The People's Paper October 2022

Before recycling started at Big Lake I often mused, “man, there’s a lot of styrofoam being thrown away at the transfer site. If I could grind it, I could make bean bag chairs and sell them in Freddie’s.” I even researched it a bit.

Back then I found that a Styrofoam “gobbler” could be purchased in the lower 48 for about $8000.

Too bad I couldn’t have applied to Mid Valley Recycling for a five thousand dollar grant back in the day!

Today, someone with a similar idea – using Valley-collected recyclables or other discarded material – can apply for a grant to develop that idea. Applications are open until January 30, 2023.

Grants offered – three thousand to youth and five thousand to adults – could really make it possible for someone to take that weird idea (like turning Styrofoam into beanbag chairs) and make it happen.

So much usable stuff is tossed in the landfill! There are not enough local uses for all these valuable resources.

Too bad it has to take up space in a hole in the ground or be shipped south if it’s recycled when it could be re-manufactured right here in the Mat-Su. As most Valley recyclers

know, there are ways to keep a lot of stuff out of that hole in the ground.

Our local Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS), has found markets for all twelve categories of material collected. In the lower 48 plastics are turned into fleece and plastic lumber, mixed paper is used for cement forms, aluminum and steel cans are remanufactured into more aluminum and steel cans.

In the lower 48, some cities are collecting glass that is ground and sold as traction sand for winter driving. Glass can be turned into fiberglass or sand blasting material.

In Anchorage, one company makes countertops with recycled glass. Our local recycling center has not found a buyer for glass, and it’s too expensive to haul elsewhere. Therefore, it is not collected at this time.

So far, VCRS has found only one local buyer for its collected materials.

Thermo-kool buys some corrugated cardboard and all the newspaper VCRS collects to make insulation, hydro-seed, and livestock bedding. Thermo-kool creates nine jobs here in the Valley.

This success is what Mid Valley Recycling wants to duplicate by offering grants to local youth and adults who have good ideas for making new products in the Valley from recyclables collected here.

Can Valley residents make picture frames, countertops, fiberglass, lumber, fleece, new containers, or any other products, from recyclables?

Turn your good idea into three thousand dollars (if you’re 21 and under) or even five thousand dollars (if you’re an adult).

Currently, there’s not much competition. So, now’s your chance to make some money!

Individuals and groups can apply for these grants by filling out an application which is available on the Mid Valley Recycling Facebook page, the VCRS website, or by calling Jo at 907-892-2400 – or email taylorsammy230@gmail.com

Prepared & Resiliant MORE ON PAGE 12 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Helping Couples Reconnect MORE ON PAGE 6 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Little Shop of Horrors at Glenn Massay MORE ON PAGE 8 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE

Contributed by Sammy Taylor

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Ryanne Ori

Does sweater weather have you in the mood for not only pumpkin spice everything, but also a seasonal refresh for your wardrobe and home decor? How would you like to shop from a selection of thousands of high quality items at 60-90% off retail prices, all while directly supporting local community members!

Consign49 is a four-day consignment sale held each spring and fall, in which over 250 local community members participate by bringing new and gently used clothing, accessories, and home décor items together to form a large-scale resale pop-up.  Each consignor independently prices and tags his/ her items, and items are dropped off at the event location approximately one day before the sale begins.

Consign49 Team Members work to organize all the items brought in, so everything can be easily shopped according to category and size in a retail like setting.   In addition, there is a “vendor row” where over a dozen local businesses will have booths for sharing their products and services. Consign49 is a smart, sustainable

way to shop, earn money, and extend the lifecycle of highquality items! Consignors get to clear out items from their homes, while earning some extra cash for the holidays. Shoppers get the opportunity to buy brand name items, or much needed seasonal items, for a fraction of retail prices.

Additionally, many items that go unsold at the end of the event will be donated to local charities in need. For the upcoming event, Consign49 will be partnering with the MyHouse homeless youth center as the primary recipient of all unsold items donated through the generosity of our consignors.

The Consign49 Fall/Holiday 2022 Consignment Sale will be held November 10-13 at Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, Alaska.  Admission and parking are free, all major credit cards are accepted, and dressing rooms will be provided.

Event hours are 9am – 8pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 9am – 5pm on Sunday. On Sunday, November 13th, many remaining items will be marked half-

price, depending on whether the individual consignor has chosen to put the item into the half-price sale.

If you are interested in becoming a consignor, please go to www. consign49.com for more information.  Consignor spots are limited and will be on a first come basis.  Additionally, a limited number of vendor spaces are available. Please send an email to info@ consgin49.com for more information.

Consign49 Fall/Holiday Event Raven Hall, November 10-13

Su Valley. This event takes place at the Menard Sports Center November 5th - 6th and gives the area an opportunity to shop for unique and one-of-a-kind gifts, right in their neighborhood, without that long commute to Anchorage.

literally thousands of holiday gift ideas. Jewelry, furs, original artwork, fashion, pottery, glassware… you’ll find unique items from all around the state. No need to waste a tank of gas looking for the perfect gift!

The Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace is a one stop holiday shopping extravaganza for Wasilla and the Mat-

Contributed by Ella Embree

This year you will once again be able to kick off your Christmas shopping at The Alaska Vintage Holiday Market at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. After being forced to move last year’s markets outdoors due to covid concerns, and therefore moving it to September to avoid freezing, the Market will be back indoors this year and back to a proper Holiday time of the year Nov. 18-20, 2022.

We will have over 100 small businesses all gathered in one place for you to enjoy. From handcrafted woodwork, to hand made jewelry, to

There is a $5 admission charge, kids 12 and under are free, and Sunday is free to Military with ID or anyone who brings 2 cans of food for a local food bank. Artists and craftsmen will fill over 100 mini specialty shops with

Make Santa proud this year and get all your holiday shopping done in one warm location with plenty of EASY… FREE… parking at the Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace!

Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace Menard Sports Center November 5th – 6th, 2022

upcycled furniture, to original works of art, most of our vendors design and make the products that they sell, so this is truly the apex of shopping small and shopping local!

The Holiday fun will also include live music, reindeer petting, and pictures

with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Some of your favorite food trucks will also be at the Market serving up freshly made goodies. Cost is $5 at the gate on Fridays and Saturdays, free on Sundays. We have Early Bird Hours on Friday November 18 for $10 fee with a weekend pass and free Santa Session and digital photo. General Admission is 2-7 $5, Saturday November 19, 10-6pm $5; and Sunday November 20th, 10-4 (FREE). Kids 12 and younger are free and parking is free.

Alaska Vintage Holiday Market

November 18-20

Alaska State Fairgrounds

Contributed by Lhing McNeal

Join us for a night of fun, great food, music, a split-the-pot raffle, giveaways, and entertainment. Our Gala Night and fundraising event will benefit the various programs of Kabayan INS., such as scholarships, cultural awareness, and other community outreach.

Dinner Tickets are $60 + fees per person. Group Reservation $600/ 8-person table + 1 drink. Tickets available at: kabayaninc.ticketleap.com

All tickets must be available online.

We will not be selling tickets by the door. Sponsors & Group Reservations complimentary drink tickets can be picked up at the door.

Kabayan members can buy tickets by November 30th, 2022 and get a reserved seat plus 2 raffle tickets.

Renew or sign up for membership at the event and get 3 raffle tickets and the chance to win a $50 gift card. Bring your friend and best friends.

We are looking for sponsors or anyone that can donate auction baskets or giveaway items. You can also support us by placing a personal ad for $100. Our souvenir book will feature all sponsorships, donors, and personal ads. Please call 907.322.9463 or 720.951.1231 for more info.

Kabayan Inc. Fundraising Gala

17, Raven Hall

Contributed by Kourtney Shannon

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Tracy Lorentz

Pumpkin, Spice, and everything nice… at Tracy’s Treasures!

Tracy’s Treasures, located in Wasilla, offers shoppers a store FULL of unique gifts, indoor and outdoor decor, local food and handicrafts, and much more.

On Thursday November 3rd from 5 to 8PM, Tracy’s Treasures will be having a fabulous Christmas Open House event. There will be food, games, giveaways, and more!

So join me — for the Tracy’s Treasures Christmas Open House— at Tracy’s Treasure’s, November 3rd from 5 to 8PM.

Tracy’s Treasures is located in Wasilla at 991 S Hermon Rd., two doors down from Sakura Sushi.

See you November 3rd at this fabulous open-house event!

Tracy’s Teasures Open House Christmas Event November 3rd 991 S Hermod Rd., Wasilla

outside of Alaska. Please join the cause! The people of Alaska need you!

Alaska is hungry, and they want fresh Alaskan grown and made food. In my new role at Bushes Bunches Produce Stand in Palmer, as the Purchasing Manager, we are making a stand for Alaskan grown and made food products being the only food we sell at our store YEAR-ROUND!

In order to accomplish this feat, we first need every farmer around the state who has any food product left that they want to sell to contact me, and our stand will buy it from you for a reasonable price and sell it to our people and our businesses that we do business with.

Next, we need you to listen to your heart and GROW MORE FOOD! Find a way to produce more food options YEAR-ROUND for our people. Whether it’s a container farm from Freight Farms, a grow tent or an insulated

Contributed by Marlene Munsell

Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) is planning several events focused on keeping seniors engaged and having fun. The first event is the Fall Festival, which will have live music played by the Feral Katz Band. They are so much fun that you can’t stand there and watch, you must dance! This event starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, October 21st and ends at 6:30 p.m.

There will be a dessert and chili contest, with prizes for the top 3 best

Greenhouse, a vertical farm inside an old-abandoned building or whatever option you can think of to grow food.

The reality is that we can no longer trust the quality of food coming from outside our state or whether or not it will come at all. THE TIME IS NOW to take action to feed the people.

If you feel the calling to make a difference, then please join our cause! There is no more time to delay. We must create food solutions to feed our people with year-round food products!

Join us at Bushes Bunches on October 22, 2022, from 12pm to 6pm for our Oktoberfest ‘22 where we will be creating a powerful community around creating food sovereignty for Alaska where together we grow and create entire food items only here in Alaska and create systems that stop any dependence upon any systems

Contact me at 907-887-6130 if you have any questions, would like to be a part of this event, or would like to sell your food products at our store!

