Make A Scene May 2013

May 2013

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: > NAOI Wilderness Safety Page 10

Locally owned & operated in the Mat-Su Valley, Alaska

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GET HANDS-ON AT 3rd ANNUAL MACHETANZ

ART FESTIVAL > 2013 Machetanz Art Festival at Mat Su College Page

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> Third Annual Country Fair Page 3

> Jazz and Poetry Page 22

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DID YOU KNOW? e 25 6 years in print, thanks to YOU! > Pag First issue of Make A Scene was publish ed May 2007

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May 2013

“We don’t want the most members, just the Happiest.”

Now Open!

at Settlers Bay Dr. (Mile 8) and Knik Goose Bay Rd

- 24/7 Member Access - Unlimited Tanning - Member Dues from $33-$39/month Member sign up hours: M-F: 9:30am-11:00am/5:30pm-7:30pm Sat: Noon-4pm > Say you saw it in Make a Scene Magazine and the first tan is on us! (Call to Schedule.) <

World Record-Holder Shares Words of Advice:

Registration Now Open for 18th Annual Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off

The registration form for the 18th annual Giant Cabbage WeighOff at the Alaska State Fair is now available on the Fair website, alaskastatefair.org.

The Fair will host the 2013 weighoff on Friday, August 30 at 7 p.m. in Farm Exhibits on the fairgrounds.

The registration deadline is Friday, August 16 at 4:30 p.m.

In addition to bragging rights, weigh-off winners receive cash prizes, ranging from $2,000 for 1st place to $25 a piece for 13th to 20th place. There is also the Max Sherrod Junior Cabbage Grower’s Award for contestants ages 12 and under, with prizes up to $250. While the registration deadline is still months away, interested contestants should start growing soon.

Palmer farmer, 2012 weigh-off winner and current world recordholder Scott Robb says cabbages should be no more than four to six weeks old when you put them in the

All other sign ups by appointment only

ground, and Memorial Day weekend is the traditional date to move plants outdoors.

“If you get it out Memorial Day, that gives it plenty of time to mature. You can grow a 90-pounder if you do it right. It’s not easy, but it’s doable,” says Robb, whose world recordsetting giant cabbage weighed in at 138.25 at last year’s Fair.

Another tip from the current cabbage champ: Raise the beds and use some sort of soil-warming plastic. Robb prefers clear plastic, but black works and IRT film is great too. “That’s the biggest, most important thing you can do,” says Robb, adding that spring soil temperatures in Alaska range from 40 to 50 degrees, but 60 degrees is ideal for cabbage growing.

See more words of advice for the 2012 weigh-off winner and world record-holder on the Fair blog at alaskastatefair.org/blog.

In addition to the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off, the Fair will also host the Alaska Midnight Sun Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Tuesday, August 27 from noon to 3 p.m. on the fairgrounds.

For more information or to arrange a pumpkin entry, contact Kathy Liska at 907.337.2196 or akliska@aol.com

> For more information on the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off, please visit alaskastatefair.org

Cabbage Classic

The winner receives half of the lottery net proceeds, and the remainder is split between the Rotary and Fair.

Submitted By Alaska State Fair

This year’s Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off will be held Friday, August 30 at 7 p.m. at Farm Exhibits on the fairgrounds.

The Cabbage Classic winner will be announced following the weigh-off.

Winners need not be in attendance and will be contacted by August 31.

The 2012 Cabbage Classic winner was Craig Stark of Anchorage, who guessed that the weigh-off winner would tip the scales at 135.20 pounds. Grower Scott Robb’s cabbage actually weighed in at 138.25, setting a new Guinness world record. Proceeds from the 2012 Cabbage Classic supported the Fair’s 2013 scholarship program, which recently awarded $6,500 in scholarships to seven high school students from across the state.

> For more information on the Cabbage Classic, visit cabbageclassic.org or email info@cabbageclassic.org.

Tickets on Sale May 15

The Palmer Rotary Club will once again organize the Cabbage Classic Lottery, with support from the Alaska State Fair.

Tickets, which are $5 each, go on sale May 15 through August 21 at the Palmer Visitors Center, Fireside Books, and the UPS Store in Palmer. Tickets will also be available on the fairgrounds starting August 22 until 3 p.m. on August 30.

The Cabbage Classic, which is a fundraiser for the Palmer Rotary and Fair scholarship programs, gives participants the opportunity to guess the weight of the winning cabbage in the Fair’s Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off.

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Community

Third Annual Country Fair and Cupcake Bakeoff

The St. Hermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Country Fair has been a special yearly event for me since I moved here three years ago from Southern California. It marks the beginning of the beautiful Alaska summer and the reward for a winter well spent.

June 1st 11am-5pm 6988 N. En Dove Rd. Wasilla,

The event epitomizes a community experience the likes of which I never experienced as a native of Los Angeles.

The families of St. Hermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all come together to create a fun and relaxing event for the residents of the Fishhook

By Elaine Alkhas

(at mile 7.1 of Wasilla-Fishhook Road)

Free Admission Cupcake Contest Entry Fee: $10

Continues on page 13

Member of

matsu.alaska.edu/apply-now/

Where will the adventure take you?

Go to www.ideafamilies.org to learn more and enroll or call your local IDEA Office at 357-4850

A few of the benefits of joining IDEA * computer, printer and free tech support by certified techs * internet and e-mail account * student allotments for school supplies and lessons * local office with friendly staff, library, and resource room * IDEA is the largest statewide homeschool program with over 3,600 students enrolled. * IDEA is fully accredited and provides caring certified teachers to assist parents with student progress. * Because IDEA is a public school, IDEA is completely free! Enrollment for 2013/2014 is OPEN now!

The ONLY program homeschool in the nation FFA with its own chapter!

Palmer, Alaska – Alaska high school students have the chance to sing live on stage with one of the world’s most popular rock acts in the Alaska State Fair’s “Sing on Stage Live with Foreigner” contest.

The contest is open to Alaska high school students; those entering 9th grade in fall 2013 and seniors who graduated in 2013 are eligible.

Students from anywhere in Alaska can enter, but winners must pay for their own travel and/or lodging expenses.

All 25 winners will be announced August 2. They’ll take the stage with Foreigner at the Kendall Toyota of Anchorage Borealis Theatre at the Fair on August 22 to perform the band’s classic hit, “I Want to Know What Love Is.” With more than 70 million albums sold, nine Top 10 hits, and a spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 All Time Top Artists Chart, Foreigner is arguably one of the world’s most popular rock acts.

Fans continue to enjoy the band’s signature mix of blues and pop, which has spawned hits like “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice,” “Jukebox Hero” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

> For more information visit alaskastatefair.org

> The Cabbage Fairies at the Midsummer Garden and Art Faire

Anticipating the

Palmer Midsummer Garden and Art Faire

By Sandra Cook

Spring is busting out and summer’s not far behind, and in typical Palmer fashion, we are prepping for an allout summer celebration with the Midsummer Garden and Art Faire, Saturday, July 13.

This will be a jam-packed day of music, special garden speakers, fabulous art, food prep demonstrations, and for the “main event”—the first annual “Rhubarb Rumble”.

Can’t you hear the announcer now— “Let’s Rummmble!” All Palmer licensed commercial kitchens and caterers are eligible to participate in this event.

All chefs have to do is “bring it”— creativity, imagination and their secret ingredients to their rhubarb specialty. Locally grown rhubarb will be provided. A much coveted Rhubarb Rumble People’s Choice Award will be given to the winner.

We are also looking for original and innovative artist to participate in our art faire on the Palmer town green.

> The Palmer Garden and Art Faire is the ideal place to showcase your work. > Apply online at www.palmergardenandart.org > Deadline is June 1, 2013.

Get this event on your calendar now.

Look for our ads in Make a Scene and articles closer to the event.

This is the only garden and art faire in the area this summer—you won’t want to miss it!

May 2013

To enter, students must complete the online entry form and upload a video of themselves singing the audition song, “America the Beautiful.” Entries

Starting May 15 through August 1, the public can vote online for their favorite singer, and the 10 most popular singers will get a spot in the chorus. The Fair and chorus director will select the remaining 15 singers.

A total of 25 young singers will be selected to perform one of Foreigner’s signature songs, “I Want to Know What Love Is,” live on stage with the band on August 22 at the Fair. The public will choose 10 of the finalists by voting online, and the Fair and choir director will select the remaining 15 performers.

are accepted now through July 31.

Complete contest details and rules are available on the Fair website, alaskastatefair.org.

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Sing on Stage Live with Foreigner

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Community

Apr 2013

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Community

Meet Kona 907-373-2698 (office) 888-383-9909 (fax) makeasceneak@mac.com www.makeasceneak.com

By Angie Lewis, Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue

..........................

Let’s look at the different reasons a dog might bark and how to deal with each appropriately:

Make-A-Scene publishes 10,000 copies monthly.

We distribute to Wasilla, Palmer, Meadow Lakes, Big Lake, Eagle River & Anchorage. We’re always growing thanks to our contributors, our advertisers, and to you the reader!

1. Making Requests – Your dog might be telling you that he wants to go for a walk or that he is hungry.

It is best not to reward your dog for this barking by accommodating his request. Wait until the barking has stopped and then give your dog what he wants.

Ignore any continued barking.

Thanks for helping Make-A-Scene! ..........................

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Disclaimer:

MakeASceneAK.com, and the parallel paper edition of our monthly news service, is a forum for our community. Both exist for the benefit of our local community, serving as a virtual meeting place for the ideas, thoughts, news, and information that the folks in our community choose to contribute. The articles and opinions herein are the property of the author, not the publisher. The publisher and editor assume no responsibility for injuries or loss incurred by anyone utilizing the information herein, or responding to the advertisers.

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might be incredibly annoying to you, it doesn’t bother your dog or his canine companions in the least. Many people feel that their dogs exhibit a variety of barks for differing situations. Such as, “I smell a moose,” or “I am going to chase that rabbit that is running away from me.” The tone can communicate different information to the trained human ear.

Not all superheroes come with capes and spandex.

Some of them have fur! Kona saved his momma from a bad situation, and got pretty hurt doing it.

He is six years old, and although life hasn’t been kind to him, he still manages to greet everyone with a smile and a butt wiggle.

Kona is house and kennel trained, and knows some basic commands. He has been doing clicker training and has been doing very well. Whoever fosters or adopts him, will have an invitation to free training classes! Kona loves women and warms up to men pretty quickly. He seems to do ok around older children, but is not fond of other dogs.

If you feel up to the challenge of being Kona’s hero, send an e-mail to Rachel at fosterfinder4adpr@hotmail.com

What to Do About

Dogs That Bark Too Much

By Angie Lewis, Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue First let’s talk about what makes a dog bark. There are many reasons, such as boredom, watching out for your human’s home, fear barking, and request barking. Although listening to your dog bark

2. Being a Good Watchdog – Try not to chastise your dog for doing what he thinks is his job – taking care of your safety! Instead, teach him to bark just once. You can do this by using the command, “Bark,” and then have a person knock on the door. When your dog barks, give another command to end the barking, such as, “Enough.” Give your dog a tasty treat immediately. Repeat this process until your dog produces the required response.

3. Boredom - If this is the case, you need to spend more time with your dog. Give your dog a stimulating toy to occupy him while you are away for the day. Kongs are excellent toys that can be stuffed with tasty treats.

Remember that dogs are social animals, and they should not spend a great deal of time away from you.

4. Fear – Watch your dog’s body language to determine the source of the fear (rigid body; fur up; or tail between his legs). The best cure for this is prevention. Socialize your dog to be exposed to as many different types of people, sounds, and locations as possible. An undersocialized dog will fear many things. Take your dog to a positive dog training facility to help you train him to be comfortable around a variety of experiences. Introduce your dog to as many treat carrying people that you can get to take part in this process with you. Do not ever reward your dog when he is barking.

So, become an expert at interpreting your dog’s vocalizations and meet his needs at the appropriate time and manner. Give your dog lots of exercise – a tired dog is a good dog! Most of all make certain that your dog is treated as a member of your family and almost all his needs will be met by your love and time.

Ponderosa Pet Suites Hosting Open House May 18th

Contributed by Ponderosa Pet Suites

cat boarding facility offers these comforts for your pet while you’re away. Julie Johnson and her husband Scott opened Ponderosa Pet Suites on Schrock Rd, April 6, 2013, and have been working on improvements ever since. They will be holding an open house Saturday May 18th, from 1p-4pm.

Julie spent four years working for Matsu Animal Care and Control, and the best part of her job was helping to make pets feel the most comfortable in their environment.

Is homelessness an issue outside of Anchorage Alaska?

Most perceptions of a homeless person are often associated with alcohol, drugs or mental illness. Although those symptoms are present, they do not characterize the entire homeless population.

prevalent in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, I’d like to share a couple of stories about two families who faced homelessness for the first time. Fortunately, these are success stories on solutions for preventing homelessness. Others are not so fortunate in our geographically challenged area.

complications. The lay-off hit at a very critical time and her family was facing eviction. Valley Charities, Inc., provided financially to avoid that eviction too. In both cases these families had good payment histories but needed a little help to bridge a gap from tough to improved financial times.

Imagine a family of nine facing eviction because the father had to leave work on a medical emergency.

Being such a large family their prospects for other housing was very limited.

Do you know families in these situations? You can help them avoid being homeless. It does not take as much assistance as you think.

Simple acts of kindness, like partial assistance with a utility bill, can go a long way.

As a result of a grant, Valley Charities, Inc. was in a position to prevent the eviction while the father got back to work and improve their finances.

Then there was a single mother of three who was laid off and dealing with unemployment insurance

The Insurance Store, LLC 4900 E. Palmer-Wasilla Hwy Ste 101

VALLEY:

745-8030

> Call 354-4660 for more info Or, you can call the Alaska 2-1-1 phone resource system, a great resource referencing other agencies that help in other ways

Educator Jim Davis

Discounts

Megan Davis

Home • Auto • Life • Retirement Educator Discounts!

May 2013

Unexpected situations like a medical bill, or car repair can be big drains on income. It is these unexpected incidents that can place a family into situations of making hard spending choices for survival. Despite the mindset that homelessness is not

Contact: Julie Johnson Ponderosa Pet Suites, LLC (907) 357-7297 PAWS www.ponderosapetsuites.com

Alaskan Thrifter: Is homelessness an issue outside of Anchorage Alaska?

By John Rozzi, Valley Charities, Inc.

