Make A Scene Magazine November 2019

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FAITH:

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 Design, and LIFE Connect. We also have Sarah’s House, which 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 assistant programs, such as The Locker, to provide personal care and basic house hold cleaning items and Scarlet Tapestries which offers basic sewing skills instruction. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

OTHER Mat-Su Health Services, Inc. www.mshsak.org (907) 376-2411 Dedicated to improving the health of our community, one person at a time – through affordable medical, dental and behavioral health care.The clinic is a Federally qualified Health Care Center and we accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most other third-party insurances. For those who qualify, there is a sliding scale payment, based on household income.

We offer early morning and evening appointments appointment. You can also contact our 24/7 behavioral crisis intervention line by calling the main number: 376-2411.

PETS & ANIMALS:

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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 environments, address medical 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 volunteers and foster homes.

FAMILIES & CHILDREN:

ARTS:

Denali Family Services

Valley Arts Alliance

291 East Swanson Ave. Wasilla, AK 907-222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org Denali Family Services provides therapeutic foster care to Alaskan children with mental health needs. If you are committed to working with a team, receiving training and implementing positive interventions to schoolage children and teens, we need your talents and skills.

We are in search of professional, therapeutic foster parents who are willing to make a commitment to the children of Alaska by providing a stable home environment.

For more information, please call or email our Foster Care Recruiter, Ernestina D. Olivares, at 907-222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org.

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 venues for the arts, and to help promote art related events.

Join us at our informal weekly meetings, every Thursday @ 11 at Sophia’s Cafe, 9191 E Frontage Road, Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Check out our archives www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com

Mat-Su Health Foundation

CONSERVATION:

healthymatsu.org (907) 352-2863 The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers financial and strategic support to well-managed 501(c)(3) organizations that offer services and practical solutions to significant health-related problems impacting the citizens of the Mat-Su Borough.

The foundation also offers academic and vocational scholarships to Mat-Su residents who wish to pursue health and wellness related careers.

COMMUNITY: Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) Charitable Foundation www.mea.coop/mea-in-the-community/round-up meacontact@mea.coop 907-761-9300 Since 2011, the MEA Charitable Foundation has given grants to fund projects impacting libraries, playgrounds, seniors, veterans, recycling, at-risk youth, and much more. In 2019, MEA Charitable Foundation reached over $1,000,000 in contributions to the community with Operation RoundUp® Program!

Organizational grants are capped at $10,000.

Please remember to check our website for requirements and submit your completed application — including financials! For meeting and reviewing grants, MEACF operates on a quarterly cycle.

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions www.valleyrecycling.org (907) 745-5544 RECYCLING: Be part of the solution.

DROP OFF: The community recycling center is located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, next to the MSB Animal Shelter at the Central Landfill. Follow the smells.

NEW HOURS: Drive through drop-off open Tues – Fri 9:30 - 5:00 and Sat 8:00 to 5:00. Recycle cardboard, aluminum cans, magazines, this newspaper and more. Remember to REDUCE, REUSE, and then RECYCLE! ONLINE: Visit our website for more details, follow us on FaceBook and Instagram.

To learn more, visit our classroom. Volunteer opportunities available. Make a difference in your community!

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Mat-Su Regional Adult Basic Education (Nine Star) MatsuAdultEd@ninestar.com (907) 373-7833 Mat-Su ABE provides basic education in math, language arts and English as a second language (ESL), aiming to raise student skills beyond the high-school level in order to pass tests like the GED, enter training programs or college, and advance on the job. Enrollment is open to all adult residents of Alaska, year-round.

Youth Employment for ages 16-24 not in school -- get a job, keep a job, advance on the job. Nine Star 300 N Willow 373-3006 (in the MYHouse building)

FAITH: Valley Interfaith Action (VIA) www.valleyinterfaithaction.org (907) 230-1006 To address quality of life issues for all residents of the Mat-Su Borough, utilizing the faith values of our members, developing community-wide interest and mobilization around quality of life issues.

Through training, leaders address community problems by providing forums for discussion, researching alternative solutions, and working as facilitators with residents and leaders for institutional change.

HOMELESS YOUTH: Mat-Su Youth Housing (MY HOUSE) myhousematsu.org (907) 373-4357 MY House is a homeless youth drop in center with two for-profit businesses that train and employ homeless youth. Gathering Grounds Cafe is a coffee shop with homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and baked goods.

Steamdriven is a trendy thrift shop featuring Steampunk items made from repurposed donations by our youth designers. Fiend2Clean and Young People in Recovery offer support for substance abuse recovery with activities and events.

We offer transitional housing for qualified 18-24 year olds, Outreach services to connect homeless youth, organizations and groups to services, and access to Public Health and NineStar job/education services on site.

SOCIAL ADVOCACY: Wasilla Homeless-Committee www.wasillahomeless-committee.org (907) 521-2949 Wasilla Homeless-Committee is a 100% volunteer organization funded by private donations and regular fundraising events. Our sole purpose is to assist the homeless, those at risk of homelessness, and others who do not meet the criteria for help that is required by other advocacy agencies in the valley.

