Make A Scene Magazine October 2021

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Emerson, Age 3

Emmalyn, Age 5

Johnny, Age 8

Abbie, Age 13

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Events JAIME RODRIQUEZ PRESENTATION 10-16-21 – 10:00 AM Alaska Rock Garden Society ZOOM Meeting ID: 826 4272 0437 Passcode: eQ5LRq (907) 354-5660 topgun@mtaonline.net

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 11-27-21 – 11:00 AM Big Lake Lions Club 2942 Lions Circle Big Lake, AK, 99652 (907) 982-6088 kasinnett@gmail.com FREE

CONSIGN49 FALL/HOLIDAY CONSIGNMENT SALE 11-11-21 – 9:00 AM 2075 Glenn Highway Palmer, AK, 99645 United States info@consign49.com FREE

ALASKA VINTAGE HOLIDAY MARKET & FOOD TRUCK FEST 11-19-21 – 12:00 PM Alaska Vintage Markets 2075 Glenn Hwy, Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 795-6604 akvintagemarkets@gmail.com

HALLOWEEN HOLLOW 10-30-21 - 3:00 PM Mat-Su Special Santa 2075 Glenn Hwy Palmer, Ak, 99645 United States (907) 761-3770 matsu_santa@yahoo.com $6.00

MAT-SU HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE 11-6-21 - 11-7-21 – 10:00 PM KO Productions 1001 S Clapp St Wasilla, AK, 99654 (907) 474-9082 kourtney@fairbanksevents.com $5 for adults, kids 12 and under free

ELKS CRAFT FAIR - PALMER LODGE 11-6-21 – 10:00 AM Palmer Elks Lodge 2600 N. Barrys Resort Road Wasilla, Ak, 99654 (907) 745-3950 palmerelks@yahoo.com Free

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JAMES “HOBO JIM” VARSOS 1952 - 2021

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Coloring Page

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Events

Contributed by Kourtney Shannon

food bank.

The Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace is a one stop holiday shopping extravaganza for Wasilla and the Mat-Su Valley. This event takes place November 6 & 7, 2021 at the Menard Sports Center and gives the area an opportunity to shop for unique and one of a kind gifts, right in their neighborhood, without that long commute to Anchorage.

Artists and craftsmen will fill over 100 mini specialty shops with literally thousands of holiday gift ideas.

Jewelry, furs, original artwork, fleece, pottery, metalwork, woodwork, glassware. you’ll find unique items from all around the state.

There is a $5 admission charge, kids 12 and under are free, and Sunday is free to Military with ID or anyone who brings 2 cans of food for a local

No need to waste a tank of gas looking for the perfect gift! Make Santa proud this year and get all of your holiday shopping done in one location at the Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace.

Contributed by Taylor Jordan Looking for something to do with your family this Halloween season?

Do all of your favorite things in one place!

Black Birch Books is hosting a community event and unleashing the ghosts. Friday the 22nd and Saturday the 23rd from 10am-4pm we have our Haunted Bookstore and Halloween event!

Youth 360: FREE arts and crafts for youth of all ages Edward the Magnificent: A magic show with all the dazzle! Donations are appreciated for his performances.

FOOD TRUCKS:

Costume Contest: Various prizes for ages and groups.

Birdhouse Sandwich Company: Thick sandwiches with all the fixings and sides Omnivore: “Clean eating is our specialty.”

*The cost for entry is $5/person and standard pricing for local vendors. *

Color Me Fun: Face Painting for all ages.

Dress for the weather! Most of this event takes place outside.

Peak Performance Strength & Fitness: Spooky physical activities to make your body come back to life! *zombie groan*

We’re located at 2901 E Bogard Rd., #104, Wasilla. Call 907-373-2677 for more info.

EVENT INCLUDES: Haunted Bookstore: $5 entry fee and a safe space for all ages with no sudden scares or strobing lights.

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By the Spirit Photography: Discounted fall family photo sessions, 3 shots for $30

Contributed by Charice Chambers A wise woman once said, “When you weave a basket, you weave a bit of yourself into it: your joy and your energy. “ Colleen Anagick likes to believe that she leaves a bit of herself in each basket she makes.

Weaving reeds into useful and beautiful works of art is her best stress reliever. As a crisis clinician since 2008, Anagick works as a part of a behavioral urgent response team dealing mostly with suicides. Anagick has successfully dealt with stress for over twenty years through the relaxation brought on by crafting beautiful baskets. In 2007 she injured her foot, and was immobile for nine weeks. Used to a lot of activity, she searched for something to do, and discovered basket-weaving classes.