We do have a FB page, and a website www.ponderosapetsuites.com, if you would like to come out and visit, but can’t make the open house, we are open 7 days a week until 6p. (closed between 12-2p)

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

Ponderosa Pet Suites is an extension of that philosophy. “We are a small boarding facility, only 17 suites, with Our pets are like family, and most of attached outdoor runs, and a simple our pets are spoiled by the comforts cattery with a gorgeous mountain of home, a soft bed, cushy couch, view for the cats. Being small lets us or a nice easy chair to curl up in. devote time to our canine and feline Ponderosa Pet Suites a dog and boarders”

Alaskan Thrifter:

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Community

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May 2013

Community

Mat-Su Health Foundation

Opens Healthy Impact Grant Application Period Submitted by Linda Conover Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is seeking applications from eligible organizations for its Healthy Impact grant program, which twice annually awards grants over $15,000 to fund programs that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough.

The application deadlines for the current Healthy Impact grant cycle are as follows:

Project Pitch: April 22, 2013 – May 30, 2013

MSHF uses a two-part application process for Healthy Impact grants.

The first phase of the process is the Project Pitch phase. The Project Pitch is completed online at www.healthymatsu. org and includes information about the organization that is applying and a description of the proposed project. The Foundation reviews all pitches and then invites projects that most closely align with the Foundation’s criteria to move forward to the full application phase.

Potential grant applicants are encouraged to review the “Who and What We Fund” section of the Foundation’s website for information on the grant process and guidelines.

MSHF supports organizations and activities that empower people; employ creative responses to problems; address root causes rather than symptoms; build upon community strengths; and offer measurable improvements in health and wellness.

Full Application: June 14, 2013 – August 1, 2013

MSHF is particularly interested in supporting organizations that:

Fair Awards $6,500 in Scholarships to Alaska Students

Honorable mention $500 awards also went to Tyler VanAusdal of Palmer High School, Ashley Gonzalez of East Anchorage High School, Olivia Martin of Colony High School, and Marcus Moulton of Thunder Mountain High School.

Submitted By Alaska State Fair Palmer, Alaska – The Alaska State Fair has awarded $6,500 in scholarships to seven Alaska high school students. The students will receive their awards at their schools’ senior or graduation ceremonies this spring.

The 2013 scholarship recipients include first place $2,000 recipient Emelia Van Wyhe of Kenny Lake School, second place $1,500 recipient Makenzie Thompson of Colony High School, and third place $1,000 recipient Jacob Sy of West Anchorage High School.

A total of 32 junior and senior high school students from across Alaska applied for a scholarship from the Fair.

Among other materials, applicants were required to submit an essay or creative project addressing questions including “how should the Fair grow to serve all of Alaska,” “how can the Fair showcase Alaska agriculture,” and “how would you use a booth at the Fair to educate or entertain, raise awareness of issues, or sell goods or services.”

The scholarship selection committee was

- Expand access to health and wellness care, especially for people from lowincome and otherwise disadvantaged communities.

- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in the targeting and delivery of services to reduce health disparities.

- Foster communication, cooperation, and coordination among service providers.

- Build programs and services that are sustainable.

- Have a strong and engaged board, staff and/or volunteer leadership.

- Have a board of directors reflecting Mat-Su representation.

Although Healthy Impact grant requests must be in excess of $15,000, smaller grant amounts are considered continuously under the Foundation’s Target Wellness grant program. As with Healthy Impact grants, Target impressed with the applicants’ ideas, which included hosting the Alaska State Fair “North,” a two-week run of the Fair in the Fairbanks area; an “Ag Across Alaska” exhibit offering virtual field trips to Alaska’s farms, ranches and gardens; and an “Iron Chef Alaska” competition pitting a well-known Alaska chef against a guest celebrity chef in a cook-off featuring Alaska Grown ingredients.

Other ideas shared by the applicants included a booth where fairgoers would create artwork by throwing darts at paintfilled balloons, while raising awareness and money for Alaska’s homeless teenagers; offering travel incentives to increase Fair attendance; additional exhibits on Alaska Native culture and Alaska’s history; and a gourmet Alaskan hot dog stand.

Wellness grants must be applied for online at www.healthymatsu.org.

About Mat-Su Health Foundation: MatSu Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of MatSu’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution through board oversight. The MSHF invests its assets into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available at www.healthymatsu.org

The 2013 scholarships were funded in part by the first-ever Cabbage Classic Lottery, organized by the Palmer Rotary Club during the 2012 Fair. Lottery participants guessed the weight of the winning cabbage in the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off, and the winner split the proceeds with the Fair and Palmer Rotary.

Tickets for the 2013 Cabbage Classic go on sale May 15 through August 21 at the Palmer Visitor Center, Fireside Books, and the UPS Store in Palmer, and will also be available on the fairgrounds August 22 through August 30 at 3 p.m.

> For more information, visit alaskastatefair.org

LAST CHANCE!

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Downtown Palmer 745-2258 OPEN Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm

INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE: Celebration of Life

By Ryan Vukson

In Memory of Amber Lee Hubbs 4/15/83 - 4/18/13

Performers include: - Barabbas (Fairbanks) - Men With Guns (Nikiski) - Dirty Filthy Dead (Tazlina) - Icky Nikki (Wasilla)

- Nyman (Wasilla) - Deb Wessler (Talkeetna) - PJ Franco & The Burnouts (Anchorage) - Visions Lost (Wasilla) - Pure Disgust For Humanity (Tazlina)

May

- Necrotic Opus (Wasilla) - Backwoods Revolution (Funny River) - Ryan V. acoustic tribute to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Berâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

> In Memory of Amber Lee Hubbs 4/15/83 - 4/18/13

2013

Amber liked acoustic, punk, and metal.

There will be pictures of her, bands, food, a bonfire, fire spinners, a buffet, and free camping too.

ALL AGES SHOW TIL 10 PM, but music will be played all night!

Music starts at 5 P.M. SHARP!

June 1 at 5:00pm until June 2 Tug Bar/Goose Bay Inn Mile 18.5 Knik-Goose Bay Rd. Wasilla, AK 99654

Amber and I talked many times about hypothetical things and we talked about if one of us passed away. Well, she wanted a party, so... I will keep my promise to her by making a festival in her memory.

Come one, come all! Be sure to bring your instruments, pictures, stories, and rowdy attitude. Everyone is welcome to hit the stage!

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

MAY 23RD-25TH

10 Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com May 2013

Community NAOI Wilderness Safety Challenge

By Debra McGhan

At six-years old, Allen Scott was an active, adventurous child that loved to get outdoors and play. On a warm Sunday afternoon in May, he put on his backpack, took his favorite stuffed bear and packed him inside. Starting for the door, he could hear his mom in the kitchen working.

Hearing his frantic cries, his mother raced from the house to see him coming across the yard at a dead run. Her heart stopped when she looked at his small face as he closed in on her.

Mingled with the tears, a steady stream of blood poured from his left eye.

Horrified she pulled the child into her arms and raced inside.

“Make sure you put on your jacket and stay close,” she called out as the door closed behind him.

In that instant, split decisions tore through her mind and she knew exactly what she had to do. Grabbing her first aid kit from the hallway, she headed for the bathroom with the screaming child in her arms. Setting him beside the sink on the counter, she quickly took bandages and placed one over his eye to stop the flow of blood. Cooing to the boy to calm his fears, her own heart hammered in her chest as she tried not to think about how serious this injury could prove to be.

His small booted feet stomped through the dry leaves as his curious mind focused on the sound of birds whistling through the trees fresh with tiny new buds. He found a stick and began poking at the dirt as he moved through lowhanging branches.

Within seconds the child calmed and she was able to slowly remove the bandage and assess the damage. To her immense relief, the injury turned out to be little more than a tiny cut in the area between his nose and eye and was quickly mended.

No more than five minutes passed when the sound of rustling ahead startled the child and he looked up to find himself eye-to-eye with a huge, brown moose.

But the thought of what could have been made this mother grateful for many things that day; the boy had told her where he was going and had stuck with the plan, he was not seriously injured, she did not panic and she knew what steps to take when the emergency happened.

Are you prepared?

“I’m going outside to play,” he shouted, pulling on the door knob not waiting for her response.

The animal’s nostrils flared and he pawed the ground in warning.

Unsure of what to do, the boy screamed and ran for the house. As he tore through the bushes, the moose watched curiously and then fortunately for the child, turned back to tearing off fresh cottonwood buds to chew.

Not so fortunate for the child, a tree branch snagged the terrified boy as he raced by and stabbed him in the face.

For the past two months, thanks to support from the Mat-Su Health Foundation and Mat-Valley schools, the crew and volunteers at the North America Outdoor Institute have been out visiting Valley schools to help the children prepare for their summer adventures. More than 800 students in K-5th grades have participated in the

Continues on page 37

High Heels for High Hopes Runway Fashion Show

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is once again very proud of partnering with the March of Dimes for the second annual High Heels for High Hopes Runway Fashion Show.

Physicians, nurses and community leaders leave their “day job” behind and are transformed into Runway Models.

As models they each strive to raise money for the March of Dimes – last year they raised $30,000 in pledges and sponsorship support!

Monica Martin, RN, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center was the top model raising $3500!

This year the event will be held August 8 at Ravens Hall on the Alaska State Fair Grounds.

To support your local model go to www.marchofdimes.com/alaska and look for High Heels for High Hopes.

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is very committed to ensure healthy babies for their community.

This year Mat Su Regional Medical Center was accepted by the March of Dimes to be one of the leading hospitals in their 39 week Quality Initiative – Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait.

Research has shown that for the healthiest start, babies should remain in utero until after the 39th week of gestation.

Corner

It is not difficult therefore, to see how the ring and the gift of a ring began to be associated with love, in the hope that this most worthy of emotions could take on the characteristics of the circle and capture eternity. They wore it like we do today, on the third finger of the left hand, because of a belief that the vein of that finger directly traveled from the heart. This legend was later taken up by the Greeks, when they conquered Egypt under the generalship of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. and from them passed onto the Romans, who called this the ‘vena amoris’, which is Latin for ‘the vein of love’. In some parts of continental Europe the ring is and always has been worn on the right hand.

Contributed by Donna’s

Did you know that “hemp” was once the preferred choice of the material for the wedding ring ?

The wedding ring, that most famous and instantly recognizable symbol of the (hopefully perpetual) joining of a man and a woman as husband and wife in the institution of marriage, has a long, wide spread and mysterious history. Its beginnings lie in the deserts of North Africa, where the ancient Egyptian civilization sprang up along the fertile flood plains of the river Nile.

This river was bringer of all fortune and life to the Pharaoh’s people and from plants growing on its’ banks were the first wedding rings fashioned.

Sedges, rushes and reeds, growing alongside the well-known papyrus were twisted and braided into rings for fingers and larger bracelets for wrists.

These early rings usually lasted about a single year before wear and tear took their inevitable toll. Hemp was probably the first choice, but some decided that they wanted a longer lasting material, and opted for leather, bone or ivory to craft their token of love.

So long story short, wearing a wedding ring bears witness to your commitment to each other.

Accepting Applications Submitted by Barbara Hunt Alaska Job Corps Center is accepting applications.

If you know any young people, who need career training in a residential environment, please direct them our way.

Every single Wednesday, at 2pm, is an orientation for new potential students in Palmer, Alaska.

Rural students and Anchorage students also have additional orientations available.

Valley Charities

> Alaska Job Corps Center < 800 E. Lynn Martin Dr. Palmer, AK 99645 Phone: (907) 861-8800

907-376-5708

THRIFT STORES Next to Wasilla Post Office: 400 N. Yenlo St. M-Sat 10-7pm / Sun 12-4pm

May 2013

Today, almost all couples accept the wedding ring during their ceremony.

They are exchanged as a token of their sincerity and and as a symbol of their marriage relationship.

Job Corps:

Silver and gold later came into play for the material of choice. Later medieval Europe gemstones were again a common addition. With rubies chosen for their color of red like a heart, sapphires, blue like the sky above, or most valued and sought after of all; the indestructible diamond. The ring is of course a circle and this was the symbol of eternity for the Egyptians as well as many other ancient cultures.

It had no beginning and no end, like time. It returned to itself, like life; and the shape was worshipped in the form of the Sun and the Moon. The hole in the center of the ring is not just space either; it is important in its own right

There doesn’t seem to be any particular reason that the Christians should have mostly kept this the same as the original. But one thought is; as the man, facing his bride, reaches straight out with his right hand (most people are right handed) he naturally touches her left. Exchanging of the rings during the wedding ceremony is a modern practice that began mostly during the second world war when an increased number of men were being separated from their loved ones and needed a cheering reminder of home.

Back to fingers though, and the thumb briefly challenged the accepted norm in Elizabethan days as fashionable ladies deemed to wear their wedding rings there, but this did not last and so today it is as it was in the beginning.

Community

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as the symbol of the gateway, or door; leading to things and events both known and unknown.

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The Corner Link

12 May 2013

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Poetry It’s Gunday

This Valley of Loneliness

Monday “I’m going to work.

Yep, got my keys.”

(Kiss the wife and kids) (Coffee on the run) “Where’s my gun?”

While majestic mountains stand in witness, in their new mantles of snow, An eagle floats on air currents and surveys his world below, In this lonesome valley, graced with its silent water falls, The sun reflects its brightness in the glaciers massive walls, Tranquil blue sea’s ripple, the spray of whales seen far away, Yet all these sights are wasted, the beauty they hold in their own way, I cannot do as the seagulls cry, their sadness mine, fills the air, This valley will hold no beauty, for as long as you’re not there, In this valley of loneliness I carry you with me, in the photos that line my walls, There in your beautiful face I see your longing and in your eyes my heart hears your calls, If it wasn’t for this valley, a place that’s become my home, My wandering feet would take me to the one to whom I belong, But here I sit composing poems and whisper them to the passing winds, In the chance that they may reach you and you’ll know the love they send, You’ve touched my heart in such a way that this I truly know That my love for you will never fade nor vanish even if I’m laid below, That I’ll love you for the rest of life, it grows stronger with each new passing day, This valley holds it’s own beauty, yet it’s not here I wish to stay, If I could share just one though with you I would voice these words and say, My love for you is unending and it’s by your side I want to stay, I’ll be your lifelong companion, if you’ll let me, forever and a day, When I leave this valley of loneliness I’ll come to you and never again go away

By Roger Miller

Tuesday “How about pizza?

A twenty minutes wait?

Answer the doorbell.

We’ll eat and run.

Who’s got my gun?”

