The People's Paper November 2015

November 18th - December 16th 2015

MATANUSKA VALLEY, ALASKA

Publisher Campaigns

on Local Issues

READ MORE ON PAGE 2 New Endowment Aimed at Securing Future

of Alaska Family Services

“...Our sustainability funds will help us continue to strengthen and support families through times of uncertainty and to expand services when needed.”

Contributed by Becky Stoppa As state funding for social services dwindles, Alaska Family Services hopes a $2 million endowment fund will help secure its future.

Adopt Mouse

The endowment, established November 10th, is part of Alaska Family Services’ strategic plan to build its sustainability fund to $10 million.

For several years, the Palmer-based nonprofit has held a donor-advised, non-endowed fund at the Alaska Community Foundation; it transferred a portion of this fund, generated from frugal management over the years, to establish the endowment fund.

Going forward, both funds will generate interest revenue to help sustain Alaska Family Services’ 20-plus programs in the Mat-Su Valley.

“We want to be sure that resources are available to provide the critical programs AFS offers for residents of the Mat-Su Borough,” explained Dr. Donn Bennice, Alaska Family Services President/CEO. “We can’t just rely on government funding. Our sustainability funds will help us continue to strengthen and support families through times of uncertainty and to expand services when needed.”

Established in 1979, Alaska Family Services serves more than 8,200

men, women and children each year at program sites in Palmer, Wasilla, Anchorage, and the Kenai Peninsula.

board to help the organization reach its $10 million goal, through outright and planned gifts from individuals.

It offers a comprehensive array of services designed to help people overcome a host of challenges, from substance abuse disorders and emotional disturbances, to accessing healthy food and affordable, quality child care.

The effort underway is vitally important to the future of the agency, according to Janet Kincaid, one of the sustainability board members.

Its women’s shelter is the only nationally accredited domestic violence/sexual assault shelter in the state. Alaska Family Services has enlisted a volunteer sustainability

“Sustainability is a big issue for Alaska nonprofits, and AFS is being proactive in securing its future so that muchneeded services will be available for families for generations to come,” Kincaid said.

Contributed by Alaska Animal Advocates Little Miss Mouse wants to be a house mouse! She is very unhappy when she is away from her people, and will do whatever it takes to get back to them - including escaping from her pen! Because of this, she will require a very special home where she will be able to be safely contained or have a family that is home a great deal of time.

Mouse is a little shy at first, but after she’s had some time to get to know everyone, she’s friendly as can be. She is very gentle, and surprisingly mellow. Her favorite thing to do is to curl up on the couch with her people. That’s not to say that she wouldn’t enjoy a nice long walk - she is a husky after all!

For more info, or to meet Mouse, please e-mail aaarescue@yahoo.com

VOTE LOCAL

By Josh Fryfogle, Publisher My title might be tongue-incheek, but the focus of this article is serious.

While I am not running for office, this is a real campaign about real issues.

I am indeed announcing a campaign, and it is both an advertising campaign and a political one. If you’ve ever been involved in politics at all, you already know the relationship between advertising and politicking. They often interact anyway - this campaign will only make that clearer.

At the heart of it all is money, and a local economy. A local economy is made stable by a broad base of vendors and producers. People who sell things, and people who make things.

In Alaska, the less we produce, the more we depend on outside sources for basic necessities. It is a precarious situation, to say the least. The vendors, local business owners, are all too aware. But we can make a difference, and it’s easier than you might think!

Dollar Voting Dollar Voting will be a central theme to a larger campaign.

Basically, we vote for what we want more of, every time we spend a dollar - that’s the idea.

As we approach the holidays, we will be spending a lot more than usual. We will be voting as well.

And just like voting, you deserve a sticker!

Hey, get one for the kids, too!

Buy something from one of the businesses advertised on page 2 and 3, think of them as polling places! Cast your vote!

There is a lot of ground to cover in this campaign - many topics that we will deal with as this campaign continues. But in the meantime, enjoy your holiday season.

Look for our message in the windows of these local businesses, and get your sticker at checkout. Wearing the sticker is a real-world viral marketing campaign.

Let people know that it’s time to vote, and it’s time to vote local!

Your vote matters!

Together we can build a strong local economy - the gift that keeps on giving!

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

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Invest In Your Community on Small Business Saturday Contributed by Jeanette Gardiner Ah, holiday shopping.

Rising way too early on Black Friday with a pumpkin pie hangover just to share a spot in line at the mega-store with hundreds of your “closest” friends.

Searching endlessly in miles of aisles for someone to help you locate that “best deal” that you got up at 3 a.m. to find. And engaging in an epic battle of tug-of-war over that last item on the shelf.

Or would you rather invest in your community by shopping where the business owner likely knows who you are and will be the one serving you? Someone who knows the products (and

where they’re located) and can make personal recommendations for the perfect gift this holiday season. Someone who genuinely appreciates that you shopped with them.

Then you’ll want to sleep in on Black Friday, get up at a reasonable hour on Saturday, November 28th, and make your way to downtown Palmer for Small Business Saturday.