One class led to another, and by 2009, she was the instructor!

In 1997 Anagick met nurse Sharon Hamilton at the hospital. A California transplant with a very decidedly creative and adventurous side, Hamilton’s avocation was flower arranging.

She and Anagick shared not only their creativity, but discovered a common passion for racquetball. Together they participated in weekly games, leagues, and tournaments for nearly twenty years. It was natural that Anagick would introduce Hamilton to the art of basketry as a part of that friendship.

Soon Hamilton, too, was hooked on this new adventure. The duo spent many hours crafting baskets for friends and relatives. They even organized and taught a few basket making classes.

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Art organization, and tools for success.

Anagick and Hamilton thought that they should apply what they were learning, and start a business. Basketry was the obvious choice. For them, it was a way to finance their hobby and share their love of basket making with others.

Soul Sisters sells a wide variety of baskets from small wall hung conical creations, great for dried flowers, attractive storage for silverware or napkins, or a variety of other storage solutions, to large hearth style containers ready to display your treasures. Anagick and Hamilton also produce coin baskets.

These medium sized woven wonders feature Alaska quarters set in the base of a colorful basket, a perfect gift to send outside. The duo’s most unique basketry is the Adirondack backpack.

This type of reed backpack, trimmed either in decorative braid or leather, is often used for grape harvesting in France and Italy. It hints of many other unique uses as well. Soul Sisters also hosts a variety of basket making classes. With Christmas just around the corner, Soul Sisters basketry can take the guesswork out of shopping.

Each basket is unique and these two designers are constantly working to create new and different patterns and products. Hamilton recently created a multicolored platter anchored on either side with horn handles, a truly magnificent piece.

While many others were working hard at gaining their Covid twenty, the friends were busy birthing their infant business: Soul Sisters Basketree. Often, when they got together, they listened to Darren Hardy podcasts. The sessions were oriented to goal setting, business

The gift shop is located in the Palmer Senior Center building at 1132 S. Chugach Street in Palmer. We invite you to follow us on Facebook, check us out at www.matsuseniors.com, or contact us at giftshop@matsuseniors. com.

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Then Covid hit.

Matsu Senior Services Gift Shop is proud to add Soul Sisters Basketree to their fine collection of local artist-rendered products. Anagick and Hamilton will even be hosting basket-making classes at the Center.

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Art Contributed by Marilyn Bennett I will confess, I never gave much thought to the question until after going to the State Fair this year. Since I knew several of the people who had entered art into the fair I was interested to see their art as well as the other art pieces on display.

I was also surprised this year to learn that the designation of a professional painter was given to anyone who had accepted money for a piece of art. It was amazing for me to discover that I was a professional. The reason being, that I have actually sold a few of my paintings. For that reason, I did not feel I should enter my paintings into competition.

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Previously I was judged as an amateur and never, ever won a ribbon.

Therefore, I was pretty intimidated that this year I would be competing against “real” professionals. I have since re-thought this, as why would a “real”

professional enter his or her work into the State Fair?

I am digressing from the question of whether it is Art or is it Craft. I went from the Art Exhibit to the Crafts Exhibits of the Fair, where all the lovely quilts were on exhibit. There I saw a beautiful painting, that was painted on wood, so it had been put in as a craft, instead of in the art exhibit. It did win a blue ribbon, but I was confused as to why it was in Crafts instead of in the Art Exhibit.

Then to make my confusion even greater, a member of our art Group came in with several sanded pieces of wood for us to paint on. As you can see above I painted a girl on a horse, Taylor painted a ship on stormy seas and Jerry painted that wonderful bear.

Were these all arts and craft items?

I willingly admit my works could be considered arts and craft, but the other two surely should be judged as art.

Decided to get a dictionary definition and it is as follows: According to the Oxford dictionary, craft means Òan activity involving skill in making things by hand.Ó Unlike craft, art has a lengthy definition which goes as follows. “Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.

So now I am even more confused as I saw many of the items in the craft exhibit that were definitely expressions of human creative skill and imagination.

Going to the trusty internet the differences were clearly laid out as follows: Art is something that expresses emotions or imagination.

Craft has a more tangible form like moulding or carving and is the cre-

ation of goods of a utilitarian nature to serve a purpose and can be easily reproduced. While art appeals to the mind and makes an emotional connection.

Based on these definitions I think the paintings we made on wood do qualify as art. However I would be loath to argue with the judges at the State Fair as I am only very recently a professional artist having sold the sum total of four small paintings. If you are still confused about what is art and what is craft you may want to join our fun art group.