Wasilla Homeless-Committee provides case management, housing search assistance, move in assistance, job search assistance, clothing, furniture, help with transportation, and resource guidance for homeless and disenfranchised in the Mat-Su Valley.

Visit our website for application, or call 907521-2949. Find us on Facebook facebook.com/ wasillahomelesscommitteepage

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERSHIP OF MAT-SU & PALMER PARENTS GROUP PLAY TIME Every Wednesday – 10AM Early Childhood Partnership of Mat-Su & Palmer Parents Group Mat-Su Borough Gym 350 E Dahlia Ave. Palmer FREE Event - (907) 745-5824 admin@unitedwaymatsu.org HAZMAT DAYS Every Wednesday – 10AM Every Saturday – 10AM MSB Solid Waste Division 1201 N 49th State St. Palmer FREE Event - (907) 861-7600 solid.waste@matsugov.us SOUP & SANDWICH SUPPER Every Wednesday - 5PM Lamb of God Lutheran Church 1221 N Church Rd. FREE Event - (907) 357-8077 www.loglcms.org PROPHETIC ART SHOW 11/5/2019 - 1/7/2020 Humdingers Pizza 173 S Valley Way, Palmer FREE Admission PAINT NIGHT FUNDRAISER: CELEBRATING 2019 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES 11/19/2019 - 6:30PM Alaska Center for Resource Families Locals Pub & Pizzaria 3100 E Parks Hwy. Wasilla Tickets: $45 www.acrf.org 49TH MEAL PODCAST LAUNCH DINNER 11/20/2019 - 5PM 49th Meal Podcast Edelweiss Restaurant 3161 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Wasilla FREE Admission - (907) 738-2259 49thmealpodcast@gmail.com

AREA 907 LIVE AT THE MUG-SHOT SALOON 11/22/2019 - 10PM The Mug-Shot Saloon 251 W Parks Hwy. Wasilla Cost: $20

COLONY HIGH SCHOOL 2019 HOLIDAY BAZAAR 11/30/2019 - 9AM Colony High School 9550 E Bogard Rd. Palmer FREE Admission www.matsuk12.us/CHS

VALLEY THANKSGIVING BLESSING 11/23/2019 - 10AM Food Bank of Alaska Wasilla Bible Church 1651 W Nicola Ave. Wasilla FREE Event

ART CLASS: NEEDLE-FELTED ANIMALS 11/30/2019 - 11AM The Art Cafe 131 E Blueberry Ave. Palmer Cost: $45 per Felted Animal

2019 MAT-SU TURKEY TROT 11/23/2019 – 10AM Skinny Raven Sports Sunny Knik Chapel 10774 S Knik Goose Bay Rd. Wasilla Tickets: $15 – (907) 521–1180 www.skinnyraven.com IDITAROD BAZAAR 11/23/2019 – 10AM Iditarod Elementary School PTA Iditarod Elementary School 455 Carpenter Cir. Wasilla FREE Event – (907) 315-1689 ptaiditarod@gmail.com FIBER N’ ICE YARN SHOP GRAND OPENING 11/23/2019 - 12PM Fiber N’ Ice Alaska 1261 Seward Meridian Pkwy. Ste. H, Wasilla FREE Admission MEDIUM BUILD ‘WILD’ ALBUM RELEASE 11/23/2019 - 7PM Medium Build Sheldon Community Arts Hanger 0000 Talkeetna Rd. Talkeetna FREE Admission

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE 11/22/2019 - 10AM Meadow Lakes Market 7575 W Parks Hwy. Wasilla FREE Event meadowlakesmarket@gmail.com

GIVING FROM THE HEART THANKSGIVING DINNER 11/28/2019 - 11AM Frontline Mission Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St. Wasilla FREE Event

ALASKA CHICKS CO. VINTAGE WINTER MARKET 11/22/2019 - 5PM Alaska Chicks Co. 290 N Yenlo St. Wasilla FREE Admission

READALASKA BOOK FAIR November 29-30, 2019 ReadAlaska The Anchorage Museum 625 C St. Anchorage FREE Admission

MEET THE ARTIST: SUZANNE BACH EDWARDS 12/6/2019 - 4PM Valley Fine Arts Association Bearpaw River Brewing Company 4605 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Wasilla FREE Event - (907) 301-5308 admin@bearpawbrewing.com COMMUNITY PANCAKE BREAKFAST 12/7/2019 - 9AM Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 501 E Bogard Rd. Wasilla Cost: $12 per person TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 12/7/2019 – 10AM Trinity Lutheran Church 10355 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Palmer FREE Admission – (907) 745-0726 HOMESPUN HOLIDAY BAZAAR 12/7/2019 - 10AM Butte Elementary School 4006 S Butte Rd. Palmer FREE Admission buttebazaar@outlook.com GREATER ALASKA CHAPTER, AMAC ACTION MEETING WITH SEN DAN SULLIVAN 12/7/2019 - 11AM Greater Alaska Chapter, Wasilla Senior Center 1301 S Century Cir. Wasilla FREE Event - (907) 355-2364 mcoons@mtaonline.net www.amacaction.org BIG LAKE LIONS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR December 7-8, 2019 – 11AM Big Lake Lions Club East Lake Mall 3261 Big Lake Rd. Big Lake FREE Event – (907) 982-6088 kasinnett@gmail.com