Founded by American Express® in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support their neighborhoods and is held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Now in its sixth year, Small Business Saturday has been

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS Contributed by Dori Cranmore R.N. All About Herbs At the beginning of each year, it seems many people come to the store asking about ways to clean out their body and get a handle on their health. We have many different cleanse combinations and most all have Burdock root included in the formulas.

Burdock has been used as a primary detoxifying agent in both Chinese and Western herbalism as it stimulates elimination of wastes via the colon, kidneys and skin.

Burdock is the common name of any plant of the genus Arctium in the family Asteraceae. It is a common weed native to Europe and Northern Asia but is now widespread throughout the USA. The root has a very crisp, sweet, mild and pungent flavor and is the primary source of many herbal preparations. The leaves are less potent.

This is a fun bit of trivia. In the 1940’s, George de Mestral, a Swiss inventor became curious about the burdock seeds when they attached themselves to his clothes and his dogs fur as they were out walking. Under a microscope he noted the hook-andloop system that the seeds use to hitchhike on passing animals and aiding in seed dispersal. He realized that the same approach could be used to join other things together resulting in the creation of Velcro.

The root has often been used to purify the blood by removing toxins that can build up in the blood. It is one of the 4 components of the famous Essiac Tea (Burdock Root, Slippery Elm, Sheep Sorrel, Turkey Rhubarb Root) used by the Ojibwa Indians and Renee Caisse, R.N. of Canada, to halt tumor growth.

In modern times, burdock is used in oncology and to treat many other serious health problems by integrative doctors and herbalists.

Burdock has been used to soothe inflammation in both internal and external tissues, including topical applications for joint swelling.

Research suggests that it is helpful for treating conditions from chronic toxicity including arthritis, gout, heavy metal poisoning, infection, rheumatism, sore throat and cancer prevention. It is highly recommended for chronic skin conditions such as abscesses, acne, boils, burns, boils, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, rashes, skin infections and benign tumors.

This herb is a good source of viscous fiber, helping absorb toxins from both the digestive and intestinal tracts and also used to lower bowel transit time and balance intestinal flora. It has been shown to provide antifungal, diuretic and hypoglycemic properties.

According to a study published in Diabetes Research, burdock root helps lower blood sugar levels.

People taking insulin should not take burdock. Burdock is, however, compatible with all other hypoglycemic (diabetic) medications.

It contains high amounts of inulin and mucilage which is most likely responsible for the effect of lowering blood sugar.

Because Burdock has a high concentration of minerals, it actually helps replace those minerals that are purged during cleansing. It provides high amounts of chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, silicon, zinc, copper, manganese, B1, B6, B12, and E. Burdock root be taken in a capsule form, liquid extract or as a tea. All are available at All About Herbs. It can also be made into a poultice and placed over sore or swollen joints.

It is not recommended to be used during pregnancy. There are no reported contraindications with any medications except insulin. Happy cleansing!

Restless Legs?

Contributed by Dr. Anne Altair The most important mineral in your body is magnesium. It activates over 300 necessary reactions in your body.

Other major minerals are dependent on magnesium to be there such as calcium, potassium, and sodium.

Calcium should never be taken on its own, because it will pull magnesium out of other parts of the body to assimilate, which creates magnesium deficiency. This occurs with people who drink a lot of cow milk. Excess calcium will accumulate and be deposited in joints. This is called arthritis. Gall stones, kidney stones, and calcium deposits in the muscles and the brain, are also a sign of improperly assimilated calcium in the body. Calcium cannot assimilate without magnesium.

Without sufficient magnesium, potassium will be rapidly excreted from the body, which creates a potassium deficiency resulting in fatigue, heat exhaustion, and weakness. Magnesium helps in the storage of energy used by the cells.

Without it you feel tired. This is one of the causes of fatigue and chronic fatigue.

The nerve cells need magnesium to give and receive messages in the body. Without it the nerve cells are highly reactive. This causes the person to become overly sensitive and nervous. Noises may seem

excessively loud, lights seem too bright and the person will generally be on edge. Magnesium and calcium work together to control muscle action. Calcium tightens the muscles, magnesium relaxes the muscles. With insufficient magnesium, the muscles stay tense, causing muscle cramping.

The same thing happens in the heart, which is a muscle. The heart goes into a spasm and can’t relax = heart attack.

Magnesium deficiency is usually connected to the causes of heart attacks.

Magnesium deficiency can also cause insomnia, waking up with ‘charlie horse’ muscle cramps, muscle jerking, eye ticks, PMS, racing heart, or unusual heart rhythms, angina, collapsing after physical exercise, poor digestion, protein synthesis, cellular energy production and sugar metabolism.

To handle a magnesium deficiency it is best to take it alone, without any calcium. Magnesium is totally safe. If you take too much of it your body will naturally flush it out.

Does this help explain your restless legs at night?

Please call for more information.

Dr. Altair is a chiropractor who, over the past 11 years, has helped hundreds of patients toward vital health and healing.