We meet every Thursday from 1pm to 3pm at the education room of VCRS (Valley Recycling Center) which is located off 49th State Street. We paint, draw, engage in arts and crafts and learn from each other.

We also discuss in depth such topics as I outlined above. So for intellectual, stimulating conversation as well as painting in a non-threatening atmosphere come on out and join us.

For more information on what Valley Arts Alliance is doing go to: www.valleyartsalliance.com

Contributed by Ken Hagler What do you say to God? Really, how many of us have ever had a class on prayer other than clergy? In his new book, “Prayer Simply Breathe,” Ken Hagler, a local pastor and spiritual director helps everyone, even clergy, learn a thing or two about prayer.

“I might wish I could give you a list of prayers God has answered in miraculous ways but I can’t,” writes the author. “On one side, I can look at the prayer of a kid that God seemed to answer, and on the other side, I can look at the prayers for the healing of my late wife and it seems God didn’t answer.”

But is that what prayer really is? Just getting what we want?

“No. Prayer is the act of turning our mind, our emotions, our body and

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Books

our spirit to God,” Ken notes. In fact, “Prayer Simply Breathe” encourages people to pray simply, to pray as they breathe following the “other prayer” Jesus taught in Luke 18:914, called “The Jesus Prayer” or the prayer of the tax collector. Prayer isn’t about getting “stuff.” It is about knowing God. Ken’s book contains 52 prayers and reflections to guide the reader in their prayers. He includes some of the history of the practice and his own experiences. Then, Ken turns his attention to helping the reader to listen to God and create their own breath prayers.

be a reminder to breathe, literally and spiritually.”

Ken is pastor at Anchor Park United Methodist Church and writes regularly on his blog at www.kenhagler. com and weekly publishes new breath prayers on Instagram under his online persona of “Jedi Pastor Ken” (or @jedipastorken). You can find “Prayer Simply Breathe: 52 Breath Prayer Devotions and How to Create Your Own Prayers” on Amazon in paperback, hardback, and Kindle.

Fellow pastor and former Pastor of Chugiak United Methodist Church, Carlo Rapanut offered these thoughts, “That this book is coming out during the middle of a global pandemic that attacks the respiratory system is not a coincidence but a welcome blessing. May this book

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Art Contributed by Paul Keller Polaris Security Consulting, L.L.C. Necessity is often the mother of invention (as the quote goes), and the birth of Polaris Security Consulting, L.L.C., was no exception to this principle. I started my small company back in 2013 as a way to address several market inadequacies I encountered in Southcentral Alaska, one of which was the lack of reasonably-priced custom designers who offered such things as handmade tools in the local area. I forged ahead with bladesmithing (pun intended) to produce some personal knives and short sword designs that I could adapt for personal carry for protection.

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As I started to carry these blades on a regular basis, I received a number of questions and requests from others who liked the pieces and wanted similar tools for their own use. Pretty soon, I was making and selling knives and hatchets on a first-come, firstserve basis, and I also recycled older knives or tools that were destined for the trash bin and turned them back into working items again.

Since those first few experimental designs, I have produced a wide variety of blades in different mediums and steels, with an emphasis on short swords, field knives, and concealed carry blades that combine artistry with practical materials and features.

I use bone, wood, 5160 spring steel, polymers, copper, brass, mild steel, and other materials to craft unique items for a large user base. Personally, I think some older conventions, like having canes and handy blades as everyday, fashionable items to carry and use, are meritorious things that should be brought back into wider culture, and this precept guides my “cutting-edge” work (puns are hereby ceased...).

As you head out into your community and the outdoors, remember to take a few preparations, like having portable tools and good training on how to use them, to better help you interact with your environment.

As a lifelong Alaskan, I appreciate pragmatic things, and it is all the better if practicality can come with aesthetics.

Contributed by Anonymous I got a call earlier this morning on my work phone. I get weird calls on that phone all the time. The number popped up as someone from Jamaica.

I thought, “Hey. I like Jamaica. Let’s see what this person has to say.”

Someone called the other day. That call was also from a Jamaican number.

A guy named David said he mailed me a letter from Publishers Clearing House. He asked me if I got it. I told him, “Yes I did.” I thanked him profusely. Then I said, “Please send me the money that I won to that same address. Thanks a MILLION!” and I hung up. I needed to jump on a call, or perhaps David and I would have had a longer, more cordial conversation.

