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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE 2016 ARCTIC WINTER GAMES
Contributed by Emerald Kroeker Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games Are you ready to embark on an arctic adventure? The Arctic Winter Games are calling for your warm hearts and helping hands to make this spectacular event a roaring success. We’ve set an ambitious goal of recruiting 2000 volunteers, and with the volunteer recruitment deadline fast approaching on December 15, we need your support to reach the finish line. Currently, we have 1100 dedicated individuals who have stepped up to the challenge, but the Arctic Winter Games are a grand spectacle that requires a vast network of volunteers to ensure smooth operations. Your involvement can make a
significant difference in creating a memorable experience for athletes, spectators, and the local community alike. Volunteering for the Arctic Winter Games is not just an opportunity to witness incredible feats of athleticism; it’s a chance to be an essential part of the event’s success. Whether you have a passion for event management, hospitality, or simply want to contribute to the spirit of camaraderie, there’s a role for everyone. As a volunteer, you’ll be the backbone of the Arctic Winter Games, working alongside a diverse group of like-minded individuals. From assisting with athlete check-ins to managing event logistics, your efforts will directly impact the seamless execution of this international
sporting extravaganza. But it’s not just about the tasks at hand; it’s about the friendships you’ll forge, the stories you’ll share, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with being part of something greater than yourself. The Arctic Winter Games are more than a competition—they are a celebration of the human spirit, resilience, and unity. Don’t miss out on this chance to be a vital cog in the Arctic Winter Games machinery. Join us, as together, we create lasting memories, foster community spirit, and make history in the icy landscapes of the Arctic. Volunteer recruitment closes on December 15, so don’t delay—visit awg2024.org to sign up today for an adventure of a lifetime!
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Contributed Casey Kruger Once a month, between October and May the Borough Gym in Palmer becomes a hub of local vendors. These
vendors are artisans, makers, creators, and producers bringing handcrafted items together to create the 1st Saturday Vendor Market. The months of operation are October through May, from 10 am
Contributed by CFD Board The Christmas season is getting closer and closer and that means the Christmas Friendship Dinner volunteers are gearing up to provide the Mat-Su Valley a Christmas Dinner at the Menard Sports Complex on Christmas Day from 11am to 3pm that is packed with good food, friendly volunteers, entertainment and of course Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The dinner started in 1991 by Bob and Judy Bower and Harold Newcomb feeding 67 people who had no place to go for the holidays and has grown today to feeding 2500 meals last year and an estimated 3000 this year. We are all community volunteers that have a heart for making the holidays special by sharing a meal and our time together. We also delivery meals from Talkeetna to Sutton to families that have a home bound member who can’t join us in person. We have gift bags for the kiddos and seniors
907-775-1877 curtisnickerson@icloud.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF CECIL SANDERS PHOTOGRAPHY, COLONY CHRISTMAS 2016
Contributed by Ailis Vann Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Picture this: a quaint town nestled in the heart of the Matanuska Valley, where the air is crisp and the snow-kissed mountainous landscape sets the stage for a magical celebration. Welcome to the Colony Christmas festival, where the spirit of the holidays comes to life on December 8th, 9th, and 10th!
Wander through the heart of the town and discover a treasure trove of handmade crafts and unique gifts at the Colony Christmas craft fairs. Local artisans and vendors showcase their talents, offering everything from festive decorations to one-of-a-kind goodies. It’s not just shopping; it’s an opportunity to support local businesses and bring a piece of the holiday spirit home. For the little ones, the festival is a
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to 5pm. Being free to the public, it is a wonderful way to enjoy a Saturday while browsing the offerings from the vendors and enjoying delicious cuisine from the food trucks on site. The 1st Saturday Vendor Market was born during Covid, when Casey and F. Jay whom own Fox Sauce LLC (a local BBQ sauce company) recognized the need for a local market to still be open and operational – even during the trying times of Covid. The market is now in its fourth season, with thirty-two local vendors! They believe that the market is a place to showcase some of the local, talented vendors from the area while bringing the community together. Some of the vendors are seen here in the photos, which are just a small array of the offerings that can be found at the market. Each month there are a few vendors that are ‘season vendors’, meaning they return monthly – however, many vendors are new to the market or attend a couple times a season. This helps the market stay fresh and fun with the variety of booths. You’ll often see families out enjoying the market together, lifelong friends meeting up to shop or the elders out for the afternoon to browse and socialize. The next market date is the 2nd of December, we hope to see you there at Borough Gym in Palmer!
that Santa gives out with a smile. This year we are also hosting our first Christmas Tree Decorating contest. Spread some community cheer and decorate a Christmas Tree on December 23rd. Prizes will be awarded on Christmas day for top decorated tree in three categories; best of show, most creative and people’s choice. More information and entry forms can be found on the website below or by contacting us. Enter today as space is limited. If you have a heart for giving to others and have time we could always use more help decorating, working in the kitchen and setting up tables and chairs. On Christmas day we have many volunteering opportunities and all are welcome. Go to our website www.christmasfriendshipdinner.com to volunteer or Call Tina at 907-631-9767 to share your gifts and talents or call Linda at 907-631-9776 with any questions. Merry Christmas and hope you will join us for all the fun.
playground of joy. Interactive activities and games, reindeer, and the anticipation of a visit from Santa himself create an atmosphere of childlike wonder. Capture the magic with a photo that will be cherished for years to come. As the sun begins its descent on the second day, the streets of Palmer come alive with a beautiful parade of lights. Imagine the enchantment as beautifully adorned floats and the one and only Santa Claus, weave through the town, spreading joy and setting the tone for a weekend of festive delights. As night falls, the sky above Palmer becomes a canvas for a spectacular fireworks display. Gather with friends and family, look up, and watch as the night sky is painted with a breathtaking array of colors, marking the beginning of a season filled with warmth and wonder. So, save the dates and immerse yourself in the warmth of Palmer’s Colony Christmas festival. December 8th, 9th, and 10th are not just dates on the calendar; they’re an invitation to experience the magic, the community, and the sheer joy of the holiday season. Join us in Palmer and make this winter weekend one to remember. We couldn’t host this festival without our many sponsors and supporters! Please visit our website for a full schedule of events and to view our list of sponsors: www.palmerchamber.org/ colonychristmas
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Urban creeks and lakes especially need our help to keep them healthy and usable. They are home to a multitude of critters, both above and below the surface, a source of direct and indirect drinking water, and providers of enjoyment for their nature and recreation. Being urban means that they are subject to a variety of effects from both stormwater runoff and high-usage. How can we all contribute to their well-being, and therefore to ours? Remember this: What’s on the ground, washes down! Because we all live in a
Contributed by Julia Lenz The Valley Fiber Arts Guild (VFAG) presents its annual “Out of the Box” sale Saturday November 25th at the Palmer Train Depot from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For over 20 years the VFAG has welcomed the public to this one-day sale featuring all hand-crafted items made by members of the guild. Year after year many people return to purchase the quality handcrafted gifts and holiday items offered. The fiber arts encompass a great variety of talents and techniques. These include mastering the skills of handweaving textiles, knitting, crocheting, needle
Contributed by Becky Ingram Mini Moose Preschool Having a routine sleep schedule each night is important for children to ensure they are waking up energized and ready to face their day of learning. Sleep helps our brains regenerate so that we can function properly and if your child isn’t getting enough sleep at night, it can affect their behavior and performance the following day. While this might seem like common
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watershed, trash, litter, and pollutants that are on the ground will eventually flow into our waterways untreated. Stormwater (rain, snow melt, yard water) pick up anything on the ground (ciggie butts, dog poop, plastic bottles, yard clippings, oil drips, and more!) and flow into the nearest storm drain. These drains convey the pollutant-laden stormwater to the nearest waterway where they discharge untreated stormwater into places where we raft, fish, wade, and more. Is this what you want your kids and pets playing in? Is this what you want our salmon and trout to live in? Is this what you want to raft and kayak in?
felting, wet felting, dyeing, basketry and sewing. Many of these artists extend their arts into other areas such as glass work, pottery, and woodwork. There is no admission fee. There will be 20 booths of quality handcrafted items for the home, body, and soul. The VFAG invites you to come see the work of these artisans. There will be beautiful handspun and dyed yarns; household items (rugs, towels, blankets, hot pads, placemats, etc.); clothing (scarves, hats, mittens, socks, sweaters, etc.); jewelry; children’s toys; small gifts and holiday décor; pottery; woodwork, and more… This sale was originally started not only as a way for members to sell the
abundance of items they have made; but also, as a way to showcase the diversity of fiber arts, promote our mission of community outreach and education, and to keep our craft alive.
knowledge, lack of sleep is one of the leading causes of children’s behaviors in the classroom. Setting up a consistent bedtime routine for the same time every night will help your child naturally fall asleep on their own. Parents can help their children wind down and relax by having your child get into their pajamas, brush their teeth, and read to them each night. Keeping this repetitive routine up will allow your child to feel safe and let them know it is time for bed. www.minimoosepreschool.com
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Probably no. What can you do? Cleaning up after your pets when out is one of the most important things! Pet waste carries a variety of nasty bacteria and other organisms that can make humans and their pets ill. Dispose of all trash--especially cigarette butts properly. When out, grab a piece of litter and put it in its proper place. In your yard, clean up after your pets regularly and keep grass clippings and yard chemicals from running offsite. Read and use ice melt chemicals according to the directions—less is better, or consider traction sand. Use a car wash (they recycle the water, and it goes to the wastewater treatment plant), or wash your car on grass using minimal water and safe detergents. Maintain your vehicle so it doesn’t leave drips on the ground or road. Organize a local cleanup or join us in our Annual Creek Cleanup which is held every May. When fishing, ALWAYS discard your used fishing line and tackle in the trash so it doesn’t injure wildlife. All these actions will reduce your impact on local waterways and the wildlife who live there. While the Anchorage Waterways Council focuses on the Municipality, all these suggestions can be applied to wherever you live or work. Water is a precious resource for all of us which is why we must protect it while enjoying it. Check our website, www.anchoragecreeks.org, for more tips on keeping local waterways clean and healthy.
QUILTS OF VALOR CREEK CLEANUP TEAM ALONG THE MIDDLE FORK CHESTER CREEK, ANCHORAGE
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THE Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce PRESENTS...
for a complete schedule visit www.palmerchamber.org/colonychristmas
December 8th, 9th, & 10th in DOWNTOWN PALMER!
The Mat-Su Valley’s
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Contributed by Alaska’s Kentucky Colonel In the grand expanse of Alaska’s aweinspiring wilderness, a dedicated force stands guard. The Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a modern incarnation of the valiant Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) of yesteryear, embodies a legacy of unwavering vigilance and readiness. This formidable sentinel, woven into the fabric of the nation’s northernmost shield under the authority of the U.S. and Alaska State Constitutions, and operating under the stringent United States codes of Title 32. Its mandate? To safeguard Alaska’s sprawling domain, a land whose strategic significance on America’s frontier cannot be overstated. Indeed, the presence of the ASDF sends an unmistakable signal to any potential aggressor: Alaska’s rugged landscapes are matched by the resolve of its defenders. With the Alaska National Guard, the ASDF’s cadre of seasoned volunteer citizen soldiers these “Minutemen” stand ever prepared for the call to action. When the earth shook in the Southcentral earthquake or when extreme weather and Typhoon Merbok lashed out, it was the ASDF that rose to the occasion. Their rapid response and seamless coordination with local and federal
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agencies underscored their pivotal role in crisis management and relief efforts. Drawing their lineage from the storied “Eskimo Scouts” of the ATG, the ASDF personnel are torchbearers of a noble tradition. Those Scouts, who stood as bulwarks defending over 44,000 miles of coastline during World War II, have passed the baton to a force as versatile as it is steadfast. The mission has evolved, yet the essence remains the same: readiness to respond, whatever the call may be. The people of Alaska resonate with a clear and strong message: the land of the midnight sun stands well-protected. It is under the aegis of a trained and dedicated citizen military force entrenched in historical valor, powered by a sense of communal defense, and braced to meet the challenges of a new epoch with indomitable spirit. For those stirred by the heroic saga of the ATG and eager to play a role in Alaska’s storied defensive lineage, the ASDF offers a noble avenue. Here lies an opportunity for service, a commitment to community, and to perpetuate the relentless spirit that has long defined the state’s ethos. In today’s world, marked by shifting geopolitical landscapes and environmental challenges, the ASDF’s strategic role is more crucial than ever. Standing as a symbol of Alaska’s undying resolve, the ASDF is a beacon of strength and preparedness. It assures allies and adversaries alike of Alaska’s robust defense posture, continuing the proud legacy of the Alaska Territorial Guard. This force, steeped in the rich heritage of American fortitude, ensures that the nation’s northern frontier remains as steadfast and unyielding as the Alaskan spirit it is sworn to protect.
Community Newspaper and Entertainment Magazine. Contributed by Kathryn Swartz, Mat-Su Health Foundation When: Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center Address: 1001 S Clapp St, Wasilla Cost: FREE
Written by Alaskans, for Alaskans. Lighting Times Nov/Dec in Mat-Su: November 17 3:53PM
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November 24 3:39PM December 1
3:27PM
December 8
3:18PM
December 15 3:15PM
Blessing: Baruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitzvotav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bbat Ko-desh.
Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.
Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, as young as the age of three, 18 minutes before sunset or one and a quarter daylight hours before sunset, on Friday afternoon or on the eve of Jewish holidays. They light candles to usher in peace and blessings to their homes and to the world.
For more information, visit chabad.org or contact the Mat-Su Jewish Center Chabad 907-350-1787
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“Event was great. I’ve gained many resources to assist me. Everyone was helpful and polite. Thank you all for hosting this event.” — Veteran who attended the 2022 resource fair The Mat-Su Veterans Resource Fair is back and better than ever! On Dec. 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla will host a day dedicated to honoring and supporting our local Veterans. This free, open-to-all event promises to provide community resources, educational opportunities, and information for Veterans and their families. Upwards of 50 organizations are expected to attend, so everyone is welcome to wander around, talk with representatives, and meet other community members. Attendees can expect to find information about a variety of services and support, including: Community Resources: Local support networks and community organizations will be on hand to discuss ways they can assist Veterans and their families. Information and Counseling: Veterans and their families will have access to expert advice on benefits, mental health, career guidance, educational opportunities, housing, and caregiver support. Health and Wellness: Organizations specializing in Veterans’ health and wellness will provide information on physical and mental well-being. The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF), which provides grants to nonprofit or-
ganizations and scholarships for healthand human services-related studies, supported the event in response to the high population of Veterans living in the Mat-Su. In 2021, there were about 16,062 Veterans living in the Mat-Su, representing 17% of the total population, which is higher than Alaska’s average of 11%. Many Veterans in the Mat-Su live in the borough’s rural/remote areas. Penney Champney, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Mat-Su resident, conceived of this resource fair while collaborating with MSHF to identify organizations that serve Veterans. We discovered that many Veterans and family members are unaware of the resources available to them, and that the organizations themselves are unaware of each other. As a result, we formed a planning committee with the Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs, the Wasilla Vet Center, and the Alaska VA Women Veterans Program. This committee developed the format for this event, which focuses on bringing together community-based organizations that serve Veterans in the Mat-Su. Some of the organizations expected to attend include Alaska Warrior Partnership, Healing Waters, Last Frontier Honor Flight, several VA programs, and many other organizations. “We are trying to get the word out!” said Kathy Swartz, MSHF program officer. “Last year, we heard, ‘This was wonderful. More people need to know about this.’ If you are a Veteran who lives in the Mat-Su, we hope you will come and bring your family and friends! Please also share the word with others. We will look forward to seeing you there! And the coffee is free!” For more information, scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/MSHF-veterans. You also can call 907-352-4404. Note for vendors: This is an invitationonly event.
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COMMUNITY Contributed by Janet Jacob Please join us on Saturday, December 2, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, at Trinity Lutheran Church for our annual Christmas bazaar. Our talented members craft everything from stained glass to baked goods and quilts. You’ll discover perfect gifts for your loved ones and perhaps a little treat
Contributed by Danielle Sherrer With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to get into the spirit of giving. Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community program is hosting a fun-filled event that will surely put a smile on your face. On December 16th, from 9 am to 12 pm, Santa will be stopping by for a pancake breakfast, and you are invited to join in on the festivities. This year’s event promises to be the best one yet, thanks to our generous sponsors, including Q99.7, Three Bears Alaska, Coca-Cola Bottling of Alaska, The People’s Paper, and American Legion Post 35. We’d also like to express our gratitude to Holey Moley Donuts for their contributions and Just Imagine Toys for their generous donations toward the gift bags. To ensure that everyone has a chance to meet Santa and enjoy the delicious pancakes, tickets
Contributed by Sue Todd Blessing (noun): Something that enhances happiness, well-being, or prosperity; a valuable gift. “I yearn for respect at my workplace.” “I desire more financial abundance.” “My social life could use some improvement.” “I’m in search of a meaningful relationship.” These are common aspirations expressed by people, desires for positive changes in their lives. It’s a fundamental aspect of human nature to seek more, to want better. The truth is you have the potential to attain the blessings you long for. The key lies in aligning your intentions with your surroundings. It’s not enough to merely wish for something; you must genuinely believe you deserve it. When you express your intentions positively, you can then employ the principles of Feng Shui to arrange your environment in a way that welcomes blessings into your life. Your home is a living entity connected to you. Once you cultivate your Feng Shui awareness, you can make changes that support your intentions, the driving force behind the changes you make. If prosperity is your goal, Feng Shui “quick fixes” alone won’t guarantee wealth. Placing a decorative item in the Wealth area of your home won’t magically increase your income. You must combine changes in your environment with unwavering intentions. If you’re seeking a life partner, evaluate whether your home is inadvertently signaling your single status. Examine if your bedroom exudes a “SINGLE” vibe. Maybe you only have one nightstand or a collection of dolls on your bed, suggesting there’s no space for anyone else. Take a closer look at what your home is communicating. As you enter each room in your home, search for changes you can make to reflect the partnership you seek. You need not rely solely on standard Feng Shui remedies; use items that personally symbolize romance for you. Ensure that you genuinely love the objects you choose and that they evoke positive feelings in alignment with your goals. Most importantly, make daily affirmations to infuse these objects with life-enhancing Ch’i. Occasionally, you’ll experience transformative moments. You may return from a trip and realize that your home no longer reflects the “you” of the present. With this newfound awareness, under-
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for yourself too. What sets our bazaar apart is that every single penny goes toward three important causes: something worldwide, something in our local community, and something within our church. Your support at our bazaar helps us make a difference in these areas. We look forward to seeing you there! Located at 10355 West PalmerWasilla Hwy.
are limited by the hour and must be purchased in advance. Each ticket includes a pancake breakfast, a photo op with Santa, and a small gift for each child prepared by our athlete elves. We only sell 150 tickets to this event, with 50 tickets available for each hour time slot (9 am-10 am, 10 am-11 am, and 11 am-12 pm). As we sell out every year, be sure to secure your spot early. This heartwarming event is hosted by American Legion Post 35 in Wasilla, and all proceeds go to benefit Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community program. It’s a wonderful opportunity to spread cheer and joy this holiday season while supporting a great cause. Don’t miss out on this chance to create lasting memories and make a difference in your community. Get your tickets now and be a part of a truly special holiday event. Get your tickets at www.myalaskatix.com and search for 3rd Annual Breakfast with Santa 2023
stand that you are being prompted to update your environment to mirror your new inner self. It’s akin to a spotlight shining on things that have become obsolete. You’ve changed, and so should your surroundings. You can respond in two ways: adapt your environment to support the new you as quickly as possible, embracing fresh ways of thinking and behaving, or choose to resist change. If you opt to adapt, do it promptly. By doing so, you align with your evolving self, propelling you forward. Conversely, neglecting to update your surroundings will lead to stagnation, resulting in adverse consequences like health issues, a lack of inspiration, or diminished self-esteem. It’s never too late to make changes. The blessings you desire are within reach, but you must act. Here are straightforward guidelines to guide you on your journey: Live with what you love: Be discerning when choosing your furnishings and art. If you can’t avoid something you don’t love, elevate its energy by placing something nearby that truly resonates with your heart and your present self. Prioritize safety and comfort: When arranging, designing, and furnishing your home, consider safety and comfort over aesthetics. Sharp corners and uncomfortable furniture, regardless of their beauty, do not meet Feng Shui standards. These discomforts can accumulate over time and impact your body, mind, and spirit. Simplify and organize: Abundance of blessings doesn’t equate to an abundance of possessions. Mindfully address clutter in your home. Cluttered rooms are like indoor dumping grounds. As you clear clutter, you’ll make space for new experiences. Organize your closet, donate old clothes, and be ready for pleasant surprises. Releasing the old can attract the new, leading to a chain reaction of positive outcomes. Active and Passive Chaos: When making changes, expect bursts of creative activity and temporary mess. This is natural and essential. However, watch out for passive chaos, which can hinder creativity. Leaving the creative mess unattended will cause Ch’i to deteriorate. Check storage areas like garages, basements, closets, and attics for passive chaos and take action to invite transformation. Clearing clutter will rekindle your motivation and set in motion a chain reaction of positive opportunities. You have the power to attract the blessings you seek. Clear the clutter and make changes that align with your aspirations. Be prepared to receive the blessings that will come your way. Sue Todd is a Feng Shui Practitioner in Anchorage, Alaska. Call 907-242-076 for an appointment.
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COMMUNITY Contributed by Ken Hagler Cold, Alaska nights call for hot, delicious meals. Corn chowder is a great comfort food that combines the sweetness of corn with a creamy, savory broth. It can be center piece of the meal or a great side come a holiday feast. My go-to vessel is an enamelized Dutch oven which gives great even heat distribution and excellent heat retention to help ensure that each ingredient is cooked to perfection. Lets dive in! Ingredients: 2 cans of cream style corn 1 can of whole kernel corn 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter 4 slices bacon, chopped (or more) 1 medium onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt and pepper to taste
Contributed by Alys Culhane The focus of the Bright Lights Book Project has always been on re-use, with, of course, an initial emphasis on books. We quickly figured out that cardboard is also a re-use item. The books that we take in often come with lids, which makes them unwieldy. So BLPB board members and volunteers transfer incoming boxed books to lidless boxes, which makes the books easier to sort. We’re currently getting the bulk of our books from Title Wave Books in Anchorage. They need boxes, so we give them the ones with lids. Boxes, like books, also have a shelf life, so we pass ripped, torn, and tattered boxes on to VCRS for recycling. We also save packing material and stuff it around boxes of books going to villages. Our most imaginative use of a re-use item is newspaper boxes; you know the kind that used to grace every streetcorner in America. Like phone booths and the
Contributed by Lori Ellis Transformations by Design The goals of an interior designer can be multifaceted when it comes to what a professional sets out to achieve for particular clients. Some homeowners When working with an interior designer, it’s important to discuss your budget upfront. A professional designer can help you create a realistic budget for your project and provide guidance on how to allocate those funds. During the design process, the designer will work to balance your budget with your design goals, making sure that you get the most value for your money. It’s important to keep in mind that while hiring an interior designer may seem like an added expense, it can ultimately save you money in the long run by helping you avoid costly mistakes and ensuring that your design achieves your desired outcome. Want to improve their quality of life, for example, by hiring an
advent of cellphones, newspaper boxes pretty much disappeared with the advent of web-based newspapers. Two years ago, I had an idea that I ran past Sutton resident Carol McNamara. I suggested that we have kids paint them, fill them with books, then put them in sites accessible to appreciative readers. I added that we could have those on hand for a kids’ day at the Sutton Library decorate the boxes. Carol said that this was a wonderful idea. The Frontiersman Newspaper initially donated three newspaper boxes to the cause. Pete (husband) and I took two of them. There were many, many more newspaper boxes behind the main building. Over time, the very accommodating staff provided us with several more boxes. I learned that you don’t just acquire a newspaper box and put books in it. Nothing in life is ever that easy. Pete, who is very hands on, told me what to do. I prepped the outside of the boxes by first
expert designer to create a space within their home that is truly beautiful and artistic. These people are mostly just looking for an educated, experienced professional eye to pick out colors, fabrics, décor, and shapes with them, then put it all together to create a stunning room they can be proud of and a space where they’ll be excited to spend time at home. Other interior design projects are much more function-focused. A professional designer could be hired by a boutique store owner, for example, to help create a practical, functional shop environment that encourages the flow of traffic throughout the store, invites buyers to shop, draws in foot traffic through stunning window displays, and creates a comfortable, airy movement where shoppers and employees can walk comfortably without feeling cluttered or messy. From furniture styles and fabrics to color palettes and lighting installations, aspiring designers need to have a broad
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Instructions: - Before cooking, ensure that your enamelized cast iron Dutch oven is clean and dry. - Place the Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium heat, then add the olive oil/ or butter - Add the chopped bacon to the Dutch oven and cook until it becomes crispy and the fat is rendered. Remove till later. - Remove any excess grease, leaving about a tablespoon in the pot. - Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot, sautéing until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant. - Add the cream corn and kernel corn to the Dutch oven, stirring them with the onion and garlic. - Cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. - Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Add chopped bacon and salt, and pepper, adjusting seasoning to taste. - Allow the chowder to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. - Remove the Dutch oven from the heat. - Serve the corn chowder hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley and oyster crackers.
washing, then sanding them. I then applied a primer coat, using paint acquired from the Mat-Su Borough Landfill Re-use Shop. I subsequently discovered that the inside of the boxes are newspaper rather than book. If, say, you put books directly on the flat inner plate, the weight of the books causes it to drop. In the book project biz, it’s who you know. Bill Schmidtkunz, the owner of Matanuska Woodworks made wood inserts for the boxes. Pete then loosened one of the springs holding the front door, so it won’t pinch a child’s hand. The 2022 Sutton Kids’ Library Day dawned bright and clear. I brought my dog and pack pony, and talked about how packhorses were used in the 30s and 40s to distribute books. Lois Liebing, a retired elementary school teacher, then read the kids The Bibliographic Burro. Next, the kids, in groups of two, painted the boxes. The completed boxes had gardening and outer space themes. This was the beginning of a most amazing re-use venture, one in which supposedly defunct newspaper boxes were repurposed. Our first two boxes were a mainstay at the 2022 Alaska State Fair; we put one in the Eckert Garden and filled it with gardening books. We put the other in front of the VCRS Recycling Center booth and filled it with children’s books. Every few days, we restocked the shelves. At the conclusion of the fair, we removed the boxes. The Jonesville General Store in Sutton acquired the VCRS Recycling Center box and Palmer resident Pam Hyuck acquired the Eckert Garden box for a neighborhood tiny library. We were also a presence at the 2023
Alaska State Fair. We had five newly painted newspaper boxes in place on opening day, and we stocked these on a near daily basis. We placed them outside the 4-H/ Hodgkins Building, in the Eckert Garden, next to the Agricultural Building Petting Zoo, inside the Mat Su College Cabin and the beside the queen bee exhibit at the Bee Booth. My artistic contribution took the form of a yellow beehive, although my bees looked more like ants than bees.
