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Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) Charitable Foundation Alaska Animal Advocates www.alaskaanimaladvocates.com (907) 841-3173 Alaska Animal Advocates is a non-profit group of dedicated volunteers who are devoted to enriching the lives of companion animals in Alaska. In order to do this, we will place homeless pets in loving environments, address medical concerns, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinate, and offer training as is needed. We believe that every animal deserves a loving home, for his/her entire life and Alaska Animal Advocates will provide the resources to make this happen. In order to make this mission possible, we need the help of volunteers and foster homes.
Connect Palmer Inc. www.ConnectPalmer.org (907) 746-9675 Connect Palmer is a Christ Centered Training Center and Housing for Women located in downtown Palmer. Connect Palmer’s two primary programs are God’s Work Design, and LIFE Connect. We also have Sarah’s House, which a Safe and Caring place for ladies, without homes, to live while they participate in our back to work and life skills programs. We also offer different community assistant programs, such as The Locker, to provide personal care and basic house hold cleaning items and Scarlet Tapestries which offers basic sewing skills instruction. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Denali Family Services
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291 East Swanson Ave. Wasilla, AK 907-222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org Denali Family Services provides therapeutic foster care to Alaskan children with mental health needs. If you are committed to working with a team, receiving training and implementing positive interventions to school-age children and teens, we need your talents and skills. We are in search of professional, therapeutic foster parents who are willing to make a commitment to the children of Alaska by providing a stable home environment. For more information, please call or email our Foster Care Recruiter, Ernestina D. Olivares, at 907222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org.
www.mea.coop/mea-in-the-community/round-up meacontact@mea.coop 907-761-9300 Since 2011, the MEA Charitable Foundation has given grants to fund projects impacting libraries, playgrounds, seniors, veterans, recycling, at-risk youth, and much more. In 2019, MEA Charitable Foundation reached over $1,000,000 in contributions to the community with Operation RoundUp® Program! Organizational grants are capped at $10,000. Please remember to check our website for requirements and submit your completed application — including financials! For meeting and reviewing grants, MEACF operates on a quarterly cycle.
Mat-Su Health Foundation healthymatsu.org (907) 352-2863 The mission of the Mat-Su Health Foundation is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. The tools we use include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. We have generated significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. Visit healthymatsu.org to learn about
scholarship and funding opportunities.
Mat-Su Health Services, Inc. www.mshsak.org (907) 376-2411 Dedicated to improving the health of our community, one person at a time – through affordable medical, dental and behavioral health care.The clinic is a Federally qualified Health Care Center and we accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most other third-party insurances. For those who qualify, there is a sliding scale payment, based on household income. We offer early morning and evening appointments appointment. You can also contact our 24/7 behavioral crisis intervention line by calling the main number: 376-2411.
Mat-Su Regional Adult Basic Education (Nine Star) MatsuAdultEd@ninestar.com (907) 373-7833 Mat-Su ABE provides basic education in math, language arts and English as a second language (ESL), aiming to raise student skills beyond the high-school level in order to pass tests like the GED, enter training programs or college, and advance on the job. Enrollment is open to all adult residents of
Alaska, year-round. Youth Employment for ages 16-24 not in school -- get a job, keep a job, advance on the job. Nine Star 300 N Willow 373-3006 (in the MYHouse building)
Mat-Su Youth Housing (MY HOUSE) myhousematsu.org (907) 373-4357 MY House is a homeless youth drop in center with two for-profit businesses that train and employ homeless youth. Gathering Grounds Cafe is a coffee shop with homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and baked goods. Steamdriven is a trendy thrift shop featuring Steampunk items made from repurposed donations by our youth designers. Fiend2Clean and Young People in Recovery offer support for substance abuse recovery with activities and events. We offer transitional housing for qualified 18-24 year olds, Outreach services to connect homeless youth, organizations and groups to services, and access to Public Health and NineStar job/education services on site.