Today’s call happened to be a guy named David too! He also said he was with Publisher’s Clearing House. What a coincidence! I didn’t mention that to “today’s David” though. I just thought, “Ok. I have a couple minutes. I’m gonna make this fun for me.”

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Entertainment

So… I really wanted to make sure I was talking to someone I could trust so I asked David if he was with the guy, the main guy, the real guy, the big guy, the one and only guy, the Publisher’s Clearing House guy, Ed McMahon.

To my delight, David said, “Yes.” So I asked him, “Do you really know him?”

He said that he did! I was so happy to hear that he actually KNEW Ed McMahon and I told him so, about a dozen or so times, all fan-girling over Ed McMahon. So, just because I’m inquisitive, I thought we should talk a bit more about his good friend Ed. I asked David, “Well, how is Ed McMahon doing these days?” David said that Ed was doing very well. I was a little taken aback by his answer, so I asked him to clarify. I said, “HE IS? Ed McMahon is OK?” A couple times I asked David to assure me that Ed McMahon was doing well, because I was worried about him. A number of times, David told me that Ed was just fine. I said that I didn’t think David was being honest about Ed McMahon’s health, and I told him so.

I let him know that to me, Ed hadn’t looked very good lately. David tried to talk over me a couple times, but you know, I was more worried about Ed McMahon’s well-being than any amount of money David was going to give to me.

I again asked David a few more times to confirm that he was REALLY with Publisher’s Clearing House. David insisted each time that he was. Then I felt compelled to switch back to the topic of his buddy Ed and asked David if knew how old Ed McMahon was now. Without hesitation, David said that Ed McMahon is 54 years old.

I questioned that a bit, but David said he was Ed’s friend, and he knew this stuff, so I stopped talking about Ed’s age. I did ask what day was Ed’s birthday, because I really wanted to know that. David didn’t answer my important question about Ed’s birthday, and was kinda rude, and even changed the subject.

David asked me if I wanted the 3.5 million delivered to my house. I said,

“But what if I’m not home? I felt he needed to be informed that I DO have a life and that sometimes I might go somewhere for a bit, or maybe even for a little bit longer than a little bit, or maybe I am even at home, but I don’t hear the doorbell. I asked again, “What will you do if I’m not here when you come with Ed to visit me?”

He said they would just show up when I was home and he’d be here with the FBI, the IRS and get this, the Better Business Bureau, which of course increased my trust in his word. I asked, “Is Ed gonna be here too? Please tell me that Ed is coming with you, because he needs to be with you when you come to my house.”

At that point he sounded a little angry and raised his voice saying, “Look Mama. I am trying to give you some money.” I asked him NOT to call me Mama.

That’s when he decided to hang up.

Yeah. I think David’s good friend Ed McMahon died over 10 years ago.

After David hung up on me, I’m just left wondering how long it will take Jamaican David, the ghost of Ed McMahon, and those other really important people to get to my front porch with the balloons and all that money.

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Poetry & Prose

By Randi Perlman A magnificent creature of splendor and grace Whose beauty and antics put a smile on your face A bountiful package, from nose tip to tail A spectacular specimen in every detail His tri-color coat was worn with great pride And when out and about would stay close by your side He was gentle and playful, a dog of deep soul Dignified yet goofy, admired by all He was larger than life, head and heart above others and smart as a whip when he played with his brothers He was stunningly handsome and everyone’s friend, loved by so many ‘til the way-too-soon end His size was impressive but he never abused it His majesty spellbinding and hard to refuse it There was something about him, so hard to define That set him apart, pushed him past that fine line His paws were enormous but he moved them with care He impressed in the show ring but never with airs He was blessed with a family that loved him complete And they were blessed back by a dog oh so sweet A kind gentle giant, but not just in size His heart was expansive, his wise loving eyes He could tell you his thoughts with one simple bark He brought joy to admirers if you said Fenway, park!

He was one of those dogs who was just so much more Who made you just want to get down on the floor And hug him and roll with him and be his best friend And you knew that he’d be there for you to the end As he was, and I guess that you can’t ask for more Than to be greeted each day by Fenway at the door We all feel his loss and the sadness it brings But his spirit lives on each time Willy sings

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There are no mere words that can paint a clear picture Of a dog and his family and what they meant to each other But they shared him with others who all loved him deeply Now his heart and his soul live forever within me I’ll always be glad to have known him with love And look forward to the day when we meet up above…

In wondrous memory of a magical dog, and a loving tribute to the family who cherished him.