Bushes Bunches Oktoberfest October 22nd at 12PM 2355 Old Glenn Hwy, Palmer 907-745-1115

BushesBunchesStand@gmail.com

Open 10am to 6pm 7 days a week

Because a store that’s alive is worth the drive!

ones. If you love cakes, you can be part of the cake walk. We will also have a 50/50 raffle. We appreciate the generosity of our sponsors: Katrina Holder from Norther Executive Assist, Donna Cote with Jack White Real Estate, Shannon Martindale with Five Rings Financial, and The Law Firm of Connie Aschenbrenner.

Additionally, on Saturday, November 5th, WASI is hosting a Craft Fair, the fair starts at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. only a few spots left. For more information on reserving a spot, please contact

Contributed by Ginger Bear

Participants are asked to spend one night sleeping anywhere outside of their bed to support Family Promise.

Wasilla, AK 10/05/2022 – Family Promise, the nation’s leading organization fighting family homelessness, is hosting this year’s Night Without a Bed on October 22, 2022. Night Without a Bed is a social media challenge that raises awareness for families experiencing homelessness. Family Promise Mat-Su along with 200+ other Affiliates nationwide will be participating in the event.

Night Without a Bed participants are asked to sleep anywhere without a bed for one night: cars, a tent, a treehouse, living room floor, a couch, etc., and use the hashtag #NightWithoutABed2022 to post a video or photo with a short blog entry to describe their experiences. In the run-up to the event, participants will challenge another friend to make the

choice of participating in #NightWithoutABed2022 or make a donation to Family Promise. Last year, Night Without a Bed raised over $100,000 to help families across the country.

Every year in America, over 3 million children experience homelessness. These children are 8-9 times more likely to repeat a grade, 3 times more likely to be placed in special education programs, and 7 times more likely to attempt suicide. 42% will drop out of school at some point and 47% suffer from anxiety, depression, or withdrawal.

“Homelessness is not only the person holding a sign on the street corner.

Homelessness can be sleeping in a vehicle, a friend’s couch, or anywhere that is not your home. It can happen to anyone. One hospital visit, raised rent, or car accident can create loss of work, an income, and eventually lead to housing insecurity.” said Ginger Bear, Executive Director of Family Promise Mat-Su. “We are excited

about joining together with National and other Affiliates for this event.”

For more information on Night Without a Bed and how to participate, head to www.nightwithoutabed.org.

About Family Promise Family Promise envisions a nation in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future.

What began as a local initiative in Summit, NJ, has become a national movement that operates in 200+ communities in 43 states. Family Promise delivers innovative solutions for family homelessness including prevention, shelter, and stabilization services.

We have served more than one million family members since our founding more than 30 years ago, and we aspire to change the future for one million children by 2030 through our community-based programs.

Learn more at FamilyPromise.org

Kim at 907-206-8803. Join us for these exciting events and follow us on Facebook at Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. and keep an eye for our upcoming FUN-raiser: MY-O-MY IT’S PIE!

Contributed by Sara Williams

Contributed by Clayton Allison

Two common types of DIY epoxies are countertop and deep pour. While the two are very similar, they each have their unique properties and ideal uses.

Regardless of the epoxy needed for your project, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions because mistakes can have a huge impact on the final product.

Countertop epoxy is known by many names and brands, such as bar top, tabletop, woodworking epoxy, etc. As the name implies, countertop epoxy is best for pouring over flat surfaces, such as tables, bars, counters, or resin art, but it can be used for a wide variety of projects. These epoxies usually have a higher viscosity than a deep pour and the cure time is much quicker.

Pour thickness can vary depending on the application, but it is important to note that using countertop epoxy for embedding thick objects will take several applications. This is because the key characteristic of countertop epoxy

is that you can pour it a maximum of 1/8” depth in a single pour. It is important not to pour any thicker than that because pouring epoxy too thick can cause excessive heat, bubbles, yellowing, smoking, cracks, and distortions. Instead use multiple coats to achieve your desired thickness. One gallon will cover roughly 20-30 square feet at 1/8” depth.

Countertop epoxy is almost always a 1:1 mix ratio. That means you mix 1 Part A (Resin) with 1 Part B (Hardener).

When fully cured, this epoxy makes a much tougher final surface than Deep Pour epoxy. It typically cures within 12-24 hours, depending on your room temperature and humidity. Just keep in mind that even if your surface feels cured after 12 hours, it may take up to 7 days for a full cure that will resist damage and scratches.

Deep pour epoxy is known by many names and brands as well. It is sometimes referred to as casting resin. The key characteristic of this epoxy is that they have a lower viscosity which al-

lows you to pour it thickly, up to 1” or greater in a single pour. They also have a slower curing rate, and can be used for a wide variety of projects including river tables, decorative jewelry, cast objects, cutting boards, etc. However, the thicker you pour any epoxy, the more heat it generates, so you must pay close attention to the limits listed in your product data. If you need more depth, use multiple coats to achieve your desired thickness.

Deep pour epoxy is almost always a 2:1 mix ratio. That means you mix 2 Parts A (Resin) with 1 Part B (Hardener). Depending on your room temperature and humidity, deep pour epoxy can take 24-72 hours to cure. The longer cure time for casting epoxy allows for a longer working time, but care must be taken to prevent dust and debris from settling into the resin.

Also note that if you are working with porous materials, like wood, you’ll want to apply countertop epoxy as a seal coat before pouring a deep pour layer. A seal coat helps release or encase the air throughout the porous substance, preventing blemishes from appearing in the deep pour layer. Also, if using a deep pour epoxy to achieve casting or depth, a countertop epoxy layer is recommended as a final step to create a hard, scratch-resistant final surface for your project.

For best results in any project, you must read the instructions provided from

the manufacturer of the epoxy you are using. If coating a surface, it must be dry and free of dust, wax, grease, oil, or contaminants. It is recommended to lightly sand any wooden surfaces before coating. It is a good idea to put down plastic drop cloths to catch drips underneath any working surface. You can apply epoxy release tape to the backside of any project for easy drip removal without having to sand the drips off. Once the epoxy has been poured and spread evenly across the surface, you can lightly pass a torch or heat gun across the surface to remove any bubbles.

It is extremely important to make sure to measure your epoxy parts precisely, and ensure the resin and hardener are thoroughly mixed. Inaccurate measuring or insufficient mixing will cause the epoxy surface to remain soft or develop small sticky soft spots.

If applying epoxy in multiple layers, the next coat can be applied if within the “recoat window” of your specific epoxy (listed in the product data). Roughly it should be within 8-24 hours of the first coat. If waiting longer than 24 hours, make sure to lightly sand the epoxy surface and wipe it clean with acetone prior to recoating. All epoxy should be stored in a warm dry place between 75-80° F.

Get in touch with the experts at Alaska Resin Supply. We provide the highest quality materials and are located at 201 E. Swanson Ave, Suite #1, in Wasilla. Give us a call at (907) 671-9900 and visit our website at AlaskaResin.com

Contributed by Diana L. Straub

PFD’s are here! The time of year that excites us all. What will you do with your PFD money? Buy some new winter tires? Pre-pay your utilities for six months? Buy holiday gifts or school clothes for children? Pool the families PFD’s for a new vehicle or even a home? I encourage you to invest your PFD money in as many local businesses as you can.

Did you know, you can invest your PFD in such a way that offers you meaningful tax deductions on your home, car, & electronics, just to name three? You CAN! Yes, you can invest in yourself by starting a home-based business. I have enjoyed a home-based business with

Mary Kay for more than 30 years. There are other companies to choose from for both men and women. If the idea of teaching others how to choose and use skincare products piques your interest, call me; let’s meet for a facial.

October also brings the change of the season in Alaska. The wind is blowing, there is a chill in the morning and evening air and we can see the days getting shorter. The holidays are quickly approaching and local vendor events are on our calendars. Vendor events are a great way to spend your PFD money in our community. I have two Open House events scheduled for November 5th and 19th. At these Open House events, you are encouraged to bring a list of people you want gifts for

the holiday season, a buying budget per person, and mailing addresses. I will provide refreshments, gift wrapping ideas and supplies, a postage station and I will go to the post office for you. There will be special pricing at the Open House for those who attend.

Black Friday is dead to me. Having already seen Black Friday deals advertised on TV, this shopping day that was once a fun annual one day event may be dead to you as well. What could I offer in place of Black Friday? PINK Friday!

Pink Friday is full of online Fun! Pink Friday is an event for my customers and their friends across the country.

Mary Kay Consultants have no geographical limitations within the USA. Our customers are men and women in all 50 States. If you want to participate, check out Facebook @Diana’s Pink Page for the shopping specials then shop online at www.MaryKay.com/dstraub

Pink Friday festivities will offer live “How To” demonstrations and fun games with prizes!

Remember this holiday season: make a list of people who you want gifts for the holiday season, a budget, and mailing addresses. If you want to give our new Men’s Special Edition Foaming Beard Wash with the Beard Oil as a gift, let me know right away. This duo has been a big hit. If gift certificates are more your gift giving style, I have gift certificates available at special pricing.

I strongly encourage you to shop local, shop small business, and shop with a plan. Consider investing in yourself, begin your own small home-based business with your PFD money. Enjoy tax benefits and the side hustle level income or career level income. Above all else, enjoy your holiday season.

Diana L. Straub

907-841-7245

Contributed by Doug Ferguson

In previous “Great American” articles I have tried to highlight the people, through their lives’ work, that have made a significant influence on my life as well as many others in America growing up and into adulthood. In my case some of these people’s influence came from great books they wrote that I read in my youth.

This is definitely the case with Ernest Thompson Seton, the famous naturalist and founder of the Boy Scout movement in this country. While a British citizen of Scotch descent until later in his life when he became a United States citizen, he lived the better part of his life in America. My mother gave me a copy of his early and well-known “Wild Animals I Have Known” when I was in my pre-teens and, with the great illustrations he drew himself that established him as a great artist, helped form my lifelong interest in nature.

These stories were fascinating to me, especially the one about “Lobo The Wolf” describing his encounter with an elusive and canny male wolf he had been hired to hunt down out west when it had been single handedly destroying cattle and sheep owned by local ranchers. In it he left you with an admiration for the intelligence, resourcefulness, and courage of this wild animal without romanticizing it as most nature writers had been doing trying to make them human. It was this firsthand insight with Lobo that later propelled him into a leader in the wildlife conservation movement.