Wednesday “Going to the mall?

Something to do, after all.

Jody can come If he brings his gun.”

Thursday “Going out with Sue? Does she really like you?

She does call you ‘hun.’

Be safe. Take a gun.”

Friday “Grandma’s coming.

She’ll bake us pie.

We’ll have fun if She brings her big gun.”

Saturday “Let’ see a movie; A real shoot-’em-up.

Let’s sit in the back.

Want a sticky bun?

Hey! Hold my gun?”

Gunday “Church in an hour.

Everyone be ready.

Time to worship the Son. Bring your Bible and your Gun!”

By Larry Glanz

Simple Pleasings

by Nan Potts

The crunch of crackers ‘tween my teeth As miles of Earth slip ‘way beneath.

Rivers and fjords define my view, Blues, greens and browns of every hue.

White, mantled aretes, apexes rise; Ripple to the horizon afore my eyes.

A sip of wine, a bite of cheese The simple things are best, to please.

My grandchildren’s squeals of blissful glee Their wriggling weight upon my knee, To return again to their childhood wonder ‘Til we meet again, my heart grows fonder.

I leave behind those sweet memories; Yes, simple things are best, to please.

While I Wait

By Josh Fryfogle

Waiting.

I’m patient.

At least I have been so far.

Time is important… …not to be wasted.

It should be used on something worthwhile.

Like waiting… …and being patient.

A Short Story by Wayne Burkhart

Contributed by Bryce Burkhart

It is only available for digital download - for Kindle and Kindle PC. I’m hoping if we sell enough digital copies, we can get this wonderful short story printed in bulk!

In this true story set in the vast wilderness of Alaska, three men set out on a sheep hunting expedition…a seasoned guide, a hunter, and Wayne Burkhart, the young man hired to handle the pack horses.

This endearing story about a group of fellas on an expedition who ultimately have to fend for their lives is wrapped up perfectly in the narrative storytelling presented by the author, Wayne Burkhart... and for only $1.99, you can’t beat it. ...

Traversing the unforgiving land, they make a terrible discovery. No longer the hunters, they were now the hunted.

And I’m not just saying that because I’m his grandson! ;)

You can purchase the book for only $1.99 from Amazon.com

and coming memoir, “Hand-Me-Down Memories”

Understanding this fully could lead to better healthcare for coma victims.

Last year, one fair-goer from Wasilla remarked, “I’m so glad I came with my granddaughter! She was happy to just run around and I knew she was safe here!”

No need to pack a lunch to this event!

Offerings include gyros, homemade pies and cupcakes, old fashioned sodas and floats, of course hamburgers and hot dogs, and lots more. Reasonably priced food and game tickets keep the day’s fun affordable.

Saint Herman Orthodox Church also supports the local neighborhood through its Fishhook community council involvement, Little Su riverbank and trail rehabilitation project, and food drive for the Food Bank of Alaska.

> For more information, visit sainthermanwasilla.org

May 2013

When bears hibernate, they do not suffer from any muscle degeneration.

area and all of Wasilla and Palmer.

The great diversity of talent showcased by the residents of the Mat-Su Valley is what has impressed me most in moving here! Baking, woodworking, metalworking, quilting, homesteading – Mat-Su residents can do it all! The Cupcake Bakeoff and Bake Sale is a great way to exercise your baker’s talent and artistic flair. With one dozen cupcakes and an entry fee of $10, you can compete to win prizes for the Most Creative Cupcake, the Best Overall Cupcake, and the People’s Choice Cupcake. Young artisan bakers, ages 8-13, can enter to compete in the children’s division and win a prize for Best Children’s Cupcake.

Larger events can be overwhelming, especially with young children, but the area of the church lawn makes for just enough room to run and not enough space to get lost! Kids will enjoy the petting zoo, bounce house, fair games, and face painting.

DID YOU KNOW?

> Keep an eye out for his up

Country Fair Continued...

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

More Than A Bear Story

Community

13

Literature

14

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

May 2013

Music Rock Mom Rocks On

By Margaret Sharpe

Local band 3 Kisses delivers highenergy “American Party Punk” in their new CD All or Nothing Hero, which hooks you from the jump.

Tish Meeks (lead vocals, guitar) started 3 Kisses in 2004 in Austin, Texas, and moved to Alaska with her two children in 2011. She re-formed the band with Nate Lankford (lead guitar) and began writing new music with him. In an interview with Meeks and her son Benji (13) and daughter Hannah (11), we learn what it’s like to be in a rock family.

What is 3 Kisses’ music?

Tish: Party punk is our coined genre, but there are elements of rock, metal, and even blues in some of our songs. It’s kind of fusion punk, I guess. Our producer tried to turn one of our ballads into a country song just for fun. It was comical.

What’s your day job?

Tish: I work as a tutor/advisor at a

Theatre high school. I deal with attendance issues, enforcing our closedcampus policy to keep our students safe, and I teach a songwriting class.

Teaching is a lot of fun and very rewarding. It’s amazing to see the maturity and depth of my students’ lyrics. I think I learn as much from them as they do from me.

respect my time here. I have no idea how long I’ll stay.

What are the challenges of a rock family?

Tish: When Benji and Hannah were younger, it was much harder leaving them to go play shows. They’re older now, so it’s not such a big deal. The biggest challenge would be making sure they were taken care of if we got to go on tour. Ideally, I’d want to take them with me. I miss being in Texas and being able to take them to shows. You can’t do that in Alaska, but the bars tend to be a bit rougher up here, so that’s probably a good thing. When I’d take them to shows in Texas, they’d walk around and sell CDs and merch. One time, they sold out of every single bit of merch we took with us before we even made it halfway through our set.

Hannah: I like Texas better because it’s hot and nice out all the time and we don’t get snow. But I like being able to go 4-wheeling, snowmachining, and hiking here.

Benji: Making sure Hannah is taken care of, being responsible for everything while Mom is gone so she has nothing to worry about.

Hannah: The worst part for me is not being able to go to shows and having to say ‘goodbye’ to Mom when she leaves for a show.

How have you adjusted to Alaska?

Tish: Any place has its pros and cons. I like the beauty of Alaska, but I’m not a fan of the cold. I have SO many friends in Texas, I really miss the social life I left behind… and I miss the weather a lot. I do try to embrace all that is Alaska and

Benji: It’s pretty cool because we get to go 4-wheeling, snow-machining, and do lots of outdoor stuff. I like the people in Alaska more, but I like the things you can do in Texas more.

What is your favorite track on the new CD and why?

Tish: It’s hard to pick a favorite. I like “Save Me” and “We’re Through” because they are just good solid tracks. I like “Tragedy” because it was written for my friend, Chris Landry, who was killed in a car wreck last year. The title track is cool because it’s got unique character.

When you create something it’s difficult to pick a favorite because they all have their own special meaning.

HAMS Theater News: The Dirt from the Pig Sty

By Hamilton P. Hogwash, Homeless Actors of the Mat-Su HAMS, The Homeless Actors of Mat-Su are seeking actors to join them for their Improvisational theatre group ‘Hogwash!’

The first performance of the group will be on Saturday June 1, 2013 at 8pm at the Wasilla La Hacienda Restaurant Tapatio Room, with performances following in the future. There are still spaces available for anybody.

> For more information call 376-4252 P.S. Sorry we had to postpone “Bible Studies” our romp through the Old Testament but we are looking at an August schedule now. Dates, time and place info to follow next month. Till then come to the Improv and our production of “Cream Puff Pioneers” about the Matanuska Colony Project weekends in June at the Eagle Hotel Palmer.

Benji: “Save Me” because it has awesome lyrics and an awesome guitar part.

Hannah: “Can’t Stop Loving You” because it’s catchy and I sing it all the time.

3 Kisses is performing at the Fairview Inn in Talkeetna on Saturday, May 18. Find out more about 3 Kisses at www.3kisses.com or find them on Facebook. Listen for yourself at www.ratpakrecords. com/3kisses or https://itunes. apple.com/us/album/all-ornothing-hero/id618304885.

> HAMS: The Homeless Actors of Mat-Su

The Best Recording You Can Get

A Producer’s Perspective Of You In The Studio

By Kurt Riemann I haven’t played on all of them but I’ve produced and/or recorded nearly 500 albums.

There are a lot of producer and engineer groups that talk about recording, miking and mixing, but the fact that musicians/bands discuss recording mostly with other musicians/bands shows that there is a lot of inaccurate common knowledge out there and that there isn’t a very healthy dialogue between musicians and engineers/producers dispelling a lot of music-killing myths.

As producers and engineers, we talk to one another a LOT about how bands actually dynamically operate in the studio and how best to get them to just play. Because what you tell a studio you want to sound like and what you actually play are often completely different things.

So here are some opinions. It’s not in any kind of order.

Everyday - 10AM-5PM 20 Acres of Indoor & Outdoor Exhibits RV Drive Through Access Gift Shop Atwood Park Picnic Grounds

Modern Restrooms Light Refreshments Handicapped Accessible Ample Parking

1. Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. So stop getting high or drunk at rehearsals and get your playing together. Play the song into your phone and be absolutely honest with yourself about what you hear. The more you record, the better you get at it, even if they are iPhone recordings. There’s no app for experience. If you’ve never been able to really nail that lick at home, you won’t nail it here.

3800 W Museum Drive, Wasilla | 376-1211 www.MuseumOfAlaksa.org

Be as ready as you can be because faced with a dozen microphones you won’t suddenly have reflexes you never built. You can only sound as good as the best you’ve ever played. How good is that? Rehearse with the studio in mind, not just performances. Have the Bass and drums play the song together and listen to if the kicks are lining up.

It’s all about groove.

And send it to us: www.makeasceneak.com

Continues on page 16

Write about it!

May 2013

Sometimes the best advice from the producer has very little to do with the technical side of your playing, but will change what you’re doing/what’s happening in a better way.

Something to say?

And while we’re on the topic of “common knowledge”, the difference between reading an article about Butch Vig or Rick Rubin and actually working with them is that WHAT YOU READ IN THE ARTICLE ONLY APPLIES TO THE BAND THEY WERE WORKING WITH, NOT YOU. If you WERE the band they were working with, they

It is also the art of making an album that appears to be more than just songs - you’re making an album about your philosophy whose lyrics and tones and general vibe and musicianship will be debated through history, like that Smashing Pumpkins album. Right?

Right? (Which brings us to your $300 budget...)

NOW OPEN!

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

A studio is nothing without someone recording in it. So in recognizing that, here’s what goes into getting the “best recording.”

would have approached your music differently. The genius of producing is the navigation of band psychology and musical landscape and still making a striking album despite the un-moveable nature of musicians and their opinions.

15

Music

16

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

May 2013

Music The Best Recording Coninued 2. It’s not a “demo” if you release it to the public. Saying it’s a “demo” doesn’t get you off the hook for a bad recording or performance. It just taints your reputation. Friends and family will kiss your butt and say you sound freaking AWESOME, but the people who matter to your career know the difference.

You have to show that you are paying attention because they will find that crappy demo online.

3. Your $300 budget - You can do great things with a low budget, but don’t expect to sound like your heroes for $300. Even they wouldn’t sound like your heroes for $300. As a matter of fact don’t try to sound like your heroes. You’re a different band. So if you’re planning on doing six songs in four hours, odds are that you’re going to probably miss some detail. That’s okay. When you’re piss-poor you want to balance out your performance with a good-sounding recording. If you’re broke, don’t pet the sweaty things.

Prepare by being as tight as you can and record the whole band at once. Which brings me to – 4. Record as many instruments as possible at once. Recording a track at a time is a time killer. There are ways to do it that sound great (and are often necessary to compete on the airwaves) but odds are you don’t have the budget to learn them. Wait until you have a $50,000 recording budget and then we’ll use that approach.

5. Click or no click. - (Just shoot me.)

I find it kind of ironic that the most “f-you” kind of musicians want to be told what to do by a machine. Here’s my rule of thumb. If your rhythm section is good enough to bury that click then you don’t really need it unless you’re going to want to stick in some kind of technology later, like loops, sampled grooves or grid editing. Clicks and grids

don’t help me edit; I edit outside of grids. If you don’t normally play to a click track, find a tempo, try it at a rehearsal. If you’re not TOTALLY good with it (like the chorus always speeds up) then don’t try it in the studio. It leads to frustration which is a real session killer. My personal experience is that playing to a click never feels as good as free playing when the purpose of the click is only to hold you back or keep you up to speed.

When you get really good at the nuances of tempo you’ll find that you wish your metronome had a position between 111 and 112 because sometimes neither one of them is actually “right”.

BUT - if you are doing something where your career is on the line and you have the time and talent to find the song within the click, use the click. It’s a different universe. If that’s your starting point there is a mountain of good work that can settle on top of it. After a while you will be able to predict which songs will fly with a click and which won’t.

Let me just say that about 3/4 of the bands that try to use a click in the studio abandon the idea pretty quickly.

It’s like suddenly having a strident extra member of the band that never came to rehearsals.

6. If the quality and not quantity of the final product is extremely important, consider NOT doing six songs. Maybe doing just one and working on it until it’s the best it can be. And cheat if you have to. Everyone else does and I certainly hear it. It’s necessary these days.

7. Guitarists - Stick your face in front of your amp and hear what it really sounds like, the odds are it’s too stinking bright.

Turn down all that white noise so we can hear the chords and notes. Fix that before you come into the studio. As a matter of fact, see what you can do without a distortion pedal first. That

little box is just pretending to be an amp.

8. Bassists - what you’re doing on stage and what comes into the recorder are two different animals. You have too much fret noise and the tone you thought that bass produced isn’t developing because of it. Get cleaner.

9. Drummers - learn to tune your kit and consider thin crashes. All that China and heavy-handed ride is interfering with the vocal, especially on your home recordings. You’re the reason the guitar is so bright and the vocalist keeps losing his/her voice.

10. Rough mixes - Mix on a separate day. My next day’s mix ALWAYS sounds 10x better. That studio rough mix was built for you to listen at loud levels in the studio so you’d play like a real rock band.

THAT mix was running off to a submix track and that’s the one you got because you had to get out of here so fast at the end of the session. So don’t commit sonic suicide - don’t run home and release the rough tracks of the day. We were at it for 10 hours and that mix only exists so we could hear everything, it wasn’t mixed to follow the subtle trajectory of your amazing song. So don’t compain about a mix that was thrown together in two minutes. That’s not how it works.