SLEEPING BEAUTY 12/7/2019 - 2PM Alaska Junior Theater Atwood Concert Hall Tickets: $24.75-$33.75 www.akjt.org ISRAELI COOKING CLASS 12/8/2019 - 3PM Yossi Assis Chessed Alaska 3060 N Lazy Eight Ct. Palmer 4TH ANNUAL PEACE & LOVE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION & POTLUCK 12/8/2019 - 5PM Kabayan Inc. Filipino-American Community of Mat-Su Raven Hall, Alaska State Fairgrounds 2075 Glenn Hwy. Palmer Tickets: $10 Early Bird, $15 @Door A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY 12/12/2019 - 7:30PM Mat-Su Community Chorus Farm Loop Christian Center 5900 N Farm Loop Rd. Palmer FREE Admission www.matsucommunitychorus.org THE ALASKA NUTCRACKER December 13-14, 2019 - 7PM Sonja’s Studio of Performing Arts The Glenn Massay Theater 8295 E College Dr. Palmer Tickets: $20 CANTORA ARCTICA 2019 CHRISTMAS CONCERT 12/14/2019 - 7PM Cantora Arctica (Mat-Su Valley Women’s Choral Group) St. John Lutheran Church 440 E. Elmwood Ave. Palmer Tickets: $5 www.cantoraarctica.org A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY 12/15/2019 - 4PM Mat-Su Community Chorus St. John Lutheran Church 440 E Elmwood Ave. Palmer FREE Students & Seniors, $7 Adults www.matsucommunitychorus.org DECEMBER DELIGHTS CONCERT December 20-21, 2019 - 7:30PM The Mat-Su Concert Band The Glenn Massay Theater Tickets: FREE Ages )-5, $5 Students, $20 General Admission www.matsuconcertband.org

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Music

Contributed by Drewcilla Holifield, Mat-Su Concert Band December Delights Concert December 20-21, 2019 - 7:30PM The Mat-Su Concert Band The Glenn Massay Theater 8295 E College Dr. Palmer Tickets: FREE Ages )-5, $5 Students, $20 General Admission The Mat-Su Concert Band will perform its popular holiday concert, combining seasonal classics and lesser-known holiday gems, at two separate performances.

The “December Delights” concerts will take place December 20th and December 21st at 7:30 p.m. at The Glenn Massay Theater at Mat-Su College. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $5 for students.

Children under 5 get in free. Tickets can be purchased online at www. matsuconcertband.org.

The concert includes the band’s popular audience sing-along, as well as a number of masterworks for the holiday.

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The Nutcracker Ballet, with music written by P.I. Tchaikovsky, has become part of the holiday tradition with its Christmas Eve tale of the Prince and Clara, the evil Mouse King, and a troupe of dancing dolls.

The band will perform Tchaikovsky’s music in “Suite from The Nutcracker”: eight numbers culminating in the whirling “Waltz of the Flowers”. The talent of the band’s saxophone section leader and board president,

Bruce Brown, is showcased in “O Holy Night”, the well-known Christmas carol composed in 1847 by Adolphe Adam.

As legend has it, a French soldier fighting in the Franco-Prussian War during 1871 rose from a trench to sing three verses of the song. Soon after, a German soldier climbed out and sang another carol and both sides observed a 24-hour truce for Christmas Day. The band will also perform several pieces commemorating the Chanukah holiday including “Eight Nights of Light” – an arrangement of traditional tunes – and “A Chanukah Celebration”, arranged by David Bobrowitz.

Other selections scheduled for performance include “A Christmas Intrada” by Alfred Reed, “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson, “With Every Winter’s Breath” by Randall D. Standridge, “The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol” by Percy Grainger, and “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Gustav Holst.

About the Mat-Su Concert Band: Mat-Su Concert Band got its start in 1984 as the Mat-Su Community Band, formed by Matanuska Music owner, Hank Hartman. Other directors have included Neil Long and Phil Munger.

Current director, Gleo Huyck, is a retired music educator and private instructor. Under Huyck’s baton, the band performs a wide-ranging selection of challenging music.

The band this season numbers about 70 amateur musicians who assemble every Monday night for rehearsals at Teeland Middle School.

Contributed by Suzanne Bach Edwards What fits your busy schedule best?

Having a relaxing conversation with friends over a drink? Shopping for gifts for those you love? Expanding your horizons by seeing a local artist’s colorful paintings? Well you can do all three at the Bearpaw River Brewing Company on Palmer Wasilla Hwy next to All About Herbs.

