The People's Paper November 2017

ART SHOW AT HUMDINGER’S PIZZA

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BUSINESS & COMMUNITY Contributed by Jeanette Gardiner Small Business Saturday 11/25/2017 – All Day Palmer, AK Grab your Christmas list and a friend or two and head to downtown Palmer on Saturday, November 25th for Small Business Saturday, Palmer!

Small Business Saturday® was founded by American Express® in 2010, and is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support their neighborhoods. It’s held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and is embraced as part of the holiday shopping tradition. Each year shoppers, businesses and public officials come together to Shop Small® and show their neighborhood pride.

And when you shop the nearly 30 participating businesses in downtown Palmer this year, you’ll be making an investment that helps keep our community strong and vibrant.

Our small businesses do much more than solve our gift-giving dilemmas.

They offer local employment.

They support services through the collection of sales tax. They support your kids’ sport teams and

Contributed by Michelle Overstreet, MY House MY House has gratefully enjoyed the support of some amazing organizations in the Valley, developing long-term relationships with businesses and organizations for fundraising partnerships.

On November 3rd, radio station, Q99.7, celebrated the 5th Annual Radio Marathon for MY House!

Q99.7 has partnered with MY House to raise over $125,000 in the past five years! This year, the team raised over $50,000 to support programs for homeless youth, including job training, employment skills and case management.

Contributed by Andrea Fuller My Matanuska Marketplace is a small business which provides opportunities for other small businesses to promote themselves and their products.

The next event, “Buckle Up Buttercup!

Buy Local Shopping Event” will take place on Fri. Nov. 24th (Black Friday) and Sat. Nov. 25th (Small Business Saturday) at the Palmer Train Depot.

Recently, I received some feedback that My Matanuska Marketplace (which will be representing over 30

a wide range of community events.

Everything that makes Palmer the best place to live, work and play.

Why shop in Palmer this Small Business Saturday?

There are a lot of reasons to shift your shopping to locally-owned, independent small businesses.

Here are three: • Keep more of your money in the community: According to the Civic Economics Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, when you spend $100 at an independent business, $68 returns to the local economy versus $43 when spent with a national chain. (Based on U.S. Census projection of 115 million households.)

• Try it before you buy it: You can’t see or feel the quality (or lack thereof ) of an item on a screen. And you certainly can’t try a taste. When you shop local, you can test an item out, try it on for size and sample different flavors to make sure it’s just what you’re looking for.

• Variety: Books, cell phone accessories, bikes, footwear, clothing (for just about everyone), Alaskan art, handcrafted gifts, food (lots of food), tanning services, hair care products and services, upcycled home furnishings and décor, jewelry,

Station manager, Eddie Maxwell, with Brenna Bourassa from KMBQ opened the show at 6am and were totally on point, talking about why youth become homeless and barriers to housing, employment and education.

Technical assistance from KMBQ support staff, Tony and Cookie, made the show work, interviewing guests and talking with successful clients.

Guest DJs, Mike LaJoie from KFAT, Shelley Ryan from The Moose and Michael Dukes from KBYR were amazing and closed out the show at 6pm. Guest DJs were blown away by guest testimonials and client stories, and by what is happening in the Valley for homeless youth. KTUU was on-site and covered the event, interviewing clients and sharing the community love for Valley youth.

other small businesses under one roof ) on Small Business Saturday is causing concern. Maybe I am an idealist, but I strongly feel that we all have to work together in order to make visitors want to continue to visit Palmer. I am writing this article on the subject because I would like to know what you have to say on the subject of brick and mortar versus pop-up vendors. Why does it have to be an “us vs. them” mentality? I certainly don’t see it that way and I try to conduct business in my community with professionalism and respect. It is my hope to gain more valuable insight

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art supplies, quilt supplies, yarn, handcrafted soaps, historical gifts, gifts for kids, gifts for moms, gifts for dads, gifts for gourmets, socks, candy and sweets, kitchenware, specialty teas, custom t-shirts, sweatshirts, Copper River vests and jackets, locally-made greeting cards, pottery, yoga classes, art classes and much, much more!

The nearly 30 independently-owned businesses that are participating in Small Business Saturday, Palmer this year are excited to welcome you. Visit our Facebook event page at www.goo.gl/PWvDYi to see what they have planned for the day.

This holiday season, join your family, friends and neighbors on Small Business Saturday, November 25th and invest in your community by supporting the businesses that help make Palmer the best place to live, work and play in Alaska.

About Jeanette Gardiner: Jeanette Gardiner lives in Palmer, Alaska, and is the owner of SeaStar Strategies LLC. where she helps small business owners discover the gift of time by streamlining their administrative and marketing systems. She is also Palmer’s “Neighborhood Champion” for Small Business Saturday 2017.

Local businesses like Red Robin, CarDeets Detailing, The Tanning Hut and Chepos offered incentives for donors, and Wasilla Mayor, Bert Cottle, and Miss Alaska both contributed lunch with lucky donors who were part of the day’s events.

Homeless youth are so blessed to be part of a caring community with business and social support to encourage them to be independent and productive. Thank you Mat Su!

on this subject from all sides and use the information to go forward in a collaborative effort to work with all of the business in Palmer (regardless of the type).

One long term business owner wrote, “As business owners with a brick-andmortar storefront we take a financial risk when we choose to open our doors. We have fixed costs such as rent, payroll taxes, workman’s comp. insurance that pop up vendors do not experience at the same level we do.

And when you reach out to vendors that directly compete with what we already offer, they are able to CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Hillary Saffran “When I turn 85, I want to go skydiving!” Phillis smiled broadly as she shared this with the group of ladies wearing their red hats during a festive luncheon at Robin’s house last Saturday afternoon.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

name is a hoot in itself ) ranges in ages from 60-93. I was told that I am the baby of the group. How flattering

contacted her yet to see if she is competing again this year. is that – especially since turning 60 freaked me out a bit. Sixty sounds eighteen years older than fifty-eight in my book!

Sally had just shared memories of her surprise 50th birthday party, and her skydiving experience at least 10 years after that. The other ladies shared how they would also like to go skydiving someday, and then the discussion turned to a hot air balloon ride.

I shared about my love of ziplining, and comparisons were made about the different ziplines offered here in Alaska, asking which was better – Talkeetna or Seward? I thought about my adventure a few years ago hiking on Matanuska Glacier, and all of the ladies discussed their adventures and zest for life.

I remarked how older people these days are so much younger than when I was as a child, and everyone agreed.

These ladies demonstrate this notion in many ways. Our particular group, the Red Hat Hooters, (I know – the

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE undercut our prices, and it hurts our business. Whether you see that or not, that is the case. As business owners we choose to show up every single day, our doors are open and ready for business. We contribute to the downtown atmosphere every day, not just on the weekends. And the problem that has been created is you have been able to able to rent the depot at a very affordable rate.

A rate cheaper than we pay in rent.

In fact, I would go so far as to say you are able to rent the depot so affordably because of the sales taxes that we (brick and mortars)collect and pay to the city subsidizes that low rent . That is a problem. And it’s an unfair advantage. We are just trying to make a living, Frankly, the last quarter of the year is typically when brick-and-mortar will maybe turn a profit. So for 30 more vendors to now share a piece of a limited pie, it’s a problem. And that’s putting it mildly”. The Palmer Train Depot is a wonderful location which I feel has

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On my memorable birthday, my coworkers decided to have some fun in my office. An inflatable walker was purchased, along with age jokes posted all over my desk, walls and computer: “At 60 years old, your birthday suit requires regular ironing.” “Your birthday reminds me of the old Chinese scholar, Yung No Mo.” “I’m not 60, I’m only 59.95 plus tax.” “With age come skills. It’s called multitasking. I can laugh, cough, sneeze and pee all at the same time.”

“Happy 60th birthday! Sorry you’re too old to have a mid-life crisis.” “A 60 year old goes to see a matchmaker. One of her criteria is a man with regular bowel movements. The matchmaker asks, ‘Does it matter if it’s voluntary?’”

We often associate aging with slowing down, having more physical limitations and such. It seems to me that this is not the case of many older folks in our society at large.

Jane Soeten is now 90, and has been a gold medalist in the Senior Olympics while still competing at 88. I haven’t been underutilized in the past. It is a prime location that is affordable and by leasing space there I am contributing back to the City of Palmer and our community. Retail space in Palmer is extremely limited and most times is very expensive. I had to get creative and so I decided to “think outside of the box”. I did and I have really enjoyed utilizing this historical location to hold events.

Another business owner wrote, “Our investment, overhead and commitment to the community is very different from a pop-up vendor”. I deeply respect the point that the investment and overhead is different, but I feel that the commitment to the community for all of us is the same. If you take a look at the “Shop Small” website (associated with Small Business Saturday and American Express) the term small business is defined as “Small businesses can exist in a variety of forms, from corner stores to food trucks to online boutiques. They can have a handful of employees or be up to 150 employees strong. They give a neighborhood strength and create

Georgie Hollander is 76 years young, and still head of The Borealis Dancers, a group of ladies of all ages that dance all over the Mat-Su Valley, especially every summer on the Colony Stage at the Alaska State Fair. Georgie and her husband Jim, who is 74 (Georgie loves to call herself a cougar), canoe and camp for 10 days every summer approximately 200 miles on the Yukon River from Dawson to Circle. They also snow machine, cross country ski, fish and Jim is an experienced hunter.

