The People's Paper February 2015

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April 24th-25th, 2015

Al l Aro u n d Do w n t o w n Pa lme r !

FEBRUARY 2015

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Mat-Su Kids Ice Fishing Derby 2015

We would like to invite each of you to join us at the Matsu Kids Ice Fishing Derby Saturday February, 21st 2015 on Finger Lake in Palmer Registration will open at 9:00am and remain open until 1:00pm. The Derby will take place between 9:00am 2:00pm with the awards ceremony taking place at 2:15pm

ARTICLE ON PAGE 11

Derby Dames of the Mat-Su How To Understand Roller Derby (and Why You Should Watch It!)

Adopt Chloe.

Chloe is a young gal with quite an interesting lineage – she is part Yorkshire Terrier and part Chihuahua.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID BEDARD

The Boom Town Derby Dames (BTDD) of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley are currently skating their fourth season. Since starting in 2009 with just a few players, the team has grown enormously.

ARTICLE ON PAGE 10

‘New Beginnings’ Mat-Su Concert Band Plays First Concert in New Theater PHOTOS COURTESY OF Heather Dunn, Ambience Photography

Contributed by Angie Lewis She enjoys the company of other dogs and people too! She is happiest when playing with her humans and snuggling in a warm blanket.

She is ready to snuggle with you!

Starting with a March 1 concert, the band’s new home will be the Glenn Massay Theater at Mat-Su College, an acoustically miraculous space built with state-of-the-art equipment.

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PAGE 12 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE INSIDE

Chloe would love to meet you, so if you are interested in meeting her too, please visit one of our weekly adoption clinics or http://goo. gl/PXhmGv for an adoption application - then when complete email it to rescueadogtoday@ gmail.com or fax to 907-345-0891

MUSEUMS

The People’s Paper MUSEUMS PAGE 2

Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry (MATI) “Located by the Wasilla Airport, the museum consists of 20 acres of exhibits depicting the inventiveness, ingenuity and resourcefulness of Alaskan people.”

The Valley has many secrets but one of the best is the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry commonly called MATI. It is a great place to learn more about your own state. Share the REAL Alaska and dispel the inaccuracies of reality TV with your children, grandchildren and visiting friends and relatives.

Stepping into the gallery you see several aircraft soaring overhead in the Don Sheldon building. Here you learn the importance air transportation plays in our state where we are limited by terrain and the lack of roads. View the pictures and stories of early bush pilots included among them many of the strong, independent Alaskan women.

If you have an association with the military, you know that the Alcan Highway through Canada and Alaska was originally dirt and was built to transport military equipment and supplies during WWII and the Cold War. Several displays both inside and outside reflect the important influence the military has on our state. Inside you learn the heartwarming visual story of a son’s search to find and recover his father’s downed WWII plane from

THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE VALLEY.

the Talkeetna area. Outside are many examples of military aircraft.

Among our restored vintage automobiles is the beautifully refurbished 1923 Dodge Touring car in which President Harding rode during his 1923 visit to drive the spike completing our Alaskan Railroad.

We Alaskans dismiss the rumor that he died of food poisoning contracted during his visit to our state and will tell you he must have acquired it later during his visit to California where he succumbed.

For an excellent example of Alaskan ingenuity and inventiveness at its best, try to determine the make and model of Al Gagnon’s truck. Al lived near the Kennicott copper mine. He wanted a car but his father couldn’t afford to help him. Al gathered parts from tractors, mining equipment and anything else he could find; therefore there is no make nor model. And it still runs today.

Radio and communication equipment, gold mining exhibit, experimental aircraft and Alaskan historical memorabilia round out the inside exhibits.

Outside, walk through three of the original six troop sleeper cars from WWII which were refurbished and converted to a museum on the rails in 1967 exhibiting Alaskan history for the Alaska Centennial.

Walking through these cars you see photos that depict the struggles and hardships our early miners suffered to extract gold, coal and 95% pure copper from our mines while living and working under the extreme Alaskan conditions. In the train museum under the pictures are the actual implements and equipment necessary to operate these mines and rail lines.

Today we only have the Alaska Railroad but throughout Alaskan history 26 different rail lines serviced many of these remote mining sites.

Proudly displayed at the front of the troop cars is the 1500 engine. The 1500 and the X1000 engine next to it both appeared in the 1985 movie Runaway Train starring Jon Voight and Rebecca DeMornay. These and many other rail work equipment cars such as a school bus and an auto railer, are spread out throughout the yard.

View many examples of the early “Iron Dogs” which look nothing like the snow machines of today.

You can spend hours looking at these and much more including fire trucks used throughout the state, double ended fishing boats which were used in Bristol Bay before the invention of outboard motors, farm equipment used by the original Mat Su colonists, rescue equipment used for the Mt. Marathon race, and Anchorage’s original airport control tower. MATI is well worth the time spent to learn about the REAL Alaska and Alaskans.

Come join us for one of our many events throughout the year among them are Valley Arts Alliance, Art on Fire, North Star Quilter's Quilt Show, AK 4x4 Meet & Greet, the Halloween Night at the Museum, and Winter Blues Buster classes. Check out our web page www. museumofalaska.org or Facebook for time and dates.

But the best kept secret is the museum itself. Come see us!

We are open from Mother’s Day until Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

EDUCATION

The People’s Paper EDUCATION PAGE 3

Students Prepare for the 2015 GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon PRESS RELEASE You exercise your body to strengthen your muscles, but what if you want to keep your brain fit? Alaska students know just how. More than 150 Alaska students are exercising their brain in preparation for the 30th GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon.

The decathlon is slated to take place Feb. 25-28 at the Hilton Anchorage Hotel.

The academic decathlon is an opportunity for students to showcase their academic knowledge in an individual and team competition. Each student competes in 10 events including, economics, essay, art, interview, language and literature, math, music, science, social science and speech.

All schools must compete in local, regional and statewide competitions to move on to the U.S. Academic Decathlon.

Each team consists of nine students.

This year’s statewide competition is expected to include about 150 students representing teams from Ketchikan to the Bering Sea and many communities in between.

in 2014 Lathrop High School team won and were sent to Hawaii to compete at the national Academic Decathlon.

The GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon is a non-profit corporation developed to enhance knowledge-based skills and recognize the scholastic achievements of high school students of all abilities.

The program challenges the students to work beyond what they think academically possibly. The organization promotes learning at all levels including college scholarship opportunities to each division: honor students (3.75 to 4.0 GPA); the scholastic division (3.0-3.74 GPA); and the varsity division (0.0 to 2.99 GPA).

Christine Frandsen, also of Lathrop High School, receiving an award for getting her team the most points.

Wasilla’s MyHouse Teens to be Honored at Spirit of Youth Awards Kyra Hoenack and Nadia Makitrina of Wasilla are being honored at the 2015 Spirit of Youth Awards ON March 28

Hoenack, 18, received a Spirit of Youth Award in the category of Business and Government for her design, implementation and management of a teen-run secondhand shop called Steamdriven.

The steampunk-style boutique benefits MyHouse, a Wasilla organization that provides local support and resources for homeless teens and young adults.

Hoenack has been involved with MyHouse for three years and said the teens there are like family.

“The kids trust me and watch my back just like I watch theirs,” Hoenack said.

“Knowing I am doing this for my fellow peers in the community is extremely

rewarding…These kids are my sunshine!”

Michelle Overstreet, founder and executive director of MyHouse, has seen Hoenack develop over the years and said she connects with the MyHouse youth in a special way.

“Kyra is a leader, saying, ‘this is your place; we built this for you,’” Overstreet said in a Spirit of Youth radio story. “Her role as a peer is really powerful for [the teens] saying ‘Hey, there is success to be had; there’s opportunity here.’”

Makitrina, 16, is the in-house seamstress for Steamdriven. She was selected as a runner up for the Spirit of Youth Fine Arts Award. Makitrina helped design the business and alters used clothing to have a steampunk style, which she then sells in the shop.

Hoenack and Makitrina will be honored with the other winners at the Spirit

of Youth Awards Saturday, March 28, at 7 p.m. at the Anchorage Museum.

They were chosen from 150 statewide nominations by the Spirit of Youth Teen Advisory Council.

Spirit of Youth changes community perceptions about Alaska’s teens.

Through use of media and recognition the organization highlights youths’ accomplishments and demonstrates that teens are caring contributors in our communities. Spirit of Youth has shared hundreds of positive stories about Alaska youth through their public radio series, which broadcasts to nearly 100 communities across the state.

The Spirit of Youth Awards is the organization’s premiere event highlighting dedicated young people and unsung heroes from around Alaska.

Now in its 17th year, the awards recognize the hard work and efforts of these future leaders who utilize this

opportunity to share their inspiring and heart-warming stories. Guests at the event include the families and supporters of the awardees as well as community leaders, educators and dignitaries. Tickets for the awards dinner can be purchased at spiritofyouth.org.

Sponsors of the 2015 Spirit of Youth awards include: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, ENSTAR, BP, Mat-Su Health Foundation and the Atwood Foundation.