The hours are Sunday-Wednesday 3p-8p and Thursday-Saturday 12p-8p.

Artist Suzanne Bach Edwards will be there on Friday Dec 6 from 3p-5p to meet and greet at her show “Tis the Season to be Jolly,” which will show from Dec 1 until Dec 31.

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Arts The motivation behind this show is to introduce the viewer to some realistic and some abstract colorful art pieces to lift their spirits. As the peanut butter sandwich said to the grape, “Tis the season to be jelly. ” Stop in and have a brew and enjoy the show, and if one of the paintings ends up in your stocking, then you can do like Jack Frost did when he was in school, “Snow and Tell”.

Suzanne can be reached at 301-5308, or suzannebachedwards@gmail.com

To add some brightness to the Holiday season, some folks, like Suzanne, do this by expressing their creativity and sharing with others. Formerly the Fine Arts Coordinator at Mat-Su College of UAA, she now enjoys traveling but still finds time for artwork. She is active in the Alaska Watercolor Society and former president, active with the Valley Fine Arts Association and loves taking workshops and exploring her horizons, often with her husband Jerry, who is a budding watercolor artist, as well.

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Music

Contributed by Kim Levesque The Mat Su Youth Orchestra (MSYO) began at a time when there were few opportunities for developing musicians in the Valley to play in a community string orchestra. In 2010, conductor and music teacher, Kai West, had a vision to support music education in the community by providing a large-group setting in the form of a string orchestra where developing musicians can learn performance skills, build confidence, and perform with their peers in public venues. With the support and guidance of The Mat Su Orchestra, private instructor Debbie

Davis, and accomplished strings musician, Judy Montalbano, the small community group was formed.

The group has grown significantly over the years by word of mouth, adding music teacher Melanie Keenan, and a dedicated group of adult volunteers who strive to provide a quality program for string musicians who can read and play music at an early-intermediate to intermediate level. In January 2019, the group formally organized as a nonprofit organization, and has submitted an application for tax-exempt status.

This step will allow MSYO to expand the program, whose professionals work on a volunteer-only basis, to accommodate more musicians and accept public support.

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MSYO musicians play violin, viola, cello and double bass; the orchestra also welcomes percussion and piano.

The group has a great time exploring music by playing selections from many different genres, such as classical, jazz, Celtic, bluegrass, zydeco, pop, rock, Broadway musicals, folk, blues, Latin and spiritual; they are always looking for new musical scores to challenge developing musicians.

Rehearsals provide opportunities to learn technical skills, and play cooperatively with other musicians to improve musicality with support from highly qualified music instructors and accomplished musicians. Musicians from throughout the community are invited to participate in the orchestra, which has a diverse group of members who love to have fun and play great music together.

The Mat Su Youth Orchestra also welcomes opportunities to perform.

They host two concerts a year, one for the holidays and another in the spring.

Both concerts this year will be at the Valley Performing Arts, but you may

also see MSYO at scheduled community events and festivals. This year, the MSYO will be performing on December 14th at 3:00pm for the Nativity Display during Colony Christmas in Palmer.

The location is available in the Colony Christmas schedule of events.

You will see members of the orchestra in school music activities, Valley Performing Arts productions, college orchestras, and the Mat Su Orchestra who plays at a more advanced level.

Our community has grown, and is now blessed with many opportunities for people to participate in quality theater, band, orchestra and other fine arts programs.

MSYO makes every effort to adjust their calendar to avoid conflicts with other musical groups and performances so our members may participate in a variety of arts activities. The Mat Su Youth Orchestra believes participating in as many musical opportunities as possible helps musicians grow in skill and confidence whether going on to perform professionally, on a community level, or for their own pleasure as a lifelong musician.

For musicians wishing to play in the Mat Su Youth Orchestra, there will be a brief winter break after the Holiday concert in December. The MSYO 2019/2020 season will resume in January with new music in preparation for a spring performance. Rehearsals are held currently in Wasilla, Alaska on Thursday evenings.

A new website is under construction and will be launched by the end of the year to provide information about the group and its schedule. In the meantime, interested musicians may call (907) 373-6763 or email thewest@ mtaonline.net with inquiries about the program.

Contributed by Martha Happs Prophetic Art Show 11/5/2019 - 1/7/2020 Humdingers Pizza 173 S Valley Way, Palmer FREE Admission Prophetic art is a personal revelation from the Holy Spirit expressed through the artist’s skill level, co-laboring with the Holy Spirit to produce a work of art.

Showing their “prophetic art” at Humdingers is Brenda Jaeger of Anchorage, Karen Crandall of Big Lake and Martha Happs of Palmer.

