, musical curveballs, and songs created in the moment. And the audience is part of the show. Guests submit short ideas throughout the first half, which the artists use during a rapid co-writing session at intermission to create a brand-new song for the evening’s finale. In Parlor’s lightning round, the musicians draw audience submissions at random and improvise songs on the spot. This November’s lineup features Grace C. Elliot, Khatumu, and the Valley’s own Jason Overby. Half-German and half-Sierra Leonean, firstgeneration American and recent Yale graduate Khatumu began her musical journey during the COVID-19 lockdown while living in Brazil. At 20, she immersed herself in music production and quickly gained attention with her debut single, “Hunting Days.” Now based in Los Angeles, Khatumu blends folk and Americana influences with intimate storytelling and emotional depth. Her forthcoming EP, Free Therapy, includes songs such as “Sober” and “Fire Drill” and explores relationships, self-discovery, identity, personal growth, and the complexities of young adulthood with a voice that balances confidence and vulnerability. Anchorage-born singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Grace C. Elliot creates a lush blend of dream pop, indie pop and intimate songwriting, pairing delicate vocals and keys with
expansive electronic textures. Her 2020 debut brought national attention through NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest and Spotify’s Fresh Finds, and she has continued to develop a sound that moves easily between the organic and the cinematic. Now based in Los Angeles, Elliot has had a prolific 2026, releasing her Better Light EP along with singles including “Erase It,” “Blue Eyes,” “WDYG (Where Do You Go)” and most recently “Shoreshine.” She also returned to Alaska this summer to open for Vanessa Carlton in Anchorage. Sutton-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jason Overby has spent his musical life moving between Alaska’s old-time traditions and the wider independent folk world. He was a member of the acclaimed orchestral-folk ensemble Spirits of the Red City, contributing guitar, tenor banjo, accordion, ukulele and vocals to the Minneapolis-based group’s richly arranged, harmony-driven music. Back home in Alaska, Overby performs with his family’s old-time roots ensemble The Inlaws & the Outlaws (also known as Ode to the Roddes) and with his sister as Jason & Rachel Overby. A gifted fingerstyle and flatpicking guitarist, his music draws on generations of traditional American music while bringing a distinctly Alaskan, and distinctly Overby, voice to the songs he writes and performs. This unforgettable night begins at 7pm at the Glenn Massay Theater on November 20. Advance general admission tickets are $30, PAC members are $25, and tickets increase to $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased on the Glenn Massay glennmassaytheater.com.
PAGE 3
Books
NEVER TOO LATE: PUBLISHING
MY FIRST NOVEL AT 66
Contributed by LoLo Paige I published my first novel at sixty-six. A dozen books later, I’m still going strong, and I’m here to tell you that if you’ve been sitting on a dream, it is not too late. For most of my life, writing was something I did on the side. I wrote nonfiction for newspapers, magazines, and literary journals, including the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Magazine, and The Anchorage Press. I spent decades acting onstage in Anchorage community theater. But a novel? That felt like something other people did, people with more time, more training, or fewer birthdays behind them. Then a true story changed everything. From the Fire Line to the Page. Long before I wrote romance, I was a wildland firefighter. I trained in Missoula with the U.S. Forest Service and fought fire for the Forest Service and BLM in Montana, California, and here in Alaska. In 2016, I wrote about escaping a runaway wildfire in Alaska’s Interior for The Anchorage Press. Our crew became trapped in a ravine and had to scramble up a steep mountain with the aid of an air tanker pilot who dropped a load of slurry to buy us time. That piece won an Alaska Press Club award, and readers kept asking what happened next. So, I wrote what happened next, with fiction woven in. That became my debut novel, Alaska Spark, the first
book in my Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series. It went on to win several indie awards for best romance, including an Eric Hoffer Award, and the series has topped Amazon bestseller lists in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. People sometimes raise an eyebrow when I tell them I write romance about firefighters. Firefighting is all about trust, loyalty, and life-or-death decisions made in seconds, and that is fertile ground for a love story. When my characters dig line, watch a fire make a run, or wait out a blowup, I’m drawing on things I experienced firsthand. I know the smell of smoke in your hair for weeks, the exhaustion, and the bond you form with your crew. Readers can tell when an author has lived it. Why Alaska Makes the Perfect Love Story. Alaskans already know what the rest of the world is just figuring out: this place is made for stories. Think about what makes a great romance. You need people thrown together who can’t easily walk away, and you need stakes. Alaska delivers both. A small town where everybody knows your business. A long winter that keeps two stubborn people stuck in the same cabin. A summer fire season that tests what everyone is made of. The land itself becomes a character: beautiful, unforgiving, and never boring. My readers in other states and countries tell me they love the setting as much as the romance. Locals tell me they love recognizing the places, the weather, and the kind of people who live here. Several of my books are rooted in real Alaska experiences, including my romantic comedy Everybody Loves Polar Bears, inspired by my time working as an extra on Hollywood movies filmed in Anchorage. More Than One Kind of Story. I’m also a multi-genre author. Besides romantic suspense and romantic comedy, I write historical fiction under the name Lois Paige. The Butte Girls’ Club is a coming-of-age novel I first wrote as a memoir about growing up in Butte, Montana, in the 1960s. (Butte, Montana, not Butte, Alaska.) Turning a memoir into a novel freed me to tell the story however I wanted without the constraints of sticking to truth that one must do in a memoir.
What I’d Tell Anyone Who Thinks It’s Too Late. Starting later in life turned out to be an advantage. I had decades of experiences to draw from: fire camps, theater stages, travel, heartbreak, and a long, happy marriage. Younger writers have energy. Seasoned writers have material. It’s also a wonderful time to be an author. Independent publishing means you no longer must wait for anyone’s permission. I’ve published both independently and traditionally, and today my books are available in print, ebook, and translation. If you have a story in you, start writing it. Join a writers’ group like the Alaska Writers Guild. Write a little every day. Finish the darn book. And don’t let the number of candles on your cake talk you out of it. You never know what might catch fire. LoLo Paige is an award-winning author of romantic suspense and romantic comedy and writes historical fiction as Lois Paige. She lives in Eagle River. Her books are available on Amazon and at local bookstores and libraries. Learn more at lolopaige.com.