Valley Arts Alliance www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com Valley Arts Alliance, bringing the community together through the arts... We are a place for both new and established artists of all types—painters, sculptors, musicians, and those involved in the performing arts—to network and to experiment with new ideas and media. We work with local libraries, schools, museums, art councils, and music and art groups to create more venues for the arts, and to help promote art related events. Join us at our informal weekly meetings, every Thursday @ 11 at Sophia’s Cafe, 9191 E Frontage Road, Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Check out our archives www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com
Valley Charities, Inc. www.valleycharities.org Valley Charities, Inc. has proudly served the Mat-Su Valley Community for over sixty years. Our purpose continues to be “Connecting those who need help with the help they need” specifically and directly within the Mat-Su Valley. We provided community services through our turn-A-leaf thrift store, medical equipment loans, Housing and Safety Grant Programs. We have expanded our services and partnerships to reach additional families in the Mat-Su needing support beyond clothing vouchers and Medical Equipment loans when an unexpected crisis arises.
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions www.valleyrecycling.org (907) 745-5544 RECYCLING: Be part of the solution. DROP OFF: The community recycling center is located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, next to the MSB Animal Shelter at the Central Landfill. Follow the smells. NEW HOURS: Drive through drop-off open Tues – Fri 9:30 - 5:00 and Sat 8:00 to 5:00. Recycle cardboard, aluminum cans, magazines, this newspaper and more. Remember to REDUCE, REUSE, and then RECYCLE! ONLINE: Visit our website for more details, follow us on FaceBook and Instagram. To learn more, visit our classroom. Volunteer opportunities available. Make a difference in your community!
Valley Interfaith Action (VIA) www.valleyinterfaithaction.org (907) 230-1006 To address quality of life issues for all residents of the Mat-Su Borough, utilizing the faith values of our members, developing community-wide interest and mobilization around quality of life issues. Through training, leaders address community problems by providing forums for discussion, researching alternative solutions, and working as facilitators with residents and leaders for institutional change.
Wasilla Homeless-Committee www.wasillahomeless-committee.org (907) 521-2949 Wasilla Homeless-Committee is a 100% volunteer organization funded by private donations and regular fundraising events. Our sole purpose is to assist the homeless, those at risk of homelessness, and others who do not meet the criteria for help that is required by other advocacy agencies in the valley. Wasilla Homeless-Committee provides case management, housing search assistance, move in assistance, job search assistance, clothing, furniture, help with transportation, and resource guidance for homeless and disenfranchised in the Mat-Su Valley. Visit our website for application, or call 907-5212949. Find us on Facebook facebook.com/wasillahomelesscommitteepage
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Roses for Tacos Feb 15, 2020 - 12:00 PM Denali Harley Davidson (907) 373-3366 Meet and Greet Fundraiser Vote Kevin McCabe Feb 20, 2020 - 6:00 PM Chepo’s Fiesta Restaurant (907) 203-7832 contact@kevinjmccabe.com
Attachment 101 Mar 21, 2020 - 9:00 AM AABA office library (907) 376-0366 laura@akattachment.org 2020 Vision for Alaska Mar 21, 2020 - 5:00 PM Evangelos' Restaurant (907) 903-9353 windchm@gmail.com
Healthy Living Fair Feb 21, 2020 - 2:00 PM Wasilla (907) 373-5500 dtravis@primroseretirement.com
Emma Hill @ The Musk Ox Farm Mar 28, 2020 - 7:00 PM The Musk Ox Farm (907) 745-4151 info@muskoxfarm.org
FebARGS Membership Meeting Alpines & Troughs: Thinking Outside the Box Feb 22, 2020 - 2:00 PM Eagle River Elks Lodge (907) 354-5660
Open Swim Sponsored by Bionic Chiropractic Mar 28, 2020 - 4:30 PM Wasilla High Pool (907) 745-4357
Annual Spaghetti Feed Feb 23, 2020 - 2:00 PM MatSu Alano Club (907) 892-8099
Fly Fishing Film Tour (The F3T) Mar 28, 2020 - 5:00 PM Everett's at Mat-Su Resort (907) 306-7851 highway3angler@gmail.com
Randy Hauser & Kendall Marvel Feb 27, 2020 - 6:00 PM Curtis B. Menard Sports Center (907) 230-9549 berickson31@usinternet.com Leon Mensch Book Signing Mar 14, 2020 - 1:00 PM Barnes & Nobel relevantpublishers@gmail.com
How Child Maltreatment Impacts Attachment Workshop May 30, 2020 - 8:00 AM Mat-Su Resort (907) 376-0366 laura@akattachment.org
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Kattam and His Tam-Tams! Mar 20, 2020 - 7:30 PM Atwood Concert Hall (907) 263-2787 marketing@akjt.org