Jaeger said, “Martha Happs invited me to participate in the first Prophetic Art Show at Humdingers last year. I decided to meditate and ask for a painting to come to me. I had a dream of a large eye that had fiery red and yellow petals around the center pupil. The center of the eye was alive, very deep and black, going into space. This black eye shone and when I painted it a planet appeared in the pupil on a golden orbit. Everything in my dream whirled around the shiny vibrant center. From this first painting “Cosmic Eye”, a series was born. My second painting at Humdingers is “Blue Sky” which came from a dream of expansion and opening up.”

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Arts into the world through our prophetic art.

Jaeger is currently showing at Georgia Blue Galley, Anchorage and through Randy Parsons Guitars, Ventura, California. Her work is in permanent collections such as the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, Dean Witter Reynolds, Standard Oil and others.

Crandall is currently showing her work at Girdwood Center for the Visual Arts (Art Gallery) in Girdwood.

Happs is currently showing her original 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” mini paintings at Palmer Museum of History and Art and also at the Willow Creek Studio in Willow.

Crandall said her prophetic art work is an expression of her heart motivated by the Love of Jesus. Layered collogues invoke a feeling of Gods love wrapping around us and our hearts.

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Happs studied last winter with Matt Tommy and his Thriving Christian Artists group. The group and study showed and talked about what was possible when you listened to the Holy Spirit, co-laboring with the Holy Spirit and skilled at your art form. Then “through us” we can bring the “Light”

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Arts

Contributed by Charice Chambers Tony Hepinstall loves to fish. Mention anything related to the sport, and his eyes glaze over: He’s out casting his lucky cotton candy fly and bringing in the catch.. He loves to bank fly-fish along Alaska’s rivers, and it is with some pride that he admits catching a lot of fish this year: pike, trout and, of course, salmon. Ice fishing keeps him busy in the winter. His frigid forays onto Alaska’s frozen lakes have netted him several rainbow trout of over 14 inches in length.

Hepinstall credits his love of fishing to his grandfather. His best childhood memories include fly-fishing along the banks of wild mountain streams, dropping a line from a boat on a placid lake, and lots of instruction from Grandpa.

According to both Hepinstall and his grandfather, the key to successful fishing is using the right fly to entice the fish to bite.

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Life hasn’t always been easy for Heminstall, who came to Alaska as a child with his mom and stepdad. During his teen years, Hepinstall lost his way and fell in with a bad crowd. He eventually realized that he needed a change and moved to the Valley. After some bumps in the road and some counseling, he found Wolverine Academy where with the help of others, he has turned his life around. The academy targets young adults and individuals with disabilities by providing them with support, guidance, housing and job assistance.

Over the years, Hepinstall had many menial jobs, which he found unrewarding. With the guidance of the staff at Wolverine Academy, he decided to turn his greatest love into a business: fly tying! He took classes in Anchorage and honed his skills with the help of friend

and mentor ,Mike Hudson. Hudson realized that Hepinstall had a great eye for color and design and taught him to build fly rods as well.

For the last year, Hepinstall has worked with Wolverine Academy support specialist, John Gould, to develop his company, Tony’s Flies. Their collaboration is a perfect fit as Gould operates his own small business as well. He is able to give Hepinstall not only guidance, but real world advice on what works and what might not succeed.

Gould works with him on displaying his products as well as marketing aspects of promoting them.

The two have a great relationship and Gould fondly refers to Hepinstall as the “cotton candy man”.

Hepinstall not only produces an exciting line of flies, but has expanded into fly-tied earrings as well. His designs are unique and delicate with an Alaskan flair. He not only uses bright colors, but also produces many intricate designs using natural and neutral hues.

Today, Hepinstall is goal-oriented. He plans to get his own place and live independently, getting married in the future. He hopes to use his business and the lessons he has learned as a method to attain those goals.

Hepinstall’s unique feather earrings, and oh-so-lucky fishing flies can be found at the Senior Center Gift Shop.

For your holiday shopping convenience, hours have been extended from 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday until Christmas.

Located at 1132 South Chugach Street in Palmer across from Palmer Junior Middle School, the gift shop is open to both seniors and the public.

Contributed by Jeff Ramsyer “CABIN: An Alaska Wilderness Dream” by Eric Wade, Moonshine Cove Publishing, November 2019 No Owner’s Manual for Wilderness Users: It’s better to do something wrong than do nothing.

Eric Wade, author of “CABIN: An Alaska Wilderness Dream”, published by Moonshine Cove Publishing, received that advice working as a logger in Oregon many years ago.

He acknowledges that might not be the best advice, but it stuck with him.

Right or wrong, things do tend to get done if you just do something.

Wade’s account of fulfilling his dream to build a cabin in Alaska’s wilderness

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Literature is a heartfelt, educational and fascinating story about doing. He had a wilderness dream since boyhood, fostered by reading about backwoods icons like Daniel Boone, Davie Crocket, Jim Bridger and watching television westerns, so when he got the chance to move to Alaska, he took it. That was forty years ago.

for fish, trees, animals and family.

Besides writing a how-to guide on cabin building, river travel, and just getting by in the wilds, Wade teaches us about the inhabitants in his piece of the Alaskan forest, the personalities of rivers, outboard engines, his firsthand experience with climate change, and much more.

