The People's Paper August 2025 by The Peoples Paper

Prepared Youth

Isabel “Izzy” Brown, a 17-year-old senior in high school, grew up at the gates to Denali National Park — a life surrounded by nature and

free-spirited play. Her parents have worked in the park as long as she can remember. The youngest of four, she loved following her three older brothers through the Alaskan wilderness foraging, hiking, and living a life many only dream of.

In 2023 one of her older brothers was killed in a tragic car crash that made Brown realize the im-portance of being prepared for all types of emergencies and disasters.

“Losing my brother just really sparked me to want to learn more about first aid,” she said. “I realize it wouldn’t have made any difference in his situation because of the serious internal injuries, but having grown up in the park, I’ve seen so many times when you really need to know first aid.”

One such experience involved her uncle. “My uncle and his girlfriend were out hiking and they came on a bear protecting its kill. They were not aware or prepared with bear spray at the time and he ended up getting seriously mauled. Fortunately, his girlfriend was an EMT and knew what to do so he survived, but he had to have like 1,500 stitches and I know he would have died without his girlfriend’s help.”

emergency preparedness until I got involved with the council. But doing that, I discovered so much more depth of information and activities involved with this realm than I had ever imagined. It’s a really fun and more fascinating field than I had ever imagined.”

The YPC has 10 national regions and one overarching council for the entire U.S. “I joined in my sophomore year of high school and got to attend the national summit in August of 2023,” explained Brown. “After the national council, I started attending monthly meetings to talk about projects that can be helpful for us individually as well as for our community. Then in my second year, I attended the council again and got to serve as the co-chair and work directly with the chair to host meetings and make presentations. It was such a great experience and I learned so much. It was really cool getting to be a part of this and see everyone’s projects. Some were so creative and interest-ing that I really am excited to be a part of all this. I can really see the value and importance of this program, especially here in Alaska after all the emergencies and disasters I’ve experienced.”

For this summer, Brown is working at the National Park as an interpretive ranger sharing her expe-riences and stories in an effort to help others understand the value and importance of being prepared. On September 20, 2025, Brown will be on hand for the 17th annual Mat-Su Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Menard Sports Center to share her experiences and learn from others.

This annual event is a free community service project featuring interactive exhibits focused on providing hands-on training to ensure our community remains resilient and prepared in times of all types of emergencies and disasters.

Brown said she now sees her uncle’s experience as a good story to tell about the value and im-portance of being alert and prepared with bear spray and knowing wilderness medicine to avoid a similar tragic encounter.

“I’ve also experienced a lot of natural disasters — like winter power outages that happen a lot here. You have to have a generator and be prepared to survive for days at a time.”

With motivation from these pivotal events, Brown joined the Youth Preparedness Council (YPC). “I didn’t really know anything about

Made possible thanks to the MatSu Borough Emergency Services, Alaska Safe Riders, American Red Cross, AARP Alaska, the Mat-Su Health Foundation, City of Wasilla, and more than 80 additional exhibitors and supporters. Learn more at ready.matsu.gov.

Bryce Ray Community Center Opening

or Bust! RonsList Moving Sale

Youth Creative Space in Palmer

ON PAGE 4 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Cancer is a Thief by Andrew Wellner

ON PAGE 2 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Little Susitna Rotary Park Blossoms

ON PAGE 5 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Contributed by Debra McGhan

Youth Leadership at Mat-Su Emergency Expo GRACE

COMMUNITY

Cancer Is a Thief and a Benefactor

Written by Andrew Wellner

Editor’s note: The following is Andrew Wellner’s final column, written shortly before his passing on June 25, 2025. It is followed by a tribute from his wife, Amber Wellner.

In retrospect, the first thing that cancer took from me was one of my favorite tiny pleasures in life: the ability to sit comfortably through an entire movie.

I didn’t know it was cancer at the time. In fact, as a member of the long-time back problems club (Fans of Cyclobenzaprine, I call them), I thought that’s all it was—the back pain had just migrated up a few inches from the sciatica where it usually caused

that’s one of the insidious things about pancreatic cancer. That pain is often the first thing people notice. But, by the time it’s causing you back pain, it’s pretty far along. And by the time the back pain is severe enough to go to a doctor for it (and severe enough for the doctor to send you through a CT machine), it’s even worse still.

Oxycodone has since restored my movie-watching abilities. But cancer has taken a lot of other small pleasures from me. Pain medications have made drinking beer a little bit more dangerous and much less enjoyable. One of the chemo medications leaves me very sensitive to cold in my extremities and also, for some reason, the back of my throat. Swallowing ice cream can feel like swallowing jagged ice shards. Man, do I miss ice water. Sometimes I feel it’s robbing me of my famously deep well of patience. When I’m nauseous or feeling in some other way crappy, it can be hard to really listen to people or to negotiate a solution to whatever has caused my daughter’s obstinance that day. There are plenty more things cancer has stolen. But let’s talk for a second about a gift it’s given me.

me trouble. Turns out those spots on my back are also where my pancreas sits. From what I’ve been able to gather,

I once read a media critic who said that you know a columnist is running low on ideas when they start writing about things they saw on TV.

I would assert that this also applies to columnists who write about things they saw on Facebook Reels. Still, at the risk of

being washed up as a columnist in only my fourth entry, let me tell you about this thing I heard talk show host Stephen Colbert say in a clip of an interview he did with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. I have been a fan of Colbert’s since his time as a Daily Show correspondent. But, these days, I enjoy him most in the rare instances when he reveals himself to be a well-read deep-thinker. I very much enjoyed, for example, listening to him talk poetry and the Bible with Marc Maron on the WTF podcast a few years back.

As a young man, Colbert’s father and two of his brothers died in a plane crash. Though the Reel I watched clipped out this context, I believe that was what Colbert was referring to when he said he had learned to “love the thing that I most wish had not happened.” The idea that he could find something to love in that tragedy really hit me.

One of the hardest pills to swallow since I was diagnosed is the impact my early death will have on the people I love. My children, my wife, my siblings, my parents—ever since I became an adult man living for people other than myself, I have endeavored to be a positive force in all of their lives. And now, through no fault of my own, I am on the precipice of giving them, through my early death, one of the most traumatizing and negative experiences any of them will ever face.

So, I really needed to hear Colbert explain what he meant. Colbert, a deeply Catholic man, threw out what sounded, to me anyway, like some pretty deeply Buddhist or even Taoist ideas when he unpacked his statement:

Happy to Have Been Here

Written by Amber Wellner

On June 25, 2025, at 6:40 p.m., Andrew—my amazing husband and the father of our three children—passed away. He won’t be writing any more columns. But I wanted to say a few things to bring his column to a close.

I’d be lying if I said Andrew’s death wasn’t the most gut-wrenching and heartbreaking experience I’ve ever been through. I’d love to say everything was peaceful, that I knew just what to do to help our children grieve. I’d like to say all the decisions I made were well thought out, and that I’m fully confident in them. It

would be wonderful to let you know that I have no regrets, no second-guessing, no guilt. But none of that would be true. Even though we knew his death would come, somehow it still managed to sneak up on us. One day he was fine—well, “fine” by our new standards—and the next, he just… wasn’t. That’s the thing about these types of illnesses: you think you’ll be prepared. You make your lists, talk about the hard stuff, try to memorize their laugh, their handwriting, the exact shade of their eyes. But none of it makes the goodbye any easier. In keeping with the spirit of Andrew’s

column, though, I want to talk about what I’m grateful for.

I’m grateful for the care he received in his final days—from professionals who didn’t just treat a patient, but cared for a person. I’m grateful for how kind they were to our children, to me. Living in a small town like Kodiak means that your circle of caregivers often includes friends, neighbors, the person you ran into at Safeway last week. That familiarity softened the edges of a very hard time. It felt like family. And in many ways, it was. Andrew loved living in, and raising our children in this community. Writing this column meant something to him. It gave

“So, what do you get from loss? You get awareness of other people’s loss. Which allows you to connect with that other person, which allows you to love more deeply and understand what it’s like to be a human being and to connect with them and to love them in a deep way that not only accepts that all of us suffer but then also makes you grateful that you have suffered so that you can know that about other people. It’s about the fullness of your humanity. What’s the point of being here and being human if you can’t be the most human you can be?”

I didn’t even know I needed him, but somehow the algorithm did, and I was able to see how this darkness that is about to descend on everyone I love can, if they’re eventually able to see it that way, ultimately be a gift that adds to the fullness of their humanity. A gift they would all gladly trade to have me in the world, no doubt, but a gift all the same.

If a piano had fallen on my head or if I’d dropped dead from a heart attack, I would not have had the luxury of coming to terms with these sorts of worries and finding my way through to some kind of peace with them. The slow march of cancer might even give me enough time to come up with a way to share some of these insights with the people I love, to help put them on the path to healing from the wound I’m about to deal them.

When the back pain flares up and the nausea gets too bad, I’m sure I’ll say otherwise, but right now, with my faculties at the fullest, I can’t help but be grateful to cancer for, weirdly enough, the time it has given me. It robbed me of years but paid me back with some very precious days—days I can spend time thinking all of this through and preparing. Maybe that’s worth having to drink my water lukewarm.

him a way to mark the days, to wrestle with his own thoughts, and—when he was lucky—to connect with yours. He never claimed to be profound, but he was always honest. Sometimes funny. Always trying. So in that spirit: thank you. For reading. For waving at him on the street. For the messages, the meals, the small kindnesses. You made him feel seen, and loved. You reminded him that he mattered. That we all do. He always ended these things with some kind of nod to hope, even when he had to squint to see it. So here’s mine: I don’t know how to do this without him. But I know that he would want me to try. I know that he’d be the first to say, “You’re doing better than you think.” I’ll hold on to that. And to him, I’ll just say what I wish I had said one more time: Thank you. I love you. Happy to have been here with you.

OFF PALMER-WASILLA HIGHWAY AT 120 N ROSIE CIRCLE, WASILLA

Wasilla 2045: Help Shape Our Future

Contributed by Crystal Nygard City of Wasilla

Our 9-Hole Par-3 Course & Driving Range are open. Walk-ins welcome! No tee times needed.

Wasilla is growing fast—and the City of Wasilla wants your voice to help guide that growth. The City is updating its Comprehensive Plan, a roadmap for the next 20 years of development, investment, and community life. From airport expansion and road improvements to new parks,

infrastructure, and economic opportunities, this plan will set the course for Wasilla’s future. What do you want our city to look like in 2045?

Whether you’re a longtime resident, a business owner, or simply passionate about Wasilla, your input matters. Learn more and get involved at www.Wasilla2045.com

Set Free Alaska Opens Bryce Ray Community Center

Contributed by Set Free Alaska

Set Free Alaska is pleased to announce their incredible addition to the Mat-Su community, the Bryce Ray

Community Center. This facility is the

new home of Haven, their children and family services program, and with the relocation, it will greatly increase their ability to reach more children and families in the community who need their care, making an incredible impact on generations to come.

In addition, this space will enable them to host impactful community events, better accommodate increasing staffing needs, and provide expanded space for the Children and Families Program, a junior high school–sized basketball court and walking track for recreation and community events, a prayer chapel, increased office space with conference rooms and necessary storage, and a coffee bar to provide workforce development for clients and serve as a connection point for community members. Substance abuse in Alaska is an ongoing problem in our state. Senator Sullivan has referred to it as a “natural disaster” because of its devastating effects on families and communities. With their expanded capacity in this

new facility, the Haven program will be able to deliver the combination of God’s love and world-class clinical excellence to children and families in the Mat-Su Valley.