Mother's Day with Musk Oxen May 10, 2020 - 10:00 AM The Musk Ox Farm (907) 745-4151 info@muskoxfarm.org
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Theater Contributed by Nan Potts What takes place in a theater? Acting! Anything else? There are other activities behind the scenes which theater audiences are the recipients of. For example, preparing lighting and sound to emulate and enhance the emotional tone the actors create on stage. The drill of timing set pieces going off and on stage, and curtains and painted drops, pulled up and down with the changing scenes. Properties (props) are gathered and prepped to go on and come off the stage. All this happens before the production raises the Main Drape on opening night. So, when you attend the theater, what’s the first thing you notice when the curtain rises? Whether actors on of off the stage, it is the scene. The props, the lighting and the set. The set might be as stark as a black box or elaborate, with buildings, backdrops and a multitude of property flourishes. To me, this is the art of theater.
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Currently I have the honor of working as Stage Manager with AJ Seims, Producer and Director of Beauty and the Beast, at the Glenn Massay Theater. Along with all of the duties that go with my position, I am responsible for gathering the talent necessary for a production of this magnitude. Well, with a lot of help from show’s cast and crew, the talents required began to appear. Set design and construction began with Cory Rausa, Lead Theater technician and Matt Sale, Managing Director. These two creative geniuses started the process rolling and brought in other volunteers to assist and make it happen. Rausa explains, “One of the profound aspects of a production that Patrons rarely get a chance to realize is the fact that all of the incredible artistry
and construction that is painstakingly undergone is but a temporary facade and will all be torn apart and painted over just a few weeks later. For the artists and builders this is just part of the process. [Few others] realize how much love it takes to ‘build up’ such temporary masterpieces, only to tear them down again, making space for future creations. In this way theatre teaches on real life and the way we must be constantly clearing our spaces in order to make way for new things. This is why we love it. Where else can such discipline be trained?” The artistry! With a show like Beauty it has to be there. Enter, Center Stage, the artists: Erin Shepard, Annie Prevost and Myranda Bailey who have put in hours of effort and creative passion to deliver the drops and backgrounds the audiences are enchanted by. Shepard, the artistic talent of the gorgeous Be Our Guest drop, and, Village and Castle sets, has been painting for her entire life. When I asked her what she felt was her forte, she replied, “[Painting] . . . it’s always been one of my very favorite things. Usually, I paint things like landscapes, wildlife, and portraits with a bit of a twist. I love pushing my limits and working on large projects and subjects that I don’t get to work on often! I enjoy finding beauty in little details around me, and trying to capture that in my work.” When I lured her and Prevost into painting a drop, the pair had no idea where it would take them. “My expectation was to help paint the Be Our Guest drop, but I’m so happy to have been roped into painting the rest of the set as well,” stated Shepard. “I didn’t expect to love the process so much, and to want to help with [painting] all of the sets now! The most rewarding part was watching my creativity and leadership skills begin to intertwine, as the sets couldn’t
have been completed without all of the wonderful help! Watching the enthusiasm from the cast grow as the set grew, and seeing the magic happen as they became immersed in the set was [also] very rewarding.” Prevost, Shepard’s partner in this project, characterizes herself as a “freeform and intuitive” painter, self taught. She describes her work, “Rather than having a specific plan or outcome in mind for any of my pieces, I simply begin with a splash of color and allow the shapes and patterns to emerge. In this way, my artwork truly is more about the process than the outcome, and each piece is unique and singular.” As a crew member, there are expectations which Director, Cast and other crew members demand. When asked their personal expectations, Shepard and Prevost concurred. “I guess my only expectation going into this project was to learn a lot while trying something new,” said Prevost. “Having never worked on a set before, I knew it would be out of my comfort zone, so I really only expected the challenge — I didn't expect the sense of true joy, community, and outright FUN we ended up having. Despite the sleepdeprivation and long hours, both Erin and I were so, SO excited to come in to the theater to work every day.” She went on to say, “This project was SO rewarding! I honestly am so proud of the work we accomplished. It's wild to think that we started with absolutely nothing just a couple weeks ago, and now we have an entire set. It was so special to see the cast and crew watch our progress, and see it all happen through their eyes — I wanted so badly to have our sets live up to the magnitude of their talent and the magic of this story. I really think we've done that.” Myranda Bailey, an artist currently residing in Anchorage, is a