The wilderness cabin is part of Alaska’s lore. Alaska and cabins go together like… well, you know… sourdough and pancakes or black bears and honey, so his dream included a cabin, a log cabin. The cabin was so important, in fact, that it was the focal point of Wade’s experiences in the wilds.

Wade makes it clear there is no owners-manual for wilderness users.

Even though he spends all the time he can planning, studying and discussing his small one-room log castle in the wild, no amount of organization or forethought could have prepared him for the many obstacles he would have to overcome. Along the way he learns and teaches, all with good humor and a can-do attitude. With the help of friends, family, strangers, and his patient and thoughtful wife, he realizes his dream—well most of it.

This book is much more than a story about a cabin, though. Wade’s personable and descriptive writing takes you along on his quest and leaves you wishing for more stories. In this memoir, the author literally and figuratively covers a lot of ground, traipsing thousands of miles of road and river to remote Alaska over more than thirty years. He teaches what he has learned and shares his love

This book is now available Amazon and Barnes & Noble online and will be in local book stores soon.

You can visit Eric Wade’s author page at www.ericnolanwade.com. He also writes a biweekly newsletter titled “Notes from Alaska’s Woods”. Subscribe to the newsletter at the “Notes from Alaska’s Woods” Facebook page.

There is a lesson to be learned too.

What he doesn’t achieve, after years of planning and dreaming, is perhaps what’s most important in this story. I love this book.

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Poetry & Prose Contributed by Bre I lay here, motionless and breathless.

Covered in the remnants of Mother Earth. I knew what would happen. I saw this in my nightmares.

People talked to me about how I needed to leave him. They told me he was angry.

He was only angry when he drank. He was funny and kind when he was sober. I recall all the times he shared laughing and experiencing life. The person that took over him when he drank was not the man I married. He was fueled by this monster.

I could see his eyes change colors, his pupils enlarged with anger.

My mother told me I was too young to be married. She said I was only a child. I was a strong-willed 18-year old that knew what the world had in store. I was wrong.

I dropped out of university. He said that he would take care of me. This was great initially. We had a home. We traveled. We always found time to celebrate life. We would share drinks and enjoy parties. He drank often. But it was never a problem, until he lost his job.

Downsizing in the company, and no formal college education, he couldn’t find suitable income for us to maintain the lifestyle we initially had. It was mere luck he was given the previous opportunity to begin with. Sometimes, he took his frustrations out on me, and I knew he was just blowing off steam. It’s degrading working for people that are younger than yourself.

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I couldn’t help much, with the new baby at home. Plus, I had no education to get a job to even pay off the cost of childcare.

His rages became more frequent. I was shamed for not losing the weight I had

gained being pregnant. He told me to stay away from table when we were out at social functions. Initially it bothered me; but I new he was right, that I had let myself go.

My friends never understood why I couldn’t leave. They didn’t understand that his outbursts were only when he wasn’t himself. That wasn’t the man I married, but the alcohol. If I left him, where would I go? I couldn’t face my mother. She would never let it go that I married too young and that he was never a good choice. She never liked him. I couldn’t let her see that she was right after all these years.

How would I even leave? I couldn’t support myself, so there would be no way I could leave the baby. I am a mother and could never leave my child behind. I couldn’t take the child from him either. A baby needs a mother and a father. If I left, he threatened to take full custody, and I knew I would lose. I didn’t have the means to support a child, and then I would be left alone.

No one understood why I couldn’t leave. I had to stay. There was no one else that he could turn to when he asked for forgiveness. I had to be there for him. He promised that it was going to be the last time.

There was always more though.

Too bad I didn’t leave. My mother now has full custody. I really showed her, right? I could have left and found the support, but how was I to know that there was safety and shelter. How was I to know that he wasn’t going to control his anger this time.

I didn’t know that this time was going to be the last time. This was the last time forever.

Contributed by Nan Potts This time of year when north wind blows, the snow abounds and rime surrounds.

But this November, no.

A cold descends upon the land, ice slicked byways make vile highways.

But this November, no.

The sun wanes strength and hides itself, behind mountains and cloud fountains.

But this November, no.

Green grass vanished, brown supplanted, with white coating, skiers’ gloating.

But this November, no.

Still seasons change, as are their tasks, each year altered but n’er faltered.

Has this November? No.

Contributed by Yvonne Moss A woman Comes to a meeting A man follows Meets Makes most of time Spent together Creating Secret reality

Defying the world Precious time The mobility of creation Before they’re caught Boy and girl’s Innocent actions With suspicious consequences Return Elated yet sorrowful They end.

Contributed by Nick McDermott, Alaska Junior Theater Sleeping Beauty 12/7/2019 - 2PM Atwood Concert Hall Tickets: $24.75-$33.75 The Alaska Junior Theater is proud to present “Sleeping Beauty” performed by, Grandmaster Storyteller David Gonzales, on December 7, 2019 at 2:00PM in the Atwood Concert Hall.

