Issuu

MID-MAY

2026

Paid for by Alaskans for Hughes Box 1496 Palmer AK 99645

INSIDE THIS EDITION:

Music in the Park Brings Summer Back to City of Wasilla Contributed by MAKE A SCENE Media Team

Why Youth ATV Safety Matters in Alaska MORE ON PAGE 2 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

C-119 Flying Boxcar

MORE ON PAGE 12 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

VFAA Showing at the Art Café

MORE ON PAGE 14 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE

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Keeping It Upright

Training with ASR, photos by Mike Buck

Training with ASR

In action on the trails

Contributed by Debra McGhan Driving west on Seldon Road, I spotted a side-by-side filled with teenagers sailing along at top speed in the ditch next to the roadway. I watched as they shot up the side of a bank, and just as they made the turn at the top and started down, the driver lost control and the machine tipped over and rolled down the slope. The machine landed in a heap at the bottom, and I slowed down and pulled off the road, grabbing my phone and dialing 911.

I hate being first on scene. I often wonder why this keeps happening to me. Screaming teenagers. Crying, confused, trying to figure out what to do. It’s always so much. Jumping out of my car, I started toward them. Kids were scrambling out of the machine, and I spotted one girl on her cell phone. “Are you calling 911?” I asked. “No,” she said through shaking tears. “My Mom.” The others were checking each other

for injuries, and one kept saying, “Are you okay? Are you okay?” Taking control of the scene, I instructed all the kids to take a deep breath and try to calm down. I asked about injuries and quickly realized one of the girls was still trapped inside the sideby-side, hanging upside down. She became priority one. Within minutes, I heard the blessed sounds of sirens approaching and the relief of trained medics rolling up and jumping into action to take over. I provided my statement to the arriving trooper and was promptly dismissed. As I drove away, the adrenaline pumping through my veins slowly subsided. This incident reinforced the reason I’ve put so much time and energy into outdoor safety education programs in my lifetime. We need to train our children, so they know how to avoid situations like this. And what to do when they do happen. Because accidents like this do happen. Far too often. I’ve watched kids go from laughing and having a great day to lying in a hospital emergency room with tubes and needles sticking out of their fragile little bodies when everything went wrong in the blink of an eye. This summer, thanks to support from the Alaska Community Foundation and Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska Safe Riders will be offering free ATV safety camps for youth from ages 10 and up. This is an incredible

Why Youth ATV Safety Matters in Alaska

Contributed by Sierra Winter, Marketing Director & Instructor For many Alaska families, riding ATVs is more than just recreation — it is part of everyday life. From exploring trails and camping with family to hunting, fishing, hauling gear, and accessing remote areas, ATVs play a major role in outdoor culture across the state. For youth riders especially, learning how to safely operate an ATV at an early age can build confidence, responsibility, and valuable outdoor skills that last a lifetime. With the excitement and freedom of riding also comes real responsibility. ATVs are powerful machines that require training, awareness, and proper safety equipment to operate safely. Without education and preparation, young riders can quickly find themselves in dangerous situations caused by unfamiliar terrain, improper riding techniques, excessive speed, or lack of protective gear. That is why youth ATV safety education is so important. One of the most critical parts of ATV safety is understanding that riding skills are learned — not automatic. Just because a child can physically operate an ATV does not mean they understand how to respond to uneven terrain, safely navigate hills, control speed, react to obstacles, or handle changing trail conditions. Alaska’s back-

country and trail systems can present unique challenges including mud, water crossings, loose gravel, steep climbs, changing weather, and remote riding conditions. Teaching youth how to identify and respond to those conditions helps reduce risk and build smarter, more responsible riders. Protective gear is another essential piece of ATV safety. Helmets remain one of the most important safety tools available for riders of all ages. A properly fitted helmet can dramatically reduce the risk of serious head injuries during an accident or rollover. Eye protection is equally important. Goggles or safety glasses protect riders from dust, debris, branches, mud, insects, and unexpected trail hazards that could impair vision while riding. Additional riding gear such as gloves, boots, long sleeves, and long pants also helps protect riders from cuts, impacts, weather exposure, and burns from hot ATV components. Safety gear should never be treated as optional — it should become part of every ride, every time. Another key aspect of youth ATV education is terrain awareness. Young riders must learn how different surfaces affect handling and stopping distance. Riding on gravel is different from riding through mud. Hills require different body positioning than flat trails. Wet terrain can reduce traction, while ruts

and uneven ground can destabilize an ATV if riders are unprepared. Learning how to “read” terrain helps riders make safer decisions before they encounter problems on the trail. Equally important is teaching youth to respect the outdoors and other trail users. Safe riding includes understanding trail etiquette, staying on designated routes, riding within skill limits, and protecting Alaska’s natural environment for future generations. Building those habits early creates riders who are not only safer, but more respectful and responsible members of the outdoor community. That is exactly why Alaska Safe Riders continues to invest in hands-on youth ATV education opportunities across Alaska. This June, Alaska Safe Riders is hosting Youth ATV Safety Classes every Saturday at Jim Creek in Palmer, Alaska. These FREE classes are designed for youth ages 10 and older and combine classroom-style safety education with real hands-on riding experience under the guidance of experienced instructors. Students will learn safe ATV operation, trail awareness, riding techniques, rider responsibility, and practical safety skills in a supportive outdoor environment. The courses are intentionally limited to

PAGE 2

opportunity to give your children the gift of a thrilling, hands-on, educational summer camp. The camp includes a mandatory online e-learning portion, followed by a full-day field workshop. Machines for the field portion will be provided by ASR. Just show up with your helmet, gloves, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, over-the-ankle boots, and your e-certificate for completing the online training portion. If you need any help with these items, let ASR know when you sign up and they’ll do their best to help. Preparation and planning for the camps are currently ongoing, and all the details will be published at AlaskaSafeRiders. org soon. Because space is limited, if you are interested in taking advantage of this special opportunity, I encourage you to reserve a spot by contacting ASR through the contact form on their website. Whether you are the operator or just a passenger of an off-road vehicle, it pays to know what to do in the event of an emergency. The Alaska State Troopers continue to support these outdoor safety education programs, helping to make it possible for ASR to offer them at no cost. We do suggest a $100 per person donation to help sustain the program, but that must not be a barrier to getting your children the safety education that could save their lives. When I’m teaching youth camps, I always like to ask, “Do you own an ATV?” If the answer is no, my next question is, “Do you wish you did?” Almost every time the answer is a resounding yes. This year, get prepared in the event your children have the chance to explore Alaska’s backcountry on an ATV by taking advantage of this special summer camp opportunity made possible thanks to the Alaska Community Foundation, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska State Troopers and ConocoPhillips. Learn more at AlaskaSafeRiders.org.

small class sizes to ensure personalized instruction and a strong focus on rider safety and confidence building. One of the biggest advantages of these courses is accessibility. Students do not need to own an ATV to participate. Alaska Safe Riders provides ATVs for youth who need them, making the program available to more families throughout the community. Students who already own an ATV are welcome to bring it as long as it is age appropriate and in safe mechanical condition. Participants are also required to complete the official ATV Safety Institute online e-learning course before attending the in-person class. This online training introduces riders to foundational safety concepts and helps prepare them for the hands-on instruction they will receive during the clinic. Participation in Alaska Safe Riders Youth ATV Safety Classes does not require an Alaska Safe Riders membership, and all youth are welcome to attend. However, memberships and community donations play a critical role in helping programs like these continue to grow across Alaska. While a $100 donation per participant is recommended to help offset equipment, fuel, training, and program costs, it is never required. Every donation made to Alaska Safe Riders — whether during registration or throughout the year — directly supports the sustainability and expansion of our backcountry safety and outdoor education programs, helping us reach more riders, more families, and more communities throughout the state. Programs like these are made possible thanks to the support of community partners and sponsors who believe in building safer riding culture across Alaska. Alaska Safe Riders extends a huge thank you to the Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska Community Foundation, Eagle River Polaris & Arctic Cat, and Hatcher Pass Polaris for helping make these youth safety programs possible. To learn more or register for upcoming Youth ATV Safety Classes, visit: www.alaskasaferiders.org/events/

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PAGE 3

C-119 Flying Boxcar: The Biggest Attraction at the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering Contributed by Kimberly Collins

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What’s better than a free event outside with planes, on a weekend in the MatSu? One that includes one of the most innovative WWII-era aircraft designs, the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar. Held on May 2 and 3 at the Palmer Municipal Airport and the State Fairgrounds, the Alaska Airmen’s Association Great Alaska Aviation Gathering expected 25,000 participants this year. 1,000 people visited the C-119, the largest aircraft on display at the airport at 86’ long and a wingspan of 109’. Very different from other purpose-designed craft of the end of the Second World War, the military was looking for new designs for increased demand and mission sets. The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar is definitely different and was very innovative for its time. The plane has large swinging “clam shell” cargo doors at the rear of the aircraft that allow it to be entirely opened up for loading. Empty weight for the Boxcar is 40,000 pounds, with a maximum take-off weight of 74,000 pounds. Owned by Eagle River resident John Reffett, the plane was manufactured in 1953. Reffett maintains his aircraft, firing up the two Wright R3350 engines once a year. It is the last flightworthy C-119 in the world. He enjoys watching the excitement and admiration from the public as they walk up the ramps into the plane. Especially, though, he and the crew appreciate the stories Veterans and pilots share of their time in the Boxcar, other military craft of the time, and their experience in WWII. John Will, a friend of Reffett, also heard and saw what Veterans were experiencing in the plane. He saw experiences being recalled, heard the stories, and made it his life’s work to preserve them. Rolling Boxcar was founded to honor and share the contributions of servicemen and women during WWII and shares the story of their time in the Alaskan theater. His organization is restoring the fuselage of a C-119 to be mounted on a bus chassis as a traveling museum, educational platform, and concert venue. Rolling Boxcar has purchased the fuselage of a C-119 and moved it to a

www.kidskupboard.org

C-119 Flying Boxcar and support crew, the Rolling Roadies, readying the plane for display May 2, 2026.

The C-119 Flying Boxcar clam shell doors on view at the Palmer Municipal Airport.

Rolling Boxcar President John Will and Secretary Claudia Andrade in front of their organization’s C-119 being restored at “Southern Command,” Bieber, California, March 6, 2026.

location Will has named “Southern Command” in Bieber, California. The group has been restoring and fitting the plane just as it would have been in 1953. Veterans will sit in the cockpit, operate the rudder pedals and flight yoke mechanism, and they will feel as they did in their time during the war. Will knows from listening to Veterans, they share stories perhaps not spoken since. Rolling Boxcar will give them that opportunity and will honor and preserve their legacy. Will’s organization is hosting groups of “Rolling Roadies” at their California location who help with the restoration, from locating and delivering tires to polishing the bright aluminum outer skin of the Boxcar. If you’d like to volunteer, you can email the president at john@rollingboxcar.com. They accept financial donations

C-119 Flying Boxcar owner John Reffett in the pilot’s seat at the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering.

at rollingboxcar.com. The only thing better than a free event outside with planes in the Mat-Su would be a warm and sunny one. It was cold and windy. Notwithstanding, Alaskans are a hardy crowd and seemed to appreciate learning about the C-119 Flying Boxcar, air rescue, and careers in aviation. Thanks to the many volunteers who made it happen, and a very special thank you to the Alaska Airmen’s Association for sponsoring the event. We appreciate you! Next year, we’ll bring coffee. Kimberly Collins is the Development Director for Rolling Boxcar, a traveling museum, education, and Veterans organization support nonprofit. For more info, go to rollingboxcar.com.

Kids Care: Coloring Pages That Spread Smiles Contributed by Kimberly Kellar, Valley Charities turn-A-leaf Thrift Stores

Join Valley Charities’ turn-A-leaf Thrift Stores to spread smiles in our community. Every month there will be a “Kids Care” page available for kids to color. Next, bring in the page that kids color and get a free book! Reading helps kids grow in so many ways: builds imagination, strengthens

reading and learning skills, boosts confidence, and encourages creativity. The completed pages need to be returned to the store by the first Monday of the month. Then we’ll distribute the pages to Mat-Su seniors in our community as a highlight of their day. These colored pages may even make their way to a bulletin board or refrigerator, reaching others too.

Valley Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Contributed by Sue Wallin

Saturday, May 23, 9 AM to 3 PM, 3700 E. Bogard Rd. The long-awaited garden sale is coming soon! Come see Valley-grown

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plants of many kinds at 3700 E. Bogard Rd., just east of the Seward Meridian and Bogard Rd. intersection. There will be veggie starts, flowers of many kinds, both annual and perennial, house plants, tools, soil amendments,

garden plastics and some ceramic pots. Garden books will be brought to you by Bright Lights Book Project. There is usually an entire wall of tomato plants of many varieties. Come early for the best selection at this awesome annual local event. Bring friends, neighbors and family, young and old. See you there!

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2026

June 6-7 and June 13-14 Pirate Weekend

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COMMUNITY A Celebration of Valley Quilts

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Contributed by Jana Berna and Susan Franznick

This year our community will premiere its very own Airing of the Quilts in beautiful downtown Palmer! An array of quilts, large and small, will be on display in the Train Depot and the outdoor Pavilion area for the public to see, free of charge. Some of the quilts you may have seen before, including two from the 2025 Alaska State Fair: The Library, a huge bookcase filled with books and trinkets and lots of hidden surprises for a fun “I Spy” game, and NASA, an interactive quilt featuring sensors that, when electronically scanned,

take the viewer to various space-related websites. Others will be newly displayed, made recently or long ago, and represent a wide variety of quilt styles and techniques. Many of the quilt makers will be on hand with their quilts, happy to answer your questions. There will also be a handful of quilters demonstrating various techniques by hand and by machine in the Train Depot. If you want to bring your quilt to the show, please register to participate. Registration is free and open to anyone who has a quilt they would like to share with the community; however, space is limited, so sign up early. Find the registration link on

our Facebook page, “Palmer’s Airing of the Quilts,” or email us at PalmersAiringoftheQuilts@gmail.com. Thank you to the Valley Quilters Guild for their collaboration on this event. We hope you will join us on Sunday, June 7, 11 AM to 2 PM, in the Palmer Train Depot and Palmer Outdoor Pavilion for the first-ever Airing of the Quilts, a family-friendly, free community activity celebrating Palmer and quilts!

