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MID-JUNE

2026

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City of Wasilla 4th Of July Parade

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displays for the City of Wasilla 4th of July events due to July typically being a high fire season. There is still time to sponsor the parade. Call 907-373-9050 and press Option 1. Thank you to our community members for volunteering their time to celebrate the 4th of July. Thank you to our sponsors: Presenting Sponsor – True North Recovery, Liberty Sponsor – Three Bears Alaska and Mat-Su Health Foundation, Freedom Sponsors – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Alaska (Shriners) and True Care services, Patriot Sponsors – Patriot Towing and Recovery and Back Country Services and Adam Crum, Community Partner – Durham School Services. Special thanks to Wasilla Police Department Explorers, King’s Chapel and Wasilla/Palmer Community Response Teams (CERT), Make a Scene/People’s Paper, Music in the Park, Curtis D. Menard Sports Center, National Weather Service Anchorage, Eddie Maxwell, Paula Nance, SERTOMA, Sherwin-Williams, Denali Family Services, and all our float participants. Thank you.

EN RD

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DOWNTOWN AREA CLOSED TO THRU TRAFFIC AT 9:30AM

E V O TC ES W

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PAGE 3

Boots in the River: Volunteers Help Maintain the Russian River Fishery Contributed by Mary Glaves

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On a cool May morning, before the crowds and the salmon arrive in full force, a group of volunteers gathered along one of Alaska’s most beloved fishing destinations with a simple goal: leave the river better than they found it. On May 30, volunteers with the Alaska Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers joined Stream Watch and the U.S. Forest Service on the Russian River to install temporary fencing along heavily used sections of the river corridor ahead of the summer fishing season. Armed with post drivers, fencing materials, waders, and plenty of determination, the crew spent the day working to protect sensitive streambank habitat while helping ensure anglers can continue to enjoy Joseph Smith, BHA member visiting from Texas, getting his boots wet and hands dirty for Alaska’s the fishery for years to come. wild public lands. The Russian River is world-renowned nity-based conservation. When hunters, For many volunteers, the project was for its salmon runs and attracts thousands anglers, agency staff, and local volunteers about more than installing fence posts. of anglers each summer. That popularity, work together, meaningful improveIt was an opportunity to give back to a while a testament to the river’s incredplace that has provided countless memo- ments can be made for fish, wildlife, and ible fishing opportunities, also creates the people who enjoy these resources. challenges. Heavy foot traffic can damage ries, meals, and adventures. Throughout The Alaska Chapter of Backcountry the day, stories were exchanged between streamside vegetation, increase erosion, Hunters & Anglers extends its sincere swings of the post driver, friendships and degrade the habitat that salmon and thanks to all who participated, as well as were strengthened, and a shared other wildlife depend on. Stream Watch and the U.S. Forest Service commitment to conservation was put The fencing project is a practical for their partnership. Special thanks go into action. solution to those challenges. By guiding Conservation often begins with policy to project leaders Jeff Knisley and his anglers toward designated access points discussions and public meetings, but wife, Kam, for organizing the effort and and away from vulnerable areas, the stewardship happens on the ground. It helping make the day a success. fencing helps preserve vegetation, stabihappens when volunteers show up, get The work may have only taken a day, lize streambanks, and reduce sediment but its impact will last throughout the entering the river. Healthy riparian habitat their boots wet, and dedicate their time and energy to caring for the places fishing season. It also serves as a reminder is critical to maintaining clean water and they love. that maintaining Alaska’s wild places is a productive fish habitat throughout the Projects like the Russian River fencing responsibility shared by all who benefit watershed. effort demonstrate the power of commu- from them.

Chickaloon Tribal Police Chief Donna Anthony Announces Retirement

Contributed by Donna Anthony

After more than 20 years in law enforcement, I have made the difficult decision to retire as Chief of Police for the Chickaloon Tribal Police Department, effective June 30, 2026. This has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life. Serving the Chickaloon community alongside dedicated officers, Tribal leadership, federal partners, staff, and community members has meant more to me than words can express. Together, we strengthened public safety, built trust, supported victims, mentored new officers, and served with integrity and compassion. I have always believed deeply in the mission of Tribal public safety and in helping all Alaskans, especially those in remote and underserved areas where assistance can be hours away. Alaska continues to face some of the nation’s highest rates of sexual assault, domestic violence, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons cases. These realities drove my commitment to stronger partnerships, better training, and safer communities throughout my career. I offer my sincere thanks to the Chick-

aloon Tribal Council for their trust and support. I am also deeply grateful to every officer, dispatcher, staff member, and community partner I’ve worked with. This work is never done alone. Law enforcement was never just a career for me, it was a calling. From my years with the Palmer Police Department, patrol work, undercover assignments, drug investigations, and working with the DEA, to leadership roles and Tribal policing, I have dedicated my life to protecting others and preparing people to survive critical incidents. While retirement is bittersweet, this is not the end of my service. I will continue my mission through Point Blank Firearms & Self-Defense Training, traveling across the United States to teach firearms safety, self-defense, active shooter response, church security, and reality-based training programs. Empowering people to become safer, stronger, and more prepared will always remain close to my heart. Many of you also know I am running

for Alaska House District 26 in 2026. After years on the front lines of public safety, I believe it’s time to bring real-world experience and practical leadership to the Alaska State House. I will continue fighting for strong communities, constitutional rights, public safety, and a brighter future for Alaska families. To everyone who has supported me, thank you. Your encouragement, friendship, and trust have meant everything. This next chapter brings a new adventure, but my heart for service will never change.

Celebrate Our 250th July 4th in Palmer Contributed by Doug Ferguson

Here’s your chance to experience a unique celebration of our 250th July 4th in the Mat-Su Valley. Here in Palmer at St. John’s Lutheran Church, a group has been celebrating the 4th of July history here for the past several years. For this special occasion, they have planned a very special and unique event to be held outdoors in downtown Palmer. There are many special events planned. An actual field black powder cannon will be fired several times during the program. Many participants will be dressed in colonial outfits to create a historic atmosphere, along with the

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historic reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the performance of historic music of the founding period. Several special stories about famous people of the period that many have never heard will be told, along with other interesting stories now often forgotten. The celebration is planned for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the green adjacent to St. John’s Lutheran Church, in plenty of time to get back from the 4th of July parade in Wasilla. If you wish to celebrate and learn more about the unique aspects of the founding of our special American culture, plan to attend this rededication of the

Declaration of Independence event. Parking areas will be designated but are limited, so either come early or plan for a longer walk. Hot dogs, sausages, all-American chips and bottled water will be available. Bring a blanket for the lawn and a folding chair for each person. There will be a restroom nearby if needed. All dogs must be leashed, and owners are responsible for waste pickup. Hope to see you at this once-in-a-lifetime historic event. Doug Ferguson is a retired engineer who moved to Alaska in 2017 to be near family and has had a lifelong interest in science, gardening and, of course, history.

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PAGE 4

Grand View Inn & Suites Announces Fourth of July Weekend Celebration Contributed by Jacqui Ortiz, General Manager, The Grand View Inn & Suites

The Grand View Inn & Suites is excited to invite community members and visitors to join us for a fun-filled Fourth of July weekend celebration taking place behind the hotel. This family-friendly event will feature activities for all ages, including a giant inflatable bouncy house and a huge inflatable Twister game. Guests can enjoy a festive

atmosphere while celebrating the holiday weekend with friends and family. Food will be available for purchase from The Grill and Locals Pub & Pizzeria, featuring delicious grilled favorites. Guests are also invited to relax and enjoy the celebration in our outdoor seating area, making it easy to gather with family and friends while taking in the holiday festivities. “We are thrilled to bring our community together for a weekend of fun, food, and celebration,” said Jacqui Ortiz, General Manager of The Grand View Inn & Suites. “Our goal is

to create a welcoming environment where families, friends, and visitors can enjoy the holiday and make lasting memories together.” Everyone is encouraged to come out and join the festivities. Whether you’re looking for great food fresh off the grill, family entertainment, comfortable outdoor seating, or simply a place to celebrate Independence Day weekend, The Grand View Inn & Suites is the place to be. We look forward to celebrating with you this Fourth of July weekend!

Walk for Prevention Brings Awareness to Local Students

Casey and Dimi collaborate with students at the Walk for Prevention. Contributed by Lily Elliston, MY House Communications Intern Today, people from in and out of the community in Sutton, Alaska, gathered for the Walk for Prevention. Students from Yah Ne Dah Nah and Sutton Elementary, school staff, City Council members, elders, and other members of the community came together for a community walk starting at the Sutton Library and ending at the C’eyiits’ Hwnax Life House Clinic. Along the way, they stopped to take part in Ahtna cultural learning, singing, and dancing. Once arriving at the walk destination,

Dimi draws “Screech the Cat.”

local recovery vendors were set up with tables and merchandise, ready to engage with participants of the Walk for Prevention and teach a little bit about what each program specialized in. Storytelling, games, activities, and lunch were also included in the event. “My younger brother had an alcohol use disorder, and hosting the Walk for Prevention today is my way of giving back to his memory,” said Alma Robinson, who is a Tribal Opioid Response Case Manager and Chickaloon Village Traditional Council member.

Wasilla Seniors Miles for Meals Contributed by Hayley Edwards Miles for Meals is an annual community fundraiser that helps support Meals on Wheels and other vital senior services that assist older adults throughout the Mat-Su Valley. The event brings together community members, local businesses, volunteers, and supporters in a shared

effort to help ensure seniors have access to nutritious meals and essential services. Miles for Meals will be held Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 1301 S. Century Circle, Wasilla, Alaska. Check-in begins at 9 a.m., and the race starts at 10 a.m. To register, visit the front office or register online at wasillaseniors.com.

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Students begin the Walk for Prevention in Sutton.

As part of the Walk for Prevention, students participated with local comic book authors Dimi Macheras and Casey Silver from 80% Studios, who are the authors of “The Chickaloonies” graphic novels. Dimi and Casey hosted an official Chickaloonies Character Collaboration Workshop, in which the students got to gather around and give their feedback on what the character design, background story, and plot of the students’ unique comic would be. “One of our favorite things to do is collaborate with students in the workshop, where they give us ideas and suggestions,”

Dimi shared. “Casey will field the questions, and I will draw the character live.” “This is Screech the Sailor Cat and his friend Spike the Turtle,” Casey remarked. “They are captains of a giant yacht.” Emily Jordan, principal of Sutton Elementary, stated, “It’s exciting to learn more about our local community and unite with other organizations. We like to put the message of prevention at the front of kids’ brains, talking about awareness and about consequences to choices that are being made. It’s been fun, and we were lucky to be here.”

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PAGE 5

Let’s Talk: Could Fostering Be Right for You? Contributed by Linda Kabealo “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be willing.” Every child deserves a safe place to call home. Right now, children in Alaska need caring adults who are willing to open their hearts and provide safety, stability, and hope. If you’ve ever wondered whether fostering might be right for you, we invite you to join us for a relaxed, no-obligation question-and-answer gathering. This informal meeting is designed for

anyone who is curious about foster care and wants honest answers in a welcoming environment. There is no commitment required, just an opportunity to learn. Let’s Talk About Foster Care will be held Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at REACH 907, 7331 E. Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Palmer, Alaska 99645. During the meeting, you will learn about the need for foster families in our community, explore what it means to become a foster parent, understand training requirements and the licensing process,

discover what the journey ahead looks like, meet members of the REACH 907 team, ask questions and get real answers about what fostering is truly like, and learn how you can make a lasting difference in a child’s life. Whether you are simply exploring the idea or ready to take the next step, our team is here to listen, support, and walk alongside you. If you are unable to attend but would like to learn more, complete the Foster Care Interest Form at reach907ak.org or

call 907-745-6200. One conversation could change a child’s future, and perhaps your own. We look forward to meeting you.