David Gonzalez returns with this visually stunning multimedia retelling of “Sleeping Beauty”.

A rhymed-verse spin on the classic fairytale with live music and image projections that create a magical multimedia world in which our beautiful (and funky) princess is awakened by true love’s kiss.. .or not.

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Theatre David uses his street-style humor, the limitless landscape of imagination, kinetic storytelling with live music, mesmerizing video projection and audience participation to captivate all ages with this multifaceted version of a childhood favorite.

David’s last time in Alaska was to perform “Aesop Bops” for sold-out crowds in 2015. He will be joined on stage by accomplished pianist, Daniel Kelly, performing selections of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”.

While in Alaska, David and Daniel will perform for over 5,000 students at field trip shows, lead three workshops and perform the December 7th public show. Get your tickets to the December 7th performance of “Sleeping Beauty” in the words of David Gonzalez at 263-ARTS or at www.akjt.org.

MID-NOV 2019

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Music Contributed by Nan Potts A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY 12/12/2019 - 7:30PM Mat-Su Community Chorus Farm Loop Christian Center 5900 N Farm Loop Rd. Palmer FREE Admission A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY 12/15/2019 - 4PM Mat-Su Community Chorus St. John Lutheran Church 440 E Elmwood Ave. Palmer FREE Students & Seniors, $7 Adults No snow blankets our stark landscape and fall still lingers; yet, the Holiday Season rapidly approaches. You know it well, the not so distant roar of the momentum building — so many things to do to prepare for entertaining and

feasting! And of course, shopping! Why not take a break from your calendar and join us in a journey?

Although you won’t have to travel far to take it, you will journey far, both into the past and present.

Entertaining during this time does not necessarily mean at home but entertainment you and family can enjoy away from home. This trip I invite you on is a musical one.

The Mat-Su Community Chorus has traveled far and wide, into their library, to present to you carols from around the world. From into the past with traditional carols and madrigals, through Christmas hits of recent history, to contemporary works celebrating Christmas, the Chorus is

delighted to present, “A Christmas Journey”. Christmas music has evolved over the ages. Beginning with liturgical chanting of the late Middle-Ages, the music and spirt of Christmas has blossomed into lively and loving tunes people around this globe celebrate to.

Directed by Amber Sumner and accompanied by Grace Page, the Chorus starts your journey with the rhythms of Africa, taking you trough sixteenth century Europe and its variations of styles and ceremonies, stopping briefly in the nineteenth century with Tchaikovsky’s “Russian Dance” and “Dance of the SugarPlumb Fairy” and highlighting Holst’s “Christmas Day”, arriving at our final destinations of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with familiar tunes. Featured in this concert are two

“O Magnum Mysterium”. One written during Victorian England times and the other contemporary. Come listen and make our Christmas journey a part of yours. We’d love to have you.

Unable to attend the concerts? Well, you’ll catch us caroling around Palmer during Colony Christmas, from 2pm until 4pm. See you then!

A Christmas Journey is presented:

Thursday, December 12th, 7:30pm at the Farm Loop Christian Center in Palmer 5900 N Farm Loop Road, Palmer This is a free-will offering concert.

Sunday, December 15th, 4pm at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer 440 E Elmwood Ave., Palmer Tickets are $7 at the door, students and seniors are admitted free.

Creative Writing Contributed by BKL A fictional diary of a gay man living during the Lavender Scare of the 1950s.

MID-NOV 2019

Aug. 3rd: Today more officers came into the office.

They took Jerry, without any warning. I wish we had known beforehand that he was going to be leaving. I truly believe he won’t say anything. This breaks my heart.

Oh lord, I’m so sorry and I do not know why I have these feelings that I have.

Aug. 6th: This morning, I was tasked with filtering though more files. The stacks of records I must go through. I know them… They know me... How do I keep this secret? How do I continue the way I am?

Aug. 7th: My report has sent three more people

away. Where do they go? Do I tell other’s when I do see their patterns? Single... midtwenties… certain feminine features... Do I exhibit these?

Aug. 14th: I am sorry. I cannot deter this sickness. I have this double life. Others are harassed and charged, and I am helping?!? Why?!?

Did I choose this? Am I choosing this? They are not merciful.

Sept. 6th: They found me out, Lord. I have nothing. I cannot be trusted. I am sick and diseased.

They think I am a threat to the company and to the nation. How can I be a threat? I know nothing of secrets. But maybe they are right. I turned on others like me, embarrassed that I have done such a travesty.

Who am I to not stand with them? What makes me any less sick? Maybe I am worse.

Sept. 21st: I cannot go on. I have lost all I have loved.

My father knows that I have dishonored the family. I have lost all respect for myself. I am not deserving of this life. I have no safe haven; I betrayed my friends and I am a liar.

I am a threat. A threat to them all. I’m sorry.

Sept. 26th: I’m scared. I am scared pf myself. The things I have to do to have a warm meal. I think this is what I deserve. But how can one continue to do this?