MID-OCTOBER 2026
PAGE 4
Poetry & Prose UNPONDERABLES Contributed by George Wilkinson
MID-OCTOBER 2026
“I’m thinkin’ I oughta shuffle over and give the wheel a spin. Maybe I can put the screws to Chance, or maybe …” “Maybe what, Blackie?” “… or maybe Chance’ll put the screws to me.” “Ah, now, don’t go talking dark again, Blackie. You always do that and it’s gettin’ depressin’.” “It’s what I do. I ponder unponderables. It’s my way.” “Is it possible to ponder unponderables?” “For most folks it ain’t possible, but for me it is. Since I was a little kid, like most kids are little, I have pondered. The more ponderin’ I did, the better I got at it, see. I guess you could say as I got bigger my ponderin’ got bigger too. I got so good at ponderin’ I broke through some sort of barrier. Now I can ponder unponderables.” “So that’s how you do it.” “That’s the long and the short of it, kid.” “Do you think I could learn to ponder unponderables, Blackie? If I practice ponderin’ a lot? Whadaya say, Blackie?” “I think you got potential, kid. With me helpin’ ya, you never know what’s possible.” “Ah, gee, Blackie. That’d be great.” “Here’s the thing, kid. Once you get what I got, it’s a fearsome responsibility. You ponder things that ain’t been pondered before, so yous get ideas, and ideas is dangerous. Ideas get you into trouble and maybe killed. So, you can’t let nobody know what you know, see? Stay on the QT. Don’t mention nothin’ to nobody or they think you’re crazy, see.” “Then what’s the use of ponderin’?” “That’s the thing, kid. That’s the thing.”
ANOTHER WICKED WITCH OF MATANUSKASUSITNA LIMERICK: THE WICKED WITCH OF KNIK Contributed by Wendy Brooker
The Wicked Witch of Knik loves a treat much more than a trick joins kids door-to-door and comes back for more snarfs sweets ’til she makes herself sick
STORIES FROM A CARETAKER’S JOURNALS Contributed by Charles Beanland
What is that which I see? No. That cannot be. For I saw a dragon mast with red sails flowing, with horned helms, atop group of mighty men, lo they round the point of the Nautilus, with stillness in the air about them; the storm is brewing behind them. With swords drawn and spears held high, they give a shout; it’s answered by two long boats coming fast behind them, oars pulling them alongside. Three dragon-mast longboats of the feared Viking horde, with torches lit and sails full, move through the waters with oars rowing hard and strong, The beating of the drums is heard over the bay with the “Humps and Ho’s” keeping to the rhythm of the oars. Sea spray and foam lash the weathered faces of those on board. The mist clears in the morning light, and shore is seen, but home is hidden among the shadowed trees. Flaming arrows fly high in the air out to the shore, marking their return from their voyage from the land of snow and ice. Seven ram’s horns are blown in answer to their arrows, alerting the other of travelers coming home again. A call is given, and oars are still and held fast. A man jumps from the ship and runs atop the oars from stem to stern. With shouts of victory, a song is sung as two more men travel the oars in celebration. Fires are lit on shore to show the way home to wife and kin; oars are lowered, old wood meet with fresh water once again, and home is soon well met with peace and kin.
Journal: Monday; 04 January 2016: Falling asleep last night to Gordon Lightfoot’s song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. I had always thought it was a true modern sailor’s song if there ever was one to be sung. And woke this morning to the sky enclosed in a cloud of fog and mist. It didn’t rain, but a heavy mist fell on everything, giving me, in my mind’s eye, the feeling of a ship’s guide and buoy ringing it warningly to passersby of impending dangers ahead. “I smiled at the thought of this going through my head.” A ship foghorn is heard off in the distance as she tries to find her way. The lighthouse’s gleaming light glows beyond the mountains, keeping watch on the sea. The sea, with its shoals and reefs that inhabit the ocean floor line the incoming entrance, only the most skilled navigators are at the helm. The mist covers the outer shores, leaving behind an unclear vision of the land that lies beyond. Movement is seen between the edge of light and shadow as something, or someone moves about. It stands there watching me, unmoving, then in a flash, as the mist shrouds the bay and lifts to reveal, it is gone behind the trees. I hear a splash on the far banks but see nothing in the waters. In another direction, I hear the whoosh of something breathing out of the water as it passes. Is it a whale? I do not see the spray of mist in the air or the hump of its back through the water. Perhaps it is only a seal breaching at the water’s edge before it drops down to find a clam, sea urchin, or oyster to feast upon.
The clouds once again hang low over the area, obscuring the view of the banks and land on the other side. My head cover has become heavy with the mist and dew that collects on it; the coat that I wear drips in constant streams of water as it gathers around the folds of my body, water pooling below around my feet. I do not wish to wade through the mud that my body is creating underneath me, so I turn and leave. I hear the clang of a bell and the deep sound of a ship’s horn, then the creaking, creaking of a wooden-hulled ship out in the bay right by me. I turn and see nothing, but the wind blows by me, uncomfortably cold, carrying laughter in its wake. “Ha, ha, ha, eye laddie, we be here with ya tonight.” Far off in the distance, the water men that are about the yardarms fifty high in the air sing their song. “Shiver me timbers and set the sails, drink up me hardies yo ho. We sail the sea and the Spanish Main for we are Pirates indeed. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me. Lift your eyes and face the storms, haul your colors and draw your sword, Drink up, me hardies, yo ho. For we have winches in all the port, and all our children are across the sea. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life me. Cut them, hack them and spill their blood, we hunt the mermaid by moonlight if we dare.”
NON-PROFIT DIRECTORY 2026 Alaska Animal Advocates www.alaskaanimaladvocates.com
(907) 841-3173
Alaska Animal Advocates is a non-profit group of dedicated volunteers who are devoted to enriching the lives of companion animals in Alaska. In order to do this, we will place homeless pets in loving environment, adress medicals concerns, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinate, and offer training as is needed. We believe that every animal deserves a loving home, for his/her entire life and Alaska Animal Advocates will provide the resources to make this happen. In order to make this mission possible, we need the help of volun-teers and foster homes.
Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC) www.alaskaarc.otrg
(907) 334-1300
The Alaska Autism Resource Center (AARC) is part of the Special Education Service Agency (SESA), a nonprofit organization. The AARC works with individuals with autism, their families, caregivers, businesses and organizations, and service providers at no cost to them. AARC provides consultations and training, both in-person and online, to connect Alaskans with autismrelated resources. On their website, you will find a service provider database, along with resources users can access on their own. The AARC caters consultations and trainings to meet the needs of the individual or group. Some examples of our most popular resources and trainings include, but are not limited to: Finding a Diagnosis, New to Autism Diagnosis, Employment Support/Transition-Age Resources for Teenagers and Adults, Mental Health Services, and Support for Women on the Spectrum. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation or training, please reach out today!
