NEW YEAR Happy
Fireworks make people happy!
Free Christmas Meal Spreading Holiday Cheer
Contributed by Christmas Friendship Dinner
The Christmas season is about bringing the community together, and no one does it better than the Christmas Friendship Dinner. This year, the annual Christmas Friendship Dinner promises to warm hearts and fill stomachs on Christmas Day, December 25th, at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. This cherished tradition, which has been serving the community since 1991, is free and open to everyone. It’s a chance for friends, neighbors, and families to come together to celebrate the holiday spirit and share a delicious meal.
In the lead-up to the big day, the Christmas Friendship Dinner crew invites the community to participate in their Tree Decorating Contest on December 22nd and 23rd, from 10 AM to 8 PM at the Menard Sports Center. It’s a fun and creative way to get into the holiday spirit while supporting a great cause.
Participants will decorate trees for the chance to win prizes in three categories: Best of Show, Most Festive,
and People’s Choice. Winners will be announced on Christmas Day, but participants do not need to be present to win.
This event is perfect for families, friends, and coworkers looking to spread some holiday cheer. The committee provides the tree and optional decorations, but participants are welcome to bring their own creative flair. The entry donation is just $10 per tree, and all proceeds go toward supporting the Christmas Friendship Dinner and its mission to serve the community.
Registration for the Tree Decorating Contest is now open at ChristmasFriendshipDinner.com. For questions or more information, call (907) 6319776.
Whether you’re decorating a tree or joining the Christmas Friendship Dinner on December 25th, these events are sure to make your holiday season brighter. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to come together, celebrate, and give back to the community. Mark your calendars and join the holiday fun!
The City of Wasilla is ready to light up the night with its annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show at Iditapark! This exciting event, set to take place on Tuesday, December 31st, promises a breathtaking fireworks display to welcome 2025 with a bang. This year 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM has partnered with the City of Wasilla for the Official City of Wasilla Fireworks Show—tune in, count down, and let’s blast off into the New Year together! Festivities kick off as early as 7 PM, so bring the whole family to the
Iditapark Red Pavilion for free coffee, cocoa, and even some surprise giveaways while supplies last. Fireworks lovers are encouraged to arrive early, park their cars, and get cozy while tuning into 95.5 The Pass, where a live broadcast will feature music, announcements, and more. At 8 PM sharp, the fireworks display will blast off, accompanied by a fiery music medley played on 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM. MORE ON PAGE 11 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE Ring in the New Year with The City of Wasilla and 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM
Mat-Su Guns n’ Hoses Hockey Game Scores Big for Charity
Contributed by Sarah Lazzarotto, Little Saint Media LLC
The Menard Center was buzzing with excitement as the Mat-Su Guns N’ Hoses Hockey Game returned, pitting local police officers against firefighters in a spirited match for a great cause. Over 2,500 fans packed the stands, creating an electrifying atmosphere and rallying behind a common goal: supporting the Girls 16U Northstar Hockey Team.
The event proved to be a resounding success, showcasing not only the players’ passion on the ice but also the incredible generosity of the Mat-Su Valley community. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit the team, helping young athletes pursue their hockey dreams with the support of their community behind them.
Fans cheered as the police and fire departments battled it out, delivering thrilling moments and plenty of lightheart-
ed entertainment: even turkey bowling!
While the final score crowned team Fire as this year’s champion, the real winners were the young athletes and the community. The event would not have been possible without the generous support of our spon-
Anniversary at
Contributed by Don Nelson
sors. A special thank-you goes to David Eller (Edward Jones), Vannoy Electric, Brian Reimer, Crazy Rays Adventures, Prism and the Public Safety Employees Association whose contributions played a vital role in the game’s success. Their dedication
The House of Bread Bakery/Café in Wasilla recently reached a milestone as the bakery has been open in Wasilla for 15 years. There have been three owners of the franchise, the most recent being Don Nelson of Wasilla who has owned the operation for the past five years as of November 4, 2024. House of Bread, located in Creekside Plaza, is franchised with the original bakery/café in San Luis Obispo, California which is still going strong after 26 years of operation. Don acquired the bakery/café after his daughters worked there and came home and said the owner’s wanted to sell the bakery. After prayerful consideration, he decided to invest in the already thriving business and make a go of small business ownership, which had been a longtime
aspiration of his. There is another franchise House of Bread located in Anchorage and owned separately from the Wasilla location. Both bakeries use the same core recipes, and each has some of their own products to offer.
House of Bread recipes are very simple in that we use only five simple ingredients in most of our bread, those being flour, honey (natural preservative), yeast, salt and water. No artificial ingredients or preservatives makes the bread wholesome and nutritionally sound. There are many customers who have been gluten intolerance or sensitivity that are able to enjoy our breads, especially sourdough, without any of the symptoms they get from eating supermarket breads. Vital wheat gluten (seitan-pronounced say-tan), a high protein ingredient extracted from
to supporting youth sports and fostering community connections is truly inspiring. Turkeys donated for bowling will be used by the Salvation Army to feed Mat-Su families over the holidays.
The Mat-Su Guns N’ Hoses Hockey Game continues to strengthen community bonds while shining a spotlight on the importance of youth sports. The Girls 16U Northstar Hockey Team extends heartfelt thanks to the event organizers, players, sponsors, and fans who made the evening unforgettable.