“The Library” quilt made by Susan Franznick with Jillian Lin

Honoring American Culture: Literary Classics

Contributed by Doug Ferguson As we gear up to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, it is important to remember how the work of our American authors contributed to and represented the unique United States culture of freedom,

along with its implied responsibilities to be a citizen. Author, writer and emeritus professor Mark Bauerlein of Emory University brings this concept home in his most recent April article in the Epoch Times: “American Classics Worth Celebrating This July”. Here he gives a brief review of a few authors of literary heritage such as Ben Franklin, Horatio Alger, William Faulkner, Ralph Waldo Emerson, etc. and how they helped shape our culture. For instance, Bauerlein points out that Franklin’s” “Autobiography” is an “—arche-

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typical rags-to-riches American plot. We find elements of it in the Horatio Alger stories, ‘The Great Gatsby’, William Faulkner’s ‘Absalom, Absalom!’, and Washington’s ‘Up From Slavery”, and many more.” He then goes on to show how these authors delt with free speech, self-reliance, anti-tradition, and a host of other freedom-oriented topics and how these writings made their way into the public conscience by means of speeches, personal lectures, required readings in education and other venues. All in all, it is a very strong argument for including a remembrance of these authors and their writings in our 250th Anniversary celebrations. Here in Palmer at St. John’s Lutheran Church a group has been celebrating the 4th of July there for the past several years. If you also wish to celebrate and learn more about the unique aspects of

our American culture, you can attend and even participate in this rededication of the Declaration of Independence event. They are planning to have a field black powder cannon that will be fired during the ceremony and wish to have as many people as possible dressed in colonial outfits to create the historic atmosphere along with the reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. They are looking for speakers, entertainers, and musicians with relevant material that can be worked into the program. The celebration is planned for 3PM. on the Green adjacent to the Church, weather permitting, in plenty of time to get back from the 4th parade in Wasilla. If you wish to get involved yourself, please contact Scott at moscapoet@gmail. com for more details. 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 5

MY House Awarded $4.38 Million Grant from Mat-Su Health Foundation

Contributed by Isaac Smoldon

MY House is excited to accept a threeyear, $4.38 million grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) to support critical ramp-up costs and organizational infrastructure as it prepares to fully occupy and operate the new 33,000-square-foot Carson-Cottle Center. This investment supports the opening of the Carson-Cottle Center and the expansion of staffing and systems needed to sustain MY House’s growing housing, treatment, and workforce development programs. The funding strengthens core administrative capacity, ensuring MY House is prepared to meet increasing demand and continue to serve vulnerable youth with excellence and accountability. “We are incredibly grateful to have received this funding from the Mat-Su Health Foundation. This grant allows us to build critical infrastructure in anticipation of the completion of the Carson-Cottle Center in December, supporting expanded services for homeless youth and our community,”

said Michelle Overstreet, MY House CEO. “The process of working with the MSHF team has been very positive and encouraging, and this effort is truly a testament to the life-changing work our community can accomplish when we work together.” A cornerstone of this project is the Carson-Cottle Center Café, which will provide daily meals for residents in MY House housing and treatment programs while also operating as a public-facing community café. More than a meal program, the Café is a job-training hub where youth gain hands-on experience in food preparation, customer service, teamwork, and workplace professionalism in a commercial kitchen that mirrors real-world industry standards. The Café also serves as a welcoming space that reflects MY House’s belief that food is love and that every young person deserves to feel accepted, valued, and cared for. “Mat-Su Health Foundation is proud to

support MY House as they expand their capacity to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable youth,” said Esther Pitts, President and CEO, Mat-Su Health Foundation. “The Carson-Cottle Center represents a comprehensive, forward-looking approach to housing, recovery, workforce development, and prevention. This new resource will fill gaps in our behavioral health continuum of care and provide safety, stability, and security so our youth can thrive.”

At MY House, homeless and at-risk youth are welcomed, housed, trained, offered recovery services, and included in community awareness and prevention activities. The Carson-Cottle Center is scheduled to begin operations in December 2026.

Mat-Su College Celebrates 2026 Commencement Ceremony Contributed by Cadence Sellars Mat-Su College celebrated its 2026 Commencement Ceremony, recognizing the achievements of this year’s graduating class. The ceremony took place on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Glenn Massay Theater. This milestone event marked the culmination of years of hard work, persever-

ance, and dedication for Mat-Su College students. Graduates were recognized in a traditional ceremony that honored academic achievement and the commitment required to reach this significant goal. Faculty and staff at Mat-Su College extended their heartfelt congratulations to all graduates. The ceremony served not only as a celebration of individual success, but also as a reflection of the strength and

community at Mat-Su College. Family members, friends, and community supporters joined in recognizing the accomplishments of the Class of 2026. For more info about commencement, visit matsu.alaska.edu.

Mat-Su Regional Earns Straight “A” in Safety Contributed by Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the fifth consecutive grading round by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. This designates Mat-Su Regional as a “Straight A” hospital, defined as hospitals that have an A for Spring 2026 and have sustained that grade for the last five or more grading rounds. This select group represents 15% of all eligible hospitals. “This recognition speaks to the incredible team we have here at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center,” said Taylor Rudd, Chief Executive Officer. “Earning an ‘A’ for the fifth consecutive cycle reflects their dedication and shared commitment to providing safe,

high-quality care close to home.” The Leapfrog Group assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. “Mat-Su Regional Medical Center deserves recognition for its unwavering focus on protecting patients and delivering safe care, earning an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for five consecutive cycles,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Sustaining this level of excellence over time shows a true, organization-wide commitment to making patient safety a top priority every single day.” The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors,

injuries and infections that can lead to harm or even death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. To see Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s

full grade details and find essential patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. Connect with The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and stay updated through The Leapfrog Group newsletter.

Spring Cleanup, Summer Cleanup, Every Season Cleanup

No doubt some of you reading this will have participated in the official cleanup week. Thank you. To all of us who did and those of us who did not, we do not need an organized week to improve the appearance of this beautiful place we live in. Yes, we are all busy with work, travel, yard work and children’s activities, but please take the time to get outdoors to take a walk, carry a trash bag, and be rewarded with the gratification of having made our community a cleaner place to live. Thank you!

Contributed by Linda Lozanoff

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank, 1929-1945, German Jewish schoolgirl diarist, was the title of an article I submitted to The People’s Paper in the spring of 2020, prior to the cities of Wasilla and Palmer’s annual May cleanup week. This article was a reflection

of observations made as the world was in lockdown. In my neighborhood then, I saw individuals and families out walking, riding bikes, skateboarding, and exercising their dogs. At the time of the submission and printing of the article, it was not known if the annual organized city cleanup week would occur. The message was to encourage borough citizens, as they were spending time

outdoors walking on our local roads and trails, to carry a bucket or bag and do their own trash cleanup. The conclusion of the article encouraged this to continue after we would all go back to our previous lives before the pandemic. Now it is the end of April, and this article will be printed after the May cleanup week. The Valley once again is in desperate need of its citizens to get out and pick up trash.

AARS Fun Day 2026 Celebrates Community, Recovery, and Growth Contributed by Kaitlyn Klippert, Director of Development, Marketing and Communications On June 6, Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services (AARS) warmly invites the community to come together for one of its most significant annual events: Fun Day 2026. Beyond being a community celebration, Fun Day serves as a valuable opportunity for families, supporters, alumni, and community members to experience the heart of AARS’ mission while enjoying a fun-filled day of activities, connection, and hope. The AARS campus in Point Mackenzie will host Fun Day 2026, featuring a range of family-friendly attractions and activities that will appeal to all ages. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a community barbecue, bouncy houses, children’s activities, games, and raffle prize drawings. Additionally, farm tours will be available, along with chances to find out more

about our expanding programs and projects taking place across the campus. The event provides attendees with an opportunity to connect with AARS staff, volunteers, alumni, and supporters dedicated to assisting Alaskans in achieving lasting recovery. This year’s event will feature the opportunity to see the progress of AARS’ major residential expansion project, which is approaching completion. The upcoming opening of our facility expansion is expected to happen later this summer, enabling AARS to significantly increase our ability to support individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorder throughout Alaska. Community members attending Fun Day will have the opportunity to see firsthand the progress of the expansion project as it approaches completion. The expansion of our facility represents a significant advancement for recovery services in Alaska, demonstrating years

of strategic planning, collaboration, and community support. Upon completion, the expanded residential building will enable AARS to serve a greater number of Alaskans in need of treatment, while also improving opportunities for healing, stability, and long-term recovery. Fun Day highlights the unique vocational and agricultural opportunities offered by AARS. Nugen’s Ranch, our operational ranch and farming brand located on the AARS campus, provides clients with the opportunity to enhance their recovery through work therapy. Visitors can explore our greenhouse projects, gardening activities, livestock management, and hands-on, real-world vocational training programs designed to support clients in building confidence, acquiring job skills, and fostering a sense of purpose during their recovery journey. The value of Fun Day each year lies in the strong sense of community it fosters. Alumni return each year to celebrate their

Progress is being made! Help us close the gap.

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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recovery milestones, families gather for an enjoyable summer outing, and community members are afforded the chance to gain an understanding of the significant impact that recovery programs can have on individuals and families across Alaska. At its essence, Fun Day embodies the conviction that recovery is attainable and that the support of the community is vital. Whether guests attend for the food, activities, and tours, or to support the mission of AARS, it is our hope that visitors will depart with a better understanding of the hope and transformation occurring daily in people’s lives at AARS. Everyone is warmly invited to participate in the celebration of this incredible season of growth for AARS. As the organization gears up to open its new facility expansion later this summer, Fun Day 2026 stands as a celebration of progress and a reminder of the potential for brighter futures through recovery, compassion, and community support.

Lighting Times May/June in Mat-Su: Early Candlelighting:

Candlelighting:

May 21 9:13

10:40

May 22 9:15

10:42

May 29 9:28

10:58

June 5

Night 1 of the holiday of Shavout 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.

Night 2 of the holiday of Shavout *

9:40

11:12

June 12 9:49

11:22

June 19 9:53

11:26

* Light candles from pre-existing flame PLEASE NOTE: Shabbat candles should be lit before sunset. It is a desecration of the Shabbat to light candles after sunset. 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.

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

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Honoring the Families Who Say Yes: Foster Care Appreciation Month Contributed by Jessica Stotler May is Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to recognize the children, families, and community members who step into one of the most meaningful, and often unseen, roles in our community. Every day, foster parents open their homes to children who may be carrying grief, fear, uncertainty, or the effects of trauma. They step into difficult moments with patience and consistency, helping create spaces where youth can begin to feel safe, valued, and cared for. While foster care can bring challenges, it also brings incredible moments of connection, growth, and healing. Many foster parents will tell you the same

thing: the small moments matter most. It’s the bedtime routines. The rides to school. The encouragement after a hard day. The consistency of showing up over and over again. For children who have experienced instability, those everyday acts of care can help rebuild trust and change the trajectory of a life. Through REACH 907 and its growing Therapeutic Foster Care program, families are being equipped and supported to care for youth with significant emotional and behavioral needs. Therapeutic foster care provides additional training, resources, and wraparound support so families are not carrying the weight alone. It is a reminder that healing happens best when children and caregivers are surrounded by commu-

nity. And that support matters now more than ever. There are still children in Alaska waiting for safe and stable homes, and there are foster families who could use encouragement along the way. During Foster Care Appreciation Month, our community has an opportunity not only to thank foster parents, but to actively support them and honor foster youth well. Support can look different for everyone. It may mean bringing a meal to a foster family, volunteering at camps or community programs, donating clothing or supplies, offering respite care, mentoring youth, or simply learning more about trauma-informed care and the realities foster families navigate each day.

Most importantly, it means seeing foster youth not simply through the lens of vulnerability, but through the lens of potential. These are resilient, capable young people who deserve to be known, celebrated, and given opportunities to thrive. Strong communities are built when people choose to step toward one another in love and support. Foster families cannot do this work alone, and they were never meant to. This month, may we honor those who have said yes to caring for children in need, and may more people in our community begin asking how they, too, can become part of the healing. For more info, visit reach907ak.org.

Rally Recovery Ride 2026: “We Can” Break the Cycle Contributed by Glen Butts (the DUDE)

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, local riders and drivers will take to the streets for the Rally Recovery Ride, a free community awareness event designed to shine a light on the journey of addiction recovery and the diverse resources available throughout the state. The rally serves as a powerful visual of solidarity. As the procession of motorcycles and vehicles stops at various recovery centers, staff and clients will join the convoy, growing the pack to demonstrate that while recovery is difficult alone, it is possible together. The rally kicks off in Anchorage and

winds through the Valley, stopping at key community pillars. The schedule and route: 9 AM, kickoff at Anchorage Alano Club, 3103 Spenard Rd.; stops include Emend Alaska, Set Free Alaska, Mat-Su Alano Club, Adult & Teen Challenge, and Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Nugen’s Ranch; 1 PM, grand arrival at Wonderland Park. Following the ride, a family-oriented community celebration will be held at Wonderland Park from 1 PM to 3 PM. The afternoon will feature music and entertainment, fun activities including pickleball, tennis, basketball, and cornhole, complimentary barbecue and refreshments, recovery resources, informational tents

hosted by local centers and businesses to help families navigate the “many avenues” of recovery, and guest speakers sharing impactful stories of hope and professional insights into the recovery process. This is an open invitation to all community members. Whether you ride a motorcycle or drive a car, you are welcome to join the rally at any point. Participants must be legal drivers/riders, maintain valid insurance, and are responsible for their own safety and the safety of their passengers. Together, we can help shine a light into the darkness of addiction. For more info and real-time updates, find us on Facebook: @RALLY RECOVERY RIDE. Thank you all, and God bless!