Her office is located at 3161 E PalmerWasilla HWY 907-357-1818

Dori Cranmore is a Registered Nurse, Herb Specialist and owner of All About Herbs in Wasilla, 376-8327 -- This information is intended for educational purposes. Please refer to your health care professional for diagnosis, treatment or cures for disease.

American Lung Association is a Force to be Reckoned With in Alaska Contributed by K.T. McKee Mat-Su Manager, American Lung Association in Alaska

They are what motivates me to do what I do for the American Lung Association in Alaska.

They say that every three minutes, someone dies of lung cancer in this country. And women are dying of lung cancer at higher rates than men as men are typically diagnosed earlier.

Did you know that lung cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer and that lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer in this country?

This has been true for other health issues, as well, such as heart disease.

Sometimes it’s a matter of doctors not taking women’s symptoms seriously or chalking them up to “stress.” Sometimes it’s a matter of women taking care of everyone else but themselves and not going to the doctor when they notice something isn’t quite right.

This was the case with my mother-in-law last year. When she finally went to the doctor after becoming bed-ridden in Palmer, her lung cancer already was in the final stages. She really didn’t have a chance at that point.

She was dead within six months at age 72. Her husband had passed away from lung cancer 10 years before that. They’d been teen sweethearts and now are finally together again. But I miss her terribly and wish I’d gotten to meet my spouse’s father.

The American Lung Association wants to change that.

In conjunction with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the “Lung Force” campaign is raising awareness for early detection and treatment for women with lung cancer – especially for those in high risk categories. If you are at least 55 and smoked for at least 30 years, you most likely qualify for lung cancer screening that will be completely covered by insurance or Medicare. This is especially true for those with a family history. For more information on Lung Force and free screenings, go to www. lungforce.org.

Lung Force is only one important cause of the American Lung Association.

Locally, we also are promoting and expanding our Better Breathers Clubs for those living with COPD, emphysema, asthma, and other chronic lung illnesses.

These support groups are nationwide and we so far have two such gatherings

in Mat-Su: On the second Tuesday of every month, there’s a Better Breathers Club at Mat-Su Senior Services in Palmer, 10:30-11:30 am; and on the third Thursday of every month, there’s a group at Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI), 1:00-2:00 pm.

Thanks to a generous grant from Mat-Su Health Foundation, It is our hope that we will also have Better Breathers Clubs in Talkeetna, Sutton, and in another location in Palmer or Wasilla by next summer. These clubs often include guest speakers on a variety of worthwhile topics and offer a way for folks to support one another and their loved ones while gaining information that will make their lives easier.

The American Lung Association in Alaska also is working toward smoke-free multiunit housing, smoke-free workplaces (with Senate Bill 1 moving through the state legislature), and raising awareness about the dangers of electronic cigarettes and vaping.

A recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students in Alaska discovered that 18 percent of them are current users of e-cigs. This is a troubling statistic because many of them are under the false impression that e-cigs are safe. But they are not just “harmless

water vapor”! They are anything but!

E-cigs and vape pens contain some of the same toxic substances found in regular cigarettes, such as acetone and formaldehyde. There is also evidence that the flavorings used in vape pens have their own health risks. And contrary to popular belief, e-cigs are not helping smokers quit. Smokers are simply exchanging one nicotine delivery device for another.

The American Lung Association recognizes the highly-addictive nature of tobacco products (including e-cigs) and encourages those who wish to kick the habit for good to call the Alaska Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free counseling and free nicotine replacement therapies.

But by raising awareness on lung cancer, secondhand smoke, and the hazards of e-cigs, the American Lung Association in Alaska hopes to greatly reduce those lung cancer and COPD deaths here in the next few years so families like yours and mine will have their loved ones around much longer.

K.T. McKee is a former journalist who, at age 53, recently was diagnosed with emphysema after having grown up with heavy smokers. She can be reached in her Wasilla office at 357-3110

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SHARE YOUR HEALTH OR WEIGHT LOSS STORY IN THE PEOPLE’S PAPER AND ON THE ALASKA CLUB BLOG. YOUR STORY COULD INSPIRE OTHERES. LET THE ALASKA CLUB GET YOU THERE. SUBMIT YOUR STORY TO MAKEASCENEAK@MAC.COM THE PEOPLE’S PAPER | LOCALLY OWNED COMMUNITY NEWS | MAKEASCENEAK@MAC.COM

HEALTH EXERCISE YOUR WRITE SPORTS How I Won by Losing to Scout Local Fighters UFC President Dana White Will Be Attending AFC 118 PRESS RELEASE -- Dana White, along with his longtime friend Nick “The Tooth” Gullo and Team Serra-Longo gym owner Matt Serra, are out on the road looking for up-and-coming young fighters to sign to the UFC and they’re coming to Alaska Fighting Championship 118, November 18th to film an upcoming episode of Dana White: Looking for a fight.

vacant Featherweight (135lb) title.