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Seniors www.alaskabvi.org
(907) 771-4322
The Alaska Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired provides blind and low vision Alaskans tools to eliminate vision loss as a barrier to employment, independent living, and community participation. It is the only statewide training and resource center for vision reha-bilitation. In the Mat-Su Valley we sponsor two monthly support groups for socialization and informational activities, titled “Living Well with Vision Loss”, meeting at the Wasilla Area Seniors and the Palmer Senior Cen-ter. Low Vision Clinics demonstrating low vision devices and home assessment visits for independent living are offered to those who qualify and who have uncorrectable vision loss.
Alaska Community Development Corporation www.alaskacdc.org
(907) 746-5680
Alaska Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit agency located in Palmer, AK. Our focus is housing assistance for low-income households in Alaska. We offer housing assistance to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and most
areas in Southcentral Alaska and to rural areas in Southeast and Southwest Alaska. Our housing assistance includes home weatherization; housing accessibility improvements for seniors and disabled households; & homeownership assistance including home purchase assistance, home building assistance and home loan packaging. Our housing assistance helps to keep people safely in their homes and helps low-income households move into home ownership. All assistance is free to eligible households.
grantmaking, conven-ing of local partners, and policy change. We have generated significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce develop-ment, transportation, housing, and senior services. Visit www.healthymatsu.org to learn about scholar-ship and funding opportunities.
Connect Mat-Su
www.myhousematsu.org
www.connectmatsu.org
(907) 373-2628
Connect Mat-Su is a program of the Mat-Su Health Foundation that provides access to information and referrals specific to the local community. Assistance is available in the areas of care, education, food, health, housing, legal services, social con-nection, transportation, work, and more. It is a network that is both a physical and virtual resource center linking residents to the things needed to thrive physically, mentally, socially, & emotionally.
Connect Palmer, Inc. www.connectpalmer.org
(907) 746-9675
Connect Palmer is a Christ Centered Training Center and Housing for Women, located in downtown Palmer. Connect Palmer’s two primary programs are God’s Work Desgin, and LIFE Connect. We also have Sarah’s House, a safe and caring place for ladies without homes to live while they participate in our back to work and life skills programs. We also offer different community assistance pro-grams, such as The Locker, to provide personal care and basic house hold cleaning items, and Scarlet Tapestries which offers basic sewing skills instructions. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Matanuska Electric Association Charitable Foundation (MEACF) www.mea.coop/connect/ operation-roundup
(907) 761-9300
Join MEA members in making a big impact with small change! Since 2011, the Operation RoundUp® program has raised over $2.5 million in grants for local organizations. By rounding up your electric bill to the nearest dollar each month, you can help support vital community programs and initiatives. Every penny stays local, funding projects that benefit the communities powered by MEA. The MEA Charitable Foundation Board, made up of dedicated MEA member volunteers, reviews grant applications quarterly and awards funding to deserving causes. To apply for a grant or learn more about how to participate, visit our website today!
Mat-Su Health Foundation www.healthymatsu.org
(907) 352-2863
The mission of the Mat-Su Health Foundation is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. The tools we use include
MYHouse Mat-Su Youth Housing (907) 373-4357
MY House is a youth drop-in center in Wasilla that serves at-risk youth ages 14-25 from around the State of Alaska. We provide stable housing to youth that are couch surfing, unstably housed, living outside, sleeping in cars, or residing in generally unsafe situations. Our organization also gives our clients access to comprehensive wraparound services, with on-site case management, peer support, substance abuse treatment, shower and laundry services, and meal assistance. Furthermore, we provide job training and assist with high-school completion both on and off-site. We also provide substance abuse treatment for individuals 18-25 in a supportive and welcoming environment.
Onward & Upward www.onwardandupward.org info@onwardandupward.org
(907) 953-5360
Onward & Upward is an evidence-based, accredited, 501c3 nonprofit organization based in the Mat-Su Valley. Our mission is to establish a culture of “One Health” in Alaska through evidencebased action. We accomplish this by engaging our students in adventurous, inspiring, meaningful, and empowering experiences with varying degrees of challenge methodically designed for positive growth and development. We offer a diverse range of course offerings from open enrollment summer adventure courses, profes-sional development courses, to year-round after-school and homeschool opportunities. Check out our website at www.onwardandupward.org for more information!
REACH 907 www.reach907ak.org
info@reach907ak.org | 907-745-6200
Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard. At REACH 907, we walk alongside Alaska’s youth—helping them build resilience, discover their worth, and find their voice through compassionate, trauma-informed care. Through therapeutic foster care, behavioral health services, case management, learning support, and youth programs, we meet children where they are and help them move forward with strength, resilience, and hope for what’s ahead. REACH stands for Restoring, Empowering, and Strengthening Alaska’s Children and Homes—a mission lived out every day, in every relationship. If a child or family is struggling, don’t wait. Connection changes everything. Reach out today and let’s take the first step -- together.
Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community Program www.specialolympicsalaska.org
(907) 631-8591
The Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community Pro-gram is an accredited program of Special Olympics Alas-ka, Inc., a 501c (3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide year-round sports training and competition to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the Mat-Su Valley, there are 137 active Special Olympics Alaska athletes and 56 Unified partners (non-disabled peers) that train and compete in 12 sports year-round. There is no cost to participate for qualifying athletes. For more information on the Mat-Su Community Program, please call 907-631-8591, email matsu@ specialolympicsalaska.org or visit us on social media - @soakmatsu.
United Way of Mat-Su www.unitedwaymatsu.org
550 S Alaska St., Suite 205 Palmer AK (907) 373-5807
United Way of Mat-Su strives to make our community a place where all individuals can thrive. We focus on the building blocks of education, financial stability, health for all, providing resource assistance, community collabora-tion and advocacy, outreach and engagement across the health, human, and social services spectrum. Early childhood and family support, youth programs, grants for non-profits, and disaster relief; Mat-Su Valley Resource Guide; volunteer opportunities; Stuff the Bus; Project Homeless Connect, and more. Call for more information on Thrive Mat-Su Mat-Su Coalition, Early Childhood Partnership, Youth 360, and the Alaska Wellness Coalition.