veteran to the Glenn Massay stage. She brought her talents to dab on the details for Belle’s house. She details her experience, “I started doing scenic painting because I knew I wanted to have some kind of painting career, but I didn't want to do freelance work. You know, like trying to sell small paintings. I got into theatre in college and haven't stopped since. “I like working with the Glen Massey group [Matt Sale and Cory Rausa] because it's a fresh new set of minds. I've worked with the same set of people for the past five years. It's just refreshing to think about things from a slightly different point of view.” With actors come costumes. For this production, Kay Schaugaard is to be acknowledged for cladding our humble Villagers and Linda Lockhart for, literally, enchanting our charming Castle characters with exquisite attire. They’re a must see! It is the artisans and crafters who bring productions together. And for the most part, it mimics a symphony in a major key, mostly harmonious with a grand finale! They provide the cast members with scenery and outfits with which to work their magic on the stage. Author’s Note: There are a few surprises on the stage. Watch closely as periaktoi pivot into position for scene changes and more! Observe for yourself the art of theater and, “A Happily Ever After”! In the case of Beauty, if you haven’t seen it, you can catch the last performances, Friday, February 21st at 7pm and Saturday, February 22nd at 2pm and 7pm. Erin Shepard and Annie Prevost are local artists from Palmer. Annie’s other passions are Oula dance and yoga. Myranda Bailey is an Anchorage artist, completing her BA in Art at UAA. Linda Lockhart lives in Big Lake with her husband, John. Linda is know for her spectacular wearable art outfits on the Valley Arts Alliance runway each February.
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Contributed by Ahliil Saitanan Alaska Junior Theater is excited to present Kattam and His Tam-Tams! to Anchorage on March 20, 2020. Performances will be held at 7:30 PM in the Atwood Concert Hall of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
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To the sound of the n'goni, balafon, djembe, naffar, darbouka, and dhol, percussionist Kattam invites you to
discover Africa, the Middle East, and India through rhythm, song, and dance! That love for world music shines through each of Kattam’s more than 200 performances a year. Accompanied by his monkey and two friends, Kattam never fails to delight and involve his audience! No matter your age, he will get you moving to the beat of his drums and help you find a beat of your own. When not traveling the world
with his show, Kattam lives in Montreal, Quebec. He also is an accomplished recording artist who started his training with classical music, studying piano, singing, and percussion. It didn’t take too long for Kattam’s passion and excitement for world music to take hold and guide the rest of his artistic endeavors. While in Alaska, Kattam and His TamTams! will perform five school shows,
lead three workshops, and headline the 2020 Alaska Junior Theater Annual Benefit Dinner on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Please consider joining us in costume or traditional dress for this Middle Eastern Masquerade, which includes a champagne reception, dinner, and silent and live auctions. Preview the show at www.akjt.org. Tickets are available at 263-ARTS or www.bit.ly/2TYgfBn
Contributed by Maureen Kelly Are you interested in local art? Stop by these venues and catch some of our wonderful Valley artists showcasing their work. Here are a few of the art displays for February and March: KALADI BROS February: Sharry Miller March: Karen Wichert VAGABOND BLUES February: Gail Homer March: Maureen Kelly BEAR PAW BREWING CO. February: Daniell Metling March: Carolyn Hayes
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Arts ADVANCED PHYSICAL THERAPY February: Brenda Jaeger March: Terry Phillips EAR, NOSE AND THROAT OF AK February: Mimi DeGange March: Michelle Cornelius ALLSTATE INSURANCE (TEBOW) PALMER February: Jefferson Davis March: Linda Peters BURGER JIM February: Addie Studebaker Local art is also on display at Humdingers and 203 Kombucha in Palmer.