The community center is named in honor and memory of Bryce Ray, the late father of Ryan Ray, Co-Founder and Emeritus Board Member at Set Free. Bryce left a lasting impact on many Alaskans, and it was his life mission to reach people with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through sports and community engagement. Today, his life and legacy live on through the organization’s clinical excellence and loving care.

You can join them for the Open House of the community center on Thursday, August 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 7010 E. Bogard Road in Wasilla, and that same evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m., attend the premiere of their new documentary Frequency of Hope. For more information about these events and their programs and services, visit www.setfreealaska.org

are at risk of losing it. The Palmer Senior Center once bustled with life — Sunday brunches after church, card games and coffee, knitting circles, community dinners, and programs for homebound seniors. It was a place that united generations and strengthened our town’s sense of community. In the early 2000s, a new three-story facility was built to expand these services, complete with a commercial kitchen, dining hall, meeting rooms,

exercise space, and even emergency shelter capacity. An apartment building for low-income seniors was built next door. Due to a series of events including loss of major funding, limited board participation, and leadership turnover, the Center is struggling to survive. A recent loss of a key state grant has further reduced essential services, including the nutrition and transportation programs that so many rely on. Daily congregate meals, home-delivered meals, transportation services, and the gift shop have been or will soon be canceled or closed. Now is the time to act: We cannot allow the Palmer Senior Center — and all it represents — to fade away. Here’s how we can save it: become a member (open to anyone aged 50 and older, regardless of residence; annual membership $24/ year; lifetime membership available; applications at matsuseniors.com/membership); join the board to provide leadership, accountability, and a vision for the future (applications at matsuseniors. com; due by Sept. 15, 2025, along with a photo and bio/statement; applicants must appear at the membership meeting on Oct. 8); speak up by attending

membership meetings, sharing concerns, and encouraging others to attend and speak; secure funding through fundraising efforts, grants, and community partnerships; support events and activities by attending or volunteering (applications at matsuseniors.com). This call to action is not just about saving a building — it’s about preserving a legacy and ensuring future generations have a place to gather, connect, and care for one another. If we act now, we can restore the Palmer Senior Center to its rightful place at the heart of our community. If we do nothing, we risk losing it forever. Join us — become a member, get involved, and spread the word. Upcoming meetings will be held at 1132 South Chugach Street, Palmer: Wednesday, August 13 at 11:30 am — membership meeting; Wednesday, October 8 — special membership meeting to meet board member candidates; Friday, October 10 — deadline to pay membership dues in order to vote (annual dues $24); Wednesday, November 12 — election and vote on proposed bylaw changes. A quorum is required; attendance is vital.

New Student Orientation at Mat-Su College

Contributed by Nick McDermott

New can be a bit scary sometimes because it brings with it the unknown, but Mat-Su College’s New Student Orientation (NSO) will take that anxiety and turn it into confidence and motivation.

As the valley arm of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and the wider statewide University of Alaska System (UA), Mat-Su College offers New Student Orien-

tation to new and returning students. This orientation provides an opportunity for students to learn how the college works and, more importantly, how it can work for them.

“Our faculty and staff make sure Mat-Su College is a welcoming on-ramp for all our students, no matter what stage of life they are in,” says Campus Director and NSO presenter Dr. Marie Gardner. Whether you’re coming straight from high school or

returning after a break, Dr. Gardner shares, “NSO offers you the tools you will need to build a solid foundation for your educational and career goals.”

At NSO, you can expect an introduction to faculty and staff, a tour of the beautiful campus, an overview of support and tools for success, as well as a chance to meet other students and get plugged into clubs and activities.

A highlight of this year’s orientation is

sure to be the student and faculty forum. NSO organizer and admissions counselor Jamison Lednum says, “It will be a great chance for students to hear directly from peers and professors about what they can expect and how they can be ready.”

This year’s NSO will be held on Friday, August 22, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Check-in will start at 12:45 pm in the campus’s Glenn Massay Theater. You can sign up to attend using the link on the homepage of matsu.alaska.edu.

Registration for the fall semester is now open, so don’t wait — sign up for classes and New Student Orientation today!

Alaska’s Promise: Nurturing Our Children for Tomorrow

Alaska is renowned for its vast natural resources, with much of our economy and livelihoods built on exports. But as a parent, when I look around my commu-

nity—at the trails, the schools, and even the fishing spots—I know our state’s most valuable resource isn’t oil, gas, or even salmon; it’s the people who call Alaska home, and the interconnected, beautiful communities we build together. For Alaskan children to thrive, it’s up to us adults to provide the healthy space they need to grow. Investing in kids’ futures is not just a moral imperative, but a decision that shapes our state’s long-term prosperity. Our resource-based economy lends an incredible gift to Alaskans—one I appreciate because it helps me care for my daughter, plan for her future, and contrib -

Contributed by Carol

Dorman

Long before it became the Youth Archive, the basement of the Eagle Hotel was home to the Valley Theater and Recreation Center. For decades, it was Palmer’s social heart—hosting dances, movies, performances, and celebrations. It was the place to meet friends, enjoy entertainment, and feel part of the community. Today, the Youth Arc•HIVE revives that

Contributed

legacy. Inside you’ll find a polished dance floor, a stage for live performances, a movie room for screenings, and a game room for friendly competition. Operated as a nonprofit, it is open for parties, rehearsals, workshops, and activities of all kinds—especially for young people who need a welcoming place to gather outside of school.

We invite dancers, actors, singers, and crafters to make the Youth Archive your

ute to the causes I care about. I’m grateful there’s an easy way to directly benefit Alaska’s kids through my Permanent Fund Dividend by pledging to Pick.Click.Give. or putting money into an Alaska 529 account for a child.

Pick.Click.Give. allows Alaskans to allocate a portion of their PFD directly to nonprofit organizations that serve the community. And it’s not too late—though applications for the PFD closed in March, Alaskans can modify pledge amounts up until August 31. This year, Alaskans will receive $1,000 from the state’s minerals revenue.

place to practice, perform, and create. Whether you are choreographing a routine, rehearsing a scene, warming up your voice, or crafting a new project, our facilities are here for you.

We offer weekday mornings, weekday evenings, and weekend bookings so you can fit creative time into your schedule without disrupting school, work, or family life. As a nonprofit, our mission is to make creative space available to all. Rates are kept low, and package options are available for multiple sessions. The building is centrally located in Palmer, with ample parking and nearby shops, and is fully accessible so everyone can participate comfortably.

When you walk through the Youth Arc•HIVE doors, you are entering a space with deep roots in Palmer’s cultural history. The Valley Theater once hosted the very kinds of gatherings we now invite you to hold here. By booking your time, you help carry that tradition forward—keeping the building alive with movement, music, laughter, and art.

Of course, it’s tempting to use these funds for big, shiny purchases, but realistically, for many families, they go toward bills. For those with a little wiggle room, I encourage you to join me in putting aside some of your PFD for a nonprofit mission close to your heart. With so many changes to state and federal funding this year, it’s especially important to support work like Big Brothers Big Sisters Alaska (pairing caring adult mentors with kids); Alaska Children’s Trust (focused on child abuse and neglect prevention); and the work of Skiku and Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (bringing incredible outdoor opportunities to rural communities) so they can continue their important work. As Alaskans, we have the unique opportunity to leverage our state’s resources for the greater good. By participating in Pick. Click.Give., we not only meet the immediate needs of communities, but also invest in a brighter future for kids. Today, look at the list of Pick.Click.Give. organizations and find one that speaks to you. Together, let’s ensure that our richest resource—our children—are well cared for and that Alaska remains a great place to be a child.

Booking is simple: contact our coordinator by phone or email, or visit youtharchive.org to view the calendar. Choose your preferred morning, evening, or weekend slot, confirm your booking, and your creative or party time is set. Book early—weekends fill quickly—and consider a regular weekly slot if you want consistent rehearsal or work time.

The Youth Archive is more than a basement—it’s a place where young people can grow their skills, build confidence, and connect with others who share their passions. Every dance step, line read, song sung, and craft completed adds to the living history of this special space. Bring your ideas, your talent, and your energy. Use our stage to tell your story, our dance floor to move your audience, and our tables to build your next masterpiece. The Valley Recreation Center once brought Palmer together; now, the Youth Arc•HIVE is here to do the same for a new generation. Reserve your time today and be part of the continuing story - youtharchive.org or curator@youtharchive.org for info.

for Next Year’s Garden at Meadow Lakes Perennial Sale

Contributed by Kaila Pfister

COMMUNITY

Window Covering Safety Changes Approved in 2024

In June 2024 the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission approved sweeping changes for custom and stock window coverings, designating cords as a substantial product hazard. The rules ban free-hanging operating and tilt cords, continuous loops and bead chains on all horizontal products, and require upgraded tension devices on any allowed retractable or loop operating systems.

For consumers, this means window coverings previously available with a cord are now cordless only; if you retain existing corded blinds, use upgraded safety devices—cord cleats, tie-offs, or retrofit kits—to reduce risks; the best option is to replace with cordless,

turned into a day filled with hammers, helping hands, laughter, and teamwork as thirty volunteers came together to make Little Susitna Rotary Park even better. For the artists and community members who live in this area, it was a great example of what happens when different people work together for something good.

The star of the day’s transformation was undoubtedly the new playground equipment. Jack Timm started planning in April, and by August, kids were laughing and playing on the new equipment. The process was in steps: first, getting money from a Rotary grant; then, fixing up the equipment in June; and finally, putting it all together in August. Each step brought the community closer to having a wonderful new place for children to play.

But the playground wasn’t the only thing that happened that day. Volunteers also built four Little Free Libraries, and one of them now sits at the park’s pavilion. These small book boxes are really special for a community full of artists, musicians, and creative people. They’re like doors to new ideas. Someone might find an old book they’ve never seen before and write a new song about it, or read a book of poems and get ideas for an art project. Kids will have lots of books to read, too, when taking a break from playing.

The timing was perfect because volunteers also got to walk on the brand-new paved pathways and parking lot. Northern

wand-operated, or motorized alternatives to fully eliminate strangulation risks.

Industry response: the Best for Kids™ certification program, launched by the window-covering industry, helps educate consumers about potential window-cord hazards and guides safer choices. To earn the label, manufacturers must meet program criteria and submit products to a designated third-party lab. Products that qualify either have no cords; have no operating cords and inner cords that are not accessible; or, if accessible inner cords are present in products with no operating cords, those cords cannot create a hazardous loop. “Parents with young children should replace their corded window coverings with the cordless products available,”

says Window Covering Safety Council

Executive Director Peter Rush. “The new ‘Best for Kids’ certification label makes it easy for parents and caregivers to identify blinds that meet safety standards.” Look for this logo on packaging or marketing materials; products labeled “Best for Kids” indicate compliance with established safety standards.

Cover Ups Window Fashions is always available for a free consultation if you’re unsure whether your current blinds meet the newest standards. Free retrofit kits are available by request.