This book, published in 1898, was a collection of short stories he had previously written and published in

various venues of his firsthand experiences with wild animals as both a hunter, conservationist and rancher in both America and Canada. Prior to this published collection, Seton was already well known during late 1800’s as an expert on wildlife that he had personally studied and had drawn in their natural environment. For instance, his original method of highlighting distinguishing identification features of birds in his great illustrations set the standard for future bird guides such as those by Roger Tory Peterson.

During a dinner to which he had been invited to tell some of these stories by Theodore Roosevelt, the future president was so taken with Seton’s accounts, he strongly encouraged him to collect them in a book. Seton took Roosevelt’s advice and “Wild Animals I Have Known” was born! It was an immediate best-seller and finally established Seton as a nationally known nature author. It’s still in print today. From then on, he published and illustrated over two dozen books, plus hundreds of articles in his lifetime on nature and later scouting.

About the same age I got the book, I also joined the Boy Scout of America where I learned that he was a founder of this organization many years before, but as a youth, my interest in history remained typically limited. It has only been as an adult reading his autobiography “Trail of an Artist-Naturalist’, that I have realized what an innovative, talented, and influential life he had.

Besides having a unique, almost mystical relationship with wild animals going way back to his childhood on a pioneer farm in Canada when his family moved there from England, he had a gift of memory which later complemented his

gifts in drawing, writing and storytelling for which he became famous.

In his long life (He died in 1946 at age 86) he lived in many places in Canada and the United States and had extended trips abroad, each of which has its own story showing the different unique adventures that shaped his writings. His special relationship with native American culture and traditions also had an enormous effect on them. This includes the special story of how he formulated the ideas that resulted in the Boy Scout movement when, instead of turning young teens into authorities when they vandalized his farm in Connecticut, he invited them to spend a week on the farm where he showed them the camping and leadership skills that eventually turned many of their lives around.

The details of his life are too extensive to summarize here. Anyone wishing to

know more about this man should read not only his autobiography, but also Farida A. Wiley’s excellent book with representative selections from his many writings, “Ernest Thompson Seton’s America”.

Seton was a unique individual who not only shaped a future generation of nature writers and nature study, but also helped to shape a future generation of young men, many of whom became leaders in their own right including five future presidents of the United States who were Scouts in their youth.

I feel fortunate to have experienced the gifts of this Great American back in my youth when I needed them!

Doug Ferguson is a retired engineer living in Palmer, AK who has had a life-long interest in history, science, and nature.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Contributed By Dara Harrel, LPC and Kelsey Fox, LMFT

Picture a couple, alone in their cabin. The night air is frigid. And although the aurora is not out, the stars shimmer brilliantly, glistening on the snow as a wolf howls in the distant forest. They have just wrapped up dinner and done the dishes. While one cleans the kitchen, the other is doing the nighttime wind down. When the thought crosses a mind, of an innocent remark that was made days prior. They both look to the other not knowing what to say, how to connect, and unsure of how to start that conversation. They remain ships passing in the night. The last time they tried to converse it turned resentful and argumentative.

Often couples are reluctant to approach conflict or even admit that there is a problem. Finally, it becomes an emergency and often seeking help is a last resort. Many couples do not have the tools and have not been given tools to be able to communicate and to resolve conflict. We are offering a couple’s workshop from Gottman’s principles to provide you with these tools, and to help you to better communicate with your significant other.

The past few years we have worked with couples who want to better communicate with their significant other. We have seen an increased need and want to help couples thrive more than just survive. We both use and believe Drs. John and Julie Gottman’s methods and principles in working with couples, which is backed by many years

of evidence-based research. It has even been helpful in our own relationships! For over 30 years Dr. John Gottman scientifically analyzed the habits of married couples and established a method of correcting behaviors that put thousands of marriages on the rocks. He helps couples focus on each other and the small day-to-day moments, when strung together make up the heart and soul of any relationship.

Whether you have been together for one month, are talking about marriage or you have been married for 50 years, couples can feel disconnected, lose connection with each other, or get stuck in a negative cycle. We want to encourage couples to start “dating” each other again, create shared meaning, be able to express fondness and admiration, learn positive communication skills, understand different types of conflict and the antidotes to work through them. We want to help couples learn about solvable and gridlock problems and how a partner can respond so their partner feels heard and seen.

What is wonderful about the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work workshop is that it is psychoeducational. Meaning this is not considered couples therapy, but there are similar skills which allow for a foundation for better understanding and communication.

This psychoeducation workshop is via Zoom, so you will not be expected to share about personal issues publicly and all couple exercises are done privately.

Who should attend:

Married couples from newlyweds to couples who have been together for decades

• Pre-martial couples

Contemplating engagement

Those who wish to enhance their marriage

• Those who are needing better conflict management tools

Who should NOT attend: This class is not for couples with Severe relationship distress

• Significant emotional or physical abuse

Serious emotional mental health problems

Ac tively struggling with addictions

Don’t forget, good relationships don’t just build themselves if we leave them alone, they create more problems. What they really need are daily

intentional effort, healthy conflict, and communication skills too.

We would love for you to join us, to register for our Workshop The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work held on Friday November 4, 2022, held via zoom from 10 am to 2:30pm for $325 per couple.

You can register through Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/couples907

Unable to make this one? The next event will be January 20, 2023.

Please reach out with any questions you have through the following:

Dara Harrel

dharrel@seasonsoflifecounselingllc.com

Kelsey Fox kelsey.fox@bravecounselingak.com

Contributed by Jason Goldsmith

She’s so judgmental! He’s so lazy! She’s never in the mood! He’s so childish! Obviously, these are a watered-down version of what we have heard from married couples (or each other) and some have begun to think that marriage is an outdated method of partnering. While not all marriages work out, marriage itself can be a huge benefit to all involved. Here are some tips to be successful and some facts that are often overlooked.

Make sure you are ready for marriage and the expectations involved. Having

similar goals and outlooks on life can be an important factor. One of the greatest problems facing relationships is having different goals. “I love them and I can fix them.” Or “After we’re married, they will just do what they are supposed to do because”, and many other ideas are keys to destroying a marriage. They become marriages based on a false sense of entitlement that often leaves us blaming our partner for betraying. Forcing change will develop into resentment.

Making a home in a marriage requires critical thinking and compromise. Most people are unprepared for living under the same roof and can easily become

disgruntled by all the previously unnoticed irritations about their partner. We will fight over things from time to time and it is important to do so fairly. Don’t call each other names or put each other down. Fight with one thing at a time. And most importantly, show respect to each other. If MMA fighters can do it, we should be able to do so for someone we love.

A healthy marriage will bring mental well-being. According to research studies, those in healthy marriages are among the least plagued by mental health issues. Even those who have lost a spouse express fewer signs of mental health issues than those who are separated or divorced. A marriage provides stability, safety, and support when it is maintained properly. In order for it to be healthy, both partners need to work

toward maintaining it together.

A healthy marriage will also aid in childhood development as our children observe us in positive and supportive behaviors.

For more relationship tips and warning signs, feel free to contact us. Here at HOW we would like to make ourselves available to you to answer some of your questions and concerns. Please contact us and we will reply in the next edition, or directly, while keeping you anonymous. We look forward to hearing from you.

www.hatsofwisdom.com

www.instagram.com/hats_of_wisdom907/

Contributed by Robert Shields

The Alaska Solar Tour in 2022 was in many ways the best yet. We managed to represent both Anchorage and Fairbanks, and we had good contrast of systems. From one small residential system to the largest system ever to grace the national tour with a utility scale solar project from the top of the world capable of providing seasonal power to over 70 homes. We were blessed to have local and state leadership speak at related events and in Fairbanks got to hear from a Space Foundation teacher liaison as we sought to weave the idea that solar, like all clean energy sources, is built to serve the industrious activities of cities large and small.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to the contributions of state Representative Geran Tarr, FNSB Assembly member Savannah Fletcher, Janice Lynn Park, Lyn Franks, Eric Friend, and Marci Ward, speaking for the Space Foundation. We couldn’t have made this happen without the support from Alascorp, and Solar Punk Magazine. A special shout out to Tom Delong and John Sloan from

the local cooperative GVEA who opened and let us tour the utility scale system, answering questions and helping us see how the light becomes power. Without question, the good food and supportive staff from Pike’s Landing was the cherry on the top of a very sweet Sunday afternoon in October. Last but not least, our deep appreciation to Carolyn Ramsey in Anchorage for opening her home. Thank you all for it making a great day and marking the calendar for another successful event.

As for what happens next, well, that’s where things get really exciting! Unknown to many, Mrs. Ward has been working for several years with the Space Foundation to introduce the next generation to the current generation of astronauts and, often at her own expense, bringing up these inspiring figures every other year. Also, working diligently in the background, as they all dutifully do, local teacher Beck Hanson has been inspiring her student to engage in the future by adapting elements of the Future City competition hosted, nationally by DiscoverE as a lesson plan for her middle school students.

Although we host the annual solar tour and regenerative planet summits, ARK,

essentially is a workforce development group geared to serve as a component of mainstreaming the regenerative economy. This year we were inspired to put solar in the context of clean homes and green cities as a way to keep moving the future forward. Drawing on the American Solar Energy Society annual event, the Future City competition, and the Space Foundation we created the Tour of Future Cities. Homes, businesses, schools, roads, infrastructure, industry, and social services can seem overwhelming when looking though a microscope but through a telescope that are all critical components of a cluster of development, we call a city. From a densely populated urban core to the most remote Alaska village, to sustainable, grow, and thrive, they both need culture, commerce, an economic base, and as always, Nature is the force that brings it all together to endure.

Enter Eco-districts. A method of measuring the metrics that lowers the cost of living and improves the quality of life for all. Utilized as a city planning tool, permaculture is the design science that honors and replicated ancient indigenous wisdom. Through their voluntary protocol, communities large and small can organize and assemble a compre-

hensive civic strategy for influencing the economic development strategies. This plan of action drives investment priorities with a focus on climate resilience, civic independence, and food sovereignty as the short-term investment that yields the best long-term profits for us and those who come after.