Valley Charities, Inc. www.valleycharities.org
400 N Yenlo Street, Wasilla AK
Valley Charities, Inc: Connecting those who need help with the help they need. Valley Charities, Inc. (VCI) over-sees a locally owned non- profit Thrift Store, turn-A-leaf. VCI Re-entry Program assists ex-offenders to become successful citizens helping to stabilize a home, work, personal needs, and basic council. Our Homelessness Prevention Program provides financial assistance creat-ing housing stability for Valley residents. Program supports our residents with short term equip-ment loans to help with their recovery from illness and injuries. Housing Assistance: 907-354-4660; Re-Entry Assistance: 907-232-7125; Durable Medical Equipment Lending Program, see our website: valleycharities.org
Valley Arts Alliance www.valleyartsalliance.com Valley Arts Alliance, bringing the community together through the arts... We are a place for both new and established artists of all types - painters, sculptors, musicians, and those involved in the performing arts - to network and to experiment with new ideas and media.
We work with local libraries, schools, museums, art councils, and music and art groups to create more ven-ues for the arts, and to help promote art related events. Join us at our informal weekly meetings, every Thursday @ 11 at Sophia’s Cafe 10697 E Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Check out our archives at www.valleyartsalliance.com
Valley Recycling Valley Community for Recycling Solutions www.valleyrecycling.org
(907) 745-5544
REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! Drop off your clean, separated recycling Monday-Saturday 8 to 5, Closed Sunday. We accept cardboard boxes, aluminum beverage cans, magazines, this newspaper and more! We are located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, near the MSB Central Landfill, just past the MSB Animal Care Shelter. Follow the smells. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Become a member, visit our classroom, schedule a field trip, find out more about volunteer opportunities and ways you can make a difference in your community. #dontfeedthelandfills. Go to our website for more details.
Victory Bible Camp www.vbcalaska.org info@vbcalaska.org
(907) 745-4203
Victory Bible Camp exists to evangelize and disciple children, youth and adults in Alaska for Jesus Christ through Christian camping. We offer programs for everyone from 2nd grade through high school. Check out our website at vbcalaska. org or call us at (907) 745-4203 to learn more about our upcoming programs!
Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. www.wasillaseniors.com
(907) 376-3104
Wasilla Area Seniors mission is to provide for the lives of seniors living in the Matanuska Susistna Valley and to enable seniors to live as independently as possi-ble for as long as possible. WASI provides services, resources, and activities to promote health and independence such as Club50 Fit-ness Center. Club50 is for individuals 50 years of age and older and provides clean, accessible exercise equipment and offers a variety of FREE fitness classes for seniors of all skill and mobility levels. For more information, give us a call or find us on Facebook.
PAGE 6 MID-OCTOBER 2026
Funnies
Boone, 13
Jubilee, 7
Rosie, 10
Elizabeth, 8
MOONDOG LIVE: BRINGING THE MUSIC BACK
Contributed by Michael B. Dillon
to work. People were watching. They scanned QR codes. They laughed at some of the ads. They snapped screenshots of upcoming shows. Then we fired off the MoonDog Drops with real prizes and gift certificates from local businesses, and suddenly people were grabbing their phones and racing to participate. Now we’re having fun. That’s what I want MoonDog Live to become. Not a bunch of advertisements playing in the background, but a way for local businesses to actually become part of the show and, at the same time, help make that show possible. And they can come see it for themselves. Come listen to the band. Watch the crowd. Watch somebody interact with your business. See exactly where your advertising dollars are going, right here in your own backyard. My favorite moment from launch weekend came when the manager paid the band. About the same time, I handed him money back toward that entertainment expense that MoonDog Live had generated. He looked at me, smiled and said, “Well, that’s easy.” Yep. That’s when I knew. The artists are ready. The venues are ready. From what I’ve seen so far, the crowds are definitely ready. Now I want to find the local businesses that are ready too. If you’re one of them, give me a call. Or better yet, come out to a MoonDog Live show and see this crazy idea working for yourself. Then let’s see what we can build together. MoonDog Live | (907) 795-2366 mike@moondogmedia.live Together We Rise!
MID-OCTOBER 2026
When I first got into this business, the company I worked with was running as many as 20 gigs a week. Think about that for a second. Twenty gigs. Live entertainment was everywhere, and for a guy who fell in love with this business, it was a pretty great way to make a living. I’ve spent more than two decades working around live entertainment in Southcentral Alaska, and I’ve watched things change. We still have great musicians. We still have great venues. And I know we’ve still got people who want to get out of the house, hear a band and maybe tear up a dance floor. The problem is making the numbers work. I recently talked with management at a Valley venue with an amazing stage and a huge dance floor. You walk in and think, Man, this place was made for live music. They have a band once a year. Once. It’s not because they don’t want bands. Live music is expensive.
And here’s something people don’t always think about. A four-hour gig isn’t a four-hour job. There’s travel, load-in, setup, sound check, the show, teardown and finally getting home sometime in the wee hours of the morning. That’s before you even consider the years musicians spend learning their craft, writing songs, rehearsing and buying the gear they need to do it. They shouldn’t have to haggle every time they want to play. But I’m not blaming the venues either. They’re trying to keep the lights on and make money just like everybody else. Telling them to simply pay bands more doesn’t solve anything. That’s where this crazy idea of mine comes in. A few years ago, I’d been kicking around the idea of finding sponsors for individual bands. Then one night I was sitting in a venue watching a show and noticed all the TVs. They were playing some random sitcom. No sound. No subtitles. Just actors silently mouthing words while a live band was playing in the same room. Nobody was watching. I looked at those screens and thought, Well, hell. That’s inventory. That little realization eventually grew into MoonDog Live. Now, putting advertising on televisions isn’t some revolutionary idea. Plenty of companies can sell you space on a screen. That’s not what I’m trying to build. I’m interested in what those advertising dollars can do. What if they help put the band on the stage in the first place? What if they help the venue afford more live entertainment without asking the musicians to take less? And what if we can give the businesses supporting it something more interesting than just throwing their logo on a screen? We finally got to find out when MoonDog Live launched in September. I was nervous. Really nervous. I got on the microphone that first night, the crowd started cheering and hollering, and thankfully I settled in pretty quick. Then I started watching the screens because, quite frankly, I wanted to know if this thing was actually going
PAGE 7
Music
PAGE 8
Entertainment
HOBO JIM: A STORYTELLER WHO PLAYED GUITAR Contributed by Michael B. Dillon
MID-OCTOBER 2026
Some of my favorite memories of Hobo Jim are of him not playing guitar. I’d be running sound, Hobo would take a break, and I’d see him sitting on the steps beside the stage talking to somebody. Ten minutes later, I’d look over. Still there. Sometimes he’d spend almost his entire break talking to one person. But what always struck me was that Hobo wasn’t doing most of the talking. He was listening. Not waiting for his turn to speak. Not looking around the room for somebody else he needed to shake hands with. He was locked into whatever that person was telling him. Eventually there might be a smile, a pat on the back or a hug. Then Hobo would grab his guitar, walk back onstage and start telling stories again. I’ve said for years that Hobo was a storyteller who could play guitar, not the other way around. Maybe that’s where some of those stories came from. Hobo sang about Alaska, but really, he sang about people. Fishermen. Mushers. Cowboys. People who built things, fixed things, worked with their hands and somehow carved a life out of this place. Sometimes his stories just happened to rhyme. There’s one song that gets me every time. “Educated Man.” It tells the story of a man who may not have had much formal education, but could build anything, fix anything and knew how to live a simple life to its fullest. Every time I heard Hobo play it, he would introduce it the same way.