Picking up your gear and going into a studio is how real bands record. There are just enough success stories out there about how people did it all at home to make you think that it’s a common occurrence, but a really quick glance at reality will tell you that at a certain point you need to be a recording artist and not a producer or engineer. It’s a totally different skill set. Your engineer / producer should have more ideas than you have. Find someone you trust.

12. You always get what you pay for Sometimes what you pay for is a really expensive studio that has no idea what kind of music you do, has no experience with it and doesn’t really care. They talk a fantastic game. Every studio owner on the planet will try to convince you that that they hold the keys to the kingdom.

Some pride themselves on their high rates. They happily overcharge you for crap work. I’m currently $75 per hour because it’s what you can afford for what you need. I’d rather be working with musicians than doing ads.

There you go. Take it or leave it. If you found something insulting in there, it was really about that other guy, not you.

I love your band.

And one last thing 13. This is professional. Pay your bills.

Sell your music. Surround yourself with people who are better than you and take their advice, especially when they have nothing to personally gain by giving it.

The sooner you take being a recording artist seriously, the sooner you’ll get in the game.

It’s really weird to me how many people don’t want to be there when their mix happens. Mixing is where you find out EVERYTHING about whether or not you did well. I can disguise a million sins, but it would be better if you learned what to do next time. I can make it sound like anything, but I’m somewhat limited by the fact that you’re the musician on this recording and not someone else. This is a whole topic unto itself, like mastering.

> Kurt Riemann started Surreal Studios a long time ago, even if you just heard about it. He still has his old 24 track analog recorder to remind himself what a pain that stuff was.

11. Your home demo - is just a demo.

> www.surrealstudios.com

TR

OF IND

R

Y

alliance

&

UST

Saturday, June 29

10am to 5pm

ENJOY:

DEMONSTRATIONS:

Iron Casting Black Smithing Raku Fired Clay Pottery

Barn & Beyond Art Show Live Music & More!

10 children under 12 free

Admission $

00

Valley Arts Alliance is supported by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts

May 2013

www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com or phone the Museum at 376-1211

Mile 47 on the Parks Highway beside the Wasilla Airport

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

at the Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry

17

SPORTATI AN

ON

valley

Literature

Alaskan Author

Takes First Place for “Highly Imagined” Novel Anchorage, AK (May 8, 2013)— Bonnye Matthews, who lives in the Anchorage area, received first place for her novel Ki’ti’s Story, 75,000 BC, in the annual Alaska Professional Communicators writing contest, announced at the awards luncheon May 2, 2013.

Fiction judge Grace Cavalieri noted, “This book is worthy of first place award for many reasons beyond its ambitious scope and size. The work is highly imagined and even inspired beyond imaginings. This speaks of courage.

Although primitive life is presented in real time we don’t lose our sense of historical conviction.”

Cavalieri has won several poetry awards as well as the Pen Syndicated Fiction Award for short story, and authored numerous books and plays. Cavalieri lives in Maryland, and is the producer/ host of “The Poet and the Poem from the Library of Congress” for public radio.

Alaska book reviewer Rebecca Goodrich said Ki’ti’s Story is better than Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear. Cavalieri wrote that “The characters are welldrawn—having a female protagonist (Ki’ti) in an indigenous people is added value.”

She explores a unique view of Neanderthal life based on recent science.

Matthews opens the story with the People fleeing the chaos of the eruption of the supervolcano Mount Toba, which geologists have put at 69,000-77,000 BC. This catastrophe probably caused

6-10 years of volcanic winter, with severe weather and climate changes, in addition to great loss of human life.

This is Matthews’ first novel, book one in the Winds of Change, a prehistoric fiction series on the peopling of the Americas. Her publisher, Publication Consultants, has had several books win awards in this contest.

Ki’ti’s Story revolves around the succession of the People’s Wise One. Everyone is surprised when the aged Wise One, Wamumur, determines that his successor must be none other than the young and impetuous Ki’ti. Her childhood cut short, Ki’ti is not, at first, a willing apprentice to the elder.

Originally Alaska Press Women and founded in 1961, APC is an affiliate of National Federation of Press Women, a 75-year-old professional organization.

Ki’ti’s Story has been forwarded to NFPW for competition against all other state first place winners. National winners will be announced at the annual NFPW conference, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah in August.

Make Your Own Pottery! > Workshops & Classes: Art, Pottery, Wheel Throwing, Handbuilding & More > Stop by anytime to glaze your own pottery!

Hours: Tues-Wed: 5-8pm Thurs: 12-8pm Fri: 12-6pm and Sat 10-6

Tues-Sat

Art Gallery Original local Mat-Su Artists Oil paintings, acrylics, bead work, pottery, fiber arts & more! Creativity welcome!

Call for art classes & workshops.

OPEN

11:00AM-9PM

320 E Dahlia St, Palmer

ART & CREATIVITY CENTER

746-3883

www.rustysatdahliastreet.com

Colony Days 2013

Small town feel makes Days celebration a hit in Palmer every year

> For more information or

to download entry forms for the events,, visit www. palmerchamber.org or call the Chamber office at 745-2880

May 2013

Hayrides whisk people around town, while the sound of live entertainment fills the air. There’s even a bicycle scavenger hunt for the entire family to participate in.

This year the celebration should be even bigger and better. So join us in Palmer on June 7, 8 and 9 for Colony Days 2013.

It sounds like the recipe for the perfect small town America event. That’s exactly what it is—Palmer’s Colony Days, a sampling of everything fun in the heart of the Mat-Su Valley, thrown together for a three-day celebration.

This year’s event takes place on June 7, 8 and 9.

There is the Saturday Parade, sidewalk art for children, the Bill Mitchell 5K Fun Run/Walk for both children and adults and events such as a quilt walkabout, a salmon recipe contest, rhubarb recipe contest, craft, landscape and open air markets located in Palmer.

At the heart of the Colony Days celebration is the history of Palmer.

Colony House tours are offered by the Palmer Historical Society during Colony Days, and the tours give people a chance to take in the history of the colonists and the impact they made in the Valley.

A grand parade through the heart of the town, community events in nearly every building, a quilt walkabout and a custom car rally at night conjure up images of childhood celebrations.

Small children drawing with chalk on the sidewalk and playing games help reinforce the notion.

The small town feel to Palmer lends a very personal felling to the event. All you have to do is park your car and walk around town to take in all the fun and festivities.

735 S Bailey Street, Palmer 746-2787

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

community Colony

Walking through downtown Palmer in early June is a great way to spend an afternoon—checking out the Palmer Museum of History and Art, the Palmer Agriculture showcase garden, taking pictures of the rustic buildings framed by Pioneer Peak in the background or smelling the flowers in the downtown. But add the Colony Days celebration, and the town has even more to offer the entire family.

Each year, the Colony Days festival pays tribute to the history of Palmer.

Hosted by the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, the event is rich in history, and rich in fun. There truly is something for everybody at the event—young and old.

19

Fresh Alaska Salmon Daily >> Starting In May

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roadhouse bakery ● restaurant ● rooms

Private Rooms, Hostel-Style Bunks, Private Cabins & the Museum Apartment Coin Laundry ● WiFi ● Showers Big Breakfasts & World Famous Cinnamon Rolls

Live Acoustic Music Every Second Saturday, 5-7pm

On Main Street ● 733-1351

www.talkeetnaroadhouse.com Open Year Round - Talkeetna, AK

CELEBRATING 6 YEARS IN PRINT, THANKS TO YOU!

Art School: Rambling

the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low.

eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart. That is my ambition, based less on resentment than on love in spite of everything, based more on a feeling of serenity than on passion.

I was lunching with Judy Vars at the Red Beet when the topic came up about...artists. The issue was the “it is all about me” attitude of most (actually all successful) artists. She didn’t want to be like that, she wanted to be sweet and compassionate - but “me, me, me” is required. She started to realize that when reading her latest Rasmuson rejection letter.

All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an

Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me. I see

by Gregory Gusse

The buddha nature so desired by thinking beings is contrary to artistic expression. Simply put they are opposite pursuits. Where our little buddha internalizes emotion our little artist demands emotion be externalized.

Where our tiny buddha seeks to be compassionate our leather-winged artist demands attention and love inside outside! For normal people, not budding bodhisattvas or Rembrandts, we try to find balance between those extremes, or if we are Taoist we try to find harmony with the yin and yang of it all. Artists, though, are by their very essence extremists. If they are any good, or even bad, but passionate.

I am not saying that abandoning inner peace for the turmoil of art is bad, not at all. Though I am frequently torn in which direction to go; I see value to both. Apparently I can get pretty nasty when facing this dilemma, so I can be empathetic to the questioning artist.

There is the necessity to blow one’s own horn, remember the poet, Ali, “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”.

“I am the greatest”, he reminded us.

Or as van Gogh put it, “What am I in

May 2013

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

22

Art

Jazz and Poetry (and Pottery)!

By Carmen Summerfield

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There is a synergy developing in the Valley in the latter half of May, as two wonderful events develop from multiple disciplines, and become greater than the sum of their parts…

On Sunday, May 19, Bill Tull and Friends, Palmer’s premier jazz group, will be performing a selection of popular songs from both the American and Brazilian Songbooks, at Vagabond Blues in Palmer.

The American Songbook is a list of the most influential and enduring American popular songs of the 20th century, with the majority originating from Broadway and Hollywood productions from the 1920’s through the 1960’s.

FOR info CALL: (907) 232-5351 $35 at the gate noon fri till sun night! off parks hwy up vine road to full curl, all the way to the end

JUNE 14TH

Now add the music of Brazil, which encompasses various regional music styles influenced by African, European and Amerindian forms, including the icon of Brazilian national identity, samba, and that fusion of samba and jazz, bossa nova.

This will be an amazing performance, and will run from 2 to 3:30 pm. No reservations are necessary; a suggested donation is $5. On Friday, May 24, the Valley Arts Alliance and Karen Lopez, the well known expert potter,

will be hosting a POETRY POTTERY PARTY at Karen’s recently opened NuKreationsZ Art & Creativity Center, 735 S. Bailey Street in Palmer.

For the past 4 years Karen and the VAA have held a Raku Pottery Party in the spring. And as in past events, the participants will select one of Karen’s hand made, but unglazed, pots and will apply traditional, food safe glazes to create their own unique pot.

But this event will differ from past events, in that we will be using traditional food-safe glazes, which require a different and longer firing.

That means that the pot will need to remain at Karen’s NuKreationZ Art & Creativity Center for several days. The fired pots will be available for pick-up about one week after the event.

Now that Karen has a new art studio, she suggested something different… add in another discipline—poetry.

During this event there will be local poets in attendance reciting their poetry. What a wonderful mix—a POETRY POTTERY PARTY! As the participants decorate their pots with glazes, Karen, Sandra Cook and Pam Meekin will be demonstrating the art of throwing a basic pot on the wheel.

This event will run from 7 to 9 pm, and refreshments will be available.

So there you have it, two wonderful events, each becoming greater than the sum of their parts!

> The course fee is $25, payable at the door. Space is limited, so contact Carmen@ ValleyArtsAlliance.com for any questions or to sign-up

By Felicia Desimini

Come make art with us at the Machetanz Arts Festival at Mat-Su College on June 1st from 9 am – 4 pm. There are 21 hands-on workshops for you to dabble in the arts, develop a skill, or perfect a technique. Have you ever looked at art and wished you could make it? Then this is the festival for you!

These workshops are affordably priced -- $25 for ½ day and $50 for a

The Machetanz Arts Festival also hosts two featured artists this year.

Dean Larson, originally from Palmer, offers his incredible oil painting expertise for 4 days beginning 5/ 28 and running through 5/31 31st. He is also offering a one day workshop on June 1st!

Karen Urroz of Palmer offers her expertise on Mosaics for 4 days (5/28 – 5/31) , and a 5th day on June 1st.

Karen is a very popular artist and instructor at Mat-Su College. Register at UAA>Summer 2013>Community Ed>. We even have a tutorial on facebook!

You do not have to be a college student to take these workshops, but your college is here to help you explore, experience, and excel! Register Now!

> Classes are filling up quickly.

See you there! If you have any questions, please contact festival director, Felicia Desimini at 907-745-9755

WITH TWO LOCATIONS! DINE IN TAKE OUT FREE DELIVERY WASILLA 357-2300 ¦ PALMER 746-3266 2300 E. PARKS HWY

Mendeltna Creek Music Festival

By Kari Bailey, event organizer Memorial Day Weekend May 24-27 Mendeltna Creek Lodge and Campground Mendeltna Creek Music Festival is always on Memorial weekend.

PALMER-WASILLA HWY

This year will be the same with dance bands playing longer sets each night.

Friday night, Bootleg Brown will be playing, Saturday night, Rock Bottom Stompers and Sunday night, a band from St. Louis called One Take will be playing us out.

> This is a “Family Friendly” event. $40 per person for the weekend. > Kids under 16 are free.

Last year we had 27 bands that played.

> Above: LuLu Small at Mendeltna Creek

May 2013

This is our 4th annual event. It is located at the Mendeltna Creek Lodge and Campground, mile 153 on the Glenn Hwy. This year the dates are May 2427th. Music will go from 5pm on Friday to 10 pm on Sunday and there will be a breakfast buffet in the lodge on Monday morning.

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

“Get Smart – Make Art!” -Fred Babb

full day. Registration is easy. Use this link: http://matsu.alaska.edu/maf/ machetanz-arts-festival-workshops/

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Machetanz Arts Festival News!

24

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

May 2013

REGISTER NOW! matsu.alaska.edu/MAF facebook.com/Machetanz

*FREE to all registered aƩendees—space limited!

For more information contact Felicia Desimini fdesimini@matsu.alaska.edu or 907.745.9755

@MachetanzArtFes UAA/MSC is an EEO/AA employer and educaƟonal insƟtuƟon.

Special thanks to our generous and community-minded sponsors: Artic's Air Academy … Vagabond Blues … Alaska State Fair Palmer Golf Course … Midnight Sun Yoga Center And a BIG thank you to our legislators who worked hard this year to support Palmer projects: Senator Mike Dunleavy, Representatives Shelley Hughes and Bill Stoltze Also Congratulations to Lydia Ortiz, 5th Grader at Sherrod, Grand Prize Winner of the City Poster Contest!

Thank you for helping MAS reach 6 years in print!

6

FEEDBACK, please...

What do you enjoy reading about in MAS? What would you like to see more of in MAS? Send us your thoughts makeasceneak@mac.com

6 Years In Print

By Josh Fryfogle

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 6 years since the first issue of Make A Scene.