Fair Accepting Applications for 2015 Scholarships Alaska High School Students Invited to Apply by April 15 Deadline Palmer, Alaska – Alaska high school students are invited to apply for a 2015 Alaska State Fair scholarship.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 15 at 4:30 p.m. The recipients will be announced on or before May 9.

This year, the Fair will award five scholarships totaling $4,250, including $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, $750 for third place, and two $500 honorable mentions. New this year, each applicant will receive two free Fair admission tickets with their completed application.

All Alaska junior and senior high school students who plan to attend

college or vocational school are eligible to apply.

Please note that students who applied last year cannot resubmit their applications, as resubmissions from the previous year will be disqualified.

Applications should be mailed or hand delivered to the Alaska State Fair, 2075 Glenn Hwy., Palmer, Alaska 99645, and must be received by Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.

For more information www.alaskastatefair.org or contact Kelly Larson, Fair community relations and social media, at 907.746.7164 kelly@alaskastatefair.org

ANIMALS & WILDLIFE

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 4

DNA Testing for Dogs Contributed by Angie Lewis President of Alaska Animal Advocates

You just adopted the most wonderful dog in the world, but you have no idea what breed your animal companion is.

company that requires a blood test.

Once the cotton swab is sent back to the company, it typically takes two week to a month to get results.

Your friends and family all disagree about his lineage, so you decide that you will order a DNA kit and discover the ancestry of your pooch.

Swabbing your dog’s cheek is probably the most challenging aspect of this entire process. Most dogs are not too keen on a big QTip in their mouth.

There are a number of DNA testing companies available – just conduct a google search. Priced from $60 and up, these tests are available online and at some pet supply stores. Most of these tests involve a cheek swab, although there is at least one

Occasionally, test results from different companies can vary quite dramatically. The company with the largest breed-related genetic markers available in the database will offer the most information regarding your dog’s breed composition.

Trappers V.S. Hunters?

Contributed by Lynn Mitchell In the ongoing debate whether or not the Mat Su Borough should ban trapping on certain high-use recreational trails and school properties, a new user group will soon find themselves front and center in the unfolding storyline: hunters and their hunting dogs.

A proposal before the Board of Game, Proposal 194, submitted by Al Barrette, a Fairbanks trapper, would “prohibit the use of hunting dogs for taking upland game birds after October 31 for the Southcentral Region.”

In language taken directly from the 2014/2015 BOG Proposal Book: “What is the issue you would like the board to address and why?” Mr. Barrette’s response: “Hunting dogs being caught in lawful traps (during trapping season) while they are being used for hunting upland game birds.”

This Proposal demonstrates yet again how one user group can effectively control the use of public lands either directly or indirectly.

The conundrum for the hunters with dogs is this: If the BOG Proposal fails, hunters’ dogs will continue to navigate

Why should you do a DNA test on your dog? Well, outside of being a good conversation starter, the testing results can be discussed with your veterinarian and you can focus on potential health issues associated with certain breeds. These testing results can also give you information about the potential size of your dog or review possible behavioral characteristics.

So, if you are curious enough to know which breeds are involved in your dog’s make up, do the testing? If not, don’t bother. Regardless, love your canine companion, no matter what breed he is.

“...outside of being a good conversation starter, the testing results can be discussed with your veterinarian and you can focus on potential health issues associated with certain breeds. “

“In the ongoing debate whether or not the Mat Su Borough should ban trapping on certain high-use recreational trails and school properties, a new user group will soon find themselves front and center in the unfolding storyline: hunters and their hunting dogs.” lands laced with traps...a Russian roulette of sorts. If in the unlikely event the BOG Proposal passes, the trappers have “trumped” the hunters. The fact that such a Proposal even exists is remarkable!

Further, Mr. Barrette’s cornerstone argument - dogs off leash getting caught in traps - fails in the case of hunters as it does with SAR dogs as it does with recreational users on State park lands, the requirement being “under voice control.”

So the ultimate question then becomes: What event must occur in

order to regulate those who remain unregulated and who are directly impacting all other user groups?

Alaska Safe Trails continues to hear trapping horror stories from all corners of the MSB Core area.

Almost everyone we encounter with our petitions has either had a personal experience or knows someone who has.

It is long past time to take the mantle of self-regulation off the trappers and put it where it belongs - in the hands of our elected officials.

Responsible Pet Owners and Responsible Trappers Can Co-Exist Contributed by Kyle Wait Trappers in Alaska come with many faces. We are your family, friends and neighbors. We are teachers, business people, law enforcement officers and veterinarians. We pursue an abundant renewable natural resource that we pride ourselves on protecting, managing, and caring for.

Unfortunately sometimes our activities may not mesh well with yours.

Sometimes it’s our fault; sometimes it’s not. Each winter there come tales of dogs or other pets becoming caught in traps and snares. Catching dogs in traps is something that trappers dread, for a number of reasons.

First, we have pet dogs, sled dogs and other working dogs ourselves. We love our dogs just like others love theirs. No trapper wants to harm a dog.

Also, if a dog is caught in a trap or snare, it is bad for not only the dog and its owner, but the trapper as well. A dog in a trap means the set is ruined and won’t catch a furbearer. It means that there will be bad publicity for trappers. But most of all, a pet and, potentially, a family has experienced an unfortunate situation.

Why then does it occasionally happen?

The most obvious answer is that a trapper may have made a set too close to houses or along a public trail that gets a lot of winter use. That is arguably the trapper’s fault. Just because it is legal to set in such places does not mean that the trapper SHOULD set there. Just because there may be furbearing animals close to

built-up areas, does not make it a good idea to trap there. From an ethical and common sense standpoint, this is where a trapper should show some restraint. So why do traps end up in such places? Normally it is young or inexperienced trappers who set in such places. Responsible trappers and the various trapping organizations in Alaska have a duty to help these newcomers learn why these are not good locations to trap.

A great deal of responsibility lies with pet owners as well. Most municipalities and boroughs in Alaska have “leash law” ordinances. No one likes to be overregulated and everyone likes their pets to have a run once in awhile, but ignoring leash laws can be dangerous to your pet.

While only a few dogs end up in traps and snares each year, the overwhelming majority are off the leash and unsupervised. In these cases the trapper is not to blame. In many cases the trapper has done everything right only to be dealt a bad situation by an irresponsible pet owner. No one wins in this situation and the dog owner is the only one who has violated ordinance.

There are some resources available for pet owners who are concerned about the possibility of their animals becoming accidentally caught in traps or snares. The Alaska Trappers Association has a DVD called “Sharing Alaska’s Trails.” This video helps nontrappers to identify when they might be on a trap line. It also goes into some detail on how to release your pet from a number of different types of traps

and snares and lists some handy items to make that task easier.

The bottom line is that many traps are not designed to kill or injure animals.

In fact, they are designed to catch and hold an animal until the trapper arrives.

Thus, if your dog accidentally becomes caught and you are there to release it, There is every chance that it will not be injured.

There are however, some traps that are designed to kill animals. Ironically these “conibear” or “Body Grip” type traps were developed at the behest of animal rights and protection groups in western Canada some 50 years ago.

Those groups were concerned that “foothold” traps did not kill a furbearer outright. While these traps may, in fact quickly kill the furbearers they target, they may also kill a pet.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) also has a handy pocket guide, developed in conjunction with the Alaska Trappers Association, (ATA) to help pet owners safely release pets from a number of different kinds of traps and snares. It’s available online at: www.adfg.alaska.gov The organized trapping community always stands ready to help recreationists and other non-trappers in the resolution of conflicts. We constantly work with ADF&G, State Troopers and municipal governments (trails commissions, Animal Control, etc) to identify problem areas, problem trappers and problem pet owners.

This collaborative approach seems to work better for all involved than hastily contrived municipal ordinances

“Responsible pet owners have nothing to fear from the trapping community...”

and blatant anti-trapping regulation changes proposed to the Alaska Board of Game.

When this sort of problem arises, the ATA has had good results working with the stake holders and local government to arrive at mutually beneficial agreements. In Fairbanks, for example, ATA and the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Trails Commission came to agreement on a plan which has ATA encouraging trappers to stay away from particular areas (which are then signed at borough expense) where people can train dogs without fear of encountering traps.

As with many situations in life, education, common sense, and responsibility can win the day. The trapping community is putting forth significant effort to educate new trappers and police our ranks.

We have offered numerous Shared Trails presentations with “hands on” opportunities to the general public at no cost. We are posting signs at local trail heads such as the one accompanying this article. We are sending a mailer to all our South Central members urging them not to trap in multi-use areas.

Still, we need the cooperation of the general public. Remember leash laws exist for the welfare of people and pets.

Also, please remember that trapping generally poses no harm to leashed dogs. Responsible pet owners have nothing to fear from the trapping community.

If existing ordinances are followed, we will all enjoy Alaska’s outdoors.

COMMUNITY

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 5

The 48th Annual Palmer Gun Show The 48th Annual Palmer Gun Show is going to be March 7-8th at Raven Hall and Hoskins Bldg, on the Palmer Fairgrounds For the last 48 years, The Palmer Lion’s Club, has sponsored an annual Gun Show to generate revenue for its Community Fund, which in turn is reinvested a majority in the local community through vision screening in local area schools, sponsorship and maintenance of local parks, and sponsorship of local area sports and

recreation programs for all ages as well as numerous other benefits to the community. Our goal is to donate back to the Valley are as much as we raise.