“Everybody knows the man in this song.” I do. I hear my dad. And sitting in a room full of people listening to Hobo sing it, I knew I wasn’t the only one. That was the trick. Hobo could tell you a story about somebody he knew and somehow make you think about somebody you knew. The details might belong to one person, but the story belonged to everybody in the room. I think that came from paying attention. Hobo was interested in people. Their jobs, where they came from, what they knew, what they had done and how they ended up here. Alaska gave him an endless supply of characters, but you still have to notice them before you can write about them. I learned something about that side of Hobo the first night I met him. I was running sound at the Palmer Ale House. I had mixed full bands before. Drums, guitars, bass, vocals, monitors, a stage full of musicians and a board full of channels. That
didn’t bother me. Then Hobo Jim walked onto the stage. One man. One guitar. And I was terrified. I grew up singing “The Iditarod Trail Song” at grade-school assemblies. Hobo had been part of Alaska for as long as I could remember, and now it was my job to make him sound good. No pressure. I was mixing from an iPad, still pretty new technology at the time. Hobo noticed it and started talking about how far things had come and how much he wished he’d had something like that back in the day. Then he asked to see my EQ. I handed him the iPad. He looked at it, smiled and said, “Well, that looks about perfect right there, Mike.” Whew. Then he said, “Can I show you a couple of things real quick?” Of course he could. He showed me a few adjustments. But Hobo didn’t just tell me what to change. He told me why. That part mattered. He could have given me a list of instructions and gone back to his guitar. Instead, he took what he had learned over who knows how many thousands of shows and made sure I understood it, too. I still use it today. And the older I get, the more I realize that teaching and storytelling aren’t all that different. Both require you to pay attention to the person in front of you. Both require you to understand something well enough to pass it along. Hobo did that constantly. Sometimes it was through a song. Sometimes it was through a story between songs. Sometimes it was a couple of adjustments to an EQ. And sometimes it was sitting on the steps beside a stage giving one person his full attention. More than a decade later, I’m still passing what Hobo taught me to the people I train. And when I think about the storyteller he was, I keep coming back to those steps. Maybe that’s the thing about a great storyteller. You have to collect the stories before you can tell them. Hobo listened.
FIDDLE & FOREST: WHAT A RUN!
Contributed by Larry Hansen, Local Music Liaison, Make A Scene Media
Chris Murphy’s Fiddle & Forest Tour has wrapped up, and what a wonderful run it was! From the Kenai Peninsula to Fairbanks, Chris brought his violin and songs to Alaska audiences, invited local musicians to join him, and gave us plenty to build on as we plan his return in 2027. As a local music liaison with Make A Scene Media, I led the booking for this tour, with a lot of help from our team and the people working with Chris. From planning and promotion to helping things run smoothly along the way, plenty of people had a hand in making it happen. Seeing audiences come out for Chris and watching him connect with Alaska musicians made all that shared work worthwhile. His first weekend took him to Seward and Soldotna before a ferry ride to Seldovia, where he performed for the Seldovia Arts Council at the Sea Otter Convention Center. The community raved about the show, and Seldovia.com published a warm recap of his visit. Chris took time to meet audience members and invited a young local musician named Tula to play a duet with him. I was especially glad to hear about that. Giving a young player the chance to perform alongside a touring artist is exactly the kind of opportunity I love seeing
these shows create. Back in the Mat-Su Valley, Chris joined me at 95.5 The Pass for an interview about the tour, his new album, Songs From The Trees, and local community. I enjoyed getting to sit down with him between all the driving and shows. Excerpts have been airing on the station, and we’ll also share the full conversation as a video podcast. Bleeding Heart Brewery in Palmer and Everett’s in Wasilla both had great turnouts. One of my favorite parts of Chris’s performances was his habit of inviting local musicians onstage to jam as an impromptu backing band. You could catch multiple shows and hear something different each night. Josh Fryfogle joined Chris at several performances, playing his original songs with Chris accompanying him on violin. It was wonderful to hear Josh’s music that way and see local songwriting become part of the tour. After a lovely private house concert in the Butte, Chris headed north to the Fairview Inn in Talkeetna and
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Music
Lat 65 Brewing Company in Fairbanks. At Lat 65, Rachel of Fireweed Fiddle joined him for a violin duet, adding another memorable collaboration to the run. The tour caught the attention of Alaska media, too. The TV show The Venue featured Chris’s music video for “Songs From The Trees,” and he and I joined The Big Alaska Show for an interview. It was exciting to see his music reaching people beyond the shows and giving more Alaskans a chance to get to know him. On his way back from Fairbanks, Chris closed the tour at Josh’s house for Josh’s first cozy house concert. Gathering in a home for one last evening of music was a wonderful finish. Thank you to everyone who hosted, attended, played, or helped spread the word. I’m proud that Make A Scene Media and 95.5 The Pass helped make these shows happen, and excited to keep bringing touring artists and Alaska musicians together. We’re already looking ahead to Chris Murphy’s return in 2027! www.makeascene.media/chrismurphy
Books
COMMENTARY: BANNED BOOKS WEEK
Contributed by Sarah Birdsall, Alaska Chapter of Authors Against Book Bans
threat with scripture from the Bible. Let us remember that different versions of the Bible have been banned in other places in other times. Freedom to read matters. Stand up for your rights. Tell your local school board or city assembly that the freedom of speech is important to you. Let them know that you support libraries and librarians. That is how we keep our freedom to read. Visit sites like Unite Against Book Bans at uniteagainstbookbans.org for further ideas on how to fight against book banning. Banning books and threatening the safety of librarians should not be treated as anything like normal. In this season of witches, goblins, ghosts, and ghouls, that’s what we should be afraid of. Sarah Birdsall, Adrienne Canino, Ann Dixon, Helen Hegener, Daniel Hoffman, David A. James, Kathy Kysar, Lynn Lovegreen, Jeremy Pataky, Cathy Pegau, Don Reardon, Mimi Schweid, Carol Sturgulewski, Jen Funk Weber
MID-OCTOBER 2026
October is a time of witches, goblins, ghosts, and ghouls, and also a time for us to contemplate the ramifications of book banning as we recognized Banned Books Week this October 4–10. Book banning (and burning) is nothing new to the human species. According to a historical timeline on thisbookisbanned.com, early historical actions include a B.C. Chinese emperor named Shih Huang Ti who executed hundreds of scholars and burned nearly all the books in his kingdom to control historical written records. Leap ahead to 1624 when Pope Urban VIII ordered a German translation of the Bible be burnt. Shakespeare’s King Lear was banned from stage performances for thirty-two years. In 1929, Jack London’s The Call of the Wild was banned in two European countries and a few years later was burned in Nazi Germany along with thousands of other books. And