Teresa Roy is a window-covering specialist located in Palmer, serving the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage. Visit www.coverupsak.com for more info.

Asphalt & Paving built these, funded with help from an AARP grant that tripled the funds that Susitna Rotary matched. These smooth walkways now connect the Parks Highway’s walking path to every part of the park. This means people of all ages and abilities can easily get around this special place by the river.

What makes Little Susitna Rotary Park really special isn’t just the cool things it has. The park has great features like a riverside trail, a beautiful pavilion, a boat launch, and a rock terrace that looks like an outdoor theater. It’s a perfect place for people to play music together or just sit quietly and think. It’s the spirit behind its creation that resonates most deeply with the area’s creative community.

they all work together because they share the same dream of making something beautiful.

The park embodies Rotary International’s core principle of “Service Above Self,” but with a distinctly Alaskan twist. Here, service doesn’t feel like an obligation — it feels like a collaboration. The Kids Don’t Float loaner board ensures young river adventurers stay safe, while a planned forest trail boardwalk and community garden boxes promise future spaces for artistic inspiration and sustainable living.

This year’s Rotary theme is “Unite for Good,” and this park project that started in 2016 shows exactly what that means. Just like a piece of art, the park has grown and changed over time. Each new phase has added more meaning and useful features. The teamwork between Rotary members, city workers, and community volunteers is like musicians playing together in a jam session. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has their own skills, but

The park represents something more than recreational infrastructure. It’s a canvas where community creativity meets practical service, where the Rotary ideals of fellowship and service blend seamlessly with the independent spirit that draws creative people to Alaska.

No matter who you are, this park has something for you. If you like to spend weekends relaxing by the river, if you’re a family who needs safe places for kids to play, if you enjoy fishing, or if you’re an artist who loves being inspired by nature, Little Susitna Rotary Park now has something special waiting for you.

As future improvements like additional signage, community garden boxes, and expanded activities take shape, one thing is certain: this park shows what amazing things can happen when community members and service groups work together and use their special skills to help everyone.

Meadow Lakes Community Park Is Adding a Bicycle Track Pump Park

Contributed by Patricia Fisher

Meadow Lakes Community Park is adding a bicycle track/pump park to the facilities at the park. The track will have two levels — an easy level for young children and a more difficult level for older children and adults.

The easy portion of the track is now

complete and is being enjoyed by the children visiting the park. Children as young as 2 years enjoy the easy riding on a pump track. (If you are not familiar with a pump track, they feature rollers, berms, and sometimes jumps, all designed to be ridden without pedaling by using a pumping motion to generate speed.) The

more advanced portion of the track will be completed later this summer. Funding for the track was provided by the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation.

We invite you to come check out the track. The park is open 24/7 at no cost to the public. It features other sport venues: a soccer field, two baseball fields, a tennis

court and a basketball court, children’s playground, several miles of walking trails, and a picnic pavilion. It is a clean, well-maintained park located off Pittman Road at 1206 Kim Drive. Go north on Pittman, turn right on Karen Drive, and go two miles to the end of the road to reach the park.

Contributed by Teresa Roy Cover Ups Alaska

Contributed by Christian M. Hartley

Tucked along the peaceful banks of the Little Susitna River in Houston, Alaska, something amazing happened on August 9. What started as a quiet Saturday morning

SERVICE PROVIDER DIRECTORY

Alaska Positive Photo Exhibit at Wasilla Museum

Contributed by Wasilla Museum

The Wasilla Museum is excited to host Alaska Positive, a statewide juried photographic exhibition organized and toured by the Alaska State Museum. Now in its 53rd year, Alaska Positive continues to encourage photography as an art form in Alaska.

An artist’s reception showcasing the exhibit will be on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Wasilla Museum, 391 N. Main Street, Wasilla, Alaska. This Alaska Positive exhibit features the works of Alaskans, including Southcentral artists Michael Conti, Hal Gage, Bill Heubner, Loren Holmes, Amber Johnson, Matt Johnson, Michael Johnson, Bonnie Landis, Jenny Irene Miller, Richard Murphy, Kerry Tasker, Jeremy Wood, and Dennis

Walworth.

Guest juror Camille Seaman selected the images for this Alaska Positive exhibit. When asked if everything has been photographed, why do we still feel compelled to lift our cameras and make images?

Seaman answered:

“The power of an image is undeniable and can inspire and transform viewers as well as makers. The images I chose to include in the Alaska Positive exhibition this year were images that I may have seen in some fashion before, and still somehow arrested my attention, or showed the subject to me in a way I had not previously seen. It is in this that I think the value of an image can be found.

If you are reading this and are a maker of images my advice is, always, show me

how YOU uniquely see the world. Too often we feel we must make an image LIKE that famous one or one we saw and liked. Instead, I would encourage photographers to invest in learning more about their own unique way of seeing and recording our world.

For viewers of photography, I would say, as you move through the exhibition ponder this: what is it that makes you stop in front of one image over another? What are the visual things that draw you in, repulse, or even challenge you?

It has been my sincere honor and privilege to be this year’s juror.”

Seaman studied photography with Jan Groover and drawing with John Cohen at the State University of New York at Purchase, where she graduated in 1992.

Alaska History Magazine: Alaska’s

pioneer Emily Craig Romig, wife of the famed “dog-team doctor” Joseph H. Romig, about her adventures in Nome during the Gold Rush. Community profiles Ruby: Gem of the Yukon and The Naming of Cordova both describe the histories of their respective places, while an article reprinted from a 1919 issue of The Pathfinder introduces two of the earliest Anchor-

Her photographs have been published in National Geographic Magazine, Italian Geo, German Geo, TIME, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Newsweek, Outside, Zeit Wissen, Men’s Journal, Seed, Camera Arts, Issues, PDN, and American Photo, among many others. She was the Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park in 2015.

Alaska Positive is on display through September 5, 2025. Visit the Museum Tuesday–Friday from 10 am to 3 pm or call 907-373-9071 for more info.

age pioneers, J.D. “Bud” and Daisy Whitney, who homesteaded on Ship Creek. The last article in this issue explains the background of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in their often-misguided attempts “to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of ... Alaska Natives.”

Alaskan History Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 5, 64 pages, 6” x 9” B/W format, $12 postage paid, $40 for a one-year, six-issue subscription. alaskanhistorymagazine.com

COMMUNITY

Thailand or Bust! Thirty Years in Alaska, One Big Farewell Sale

Contributed by Ron Pickett

Hola! Thirty years ago, my family caravan rolled into the Mat-Su Valley with “Alaska or Bust!” scrawled in the dust on the back. It was a leap of faith, but I had no doubt this was where I wanted to raise my children. Over the years, I’ve loved it and had a great time in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Such a trip it’s been — an accumulation of moments and things creating memories some can only dream of.

Time passed, and I became a single dad. As a longtime minimalist, I never accumulated much, but what I had was foundational: my work, a warm home for my daughter, the quiet satisfaction of tending my gardens, and Dog, my loyal companion. Recently, with her passing and my daughter’s graduation and departure to start her own journey, a profound emptiness has

settled in. The great life I’ve had as Dad is over, and these new empty spaces in my home have also opened up a space in my soul.

It was a tough realization to come to, but I began to see that staying here and working just to make ends meet for the rest of my life wasn’t how I wanted my story to end. Last week, I finally understood Neil Diamond’s song I Am… I Said and began to cry for only the second time in 30 years. I realized the journey to discover who I truly am needs to begin, and just as I knew 30 years ago Alaska was right, I now have no doubt my path lies elsewhere.

I’ve decided to journey to Thailand, the “Land of Smiles,” a place where I can learn the principles of Buddhism and find a deeper, more peaceful way of being. This isn’t just about moving; it’s a conscious

shedding of my past to make room for a new kind of self. This journey may be my final act of resourcefulness and independence, but somehow, I don’t think so. I’ll be holding my “Thailand or Bust” Farewell Sale during the weekends of September. In the meantime, I’m also posting many of the items on RonsList in August for those who want early access. The sale is an unconventional event — less about bargains and more about a farewell. I’m not just selling items; I’m passing on the physical pieces of my old story so that I can begin writing my new one. It’s an invitation to the commu-

and maybe,

When a Diploma Is Not Enough to Keep a Job or Advance on

Contributed by Shawna

Murray

In June, Nine Star Employment and Education Services (Mat-Su) celebrated graduation. Students walked the aisle in caps, gowns, and tassels, some earning certifications in their chosen career fields, others passing all GED subjects to receive high school equivalency diplomas. But what happens after a student gets a diploma or certification? In today’s world, academic capability alone isn’t enough —

people and time management skills are often just as essential for job success.

It is Nine Star’s mission to help Alaskans get a job, keep a job, and advance on the job. To meet that goal, Nine Star is offering affordable courses on durable skills (also called soft skills). These teachable character traits can make the difference between floundering and thriving in the workplace. Four new courses are now available via Zoom, 6–7 p.m.: SMART Start for turning dreams and

POLITICS & OPINION

goals into realities; Time Management for working effectively; Communication for strong personal and professional interactions; and Teamwork for achieving positive outcomes together. Employers may see gaps in these skills among today’s workforce, and employees themselves may want to improve but aren’t sure how. Whether you’re an employer seeking training for your staff or an individual aiming to boost your own career readiness, these courses can help.

Field of Strengths: Alaska’s Next Governor

Contributed by Team Hughes

Alaskans can take pride in the candidates stepping up for the challenging role of Governor in 2026. Each brings unique strengths, and many are well-known and respected. But one candidate stands apart: Shelley Hughes—a leader whose intelligence, integrity, courage, and vision are matched by practical solutions and a clear path to achieve them. We’ve known Shelley for years, and her drive is unmistakable: Sharp, Solution-Oriented, and Strong –Shelley tackles complex issues like energy independence, economic growth, and fiscal challenges with logic, passion, and determination. Her sensible approach commands attention, untangles webs of opposition, and moves good policy forward while stopping bad policy in its tracks. A consistent leader in defending Alaska’s right to responsibly develop its resources, she never backs down. Shelley embraces innovation—pioneering unmanned aircraft initiatives when others hesitated, positioning Alaska ahead of other states in this growing industry. She also champions reforms to make Alaska a better place to

do business and raise families, leading the repeal of SB 91 as Senate Judiciary Chair as a prime example.

Collaborative Yet Principled – Shelley works across party lines without compromising her conservative values. She stays above the fray, focused on results—not rhetoric. She delivers on her promises, and her voting record proves it. From advancing agriculture and protecting seniors to improving transportation infrastructure and strengthening sexual assault laws, she has shown she can build consensus and work across the aisle without sacrificing principle. You know what you’re getting when you elect Shelley Hughes—it’s not talk, it’s action. She does what she says. Hughes’ ability to build consensus without forsaking her principles and get things done is a key reason she is the best person to be our next governor.

Education Champion – Shelley fights for student success. She has been the driving force behind outcome-based K-12 reform in the Senate. Her bill was the basis for the Alaska Reads Act, and she initiated the bipartisan work to blaze the path to its passage. She knows raising school outcomes is

History Repeats Itself

Contributed by Nancy Racek

Then: deranged narcissistic megalomaniac; boxcars; Jews; death camps; inhumane treatment; rounded up and kidnapped. Now: deranged narcissistic megalomaniac; airplanes; immigrants; violent prisons; inhumane treatment; rounded up and kidnapped. Cruelty is the cornerstone of the Trump administration. His actions are reminiscent of those of Hitler. In today’s world, those actions are far-reaching, impacting both citizens and noncitizens, always the most vulnerable. The most visible at the moment is the cruel treatment of immigrants. Grabbing them off the streets, from their homes, their jobs, their families is cruel. Treating them as “less than” is cruel.