Looking back, I see how it’s evolved. What started as an arts-focused publication continues to adapt to the needs of the community. Complimenting our local view, Make A Scene reflects the thoughts of the people who live here.

Over the past six years many people have sacrificed to differing degrees for the sake of this locally owned publication. To those people - you know who you are – we are especially grateful.

As we enter our seventh year of publication, I’m amazed at the changes that have occurred. There have been many challenges along the way, as with any small business.

Still, change and challenge are part of growth, and we are definitely growing!

The pages of Make A Scene will continue to evolve, always changing in reflection of our community.

To our readers, writers, advertisers, and friends: Thank You!

May 2013

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

26

Art

Art School Ramblings Continued.... paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners.

And my mind is driven towards these things with an irresistible momentum.”

Yes the dirtiest corners! Apparently he had a very different vision of himself than he figured most people had of him. In both cases it was “all about me!”

The Perfect Meeting Space— Scrapbooking & Quilting Clubs Business Meetings, Parties and More Big Lake’s Newest Meeting Facility 1000 sq. ft. with full kitchen facilities, south side East Lake Mall.

A variety of catering options available.

Lakeshore Entertaining & Event Management (907) 230-0935 lakeshoreentertaining@alaska.net lakeshoreentertaining.com

Another reason artists need to be “all about me” are the damned critics. Since well in excess of 90% of the work of the very best artist is schlock and the worst artists will tell you over 95% of their work is the greatest stuff (a word in contention concerning art) the world has ever seen, there is an obvious disconnect - a cognitive dissonance they say these days.

Critics, of course, are needed to keep the pants on the emperor but more so they provide that much needed attention. As the artist Brendan Behan said “There is no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary” So buck up my little friends. And as a critic myself I am reminded, “Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.” ― P.T. Barnum

After several years of writing this column I feel more like Vincent everyday. I’m pretty sure I write great and meaningful things, like he said “a blazing hearth in one’s soul and yet no one ever came to sit by it. Passersby see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on their way.” But it really isn’t a way to make friends - sooner or later you piss everyone off.

It isn’t easy being an artist, since an artist has no choice in the matter.

Jung pointed out that it is much more than a simple compulsion, this “me,me,me” stuff. An artist simply has to make art. I am not so sure our buddhist HAS to meditate.

The buddhist seems to have a universe of choice, the artist none.

For the rest of us the truly sad state is so many folks compelled to make art are really crumby. The rule says an artist must make art. There is no quality clause.

So next time, my enlightened friends, you see an artist rambling on at a million miles a minute about his or her wonderful art or some whacked concept or even how they have to sling burgers instead of make art...be compassionate..

day? Isn’t it quite the opposite of how you feel when the sun is out?

Do you just want to sit down to read a book, lazy around the house, or if you are at work, does it feel like you don’t accomplish much?

An artist often feels “blocked”. Here are a couple of my thoughts on the subject, especially with our late spring and winter-like weather.

I recommend every artist to paint something everyday to see how the weather affects artistic thinking and how much more you can produce on a glorious sunny day versus the cloudy, gloomy one.

By Karen Mattson, Artist

Some people say this proverb means, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today”, or “the early bird catches the worm.” I suppose these would apply to laziness, but to me, it has more to do with your state of mind from the sun factor.

How do you feel on sunny days? Are you vibrant, energetic, and happy or basically a ball of fire? How about on a cloudy, grey and dismal

If possible, do a painting a day for a few months or a year and keep a log of the weather on your calendar.

This gives you the opportunity to see how the weather played a role in your moods and how your varying moods affected your paintings.

Do as much artwork as you can when the sun shines, for I guarantee your artistic rhythms will be at their best.

As always, feel free to contact me. I would love to hear your art successes. Thanks.

> www.karenmattson.com

www.facebook.com/MattsonArt kamakws@hotmail.com

DID YOU KNOW?

Classes Begin: June 4,5 - July 9,10 - August 6,7 (10 am - 2 pm)

Class D Road Testing VEHICLE AVAILABLE

Call to register: 841-3639

Do you love to sing? Join the

All vocal ranges.

No auditions necessary.

(Auditions if under 18)

Join us on Thursdays @ 7pm @ Wasilla High School Find us on Facebook: Mat-Su Community Chorus

Mat-Su

COMMUNITY CHORUS

May 2013

That the second man to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, Bobby Leach, survived the fall but later died as a result of slipping on an orange peel.

Reduced insurance rates for most drivers.

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

Being a farmer’s daughter, “Make hay when the sun shines” was always taken literally. There is nothing worse for a farmer than to have it rain on the hay as it rots quickly after it is cut. The weather played a huge role on when to start making hay. Now, being far away from the farm, this saying means something totally different to me.

Invest in your teen’s driving future, it pays dividends for a lifetime.

27

Make Hay When The Sun Shines

Manny’s Driver Education

Education

Education Hell

By Hillary Saffran

A student comes to a young professor’s office hours. She glances down the hall, closes his door, and kneels pleadingly. “I would do anything to pass this exam,” she says. She leans closer to him, flips back her hair, and gazes meaningfully into his eyes. “I mean,” she whispers, “I would do anything...”He returns her gaze, “Anything?””Anything.”His voice softens, “Anything? “Anything,” she repeats again. His voice turns to a whisper. “Would you ... study?”

Ah - May and June – ‘tis the season of graduations. This is a great time to ponder the wonders of learning.

However, if the thought of obtaining a degree, applying for financial aid, and deciding on what institution to get your post-secondary education from has you stressed, then this might be a good time for: Self-Care Tip #47 - for Education Stress: Whatever you enjoy doing; give it a regular place in your life. Everyone needs an outlet.

Just make sure that your outlet is not applying to bogus institutions that sell fictional degrees on $400 parchment.

The Online Webinar Experience Professor: Today we’re going to discuss the anomalies of the institution of tongue piercing in the ancient tribes of Boodwah for our Ancient Sociology class. Is everyone logged in to the class blackboard chat?

Student #1: I am.

Student #2: I am.

Student #3: (distracted by a baby’s wail)

Shhh. Mommy needs to do this. Okay, perhaps a little breastfeeding will quiet you down.

Guest #1: I like your dress.

Professor: I agree. Tongue piercings did not affect the breastfeeding of babies in that region.

Guest #1: Thank you. It has the school colors of my graduate degree. I just completed an MBA in Organizational Leadership of Corporate Followers.

Student #1: What do you mean? Was there a paper due on this?

Student #2: I don’t think so.

Student #3: (distracted by a small child’s chatter) Please Johnny, I’ll play with you in an hour. Mommy is breastfeeding the baby and is logged in to her class.

Professor: Logging was not an occupation of the Boodwah tribe.

Student #1: Are you sure there wasn’t a paper due on this?

Student #2: Not yet.

Professor: Logging did not produce paper for many centuries until the Boodwah tribe became extinct.

Student #2: I think I saw the movie.

Student #3: (Distracted by a man’s voice). Honey, please keep the kids quiet until I’m through with my class.

Professor: The class system of the Boodwah has been thoroughly researched, with academic publications listed in the appendix of your syllabus.

Student #2: I’m still paying for the removal of my appendix last year. With my student loans, I’ll probably be in debt forever.

Professor: Yes, we will forever be indebted to the Boodwah’s for their contribution to our culture…

Dinner Party Conversation

Guest #2: Thank you. I like your tie.

Guest # 2: How impressive! I completed my MBA two years ago in Administration of Public Utilities and Toilets.

Guest # 3: Sounds interesting. I’d like to interject here – I recently completed my Master’s in Global Governmental Procrastination.

Guest #4: You don’t say! I’m working on my second Master’s of Third World Policy in Activist Terrorism with Bad Hair and Acne.

Guest #5: Really? That’s interesting, because I’ve just completed my Master’s in Linguistic Lollygagging of Bedouin Tribes in Nomadic Culture.

Guest #6: Whoa! What a chance at such a serendipitous adventure! I myself have completed my Master’s of Fine Arts degree in the Superfluous Sonnets of Swedish Skiijorners.

Guest #7: Were your studies mostly online? When I obtained my Master’s in the Reproduction of Repetitive Phrases in the Archeology of Annotative Acronyms, I had to go out of state for three days every other month, on the lunar eclipse of the house of the rising sun during the age of Aquarius to a study center in Pittsburgh. I rather enjoyed the experience.

Guest #8: Anyone want a beer? This conversation is giving me a headache. I barely finished high school.

Guest #2: You’re so…so primitive! I find that quite sexy.

Guest #8: Hey – there’s a TV in the

den. We can watch Nascar or college basketball.

Guest #2: Yes, yes! Lead the way!

The book, “Laughing Your Way Through Hell – Tips for Self Care While Going Through Adversity” is in print and being launched at the following events: June 8th from 1:00-4:00 at the Town Square Art Gallery located next to the Carrs Mall at 591 E. Parks Highway in Wasilla. There will be live music featuring Rainy Hastings of Gerygone & Twig along with her artwork, as well as the photography of Grace Kari, and drawings of Andree LaFrance. Rainy & Andree contributed artwork for the book, and Grace Kari did all the photography. This is also the launch date for the Kindle version of the book on Amazon.com June 29th at the Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry, sponsored by the Valley Arts Alliance during their “Art on Fire” show from 10:00am5:00pm at 3800 W. Museum Dr. in Wasilla. This event is sure to be a hot one!

July 31st for the “Wednesday Night at the Museum” event at the Dorothy G. Page Museum at 323 Main St. in Wasilla from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Hillary will also perform parts of her “Party of One with Friends” show.

August 10th at Fireside Books at 720 S. Alaska St. in Palmer from 11:30am – 4:00pm – the home of good books and bad coffee. Hillary might be accompanied by some of her puppet friends – you never know!

> www.laughter-is.com follow Hillary on facebook at www.facebook.com/ laughterIs

> Follow Hillary on Twitter at #LaughterIs

Hey America

By Greg DeHart, A Watchman Some of you will be asking, “Who is this guy anyway?” Well, I am a nobody, but none-the-less, imagine with me for a few moments.

It is a dark very early summer morning about 4 o’clock. I happen to be on a hill looking down at a sleeping village that is surrounded by a dense forest that has been set ablaze. A stiff wind is blowing the fire toward the village. Although I am a ‘nobody’, should I not warn the people of their peril?

Yet another time a robber holds up a convenience store. He kills the clerk, grabs the loot, and steals away thinking no one has witnessed the crime. I happened to have stepped in the back door as he shot the clerk and ran. I immediately recognized him as my friend and neighbor. Later he was apprehended, and though he is my friend and neighbor should I not testify to what I have heard and seen?

Folks start arriving at between 5 and or 6...

Find Us on Facebook

Consider: Ez. 33:1-33, Ac. 20:19-21, Ac. 20:26-31, Mic. 7:18, Pr. 14:1 Is. 58:1, Pr. 31:8-9 Is. 59:1-21

Begich

Expresses Exasperation with IRS Targeting

Submitted by Heather

Something to say?

Handyside, Press Secretary U.S. Senator Mark Begich expressed exasperation today after learning that the IRS had singled out certain political groups for heightened audit scrutiny.

“It’s completely inappropriate for the IRS or any other federal agency to single out certain organizations based upon their politics,” said Begich. “The public expects the government to encourage the free expression of all sorts of ideas—not to target certain groups based upon their political affiliation. I already put the IRS on notice about snooping in private citizens’ emails and now this? Simply unacceptable.”

Begich directed his staff to followup on this issue and to recommend actions he can take to prevent this type of activity in the future.

Write about it!

And send it to us: www.makeasceneak.com

May 2013

I tell you America, your sins have aroused the anger of the Almighty God, and although I am a ‘nobody’, I am compelled to warn you. It is not wise to anger Yehovah!

No you don’t see Yehovah with the natural eye, yet only a fool would deny His existence. Repent America! Turn your heart toward Yehovah!

The Cash Mob will will meet this month, May 16th, at the Palmer Bar.

In like manner I am set as a watchman to warn you, America. You America are the sleeping towns! You America are my friend and neighbor whom I testify against! You are guilty of murder, robbery, oppression, immorality, hypocrisy, lies, idolatry, and a variety of other sins.

You say I don’t see Yehovah. Does one see his own spirit? Yet without his spirit his body will die. Does one see air? Try to stop breathing. Does one see an atom? Yet, from atoms they make the greatest bombs ever. Does one see gravity? Try stepping out an upper story window into thin air.

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

Another town sleeps deep into the night.

A partial moon offers dim light. From a hill I see a column of approaching enemy: tanks and infantry. Should I not warn the sleeping towns people who are my very kin, neighbors, and friends?

Community

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Politics

30

To have your non-profit organization included in this free community resource list, please email your info to:

May 2013

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

makeasceneak@mac.com

SENIORS Palmer Senior Citizens Center, Inc.

The priApry mission of the Palmer Senior Citizens Center, Inc. is to assist individuals age sixty or older, individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Disorders, individuals of any age on the Medicaid Waiver program and other eligible individuals in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough remain as independent as possible in the least restrictive environment possible and out of expensive nursing homes for as long as possible.

Services include: congregate and home delivered meals, transportation, adult day services, care coordination, senior employment, family caregivers support, information / referral, chore services, senior housing, chore services, Better Choices Better Health classes, HELP program, activities and volunteer opportunities.

745-5454, pscc@mtaonline.net

Alzheimer’s Resource Agency of Alaska

As Alaska’s resource on Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Agency of Alaska (ADRAA) is committed to providing information, education and services for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) and their caregivers. We have served Alaskans since 1984, and today we help more than 5,000 people annually.

As a non-profit statewide organization, we provide family consultations, care coordination, in-home services for frail elders & individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and education programs to family caregivers and health care professionals. We are your resource for information and can refer you to services in Alaska or the contiguous U.S. Sam Meneses, 746-3432, www.alzalaska.org

Valley Charities, Inc; dba Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Store

Provides medical equipment to all income brackets in the Valley; provides clothing and household goods to Valley residents that are economically disadvantaged.

John Rozzi , 376-5740

Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI)

A Health and Wellness Campus for Seniors on the Go! The goal at WASI is to assist and refer services for Seniors 60 and older so they can live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

Some of the services provided are: Meals: Family Style Meals Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Center. Meals on Wheels home delivered meals.