Mat-Su Borough Extends Free Firearm Safety Training Program for Another Year Contributed by Donna Anthony, Point Blank Firearms & Self Defense Training

We are pleased to share that the Mat-Su Borough has extended its grant-funded Firearm Safety Training Program for an additional 12 months, following strong participation and positive community response. Since its launch, residents across the borough have taken advantage of the opportunity to receive professional firearm safety training at no cost. Participants have ranged from 17 to 82 years old, reflecting broad community interest in responsible firearm ownership, personal safety, and practical education. Whether new to firearms or seeking to refresh existing skills, attendees consistently report valuable and positive experiences. This program was developed in recognition of the unique needs of our region. As one of the largest boroughs geographically in the nation, many residents live significant distances from emergency services. Local leaders have also recognized that recent criminal incidents and extended first-responder response times in some areas highlight the importance of personal preparedness, situational awareness, and responsible safety education. The eight-hour course provides practical, hands-on instruction in a safe and supportive environment. Training includes firearm safety fundamentals, secure handling and storage, situational awareness, conflict avoidance, responsible decision-making,

and an overview of Alaska’s self-defense and use-of-force laws. A key emphasis of the course is that avoiding conflict whenever possible is always the preferred outcome, with a strong focus placed on de-escalation, awareness, and lawful, measured decision-making. Participants also learn when the use of force may be legally justified, the responsibilities that come with firearm ownership, and the potential legal consequences of poor judgment in high-stress situations. These lessons are designed to reinforce that safe and responsible decision-making is just as important as technical skill. Among the most valued portions of the training are the situational awareness exercises, interactive simulator scenarios, and live-fire range instruction. These elements provide realistic, controlled environments where participants can build confidence, practice judgment, and strengthen safe handling skills. The simulator in particular allows individuals to experience decision-making under stress, while reinforcing the importance of restraint and awareness before action. One of the most appreciated aspects of the program is that all equipment is provided. Firearms, ammunition, eye and hearing protection, and range fees are included at no cost. Participants simply bring lunch, snacks, beverages, and personal comfort items for the day. The benefits of this initiative extend

beyond the classroom. Grant funding also supports local facilities and organizations that contribute to firearm education and recreational shooting opportunities. These partnerships help strengthen the local training infrastructure while keeping resources invested within the community. The continued success of this program reflects the value Mat-Su residents place on education, personal responsibility, and community safety. Participants leave with increased confidence, improved safety knowledge, a stronger understanding of Alaska law, and practical skills that contribute to safer homes and more informed firearm ownership throughout the borough. It is an honor for Point Blank Firearms & Self Defense Training to provide this service to the community where we live, work, and raise our families. We are grateful to the Mat-Su Borough for its continued support and to the many residents who have participated and shared positive feedback. With the grant extension, multiple classes will continue to be offered each month throughout the Mat-Su and Upper Susitna regions, providing accessible opportunities for residents to participate. We encourage eligible residents to register early, as classes frequently reach capacity. For upcoming class dates and registration information, please visit

pointblankak.com. Together, we can continue building a safer, more prepared, and more responsible community. Note: This program is funded through a Mat-Su Borough grant and is available to eligible residents while funding remains available. Training includes classroom instruction, an Alaska self-defense law overview, simulator training, and live-fire range experience at no cost to participants.

Mat-Su College Alumni Spotlight: Where Are They Now? Contributed by Sheri Denison

Where she is now in life, Kira Singleton would never have guessed when she was working towards her degree. As she walks me through her artist’s studio, she laughs and shakes her head at how strange it is that she now owns an art studio. It’s a small studio, with doll faces and paint brushes everywhere–some doll faces are white and completely unfinished while others are half-way through their transformation into specialty dolls that Kira sells to a very niche market. Since 2017, Kira has been creating fashion and fantasy dolls for a very exclusive and international audience. Dolls go to Russia, Japan, Korea, China … basically, anywhere there is interest. Kira is one of only a few professional artists who paint the extremely rare faces. The looks can be very realistic or completely surrealistic, depending on the painter. Kira’s faces tend to be more realistic, with natural shading and proportions. How she got into the industry is quite the tale. She originally started at Mat-Su College in 2009, staying for two years; during this time, she completed her general education and also took several art courses.

Kira credits the art courses with giving her the foundational skills she needed for her painting, especially since it helped her with safety precautions. She took oil painting, watercolor painting, and drawing. While working on her education, Kira was also working on gigs and developing her doll painting business. Kira went on to complete her BA in Philosophy at UAA and later her MA in English Literature at Northern Arizona University. She believes her English courses with Dr. Deborah Fox were her most challenging in the best way possible. It was in Dr. Fox’s courses that she had her “lightbulb moment” in understanding how language and context are so integral to each other. She flourished at Mat-Su College. With a chuckle, she notes that she basically “lived in the library,” not to mention the art labs and the testing center. College was not always easy for Kira. She came from a situation with no formal education, and she is the first woman college graduate in her family. She constantly doubted herself at first, and she felt she was always trying to prove herself. Her self doubt led her to drop her college studies– but she returned later. As a nontraditional

student coming back to school after having struggled before, Kira found that staying curious–investing herself in the topic, no matter what it was–got her out of her own brain and allowed her to move forward. She came back with the understanding that it is all right to fail and try again–it is all about learning. Her perseverance led to excellent results. After completing her general education at Mat-Su College, Kira completed her education at UAA, she found that all of the graduate programs she applied for accepted her. Kira thinks part of her success was driven by the robust humanities program at Mat-Su College. She also thinks part of her success was deciding that she would make the best of her education. “Don’t be afraid to drop and swap,” she advises, meaning that if you aren’t challenged in a course, choose something else that will challenge you. “When frustrated, remind yourself, too, that you are getting better,” Kira continues. “If you quit before you start because you’re afraid to fail, you’ve already failed, haven’t you?” What’s next for Kira? Right now, Kira isn’t sure. She’s interested in teaching overseas, and for that reason, she finished her TESOL

recertification. It’s an extension of her love for tutoring in ESL, which she did for several years. However, she’s also contemplating getting her PhD in English, with the goal of teaching. She can almost see herself as the next wave of English teachers who help students delve further into texts, hoping to inspire the same passion and love for literature she has. Kira has traveled a long way from her time working on general education courses at Mat-Su College, and she suspects she has some more journeying to do. For her, education is for life; she is a lifelong learner, one who wants to read and ponder the tough questions in life, no matter where she is.

recovery in Alaska. Sponsorships provide essential funding for the expanFostering Recovery, Strengthening Communities supporting sion and resources that enable AARS to expand its treatment services, demonstratContributed by Kaitlyn Klippert AARS invites local businesses to support “Embracing Sobriety, Building Hope.” At Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (AARS), recovery involves far more than overcoming addiction; it includes recreating lives, strengthening families, and developing healthier communities throughout Alaska. That mission is driving AARS’ ongoing campus expansion in Point MacKenzie through its campaign, Embracing Sobriety, Building Hope. In the past year, AARS has achieved significant progress in Phase II of its expansion, which will add 26 additional residential treatment beds and nearly double the organization’s capacity to serve individuals across the state. The construction process is moving forward quickly, with crews working to integrate the new building with the existing facility. Upon completion, the expanded residential facility will enable AARS to accommodate more individuals seeking treatment and provide the structured, supportive environment essential for long-term recovery. The final phase of the Embracing Sobriety, Building Hope campaign will focus on wellness and fostering community connections. AARS is set to build a 14,000-squarefoot gymnasium and recreation center designed to provide a facility for physical activity, recreation, and large recovery gatherings for clients, alumni, and families. The facility will also serve as a resource for the Point MacKenzie community as a storm shelter and a venue for local meetings, events, and recreational activities. AARS is currently inviting local businesses and community partners to take part in this effort by exploring sponsorship opportunities. Local businesses play a vital role in

ing a commitment to strengthening the health and wellbeing of our communities. Businesses partnering with AARS help build opportunities for individuals to recreate their lives and reintegrate into their families and communities with a renewed sense of purpose. These partnerships also support AARS’ developing vocational training programs, providing clients with practical work experience during treatment. Programs such as culinary arts, carpentry, welding, and small engine repair equip individuals with essential skills and strong work habits, preparing them for meaningful employment opportunities after graduation. For more than forty years, AARS has relied on strong partnerships with local businesses, community stakeholders, and supporters who believe recovery is achievable. The Embracing Sobriety, Building Hope campaign continues this tradition by bringing the community together to expand recovery services for Alaskans in need. Mark your calendar! AARS invites the community to one of its most anticipated annual events. Fun Day will take place Saturday, June 6. This free community event brings together clients, alumni, families, and community members for an afternoon of connection and celebration. The event features food, games, and activities for all ages and offers an opportunity to learn more about AARS programs and the impact of recovery throughout Alaska. Local businesses interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities for the Embracing Sobriety, Building Hope campaign are encouraged to contact AARS to discuss potential partnership options. By working together, we can continue embracing sobriety and building hope for Alaskans across the state.

AARS has helped more than 3,400 Alaskans rebuild their lives, but demand now far outpaces capacity: only about 461 treatment beds exist statewide, and AARS alone received 383 referrals last year while operating just 26 residential and 10 outpatient beds at a time. Our expansion will double capacity, increasing residential beds from 26 to 52 and outpatient treatment beds from 10 to 42, so people ready for recovery are not left waiting in danger. Construction is underway, with completion targeted for summer 2026.

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Progress is being made! Help us close the gap.

Lighting Times June/July in Mat-Su: EARLIEST LIGHTING:

REGULAR LIGHTING:

June 19

9:53

11:26

June 26

9:53

11:26

July 3

9:48

11:20

July 10

9:40

11:10

July 17

9:28

10:57

Blessing: Baruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitzvotav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bbat Ko-desh.

Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, as young as the age of three, 18 minutes before sunset or one and a quarter daylight hours before sunset, on Friday afternoon or on the eve of Jewish holidays. They light candles to usher in peace and blessings to their homes and to the world.

For more information, visit chabad.org or contact the Mat-Su Jewish Center Chabad 907-350-1787

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July is ATV/Off-Highway Vehicle Safety Month Contributed by Debra McGhan

Whether you’re heading down a trail along the highway, crossing rugged backcountry terrain, or traveling to a favorite hunting or fishing spot, all-terrain vehicles, ATVs, and other off-highway vehicles are an integral part of life in Alaska. From recreation and tourism to subsistence activities and transportation, Alaskans rely on ATVs and off-road vehicles to access some of the state’s most remote and breathtaking places. Alaska’s vast landscapes and unparalleled outdoor opportunities attract residents and visitors from around the world to experience adventure in a truly unique environment. However, that adventure comes with risk. Alaska has consistently ranked among

the highest states in the nation for ATV-related traumatic brain injuries, serious injuries, and fatalities. For more than two decades, these preventable incidents have impacted individuals, families, and communities across the state. To help raise awareness and promote responsible riding practices, Governor Mike Dunleavy has proclaimed July 2026 as ATV/ Off-Highway Vehicle Safety Awareness Month in Alaska. The proclamation encourages Alaskans and visitors of all ages and experience levels to safely enjoy outdoor recreation and travel by obtaining proper safety training, wearing appropriate protective gear, practicing responsible vehicle operation, and preparing for emergencies before heading into the outdoors.

Set Free Alaska’s 20K for 20! Contributed by Jason Manalli, Development Director We are excited to announce an incredible renovation project happening at our original Outpatient Treatment Services program in Wasilla. The renovation of the group therapy rooms will improve our world-class outpatient treatment services to reach more families and individuals throughout Alaska. Many of our clients have either transportation or logistical challenges in receiving in-person treatment, while others live in remote and rural parts of our state. Our

3-to-5-year goals depend upon our ability to improve our service delivery to our outpatient clients and increase our reach to those still needing our care. While Set Free Alaska has been steadily growing and acquiring other properties and facilities, our group spaces and telehealth technology need to be upgraded to meet the increasing demand for outpatient treatment and to provide the highest level of service for those in our care. This is why we need your partnership now. We are asking for your partnership to help us raise $20,000 in 20 days from June

Organizations such as Alaska Safe Riders are working to reduce injuries and save lives through education, hands-on training, community outreach, and safety awareness programs designed specifically for Alaska’s unique riding conditions. By increasing awareness and expanding access to safety education, we can help prevent traumatic brain injuries and reduce other serious injuries and fatalities associated with ATV and off-highway vehicle use throughout Alaska. For more information about ATV safety training, educational resources, and upcoming events, visit AlaskaSafeRiders.org, email [info@alaskasaferiders.org](mailto:info@alaskasaferiders.org), or visit alaskasaferiders.com.