The Future City competition is only open to middle school aged kids and concludes in January. However, the Arctic Innovation Competition is ongoing with submissions due in March and awards given out on Earth day Saturday, April 22nd. As we get into the swing of annual deadlines for multiple events, we see how the prompt of “how do you see your city in 100 years” is an inspiring question that when incentivized can motivate folks to put their best ideas forward. With a $2000 kicker prize for climate resiliency its sure to get people looking up.

To many the world right now seems dark and divided, the Tour of Future Cities is an opportunity to rise above the partisan politics and divergent goals to find common ground in a clear vision of a positive and peaceful future.

From

Liberty, Liberally

Liberally

Defend Our Constitution! ...From Our Constitution?

Free Hand

I’ve been giving some serious consideration to the question of the Constitutional Convention, since all these ‘Defend Our Constitution’ ads started bombarding me. I’ve done some research into the subject, including the perspectives of the proponents of a Constitutional Convention as well, and I have some thoughts.

First and foremost, the Alaska Constitution literally includes the requirement that we consider a Constitutional Convention on the ballot every ten years. So, if the Alaska Constitution is so great, as the Defend Our Constitution ads repetitiously remind us, then what about this part? The part that says we, the people of Alaska, should consider having a Constitutional Convention every ten years? Are they claiming to defend the Alaska Constitution from the Alaska Constitution?

We must assume that the Constitution of Alaska provides this as an opportunity to correct against something. What could it be? Why might we need, according to the Alaska Constitution, a convention to affect that document? After all, we have the legislature to do that. Our elected representatives are supposed to re-present the will of the people, right? So why did the framers of the Alaska Constitution, at their own Constitutional Convention, include this caveat that we weigh the merits of another Constitutional Convention every decade?

The only rational reason why this ballot question is required by the Alaska Constitution is because the framers knew that legislatures - and state governments - can get off course. The great Alaskans who wrote our Constitution knew that the legislative amendment process might not suffice in the ongoing experiment of a more perfect union. They knew that the people might get fed up with the legislature one day, and they gave us a way to bypass them if needed. They wrote it into the Constitution, so that we can defend against those who would subvert the spirit of the law.

If the legislature isn’t getting the job done, then we, the people of Alaska, can step in and get it done. That’s the constitutional function of the Constitutional Convention. We can elect delegates from among our districts and those delegates will be empowered to forward changes that will be voted on by a congress of delegates.

However, this presents a problem. The people who are in the legislature, the same bipartisan group of people who are most worried that a Constitutional Convention might undo what they’ve done to get us here, might be elected as a delegate! That is a perfect example of something in the Alaska Constitution that needs to be fixed. The only Alaskans who shouldn’t be eligible to be elected as delegates are those who have been previously elected to the

legislature, and those who work for them. If we, the people, choose to have a Constitutional Convention, it is an obvious repudiation of our previous representation. So, if we decide to do this, that’s my first suggestion for change.

I agree that the Alaska Constitution is a great document, as Constitutions go. I especially like the part that gives power back to the people every ten years, in case these politicians get us into some situation that doesn’t serve us. That might be my favorite part, considering how those same people have banded together to stop that from happening.

It’s not my job to tell you how to vote. It’s your job to figure out how you should vote. That’s the whole point of voting - representative government. But remember, it is outside money that is funding all the Defend Our Constitution ads, and remember that they are claiming to defend the Constitution from a part of the Constitution. Their name, Defend The Constitution, is itself a misleading misnomer.

The Constitutional Convention is defended best by the Constitution itself. If you feel that we, the people, need a reset with our representative government, then you should vote Yes for a Constitutional Convention, as the Constitution allows. If you think the state of Alaska is doing great, then you should vote No. I don’t know many people who think that Alaska is doing great, and I know a lot of people of various partisan persuasions.

I’m voting yes, if for no other reason, because we almost all agree that the Legislature should be on the road system, near the population center of Alaska. We shouldn’t have to board a plane and possibly submit to a body search by a federal agency just to interact with our own state legislature, and that should be enshrined in our Constitution.

But who cares how I’m voting? That’s my conscience, not yours. Whether you vote Yes or No, just remember, it’s your constitutional right, and a constitutional requirement, that you vote your conscience on this one. Forget all the people trying to convince you how to vote. Ask yourself, do you think the legislature is eventually going to get better, or are they only going to make things perpetually worse? What’s the trajectory?

The Alaska Constitution defends you from counterproductive, partisan politics, by giving you the opportunity to make changes as needed every ten years. A Constitutional Convention is our last line of defense against those who have led us here by letting us down. They wouldn’t need a half million in ads if they hadn’t done such a horrible job in the last ten years.

Self Made Man Sculpture by Bobbie Carlyl

By Josh Fryfogle Oct 16, 2015

Free my hands

And let me chip away

The stone that has me captured

Inside this mountain

Of solidified light

A soul needs a fracture

Refracting

Fingers feeling, cracking

I Am the artist and the art

Weakness is Hard as stone and rock

A quarried block torn apart

Light will shine

From new stone set free Refracting from its darkness

Slowly, so Slowly it is revealed

Chipping away at the artist

Shards of ego Gravel ground around Pieces of some broken man

Parts of me go

Falling free Brushed aside by my own hands

www.LibertyLiberally.com

Liberty, Liberally

the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Call by Referendum

§ 1. Amendments – Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature. The lieutenant governor shall prepare a ballot title and proposition summarizing each proposed amendment, and shall place them on the ballot for the next general election. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition favor the amendment, it shall be adopted. Unless otherwise provided in the amendment, it becomes effective thirty days after the certification of the election returns by the lieutenant governor. [Amended 1970, 1974]

§ 2. Convention– The legislature may call constitutional conventions at anytime.

§ 3. Call by Referendum– If during any ten-year period a constitutional convention has not been held, the lieutenant governor shall place on the ballot for the next general election the question: “Shall there be a Constitutional Convention?”

If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in the negative,

the question need not be placed on the ballot until the end of the next ten-year period. If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in the affirmative, delegates to the convention shall be chosen at the next regular statewide election, unless the legislature provides for the election of the delegates at a special election. The lieutenant governor shall issue the call for the convention. Unless other provisions have been made by law, the call shall conform as nearly as possible to the act calling the Alaska Constitutional Convention of 1955, including, but not limited to, number of members, districts, election and certification of delegates, and submission and ratification of revisions and ordinances. The appropriation provisions of the call shall be self-executing and shall constitute a first claim on the state treasury. [Amended 1970]

§ 4. Powers– Constitutional conventions shall have plenary power to amend or revise the constitution, subject only to ratification by the people. No call for a constitutional convention shall limit these powers of the convention.

Constitutional Convention: Liberal or Conservative?

The opponents of the Constitutional Convention have certainly pointed out some valid concerns. The truth is, there is some risk to a Constitutional Convention. It’s the same risk that comes with Liberty in general.

Anytime a people, or an individual, are free to do as they please, the possibility of unforeseen consequence increases. If people are free, they are free to make mistakes.

Self-governance is not without risk, and requires trust in the People of Alaska.

Liberty of the individual is what our nation, and our State, is made of. Liberty is what truly constitutes a free society - or as they used to call it, a Liberal society. We misuse the word Liberal much more than apply it correctly in the common vernacular, and that’s why I am concerned about a Constitutional Convention. If a convention were to achieve anything good, it would need to come from the People, and certainly not the legislators who have led us to this precipice where we must seriously consider such drastic measures. However, the people commonly confuse the language, and Constitutions, once written, are very hard to change. Just look at how much effort and money is being spent just to stop this one from happening!

Are the People prepared for such an endeavor? The letter of the law is most commonly defined by the proper usage of language. It says what it says, not what you think it means. Jurists have deliberated over single sentences for hundreds of years, and we still can’t come to a conclusion on some parts of our nation’s founding documents. With the Alaska Constitution, we could easily create unintended outcomes if the People of Alaska don’t write it right.

It’s The Liberal Choice

When people in our nation refer to themselves as ‘liberal’, I believe that most of them still think of that in

Final Thought

The people of Alaska are very unhappy with the legislature. But are the people prepared for a constitutional convention?

If the Yes votes win, and we have a constitutional convention, we’ll all have our work cut out for us.

Everything will be on the table, and there will be many people - including those who vote No - who will be seeking to make changes to the Alaska constitution. The moneyed interests

the original definition: open minded, open to change, treating people as equally autonomous, respecting other folk’s way of life, believing in free speech and press, et cetera, et cetera. I believe that, especially the older demographic that votes, still use the word in that sense. The use of ‘liberal’ as a synonym for political leftists is a complete misnomer, in that they’ve abandoned literally every part or perspective of liberalism as it is classically defined.

“Conservatism” refers to those who want to maintain tradition and existing structure. This is not a philosophy of its own, either. “Conservative” is not necessarily the opposite of Liberal. A conservative likes to keep things as they are, while a Liberal is open to changing tradition. I think it’s important that my readers consider this, too. If you vote Yes on the Constitutional Convention, that’s the Liberal position, by definition. If you vote No, well, congratulations on being Conservative.

No One Cared In 2012

Another thing that occurs to me, as I read and write about this issue, is that there is a coalition of Republicans and Democrats who have openly stated that they oppose the Constitutional Convention. However, the people of Alaska are fed up, or the 1630 Fund wouldn’t drop half a million in ‘dark’ money to try to steer the public perception against it. No one cared in 2012 when the question of a Constitutional Convention came up. They knew then that the People of Alaska wouldn’t support it, and they know now that they might. So it does feel like the opponents of a Constitutional Convention are the establishment, the key players who drove us to the brink on so many issues, and the establishment doesn’t like a Constitutional Convention because it’s the people taking back the power as a response to the legislature’s abuse of the same. Of course the establishment would oppose that.

will be very interested, and will be investing lots of money in affecting public perception while they seek to establish power and control for their purposes.

If we have a constitutional convention, it’s imperative that we elect people who aren’t already part of the problem, but those are precisely the people who have name recognition, who have already built a brand around their name, and who have existing networks of activated supporters to campaign on their behalf.

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 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.

www.LibertyLiberally.com

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

Liberty, Liberally’s Future

I’ve been thinking about how to fund this newest publication, Liberty, Liberally, alongside my other two monthly publications. Make A Scene Magazine and The People’s Paper are funded though paid advertisements from local businesses and organizations.