Housing: Independent Housing for low income and Aprket rate individuals. Optional Assisted Living Services Transportation: Partnership with MASCOT Bus $.60 per one way ride. Dr. visits by appointment Other Activities: Cards, Wii, and Painting at the Center Blood Pressure Checks Club50 Fitness Center, Strong Seniors Program ($5/8 weeks) Shopping Trips and other outings Valley Performing Arts Theater Visits And much more… call 376-3104 opt.2 for more information.

Dennie Jaques , 376-3104

Mat-Su Area Partnership (MAP)

An organization of non-profit agencies in the MatSu Valley. MAP holds a monthly meeting on a Thursday at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla. www.mapartnership.org/matsu/

Mid-Valley Seniors Inc

Mid-valley Seniors has 3 senior housing units 18 apartments and serves a congregate meal Mon-Fri at 5.30PM Soup and salad bar main meal served at 6 Pm. Home delivered meals served daily fresh Mon-Fri, weekend meals are frozen.

Transportation Department for doctors

appointments in the Valley Wasilla and Palmer area, Mon-Wed-Fri 9.00Am -3Pm. Shopping trips, and pharmacy stops, Tues – Thursday 9Am -1Pm Come up to the Center for activities or dinner,24 hours in advance notice.

Lorie Rounds, 892-6114 mvsc@mtaonline.net www.mid-valleyseniors.org

FAMILIES & CHILDREN Alaska Family Services

Alaska Family Services is a multi-dimensional non-profit that has over 20 programs serving the Mat-Su Valley. Major areas are: domestic violence, behavioral health, WIC, family support, and residential for youth with emotional issues.

Donn A. Bennice, Ph.D. 746-4080 akafs.org

LINKS Mat-Su Parent Resource Center.

We provide support and assistance to families with disabilities. LINKS provides support and trainings, parent to parent connections to mentor, information and referral, and access to library materials.

These services are provided through one-onone assistance and individualized workshops for small or large groups. Our vision is to ensure that every parent and family who has a child with a special need has access to information, education, outreach, and support in a culturally competent environment and to empower then to be advocates for themselves, their children, and their families.

New location on the Palmer-Wasilla Hwy next to North Star Bakery, across the street from MSSCA. Amber Parker, Admin Assisiant. amberp@linksprc.org , 373-3632

Family Promise Mat-Su

Provides a shelter for families without housing.

We mobilize community resources and local congregations to provide compassionate care through shelter, meals, and case management to families without housing. Guest families are housed in area church buildings at night for a week at a time...moving to new host church on Sundays.

Applications are available on our website.

357-6160, www.familypromisematsu.org

The Children’s Place

The Children’s Place child advocacy center is a child-friendly, neutral facility where professionals from many agencies involved in the evaluation, investigation and treatment of child abuse meet to coordinate and bring their services to the child and their family. We provide child forensic interviews, medical exams, linkage to mental health providers, follow-up support and referrals throughout the investigation process. Referrals to The Children’s Place are made through law enforcement and Office of Children’s Services.

The Children’s Place, 357-5157, www. alaskachildrensplace.com

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska

Strengthens our communities by providing mentors to all children who need and want a caring adult role model – special friends who can help them expand their horizons, realize their potential and enrich their futures – changing their lives.

Alaska Center for Resource Families

Provides support, training and education for foster, relative and adoptive families caring for children that have been abused and neglected. ACRF also helps support the Mat-Su Grandparents Support Group in collaboration with Links and Volunteers of America. For more information about foster care and adopting children that are in the OCS child protection system visit our website www.acrf.org or call 376-4678.

376-4678, bwoodin@nwresource.org

Pillows for Kids Foundation

We provide little pillows of support and little scholarships for local children to participate in brain-training activities such as art, music, gymnastics, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, skating, horseback riding, and Aprtial arts..

Mentors and community members contact us when there is an identified need to keep kids, preschool through college, connected with good activities in our community. We plan to publish a book and CD/DVD of Evan’s “Little Pillow” song

(copyrighted) soon. Currently, we are selling washable, decorator pillows of all shapes, sizes and colors for kids and adults as a way of creating funding for the scholarships.

Valerie Koivunen pillowsforkids@gmail.com

The Moose Boosters Wrestling Club

A youth development organization that provides aid and funding to low income recreational facilitates and athletes at the high school level. Funding supports athletes who participate in wrestling programs while meeting academic standards.

Michelle Heun 355-7099

Set Free Alaska

Brief description about non-profit: Our children, friends, co-workers; there is someone we know who is struggling with addiction and destructive behaviors. It is the goal of Set Free Alaska to provide excellent, individualized services to our clients. Set Free Alaska is a Christian outpatient substance abuse treatment center that uses a mind-body-spirit approach to recovery.

Our programs are designed to assist people in gaining freedom from the bondage of addiction and destructive behaviors. Set Free Alaska realizes that cost can be a huge deterrent to people seeking and receiving the help they need as well as a huge relapse trigger. Our assessments are based on a sliding fee scale. It is the goal of Set Free Alaska that no person be denied the services they need due to lack of financial resources. Our offices are open Mon-Fri 10-6 and we are located on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway across from the AT&T Sports Center.

Philip Licht, Executive Director 373-4732, www.setfreealaska.org/

Big Lake Community Clothing Closet Donated by local Alaskans, Big Lake Community Clothing Closet provides quality clothing to people in need, at no charge.

Clothing and footwear for people of all ages is available. Also, assorted household items as they are available.

This unique program helps people locally.

Donations are accepted, to further the program.

Any money donated helps pay the rent for our location at 2955 Big Lake Rd., Big Lake, Alaska.

Financial donation could also be mailed to the Big Lake Community Clothing Closet, PO Box 527069, Big Lake, AK 99652.

Hours of operation: Tues. 9 am – 1 pm, Weds. 11 am – 3 pm All donations of quality clothing in good condition can be donated at the above address during regular hours of operation.

We are a non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductable. Tax ID available to donors.

Check us out on Facebook.

Co-Administrators Stephanie O. 892-5450 Christy M. 775-3238

The ARTs Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums, under the leadership of Pipe Major Aja Stewart, are now seeking Pipers and Drummers who would like to play with our Band. We want to increase the size of our awardwinning Drumline, so if you are already familiar with drumming (snare, tenor, or bass,) or if you want to learn to play, we would like to hear from you! We would like to extend a cordial invitation to anyone who would like to learn to play bagpipes or drums, to FREE lessons with our Band.

You don’t have to be Scottish, or even have any musical background, to start. We firmly believe that you’re never too old to learn; we have active students and performing members of the Band ranging in age from 7 to 70!

We are a grade IV competing, family-oriented Pipe

Band, established in 2005, and we are very active in supporting our community with music at parades, concerts, and special events. Our purpose is to advance the rich cultural heritage of Great Highland Bagpipe music, and to have FUN doing it! ACPD provides free instruction in piping and drumming, with Band practice to follow, every Friday evening at 5:00 and 5:45 pm at Eagle River Presbyterian Church, 12836 Old Glenn Highway, in Eagle River.

Phenomenal!

Those interested in lessons, or in playing pipes or drums with Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums, please contact the Band by email at craigag@mtaonline. net or by telephone at (907) 688-4196. The band’s website can be found at http://www.alaskaceltic. org , plus, we’re on Facebook! “The Pipes, the Pipes are calling...”

Radio Free Palmer

Radio Free Palmer is community radio serving the Sutton and Palmer communities as KVRF 89.5 FM and online at radiofreepalmer.org. On air since 2011, KVRF’s mission is to foster community involvement.

Currently we produce great local shows on topics from health to mushing - and the list of programs is growing. Online we add important community events such as the Borough Assembly and School Board Meetings. Listen to Radio Free Palmer KVRF 89.5 for more community-centric news, music, sports, music or come volunteer to to help bring great radio programming to the valley.

Mike Chmielewski, COO 745-8951, Manager@radiofreepalmer.org Radiofreepalmer.org and on Facebook and Twitter

Valley Fine Arts Association

VFAA was formed to teach techniques, and encourage fellowship among visual artists in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. we strive to promote a supportive attitude toward visual arts in our Alaskan community.

We welcome beginners, students, part-time and professional artists who focus mainly on twodimensional art mediums and want to connect with other creative people and gain more exposure locally.

Throughout the year, we inform our members about opportunities to show their work, participate in group events, view other local artists, and enroll in workshops. During the school year, we organize regular sessions for painting together and host monthly artist demonstrations on the 1st and 3rd Mondays from 4 - 8 p.m.; Room 212 at Mat-Su College. Aprch 7 @ 6:00 p.m., Charles Gause will be the guest speaker.

Membership in the Valley Fine Arts Association provides many diverse opportunities for artists. Check our website calendar at www. valleyfineartsassociation.com for upcoming events.

Mat-Su Community Chorus, Inc.

As Musical Ambassadors of The Valley, The MatSu Community Chorus has provided quality vocal music, in its various forms, for the benefit, education and enjoyment of its members and the surrounding communities since 1970. Our membership is open to the public, inviting all who wish to add their voice in song. We offer complimentary performances at public celebrations and deliver formal concerts twice a year.

We are a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, currently with twenty-two members and we are looking towards expanding the organization to better serve the community. With the support from individuals, businesses and other civic organizations we are able to grow our group by bringing the community together through music and to continue our standard of excellence.

We meet September through May on Thursday evenings at 7-9pm in the Choir Room at Wasilla High School.

Nan Potts 745-8788 matsucomchours@gmail.com

Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums of Eagle River

Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums of Eagle River, under the leadership of Pipe Major Aja Stewart and Drum Sergeant Bryan Gonzales, are actively recruiting pipers and drummers, as well as those interested in learning Great Highland Bagpipes and Highland Drumming (snare, tenor, bass.) We would like to extend a cordial invitation to anyone who would like to learn to play bagpipes or drums, to FREE lessons with our Band.

We are a grade IV competing, family-oriented pipe

band established in 2005, and beginners of any age are welcome. Alaska Celtic Pipes & Drums are very active in supporting the community in which we live. Our purpose is to advance the rich cultural heritage of Great Highland Bagpipe music, and to have FUN doing it! ACPD provides free instruction in piping and drumming, with Band practice to follow, every Friday evening at 5:00 and 5:45 pm at Eagle River Presbyterian Church, 12836 Old Glenn Highway, in Eagle River .

Those interested in lessons, or in becoming members of ACPD, please contact the Band by email at jungstensgericht@yahoo.com or by telephone at (907) 376-5060. The band’s website can be found at http://www.alaskaceltic.org

Mat-Su Concert Band, Inc.

Our mission is to promote, plan, support and conduct educational and cultural activities and opportunities for the benefit of the citizens and residents of Alaska. We do this by providing an outlet for the many talented musicians in and around our area to perform and a venue for the public to come and enjoy with us our music.

Rehearsals are every Mon. from 7 to 9 p.m. at Teeland Middle School. For more information, contact Gleo Huyck at 746-0628. matsuconcertband@gmail.com

The Whirling Rainbow Foundation

Grandmother Drum International Peace Project The Whirling Rainbow Foundation is an international spiritual and educational non- profit organization which honors and celebrates the diverse cultural and spiritual paths of the human family. The foundation cultivates the universal teachings of inner peace, loving compassion, wisdom and understanding at the core of every culture and spiritual tradition. We are starting a Global Peace Sanctuary and Sustainable Community in Palmer.

The GrandMother Drum International Peace Project travels the world as the international voice of the Whirling Rainbow Foundation. As a symbol of the heartbeat of love that connects all nations and all races, the seven foot, crystal inlaid GrandMother Drum holds local and global events promoting peace and unity through the universal language of music, dance, cultural and healings arts.

White Eagle Medicine Woman (Suraj Holzwarth) Executive Director www.whirlingrainbow.com

Valley Performing Arts

We’re celebrating 36 years of Quality Live Theatre!

VPA performs seven plays a year from September through May. We welcome actors, volunteers, program advertisers and play sponsors to join in supporting VPA, the Valley’s oldest live theatre. The VPA Summer Theatre Arts Programs take place June through August and are for youth 6-11 and 1217. The VPA Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony is held each June and Annual Fundraiser in October.

Purchase your tickets online or from our office.

Check out audition dates and show times on our website. VPA is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

373-0195, www.valleyperformingarts.org

Valley Arts Alliance

The Valley Arts Alliance is a group of like-minded individuals who have joined together to encourage, sponsor, facilitate and support artistic expression.

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. www.valleyartsalliance.com

ANIMALS Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue (ADPR)

Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue is an all volunteer, non-profit organization formed for the purpose of rescuing homeless dogs and puppies. We have rescued dogs throughout Alaska, including various Bush communities. These rescued dogs are placed in foster homes, where they are socialized, vaccinated, dewormed, and taken to the vet to be microchipped and spayed or neutered. It is our goal to have an animal sanctuary, so that all adoptable dogs are given an opportunity to find their forever homes. We encourage individuals to

Alaska Assistance Dogs (Aad)

AAD provides service dogs to Alaskans with special needs (physical, physiological & mental health), and incorporates therapeutic programs into service dog training. AAD works with special education students at school, provides teen mentoring in community training venues, offers domestic violence/PTSD support groups, FASD/ Autism programs, and provides service dogs and support groups for veterans with PTSD and their families.

Therapist on staff, and all trainers are certified by the founder of the service dog concept, Dr. Bonnie Bergin.

Carole J. Shay, Lpc. carole@alaskaassistancedogs.org

Meadow Gates Farm Sanctuary

VARIETY The Sertoma Club - Wasilla

We host the Mat Su Polar Plunge raising funds for non-profits in the Matanuska Susitna Valley, Alaska. February 2011 we saw 85 jumpers raise almost $20,000 which was then given to the Food Pantry of Wasilla and Turn A Leaf Thrift Stores. The Food Pantry provides emergency food supplies to families in need. Turn A Leaf has a medical lending equipment program which is now organized with software purchased with funds received. Both were grant recipients from the Mat Su Sertoma Club. Grant applications for the 2012 Mat Su Polar Plunge are located on our website: www. matsuplunge.com.

Join us every other Thursday at 5:00pm at the Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill. Our next meeting is August 25th. We always have new speakers and a great time. See you there!

TOPS

Take of Pounds Sensibly Non-Profit Weight Loss Support Group Three (3) Chapters meet weekly in the Valley.

Kathy Miller - 376-9571 or write to matsutops@webtv.net

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS)

Our mission is to educate and provide opportunities in our community to reduce, reuse, and recycle for the long-term good of all.