Palmer Elks Lodge Receives Executive Proclamations from Governor Contributed by Angie Criswell The Elks Alaska State Convention was recently held at the Homer Elks Lodge. The Palmer Elks Lodge #1842 was honored to receive Executive Proclamations from the Governor for their continued contributions to our Junior Citizens. “We are incredibly honored and grateful to have received this award at the Alaska State Elks Convention,” current Exalted Ruler Ken Baker said. “This recognition reflects the dedication, hard work, and heart of

our entire Lodge family and the amazing community we serve. From supporting our youth programs and veterans to giving back through countless local projects, every member plays a part in making a difference. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteers their time, donates, participates in our events, and continues to support the mission of the Elks. This award belongs to all of us! We are proud to represent our community and look forward to continuing our efforts to promote charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity.” Elks National Youth Week was May 1-7.

Coach A’s Alignment Adventure Contributed by Jovan Archuleta

Breakup is a transition time. A season where we aggressively break out of the ice and allow the flow to clean out the muck. Our transformation into a more effective community partner took us away for a bit, but TEAMS Events and Experiences stayed engaged and were never out. This entry marks our official return, an achievement in Article Authoring that reflects our Adaptive Tactic. We are picking right back up at the “A” for our Alliteration Inspiration, fueling a mission that is Transformative, Engaged, Adaptive, Memorable, and Synergetic. TEAMS Events and Experiences is back to serve and celebrate alongside the Adults, Adolescents, Athletes, Academics, and Adaptive Need Adventurers who make the Valley home. Alienation is an Aching reality. Whether you are an Adolescent navigating an Anxious identity, an adult managing Abilities that have been Altered by accident, or an aged individual feeling the Attrition of time,

the outskirts are a lonely place to Abide. To Attain a life of Altitude, you must first Arrive. Arrival is the non-negotiable Anchor. You don’t need an Acquiescent grin or an Appeased heart; you simply need to Appear. When you Arrive, you break the Apathy that keeps you Apart. Once you are present, the Attitude shift can begin. An Attitude adjustment isn’t about being “agreeable” to please; it is about becoming Amiable to the idea that your current state is NOT your Apex. From there, we take Action. Not a timid Attempt, but Audacious Action. This is where the Alliance forms. I take Action by providing Authentic opportunities, and you take Action by engaging with them. Appreciation is the Apex of this Alliance. We Advocate for the Anchors that Authentically Accommodate our Arrival. Action is Actualized at Black Birch Books, Joe and Charlie’s, and the Archive in Palmer. We find Amicable Alignment at the Alaskan Public Library, Valley Cinemas, and Berry Cool Yogurt.

From the Ambient Attraction of Music in the Park and the Friday Flings to the Appetizing Availability of Great Alaskan Pizza Company’s Customer Appreciation Tuesdays, these partners Abolish Alienation. The Alliance expands through Active Association with North Bowl, Goodwill, and The Mat-Su Special Olympics. These Anchors Attest to our Ability to Align through Authentic Action. Even at Valley Recycling, we find the Avenue to Adjust and Achieve a sense of Attachment. One becomes an Active Architect of Awareness. By Adjusting to our Atypical needs, they Assure that no one remains Apart. This is the Aggregate of Awareness. When we Arrive, when we Advocate, and when we Align with these Awesome Allies, we reach the Apex. We are no longer Alone on the Anxious outskirts; we are Activated, Aligned, and Altogether Amazing. Looking forward, announcing an assortment of Ace activities. To celebrate our return and keep the momentum of Arrival going, we are proposing a community Haiku for National Haiku Day, April 17. Since this paper prints on the 16th and 17th, it is the perfect moment to pause and find your

Discovering the Unique Ways to Enter a Profession Contributed by Jessica Egbert, Outreach Coordinator for Nine Star Education and Employment Services, Mat-Su When many people describe the start of a journey, they may say it was the moment they opened a door and started toward their destination. Here at Nine Star, we would say the start of a journey begins earlier than that. The start is when you make the decision to go somewhere new, and it may even begin sooner, with all the

experiences that led to that decision. On June 4, Nine Star’s Center for Workforce Excellence, Mat-Su location, is hosting a Career Info Day that is a free event open to the public. On this day we are inviting accomplished professionals from five different career tracks to share their unique stories. Find out what led them to make the decision to enter their professions, and the many interesting and unpredictable ways they’ve progressed as they’ve grown, and

continue to grow, their expertise. Like any journey, there are multiple paths to get to your destination, and the path is rarely just as you imagined it. Join us for as many sessions as you’re curious about, and maybe this event can be one step on your own journey. Nine Star’s Mat-Su location is a training hub dedicated to supporting individuals in the Mat-Su Borough in enjoying career success. We offer a variety of services, including GED preparation, WorkKeys test

5-7-5 rhythm. The Alaskan summer schedule is packed with All-Together Activities, our “Ace in the Hole” for staying connected. Mark your calendars for these upcoming community arrivals through July and beyond: The Links Resource Fair: Building Our Network of Support; Music in the Park Wasilla: kicking off May 30th at Wonderland Park for a summer of sound; The Mat-Su Miners: home games starting in June at Hermon Brothers Field; Alaska Raceway Park: high-energy Oval and Drag events running throughout the summer, including the Military Appreciation and Memorial Day races; Palmer Friday Fling: every Friday through the summer at the Pavilion; Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show: final weekend of April at the Menard Sports Center; Valley Garden Club Plant Sale: mid-May arrival for those looking to bloom; Special Olympics Alaska Games: supporting our athletes as they compete in June; Salmonfest in Ninilchik: the big July/August anchor, July 31st to August 2nd; Sacred Acre Festival: our September alignment, September 11th to 13th; and Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River: mid-July community integration.

preparation, career exploration, training in the soft skills needed for all careers, and upskilling through many certificates tied to career pathways. The event is June 4 at Nine Star’s offices, 899 W. Commercial Dr., Wasilla, AK 99645. Speaker schedule: 12:00 to 12:50, Animal Services, Anthony Vrolyk; 1:00 to 1:50, Public Service, Mayor Edna DeVries; 2:00 to 2:50, Physical Therapy, Hal Egbert; 3:00 to 3:50, Nursing, Mary Ann Egbert; 4:00 to 4:50, Air National Guard, Timothy Rowe; 5:00 to 5:50, IT Network and Telecommunications, Josh Miller. RSVP at tinyurl.com/2aae69w5.

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Contributed by Matt Tunseth

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

www.matsusentinel.com

Mat-Su students turn career skills into championship medals

Interest in career and technical education is booming in the Mat-Su, where students are welding, drafting and even speaking their way into the workforce. Cade Wolf is one of those students. The Wasilla High School junior recently won a state championship in extemporaneous speaking at the statewide SkillsUSA competition in Anchorage. “It was really exciting. I was very glad to go up and receive the gold medal,” Wolf said while taking a break from a schedule that includes Advanced Placement classes, freelance photography work and volunteer projects. Wolf’s state title — he also placed second in photography — qualified him for the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, scheduled for June 1-5 in Atlanta. And he won’t be going alone. Wolf is one of eight Wasilla High students heading to the event, which bills itself as the “Olympics of Skills” and features 114 competitions ranging from ad design to welding. Program adviser Robin Lockwood said the school’s success at state is the result of a concerted effort to recruit more students into the program over the past three years. The effort has worked. Last year, Wasilla sent about 20 students to the state meet; the year before, it sent fewer than 10. “We have put so much energy into growing this program because we hear that the community needs workforce-ready individuals, and this is what we feel like, as advisers, we can do to contribute to our community.” Students aren’t just perfecting their trades, Lockwood said. SkillsUSA focuses on career readiness and workplace preparation.

“There are personal skills, workplace skills and technical skills that we are trying to teach our students,” she said. “Under personal skills, that means do you have the professionalism and work ethic and integrity, responsibility, self-motivation and adaptability to meet the needs of whatever you are doing?” Ashley Kelly, a CTE guidance counselor for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, said interest in both career education and the SkillsUSA program is “really growing.” “We see the need in our community. They are looking for our students,” she said. Kelly said the program’s broad range of skills attracts a wide spectrum of participants. “SkillsUSA really can bring a lot of students to the table,” she said. Mat-Su students won 17 gold medals in disciplines ranging from medicine to construction. All students who won gold qualified for the national conference. The state competition allows students to demonstrate their readiness for their chosen professions, Lockwood said. “It is basically the way that they get to connect with industry professionals at an industry-level competition to show off that they’re ready to join the workforce.” Lockwood said she has seen tremendous changes in some of the students who have participated. One student, she said, went from barely speaking to assuming leadership positions. “She is now serving her second year on the state student advisory board as

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secretary and talks to industry leaders all the time and puts together presentations where she stands up in front of 200 people,” she said. “And that is a two-year turnaround from the time that she started doing this.” According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, the four-year graduation rate for students who concentrated on CTE was more than 97%. The national group also reported that more than 12,800 Alaska students participated in CTE during the 2023-24 school year. Both Kelly and Lockwood agreed that programs like SkillsUSA help push students to and even beyond their limits, allowing them to see what career paths are available. “It’s about getting them out of their comfort zone and launching them into their next steps — whether that’s trades, college or employment,” Kelly said. At the state competition, Wolf said he had five minutes to prepare an impromptu speech before a panel of judges. The experience was “really nerve-wracking,” but he pulled through. “It goes by fast when you’re up there,” said Wolf, whose topic was — fittingly — how to increase participation in SkillsUSA. The three-day state event at King Tech High School brought together students from across Alaska and and proved enjoyable despite the tense competitions..

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R.C. Detail Celebrates 10 Years Serving the Mat-Su Valley Contributed by Robbie Cardon Taking care of your vehicle isn’t a one-season thing, especially in Alaska. From winter road grime and windblown debris to summer dust and daily wear, Alaska vehicles go through a lot. For the past 10 years, R.C. Detail has proudly helped drivers throughout the Mat-Su Valley protect their investment, restore pride in what they drive, and stay ahead of the damage our seasons can leave behind. As we celebrate this milestone, one thing is clear: none of it would have been possible without the support of this community. For R.C. Detail founder Robbie Cardon, the passion started early. He began detailing vehicles at just 10 years old, working

alongside his dad and learning firsthand why details matter. By high school, he was detailing friends’ vehicles and dreaming of the day he’d open a shop of his own. That dream took a serious turn in 2016. At the time, Robbie was working in customer service management for a national corporation and making the daily commute to Anchorage. But after work, he was back in his garage doing what he loved: detailing vehicles and steadily building a loyal customer base one vehicle at a time. Robbie’s reputation as Alaska’s premier detailer spread and demand increased. Within six months, he’d outgrown his garage operation. He knew it was time to make the leap from corporate life to full-

time business ownership and opened the first R.C. Detail location in Wasilla. Since then, the business has continued to grow, earning the trust of customers across the Valley and Alaska. In early 2025, a second location opened in downtown Palmer. While the footprint has grown, the mindset hasn’t changed. R.C. Detail continues to invest in advanced products, professional equipment, ongoing training, and industry certifications to ensure customers receive the highest level of care possible. In an industry where anyone can buy a buffer and make big claims, experience, education, and standards still matter. Just as important, so does community.

Rachel Olson Honored with Governor’s Commendation Contributed by Linda Kabealo Rachel Olson, founder and leader of REACH 907, has been awarded a formal commendation by Governor Mike Dunleavy in recognition of her extraordinary service to Alaska’s youth and families. The commendation was presented on February 13, 2026, during the Hearts in Motion Gala held at Wasilla Bible Church. For more than 12 years, Olson has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to strengthening communities across

“You get to make friends and spend time with peers,” Wolf said. “The competitions are stressful, but outside of that it was a lot of fun.” Lockwood and Wolf are raising money to help pay for the trip to Atlanta, where more than 6,700 state champions will gather inside the 1.79 millionsquare-foot Georgia World Congress Center. Both have active GoFundMe pages. As of Monday, Lockwood’s had raised $5,460 of its $19,500 goal, while Wolf’s had garnered $1,000 of his $1,700 goal. Wolf said if his effort raises more than what is needed to get him to Atlanta, he will use the remainder to help his teammates. The national event gives students opportunities to win medals, earn scholarships and even land “job offers right off the competition floor,” according to the SkillsUSA website. While watching one of her students win a gold medal at nationals would be a thrill, Lockwood said the most gratifying part of her participation in SkillsUSA has been seeing the growth in her students. “They are people I would want to work on a team with by the time they have gone through a whole year of preparation for SkillsUSA competition.”

Alaska through trauma-informed, relationship-based care. Since founding REACH 907 in 2014, she has led the organization in providing life-changing mental health services to at-risk youth and families, particularly within the Mat-Su Valley. Under Olson’s leadership, REACH 907 has grown into a vital community resource, employing 28 staff members and coordinating more than 100 volunteers annually to serve some of Alaska’s most vulnerable populations. Through programs such as summer camps, year-round mentoring, and family

support services, REACH 907 equips young people with the tools they need to thrive, regardless of the challenges they face. Beyond her nonprofit leadership, Olson has served as a therapeutic foster parent to more than 42 children, offering stability, care, and hope to youth in need. As a certified practitioner of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), she also trains caregivers and professionals across the state, helping expand access to trauma-informed care and strengthening the broader support

Spring Has Arrived in Talkeetna, Alaska!