Pete and I stocked the Bee Booth, Eckert Garden, and Mat-Su College boxes daily. And the Winner’s Circle 4-H Club regularly stocked the Petting Zoo and 4-H Hodgkins Building boxes. We retrieved the newspaper boxes at the conclusion of the fair. The Mat-Su College box went back into storage. Pam reclaimed the Eckert Garden Box. The Petting Zoo box was adopted by Kid’s Kupboard in Wasilla. The Hodgkins/4-H box is now a South Bailey Street fixture. I’d be remiss if I failed to mention the fate of several non-fair boxes. Jessie Herbert (who painted the Petting Zoo and 4-H boxes) painted the box that now graces Outreach Horizon Homes. She took interior decorating one step further, so this box now has two shelves. The students at Colony Middle School are now working on two additional boxes. And a painted newspaper box with a space/reading theme is located outside Swanson Elementary School on Gulkana Street. Those wishing to turn a newspaper box into a little library should check out this website: www.littlefreelibrary.org.
understanding of the art of decorating, because you never know what a client is looking for, and you want to be able to provide expert advice and services across that broad spectrum. Redesigning a space is a common scenario in interior design projects. It involves improving the flow, updating styles, and enhancing the overall design of a space to make it more appealing and functional. To achieve this, an interior designer must possess the ability to visualize and create new layouts and floor plans. Design software comes in handy in this process, as it helps to produce 3D renderings that clients can use to make informed decisions. The software also helps in communicating the scope of work to contractors. However, the success of any interior design project largely depends on the relationship between the designer and the contractor. Effective communication, collaboration, and mutual respect are essential for the project to succeed. Even with an excellent
contractor, a poorly designed space may not meet your expectations. Conversely, even with excellent design, if you don’t have the right contractor, the final product may not match the quality of the design. For more information, please reach out! 907-350-7104 or email lorikayellis@ outlook.com
Tips: You can customize this corn chowder recipe by adding cooked chicken or pulled pork. Feel free to use fresh corn when it’s in season, or frozen corn when fresh corn is not available. This corn chowder recipe cooked in an enamelized cast iron Dutch oven is a simple, quick and easy to get young cooks involved in the kitchen, too. OH YES!!!
COMMUNITY Contributed by Debra McGhan Now with the snow here and more in the forecast comes the potential for avalanches. November is Avalanche Awareness Education month in Alaska. If you drive through the mountains, hike, ski, sled, snowboard, snowmachine, ride any off-road vehicle and find yourself in, or even near the mountains, this is the right time to learn at least some basics about avalanches. On November 22, 2015, Dr. Liam Walsh paid the ultimate price to learn this lesson. The 33-year old doctor had moved to Alaska from Saratoga, New York the year before to practice medicine and live out his dream of skiing and exploring the backcountry. A massive November snowstorm lured him to the mountains where he planned to make first tracks in Hatcher Pass. He tried to find a partner for the day but when no one could go with him he made the fatal mistake to go alone. Being new to Alaska, maybe he didn’t know that fresh snow needs time to bond and stabilize. Avalanche professionals like Sarah Carter from the Valdez Avalanche Center, teach that it’s always important to give the snowpack at least 24 to 48 hours after the snow stops falling so it has time to bond. She teaches you to carry avalanche safety equipment, (avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel) and know how to use it. And always go with a partner. Walsh headed out alone in the middle of a three-day storm that dumped several feet of fresh snow. He carried no avalanche safety gear. The unstable snow pack avalanched, burying Walsh in more than 15 feet of snow. His body was not recovered until the following summer. His family and friends will never recover from the pain of losing him. On November 10th dozens of avalanche professionals from around the state gathered at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage for the 11th annual Southcentral Alaska Avalanche Workshop. This event
provides a day of learning, presentations, discussions, and networking for those practicing in the field. Their work helps all Alaskans who live, travel and recreate in potential avalanche terrain. “I think November is the perfect month to catch your breath before what we hope will be a busy, safe winter season,” said Chris Olds, five-time Iron Dog champion and President of Alaska Safe Riders. “It’s also the time I usually either tune up my old sled or take delivery of a new one.” Carter recommends getting in the habit of watching the weather and snow forecast so you’ll have historical data. “It’s good to get familiar with the weather and avalanche forecast websites. Then you can think about places where you might be able to safely enjoy some early season tours or identify places where you’ll need more snow to explore. And it gives you a good idea about the layers of snow we get when we have cold, rain, wind or snowy days.” Finally, both Olds and Carter recommend you get your safety gear out and checked. “You can always host a beacon search party,” suggests Carter. “Invite your friends to bring their beacons, shovels and probes for some practice (games) like hide and seek. “We always hope that your avalanche skills will keep you out of a slide, but if you ever get called on to search for someone else, you don’t want to be trying to figure out how to do it at that point,” said Carter. “Practicing during the early-season is a sure way to make sure you’ll be confident and ready to go when it’s time to get out in the mountains.” Beware that the excitement of getting out to carve fresh tracks in the early season snow doesn’t expose you to avalanche hazards. November is the month there are many historic and tragic avalanche fatalities because people are so anxious to get out and play in the snow. Avalanche and snowmachine training
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
season typically begins on November 1st. You’ll find a variety of courses that range from short fireside chats provided by organizations including the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center, Alaska Avalanche Information Center (AAIC,) and Alaska Safe Riders. For more in-depth, certification courses, check out those offered by the AAIC and ASR from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE,) and the Alaska Avalanche School offering custom courses including recognition through the American Avalanche Association. Additionally, the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Division of Alaska State Troopers funds a host of courses offered in schools and communities around Alaska. To sign up, learn more, get more safety tips, education opportunities and more check out https://alaskasaferiders.org and https://alaskasnow.org Starting the end of November, check out many local radio stations who will be airing trail updates and safety tips from Alaska Safe Riders all season long. “This season, make sure you have taken the right steps to ensure every ride is a safe one so everyone talks about how fun the day was down in the parking lot,” said Carter. SIDEBAR: Free public programs presented by Alaska Safe Riders and the Avalanche Alliance December 4, 2023 – Eagle River Polaris Arctic Cat – Eagle River December 5, 2023 – Hatcher Pass Polaris – Wasilla December 6, 2023 – Delta PowerSports – Fairbanks December 8, 2023 – Alaska Motosports and Equipment – Anchorage Learn more or reserve your spot at https://alaskasaferiders.org AAIC will also have a series of Level 1 courses starting in January. Check out their website at https://alaskasnow.org for updates.
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Training, photo by Debra McGhan
Avalanche debris field. Photo by Rich Loftin
Skitracks, Photo by Mark Oldmixon
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Contributed by Ken Hagler As we find ourselves in November and 2023 coming to a close, it may seem tough to find things to be thankful for but as Alaskans, we’re resilient and determined. Having good information can go a long way. As we prepare for our winter hibernation time, keep in mind, always, people are buying and selling homes and property in Alaska! We Know Inventory is Low. One prominent trend in the Alaskan real estate market (and across the USA) is the decline in available homes for sale. Over the past year, the number of homes on the market has decreased by 12.0%, resulting in only an average of 2 months’ supply.
This scarcity of options places buyers in a competitive situation, where they must act swiftly to secure their desired property. However, there is a silver lining as the recent months have seen a small but steady increase in the number of homes becoming available, providing hopeful prospects with more choices. Fewer Homes are Being Sold. In line with the decreased inventory, the number of homes sold in Alaska has witnessed a significant decline around 22%% year over year, as reported by industry research. This decline can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the limited supply of homes and rising prices. Buyers may find themselves facing challenges in finding a suitable property due
to the reduced pool of available homes. Location Matters All the More. When considering a home purchase in Alaska, location plays a crucial role. Sellers need to keep this in mind too. Anchorage, as the largest city in the state, boasts a median home price of approximately $430,000. In contrast, the average home price in Fairbanks stands at $184,000. While Alaska ranks somewhere in the middle in terms of median home prices across the United States, these variations within the state offer a range of options to potential buyers. However, it is important to look beyond the price tag and consider other factors such as access to amenities, neighborhood culture, and overall cost of living. Each location in Alaska has its
unique charm and characteristics that can greatly impact the quality of life for homeowners. As winter approaches, Alaskans interested in the real estate market find themselves in a low-inventory environment with interest rates hanging around 8%. By staying informed and considering crucial factors such as inventory, home sales, and location, potential buyers and sellers in Alaska can chart a course towards making informed decisions about real estate as we head into 2024. Stay informed and reach out to me and our team at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Dream Makers...Making Dreams Realities! ken@bhgdreammakers. com
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COMMUNITY Contributed by the Great Alaska Council, BSA The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) continues to invite young people and families to join the Cub Scouts (ages 5-10), Scouts BSA (ages 11-18), Venturing, Sea Scouts and Exploring (Ages 14-20) programs. With the year ending, we welcome all families to participate in these programs, renowned for characterbuilding fun and adventure. Through adventures big and small, Scouting embraces the outdoors and helps our communities through service projects and builds the confidence of our youth through our wide range of activities.
“The Great Alaska Council is excited to welcome all youth into any of our various programs,” said Sam Giacalone, Scout Executive of the Great Alaska Council. “After all, the values of Scouting – being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent – are relevant and important for all youth.” In Anchorage, the Mat-Su valley, the Kenai Peninsula, and throughout Southeast Alaska, scouting events are happening every day. To find a unit and to inquire about their activities, those interested are encouraged to visit beascout.org. “For years, families in our community
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
have seen how the program builds character and teaches children valuable skills and life lessons that prepare them for success,” said Giacalone. “The Scouting program is designed to make important life lessons, such as physical fitness, problem-solving and emotional growth, fun and memorable for children and families. We are thrilled that this invaluable program is available to all youth”. The Great Alaska Council issues Charters for Scouting’s youth programs to organizations across Southeast, South Central, and Western Alaska. The council works to bring Scouting programs to youth who live in the many areas across
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Alaska. They provide resources to each Charter Partner and the Volunteers who run each Scout Unit. Such resources include training for volunteers, staff to coach and support volunteers, summer camp, a service center with a store that can ship supplies anywhere in Alaska, and so many more things we do not have room to name them all here. The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and valuesbased leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.” The Scouting organization is composed of nearly 2.3 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 20 and approximately 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.beascout.org.
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MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
POLITICS & OPINION
Contributed by Joshua McHoes Alaska, defined by self-reliance and community spirit, a transformative shift is overdue in politics. Alaskans must pivot away from incumbent politicians like Mary Peltola, Dan Sullivan, and Lisa Murkowski, seeking leaders genuinely championing the principles of liberty. These leaders should empower Alaskans, recognizing and amplifying innate problem-solving abilities within the state. Peltola is a career politician with a resume spanning over 20 years of experience in government and advocacy, despite her carefully crafted campaign image as an average Alaskan. She served as a judge, executive director of a major tribal organization, and lobbyist before her current role in Congress. She also played a pivotal role in orchestrating a successful write-in campaign for U.S. Senator Murkowski. Additionally, she served on the Bethel City Council from 2011 to 2013,
as well as serving in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009. This extensive political background raises questions about the authenticity of her campaign persona and its alignment with genuine representation. In line with their identities as career politicians, Peltola, Sullivan, and Murkowski have aligned more with political elites than the unique challenges faced by Alaskans. Their support for legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, foreign aid to Ukraine, and trillions in bills like the NDAA 2023, as well as backing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, starkly contradicts the principles of liberty. These actions betray Alaskans, paving the way for policies hindering economic freedom, jeopardizing individual rights, and undermining cherished self-determination. The trio’s adherence to career politics is evident in their lip service to the principles of liberty, carefully curated to secure votes. This insincere posturing contributes to waste and divisiveness in Washington, D.C., diminishing the authenticity of Alaskan representation. Begich’s acknowledgment in 2022 that “we’re all a little libertarian in Alaska” rings true, but scrutiny is imperative to ensure this sentiment is reflected in the actions of those claiming to represent Alaskan interests. Career politicians, including Begich, have at times veered from promises, exemplified by his flip-flop on vaccine mandates, raising questions about the authenticity of their commitment to liberty. The quartet—Peltola, Sullivan, Murkowski, and Begich—are adept
manipulators of political discourse, often cloaking policies that undermine the principles they purport to champion. Whether Mary Peltola’s support for the Inflation Reduction Act framed as cost reduction or the trio’s support to send billions to Ukraine and Israel while ignoring economic hardships at home, these career politicians routinely exploit the looming threat of a “government shutdown” to gain public support for excessive spending. By leveraging the fear of federal employees losing pay, they create urgency, pushing through bills that may not align with genuine Alaskan needs. This tactic not only exploits financial concerns but also distracts from a thoughtful and transparent discussion on fiscal responsibility. The heart of the matter lies in the call for genuine leadership that empowers individuals and communities. Alaskans are natural problem solvers, and their elected representatives should amplify this spirit. It’s time to look beyond career politicians and elect leaders who prioritize the principles of liberty as the guiding force behind their decisions. This shift requires acknowledging that true empowerment comes from the grassroots, fostering community and self-sufficiency aligning with the essence of Alaska. Sustaining Alaskan values involves more than political maneuvers. It necessitates a deep commitment to protecting the environment, growing the economy, and preserving Alaskan culture. True leaders must embrace Alaska’s distinctiveness, recognizing the significance of local knowledge and community-driven solutions.