Our vision is to establish the Mat-Su Borough as a model recycling community for Alaska. We are open for residential recycling Wednesday through Friday 12-6pm and Saturday 11-3pm. Businesses can call ahead for hours. Your permanent community recycling center is located in our new green building at 9465 E. Chanlyut Circle, next to the animal shelter at the Central Landfill. Volunteer opportunities available. community@valleyrecycling.org www.valleyrecycling.org, 745.5544

Valley Residential Services (VRS)

VRS provides special needs housing to individuals who experience behavioral or developmental disabilities, low-income levels or those who are homeless. VRS currently has 168 properties in the Mat-Su Valley with special programs to assist with rental assistance and we can assist with linking individuals to social service agencies who can assist with life skills programs.

(907) 357-0256 , valleyres.org

Alaska Attachment & Bonding Associates (AABA) Educates and supports foster, adoptive, kinship care, step, grand and guardianship parents and

professionals who care for children with emotional mental health issues, such as Attachment Disorder.

AABA provides workshops, e-mail/telephone support, resource/referral information, selfadvocacy, AABA web-site www.akattachment. org, RAVEN Respite, newsletters, brochures, lending library, and Mom2Mom/Dad2Dad parent support group. For more information: Laura Wagner 907-376-0366

Food Pantry of Wasilla

The mission of the Food Pantry of Wasilla is: “To provide persons who reside in the Matanuska Susitna Valley with needed supplemental food supplies. Food Pantry of Wasilla distributes goods to its clients in a manner which gives dignity to all.”

All distributions made by the Food Pantry of Wasilla shall be made notwithstanding any person’s race, color, sex, age, handicap, religious affiliation, or national origin.

Our hours of operation are: Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

We offer two food programs to residents of the Mat-Su Valley. We operate a community-supplied food pantry, accepting cash and food donations from individuals and groups and supply clients with food for nutritionally-balanced meals to help people get back on their feet.

We also administer distribution of TEFAP government commodities. TEFAP is (The Emergency Food Assistance Program). This is a needs-based program, which may be accessed monthly by any client who meets the governmentestablished-qualifications. Food distributed is based on availability and instructions from USDA. In case of emergencies such as fire or earthquake in the valley, the Food Pantry of Wasilla also cooperates with other organizations and government agencies to render assistance.

Eddie Ezelle, 907-357-3769 Main 501 E.Bogard Rd., Wasilla www.foodpantryofwasilla.org

OUTDOORS North America Outdoor Institute

The North America Outdoor Institute (NAOI) is a not-for-profit community outreach organization providing outdoor safety and environmental awareness education programs for the general public in an effort to save lives from preventable

outdoor injuries and deaths. Debra McGhan, debra@naoiak.org 376-2898 , www.naoiak.org

conduct fundraising events to keep the birds fed and warm. It’s all “for the birds.”

Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats is dedicated to conserving the natural and cultural resources of Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge through public awareness, recreation, education and enhancement projects. Healthy, outdoor recreation in a safe, beautiful setting is what APH helps provide to all users.

357-8712, info@palmerhayflats.org www.palmerhayflats.org

AWBRC has recently signed a long-term lease for 25 acres in the City of Houston, and is looking forward to the beginning phases of a permanent facility there. To volunteer, donate or for further information, contact AWBRC at 907.892.1670, 907.230.7049, or visit www.akwildbirdrehab.org.

Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats

Alaska Frontier Trappers Association

The Alaska Frontier Trappers Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the ethical and lawful practice of trapping Alaska’s fur bearers.

We work to educate fellow trappers, children and the public in general about trapping as a necessary wildlife management and research tool.

Our monthly meetings usually include a guest speaker and/or a demonstration and fur handling information. Meetings which are held at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at the Palmer Library. Everyone is welcome to attend. www.akfrontiertrappers.com

CONSERVATION The Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center (AWBRC) The Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center (AWBRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that offers bird rescue and rehabilitation services for the growing Mat-Su Valley community. Our mission is to rescue and care for injured, orphaned and sick wild birds with the goal of returning healthy birds back to their native habitats, and to educate the public about Alaska’s wild birds through live wild bird programs.

Wasilla Soil & Water Conservation District (WSWCD)

The WSWCD is a non-profit formed in 1948 to assist landowners & land managers with conservation & development on land through technical assistance, projects & education programs & services. WSWCD is an active, yearround community-based organization; a nonregulatory agency; a strong partner with various government & non-profit agencies/groups; a credible, knowledgeable advocate for conserving soil & water resources supported by the time & energy of neighbors & volunteers dedicated to making a positive difference in their communities. Our priorities are: Salmon enhancement & restoration; Soil, forage crops & manure testing; Stream & lake bank stabilization; Water quality & instream flows; Arbor Day activities & tree planting; Invasive weed assessments – land & water; Trail use & salmon stream crossings; Cooperator & community conservation needs; Public information, involvement & education.

Chuck Kaucic, District Manager 357-4563 X 103 distmgr@wasillaswcd.org

The Center is operated by dedicated volunteers helping to feed the birds, administer medical treatment, clean cages, and do whatever it takes to help these wild birds survive and gain strength for their eventual release or participation in our education program. Volunteers also plan and

MAY 24 – Lulu Small 11:30 – 1:30 MAY 31 – Marty & Matt Raney 11:30 – 1:30

IN TANDEM WITH COLONY DAYS JUNE 7 – Wild Cat Trio – 11:30 – 1:30

JUNE 14 – Nici Pepper, Chris Snyder: Firefly – 11:30 – 1:30

JUNE 8 – H3 Island Reggae 11:30 – 3 pm

JUNE 21 – Ukulele Russ - 11:30 – 1:30

May 2013

JUNE 9 – Andy Mullen – 1-4pm Meggie Aube Students – 5-6pm Percussion Camp Students Performing

Friday Fling 2013 - Music Schedule

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

Meadow Gates Farm Sanctuary has provided shelter and care for unwanted pet rabbits since 2001. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable corporation. Rabbits are taken in when space is available. They are evaluated for behavior and personality, spayed/neutered, then adopted to new pet homes. Bunnies not able to be adopted are maintained permanently at the sanctuary.

Responsible adult volunteers are always needed.

907-357-6437, www.meadowgates.com manager@meadowgates.com

We have a wonderful club of volunteers! On a weekly basis you’ll find a Mat Su Sertoman at the Food Pantry, Wasilla Senior Campus, Valley Charities, helping Special Olympics and the list goes on and on! Our goal for 2011/2012 year is to raise more than, $25,000 in polar plunge funds.

You can pledge or sign up to jump! Just visit our website for more information.

31

volunteer for this very worthy cause.

745-7030 adpr03@yahoo.com

18

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

May 2013

CALENDAR SUBMISSION

Call 376-4252

Email information to:

HAMS The Homeless Actors of Mat-Su A Dinner Theater Benefit Production of Cream Puff Pioneers

By Dan Strouse For the Palmer Historical Society Fridays and Saturdays 630pm and Sundays 1pm At the Eagle Hotel downtown Palmer June 7-30, 2013 Tickets $30 per person, seniors and students $25 Reservations call 376-4252

10th of month by 5PM

makeasceneak@mac.com Marching Band Solo, Julia Cannon, Gerygone & Twig Perform Saturday, May 18, 2013 6 :00pm 8:00pm Salvation Army, Palmer Suggested $5-$10 donation.

Mocha Moose presents Moose Barn Market May 25th 10am-7pm One day only event Join us for shopping local arts/crafts & home buisness’s at our outside market, to kick off an awesome summer hot dogs & refreshments for purchase door prizes & 1 lucky winner in our basket drawing Market located in Mocha Moose parking lot 340 N. Lucille St. Wasilla, AK Calling all vendors $30.00 a space please contact Karena 354-6824 “Drawn to Palmer” sketch walk Palmer May 18 at 10am finish with lunch at Rusty’s at 12 Facebook page, Suzie Althens Studio email list at suziepaints@yahoo.com or call at 745-0948. $15.00 includes lunch Celebration of Life In Memory of Amber Lee Hubbs 4/15/83 - 4/18/13 June 1 at 5:00pm until June 2 at 12:00pm Tug Bar/Goose Bay Inn Mile 18.5 Knik-Goose Bay Rd. Wasilla, AK 99654 4th annual Mendeltna Creek Music Festival Memorial Day Weekend May 24-27 Mendeltna Creek Lodge and Campground mile 153 on the Glenn Hwy Music from 5pm on Fri to 10 pm on Sun “Family Friendly” $40 per person for the weekend Kids under 16 are free Gaia Tribal Belly Dance Club Tango June 15 pre-show fun starting 6 pm curtains at 7 pm Ticket prices are $35.00 Tickets at www.gaiatribal.com, under workshops HAMS The Homeless Actors of Mat-Su HOG WASH IMPROV GROUP Sat June 1 8pm At Hacienda Restaurant Parks and Palmer Wasilla Hwy, Wasilla

Salsa dance lessons Wasilla Lake Resort Every Wednesday 8pm-10pm Wasilla Lake Resort/Club Hydro 1850 E Bogard $10 per person, $14 per couple Liz Robinson 907-315-7304 Alaska Theatre of Youth Presents Cirque Week!

Mon. July 8 - Fri. July 12 9am-4pm Alaska Theatre of Youth 610 W. Fireweed Ln. Anchorage, AK 99503 $250 call (907) 338-4901 or visit www. alaskatheatreofyouth.org Alaska Theatre of Youth 907-338-4901 www.alaskatheatreofyouth.org Marian Call at Bistro Red Beet Thurs, May 16 7pm-9pm Bistro Red Beet 5031 E Mayflower Lane, Wasilla AK $10 Available through Bistro Red Beet, walk in or call 907-376-1400 http://mariancall.com Marian Call concert at the Talkeetna Roadhouse Sun May 26 5pm-7pm Talkeetna Roadhouse 13550 E Main St., Talkeetna, AK Free 907-733-1351 http://mariancall.com Country Fair and Cupcake Bakeoff Sat, June 1 11am-5pm St. Herman Orthodox Church 6988 N. En Dove Rd. Wasilla AK 99654 (at mile 7.1 of Wasilla-Fishook Road) Fair admission is free; $10 entry fee for cupcake contest St. Herman Orthodox Church 907-631-2354 sainthermanwasilla.org Alaska Agriculture Appreciation Day at the Farm Thursday, August 8, 2013

Noon - 6pm UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm 1509 S. Georgeson Drive, Palmer AK Free UAF Matanuska Experiment Farm 907-746-9450 http://www.uaf.edu/snras/afes/palmerresearch-extension/ Matanuska Amateur Radio Association Hamfest Wasilla American Legion Post 35 Saturday, 11 May 1000-1600 $3.00 Entry Fee, $5.00 Barbeque, $10.00 table rental Don Bush, KL7JFT Kl7jft@arrl.net, 907-746-6845 Matanuska Amateur Radio Association Hamfest Wasilla American Legion Post 35 Saturday, 11 May 1000-1600 $3.00 Entry Fee, $5.00 Barbeque, $10.00 table rental Don Bush, KL7JFT Kl7jft@arrl.net, 907-746-6845 Primrose Rummage Sale Primrose Retirement Community Fri and Sat, May 10th and 11th 8am3pm both days No entry Charge, just money for shopping Primrose Retirement Community Maria or MaLane 373-5500 Alaska Theatre of Youth Presents Summer Youth Theatre Conservatory Mon. June 10th - Sat June 29th 9am-4pm Alaska Theatre of Youth Aquarian Charter School & UAA Fine Arts Buildling Harper Studio Theatre $495 Call (907) 338-4901 or visit www. alaskatheatreofyouth.org Alaska Theatre of Youth 907-338-4901 www.alaskatheatreofyouth.org Louise’s Farm School Registration!

2013-2014 6602 North Lossing Rd, Palmer AK May 10th – May 24th Please see our website for details Megan Rock , Coordinator 907-746-2714 mrock@alaskapacific.edu www.springcreekfarmak.org Ponderosa Pet Suites OPEN HOUSE Introducing the community to a unique boarding facility for dogs and cats!

Ponderosa Pet Suites 241 W Schrock Rd, Wasilla Saturday May 18, 2013 12-4pm FREE lunch, hot dogs, ice cream and lemonade Please RSVP to 357 7297 Ponderosa Pet Suites Julie or Scott Johnson 357-7297 The Wasilla Marketplace on the scenic Wasilla Lake

local vendors Local musicians, Thursdays and Saturdays from May 23rd to August 31st 10am-6pm Fish Preservation Classes Tuesday, June 4 and 11th, 2013 SMOKING FISH Cold and hot smoking, brining, developing a pellicle, food safety considerations for smoking fish will be discussed in this class.

Tuesday, June 4, 6 - 8 p.m.

Class is free, but advance registration is requested.

Class size is limited to: 20 CANNING FISH Learn to process fish in jars in this hands-on class.

Tuesday, June 11, 1 - 4 p.m.

Class is repeated at 6 - 9 p.m.

Cost: $15. Advance registration requested. Class size is limited to 16 Register & pay online at http://bit.ly/cesworkshops or e-mail matsu.ces@alaska.edu Classes held at the Cooperative Extension office in Palmer UAF Cooperative Extension Service ~ Mat-Su/Copper River District Office 809 S Chugach St., Ste #2, Palmer, AK 99645 907.745.3360 ~ e-mail: matsu.ces@ alaska.edu ~ website: www.uaf.edu/ ces/districts/matsu UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

Alaska Theatre of Youth Enroll online for Summer Programs www.alaskatheatreofyouth.org or admin@alaskatheatreofyouth.org (907) 338-4901.

Summer Youth Theatre Conservatory June 10th – 29th 9am–4pm, Mon-Fri (8am-5pm program supplements available) Actor’s Conservatory Ages 8-19, Tuition $495/session (Ask about sibling discounts and scholarships.)

Fairy Tale Program – Ages 5-8, Tuition $295 (Mon-Thurs 10am-12pm) 3-week Conservatory Program, Cirque Week!

July 8th – July 12th (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) Ages 8–19, Tuition $250 At Alaska Theatre of Youth – 610 W. Fireweed Fat City Revival: Rock ‘N’ Soul Revue (Featuring Aaron Benolkin, Melissa Mitchell, Brandon Cockburn, Rob Woolsey, Tony Restivo, Corwyn Wilkey, Scott Caddell, Anthony Reed, Nellie Clay, and Cole Ouellette) Sponsored by KNBA 90.3 FM May 17th & 18th Tap Root Public House in Spenard, Anchorage A night of unforgettable Classic Soul!

After Parties with Kima the DJ (Kima Hamilton) @ 11:30pm spinning Classic Soul records!