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Over the last decade, the support of local customers has created opportunities for R.C. Detail to give back through sponsorships, partnerships, and support for organizations and events that make the Mat-Su such a special place to live and work. That has always been important to Robbie and the team. Success means more when it can be shared. Ten years after those garage beginnings, R.C. Detail remains committed to the same values it started with: hard work, quality results, continuous improvement, and treating every customer like a neighbor. Thank you to everyone who has trusted us with your vehicles, recommended us to friends, or supported our business along the way. You helped build this story. And we’re just getting started.

system for children and families. The Governor’s commendation highlights Olson’s enduring contributions and acknowledges the far-reaching impact of her leadership in building healthier, more resilient communities. About REACH 907: REACH 907 (Restoring, Empowering, and Strengthening Alaska’s Children and Homes) is a Mat-Su Valley based nonprofit dedicated to serving atrisk youth and families through trauma-informed care, mentoring, camps, and family support programs. Rooted in connection and compassion, REACH 907 works to ensure every child has the opportunity to heal, grow, and thrive.

has new owners. All three are in the Talkeetna Trading Post building next to Frontier Gifts, with a full line of fur pelts! We are expecting a record number of visitors this year, with extra tours, cruise ships and RV travelers than ever before! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Plan for two big weekend events: the 4th of July Talkeetna Parade at noon, along with a 13-team softball tournament for the

weekend. Memorial Day weekend will also have another softball tournament. The AK train is running new schedules, as well as the Hurricane Train tour. Mayhay’s boat tours are just waiting for the ice to melt in the river to start their boat tours. We have climbers ready to climb Denali and many flights to view the great views of Denali as well. Dog mushing tours are available by several mushers. Princess and

Holland America tours are starting next weekend, as well as several other tour lines. Make your reservations for the RV parks now, as they are already filling up for the new year. Talkeetna welcomes all visitors!

Love Your Space: Let It Love You Back

she shares. “And I realized how powerful it is to choose what you carry forward, and what you don’t.” Rooted in Alaska’s resilient spirit, her work goes beyond organizing. This is about alignment. Declutter, organize, and design for the life you want. Through Swedish Death Cleaning Co., Kristen helps clients declutter what no longer serves, organize what truly matters, and design their home to support their real, everyday life, so your space works for you, not against you. Imagine a home where everything has its place. Where you can move with ease. Where you can grab what you need and

go. Whether it’s a weekend trip, a mountain hike, or your next big life chapter. This isn’t about having less. It’s about living lighter. When you love your space, it begins to love you back. Holding you softer, breathing with you, becoming a reflection of the life you’re ready to live. If you’ve been feeling the weight of too much. Too many things, too many decisions, too much to face alone, this may be the shift you’ve been waiting for. Let this be one of the best things you’ve ever done for yourself. Not just a clean home. A clear mind. A fresh start. Start your process. Contact Kristen Johnson (Kage Free) at 907-315-8800.

Contributed by Lauren Kane Most stores are open now, and most of the snow is finally melting! We are excited to get our season started for 2026! We have new businesses to announce: The Burger Barn has new owners and is now open until 6 PM daily. Tk Tacos is a new business featuring breakfast tacos, donuts and coffee in the mornings, then all kinds of tacos after 11 p.m. Aurora Leather Works

Contributed by Swedish Death Cleaning Co. Out here in Alaska, we understand space. The quiet between mountains. The stillness of snowfall. The way open land can reset something deep inside of us. But inside our homes, and often inside ourselves, that same spaciousness can be harder to find. Life fills up. Drawers, garages, storage units, and hearts. That’s where a different kind of practice is taking root: Swedish Death Cleaning. A

Scandinavian tradition that invites us to thoughtfully declutter over time, keeping what matters and gently letting go of the rest. Not out of fear. Not out of urgency. But out of care. For Kristen Johnson, the heart behind Swedish Death Cleaning Co., this work is deeply personal. After navigating loss, rebuilding, and starting over, she began to understand how closely our physical spaces mirror our internal world. “I’ve rebuilt my life from the ground up,”

POLITICS & OPINION The Iditarod Trap Contributed by G.B. Jones Once again, the headlines are heavy with the agonizing deaths of sled dogs. Once again, we are confronted by haunting images of dogs lying dead in the mud, still tethered to the short chains that defined their existence. While the finger-pointing is loud and the outcries are long, too few Alaskans are willing to name one of the roots of this prevailing evil: the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod race, with all its superficial hype, attracts wannabe mushers to jump on the runners and fuel a cycle of mass-breeding and abandonment, treating innocent and valuable beings as disposable equipment for a three-week spectacle. To be clear, many, if not most, current Iditarod mushers are ethical, responsible people who maintain clean kennels and keep their dogs active and well-fed year-round. My concerns are not directed at these individuals, many of whom are my friends and neighbors. However, during my fifty years in Alaska, I have witnessed the cycle of sled dog cruelty repeat itself over and over, and I can no longer remain silent. The abuse we hear about is only the beginning; the reality on the ground is far more pervasive than what is ever reported. The Iditarod Trail Commit-

tee should never have been formed, and certainly not as a nonprofit entity. I urge the CEO to dissolve the ITC immediately and donate his approximate $218,000 salary to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Shelter. Furthermore, the current ITC headquarters in Wasilla should be converted into a memorial for the thousands of Alaskan huskies who wanted nothing more than to be a human’s companion. The Iditarod functions as a trap: it attracts enthusiasts to stockpile dogs for a single race, only for many to find themselves drowning in a commitment they never truly understood. We need to stop the organization that facilitates this reckless cycle of acquisition and abandonment. I urge my fellow Alaskans to focus on the root of this suffering. We must be more proactive about why these stories of abuse are so common in our state. Instead of just protesting individual abusers, we must go to our borough assembly meetings, state legislatures, and legal advocates with a singular demand: the total elimination of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, effective with the 2027 race. Directing our anger toward a single perpetrator is a natural response to a horrific crime, but it comes too late to save those who have already suffered. If we are to protect the dogs of today and secure the safety of those of tomorrow, we must strike at the very root of this systemic evil.

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Closing Schools Is a Betrayal Contributed by Vicki Turner Malone Last year, when the Mat-Su School Board failed to advocate for more school funding, they did not tell parents it would result in the closure of three elementary schools. When all but one, Rob Yundt, of the nine legislators representing Mat-Su voted “no”

The First Victory for the Colonists in the American Revolution Contributed by Col. Suellyn Wright Novak, Alaska Veterans Museum, Founding Executive Director In this year of our nation’s semiquincentennial, 250th birthday, reviewing key actions and battles is in order. This first article is on the British cannons of Fort Ticonderoga in New York being brought to General George Washington by General Henry Knox. This incredible story is now all but forgotten. Knox was a bookseller by trade, but had taken a keen interest in military history, joining a local artillery unit in his native Boston.

Fort Ticonderoga was known as an impregnable fortress. The French, with only 3,500 soldiers, defeated 16,000 British Redcoats during the French and Indian War. Capturing the fort from the French took 5 years and cost thousands of British lives. This fort was key to holding the continent from New York to Canada. The fort sat at the edge of the British Empire, controlling the Hudson River-Lake Champlain corridor so vital to military travel by water. Proposing to combine forces, Ethan Allen led his Green Mountain Boys across present-day Vermont, while Benedict

Arnold marched from Massachusetts. This tiny band of only 82 farmers, carpenters, and storekeepers silently crept up to the fort’s gate at 3:30 AM, with officers having sabers drawn and the troops with bayonets attached to their muskets. The surprise was total and complete. Fort Ticonderoga’s lone sentry was fast asleep, awaking with a start when Allen shouted at the top of his lungs for the fort to surrender. The sentry’s gun misfired and he fled, leaving the gate wide open. The British commander surrendered this vital fort to a ragtag group of colonials. Though the colonists numbered only

Alaska State House Judiciary Committee Confirmation Contributed by David Haeg My name is David Haeg, and I am in Soldotna. I oppose the confirmation of Mr. Cox as Alaska’s attorney general. Mr. Cox recently wrote formal comments to the Supreme Court on proposed new rules for grand juries. In his comments, Mr. Cox repeatedly states that citizens must be

prohibited from presenting various issues to grand juries, especially court cases. However, a recent report by Notre Dame Law scholars, commissioned by Mr. Cox himself, states this: “Neither the executive nor the courts should be permitted to decide what the people may protest about. They may

nowhere come between the citizen and the grand juror by screening out petitions.” Far more damning than this, however, are the undisputed, on-record words of the 55 delegates who wrote Alaska’s Constitution: “The Grand Jury in its investigative power as well as for the fact it is sitting there

The Ticket With the Best Bang for Your Buck Contributed by Alaskans for Hughes, Grassroots Supporters Instead of just one, Alaskans get two proven leaders who keep their word. Gubernatorial candidate Shelley Hughes has selected Brigadier General Blake Gettys, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) of Eagle River, as her running mate for Lieutenant Governor, bringing decades of military leadership, Alaska-based service, and proven crisis management experience to the ticket. “I took the task of choosing my Lt. Governor very seriously on behalf of Alaskans who now, due to ranked choice voting laws, are no longer able to select the LG on their ballots. I did not rush the process. I was looking for someone smart, competent, and with demonstrated leadership who could work alongside me to help lead our state forward,” said Hughes. “After vetting a number of qualified Alaskans, it was clear that Blake was the right person, a man of character and integrity.” “Blake Gettys is a tested leader who understands service, sacrifice, and the

importance of putting mission and people first,” continued Hughes. “From combat deployments to leading thousands of Alaskans in the Air National Guard, he has consistently stepped up in the moments that matter most. I am proud to have him as my partner in this campaign and have full confidence in his abilities to carry out what will be an expanded Lt. Governor role as we work together to ensure Alaska remains not only a great place to live for this generation and the next, but an even greater one, with abundant opportunity, a thriving economy, safe and vibrant communities, and strong families. We are Team Alaska!” Gettys, a longtime Alaska resident and former commander of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing, built a career defined by leadership under pressure, innovation, and a deep commitment to those he served alongside. Over the course of his military service, he led large, complex organizations, including overseeing thousands of personnel and multiple operational squadrons with global deployment

responsibilities. “I’ve spent my life serving something bigger than myself, first in uniform, and now as a member of the Alaska community I’ve come to call home,” said Gettys. “Alaska has given me so much, and I believe it’s time to give back in a new way. Shelley Hughes is a principled leader with a clear vision for our state, and I’m honored to join her in this effort.” A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he earned a degree in civil engineering and competed as a Division I athlete, Gettys went on to serve as a pilot flying missions across the globe, including during the Gulf War. After transitioning to Alaska for active duty at JBER, he continued his service through the Alaska Air National Guard, where he rose through the ranks to senior leadership. During his tenure, Gettys was known for taking on complex organizational challenges, improving operational readiness, and strengthening coordination across military units. He also helped develop

Don’t Let the Willow Sled Dogs Die Two Times Contributed by Barbara Montgomery This past April, 23 innocent lives were ended cruelly and needlessly. Even in today’s contentious, deeply divided society, we all should be able to come together to recognize and right moral and ethical wrongs like the sled dog tragedy in that Willow-area kennel. Let’s not allow the initial outrage surrounding the suffering and death of these helpless animals to dissipate and fade further with each subsequent news cycle and possibly culminate with a fine, minimal or no jail time, and carefully worded rebukes for many of those who are accountable. This was a horrific occurrence, and even more so because it was entirely preventable. I have lain awake nights putting myself in the place of those dogs: imagining what they must have felt, waiting day

after day in frigid temperatures for food and water that never came, unable to free themselves. It was cruelty on an unbelievable level and scale to creatures whose whole lives centered around pleasing the very perpetrators of their prolonged and painful demise. There is no excuse for what happened. No punishment can bring justice for the victims of incidents like this, nor should it erase them from our collective consciousness. The promise of prolonged investigations doesn’t cut it, any more than the promise to monitor the situation helped those dogs. We all need to be a force for future prevention: being more vigilant and establishing, implementing, and publicizing processes to ensure quick, effective

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responses to potential animal neglect/ abuse. Sex offenders must register; why not require this of those convicted of animal cruelty, as is done elsewhere, in addition to imposing restrictions on animal ownership and contact? This type of behavioral issue does not go away. Although viewed by some as “only animals,” dogs and other creatures share many of the traits and abilities that supposedly distinguish human beings. They have the same senses and often the same sensibilities, loyalty, selflessness, bravery, empathy, affection, intuitiveness, sometimes in greater measure than humans. The serious, professional mushers I’ve met value and respect these dogs as athletes, individuals, and members of their blended human-canine families. They regard their responsibility for their care as an

on the education funding override, they did not tell parents it would result in the shuttering of their children’s schools. Please hold them accountable now. Demand the school board keep the schools open. Demand our legislators fund education. Call them, write them, be there for meetings!

82, the fort only had 42 Redcoats, with reinforcements days away, unable to help their comrades. This fort was more than our first victory, for from it the colonists gained 120,000 pounds of cannons and mortars sorely needed in Boston. Knox skillfully built a road through 300 frozen winter miles of extreme terrain to transport 59 cannons on 42 artisan-crafted ox sleds, with 80 yoke of oxen, in 40 very grueling days. Four times they had to cross the frigid Hudson River. This bookstore owner accomplished the unbelievable and delivered this invaluable artillery to General Washington. This did turn the tide of our War for Independence. And now you know the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say! as a panel sometimes as the only recourse for a citizen to get justice, to get redress from abuse in lower courts... It is the only safeguard a citizen occasionally has when for any reason, and very often for political reasons, a case is not dealt with properly.” With such clear and compelling evidence that Mr. Cox has already attacked the public welfare and safety, it will be important for citizens to know how each legislator votes. Thank you for this opportunity.

rapid-response capabilities tailored to Alaska’s unique geography, including Arctic and remote rescue operations. Gettys also worked as a Northwest Airlines, then Delta Air Lines, pilot. He and his wife, April, reside part of the year in Kenai, where they enjoy hunting and fishing. Gettys’ leadership has also been shaped by personal resilience. A survivor of a life-threatening brown bear attack and profound personal loss, he returned to command with a renewed focus on mission, mentorship, and the well-being of those under his leadership, experiences that continue to inform his approach to public service. As a Governor/Lt. Governor team working on behalf of Alaskans, Hughes and Gettys are prepared to meet both current challenges and future opportunities. Their campaign is focusing on building a strong and diversified economy, ensuring government accountability, and unleashing opportunities so Alaskans can live affordable and rewarding lives. Alaskans are tired of being disappointed by politicians who don’t keep their word. Shelley and Blake aren’t in the business of disappointing. Alaskans, they’ve got your back. integral part of their lives. It is up to all of us who want to keep this unique partnership of man, dog, and culture alive to lead the way in ensuring its pursuit in a safe and ethical manner, and not to stand aside “civilly” hoping for a “better outcome,” whatever that is and for whom. Dogsledding is not a casual undertaking. It is a commitment to a way of life. Members of our mushing community have long visited schools and events to help imbue kids with a sense of caring about animals. Perhaps it’s time to step up adult education efforts regarding the realities of living the mushing life beyond the skills of dog-handling and encourage would-be mushers’ awareness of them before setting up a kennel. As Alaskans, we have the talent, tools, and duty to protect our own, including the animals that are so much of our heritage. God bless us all here, and those who come home.