Former AFC champion ABJJ’s, Zach “Babybear” Eastlick (fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska 7-2) looks to reclaim his belt against undefeated Gracie Barra product Jared Mazurek (fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska 5-0). Both men are Alaska State BJJ champions and look to take their grappling skills to the cage.

Media are welcome to attend.

The UFC crew will bring fans along for their adventures, antics, and ringside experiences watching regional MMA. Welcoming Dana White to AFC 118 will be three action-packed title fights headlining the event.

Contributed by Lolly Symbol I was always blessed with a body that stayed in shape all by itself! I ate whatever I wanted and my views on exercise were “I’m allergic to exercise.”

After 36 years of taking advantage of my health and not even trying to take care of my body, I woke up one morning and I had gone from a size 2/4, to a size 12/14. Still having an attitude against exercise, I tried several diets, losing 5LBS and gaining 10 back.

Time and time again, diet after diet, nothing worked!

I decided to embrace the fact that I was now a size 12/14 and that’s just who I am now! I packed up ALL of my clothes, which ranged from sizes 2 – 10, and took them to the thrift store. I went out and I bought myself an entire new wardrobe of clothes sizes 12-14.

It wasn’t a month later, I literally started to roll out of these larger sizes. I was very sluggish, tired all the time, having less and less energy to work, do chores or hang out with my children. At this point I thought ‘I need to do something drastic before my health completely deteriorates’.

So I did what I thought I’d never do….

I JOINED THE GYM! I made a commitment that I would give it a fair shot and I’d go to the gym every single day! It was a really difficult transition at first, but within a week, I started seeing some pretty amazing results!! I could button my pants again! My children told me that my arms are already looking smaller. Within 2 weeks, my friends started to notice that I was losing body mass!

It’s been 4 months now and I have kept my commitment! I have gone

to the gym just about every single day, missing very few along the way.

I have lost nearly 30 LBS, 6in off my waist, my workout shorts that were skin tight, just about fall off me now, my arms don’t jiggle with each step I take anymore! I am down to a size 6 and still shrinking!

My energy level has skyrocketed and I feel like I can conquer the world! So much so, in fact, I decided to run for Big Lake City Council.

I was very much against the incorporation of Big Lake to becoming a city, but wanted to be on the front lines as a voice of the people in the event the incorporation did pass. The process the people pushing to become a city, appeared to me to be very corrupt, so I formed a group of people, now known as “The Vote No Committee”.

The Main event features AFC Bantamweight Champ Gracie Barra’s Nick “The Natural” Novelli (fighting out of Anchorage, AK 4-0) as he takes on Team Alpha Males Jarel Askew (fighting out of Sacramento, CA 9-3) for the vacant Lightweight (155lb) title.

The Co-Main Event is for the Welterweight (170lb) title. The electric Chris Bennett former American Top Team member (fighting out of Anchorage, Alaska 6-4) takes on AFC Champion Collin Reuter (fighting out of Fairbanks, Alaska 13-4). Both have had dominant performances in the cage, and have trained at some of the best gyms in the world.

The third title fight is for the

Alaska Fighting Championship provides reserved seating for all media covering the event.

The complete fight card may be found at www.alaskafighting. com. Media is also welcome to contact for questions or interview requests.

Alaska Fighting Championship is Alaska’s Premier Mixed Martial Arts event.

Founded back in July 2004 AFC 1 had an action packed night with UFC veterans Jeremy Horn and Rich Franklin both fighting on the card. AFC has come a long way in the past 11 seasons, cultivating its own professional fighters that have moved on to larger organizations such as the UFC. Much like the days of discovering gold in Alaska, the AFC has mined many a gritty competitor from the ranks of hardy, “Last Frontier” Alaskan men and women.

The reputation of tough Alaskan men and women and the harsh elements they train in has attracted global attention. Alaska Fighting Championship can be seen live every month at the George M. Sullivan Sports Arena in Anchorage, AK and is steamed around the world on GoFightLive.com

We worked tirelessly exposing the truth about incorporation to the people of Big Lake. All the while as I was fighting to keep my community healthy, I was still working out every day at the gym, to get my body healthy again.

I have lost the City Council election to the no vote, which means I won! I have lost several pounds of fat and body mass, which is a huge win!

Now on to more wins! I am going to continue working out, even after I reach my weight loss goals so I can maintain my new healthy body.

I am also going to continue to fight for a healthy community of Big Lake by running for a Community Council seat in January.

If you are reading my story, I hope it encourages you to take action today and fight for your own health.

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SMALL BUSINESS

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 6

Invest in Your Community continued from page 3 embraced as part of the holiday shopping tradition as each year shoppers, businesses and public officials come together to Shop Small® and show their neighborhood pride.

Why Shop Small?

According to the American Independent Business Alliance, when you choose local and independent businesses for your services, shopping, dining and other needs, you not only get real value and personal service, you’re helping: BUILD COMMUNITY! The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood–scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness. They’re the ultimate social networking sites!

STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY! Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns 3 times more money to your local economy than

one spent at a chain (hundreds of times more than buying from an online mega-retailer) — a benefit we all can bank on.

CREATE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES! Not only do independent businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue, they also are the customers of local printers, accountants, wholesalers, farms, attorneys, etc., expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY! Small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, and teams compared to big businesses.

Active Soles Backcountry Bike & Ski BBella Hair Design Cover Ups Fireside Books Forever Endeavor Humdinger’s Gourmet Pizza Just Sew Madd Matters LTD Magpie Clothing Exchange Main Street Café NonEssentials Palmer Museum Gift Shop Shane Lamb Gallery Silvertip Designs The Gallery The Garden Gate The Stamp Cache The UPS Store Valley Winery Whimsy Gift Shoppe

This year, 25+ Palmer businesses, including two restaurants, are participating in Small Business Saturday in Palmer.

*For the most up-to-date information on Small Business Saturday – Palmer, Like facebook.com/SeaStarStrategies

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So sleep in on Black Friday, get up at a reasonable hour on Saturday, and head to downtown Palmer to support the businesses that help make our

community the best place to live, work and play in Alaska.

PS: Your investment in our community doesn’t end with Small Business Saturday. The “I Shopped Local” campaign runs now through the end of 2015. When you shop at participating businesses, you will receive an “I Shopped Local” sticker to wear in support of locally-owned small businesses.

About Jeanette Gardiner Jeanette Gardiner lives in Palmer, Alaska, and is the Owner of SeaStar Strategies LLC where she helps time-strapped small business owners discover the gift of time by streamlining their administrative and marketing systems.

She is also Palmer’s “Neighborhood Champion” for Small Business Saturday Learn more at www.seastarstrategies.com

FAITH

Much to be Thankful For Contributed by Vic Kohring Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. ~ Psalm 118:1 When I was young and our family gathered around the table to share Thanksgiving dinner, our tradition was to take turns expressing what each of us were thankful for. It was easy for me because, despite our relatively meager existence as a low-income family living a near subsistence Alaskan lifestyle, we were a blessed family. We had each other, our friends, enjoyed good health and were a family of faith. My father would then offer a heartfelt prayer and proceed with carving the turkey and moose meat. I have fond memories of those get-togethers from many years ago that I’ll always cherish.

With the Thanksgiving season upon us, I’ve been reflecting back on how blessed I continue to be and my reasons to be thankful. There are many.

Some may question my enthusiasm given my legal experiences of recent years, and more significant, the 2013

loss of my dear father to Alzheimer’s and the sudden passing of my nephew this summer from an accident, a wonderful young man who was as close to me as a son.

To this day, I’m still in shock and find it difficult to fathom that both are gone. Their losses left gaping holes in my heart and were excruciating experiences from which I’ll never fully recover and will bear until the day I depart this life. It was if part of me died along with them. I miss my two family members beyond description and at times admit I’ve had brief moments when I’ve questioned whether life is worth living without them. But I’ve instead chosen to forge ahead and dig down deep in my soul to find a way to rise above it all as I’ve sought to find some good in the tragedies. It’s what my loved ones would want.

Most important, I take comfort knowing my dad and nephew are together with their Lord and Savior in Heaven. Both were Christians and strong in their faith as they professed their love for the Lord. So despite the fact that they’re no longer on this earth, I feel blessed that they’re rejoicing in a better place and that someday we’ll reunite - hopefully sooner than later - as the separation is, and will always

be painful. (I’m hoping for the rapture as discussed in the Book of Revelation, during my lifetime.) As I reflect back, the times we spent together were very special. Even extraordinary. I praise God for the opportunity, but especially for the love we shared that made my life so much fuller and richer. They are precious memories I’ll forever hold dear.

My dad lived 91 years and had a good life. A humble, kind-hearted, hardworking man, he was the proud patriarch of our big family. Although my nephew left us in his twenties, what a remarkable life he experienced. He was a college graduate who studied engineering on a scholarship and an accomplished athlete, had a great job and career, literally traveled the world, enjoyed a multitude of close friends and recently purchased a beautiful home. An intelligent, handsome, charming young man, he also shared his beloved grandfather’s qualities of decency, humility, kindness, generosity and caring for others. He and his grandpa were two of the most selfless and thoughtful people I’ve ever been privileged to know in my lifetime. Both were amazingly as close to perfection as a human can be.

During my nephew’s memorial service, a friend marveled about how he lived his life as a tiger, noting how “It’s far

better to live a short life as a tiger than a long one as a pussycat,” referring to people failing to take full advantage of their limited time on this planet. How true. The pastor described him as the “crown jewel of the Kohring family,” a well-deserved title, which brought me to tears. I’m so incredibly proud of my dad and nephew and it has been an absolute honor to have joined with them as family.

There are other things I’m thankful for as well. I still have a wonderful family including my mother, siblings and many nieces and nephews. As I’ve gotten older, several great nieces and nephews have been added. Everyone is special to me. Moreover, my health is holding steady, my life is back on track following my legal disaster and I have numerous caring friends. What more could a person want?