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This shift away from career politicians is an opportunity for Alaskans to foster a renewed sense of individualism and purpose. By empowering individuals and communities, these leaders can tap into the wellspring of Alaskan ingenuity, ensuring policies genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of the people. The Last Frontier embodies more than just a namesake; it signifies dedication to freedom, independence, and self-governance. True leaders go beyond navigating politics; they create an environment where Alaskans flourish. In this transformative era, let Alaska be liberated from career politicians, becoming a beacon of liberty for the nation. Alaska’s future depends on breaking free from career politicians like Peltola, Sullivan, Murkowski, and Begich. Having served their purpose, they represent a paradigm to outgrow. It’s time for leaders genuinely championing liberty, enabling Alaskans as architects of their destiny, preserving the true essence of the Last Frontier. This shift isn’t merely political; it’s a cultural celebration of resilience, selfdetermination, and true freedom in the Alaskan spirit. Now, every Alaskan who cherishes liberty must become an active participant in shaping the future. Engage in local politics, voice your concerns, and champion leaders genuinely reflecting your values. Let the call for liberty echo through the mountains, rivers, and communities of Alaska, transforming this vision into a reality resonating with the heart and soul of every Alaskan.
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Contributed by Brett Ahern Alaska. The last frontier, infused with a pioneering spirit, to coexist with challenging wildlife, exercise some independence, and live fully – no matter the context we come from. We celebrate the landscape of Alaskan weather, where the harsh winter births rejuvenating spring. We had a challenge thrust on us recently that needs a reminder of the way forward. The city of Palmer serves as a good example for this purpose. Palmer experienced the struggle from nothing to something. It began as a trading post. It transformed from a mere whistle stop rail-siding to a planned community with modern utilities and community services. Eleven million dollars from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration was spent to create the town of Palmer and relocate 203 families from the hard-hit Iron Range region of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Upon their arrival they were housed in a city tent during their first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots for 40-acre tracts and their farming adventure
began in earnest. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live in the area and there are still many operating farms in Palmer. In addition to an agrarian heritage, the colony families brought with them Midwest America’s small-town values, institutional structures, and a well-planned city center reminiscent of their old hometowns. Many of the structures built are now in a nationally recognized historic district. Palmer is a gem of values, wisdom, and grit. It shows us we can be united with the powerful forces of nature, living out a rejuvenating spring wisely. This is the Alaskan example we have to offer. This is our heart’s cry! This is also reflected in the Native communities. Native Alaskans believe that all living things have spirits and are to be revered. They teach us how to be one with our environment. They show us how to be united with the powerful forces of nature. They wisely developed many of the basic medicines that we use daily. They invented numerous tools we relish using. They have reaped the benefits of oneness with nature.
Sadly, in the Middle East we see there is a contrast. Two peoples came out of their difficult histories and chose different paths. Israel is also a last frontier, infused with a pioneering spirit, that can coexist in a challenging wildlife, exercise some independence, and live fully. They have modernized and epitomized revolution, adding quality cutting-edge advances to the world’s life. They are now a Silicon Valley nation. They offered to assist Palestinians to make this transition too and each time it was rejected. The Palestinians were forged from a variety of nomadic peoples. A group of supposed freedom fighters sang the Pied Piper tune to them, and they believed it. Israel gave them the Gaza territory, forced all the Israeli citizens out and offered to help them form their own national infrastructure. They did an extremely Christian act. The USA also offered this to the Palestinians. They chose not to go this route. Gaza held one election, selected Hamas, and the violence began to ferment their lives. Many opportunities to cast out Hamas were bypassed – they kept believing the Pied Piper’s tune instead! Their Hamas bondage intensified as time progressed. Annual surveys of Palestinian views regarding their coexistence with Israel show 80% of the people don’t want this now.
Even worse, their terrorist mentors have raised the Palestinian kids to adults, steeped in the wounded-life view. Poisoned by victimhood the Palestinians still see no way out but by Hamas’ violence. Steeped in jealousy, overflowing with selfinflicted wounds, still following terrorisms’ twisted way of life. They are poisoned by the view that now inflicts much of the West too. The illusion that idealist political systems can birth more than totalitarian bondage. Just ask Russians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Iranians people their experiences. A stark century of dead dreams abounds. Palestinians still don’t know that the offers for freedom that they passed up on were genuine. They still don’t know that they could have peace and growth if they try as other nations did, like Japan and Germany after WWII. They still don’t know any people can be a last frontier people, infused with a pioneering spirit, can coexist with a challenging wildlife, exercise some independence, and live fully – no matter the context they come from. That the harsh winter births the perpetually rejuvenating spring. This is life’s cry worth sacrificing for! This is what they can offer their children, as many people have done throughout history. They too can follow the Alaskan example. They too can be Palmer again.
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
Liberty, Liberally Volume III - Issue XI
November 2023
The Answer Is
In Your Hands
Decentralization of government is the form and function of the United States of America. Unlike other nations that are sovereign over their whole territory, the US of A constitutes multiple governments, sometimes with contradicting laws. This seeming contradiction in constitution of government was novel at the time of our founding in 1776. It was the product of the Enlightenment, and a grand experiment at the time. Since then, many nations of the world have followed suit; the United States of America remains the model of this system of self-governance. Self-governance can mean multiple things. It can mean that a government is sovereign, or, it can mean that it is both sovereign and ruled by the people. With the United States of America, it’s the latter. Government of, by, and for the People was and remains a unique proposition of which the US is the exemplar. At least on paper. How though? It doesn’t happen automatically, because it’s up to us. That’s the point of self-governance, and decentralization of power, that we will in fact and in deed do the work of governing ourselves. Both as individuals and as sovereign states, and then again as a union of states, we must do the work of selfgovernance. The constitution and Bill of Rights give us the guideline of doing so, by enshrining our inherent, inherited rights as individuals. The First Amendment in particular makes it clear that we, the People, are supposed to take up the task of self-governance by speaking our minds, writing our conscientious concerns, publishing our perspectives, and gathering together to share in a public discourse. The First Amendment begins with its primary clause, that of religious freedom (which is nothing more than our own individual conscience guiding our contribution to the discourse), and then continues with the supporting clauses of free speech, free press, and freedom to gather and petition for response to our collected concerns. The corporate media as it is today stands in stark contrast to that purpose. Using the model of decentralization, we People should be contributing locally to a public discourse. We People should be creating culture, and cultivating selfgovernment that reflects the will of the people in our own communities. The internet is not suited to this purpose, because the internet is inherently centralized.
The internet as a technology will never be suited to this mandate, and will always be open to manipulation and control by the powerful, because it is a centralized system. This is not to say that the internet isn’t useful in the course of self-governance, but it cannot be the full manifestation of free expression. Because it is centralized, and algorithmically controlled, it will always be prone to the purposes of those who seek to counter the will of the People. Twenty years ago, the print publications of the world seemed to speak in one voice: print is dead. It struck me as odd that these entities were so convinced that their medium, the printed page, the product of the printing press, were so unified in their push to move their product to the internet. Sixteen years ago, when I started these publications that you’re reading now, I was told that it would never work. I knew better, and time has proven me correct. I knew that the problem with print media was not the paper they printed on, but what they printed on the paper. Social media signaled to me that the People wanted to communicate with their communities, that they wanted to contribute to a discourse. I could see that they wanted to actively BE free. The People’s Paper is not about politics. It’s not a controversy creation model. It’s not about click bait. It’s not about ‘news you can trust’, or any other lazy, illiberal nonsense. It’s social media in print. It’s a decentralization of power, a dilution of authority, giving that power back to the people themselves. And it’s working! We’re growing, and expanding into Anchorage and Eagle River, after 16 years of growth in the Mat-Su. We often question what will become of this grand experiment in self-governance. The corporate media is failing, propped up by other corporate interests who are constantly incorporating more and more, centralizing their media holdings into fewer hands. It’s clear, as corporate media struggles, that those who control the media are more concerned with controlling the narrative than with fulfilling the mandate of the First Amendment. The People’s Paper is the antidote to this social ill. It’s a model of self-governance, allowing you, the People, to contribute to and create a government that truly reflects what you and your neighbors believe. We question how we can turn this ship around, this massive ship of state with all the momentum it’s gathered while going in the wrong direction. The answer is in your hands.
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle Liberty, Liberally
Alaska
Ex-Press Your Self!
Playing local, Alaskan music on the airwaves isn’t entirely unheard of, but it’s definitely not the norm.
minded would want to use their own creative writing skills to affect the public discourse proportionately.
First of all, college radio and public radio stations have always been great about playing Alaskan music, and this ethos holds true across the nation. Everywhere you go, college stations play regional music, and public radio does, too. However, college stations are usually low-power, and the content is centered around the micro-cosm of the college itself; both of those factors limit their listenership. Public radio is usually low to medium power stations, and they are more informational, with music being a side item, and not the reason their listeners tune it.
Mainstream media affects the discource disproportionately.
This leaves commercial music radio stations to present the public with music. People tune in to commercial radio to hear music, and this constitutes most of FM radio listenership. Even with the advent of streaming, radio is still a powerful way to present new music to a hungry audience. That’s why what we’ve done at 95.5 The Pass, KNLT, is worth writing about. Civic engagement and artistic expression are two sides of the same coin. That’s why Make A Scene Magazine and The People’s Paper came to be published simultaneously. In fact, The People’s Paper was birthed from Make A Scene Magazine, as it should be. Creative expression of the individual is exactly what the constitution and Bill of Rights aims to protect, so that society can benefit from the good ideas, and the critique of those ideas in a public discourse. Civic engagement should evolve from a creative capacity that is well-developed. Make A Scene Magazine cultivated the creative energy of local people for 6 years before The People’s Paper became necessary. The original idea of free press, that everyone should be able to use it, was the whole idea of Make A Scene, even expressed in the name itself. To truly “make a scene” required that local artists and creators be able to communicate with the community, and Make A Scene Magazine facilitated that. It was only natural that the civic
We’ve gotten a surprising number of donations from community members at The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine over the years, and recently it’s increased with the publication of Liberty, Liberally. We’ve also received many requests for subscription services, requests to mail Liberty, Liberally, and our other publications to people near and far... So we thought, why not make it easier to donate, and get something in return, too? With a minimum $8 per
www.LibertyLiberally.com
“The People’s Paper” was the slogan for Make A Scene Magazine for years. I quickly realized that our content wasn’t only arts. We were putting more and more miscellaneous content in the back of Make A Scene each month when we finally decided to give that non-arts content front and center attention. The slogan “the people’s paper” became the title of our new venture. In the same way, using commercial music radio to amplify local, Alaskan musicians is imperative. It’s the first step to empowering local voices. It reminds people that civic engagement is needed, and that individual creative output is the source of self-governance. It’s not about choosing sides, with predetermined perspectives, but just the opposite. It’s about being thoughtful and creating solutions to issues in our own lives. This isn’t inherently adversarial, but with mainstream corporate media in control of the narrative building in our culture, they’ve made it into an adversarial process. The first amendment protects individual rights to speak or otherwise publish individual perspectives. So how did we go from that mandate to the media we have today, which is authoritative rather than cooperative? I will continue to explore these questions, here in Liberty, Liberally. And if you would like to add to that conversation, you can do so by contributing to The People’s Paper, or Make A Scene Magazine. And now, with the commercial radio station 95.5 The Pass, KNLT, you can call 907373-0955 and put your voice on the air! Thanks to our business advertisers (and monthly donations from individuals) we can offer that service for free.
month donation, you’ll receive a copy of each publication - and even special publications and other things that might fit in a Manila envelope! Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and financial support over the years. We take your trust very seriously, as we steward content from you and your neighbors onto the printed page. It’s an American tradition which we are blessed to uphold. More info available at: www.LibertyLiberally.com
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
Liberty, Liberally Volume III - Issue XI
November 2023
Multiple Mediums
Alaska
Troubles Of Man By Joshua Fryfogle Originally Published November 2021 This hippie, he’s homeless A lawless libertine Vagrant, void of virtue Unnoticed and unclean He bares his bearded face For all the world to flee He is persona non grata But perpetually free Unburdened by convention The wild man will arise From the earth, right from the ground A being undisguised This homeless hippie he Will lead his lonely life Free from common folly
“Media” is the plural form of "medium." In communications, "medium" refers to a means of conveying information, and "media" refers to multiple means of conveying information, like newspapers, radio, television, and the internet. Media exists for purposes of communication, and all of those media (print, broadcast, the internet) are protected for individual use by the First Amendment. The word “medium” is also commonly used in art, and this is not merely coincidence. Art is self-expression. Like public discourse, art is any method that humans use to express their ideas or perspectives, some of which transcend language. In both cases, the medium used by the artist and individual is itself a message. Marshall McLuhan, a Canadian philosopher of communication theory, coined the phrase "The medium is the message" in the 1960s. The phrase suggests that the form of a medium embeds itself in any message it would transmit or convey, creating a symbiotic relationship by which the medium influences how the message is perceived. For example, the newspaper industry was slowly overtaken and centralized in the US by Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. Because of this, there came to be some considerable pushback by the people of that time, complaining that these men
Relieved of worldly strife
had come to control the public discourse. This led to the establishment of ‘schools of journalism’ that would, supposedly, train journalists to transcend their own subjective experience. Before then, when the newspapers were decentralized and owned by local people all over the nation, there was no need for such institutions or credentialing. Instead, each idea and perspective could be countered in the many competing publications.