In addition to the Gun Show, the Palmer Lions Club also sponsors an Arts and Craft Show in the Hoskins Bldg next to Ravens Hall.

4H again is participating with providing food to purchase. Look for the yummy stew and sandwiches All 4H proceeds goes to the program here in the MATSU Valley.

The Oldest Continuous Show in Alaska

Palmer Lions Club also has a gun/rifle raffle to support local area food banks.

Currently we purchase three rifles of various calibers and then select three winners at the end of the raffle.

Through the years, this raffle has evolved from generating hundreds of dollars in needed revenue for local area food banks to as recently as last year producing $3,200.00 each, for the Palmer Food Bank and The Salvation Army Food Pantry.

Our overhead, aside from the manpower to sell the tickets, is the three rifles and the production of the tickets, which is subtracted from sales and runs about $1,200.00.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.

Look for us at 3 Bears Palmer Wasilla Hwy and at Sportsman Warehouse to purchase tickets for the raffle.

10th Annual Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show Mark your calendars for the Valley’s largest trade show of its kind; it’s the 10th annual MatSu Outdoorsman Show, March 27th, 28th and 29th all happening at the Curtis D. Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla

You’ll find over 100 vendors displaying a variety of outdoor equipment and fun! -such as: fishing charters with great discounts for this season, remote lodging, river rafting, ATV’s, camper trailers; everything from tactical shooting instruction to shotgun training, knives, generators, river boats, trailers, hunting videos and fishing

Mat-Su Valley Women’s Cancer Support Group Contributed by Ellen Linsley The Mat-Su Valley Women’s Cancer Support Group meets the second Saturday of each month in the Matanuska Room at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center from 11 a.m.

To 12:30 p.m.

Join us to share stories, obtain resources and learn about survivorship.

All women with a cancer diagnosis at any stage are welcome, from newly diagnosed to long-term survivors.

For more information contact matsu.women@yahoo.com

First Annual "Spring Retail Therapy" Event Save the date - Saturday, March 28th the Valley Radiation Therapy Center and the merchants of Palmer will host the First Annual "Spring Retail Therapy" event.

Open to everyone who has been touched by Cancer Contact Diana for information diana.matukonis@anchorageradiationtherapy.com

books, Tuff Kids outdoor clothing and taxidermy displays. Plus numerous door prizes for our 10th Annual Celebration; prizes like shotguns, fishing trips, and flying charters.

For businesses, we still have booth space available; this is a great opportunity to personally promote your goods and services to over 5,000 people.

Parking is free; admission for adults is only $5, free admission for military with ID and for kids under 12!

Contact 376-6474 or visit chinookshows.com to read more about the first spring trade show in Alaska.

Trauma: Informed Care Workshop Series Contributed by Betsy Woodin This workshop series is intended for resource families (including foster, relative and adoptive families) as well as agency and tribal staff, and the general community.

There is no charge for this event and lunch will be provided for preregistrants. Resource parents can receive up to 7 hours of training for participation in each workshop.

Saturday, February 21, 2015: “What’s Underneath the Behavior” Understanding Trauma’s Effect on Young Children and Skills to Address Behaviors 0 to 5

Trainers: Alicia Deaver, Director of Consultation with thread, Alaska’s Child Care Resource and Referral Agency & Helen Strothers, Clinician at the Child Trauma Center at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services

Saturday, May 9, 2015: “Special Issues when Working with Teens “ Working with Boys, Special Issues of Teen Girls, and Dealing with Bullying Trainers: Therapists Brad Holl & Lori Houston, LCSW and Staff from STAR

Saturday, April 11, 2015: “Connecting Before Correcting” Working with High Risk and Traumatized Children in Family Relationships with a School Aged Focus

All workshops are held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the North Bowl Conference Room on the Palmer Wasilla Highway.

Trainers: Brenda Ursel, Adoption Support Specialist, & Olivia Shears, Family Support Specialist with the Alaska Center for Resource Families

Grandfamilies Activity Group Meets Monthly in Wasilla First Saturday, each month: 1:00-3:00. Relative-caregivers and their children enjoy activities and snacks at Turn-a-Leaf Thrift Store conference room 404 N Yenlo, Wasilla.

David Carry is the Volunteers of America contact person for the Alaska Grandfamilies Project (1-888522-9866 or grands@voaak.org or

visit www.voaak.org.

Rozann Kimpton is the local contact person for the Mat-Su Grandparent Support Group at 376-7322 rozann@mtaonline.net.

For more information call Betsy from Alaska Center for Resource Families at 376-4678 or bwoodin@ nwresource.org

Submitting Articles: To submit content for print, visit our website for guidelines: www.MakeASceneAk.com Deadline is the 10th of each month.

Submissions are not accepted via Facebook.

Advertising: For information on advertising rates, current sales flyers, deadlines, professional graphic design and more, please call 373-2698

Having Issues? Email us directly at makeasceneak@mac.com

For more information or to register, contact Betsy Woodin at Alaska Center for Resource Families at 376-4678 bwoodin@nwresource.org

Friends of NRA Annual Fundraising Banquet Save the date - On March 14th, 2015, the “Friends of NRA” Mat-Su Committee will hold its annual fundraising banquet at Raven Hall, Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.

Please feel free to contact us for further information, purchase banquet tickets, or inquire on a table package.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s banquet!

Steve4FNRA@mtaonline.net | 907-315-6456

POLITICS

The People’s Paper POLITICS PAGE 6

Open Letter to Governor Walker on Common Core

By Daniel Hamm

Governor Bill Walker, America’s former colonies achieved economic and educational greatness through foundational principles such as local control of government and education.

Out of this fertile soil sprang forth arguably the greatest collection of geniuses in human history. Our original disparate, geographically isolated, and economically diverse thirteen colonies united under one flag under these local principles and in the God given rights of individual freedom and personal privacy.

Through unflinching loyalty to these principles of local sovereignty, personal freedom and individual privacy, the thirteen red stripes on our nation’s flag grew into 50 white stars and the most prosperous and successful nation the world has ever known and perhaps will never know again. Common Core is the dark shadow opposite to these sacred American principles as applied to public education.

Common Core violates our First Amendment freedom in education for parents, students, teachers, and school boards. Common Core data mining of students and teachers violates the Fourth Amendment privacy clause.

Common Core circumvents federal statutory prohibitions on writing educational standards and curricula by using federal money enticements and regional shell organizations that effectively nationalize public education standards- and ultimately curricula and textbooks.

Instead of bottom-up education which is based on maximum individual freedom and privacy, Common Core quashes both of these inalienable American rights with top-down Soviet-style centralized planning using intensive testing controls to forcibly align students and teachers in controversial areas such as wealth redistribution, historical revisionism, and teaching students to question all absolutes in society up to and including Western religious values and mathematics.

Common Core employs “adaptive” computerized tests that ask different questions and ranks answers differently based on student race, which are discriminatory and in violation of the 14th Amendment equal protection clause. Common Core violates the 10th Amendment and Alaska State Constitution where our state legislature is specifically charged to set up a system of public schools.

Common Core was backdoored into Alaska through political deceit and subterfuge in order to get Federal Race to the Top funds and a waiver to

America’s former colonies achieved economic and educational greatness through foundational principles such as local control of government and education.

No Child Left Behind by the current Alaska Commissioner of Education Mike Hanley. I say deceit because the name was changed to Alaska Standards with some minor alterations using synonyms so that the Commissioner could lie to the governor and populace that Alaska has not adopted Common Core, but then apply to receive federal money and waivers and fully implement Common Core under a different name.

This sleight of hand resulted in the executive branch circumventing the state legislature’s constitutional authority in education and an outright violation of the Alaska State Constitution by the executive branch.

Common Core must be completely eradicated in Alaska- like termites laying siege to our most sacred foundations that eat away at the very roots of the Tree of Liberty itself for the next generation. Educational freedom and privacy, along with our other inestimable and unalienable American rights must be defended at all costs.

Educational standards, curricula, and textbooks should be selected at the lowest possible level and at no higher level of authority than locally elected school boards.

The state legislature has a constitutional mandate to establish a system of public schools. It should not however replicate the federal mistake by trying to centrally administer

them like a Soviet-style bureaucracy but protect their individual free and autonomous operation like the U.S. Constitution protects our free and autonomous lives.

It is my request that you Governor Walker make every effort with the authority of your executive office to end Alaska’s involvement in Common Core and its cloaked incarnations through executive action and by working with the legislature to pass legislation banning all forced Alaskan involvement in Common Core.

I would also request that you ask for the resignation of all those who brought Common Core into Alaska through serpentine deceit- like the forbidden apple in the Garden promising to make one wise but only bringing about the death of freedom and privacy once partaken.

Our forefathers gave all for our sacred freedom and privacy- from their personal treasure to their selfless toil, to the last gasp of their very lives, with their love of country and freedom never diming in their American hearts.