Would you like to have fun creating art? The Valley Fine Arts Association meets every first Friday of the month from 1 till 4 at the Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. We also meet on the third Saturday of every month at Mat-Su College, room 212 FSM Building between 11 and 4. Our Mid-Winter Paint Away will be held at Camp Maranatha in Big Lake March 2nd-5th. For information regarding this event contact Roxanne Kopischke at rkopischke@gci.net. For information contact the VFAA at PO Box 873277/Wasilla, AK 99687 There are lots of great opportunities to gather and paint in the Valley!
Music Contributed by Devon Shaw The AK RhymeFest Team will present The 4th Annual AK RhymeFest Music Festival at Palmer Downtown Pavilion (723 S. Valley Way) on June 27" 2020. The RhymeFest Team is proud to bring The 4th Annual AK RhymeFest Music Festival to the Palmer Downtown Pavilion for the first time. The event will consist of Live Performances, NSA Wrestling Event, Merchants, A Car Show, Custom Clothing Showing Segments, Intermission, Artist Interviews, Sponsors & Vendors,
Raffle Give-A-Ways, Live DJ Music, and a Photo Booth. Event starts 12-9pm and will continue from 10pm-2am at Klondike Mikes (820 S. Colony Way). Our yearly event is dedicated to growing the Alaska music scene and promoting local businesses. Our newest addition to the platform (AKRhymetest.com) will feature Alaskan artist content, music videos, local events, artist interviews and more... Admission is FREE! “When amongst family, the smallest ideas can impact the community."
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Kyle Hollingsworth Band Klondike Mike’s Palmer, AK February 27th, 2020 Doors: 7:00pm Show: 8:00pm Ages: 21+ Tickets: $10adv On February 27th, Kyle Hollingsworth, the keyboardist for The String Cheese Incident, brings his solo band up to Alaska to play Klondike Mike’s in Palmer. The show at Klondike Mike’s opens the Alaska leg of Kyle’s BrewSki tour, which often sees Kyle collaborate with local breweries for a beer available exclusively at the show. The 27th will feature a collaboration beer with Bear Paw River Brewing Company from Wasilla, Alaska.
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Following the band’s stop in Palmer, KHB continues on to Girdwood, Alaska, to close out the weekend with backto-back shows at the Alyeska Resort. Kyle then returns to Colorado, to gear up for his annual birthday celebration alongside the release of his forthcoming EP, “2020.” About Kyle Hollingsworth Kyle Hollingsworth set out on a career in music 30 years ago now. With a wealth of desire and an abundance of ability, Hollingsworth has established himself as a formidable and versatile music talent deftly able to contribute, collaborate, compose, and communicate on a number of levels and within a vast spectrum of musical environments. Today, as a member of acclaimed jam masters The String Cheese Incident, Hollingsworth is revered by both peers and fans for his ability to write and perform in a mosaic of styles, from rock to classical, ragtime
to bebop. Playing in SCI has allowed him unrestricted access to the world of music and has bestowed on him the kind of fearlessness a composer needs to flirt with such disparate genres. Those who’ve seen SCI know that they can jerk from funk to bluegrass on a chord change. “In the jam world, where there are no set ways of doing things, we’re not afraid to move in and out of genres,” he says, “and because of that I’ve learned to be creative, not only onstage but in the studio. I can get on board with something pretty quickly. You have to.” For more information contact: brian. heisler@redlightmanagement.com / joe@bear-orange.com
Contributed by Garry Forrester A wonderful comedy just in time to treat your Valentine! THE CEMETERY CLUB tells the story of three Jewish widows that meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands’ graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam
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the butcher enters the scene. He meets the widows while visiting his wife’s grave. Doris and Lucille squash the budding romance between Sam and Ida and are guilt‐stricken when this nearly breaks Ida’s heart. Friendship, marriage, love, and second chances are all a part of this hilarious and poignant look at life. Valley Performing Arts brings this heartwarming comedy to our stage
just in time to share it with your sweetheart! The wonderful relationship of these three women will inspire you and this funny look at a slice‐of‐life from their perspective will keep you laughing from start to finish. Come join the FUN at VPA! THE CEMETERY CLUB opens Valentine’s Day, February 14th and runs through March 1st. Ticket prices are $19 Regular Admission, $17 Seniors 65+/Students
18 and younger. The production will be at The Valley Performing Arts Theatre, 251 West Swanson Avenue, in Wasilla. Three additional dinner theatre performances will be done at Evangelo’s Restaurant in Wasilla and tickets are still available for the Thursday evening performance on 5th. Tickets for the dinner theatre can only be purchased through the office. Call VPA at 373‐0195, visit our website www.valleyperformingarts. org, or come by the office, Monday through Friday 9AM to 3PM to purchase your tickets. Be sure to follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook. com/Valley‐Performing‐Arts.