so here we are in these modern times in the United States of America, where the First Amendment of the Constitution has been successfully argued before the Supreme Court (Board of Education v. Pico, 1982) as protecting the right to read, and demands to remove books from public libraries, everything from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, have taken on new life. There are places in Alaska where books are being taken off shelves without due process. It must be noted that the right to read is not the only thing under threat. Librarians and Friends of the Library groups have been under threat as well. Recently in the Mat-Su Borough, a librarian ultimately resigned her position after receiving threats to her life. In a public meeting of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, where a specific threat to this librarian was discussed, a woman seeking to ban a book on the shelves of the Talkeetna Public Library defended that
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Arts
ARE YOUR KIDS EXPERIENCING LIVE THEATER IN
ALASKA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER?
Contributed by Rowan Holmes
MID-OCTOBER 2026
Hey parents and grandparents! Are your kids enjoying professional theater at the most beautiful performing arts centers in the state? Alaska Junior Theater’s 2026–2027 Season is getting closer, and we can’t wait to welcome young audiences and their families to another year of incredible live performances at the Atwood Concert Hall!
Ask your child’s teacher about upcoming Alaska Junior Theater field trips to the Performing Arts Center for an unforgettable day of live theater, music and imagination! If your children aren’t attending an AJT show with their school, don’t worry; you can bring them yourself! With Alaska Junior Theater Season Tickets, your family can experience four amazing touring productions together, make new memories and discover the magic of live theater. This season, “Once Upon a Twist” brings a wonderfully unexpected lineup of performances to Anchorage. Meet the Hatter with Joss Arnott Dance of London, England, invites audiences into a magical Wonderland of dance, gorgeous music, storytelling and stunning visuals. Doktor Kaboom! in Look Out! Science Is Coming! combines science and comedy in an energetic, fun-filled performance. PHONK: REWIRED! with Scrap Arts Music transforms recycled materials into extraordinary musical instruments and an unforgettable percussion experience. Lastly, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales with Griffin Theatre turns familiar fairy tales upside down with plenty of silliness and surprises. Each show offers something different for curious kids and the grown-ups who love sharing new experiences with them. There’s something special about watching a live performance together. The excitement as the lights go down, the energy of performers on stage and the shared laughter and wonder are experiences that simply can’t be replicated on a screen. AJT makes it easy for families to introduce children to professional performing arts in a welcoming, family-friendly setting. So, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and anyone who loves making memories with the kids in their lives: consider this your invitation to a season of imagination, laughter and live theatre!
Four Shows. Four Completely Different Experiences. That’s the fun of an AJT Season Ticket. You aren’t buying four versions of the same kind of performance. You’re getting four very different productions that let your family experience just how broad live theatre can be. And you have options! The Family Fun Series includes all four shows, making it the easiest way to experience the complete Once Upon a Twist Season, while the Choose-Your-Own Series lets you select any three shows of your choice. Both options save you 20% off single-ticket prices. Pick the Mad Hatter. Pick the scientist. Pick the musicians and their instruments made from scrap. Pick the fairy tales that have gone wonderfully wrong. Or don’t pick and get the whole season! Get tickets now at Centertix.com or by calling 263-ARTS. See you in the theater!
Books
www.susitnabrewing.com
THE BRIGHT LIGHTS BOOK PROJECT:
ACCESSIBILITY AND THE BIGGER PICTURE
Contributed by Alys Culhane
As I said goodbye to our Saturday volunteers, a smug look crossed my face. I’d done what five hours before looked like an impossibility. I’d orchestrated a four-hour session in which 20 volunteers, 16 of whom were high schoolers, cleaned, stamped, and categorized a dozen-plus boxes of books. This was no easy feat. The books, most of which were previously in storage in one of our two U-Haul units, had to be brought to the Eagle Hotel, set on tables, and re-boxed (lidless boxes make the work go faster). Additionally, I had to purchase additional cleaning supplies. The session went well. Leslie Harter, the BLBP Literacy Coordinator, conducted a brief training session, and the experienced adult volunteers further showed the teens what to do. I watched, awed, as students from Wasilla, Colony, and Service High Schools worked side by side and talked books. I then laughed as two long-time male volunteers spent time putting up a neon sign that earlier that day had been donated to us. It read: Read Books: Be Kind. The room was now quiet. I looked over at Leslie, who was looking at the upper children’s bookshelves, deep in thought. “Whatcha thinking?” I asked. Leslie, half suggesting/half asking, wondered if we might remove the boxes of books on the upper shelves and put the books directly on the shelves. I said this was a good idea because the boxes, mostly labelled Upper Elementary, were heavy, making it hard to access the contents. For the following week, I watched as Leslie, who is taller than I am, lined up the young adult and children’s nonfiction resource books. Inspiration was a driving force. I subsequently reorganized the two Young Adult nonfiction bookcases in a similar manner. For example, I pulled books out of boxes labelled Biography, Ancient History, Sports, and Geography, dusted them off, and set them directly on the shelves. From the onset of her hire, a month previously, Leslie and I have, in a manner of speaking, been on the same page. One or the other of us threw an idea out there, and one or both of us acted on it. It was no coincidence, then, that as we took on other reorganization-related projects, an agreed-upon plan materialized, which is one that I sensed would complement our accessibility-related mission statement. I had for some time been, on an informal basis, sorting children’s books into categories. I’d had enough books on hand for holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas included. I also grouped and held on to teaching resource materials, this including workbooks, curriculum guides, and how-to science books. I became more obsessive about this when the need called for it. For instance, I had curriculum-specific books on hand in June, at the onset of Summer in the Park(s), some of our topics being bees, dinosaurs, reptiles and horses. Not coincidentally, these categories complemented our Alaska State Fair needs.