It’s a simple enough equation. But Liberty, Liberally, has its own spirit. It’s more of a literary effort, with poetry and philosophy as its main purpose. It doesn’t seem right, to place advertisements in what is ultimately something non-commercial.

While I touch on some political issues in Liberty, Liberally, I write about them from a philosophical perspective, rather than the partisan pontification that is the norm in newspapers and on nightly news. In order to keep the spirit of Liberty, Liberally front and center, I’ve decided to partner with my

other two publications, and also with 95.5 The Pass, in a cross-promotion effort.

We will be promoting Liberty, Liberally on the radio, in Make A Scene Magazine and The People’s Paper - with sponsorships available to local businesses who wish to show their support for the cause of Liberty. The local businesses that are included in that ongoing ad campaign will be who the public sees as supporting Liberty in our community!

Liberty isn’t given to us by the state. Liberty is something that we already have, upon birth. It’s the free will that we’re born with, and with thoughtful education Liberty can blossom upon the earth. Liberty, Liberally, is my effort to contribute to that education, and a culture of learning about Liberty.

With your help, I can shine the light of Liberty that much brighter!

Call 907-373-2698 for more information.

Liberty, Liberally

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

POLITICS & OPINION

Contributed by Stephanie Nowers

Since my husband and I moved from Anchorage to a cabin off WasillaFishhook in 1995, we’ve seen the Valley explode with opportunities. In 2000, we moved to the Palmer area, just south of the Fairgrounds, where we raised our two daughters and I run an energy consulting and communications business. I ran for the Mat-Su Borough Assembly representing the greater Palmer area because I want to keep the Valley a great place to live, work, play and I would be honored to continue to serve the community for a second term.

When we moved here, there were less than 50,000 people. Now the Valley is the fastest growing place in the state with a population of over 100,000 people and climbing. That growth has brought prosperity, but also challenges including overcrowded roads, and extra demands on ambulance and rescue crews and schools. Additionally, while

Contributed by Debra McGhan

Before I turned two, I was told, “Debbie! Get off the ladder!”

About to taste my first artichoke, my brother told me, “You won’t like that!” I was also told, “If you leave me, you’ll be flat broke standing on a street corner begging for help within five years.”

I’ve learned those were all lies designed to contain and control me. I refused to believe it and found myself searching for truth, which has now propelled me to the successful life I’m living today.

I’ve climbed a lot of ladders in my life while hanging floor joists, stuffing insulation, installing sheetrock, mudding, painting, placing trim… all while building my amazing home that is now

we have a thriving business community, we are hampered by a lack of high-paying jobs with too many Valley residents having to commute to Anchorage each day to work, which means spending hours on the road and away from their families to be able to pay the bills.

On the Assembly, I have worked to keep a tight eye on the bottom line while encouraging growth and looking to maintain the qualities and way of life that we cherish about living here. Some of the highlights from my first term are that we have stayed debt free while building roads and schools, grown opportunities for our youth like hosting the Arctic Winter Games in 2024 and a new youth shooting range near Wasilla that the Assembly donated land for, and passed measures like setting up an online checkbook so government is more transparent and accessible.

As a business owner, I have also looked to find creative ways to help our busi-

all mine. Paid for with my blood, sweat, torn muscles and tears.

I’ve eaten a lot of artichokes and I love them. Plus, I’ve enjoyed the added benefit that artichokes are a great source of fiber and full of vitamins and nutrients that feed my body with real nourishment that help alleviate all kinds of health issues. My research revealed they can help to regulate blood pressure, and support the liver, digestive tract, and blood sugar.

It’s now been 18 years since I walked away from the lie that I would be broke and destitute without a man that I now know was just broken and wanted it to be someone else’s fault. Today, I’m more financially secure and comfortable than I have ever been in my life.

And I did all of this despite those lies. Instead of blindly believing the things

ness community grow. In September, I successfully led the effort to adopt C-PACE, a financing tool that at no expense to taxpayers gives commercial and industrial businesses in Mat-Su a leg up with a potentially cheaper, less risky way to pay for improvements to reduce energy costs and make properties better able to withstand natural disasters like earthquakes and windstorms. With the highest healthcare costs in the country and some of the highest energy and transportation costs, we need to find ways to help not hinder our businesses.

I also have looked to keep our communities safe and ensure we have the amenities that make this a fun place to live. In the Palmer area, I have worked to make sure the Glenn Highway is lit, the Matanuska Recreation area stayed open, and worked with the University and local stakeholders to find alternatives to putting a gravel pit in the middle of the Matanuska Greenbelt trail

I was told, I searched for the truth for myself. I climbed many ladders to find out why I was being told to get off. I tasted artichokes to see if they were horrible like my brother said. And I picked myself up and moved forward with purpose and a plan to increase my portfolio of assets after I finally broke free from an unhealthy relationship.

I slipped a few times, and not just on the ladder, fortunately I’ve been able to recover from my mishaps. I know many others with outcomes that proved life altering or fatal. So, I get why my parents didn’t want me on that ladder when I was not even two years old. They knew I could break my neck. Over the years I learned that if you’re going to climb ladders you must be 100% focused and in the moment. You can take nothing for granted. You must ensure you have a very secure, stable base before you climb. And the climber

Protected our Second Amendment rights by making the Mat-Su a Second Amendment Sanctuary borough.

Contributed by Tim Hale

Dear friends and neighbors,

I am a lifelong, working Alaskan and Butte is home for me and my family.

During our challenging past three years, I’ve worked hard to listen and help friends and neighbors with problems as your advocate on the Assembly.  Focusing on the issues that matter most to our community, I’ve delivered on the promises I made when I first ran for office in 2019.

Some of my most meaningful accomplishments include:

Kept government spending in check and reduced the property tax mill rate every year I’ve been on the assembly.

Increased transparency and accountability in government through the Online Checkbook and permanent telephonic testimony.

Improved public safety and reduced response times for fire and medical services.

Contributed by Bill Walker

As a lifelong Alaskan, I can’t think of another time in our history when a governor acted without integrity as frequently as Mike Dunleavy has in the past four years. Here are some reminders of why we need new leadership.

Tall promises, small results

The central promise Dunleavy made during the previous election is that he would give every Alaskan a $6,700 check his first year in office and a full statutory dividend of $3,000-plus every other year. He always knew the promise was impossible to keep, and he came up thousands of dollars short every year, including this year. Even to deliver what he did, he had to take a hatchet to Pioneer Homes, the ferry system, University of Alaska, winter road maintenance and our economy. Now, with the price of oil down 25% in the past three months, he is falsely campaigning again knowing he cannot deliver.

Pledge allegiance to Mike — or else In his first act as governor in 2018, Dunleavy required state employees — not just at the top administrative level, but even positions such as public

health nurses and geologists — to sign a loyalty oath to him to keep their jobs. Those who refused were terminated. This was unprecedented. Lawsuits followed, Dunleavy lost, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in public money was paid out.

Pay-to-play corruption

Dunleavy’s largest Alaskan donor in 2018 contributed more than $300,000 in dark money toward his campaign PAC. Shortly after coming into office, Dunleavy awarded that donor’s grandson a sole source, no-bid contract for almost the exact amount of the campaign donation, an effort that failed to produce any identifiable results. When the media exposed the contract and donor connection, Dunleavy couldn’t explain it but promised a thorough investigation and Alaskans are still waiting for answers.

Defunding the court system

When Dunleavy disliked Alaska Supreme Court rulings that upheld the constitutional privacy rights of Alaska women, he chose to punish the judiciary, attacking and undermining judges and vetoing funding needed to operate courts. Predictably, public funds were

Supported community projects, including the Jonesville shooting range, Skeetawk, clean-up of the Bodenburg compounds, and the 2024 Mat-Su Winter Games.

Promoted election integrity by requiring an extra layer of security through a hand count verification of all ballots.

Listened carefully to neighbors in our community, community councils, and helped people solve problems.

wasted again when Dunleavy lost the lawsuits that followed.

Using public funds for political purposes

Instead of working to compromise on the big challenges our state faces, Dunleavy used taxpayer dollars to carry out targeted political ads against legislators. That maneuver was illegal, litigation ensued, and Dunleavy lost again, with public money paying that bill, too. Now, Dunleavy is running his reelection campaign with state employees, another violation of state law.

Sexual harassment coverup

A woman who worked in the governor’s office reported that she had received more than 500 unwanted, inappropriate texts from Dunleavy’s appointed attorney general. Dunleavy responded by suspending the attorney general for 30 days, and the attorney general lost his job only when the governor’s role in the cover-up of the misconduct was exposed by a journalist.

Dark money When faced with a difficult decision, Dunleavy often says it should go to a vote of the people. However, when Alaskans did vote and passed legislation to outlaw political donations with-

system. This summer, the borough also completed work on a new section of paved pathway on Nelson Road by Machetanz School so kids can safely bike and walk to school, the culmination of a community effort I have helped on since 2018.

I grew up in a military family and was taught from an early age that we should serve our community, treat people with respect and work together to solve problems. I like listening to people and digging into the details. For the government to work well, you must have a representative that answers the phone when you call. I have been that representative. With your vote, I’ll continue to work hard to bring more jobs to the Valley, keep you informed and keep the Mat-Su a great place to live, work and play. For more information about me, go to www.NowersforAssembly.com or contact me at 907.831-6299, or stephanienowersdistrict2@gmail.com

Stephanie Nowers has represented District 2, the greater Palmer Area, on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly since 2019.

must be strong, confident, and physically capable.

I learned to successfully eat an artichoke by first cutting off the tips so as not to get poked, then boil it until tender. Yum.

Financially, I learned credit can be a good thing as long as you avoid carrying certain types of debts (taxes and credit cards especially) and you always, always pay your bills in full, on time, every time.

Today we are bombarded by information from so many angles and sources. We should always be asking, ‘is this a lie?’  If you can’t verify it, consider it false. Also, consider the source. Don’t be fooled by those who want to control you through their lies. See the truth for yourself and pay attention, so you don’t fall off the ladder.