By Joshua Fryfogle Frozen over, frost It’s that time of year again When the cold sets in

By Caitlin M.S. Buxbaum the trick is figuring out if the ghost in the walls is you, or me, or something else entirely — and who (or what) carries the most weight

By Nick Begich Sr. The wind pulls at the Autumn leaves, In Vagabond Blues looking out the window on a Sunday afternoon,

Contributed by Wendy Brooker The Wicked Witch of Palmer spied a red spider upon her weaving webs from her toes to the warts on her nose.

Now that spider, well, it’s a goner!

Contributed by Katherine Baker Predator, Steadfastly staring, Intense focus, Daring, snaring, Baring teeth, Prepared for tearing, Lunging forward, Eyes flaring, Hope is gone, Of any sparing, Death’s final view, Truth is sharing.

Pretty women on cell phones Lost in idle When, what they might seek, Is in the room, sitting there.

Did you come out because you wanted to meet?

Or just to be seen, and admired.

No matter, the elegance of your movement Is not missed in expression outward.

We are all there an outward reflection, Of the immoral internal soul, And lost in the form of it Or carried in the body only as a living soul.

Flowers out the window, Hanging baskets still in bloom, in fall.

What brings into form the bloom, The flower the press into the warmth of the sun.

Sun in the high degrees soon lost here, As darkness forbodes the winter Not be the winter of the soul But the search for the warm hearth of heart in cold winter’s breath.

Breath in your own breath of life again, Freed from the sense of it again to remember, What and who I am….

What be you this blessed day at Vagabond Blues….?

I DID LOVE HOBO JIM

By Bob Lester

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Poetry & Prose Well give me a drink and front row seat let me sing along with him And let’s all sing to Alaska’s King The Master Hobo Jim Then when we get back to our homes Hey we can say again

Away up in Alaska The state that stands alone

I did I did I did Love Hobo Jim

There’s a man known from Homer up to Nome

He never played it safely He always stood alone

He has a handsome face And full of grace

He played so fine every single time From Homer up to Nome

All Alaska knows of him

There’s never been someone like him No one like him again

Under saloon spotlights And all the state fair nights He’s called Our Hobo Jim His eyes gleam when he leads us All in songs He sings so fine He makes us yell and give it hell When he sings it everytime Then when we go back to our homes We all can say of him I did I did I did love Hobo Jim

I did I did I did love Hobo Jim Well give me a drink and a howling Wolf And let’s have a damn good time let’s all sing along with him Each and every time And when we all are asked about The legacy of him We did we did we did Love Hobo Jim We did we did we did Love hobo Jim We did we did we did Love hobo jim!

JAMES “HOBO JIM” VARSOS 1952 - 2021 “...Though my body leaves this world I leave a piece of my spirit with Alaska as I take a piece of Alaska’s spirit with me.

Thank you Alaska and may God Bless and keep you all!”

- Hobo Jim

Well he made it look so easy He was a master all those years And some songs brought the laughter Some of them brought tears But just to see him up on stage Was magical indeed And the way he played that old guitar With precision and with speed.

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Poetry & Prose

By Charles Dean Walker There’s a world that seems so far and away.

One without the plague of today.

Yet even now we won’t make an inch closer.

Conspiracies of modern medicine.

Have caused sense to rust away.

I’m supposed to smile and say nothing.

When all of the while people are dying.

Handling the truth as eroded away.

So here we stay.

Contributed by Karly O’Loughlin You got all wrapped up and presented yourself to me with a ribbon all shiny and enticing, but don’t you see that I’m no longer a child; I don’t want to play with the box and ignore the content. I want the content.

And that ship sailed a long time ago, trapped in a glass bottle and thrown out to sea. All that’s left now are the hands that threw it and grew to regret it and what I hoped to start with was a little honesty but all you cared about was my view of your sobriety.

You missed me this whole time; how can you say you miss me now?

And I know, as you exit my body in waves, this art of detaching myself is like the slow pull of velcro; silent and unnecessary. Because you were never here, so I’m just pulling on air like a crazy person and turning my back on the waves at my feet.

I will continue to wave my arms about and curl my toes into the sand and walk with a sway in my step and smile with my eyes and twirl the curls around my face and be the woman I wish you had swallowed whole and relished and savored and I know I am sacred. Watch the arch of my back as I keep walking. Watch and learn.

Watch so that if you drift on forever, you will remember this love that can hold you and still let go. This love that can walk away and still be love. This love that did and will and is.

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Learn so that if someone else’s hands find you, they will be able to hold you without breaking.