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Poetry & Prose Contributed by Sydney Carpenter
Life throws things at us Hurtful things Negative things Yet my soul is strong and won’t let me down
The soul is made up of many things The songs of days past The pictures of days ahead Of moments here and now My soul is made of body and spirit Each has a part to play And each has a mind of their own But carefully trained they become artwork My soul is made of sunshine And like Shakespeare of old My Soul is in the sky And it flies high
While it is strong it is easily taught And flowing through not like a leaf on a wave But like the wave reaching for shore It is not the force being moved upon instead it is the force
It runs with the wind As fast as light My dreams fly high like birds in flight Everything I wish is at my fingertips
My soul is made of pages Bleeding out with every word My soul is in the bindings Letting go and flying free
My soul is made of iron Rock hard and steady in the wind My soul is in the earth Knowing what I know not letting what I don’t pull me down
All the elements pull it together All of life pulls it free My soul knows where it’s going And I let it be
Contributed by Robert Lyons The falling beam breaking atmosphere A stars deflection, crashing near The beast is here, come hither A temple for hire, coffee sir? Blurring the lines, liars are blind So we hoof along aloof to wrong
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My soul is made of current Going through life with ease My soul is in the water And it bends to fit with all of life
All week long we succumb Dumb to the reason Seasons go by, tithe, tithe Get together, community strong! Bonded by proof that they belong Dancing and braying to the songs
The earth will quake assuredly Here comes the storm Man and beast make measure Soon before a shining thrown’ A line will form with dead at horn And many hearts will be torn As the son of man frowns upon Your life’s hypocrisies, you will ask “Did the King ever know me?”
Contributed by Wendy Brooker Twenty-twenty hindsight Wish I did, wish I might Side step ignited dynamite What is left just isn’t right White noise, bright light Atoms split and reunite Why decide the tide to fight Take a ride, take flight tonight
Contributed by Rob Bashleben Enjoy a night of great country music with Randy Houser and Kendell Marvel at The Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. This is an acoustic show and seating is limited. Being brought to you by Safe & Sound and Silva Saddle Western Wear. Randy has been nominated for multiple awards throughout his career including the Country Music Association 2009 New Artist of the Year and 2015 song of the year “Butterfly”. Randy’s 2019 “Magnolia” album recently was released as a critically acclaimed movie which has been playing on Country Music Television with Randy as playing the main actor. Randy Houser has 9 top 40 country music hits including "Boots On", "How Country Feels", "Running Out of Moonlight", "Good Night Kiss", "We Went" and many more. Kendell Marvel is an amazing singer/
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songwriter and has written hits for Gary Allen, George Strait, Jake Owen, Chris Stapleton and more. His album Solid Gold Sounds that came out this past October was called one of the best Country/Americana albums of 2019. DETAILS: • February 27, 2020 • Doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. • Seating is limited. • Full bar and food vendors. • This is a 21 and older show but under 21 can attend if they are with a legal parent or guardian. Everyone needs to have a ticket. • No Refunds. Thank you to the sponsors: Safe and Sound, Silva Saddle Western Wear, Coors Light and Jim Beam. This is an Erickson Unlimited and Hatcher Pass Discovery Booking Production.