I have the energy and determination to continue serving our friends and neighbors in Butte,Knik, Fishhook, Lazy Mountain, Buffalo-Soapstone, Chickaloon, and Sutton community. I would be honored to earn your vote on or before November 8th.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please visit my website TimHaleForAssembly.com or give me a call anytime at 907-590-8243.

Tim Hale has served on the Mat-Su Assembly for the past three years and lives in Butte with his family.

out disclosing the donor, also known as dark money, Dunleavy and his allies took $3 million of dark money from Outside donors, just 36 hours before the new rules took effect.

Heidi Drygas and I are running to bring Alaskans together, to bring integrity back to government, and to represent everyone in our state. My political roots are Republican. Heidi’s are Democratic. But we’re setting that aside to put Alaska first. Some enter politics for power, some for purpose. Our purpose as a unity ticket is to bridge divisions instead of creating new ones and to restore trust in leadership.

We’re two lifelong Alaskans committed to telling the truth about the challenges we face instead of telling lies to get elected. This approach will lay the foundation to get our state back on track. We both believe integrity matters, and we commit to always being honest with our fellow Alaskans. With integrity, leadership and purpose, together we will rebuild Alaska.

Bill Walker is an Independent who served as the 11th governor of Alaska from 2014-18. He is running for election again on Nov. 8, as part of a unity ticket alongside Heidi Drygas.

ACCESSIBILITY & MOBILITY

521-7101

ANTIQUES & VINTAGE

The Estate Sale ........ 357-7050

APPAREL & CLOTHING

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

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

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Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364

Non-Essentials ........ 745-2258

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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

POLITICS & OPINION

Contributed by Meghan Trupp

I think most people can agree that our children make up the most precious demographic in our community. It’s our responsibility to make sure they get a quality education that prepares them for their future and the future of the Mat-Su Valley.

However, if you look at statistics, we are failing our children. According to US News, over 50% of our children are testing below proficient in mathematics and reading in our elementary, middle, and high schools. In fact, only 33% of our high school kids are scoring at or above proficient in math. Additionally, high schoolers have around a 70% graduation rate yet according to Dr Herb Schroeder at UAA, over 50% of our students from the Mat-Su that choose to further their education with UAA have to take

remedial classes. This is unacceptable. With that being said, I don’t blame our educators. Many have voiced their frustrations with restricting bureaucracy that result in cookie cutter standardized curriculums without the room to cater to students that do not thrive in this environment. It’s a cause of a lot of burn out in the profession as they battle this coupled with the pressure from parents all while being underpaid.

The answer isn’t to throw more money at a failing system, we need to change the system itself. I believe it’s time the Mat-Su has a school choice system where the money follows each individual kid to the education system they chose. These schools should include traditional public schools, charter, home, immersion, and any combination of the above. This system breeds competition in programs to

do better which will greatly benefit our children. Parents will have a more effective say in their curriculums. Educators won’t be held to a cookie cutter standardized curriculum and will be able to cater to the needs of the students.

This could subsequently solve additional problems as well. You can choose a school that has or doesn’t have mask mandates. You can choose a school that has CRT or doesn’t. The choice is in the hands of the parents and students. Instead of heated meetings at school board meetings, the market will show exactly how the valley feels on these issues.

We pay over $15k per student, not including federal money, which is about the price of a nice private school. Let’s diversify our school system to cater to our children’s unique needs, bring a real working choice to our parents, and get bureaucracy out of the way of educators. Fund students, not systems.

Contributed by Pete Praetorius, PhD Associate Professor of Communication

On Tuesday October 25th, MatanuskaSusitna College will host a Legislative Candidate Forum for all of the Valley candidates running for State House and Senate. The Mat-Su Borough has a total of nine races: three senate races and six house races. Each senate district is paired with two house districts. See the accompanying map to see which candidates are running in which district.

Mat-Su College has hosted a Legislative Candidate Forum every election year except 2020 since 2004.

This will be the eighth forum that the college has hosted. This year’s forum will be held in the Glenn Massay Theater from 7:00-8:30 P.M. The Glenn Massay Theater seats 500 people, so come help fill the seats.

The forum will be divided into three sections: During the first section, the candidates will be allowed two minutes to introduce themselves. This will be followed by a question and answer period where candidates will answer questions from the campus community that will be pulled at random from a hat. Each candidate will be asked one question and be given the opportunity to respond to opponents’ answers to

their questions. Finally, each candidate will be given three minutes to give a final statement and address any of the questions that came up during the question and answer section.

To learn more about candidates’ positions, you can read their statements and link to their websites at the State of Alaska Division of Elections website: https://www.elections.alaska. gov/candidates/

Matanuska-Susitna College is located off of Trunk Road at 8295 E. College Drive in Palmer. To learn more about Mat-Su College, visit matsu.alaska.edu

Mat-Su College Candidate Forum October 25th

Contributed by Kimmie Elrod

My name is Kimmie Elrod and I’m running for Mat-Su School Board, District 5. Ten years ago, the military stationed my family here in Alaska. We fell in love with the area and the community and knew that upon retirement this was going to be our forever home. Together, my husband and I have three teenagers that currently attend school in the Mat-Su Valley.

For the last ten years, I’ve not only been an advocate for military families of deployed spouses, but also an advocate for women, men and children that have faced domestic violence. In addition, I have experience reading, analyzing, and developing policies,

as well as extensive experience with budget advocacy.

Through our various moves with the military, I have experienced schools all over the country. I feel that this unique experience would be an asset to the School Board.

First and foremost, it is my philosophy that we must be student-centered. Students of the Mat-Su Valley bring so much value to their opinion and experience and it is critical that we listen to them. Every student matters.

The beginning of this school year highlighted ways in which we could do better when the national transportation issues reached the Mat-Su Valley.

Some parents and guardians were left to choose between their child’s education and their jobs or wages. We must make sure that transportation is accessible for every single child.

Educational needs are not the same for every child or family. Parents and children must have flexibility and access to an education that is shaped to their strengths. I do not think a child’s success can be based on tests or grades exclusively and I feel that it’s important to make sure that every child has access to courses such as art and music. Additionally, I feel that it’s important to make sure that every student has the same opportunity to courses throughout the district.

I look forward to earning your vote on November 8th!

Contributed by Jennifer Ivory (Former BMSCC President)

I’d like to say a big Thanks to our Mat-Su Assemblyman, Tim Hale, for listening and actively helping us find good solutions to road issues in the Buffalo Mine community.  He works with anyone who seeks good options, then finds a good one to get the job done.  We really appreciate Tim’s hard

Contributed by Eileen Probasco

I’ll be voting for Tim Hale for the Borough Assembly District One. He’s the one who actually LISTENS to his constituents. That other guy, be VERY aware that he is totally opposed to community members organizing to participate in local government. He

work.  I heartily recommend casting your vote in the borough election to re-elect Tim Hale for Assembly.

People should also be aware that his opponent, Brian Endle who is running again for the third time, managed to take over our healthy Buffalo Mine Soapstone Community council some years back.  He pushed through some bizarre bylaw changes, like requiring

single handedly ELIMINATED the Buffalo/Soapstone Community Council, making it almost impossible for them to re-form in the previous capacity!

As a planning commissioner, he tried to re-vamp the whole section of code that talks about community councils... and tried it without even notifying the councils! Fortunately, his effort failed when several of the councils found out

an extremely high number of 60 people for a quorum in order to hold a meeting.  This shut down our local council, which stripped away our community’s voice. If he could do this with a community council, I don’t want to imagine what he could do to our borough.

I’m so happy we have a positive choice this election.  I’m voting for Tim Hale because he has proven himself worthy and I trust Tim to keep doing a good job.

and came to the PC meeting questioning what he was trying to do. He alleged that the council members are not the “community leaders.”

He envisioned that he was the “community leader” for his area and he should be “the voice” of the community, not the council, because he knew best. SHEESH! Watch out for that guy!

Contributed by Ray Michaelson

Hello, My name is Ray Michaelson and I am running for the School Board Seat representing District Two in the MatSu.

Our students are Alaska’s most valuable resource and they deserve the best education system this community can offer; the very best curriculum, facilities, teachers, and the very best in educational leadership.

Ideological divisions within our community have found their way into education policy. This has created an

environment which distracts from the work of delivering a quality education and sets a poor example for students.

The Mat-Su deserves a school board which has a more accountable, responsible and data informed approach to guiding our educational system with members who value thoughtful and focused deliberation. During my time on the school board my approach was simple: do what’s in the best interest for all students.

I am a parent of three adult children who benefitted greatly from their educational experience in the Mat-Su

school system. My professional background includes experience in teaching, advocacy for homeless youth, coaching, juvenile justice, and public health. My previous school board experience, education, and background will help to improve the school board’s focus on its mandated role and purpose.

Our community deserves a quality school board so, if you live in district two and want a balanced approach to educational leadership, I would appreciate your vote on November 8th.

Ray Michaelson Your nonpartisan choice for School Board, District Two

Contributed by Bethany Marcum

While the bulk of state expenditures occur via the operating budget, the capital budget is a separate lever, policymakers often use to cut or increase the state’s overall spending. This year, due in part to high oil revenue, they wedged many pet projects into the capital budget. This is unfortunate, unsurprising, and irresponsible.

The state capital budget is meant to fund exactly what it sounds like: capital projects, mainly infrastructure and assets, such as public buildings, bridges, and roads. It is assumed that the capital budget pays for necessary projects that will benefit the entire state, not community projects that are more appropriately funded through local government or private support.

Yet this year, Alaska policymakers appropriated at least $16 million to pay for projects outside the scope of state government. While many of them are admirable programs, they are not state

Contributed by Jim Cooper Candidate Senate District M Former Palmer Mayor

The Declaration of Independence states “…we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address says “… dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” The 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees equal protection of the laws which encompasses protection against sex discrimination. It has been central in ending and preventing government discrimination based on race and gender.

The Bible also speaks to equality. In Genesis “we are all equally made in God’s image”. Men and women are equal in the eyes of God. Because we are all created equal in relation to God, every human being deserves our respect. A rich man is neither more important nor entitled to more consideration than a poor man and a Jew is not more entitled than a Gentile.

Our Alaska Constitution, Article 1 states “… that all persons are equal and entitled to equal rights, opportunities and protection under the law”. BUT, despite all these profound documents that espouse equality - are we all equal?

priorities, and the appropriated money would be better used elsewhere, includ ing savings.