They enjoy dancing Saturday nights at the Anchorage 35-Plus Club, where they met. Many of the weekly dancers are 60-80, as they two-step gracefully in their advancing years.

I’ve enjoyed Contra dancing in Palmer, where many of the dancers are also past 50, as well as the bluegrass groups that play fiddle, bass, mandolin, guitar and such. The live music is a wonderful treat at these dances. You don’t have to be a Red Hatter to continue to have adventures in life and to explore opportunities for learning, growth and fun.

You just need a Red Hatter attitude: Make the most out of your life at any age, especially when you are older, when you proudly wear more purple. vibrant, diverse communities” Even though My Matanuska Marketplace is not currently a “brick & mortar” business, I feel that I and the other small businesses that I represent provide valuable opportunities to bring strength and diversity to communities.

This statement stood out to me, “Though I am very much in favor of events in Palmer helping to create our town as a destination, I don’t appreciate 30 pop-ups tagging on to an event that was developed to help small Brick & Mortar businesses stay in business particularly during difficult economic times. Though I wish all businesses well I don’t appreciate the appropriation of this event by transient businesses.”

I have a strong commitment to my community, We are all stakeholders and are invested in our community and I want to see Palmer continue to thrive.

What are your thoughts? I encourage you to reach out to me on my Facebook page!

HEALTH & COMMUNITY Contributed by Dori Cranmore R.N., All About Herbs The oil comes from the Nigella sativa plant, which is native to Asia.

The plant has small, black, crescentshaped seeds and is a part of the buttercup family. Its recorded use dates back to ancient Egyptian times, with Cleopatra using it to achieve her beautiful complexion and shiny hair.

The oil was even found in a pharaoh’s tomb, dating back 3,300 years.

Hippocrates was said to use it to treat digestive troubles. It is often incorrectly labeled as black cumin seed. Neither cumin nor black cumin is true black seed. Always look for the botanical name, Nigella sativa, for pure black seed oil.

Contributed by Winona Benson, Nourished Health Coaching Services Celebrations and holidays are always surrounded by favorite foods. Mom’s famous pies, Grandma’s sweet potatoes and Dad’s juicy deep-fried turkey.

Sound familiar? It’s often hard to resist eating more than we should!

Did you know that the average person gains approximately five pounds during the last two months of every year? Unfortunately, the eating habits we practice during the holidays often set us up for a pattern of overeating and cravings for months after the holidays too.

So how do we do things differently and still have an enjoyable holiday?

Willpower just isn’t enough!

When it comes to eating, people often make choices to overeat based on much more than hunger. A study was conducted by a professor from Cornell University that was called the, “Stale Popcorn Test”. In this test, stale popcorn was given to moviegoers who had just eaten dinner within 20 minutes of arriving at the theater. The test was given to see if people would eat a stale food even though they were not hungry. Some people were given medium bags and some people were

Contributed by Roger Hamacher Welcome to the Madness, this month’s recipe is a delicious and easy to make taco soup.

In a large pot, brown meat and chopped onion. When done, add all undrained canned items, the ranch mix, taco seasoning and water. Stir all ingredients and cook until nice and hot. Upon

Some of the recorded uses include high blood pressure, asthma and Candida albicans or yeast overgrowth in the body. Black seed oil may help to reduce inflammatory arthritis symptoms and may extend to improving asthma and bronchitis symptoms. Eating black seeds or taking black seed oil is also associated with relieving stomach pain, cramps, reducing gas, bloating and the incidence of ulcers as well. The oil may help fight against skin cancers when applied topically. Black seed oil or seeds have been shown to reduce high cholesterol because it’s high in fatty acids that can help maintain healthier cholesterol levels.

When people with type 2 diabetes consumed 2000mg of black cumin per day for three months, it led to reductions in fasting blood sugar and HgbA1c.

Black seed can help fight off many different strains of bacteria, including salmonella, E. coli, listeria, staph and

given large bags – all were given the stale popcorn. The people given the large bags ate 34% more popcorn than the people given the medium bags.

When asked if they thought the size of the bags made a difference, the participants did not think it did.

Another study was conducted where a group of secretaries were being awarded for doing great work throughout the year. The secretaries were awarded with all the candy they could eat in a month. The candies were strategically placed either, right on their desks or six feet from their desks in either a clear or an opaque bowl. Every day the candy dishes were re-filled. On the desks where the candy was in a clear bowl, the typical consumption of candies in a single day was about eleven Hershey’s kisses, which is about 283 calories.

If the candies were in an opaque bowl, the consumption was about nine kisses. When the candy bowls were placed six feet away from the desk, the daily consumption was reduced to four candies. If this pattern of eating were to continue throughout the year, it could lead to a 30-40 pound weight gain in a year!

Often when food is left out, more is consumed as well. In one study, it was shown that men eat about 30% more food if the serving dish is put on the table, and women eat 10% more. The

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MRSA. For internal bacterial infections, black seed oil can be added to herbal teas, and for a skin infection, you can apply it directly to the skin.

tea or smoothies. You can make black seed tea by pouring hot water over the seeds (about one tablespoon) and letting it steep for 10 minutes.

It’s particularly beneficial for those with autoimmune disease because it can balance the immune system. It can increase immune function without encouraging an immune reaction against healthy tissue in the body.

Dori Cranmore is a registered nurse and owner of All About Herbs, Inc. at 4621 E. Palmer Wasilla Highway.

Call 907-376-8327

Black seed oil, honey and garlic make a powerful tonic for soothing coughs and boosting immunity, especially during cold and flu season or if you feel like you’re coming down with an infection. Black seed oil can even be used topically to treat psoriasis and eczema, or mixed with facial cream to moisturize and soothe your skin.

Black seed oil is available in capsules, oil and seeds. You can add the seeds to casseroles, stir fries, salad dressings and baked goods, sprinkle them on salads or even add them to your coffee,

primary reason for this was that men ate the food so much faster.

They didn’t allow their stomach time to send the message to their brain that they were full. They often went back for seconds and even thirds. Women generally ate slower and did not go back for seconds as often.

Other cues can trigger people to overeat too – larger plates, larger serving bowls, all you can eat invitations, low-fat versions of foods and our environments. If we are being bombarded with external noises like the television, our phones, text messages and loud environments, our “mindfulness” is not much of a source of power.

One of the best things we can do is to set our environment up for success.

Here are a few tips to help make your holiday events a little healthier: • Use a smaller plate: a 9-10 inch plate can help you to eat 22% less food than on a larger platter.

• Make the healthy foods the “star of the table”: Put your vegetables and salads in the largest serving dishes so the eyes send the message to the brain what foods you see and focus in on first. If you are dishing up the food for serving, put the healthy foods on the table where the eating is taking place and leave the other foods on the counter.

• Use smaller serving bowls and smaller serving spoons: A larger

serving, crush tortilla chips into the bowl, add cheese and sour cream if desired and enjoy!

This soup is very filling and a good choice for the cold of winter.

You can watch Hot Plate Madness prepare this meal on their YouTube channel. Hot Plate Madness is a weekly cooking show designed to provide

spoon often leads to larger portions. A person generally eats 50% more food when a large serving spoon is used.

• Eat slowly, and chew your food: Try to chew your food until there are no large pieces left in your mouth.

• Turn off your environmental noises, like the television and electronics: Families that engage in positive conversation generally eat slower and enjoy their food more.

• After eating, put the food away in the refrigerator: Not only will this prevent “grazing”, but it also keeps your food safe from bacteria that could cause food-borne illness. Foods that are left at room temperature for two hours or more are not considered safe to eat due to the rate that bacteria can grow above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Make your conversation, your friends and family and your time with loved ones the focus of the holiday – not the food: After all, the food is for fuel and nourishment. Family is for life, fun and enjoyment!

If you would like to learn more about making healthy choices, give me a call at 907-982-9933, and we can set up a health consultation.

I believe that we all have the right to a happy, healthy and well-balanced life! The journey to health with Nourished is one filled with support, guidance, nutritional information and accountability.

young people budget-friendly meals that can be prepared with limited equipment.

Hosted by MY House Case Manager, Jenn Martin, and Nine Star Education and Employment Services Youth Director, Roger Hamacher, each episode includes the recipes and cost breakdown, as well as an occasional bit of madness. Search Hot Plate Madness and subscribe for new weekly episodes!

COMMUNITY Contributed by Laurie Kari, Family Promise Mat-Su Every family deserves a home. Help us transition folks from the streets into shelter and into stable housing Please call Family Promise MatSu at 357-6160 if you or someone you’ve encountered is living in an unsuitable situation. There are shelter beds currently available for families, with case management to become re-housed. Homeless prevention (eviction prevention), re-housing

Contributed by K.T. McKee Rumors of the death of Obamacare have been greatly exaggerated. The Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) is still alive and well, including the tax penalty if you remain uncovered in 2018, although there are exceptions to that (see penalty exemptions and details about the penalty at www.

Healthcare.gov).

If you have no other options for health insurance such as employer-supplied coverage, VA coverage, Medicaid or Medicare, you may very well qualify for a Premera Blue Cross policy through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

That comes with advanced premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions that will cut your out-of-pocket costs.