Instead of the foibles Of humanity’s hand All his earthly troubles Are the troubles of Man
As a result of this academic accreditation being created, and with the help of the newspaper industry magnates who created it, the people were slowly taught to trust. To this day, people are more likely to believe something if they read it in print, even though there is no logical reason to suspend reason. The medium itself carries a certain weight. The full realization of the First Amendment and our representative Republic will be when all of us understand and make use of the media available to us. The internet is but one of those mediums, and it is the one most easily controlled by a central authority. The traditional mediums of media, like print and radio, are decentralized by design. We, as a free society, must make use of these mediums, with the internet among them. We must come to understand mass communication and the way marketing works. We must make art of multiple mediums.
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” - Frederick Douglas “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr. Seuss “Reading brings us unknown friends” - Honoré de Balzac “The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn’t know how to read.” - Benjamin Franklin
You can respond to what you’ve read, or write what matters to you. WWW.MAKEASCENEAK.COM
“My alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” - Malcolm X “Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.” - Ezra Pound “The man who does not read ... is no better than the man who can’t.” - Mark Twain “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” - Victor Hugo “Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.” - Napoléon Bonaparte “Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.” - Abraham Lincoln
Liberty, Liberally
www.LibertyLiberally.com
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
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POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Sean Murphy Fall is here, winter will be here, and the holidays will soon follow! How fast the years move on and Eaglexit moves on also. There have been so many new developments that it seems overwhelming. If you have been working at this for years, it can seem daunting at times. The ebb and flow of progress can be defeating. I am here to tell you this month we made huge progress. The outpouring of support made it possible. We just want to say thank you to all those serving this cause in all capacities. Thanks for keeping the dream alive! Our board has worked closely with our legal team and have completed a first draft of petition, legal brief, and charter. All have been turned into the Local Boundary Commission staff for an informal review. This review concluded last week, and we are back working with
our legal team to prepare the petition for the collection of signatures. This will take some time and money for legal team and consultants. Thank you for your continued support. This would not be possible without you. We are having monthly public meetings in the Town Center in Room 170 by the library. All other meetings on Tuesdays are for board members only. If you would like to become a board member please contact us. Our next public meeting will be Oct. 17 at 7pm. We are excited to announce our next big fundraising event. On Saturday, November 25 at The Eagle River Work Center at 12400 old Glen Highway from 7pm until 10pm. Come for the Beer and Wine tasting and peruse our extensive silent auction. We will also have a wine pull and an exciting live auction. This venue has two golf professional golf simulators where you can donate and take your chances driving
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
a golf ball in a long drive competition for both men and women with a chance to win nice prizes. Please consider donating to our auction, or contacting us to help with the event. Most importantly please buy tickets, invite your friends, and enjoy a great evening. Your support motivates our volunteers to keep working on giving our citizens the opportunity to vote whether to let Anchorage rule our communities or give our communities their own governance. A government that truly is representative of our communities. A government made of representatives from our local communities making local choices about our roads, parks, businesses, public safety. Most importantly, WE want our communities to control our own education system in AD2. This process of writing a petition, including a charter and legal brief. Turning the petition into the LBC for review and getting their approval of content will
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allow us to take a completed document to the public. Then we will start collecting signature required by the LBC. When signatures are completed, we will turn in petition with signatures to the LBC for analysis and judgment. If they approve the petition the question will be taken to the Citizens of AD2 ONLY with vote in an election governed by the LBC. Please consider supporting the creation of the next new borough in Alaska. As anticipated by our founders, when communities grow and are ready to become independent, it is right that they do so. It takes all of us! Local Voices making Local Choices! Donate at www.Eaglexit.com or use this QR Code Thank you for joining us in this effort! Sean Murphy came to Alaska in the Army. Met his wife and moved to Eagle River in 1999 with his family. He is a retired Anchorage School District educator and administrator. He is active with his community council and is the new chair of Eaglexit. Sean.Eaglexit@gmail.com or 907-632-5307.
We’re more than a community paper! We also run 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM, and offer other media services too!
Contributed by Sarah Montalbano The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has updated its Rich States, Poor States index in 2023, which analyzes the economic competitiveness of each state. Alaska ranks 23rd nationwide for its middling economic outlook, serving as a reminder for the state to implement policies that help Alaskans thrive. The index highlights several areas where the state excels — such as the absence of a personal income tax or statewide sales tax — while signaling some areas of improvement. Alaska’s economic outlook, a forwardlooking projection, ranks 23rd nationwide based on 15 equally weighted policy variables. These include the top marginal personal income tax rate, the top marginal corporate income tax rate, personal income tax progressivity, property tax burden, sales tax burden, remaining tax burden, estate/inheritance taxes, recently legislated tax changes, debt service as a share of tax revenue, share of public employees, state liability system, the state minimum wage, the average workers’ compensation costs, whether it is a rightto-work state, and tax expenditure limits.
Contributed by Wes Keller Are you sick of politics… the increasing uneasiness about the potential loss of our freedoms, prosperity, justice? We have been pledging allegiance to these values all of our lives, but it seems more and more futile to trust government to ensure these Constitutional rights! We seem to be at a crossroad— damned if we quit politics, and damned if we don’t! The tension and division within the Republican Party does not help! The recent contest in pursuit of the highest leadership position of the moment (Speaker of the US House of Representatives), highlighed the nasty, chronic schism between far-right ‘conservatives’ and ‘moderates’ in the party. Essential Republican influence was not available when the House Majority was leaderless. This is particularly egregious because, at the same time, we face the emergency level threats of a potential WW III (Hamas-Israel), and the looming deadline for budget (economy). The “no-show” of the House Majority at critical moments squandered the balance of power our founders intended. The Alaska Legislature has similarly demon-
In comparison to the 2022 ranking, Alaska’s economic outlook has declined from 21st to 23rd nationwide in 2023. The top three states with the most optimistic economic outlooks are Utah, North Carolina, and Arizona, while New York, Vermont, and Minnesota are the least optimistic. One of Alaska’s strengths is its lack of a personal income tax, earning it first place for its 0% tax rate and second place for its progressivity. However, Alaska has one of the highest top marginal corporate income tax rates of 9.40%, placing it at 43rd. Alaska’s complicated and burdensome ten-bracket system also has adverse effects on the state’s overall economic competitiveness. The tax burden in Alaska paints a mixed picture. Although the state has a low sales tax burden of only $5.35 per $1,000 of personal income, ranking 5th, this is due to the absence of a statewide sales tax and localities being allowed to impose their own sales taxes. However, Alaska relies heavily on property taxes, ranking 40th for its property tax burden of $36.38 per $1,000 of personal income. The remaining tax burden from other sources in Alaska is only $13.68 per $1,000 of
personal income, ranking 12th nationally. Alaska does not levy any state estate or inheritance taxes, thus lightening the tax burden in comparison to other states. One concerning aspect of Alaska’s economy is its high number of state and local public employees, ranking 49th nationally, and one place lower than the 2022 index. For every 10,000 people in Alaska, there are 687.3 public employees. A large public workforce may divert resources away from the private sector, which is essential for driving economic growth. Additionally, Alaska’s debt-paymentto-tax-revenues ratio is the worst in the country at 11.16%. This means that the state’s ability to invest in current or future projects is stretched thin by the high interest payments on debt. This is notably worse than the 2022 index, which posted a ratio of 8.86%. Although ALEC ranks Alaska 3rd for its tax and expenditure limit, the true situation is different. As Alaska Policy Forum has previously noted, the state’s expenditure limit is set so high that it has little impact on government spending. Implementing a more meaningful spending cap is necessary for responsible
strated truancy and loss because of this ugly schism in our leadership fights. It is time we look it in the eye! Judging by the ongoing Speaker Johnson bashing, the disunity is still with us. In spite of growing frustration with politics, there is good reason to be encouraged and to stay engaged! Any good that comes from the House Majority with its new Speaker, Mike Johnson, must be attributed either to lucky chance or to what our political heritage would call “Divine Providence”. We hear no political entity claiming credit for the election of Johnson because it surprised all of us. I am suggesting if the voting majority is open to reconsider our roots, we still might be able to make the best of this fleeting opportunity. I remind you of content of the Declaration of Independence (recently called our “creed” by Speaker Johnson); We rely on a very real God as our ultimate governing Authority. This is a foundational premise of America’s political world-view right along with our national premises regarding our commitment to ensuring justice, freedom and human rights for all! You may have forgotten, or perhaps never learned, the ultimate governing authority
of law is NOT “we the people” but rather what the creed refers to as the “Supreme Judge”, “Nature’s Law”, “Nature’s God”, and “Divine Providence”… all revered entities in the Declaration — and subsequently transferred into the creation of the Constitution itself! Reconsideration must start with personal, individual, reflection. Then, to be of any use politically, it cannot be completely private! The process must start with us each looking humbly at ourselves in in our own mirror and honest dealing with what we see. If we do not like what we see, we must deal with it by boldly turning away from it while simultaneously turning toward the “Supreme Judge” who has, astonishingly made provision for our weaknesses and failure! This remedy is the classic definition of “repentance” in JudeoChristian thought. If this seems strange, or if you at first find it repulsive, I suggest pondering… perhaps starting with John 1:1ff. Then, if you make it thru this part, pray for our governing elected representatives who make, execute and enforce our laws. Let them know you acknowledge truth and authority of the Supreme Judge and that you expect them to do the same. This strategy does not disdain the ban on “establishment” of religion. And, it demonstrates respect for each man’s religious
fiscal management. When considering past economic performance, Alaska ranks 49th in the nation, only surpassing Louisiana. ALEC’s economic performance measure considers cumulative GDP growth, domestic migration, and non-farm employment growth in the past decade. Alaska ranked dead last in terms of cumulative GDP growth, with only 0.8% between 2011 and 2021. Domestic migration saw a cumulative loss of 70,550 people between 2012 and 2021, placing Alaska 34th nationwide. The state has experienced a net outmigration annually for the past decade. Non-farm employment also declined by 5.47%, ranking 49th nationwide. Alaska’s economic outlook ranking would not be nearly so rosy if the state implemented a personal income tax or statewide sales tax, as their absence contributes much to ALEC’s rankings. High maximum corporate tax rates, a large public workforce, and excessive debt service obligations have hindered Alaska’s economic growth. To unlock the state’s economic potential, policymakers should take meaningful steps, such as setting a more effective spending cap, maintaining a low overall tax burden, reducing debt service obligations, and implementing policies that promote private job growth.
freedom. It bets on man’s ability and choice of truth when he sees it. It also presumes values consistent with what I call “American Constitutionalism: individual autonomy before God —including freedom of religion and eventual deliberate decision regarding the only rational starting question: “Does God exist?” America’s governing “moral absolutes” are only “absolute” to the extent they are confirmed by voters for public application by chosen representatives. If the voting majority errs, government gets it wrong. This is no time to quit on politics, It is time to make sure of our foundation! Consider the “normality” of our National Motto or the current version of our Pledge of Allegiance! A recent Pew Research Poll confirms many Americans are quitting politics: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/americans-dismal-viewsof-the-nations-politics/ If you are determined not to quit, consider is strategy proposal. Then, learn and apply our Alaska Legislative Process (https://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/ Legislative-Process-in-Alaska.pdf ) There is nothing wrong with our traditional Alaska Legislative Process except that it is controlled by esoteric special interest groups that do not necessarily reflect the majority of Alaska.
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Contributed by Breck Craig The Nile runs thru my blood. I spent my high school years in Egypt as an Amoco oil brat. I was in Cairo during the 1973 Yom Kipper War. The memories are still fresh. Of course, I rooted for Egypt and Sadat to win the war and he did in the end. Egypt got the Sinai back, even though Sadat was murdered by Libyan dictator Omar Gaddafi for making peace with Israel. Hamas and the Palestinians who overwhelmingly support them in Gaza are not Egyptian soldiers. They are jihadist,
cowards. Ruthless murderers and rapist toodies working for Iranian mullahs. We are all fair game for Hamas. All of us, liberal, conservative, MEGA, WOK, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, all 6 billion + of us are in the cross hairs of their AK-47’s, their vampire drones, their car bombs, their IED’s and child suicide bombers. Ever notice that mullahs themselves are never suicide bombers, it’s always a follower, never the mullah. That’s a real coward. We are infadels, non-believers. In fact, all secular Muslims are also infadels (approx. 500 million). All Sunni Muslims, devote or not, are infadels. To Hamas, at best, we are to be tolerated, like you tolerate small children who don’t know
better. At worst, we are to be enslaved, forced to convert, or murdered. Israeli Jews get no such options. For Hamas, Hezbollah, and their Iranian masters, Israeli Jews are not even human. That is why Hamas gunmen had no problem shooting unarmed senior citizens, mothers, babies, and children at point blank range. They kidnaped, raped,and paraded young Israeli women thru the streets of Gaza so throngs of Palestinians could beat the dyeing naked Jewish women. Only animals do things like this. Again, only animals do such things. An Israeli would never dream of behaving like that. Make no mistake, the Palestinians overwhelming support
Hamas, If they are given a homeland it would immediately become another Iran, dedicated to destroying Israel and the United States. No matter how much the media wants you to focus on the hostages and a cease fire it’s not an option. The media with shocking mendacity has played right into Hamas’s hands. We are now expected to forget the brutality Hamas displayed on Oct. 7th and instead ring our hands over the hostages they took? Forget it. Hamas and all their backers must now pay, no matter where they are in the world. God bless and protect Israel. Something I thought I would never say. I stand with Israel and Jewish people everywhere.