10 through June 30 to ensure that we can continue to meet the rising demand for Outpatient Treatment Services in the MatSu and other communities across Alaska. The devastating effects of substance abuse and behavioral health disorders on our families and communities threaten the present and future health of our great state. All gifts received between June 10 and 30 will enable us to provide cutting-edge technology for telehealth services and improve the existing safe and inviting spaces for group treatment sessions. Want to make a special and personalized impact? We have naming opportunities for key areas within our renovated outpatient office: Expand, $1,000; Elevate, $500; En-

hance, $250; and Empower, $100. As a token of your generosity, your name will be displayed on a plaque in one of the designated rooms under renovation in our outpatient office. Kindly reserve your opportunity by giving a gift today. Scan the QR code above. Since 2010, Set Free Alaska has helped more than 8,000 children and adult clients from 73 different communities across Alaska find freedom from behavioral health disorders, including mental health and substance abuse disorders. I hope that you will join us in making an investment that will transform the landscape of our Outpatient Treatment Services program. Call Development Director Jason Manalli at 907-252-9826 if you have any questions.

Palmer’s 2026 Airing of the Quilts Was a Big Hit! Contributed by Susan Franznick & Jana Berna

The 2026 debut of the Airing of the Quilts show in beautiful downtown Palmer on Sunday, June 7, was an overwhelming success, thanks to the enthusiastic public response, the dedication of volunteers and supporters, and the mostly cooperative weather. The wind gusts eventually drove

us all inside, but we enjoyed the sunshine while we could. There were more than 50 quilts on display both inside and outside the Palmer Train Depot, Community Center. There was a constant and steady flow of attendees through the exhibit from the moment it opened. Visitors took time to linger over the quilts, read the info cards to learn the

story of each quilt on display, and talk with the makers and exhibitors. That made this show extra special. Among the quilts displayed were the City of Palmer 50th Anniversary Quilt, featuring Palmer landmark buildings and made in 2001 by members of the Valley Quilters Guild; the Alaska State Fair Commemorative T-Shirt Quilt, featuring 34 vintage T-shirts from past fairs and fair events; an antique carriage blanket made with velvet, corduroy and wool, and hand-embroidered like a crazy quilt; a silk “puff” quilt, made from 3-inch silk squares, each filled to give the quilt puffiness and warmth, made in 1975; a quilt made from 28 Crown Royal purple drawstring bags; a quilt made in memory of Sept. 11, 2001; multiple examples of hand-stitched and hand-quilted antique quilts, including the beloved Grandmother’s Flower Garden Hexie quilts; and so many more, including big, miniature, traditional, modern and vintage quilts, quilts made and handed down through families, and quilts made by groups of people. Visitors were also treated to a variety of exhibits, including gorgeous antique sewing machines that have been locally refinished, and demonstrations of different sewing and quilting techniques, including ways to use scraps of fabric to make beautiful quilts and other creations. We are pleased to announce that we

are already in the early planning phase for the 2027 Airing of the Quilts. You’ve asked for more, so we plan to expand the show to include more quilts, more demonstrations and more exhibits. Mark your calendar now with this save the date: Sunday, June 6, 2027, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Palmer Train Depot and surrounding areas. This is a free quilt show, and you won’t want to miss it. If you have a quilt that you’d like to exhibit, keep this event in mind and watch for our public call for quilts early next spring. There are no restrictions on who made the quilt, when it was made, or who currently owns the quilt. To join our mailing list, email palmersairingofthequilts@gmail.com.

Contributed by Amy Bushatz

This article was reported by Mat-Su Sentinel and reprinted for you in partnership with The People’s Paper.

www.matsusentinel.com

Work underway on new Palmer library as city celebrates groundbreaking What you need to know: Work is underway on Palmer’s new $15 million public library, with crews preparing the foundation and getting ready to begin framing. The 20,000-square-foot, two-story building is expected to be completed next July. Dozens of residents and current and former local officials gathered at the construction site Saturday for a groundbreaking ceremony. The new facility will replace the city’s previous library, which was severely damaged when its roof collapsed under a heavy snow load in 2023 and was demolished last year. The building will include meeting and community rooms, a balcony and the city’s library collection. PALMER — Work is underway on the new Palmer Public Library building, with crews preparing the foundation and getting ready to start framing, officials said Saturday. The $15 million project is scheduled for completion next July, according to Dylan McKenzie, a project manager

with contractor H5. Dirt-moving work started last month. Dozens of area residents, along with current and former city, Matanuska-Susitna Borough and state officials, gathered at the construction site Saturday for an official groundbreaking ceremony. Officials delivered remarks before grabbing golden shovels and tossing dirt as part of the ceremony. “I happen to be the mayor of the Mat-Su Borough, as I am now, when we dedicated this first library here many years ago, and I at that time certainly didn’t think that I would live long enough or be active long enough to dedicate another one,” Borough Mayor Edna DeVries said during the event. “I’m happy to see that out of the ashes we’re going to erect something that’s going to be very well accepted as well as used not only in our community but in the other areas of the borough.” The previous library building was severely damaged in early 2023 when its roof collapsed under heavy snow

COMMUNITY The Palmer Independence Day Ceremo-

ny will take place Saturday, July 4, starting at 3 p.m. on the green at Saint John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood Ave., in Palmer.

Rededication 250 Contributed by Marilyn Bennett

Come join your neighbors and friends at our rededication of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, right here in Palmer, Alaska. The event will be held Saturday, July 4, at 3 p.m. at Saint John Lutheran Church, 440 E. Elmwood Avenue, Palmer, Alaska. Bring lawn chairs or blankets, and wear patriotic dress, traditional or just fun. The event will include a rededication of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a reading of the Bill of Rights, historical insights from reenactors, face

secured grants and donations and used revenue from a temporary 1% sales tax increase. While city funding covers construction costs, local volunteers are working to raise money for furniture, fixtures and other interior needs, including computers and shelving. The Friends of the Palmer Public Library has raised $200,000 so far but hopes to bring in $1 million, said Mardene Collins, the organization’s president. -- Contact Amy Bushatz at contact@matsusentinel.com

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

Palmer Independence Day Ceremony Contributed by Chuck Kaucic

load. It was demolished last year. The building was constructed in 1985. Work on the new facility will take more than a year because of its complexity, said Gary Wolf, the architect who designed it. Unlike wood-frame homes that can be built quickly, the library will have a steel frame, sophisticated electrical and mechanical systems, and large windows. When finished, the 20,000-squarefoot, two-story building will include meeting and community rooms and a balcony, and the city’s library collection. Some of those materials are currently available at a temporary library location on Arctic Avenue, while the rest are in long-term storage. A voter-approved bond in 2023 authorized the city to borrow up to $10 million to fund the facility. Rather than rely on that funding, which could increase property taxes, city officials

painting, historic coloring books, firing of the cannon, patriotic music, historic flags, firearms from the period and other memorabilia, picnic food and water. The event is free. July 4, 2026, marks 250 years for America. This milestone year gives us an opportunity to reflect on our past and what we want it to be 250 years from now. It’s a chance for all of us to ask, “What is the spirit of America?” This experiment in democracy has been a proven success. We Americans realize that the formation of a “more perfect

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This free, family-friendly celebration will include a recitation and rededication of the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, the firing of a real 300-pound cast iron cannon, musket and black powder demonstrations, historic flags, hot dogs,

face painting, coloring books, poetry, a patriotic song fest, and a miniature historical wargame for all ages. Guests are encouraged to wear red, white and blue, show off their patriotic pride, and bring their own seating.

union” is an aspiration, not an accomplishment. Perfection is a goal for which we will constantly work. For 250 years, millions of ordinary Americans, some famous names that we know, but most of whom we don’t, have exhibited the toughness and spirit that was spawned from a revolution 250 years ago. Let’s get together here in Palmer and reflect on how far our country has come and how much is left to accomplish. This is the time to have fun with our friends and neighbors and think of the sacrifices that many made to bring us to this place and time. Let’s forget politics for a wonderful day of joy in our delightful little community of Palmer, Alaska. Rummage through your clothes and try to come up with something fun to wear, or just put on something red, white or blue.

I, for one, am looking forward to meeting more of my neighbors and reuniting with old friends. Bring your children and grandchildren to teach them some of our rich history, so they learn to appreciate this day and how much was sacrificed to create this great country. We scheduled our event at 3 p.m. so everyone who wants can go to the parade in Wasilla and then come here to round out the day. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a day of greeting old friends and making new ones. Hopefully the weather will see fit to cooperate. May God bless America with a happy 250th birthday. We are all blessed to live in this nation and especially here in Palmer, Alaska. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the 250th event right here in Palmer.

Nine Star Offers Career Training and Education Support in Mat-Su Contributed by Jessica Egbert, Community Outreach Coordinator for Nine Star Education and Employment Services – Mat-Su Branch

Nine Star Education and Employment Services is a training hub in the Mat-Su Borough that can help in a number of ways. Have you been feeling like you’d like to make a career switch, but you’re not sure where to start? Our Career Exploration class offers a series of assessments that can help you find an Alaska-specific career opportunity. With this, we also offer career counseling and partner with you as you reflect on your assessment and develop a

plan to meet your goals. Do you feel like your education may be holding you back from entering a new career, or advancing in the career you’re in? Industry-recognized certifications can help you build new skills, validate your knowledge, and stand out to employers. Whether you’re interested in business, bookkeeping, healthcare, information technology, agriculture for working in greenhouses and on local farms, culinary arts for working in the hospitality industry or in school kitchens, project management, artificial intelligence, or digital literacy, earning a certification can give you a competitive advantage when listed on your resume.

POLITICS & OPINION

Our program offers a wide range of certification opportunities, including Microsoft Office, QuickBooks Online, Certified Bookkeeping Professional, Medical Administrative Assistant, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Professional Communication, Project Management, Generative AI Foundations, Adobe Pro, IC3 Digital Literacy, Cisco Certified Support Technician, and IT Specialist certifications in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, Networking, Software Development, Python, JavaScript, Databases, and more. Whether you’re entering the workforce, changing careers, or looking to advance professionally, certifications can provide

the skills and credentials employers are seeking. Are you trying to qualify for a union job? We offer academic support to pass the WorkKeys test and earn the NCRC, National Career Readiness Certification, to meet union job requirements. Nine Star is continuing to provide direct instructional support to help you pass the GED and attain your high school equivalency diploma. If any of this sounds appealing, call 907373-7833 or visit us at our offices at 899 W. Commercial Dr., Wasilla, AK 99645, to sign up for orientation and registration.