WWW.MAKEASCENE.MEDIA | 907-373-2698

Volume VI - Issue V

May 2026

A Local Use of Liberty

Alaska

By All Means November 2, 2021 By Joshua Fryfogle Artificial Intelligence And Automation, too Who will serve It’s Kurzweil’s curve That’s constantly coming true Robotic arms are perfect for The job they’re made to do They need no man Or human hand To replace a fast food crew

When I was a young musician in my early twenties, I read everything I could find about music marketing. This was before the internet became what it is now. So I read books. Books about independent musicians. Books about promotion. Books about radio. Books about how artists could make their own way without waiting for the industry to choose them. I was not trying to become a media company. I was a musician trying to be heard. At that age, I still believed what most people are conditioned to believe. I believed the media was there to tell us what mattered. If a song was on the radio, it must have earned its place. If a story was in the newspaper, it must have been important. If an artist was written about, they must have been worthy of attention. I thought media reflected the world. But the more I learned, the more I saw that media did not simply reflect importance. It created the appearance of importance. It did not merely show us what mattered. It showed us what had been selected, funded, repeated, packaged, and placed in front of us until it felt like it mattered. That changed my perspective. I began to lose interest in chasing the system. Not because I lost interest in music. Not because I lost interest in writing. I hadn’t stopped wanting to be heard. I lost interest in trying to be chosen by a system that was never designed to serve local artists, or ordinary citizens with something real to say. Most media, as I came to understand it, was corporate interest propaganda. Not always in a dramatic or hidden way. But in the ordinary, structural way. It served the people who owned it, the people who funded it, and the people who benefited from directing public attention. The rest of us were trained to receive it. We were trained to believe that the world being shown to us was the world that mattered. I was also interested in individual liberty. Not as a political identity. Not as a partisan costume. I was interested in the actual thing. The individual person. The individual conscience. The right to speak. The right to publish. The right to gather. The right to sing, write, argue, create, and participate in public life. That led me more deeply into the First Amendment. And the more I thought about it, the more obvious something became. The freedom was there. The protection and principle were there. But the people making the most use of it were the people who already had platforms. Corporate media understood the value of free speech. Corporate media understood the value of a free press and understood the value of expression, assembly, repetition, and reach. They built entire systems on those liberties. Everyone had those rights in theory. They had free speech, but no microphone. They had freedom of the press, but no printing press. They had the right to expression, but very

Liberty, Liberally

little access to public expression. That seemed like the problem, this cultural failure to make use of our liberty. And it also seemed like the opportunity. When I started Make A Scene Magazine, and later The People’s Paper, I was not only trying to create publications. I was trying to bring those freedoms down to the local level, where people could actually use them. I was trying to create something that would serve local people like me, locally. Something that could only work at a local level. Because media should be a mirror. And a mirror has to be close to what it reflects. A national media outlet can report on a local community. It can visit. It can extract a story. It can use a place as an example of some larger trend. But it cannot truly mirror that place. It is too far away. The farther away media gets from the people it claims to represent, the more it has to generalize. The more it generalizes, the more it flattens and strips away the unique characteristics that make a local culture alive. Local media is not simply smaller media. It is a different kind of media. It is close enough to know the names, the bands, the businesses, the roads, the jokes, the arguments, the events, the old stories, the seasonal rhythms, and the people who matter here even if they are unknown everywhere else. Those things do not scale, but those things are culture. That is what MAKE A SCENE Media has always been trying to protect and reveal. Not culture as something imported from somewhere else. Not culture handed down by national media, corporate radio, record labels, television networks, or algorithms. Culture as cultivate by the people who are actually here. The People’s Paper is not there to tell the community what I think the community should be. It is there so the community can see what the community is already.

Long ago in days of old Prometheus stole the flame And Humankind Were not left blind When nightfall nightly came For this transgression he was bound Consumed in feelings, pain Heracles Or Hercules Freed him from these chains But we are bound by feelings still In this mortal coil We remain In hidden chains As we are made from soil Toil and trouble brings us forth And soon enough to foil When life has failed Our names unhailed To labor we die loyal But the flame of intellect is Burning bright within A titan there We’re unaware The demigod defends We have made a tool of light To view through darkened lens Technology Would set us free But what will we do then? Augmented reality The internet of things Who’s to say In coming days What the future brings Humankind is capable Of more than these machines By blood is bought Creative thought And wrought here by all means

That distinction matters. A person should be able to write something and see it printed. A musician should be able to record a song and hear it on the radio. A listener should be able to call in and hear their own voice come back through the speakers. A community should be able to gather in a paper, on a station, in a park, on a stage, and recognize itself. It is the belief that people deserve the tools of expression, combined with the knowledge that systems do not naturally give those tools away. Someone has to build them. What began with my own desire to be heard became a structure that helps other people be heard. What began as my own individual liberalism became a practical way to facilitate the liberty of others. That is the purpose of the mirror. It gives the people back to themselves.

www.LibertyLiberally.com

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Liberty, Liberally

www.LibertyLiberally.com

Make A Scene Media: A History My team and I have been working on company history for a new website for Make A Scene Media. After working with them to put this together, I decided to share it with my readers in Liberty, Liberally. MAKE A SCENE Media is a locally owned, Alaska-grown media company built to help the community get seen, heard, and connected. What started as a grassroots music movement in the Mat-Su Valley has grown into a full-service media company publishing The People’s Paper, producing Make A Scene Magazine, operating 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM , producing community events, and offering advertising, design, websites, social media campaigns, video, audio, music booking, print materials, branding, and local media consultation. We are not a corporate media company trying to look local. We are local. Our work is rooted in open community media, creative expression, affordable access, and helping Alaskans make a scene.

Comprehensive Timeline 2002

Josh Fryfogle Moves to Alaska MAKE A SCENE Media’s story begins with founder Josh Fryfogle (publisher and owner of this publication), a musician who moved to Alaska from Mississippi in August 2002. Josh became part of the local music and creative scene, bringing with him a passion for live performance, songwriting, community gathering, and creative expression. Before there was a magazine, newspaper, radio station, or full-service media company, there was a simple idea: local people needed more places to gather, perform, share ideas, promote their work, and be part of something happening in their own community. As an independent musician, Josh learned firsthand how difficult it could be for local artists to get attention for their work. Booking shows, promoting music, advertising events, reaching audiences, and building awareness taught him the ins and outs of marketing, advertising, and local media. That experience became one of the foundations for what would eventually become MAKE A SCENE Media.

Early 2000s

From Independent Musician to Local Music Advocate Before Make A Scene became a magazine or media company, Josh wrote a weekly local music column for The Frontiersman called “Making Music.” The column appeared in the Friday edition and focused on local music, musicians, events, and the growing creative scene in the Mat-Su Valley. Josh often ended the column with the phrase:

“Make a scene.” At first, it was a call to action. It encouraged local musicians, artists, businesses, venues, and community members to participate in their own local culture instead of waiting for something to happen somewhere else. Over time, that phrase became more than a tagline. It became the name, spirit, and purpose of the company.

2006

2007

stories, small businesses, nonprofits, events, opinions, announcements, and public conversation.

Make A Scene Magazine Launches In May 2007, the first edition of Make A Scene Magazine was published. The magazine focused on local music, art, entertainment, events, small businesses, and creative culture in Alaska. From the beginning, Make A Scene Magazine was free, local, and built around participation. It was not just a publication about the community. It was a publication made with the community. Local musicians, artists, writers, businesses, event organizers, and everyday Alaskans had a place to promote what they were doing and share what mattered to them.

Make A Scene Magazine gave the local creative scene a regular printed platform and helped establish the company’s role as a connector between artists, audiences, businesses, and events.

2009

Bryce Burkhart First Joins Make A Scene

In 2012, Bryce returned to Make A Scene full-time and became increasingly involved in the company’s daily operations. His work expanded across print production, advertising, design workflow, client communication, event support, sales, bookkeeping, websites, radio, and general management. Today, Bryce serves as General Manager and Production Manager, helping oversee MAKE A SCENE Media’s day-to-day work across print, radio, web, social media, design, advertising, events, audio, video, and client services.

April 2014

The People’s Paper Is Born As Make A Scene Magazine grew, the mission expanded beyond music, art, and entertainment. In April 2014, MAKE A SCENE Media launched The People’s Paper, a free broadsheet community newspaper written by the community.

The People’s Paper was built around a simple but powerful idea: local people should have access to local media.

Today, MAKE A SCENE Media is a fiveperson local media company with a wide reach and a community-first mission.

2019

In 2019, MAKE A SCENE Media acquired 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM. The acquisition brought print, radio, events, advertising, creative services, and community outreach together under one local roof. Rather than changing the station’s identity, MAKE A SCENE Media continued the legacy 95.5 The Pass had already started. The station remained locally owned, music-focused, community-minded, and connected to the people, businesses, nonprofits, artists, and events of the MatSu Valley. Under MAKE A SCENE Media, 95.5 The Pass became another communityaccess platform. The station features local music, community announcements, listener requests, public messages, call-in announcements, jokes, event information, and voices from the community. This was a major turning point for the company. MAKE A SCENE Media could now help people get the word out through newspapers, magazines, radio, websites, social media, video, live events, and direct community engagement.

2019

Residents, nonprofits, businesses, artists, advocates, organizations, and community members could submit articles, opinions, announcements, photos, event information, and ideas.

Music in the Park Comes Full Circle

The People’s Paper became a kind of print-based social media platform: a place where local people could speak to the community directly, without needing to be professional journalists, paid writers, online influencers, or corporate media insiders.

This brought the company’s history full circle. The first Make A Scene Music Fest in 2006 had planted the seed for community music programming. More than a decade later, Music in the Park became the clearest public expression of that same original idea.

Its purpose was not simply to report on the community.

The People’s Paper became a go-to open community forum for the Mat-Su Valley and beyond. It remains rooted in community participation, freedom of expression, public access to media, and the belief that a healthy community needs places where ordinary people can be heard.

In 2019, MAKE A SCENE Media also took over Music in the Park in conjunction with the City of Wasilla.

Local Media, Creative Services, and Community Access

The team includes Josh Fryfogle, owner and founder; Bryce Burkhart, general manager and production manager; Mark Dowd, graphic design and web development; Madeline Smith, administrative assistant; and Mack Farrenkopf, sales and community outreach, and more.

Together, the team publishes The People’s Paper, produces Make A Scene Magazine, operates 95.5 The Pass, creates advertising campaigns, designs websites and marketing materials, produces audio and video, supports events, books music, and helps local people and organizations get the word out. MAKE A SCENE Media also offers a wide variety of free community services through its platforms, including article submissions, event submissions, nonprofit updates, community announcements, public messages, local arts and music promotion, and call-in announcements for 95.5 The Pass. The company serves as a practical media resource for the community: part publisher, part radio station, part creative agency, part event producer, part local music advocate, and part community communications platform.

The Mission Continues Helping the Community Make A Scene MAKE A SCENE Media was built on local voices, creative expression, and community access. That mission has not changed. We believe artists deserve a platform. Small businesses deserve affordable ways to advertise. Nonprofits deserve ways to reach the community. Events deserve promotion. Musicians deserve stages. Local stories deserve space. Regular people deserve a place to speak, share, question, celebrate, and participate. If we can provide the service someone needs, we will. If we cannot, we will try to point them in the right direction through connected local consultation and referrals.

Questions? Give us a call at 907-373-2698 and we’ll see if we can help!

Music in the Park is MAKE A SCENE Media’s marquee event, and in many ways, our pride and joy. It brings together live music, local vendors, sponsors, families, artists, and the community in the same spirit that started the company in the first place. www.musicintheparkwasilla.com While MAKE A SCENE Media works on a variety of community events, Music in the Park remains the clearest example of what the company has always tried to do: create a space where music, business, community, creativity, and local connection all come together.

2014 and Beyond

2020 and Beyond

As The People’s Paper grew, Make A Scene Magazine continued as the arts, music, and entertainment section inside the larger community newspaper.

After acquiring 95.5 The Pass and taking over Music in the Park, MAKE A SCENE Media continued expanding into a broader local media and marketing company.

This allowed Make A Scene Magazine to keep its original creative identity while The People’s Paper grew into a broader publication for community voices, local

Today, the company offers radio advertising, newspaper advertising, magazine advertising, social media ad campaigns, website design, website

Make A Scene Magazine Becomes Part of The People’s Paper

MAKE A SCENE Media did not grow by abandoning its original purpose. It grew by adding the tools necessary to serve that purpose more completely.

95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM, also known as Hatcher Pass Radio, was founded in 2015. The station built its own identity as a local, community-minded radio station serving the Mat-Su Valley with music, community announcements, and a personality that felt different from larger corporate stations.

MAKE A SCENE Media Acquires 95.5 The Pass

Bryce Returns Full-Time

The company’s growth has been steady and practical. Services were added because local clients, events, artists, nonprofits, small businesses, and organizations needed them.

Today

The station’s local spirit made it a natural fit for the work Make A Scene was already doing through print, events, advertising, and community media.