Making them undress and put on white underwear is humiliating, hence cruel. Parading them on the tarmac bent over and shackled with leg chains and handcuffs is cruel. Forcing them on a plane is cruel. Making them sit in the seats still shackled is cruel. Not allowing them any interaction with the flight attendants is cruel. No eye contact, not addressing their needs is cruel. Shuttling them off to violent out-of-country prisons is cruel. The Trump administration’s focus on cruelty is flat-out evil. The treatment of those they are rounding up and deporting is flat-out evil.

Kristi Noem (aka: dog killer), Queen of Cruel, appears to be in her element rounding up and carting immigrants off to out-of-country prisons or destinations

not only a moral imperative but will result in better livelihoods for our youth and a stronger, skilled workforce for our economy. She authored the Alaska Math Act, the next proven step toward better student outcomes, and authored health-insurance pooling policy that would free millions for classrooms and teachers.

Fiscal Realist – Shelley understands Alaska’s strained budget. She has worked with legislators across the spectrum on a long-term fiscal plan to control spending, grow the economic base, protect the Permanent Fund, settle the PFD, and ensure revenue measures have release valves, remain limited, and have voter support. She has proposed practical solutions for unsustainable Medicaid costs, including step-down transitions to private insurance and job training, and holding the federal government accountable for obligations to Alaska Natives. Shelley knows that prosperity depends on a healthy private sector and an efficient, accountable public sector. People-First Leadership – Unlike detached candidates, Shelley holds regular listening sessions in person and online because she values input from Alaskans. She

unknown. She apparently thinks she’s starring in a TV reality show. She posed herself all glammed up for a photo shoot standing in front of a group of fencedin immigrants clothed only in the white underwear they’re forced to wear. Where is her humanity?

We live in a country where 62% of the population claims to be Christian. Is treating “others” as subhuman Christian? Aren’t they asking themselves WWJD? What happened to the Christian dogmas of “The parable of the Good Samaritan,” “The Golden Rule,” or the second commandment: “Love thy neighbor as thyself”? Isn’t it hypocritical to passively watch the treatment of these detainees? Doesn’t following Christian doctrine require stepping up to protest their treatment and try to protect them?

These detainees are our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers, family members, many in-country for decades. Any normal person feels compassion for those

the Job

All courses are $25 for four sessions. Contact matsuadulted@ninestar.org or 907-373-7853 to reserve your seat. Nine Star students enrolled in the Academic and Career Development program attend for free. Nine Star is a nonprofit that relies on community support. Donations help ensure all Alaskans can earn a livable wage. To donate, call 907-373-7853 or email matsuadulted@ninestar.org.

has been one of Alaska’s most accessible and responsive leaders in Alaska’s history. Her campaign isn’t about power and prestige—it’s about service and the people she serves. In a representative democracy, it’s a two-way street—and Shelley listens. Her record in both the House and Senate proves she will continue this approach as governor. Shelley’s life—from living off-grid in her formative years to raising four successful children with her husband, working in the private sector in project management, education, rehabilitation, and primary care, living in communities from Hoonah to Bethel to Fort Yukon to Seward and now Palmer, serving in the House and Senate in leadership roles—gives her a deep understanding of Alaska’s people and challenges. She won’t need time to learn the ropes; she will get to work on day one.

In a crowded field, Shelley’s background and knowledge, her track record of accomplishments and staying true to Alaskans, and her courage and vision, stand out. She’s the real McCoy and the clear choice. We are proud Shelley is finally running for Governor and are ready to work hard as the grassroots machine to move her forward! We welcome you to join with us as supporters.

who have been caught up in Trump’s lunacy and viciousness. A normal person will find these scenes reprehensible, horrifying, and scary—who’s next? They will show up at rallies and protests, contact their congress members demanding a stop to the cruelty and ICE’s barbaric actions. They will do something.

Who’s next? Look what’s already happening: Judge Hannah Dugan arrested for allegedly helping an immigrant avoid being arrested; Reverend William Barber arrested for staging a protest on what’s become known as Moral Monday; Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark arrested and Rep. LaMonica McIver arrested—these last two for doing their duty of overseeing an ICE detention center; Senator Alex Padilla thrown to the ground and handcuffed for daring to try to ask a question at a Queen of Cruel news conference. Who is next? You? Me?

COMMUNITY

Attention Vendors: Holiday Market Coming Soon to Mat-Su Valley

Contributed by Linda Myers-Steele

Coming soon — Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Holiday Market, Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10 am to 4 pm. at 501 E Bogard Rd, Wasilla. Time to get your wares ready for this excellent market! This is the first fair of the season, with

30 vendors presenting handmade artisan wares, jewelry, woodworking, quilting and accessories, home décor, a bake sale, silent auction, and more. Enjoy lunch of soup and sandwiches at Five Loaves Two Fish Kitchen ministries. Vendor? Contact kelsey.ramos7@gmail.com.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Seeking Spot to Rent for Parking Camper Truck While Looking for Home

Contributed by David Hoagland RN wife and natural resource husband seek to rent a spot to park a very nice dual-wheeled pickup truck with a well-kept truck camper

for several months while searching for a prospective home purchase in Palmer, Wasilla, or another nearby small rural community. For more info and references, call Dave at (336) 280-1718.

The Kids Are Back in School — Now It’s Time to Take Care of You

Contributed Sierra Winter Smith

The school year is in full swing, and for many parents, that means returning to packed schedules, work projects, and household chores. But there’s one thing that too often gets left off the list — your own health.

This September, Sunshine Community Health Center is focusing on preventive health appointments for both men and women. These visits are about more than just “checking the boxes” — they can be lifesaving. Screenings and regular checkups catch problems like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes early, when they are most treatable.

I know firsthand how important that can be. My dad didn’t go to the doctor often, and by the time he finally did, the cancer

Aronia Berries

Contributed by Terry Talks Nutrition,

All About Herbs Alaska Aronia berries (Aronia melanocarpa), sometimes called chokeberries, are Mother Nature’s treasure, unmatched in the plant world and uniquely able to address the three underlying causes of almost all chronic diseases: inflammation, oxidation, and xenobiotics (environmental toxins). Aronia has been shown to prevent, treat, and even reverse many types of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, various forms of dementia, heavy metal contamination, and more.

Two points are important to know: long-term inflammation is the underlying cause of almost every chronic disease;

had already spread throughout his body. He was given six years to live — and he lived exactly six years. I’m grateful for that time, but those were the hardest years of my life. I had to learn how to live my life while helping him end his, and I had to learn how to say goodbye long before I was ready. That experience changed me, broke me, rebuilt me, and left me forever wishing he had been screened earlier.

For men, preventive care may include blood pressure and cholesterol checks, diabetes screening, prostate and colorectal cancer screenings, skin cancer checks, immunizations, and mental health checkins. Women’s preventive care may include cervical and breast cancer screenings, heart health checks, diabetes screening, osteoporosis screening, skin cancer

antioxidants can neutralize the effects of chronic inflammation, environmental toxins, and even genetic malfunctions that cause disease.

Aronia’s magic: Aronia is a treasure trove of polyphenols and active antioxidant plant compounds that keep us healthy and can treat and even reverse a wide range of chronic diseases. If you’re not familiar with polyphenols, antioxidants, free radicals, and chronic diseases, don’t worry — for now, you just need to know that Aronia is a powerhouse against disease in ways our ancestors have known for millennia, and modern medical research is now confirming.

Aronia berries are the best choice you can make to help prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic diseases and their accompanying conditions, including

checks, immunizations, and mental health assessments.

Statistics are clear:

- Men are 24% less likely than women to visit the doctor annually, even though 1 in 2 will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

- Women often prioritize everyone else’s needs before their own, delaying screenings that could save their lives. Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, and early detection of breast cancer can mean a 99% survival rate.

This September, Sunshine Community Health Center wants to make it a little easier — and a little more rewarding — to put yourself first. The first 10 men who come in for a preventive appointment will receive a Grill Master Apron. The first 10 women will

metabolic syndrome — a cluster of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol that result in clogged arteries and heart disease; cancer — with human studies noting benefits against breast, cervical, colon, liver and lung cancer, leukemia, and brain cancers called gliomas; high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol, which play major roles in heart disease; type 2 diabetes and its side effects, including heart and kidney disease, macular degeneration, and neuropathy; urinary tract infections; immune system enhancement with increased ability to fight bacterial infections and flu viruses; and reduced allcause mortality compared to people who didn’t use Aronia.

What you need to know: Aronia

receive a Stylish Purse. It’s a small thankyou for taking a big step toward protecting your health.

Appointments are available at both our clinic locations throughout the month. Whether you’re due for a routine checkup or you’ve been putting it off for years, there’s no better time to act. Your family, your friends, and your future self will thank you.

Event Details:

September 1–30, 2025 Sunshine Community Health Center –Both Locations 907-376-2273 | sunshineclinic.org

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Book your preventive health appointment today — and give yourself the chance to be here for all the moments that matter.

melanocarpa contains a wealth of antioxidant plant compounds that help prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic inflammation, a major cause of the deadliest diseases we know, especially cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more.

I take my Aronia berries every day, both as a cup of berries in my protein drink and as a supplement of Aronia berry extract with French grape seed extract. I wish I could tell you all the miraculous health benefits of Aronia berries — they are the healthiest berries in the world — and it would take a book to explain them all. Oh, by the way, I did write a book: Aronia Berries, Nature’s Healing Treasure Against Chronic Diseases, authored by Terry Lemerond and Dr. Ajay Goel, Ph.D., AGAF. www.allaboutherbs.com

Find Out More About the Holistic & Metaphysical Community at Alaska

Alaska Whole Life Festival Returns

Contributed by Cindy Calzada

I am the owner of the Alaska Whole Life Festival, which is held in Anchorage twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. It’s a place where you can experience all that the holistic and metaphysical community has to offer. Some of my personal favorite modes of healing are massage therapy, hydrotherapy such as mineral baths and hot showers, fasting, herbology, aromatherapy, exercise like yoga and tai chi, hands-on-healing such as Reiki and energy healing, blood and hormone testing, rebalancing your body with nutrition, vitamins and minerals, tapping, mudras, and rock and crystal healing. At the Alaska Whole Life Festival, we promote these

Just Detox

Contributed by Alexander Harmon, Nature’s Remedies, Wasilla In today’s world, our bodies are exposed to more toxins than ever before. From pesticides in our food to heavy metals in our water, plastics in our environment, and the rise of parasitic exposure due to global travel and processed diets, our systems are constantly under pressure. That’s why detoxing and cleansing the body is no longer an occasional health fad—it’s an essential part of maintaining wellness. For many people, a spring or fall cleanse is something they’ve heard of or maybe even tried once. But emerging holistic health wisdom and centuries of traditional practice agree: the body deserves a proper detox at least four times a year—ideally aligned with the changing seasons. Just like we rotate our wardrobes or check our car’s oil, our internal systems also need regular resets

kinds of things and much more.