5120 S BIG LAKE RD. 907-892-2336
We placed our 12 public art newspaper boxes on and around the Red Trail and filled these boxes twice daily with theme-related books. For example, twice a day, BLBP distributors put bee books in the bee booth box, and horse books in the 4-H box. At this point in time, the BLBP focus was primarily on book accessibility in relation to distribution. I say primarily because at both Summer in the Park(s) and the Alaska State Fair, we encouraged parents to read to their children, in part by hosting Storytime, hands-on, and team-building activities. Our agreed-upon revitalization efforts indicated to Leslie and me that we could and should put an even greater emphasis on literacy-related accessibility. In talking further, we envisioned a space in which parents of home and public schoolers could pick out literacy books and materials, and children could pick out books. To this end, Leslie put our literacy supplies in order. I moved the boxes containing complementary books out of the back room and arranged the books on easier-to-access front bookshelves. It’s no wonder, then, that Leslie’s and my conversations as of late have centered around the BLBP’s mission-related plan. Our space, now being book accessible, is also literacy accessible. We are currently working on our outreach schedule, during which we’ll attend specific events with the goal of informing parents about our upcoming on-site activities. For instance, we’ll spend two days doing Storytime, hands-on, and team-building activities at the Butte Reindeer Farm in mid-October. And while there, we’ll talk with parents about our on-site winter literacy program, one that will include similar activities as well as group and one-on-one tutoring sessions. Alys Culhane, Executive Director of the Bright Lights Book Project, is looking for chess and checker players. We have the board, we have the books, we now need players. Photo caption: Newspaper boxes, now public art, headed to the Alaska State Fair.
PAGE 12
Coloring Page FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
AGE
MID-OCTOBER 2026
MAILING ADDRESS
Send in your coloring page and you can win a gift card to a local business!
PAGE 13
Calendar Funnies of Events
HELP US GROW OUR CALENDAR! OCTOBER
October 20 @ 1PM Rippy Trail: October 50-ish and Over
Revel Adventure Club Palmer Info@RevelAK.com $15 for non-members
October 23 @ 5PM-6:45PM Anchorage Fall Fest
Alaska Youth and Family Network 740 Communications Avenue, Anchorage admin@ayfn.org 907-770-4979 October 30 @ 3PM-5PM Whimsy Woods Enchanted Forest Trick or Treat
Wasilla City Hall 290 E. Herning Ave
October 31 @ 12PM-5PM Trunk or Treat
The Better Companian 1400 E Regine Ave, Wasilla Tailwags@bettercompanion.com 907-357-2521 October 31 @ 4PM-12PM Anchorage Halloween Bar Crawl 2026
Avenue Bar Anchorage support@crawlwith.us Tickets available online
October 31 @ 8PM Beyond the Grave: Back from the Dead Halloween Party
November 11 @ 5:30PM Butte: Revel Ramble
October 31 @ 11AM 2026 Frightening 4K
November 13 @ 11AM-2PM The Children’s Place Annual Soup and Bread Luncheon
5801 S Knik Goose Bay Rd, Wasilla 907-531-6588 Cost: $30
The Hotel Captain Cook 938 W 4th Ave, Anchorage info@skinnyraven.com Tickets available online
NOVEMBER November 7 @10AM-5PM 2026 Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace
KO Productions Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St 907-474-9082 Cost: $5
November 7 @12PM-4PM Artisan Bon Bon Class
Alaska Wild Berry Products 5225 Junea St, Anchorage 907-562-8858 Tickets available online
November 7 @ 11AM Gold Mint: November Ladies Day Out(doors)
Revel Adventure Club Palmer Info@RevelAK.com $15 for non-members
Revel Adventure Club Palmer Info@RevelAK.com $15 for non-members
The Children’s Place MatSu Regional Medical Center Cafeteria 2500 S. Woodworth Loop November 17 @ 1PM Settler’s Bay: 50-ish and Over
Revel Adventure Club Wasilla Info@RevelAK.com $15 for non-members
November 26 @10:30AM 2026 Turkey Trot Presented by Icebug
Skinny Raven Sports Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center Tickets available online November 27th @2PM & 29th @5:30PM The Nutcracker with Eugene Ballet
Anchorage Concert Association Atwood Concert Hall 907-272-1471 Tickets available online
Click submit event! www.MakeAScene.media
MID-OCTOBER 2026
Submit your event & we’ll print it in the next edition!