Let us not dishonor their memory by blowing out the candle of educational freedom for the next generation while under our watch.

Respectfully, Daniel Hamm Palmer, Alaska

Clearing the Smoke

Dispelling misinformation on marijuana legalization in Alaska

Contributed by The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol On November 4, 53% of Alaska voters approved Measure 2 to legalize and regulate the cultivation, possession, and sale of marijuana. Ballot Measure 2 received more total votes than Governor Bill Walker, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young. Most Americans for years have recognized that marijuana prohibition was just as problematic as alcohol prohibition, and a clear majority of Alaska voters agreed regulating marijuana would be a better approach Two states – Washington and Colorado – are successfully regulating marijuana for adult use and several are doing it for medical use. On February 24, Alaska’s initiative will become law and although retail sales will not be permitted until the spring/summer

of 2016, the possession, transfer, and use of marijuana becomes legal on that date. While the tide has turned both nationally and locally in favor of treating marijuana like alcohol rather than criminalizing it, there are still a lot of misinformation out there so it’s important to set the record straight.

Here are some of the main myths surrounding marijuana legalization: • Marijuana is too dangerous to be legal for adults – There is a mountain of research and government reports that demonstrate marijuana is objectively less harmful than alcohol.

It is less damaging to the body, less addictive, and less likely to contribute to violent and reckless behavior. There is no reason to believe there will be significant public health problems, and it’s quite possible that making

marijuana a legal alternative to alcohol for adults will reduce alcohol use and the problems associated with it.

for adults. In a regulated system, stores will require proof of age and there will be strict penalties for selling to minors.

• Marijuana will be uncontrolled – There will be requirements on testing, labeling, and packaging, marijuana will be closely tracked, restrictions can be created on advertising. It will all be very similar to alcohol. Marijuana has been entirely uncontrolled in Alaska and now we will be moving it out of the underground market and into a regulated business environment so it can be managed like alcohol.

• Crime and traffic accidents will go up – There is no evidence to back this up, and history suggests otherwise.

Police in CO/WA are not reporting any changes in crime associated with marijuana. Taking sales out of the underground market will likely reduce crime, etc. Law enforcement officials will be able to redirect their time and resources toward addressing serious crimes. Traffic fatalities decreased in the first year of legal adult sales in CO, and research has found traffic fatalities decreasing at faster rates after states adopt medical marijuana laws.

• Teen use will go up – Rates of teen use have not increased in Colorado, and the annual state-sponsored survey of high school and middle school students suggests a downward trend from 2009, the year marijuana businesses began openly operating throughout the state, through 2013, the year after marijuana became legal

If you are interested in learning more about marijuana legalization in Alaska, please visit: www.RegulateMarijuanaInAlaska.org

Mat-Su Farmer and Road Service Area 19 Tax Fight continued from the January edition of The People’s Paper In 1981, the borough approved petitions to annex two more subdivisions, and scheduled for an election of the residents. At the same meeting, the borough administration initiated a request to annex approximately 14 square miles of properties surrounding the existing RSA19. The assembly approved even though there had been no request or petition from the property owners.

They scheduled for a separate vote at the same election without any 'double vote'; especially for the nonaccessing properties, owners; who were outnumbered by subdivision residents.

They promised 2000$ per mile of state money for up to 18 miles total for the newly included subdivisions. This new annexed area contained approximately 10 miles of private residential roads which wouldn’t receive the 'special services'.

This proposed RSA contained at least 600 registered voters among the many more residents qualified to vote. The borough allowed a simple majority of 16 to 8 to pass the annexation they had requested.

Since this hybrid annexation wasn’t requested by petition of 51% of the property owners; nor given the 'double positive vote'; especially for the nonaccessing properties; I believe the vote

should have required a majority of the eligible residents to pass.We should have had the protection of the 'double positive vote'!

Exhibits 18 and 30 clearly show that this annexation requested by the administration did NOT receive the 'double positive vote'. This is contrary to what Spiropoulos told the Supreme Court Justices at oral arguments.On page 22 of the transcript he states that the service area was 'expanded thru the voting process I talked about.'(on page 20,'both areas vote yes'.

For the next 10 years, many of us watched our state tax dollars at work funding 'special services' on RSA roads but not our roads. Accessing properties were receiving a very 'special benefit'.

The Borough soon was wanting more money than State revenue, which was shrinking but the RSA today still receives state money. In 1991, the borough began levying a .5 mil tax, even on properties which don’t access on RSA roads.

They levied the tax without a vote of the people; claiming now, that they always had the implied power to levy taxes. Could they lawfully impose bonded indebtedness on the RSA without a vote of the people? I think not! So now the 45 separate residential

RSA roads also began receiving our property tax money.

My questions get more urgent over the years as the levy increases, as the mil rate and valuation increases. Why should my property, which doesn’t access these RSA roads, cannot receive the 'special benefit', be getting taxed.

Accessing properties receive all the 'special benefit', and those which are outside the RSA boundary don’t even get taxed.

Why is RSA so different from Fire Service Area, which provides fire protection to all property being taxed? Natural Gas Service area does not tax non-accessing properties for that improvement!Non-benefiting properties are not taxed for the pipe nor the Gas!

taxes onto my properties by allowing accessing properties to claim the state mandated exemptions.Properties which do receive the 'special benefits' are allowed to 'shrink' their tax bill and pass the fixed cost onto others.

I continued to ask, “where is the law that authorizes the borough to tax non-accessing properties, and use the money to help buy Special Services for only select roads and properties?”

The answers I occasionally received were obviously meant to confuse and obscure the facts of life in RSA19.

RSA roads were built long before the RSA, by private developers, using private money for the purely private purpose of accessing the subdivided parcels.

These RSA roads,which are 45 residential cul-de-sacs no more serves the 'public purpose' of the entire RSA than does the natural gas pipe within this service area.I don't pay for that 'special service' but I am sure those who do receive that service would like the borough to also subsidize that cost with taxes from non- accessing properties!

How can the road built for a private purpose, magically be transformed into a “public purpose” by the forming of the RSA? Building these roads is not a public purpose but maintaining them is?

To add more insult to my life, the borough calls the RSA levy a general tax, ad valorem, which shifts even more

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON WWW.MAKEASCENEAK.COM

The next borough policy will be to take public tax money, and give to land owners so they can subdivide!

VETERANS

The People’s Paper POLITICS PAGE 7

Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way Adam Aragon was wounded by an IED in Iraq with the US Army, and was denied his Purple Heart Medal because of lost paperwork.

Contributed by Jim Zumbo President of Alaska's Healing Hearts and Professional Outdoor Journalist and Enthusiast.

Adam Aragon was wounded by an IED in Iraq with the US Army, and was denied his Purple Heart Medal because of lost paperwork. Adam's advocate tried for years to help this hero receive his due award, but couldn't make it happen, because of the myriad of government rules.

Five years ago, on a bear hunt in Alaska, Adam had the fortune of meeting Christina Holden, a lady who volunteers her time on warrior hunts.

Christina chatted with him after the

hunt, and realized that this warrior was denied his just due. Like a bulldog, Christina latched onto this problem, working with Adam's advocate for more than a year, and concluding that this was a futile effort.

On her own, Christina pursued Adam's plight, but was met with brick walls.

But fortune intervened. On a Warrior fishing trip in Valdez, Christina met the Commanding Officer at Wainwright.

Adam was also on that trip. Christina had the officer's ear, and he vowed to help Adam receive his award.

By the grace of God, and one year later, everything clicked, and Adam was told that the Purple Heart was FINALLY forthcoming.

As it turned out, the award was presented at Wainwright (in Fairbanks) a day prior to the Alaska Healing Hearts Annual Bear Hunt. Christina, who lives in Maryland, was able to attend the ceremony.

Incredible story, proving the old addage, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

Please visit our website at www.alaskashealinghearts.com if you or someone that you know and love could use siome support or help in general.

AHH has a vast network of support and some well trained, experienced, and enthusiastic advocates to help as we can.

ABOUT ALASKA’S HEALING HEARTS Alaska’s Healing Hearts is a national organization offering year-round outdoor recreational opportunities for America’s brave service members and their families.

Rehabilitation activities include fishing, hunting, skiing, rodeo, dog sledding tours and various other outdoor pursuits.

We work to provide new and challenging options and experiences in an effort to contribute to social reintegration necessary for our nation’s heroes. We strive to reach beyond the clinical rehabilitation offered to injured military personnel and provide hope for warriors to continue to live active and productive lives.

Alaska’s Healing Hearts relies on the generosity of its supporters and corporate sponsors to provide and support our programs at no cost to our heroes. We accept a wide variety of donations, both monetary and in-kind. Will you join us to help our heroes?

James Hastings, US Army (retired) is the Director of Operations/GSD for Alaska’s Healing Hearts Email: ahh-james@outlook.com Phone: (907) 232-1527

POLITICS

The People’s Paper POLITICS PAGE 7

New Congress Brings New Hope for Alaska Contributed

by Sen. Lisa Murkowski For the first time in eight years, Republicans control both chambers of Congress. While our eight-vote majority in the Senate is not enough to unilaterally overcome filibusters or presidential vetoes, it is enough to restore regular order and actual debate on important issues.