The Open Enrollment Period this year is much shorter than it has been in the past, however. It only runs for six weeks and will end December 15th.

Please don’t put this off! Look into it as soon as possible, including making an appointment with a certified ACA assister in the Valley who can help you navigate the Marketplace at no charge.

Since Open Enrollment began on November 1st, I have helped a variety of Valley residents enroll or re-enroll in coverage for 2018. All of them have walked out of my office relieved that they will not have to go without health insurance next year.

One consumer I helped re-enroll the other day has been battling a rare disease that required expensive tests for diagnosis earlier this year. Most of those costs were covered by this person’s Premera policy gained during last year’s ACA Open Enrollment. If not for that coverage, he or she has no

assistance (help with first month’s rent) and referrals for our community in need are also available. Agencies with this BHAP Grant are also located throughout the Valley to save on gas dollars.

Again, the number for Family Promise Mat-Su is 357-6160. Please help us reach folks in need.

Your financial gifts for our shelter operations are also very much needed. www.familypromisematsu.org

idea how those expensive procedures would have been paid for.

I also recently helped someone making about $25K per year enroll in Obamacare coverage for the first time. She walked away with a premium of only $66 per month and a deductible of only $1,000. Her outof-pocket maximum is only about $1,800. Anyone who knows insurance knows this is a great deal. She was excited that she can finally go to the doctor and get some nagging health concerns addressed. Others with higher incomes are paying more for their coverage, yet all seemed pleased for the opportunity to enroll.

Peace of mind is priceless.

We also can assist those whose incomes make them eligible for Medicaid, although they can enroll in Medicaid at any time of the year and don’t have to worry about the December 15th deadline. A single person can make up to $20,783 per year and qualify for Medicaid. A family of two can make up to $28K, a family of four up to $42,435, etc. Anyone with a household income that is 138% or less of the Alaska Poverty Line qualifies for Medicaid. Before the Medicaid expansion in Alaska, many people below the poverty line didn’t qualify for anything.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Paul Morley Every fall, the Mat-Su Schools Foundation provides $1,000 teacher grants to enrich and expand educational opportunities for children beyond what is provided by the school district. Our board of directors selects and supports creative teaching ideas designed to excite and motivate students. An additional $1,000 Gorilla Fireworks Grant is awarded to a Houston Middle or High School teacher. This year there were 15 applications received, from which MSSF was able to fund five.

Kristopher Wagoner of Houston High School was awarded the Gorilla Fireworks Grant for the Houston High Spirit Shop. Business skills students will focus on creating, marketing and distributing items that help build the spirit of Houston High School.

Students will create individual project proposals and be granted seed money needed to carry out their plan.

Students will be required to pay back their seed money before they can earn money for their account, whether that be for a sport they are involved it, a club or other on-campus activity.

Mat-Su Schools Foundation 2017 Grant Recipients: • Samantha Youmans of Houston High School was awarded $1,000 to purchase drum-line drums, a marching snare drum and a marching bass drum. Drums will be used during sporting events, assemblies, local events and concerts.

• Finger Lake Elementary School was awarded $1,000 for Marcy Farris’s innovative idea for a makerspace. The staff at Finger Lake uses the station rotation

Contributed by Hope Lightly

If you are unsure if you’re eligible, please reach out soon to get those questions answered. That’s what we’re here for.

7.19 Fireworks Pre-Party 11/25/2017 - 6PM Palmer Family Church Mat-Su Borough Gym 350 E Dahlia Ave. Palmer FREE Event

K.T. McKee is a navigator program specialist for the Mat-Su through the Alaska Primary Care Association and a long-time Valley resident. She also can be reached at ktmckee@ alaskapca.org, 891-6940

7.19 Fireworks Display 11/25/2017 – 7:19PM Palmer Family Church Mat-Su Borough Gym 350 E Dahlia Ave. Palmer FREE Event

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model in the library for blended learning to increase engagement and differentiate instructional needs for students. A makerspace is a collaborative workspace for making, learning, exploring and sharing, that uses high-tech and no-tech tools.

These spaces provide handson learning, helps with critical thinking skills and also expose students to skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Maps! Palmer High teacher, Rebekah Kitchin, was awarded $819 for adding detailed, highquality, mural-sized maps around the school building. Mounted permanently and having a protective coating, they will be accessible to all students for years to come. Having large maps readily available and highly visible will serve to remind students of their place in the world and enrich their current curriculum.

Fourth grade Big Lake teacher, Mary (Chrissy) Lovelace, is studying salmon in their science curriculum and Alaska in social studies. The $1,000 grant funds will help in their fieldtrip to Seward with an overnight stay at the Sealife Center, a trip to Kachemak Bay in Homer and a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Museum on their return trip.

You can learn more about the Mat-Su Schools Foundation, previous grant recipients and our spring student scholarships through a link on the MSBSD website under “Programs”, or at www. matsuschoolsfoundation.org.

Please consider becoming a member or donate through Pick.

Click.Give to help our programs reach more kids.

Can you believe it? We are quickly approaching another holiday season. I have already started seeing decorations flood the stores. I love this time of year - family, traditions and celebrations.

However, for some, this is not the most wonderful time of the year. For some, it is a reminder of loneliness, poverty and sadness. For these people, there seems nothing to celebrate.

I am excited to share that Palmer, Alaska has a tradition that all can and are encouraged to attend. What is this celebration? The Saturday after Thanksgiving fireworks display.

COMMUNITY & EVENTS

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Josh Fryfogle ACCOMMODATIONS Houston Lodge Marketplace…. 892-5124 Sunset View Resort ........ 892-8595 ADULT PIANO LESSONS Hitchcock Piano Studio ........ 745-3134 APPAREL All Seasons Clothing ........ 357-0123 D’s Tuxedo ........ 707-6585 Mimi’s Closet ........ 376-2661 ART & CRAFTS Artists Uncorked… 982-2675 Shane Lamb Gallery… 746-3343 The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 A Black Sheep Shop ......... 376-8198 CAFÉ & COFFEE Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Espresso Café ........ 376-5282 Gathering Grounds ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blue……..745-2233 COOKWARE All I Saw Cookware ........ 376-3177

You might have noticed by now, if you follow on Facebook, some video production work from my new company, Fryfogle Network News.

I’ve developed this project over the last few years, a media company that is different from The People’s Paper.

This company aims to do something similar philosophically. While the print publication will still allow local people to have their articles and content published in print, we will also have their content turned into web videos!

Facilitating the First Amendment for those in my community.

I’ve done this with various mediums for many years, even before starting the paper. As a musician, I hosted many open-mic events, and wrote a regular weekly column about local music for the Frontiersman for quite a few years. None of these efforts were

paid. I worked other jobs along the way. Still, I found my life’s work, and I was willing to work overtime to chase that indescribably fulfilling feeling of giving local people a voice. Real public service.

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With the same sense of responsibility that we have applied to the paper, these videos will make use of the same content, as a script for the video news clips posted online.

The viewer will get the gist of the article, and be provided a web link to read the original article in its entirety at the same time.

Rather than gatekeeper, I have strived to shape my role of publisher as a stewardship, a position of trust, not power. I achieve this by sourcing all content from real people, and letting their words speak for themselves in the printed pages of The People’s Paper - we try not to edit, except for grammar.

Those who want to dig in deeper can read and ponder, and those who are in a hurry and just want a basic grasp of the topic can continue on with their busy lives. Both the reader and the viewer are now informed.

However, making video products does not lend itself to the purity of thought that the written word allows.

What is new is that with FNN, we will be able to reach a broader market of information-consumers with content that is locally sourced from real people.

A video product requires voice work, music, images and effects. To make a good video, all of these elements must be present. However, all of these things have an effect on how the viewer hears and perceives. Music changes feelings, the tone of voice causes countless reactions and images are worth a thousand words.

The reader might be better informed, but that’s nothing new.

I look forward to networking with you.

Fryfogle Network News.

Find and follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ FryfogleNetworkNews/

CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Artists Uncorked ........ 982-2675 EDUCATION Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 FLOWERS & GIFTS Charlotte’s Flowers ........ 745-5550 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort ........ 376-5403 HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ........ 376-8327 Invest in Yourself Fitness .... 830-6072

The People’s Paper has partnered with video news company, Fryfogle Network News, turning our content into web videos too! At no cost to you!

SUBMIT YOUR CONTENT TO THE PEOPLE’S PAPER AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE WEB VIDEO! www.ThePeoplesPaper.info

HOME DÉCOR Cover Ups Designs ........ 746-4739 PIZZA Humdingers Pizza ........ 745-7499 PRINT SERVICES The UPS Store ........ 376-6245 RADIO 95.5 The Pass ........ 631-0877 REPAIR, RESTORATION Comtronics ........ 373-2669 Steve’s Toyostove…. 376-9276 SMOKE SHOPS Alaska Pipe Dreams ........ 746-1500 Light It Up Head Shop…. 745-5483 SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364 THRIFT SHOPS Red Barn Thrift Store ........ 745-5050 Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 Willow Rose Thrift Store ......... 495-ROSE TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990

Contributed by Lhing McNeal, Filipino American Community of Matsu - Kabayan Inc. A Time of Giving Christmas Party & Fundraiser 12/9/2017 – 6PM Filipino American Community of Matsu - Kabayan Inc. Amazing Grace Academy 2238 Inner Springer Loop, Palmer Tickets: $10 Singles/Couples, $20 Families of 5, $5 Additional Family Members As Filipinos, Christmas is always our favorite time of the year; our customs

and traditions still linger in our hearts.