WWW.MYHOUSEMATSU.COM
“...Celebrating 41 years of dedication to a happier and healthier Alaska!...”
IF YOU ARE BETWEEN 14–25 AND HOMELESS OR AT RISK FOR BEING HOMELESS, CALL US AT 373-4357 (HELP).
The MY House Podcast Network is the central hub for information about the daily goings on at MY House, and also features shows related to the work done at our facility, including recovery awareness and redemption.
RECOVERY AWARENESS
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 10
MY Voice Podcast: Bryan’s Recovery Journey Contributed by Isaac Smoldon MY House Youth Housing As a teenager, Bryan spent his time bouncing back-and-forth from juvie to the streets of Ketchikan. As a young adult, he continued to struggle with substance use, and felt as if he had few promising future prospects. But in the midst of one of the lowest points of his life, he reached out
Contributed by Michael Carson & The Mat-Su Opioid Task Force MYHouse of Mat-Su and the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force are asking you to consider the following: ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of our youth. This can be accomplished by getting directly involved with youth at the grassroots level as a coach, activity leader, mentor and/or youth ambassador advocating for their safety, health and well-being. We know those vital relationships increase protective factors to help youth stay drug free. You may consider starting a Red Ribbon
and found a life line that would allow him to begin his recovery journey. Bryan’s story is similar to so many others in our community. His substance use began and stemmed from feelings of not belonging anywhere, family trauma and mental health struggles. His recovery was only possible thanks to a recovery community that provided him with support, compassion and allowed him to persevere
Week campaign in your own community and helping support drug prevention and education efforts. This could very well be the beginning of a drug free Alaska with upstream primary prevention to give our youth purpose and success in their lives. There is no doubt, we are at a reflection point in Alaska with the influx of Fentanyl contaminating of every illicit drug like heroin, cocaine and meth. Most recently, the D.E.A. has stated 7 out of ten pills (Percocet, Xanax, OXY and even Adderall) have a potential lethal dose due to contamination of Fentanyl. This has led to the ‘fourth wave’ of the opioid epidemic. In short, it is ‘FAKE & FATAL’ with opioid roulette and ‘ONE PILL
and find where he belonged. Now as a case manager at MY House, Bryan supports homeless and at-risk youth in the valley, many of whom are struggling with some of the same hurdles that Bryan faced earlier in his life. He works in the social services field in part due to how passionate he is for recovery and especially the recovery community here in the Mat-Su. You can listen to
CAN KILL!’ Red Ribbon Week starts today and runs through the end of the month of October. Thank you for considering your part and involvement with our youth to be drug free as we witness our youth meeting their full potentials as productive citizens of Alaska. I want to give a shout to all the students at different schools and different age groups regarding the Red Ribbon presentations. They were all very attentive and had great questions! The most interesting and thought provoking question was: “Why would the Mexican Cartel contaminate drugs with the powerful deadly synthetic drug Fentanyl?” The answer? PROFIT, PROFIT & PROFIT!
Bryan’s story on the MY House Podcast Network, by searching “The MY House Podcast Network” wherever you get your podcasts, and listen to Season 2 Episodes 10 and 11 of “MY Voice.” You can also use the following link to go directly to part one of Bryan’s two-part podcast series: https://tinyurl.com/myhousepodcast
More importantly, I had students come up to me sharing their personal struggles with their own struggles with drugs and/ or with an adult family member struggles. I responded by suggesting they seek out support because it is too difficult to ‘go at it alone!’ That brings me to the point: we must meet youth where they are at and provide support and help to keep them safe, healthy and thriving! We have to be ‘youth ambassadors’ and create those connections and build protective factors to ensure their well-being. In short, responding with compassionate and understanding relationships! Thank you all that were involved this past week during Red Ribbon Week and are youth ambassadors all throughout the year. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our youth across the state.
The Chickaloon Village Traditional Council
TRUE NORTH RECOVERY INC.
MYHouse Mat-Su Youth Housing
Our mission is to perpetuate our ancestors’ beliefs, customs, traditions, values, and steward our environment to help our community thrive. The Health and Social Service Department, Tribal Opioid Response Team actualizes the mission by providing services to anyone in the community that include case management/ care coordination, referrals to treatment that best fits them, assistance with basic needs, transportation, housing assistance, wellness check-ins, harm reduction, naloxone training, as well as, distribute naloxone kits we receive from our collaboration with Project Hope.
As a leading Alaska drug and alcohol treatment center, True North Recovery Inc. is on mission to provide our community with client centered, culturally competent behavioral health treatment with same day access to services through: Evidenced based best practices, partnerships, and authentic community-based recovery support services for alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and treatment for other addictive lifestyles.
MYHouse is a homeless youth drop in center with two for-profit businesses that train and employ homeless youth. Gathering Grounds Cafe is a coffee shop with homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods.
Please reach out to us if you or someone you know may benefit from our Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Program. The TOR Program services are open to all members of our community. PHONE: 907-745-0704. EMAIL: skolson@chickaloon-nsn.gov WEBSITE: www.chickaloon-nsn.gov
We work to foster a safe and supportive environment for peer-centered education, services and engagement. Our programs and partnerships open pathways to recovery by removing social barriers and creating opportunities for those seeking and maintaining long-term recovery. PHONE: 907-313-1333 EMAIL: admin@tnrak.org WEBSITE: www.tnrak.org
SteamDriven is a trendy thrift shop featuring Steampunk items made from repurposed donations by our youth designers. True North Recovery and Young People in Recovery offer support for substance abuse recovery with activities and events. We offer transitional housing for qualified 18-24 year olds, outreach services to connect homeless youth, organizations and groups to services, and access to public health and job education services on site.
Looking to add your business or organization to this list? Need help finding support? Call 907-373-2698.
PHONE: 907-373-4357 EMAIL: myhousematsu@gmail.com WEBSITE: www.myhousematsu.org
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Contributed by John Doe Big Pharma is getting more aggressive with its tactics to gain control. Why? Because it’s threatened by the increasing number of people who are becoming more aware of their ploys. Not everyone trusts their doctors quite like they did before. COVID led to the collapse of the medical mirage, so people have questions. And people want answers. We are prodding the narrative: What exactly are its intentions with our children? What is going on with the number of vaccines? What is going on with pharmaceutical care? Big Pharma is answering by passing legislation as to whether you should — or should not — have access to your children’s medical records, decisions, and medicines. CarolinaCARE is the first of what I’m sure will be many instances to come of medical professionals deeming children as adults so parents lose access to their children’s medical records. CarolinaCARE is a home-delivery pharmacy service owned by Atrium Health and based out of North Carolina. But CarolinaCARE serves multiple states that have different laws pertaining to access to health information, which includes prescriptions, so they have sent out a notice to their
clients because they are making a change “to remain compliant with laws in all the states CarolinaCARE services to ensure continued privacy of your child’s prescription records.” Privacy from whom? From you, the parent. Starting November 1, children who are 12- to 17-years-old must create new accounts on their website so they have access to their prescriptions and medications because their parents will no longer have access. That’s correct: Parents cannot view or manage their children’s prescriptions. Written in black and white on their notice read the following words: “The laws are intended to allow minors to receive prescription medication for sensitive issues, without worrying about how their parents may react.” If you have questions, you are encouraged to read their FAQs. I have a lot of questions, the first being, how is that even plausible? How is it legal to essentially tell parents they are no longer parents? By making this change, CarolinaCARE is basically saying a 12-year-old is able to make a decision in terms of what prescriptions they are putting in their body. How does that happen? Children cannot do certain things until they are 18 years old, when they become adults. So, it completely defies logic that they
would be able to make decisions pertaining to what prescription they should be on — prescriptions that have real-world implications. Of course a parent should be in the room with a doctor when deciding whether or not their children should be on medication because parents are thinking about their child’s future. Adults can consider the possible impact and effects of prescriptions, whereas a child does not yet have that capability. That’s why they are children and why children have parents. Why would they do this? My best guess is that because many adults are recognizing they should have never been put on drugs as a child, the move is going to be to take the medical decision-making power away from those adults. There has been public debate among adults about having been put on medications as a child, whether it be medications like Adderall or medications to transition them. More and more adults are openly speaking out against drugs, saying they have ruined their lives. Big Pharma knows that once people become adults, they can see that more clearly — because they aren’t 12. Yet CarolinaCARE is essentially signaling to 12-year-olds that they are now adults and can make adult decisions. So, if a child
professes they feel as though they are in the wrong body, a doctor could give that child prescription drugs to transition — drugs that will render that child infertile in their adult years. These are the same drugs given to pedophiles to castrate them. But children are not going to know that because they exist and think in the moment. They don’t consider what their adult life might be like; they don’t even consider what the next day will be like. They will fall prey to believing they can feel safer from their parents in making these decisions alone. To make matters worse (if that’s even possible), the state is getting involved because they want to further this. If this is successful and they are allowed to treat 12-year-olds as though they are adults and put them on medications that can potentially harm them in the future, they are inevitably going to be inundated with massive lawsuits against CarolinaCARE in the years to come. And I hope that there are massive lawsuits because this is absolutely despicable. If a child turns 12 after November 1, this change will automatically take place. While this is hard news to digest, it’s news you need to be aware of, especially if you are a parent. Because while CarolinaCARE may only be in certain states now, it will be coming to a state near you.
HEALTH & WELLNESS Contributed by Ahliil Saitanan Mat-Su Health Foundation A Wasilla ministry will stock its pantry to serve vulnerable low-income individuals. Chickaloon Village Traditional council was awarded support to provide meals to youth. A high school will lead a community effort to provide food to students from various schools. Those are among the six projects that recently received support from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, totaling $104,000 in grants to help efforts tackling food insecurity across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in August and September 2023 and part of the more than $1.9 million in grants awarded in that time period. According to the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, more than 11% of Matanuska-Susitna residents currently experience food insecurity while house-
Contributed by Dr. Josh BeeWell Chiropractic You know the drill: the holidays swing around, and while there’s magic in the air, there’s also that all-too-familiar weight of stress. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there! If you’re seeking a game-changer, chiropractic care might be your hidden holiday gem. Why? It directly addresses our nervous system, the unsung hero of our health. Your Holiday Reality Check: We’ve All Been There... Last-Minute Shopping: That mad dash to find the ‘perfect’ gift? We’ve felt that crunch... Dinner Disasters: Burnt the turkey? Forgot a relative’s favorite dish? Happens to the best of us... Overpacked Schedules: Jumping between gatherings, making sure you’ve seen all your loved ones... Budget Balancing Act: The juggle of wanting to give generously but also keep your finances in check. Relatable? Absolutely! And all these
Contributed by Dori Cranmore R.N. Peppermint has often been termed the world’s oldest medicine. It is native to Europe and is actually a cross between spearmint and water mint. Its botanical name is mentha piperita. Peppermint has been studied and proved by the scientific community to have numerous health benefits. As a result, peppermint is sold in many different forms of tablets, tinctures, capsules, essential oils, and teas. Health benefits of peppermint oil can include the following: Indigestion: Peppermint oil is very helpful for digestion. Peppermint can help relieve gas, nausea, and stomach pain due to an irritable bowel, intestinal cramps, or indigestion. It is a good tonic for those who have decreased appetites. It helps during motion sickness and it’s great for nausea during pregnancy. Peppermint
Contributed by Trisha Magee & Kristian DeKruif REALIFE Physical Therapy & Wellness is partnering with CrossFit Telos to provide a comprehensive approach to recovering from injury and unlocking a person’s full fitness potential. No matter your age, experience, ability, injury, or current fitness level, you are capable of more than you realize. Everyone is. Are you struggling with an injury, old or new? Dealing with chronic disease? Desiring to pursue an improved fitness level, but aren’t sure where to start? Physical Therapy (often abbreviated “PT”) and CrossFit are TOGETHER uniquely equipped to address those very obstacles, handin-hand: prevent injury, establish a new fitness routine, improve the results of an existing routine, change nutrition habits, improve sleep hygiene, restore lost mobility, manage chronic disease, and modulate pain. Physical Therapy and Wellness: Healing from Injury and So Much More Physical therapists have a deep understanding of musculoskeletal health, movement mechanics, and functional wellness; they are “movement experts.”