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

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Reentry Simulations Show the Difficulties People Face When Re-Entering the Community Contributed by Barbara Mongar Her name is Jessica, she served 20 years in state prison for a violent crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and drug possession. She obtained her GED while in prison, When Jessica was released, she had saved $100 in prison but was unemployed. She is currently living with her brother and his family. Jessica is on probation and has to check-in once a week with her probation officer. She is in treatment for substance use and must attend AA/NA meetings weekly. Jessica has her Social Security card but needs to get a copy of her Birth Certificate, so she can get a State ID. The above persona is one that a participant was assigned to be during the twohour reentry simulation that took place at the Menard Sport Center in Wasilla on May 28, 2026. Thirty-two community members participated in this reentry simulation, which assigned each individual a persona with varying amounts of money, education and personal effects as well as quality of living circumstances and careers. This Reentry Simulation was organized by Barbara Mongar, the Mat-Su Reentry Coalition Coordinator, and funded through the Alaska Mental Health Trust. The MatSu Reentry Coalition is a collaboration

of individuals, community stakeholders, public and non-profit agencies, faith based and business partners who are united and committed to reducing recidivism among returning citizens to the Mat-Su community. Every 15 minutes during the reentry simulation represented a week in the life of an individual that had just been released from incarceration back into the community. Every week, there were specific obligations each individual had to complete, such as buying food, paying child support, going to drug screenings, or visiting their probation officer. The goal of the simulation was to help community members understand the different barriers and challenges that individuals face coming out of prison. One of the participants stated, “Thank you very much for this training. It helped me understand how difficult it can be for community members reentering society.” The Simulation Itself: Jessica, one of the simulation’s persona, had been in jail for 20 years, and she came out with only her Social Security card and no other forms of identification. This meant a long time spent waiting in line. Once this participant filled out the birth certificate application, she had to wait in line again to get her State ID. After

she had all three forms of identification, she was free to pursue Jessica’s other duties. His participant stated that it took her the whole first week to get her birth certificate and State ID, plus she ended up spending a good portion of the $100 she had when she was released. Jessica was not able to buy food on week one. She failed to go to and pay for drug treatment and did not attend her mandated NA meeting. Jessica also did not have time to do her weekly check-in with her Probation Officer because she was waiting in line to get her State ID. Luckily, when she was finally able to check-in with her probation officer, he gave her a reprieve and told her to try to do better next week. Lessons Learned: After the simulation was over, the participants gathered back together to discuss what they had experienced. It turns out that very few people were able to successfully complete everything on their life card each week. Many participants were stuck in the identification lines during the first and second week, except for a few of the lucky ones who started the simulation with all three forms of ID. One participant stated, “It felt like the barriers were overwhelming, and without ‘buddying up and sharing resources’, I

would have been screwed.” Another person admitted to paying someone to stand in line for them while they completed other obligations. Some of the participants said they felt frustrated with having to stand in long lines and not knowing where to start. Others stated that the thing they found most frustrating was not having enough transportation tickets, money and/or time to meet all of their obligations A few of the participants gave up halfway through the first week and chose to sit in jail because it was so frustrating. Remember, this was only a simulation. It makes you think about the frustration’s individuals releasing from prison must feel when they are facing some of these same obstacles in real life. Some of the individuals that participated in the simulation had been through the system themselves. One such individuals shared that she felt the simulation was a good representation of some of the frustrations that people go through when they are released back into the community. One of the volunteers stated, “The simulation was amazing and such an eye opener for those who have never experienced life after incarceration.”

Volume VI - Issue VI

June 2026

Alaska

The Mat-Su Sentinel Purchases The Frontiersman with their content, the closer we are to the individual, and the closer we are to the intent. The local nonprofit organization, the Mat-Su Sentinel, has recently purchased the Frontiersman from the out-of-state corporation Wick Communications. And when Wick announced that the Frontiersman was for sale, they said the same thing I am writing about. They said that they wanted to find a local buyer, which would allow the Frontiersman to better serve the local community.

Standing beside the longtime Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sign, Amy Bushatz marks a new chapter for local journalism as the paper returns to local ownership under the Mat-Su Sentinel.

The Mat-Su Valley, where I live, just got a little closer to the meaning and mandate of the First Amendment. We are a little closer to the intent of the freedom of the press clause.

to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The common misconception about freedom of the press, as described in the First Amendment, is that the “press” is an institution of professionals. But every clause of the First Amendment describes an individual right.

It is clear that religion is the right of an individual, and obvious that speech is, too. Groups and organizations only have these rights because they are made up of individuals who have those rights. I am not saying that organizations are doing anything wrong when they exercise those rights. But it is important that we understand the distinction.

Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably

People have a right to work together, to cooperate, so media organizations are a rational second-order development of the freedom of the press. But the closer these organizations are to the people who engage

They Aren’t Stupid. They’re Afraid. shift away from slower, reflective reasoning and toward faster threat-response systems. It is not that the rational mind disappears completely, but it is no longer fully in charge. And if you think about it, this makes perfect sense. People talk about how stupid woke people are. People talk about how stupid far-right people are. People talk about how foolish these strange ideologies become, how irrational people sound, how exaggerated their rhetoric gets, how quickly they raise their voices, how easily they become indignant, offended, defensive, or aggressive. But these ideologies are not primarily the result of intellectual deficiency. Fear makes intelligent people temporarily less intelligent. More precisely, fear narrows the available range of intelligence. It moves the person away from slow, reflective, rational thought and into a faster survival response. The problem is that the mind has been interrupted. Science is cool. We have learned things about ourselves that we did not always understand. The amygdala is deeply involved in detecting and responding to threats. The prefrontal cortex is involved in planning, judgment, impulse control, and thoughtful decision-making. When a person feels threatened, control can

The function of fight or flight cannot be subjected to a long rational process. If a threat is approaching, the body cannot pause for a philosophical consideration. The need to flee or fight exists because hesitation can endanger the individual human being. In that circumstance, immediate reaction is not a flaw. It is the whole point. So this fear response is necessary. It is natural. It is a fundamental part of our survival instinct. Without it, humanity would not have made it this far. But what protects us in the presence of a real threat can mislead us in the presence of a manufactured one. When we are making decisions from fear, we are not at our best. We are not searching for truth in the deepest sense. We are searching for safety, scanning for danger. We are looking for the enemy. This is why fear-based politics is so powerful. It does not have to convince the whole person. It only has to activate the threat response. Modern media understands this. The media economy does not need people to believe. It only needs them to react. When the

When I saw the news that the Frontiersman had sold to the Mat-Su Sentinel, it was not a surprise. Amy Bushatz, the founder of the Sentinel, and I had spoken about her intentions after the announcement that the Frontiersman was up for sale. Because Amy and I are both local people who actually live here, we built a professional and friendly rapport. Our ability to do this is an individual thing. Corporations and organizations do not have this ability to connect on a human level — a local level. I could not have been happier that the sale went through, both because Amy is an awesome individual with a clear and noble mission in the Mat-Su Sentinel, and because local people will benefit greatly from local media being under local control. Most people might not realize how competitive local media can be. But at Make A Scene Media, my company for nearly 20 years, I have always thought this competition came at the cost of cooperation. And that has always been a loss for local people and the culture they create. The power of the press, and all media, is its ability to bring local people together, to give them an actual and accurate reflection of the will of the people. media pisses you off, or makes you worry about the future, or convinces you that civilization is about to collapse unless you keep watching, clicking, sharing, donating, or voting, it is not only informing you. It is engaging you emotionally. That is good for advertisers. A person in fear is easier to predict, easier to sell to, and easier to govern. Our attention becomes more available during heightened emotional states. Our subconscious becomes more suggestible. Our judgment becomes more reactive. The screen does not need to defeat our intelligence. It only needs to keep interrupting it. But this is terrible for our social order. The good news is that simply understanding this principle helps make us conscious of an unconscious phenomenon. Once we can observe it, we can begin to sidestep it. We can notice when our bodies are being recruited before our minds have had a chance to speak. We can notice when a headline is not asking us to think, but daring us to react. We can notice when someone else is not arguing from stupidity, but from activation. The amygdala serves a fundamental function. It helps us survive. But the prefrontal cortex represents something especially human. It gives us the ability to pause, reflect, compare, reason, communicate, and imagine more than survival. Human beings are not limited to reaction. We can do more than survive. We can thrive.

Local media, owned by local people, allows us to know who we are, and to push back against corporate media that openly seeks to shape who we are and how we see ourselves. The Mat-Su Sentinel and Make A Scene Media are two examples of locally owned and controlled media working together to keep local Alaskans informed and included. While corporate media could never cooperate in this way, local people like Amy and I can clearly see the potential, because we live here in the same community. The First Amendment is all about communication, which is the engine of culture. It implies cooperation between individuals. It facilitates that cooperation. Corporations can coordinate, but they cannot cooperate in the same human way, because corporations exist to maximize profit and limit liability. But our First Amendment liberty comes with liability; our rights require responsibility. The Mat-Su Sentinel’s purchase of the Frontiersman will provide access to a decades-deep archive, while the Sentinel continues to cover local meetings and news stories that local people need to know about. Make A Scene Media will continue to publish The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine, printing what local people choose to share with our readers. Together, we will work in unique ways to fulfill the First Amendment mandate that has suffered from mission drift for so many years, in so many places. And the Mat-Su Valley will be better for it.

language, empathy, suffering, identity, beauty, and justice. I enjoy talking to them about many things. It is only around certain issues, usually the issues where they become emotionally expressive and visibly activated, that their reasoning begins to narrow. In those moments, I am not seeing the absence of intelligence. I am seeing intelligence interrupted by fear. And when I talk to so-called right-wingers, I often find them to be noble-minded people. They are committed to friends and family. They care about their communities. They believe in responsibility, loyalty, sacrifice, and meaning. They are not always experts on art, but they have made art of their lives. They find dignity and purpose where others see only the mundane. Regarding the ideas I disagree with, many of them are perfectly happy to avoid those disagreements and talk about life instead. They want to avoid the conversation. But you have to talk to people. That is what the media environment tries to prevent. It wants us to encounter one another as symbols, not as human beings. It wants “the woke person” and “the far-right person” to remain abstractions. It wants the other side to stay stupid, dangerous, ridiculous, and unreachable. Because once you actually talk to people, the spell starts to break. You find that they are not as simple as the caricature. They are not as stupid as the slogan. They are not as evil as the algorithm requires them to be.

And maybe that is what it means to be of one mind. Not that everyone agrees. But that enough individuals become conscious of how fear is used to move the masses. Not only for political purposes, but for profit.

They are human beings whose nervous systems have been activated.

When I talk to so-called woke people, I often find them to be exceptional. They are thoughtful about art, culture, philosophy,

They aren’t stupid.

They are people whose intelligence has been narrowed by fear.

They’re afraid.

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Liberty, Liberally

www.LibertyLiberally.com

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Liberty, Liberally

www.LibertyLiberally.com

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Frontiersman in My Drive

Make Believe

by Joshua Fryfogle All the world’s a stage And we have stages too Acting out our ages Working our way through Poets write our lines And we just play our parts Waiting for our time Our cue for when to start

The following poem was written in 2016, when the Frontiersman executed a terrible idea. They started distributing the paper to everyone everywhere throughout the Valley. They increased their print numbers, which sounded good, but they overlooked something. People just ignored the papers, and they piled up everywhere. It quickly became an embarrassing eyesore, and a perfect reflection of how out-of-state corporations make decisions without considering life on the ground. I was inspired to write this poem.