On December 9th, the FilipinoAmerican Community of Matsu will be having a Christmas party and potluck.

This event is also a fundraiser to support our educational scholarship and our community service programs.

There will be a gun raffle, door prizes and fun games. In the event we will also have an exchange gift for adults worth $30, but this is optional.

Santa will be around to hand out gift to kids. We prefer that parents will bring the gift for their own children with their name on it, but this is also

optional. We also have a cultural dance, kids Christmas presentation and of course, dancing where you can sweat it out and have fun ‘til the party ends.

Come and join us and celebrate the spirit of the holiday together.

Admission for singles/couples is $10.00, family up to five people is $ 20.00 and $5:00 for an additional family member in the same household.

For more information, you can call or text, 907-232-2151, 907-7077696 or 907-841-1883.

FAITH experiences get diluted down to Facebook statuses.

Contributed by David Rusher, Student Pastor at Alaska Bible College “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” - James 5:14 The heart of this scripture passage is the presence aspect of any pastoral ministry. This timeless truth has lost its significance with the modern American church. This is a lofty accusation, but let us look at society today in the light of social media. Social media has caused a society to be antisocial or impersonal.

Our relationships are defined through social media, and although we may have good intentions, our relational

The modern American church is not immune to this growing problem, and it has affected our church leadership. This isn’t to say that social media is a bad thing in the church. On the contrary, it can be useful to get the news out for events or for pastors to stay “connected” with their congregation.

This is beneficial especially here in Alaska where our congregants may be more spread out in some of our rural churches. However, where we as pastors are guilty though, is that we get caught up in social media so much as a ministry that we fail to make those personal face to face connections with our congregation.

James 5:14 serves as our reminder to restore a precious aspect of our pastoral ministries - the presence of a

pastor in times of crisis. It’s not about the oil or praying for the sick, although it is important and biblical. It is about being there for the flock and sharing in those moments of grief. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:2 to bear one another’s burdens. This requires a personal involvement in the lives of those placed in our care.

There is an old saying, “They don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Being involved in those times of crisis helps us as pastors or spiritual leaders to earn the right to minister into their lives.

Being present and sharing in those times of sufferings and grief, we are provided rare opportunities to share biblical truths that in other contexts would not be well received. Let us carry with us into a modern impersonal society, the value of being there. stressed by life’s challenges, is the condition of death.

Contributed by Brett Ahern

Sabbath has to do with resting in faith.

Resting in faith and living in grace, we are highly favored by God. Through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and our connection with God’s Spirit, we’ve regained what Adam lost, restored to Eden’s relationship with God.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth, and all that is in them in six days. Completing His work, He rested the 7th day, blessed it and made it holy (Genesis 2:1-3). As long as they had adequate faith in God to obey one commandment, they lived a life of ease, in rest.

As Jesus said about marriage, Eden is the ideal which He came to make real for His disciples (Matthew 19:1-8). Restoring marriage, which was from the beginning, He restored proper Sabbath observance, which was also from the beginning.

Let’s look at the only other institution God created in Eden, and see what the

Disobedience brought the fall from this life of freedom. Kicked out of paradise, living in conflict was the new condition, one God called death. So living as if God is loveless and powerless, constantly working at balancing good and evil,

The first 12 chapters of Genesis demonstrates this fully, before God begins restoring life to humanity through Abraham, founder of God’s family, in Israel.

But Abraham’s family wasn’t ready and had to go through a greenhouse in Egypt, to prepare for their planting in the land of Israel. Like humanity’s living death up to Genesis 12, Israel lived in slavery up to Exodus 12. Later Moses equates these two experiences as one, when in the 10 Commandments he gives both as foundational reasons for keeping the 7th

CONTINUES ON PAGE 8

COMMUNITY / OPINION Contributed by David Boyle The recently-released PEAKS student test scores should be eye-opening for parents, students and every Alaskan who values public K-12 education.

Unfortunately, these recent test scores are not just an anomaly; they are further evidence that Alaska’s K-12 education system needs some drastic reforms and quickly. Otherwise, this state will continue to lose ground in its competitiveness with other states and more importantly, fail its children.

As a think tank, we at the Alaska Policy Forum always search for the elemental root causes of a problem, rather than trying to identify fixes to only the symptomatic issues. You see, just addressing symptoms does not guarantee that that same problem will not crop up again. Let’s look at the evidence and symptoms of Alaska’s overall mediocre K-12 education system.

“These recent test scores are not just an anomaly.”

In the past 10 years Alaska students have scored either at the bottom or near the bottom in 4th grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress): www.nationsreportcard.gov). As a matter of fact, Alaska scores are well below states like Florida, which has a much more diverse population. Here are the NAEP results for Alaska and the

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

nation (NAEP is administered every two years in reading, math and science). We chose 4th grade reading as our metric because it is well-known that a child “learns to read” by 4th grade so he/she can “read to learn” in future grades.

In the NAEP, a 10-point difference in scores indicates a full year of learning.

Extrapolating that further would mean that each point approximates one month. Thus, in 2015, Alaskan 4th grade students tested about eight months behind the “average” student in the nation. The evidence is clear that our Alaskan K-12 education system is under-performing. What is the solution? Should we put more money toward the problem, expecting improvements? Incidentally, Alaska spends more per student than every other state except New York.

Source Data: NAEP vs. Per Capita K12 Spending-2 Jan 31 2017 More money may be exacerbating the problem and incentivizing bad behavior because districts with poor performance in Alaska receive more funding. Who is accountable for these less-than-stellar results? Parents, students, teachers or the education industry?

“We need accountability throughout the system . . .”

Accountability is the key to solving the root causes of our K-12 education system’s low performance. We need accountability throughout the system,

including for administrators, school boards, principals, educators, state government and parents. Principals and teachers need to be empowered, but at the same time held accountable.

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development and the legislature need to demand results from school districts and schools. Rather than allocating more funding to poorlyperforming schools, the state needs to reward the better-performing schools with additional resources. Incentivizing bad behavior results in more of the bad behavior.

Here’s a parallel example: Let’s say you absolutely need to buy a new car.

You have already done your research and can identify the least-valued cars.

You visit the car dealer and want to purchase the best brand, only to find out that particular automobile is out of stock due to very high demand. Then the salesperson shows you a Yugo (vehicle with the worst reliability and lowest value). The dealer has dozens of these on his lot. What do you do?

Well, you need a car to get to work or you lose your job. So you buy the Yugo only to have the wheels fall off while driving the car home. You take the car back to the dealer. He tells you that you bought a lemon and it’s not his fault.

He blames you for buying the only car available. Well, that’s exactly what is happening with our charter and alternative schools.

“There are thousands of children on the waiting lists for these good schools . . .”

VETERANS Contributed by Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, which was observed annually on November 11th, to honor military veterans; that is, people who served in the United States armed forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

You see, there are some excellent charter and alternative schools in Alaska. In the Anchorage School District alone, there are thousands of children on the waiting lists for these good schools. But just like the car dealer, the District will not expand its supply to meet the demand from parents.

There is a solution to this impasse: Allow the university, local governments, the State and even nonprofits to authorize (start-up) charter schools. That would surely provide more educational options for parents, as well as provide more competition for the Alaska education monopoly.

The legislature needs to do this so it can be accountable to the thousands of kids on these waiting lists. This is only one form of competition that would allow children to reach their potential and a successful life.

There are many other solutions such as Education Savings Accounts, more equitable funding for homeschooling and charter schools and allowing teachers and subject experts from outside to teach Alaska children via distance learning.

The Alaska K-12 education system needs radical reform. And it needs it now so Alaska can compete in the business world and more importantly, so Alaskan children can reach the stars and be productive citizens.

David Boyle is the board chair and research associate for the Alaska Policy Forum.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Military chaplains have served in all our military conflicts, but are rarely recognized. They are in the thick of the battles, but carry no firearm. They are caring, compassionate, servants of God. Isaiah 6:8-9 speaks of Isaiah’s call to ministry: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’ And he said, ‘Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.’”

The military chaplains accept God’s call to serve at home, abroad, in conflict, sorrow and pain. They proclaimed the message of God’s love, mercy and grace.

For over 200 years, military chaplains have accompanied U.S. forces wherever they have served. Wherever

our military is, chaplains and enlisted religious support personnel are there to help and serve military members and other authorized personnel.

Chaplains are ordained by individual religious denominations before they join the military. Once commissioned as officers in the Army, Navy or Air Force (Navy Chaplains serve with the Marine Corps and Coast Guard.), they provide religious worship services, rites, sacraments, ordinances and ministrations to military members and their families worldwide. They state that their mission is to nurture the living, care for the sick or wounded, minister to prisoners or prisoners of war and honor the dead.

Chaplains also assist military personnel and family members in dealing with personal concerns such as faith issues, stress, anxiety, redeployment or reunion issues, moral and ethical

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values and social concerns.