There are so many different modes of healing therapy. When you come to the festival you can sample a variety of healing therapies so that you can see what works for you. Every festival is different with new things to experience each time as well as many of the same tried-and-true vendors. In the past we’ve had acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic care, homeopathy, and sound healing—you never know what you will find.

A big part of overall health is not just physical but mental, emotional, and spiritual health. At the October 4 & 5, 2025 festival, we will be highlighting the art of hypnosis with two keynote lectures given

to operate at peak performance.

Detoxing is necessary because every day our bodies take in environmental pollutants, chemical additives from processed foods, synthetic hormones, microplastics, and even hidden pathogens like parasites. While our liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system work hard to keep things flowing, they weren’t designed to handle the burden modern life throws at them. Over time, these toxins accumulate in our tissues and organs, leading to symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, poor digestion, frequent illness, and inflammation. A well-planned detox or cleanse can boost energy levels, improve digestion, clear up skin, sharpen mental clarity, strengthen immunity, support weight balance, and help the body naturally eliminate heavy metals and parasites.

Nature has always provided powerful tools to support cleansing, and some of the most effective detox herbs include milk thistle to protect and regenerate liver cells while supporting bile flow, dandeli-

by members of the National Guild of Hypnotists. The lectures will be at 1 p.m. each day and will last an hour. At the National Guild of Hypnotists booth, you’ll also have the opportunity to experience a mini-hypnosis session and ask questions about what hypnosis may offer you.

The mind and emotions are key to good health. You’ll find vendors who specialize in helping you strengthen and support your emotional health with mindfulness and meditation. Getting in touch with your spiritual side can also help you, and we promote spiritual centers that give people a place to share and experience happiness through spirit.

We are also a promoter of all things metaphysical. You can expand your awareness of body and mind and open yourself

on root to gently stimulate the liver and kidneys and promote the removal of waste, and burdock root as a blood purifier that supports lymphatic drainage and skin clarity. Wormwood and black walnut are known for their ability to eliminate parasites and promote gut balance, while chlorella and cilantro are effective for binding and removing heavy metals like mercury and lead. Red clover supports circulation and removes metabolic waste from the blood, and ginger and turmeric provide powerful anti-inflammatory benefits while boosting digestion and reducing toxin load. While herbs can work wonders, a successful detox involves more than taking supplements. Clean eating is essential, so stick to organic, whole foods, avoid processed sugar, artificial additives, and industrial seed oils, hydrate well, and prioritize high-fiber foods to keep your digestive system moving. Sweating often through exercise, sauna, or hot baths is one of the most effective ways to release toxins

to readings by psychics and intuitives, card and crystal readers, intuitive painters, numerologists, astrologers, and palm readers. You might gain insight into who you are and how to discover your path. Sometimes you just want help with everyday challenges, and having someone who is intuitive, psychic, or healing to guide you can help you understand what you need and how to grow. There is so much more out there than many people realize. Open yourself to new ideas and discover what is possible. You will also find beautiful and feel-good products like art, rocks and crystals, jewelry, and clothing from the many vendors and artists who participate. Visit our Facebook page, Alaska Whole Life Festival, to learn more.

through the skin—our largest elimination organ. Rest and rebuild by nourishing your body with healthy fats, clean protein, and plenty of minerals to support repair. Parasites, heavy metals, and plastics are silent burdens that often go unnoticed. Between raw foods, international travel, contaminated water, and pets, it’s easy to become a host to parasites without knowing it. Many herbal detox protocols gently eliminate these invaders without harsh chemicals. Heavy metals like mercury, aluminum, and lead can hide in our bones, brain, and organs, contributing to chronic illness. Plastics, including endocrine-disrupting microplastics, are now found in nearly every blood sample tested in modern studies. Detoxing helps reduce this burden and gives your body a better chance at balance.

The good news is you don’t have to do this alone. Many of the herbs and natural detox formulas mentioned above can be found at your local health food or wellness store in Wasilla, like Nature’s Remedies.

The Sound of Home

The Federal Communications Commission was born in 1934 with a simple, profound premise: the airwaves belong to the people. Not to corporate shareholders in another time zone, not to distant programmers who will never see the mountains outside your window, but to the community that lives and works within the reach of that signal. The frequencies were, and still are, a scarce public resource. Licenses to use them came with an expectation — a promise — that they would be used “in the public interest, convenience, and necessity.”

The logic was plain enough. If the broadcast spectrum is limited, then every minute of airtime is precious. If every minute is precious, then it ought to reflect the lives, voices, and culture of the people whose airwaves it is.

And here’s the crux:

For commercial music stations, that should mean giving the cultural output of local musicians a place in regular rotation.

Regular rotation (in commercial music radio) refers to the practice of playing a song frequently and consistently throughout each broadcast day, often multiple times, according to a station’s playlist schedule.

But over the last four decades, that promise has been hollowed out. The FCC still speaks of “public interest,” but it no longer defines that interest in cultural terms. Beginning in the 1980s, under the banner of deregulation, the Commission abandoned the enforcement of localism and allowed “the market” to determine what communities would hear. In practice, this meant measuring the public interest by ratings and advertiser demand — a shift from public interest to market interest. And here the logic turns in on itself: stations play only national corporate artists, and when those artists dominate the charts, the industry congratulates itself for “giving the public what it wants.”

Of course, people like what they’ve been given. But if they’ve never been given a steady diet of their own community’s music, how could they develop a taste for it? It is the circular reasoning of cultural decline: we don’t play local music because no one asks for it, and no one asks for it because we don’t play it.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Revolution On The Radio

It wasn’t always this way. Before deregulation, stations had to document how they served their local communities in every license renewal. Ownership was local or regional. Program directors knew the musicians personally and could add their records to rotation on nothing more than belief and instinct. This was how the great revolutions in American music happened.

In the 1950s, Elvis Presley’s first record spun over and over again on WHBQ Memphis after a local DJ took a chance on it. Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash — they all became regional

sensations on hometown stations before the nation ever knew their names. Local radio incubated entire genres. Black R&B artists and white country singers were played back-to-back, cross-pollinating styles and audiences until rock ’n’ roll was born.

Had today’s centralized corporate programming model existed then, it is hard to imagine that rock ’n’ roll would have broken through at all. It was raw, unproven, and unpredictable — the kind of thing a national programmer would have rejected as “too risky” for advertiser-friendly playlists. The cultural earthquake of that era depended on local stations having the freedom to take risks, to sound like their own towns.

Now, in the age of streaming, commercial music radio is losing the one battle it should never have fought. Spotify will always play the same national hits more conveniently, and with greater personal control, than any terrestrial station could. Competing on repetition alone is a slow death for radio.

But there is still one battlefield radio can own completely: local exclusivity. Streaming algorithms favor the same corporate artists that dominate national playlists. They rarely surface the band that recorded their debut in a Wasilla garage or the songwriter from Palmer whose lyrics hold the weight of the Alaskan winter. Radio can play those songs in regular rotation, not as a novelty or a late-night filler, but as part of the living sound of the community — woven between the hits so that a listener might discover them in the middle of their workday or drive home.

This is not charity. It is strategy. Local music creates loyalty. It builds a sense of ownership in the audience: this station is ours. It offers advertisers an authentic connection to the community’s identity. It differentiates the station in a media landscape where every other dial sounds the same. And it revives the pipeline that once made radio the most powerful cultural force in America.

In Alaska, I’ve chosen to do what the rest of commercial music radio abandoned: play the best local music in regular rotation, averaging twice an hour, every day. It’s a return to the roots of the medium and, I believe, its only real path forward for commercial music radio. The airwaves still belong to the people — but they will only sound like home if we make them.

It is my sincere hope that other commercial music radio stations in Alaska will embrace this policy, and this community that we all love. At 95.5 The Pass, KNLT, where we play local Alaskan artists in regular rotation, we have gotten incredible positive feedback from this effort! And not only from our listeners, but from the local businesses that advertise on our station! This is the way forward, my fellow broadcasters. I am happy to help, since we’ve proven the concept since 2019, so reach out and we’ll make it happen!

JoshFryfogle@mac.com

The Day I Changed My Mind About AI Music

The conversation about AI in music often tangles two entirely different realities into one knot — and then swings at that knot with all the outrage it can muster. On one side, there’s AI used by people with no musical background at all, clicking a button to generate a song from nothing. On the other side — the side I’m so excited about — is AI used as a tool in the hands of real musicians, songwriters, and producers.

The difference matters.

I understand why many musicians have a visceral reaction to AI in music. I had the same reaction myself. At first, all I saw were non-musicians using AI like a parlor trick — amusing in the way a magic 8-ball is amusing, but deeply offensive to my musician’s ego. To me, it felt like technology was skipping the part that actually matters: the human skill, the craft, the years of learning and playing.

But just a few weeks ago, I downloaded the Suno AI music app so I could learn to hate it even more. I wanted to really be able to make an argument against it, based on first-hand knowledge. But I noticed it had an upload option. I thought, What if I upload one of my voice memos from my phone — just me playing one of my own compositions — and see what happens?

That’s when everything changed.

When I uploaded my recording and pasted in my lyrics, what Suno produced wasn’t some AI-generated knockoff. It was the exact song I had written — the same chords, the same progressions, the same melody, the same structure, the same key — but fully produced. And not just produced, but produced in a way that complemented the song beautifully.

In that moment I realized: AI wasn’t writing anything. It was producing what I had already written, exactly as I had written it. The technology didn’t erase my musicianship; it amplified it.

Some people hear “AI music” and think “no human musicianship.” I used to be among them. But now I hear “AI music” and think “finally, the technology to let musicians create without being crushed by the limits of cost, access, or gatekeepers.”

I believe that most other music artists will inevitably come to the same conclusion. Once they disabuse themselves of the misconception that AI music is an offensive tool of non-musicians, and realize that it is a tool for them to finally realize their own musical visions, there’s no going back. And when they do, I hope they will join my Facebook group, AI Music For Real Musicians, so we can communicate like community and learn how to leverage this newfound freedom together!

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

We’ve gotten a surprising number of donations from community members at The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine over the years, and recently it’s increased with the publication of Liberty, Liberally.

We’ve also received many requests for subscription services, requests to mail Liberty, Liberally, and our other publications to people near and far...

So we thought, why not make it easier to donate, and get something in return, too? With a minimum $8 per month donation,

you’ll receive a copy of each publication - and even special publications and other things that might fit in a Manila envelope!

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and financial support over the years. We take your trust very seriously, as we steward content from you and your neighbors onto the printed page. It’s an American tradition which we are blessed to uphold.

More info available at 907-373-2698

ABOUT: “Joshua Fryfogle, the owner of The People’s Paper, Make A Scene Magazine, and Liberty, Liberally, is heavily involved in the local community. In addition to creating a monthly paper that prints what community members submit, he also owns 95.5 The Pass, KNLT, one of the only stations in the nation to play local music in regular rotation! Josh is a lifelong singer/songwriter, and serves as booking agent and sound engineer for countless other Alaskan musicians.”

You can respond to what you’ve read, or write what matters to you.

WWW.MAKEASCENEAK COM

By Joshua Fryfogle

POLITICS & OPINION

Why

Does the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Want to Bring the Anchorage Gas Tax to the Valley?