The changes we are bringing to the Senate — including longer work weeks and an open amendment process — will create opportunities for bipartisan coalitions to promote policies that strengthen Alaska and our nation.

In this new Senate, Alaska will hold the gavels of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.

The combination of these powerful positions provides a singular opportunity for us to pursue policies that protect and strengthen Alaska’s rightful role as an American energy powerhouse.

These new positions are critical for creating a bright future for our families. We now hold the gavels of the panels with both policy and spending authority over the federal agencies that

control more than 60 percent of the public lands in our state.

I will continue to be a tireless advocate for Alaskans — on a life-saving road for King Cove, increased access to our federal lands, offshore oil production, monetizing our natural gas resources, the responsible development of the Arctic coastal plain, and more — except now, federal officials will have no choice but to listen.

Alaska’s natural resources are vital to our prosperity. That is why it’s in our interest to make our energy supplies as abundant, affordable, clean, diverse, and secure as possible. The best way to achieve these goals is to lead by example and encourage inclusive debate in both the committee and subcommittee.

changed in the intervening years. It’s time to reimagine our energy policies and ensure that Alaska once again has a prominent role — as a source of supply for our nation, and a testbed for promising new technologies.

As chairman, I will pursue an aggressive energy and public lands agenda that promotes Alaska’s economic independence and self-reliance, all while respecting our environment.

Implementing policies of abundance will help us finally access our rich resources. That includes the NPR-A — which has become a petroleum reserve in name only under President Obama — the waters of the outer continental shelf, the forests of Southeast and many other areas where access has been prohibited.

Bipartisanship and the flexibility to create solutions where perhaps none existed before are important, and I stand ready to work with federal agencies to create opportunities in Alaska. But that collaborative spirit ends when President Obama’s policies restrict access or stifle Alaskans.

Promoting abundance is just the first step to making energy affordable. We must also look to energy efficiency to reduce costs for families and communities. From Kotzebue to Metlakatla and from Bethel to Eagle, improved energy efficiency for public buildings and homes offers a real opportunity to reduce energy bills.

The greatest single issue of concern for many Alaskans is the high cost of energy. The good news is that we now have a unique opportunity to revisit our energy policies. Congress has not passed comprehensive energy legislation since 2007. Much has

Voluntary programs rather than more government regulation is key to success. We must look for ways to continue building on the investments the Denali Commission and state of Alaska have made in energy for our communities and our people.

Sadly, too many in Washington see policy as a pathway to protect Alaska from the people that live there. This attitude is especially visible in the current state of Arctic policy, where studies rather than investment are driving the agenda. With the United States taking over the Arctic Council this year, we must use our new leadership role to promote policies that respect the wishes of the Alaskans who call the Arctic home — and allow them to build lasting economies and create opportunities for their children.

Low oil prices are creating a level of uncertainty about state revenues and some may want to look to Washington, D.C. for short-term answers. But lasting solutions will not come from another federal program. Instead they will come from policies that provide new access, facilitate new production and finally achieve economic independence.

With a restored Senate and key chairmanships, Alaska is well served in the 114th Congress. We should all be excited by the opportunities ahead.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is Alaska’s senior senator and chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.

She has been a member of the energy committee since 2002.

Greetings from the Capitol Contributed by Rep. Cathy Tilton With the 29th Legislature under way, we have some challenges: Reducing state budgets due to low oil prices, balancing needs of communities in response to the marijuana initiative, and ensuring Alaska can commercialize natural gas and bring energy costs down.

Alaskans have seen lean times before. With careful work we’ll cut spending without crashing the budget, and we’ll likely need to do the same for the fiscal year that follows, 2017.

This may require some restructuring of state agencies and hard decisions about defining essential services.

This citizen update is a glimpse of what has occurred in my committees and what is coming up in the days ahead. I invite you to also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Community & Regional Affairs: In the committee that I chair, we are holding hearings on impacts of marijuana legalization, and what local governments need the state to do to honor voter intent, while keeping Alaskans safe. Look for hearings to continue this week; CRA meets at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Often they are broadcast via a link at akleg.gov

Labor and Commerce: A number of bills have been referred to L&C, including one I sponsored, HB 81, clarifying exemptions to the licensure requirements of contractors.This committee generally meets at 3:15 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Energy: We are hearing from energy experts on the needs and challenges for a more unified electric grid across the Railbelt. Energy meets at 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Economic Development and Arctic Policy: EDA is hearing about the proposed State Arctic Policy, HB 1. EDA meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Legislation I’ve sponsored can be followed at the state’s bill

tracking site, BASIS. For example, HB 41, re-establishing licensure for sports fishing guides; HB 81, clarifying home builder licensure rules; and HB 75, relating to marijuana regulations by local governments.

I’ll post more links to interesting legislation weekly. I hope you will subscribe to this newsletter.

Visit my legislative web site for contact details and more information about bills I am sponsoring.

FAITH

The People’s Paper FAITH PAGE 8

Daily Devotional Contributed by Tom Stearns WASI Chaplain Galatians 5:22-23 is a familiar verse.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Have you ever noticed that "fruit" is singular. One fruit manifested nine ways. Imagine it this way. When you received your last tablet, smartphone, or computer, there were APPS preloaded, which cannot be removed.

We may not access these APPS, but they still reside on our tablet, smartphone, or computer. To know what the APPS do we go to the User's Manual.

In the same way, when we became a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God immediately takes up residence. Part of what the Holy Spirit brings is fruit. We may choose not to access that fruit, but it is still there and available to us.

Then we access and implement each characteristic. We are blessed and become a blessing to others.

If we choose to access the "...fruit of the Spirit...", we need to go to God's user manual, the Bible, and study the meaning of each characteristic.

Have a great day.

Tom Stearns WASI Chaplain

I hope we all will choose to access and make the "...fruit of the Spirit..." a part of our lives.

POLITICS

The People’s Paper POLITICS PAGE 8

Influenza Part I

Contributed by R. E. Lyons Jr.

In the autumn of 1918, after approximately eleven million people had died in Eastern and Western Europe; the machines of war began to fall silent along the trench lines of Northern France and Belgium. World War I was drawing to a close and peace was at hand. Yet, the dying did not slow.

As though the Grim Reaper had in no wise sated his gluttonous appetite, a new form of respiratory illness appeared, predestined to spread from America to Australia; from the Arctic to Sub-Sahara Africa — and fated to become the most severe pandemic of all time.1 As cities and villages struggled to bury the dead in a pandemic, which in the end, would kill upwards of fifty million people (or from another perspective, 2.7% of all humans living at the time) between 1918 and 1920; children at play, sang the following simple little song:

“I had a little bird

Its name was Enza

I opened a window

And in-flu-Enza” One should not infer from this that influenza sprang upon the human race out of the blue. There had been cases of a respiratory illness involving fever, cough, muscle pain and malaise, which infected large numbers of people in 1197, 1510, and 1889. These illnesses had several regional names: “hot epidemic catarrh”, “fashionable cold”, “vernal fever”, and “la grippe”. It was the Italians who gave us the name Influenza (from the latin influentia coeli (literally heavenly influence).

These outbreaks, however, struck abruptly with a rapidly escalating number of cases each day for a couple of weeks. The attack rates then would stabilize for a couple of weeks and then began to subside. And mysteriously, just as abruptly as it began, the

epidemic ended. While many people were infected, most young, healthy adults were ill for five to seven days and then recovered. It was the elderly and chronically ill; as well as the very young who were at risk of severe complications and death.

Not so this incubus that stalked the world as the Great War ended. It broke out simultaneously in multiple locations. It seemed to specifically target the young and healthy, killing vast numbers of them. And when it resolved; it was only a short time before it re-emerged. This disease struck in waves and before it was over, it would be regarded as the worst plague in human history. Perhaps it was emotional exhaustion engendered by the trauma of World War I; but it was notable that unlike 1957 and 1968, there was little panic and despair over the outbreak. In an editorial on 18 December, 1918 The Times of London addressed this phenomenon: ‘Never since the Black Death has such a plague swept over the face of the world; never, perhaps, has a plague been more stoically accepted.’

The specter was pandemic avian influenza. Yet, whether seasonal (interpandemic) or pandemic influenza; questions do arise: What is influenza?

Why are some outbreaks horrible and some relatively minor? And most importantly, how does one avoid contracting it?

Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family. They can be further grouped into A, B, and C subgroups on genetic grounds. It is, however the H and N groupings which have most familiarity. When the viruses are viewed under an electron

microscope they appear as spheres with multiple glycoprotein spikes all over their surface. These spikes are made up of Hemagglutinin and Neurominidase.