For many servicemembers, chaplains are the first person they can turn to for help outside their chain of command.

In this role, chaplains help to resolve problems by making appropriate referrals to command channels or social service agencies.

They also assist military personnel in requesting emergency leave, compassionate reassignments and hardship discharges.

Although I’m not a military chaplain, I have had the opportunity to work closely with many of these fine people.

It was a privilege.

Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of our armed forces.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

The death of his friend was the inspiration for this famous poem: Alaska Older Veterans Report by Major Mike Dryden AVN USAR Retired The People’s Paper recognizes and honors veterans every day for their service to our nation. But on Veterans Day, November 11, special thanks are needed. A reprint from the VFW’s website on the origin of the wellknown red poppy is appropriate for this edition.

Buddy Poppy The VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans’ organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

During the 1923 encampment, the VFW decided that VFW “Buddy”® Poppies would be assembled by disabled and veterans in need, who would be paid for their work to provide them

with financial assistance. The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh assembled VFW Buddy Poppies. The designation “Buddy Poppy” was adopted at that time.

In February 1924, the VFW registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. The VFW has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and veterans in need. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name, Buddy Poppy.

Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and veterans in need in VA Hospitals. The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state

and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children.

During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres, a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was killed on May 2, 1915, in the gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now-famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.” (Copyright © http://www.greatwar.co.uk)

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae In Flanders fields, the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.

Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved and now we lie, In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe To you, from failing hands, we throw The torch, be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us, who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields.

Mike Dryden is a retired Army Major and current board member of Older Persons Action Group, Inc., a volunteer for the SOA Long-Term Care Ombudsman program and author of The 95th Colored Engineer Regiment and the African Americans that help build the Alcan during WW ll.

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POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Wes Keller One of the biggest perversions of big government is when it presumes to take over family roles and responsibility. No matter how much money it spends, big government simply cannot write a check to provide the love, security, acceptance or nurturing available in family. So, why does it try?

Individuals who make up big government are “normal” in that they all have some kind of family experience entitling them to opinions on what are “good” or “bad” family values; but as an institution, big government is handicapped. It should not establish a religion, it should not distribute public

Contributed by Mike Delarm What is it made of? Is it healthy? Can it really help a person to quit smoking cigarettes? Many people have the same questions you might.

E-liquid is typically comprised of three main ingredients: vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and flavor. Nicotine is also often added to e-liquid, but some people just really enjoy the flavor and strictly vape 0mg. nicotine although it can come in various strengths typically in 0mg, 3mg, 6mg and 12mg.

E-liquid comes in many flavors; in fact,

Contributed by Lawrence Lease With such a great divide within our American Political Democracy, discourse among Republicans and Democrats have been nearly reduced to a state of nothingness. The gridlock in Washington is sourced by a mixture of ideologically-driven politicians and wealthy donors focused on supporting their side’s initiative.

President Trump long promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, which has left insurers bankrupt and has raised deductibles and premiums.

The Democrats know the many flaws of Obamacare, but are not willing to surrender the bill’s pre-existing conditions.

Contributed by Jessica Wright I remember back in the summer, I saw the news reporting that Governor Bill Walker was hosting the President of China and his wife, and then he held a news briefing afterwards.

There are two things that stood in my mind: 1) Bill Walker tried to pattern after the President of the United States in the White House. 2) Governor Walker kept saying this to the President of China: “Alaska has rich natural resources.” I didn’t like their meeting then, and I especially don’t like how the story is developing now.

The recent news suggests that China is going to partner with Alaska to build the natural gas pipeline, the project Walker has been promoting since he got elected. The proposed ownership of the NGL is China 75% and Alaska 25%. Many months ago, many experts have pointed out, building the state-

RESTING IN FAITH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 day Sabbath (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5).

With these two witnesses testifying of our lostness and brokenness, God brought the healing Savior. Completing His teaching ministry of restoring clarity to life with God, Jesus was crucified in such a way that God stamps His approval on His life.

Jesus rose from the grave as the weekly Sabbath ended on Saturday evening, to fulfill His prophecy of being in the grave for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:38-40). So the 7th day Sabbath is also linked to our salvation, the antidote to our dead lives, enslaved to sin. The Sabbath fully tells humanity’s story: God created all, we disobeyed and lost it all and became enslaved to sin. But God

funds as charity and most of them go home at 4:30pm! Still, voters expect big government to provide a “safety net” when there is human tragedy caused by dysfunctional families. Even if government meddling is sourced in noble motivation, it becomes destructive when it presumes to meddle in the affairs of functioning families.

There is too much evidence of inappropriate government intrusion: • over-aggressive control of parental education choices • over-compassionate distribution of health and welfare benefits • over-protective removal of children from their parent’s influence It is not difficult to imagine how noble intentions of big-spending government are ultimately overplayed, but it becomes very difficult to then it can be any flavor almost imaginable, but as I’m sure you can imagine not all flavors are something you’d want to taste. LOL. Some companies though have certainly mastered the process of creating flavors that taste exactly like what they were trying to replicate.

Originally, this meant tobacco or menthol flavoring, but soon after its introduction, people realized that their e-liquid could taste like whatever they wanted it to, such as apples or French toast or even your favorite cereal. Many people have come to prefer these custom flavors over that of a traditional cigarette, and find it much easier to make the transition when it’s a flavor

Republican leaders like Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham have moved towards the center to grandfather Obamacare’s subsidies, but this scared off Republicans like Senator Rand Paul (KY) who was believing the bill would not fully repeal Obamacare.

Surprisingly, even John McCain backed out, who stressed the importance of working with Democrats in Congress.

McCain was also responsible for the deciding vote on denying the “skinny repeal” of Obamacare.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

eliminate or reduce any inappropriate control of “nanny” government.

It is tragic folly when the governed actually believe that the government should fill-in when family fails. Secular government is simply not capable of either replacing or repairing families.

Families, on the other hand, are the only source of the elements of good government (wise and principled future governors, legislators and judges).

We are approaching our traditional holiday season. Let’s determine to make them family holidays by focusing on choosing to be thankful in the tradition of Thanksgiving, and to be compassionate and giving to those around us in the tradition of Christmas.

Let’s return to the premise that families primarily exist to produce and nurture children. The holidays provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy our that they know they truly do enjoy, like peaches or ice cream.

What is a vape? Good question. A vape is simply, the device you put your e-liquid into that turns the e-liquid into a breathable vapor. Known by many names, the vape comes in many forms and is often referred to as a mod. It can range from being as slim as a pencil to as thick as a brick. We could talk about the different kinds of mods and which would be best to suit your needs all day long, everyone has a preference.

In fact, if you’re ever in Wasilla, Alaska, feel more than welcome to stop by Alaskan Sweet Vapes or give us a call at 907-373-2839, and pick our brain (one collective brain, all powerful).

in 2009. If we do so, our success could be as short-lived as theirs when the political winds shift, as they regularly do.”

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spouses, children and grandchildren while giving them foundational family memories – and in Alaska, often our friends become our family. It’s also a good time to look around for those who don’t live in a functioning family and include them in your family benefits. Again, the government won’t/ can’t provide much outside of some physical needs.

If you are a parent, it is your inherent right and responsibility to choose the values you want to teach your children.

You get to select the truths that you want your children to know and how they build the foundation to your beliefs about God, religion and our constitution. It is not up to the government to be a nanny for us, our children or our friends.

Wes Keller | www.WesKeller.com

Is vaping truly healthier than cigarettes? Yes. There have been many studies on the potential side effects of vaping.

Those results are widely available and a quick google search can bring you directly to the mass majority of those results. In 2015, Public Health England stated that e-cigarettes are estimated to be 95% less harmful than smoking.

Can it help you to quit cigarettes? Yes. More and more people are finding it easier to make the transition daily, largely due to the vast improvements in both flavor and the convenience that the vape industry has come to provide.

If Congress can work together, then they may be able to restabilize the markets and help reduce price increases in 2018.

Mitch McConnell, who criticized Trump for not understanding how much time it takes to get things done believes that, “Where we go from here is tax reform.”

On McCain’s decision, he remarked:

President Trump is willing to sign what the Republican-controlled House and Senate can put on his desk, but many Republicans have grown skeptical with the push towards the center, given that Democrats like Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar have stoked for a universal Single Payer Bill, which is directly contradictory to the Republicans idea of healthcare as a right rather than a privilege.

“We should not be content to pass healthcare legislation on a party-line basis, as Democrats did when they rammed Obamacare through Congress

Many believe that a continuation of healthcare farther to the Left will make the Single Payer Initiative virtually useless.

Working together would definitely relieve the criticism of the bill from one side. If there is criticism, it most likely will not be taken seriously, given there be bipartisanship responsibility.

President Trump might also receive criticism from his base for not fulfilling a major campaign promise for a complete repeal of Obamacare, but this may not be something he has control of in a system of checks and balances.

gas pipeline is a long, complicated and expensive project. It’s going to take years to build. It will dry out our state resource due to the huge expenses and how the governor manages it; not to mention, it’s not profitable.

to make everything from the plastic jugs that holds many products to that which could be made here in Alaska.

Refining and using our resources to manufacture will be an important step in making the economy go again.

Another question we need to ask: Do you want China to be our business partner? I think not. Allowing China to be our business partner is like leading the wolves to the sheep pen. There’s nothing safe about it.