Contributed by Rep. David Eastman

On Tuesday, the Mat-Su Borough voted to put a new gas tax on the ballot in November. Unlike other votes, this vote will not be legally binding. What that means is that even if every Mat-Su resident votes against the new tax, the borough assembly reserves the right to implement it anyway.

To discourage voters from voting against the new tax, the borough assembly decided to add language to the ballot measure that has already led some voters to think that voting YES will actually lower their taxes. It won’t. At best, it will only increase the taxes of property owners by a lesser amount.

The current proposal is to copy the Anchorage Gas Tax at the rate of 7 cents

per gallon. If you read the supporting documentation, the authors of the new tax explain that they copied the gas tax virtually word-for-word from Anchorage. The only difference is that this tax is supposed to start at 7 cents, while the Anchorage Gas Tax started at 10 cents before immediately bumping up to 12 cents at the first opportunity. In 2018, Anchorage told its residents they needed a 10 cent per gallon gas tax because the roads were of poor quality. Well, they now have a 12 cent per gallon gas tax and the roads in Anchorage are still lousy. If only more taxes meant that our roads would get better.

Last year, the borough assembly asked Mat-Su voters to approve $36.4 million

in taxes for road projects. The voters said YES. The year prior, the borough assembly asked Mat-Su voters to approve $38.1 million in new taxes for road projects. The voters said YES.

Now the borough says Mat-Su roads are still lousy and the only solution is to follow Anchorage’s example and establish a new gas tax.

Next year, after they push through the new tax our roads will undoubtedly still need work. I suppose the argument voters will get next year is that the tax clearly wasn’t high enough so it will need to increase from seven cents to some other amount.

A gas tax hits everyone where it hurts. The cost of transportation increases, and with it so does the cost of groceries (which

What Is the Difference: Military vs. Gorilla War? Does It Matter?

Contributed by Doug Ferguson

As we watch the spectacle of organized violence across our country, how can we not say the United States is in a Gorilla War for its survival and it is escalating? We see Federal ICE agents being physically threatened as they try to do their job and even at their homes, as they try to clean up the horrible uncontrolled illegal immigration fostered by the Biden administration. This violent opposition has been encouraged by the Governor of California, the Mayor of Los Angeles and numerous other officials across the nation, highlighted by false reporting by the mainstream media of these events. Add to this calls by some of the more extreme members of the entertainment community and others calling for our President’s assassination. Internationally, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for a “fatwa” against Mr. Trump as a “mohareb” (under Islamic Law, “One who wars with God”) and who should be executed. In doing so, Iran’s regime has officially ordered an act that no country’s rulers have ever done before in modern times. At the same time, many Democrat Politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

of New York are heating up the leftist base to a fever pitch. For instance, on July 13th she posted on X, “Wow! Who would have thought that electing a rapist would have complicated the release of the Epstein Files?” Former President Obama, who is currently being “outed” in his role in the unprecedented “Russian Collusion Affair” to impeach President Trump, while not directly calling for violence, is encouraging the left to “fight” for their cause, whatever he thinks that is. In this case it is to defend him and his cabinet members from treason charges by whatever mean necessary! To top this all off, there exists a chance that two major cities in America, New York, largest in our land and also Minneapolis could elect Muslim mayors this year that openly and enthusiastically hawk socialist/ communist agendas!

Aiding in all this are schemes implemented in many states that corrupt both local and national elections such as unverified “mail-in” and “ranked choice” voting systems that enable corruption of our long standing “one man, one vote” tradition, further destabilizing our political system. If this was a military war, our armed forces would be out in force, destroying

The Church That Prays for Five-Star Reviews

Contributed by M. Lopez

I believe that most of us born and raised several generations deep in this state share the experience of a conservative Christian childhood. As the child of a pastor, my own memories began at the pulpit — but as an adult, I now move every day with the broader mindset of intentional seeking. That means I attend church not as a follower, but as someone searching — searching for the fervor I once felt for the flame

before I ever felt the flame’s burn. In this pursuit, it is often difficult to find the pulse of spirit in a sermon beyond the hard-coated egotistical behaviors of man, but this challenge is part of the journey. It asks us for the allowance of empathy and grace. Through patience and careful temperance, we learn to weigh men for their good intentions rather than their purity. However, what good intention is there in rousing your congregation into a fervor for

the enemy where necessary to protect the country from this invasion. However, this invasion, fomented from the outside for decades, today is coming now from within. The “purists”, even among our more conservative commentators, say that we aren’t close to this stage, but instead rationalize that we are in a “defining political” moment with the Trump administration just encountering “political” opposition. Even the more rational in the media are not stepping up to the actual reality. We can bet that most of these “news people” have never been physically in the middle of one of these violent conflicts or lived in a communist country or one controlled by Muslim extremists!

The truth is, we are in the middle of a war by various forces to actually destroy our country as the one remaining “lynchpin” defenders of individual freedom with a system that has had such a positive effect on Western Civilization to eliminate class distinction and give every citizen an opportunity to better themselves if they put in the effort, despite their race or background.

These forces can be identified in three groups, the first being the traditional Marxists like Communist China and North Korea

require transportation to get to grocery store). It hits rich as well as poor alike. On top of that, it always costs money to implementing a new tax. It requires new bureaucracy to implement.

Practically, it also means that with a new gas tax more commuters will switch to buying their gas at Costco and other gas stations in Anchorage. In the end, it won’t just be Mat-Su roads that the tax is spent on. It will be Mat-Su roads, Anchorage roads, and whatever else the borough decides to do with the money. Rep. David Eastman represented the Mat-Su Valley in the Alaska House of Representatives from January 2017 to January 2025. Visit davideastman.org for more information.

and all the various Neo-Marxist groups around the world that follow their lead. The second is the Extremist Muslim community as seen in the leadership of Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other mid-east terror-based groups. The third is the group of politicians, international oligarchs and CEO’s of “One Worlders” that meet in Devos every year to promote how to “run the world” from their privileged perch while earning and controlling vast sums of money. These outside forces all want to see our unique free speech rights canceled and our current government neutered and even destroyed. None are offering common consistent or constructive plans to replace it. In fact, if successful destroying our country, they would end up fighting each other for dominance, and without a doubt in the process, spark a terrible WWIII. We are in a true war for survival of our country as a bastion of individual freedom and, in turn, that of Western Civilization in general. Support the brave patriots in the Trump and state and local governments who, fearlessly using lawful policies and by enforcing our constitution, are trying to save our unique democratic republic from destruction. Do your independent research, write them and especially by voting to support them!

Open Your Eyes and Wake Up America!

submitting five-star Google reviews? The pastor of a local megachurch recently took the mic to address a single one-star Google review. He publicly mocked the reviewer, insinuating that the person must have a “father wound” — one the pastor assumed he had triggered. After complaining that the review lowered the church’s Google rating, the pastor asked his congregation to drown it out by submitting five-star reviews. The next man to take the mic led worship by singing about how the church “prays for five-star reviews.”

As someone who has watched congregations rise and fall throughout my lifetime, I have to ask: is this really where we are? Have we devolved to such a superficial degree of modern idolatry that we now join in prayer for Google ratings?

I can’t answer for the pastor who orchestrated this show, but I can say that this behavior is not leadership in Christ — it is image management. A pastor who cannot create a space for healing is instead building a stage for the ego of man. May the journey to find Spirit continue tirelessly, because it is not to be found here. Amen.

The Digital Trap: How Stablecoins and CBDCs Are Building a Financial Prison

Contributed by Alexander Harmon, Alaska Goldbacks

The financial world is shifting under our feet—and not necessarily in the direction of freedom. As more of our lives become digitized, we’re witnessing the quiet rise of a global financial infrastructure that is less about convenience and more about control. The U.S. dollar is no longer simply a green bill in your pocket; it’s evolving—or devolving—into a centralized, programmable tool disguised as progress. At the center of this shift is the push toward Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)—state-controlled, blockchain-based currencies that claim to modernize the economy. But the reality behind them is far more sinister. You’ve probably heard of stablecoins like USDC or USDT—digital assets pegged 1:1 to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar. While they’re promoted as a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional banking or even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, they’re acting as a Trojan horse for government-controlled CBDCs. The U.S. is

already testing pilot programs for tokenized dollars, using private sector stablecoins as a bridge. Once this infrastructure is in place, the Federal Reserve or Treasury could flip a switch and convert the entire system to a programmable CBDC. That means every transaction can be tracked and permanently recorded, spending limits could be imposed based on social or environmental “scores,” access to funds restricted for political dissent or “non-compliant” behavior, and automatic taxation or negative interest rates could become reality. We are on the verge of a technocratic financial prison—one where every dollar you earn, spend, or save can be monitored, controlled, and even turned off.

Let’s be clear: the U.S. dollar—digital or otherwise—is not real money. It hasn’t been backed by gold since 1971. It’s a debt-based instrument created by the Federal Reserve, a private institution that loans money to the government at interest. Every dollar printed is another link in the chain of inflation and control, and with

digital dollars, that chain becomes tighter. Most Americans don’t realize how much purchasing power the dollar has already lost. What $100 bought in 2000 barely covers a trip to the grocery store in 2025. The more we rely on digital systems—credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay—the more we give away our privacy, our autonomy, and our future.

If history has taught us anything, it’s that gold is money—everything else is credit. This is where Goldbacks come in: beautiful, spendable, fractional pieces of real gold infused into a flexible polymer note. Each Goldback contains actual gold—measured in fractions of a gram—making it usable for everyday transactions while preserving wealth. Goldbacks offer tangible value (you’re holding physical gold, not a promise), decentralized use with no central bank able to inflate or erase its worth, privacy in peer-to-peer transactions with no digital trail, durability more flexible than coins and accepted by hundreds of businesses in participating states, and wealth preservation

since gold has outlasted every fiat currency in history.

If we want to stop using “fake electric money,” it’s time to opt out of the digital trap and use real money—money you can touch, store, and trust. You can begin accumulating and spending Goldbacks now, and local health and wellness stores in Wasilla, like Nature’s Remedies, can help. Supporting small businesses that value real wealth over digital illusion is key to building a parallel economy that honors sovereignty and freedom. It’s not just about gold—it’s about mindset. It’s about reclaiming what money is supposed to be: a store of value, a medium of exchange, and a hedge against tyranny. The war on cash is real. The rise of CBDCs and programmable money is no longer a question of “if,” but “when.” As the digital prison tightens, we must take steps now to secure our autonomy and our future. The solution? Go physical. Go local. Go gold—say no to fake money, and say yes to freedom in your wallet.

POLITICS & OPINION

John Alcantra: Let’s Put Palmer First

Contributed

by John Alcantra

Early this year I was approached by several friends and citizens of Palmer asking me to run for Palmer Mayor. They were frustrated by the current lack of direction and accountability. Me? I replied. But I’m busy — I have a full-time job, I serve on Council and at my church, I have a kid in high school. Humbled by their entreaties, I then remembered what my mom always told me: “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” I decided in April to file a letter of intent and in July, I was the first candidate approved on the ballot for mayor. The current mayor decided not to run for reelection, and many candidates decided

to throw their hat in the ring. I’m excited the citizens of Palmer will have options for mayor on October 7. I have always believed a candidate needs to earn votes, and though you may know me from my decades in Palmer and the surrounding area and from my hours of community service, you can still expect to see me at your door to learn from you and to earn your vote.