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 11
holds with incomes under $50,000 were more likely to indicate in the household survey that they or someone in their household did not have enough food to eat (16% vs. 4% overall). Blood-N-Fire Ministry of Alaska in was awarded $45,000 to help stock their pantry, a facility that primarily serves vulnerable low-income individuals in the Meadow Lakes, Houston, Big Lake, Wasilla, and KGB areas of the Mat-Su Borough. The food pantry needs to purchase additional bulk food items to help keep shelves full and provide clients with healthy food options. Chickaloon Village Traditional Council was awarded $20,000 to support efforts to provide breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks to Mat-Su children attending the Ya Ne Dah Ah school, any younger siblings they have, and any other children in the area considered a Mat-Su resident. Palmer High School was awarded
$15,000 to continue funding the Sandwich Project, which provides food over the weekend to students from eight schools in the greater Palmer area. Students who experience food insecurity are offered a bag of food, so they have enough to eat at home. Last year, the community effort gave more than 5,000 bags. Other projects and programs receiving support to tackle food insecurity include supporting food needs for Mat-Su youth in respite or foster care; a pilot project focused on providing meals during holiday breaks for three Mat-Su elementary schools; and a pantry providing bags of food to youth during weekends and holiday breaks. Information about all Mat-Su Health Foundation grant programs is available at healthymatsu.org. Applications for all grants are open and can be submitted online throughout the year.
moments heap stress onto our nervous system. The Backbone of Our Well-being: The Nervous System. You might not know this, but the nervous system is intricately tied to how we perceive and manage stress. When it’s out of sync, everything feels tenfold heavier. Enter Chiropractic Care: Your StressBusting Ally. Diving into the world of chiropractic care, one quickly realizes its invaluable role as a potent tool against life’s overwhelming stressors. At the core of this care is the understanding that our bodies sometimes get “stuck on” stress, which can manifest as subluxations. These subluxations, or disruptions, in our nervous system are more than just physical discomforts—they can disturb our overall well-being and vitality. But with chiropractic care, it’s possible to address these subluxations directly, alleviating the residual tensions from life’s demands. The benefits extend beyond just immediate relief; by
dealing with these nerve interferences, chiropractic care ensures smoother daily operations and activities. Moreover, with subluxations in check, individuals find themselves more centered and resilient amidst life’s ups and downs. And the advantages aren’t limited to merely handling stress; consistent chiropractic sessions contribute to an overall uplifted health state, preparing one to fully embrace and enjoy life’s vibrant moments. Success Story: Meet Natalie, a practice member who turned to chiropractic care to alleviate her anxiety and enhance her mood. Upon starting care, Natalie’s life took a positive turn. Her anxiety lessened, and her outlook on life became more optimistic. She also found healthier ways to process grief. Traveling, which had been a source of stress for over a decade, became a joy for her and her husband. He was pleasantly surprised to witness her transformation into the fun, bubbly person he first met. Natalie’s journey demonstrates
the significant impact of chiropractic care on mental well-being, offering hope to those seeking to overcome anxiety and embrace a happier, more joyful life.
tea is safe for infants to drink with colic or place a cloth soaked in peppermint tea over the infant’s belly. Dental Care: Peppermint oil, due to its antiseptic properties, is useful for dental care. It helps remove bad breath and helps teeth and gums deal with germs. No wonder it is added to many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and dental floss. It is also useful for treating toothaches along with clove oil. Respiratory Problems: Menthol, which is present in abundance in peppermint oil, helps in clearing the respiratory tract. It is an effective expectorant and therefore provides instantaneous, though temporary, relief in numerous respiratory problems including nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, colds, and cough. Nausea and Headache: Peppermint oil is a good home remedy for nausea and headaches. Applying diluted pure essen-
tial oil on the forehead, temples, behind the ears, and inhaling can help minimize or stop a headache. A drop on the tongue can help relieve nausea. Stress: Like most other essential oils, peppermint is able to provide relief from stress, depression, and mental exhaustion due to its refreshing nature. It is also effective against anxiety and restlessness. Pain relief: Peppermint oil (diluted) can be used externally for providing relief from painful muscles and joints. It is cooling in nature and therefore helps reduce fever. Blood Circulation: It is known to improve blood circulation. Many truck drivers keep it handy to inhale as it helps keep you more alert if you are drowsy. Hair Care: Peppermint oil is very useful for hair care as it gives a cooling effect to the head and removes dandruff. It is one of the natural remedies for killing head
lice. It must be diluted. You will find very few people who will not find peppermint suitable to their palate. Peppermint oil contains numerous minerals and nutrients including manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium, and copper. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin C. And no, you can’t eat peppermint candy canes and receive all these wonderful nutrients! For more information call 907-376-8327. Or visit www.allaboutherbs.com Information provided is for educational purposes only and not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases.
Skilled physical therapy offers limitless benefits: Pain management: PT can help alleviate pain through manual techniques such as joint mobilizations, fascial manipulation, exercise, and modalities such as electrical stimulation or dry needling. Improved mobility: PT works to restore mobility, allowing a person to move as they were designed to move. Injury rehabilitation: Whether a sprained ankle, a torn ACL, or a broken bone, PT will guide and direct a person on how to restore mobility, appropriately add stress to those injured tissues, strengthen the affected area, and return to function. Prevention of surgery: PT can be an alternative to surgery or to help individuals prepare for surgery to give them the best possible outcome. Management of chronic conditions: PT can provide relief for and teach self-management techniques for chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease. Physical therapy empowers individuals to take an active role in their own health. This leads to an improvement in a person’s quality of life: regaining lost function, prevention or recovery from injuries, and enhancing their performance at home,
work, or play. A physical therapist can determine the most appropriate plan for your specific needs and goals. CrossFit: Fitness for All CrossFit is “constantly, varied, highintensity, functional movement” built on a foundation of nutrition, safety, efficacy, and efficiency. From the elite power lifter to the individual who’s had two knees replaced and one shoulder repaired, the workouts are infinitely scalable, meaning they can be adjusted to fit all ability levels. The competitive weightlifter needs to move several hundred pounds of weight off the floor whereas the 65-year-old needs to pick up a bag of dog food; the needs are the same, but just to a different degree. A certified CrossFit coach will teach proper movement mechanics before progressing weight, repetitions, and/or speed to minimize the risk of injury. CrossFit’s motivation is to move people away from sickness, into wellness, and onto fitness to protect against the destructive effects of time and disease. Although CrossFit isn’t for EVERYONE, it is for ANYONE. In comparison to other forms of training that might focus or specialize in one or two aspects of fitness, CrossFit incorporates all the physical skills of fitness: cardiovascular endurance, stamina,
strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. More than just the physical aspects of improving one’s physical fitness, the CrossFit culture is well known for its sense of community. Rather than being a competition among members, there is encouragement and camaraderie, motivating each participant to perform at their individual best. Although many initially join a CrossFit gym to improve some physical aspect of their fitness, most continue to stay for the community they experience. The collaboration between physical therapy and CrossFit exemplifies a transformative partnership in the world of fitness and wellness. By focusing on injury prevention, customized training programs, seamless rehabilitation integration, performance optimization, and inclusivity for all ability levels, this collaboration empowers individuals to achieve their fitness goals that lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives. If you’ve ever hesitated to explore CrossFit or physical therapy, consider the unique benefits of integrating these expert services into your wellness journey. Together, physical therapy and CrossFit are poised to guide you to transforming your life. REALIFE Physical Therapy & Wellness 1 (844) 949-9075 www.realifept.com
RECOVERY AWARENESS
ACCESSIBILITY & MOBILITY 101 Mobility ........ 521-7101 ANTIQUES & VINTAGE The Estate Sale ........ 357-7050 APPAREL & CLOTHING All Seasons Clothing Co. ........ 357-0123 ART & CRAFTS The Gallery ........ 745-1420 AUTO REPAIR Fairview Loop Automotive .. 887-6137 BOOKSTORE Black Birch Books ...... 373-2677 Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 CANNABIS RETAILER Matanuska Cannabis Co. ...... 745-4211 COFFEE & CAFÉ Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Gathering Grounds Cafe ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blues……..745-2233
Banyan Treatment Center Now Offers Telehealth Services Contributed by Sam Garcia
● 12 Step Recovery
Banyan Alaska is an outpatient substance use disorder treatment facility for Veterans with community housing. We believe our service members deserve the best treatment after the sacrifices they have made for their country which is why we offer comprehensive addiction treatment to the Veteran community. Banyan’s clinical approach to treatment is to address our clients’ substance use disorders alongside any co-occurring mental health disorders and life issues in an integrative, multi-disciplinary fashion. Treatment planning is designed to meet each of our clients’ needs and is delivered as a team through the utilization of numerous therapeutic approaches. We work collaboratively with our Veterans outside providers to ensure continuity of care
● Trauma Treatment
Treatment Modalities include:
● SMART Recovery
● Ancillary Services
● Accelerated Resolution Therapy ● Dialectical Behavioral Therapy ● Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ● Individual & Group Therapy ● In-Network Contracts ● Peer Support
● Motivational Interviewing ● Alumni & Family Program
● Military & Veterans Program ● Reality Therapy
● Psychiatric Services
● Eye Movement Desensitization &
Reprocessing (EMDR)
● Anger Management
● Relapse Preventiaon
● Life Skills Reintegration
We’re also excited to introduce, “Banyan Alaska’s Telehealth Program” – a compre-
EDUCATION Gille Learning Center ..... 357-1100 Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 EPOXY SUPPLY & INSTALL Alaska Resin Supply ........ 671-9900 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort Shoes ........ 376-5403 HOME DÉCOR Peak Boutique ........ 746-3320 The Wagon Wheel ........ 671-0189 MUSIC LESSONS Wood & Wire Guitars .... 745-7457 ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS www.alaskamarketplace.com www.gunsalaska.com PRINT SERVICES L&B Color Printing ........ 376-2081 REPAIR & RESTORATION Alaska Resin Supply ........ 671-9900 Comtronics ........ 373-2669 S&S Drilling ...... 746-0225 Steve’s Toyostove Repair ..... 376-9276 The Powdercoat Shop .... 841-1300 Wood & Wire Guitars .... 745-7457 RESTAURANTS Locals Pub & Pizzaria ........ 357-3100 Mekong Thai Cuisine ........ 373-7690 SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES Mr. Plow ........ 521-2376 SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364 Non-Essentials ........ 745-2258 The Wagon Wheel ........ 671-0189 TAXI & TRANSPORTATION Mr. Taxi ........ 707-6011 THRIFT SHOPS Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 12
hensive solution designed for adults facing challenges with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders, along with veterans, active duty service members, first responders, and their families. This Telehealth program has been meticulously crafted to provide a seamless continuation of the client’s recovery journey within their home or a private environment of their choosing. By harnessing the power of telecommunication technology, our program not only ensures uninterrupted treatment but also eliminates the constraints of travel, allowing time to invest in family, work commitments, and recovery-focused aspirations. Our approach is personalized and attentive, delivering tailored care as needed. Banyan’s Telehealth Program is a lifeline to sustained recovery, supporting growth and well-being in a space where the client feels most at ease.
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COMMUNITY
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 12
These events are only possible because of the leadership our Event Team provides for each event area. Our Event Team is paid for around 10 hours of work per month for providing leadership in one of our event areas. We host a few events per semester, and they are always on Saturday evening. If you are interested in applying for our paid Thrive Event Team please text “Event Team” to 907-745-5826. The Event Team must go through the same background check used for Mat-Su Schools. Finally, our Thrive Coalition Partners were the catalyst which resulted in Thrive being created. Every organization in the Valley who serve youth are welcome to join our youth substance use prevention coalition. Each Coalition Partner’s contribution is unique. Many attend our monthly Coalition meeting, either in person or virtually, where we coordinate our efforts for Mat-Su youth. (Noon-2pm, 3rd Tuesday of the Month @ Mat-Su Public Health) Many coalition partners also help by providing activities at some of our monthly youth events. If you are part of a youth-serving organization in the Mat-Su valley and would like more info about joining this effort, please email us at Connect@ThriveMatSu. org Thank you, to everyone in the Mat-Su who is joining this effort to value and support Mat-Su youth! - Thrive Mat-Su, because youth matter!
The Mat-Su Valley’s
Community Newspaper and Entertainment Magazine.
Contributed by Matt Clayton
Thrive Mat-Su is a youth substance use prevention coalition operated by the United Way of Mat-Su. The coalition is made of up dozens of organizations in the Mat-Su Valley who work with youth. In 2020 the Thrive Coalition launched a full-time youth program. Please take a moment and help us celebrate the insane growth the Thrive Mat-Su youth program has had over the past year. This stat sums up the grow well: On October 29, 2022, Thrive Mat-Su hosted a Halloween party for 146 people! On October 28, 2023, Thrive Mat-Su hosted a Halloween party for 639 people!!! The bigger victory I celebrate within this is that out of the 639 total people who attended, we had a total of around 100 adults made up of staff, volunteers, parents, security, coalition partners, etc. The reason we shoot for such a high ratio (1:6) of adults to students is because the adults at our events are not there just to make sure the students behave themselves. The adults are there to make a positive impact on the students’ lives and to help them know that Mat-Su Valley cares about MatSu youth! The fun and games are often what attracts students to attend in the first
place. The community of caring students and adults is what keeps students coming back! Has your family joined our Thrive Text Alerts yet? Once you sign up, we send text invites for youth (6th grade & up) activities and events. Text “Thrive” to 907-745-5826 to join. Be sure to complete the activity survey we send to not miss out on any fun. Over 2300 hundred families in our community are receiving these invites to our events and activities. We KNOW that more and more youth are going to keep showing up at our events because the need for more youth activities and events is evident. We HOPE that more and more adults join this effort to impact Mat-Su youth! The backbone of our events is our Volunteer Team. We depend on our volunteers to commit to a specific event area and help with the same activities each time they are available to volunteer (we don’t expect anyone to be available every time). If you are interested in applying to join our volunteer team, please text the word “Volunteer” to 907-745-5826. No obligations, we will send a volunteer application, and, with an approved background check, we will let you know about upcoming opportunities.