These spikes are used to penetrate the host cells and allow the RNA to invade and hi-jack the cellular machinery to replicate the virus. It is the genetic makeup of these Hemagglutinin spikes that are the targets of vaccines, for it is they that confer immunity. The problem is their genetic makeup changes year to year, so last year’s vaccine is not good for this year’s virus. Additionally, immunizations are complicated by the fact there are 16 distinct Hemagglutinin subtypes and 9 distinct Neurominidase subtypes.

immune-compromised patients (AIDS,. malignancies, hemaglobinopathies and diabetes). Among these are Primary Influenza Pneumonia, Secondary bacterial pneumonia, and mixed viral / bacterial pneumonia.

9 Bear in mind, however that complications are not limited to the lungs. Severe muscle inflammation (myositis) has occurred with muscle destruction (rhabdomyolysis) and kidney complications. Brain and CNS complications include Transverse Myelitis, brain inflammation (encephalitis), as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome with weakness and paralysis of the arms and legs. Additionally, Toxic Shock Syndromes have been reported.

Thus an Influenza A virus can be A/ H1N1 or A/H2N1 or even A/H3N1. In general, Influenza A viruses cause the worst symptoms, Influenza B much much less severe and influenza C viruses cause symptoms similar to the common cold and bronchitis.

Yet, for all the seriousness of these complications; on rare occasions, there occurs a progressive and irreversible deterioration of cardiac, pulmonary, or renal function as a complication of influenza which is always fatal.11 This is almost always among the elderly, chronically ill and / or immunecompromised.

Yet while it is not uncommon to be reassured by your practitioner (as I have myself done) that it’s “just a touch of the flu”; one should never forget that from 1976 to 1990, non-pandemic seasonal influenza killed approximately 19.000 people per flu season, and from 1991 to 2000, it killed roughly 36,000 per flu season. Additionally, from 19792001, about 226,000 hospitalizations occurred annually from complications of influenza.

Influenza is transmitted by aerosol and direct contact. Infected patients who cough and sneeze spread droplets, as well as viral particles into the air.

Shaking hands with infected people has also been shown to be a method of transmission, as is contact with inanimate objects handled by infected people (fomite transmission).

Seasonal Influenza can, on rare occasions, cause serious complications in elderly people, patients with cardiac disease, chronic lung disease or

This being said, how does one reduce the risk of becoming infected? There are several things one can do. Good hygiene, especially hand washing is a must. Avoidance of large crowds and more specifically, large crowds in poorly ventilated, enclosed places during flu season is another method of reducing risk. The annual Influenza vaccine is, however, the best way to reduce your risk of influenza; even in cases such as occurred this year, when a new serotype appeared after the vaccine was made.

13 Getting the immunization confers reduction in risk for the complications even if one should contract the flu.

For that reason, I agree with the recommendations that everyone above the age of six months receive the influenza vaccine if they have no contraindications to it.

In Part II, I will cover Pandemic influenza and the Avian and Swine flu viri.

Testimony for Wes Keller’s HB 30 CONTRIBUTED BY Stuart Thompson lookitover@att.net I offer to my fellow citizens the text of my February 6th testimony to the House Education Committee for the passage of Wes Keller’s HB 30 Constitutional History Curriculum. It is slightly edited to include some supplementary remarks. Consider it.

It’s a well known concept that knowledge enables competent change and problem solving. It follows that chronic state and national problems, or propaganda-driven solutions that rebound with grosser problems, or no verifiable/satisfactory results from using public money, all expose poor or no education.

I’ve followed the debate on Rep. Wes Keller’s bill for some years. Educational special interests claim that necessary civic education is provided in segments within a couple semesters of social studies. Further, they say, an educational mandate would generate extra labor Alaska can ill-afford.

These rationalizations for continuing inadequate citizen education make me want to puke. Here’s a simple elaboration.

Contrary to the propagandized portrayal of America having government of, for and by the people, what actually gets conducted now is benevolent elected aristocracy (government by an elite). This is well revealed by the chronic vulnerability of American politicians to lobbyists and campaign donation blackmail — typical of highly centralized forms of

government. Naturally, politicians think it’s best to make the hard decisions, as elected agents or officials, on behalf of everyone. This political definition of “represent” is supported by being in modern college-level dictionaries.

But there lies the problem. This definition of “represent” isn’t the one that was used by US founding fathers!

Nor does it align with the Alaska Constitution’s Article I sections 1 & 2!

The proof is simple.

There were no English dictionaries available to people in America’s formative years. Educated people then were also conversant with Latin and Greek. Therefore, their understanding of English words for use in important writings arose from the Latin or Greek derivations of those words. So what is the true meaning of “represent” on that basis? It is to “show or put forth again”. If you represent people that way, politicians are supposed to relay the fruits of their constituent’s minds.

That means elected officials are duty-bound to actually lead their constituents so they supply an organized body of comprehensive viewpoints for legislative use. That also means a political leader has to handle constituent laziness or ignorance or immaturity so he can represent something.

Let me note here that elected officialdom is our country’s only major profession that doesn’t compel continuing education. The pride in this is so arrogant that about 10 years ago I was refused even a hearing before the House Rules Committee about making legislator continuing education about

government a legislative rule. This is despite existing Legislative Rules that legitimize doing so.

Not knowing true representative government methodology well—easily a consequence of not understanding the basic word underlying all of our political heritage—makes politicians and citizens alike reach for the methodologies of other forms of government. For example, how most elected officials now treat constituent concerns, and how constituents now approach elected officials, is quite similar to the political relationship of nobles & peasants in the Middle Ages.

Research the word assizes—the town hall meeting/public hearing of that era.

Pass HB 30. Let’s give our youth a start at learning the true philosophy and methods of self-government—which channels organized liberty with true justice in the pursuit of happiness.

Supplementary testimony was given as follows: I would like to simply state what is arguably the most fundamental principle of government known to history—that is apparently not being taught. This omission is arguably hurting Alaskans and their teachers.

Alaska Constitution Article 7’s prohibition against sectarian control of education should compel your interest in the fact that the following principle is not directly taught in Alaskan schools — evidenced by citizen and government conduct.

All types of government fall somewhere on a spectrum as follows:

1) Government of the people (examples: dictatorships, monarchies, and theocracies, shading to elite oligarchies/aristocracies); 2) Government of and for the people (examples: benevolent ruler-ships like nobility-counseled or parliamentarybacked monarchies, shading to elected aristocracies that honor Rule of Law); and 3) Government of, for, and by the people (examples: real constitutional republics and parliamentary democracies, shading to ethics-driven democracies and anarchies). You can judge the type of government being used by the types of devices that get utilized to rule, the attitude towards citizen potential (i.e.

Obama’s “people are too small minded to govern themselves” versus Thomas Jefferson’s convictions), and how much a government harvests the fruits of people’s minds to govern.

Thanks again for your attention. I shall leave you with something to think about for the rest of your legislative careers. Consider. The volume of true citizen participation in government of, for, and by the People is probably the most reliable test for public education effectiveness that could ever be. Good luck on your deliberations.

Supplemental general references: 2014 Princeton Study on actual impact of Americans on the course of US government (i.e. US is now an oligarchy rather than a republic).

Montesquieu’s book on historical forms of government — studied by all US founding fathers.

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 9

Bikers Against Hunger!

Host: Midnight Sun Riders (chapter 801 of Christian Motorcycle Association) , and Alano Club of Wasilla

This is a local food drive to benefit the “Food Bank of Wasilla”Distributing to the Mat- Su Valley area food pantries.

When: Sunday February 22nd, 2015 @ 2pm

This will be a spaghetti feed dinnerto honor those who helped in the food drive.

Where: Alano Club of Wasilla 901 Snohomish Dr

7 canned goods entrance fee, or $10 at the door. Kids 10 and under fre

HeartReach Center – What It’s All About What in the world goes on in HeartReach Center? You may have heard about us over the past 30 years but you may have no idea what we actually do…or you may have preconceived ideas about what we do.

Well, please let me share with you what happens at HRC. Besides being the Diaper Bank of Alaska, we have several aspects to our faith-based organization. We offer free pregnancy tests to any woman, any age, who calls in to schedule one.

We also handle walk-ins, but prefer an appointment because lately we have become so busy. We also offer limited ultrasounds, based on certain criteria the client meets.

We refer for all sorts of needs a client may have, and we especially encourage our clients to enroll in our Embracing Parenthood Program (E.P.P.) in which clients are able to meet one-on-one with a mentor to work through selected parenting classes and other life-skill lessons. As they attend each meeting, they earn “parent bucks” and

can spend them in our Market, where we have a roomful of maternity clothes, baby and toddler clothes, shoes, gear, diapers, and other items needed for raising young children. Through the E.P.P. program clients can even earn car seats and other larger baby gear, as well as baby baskets filled with new items, and other significant aids to help with a newborn.

One of the more private and most confidential aspects of our ministry is a healing class for those who need Abortion Recovery. This class is considered most sacred, as these are women and men who have experienced deep heartache due to an abortion, whether or not it was their choice or someone else’s.

People share their stories with one another and work through the process of grief and forgiveness together as they work through a particular curriculum designed to assist a group in this healing process. Many experience tremendous freedom and forgiveness after years of quiet suffering from having been affected by an abortion in their lives.