Sept. 28th: Please have mercy on my soul. The this I have done.

Nov. 6th: Things are taking a turn. I have some wonderful things to tell you. I have too much going on now, but I will soon.

Nov. 8th: Alfred. That is his name. He is an amazing soul. Generous and sweet.

Nov. 21st: Oh Lord. I know now. I know what we must do. Alfred has accepted me. He is teaching me to accept myself. Maybe we are not diseased. Maybe we are not sick. Maybe this is who we are and who we have supposed to have been. Some say we choose this lifestyle. There is no way I would have chosen this, but what I can do is choose on how we must act. We must find others and help reverse this wrongdoing. Alfred has saved my life. I found a job in a diner. I’m washing dishes; but you know, I enjoy having this weight of my soul. The heaviness of it was bearing down on me. I’m alive and they cannot take this from me without a fight.

Nov. 30th: Today, we started to meet others like us.

Helping them get off the streets. Tommy, he is from Nebraska. He is just recently removed from his job. His dad has threatened to kill him. We are trying to get him a job at the office building across the street. There are so many more like me. When you see another man with the ribbon, we know. We have our way of knowing.

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Contributed by Sharon Aubrey,

stop the payment of the ransom and expedite their return.

ReadAlaska Book Fair November 29-30 Anchorage Museum FREE Admission

Robin Barefield from Kodiak Island will be promoting her book, “Murder Over Kodiak”, the tale of a floatplane that mysteriously explodes above the Alaska wilderness. Investigators begin digging into the lives of the five passengers and the pilot to determine who was the target of the bomb. Was it the U.S. senator in the midst of a hotly contended re-election campaign or her husband, a corporate raider with no shortage of enemies? Could the bomb have been meant for the cannery owner involved in a contentious divorce, or the refuge manager who has a long list of adversaries? Even the pilot could have been the target, since his girlfriend has violent tendencies and knows how to use explosives. Readers will anxiously engage in this page-turning mystery.

Looking for unique Christmas gift ideas? Maybe you have a friend or relative who makes it difficult to find a present? ReadAlaska, Alaska’s largest book fair since 1993 will be at the Anchorage Museum on the second floor, the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 29th and 30th.

With thirty local publishers, authors and photographers displaying hundreds of Alaskan books, most signed and personalized by local authors, finding unique and perfect Christmas gifts are now possible. Whether you’re looking for a book on how to survive in the wilderness or surviving your in-laws, there’s a great selection for everyone.

For nonfiction readers, ReadAlaska offers true stories of bush flying mysteries and disasters by Gregory Leifer, the life and dangerous times of a sniper in Vietnam written under the pseudonym of T. Martin O’Neil (for good reason).

Of course, the book fair has a wide display of Alaskana books and memoirs,

Over the past 27 years, ReadAlaska also has presented a wide variety of children’s books ranging from Pre-K picture books to chapter books for older readers.

This year, Anchorage author, Brooke Hartman, current president of the Alaska Writer’s Guild, will be featuring her new release, “Dream Flights on Arctic Nights”.

This beautifully-illustrated book follows a child’s dreamy flight through the Arctic to discover the animals that live there.

From the wolves prowling in the snow to the goats and sheep standing on the mountains to the walrus and sea lions lying on big glaciers, children explore Alaskan wildlife with a creative and poetic flare.

The ReadAlaska Book Fair offers extraordinary Christmas presents. Even better, readers can meet local authors and have their books autographed and personalized. But, if you’re looking for local books and can’t attend the ReadAlaska event the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Anchorage Museum, check out the latest website dedicated to Alaskan books at www.alaskanbooks.com where you can find local authors year-round. All Alaskan authors are welcome to submit their books to this website for inclusion.

Building community begins by buying local.

MID-NOV 2019

Impossible crime is a sub-genre of mystery, where a detective has to solve how the crime was committed before he can track the perpetrators. Steven Levi, Alaskan author of impossible crime, will be showcasing his books including “The Matter of The Deserted Airliner”, in which a 737 lands in Anchorage with no pilot, no crew and no passengers even though it was fully staffed and loaded in Seattle and never stopped. So where are the pilot, crew and passengers?

When kidnappers ask for $25 million in diamonds, everyone knows space aliens aren’t involved. Now the detective has to figure out how the pilot, crew and passengers disappeared fast enough to

Local Chugiak writer, E.M. Shue, will also be attending for the first time with her steamy romantic-suspense fiction novels beginning with her original Securities International series. E.M’s latest release, “Accidentally Noah”, is receiving 5-star ratings from Amazon readers and climbing the charts. Romance fans are sure to fall in love with the newest Caine and Graco Saga.

including local Chickaloon author, Hilda Luster-Lindner. We even have pet friendly books. Dog lovers are sure to enjoy “On The Road With Remington Beagle” by Valerie Winans, and those looking for spiritual inspiration will be sure to find a little something for the man or woman of faith too.