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COMMUNITY Contributed by Britney Olsen Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce Merry Merchant Munch - December 1st & 2nd Join us in downtown Eagle River for the 31st Annual Merry Merchant Munch. Bring the family for two days of local shopping, decadent goodies, visiting Santa, and fes-
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 13
tive merry making. Activities begin at 12 noon on Friday, featuring a Gingerbread House display at First National Bank Alaska Eagle River Branch. Continue with a stroll through downtown as you “Munch” your way through participating businesses! Businesses host open houses and invite you to stop by for some holiday cheer and decorations. Friday’s Munch will last until
The Bushatz family walking near Reflections Lake
Contributed by Amy Bushatz A new documentary with two free upcoming screenings at Wasilla’s Valley Cinema showcases the challenges, heartache and, ultimately, hope and optimism found in caregiving for those with hidden injuries -- including one local veteran and his family. “Unconditional,” a feature-length documentary by filmmaker Richard Lui, follows the inspirational journey of three families, including Mat-Su residents Luke and Amy Bushatz and their sons David and Huck. Created over a series of years, the film tracks the families as they work through invisible medical battles, including a traumatic brain injury sustained by Luke during his military service. Local residents can see the film for free
5pm and will continue Saturday from 10am - 3pm. Look for the Official Merry Merchant Munch Guide in the mail during the week of Thanksgiving, or make sure you grab one at any of the participating businesses, so you are ready for the fun! Winter Wonderland Celebration & Tree Lighting - December 1st The annual Winter Wonderland Celebra-
tion & Tree Lighting begins at 5:30pm Friday evening at Eagle River Town Square Park. Thanks to our generous sponsors, this event is completely free to the public! The evening will feature local businesses and organizations set-up to offer you warm and sweet treats, our local elementary school choirs will be singing all evening, horse-drawn sleigh rides will be offered, sledding hills will be open, Santa is visiting and more! The ceremonial tree lighting with Santa and our local pageant Royalty will be at 7:30pm. For more information visit www.cer.org
Luke and David Bushatz practice breathing techniques at their home in Palmer
in December at two screenings sponsored by the Mat-Su Health Foundation and held at the Valley Cinema. The screenings, which will be followed by a chance to ask Amy and Luke Bushatz questions about the film and their experiences, will be at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 and 14, with seating to open at 6:15 p.m., first come, first seated. The burden of so-called hidden wounds -- challenges, disease, and physical battles that no one can see -- is one that is familiar to many Alaskans. About 13% of Alaskans are military veterans, a population that daily balances the physical and emotional toll of military service. Cancer, a disease so hidden it often goes dangerously undetected, is the leading cause of death in Alaska, according to state health data. And state officials estimate over 10%
of Alaskan seniors have Alzheimer’s. But, as the film highlights, the toll of these hidden injuries and diseases doesn’t stop at the person who has been diagnosed. Standing alongside them are thousands of families and friends working as caregivers. They, too, shoulder the burden. Nationally, caregivers provide billions of dollars in support for loved ones, often silently filling needs. The film showcases the intersection of caring for someone with a hidden disease or injury and helping the caregivers -- the families -- also find hope. Locals will spot plenty of familiar locations throughout the movie, which was shot in the Mat-Su and at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Anchorage, as well as in Virginia, California, and D.C. The Bushatz family lives in Palmer where
Amy works as a local journalist while Luke serves in the Alaska Army National Guard. Both actively volunteer in the community. The film also features Marine Corps veteran Kate Hendricks Thomas and her husband and young son Shane and Matthew Thomas as they work through Kate’s breast cancer diagnosis, and filmmaker Richard Lui’s family as they take on his father’s Alzheimer battle. Also available to stream on PBS, “Unconditional” has its world premiere in May at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, followed by Washington D.C. screenings in the U.S. Capitol Building and at the White House over the summer. For more information about the December screenings of Unconditional in Wasilla, contact Kathryn Swartz at the Mat-Su Health Foundation at 907-373-2827.
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Contributed by Angie Lewis My almost eight-year-old Great Pyrenees Mix has inoperable bladder cancer. When my vet uttered those words to me, I didn’t even take time to let the impact devastate me, but rather asked what next. No time to cry or pity myself or him, but time to determine the next plan of attack. If this damn disease was going after my dog, we weren’t going down without a fight. At the same time, I was not
Contributed by Doug Ferguson An article by Ned Rozell, a writer for the Geophysical Institute published at the beginning of October entitled “The World According to a Dog’s Nose” in both the Copper River Record and the Anchorage Daily News, got me thinking about both a current experience with a dog and some old “smelling” memories. Rozell’s article describes the research showing that a dog’s sense of smell is somewhere around 1000 times more
sensitive than ours, thus opening a world to our canine friends that we know nothing about. This remarkable ability of canine smell that Rozell describes can be observed by anyone who has worked with dogs. Here in Alaska, we’ve been without a dog or a cat in our home for the first time. However, we have done extensive “dog sitting” for my wife’s daughter who has a little Russell Terrier “Vita” who is blind in both eyes! When we first met Vita after moving up here to Alaska in 2017, she was just two years old and not yet blind. We did several “sitting” sessions with her where she stayed at our house. She fit in well and seemed to enjoy staying with us. She picked up the layout of our house and knew where everything was located, like her dishes, toys and sleeping arrangements. Over the next few years, however, she developed canine glaucoma and eventually had to have both eyes surgically removed. We both wondered how this was going to affect her life and ability to survive both indoors and outdoors, especially at our house when we were “sitting” for her! We needn’t have worried! Both her sense of smell and hearing kicked into overdrive, and she does just fine! She does bump into chairs (which do get moved) on occasion, but she knows where her
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PETS & ANIMALS going to let my dog suffer, just so I could say that we had waged an admirable war against this horrible cancer. Fortunately, euthanasia is an option for animals and so, when fighting this cancer no longer makes sense, we can allow for a gentler way for life to end. Euthanasia involves the use of drugs to end the life of the patient. Typically, a sedative is administered to help relax the patient and it is followed by a high dose of pentobarbital, which actually kills the animal. When the decision to euthanize your pet Is made, a great deal of guilt is involved, whereas, when the animal dies on their own, it is easier to bear, because
“...WITH OVER A DECADE OF
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 14
you did not make the decision to end your animal/s life. How do you know that the time is right for your beloved animal to leave this world. Think of the following: - Age of your dog - Physical condition/overall health - Look for signs of pain (crying, panting, excessive drooling, labored breathing, lethargy, and restlessness. - Not eating or drinking - Hard time pooping or peeing. - Emergence of antisocial behaviors Get a calendar and make note of good vs. bad days. Having concrete data to note exactly how many bad days there are
provides you with hands-on information regarding how many days are difficult for your pooch. Get a second opinion. This can be an opinion from another doctor or from a friend. Take advantage of other people’s opinions and experiences. I hope when the time comes, that I will have the fortitude to make the right choice for my dog, Jerith. He will be my primary concern and I am just there to guide him. I love you Jerith. For more information please call Angie with Alaska Animal Advocates today at 907-841-3173.
“Frisby” toys are in a basket we keep in the corner and picks out her favorite (by smell, we presume), brings it to one of us to throw down the hall so she can “fetch” it! She has even learned to enter and exit our deck both from the inside of the house and the outside to our yard. She knows the complete layout of the edge of the property at our woods, where the gate to the back yard is, and even where she smells a vole near or at the base of our house! She also treats the family individually, again identifying each member by smell and their voice. When you call her name and talk to her, she faces you, cocks her head and for all the world you would swear that she is looking directly at you! A remarkable adaptation to losing one of your main senses and using those you have left! Rozell’s article also explains how our nose is connected directly to memories in our brain, short circuiting the process that much of our other information does during memory processing, making these smell identifications immediate and involuntary. Very personal memories come to mind. When I was of grade school age, living in Massachusetts and before we moved to Ohio during my high school and college years, each summer my mother and I would take the train to where she was raised. For a few weeks, we would visit my grandmother in Youngstown before my father would drive out on his vacation and
pick us up to go home to Massachusetts. All my mother’s family lived in the area. My “smell” memory at that age is based on visits to my very active and intense Aunt Bernice. Depending on the smell as you entered her house, you knew what day it was! This continued even after we moved to Ohio. Monday, laundry day, the smell of bleach and strong soap filled the air! Tuesday the dominant odor was that of heated starch and linens given off as shirts and other items were ironed! Back in those days after WWII, “Toni” home hair permanent kits got introduced and became the rage. Aunt Bernice became very proficient at giving these. Every Wednesday the terrible stink of the putrid chemicals involved filled the whole house as she gave permanents to family, friends, and neighbors! But Thursday was my favorite day! That was “baking” day and the wonderful smell of fresh baked goods compensated for all the previous day’s odors! Also, fresh cookies just out of the oven were treats for us kids! Finally, although my aunt was not especially religious, Friday was “fish for dinner” day, keeping with tradition for her daughter’s Catholic husband. The smell of fresh fish baking permeated the house and stimulated our appetites for that evening’s Friday feast! Mmm! Even after almost 80 years, I can still smell those cookies and fish!
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PETS & ANIMALS Contributed by Angie Lewis Alaska Animal Advocates My heart breaks for poor Wolf. His human died recently and so he finds himself living in his home completely alone. A family member comes by to feed him as often as she can, but this poor boy is alone – all Day and all night. Please help! He either needs a
Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann I am a big, gorgeous guy who’s been out on my own for about a year. I want someone who loves me to give me pets, cuddles, and attention. I am ready to be a pet cat again. I was someone’s cat at one point, and then ended up out on my own. I was trapped by a kind woman who saw that I was struggling with winter coming on.
Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann I am orange and cute and oh so sweet! How can you go wrong? I am a sweetheart. I was found outside as a stray, but it only took me a minute in a foster home to show how happy I was to be out of danger, to have food every day, and to be loved by a kind family. I am maybe a year or two old. I do not
Contributed by Linda von Bose Alaska’s Forgotten Felines is a volunteer-based organization in
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 15
Ice Fishing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Avalanche Awareness
permanent home or a foster home until a permanent home can be found. Wolf is very affectionate and loving – making it all the harder to be so alone. This boy gets along with everyone and even is gentle with farm animals such as chickens and ducks. For more information please call Angie with Alaska Animal Advocates today at 907-841-3173.
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Unfortunately, this nice lady is allergic, and she has dogs that I do not feel comfortable with. So, I’m looking for my forever home where I can give all my affection to my new family. I am definitely a survivor! Cold took the tips of my ears and I lived through all the dangers of being alone in the harsh world. I am most certainly a good hunter. I am not very old and am healthy and vibrant. To meet me, please call or text 907980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit our organization online at www.clearcreekcatrescue.org.
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seem to care for dogs, so a home without dogs would be best. I may do fine with other friendly cats, although I have not been exposed to them directly in my foster home. I have an easy-going kind of personality and am great with people. I will be happiest where I have a warm, cozy home with a loving family and a yard where I can go outside and do cat shenanigans in the fresh air. To meet me, please call or text 907980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit our organization online at www.clearcreekcatrescue.org.
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WWW.VPAALASKA.ORG | 907-373-0195 | 251 WEST SWANSON, WASILLA Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce & Eagle River Chugiak Parks & Recreations Presents...
Winter Wonderland Celebration & Tree Lighting Ceremony SANTA & MRS. CLAUS WARM & SWEET TREATS SLEIGH RIDES & SLEDDING & MUCH MORE!
EAGLE RIVER
TOWN SQUARE PARK
Contributed by Glenn The DUDE Butts Biker Elves Toy Drive Mark your calendars for December 16, 2023, as Denali Harley-Davidson hosts the annual “Helicopter Santa” event at 1497 Hyer Rd in Palmer. The festivities, running from 11 am to 5 pm, promise non-stop fun with food, entertainment, and exciting prizes throughout the day. Join the Biker Elves in collecting toys for the “Marines Toys for Tots”-”Matsu Special Santa” program, supporting families in need in the Valley during this Christmas season. As tradition dictates, Santa won’t be arriving with his reindeer but on a helicopter! Throughout the event, he’ll engage with the kiddos, taking free pics with them on his Harley. And don’t miss out on the rides for the kids on the helicopter—pre-registration opens on 12/1/23. Please note that space is limited, and the event is weather-dependent. Donations won’t be refunded if flights are canceled. For each new unwrapped toy with a value of $20 or more, one ride is allowed, and the child must be present with the donation to register. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the event and sign a waiver; additional restrictions may apply—refer to the operator and waiver for details. Get ready for a day of fun, including door prizes for adults (must be present
to win), along with doughnuts, cocoa, coffee, and candy scattered throughout the event. Expect plenty of friendly faces! We’re here to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, reminding you that Jesus is the reason for the season. From all of us to all of you, God bless you and yours this Christmas! For more information, call (907) 373-3366 or check out these pages on Facebook: Denali Harley-Davidson, Matsu Special Santa, Alaska Toys for Tots Program, Biker Elves Toy Drive.
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