As you sit down for dinner with family or friends this Thanksgiving, think of your blessings. No one is immune from tragedy and heartbreak in this life and at times we can get down on ourselves and feel as if the world is collapsing around us. It happened to me. But be positive and remind yourself of the good things. And let the peace of God rule in your heart, as Colossians 3:15 says. www.vickohringministries.net

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VETERANS

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 7

Remembering Veteran’s Day

By Major Mike Dryden AVN USAR, Retired The People’s Paper and Make A Scene recognizes and honors Veterans every day for their service to our nation. But on Veterans Day Wednesday, November 11, special thanks are needed. A reprint from the VFW’s website on the origin of the well-known red poppy is in order for this edition.

The designation “Buddy Poppy” was adopted at that time.

In February 1924, the VFW registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers.

The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children.

The death of his friend was the inspiration for the following famous poem: IN FLANDER’S FIELD

He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening.

Now you know why the VFW sells poppies on Veterans Day. Go to the head of the class! For all Veterans, young and old, their families and friends and a grateful nation, SALUTE.

An exploding German artillery shell landed near him.

The VFW has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name “Buddy Poppy”.

It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.

By John McCrae In Flanders Fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead.

Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved and now we lie, In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe To you, from failing hands, we throw, The torch, be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us, who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders Fields.

WWl History 1914-1918 During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on 2nd May, 1915 in the gun positions near Ypres.

BUDDY POPPY The VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans’ organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

During the 1923 encampment, the VFW decided that VFW “Buddy”® Poppies would be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance. The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh assembled VFW Buddy Poppies.

Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals.

Military Veterans Chiropractic Care in the Valley Contributed by Dr. Rizaldy Ortiz Altair Chiropractic in Wasilla provides a variety of all-natural healing therapies that help relieve pain and restore mobility for our patients.

They frequently come to us looking for relief after a sports injury, workplace injury or some type of auto injury accident. Most people didn’t know that Dr. Rizaldy Ortiz and Dr. Anna Altair are both offering chiropractic care to local veterans through the VA’s Choice Program in Mat-Su Valley area.

The Choice Program allows veterans enrolled in VA health benefits to receive VA-approved health care from non-VA doctors without affecting access to VA healthcare and other VA benefits.

Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Altair understands

that military service can cause many types of life-altering injuries that lead to lower back pain, stiffness and decreased mobility. Some servicerelated injuries may be the result of handling or carrying heavy equipment for extended periods of time. Others may be due to repetitive motion injuries that cause stress on your spinal column and joints. You may be suffering from sciatica caused by a bulging or herniated disc. Or you could be in need of rehabilitative care to help you recover from a combat injury. We can help ease your transition back into civilian life through a course of treatment designed to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and restore your mobility.

Once you come to our clinic after receiving authorization and a referral from your VA doctor, our chiropractors

will perform a thorough examination to understand the cause and extent of your service-related back pain. We may ask about your military occupation and the types of activities you performed, or inquire about any injury accident that may be the cause of your pain. If you were required to perform a great deal of heavy lifting or other strenuous activities, let our doctor know so we can develop a treatment plan that is based on your unique situation.

The treatment plan we develop is different for each patient, but it is always based on non-invasive, all natural forms of rehabilitative care.

Our chiropractors may perform spinal adjustments to gently realign your spine and remove pressure caused by subluxations. If you have been involved in an injury accident we may recommend mechanical traction and

corrective exercises to help restore mobility. Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) might be needed to help your muscles get moving again. Your recovery plan may include cryotherapy or moist heat and Erchonia Cold Laser therapy to help control swelling and inflammation.

If you know a veteran who is in some type of pain due to military service, invite them to visit the VA office or our clinic at 3161 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy Ste #1 in Wasilla to determine if they are eligible for chiropractic care.

Call us at 907-357-1818 if you have any questions.

FAITH Lights Play A Big Part in the Two December Holidays Contributed by Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain 907-715-4001 Hanukkah is the “Festival of Lights” and commemorates the liberation by the God of Israel from the Greeks and the restoration of the Temple.

According to the Talmud, unadulterated and undefiled pure olive oil with the seal of the kohen gadol (high priest) was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. The story goes that one flask was found with only enough oil to burn for one

day, yet it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of kosher oil for the menorah. An eightday festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle. We are told Jesus celebrated this festival in John 10:22-23.

again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

“And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.”

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ the “Light of the World”.

When Jesus was born, the angel of the Lord came to shepherds and told them.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings

10

John 8:12 states, “Then spake Jesus

of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 11

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Light brings understanding, life, and joy. Enjoy these holidays with the recognition that it is God who brings light.

COMMUNITY

Abby Story Contributed by Michelle Overstreet You might recognize Abby from the Steamdriven Boutique.

Abby is a survivor of severe epilepsy that required the right hemisphere of her brain to be removed, courtesy of the UCLA medical center.