We also have a Men’s aspect to our outreach, headed by Doug Prins, our Fatherhood Program Coordinator. We have very faithful, highly respected men from the community who volunteer their time each week to meet with their male clients, and sometimes with couples, to help them work through topics such as parenting, family, fatherhood, healthy relationships, spiritual and other related issues.

Due to HeartReach being a faith-based organization, funds do not come from the government. All services are free to the clients, and are mostly funded from the local churches, businesses, and many individuals who support the ministry with their personal donations.

Sometimes private grants are also

Doug is incredibly busy when in the center, but also reaches out to the community by offering “24/7 Dad” classes off-site at locations such as Job Corps.

The Hearing Aid

By Mike Dillingham, Mat-Su Senior Services Member and Volunteer You are my hearing aid. I have a hearing disorder so I need your help to understand what you are saying to me. Oh, I know, you get frustrated repeating things to me or hearing me ask “What did you say”?

Well if you think it is frustrating to you, what about me? You think I like not being able to hear you?

“Well that is your problem, not mine,” you may think. Not so. If I can’t hear you, how can I help you? Or communicate with you, or tell you stories, or pay you a compliment, or

Subconsciously, we all read lips.

So speaking loudly may be of little help. “Wow, I did not think of that. So what can I do to help”?

4.) Don’t try to “out shout” ambient noise such as crowd noise, TV’s, “elevator music,” and general background noise.

1.) Make sure you have my attention.

2.) Talk to my face so I can see your lips.

While I may hear your words if spoken behind me, I may not understand them unless I see your face.

We have completely outgrown our current location, and work in rather tight quarters to accomplish the ministry to serve several hundred clients each year (last year we saw 885 individual clients). We hope to build and expand HeartReach within the next five years.

HEARTREACH STAFF

“I have a hearing disorder so I need your help to understand what you are saying to me.”

ask what you would like for lunch?

See, it is a problem for both of us.

“Okay, I’ll speak louder,” you may say.

Well, that might help but in most cases people may loose their ability to understand words.

Here is a short list:

acquired, but the majority of our budget is covered by donations, both in-kind and monetary. Recently we were given a prime piece of property for a future site to build on.

3.) Talk normally at your normal speech speed. My eyes and brain work very fast to “read your lips” even if I am not aware that I am.

5.) Don’t shout, especially if I am driving, cooking or working with a power tool. You could startle me and cause an accident.

6.) Make sure I heard you correctly. If you ask me, “What is the time”? And I

answer, “Yours is near the chair”. You can bet your bottom dollar that I mixed up “time” with “mine”.

7.) Don’t get upset or frustrated.

8.) Watch my body language and facial expressions for clues indicating I heard you and heard you correctly.

9.) And finally, make sure you get your ears checked.

As we mature in this ultra noisy society we live in, everyday loud sounds can cause some form of hearing loss. Maybe, you are not hearing me correctly?

Remembering Sunny Knik Bible Camp Contributed by Vic Kohring Very few people are aware there once existed a special place outside Wasilla called Sunny Knik Bible Camp. Over a half century ago, this gem was built on the south shore of Knik lake and was run by a man named Chet Burden and his wife.

As a young boy, I attended the camp and still have vivid memories of my experience from so long ago. Back in the 1980’s, out of curiosity, I walked through the woods of the old camp site, which by then was shut down.

All that remained were abandoned, deteriorated, ghostly buildings. It was sad. Today, no evidence of the camp exists and the property has been subdivided with new and expensive homes in its place.

I was only six years old the first summer I attended Sunny Knik in June, 1965. It was my first extended time away from home and I remained strong for the first three days until homesickness set in. Chet managed to convince me to hang tough once I finished bawling my head off on my bunk bed one afternoon. After I settled down, I got into the serious business of camping. I was taught how to launch and maneuver a boat on the lake, although once got in trouble for forgetting my life jacket. I learned about plants and wildflowers including

rose hips and bluebells. I remember visiting Knik’s native graveyard with the traditional colorful huts.

Chet took us on hikes in the area, showing where Tanaina indians once lived a century before. All that remained of their homes were large depressions in the ground overgrown with alders and birch. We also beach combed along empty stretches of beach at nearby Knik Arm and pulled salmon from a set net. I found driftwood from which I made a candle holder centerpiece as a gift for my parents.

Chet explained how he grocery shopped in Anchorage using the tides of Knik Arm, launching his small wooden boat and timing it with the outgoing tide that would take him the two-plus miles across the silty, turbulent water to town. When he finished shopping, he let the tide bring him back to the Knik side. The unique method of travel sounded dangerous, but fascinating.

The camp was in a beautiful location, nestled among a thick stand of birch trees with a collection of a half dozen rustic log buildings from local spruce.

My favorite was the “prayer tower” with winding steps leading to the top where people would pray and meditate. The tower was meticulously hand-crafted with a nice log oil finish that glistened in the sun. Several area churches built Sunny Knik in the early 1960’s with volunteer help. One of

them was Church in the Wildwood of Eagle River where my family attended.

We lived in Chugiak at the time on Birchwood Loop Road. Traveling to Knik from our house was a long endeavor and an adventure in itself.

There was no highway across the Palmer Hay Flats (a two lane gravel road opened in ‘65), so you took what today we call the Old Glenn along the base of the Chugach Mountains to the Butte, through Palmer, west to Wasilla and on to Knik. It was about 60 miles one way, but took nearly two hours on winding stretches of narrow paved road. Today the drive takes about an hour.

I can still smell the burning wood and feel the heat from a big cast iron stove in the camp’s kitchen where I was assigned dish washing and stoking the fire. Oddly, I also remember the smell of duffle bags and musty sleeping bags inside my cabin each time I entered.

And to this day whenever I get a whiff of an Irish Spring soap bar, something my mother packed in my gear, I have a flashback to my camping experience.

“Off” bug spray too. And I can still hear the sound of Chet, the camp’s director, banging on a large chunk of steel pipe hanging from a tree early each morning, which served as the wake up bell for campers.

On my last day of camp, a big family picnic was held. As parents arrived by car one at a time down a steep hill

on the rutted dirt road into camp, I anxiously looked to see if it was my family. Finally after the picnic ended and the place nearly deserted, my dad and brother Jim rolled up in our white Ford Econoline van, the last to show up.

My dad was a drywall contractor and was working on a house in Palmer on a tight timeline, so he was late arriving which was no fault of his. It didn’t matter as I was thrilled to see him and to know I wasn’t abandoned! It turns out I had so much fun at camp that I attended again the following summer.

Sunny Knik Bible Camp is where I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart.

It’s also where my father and mother were baptized, so it was a very special place for my family. I remember one evening in the camp’s dining hall when Chet was holding a church service and explained the story of salvation in terms I could understand as a youth.

At the end of the service, I raised my hand, asking for counseling and prayer.

That was exactly 50 years ago this June. Hard to believe.

SPORTS

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 10

Derby Dames of the Mat-Su How To Understand Roller Derby (and Why You Should Watch It!)

By Holly Phillips (CherNobyl, #30) and Mandy Hope (Assault and Pepper, #7) of the Boom Town Derby Dames BTDD will host the Garnet Grit Betties from Wrangell on Friday, March 6th at 7pm at the Curtis Menard Sports Center in Wasilla.

Check Brown Paper Tickets for ticket information What exactly is roller derby? Many people show up to a game expecting to see the violent, often staged spectacles of the 1970’s.

In fact, modern roller derby, which made a strong comeback in the early 21st century, has evolved into a legitimate full-contact sport in which the players train rigorously and play hard.

Roller derby is predominately a women’s full-contact sport, but co-ed and men’s leagues have been gaining popularity. Skaters enjoy showing off bruises, as they are seen as trophies of their hard work.

These strong women practice several times a week and focus on strength and endurance training to become a force to be reckoned with on the track.

Modern roller derby still retains some of the flair of the early days.

Throwbacks such as knee socks and “booty shorts” worn by players, and amusing (and sometimes disturbing) monikers used as “skater names” are still very popular. Women of all shapes and sizes all have a vital role on a team, each offering different strengths to enhance gameplay. It is truly unique, beautiful and sometimes brutal.

As the sport has gained popularity in recent years, more and more teams have emerged all over Alaska, from Ketchikan in the southeast to Fairbanks in the north. Currently there are 18 established teams in the state, with more on the way.

The Boom Town Derby Dames (BTDD) of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley are currently skating their fourth season.

Since starting in 2009 with just a few players, the team has grown enormously.

They pride themselves in being community-minded, having partnered up with local organizations such as My House in the past as well as their current partner charity, Hope for Heroes, a non-profit corporation dedicated to raising money and providing assistance and support to

military families and troops during deployment throughout the year.

They also volunteer at community events such as MDA Fill the Boot, the Mat-Su Polar Plunge, the Boys and Girls Club “Saint Pats in the Mats” fundraiser, and Santa Cops and Heroes, a non-profit that provides Christmas presents to valley seniors.

Interested in becoming a Boomie?

Find and like them on Facebook to see upcoming game dates and contact them if you are interested in volunteering or becoming a skater, referee or non-skating official (NSO), or to learn more about their Fresh Meat program, which teaches new skaters the basic skills needed to play this hard-hitting sport. They would love to have you!