2012

support, graphic design, logo design, brand development, print materials, flyers, posters, banners, brochures, rack cards, postcards, commercial writing, ghostwriting, audio production, commercial voiceovers, music recording, music booking, commercial video production, event video, social media video, event promotion, event planning, event coordination, sponsorship packages, live music support, sound engineering, MC services, on-location broadcasts, media strategy, marketing consultation, and connected local referrals.

95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM Hits the Air

The company was still grassroots, creative, and constantly evolving. The work included publication support, events, design, local promotion, client projects, and whatever else needed to happen to keep the scene moving.

The Make A Scene name and movement began publicly in 2006 with the first Make A Scene Music Fest. The event planted the seed for the kind of community music programming that would later become central to the company’s identity.

Volume VI - Issue V

2015

Before MAKE A SCENE Media owned the station, 95.5 The Pass was already a friend and media partner of Make A Scene and The People’s Paper. It was our favorite local station, and it was already building a name for community engagement.

Its purpose was to reflect the community back to itself.

The first Make A Scene event helped turn an idea into something visible. It brought together live music, local talent, community gathering, youth-friendly creative spaces, and the belief that local creativity deserved real platforms. Make A Scene was never just a name. It was a call to action.

This structure gave MAKE A SCENE Media a broader purpose. The company was no longer only helping promote local music and events. It was helping create a local communications platform outside the reach of social media algorithms and outside the dominance of national or corporate media.

Bryce Burkhart, born and raised in Alaska, first worked with Make A Scene in 2009. Like many parts of the company’s story, his role grew naturally through the work itself.

The Make A Scene Name Becomes Public Through Live Music

What started as a local music festival grew out of the same spirit that shaped Josh’s earlier music writing: local artists deserved a place to be seen and heard, and local people deserved places to gather around their own culture.

Together, The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine became a unique local media platform: part newspaper, part arts magazine, part events calendar, part public forum, part community bulletin board, and part print-based social media.

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Growing Into a Full-Service Media Company

May 2026

Alaska

WWW.MAKEASCENE.MEDIA 907-373-2698

POLITICS & OPINION

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

PAGE 10

The Match That Lit the Fire: Let’s Speak Honestly About Immigration Rhetoric Contributed by Dana Raffaniello

The April reply to my March column makes several points worth taking seriously. Documented cases of American citizens wrongly detained during immigration enforcement operations are real and troubling. Legal residents caught up in enforcement actions deserve recourse. I said so in March and will say it again now. These are genuine concerns, and federal courts are actively adjudicating them, and that is not blase rationalization. It is the constitutional system working exactly as designed. Describing that process as “arrest them all and let the courts sort it out” misrepresents both the process and my position. The courts are not an afterthought. They are functioning as the primary check on executive action, and they have already issued rulings constraining enforcement in several jurisdictions. What I would gently note is that the April piece characterizes documented abuses as “well documented” without citing a single document, while describing my March column as glossing over those concerns, when in fact I acknowledged them directly. Assertion and documentation are different things, and the distinction matters in a

“Deporter in Chief” from immigration advocates at the time. The Biden administration deported over 1.6 million people in fiscal year 2024 alone. Enforcement was vigorous and sustained and drew many of the same civil liberties concerns raised in the April reply. During those years, did organized networks build 4,600-vehicle surveillance databases? Did coordinated teams storm agents’ hotels? Were two people killed in resistance operations? The answer is no. So, if enforcement numbers are not the variable, and the data is clear that they are not, so something else changed. The most honest answer is that the rhetorical environment changed. The normalization of comparing immigration agents to the Gestapo, lent credibility by physicians, academics, and columnists, extended into schools where staff organized students to protest federal law enforcement without parental knowledge. That environment does not produce consequences in the abstract. It produces them concretely, and Minnesota is the documented example. The April piece also introduces replacement theory, mass shootings in Buffalo and El Paso, a Border Patrol chief’s coat, and an AI-generated detention facility image, none of which appeared in my March col-

umn. These are genuine concerns in their own right and deserve their own honest treatment. But connecting them to my argument is not engagement with what I actually wrote. It is a different conversation layered on top of this one. The April column closes with my own formulation: words create environments, and environments produce behavior. It applies that principle to administration imagery: a coat, a social media post, a podium sign. That is fair as far as it goes. But the same principle applies to published columns comparing federal agents to the Gestapo, and to the classrooms where students were handed signs and directed toward the exits during instructional hours. Intellectual honesty requires applying the same standard in both directions. The concerns the April piece raises about civil liberties, due process, and human dignity are worth having seriously. So is the conversation about what rhetorical environments we are building and who bears responsibility when those environments produce consequences none of us intended. We did not start this fire by asking those questions. We keep it burning by refusing to answer them honestly.

happens when government grows on unearned wealth rather than on consent. One panelist framed the question with a number: the average Alaskan has never paid $5,500 a year for the state services they receive. Sixty percent of Alaskans, in this framing, have never paid for services the government provides. The arithmetic is correct. But the framing quietly asks what Alaskans owe the government. Hammond’s question runs the other direction. What does the government owe the people whose wealth it holds? To say sixty percent of Alaskans have never paid for their services is to treat the resource as belonging to the state rather than to the people. This is the inversion Hammond warned against for the last decades of his life. When North Slope oil leases were auctioned in the 1960s, the state received $900 million and spent it quickly. The speed alarmed enough Alaskans to pass a constitutional amendment in 1976 creating the Permanent Fund. The vote passed two to one. The word dividend never appeared in the amendment. The first checks went out in 1982 under a statute. But the purpose was clear: turn finite wells of oil into an

infinite well of wealth for the people of Alaska. Other states answered the purpose question before they started spending. Texas created the Permanent School Fund in 1845 — now worth more than $65 billion — dedicated entirely to public education. New Mexico created its Land Grant Permanent Fund in 1912 for public education, adding early childhood funding by constitutional amendment in 2022 with a floor guarantee preventing the fund from being drawn below $17 billion. Wyoming created a mineral trust fund for government services with no dividend and no annual fight. Each state decided what the money was for. Then they spent it. Alaska created its fund in 1976 and has spent fifty years dividing the money without ever deciding what it is for. The fund now holds more than $80 billion. The annual draw is approaching $4 billion. Last year, nearly a billion dollars went to dividend checks. The capital budget for the entire state was $180 million. Alaska has $2.4 billion in deferred maintenance. Three thousand three hundred rural homes lack running water. Schools are condemning wings. The Dalton Highway needs maintenance the state cannot fund. Thirteen years of net out-migration tell us working families are answering the question with their feet.

Meanwhile, in the Mat-Su Valley and across Anchorage, homeowners just received their property tax cards. Anchorage voters rejected a $12 million school levy to retain eighty teachers — not because they do not care about schools, but because they are tired of being the only ones asked to pay. The Permanent Fund earned billions. The school district cannot keep eighty teachers. It is a state sitting on $80 billion and sending the bill for classrooms to the property taxpayer. The discussion we need is not the one Commonwealth North held. The panelists debated arithmetic. Hammond’s question was about purpose. Until the legislature answers the purpose question, every argument about the dividend — full statutory, reduced, paused, or eliminated — is a fight over fractions when the whole number has never been defined. The money belongs to the people of Alaska. The Constitution says so. The question is not what Alaskans owe the government. The question is what the government owes Alaskans. Answer it. Then spend accordingly. Evan Swensen is a prior-to-statehood Alaskan, prior bush pilot, publisher and founder of Publication Consultants in Anchorage. He is the author of What’s the Money For? and The Power of Authors.

pop up – in public spaces and on private property. Political yard signs are literally shout-outs for candidates of choice. Some see them as nuisances and temporary eye sores, while others are proud to display their candidates of choice. A few, however, see these signs as challenges, take offense, get angry, and a few go so far as to take negative actions. To be clear, tearing down or vandalizing yard signs on private property is a crime, covered by Alaska criminal law, under theft, vandalism and trespassing. With many folks now using “Ring” cameras, or other property-security cameras, those committing such crimes can be easily identified and prosecuted. But… What if we reframed this. What if we envisioned yard signs as an invitation to talk with our neighbors about why they put up that particular sign? What if we had actual conversations with our neighbors about

why we vote, why we vote for particular people, what we share in common with them, and what we don’t? What if we had a neighborhood yard-sign party and admired and commented on the message, color scheme, size, placement, whatever - and then displayed them proudly? What if we saw this less of a challenge and more of an invitation? I still blame dealing with COVID and its aftershocks for so much of our current state of isolation from each other, and I believe we all crave more socialization, more conversation, more interaction. And we have a ready-made excuse to make all of that happen, as we shake off winter and welcome the sunshine! Having said that, I will be hosting a Yard Sign Party in my neighborhood soon - I’d like to share my signs, see others’ yard signs and make this a Celebration of Democracy! Who knows? It might be a neighborhood

that will draw attention like some neighborhoods’ annual Christmas lights displays, or maybe we could have a Contest of Neighborhoods: A Celebration of the Vote! to see how others decorate! Okay, some people might not be as enthusiastic about all of this as I am, but please take the time to register to vote, or check on your voter registration. Please take the time to see who’s running and listen to their messages– or consider running for an office yourself! (Yes – there is still time!!) We have open seats in our local Mat-Su Borough Assembly and School Board, Alaska State Senate and House seats, and the Governor’s race, US Senate, and Congressional races are already well underway! YOUR voice should be heard and YOUR vote counts! Come on over - let’s talk about it!

suggest we trade one dividend check for one acre of land so that residents would have something valuable instead of something that loses its value. The money would stay in the PFD to make it grow. You can’t fix a problem if you are part of the problem. Three million tourists came here last year. Many of them come here to catch salmon. Four million people may come here this year. I suggest we limit the number of salmon non-residents take to two a day. I also suggest we stock thousands of lakes with native fish to take the pressure off the salmon stocks. We should allow people with lakes next to their land to build small docks and charge tourists to fish off their docks. As a native-born Alaskan homesteader, I have witnessed the decimation of most wildlife due to pollution. There isn’t much we can do to reverse the problem, and not enough room on this page to elaborate. Read Make Alaska Great Again at

HankKroll.com. 2. Community and Tribal Engagement: What role do you believe Tribal governments, rural communities, and local stakeholders should play in shaping state decisions related to land and resource management? Tribal leaders know more about their land and resources than any government agent. I have advised tribal leaders about the pollution that killed off a billion-dollar-per-year crab and shrimp fishery. From the 1960s to 1990, two oil tankers a day each discharged 20 million gallons of ballast water taken from foreign ports like Korea, Japan, Honolulu, Long Beach, California, and other ports into Cook Inlet. We lost a billion-dollar-a-year Kodiak and Cook Inlet crab fishery, money that went into the private sector. Ballast water taken from foreign ports contains algae that can double in numbers every twelve hours. It also contains foreign bacteria with

no natural enemies and nematodes that eat the crab and shrimp eggs. One of the algae they brought here killed off half the fish in the Mediterranean Sea. Back in the early 1960s, you could dig a small hole on the beaches of Seldovia and fill a bucket with big, white, hard-shell clams. The beaches were alive with worms, snails and centipedes. Now every beach is dead and covered with brown slime. All ships carry ballast water. Global shipping killed off trillions of dollars’ worth of natural resources worldwide! 3. Subsistence and Resource Management: How should the State of Alaska work with federal agencies, Tribal governments, and local communities to address ongoing challenges related to subsistence fisheries and wildlife management? ... Read the full article here www.makeasceneak.com/may-2026/ future-of-alaska

conversation this consequential. Now to what the April column does not address. My March piece presented documented evidence from Minnesota: a coordinated network tracking over 4,600 agent vehicles, around-the-clock operations, hotels where agents were staying attacked, two people dead, and leaked communications showing political operatives directing the effort under code names. The April reply runs several hundred words and does not mention any of it. Not the surveillance network. Not the deaths. Not the operatives. I raise this not as a point scored but as a genuine gap, because that evidence is central to the argument and a full response to my column needs to reckon with it. That omission matters because it goes to the heart of what both pieces are actually addressing: what produces the kind of organized, lethal resistance to federal law enforcement we saw in Minnesota? The April column implies the answer is found in the current administration’s behavior. But that answer cannot survive a basic historical comparison. The Obama administration deported approximately 3 million people over two terms, earning the informal designation

What is the Money For? Contributed by Evan Swensen

Five people sat on a stage at Commonwealth North recently and debated the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend for nearly an hour. A journalist. A former fund CEO. Two representatives. A senator. They are serious people. One wanted to pause the dividend. One wanted to protect it as a spending cap. One wanted to redirect the earnings to infrastructure. They disagreed on almost everything. They all started from the same premise. The money belongs to the government. The question is how much to give back. Jay Hammond would have stopped the room. The premise is inverted. Article VIII, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution says the legislature shall provide for the utilization of all natural resources belonging to the state “for the maximum benefit of its people.” Its people. Not its government. Hammond did not create an entitlement. He created the only mechanism Alaska has to keep the wealth of its resources in the hands of their owners — the people of Alaska. He called government the devil for a reason. He titled his book Diapering the Devil because he saw what

Yard Signs Contributed by Kassandra Rees It’s the midterms, and the stakes could not be higher – for Alaska and for America! People in Alaska care about what’s happening locally, state-wide, and federally, and this midterm is shaping up to be especially exciting! The People of the Great State of Alaska have another opportunity to elect representatives who will listen and act for the good of the community, and for the good of Alaska. But, to make that happen, The People must fulfil the demands of democracy – we must VOTE on our choices for our representatives and our choices matter! In many towns and neighborhoods, the closer we get to Election Day (Primary or General), the more political yard signs

Future of Alaska Contributed by Henry Kroll I am gubernatorial candidate Henry Kroll, age 82, and author of 13 books. I was born in Seldovia, Alaska. My five kids are Native Alaskans. 1. Stewardship and Development: How would your administration approach balancing economic development with the long-term stewardship of Alaska’s lands, waters, and wildlife? Article 8 of the State Constitution insists that the land should go to the people. Past administrations have neglected to open up areas for more farms, and as a result, we are in danger of starving. If something should happen to the food supply in the lower 48 states, like a war, or if Yellowstone should erupt, or an EMP from the sun that destroys the grid, we would be in trouble. We don’t have enough farms. I

HEALTH & WELLNESS Food Is Health Contributed by Alexander Harmon The old saying “you are what you eat” has never felt more urgent, or more accurate. Across the country, rising rates of chronic illness are forcing communities to reconsider a simple but powerful truth: our health begins with our food. What we choose to put on our plates each day shapes not only our energy levels, but our long-term well-being, resilience, and quality of life. In this context, the need for more local farmers has become increasingly clear. When food is grown close to home, it is often fresher, more nutrient-dense, and less reliant on preservatives or long transportation chains. Local agriculture also strengthens communities, keeping dollars

circulating nearby and fostering relationships between growers and consumers. In places like Alaska, where supply chains can be fragile, investing in local food systems is not just beneficial, it’s essential. One of the simplest ways to begin improving personal health is by examining what we eat daily. This doesn’t require drastic or unrealistic changes. Instead, it starts with awareness: reading ingredient labels, choosing whole foods over processed ones, and prioritizing freshness and quality. Many people find that even small shifts, like cooking more meals at home or sourcing ingredients locally, can lead to noticeable improvements in energy, digestion, and overall health. Eggs are a prime example of how local food can make a difference. Fresh, locally raised chicken eggs are rich in high-quality protein, vitamins such as B12 and D, and essential fats that support brain function.