WWW.MAKEASCENE.MEDIA | 907-373-2698
A NUTCRACKER TRADITION CONTINUES
PAGE 15
Arts
Contributed by Anchorage Concert Association
11,000 people attended Anchorage Concert Association’s presentation of The Nutcracker in 2025. ConocoPhillips Alaska sponsors The Nutcracker and supports a community dress rehearsal for clients of local social service organizations. More than 50 organizations are invited, and more than 1,000 people will experience the ballet for free, thanks to support from ConocoPhillips. Experience the joy and wonder of The Nutcracker
Mysticism MESSAGE IN THE BONES: “THE LONG WAIT” Contributed by Tamara Zenobia, The Majestic Wrangler of Bones
“Never give up!” I believe those words. But looking back over this year (that isn’t even finished yet), I realize there is something else I need to say: make room to enjoy the life you are working so hard to create. I have accomplished so much this year alone. Things I’ve prayed for, needed money for, and spent years building are now a part of my everyday life. Yet somewhere between the dreaming and the receiving, I was whiling out, Y’all! Just ask my mother. AND you could ask my brother, but he also died this year and left me here in this world to cope… (I think his struggle was similar and that is why he left; he could not bear it any longer)… I digress. BUT… I complained. I got angry. I cried for help. I shouted, screamed, and cursed. Sometimes I felt completely alone, even while surrounded by people. Why do I have to work so hard?! Why must I do this alone? I have the tools. I have sight. What am I missing? I hadn’t stopped dreaming. I hadn’t stopped believing. But I was carrying my dreams with a defeated attitude. And while all of this was happening, my dreams were coming true. And I wasn’t even stopping to notice. It was my brother’s death in June this year that has caused me to slow down, as well as falling into traffic off my electric
scooter a couple weeks ago on my way to work. I nearly died. I slowed down. I had no choice. I had to stop racing against time. In fact, as I write, I’m reminded of the book by C. S. Lewis, “The Great Divorce.” In its grey town, inhabitants can imagine houses into existence, yet their quarrels drive them farther apart. A bus journey to the outskirts of Heaven offers the possibility of another way of being, but accepting it requires a choice about what they are willing to release. What stays with me from this book is this: how people manifested so easily in their world and didn’t even realize it. Creation was so natural, and the people had no idea they were doing it. Looking back now, I see growth. I see how blessed I was throughout the process. I also see how accustomed I had become to fighting. Working hard felt familiar. Struggling felt familiar. Anger fueled my will. But at what cost? There were tender moments I didn’t fully receive. There was love I struggled to recognize. There was joy available in the present, while my attention stayed fixed on what had not happened yet. My body is now asking for recovery. I can feel the tension I carried through all that striving. Achievement hasn’t automatically released it. I have to give myself permission to soften. Perhaps you recognize some of yourself here. When we have waited a long time, we can begin to measure life almost entirely by what is missing. The un-
with Eugene Ballet, presented by Anchorage Concert Association and sponsored by ConocoPhillips Alaska, TOTE Maritime Alaska, and Anchorage Daily News. Tickets are available at the CenterTix box office, 263-ARTS, and anchorageconcerts.org. Event Information: The Nutcracker with Eugene Ballet, presented by Anchorage Concert Association; November 27–29, 2026; Atwood Concert Hall; tickets: CenterTix, 263-ARTS, or anchorageconcerts.org.
answered request. The opportunity that hasn’t arrived. The support we wish someone would offer. We can overlook progress because it doesn’t resemble the picture we had in mind. Some opportunities, I now realize, were difficult for me to see through my frustration. That doesn’t mean every delay was my fault. It means my attention deserves care, too. What might you be missing because you are focused on what isn’t happening the way you think it should? We need to make space for love. I mean tenderness with ourselves. Quiet moments. Being soft enough to enjoy the people and the world around us without immediately judging what they lack. My suggestion is simple: once a week, create a small portal into relaxation. Give yourself a little time without something to accomplish. Sit quietly. Listen to music. Let yourself cry if tears come. Allow disappointment to be felt without turning it into a verdict on your future. Offer yourself the encouragement you have been waiting to receive. You may begin to notice progress you previously dismissed, kindness you hurried past, or divine support arriving in an unexpected form. You may find yourself more willing to receive it. Keep dreaming. Keep building. Appreciate the learning that brings you forward. And as your dreams take shape, pause long enough to recognize them. You are allowed to feel joy before everything is finished. Thanks for tuning in. As always, catch me at tamarazenobia.com about this month’s reading.
MID-OCTOBER 2026
The Nutcracker is back to bring holiday magic this Thanksgiving weekend. For 36 years, it has been a beloved Anchorage tradition that reminds people to dream bigger, leap higher, and experience the wonders of being a kid again. Anchorage Concert Association is bringing back Eugene Ballet to perform with Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and young Alaska dancers coordinated by Alaska Dance Theatre, November 27–29 at the Atwood Concert Hall. Eugene Ballet’s production features fantastical sets, costumes, and special effects, accompanied by live music from 60 Alaska musicians with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. A record high of 140 local dancers, ages 8–18, will perform alongside more than 20 professional dancers with Eugene Ballet. With Willam Christensen’s historic choreography and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, many families will kick off the holiday season with this timeless classic. More than
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Arts
TUNDRA THE COMIC STRIP IS ON THE LOOSE! AGAIN
Contributed by Andy the Lemming Well, folks, the holiday season is upon us again, which means one thing for the critters of Gangrene Gulch and the rest of Alaska: Chad the TUNDRA cartoonist has escaped the shackles of his drawing board and is currently roaming free among the craft shows, holiday markets, and the kind of indoor events where people spend their PFDs on things that smell like pine, cinnamon and hot glue. Chad will be at several of these this season, hustling his wares with the same intensity he usually reserves
for avoiding being an adult. If you find his booth (and you will, because it looks like a newspaper comics page threw up onto a folding table), you’ll see Chad signing the NEW book, calendars, prints, and whatever else he managed to cram into his truck. Watching Chad at these shows is its own form of entertainment. He sits there in his standard uniform: some variation of flannel that has clearly lost several battles with campfire sparks and chaotic goats. Someone will say they love the strip. Chad will nod, sign their book, and then, because he cannot help himself, start explaining how he came up with the punchline while standing in the kitchen at 2am in his underwear and staring at a half-eaten sandwich. Then, to make matters worse, a well-meaning fan will ask about his creative process. Chad will launch into a story involving a chainsaw and an incontinent squirrel and then inexplicably start rambling about why he never wears matching socks. By the time he finishes, the person who asked has either bought two calendars out of pity or quietly backed away while avoiding eye contact. On a somewhat related note, DO NOT under any circumstances ask him about his goats. You will miss your next three appointments, your parking meter will expire and somewhere in the distance, a mall Santa will ring a bell in mourning. Still, if you’re looking for something to laugh at this holiday season that doesn’t involve relatives arguing about politics or the price of gas, swing by. Buy the
ALASKA BUTTERFLY & FAUNA MURAL Contributed by Becky Holsinger
Visit a new mural in Palmer designed and created by Frost and Fable Window Art owner Crystal Dermer. Crystal drew the design outline on the eastern wall of The Art Café at 131 E Blueberry Ave, including Alaska-specific species of butterflies, mushrooms,
and plants. Many thanks to Crystal and volunteer painters who adopted a butterfly or section to add their own touches: Taylor York, Melissa Ali, Michelle Sharp, Bianca-Pagel Miller, Demelza Muskopf, Willow York and Jessica Walden. The painters were excited to have a part in
new book. Grab a calendar. Watch Chad try to make awkward small talk with a woman who just wants a signed print for her cabin outhouse. And if you value your remaining free time, keep the conversation away from livestock. Some cliffs are better left unjumped. www.tundracomics.com
creating a beautiful mural for the community. They signed the wall near areas they worked on. The personal connections made while painting are priceless. We have enjoyed watching the transformation of the wall from plain corrugated metal to a colorful, charming scene that also provides photo opportunities and has shown up on Winged Walls Worldwide on Facebook. Looking forward to viewing this scene in the winter weather.