Distribution of capital project funds by House district — which legislators slid in pet projects for their districts — is available through Alaska’s Legislative Finance Division.

The list includes handouts such as; $2.5 million for facilities at the private Alaska SeaLife Center.

$7.3 https://1drv.

ms/w/s!AqcfFus9iMqlgkof-fABLADfRuufmillion for the private Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository.

$6.3 million for creation of a new private Chugach Region Archaeological Museum.

$87,000 to replace a scoreboard for the private Seawolf Hockey Alliance.

$588,775 to the private Dimond Alumni Foundation to replace diving boards

Many Alaskans — and visitors to the state — benefit from sports teams and museums. However, these should be financially supported by beneficiaries, not by the state’s pocketbook, which is not bottomless.

For contrast, two appropriations that will benefit the vast majority of Alaskans were; $175 million for the Port of Nome

$200 million for the Port of Alaska.

While the Port of Alaska is owned by the municipality of Anchorage, it handles goods bought by 90% of Alaskans. Projects enabling the Port of Nome to expand its capacity, meanwhile, are broadly beneficial because Alaskans are currently so reliant on the Port of Alaska. Creating capacity through multiple ports not only increases the available flow of goods, but also protects against unexpected problems at one or the other.

The governor vetoed some capital projects that clearly did not belong in the state’s budget, such as $300,000 for the

construction of a private “Equity Center.” The requestor was a community-based advocacy group, meaning it should be financially supported by its community, not the government. The state government should not be paying for non-state-owned buildings regardless of the cause for which they are used. It is unfortunate that more pet projects were not eliminated on similar grounds.

Overall, state funds appropriated for the capital budget add up to more than $935 million. This is the largest share of state funds in the capital budget Alaska policymakers have enacted since 2014, and the federal government added another $2 billion. While many projects required state matches to claim the federal funds, the vast wave of cash allowed policymakers to sneak in their favored projects and increase the capital budget total.

Millions of dollars are being spent to fund localized community projects that should instead be funded by local support and private sources. Alaskans deserve responsibility and transparency, not waste and opacity.

No… we are not equal! In the past, rich people, people of influence, celebrities received far less punishment than those not so privileged. If “white”, you are treated differently than if “black”. A Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Catholic gets treated differently than a “Christian”.

If a woman, you are treated differently than a man: less pay, less powerful jobs, less respect. If lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex or asexual, you definitely get treated differently than if “straight”. Despite what these revered documents state – if you are rich, white, straight Christian male, you WILL be treated more “EQUAL” than if poor, non-white, not straight female.

“Right-wing conservatives” are blaming the “left-wing liberals” for taking away the rights of others. The left wing is accused of taking away guns, defunding the police, taking away and giving jobs to “illegals”; adding more taxes, causing inflation thus making it hard for everyone to be “equal”. The reality is “right-wing conservatives” are the ones that embrace inequality. They are a party of exclusions. They are banning books, gerrymandering voting districts, passing laws to make voting more difficult, banning transgenders from sports, from bathrooms, forcing them to “out”

themselves and thus be subjected to severe discrimination. They also want and are taking away women’s rights to reproductive health care.

The Alaska Republican Party Platform even speaks to inequality: “we support…the teaching of Judeo-Christian foundation (which takes away equal rights to those who are not JudeoChristian); we support… abolition of the Federal Department of Education and refusing Federal funds and policies for education (this means Title IX, which guarantees equality in sports for women and others, would no longer be followed and Title 1 schools would no longer be able to provide services to lower income children, (there are over 32 Title 1 schools in the Mat-SU); Twenty two states Attorneys General (including Alaska’s) have sued the President to EXCLUDE all LGBTQ students from receiving free/reduced lunch at school. “we reject training, curriculum, and instruction supporting EQUALITY of outcome, gender, racial or ethnic bias, including critical race theory and social-emotional learning.” (from the Alaska Republican Party Platform 2022).

These statements are based on the belief that some are more equal than others. They do state that man is made in the image of God, and they believe that live begins at conception. But the Bible says that life begins at first breath. Again, they are imposing their beliefs

on others while disregarding some of their own.

They also believe marriage is one man and one woman, again, “we are more equal than you and we will do everything we can to discriminate against you” even though they support policies that minimize government intervention and control of the family. They also oppose the insertion of “sexual orientation” and “transgender identity” into the list of protected classes under the antidiscrimination laws of the State. They also state “we do not support biological males competing in female sports and support biological males using male public facilities and support biological females using female public facilities. So, who are the ones that are taking away rights and believing “All (wo)men are created equal”? It definitely is the right wing “conservatives”.

Even though they say they believe the proper function of the government is to protect the rights of its citizens…and every human deserves equal protection under the law and … believe in the dignity and the respect of all persons and oppose efforts to restrict the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. So all (wo)men are not created equal unless you fall into the beliefs that create the abyss shown above. If after reading this, you still believe we are all equal then continue to vote the exclusionary party into office.

Contributed by Randi Perlman

When folks visit the residential drivethru drop off at Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) with carloads of recyclable materials, many of them are curious about where these materials end up and what becomes of them. By following the VCRS ‘clean and sorted’ model, each of the 13 categories we accept follows a different path to its final destination.

As mentioned in Episode 9, ALL newspaper brought in to VCRS is sold to local company Thermo-Kool of Alaska, located in Wasilla. They also purchase some of the cardboard we receive. Thermo-Kool turns these two materials into cellulose insulation, hydroseed mulch, Lawn Re-new (a specially recycled wood-based fiber mulch), and stable bedding right here in the Mat-Su Valley.

From January-September 2022, 256 TONS of cardboard and almost 18 TONS of newspaper were baled and sold to Thermo-Kool – that’s a LOT OF MATERIAL, and a wonderful example of local reuse into local product. The relationship between VCRS and Thermo-Kool also demonstrates the sustainable and economically viable loop created by diverting tons of material from our landfill while providing businesses (local and otherwise) with the products they need, and revenue to continue operation and

expansion of our recycling programs.

Much of the materials we receive are shipped out-of-state through the Port of Anchorage to the Port of Tacoma, WA via TOTE Maritime and Matson as part of a long-term Freight Agreement with ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling). The generous support of TOTE, Matson and ALPAR contributes greatly to the success of the VCRS operation. Cardboard not used locally by Thermo-Kool is shipped to paper mills in NW Washington and made into linerboard and corrugated medium (fluting between layers of linerboard).

Our Mixed Paper category heads in that same direction to be turned into linerboard and medium for corrugated boxes, as well as fiber tubes and cores.

Sorted Office Paper, one of the higher priced commodities, is shipped to different destinations – a recent load will become tissue.

Many of us have heard the expression “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”, and so it is with recyclables. One person’s used aluminum beverage can is recycled over and over again, INFINITELY, into new beverage cans.

One steel dog food can becomes more steel food cans and rebar. Our kitchen aluminum foil, bakeware and food cans become more of the same. Clean is especially important in this category.  If there is too much food on the foil, or it won’t come off even after cleaning, it

will have to go into the general waste bin. If it is clean, sorted, and one of the categories we accept at VCRS, our task is to find a buyer for that commodity to keep the ‘loop’ intact.

The Plastics category is divided into several sub-categories. The most wellknown purchaser of PE (PolyEthylene) Bags & Film is TREX. FORTY-THREE

THOUSAND POUNDS of this plastic category was shipped and processed this year into TREX lumber and railing at their Fernley, Nevada facility. PET #1 plastic bottles are shipped to the City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada and are processed into flakes/pellets to become new PET containers, carpet, clothing, protective packaging, industrial strapping, automotive parts, construction materials, even the felt for tennis balls, and tennis ball canisters.

HDPE #2 jugs are shipped to the City of Delta in British Columbia, Canada where they are processed into flakes/pellets. These can become bottles, pens, plastic lumber, picnic tables, rope, toys, piping, decking, bike racks, plastic fencing, benches, furniture, recycling bins, trash cans, and more. PP #5 containers also make their way to Delta, British Columbia and are processed into pellets which can become clothing fibers, industrial fibers, food containers, dishware, etc.

The VCRS recycling model demonstrates that everything is a resource,

and every resource has value…to some one! The simple act of recycling one item produces a chain of events that creates so much good, from keeping our planet cleaner, to providing jobs, to helping our community’s economic growth, to producing needed products, and so on. Recycling just plain MAKES $EN$E…

As an incentive to inspire Borough residents to not only recycle but to create new products locally from recyclable materials, Mid Valley Recycling (MVR) is offering cash prizes to folks with creative ideas on how to recycle one product into another. MVR is comprised of citizens of the Houston, Big Lake, and Meadow Lakes communities. With generous support from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, MVR will award incentive grants in two age categories. Applicants have until January 31, 2023, to complete their application. Questions can be answered, and application forms obtained by calling 907-892-2400 or emailing taylorsammy230@gmail. com.

Now that you know what some of your recycled materials become in their next life, take it to the NEXT LEVEL, put your bright ideas to work and earn some cash! You will be making a wonderful and worthwhile contribution to your community, our great State, and our one & only Planet. Because Together, We Are Turning It Around…!!!

MAT-SU

Contributed By Alys Culhane

I’ve been a life-long reader, as were my parents. Early on, my parents impressed upon me the enjoyment that comes with having a book in hand; not verbally, but by example. Quite often, the three of us could be seen, our noses in books, magazines, and newspapers, lost in our own respective worlds.

I began accompanying my parents to the Pultneyville, NY Public Library after acquiring my first pair of glasses, which must have been when I was three or four years old. The two story, yellow house was filled, ceiling to floor, with books. The children and young adult book area was on the lower floor, the adult book area was on the upper floor.

I’d select six books (this was the limit) and then race upstairs, where I showed my parents my finds. One or the other would then check out the books for me. My eighth birthday present was my own library card, a yellow piece of cardboard with rounded corners with the library name on the front. I signed it, thus making it mine. The clerk opened each book and recorded the requisite information. I nodded in agreement as she reminded me that the books needed to be returned to the library in two weeks’ time.

When finally, I was tall enough, my father showed me how to use the card catalogue system. I was told that the drawers held cards with the names of

books and the numerical information needed to find these books. Together, we looked up Walter Farely’s, The Black Stallion.