Nothing new is made No new song be sung We only make believe Until our part is done

By Joshua Fryfogle 2016 Oh Frontiersman in my drive Trying to keep your self alive In hopes the ad sales soon will thrive Oh Frontiersman in my drive Blue wrapped paper in my way Almost every other day I did not ask or have my say For blue wrapped paper in my way Plastic package in my yard You have made of me a bard Treating me without regard Plastic package in my yard Overtime I would suppose If I chose not to dispose These plastic papers would be froze To the ground I would suppose No you don’t give me a choice And thus you don’t give me a voice Your product upon me you foist No you don’t give me a choice

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

And what they say about bad press “There’s no such thing...” and then the rest P.T. Barnum said it best That’s what they say about bad press

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

Volume VI - Issue VI

www.facebook.com/makeascene.alaska or call 907-373-2698

June 2026

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

Alaska

POLITICS & OPINION Alaska for Sale Contributed by Dana Raffaniello

The Carbon Dump, the Credit Harvest, and the $2 Billion Federal Subsidy Hidden Inside an LNG Bill The governor’s own consultant told the Senate Finance Committee that gas is not the driver of the Alaska LNG pipeline. He declined to name the actual driver. Here it is. On May 27, 2026, the first day of the Alaska Legislature’s special session, GaffneyCline consultant Nicholas Fulford told the Senate Finance Committee that gas is not the driver of the AKLNG project’s economics. He declined to name the actual driver. No legislator asked what it was. The driver is more than $2 billion per year in federal tax credits. Approximately $595 million annually in 45Q carbon capture credits, flowing to the private operator at $85 per ton from Alaska’s geology. And $1.5 billion annually in 45V clean hydrogen credits, flowing from a Nikiski facility that turns North Slope gas into qualifying hydrogen at 500,000 metric tons per year. Both streams flow entirely outside Alaska’s tax reach. The Legislature has never seen a fiscal note that quantifies either one. Alaska’s return under HB 50, the 2024 carbon storage law that makes the 45Q

credits possible, is $2.50 per ton in injection royalties. The operator collects $85. Alaska collects $2.50. The ratio is 34 to 1 in the operator’s favor, from Alaska’s geology, under a regulatory framework Alaska built and paid for. This is not a surprise. The governor described this architecture publicly for four years. In June 2022, he told reporters in Japan that Alaska could supply clean hydrogen for decades to come. In December 2022, he published an op-ed titled “Alaska’s Map to Clean Hydrogen Leadership,” describing the pipeline as the feedstock mechanism for a hydrogen production platform, while AGDC submitted an $850 million DOE hydrogen hub application for a Nikiski facility. In April 2024, the White House committed in writing to exploring cross-border carbon dioxide transport hubs between Alaska and Japan. The Alaska DNR presented that commitment as a featured legislative slide. The governor pitched clean hydrogen across Asia. He asked the Legislature to vote on a gas bill. Under the proposed legislation, Alaska surrenders $7 billion in state tax revenue and $13 billion in municipal revenue through 2063. In return, Glenfarne has proposed charging Alaskan ratepayers approximately $16 per thousand cubic feet for gas. The Department of Revenue’s own estimate for imported LNG in 2033 is $17 per thousand cubic feet. A decade ago, the

Alaska Needs Change Contributed by Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins’

Alaska needs change. That’s why I’m running for governor: to bring new energy and a new generation of leadership to the governor’s office. For 13 years in a row, more Alaskans have left our great state than have moved here. Prices are rising, schools are closing, and Alaskans are getting left behind. This year, those planning to leave Alaska include Ben and Catherine Walker, both recipients of Alaska’s Teacher of the Year Award. They can’t justify staying in the place they grew up in and love because of our failure to invest in the fundamentals, such as our schools. The problem is personal. I’m 37. Many of those leaving Alaska are my age, debating whether there’s a future for us here or not. It’s a challenge we must solve. I love challenges. Back in 2012, I dropped out of college to challenge an entrenched Republican incumbent legislator who was running unopposed to represent my home region of Southeast Alaska. I launched a scrappy, grassroots campaign and focused on the kitchen-table issues that matter to every Alaskan: good schools, getting our fair share of oil revenues, lowering costs, protecting our fisheries. I won by 32 votes. When I was sworn in, I was baby-faced and bushy-tailed, just 23 years old. It was the beginning of a decade-long tenure in

the Legislature. A lot happened in those 10 years. Among the most important: we formed the House Bipartisan Coalition in 2016. While I have a D next to my name, I believe strongly in working across party lines. That’s what the Bipartisan Coalition was, and is, all about: Democrats, moderate Republicans, and independents, all working together to do what’s best for Alaska. I want to bring that same bipartisan, vigorous problem-solving spirit to the governor’s office, where it has been nonexistent the last eight years. As governor, I want to work hand-inhand with the Legislature to deliver some desperately needed wins for Alaska that will make our lives better and get our state back on track. Reinvest in our public schools. Our school districts are in battlefield triage mode, but instead of amputating limbs, our school boards are forced to choose which sports to cut, which electives to discontinue, and which neighborhood school to close. Enough already. Get school funding back up to par. Forward fund our schools. Our school districts shouldn’t have to guess how much education funding will end up being appropriated in end-of-session legislative haggling. This circus forces school districts to prospectively fire teachers, then rehire them a month or two later when they find out the final education funding number.

Choose Our Children Contributed by Patricia Chesbro, Choose Chesbro

We are failing our children. In 2025, the overall well-being of Alaska’s children ranked 40th out of the 50 states, according to data collected by the Annie E Casey Foundation. Statewide, 13% of our children live in households below the federal poverty line, yet the percentage in rural Alaska reaches almost 40%. Further, we rank 49th in education, a service that has historically

helped people move out of poverty. Our children and young people deserve better. I am running for State Senate, Seat M, to work toward improving our children’s futures. This seat is responsible to advocate for the needs of the greater Palmer area as well as Trunk Road to Fairview Loop. Surely, there are many reasons for our failed policies; there is no single person or group at fault. We share the blame. Perhaps we voted for people whose only solution was to cut budgets. Perhaps we have

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

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Municipal Advisory Group negotiated $628 million per year in municipal payments with ExxonMobil, BP, and ConocoPhillips. The current legislation produces $86 million per year for all government recipients combined. That comparison has not appeared in any committee document or floor statement. There is also the matter of where the carbon goes. HB 50 enabled the import of foreign industrial carbon dioxide for permanent injection into Alaska’s geology. The Cook Inlet basin sits above the Aleutian subduction zone adjacent to the Castle Mountain Fault, which the USGS documents as the only fault in Southcentral Alaska with both historical seismicity and recent surface rupture. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck 30 to 40 miles from Anchorage on Thanksgiving Day 2025. The trust fund HB 50 created for long-term monitoring stops collecting after 12 years. The CO2 stays underground indefinitely. Monitoring liability transfers to Alaska taxpayers permanently with no cost cap. Alaska exports energy to Japan. Under this framework, Alaska then receives Japan’s industrial emissions back for underground storage at $2.50 a ton while the operator collects federal credits from the same ground. Alaska holds real leverage here. The 45Q credit requires Alaska’s pore space. The 45V credit requires Alaska’s gas and Alaska’s pipeline. Without Alaska’s geology and

the regulatory framework Alaska built, the operator collects neither. Article VIII, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution requires development of Alaska’s resources for the maximum benefit of its people. A contractual share of the combined credit stream applied to reduce the in-state tariff would deliver gas to Alaskan utilities below $4 per thousand cubic feet while giving the state more than $400 million per year in recurring revenue tied to the project’s actual economic engine. That negotiation has not happened. The special session runs through June 19. No vote has been taken. Contact your legislators at akleg.gov or call the legislative switchboard at 907-465-4648. Ask where the fiscal note is that quantifies the 45Q and 45V credit streams flowing to the operator from Alaska’s geology. If it does not exist, that answer belongs on the record before any vote is taken. Dana Raffaniello lives in Palmer, Alaska. He works as a network engineer, reads Alaska energy legislation closely, and publishes analysis of its fiscal and structural implications at raff6482.substack.com. He is running for the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, District 2. He has no commercial interest in any energy project discussed in this analysis.

It’s awful for all involved. We should fix it by forward funding. Close the Hilcorp corporate income tax loophole. Hilcorp should pay its fair share in taxes, just as ConocoPhillips, and nearly every other major corporation in Alaska, already does. Lower the cost of energy. CEA, GVEA, HEA, and MEA operate about 1,700 MW in power generation capacity. Peak Railbelt winter demand is half that, about 850 MW. Guess who pays for the nearly gigawatt in underused and unused power plants? You, on your power bill. The governor should force the co-ops to work together, reduce redundancies, and diversify energy sources, including renewables, in order to reduce the sky-high cost of energy for Alaskans. Lower the cost of childcare. Alaska has inadvertently created a system of childcare permitting and licensing that effectively amounts to death by a thousand pieces of paperwork. It’s creating scarcity and cost. We need to fix it. Lower the cost of housing. Cut red tape to make it easier and cheaper to build more homes of all kinds, from tiny homes and ADUs, to manufactured and modular housing, to apartments and condos, to traditional single-family homes. More housing of all kinds, faster. Rein in bottom-trawl bycatch. I will nominate Alaskans to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council who will make sure that Alaska and Alaskans, not Seattle and Lower 48 industry interests, foremost benefit from our fisheries. Responsibly develop our resources. Support projects that have regional buy-in and

support, such as Pikka on the North Slope, which just produced first oil this month, while saying “no” when the risks are too great and those in the region are opposed, as is the case with Pebble. Grow our tourism economy. And let’s crack the code on winter tourism while we’re at it. If Iceland can do it, we darn well can, too. Fairbanks is having burgeoning winter tourism success. Let’s follow their great lead. Make Alaska an awesome place to live. Let’s build dozens more public-use cabins. Let’s build an alpine hut-to-hut system like they have in New Zealand and the Alps. Let’s build the Alaska Long Trail. Let’s make Anchorage a world-class winter city. Does this sound like the kind of Alaska you want to live in? Then I have great news: we are the governor campaign for you. And if what you just read gives you indigestion, you’ll be relieved to know you have 17 other options. I have more great news: I can win. After beating an entrenched Republican incumbent, I spent a decade representing a swingy district that voted for Donald Trump. In those 10 years, I recorded some of the highest margins of crossover support from Trump voters of any Democrat in Alaska. I ran 12% ahead of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and 15% ahead of Joe Biden in 2020. Here’s the simple truth: whoever becomes our next governor will need to win with the support of significant numbers of independents and moderate Republicans, in addition to Democrats. I’ve done that. And I’ll do it again. Will you join me?

rejected the concept of working together to address problems. Perhaps many of us did not vote at all. Perhaps we just watched as corporations got richer and our state coffers dwindled. Perhaps we were looking so closely at our own present that we were not planning the best decisions for our children’s future. Perhaps our priorities were less important than investing in Alaska’s future. It may be great to have a state vegetable, but is it worth the legislature’s time?

spending priorities. That plan did not pass that legislature. Without a long-term fiscal plan, current legislatures find themselves drawing from savings, reacting to fluctuating income streams and unexpected expenses, and underfunding state services. It is time to rejuvenate talks around a fiscal plan that both preserves the PFD on which so many rely and develops revenues to stabilize our budgets. Each decision made by the next legislature should focus on our children’s future. Their future is Alaska’s future. When elected, I will Choose our Children in every vote.

Recently, former Governor Bill Walker described a series of 500 meetings he held in 2015 to design a fiscal plan that would address the future of our revenue and

Don’t Look Up – The Iran War is Hurtling Toward us in Slow Motion Contributed by Rep. David Eastman

In the comedy film “Don’t Look Up” the world has trouble coming to grips with the certainty that an incoming comet will wipe out life on earth in six months time. Only in the last few days before impact does the calamity truly hit home for the average person. In many ways, it feels like we are living that movie today. In less than six months we will be hit with an economic supply shock the intensity of which has no parallel in modern human memory. To add to the confusion, it is traveling at the speed at which an oil tanker travels the world’s oceans, roughly the speed of a bicycle. Just like in the movie, many Americans don’t have the tools to prepare for what is coming. Don’t be surprised when they don’t even try. In March, I explained that we had already crossed the point of no return in the Iran conflict. Those who had hoped for an early resolution to the conflict have had to watch as “two more weeks to open the Strait

of Hormuz” has now stretched into four months of conflict with no end in sight. The next six months will prove very challenging. While I wish that we could hold on to our current “normal”, that no longer appears possible. At least two things appear certain at this point: 1) We will all experience shortages due to the conflict in the Middle East, and 2) The value of each dollar you earn will continue to evaporate. Let’s take the second reality first. Even when you win, wars are expensive things. Unfortunately, the money to pay for war isn’t coming from Iran. It’s coming out of the U.S. dollar through inflation as the federal government prints more money to pay its mounting debts. If you own a house, you might notice that the number of dollars needed to purchase it keeps increasing, even while your house itself remains largely unchanged. That is what inflation does. It means the same type of boat or house or truck will likely cost you more to buy next year than it did to buy it this year.