So why join my friends and neighbors in voting for me for Palmer Mayor? Well, you know me and my family. You have seen us volunteering for Palmer High sports and activities as our children participated in almost all of them — from football and basketball to soccer and swimming, to name a few. Along with my wife of 30

years, Rosetta, we have raised our four children in Palmer (Go Moose). I’m also the proud grandfather of Palmer Lynn Alcantra. My values are to provide experienced, ethical leadership for Palmer and to get us back on the right track. We will do this with the utmost transparency and open communication with the citizens. I have 30 years of state and local government experience, and I have served on multiple Boards of Directors such as the American Red Cross, the Palmer Museum, and the Mat-Su Miners. This is a unique and challenging time for Palmer. After many obstacles, we are moving forward with the construction of our new library. We need to save our golf course and look at providing public safety

Victoria Hudson: Proven Voice for Palmer

Contributed by Victoria Hudson

Leadership means listening, acting, and protecting the future of our community. As your elected representative on City Council, I’ve worked hard to ensure your voices are heard — not just during campaign season, but every single day.

When residents bring me concerns or ideas, I don’t set them aside for political gain. I bring them forward immediately, because service means action. Whether it’s improving road safety, protecting our historic character, or planning for responsible growth, I have been working for you.

Palmer’s charm comes from its history, its hardworking people, and its strong sense of community. Growth will happen, but the real question is whether we guide it with wisdom or let it happen to us. As the old saying goes, “If you’re not planting seeds, you can’t expect a harvest.” That is why I support balanced growth that welcomes opportunity while preserving the historic heart of our city.

Key priorities ahead include finishing our long-awaited library build — a project that will serve generations — and working closely with our community to decide what we want to see in our downtown corridor,

Sherry for Palmer

Contributed by Sherry Carrington

I first fell in love with Palmer on a warm summer day in 2003. My kids and I were visiting from Fairbanks when we stumbled upon the Friday Fling and the Palmer Pride Picnic—now Celebrate Palmer. The smell of grilled hotdogs, fresh vegetables from local farms, and the friendly city council members manning the grills made me feel instantly at home. I knew this was a place where community wasn’t just a word—it was a way of life.

Later that year, I married my husband, Steve Carrington, and moved to Palmer permanently. Over the past 22 years, I’ve raised my family here, owned a small business, and served as the founder and Executive Director of a local nonprofit. My business, Aurora Creative Designs, offered custom sewing, alterations, sewing camps, and classes for eight years—including our much-loved annual Fashion Show at the Palmer Depot. In 2014, I launched Connect Palmer, which for a decade provided practical assistance to local families and individuals in need.

Parking in Palmer

Contributed by Aundra Omega Jackson, Palmer City Council Candidate, Vote October 7, 2025

Equal allocation of parking spaces between private businesses and government buildings is neither practical nor economically sound. Several key factors demonstrate why this approach would be counterproductive.

Mismatched demand patterns: Government buildings and private businesses operate on fundamentally different schedules and serve distinct populations. Government offices typically see peak usage during standard business hours (8 am

to 5 pm on weekdays), while private establishments — restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail stores — often experience their highest demand during evenings and weekends. Forcing these entities to maintain identical parking allocations ignores these natural usage patterns and wastes valuable urban space.

Disproportionate facility needs: The scale and function of buildings vary dramatically. A large government complex serving hundreds of employees and daily visitors requires substantially more parking than a small specialty shop or service business. Conversely, some businesses rely primarily on foot traffic, delivery services, or public transportation rather than customer parking. Equal allocation would

while making smart infrastructure investments to support it. This is your city, and your vision should shape its future. We also face important decisions about the airport expansion, the future of the golf course, and thoughtful annexation to strengthen Palmer’s long-term stability and increase revenue. I support keeping the golf course, a valued community asset, while ensuring we approach complex issues with openness and public involvement. I also support building a modern public safety facility. Our police and fire departments deserve a safe, functional building — not excuses and delays.

Each of these roles deepened my love for this city and strengthened my commitment to the people who call it home. I know the past few years have been challenging—for our city council and for our community. Tensions have been high, and trust has been tested. But I believe Palmer is ready for a fresh chapter one where we work together, communicate respectfully, and keep our focus on what truly matters: making decisions that serve our residents and strengthen our city. We have exciting opportunities ahead—a new library to build, important conversations about annexation, and

burden smaller operations with unnecessary costs while potentially under-serving larger facilities.

Economic inefficiency: Mandating uniform parking requirements regardless of actual need creates artificial constraints that harm economic efficiency. Small businesses forced to maintain excessive parking face higher operational costs and reduced land utilization. Meanwhile, high-traffic facilities may struggle with inadequate parking, deterring visitors and reducing economic activity.

Real-world evidence: The practical failure of rigid parking requirements is evident throughout many communities. In downtown Palmer, for example, numerous parking spaces sit empty throughout much of the day — particularly after business hours — demonstrating the

I Love Cordova — but the War on Drugs Is

Contributed

Joshua McHoes

A few days ago, someone I had known since kindergarten overdosed and died. He was the first person who handed me a bag of weed. I was a teenager, and like most of us in Cordova back then, I was looking for a way to get by and deal with depression in a dark town. We weren’t close anymore. He’d taken a darker path — one that included hurting others, threatening people I care about, and lashing out over petty drama. Still, the news knocks the air out of me. Because this keeps happening. Over and over.

I keep losing people I grew up with. And when they’re not dying, they’re turning on each other, drowning in addiction, caught in endless cycles of trauma and silence. I’m tired of it. Tired of watching people spiral while our community stays quiet. Tired of hearing the local radio jingle — “I love Cordova” — while another body drops. Because I do love Cordova. But I also hate what this town keeps putting us through.

The War on Drugs isn’t history. It’s not something we survived. It’s still here — quiet, deadly, wrapped in layers of shame, punishment, and denial. I know this war well. I grew up inside it. I still wear my heart on my sleeve like I did as a kid — always

trying to make people laugh, connect, and stand up for what’s right. But people didn’t see that. They saw a target. They spread rumors. Even adults — teachers included — judged me, tried to tear me down, and talked about me like I’m some lost cause before I even got a chance to become someone.

So I built walls. I toughened up. Not because I wanted to — but because I had to. Because it’s the only way to survive in a town where vulnerability makes you a victim. I didn’t feel safe at school. But I still tried to speak up. When my best friend — a young man of color — was being made an example of, I said something. I tried to call it out.

No one listened. No one wants to see the systemic racism in their own backyard. No one wants to talk about the way the white savior complex operates in small-town Alaska — cloaking itself in performative concern while upholding the same structures of judgment, silence, and control.

This war doesn’t look like tanks and tear gas in Cordova. It looks like gossip. Like expulsions. Like kids being labeled instead of helped. Like trauma being punished instead of healed. It looks like another overdose. Another missed funeral. Another teacher looking the other way. It looks like

with adequate facilities. I’m ready to use my project management experience to ensure projects move forward. I will work to provide Palmer with real fiscal leadership and accountability and to restore public confidence in our city. Palmer is the ninthlargest city in Alaska and of course it is the best city in Alaska. Early voting begins September 22 at Palmer City Hall and runs through October 6. Election Day is October 7 at the normal polling places of the Borough and school district building. I believe as a public servant it is important to be accessible and available. I will answer and return phone calls, because your voice is important and valued. I look forward to hearing from you and earning your vote on October 7. John Alcantra Palmer, Alaska 907-354-3765

I am asking to become your mayor, but more than that, a true representative of the people, for the people. As our founders knew, “Government was created to protect and serve the people, not to rule over them.” That principle will guide every decision I make.

I am not a politician. I am a wife, a mother, a neighbor, and someone who loves this city. My commitment is to serve all of Palmer, without bowing to special interests or playing political games.

On election day, I ask for your vote and your trust so together, we can keep Palmer strong, vibrant, and true to its roots.

A proven voice of integrity, action, and common-sense leadership.

long-overdue improvements to our neighborhood streets. Getting things done is essential, but how we do that work matters just as much. While council members will not always agree, we can choose to listen well, work respectfully, and keep Palmer’s priorities front and center. If you give me the honor of serving you, I will work to restore trust in our city government, stay focused on the business of Palmer, and approach every decision with dedication, collaboration, and civility. Palmer is my home, and I’m ready to help guide its future—with both determination and heart.

mismatch between mandated supply and actual demand.

Superior alternatives: Rather than equal allocation, effective parking policy should embrace proportional requirements based on building size, occupancy, and demonstrated usage patterns; flexible zoning that adapts to specific contexts and community needs; shared parking districts where multiple properties contribute to common resources; and time-based sharing that allows different users to utilize the same spaces during their respective peak periods. A pragmatic approach recognizes that efficient resource allocation serves the community better than artificial equality. Parking policy should reflect real-world usage patterns and economic realities, not ideological preferences for uniform treatment regardless of circumstances.

Still Killing the People I Grew Up With

kindness being called weakness. It looks like kids turning on each other to survive. It looks like adults pretending the mountain air and close-knit community are enough to hold us together — while we quietly come apart.

Drugs aren’t the root of the problem here. They’re the symptom. The real issue is the pain no one talks about — the kind passed down, unspoken and untreated, for generations. Cordova is beautiful. But it’s also deeply wounded. And some of those wounds have names.

Today, I’m older. I’ve gone from those dirt roads to the halls of power in Juneau. I was a legislative intern this past spring and have moved on to being a drug policy advocate working with the Marijuana Policy Project. I help push for decriminalization, harm reduction, and second chances. But I have always carried Cordova with me every step of the way. And I carry the people I’ve lost — including the one who just died. My work now is fueled by the heartbreak I’ve witnessed and lived because I know what happens when a town refuses to confront the damage it’s done. I know what happens when a kid is told — over and over — that they’re the problem — until they believe it. I know what happens when punishment is easier to find than help. I know what happens when no one

listens — until it’s too late. And I know that if we don’t make changes now, we’ll keep losing people — one by one — until there’s nothing left to love about Cordova but the ghosts. We don’t need more arrests. We don’t need more “tough love.” We don’t need to keep funneling resources into punishment while people overdose in silence. We need counselors, not cops. We need compassion, not control. We need to stop hiding behind small-town pride and admit what’s really happening here. We need to listen to the kids trying to speak up — before they stop trying. I love Cordova. But I also see its flaws. Its silence. Its scars. And if we can’t admit those things, then we don’t really love it at all — we love a fantasy, a postcard version that ignores the pain behind the picture. So let’s end the war — not just the failed policies, but the culture that sustains them. Let’s end the judgment. The isolation. The cycle. Because I don’t want to write another one of these. Because I’m tired of seeing obituaries instead of apologies. Because I love Cordova. But I won’t keep pretending this place loves us back until it chooses healing over punishment.