Garden for Your Health Contributed by Sammy Taylor, Meadow Lakes Bloomers This Memorial Day weekend is always a good time to start gardening so you can have fresh and nutritious veggies later this summer. All you need is soil, a container or spot to grow, proper nutrients, and the seeds or starts. For those of you living in rocky places or apartments with no ground to cultivate, you can still get your hands dirty and keep your body healthy by growing vegetables and flowers in containers. Anything that can hold dirt and didn’t have pollutants in it before your garden use is a possibility for planting. Let your imagination be free from preconceived ideas of what a garden looks like and get those seeds and plants in

some dirt. An old Easter basket, a cracked bowl, a rusty pot, an old lamp shade in a saucer, a broken wheelbarrow, a wheel rim, you are simply holding dirt. Now for the soil! Regular native dirt will work so long as you add a few nutrients. Of course, it would be wonderful if you have been throwing your kitchen and yard “waste” into a pile and have compost handy. If you didn’t save your biological waste, please start now. If you can’t use it, some other gardener can. Besides, keeping organics out of the trash will keep our wild furry neighbors out of the trash, as well. Your trash barrel will smell better, too! Get already-prepared compost at Valley Community for Recycling Solutions on Chanlyut Circle off the Palmer/Wasilla Highway

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Duck eggs, often overlooked, contain even more protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making them a nutrient powerhouse. Goose eggs, though less common, are larger and packed with vitamins A and E, contributing to immune health and skin vitality. When these eggs come from local farms, they are typically fresher and produced under more natural conditions, enhancing both taste and nutritional value. Vegetables, too, play a foundational role in health. Potatoes, often misunderstood, are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and complex carbohydrates that provide sustained energy. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A, essential for vision and immune support. Onions, a staple in countless dishes, contain antioxidants and compounds that may support heart health and reduce inflammation. When grown locally, these vegetables are harvested at

peak ripeness, preserving more of their nutrients compared to produce that travels long distances. The broader message is clear: improving health doesn’t require exotic diets or expensive supplements. It begins with reconnecting to real food, food that is grown, raised, and shared within our own communities. Supporting local farmers is not just an economic choice; it is an investment in collective health and resilience. As more people begin to take a closer look at what’s on their plates, a quiet transformation is taking place, one meal at a time. And here in the Mat-Su Valley, it’s worth recognizing places like Nature’s Remedies, which is part of a growing movement that values quality, locality, and a return to nourishing traditions. Nature’s Remedies is located at 591 E. Parks Hwy. #406 in Wasilla. Phone: 907357-4367.

for $5 per bag or a truckload for $50. If you have corrugated cardboard that got wet, it won’t recycle for its normal uses, but it works well in the bottom of containers to provide cellulose for the soil. For other nutrients, you can go to a big box store, or better yet, a locally owned garden center. There are also some inexpensive ways to get the nutrients plants need. You can get goat manure for free at Cottonwood Creek Goat Farm and at other places. Just text Mike at 907-7154799 to schedule your pick up. He has bags available, but it would be helpful to bring a pitchfork to load your bags. Please schedule your visit when Mike is available, between 1 and 6 PM is best. Your plants will thrive when there is some nitrogen-rich material that will decompose quickly, like goat manure. Aged sawdust or old leaves from many trees are also helpful for plants. For a full guide to making garden soil, check with our local Good Earth

Garden School online, our local cooperative extension, or come talk to gardeners at the Memorial Day sales or at garden club meetings here in the Valley. If you haven’t purchased your seeds, many local stores have them. For those plants that should be started indoors ahead of the growing season, you can get starts at local greenhouses in the area, Arctic Organics in Palmer, and at the two plant sales held this Memorial Day weekend. Meadow Lakes Bloomers has a Friday and Saturday sale, 10 AM to 5 PM, at the Meadow Lakes City Center mall on the Parks Highway opposite Pittman Road. Valley Garden Club members sell their plants on Saturday at the Boys & Girls Club on the Palmer/Wasilla Highway. However you garden, you will reap benefits not only in tasty, nutritious food, but also in the physical and mental benefits of such activities. Besides, it’s fun. So have some fun and get gardening!

Garden Without the Groan: Postures and Exercises to Protect Your Body Contributed by Tara Workman Gardening looks gentle from a distance, but anyone who has spent a Saturday digging beds and pulling weeds knows the truth: it’s a full-body workout with awkward angles, repetitive motion, and hours of sustained effort. The aches that show up the next morning aren’t a sign you’re getting older, they’re a sign your body wasn’t prepared. With a few smart habits, you can spend the season growing tomatoes instead of nursing your lower back. Warm up before you dig in. Treat gardening like any other physical activity and spend five to ten minutes warming up. Walk briskly around the yard, swing your arms in wide circles, and do gentle torso twists to wake up your spine. Add a few standing side bends and hamstring stretches by reaching toward your toes with soft knees.

Cold muscles are stiff muscles, and stiff muscles are where injuries start. Master the three key postures. Lifting: Whether it’s a bag of mulch or a heavy pot, bend at the knees and hips, not the waist. Keep the load close to your body, brace your core, and rise by pushing through your heels. If something feels too heavy, it is, split the load or grab a wheelbarrow. Kneeling and weeding: Avoid prolonged squatting or hunching. Use a padded kneeler or foam pad and switch between kneeling on one knee and the other every few minutes. Better yet, sit on a low garden stool so your hips and knees aren’t locked in a deep bend. Keep your back relatively straight and hinge from the hips when reaching forward. Raking, hoeing, and digging: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly ahead of the other. Let your legs and core do the work, not your lower

New Trails Are Coming to GPRA! Contributed by Marla Jakab, Mat-Su Ski Club Something exciting is taking shape in the woods at Government Peak Recreation Area. This summer, with support and approval from the Mat-Su Borough, the Mat-Su Ski Club is beginning the next phase of trail expansion at GPRA, adding new trail connections, improving trail flow and access, and creating even more opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation in the MatSu Valley. If you’re unfamiliar with GPRA, it’s located at the end of Mountain Trails Drive off Edgerton Parks Road in Palmer, at the base of Hatcher Pass. Over the years, it has become one of the Valley’s most loved outdoor spaces and attracts more visitors annually than any other destination within the MatSu Borough parks and trails system. And once you visit, it’s easy to understand why. GPRA is a place for everyone. It’s where kids learn to Nordic ski for the first time,

mountain bikers squeeze in evening rides after work, walkers enjoy rolling hills and mountain views, and families gather to spend time outdoors together. In the winter, skiers glide along groomed trails under the lights. In the summer, hikers, runners, bikers, and dog walkers enjoy miles of scenic trails. Many people are surprised to learn that the Mat-Su Ski Club helps steward many of these trails year-round, grooming ski trails in the winter and caring for ski, multi-use, and hiking trails like Blueberry Knoll and Government Peak throughout the summer months. The club also works alongside organizations like Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers (VMBaH), whose volunteers help maintain and expand the area’s mountain bike trails. As GPRA continues to grow in popularity, so does the need for expanded and better-connected trails. This trail expansion project focuses on improving connections within the existing trail system while creating a better expe-

Step Into Better Health This June Contributed by Sierra Winter, Community Relations Coordinator For many men, taking care of everyone else comes first. Work comes first. Family comes first. Responsibilities come first. Doctor appointments often end up somewhere at the bottom of the list. This June, Sunshine Community Health Center is encouraging men throughout our communities to take a moment to check in on their own health through a Men’s Wellness Visit at the Talkeetna or Willow clinic locations. Men who complete a wellness visit during the month of June will receive a free heated foot massager at checkout while

supplies last. While the foot massager is a fun incentive, the real goal is much bigger: helping men catch health concerns early and stay healthy for the people and moments that matter most. Many serious health conditions develop quietly without obvious symptoms. High blood pressure, cholesterol issues, diabetes, mental health concerns, and certain cancers can all go unnoticed for years without routine preventive care. A wellness visit creates space to check in on overall health and talk openly about concerns before they become larger problems. For me, this message is personal.

back. Switch your dominant hand every few minutes to balance the load on both sides of your body. Take microbreaks. Every twenty to thirty minutes, stand up, walk a few steps, and reverse whatever position you’ve been in. If you’ve been bent over, gently arch backward with your hands on your hips. If you’ve been kneeling, do a few standing quad stretches. These small resets prevent the cumulative strain that turns into next-day soreness. Strengthen the off-season foundation. The best gardening posture is built before the season starts. Three exercises pay enormous dividends: glute bridges to support your lower back during lifting, bird-dogs to build core stability for bending and reaching, and wall sits to strengthen the legs that should be doing the work your spine often gets stuck doing. Two or three sessions

a week, even just ten minutes each, will transform how your body handles a long afternoon in the dirt. Cool down and hydrate. When you’re done, don’t collapse straight onto the couch. Walk for a few minutes, stretch your hamstrings, hip flexors, and shoulders, and drink plenty of water. A warm shower followed by a few minutes of gentle stretching helps your muscles recover faster and keeps you ready for tomorrow’s work. Garden smart, and your body will thank you all season long. Don’t let back pain steal another season from you. Call Altair now to book your appointment at 907-357-1818. Whether it’s nagging stiffness, sharp pain, or movement that just doesn’t feel right, our specialists are ready to help you garden stronger, longer, and without the next-day regret.

rience for everyone who uses the area. Planned improvements include new trail connectors, expanded multi-use beginner options and reroutes that improve safety and reduce congestion. One of the most anticipated projects is a reroute of the popular Blueberry Knoll hiking trail onto higher, drier ground, helping reduce ski trail crossings and improve conditions for users across seasons. The expansion of the Inner Pioneer Loop is another exciting addition. Utilizing nearby ambient lighting, this area has become especially popular with beginner skiers, Junior Nordics families, dog walkers, and evening users looking to squeeze in a quick lap after school or work. Additional connectors around the Denali Loop area will create new route options and more ways to explore GPRA. And perhaps the most exciting part, this project is already underway because of local community support. Last summer, donations from local supporters helped launch the vision. Since then, volunteers have spent significant time clearing trees and preparing sections of trail for construction. Dirt work is expected to

begin in early June and continue through September. Now, the Mat-Su Ski Club is inviting the community to help bring the next phase to life. There are many ways to get involved: make a donation to support trail expansion; volunteer during upcoming trail work days; become a business sponsor; share the project with friends and neighbors; and follow progress updates throughout the summer. Last year, the club raised just over $12,000 and hopes to raise an additional $20,000 this summer to help complete all five trail sections by fall. Every dollar raised goes directly toward equipment, materials, and construction costs tied to the project. Whether you ski, bike, walk, hike, or simply value vibrant outdoor spaces in our community, this project is an investment in recreation opportunities that will serve the Valley for years to come. Because honestly, who doesn’t want more trails? To learn more, donate, volunteer, or follow the project, visit matsuski.org/trailexpansion or follow the Mat-Su Ski Club on Facebook for updates throughout the summer.

I lost my dad to prostate cancer because he was “too tough” to get screened. By the time he finally went in, it was too late. That experience shaped the way I look at preventive healthcare and the importance of encouraging people to make appointments before something feels seriously wrong. Strength is not ignoring pain or avoiding the doctor. Strength is showing up for yourself and for the people who love you. In Alaska, many men live physically demanding lives. They work outdoors, fish, hunt, haul gear, travel long distances, build, repair, provide, and push through exhaustion without slowing down. That resilience is something to admire, but even the strongest people still need healthcare. Families need their dads. Kids need their grandpas. Brothers need each other.

Friends need more years together around campfires, on rivers, in hunting camps, and around kitchen tables sharing stories. Preventive care is one way to help protect those moments. Sunshine Community Health Center also believes healthcare should be compassionate, respectful, and welcoming for everyone, including transgender and gender-diverse individuals who may still need screenings and wellness care based on their anatomy and healthcare needs. Appointments are available throughout June at both Sunshine Community Health Center clinic locations in Talkeetna and Willow. To schedule a Men’s Wellness Visit, call 907-376-2273. Community-driven healthcare, rooted in the strength and resilience of rural Alaska.