On the topic of shortages, don’t look up or you may see the cost of gasoline and many other petroleum-related products spike higher due to shortages. Last year, the U.S. imported an average of 640,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Middle East. That supply has been cut off for more than 100 days now and the U.S. is slowly running out of Arabian Crude Oil and everything that American refineries produce with it. Chevron’s largest buyer of passenger vehicle lube announced that bare shelves are coming to Walmart and Costco in the near future when it comes to motor oil. There will be enough motor oil one day, and then there won’t. They won’t be waiting on a truck. They just won’t have it for a period of time. To put it plainly, the United States has been under a naval blockade since the end of February. A few ships have gotten through the Strait, and some crude has bypassed the Strait through pipelines, but the math largely hasn’t changed. U.S. crude inventories have been dropping every

week since April, when incoming tankers began failing to arrive. Last week, inventories dropped by an average of more than a million barrels of crude per day. What this means to your average Alaskan is that it will harder and more difficult to get by six months from now. Politicians diverted 70% of this year’s 2026 PFD to state government. As we get closer to election time in November, some of those politicians will begin rethinking that decision, especially in light of higher oil prices, which means even more money available for the state to spend. Higher oil prices means higher prices at the pump and also at the grocery store. The cost of heating oil is already high. It is expected to be higher this winter. Through it all, the Lord provides. That said, it is time to batten down the hatches. There is a storm coming. Rep. David Eastman represented the MatSu Valley in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2017 to 2025. Visit davideastman.org for more information.

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Donlin Gold Mine, Coal Mining & Salmon Contributed by Carol “Kitty” Hafner

Though I went on to become a Northwest Orient Airlines flight attendant after corporate greed destroyed my Eastern Airlines flying career in the 1980’s, I continued my outreach to assist struggling families during the Eastern strike. While my flight attendant Transit Workers Union (TWU) membership was honoring the Eastern Airlines mechanics strike, I learned there was an ugly coal miner strike at the Pittston coal mines in Appalachia, Virginia. Through my daily strike center work, I connected with Pittston family representatives and learned that much like the remote Alaska Indigenous communities, basic nutrition necessities were becoming dangerously scarce. Without sufficient income, food was especially limited for struggling families. I personally spearheaded two drives bringing much needed grocery items and children’s clothing for miner families. When their family representatives later traveled to Connecticut, I had their buses luggage areas filled to capacity with more of the same. How did I do this? I wrote Letters to the

Editor of several papers explaining what needed to be done and the outpouring from caring folks was immediate. Dropoff points were coordinated. Trucks to transport and drivers were donated by local workers. Compassion abounded to help these miner families during their struggle. I learned firsthand from families about the impact of mining on frontline worker health. While Pittston was a coal mine with black lung a rampant health issue among the older workers, mining of any kind has serious long-term health impact. Gold mining is no different. Today healthcare benefits have dramatically diminished making work related hazardous illnesses far more devastating to employees. The lure of “jobs” ignores the lifelong impact of the mine hazards. Local employees will be the ones doing the most risky and dangerous jobs. They are also the lowest paid. The highly skilled positions require education, extensive training and experience. Those career positions will be filled from outside the area. Alaska is blessed with an enduring vibrant salmon industry, recognized worldwide. Jeopardizing the pristine waters

necessary for the salmon lifecycle can easily disrupt that lifecycle forever. Toxic runoff is deadly, let alone the residue remaining from the mining process to process extracting the gold itself. The projected life of the Donlin mine is only 27 years. After then, zero guarantee first of any leakage from the storing areas, much less, who is the responsible entity for the impact? Current politics are dismantling EPA regulations. Endless loopholes enable companies to walk away from environmental damages and avoid any repercussions for impact. Currently, Alaska has “only” six Superfund sites. They are primarily related to military, a not uncommon source across America. There is one related to a mine. In contrast, nationally there are 1340 Superfund sites with New Jersey leading the numbers at 113. Next in line are California and Pennsylvania. When I first ran for Alaska office in 2018, I was the only candidate clearly voicing environmental concerns. These are long-term impacts that negate “jobs” – the buzzword dangled to voters – ignoring the realities of enduring impact. I was interviewed by an AP reported on my thoughts regarding the

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Donlin mine. I had spent several days referencing their annual report, media coverage and the gold mining industry worldwide. I drew on my extensive science education and career experience in biotechnical sales where Merck Pharmaceuticals was my key account. I thank my many professors, especially those in organic chemistry and microbiology for providing the guiding education to enable me to share my knowledge so voters can see beyond the political hype. I stated that the Donlin mine proposal didn’t convince me. Interestingly, as far as I know, that AP story on the Donlin mine never ran anywhere… Alaska salmon and the extensive fishing industry thrive in a pristine environment. It has served Alaskan Indigenous communities for generations and can continue that legacy if leadership decision makers prioritize the sanctity of that environment. Trust in a proven legacy. When I ran for Alaska office in 2018, eight years ago, I felt my then platform key issues were critical and today they continue to be the basis for my current reentry to the 2026 US Senate race. Mary Peltola now thinks the Donlin gold mine is a fine thing. I didn’t think so back in 2018, and I don’t think so now in 2026.

Edna DeVries Names Dr. George Hightower as Running Mate for Alaska Lieutenant Governor Contributed by Rebecca Gall, Supporter of the DeVries-Hightower Ticket Edna DeVries has selected Dr. George Hightower as her choice for Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, pairing her campaign with a physician, military veteran, associate minister, and community leader. The announcement brings together a ticket focused on leadership, service, faith, and a shared vision for Alaska’s future, including specific policies on economic development, healthcare, and resource management to address voter concerns. Dr. Hightower brings decades of experience in medicine, military leadership, business, ministry, and community service. At Whittier College, he distinguished himself as an exceptional student-athlete and leader, earning Athlete of the Year honors, the Outstanding Leadership Award, and serving as Captain of the basketball team. He was twice inducted into the Whittier College Athletic Hall of Fame, recognized as Southern California Athlete of the Week,

and received Honorable Mention All-American honors. In the summer of 1978, he represented the United States in the Jones Cup Tournament in Taipei, Taiwan. A physician by profession, Dr. Hightower earned his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., after receiving a prestigious U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship awarded to only 200 students nationally. Recognized for leadership early in his career, he also received an Outstanding Leadership Award during medical school and built a distinguished professional path rooted in service to others, reinforcing the campaign’s message of experienced and trustworthy leadership. His service to the nation includes honorable duty as a United States Navy Medical Officer during Operation Desert Storm, where he was responsible for the health and welfare of more than 1,000 sailors and Marines aboard the USS Cleveland. He later oversaw medical readiness for more than 32 naval ships and Marine units attached to

Finger on the Pulse Contributed by Ken McCarty, State House Representative Candidate for District 24

In years past, I taught CPR and First Aid for the American Red Cross. After some 20 years of teaching hundreds of people, and later as an EMT, it became an automatic thought of, “How is the pulse of the patient?” As a business owner and community leader, I ask my staff and fellow members of the community, “How is the pulse” of operations. Awareness of the pulse is mindfulness of the basic essential needs for the functioning of a person, business, community, or government. Lately, it seems that our government has lost focus of what is the pulse for the people. Our current legislators deem greater interest in “saving the penguin programs” rather than capital projects essential for

life-support needs. Some legislators appear to be wasting time, energy, and money on ideological pursuits rather than attending to the basics of infrastructure, the free enterprise spirit of Alaskans, and effective education resulting in a vibrant workforce and economic security for Alaskans. Solid and expanding infrastructure is essential for any community, government, or military campaign. General Grant knew this concept well as a former supply officer, lead general of the Union Army, and president. General Patton used his supply officer expertise to lead the 3rd Army to be a formidable force in WWII. Mindfulness of infrastructure priorities led states like Florida through COVID, while states like California had ships anchored for weeks with the inability to offload supplies for the country.

Naval Station San Diego, earning commendation medals for his leadership and dedication to military readiness. Beyond military service, Dr. Hightower built an accomplished career in healthcare leadership and medicine. He served with Oasis Sports Medical Group supporting the San Diego Chargers and later founded and grew, alongside his wife, Landmark Occupational Health in Williston, North Dakota, from the ground up into the largest private occupational health practice in the state. The practice contracted with more than 100 oil-related companies to provide healthcare services to the energy sector before being sold in 2017. His experience also includes serving Alaska communities as Medical Director for Sunshine Community Clinics in Talkeetna, reinforcing a lifelong commitment to caring for people and strengthening local communities. This dedication to community health and well-being aims to inspire trust and hope among Alaskan voters and stakeholders. The DeVries-Hightower ticket represents

a vision of leadership grounded in accountability, common sense, and service to the people of Alaska. Their shared priorities include protecting individual freedoms, strengthening families and local communities, supporting responsible economic growth, defending Alaska’s resources, and implementing concrete policies to ensure opportunity for future generations. As Alaska faces important challenges and opportunities, the campaign seeks to offer leadership focused on steady values, practical experience, and a deep understanding of the needs of everyday Alaskans. The campaign emphasizes faith, freedom, hard work, and servant leadership as foundational principles for moving Alaska forward. The addition of Dr. Hightower to the ticket brings together two leaders committed to public service and a hopeful vision for Alaska focused on strong communities, responsible leadership, and preserving the values that make Alaska unique.

Alaska is often deemed as so remote and inaccessible, but I suggest such arguments are from short-sighted and control-oriented people. Alaska boasts the 4th largest cargo airport in the world, yet what are we doing to move goods from Alaska? Alaska boasts of more coastal shoreline than all the shoreline of the Lower 48 combined, yet what are we doing to load cargo ships out of ports like Pt. Mac, Seward, Whittier, Skagway, Haynes, or Nome? Alaska boasts good relations with our fellow latitude neighbor, yet why are we denying the Yukon Territory to move its resources through our ports? During COVID, when the Port of Los Angeles was a mess to move goods and cargo ships were stalled, I reached out, as a legislator, to the infrastructure resources of Alaska with the question of whether we could invite cargo ships to offload in Alaska and move goods by trains and trucks to the Lower 48. The Alaska trucking industry liked the idea. The State of Idaho welcomed the “Northern Port” idea. However, the Port of Anchorage wanted a 15-year study analysis

to determine feasibility. Why? Alaskans were denied economic and resource security because of the Port of Anchorage. A few years ago, the Alaska Railroad disassembled the only coal conveyor belt for the state at the Port of Seward. Rather than reassembling it at another viable port, such as Pt. Mac, it was scrapped, resulting in denial of free enterprise and infrastructure movement of Alaska resources to the world. Why? The pulse of our state is seen in mindfulness of the economic stability of individual families, such as the cost of food, gas, heating, and housing; the ability of obtaining appropriate stockholder dividends of a PFD system, which was precedent for 30 years until 2016; and the appropriate education of our children toward career and workforce development of Alaska. As we look at the opportunity of the LNG pipeline, what a classic example of “seizing the ring of opportunity” for a stable Alaskan pulse. We do not need legislators who would rather put us into ventricular fibrillation.