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Contributed by Zaz Hollander Some of the best music written for band was inspired by the simple tunes of folk songs.
performance by the Mat-Su Concert Band. The “From Past to Present” concert is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 at Glenn Massay Theater at Mat-Su College near Palmer.
Come hear some fine examples from classic pieces by Holst and Grainger to newer works at an upcoming
Tickets are $20 for general admission; $5 for students; and free for children under 5. Buy tickets at the door or at
matsuconcertband.org. On a program spanning the centuries, the oldest selection is “Sleepers, Awake! (Wachtet Auf )”, a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach based on a hymn from the late 1500s. The newest selection, “Fantasy on a Gaelic Hymnsong,” is by David R. Holsinger, who as a child loved the melody of “Morning has Broken”, later made famous by the singer known as Cat Stevens. Holsinger weaves the melody through this contemporary piece.
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For his “Second Suite in F for Military Band”, a foundational piece of wind literature, Gustav Holst took his musical influence from English folk songs and dance tunes: a lively Morris dance; the southern England sea shanty “Swansea Town;” or the Elizabethan love tune, “Greensleeves.” The band will perform two pieces by Ralph Vaughn Williams: “Folk Song Suite for Military Band”, which incorporates numerous English tunes, and “Rhosymedre,” based on a Welsh
hymn. Percy Aldridge Grainger took inspiration from the English Morris dance for “Shepherd’s Hey,” a rousing piece set for military band. The band will also perform “Symphonic Suite,” a classic of the symphonic band repertoire composed by Clifton Williams. Two Sousa marches, “The Washington Post” and “The Glory of the Yankee Navy,” are also on the program, as is “Dunedin March” by Kenneth J. Alford – dedicated to his wife, Betty, who called it “her most favorite march.” The band got its start in 1984 as the Mat-Su Community Band, formed by Matanuska Music owner Hank Hartman. Other directors have included Neil Long and Phil Munger. Current director Gleo Huyck is a retired music educator and private instructor. Under Huyck’s baton, the band performs a wide-ranging selection of challenging music. The band this season numbers about 70 amateur musicians who assemble every Monday night for rehearsals at Teeland Middle School.
Photography
Contributed by Richard Estelle Every photo has a story, and each month we at the Palmer Museum are proud to share a story from our collection with you! The nurses providing health care to the Matanuska Colonists and others living in the Valley in the late 1930s were generally sponsored by the Red Cross. Miss Pearl Williams, subject of this month’s “Photo of the Month”, was one of those who took up the challenge of attending to the far-flung populace under somewhat challenging conditions. As the accompanying newspaper article
attests, the difficulties of keeping good nurses employed included more than finding those who could drive a twowheeled horse cart! “Help Wanted - San Francisco, Calif. (AP) There is a position for a public health nurse at the Matanuska project in Alaska who is not adverse to running the risk of terminating her career with marriage. Red Cross headquarters here said they had a letter of resignation from Pearl Williams, San Francisco, who sailed for Alaska last Thanksgiving day. Miss Williams stated she was resigning effective Nov.
1 because she was to become the bride of H.K. Wolfe, architect on the Alaskan project. Miss Williams was sent to Alaska to succeed Madeleine De Foras. Who resigned to marry Eugene Sedille, also an architect with the federal farm colony in Alaska. They are living at Anchorage. Wolfe and his bride will reside at Palmer.” – Milwaukee Journal – Oct 27,1936 The Matanuska Valley Historical Photo Project aims to collect images and stories of our community. Photos have a powerful ability to convey and store original information in an accessible format, but many private collections and stories are at risk of being lost as our population grows older or moves away. We digitize and archive these images, and in summer of 2020, we will be launching a searchable web database to enhance user access to our collection! This project is sponsored by the MTA Foundation. Do you have historic photographs? Consider bringing them to the Palmer Museum of History and Art, located at 723 S. Valley Way so that we may scan them into our archive. Questions? Please give us a call at 746-7668 or send us an email at director@palmermuseum.org