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Teaching Riders Before The Road Teaches Them

Contributed by Carly Schreck, Valley Abate PALMER – It’s an overcast spring morning at Butte Elementary School, as Pioneer Peak towers in the background while the Chugach foothills stretch skyward. What is normally a quiet area tucked away in Palmer, a unique kind of classroom comes to life. But instead of desks and whiteboards, students gather around motorcycles. Instead of lectures, they practice clutch control, braking, and balance. And instead of grades, they leave with confidence, skills, and a renewed respect for the road. This is the motorcycle training range operated by Valley ABATE, a Palmer-based nonprofit dedicated to motorcycle education, awareness, and safety across the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. “Motorcycle training isn’t about checking a box, it’s about giving riders the tools to come home safely every time,” said Matt

Lapinskas, a rider coach for the program. Valley ABATE - part of Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education - has been serving the community since 2000 and operates as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is straightforward but vital: give riders the knowledge, skills, and mindset they need to ride safely on Alaska’s roads. The organization offers Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)-based courses for new and returning riders, including the Introductory Motorcycle Experience (IME) and the Basic Rider Course (BRC). Classes are taught by MSF-certified Rider Coaches and run seasonally from spring through early fall, when Alaska’s riding season is at its best.

Training takes place on a dedicated range at Butte Elementary School, tucked into a scenic stretch of the Valley that many riders say doesn’t feel like a typical training ground at all. With mountain views and open space, it’s a uniquely Alaskan backdrop for learning a skill that can change lives. But while the setting is striking, the focus never drifts from what matters most: safety. “Motorcycling demands attention, humility, and practice,” said the program’s Director of Education and rider coach, Carly Schreck. “Our job is to build those habits early - before bad ones form, and before

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mistakes come with serious consequences.” While Valley ABATE’s courses help students earn their motorcycle endorsement through the State of Alaska DMV, leaders of the organization emphasize that licensing is only part of the goal. The deeper work is helping riders understand risk, read traffic, and ride defensively in a state where conditions can change fast. “Riding in Alaska is different,” Kat Sowa-Lapinskas, another rider coach for the program said. “Weather shifts quickly. Roads can be unpredictable. Wildlife is always a factor. We train riders to think ahead, slow down mentally, and make good decisions long before they ever need to make a split-second one.” In the BRC - the most popular course the organization offers - students practice emergency braking, swerving, cornering, and spatial awareness. By doing this on a closed course, students’ mistakes become lessons, not injuries. “If a rider walks away from this class thinking more carefully, braking more intentionally, and riding more defensively – we’ve done our job,” Sowa-Lapinskas said. As another summer riding season begins, Valley ABATE is preparing for months of classes, long range days, and new riders experiencing their first moments on two wheels. Some students arrive nervous, some excited, and some convinced they already know how to ride. Most leave with a new perspective. “We don’t just teach people how to operate a motorcycle,” Lapinskas said. “We teach them how to respect it, and that mindset can follow them for the rest of their riding lives.” www.valleyabate.com

Mat-Su Health Foundation Unveils New Logos and Brand Refresh Contributed by Erin Messmer, Chief Communications Officer

Mat-Su Health Foundation has debuted a refreshed brand identity, including new logos for the Foundation and its programs, Connect Mat-Su and R.O.C.K. Mat-Su. The update reflects the organization’s evolution and pivotal role in supporting long-term community health across the Mat-Su Borough. The project, initiated in 2023, was completed with input from community stakeholders and partners, as well as a dedicated refresh team composed of MSHF staff. “Intentional time and passion were dedicated to translating our mission into a refreshed visual identity,” said Erin Messmer, Chief Communications Officer of MSHF. “Our updated look reflects the growth of our work and our place-based nature and will continue to guide our role in the community as a Foundation, program partners, and a team committed to supporting a healthier future for the Mat-Su.” The intensive process was guided by a commitment to mission and honoring the unique Mat-Su community. Each new logo

draws inspiration from the natural environment and the values that guide the Foundation’s place-based work. The Mat-Su Health Foundation logo reflects resilience, steadfastness, and enduring impact. It is inspired by the ever-present fireweed plant, an integral part of Alaska’s landscape. The Connect Mat-Su logo, influenced by the trees that cover the Mat-Su Borough, emphasizes steadfast connection and access. It symbolizes how people, organizations, and resources create strong roots to help residents grow and thrive. The R.O.C.K. Mat-Su logo highlights collaboration and care. With the heart carried over from the previous logo, R.O.C.K.’s new mark reinforces the program’s focus on children, families, and collective impact. The three refreshed designs were created as a cohesive visual system that is more modern, approachable, and adaptable, while holding fast to the Foundation’s mission and roots in the Mat-Su. “Our work at the Foundation is deeply tied to this place we serve,” said Esther Pitts, President and CEO of MSHF. “Throughout this refresh process, we kept

The Magic You Never Notice Contributed by Elizabeth Stout, MASCOTarts

How many times have you walked out of a theater talking about the sound design? Probably not many. Most audiences leave discussing the actors they loved, the songs stuck in their heads, or the plot twist. The technical side of a production usually fades into the background entirely and honestly, that often means it was done well. Well-executed technical theatre supports the story so seamlessly that the audience stops noticing the individual pieces and simply experiences the world of the play. That seamless experience only happens with a small army of technicians and designers working to hold the entire production together. In smaller communities like the Mat-Su Valley, those people are incredibly valuable and often in short supply. While many people are familiar with and excited about acting opportunities, fewer realize just how much theatre depends on trained backstage crews and dependable technical volunteers. The work behind technical theatre is also far more creative than many people assume. It is not simply building sets or sewing costumes. It is storytelling. Every purposeful design choice helps shape the audience’s experience. Lighting

directs focus and emotion. Scenic design creates atmosphere and worldbuilding. Costumes communicate personality and tone before a character ever speaks. Sound design can create tension, excitement and humor in an instant. Technical theatre blends art, craftsmanship, and collaboration into one constantly moving creative process. But experienced technicians are not something that appears overnight. Strong stage managers, designers, technicians, and crew leaders are developed over years of hands-on learning and mentorship. Many small arts communities such as ours struggle because there are simply not enough trained people to meet the growing technical needs of productions. The same few volunteers often end up carrying enormous workloads from show to show. Without new technicians learning the craft, productions become harder to sustain and creative possibilities become more limited. That reality is part of what drives the mission behind MASCOTarts’ Technical Theatre Camp. As the only organization currently offering structured technical theatre education in the Mat-Su Valley, MASCOTarts sees technical training not only as an educational opportunity, but as an investment in the future of the local arts community

coming back to the importance of connection and belonging in our community. Our new logos and color palettes reflect the mission, vision, and values that guide every part of our work. Mat-Su is our home, and we are committed to helping it grow and flourish for all present and future residents.” The new logos are now being rolled out across digital platforms, print materials, and community resources. Partners and stakeholders who need updated logo files or brand assets are encouraged to reach out. More info about the story behind the new look at healthymatsu.org/refresh. For logo requests or additional info, contact updates@healthymatsu.org. About Mat-Su Health Foundation: MatSu Health Foundation (MSHF), officially known as Valley Hospital Association, Inc., is a local organization dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of people who live in the Mat-Su. As a shared owner of Mat-Su Regional Medical Center,

MSHF board members and representatives take an active role in hospital governance, helping ensure the community’s voices and interests are reflected in this vital healthcare resource. MSHF’s mission is to improve health and wellness across the Mat-Su. The Foundation does this by investing in local organizations through grants, bringing partners together to strengthen collaboration, and supporting policies that help communities thrive. Over time, this work has contributed to meaningful improvements in areas that matter most to people’s daily lives, including behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and services for seniors.

as a whole. This summer, alongside the company’s production of Shrek Jr., students ages 11 to 18 will spend two intensive weeks at the Glenn Massay Theatre learning hands-on technical theatre skills while helping bring a full-scale musical to life. Students work with real theatre equipment in an active performance venue while exploring scenic construction, painting, props, lighting, sound, costumes, makeup, backstage operations, and design principles. Rather than simply being taught isolated skills, students learn how every technical department works together to support the story being told onstage. They see firsthand how a production comes together from the ground up and how much collaboration is required to make live theatre successful. The long-term goal reaches beyond a single summer camp. MASCOTarts hopes to help train the next generation of designers, technicians, and creative leaders who will strengthen theatre across the Valley for years to come. Better-trained technicians and volunteers do not just benefit one organization. They raise the quality, sustainability, and creative possibilities of productions throughout the entire community. Technical theatre often serves as a gateway into the larger theatre community. Someone may begin by helping paint a set or move scenery and quickly find their people, their second home. Backstage

environments tend to create strong friendships because productions rely heavily on teamwork and trust. In community theatre, the people who consistently show up ready to help are noticed and appreciated. Dependable crew members and volunteers become invaluable very quickly. In theatre, being reliable, collaborative, and willing to learn often opens doors to new opportunities both backstage and onstage. Many performers first entered theatre through technical work or volunteer crew positions simply because it gave them a way to become involved and connected to the community. For some students, this camp is simply a chance to paint scenery, learn a soundboard, and have fun with friends. Others will find a creative home, a professional pathway, or the beginning of lifelong friendships, all while sharing the experience of making live theatre happen. The Shrek Jr. camps run June 8 to 19, with performances on June 19 at 7 PM and June 20 at 2 PM and 7 PM. While the musical theatre performance camp is currently waitlisted, there are still openings in the Technical Theatre Camp for ages 11 to 18. Registration remains open through June 1 or until capacity is reached. Scholarships are available to help ensure that every young artist who wants to participate has the opportunity to do so. More info and tickets can be found at mascotarts.org or by calling 907-707-9854.

Adult Learning Center

OPEN ENROLLMENT High School Diploma, Tutoring, Parenting Classes, & More!

akalc.org (907) 375-6000

HAPPY HOUR Wed-Fri 4–6 PM and after 8PM Sat-Sun 3–6 PM and after 8PM QUESTIONS? visit www.mat-suresort.com or call 907-357-5000 CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS OR PROMOTIONS. VALID THRU 6/30/26

FINE DINING WINE CELLAR SPORTS BAR POOL & PING-PONG

STEP

INTO BETTER HEALTH

SCHEDULE A MEN’S WELLNESS VISIT IN JUNE AND RECEIVE A HEATED FOOT MASSAGER AT CHECK-OUT WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. MEN’S WELLNESS VISITS CHECK IN ON YOUR OVERALL HEALTH MANY HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING: DON’T SHOW SYMPTOMS. BLOOD PRESSURE CHOLESTEROL A SIMPLE CHECK-UP CAN MENTAL HEALTH HELP CATCH PROBLEMS AGE BASED SCREENINGS

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• Behavioral Health Assessments • Individual and Family Therapy • Trauma Informed Treatment • SUD Treatment

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Remembering Paul Daniel Jackson Contributed by Patty Sacheck-Jackson Paul Daniel Jackson April 19, 1948 – January 5, 2026 Wasilla, Alaska Paul “Dan” Jackson, 77, passed away peacefully January 5, 2026. He is survived by his wife Patty (Sacheck), sons Uriah and

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Mike, sisters Karen and Kathryn, and many extended family members. Family and friends are invited to a private gathering in Wasilla June 6, 2026, at 2pm to honor Dan’s life and share stories. For more information text Patty at 907-229-1975. Please RSVP by May 22, 2026.

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We Are Celebrating 70 Years of Caring for Our Valley Neighbors Contributed by Janice, Valley Charities Inc.

We are holding our second fundraiser, “Leaves of Change Online Auction,” which opened for bidding May 15, 2026. In case you don’t know who Valley Charities is, let me tell you a little about who we are. We are a local Mat-Su Valley nonprofit

organization. We proudly share that we began helping our neighbors in 1956, 70 years ago! Valley Charities Inc. includes turn-A-leaf Thrift Stores, Durable Medical Equipment Lending Program, Re-Entry Program supporting Mat-Su residents who have been incarcerated, and Homelessness Prevention programs.

The auction proceeds go into our Endowment Fund, which was established to help people who fall into an unforeseen financial gap. Things like car repair and medical costs. Those sudden expenses we can all relate to, but some have no resources for help, and our other programs are not set up to help this kind of one-time need.

Help and hope. Join our online auction, Leaves of Change, open now. Sign up today! Please check out our website to learn more: valleycharities.org. Valley Charities Inc., 400 N. Yenlo Street, Wasilla, Alaska 99654. EIN 92-0130785. Thank you for your support!

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

To learn more or request services, contact

www

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

5120

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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.

PETS & ANIMALS raceak.com

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Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

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

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Amaryllis

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If you’re looking to grow a strong bond with a cat, Amaryllis may be the one for you. She is small, soft, sweet, and quiet as can be. She is smart and cautious with new people until she realizes you are safe and have a warm, loving hand to gently stroke her coat and reassure her. Amaryllis will need a patient person who understands that it will take time for her to feel comfortable. A quiet, settled home with no kids would suit her best, and she must have a kitty friend in her new home, as she adores other cats. She enjoys playing with toys and cat friends, lying in the sun, bird watching, and treats. Her favorite snack is cooked salmon. She does fine with mellow, cat-friendly dogs. Amaryllis is around a year old and will need a safe yard to enjoy summer days with her family once she is settled in her new home.

Emma Emma is a smart little girl. She even knows her name, and she has one of the nicest purrs ever! Emma is a demure, beautiful kitten with a pristine white coat, a dark hat, and a full tail. At 6 months old, she is really coming into her own. She loves other cats and even wants to take a closer look at dogs from the other side of the gate. A nice calm dog would be okay in her new home, and she must have a friendly, playful kitty friend. Older children who aren’t rambunctious would be fine too. A safe, enjoyable yard to explore is a must. What could be better than lounging in the grass on a warm sunny day with her family?

HRH, Her Royal Highness, also known as Harriet, is seeking a kitty whisperer! She loves getting scratches, has a sweet gentle meow, and likes friendly dogs. She will take some time to adjust to a new home as she decides where her throne room is going to be. This beauty queen knows what she wants and doesn’t want, so you need to earn her trust. Harriet doesn’t like other cats, so she must be the only kitty in her new home. Not to worry though, when you are gone, she entertains herself playing with her toys. Don’t let her age of 8 years old fool you. She still has plenty of energy, so toys and entertainment are a must! If she does not approve of something, she will bat at you with her paw as if to say, “Please stop doing that.” Older children who respect her space should be fine in her new home. She loves food and getting Churu on demand. Once settled in, she will need a safe, fun yard to spend time with her family and play in the lush green grass.

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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