Highlights of MTA’s 2026 Annual Meeting

Contributed by Emma Corby On Wednesday, June 3rd, MTA hosted its 2026 Annual Meeting – the first under their new Chief Executive Officer, Demian Voiles. Every year, MTA hosts its Annual Meeting, open to all members. The meeting gives

members the chance to receive updates on the cooperative, vote on important issues, and help shape the future of MTA. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the past year’s achievements and successes. One of the most exciting highlights was the announcement of the MTA Founda-

tion’s scholarship recipients. Nearly $95,000 in scholarships were awarded to 32 local students, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Awards spanned categories including STEM and an Alaska Telecom Association scholarship, helping students build toward their futures. Another highlight of the evening was hearing directly from CEO Demian Voiles. He reflected on his transition into the role last fall, sharing what he learned during his first months of listening to employees, meeting members, and understanding what MTA truly stands for. “Our efforts are about more than infrastructure – they’re about opportunity,” Demian shared. “Looking ahead, 2026 will be a year of acceleration.” MTA had a lot to celebrate from 2025. The cooperative earned several awards, including NTCA’s Community Outreach Award, Alaska Business Magazine’s Best Telecommunications Provider, and HDI’s

Global Service & Support Award for Best Customer Experience, among others. MTA also deepened its community involvement through a successful Youth Tech Tour, a generous Employee Giving Campaign, and sponsorships and community giving across 10 communities from Eagle River to Talkeetna. As far as MTA’s growth goes, 2025 was a strong year. The cooperative continued building and upgrading its network, while expanding its team with new hires and apprentices. With a focus on bringing fiber broadband to more homes and businesses across its service area, MTA is laying the foundation for long-term growth and even greater connectivity across the region. Over 100 MTA members attended the Annual Meeting, with an additional group joining virtually. Learning panels filled up quickly, the United Way booth saw plenty of engagement, and many members got face-to-face time with MTA employees.

FAITH & RELIGION

Touch Energy Therapy Contributed by Daniel Russell

The Holy Spirit has not retired from healing work. Instead, in John 14:12, Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.” Jesus laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit healed the sick and raised the dead. In Mark 16:15-18,

Jesus said, “In my name they, his ordained servants, will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Later, “Paul laid his hands on him, father of Publius, and healed him” (Acts 28:8). The healing power does not come from a person laying on hands, but from God. So, I always ask for the Holy Spirit in the

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name of Jehovah through Jesus when I am laying hands on someone. I also apply heated oil or salt solution onto the body to remove toxins and stress, and to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which opens the biophysical pathways for healing to occur. Healing cannot happen when one’s sympathetic nervous system is engaged, when one is in a state of fear, stress, or anxiety. But there is a catch: one must have 100% faith. So, if one says, “Let’s try this and see

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if it works” or “It couldn’t hurt to try it,” then it will not work because no faith is shown to God. Therefore, if you call me, we must first elevate your faith to 100% before the Holy Spirit will be sent to help you. There is no charge for my Touch Energy ministry, so call me to schedule your appointment. The author is an ordained, certified energy/Reiki therapist, consultant, and biophysicist in Anchorage, Alaska. Contact him at 907-444-5647 or email dnrussellms@gmail.com.

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Understanding Sleep: Nature’s Design for Rest and Recovery Contributed by Nature’s Remedies

Sleep is one of the most important pillars of health, yet many people struggle to get enough quality rest. While modern life often encourages late nights, artificial lighting, and constant stimulation, our bodies were designed to follow natural rhythms that promote healthy sleep and recovery. Sleep is not simply a period of unconsciousness. Throughout the night, the body moves through several stages of sleep in roughly 90-minute cycles. The first stages are light sleep, where the body begins to relax and brain activity slows. This is followed by deep sleep, the stage responsible for physical recovery, tissue repair, immune support, and growth hormone release. Finally, Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep occurs, where most dreaming takes place and the brain processes memories, emotions, and learning experiences. A healthy night’s sleep includes multiple cycles of deep sleep and REM sleep. Disrup-

tions to these cycles can leave a person feeling tired even after spending enough hours in bed. Researchers have identified four common sleep chronotypes, often represented by animals. These chronotypes help explain why some people naturally feel energized at different times of day. Lions are early risers who wake up energized and tend to be most productive in the morning. Bears follow the sun most closely. They make up the majority of the population and generally perform best during standard daytime hours. Wolves are night-oriented individuals who naturally prefer later bedtimes and often feel most creative and productive in the evening. Dolphins are light sleepers who may struggle with insomnia, frequent waking, or difficulty maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Understanding your chronotype can help you build healthier routines and improve overall sleep quality. For centuries, people have turned to

POLITICS & OPINION

herbs to support relaxation and restful sleep. Many of these plants continue to be studied today for their calming properties. One of the most well-known is valerian root, a hardy perennial that can even be grown in Alaska. Traditionally used to promote relaxation and support healthy sleep, valerian has been valued in herbal traditions for generations. Chamomile is another popular herb known for its gentle calming effects. Often enjoyed as a tea before bedtime, chamomile has become a favorite evening ritual for many households. Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, has long been used to promote calmness and reduce feelings of stress that may interfere with sleep. Skullcap is a traditional North American herb used by herbalists to support relaxation and nervous system balance. Lavender is widely recognized for its soothing aroma. Whether used in teas, sachets, or essential oils, lavender is often associated with relaxation and

bedtime routines. Another naturally occurring compound receiving attention is cannabinol, or CBN. Derived from the cannabis plant, CBN is being explored for its potential role in supporting restful sleep and nighttime relaxation. In addition to herbs, healthy sleep habits can make a significant difference. Maintaining a consistent bedtime, reducing screen exposure before bed, limiting caffeine late in the day, and creating a cool, dark sleeping environment all support the body’s natural sleep cycle. Nature has provided many tools to help support rest and recovery. By understanding how sleep works and incorporating healthy habits, individuals can take meaningful steps toward achieving more restorative sleep. To learn more about sleep-supporting herbs such as valerian root, chamomile, skullcap, lavender, lemon balm, and cannabinol, visit Nature’s Remedies.

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No Confusion – Only One Carol “Kitty” Hafner for Senate Contributed by Carol “Kitty” Hafner

Straightforward, folks, I’m the same rock-solid candidate who ran in 2018 championing issues others still refuse to clearly confront in 2026. No one with an Alaska zip code stepped up to the plate or spoke up on the issues I have committed to then and now. Alaska’s rapidly changing environment places the state at the forefront of climate change. Superstorm Sandy, thousands of miles away in the New York/New Jersey area did the same type of damage in October 2012 as Typhoon Halong brought to Alaska in October 2025. I was there. Having followed the evolving climate changes in Alaska, I was one of few in the Metro area that took warnings of the impending storm seriously and prepared. But it wasn’t sufficient to counter the ravages of a combined full moon, high tide and pow-

erful winds that brought the record-breaking flooding. I secured everything, moved my car to higher ground and returned to my apartment to hunker down. No one was giving warnings of the magnitude of devastation about to unfold. The unanticipated 12-foot storm surge came in during the nighttime hightide and filled the building’s ground floor leaving us upstairs with a morning view of rapidly flowing debris filled muddied waters racing by. Like the flooding in Alaska villages, it surrounded houses and buildings. Those homes closest to the shoreline were ripped apart, completely destroyed or catastrophically damaged. It truly was the “perfect storm” that changed my life bringing me to political action. Seeing the news videos of the Halong devastation and resulting evacuations of the villages, again returned me to that 2012 time and place I have physically left and

Ranked Choice Voting Contributed by Jim Lieb

Alaska Democrats have apparently for many years been frustrated with their inability to get their candidates elected. Then they found out about the rank choice system [RCV] thanks to outside leftist groups who had figured out a way to assist Democrats get elected in red states. They explained to the Alaska Democratic

Party how they could begin winning by ‘splitting’…. namely, rank choice voting could split the conservative vote by getting multiple conservatives to complete against each other in general elections and result in the more liberal candidate being elected. These same outside groups also provided large amounts of financial support used to convince Alaskans to vote for RCV. The

never returned. FEMA was ineffective then as it has been in providing the necessary support for families to recover at all levels. I filled out forms. I had interviews. Never received any assistance or compensation. Physical, emotional and financial aspects of recovery are intertwined and across America, our families face disasters that are breaking news then in the aftermath, it rapidly fades. Unless there are dynamic nonprofits to assist victims, people are left without a true government support net to aid in recovery. Disasters can happen anywhere. Helping recovery from our government should be a given. I noted in comments about news videos of Halong that the aftermath of victim relocation and rebuilding was limited. Sadly, this is the pattern of disaster story coverage across America. Additionally, Alaska being physically disconnected from the Lower 48, national media coverage in-

cluding Alaska is limited. The barriers faced by Alaskan Native communities are shared by disaster victims across America. We have to support each other in our times of need. We can do far better than the FEMA track record illustrates. But we collectively have to demand better. And vote accordingly. “Five Days at Memorial” by Sheri Fink also has an Apple movie version chronicling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The book is a factual account of a hospital crisis. https://tinyurl.com/3hxcfj7x Netflix is in the process of locating an expansive production site in New Jersey. Given the growing interest in Alaska Native story content, the story of Typhoon Halong and impact on Alaska Native villages could be equally compelling as the story of Katrina.

2020 rank choice voting proposition on the Alaska ballet wound up passing 50.5% yes, 49.5 % no. Any claim that prior to rank choice voting the Republican primary system only allowed a minority of Alaskan voters to participate and select a Republican candidate is absolutely incorrect. In addition to registered Republican voters, those registered as undeclared, and nonpartisan could also vote in a Republican primary. For example, this meant, according to the Alaska Division of Elections, in 2020, 71% of all registered voters could vote in the Republican

primary. Alaska’s conservatives know that the primary system that existed for so many years worked very well. Republicans of many views, as well as someone approved by the Alaskan Republican party, could compete for primary votes, and the one with the best ideas and experience could be selected to run against candidates from other parties. Many of Alaskan conservatives are working hard to get rid of rank choice voting and back to what has worked so well for obtaining good Alaskan leaders.

The Gold Rush Is Already Here: Learning to Use AI Wisely, Together Contributed by Richard Garrick, Ember & Oak Institute There is a quiet race happening right now, and most of us are only half watching. Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than almost anyone predicted, and it is not going to slow down to let us catch our breath. The rest of the world certainly will not. For years the assumption was that the United States held a commanding, multiyear lead in this technology. That comfort is gone. Stanford’s 2026 AI Index found the performance gap between the top American and Chinese models had shrunk to a few percentage points, and the head of Google DeepMind now describes the American lead as a matter of months, not years. Think about what that means. The most powerful tool of our lifetimes is being built at a full sprint, our edge is thin, and the only way to keep it is to become a people who genuinely understand how to use it. Not a handful of engineers in distant cities. Us. Our neighbors, our small businesses, and above all our children.

Here in Alaska, we know something about moments like this. When gold was found, the people who prospered were rarely the ones who panicked, and rarely the ones who pretended nothing had changed. They were the ones who learned the country, read the rivers, packed the right gear, and helped one another through the first hard winters. The newcomers who refused to learn the terrain did not last. AI is that kind of moment, a genuine gold rush unfolding in front of our eyes, and the same rule applies. The opportunity is real, it is enormous, and it will not wait for the unprepared. But there is a catch that the rush of any era tends to forget. Speed without wisdom is how people get hurt. An AI tool used carelessly can spread falsehoods, leak private information, cut corners that should never be cut, and quietly teach a child that thinking for yourself is optional. That is why the skill we most need is not simply how to use AI, but how to use it ethically and well. How to tell when an answer is wrong. How to keep your own judgment in the driver’s

seat. How to be honest about when a tool truly helped and when it just did the work for you. Ethics here is not a brake on progress. It is the very thing that makes progress trustworthy and lasting. This is the heart of what we teach at Ember & Oak Institute. We help children and adults learn to navigate the AI waters safely, today, while the current is still strong and the maps are still being drawn. For young people that means using these tools with curiosity and care, fact-checking what they find, and understanding both the power and the limits of what they hold. For adults it means putting AI to work in a real business or a real household without losing your footing, your privacy, or your principles. The skills are not mysterious. They can be learned, and they are best learned together. That word, together, matters more than ever. A gold rush can pull a community apart, every prospector for himself, or it can pull a community forward, with neighbors sharing what works and lifting the next person up the trail. We would rather build

the second kind. The families and businesses of the Mat-Su Valley do not need to wait for someone far away to decide our place in this new world. We can learn it, shape it, and put it to honest use right here. The worst thing we could do is treat this as someone else’s problem or assume the future will sort itself out while we look away. It will not. The world is moving, the lead is narrow, and the prize goes to those who learn quickly and use what they learn with integrity. Our children will spend their entire adult lives alongside these tools. The only question is whether they will be the ones steering, or the ones swept along. So let us not waste the moment. Let us innovate together, with our eyes open and our values intact. The gold is in the ground, and the rivers are running. The only thing left to decide is whether we will learn to read them. If you would like to learn how to navigate AI wisely, for your family or for your business, we would love to help. info@emberandoakinstitute.com, www.emberandoakinstitute.com