She has worked hard in her recovery, and is determined to find work that she enjoys and can be good at.

She came to us without safe housing several months ago, and we had space

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 8

“Abby is a survivor of severe epilepsy that required the right hemisphere of her brain to be removed, courtesy of the UCLA medical center.”

in our transitional housing for her to move in right away. Then she started working in the Steamdriven Boutique.

She has adapted several tools to accommodate her handicap and is an absolute joy to have at work!

Recently, Abby has taken on Facebook, posting the soup of the day and coffee of the day in the Gathering Grounds Cafe.

She wasn’t sure she could do it, but has been an amazing asset to the staff there!

We all enjoy her posts and writing, but mostly we love her sunny disposition,

Mat-Su Valley Quilters' Guild Mat-Su Valley Quilters' Guild donated 14 lovely holiday quilts for the children celebrating their adoptions at the annual Adoption Celebration Mat-Su Valley Quilters' Guild donated 14 lovely holiday quilts for the children celebrating their adoptions at the annual Adoption Celebration Sponsored by the Office of Children’s Services, Alaska Center for Resource

Families and Catholic Social Services this November.

For information about the children that are legally free for adoption and awaiting their own forever family please visit our website www.acrf.org

hard work and willingness to try new things.

Abby has a gift for the social media sharing and technology, and will have some additional training from MY House Board member Mitch Slater, who owns his own advertising company, Slater Strategy.

Mitch will be teaching her some high tech tools for advertising and marketing, skills that are very valuable in the marketplace.

Please congratulate Abby when you see her, we are so proud of her hard work and cheerful attitude!

MyHouse Mat-Su Gathering Grounds Cafe Steamdriven Boutique 300 North Willow Wasilla, AK 99654

PETS & ANIMALS Goodbye Old Friend Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates My incredible dog, Huan, died last week – one month short of his 12th birthday. I couldn’t bear to write about anything else, but him, and how much he meant to me.

Huan was my foster dog, just about eight weeks old, when I adopted him myself. I knew, even then, that he and I were meant to live our lives together.

Huan, unlike so many other animals that I have shared my life with, had no trauma in his early life. He was never hungry, beaten, or frightened.

Huan only knew love, comfort, and happiness – I made sure of that.

So, because of this, his outlook on life was joyous. He expected to be treated with kindness and love; and so he was.

Huan trusted that everyone he met would love him and treat him well. The joy that he felt for life was contagious, and being in his company always made me feel happy and exhilarated.

Huan and I would walk on trails, along with my other dog, Willow, in the snow, bitter cold, wind, and rain. Sometimes, it stormed so violently that it seemed as though trees would be torn out of the ground.

Huan never once looked at me as though I were insane to venture out in this weather, he knew, as I did, that we would be fine and that this experience would be a good one.

Huan loved laser lights, chasing insects, playing with balls, stuffed animals, and dog toys (I used to call him “Toy Boy”). He never tired of it all.

Somehow, he always knew when we were about to go for a walk, and as I brushed my teeth, he would run circles in the house and bark like a maniac, while my Husky, Willow, would howl.

When walking in the woods, Huan was a bush-whacker and would always run through the heavily wooded areas, rather than the safer, easier formal trail.

It was more adventurous.

Huan also loved to eat – he would steal food whenever possible. Somehow,

COMMUNITY

Adopt A Family Contributed by Sandi Sagerian Some in our valley are not as fortunate to have the means to celebrate the holidays as they would like. They are too busy trying to keep their heads above water and despair of not having enough.

How does one answer the child’s wish for a Christmas gift when they wonder if they’ll even be able to pay the light bill? Who are these people?

They are the single parent trying to hold a job and support their children on minimum wage. They are the seniors whose families have moved on, or worse, passed away.

They are the homeless who don’t have a place to call their own, let alone any way to gift. The forgotten vets, the children fleeing intolerable conditions at home, the parents who are struggling to keep a roof over the heads of their loved ones. They are your neighbors who put up a good front, no one would know of the struggles they face.

One answer is Adopt A Family sponsored by Wasilla HomelessCommittee. If your family is in need, or if you wish to adopt a family, go to our website and fill out the form you’ll

“My incredible dog, Huan, died last week – one month short of his 12th birthday. I couldn’t bear to write about anything else, but him, and how much he meant to me...”

find there. WHC will take it from there.

We match needy families with those who wish to adopt.

If you are adopting, you’ll receive via email a list of the family’s needs. Ages, gender, sizes of children and adults.

If there is a Santa Wish List, you’ll get that also. When you’ve collected your donations for the family, simply contact us and we will pick up and deliver your gifts to the family you’ve been matched with.

There is also an option to donate monetarily instead of adopting. Those funds will be used to purchase gifts for families that weren’t adopted.

All information, yours and theirs is confidential. Only our volunteers will get a name/address for pick-up and delivery.

Won’t you help us help them?

Our website is wasillahomelesscommittee.org. You can also use our Facebook page to complete a form at www.facebook.com/ adoptafamilybywhc.