I flipped through related cards and discovered that there were more books in the series. I grabbed a pencil stub out of a box, a slip of paper off the top of the catalogue shelf, and (as instructed) wrote down the call number of The Black Stallion Returns.

I then raced ahead of my father, over to the young adult section. There they were – all the black stallion books, in numerical order, classified under (as I was told) the Dewey Decimal System. I returned to the card catalogue, and spent considerable time there, looking up book, subject, and author titles.

The information on the beige cards was typed, the letters were often wavery and sometimes squashed together. Some, like the Black Stallion series cards, were dog-eared and smudged. And others, like those in the Nancy Drew series, had, like new playing cards, a fresh patina.

The importance of my discovery was not lost upon me, for as I stated on the car drive home, I could now find any book I was looking for, on my own. My mother added that the card catalogue was not unique to the Pultneyville Library, but rather was a mainstay in all libraries in the US.

I became an avid library user and was subsequently drawn to card catalogue systems the way filings are drawn to magnets. If the book, author, or subject was listed, I knew where to find it. And if the book had been checked out, I enlisted the aid of the librarian, who assisted me in locating it.

There came a day when, as a graduate student, I walked into the University of Alaska Fairbanks library and gravitated in the direction of the card catalogue. Not finding it, I approached the desk clerk and asked where it was. She told me that the library listings were now contained in a computer database, adding, “this is a more efficient way of accessing needed information.”

For some time, I avoided the computer system altogether, and instead sought out books by going directly to the areas where I thought they were located. I, then a busy graduate student, eventually resorted to the use of the computer card catalogue, for attempting to hunt down Samuel Johnson’s Life of Boswell or Thomas De Quincey’s Confessions of an English Opium Eater cut into valuable reading time.

I then, and now, wonder if in our haste to get at information in a more expedient and timely fashion, if we haven’t lost sight of something, this something being the combined joys of perusal and self-discovery. The cards, most of which had been hand typed, contained

information that the more streamlined digital versions did not. The cards also allowed for connectivity. For instance, I became acquainted with the works of Franz Kafka and Ken Kesey in doing a catalogue search for books by Jack Kerouac.

I am not the avid library patron that I used to be because, as the founder of the Bright Lights Book Project, I’m surrounded by books. However, old habits die hard. I picture these books as having their own catalogue card, title, author, and subject information included.

MAT-SU VALLEY,

Director@Brightlightsbookproject.org

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

I am a lovely girl with a quiet, reserved manner and a whole lotta love in my heart. I am about 8 years old.

I lived with my person and seven other feline housemates for many years. Then my beloved human got sick, and, after a sad period, he passed away. Suddenly the whole family was in upheaval, and I found myself in rescue. It hasn’t been easy.

Contributed by Angie Lewis

Having a dog or cat as a part of your life will bring you an incredible amount of joy. Certainly, each of us has different types of lifestyles, interests, and time that we can devote to a pet and sometimes it makes more sense to choose one or the other. If you are like me, you will want a few of each!

Tia and Abby are absolute sweethearts! They wake up happy every morning. Like to snuggle, especially Abby, total lap dogs! They do not need to be crated when left alone in the home and have not been destruc-

I am uncertain why things are so different and so I find a quiet place where I just rest and wait. I wonder if I will ever have love and a settled home again.

If you have a place in your home and your heart for a sweetheart, gentle girl who just wants to be loved and happy with a kind family, please consider adopting me. I would do best with another nice cat or cats as companions and gentle people who will help the world make sense again.

To meet me, please call 907-980-8898.

tive with anything. Tia can be vocal when they are left alone when she hears noises outside the home. They are potty pad trained and they go pot ty outside. We do not know how they are with cats. They have got along with another bigger female dog that lives on same property. They have been around the fosters’ two nieces who are ages 7 and 9 years old. They will be shy when first meeting them the first day, but warm up in no time and just want to be on your lap! They have done excellent off leash and like to take short slow walks.

These lovely ladies need to be adopted together – they have never been

apart from one another. They are 12 years old and have been spayed, vaccinated, and microchipped. The girls have recently been to the vet’s office and gotten a clean bill of health.

If you are interested in meeting them, please call Angie at Alaska Animal Advocates 907-841-3173

Contributed by Marlene Munsell

The MY-O-MY ITS PIE is WASI’s annual holiday pie fundraiser. We sell donated pies from local bakeries or pies purchased with sponsorship funds to the public. The fundraiser encourages donors to purchase pies for their families and/or donate them to seniors to enjoy with their Thanksgiving meal. The goal is to ensure every senior in our program receives a slice of pie

with their thanksgiving meal. This year we are serving about 500 seniors each day. The proceeds from the annual MY-O-MY ITS PIE event support the programs that enable Seniors in the Mat-Su Valley to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

As part of MY-O-MY ITS PIE FUNraiser we will be hosting an online auction. The auction begins on November 5th and ends on the 18th. You can be a

part of this event by being a sponsor, be part of the auction, by purchasing pies, or by simply donating to this fundraiser. Alternatively, you may choose to become a sponsor by making a financial contribution; 100% of money raised goes toward helping seniors in our programs. Your company name and logo will be included on the online auction and our social media posts.

If you have any questions, please email us at juliel@alaskaseniors.com or call (907) 206-8799. We would appreciate your donation before November 2.

Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) is planning several events focused on keeping seniors engaged and having fun.

The first event is the Fall Festival, which will have live music played by the Feral Katz Band. They are so much

fun that you can’t just stand there and watch, you must dance! This event starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, October 21st and ends at 6:30 p.m.

There will be a dessert and chili contest, with prizes for the top 3 best ones. If you love cakes, you can be part of the cake walk. We will also have a 50/50 raffle. We appreciate the

generosity of our sponsors: Katrina Holder from Norther Executive Assist, Donna Cote with Jack White Real Estate, Shannon Martindale with Five Rings Financial, and The Law Firm of Connie Aschenbrenner.

On Saturday, November 5th, WASI is hosting a Craft Fair, the fair starts at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. with only a few spots left. For more information on reserving a spot, please contact Kim at 907-2068803. Hope you make time to come see all the wonderful crafts.

Contributed by Lauralynn Robison

The Holiday Season is fast approaching, and with the struggles facing our community and their families; inflation, rising food prices, possible recession; obtaining food can be a real issue for most. With this in mind, we would appreciate it if you could donate to our Food Pantry. All donations, no matter how big or small, help us to help those in need. Bring your donation(s) to our Food Pantry, Monday through Friday, 10am to

1pm. By helping us, you are helping your neighbors and your community. Thank you for all you do, and we hope your Holiday Season is a good one.

Community is at the heart and soul of our mission at MatSu Food Bank. We feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community and “Thank” all of you for your continued support of the MatSu Food Bank!

Remember - no one should go hungry! Please contact us at (907)

357-3769 if you have any questions about our programs, making donations or would like to schedule a time to volunteer. You can also call United Way’s Helpline at 211, which is a multilingual & confidential service that connects community members to vital local resources.

We again thank everyone who helps support our mission and makes it possible for us to serve our local communities. We are honored and immensely grateful! We also invite you to visit and follow us on Facebook at facebook. com/MatSuFoodBank.

MAT-SU

Contributed by Sally Barnes

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Debra McGhan

The 2022, 14th annual Emergency Preparedness Expo returned on Saturday, September 24th to serve the valuable purpose of helping get residents of the Mat-Su Valley more prepared for all types of emergencies and disasters.

“There is so much to see and do at this expo,” said Erin O’Connell. “I really appreciate having so many professionals and different agencies, the people I know we’re going to need if everything really gets bad, all in one place to talk with.”

More than 1,500 people took advantage of the free expo and the opportunity to visit exhibitors that ranged from the State of Alaska Earthquake Simulator to the American Red Cross mock emergency shelter and Alaska Safe Riders tips and tricks for exploring the backcountry. The Scouts demonstrated how to build a safe campsite, you could watch the search and rescue dogs in

action, learn and practice hands only CPR and how to stop a bleed with a tourniquet, plus so much more.

“My family and I had only been in Alaska a couple of months when the big earthquake in 2018 happened,” said Chris Boots. “So, I learned a lot about the importance of having a good go bag. And at this expo, I learned how important it is to have a road sign with your house numbers so emergency services can find your house in an emergency.”

Other attendants expressed appreciation for the variety of exhibits and how the event continually improves.

Mike Brown said he knows that every emergency teaches us something and this event is a good way to learn without having to go through a real disaster. “I really like the variety of different exhibits and the opportunity to learn lots of new skills in a safe and calm environment.”

Talon Boeve, Event Coordinator, was personally impacted by the 2015 Sockeye wildfire which started just a few miles from her home. “We had to evacuate, and I realized, we were pretty well prepared, especially for our pets because we’d taken a lot of time to get ready. But I made the mistake of mixing my sentimental things I wanted with my emergency gear that I needed, and it was all taken to a location for safe keeping, so I didn’t have my emergency things I needed when I really needed them. So, a valuable lesson.”

It’s lessons like this that motivate those who participate or attend year after year.

“When an emergency is not happening, I feel really prepared,” said Ginger Bear, “but when something happens, I never feel prepared so I think there is always more we can learn and do.”

This event was made possible thanks to the Emergency Preparedness Expo Planning Committee participants including Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services, Local Emergency Planning Committee, American Red Cross, Alaska Safe Riders, City of Wasilla, AARP Alaska,

Radio Free Palmer, and numerous community volunteers. Key sponsors included the Mat Su Health Foundation, Mat-Valley Federal Credit Union, Alaska Railroad, AARP Alaska, and McDonalds.

A huge thanks goes to the more than 50 agencies, organizations and businesses who took the time to provide this valuable opportunity. And to all those who attended for making this day successful.

“I’m really glad we came today,” said Mary Mechan. “I won a Klim Helmet from Alaska Safe Riders, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I really needed a helmet because we rode up around Lake Louise and I didn’t have a helmet so this will really be a valuable safety tool to have.”

If you missed out on this year’s event, check out ready.matsugov.us and plan your own special event to find out what resources are available near you.

Make a communication plan and get your go bag packed and ready. Then, mark your calendar for September 2023 when the Emergency Expo will return to the Valley for the 15th annual event.