The Girls 16U Northstar Hockey Team is a competitive program committed to fostering the growth of young athletes through teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship. Events like the Mat-Su Guns N’ Hoses Hockey Game ensure these players have the resources they need to thrive on and off the ice. By fueling their dreams and supporting their growth, we’re making a big impact on the future of female hockey.
wheat, is normally the culprit to many sensitivities and intolerances, as it is an additive. Not only does vital wheat gluten keep a loaf of bread pretty and make it easy to mass produce, but it also increases shelf life and acts as a binder making it a hot commodity. At House of Bread we offer homemade breads, cheese breads, sweet rolls, brownies and other sweet treats, as well as deli sandwiches and soups served with our homemade breads. The holiday season is a great time to stop in to get wonderful gifts of fresh breads for your friends and family. Nobody was ever disappointed with a gift card or catered lunch from House of Bread! and Don says his goal at House of Bread Wasilla is to “put smiles on faces!” One of the ways we put smiles on faces is giving back to the community in partnering with Front Line Mission at Wasilla Lake Church of the Nazarene and Adult and Teen Challenge in Wasilla by donating day old breads that they are able to distribute to those in need in the MatSu area. We are proud to be a part of this thriving community and are grateful for all of our friends who enjoy our baked goods.
COMMUNITY
Mat-Su DEC Community Update
Jess Bentley
Contributed by
What is the Mat-Su DEC? Community partners began organizing around the DEC mission in 2019. With a focus on interrupting generational cycles by reducing child trauma, the DEC team joined with National DEC to form the Mat-Su Valley, Alaska Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (Mat-Su DEC). Diverse community partners meet monthly for action planning and to review progress on how DEC Family Advocates are impacting the lives of Mat-Su children and families affected by substance misuse. To date, this MDT response team has supported 100 of the 221 children assessed. Parental participation is 100% voluntary. Of the 232 parents/caregivers that have been assessed, 89 of those individuals have accepted services with our team. DEC Family Advocates have been provided by Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Knik Tribe and Set Free Alaska to support the Mat-Su Valley Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and their families. DEC Advocates provide case management; safety and action planning; and referrals to resources like emergency housing, academic and/or emergency assistance to referred families that accept DEC services. For more information on the provider agencies contact: Chickaloon Village Traditional Council: www.chickaloon-nsn.gov 907-745-0749. Set Free Alaska: www.setfreealaska.org 907-373-4732. Knik Tribe: Kt-doj@kniktribe.org 907-373-7991. In July 2023 and November 2024, National DEC trainers provided a three-day Train-the-Trainer course in Wasilla for the MDT Coordinator and MDT Member staff from the Chickaloon Police Department, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Knik Tribe, Office of Children’s Services, Palmer Police Department, R.O.C.K. MatSu, Set Free Alaska, and Wasilla Police Department. The group works in pairs with one trainer from law enforcement and one trainer from a community agency. Providing DEC awareness training increases the identification of drug
endangered children at risk and is a priority goal for supporting a healthy Mat-Su Community.
Who are drug endangered children? In 2023, the Office of Children’s Services (OCS) received 589 reports with a substance allegation in the Mat-Su Borough. The National DEC Alliance defines drug endangered children as those “at risk of suffering physical or emotional harm as a result of legal and/ or illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution. They may also be children whose caretaker’s legal and/or illegal substance misuse interferes with the caretaker’s ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment.” The Mat-Su DEC Alliance has expanded on their definition to include pregnant women using substances, as well as minors who are themselves using substances.
Contributed by Sierra Winter
Get ready for an exhilarating day of adventure, giving, and community support at Sled for Hope, taking place March 15th from 9:00AM
What can we do in the Mat-Su? By joining the National DEC Alliance, we follow The DEC Approach. This approach guides our community-based partnerships to effectively collaborate across settings to make a difference in endangered children’s lives. The primary challenges we face are identifying children at risk and being able to coordinate services through the multiple, diverse service providers involved. This DEC MDT (multidisciplinary team) collaboration effectively works to reduce the trauma endured by DEC kids, which has proven to foster resilience resulting in healthier outcomes.
Mat-Su DEC Alliance members have proven their commitment to improving the lives of children and families affected by substance misuse. As of October 2024: Local law enforcement and member agencies have submitted more than 145 On-Scene Risk Assess-
ments to the DEC Response Team. DEC Family Advocates have provided direct services to 100 children and more than 89 parents/caregivers in the Mat-Su Borough. DEC trainers have provided 20 DEC awareness presentations to more than 250 community members. Response coordination has improved among Law Enforcement, the Office of Children’s Services, The Children’s Place CAC, Mat-Su Borough School District, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and DEC Tribal and non-profit Advocacy Service Providers. To learn more about joining the Mat-Su DEC Alliance Multidisciplinary Team, email DECCoordinator@ palmerpolice.com.
Sunday, December 8th, the 5th annual Shop with a Hero event supported 41 local children with donated funds by Walmart to Christmas shop with a first responder. 13 of those 41 children were from Mat-Su DEC families. Being a part of this Alliance is truly inspiring.
How can you help? ALWAYS Report suspected child abuse or neglect: Call: 1-800-478-4444 or Email: ReportChildAbuse@alaska.gov. Request DEC awareness training for your staff or organization by emailing the DEC Coordinator at deccoordinator@palmerpolice. com. Please consider joining the Mat-Su DEC Alliance to support this highly effective endeavor: Mat-Su partners working together to provide individualized support to children and families affected by substance misuse.