VETERANS

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A Patriot Doctor with the Right Stuff

Contributed by Colonel Suellyn Wright Novak, Alaska Veterans Museum Founding Executive Director Oftentimes, a real hero who does all tasks to perfection is lost to history. Such is the case of Colonel Edward Hand. Born on Dec. 31, 1744, in a small village west of Dublin, he arrived in Philadelphia on July 11, 1767, as a surgeon’s mate in the British Army. His unit was stationed at Fort Pitt, present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He resigned on June 24, 1774, and moved to Lancaster to practice medicine. About a year later, he

was an officer in Washington’s Continental Army. On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress instructed Pennsylvania to raise six rifle companies, along with two each from Virginia and Maryland. The finest, most accurate rifles were built by the German gunsmiths of Lancaster and Berks counties in Pennsylvania. Hand was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion. Rifles were new to most members of Congress. The rifle, which has spirals in the barrel, twists and spins the ball, making it accurate up to 300 yards. The Brown Bess musket was good to 60 yards on a perfect day in the hands of an expert. The British felt rifles were “uncivilized, unsportsmanlike, and ungentlemanly.” The 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, now commanded by full Colonel Hand, was the first Continental unit British forces met in New York in August 1776. Hand’s men patrolled Densye Point, Long Island, the closest American point to the redcoat camps on Staten Island. Hand signaled that the redcoats were landing in force on Long Island and slowly pulled back, burning grain and forage to prevent enemy use. Nightly through Aug. 25, his troops did random

POLITICS & OPINION It’s Staring Us in the Face Contributed by (Former) Senator Shelley Hughes, Republican Candidate for Governor (Retired) General Blake Gettys, Republican Candidate for Lt. Governor Alaska’s gas future is a hot topic and for good reason. The coming gas shortage is real. The problem is staring us in the face. If we don’t tend to it wisely and soon, Alaskans will be left in the dark and the cold. Much focus, much hope, naturally has been centered on the Alaska LNG pipeline: a large, long-term project. The conversation tends to center on exports, jobs, and the long-awaited opportunity to bring North Slope gas to market as well as a steady supply for Alaskans. These are incredibly important goals and deserve serious and persistent attention. But at present, Alaska must solve the gas problem right in front of us. We are not dealing with a single gas challenge. We are facing two different problems that require two different solutions.

The first is immediate. Southcentral Alaska, including Anchorage, depends heavily on Cook Inlet natural gas for heat and electricity. That supply is declining, and under conservative projections, natural gas shortages could begin as early as the winter of 2026 or 2027, resulting in electrical grid brown outs during the coldest days of winter when demand peaks. At that point, reliability matters most. Homes, hospitals, and businesses all depend on a system that must perform under stress. The second challenge is long-term. Alaska has vast reserves of natural gas on the North Slope and developing that resource has been a priority for decades. The Alaska LNG project is designed to do exactly that, but even under optimistic timelines, those projects are still years away from delivering gas to Alaskans. That means the largest and most visible project currently under discussion does not solve the problem we could face in just a few winters in our immediate future.

sniping and conducted nighttime harrying attacks to keep the “lobster-backs” on their toes. When the Battle of Long Island turned on Washington’s army, Hand’s unit did rear guard service as Washington retreated. For the next six months, the now-proven Colonel Hand had key roles. Hand was on his own again on Throgs Neck, now Fort Schuyler Park in the Bronx, New York City, on Oct. 11. His force was only about 30 soldiers. The British landed 4,000. But Hand knew his enemy and how to make his 30 men count. Facing British Brown Besses in a traditional toe-to-toe fight would be suicide, so he utilized the advanced range of his rifles. His men dismantled the only bridge over a tidal creek, and he joined them as they fired from behind a pile of cordwood, stopping the redcoats cold despite the 133-to-1 advantage. Hand’s regiment blocked the road to Princeton during the first Battle of Trenton on Dec. 26, 1776. A week later, his delaying tactics stalled Cornwallis for a day to allow Washington time to set up the second Battle of Trenton, also known as the Battle of Assunpink Creek. Cornwallis next met Hand’s force of 1,000 at Five Mile Run. The accurate American rifles held up Cornwal-

lis’ force of 8,000 men while the advance guard regrouped. Hand fell back into heavy woods and repeated his successful tactic at Throgs Neck, demolished the bridge and held their fire until the redcoats were in the middle of the stream. By the time the British made it into the trees, Hand was gone. Cornwallis met Hand a third time at Stockton Hollow, about a half mile north of Trenton, and again held the British to a standstill. Hand gave Washington the needed time for a brilliant overnight march around Cornwallis’ flank, successfully setting up the second Battle of Trenton. Hand was promoted to brigadier general and took command of Fort Pitt, then a little over a year later commanded the northern frontier at Albany, New York, in November 1778. Hand became Washington’s adjutant general in 1781 and was by Washington’s side at Yorktown and at Washington’s dramatic speech with mutinous Continental officers in Newburg, New York, on March 14, 1783. Post-war, Hand was a delegate to the Confederation Congress of 1783-84 and a member of the state legislature from 178586. He was recalled to adjutant general for the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. During tensions with France in 1798, Hand was commissioned a major general and served again as Washington’s adjutant general until June 15, 1800.

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This is where leadership matters. It is not enough to support big ideas. We must match solutions to timelines. That’s where the Hughes/Gettys ticket comes in the strongest. We already have plans to establish an Incident Command Structure to include producers, utilities, regulatory bodies and local and state governments to minimize the impacts of supply interruptions in the near term. We will not leave you out in the dark and the cold. In the near term, we must also take practical steps that can deliver results within the next three to five years. That includes encouraging additional Cook Inlet development where it makes sense and evaluating options to bring gas into Southcentral Alaska if local supply continues to decline. Additionally, there is potential to move natural gas off the North Slope via a short pipeline to a Beaufort Sea terminal and onto tankers for export to Europe and Asia, as well to provide the needed supply to Alaska. These solutions may not carry the same visibility as larger export projects, but they are the ones that can ensure stability for families and businesses in the near term. At the same time, we should continue pursuing long-term projects that create

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jobs and generate value for the state. Developing North Slope gas remains one of Alaska’s greatest opportunities, but we must be clear-eyed about timelines, costs, and risk. To achieve truly affordable and secure energy, we must also expand our energy portfolio. The Hughes/Gettys ticket will focus on hydro at a whole new level; we will take advantage of federal funding opportunities before they close out for the Susitna-Watana dam as well as for smaller hydro projects. We will pursue clean coal projects, geothermal, and small modular reactors where they make sense. The path forward is not choosing one approach over another. It is about sequencing our efforts and building a strategy that addresses both the urgency of today and the opportunity of tomorrow. Alaska has the resources to succeed. What we need now is leadership with focus, discipline, and a willingness to talk honestly about real solutions. My Lt. Governor running mate, (Ret.) General Blake Gettys and I have what it takes. We know the clock is ticking on the problem closest to home. We are problem solvers. We are ready.

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Need Help Staying Independent At Home? Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. Chore Services Can Help! Daily household tasks can become difficult with age. Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) offers Chore Services to help seniors remain independent in their own homes. If you are a senior, family member, or caregiver looking for support, we are here to help. WASI’s trained staff can assist with routine household tasks such as: ; Light housekeeping ; Bathroom and kitchen cleaning ; Laundry and linen changes ; Organizing and decluttering ; Trash removal pathways for safety ; Vacuuming and floor care

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Wasilla Area Seniors at 907-206-8800 Supporting seniors throughout the Mat-Su Borough. Payment Options: TriWest for Veterans, Medicaid Chore Waiver, or Private Pay

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PETS & ANIMALS

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Paws for Justice Calling all animal shelters, rescues, and vet clinics — Paws for Justice, a local community initiative sponsored by Crowson Law, wants to partner with you! We’re building a community campaign to help local pets find loving homes. Local organizations will feature the adoptable pets in the pages of The People’s Paper and on the airwaves of 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM—and we’ll help coordinate free adoption events, promote them, and cover adoption costs or other services to help our furry friends find forever homes. To learn more about Paws for Justice or to sign up to help today - call (907) 373-2698. That’s 3732698. Brought to you by Crowson Law Group— defending the injured and giving Alaska’s rescue pets a voice. Visit crowsonlaw.com to learn more.

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Adoptable Cats Looking for Loving Homes

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Adopt Macadamia Adopt Gabriella

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I am a silly ball of energy with short legs that get me places quickly. At about a year old, I am moderately playful but especially like toys I can chase. I’m not entirely convinced that brushes are not toys but seem to enjoy being brushed if you catch me in a calm moment. While my long, soft hair and swishing feather-duster tail are a siren’s call to be pet, I am very particular about it. Other than a quick pet of the tail while walking, because it’s always up in the air, I only like being pet when I’m calmly rvelaxing. I am firm but gentle with my boundaries and clearly communicate when I’m done with attention. For this reason, I will do best in a home that does not have small children. Additionally, I do not like being held but don’t squirm too hard if you know how to hold me right. I am curious about what humans are doing and follow people from room to room. I even warm up to visitors quickly. I would do best in a home that has another moderately playful cat. I’m not sure about dogs but would probably do fine with a mellow dog that will respect my space. I will need a safe, fun yard to enjoy sunny summer days once I am bonded and feeling comfortable with my new family.

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Meet a few of the wonderful adoptable cats currently looking for their perfect homes through Clear Creek Cat Rescue.

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Gabriella! This beautiful girl has delicate features, soulful blue eyes, and a quiet charm that’s impossible to resist. She’s a true “cat’s cat” and would thrive in a home with feline companions. If you have a lonely kitty looking for a best friend, Gabriella may be the perfect match. Gabriella’s life didn’t start out so great. She originally came from a colony where volunteers have rescued over 80 cats so far (and still more to go). She has turned into a sweet and loving house cat with the help of her foster! Treats are definitely the quickest way to her heart! Once she learns you’re the source of snacks and gentle affection, she’ll happily add you to her circle of trusted friends. We estimate she is around 5 years old. She will do best with older kids or calm dogs only as loud noises and chaos can get a bit too much for her. Gabriella is currently in Anchorage and more than ready to leave her colony days behind and find a forever family of her own.

Adopt Picante

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Adopt Winnie

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Wynston (Winnie for short) She absolutely loves pets and will gently whack you when she wants more attention. She also enjoys giving love bites— “beating people up” is her love language. And definitely her way to be noticed. She loves to look cute and be the center of attention. Winnie may be a little scared at first and might hiss when meeting new people, but if you give her a little time, she warms up quickly and will soon be begging for pets. She loves other cats and absolutely loves dogs. She must have cat buddies in her new home and a friendly dog would be the best! She loves to climb on cat trees and looking out the window. She will also climb the trees in the yard if given a chance. She needs an outside area where she can show you what a specular kitty she is without having to beat you up.

Despite his name, Picante is more sweet than spicy. He loves attention and will purr the moment you start petting him (his favorite spot to be pet is his head). He will jump on the couch with you as soon as you sit down every time. Picante is very tolerant of other cats but would also do well alone. He was so friendly and open he was able to be introduced to his cat roommate only after a few hours. He is an easy going boy in a sleek black coat in the fashion of Bombay cats. But he has a secret. While he looks to be a fully black cat he has a sneaky little patch of white on his belly that he shows off when he’s ready for a tummy rub. He will need a safe yard to go outside in when he’s bonded with the home, which doesn’t take long with this sweet guy. He’d love to have his family with him there to hang out or maybe to do yard business like plant flowers.

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

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