I’m sure people all over the world admire Alaska’s beauty and envy our natural resources. However, the abundant natural resources belong to Alaskans and the United States only.

funded natural gas pipeline is not going to be profitable. Yet Governor Bill Walker brushed off criticism and insisted on pursuing the project. Some said, “Maybe collaborating with China is not a bad idea. It might bring jobs to Alaska.”

The oil economy has been down not because we don’t know how to produce oil, it’s because the oil drilling restrictions from the Obama administration and also our state government didn’t know how to work with oil companies to keep them productive. The policy failure is solid on our government’s part. We do not need to rely on China to revive our oil economy. Another reason why our economy is suffering is because the Walker Administration is clearly leaning towards big government spending and suppressing the private sectors.

One alarming fact is that the natural

sent a restoring Savior, raised from the grave, confirming our victory over death.

At Jesus’ return, we will experience the completion of this, liberated from death with an eternal body (1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 15).

Not surprisingly, God set up Christ’s return to link it to the 7th day Sabbath.

Running parallel to the physical creation, done in six literal days, is a Kingdom of God in humanity creation, running 6,000 years. We see this in Scripture’s chronology, but also in God’s description of His work as 1,000 years equaling 1 day (2 Peter 3:8), in a chapter explaining Jesus’ return.

So after 6,000 years of this new creation process, God sends Christ back to bring the Edenic Sabbath back to earth, for a final “day” of 1,000 years of restoration and rest from evil (Revelation 20), before

There’s no reason why China wants to buy natural gas from Alaska based on the price if they could only pay half of the price elsewhere. Having China in Alaska will violate our national security and diminish our sovereignty.

On the other hand, I won’t object to any private companies from foreign countries who desire to invest in Alaska, because it will have much better outcome without government’s involvement.

Natural gas is an important feedstock for our manufacturing industry, used

He Himself comes to join us (Revelation 21 – 22). During this time, all humanity will worship on the 7th day Sabbath, commemorating all four aspects of our fulfilled Sabbath life story (Isaiah 66:2223). Considering all of this, we can see how the 7th day Sabbath functions as a truth messenger, allowing us to live in His Presence. Observing it is designed to make these things so in your life. Your Creator, who delivers you from slavery to the world through Jesus’ teaching, healing, crucifixion and resurrected life to live in full relationship with God, now and forever.

We need to protect our assets. We do not wish for any foreign country to come in to colonize our state under any government agreement. It will weaken our national security and deny our sovereignty.

The last thing we want to see is to have Chinese government monopolize our economy and confiscate our resource in the name of the NGL when we should develop oil and natural gas by products ourselves.

Listen up Walker, “Alaska is not for sale!”

lives around them a mess, breaking from restful faith as they strive for extreme security with stockpiles of ever-increasing resources. The resulting brokenness pays with compounding interest in our bodies, souls and spirits poisoning families for generations.

Your brokenness results from the world needing slaves to build its treasure houses, glorifying their “greatness” and living in defiance of all that is right.

Like God plagued Egypt, destroying its resources until they freed Israel; so too God will have to plague Earth. All slave kingdoms hiding as civilizations, cultures, corporations, governments, religions and families will be depleted of their weaponized resources, so they can’t stand in the way of the coming Kingdom at Christ’s return, which starts in Israel and flows out to the rest of humanity: God’s family living with Him in Eden’s Sabbath rest. This is life eternal!

People lacking restful faith create community stress, making everyone’s

To discuss further you can reach Brett at brettact2@earthlink.net

POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by David Eastman If you’ve managed to escape the crazy antics of politicians in Juneau this year, my hat goes off to you. On any other year, you would be among the majority of Alaskans who generally find more important things to do than read every word of a politician’s that finds its way into a local newspaper. But with the Alaska Legislature having spent more than 200 days in session this year, and still going strong, the antics of those politicians are getting harder and harder to escape. Of course, for those of us with front row seats to this Kabuki Theater, there is no escape.

This past week was pure Kabuki: • On Tuesday, the Alaska House of Representatives approved the Criminal Justice Bill (SB54), with 80% of legislators voting in favor of it.

Passage of SB54 was celebrated with several rounds of back-slapping and chest-bumping from the 80% of legislators who voted for it, and also from the governor.

• On Tuesday morning, the governor issued a formal press release and declared: “I thank the House for moving to respond to Alaskans’ concerns about public safety by passing Senate Bill 54... I look forward to seeing the Senate concur, and to signing the bill when it reaches my desk.” – Governor Bill Walker • On Friday, the Alaska Senate met and following recommendations from both the House and the governor, voted to approve SB54 and send it to

Contributed by Rep. George Rauscher, Alaska State Legislature House District 9 On November 8th at 9:00pm, Governor Bill Walker held a legislative briefing in his cabinet room, followed quickly by a press conference.

The topic we were presented with was his gas-line project.

The governor, speaking to us on the phone, was in China, where he and President Donald Trump had been attending trade talks. The governor announced the signing of a joint development agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, surrounded by much pomp and circumstance.

Apparently, the governor has signed a document possibly similar to the Memorandum of Understanding that he signed with South Korea a few months ago. This time it’s a 5-party agreement, which includes the State of Alaska, the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. (AGDC), China’s state-owned oil company, Sinopec, the government-run Bank of China and the China Investment Corp. (CIC).

Contributed by Bruce Walden, www.oldsargebooks.net Perhaps that title is misleading. The governor and many others dig levying taxes. Business is dead or dying. The state isn’t as great as it was or as it could be. Love him or hate him, Richard Nixon once spoke a profound truth.

“When America ceases to do great things, we’ll cease to be a great nation.”

Coincidentally, though the vision was JFK’s, every moon-landing happened on Nixon’s watch… Then we just stopped.

We used to call our state, “The Great State of Alaska.” I love our state. I would die for my state. But are we indeed great? Certainly we are great big. Our state is blessed with great beauty.

But those things are true whether we are here or not. We were once great because we did great things.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline took five years of bickering and two years of construction according to Wiki.

Nowadays we can’t build a four-lane highway between the Glenn-Parks and Palmer (five miles) after all these many years.

the governor’s desk for signature. After passing SB54, the Senate then voted to go home for good on Day 200 of the legislative session.

You would have thought that they had just taken an ice cream cone from a starving child!

The outrage that this vote sparked from the governor and from House leadership confirms beyond all doubt, that it really is possible to spend too much time in Juneau, and that the 200 days spent in Juneau this year have clearly had their effect.

Outrage from the House was as swift as it was stern. Immediately following the vote, the Speaker of the House declared: “What we witnessed today by the State Senate was an abdication of their responsibilities. They allowed a constitutionally-flawed bill to be sent to the governor, and they worsened the ongoing recession and fiscal crisis by refusing to even consider a new revenue proposal.”

Yes, this was exactly the same bill that House leadership had boasted about passing only three days earlier. This was also the same “urgently-needed bill” that House leadership had tossed into a desk drawer and ignored from April 7th until October 23rd.

The governor also did an about-face.

After first saying, “I look forward to seeing the Senate concur, and to signing the bill when it reaches my desk,” he issued a new press release in which he said that SB54 “contains some issues that must be further addressed by the

China Investment Corp. is the Chinese version of our Alaska Permanent Fund.

Estimated value is $800 billion.

China is Alaska’s largest trading partner and leads the world in projected natural gas consumption, as it seeks to reduce carbon emissions and other pollution from coal-fired power plants and diesel engines.

It is important to remember that the agreement signed with China doesn’t provide us with a real contract to purchase Alaska’s gas, or a startup date to begin construction. It doesn’t actually guarantee a gas-line either. So what does it do?

Walker explained to us legislators and later the press, that there is still work to be done before a final decision is reached. Simply put, the governor signed an agreement to work on an agreement.

Remember late last year, “The Big Three” (Exxon, Conoco-Philips, and BP) pulled out as partners in the gas-line project, due to world market prices.

So basically, the governor is claiming to have found partners to take their place, and in the process, may have

Is this because our people can’t or won’t work? Is it because there is no money? Maybe, but why is that? One of the main impediments to… well, about anything you may wish to do is the government of our state. We’ve gotten so bound up with over-regulation that we cannot build a business without begging to 40 different bureaucrats.

While America is in the business of becoming great again, we are still starving on the crumbs falling off the national table. I’m reminded of that cow standing in clover and stretching her neck through a barbed-wire fence to crop a half-dried blade of grass on the other side.

President Trump has promised to push $1 trillion into infrastructure. If Alaska got its fiftieth of that ($20 billion), it would take about five minutes for the government to figure out how to get their thumbs in that pie, so that after paying off some senator’s brother in law, who happens to be the president of the left-handed yellow-line painters’ union, then said senator receiving his kickback, there’d be enough money left over to pave a bike path from one end of Wasilla to the other. And trust me,

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

legislature,” signaling that he no longer looked forward to signing it.

House leadership has since indicated that they have no desire to end the special session, and that they will “force the Senate back to Juneau.” And so, after returning home to partake in Veterans Day events in the Mat-Su, I flew back to Juneau to participate in Day 203 of the legislative session, and cast a vote in favor of finally ending this special session once and for all.