Veterans Rally to Support Links: A Night at Amvets Post 11

Contributed by Danielle Sherrer, LINKS Resource Center

Amvets Post 11-Never Forget located in Wasilla is more than just a gathering space

— it’s a place full of heart, generosity, and community spirit. The veterans who serve through Post 11 have some of the biggest hearts in the Mat-Su Valley, continually going above and beyond to support local organizations that work to strengthen and connect our community. Their latest effort? Hosting the LINKS Resource Center Night at Post 11 — a fundraising rally for resources set for Friday, September 26th. Known for their unwavering dedication

to service, the veterans at Post 11 continually go above and beyond to support their community. Whether it’s providing back-to-school supplies for local students, helping fellow veterans with home repairs, volunteering with Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su, supporting The Rise Program at Meadow Lakes Elementary, or now partnering with LINKS Resource Center — their generosity shines through. They don’t just offer their venue; they give their time, their hands, and their hearts to lift others up. Their dedication to service didn’t end when they took off the uniform — it simply found new ways to shine.

LINKS Resource Center provides resources, advocacy, & connections to improve lives. This event will celebrate that mission, while raising funds to help ensure LINKS can continue to serve individuals and families in the Mat-Su area.

From 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., attendees can enjoy a hearty all-you-can-eat Chicken and Fish Fry featuring baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, and French fries for just $20. Prefer not to eat? That’s okay! Come for the community, stay for the fun and live music. This is an all-ages event!

The evening will also feature a Silent Auction, a Live Dessert Auction, and live

music from Soul Society of Alaska from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. It’s shaping up to be a fun-filled, family-friendly night with something for everyone.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter of LINKS, a proud veteran, a local resident, or someone looking to give back — this is a night to come together, celebrate, and rally for resources.

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 26th and join us at Amvets Post 11, 951 S. Hermon Rd Suite #1, Wasilla for a night full of music, food, fun, and purpose. All ages are welcome — we can’t wait to see you there!

16th Annual

Rotary Uncorked

Contributed by Rotary Uncorked

Pack your bags and join the adventure at the 16th Annual Rotary Uncorked! This year’s theme is Around the World in 80 Days—an evening filled with exotic flavors, international wines and beers, and unforgettable experiences. The journey begins on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Menard Center. Reserved tables open at 5:30pm, general admission at 6:00pm, with the race concluding at 9:00pm.

Last year’s event was a phenomenal success thanks to the generous support of individuals and organizations like you. Proceeds helped fund MyHouse Homeless Youth Center (our main recipient), academic and trade school scholarships for graduating Mat-Su high school seniors, and other impactful community projects.

We invite you to become a sponsor and travel the world with us! Dress in your best adventure-themed attire and join Phileas Fogg as he lifts off in his hot air balloon to guide us on a whirlwind journey across the globe. www.wasillarotary.com

FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

PETS & ANIMALS

Paws for Justice

Calling all animal shelters, rescues, and vet clinics — Paws for Justice, a local community initiative sponsored by Crowson Law, wants to partner with you! We’re building a community campaign to help local pets find loving homes. Local organizations will feature the adoptable pets in the pages of The People’s Paper and on the airwaves of 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM—and we’ll help coordinate free adoption events, promote them, and cover adoption costs or other services to help our furry friends find forever homes.

To learn more about Paws for Justice or to sign up to help today - call (907) 373-2698. That’s 3732698. Brought to you by Crowson Law Group— defending the injured and giving Alaska’s rescue pets a voice. Visit crowsonlaw.com to learn more.

Clear Creek Cat Rescue Adoptable Cats

under your feet chirping until you pick me up for snuggle time. Then I purr right next to your ear to make sure you know how happy I am. I love other cats and must have an energetic kitty friend in my new home. I love to race and play until I am totally exhausted, and then I sleep like a baby. I am fine with nice cats and friendly dogs, and kids would be okay too. An older child who will be my special person to play and cuddle with would be perfect. I was born outside and spent the first several months of my life in the wild, so having a safe outside area is a must. I will love spending time outside with my new family.

Mr. Lion

King

I am a big, fluffy kitty who lives for snuggles

and wants to be with my people and kitty friends all day long, just purring and giving head bumps. I will even consider snuggling with a friendly dog. I have a playful streak and am the master of attacking feet from atop the blankets, and I will delight you with my keen stuffed mouse hunting skills. My other passion in life is food, especially wet food—I even purr while I eat!

I am a youngster, about 10 months old, and will need a kitty friend or two in my forever home. I am fine with a calm dog.

I have had free access to the yard in my former home and love to tumble around in the grass and leaves with kitty friends while the humans lounge or smell the roses.

Tarot I am the sweetest boy with the shiniest sleek coat, and I'm not shy about making my presence known. I’ll greet you with a meow when you walk in the door and voice my opinions during playtime.

I am unfazed by canine companions. Whether lounging side-by-side or darting around the house in a playful chase, I'm confident and comfortable around dogs.

My friendly demeanor makes me a perfect addition to a multi-dog household. I would do best in a home without other cats. I get along with some but feel threatened by others. But I would do great with a nice dog buddy.

I have a moderate to high energy level of a typical kitty who is around 1 year old. I get bursts of energy with active play sessions, followed by deep naps in sunny spots or cozy corners. I love to follow you around the house and be right at your side, so watch your step.

I LOVE affection. I'm cuddly pretty much all the time and often seek out attention with a nudge or by flopping beside you. Supervising household activities, helping to work on the computer and bird watching from the windowsill are all much-loved fun! A safe yard will be a must for me to enjoy sunny days with my family.

To meet any of these cats, please call or text 907-980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit clearcreekcatrescue.org or facebook.com/clearcreek.catrescue

Contributed

Kelleigh Orthmann

Alaskan Military Sled Dogs Served Too!

Contributed by Col Suellyn Wright

Novak, Alaska Veterans Museum

Founding Executive Director

Alaskan sled dogs have been used by the Army since 1901. When Lt Billy Mitchell (yes that Billy Mitchell, the father of the US Air Force) and his signal corps team came from the Philippines, they were tasked with building the Washington Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System (WAMCATS) from Fort Egbert at Eagle, to Fort Liscom at Valdez.

When Billy arrived, he found his predecessor had not stockpiled what was needed for the building season, and winter was fast approaching. Mitchell went to the natives asking they teach him: (1) how to dress for the weather; (2) how to build snowshoes; and (3) how to drive a dog team. Using these techniques, he

brought in the needed equipment and poles in winter. In record time and under budget his crew built the line to Valdez.

Then, Brigadier General Adolphus Greeley (yes the Arctic explorer rescued by the Revenue Cutter Bear stationed here in Alaska) ordered Mitchell and crew to build west to Tanana. Mitchell kept 200 McKenzie huskies at Fort Egbert for these tasks. He also credited his lead dog with saving his life many times.

During World War I, all combatants, except the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) used dogs in many roles. A French Army captain named Mufflet, who had been to Alaska in the Gold Rush, proposed dog teams in the Vosges to move freight over snow. The French asked Alaskan Scotty Allan, winner of the All - Alaska Sweepstakes race, to buy dogs and sleds and train drivers. Allan bought 106 dogs

around Nome. To get this many dogs to the barge to get them to the cargo ship offshore, Allan tied all 106 dogs to one long rope, like a gang line. He next attached the rope to a team of horses and a wagon to provide braking. With a good lead dog, the world’s longest dog team safely made it to the barge where sleds, harnesses and two tons of dried fish were also added.

After docking in Vancouver, the Alaskan dogs were secretly transported by rail across Canada under heavy guard. Three hundred more dogs from Canada and the Arctic joined the Alaskans in Quebec. The next problem was safe transport across the U-Boat infested waters of the Atlantic. Allan, being the original dog-whisperer, taught the huskies not to howl or bark during the two-week long sea voyage.

Upon arrival Allan trained 50 French mountain soldiers to drive the dogs. Less than two months after leaving Nome, teams with French drivers were hauling supplies to previously inaccessible places. One group of Alaskan dogs delivered ninety tons of ammunition to an artillery battery in only four days. Previously using men, horses, and mules, it had taken two weeks to do the same task.

When Spring arrived and the snow melted, dogs were attached to cars on a narrow-gauge railway (maybe laid by COL Frederick Mears who built the Alaska Railroad) to continue the transport of critically needed supplies and ammunition. The cost for dog upkeep was small, as many horses were killed in combat. Two seven-dog teams could handle the work of five horses in mountainous terrain.

Three Alaska sled dogs in French service were awarded the Croix de Guerre, one of France’s highest military honors, for their actions in combat. Details of those exploits are not available. All the Alaska dogs were released from service and became cherished pets in France’s Alpine tourist region.

PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGE, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS ARCHIVES

PETS & ANIMALS

Angie Lewis, President of Alaska Animal Advocates

Jerith – My Beautiful Great Pyrenees Mix Dog

My brain is very aware of his absence, but my heart is not ready to accept any of that yet. It is too painful to think about this loss – I am afraid that I might lose my mind. My heart is already lost. But enough about me, let me tell you about my Jerith.

Jerith has been with us since he was two days old. He was born outside, in January, in the bitter cold. His mother was a 15.5-year-old Husky Mix – way too old to become a mother. His mother and all his siblings died, except for Jerith, who was kept alive because he lay under her body. He came to live with me when he was approximately 3 months old. When I say that he was a perfect dog, I am not exaggerating. His only “crime” was that he had an enormous appetite – HUNGRY all the time and he had no problem with stealing food – off the counter, off your plate, or right out of your hand if you weren’t paying attention. He was a big boy, weighing about 170 pounds, so he usually won in the battle for food!

Jerith got along wonderfully with my other dog and my four cats. Everyone who met him fell in love with him – he was such a pleasant character to be around.

Jerith and my other dog, Shadow, a Husky. They loved to run on all the Palmer trails, off leash. It brought such joy to my heart to watch them racing along the trails –chasing each other in wild abandonment. Especially right after they got out of the car, when they would race down the trail with craziness in their eyes. When I close my eyes, I can actually see them in their race.

Jerith was diagnosed with inoperable bladder cancer about two years ago. We found a really good vet oncologist at Tier One and with chemotherapy and a variety of supplements – the cancer was gone after a couple of years. Then, during a routine exam, the vet noticed that Jerith’s heart rate was extremely fast.

So, I made an appointment with a veterinary cardiologist, but by that time Jerith’s health had rapidly declined. He could barely walk, wouldn’t eat, and was clearly in pain. So, In June, I made an appointment to have my beautiful boy euthanized. And that was the end of our life together. I didn’t ever get to take him to the Cardiologist appointment I had made for him.

The part of this story that is fascinating to me is that despite having many animals

throughout my life and having to endure each of them dying, Jerith did something as he approached the end of his life that I have never witnessed with any of my other animal family. He chose some of his favorite activities or experiences and tried to relive them before he passed. He has always loved to sing along with music, particularly high-pitched voices and a more rock & roll tempo. In the last few weeks, Jerith sang to music whenever the opportunity presented itself. The night before he died, he laid on the floor, on my side of the bed, and slept throughout the night. He hasn’t slept in my bedroom for a very long time before that. He wanted to sleep close to me but could no longer climb up on the bed. He would press his body against mine when in the car and whenever he could when inside or outside of our house. Jerith also walked around our property and laid in various of his favorite spots.

I will never forget this magical dog and at my advanced age, will probably not get another. I still have one other dog and three cats – enough to share my love with. Jerith, you have showed me the wonderful experience of opening up to a member of another species and how much we humans have in common with you. I can only hope that if there is another life after this one, that we will meet again. I love you.

The People's Paper August 2025

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