If you’ve ever been to a roller derby game, you know how hard it can be to follow—with the large number of players out on the track, the fast pace, and the sometimes confusing penalties, it can be pretty chaotic. It would take a while to explain ALL the rules of roller derby, so here are the basics: Time: Roller derby is divided into two 30-minute periods with a half-time break in between. The periods are further broken into two-minute shifts called “jams.” There’s no limit to the number of jams allowed in a period.

Players: While a full roster can contain up to 14 skaters, there are only five players from each team on the track at a time; four “blockers” and one “jammer”. The jammer is designated by the star on her helmet, and will start out behind the rest of the skaters, called the “pack.”

The Pack: Among the pack of blockers, you will notice a skater from each team with a stripe on her helmet. These skaters are called “pivots,” and their job is to call out strategy to their blockers.

The pivot is also the only skater who can become the jammer in what’s referred to as a “star pass” or “passing the panty.”

Gameplay: When the whistle blows, the jammers try to break through the pack of blockers. The blockers use hip, shoulder and body checks to move or knock opposing blockers out of the way to allow their jammer through, all while trying to keep the opposing jammer back.

The jammer, meanwhile, does her best to get through the opposing blockers. The first jammer to clear the pack without incurring any penalties is designated the “lead jammer.” What’s

so great about this? A lead jammer is able to “call off” the jam (cut short the two minutes) if she is having trouble breaking through the pack on her following passes, or as a strategy move—for example, by calling off the jam when the opposing jammer is nearing the pack in order to keep the opposing jammer from scoring points.

It’s all about protecting her points! The jammer calls off the jam by repeatedly tapping her hips. If there is no lead jammer signaled, the jam will go for a full two minutes. It is only during the second pass that points are scored.

Once a jam is called off, the teams have 30 seconds before the next jam starts to field four blockers and a jammer.

Points: Jammers score points by passing each opposing skater’s hips legally (upright and in-bounds). There is no siren that sounds when they score, but the jammer referee will hold up fingers to show how many points the jammer has earned. That’s why there are two referees in the center; to watch each jammer to see penalties and points.

You will also notice that there are referees on the outside of the track.

These referees watch the blockers for penalties. There are non-skating officials (NSOs) who carry clipboards and stopwatches around looking important, as they are! There are many NSO positions, to include penalty box timers, penalty trackers and scorekeepers. Referees and NSOs are very important to the game, as they keep things under control and the game running smoothly.

Penalties: A penalty is called whenever a referee observes an illegal procedure.

Once a penalty is called, the offending skater must immediately skate to the outside of the track and proceed to the penalty box, where she serves 30 seconds.

When the penalty is over, she is allowed to re-enter the track behind all the other players. Some common penalties are “forearms”, when a blocker or jammer uses any part of her arm from the elbow to the hand against an opposing team member; “cutting the track”, in which all or part of a player’s skate goes outside the track boundary and the skater re-enters the track in a better position than before she went out; “clockwise blocking”, or blocking that occurs in the clockwise direction (the normal direction of gameplay is counter-clockwise); and “blocking out of play”, which occurs when a blocker continues to block a jammer outside the engagement zone, the area 20 feet ahead of and behind the pack.

Sometimes it’s hard to hear the refs when they call penalties, which can be confusing for spectators. Many people don’t know that every time a penalty is called, the ref who made the call does a hand signal showing what type of penalty it was.

Ask a Question Mark Girl at the next game to explain what the hand signals mean. She will be walking around holding up a giant question mark sign, so she’s hard to miss!

Now that you're an expert spectator, we hope that you will find the sport more enjoyable! Derby girls love to talk about roller derby, so if you ever have a question or just want to strike up a conversation, they’re more than willing to talk your ear off!

They look forward to seeing you at their next game.

All the games are held at the Curtis Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla at 7pm MARCH 6TH, APRIL 25TH, MAY 9TH HERE COMES THE BOOM!

COMMUNITY

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 11

Mat-Su Kids Ice Fishing Derby 2015

The Matsu Kids Ice Fishing Derby is Alaska’s largest Ice Fishing Derby and has raised $22,500 for Make-A-Wish Alaska in the last two years.

in support of this event. Without this support of both volunteers and businesses the event would not be possible.

With funds from this years event we hope to surpass the $30,000 mark. With the help and support of our community and sponsors all indicators say that we will achieve this goal.

Our Goals: In conjunction with meeting our fundraising goals we are also working hard to find ways to increase attendance so more kids have the opportunity to participate in this fun filled day of fishing. Last year we had over 560 kids participate in the derby and are looking forward to breaking that record this year! This year we will again have no entry fee that means kids fish FREE!

About the organizers: Butch and I are born and raised Alaskans who call Palmer home and host this event through our youth education and guide service business Ehmann Outdoors.

Not only do we pour 1000’s of hours into this event we are joined by a group of tireless volunteers who also see the value of giving children an opportunity to fish. Year after year we continue to be in complete awe over the resounding response from the business community

So how do we raise money for Make-AWish if there’s no entry fee? Our funds come from generous contributions from sponsors and raffle proceeds.

Each raffle ticket is $10 and tickets can be purchased at Hatcher’s Pass Polaris

and Three Bears on trunk road. We have amazing raffle prizes that include a kids four wheeler, Ice augers, underwater camera, shelter, Three Rivers custom ice fishing rods, Sears premium mattress, fishing trips, gift certificates, IPAD, Train tickets, and much much more.

Activities: We will continue this year with an interactive fish stocking demonstration where the ADF&G hatchery staff will join us on the ice at noon and help children pour buckets of fish into the lake. This along with free hot chocolate, and visitors like Safety Bear will continue to ensure children looking forward to derby year after year!

Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the 3 longest fish in each age category and each fish released alive after being measured will have 1 addition inch

Saturday February, 21st Finger Lake, Palmer

added to length to encourage catch and release. Prizes will also be awarded to the best homemade fishing pole in order to alleviate the burden placed on families to purchase new gear.

We would like to invite each of you to join us at the Matsu Kids Ice Fishing Derby Saturday February, 21st 2015 on Finger Lake in Palmer. Registration will open at 9:00am and remain open until 1:00pm.

The Derby will take place between 9:00am - 2:00pm with the awards ceremony taking place at 2:15pm Please feel free to contact us for more information or questions on FaceBook @ Ehmann Outdoors or at ehmannoutdoors@gmail.com

COMMUNITY

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 12

Gathering Grounds Café A Success Gathering Grounds is a for-profit venture that trains and employs homeless youth IN THE MAT-SU

Gathering Grounds is a for-profit venture that trains and employs My House homeless clients while offering an income stream back to the nonprofit to support services for homeless youth. This provides clients with valuable skills and training, and offers income to help obtain housing and stabilize their situation.

Gathering Grounds Café has trained over 30 homeless youth in the community for productive endeavors!

Four are attending college, two went back to high school, and over 20 went on to better jobs and situations. These youth went from homeless and jobless to being productive and gaining the confidence and experience to become productive members of our community.

In 2014, the Café trained 37 youth for jobs as Barista’s. All 37 got their food service cards as well as identification that is required for employment.

Many homeless youth do not have identification necessary for getting a job, nor do they have the resources to replace the documents to be able to obtain the ID, so case management services helping with this are critical.

They also received cash register and customer service training, with instruction on DEC regulations and food storage.

In addition, 18 received a certificate of Barista training from Kaladi Brothers University, and 7 others have certificates of training from Summit Spice and Tea, certifying that they have been trained to make a “proper” cup of tea.

Seattle Culinary Institute Trained Chef Alice Renfro taught 27 to bake bread, cookies and to make homemade soups to be sold in the Café. And another 12 learned inventory and budget shopping by purchasing groceries for the Café, a valuable work skill and a great life skill!

Five received management skills training through Nine Star and MY House partnership training programs, learning about budget, inventory, ordering products and menu development, along with teambuilding, communication and leadership skills.

They are also in the process of gaining regulatory compliance Training for emergency, fire and health standards.

Turnover in the café is high-it is designed to build skill sets and competency. All of the youth who left Gathering Grounds went on to better jobs or better training opportunities except for four, and their whereabouts is unknown.

Rotarian Spotlight - Bill Odom Bill Odom is a valued community leader.

For many years, as President of Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, he helped establish community-wide recycling and clean-up efforts all around Anchorage.

responsibility as a Board member and works every day to make sure the organizations he is involved with are accomplishing their mission and are operating in a sound, fiscal manner.

For the past fifteen years, Bill has served on the Board of Directors of the Alaska Aviation Museum. Under his guidance as President for the past three years, the Aviation Museum has grown significantly and with his support and dedication, the Museum is now financially stable. Bill is not the kind of leader who just occupies a seat on a Board in order to "pad" a resume. Bill takes full

Not only does Bill bring life-time experiences to the tasks he undertakes for the community, but he does it with a big heart, a ready smile and a willingness to make sure he is doing the best job possible, whatever the job is. Bill is an avid skier, a private pilot and a boating enthusiast - all great activities for a person who is so much a part of Alaska.