In 1981, the legislature spent 168 days in session, and the response of the people was to pass a constitutional amendment to prohibit such a thing from ever happening again.

In 2006, the governor and the legislature attempted to circumvent that amendment and proceeded to spend a jaw-dropping 189 days in session, which resulted in the immediate passage of the 90-day limit on legislative sessions at the next election in 2008.

That law, Alaska Statute 24.05.150, states: “The legislature shall adjourn from a regular session within 90 consecutive calendar days, including the day the legislature first convenes in that regular session.”

This year, the governor and the legislature attempted to circumvent both the constitutional amendment and the 90-Day Session Law, and held session for an unprecedented 180 days straight, and which has now already reached 203 days total this year.

Keep in mind, every day that the

given away 75% of Alaska’s gas in the deal, in return for potential investment in the project.

It is important to note, that while the gas is in the ground, it belongs to Alaska, but once the Big Three and other developers bring it to the surface, it belongs to them to sell.

None of the Alaska producers were present at the agreement signing in China.

The governor’s agreement does not provide any specifics which will solve the math problem of lowering the cost to deliver our gas to potential buyers, at a price which makes Alaska a player in the open international markets.

One thing it does, is we agree to give away 75% of our natural gas in exchange for getting our gas to market, which leaves 25% to the state.

I do have questions about this agreement: What did Alaska give up in the deal? How many jobs will Alaska lose to Chinees workers? How much control will the Chinese have over the project? What does going from a 25% partner in the project with the Big Three, to a 16.67% partner with five Chinese partners mean for Alaska’s

the bike path will be built before any roads are.

This governor wants to tax us. I asked at the Borough Assembly recently, “How many of you own your own home?” Several hands raised. I then said, “No, you don’t. You rent your home from these people.” Billy, you want a new tax? Okay, give us a sales tax and let’s make property tax go bye-bye.

Thus we can let the tourists to whom we’ve prostituted ourselves for, pay for our way of life. How about we make a real effort to get the oil, coal, gas, what have you to market and let that pay for things? But paying protection money to not be thrown out of our homes is unjust, and therefore must be abolished in my book.

What is more, if the state would take the yoke of bondage off our necks, we just might be able to open new businesses, maybe even new and undiscovered industries and thus widen the tax base. We are smothered in resources, but we’ve gotten so used to being told no, that we’ve come to accept it. I do not. I hope you do not either. Folks, you’d better consider very carefully who you will support

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legislature is in session is a day that legislators like Sen. Mike Dunleavy are legally prohibited from campaigning for governor, while the sitting governor and lieutenant governor are exempt from such restrictions.

Keep in mind that if you were considering running to replace your lack-luster legislator next year, the idea of another 200-day session may give you pause before doing so. If not you, it is quite likely to give your employer pause, if you happen to be employed, or your spouse pause, if you happen to be married.

Keep in mind also, that if you are among the handful of legislators currently working to turn this ship around, the idea of 200-day sessions has likely put you in a tough spot with your employer, and your time in Juneau has likely come at the price of time away from your family and your community.

There can also be no doubt at this point that this year’s endless legislative session was both calculated and deliberate. The governor has called repeated special sessions this year, in addition to the 90-day session laid out in current state law.

The majority of legislators in the House decided on April 7th to shelve SB54 along with its reforms to SB91 until they could be brought out to justify a special session in October.

In the end, this show will go on just as long as the people let it go on.

potential natural resource revenue?

Remember, the Alaska Constitution requires the state’s resources to be utilized for the maximum benefit of the people.

Sinopec came to Alaska once before, under then-governor, Sarah Palin. But that deal was scrapped after public outcry regarding national security issues and China’s history of human rights violations.

We are a long way from a gas-line; it is predicted that we are 10 years away if we were given a green light today. As always, the devil is in the details and understanding the agreement will take some time.

This agreement with China, like the previous agreement with South Korea, is simply much ado about nothing.

George Rauscher represents House District 9 in the Alaska State Legislature. He is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee. He represents Chickaloon, Delta Junction, Glacier View, Glennallen, Lazy Mountain, Palmer Fishhook, Sutton, Valdez and Whittier.

for governor next year. Unless Mike Dunleavy re-enters the race, you will have a three way race between Mark Begich, Bill Walker and Charlie Huggins.

Meaning very likely your next governor will be Mark Begich. God forbid.

I do not yet know who I’ll support for governor, though I’m leaning toward Huggins by default. But I will tell you quickly who I support for lieutenant governor. Edie Grunwald you all know.

And I will not open up wounds that are far, far from healing.

I’ll put it very simply. If you are ready for law and order to prevail again in our state, if you are ready to see SB91 replaced with something much, much better, then you’d best hitch your wagon to someone with a personal stake in that game. Murder, illicit drug pushing, flesh pedaling and such has become the order of the day in Alaska.

Does this make you proud? It makes me hang my head in shame.

It is time to stop sending the same people to the Assembly. Juneau and DC have not had an original idea in decades. I hear the same tired old ideas from the same old faces over and over until my stomach turns. Isn’t it time to try something new? We deserve better than this.

PETS & ANIMALS

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann, M.S., Clear Creek Cat Rescue Hi, I am KC. I am a 14 year old cat who is in search of my forever home. I have been declawed on all four feet. My owner’s current situation has changed and he can’t provide for me right now.

I was recently at the vet and everything is okay with my health.

I don’t get along with other pets and don’t like my tail pulled, so young children may be out as well. But a kind, settled family would be great, where I can share snuggles and long quiet evenings on the couch together, and give love and purrs.

Clear Creek Cat Rescue (907) 980-8898

Nyla is a very shy cat at first; she was born a feral cat. She will take her time in getting to know you, but once she is settled she is a very loveable cat. Once she’s at home, you might wake up to find her in bed with you or her sleeping on your face.

Contributed by Angie Lewis, President of Alaska Animal Advocates

She does fine with dogs after about a week or two of grumping at them. She rubs all over the dogs that she lives with now.

She is terrified outside, and would rather stay indoors. She is a decent mouser, so you don’t have to worry about tiny invaders coming into your home. She definitely likes her high places to perch and places to hide, so a cat tree is a must!

She is a 7 year old Walker Hound, who has the energy of a young puppy. Vanna has un-fortunately been mistreated by other dogs, and as a result, needed to have her right ear amputated.

Her favorite toy is a flirt pole with a feather, but sometimes she can be persuaded to play with a laser light.

She would probably do best as an only cat. Her nervous tendencies tend to trigger other cats prey drives and get her harassed.

In Wasilla. Call 315-9876.

Clear Creek Cat Rescue (907) 980-8898

Finding information about dogs who are deaf is so much easier these days, than it used to be 10 or 15 years ago.

First of all, how do dogs become deaf? Some puppies are born deaf, which is known as congenital deafness. Others are the result of frequent ear infections, injury, exposure to toxic materials or simply old age.

If you are unsure about whether or not your dog is deaf, wait until she is soundly asleep. Then walk behind her and make a loud noise. Make sure that your dog is not feeling or seeing the item you are manipulating to make a sound. There is a formal test that can offer conclusive results – talk to your vet about this.

Sadly, many dogs who are deaf are considered damaged creatures and they are euthanized. This is completely wrong and unnecessary – your dog simply can’t hear. This does not mean that she cannot experience a full and enjoyable life.

Many dog guardians want to know if deaf dogs can be trained. They certainly can be trained, only using

Contributed by Jayne Michelini Holiday Photos of Your Pets!

Alaska State Trooper Canine Fundraiser 12/9/2017 - 10AM All Creatures Veterinary Clinic 4360 E Snider Dr. Wasilla Cost: $10 Photos, Donations for Bake Sale All Creatures Veterinary Clinic in Wasilla is committed to caring for pets. As a member of the Mat-Su Valley community for over 25 years, the veterinarians and staff are always working for the betterment of our community and the animals that we

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Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann, M.S., Clear Creek Cat Rescue

Nyla is about 5 years old.

Contributed by Angie Lewis, President of Alaska Animals Advocate

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

hand signals, rather than words or clickers. You can use a vibrating collar to get your dog’s attention – which can be used much like a clicker.

Your dog might be a bit frightened of the vibrating collar at first, but dogs typically adjust quite nicely, particularly if introduced gradually.

Basically, when she feels the vibration, she ought to look at you in order to get further instruction.

Simply follow the buzz with a treat.

From there, you can teach your dog to come to you when she gets buzzed. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find collars that can be used solely for vibration. So, you may need to use a shock collar and remove the shocking apparatus.

Vanna has been part of our rescue group for over a year now, and is so anxious to have her own forever home.

Originally when we rescued her, she didn’t seem to like other dogs, but has since shown us a more sociable side. Vanna got out of her foster home one day, and ran to another dog and they played in a most delightful fashion.

Vanna just requires slow introductions to other dogs and some behavior modification training. Alaska Animal Advocates would be willing to pay for that training, so that we can see her inner beauty shine.

If you would like to meet this delightful girl, please call Angie at 841-3173.

about your whereabouts. Letting your dog loose is a huge risk, unless you have devoted a great deal of time with training her. In addition, make certain that your dog is microchipped and has a tag with current contact information.

It is a myth that dogs who are deaf tend to become aggressive. Any dog can bite if they are surprised or startled. Wake you dog with hearing issues often, followed by a treat.