You can also call WHC at 907-5512949. The end date for submissions is December 15 in order for us to complete the pick-ups and deliveries

by December 22.

it was always possible. Many a pizza went down his gullet before anyone else got a slice. He would pull 40 pound bags of dry dog food out of the shed where it was stored, and tear the bag open, stick his head inside and EAT! My sweet boy had many health problems, despite eating quality food and receiving excellent medical care.

He had Addison’s disease and

endured three ACL surgeries. Nothing slowed him down; nothing interfered with his zest for life. Except for the end, when death stole him from me.

Goodbye Huan.

My life will never be the same without you in it. As time passes, I hope that I can remember only the good times we shared – as soon as my sorrow at your loss is easier to bear. I love you.

HEARTFELT

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY

Like A Ton Of Bricks

PAGE 10

“These boys had more joy from eating these rats than I have ever had from a turkey dinner.”

Article & Photos by Josh Fryfogle Last year around this time I wrote about my experience in Zambia, Africa. So much happened while I was there, so many moments. It was beautiful.

I wrote about it in sections, trying to tackle the topics that seemed to write themselves. It flowed as I was immersed in a new culture, another hemisphere. But some things happened that I just couldn’t capture.

One incident in particular that I really wanted to write about, but didn’t, was the story that had the most relevance and was most timely for my November 2014 edition.

It was a story about being thankful...

But I didn’t want to mis-communicate it. It was so special to me, that moment; I wanted to think it over.

It’s been a year, and I have thought about the story. A lot, actually. I have verbally shared it with several people since then, different people with different perspectives. I am glad that I waited.

The job site was where we spent the majority of our time while in Zambia.

We were building with bricks, handmade each one, finishing a structure that would serve the pregnant women in the surrounding community. A place to await the birth of their child, in a world where medical technology is limited, and accurate due dates a luxury.

These bricks, they were hand stamped and irregular. It was the mortar, lots of mortar, that made them fit together.

The villagers had at some point made mountains of these bricks - stamping, drying in the sun, carefully stacked to make a kiln, fired within themselves, and dismantled from the kiln that made them. Something about that process made me feel closer to reality. The man-made stones were imperfect, but functional.

The aftermath of the brick baking was piles and piles of bricks everywhere! As work progressed, the remaining available bricks were further and further away from the area where they were needed. So, I thought, “here’s something for the boys and I to do!”

By the time we got to the end of the pile, two rats jumped from the bricks!

I was tired. Dripping sweat, covered from head to toe in red dust, when these rats pulled me out of my rhythm. But the boys...

These young boys, without missing a beat, spread out at a distance. This seemed normal to me at first. They were running away, I thought.

They spread out, but only to close in on the rats that were trying to escape! These guys didn’t need to discuss their reaction - this was understood. They closed in on the rats, raising a dust cloud as the kicked, stomped, grabbed by the tails, and killed the rats!

So fast, it all happened quicker than my mind could process. It didn’t make sense, and I was tired, so I stepped around the small structure to gather my thoughts and strength while my friends were busy with killing rats.

The women would walk for miles, and wait for weeks to birth their children in the third world medical facility. Our building would give them rooms to sleep in while they wait.

My head was spinning.

When we first arrived I met some boys from the village. They were very interested in getting to know me, and I was missing my sons, so it was only natural that we became fast friends.

We formed a chain, and I showed them how to hand the bricks, one to another, with me at the end of the chain stacking where needed.

We laughed and worked together, with me inviting their eager help. They were nervous, but the invitation to make them part of the process seemed to give them... Strength.

It became somewhat of a competition, but without a loser. These young boys and myself, working to move the bricks to where they would be needed within and without the structure, we were a team without opposition.

We all worked together, along with the young boys, building with bricks.

After working for several hours we found ourselves with our last big pile. At this point we were all worn out, but still pushing.

We drove each other to work harder.

It was absolutely beautiful!

As I stood there collecting my thoughts, the youngest of the boys tapped me on the arm. i turned around and found a smiling face. He took my hand and guided me back around the corner of the brick building.

There stood a group of boys, very proud of themselves.

One stood with his hands behind his back, clearly the leader of the group. Another stood to his left, wiping red blood and dirt from his hands.

From a semicircle of smiles around me, the leader threw two dead rats at my feet.

They were smiling.

I nearly threw up.

I nudged the dead rats with my foot, trying to make sense of the moment. These children still smiling at me, waited for approval. I forced a smile.

I walked back around the building and told Dan, a fellow American, what happened. He told me that they were giving me a gift - and that they would eat the rats since I had rejected them.

The boys were gone when I walked back around. Gone to their grass hut, to cook and eat the rats.

Half an hour passed, and the boys approached the jobsite, with a skip in their steps and joy in their hearts.

It was in that moment, as they approached, that I realized something that I will keep with me forever.

These boys had more joy from eating these rats than I have ever had from a turkey dinner. They were more thankful for their rat meat than I had ever been for pumpkin pie.

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

Who is poor?

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