She will associate being woken up with something enjoyable. If your dog is sleeping, make sure to stomp your foot next to her, so that she is forewarned of your presence. Most dogs who become aggressive are fearful of something.

Your deaf dog can live a totally normal life, with just a few accommodations to keep her safe.

A trained dog, who is deaf, typically becomes am expert at reading humans’ body language. Be sure to pay attention to your body stance as well. In fact, a deaf dog may misread cues that are similar. Keep your cues distinct and be creative!

Many people want to know if they can let their deaf dog loose. You must always let the dog know where you are. It is wise to have her wear a bell, so that you can hear her whereabouts as well. A vibrating collar does not provide information

share it with. The Clinic has taken on a project to raise funds for the Alaska State Trooper canine handlers and trainers to allow them to attend a world-class training in January 2018, right here in Alaska.

for AST and providing them the best care is incredibly important.

Skills learned in this 2-day hands-on course will allow the officers to better safeguard their partners while they are serving the citizens of Alaska.

The training is to be provided by Veterinary Tactical Group, a North Carolina-based organization that consists of retired and active military veterinarians and technicians, as well as trainers. VTG trains police, search and rescue, military and civilians advanced triage and first aid for infield injury to working dogs.

On December 9th at the Clinic, we will be holding a fundraiser where you can bring your pet for holiday photos, also a bake sale and treats for pets and people alike. We also have ongoing fundraising here at the Clinic.

Working dogs are a vital resource

Please contact All Creatures at 907-376-7930 with any questions or for more information.

PETS & ANIMALS / COMMUNITY

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

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overloaded and try to help him cope with his feelings.

Contributed by Brenna Bourassa On March 5th, 2017, Sebastien had his first seizure. Luckily, we were already in Seattle scheduled to be at Seattle Children’s Hospital the next day for a different diagnosis (which ended up being a mis-diagnosis).

We ended up being admitted and released a few days later. We’ve had EEGs, MRIs, CTs, genetic testing and pretty much no answers.

What we do know... Seizures are still happening, but not as often since he’s been on anti-seizure medication.

He has had many developmental regressions. We are having to re-learn things that we already had mastered.

He has lower than normal muscle tone. PT and OT has helped tremendously.

There is a possibility that Sebastien has a childhood movement disorder.

We will be doing further testing in 2018 depending on progress that’s been made between now and then.

They don’t want to diagnose him with something too soon that he could potentially grow out of.

Contributed by Glenn Butts (The Dude), CMA’s Midnight Son Riders Chapter 801 Biker Elves Christmas Toy Drive 11/1/2017 – 12/24/2017 The Biker Elves Toy Drive was started by a bunch of caring bikers (motorcycle riders), and now is voluntarily ran by CMA’s Midnight Son Riders Chapter to help children in the Mat-Su Valley have a Christmas that they might not be able to have, unless they help Santa Clause with his deliveries to the underprivileged families with children that are in a tough spot during the Christmas season.

Christian Motorcyclists Association’s Midnight Sun Riders Chapter 801 members, along with KMBQ (Q 99.7), Denali Harley Davidson, House of Yamaha, Performance Yamaha, Team CC of Wasilla, Hartley Motors, Spenard

Contributed by Melissa Clampitt, UAF Cooperative Extension Service Holidays at the Farm: Open House - 12/8/2017 – 3PM UAF Cooperative Extension Service Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center 1509 S Georgeson Dr. Palmer FREE Admission – (907) 745-3360

4 Paws for Ability is giving Sebastien the chance to learn how to be more independent in a multitude of forms:

Anything you can give would be greatly appreciated. We are so excited for this service dog. We believe this will change his entire life!

• Seizure Alert Dog: Many of Seb’s seizures happen after he’s asleep.

Many nights, this mama has shared the bed with Seb out of fear that he might have a big one and I won’t be there to know or address it. The seizure alert dog would give Seb the chance to have his own room and hopefully, both of us would get more restful sleep.

To donate to my fundraiser and help me raise funds, please visit www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ brenna-bourassa/4PawsforSeb

• Tethering: Seb often fixates on things and blocks out anyone talking.

Sometimes it leads to me chasing him to prevent him from getting too far away from me. When he’s fixated on an object (like at a store), often times it takes a wave of big movement to break his attention away. A service dog will help keep him on track with me and prevent him from wandering off and potentially getting hurt.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.

Please note: Donations are not able to be considered tax write-offs.

Many thanks for your support!

• Sensory Intervention: Seb has some sensory processing issues and communication issues. This can lead to major lash outs, i.e. throwing things, slapping, kicking etc. This can lead to himself or someone near him getting hurt. The service dog will help calm him when he is sensory

Builders Supply of Wasilla and Palmer, Arctic Ink Tattoo, all four Three Bears of Alaska Grocery Stores in the Valley, Essential One Gas Station, Fishers Fuel and Tacos Cancun, with more organizations’ still signing up all the time, together we gather these donated Christmas toys with bins and/or donation jars, located in their shops, and take to the Toys for Tots Special Santa Program in the Mat-Su Valley for Santa’s elves to prepare for all the children on his list for Christmas!

to be a part of it. It shows the true nature of Christmas - a time of giving to others - just as God did with Jesus, and we as Christians try to imitate that love by freely giving to others. Even if it’s just a toy, it has its own reward through selfless giving of love for another - the true Christmas spirit!

Thank you all for making this a special Christmas for children in the Valley!

Together we make a real difference.

The Drive has kicked-off officially on November 1st and goes until Christmas Eve. This is the 6th year for the Drive, and I am proud to say it has grown and helped so many people during this time - children and adults alike.

The Special Santa Program is a much needed help for people in our community, and biker elves are glad

The Cooperative Extension Service has had the privilege of offering different programming each month in celebration of UAF’s Centennial. What better way to end this momentous year than to have a party?

Bring your ice skates and enjoy the ice rink we’ve created on the front lawn.

Make sure to stay for the tree lighting ceremony at 6pm. We’ll have vendors selling AK made/grown products and activities for the little ones.

We’re joining in the Palmer Colony Christmas celebration with an open house at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center.

If you want to participate as a vendor, please call the Extension office at 745-3360. Table space for vendors is free and is on a first come first served basis.

Join us on December 8th from 3pm7pm as we celebrate the holidays and UAF’s 100 years.

We look forward to seeing you at our “Holidays at the Farm” event.

COMMUNITY EVENTS Contributed by Jaida Gough, Boom Town Derby Dames Want to be part of one of the fastest growing sports in the world? Boom Town Derby Dames’ roller derby league (BTDD) is currently in their 7th season, and is looking for a coach to work with existing trainers.

Coaches will work on developing game tactics, managing team rosters, coaching during games and outlining weekly practices to include strength training and various strategies. BTDD practices three times a week in Palmer.

Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm-8pm and Sunday mornings from 11:30am-1:30pm. Coach must be able to attend weekly scrimmages held every Tuesday.

Contributed by Tina Bentley The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringing Program is a tradition which provides you the opportunity to meet the public and support The Salvation Army in a unique way, and it is a fun way to make a difference in someone’s life here in the Mat-Su Valley.

We are looking for individuals, families, church groups, school clubs, etc. to man the kettle, ring the familiar bell and wish shoppers a joyous holiday season.

Boom Town is looking for someone with prior coaching experience or an athletic background. While having experience with roller derby is a plus, it is not required. Coach must be willing to learn the sport of roller derby and stay up to date on the latest strategies.

Current BTDD trainers are looking for a coach with strong communication skills, a desire to win and commitment to the athlete to help the team achieve their goals of international ranking within the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.

The position of Boom Town Derby Dames coach is a volunteer position with plenty of perks, including a table for up to six guests at each home game, being part of a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and being able to tell everyone you meet, that you are part of

The Red Kettle Campaign is one of the primary fundraising efforts of The Salvation Army. By volunteering to be a bell-ringer, you are helping to raise the much needed funds to support The Salvation Army services and programs at Christmas and throughout the year.

We have five locations available here in the Valley; they include Palmer and Wasilla Carrs and Fred Meyers.

The Wasilla Fred Meyers has two locations, one at each door.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

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the Boom Town Derby Dames!

“I really enjoyed watching you guys mature from being just a skater to an athlete to a rollergirl. Every year you guys were better than the last. I miss doing practices with you guys every Tuesday.

A great group to work with, professional and hard working. I would spend all week thinking up new exercises, and every week you guys would impress me. I feel like I never pushed them to their full potential.

The next coach is going to have a lot of fun watching this group grow and develop into athletes. A very rewarding experience.” - Dr. David Martin, former coach of the Boom Town Derby Dames If you are interested in coaching the Boom Town Derby Dames, please send an email to boomtown. trainers@gmail.com

If you can give at least two hours of time to ring the bell, please contact Tina at 907-795-8544, or go online at www.volunteer.usawest.org and sign up directly.

How it all began, a little history of the kettle: In 1891, Salvation Army Captain, Joseph McFee, was troubled because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry.

During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken.

He only had one major difficulty to overcome - funding the project.

The kettle idea quickly spread from the west coast to the Boston area. Today in the U.S., The Salvation Army assists more than 4 ½ million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods. Thank you for your time.