Tickets, $15 available in advance at http://northboundproductions.com TAP ROOT (3300 Spenard Rd.) 9:00pm; $15 tickets; 21+ 6th Annual Valley Homseschool Prom Committee Would like to THANK: Our Awesome Prom Committee Student for all their dedicated work and time to make this PROM Happen for all students All My Great Chaperones MY GREAT DJ “BIG C “ With Movin 105.7 Chris Stringer Memeorial Gym and Jill Kittellgraphics Photography Carr’s Walmart 3 Bears Fred Meyers The Zimmerman Team Realators office Primal Martial Arts Baker Bookkeeping Matanuska Amateur Radio Association Hamfest Wasilla American Legion Post 35 Saturday, 11 May 1000-1600 $3.00 Entry Fee, $5.00 Barbeque, $10.00 table rental Don Bush, KL7JFT Kl7jft@arrl.net, 907-746-6845 UNBEETABLE summer concert series At Bistro Red Beet 5031 E. Mayflower Ave. Palmer/Wasilla Highway May 16, Marian Call June 13, Kevin Worrell July 4, Emma Hill July 25, Tom Begich 7pm Ticket Price: 10.00 Ticket Reservation: call 376-1400 or email redbeet@mtaonline.net Intimate concerts – limited space – reserve now!

Palmer Public Library Events: Mon, May 20th 7pm: Final FRIENDS meeting of the spring.

Mon, May 27th: CLOSED in observation of Memorial Day. Regularly scheduled programs in May will observe a break for the month and will resume in JUNE as part of Summer Reading Program. Stay posted for more info!

Cash Mob Palmer Thurs, May 16th Palmer Bar Gather after work, between 5 & 6 Native Jazz Quartet Tours Alaska 6/15/13: TBA, Sitka, AK Quartet (opening concert: Native Jazz Workshop) www.nativejazzquartet.com Chili & Jam: Enjoy a hearty bowl of chili and a heaping spoonful of music Every Tues

6:30pm-8:30pm Starlight Ballroom, Anchorage Senior Activity Center 1300 E. 19th Ave., Anchorage Music is free; chili and other refreshments available for purchase.

Anchorage Senior Activity Center & Hurricane Dave AK Tues Night Fights Every Tues through Apr 30, 2013 Doors open 6:45pm Show starts 7:45pm Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center 1001 S Mack Dr $16.00 - $35.00 Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Store Outside Your Door Alaska Plants as Food and Medicine Symposium May 24 – 27 Aleyeska Resort Anchorage Folk Festival Jan 17 at 7pm until Jan 27 at 10:30pm Wasilla Market May 23 – August 31 On Parks Hwy, Next to Fred Meyers, Wasilla Alaska Theatre of Youth Upcoming Events Enroll online www.alaskatheatreofyouth. org or admin@alaskatheatreofyouth.org or (907) 338-4901.

Glee! Camp May 28th – June 1st (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm) Ages 8–18, Tuition $250 At UAA Fine Arts Building – Harper Studio Theatre Summer Youth Theatre Conservatory June 10th – 29th 9am–4pm, Mon-Fri (8am-5pm program supplements available) Actor’s Conservatory – Ages 8-19, Tuition $495/session (Ask about sibling discounts and scholarships.)

Fairy Tale Program – Ages 5-8, Tuition $295 (Mon-Thurs 10am-12pm) The 2013 Percussion in the Valley Summer Camp June 3-7, in Palmer Organized by Dr. Meggie Aube.

Students age 7-18 are invited Classes offered include: African drumming, Brazilian percussion, Japanese Taiko drumming, drumline, percussion ensemble, and technique development in drumset, snare drum, mallet instruments For more info and to register visit: http://www.percussioninthevalley.com 3rd Annual Machetanz Art Festival Mat-Su College Campus May 28, 29, 30, 31 June 1

RECURRING Free Community Concerts Palmer Salvation Army Every Sat Night 8:30 pm $5 suggested donation StrongWomen - Palmer Mon - Wed - Fri 11am - 12 pm Mat-Su Cooperative Extension Service 809 S Chugach St.., Ste #2, Palmer, $5 for a two month session Julie Cascio 907-745-3360 http://www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/matsu/ hhfd/strongwomen/

Learn to Skate 60 minute class for ages 3- Teens Curtis D Menard Memorial Center Class schedule and registration forms are available online: www.cityofwasilla.com Wasilla Strong Women Strength Training Mon * Wed * Fri 10-11 am * Year Round Program * Call Sharon 376-4434 Tues * Thurs 4:00 pm. Call Peggy 715-6338 Lower Level of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 501 E. Bogard Rd. Improve balance, strength, stamina and fight osteoporosis. $5.00 per 8 week session.

Palmer Public Library’s Events Every Tues at 10am: Baby Lap Sit Every Tues at 11am: 2 year old Story Time Every Wed at 2pm: Open Room for Preschoolers Every Thurs at 10:30am: 3-5 year old Story Time Fri, February 8th: 7pm. Foreign Film, Hospitalite (see library website www. cityofpalmer/library for synopsis) Mon, February 18th: 7-8pm. Friends of the Palmer Library Meeting

Women, Wine & Wed Third Wed every month Presented by Lakeshore Studio East Lake Mall, Big Lake 6:30pm $25 RSVP 230-0935

Sewing Circle Meets the first and third Wed of the month 1-3pm, Free Mat-Su Senior Services 1132 S. Chugach St. Palmer 745-5454 mat-suseniorservices.com

Whatever! Teen Lounge Featuring Wii gaming at Palmer Library T-Th, 2-4pm 746-4700

Caregivers Connection Last Mon of each month 1-3pm Free Mat-Su Senior Services 1132 S. Chugach St. Palmer, AK 99645 745-5454 mat-suseniorservices.com sueann.smithatmat-suseniorservices. com

Free Hearing Screening provided by Mat-Su Sertoma Club First Sat Every Month 10am-1pm Wasilla Physical Therapy Deana Moore 761-5229

Alaska Celtic Pipes and Drums Free piping and drumming Instruction Every Fri Evening, 5-5:45 pm Eagle River Presbyterian Church 12836 Old Glen Hwy, Eagle River Wasilla Meta-Rose Library: Toddler Storytime Wed at 10:30am and 1:30pm Preschool Storytime Thurs at 10:30am and 1:30pm Baby Lapsit Storytime Fri at 10:30am

Schwabenhof Live Music Every Fri & Sat 9pm until…

Sun Blues Open Mic Jam 9pm Tues Dart Night

Palmer Salvation Army Every Sat Night 8:30 pm $5 suggested donation

Curtis D Menard Memorial Center Class schedule and registration forms are available online: www.cityofwasilla.com

Fairview Inn Music Talkeetna Every Thur at 9:30pm Open Mic. Every Fri at 8pm and Sat at 10pm Live Music.

StrongWomen - Palmer Mon - Wed - Fri 11am - 12 pm Mat-Su Cooperative Extension Service 809 S Chugach St.., Ste #2, Palmer, $5 for a two month session Julie Cascio 907-745-3360 http://www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/matsu/ hhfd/strongwomen/

Wasilla Strong Women Strength Training Mon * Wed * Fri 10-11 am * Year Round Program * Call Sharon 376-4434 Tues * Thurs 4:00 pm. Call Peggy 715-6338 Lower Level of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 501 E. Bogard Rd. Improve balance, strength, stamina and fight osteoporosis. $5.00 per 8 week session.

Sahara Storm Studio and Circus Arts Clinics 982-4955 Valley Arts Alliance Meeting Thurs at 11:00am Sophia’s Cafe Neo, Palmer Wasilla Hwy Tammy’s Turf for Tots!

For children 6 & under $5 per child Mon - Fri 10am-1pm Tues & Thurs FREE! Menard Memorial Sports Center: 3579100 BABY STEPS Walking Program for New & Expectant Moms & Dads Mon & Wed 8AM-Noon Menard Memorial Sports Center 357-9100 Business Networking International Every Tues 9am Menard Memorial Sports Center 357-9100 Wasilla Bible Church Sun Menard Memorial Sports Center 357-9100 NAOI Outdoor Safety Classes Full schedule of classes online www.naoiak.org 376-2898.

Discussion Junction Family Book Club First Tues of each month Wasilla Meta-Rose Library

The Crystal Mandala Classes A variety of creative classes Every Sat 2-5pm Palmer Museum of History and Art Open Everyday 9am-6pm Free Admission and light refreshments 725 S Valley Way, Palmer 746-7668 www.palmermuseum.org

Reading Rendezvous Last Sat of every month.

Wasilla Meta-Rose Library

Museum of Alaska Transportation Open Everyday10am-5pm 3800 W Museum Drive, Wasilla 376-1211

Mat-Su Community Chorus Rehearsal Thurss @ 7pm Wasilla High School All vocal ranges welcome No auditions necessary, unless 18 years of age or younger

Palmer Public Library: Baby Lap Sit Every Tues at 10am

Mat-Su Concert Band Rehearsal Musicians Welcome Rehearsals are every Mon. 7 to 9 pm Teeland Middle School.

For more info, contact Gleo Huyck at 746-0628

Baby Lap Sit Every Wed at 2pm 3-5 year old Story Time Every Thurs at 10:30am

Mat-Su Central School Enrolling K-12 Homeschool Support & Distance Delivery Education www.MatSuCentral.org Wasilla 352-7450 Mat-Su College Apply for scholarships now New dance and music classes available spring semester Current employment opportunities Wasilla www.MatSu.Alaska.edu RECURRING Free Community Concerts

NuKreationZ Art & Creativity Center Tues-Sat Noon-6pm Art gallery, classes and workshops Make your own pottery Palmer Museum New Hours Wed-Fri 10am-5pm Sat, 10-2pm Free Admission Art Exhibits & More

2 year old Story Time Every Tues at 11am

Foreign Film Every Second Fri at 7pm

Palmer Public Library’s Events Every Tues at 10am: Baby Lap Sit Every Tues at 11am: 2 year old Story Time Every Wed at 2pm: Open Room for Preschoolers Every Thurs at 10:30am: 3-5 year old Story Time Fri, February 8th: 7pm. Foreign Film, Hospitalite (see library website www. cityofpalmer/library for synopsis) Mon, February 18th: 7-8pm. Friends of the Palmer Library Meeting Sewing Circle Meets the first and third Wed of the month 1-3pm, Free Mat-Su Senior Services 1132 S. Chugach St. Palmer 745-5454 mat-suseniorservices.com Caregivers Connection Last Mon of each month 1-3pm Free Mat-Su Senior Services 1132 S. Chugach St. Palmer, AK 99645 745-5454 mat-suseniorservices.com sueann.smithatmat-suseniorservices. com NuKreationZ Art & Creativity Center Tues-Sat Noon-6pm Art gallery, classes and workshops Make your own pottery Palmer Museum New Hours Wed-Fri 10am-5pm Sat, 10-2pm Free Admission Art Exhibits & More Mat-Su Community Chorus Rehearsal Thurss @ 7pm Wasilla High School All vocal ranges welcome No auditions necessary, unless 18 years of age or younger Mat-Su Concert Band Rehearsal Musicians Welcome Rehearsals are every Mon. 7 to 9 pm Teeland Middle School.

For more info, contact Gleo Huyck at 746-0628 matsuconcertband@gmail.com Learn to Skate 60 minute class for ages 3- Teens

Women, Wine & Wed Third Wed every month Presented by Lakeshore Studio East Lake Mall, Big Lake 6:30pm $25 RSVP 230-0935 Free Hearing Screening provided by Mat-Su Sertoma Club First Sat Every Month 10am-1pm Wasilla Physical Therapy Deana Moore 761-5229 Whatever! Teen Lounge Featuring Wii gaming at Palmer Library T-Th, 2-4pm 746-4700 Alaska Celtic Pipes and Drums Free piping and drumming Instruction Every Fri Evening, 5-5:45 pm Eagle River Presbyterian Church 12836 Old Glen Hwy, Eagle River

Fairview Inn Music Talkeetna Every Thur at 9:30pm Open Mic. Every Fri at 8pm and Sat at 10pm Live Music.

Sahara Storm Studio and Circus Arts Clinics 982-4955 Valley Arts Alliance Meeting Thurs at 11:00am Sophia’s Cafe Neo, Palmer Wasilla Hwy Tammy’s Turf for Tots!

For children 6 & under $5 per child Mon - Fri 10am-1pm Tues & Thurs FREE! Menard Memorial Sports Center: 3579100 BABY STEPS Walking Program for New & Expectant Moms & Dads Mon & Wed 8AM-Noon Menard Memorial Sports Center 357-9100 Business Networking International Every Tues 9am Menard Memorial Sports Center 357-9100 Wasilla Bible Church Sun Menard Memorial Sports Center 357-9100 NAOI Outdoor Safety Classes Full schedule of classes online www.naoiak.org 376-2898.

Wasilla Meta-Rose Library: Toddler Storytime Wed at 10:30am and 1:30pm Preschool Storytime Thurs at 10:30am and 1:30pm Baby Lapsit Storytime Fri at 10:30am

The Crystal Mandala Classes A variety of creative classes Every Sat 2-5pm Palmer Museum of History and Art Open Everyday 9am-6pm Free Admission and light refreshments 746-7668 www.palmermuseum.org

Discussion Junction Family Book Club First Tues of each month Wasilla Meta-Rose Library

Museum of Alaska Transportation Open Everyday10am-5pm 3800 W Museum Drive, Wasilla 376-1211

Reading Rendezvous Last Sat of every month.

Wasilla Meta-Rose Library

Mat-Su Central School Enrolling K-12 Homeschool Support & Distance Delivery Education www.MatSuCentral.org Wasilla 352-7450

Palmer Public Library: Baby Lap Sit Every Tues at 10am 2 year old Story Time Every Tues at 11am Baby Lap Sit Every Wed at 2pm 3-5 year old Story Time Every Thurs at 10:30am Schwabenhof Live Music Every Fri & Sat 9pm until…

Sun Blues Open Mic Jam 9pm Tues Dart Night

Mat-Su College Apply for scholarships now New dance and music classes available spring semester Current employment opportunities Wasilla www.MatSu.Alaska.edu

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May 2013

Shlimy Katz

by Gregory Gusse

By the time I met him, Mosche Rand was a pretty old fellow - or I think he was. It is always difficult to tell with the Orthodox and Hasidic, their lives seem to begin earlier than ours.

One day he approached me with a piece of fake leather, purple with a hide finish. “ You see! You see! Never could I make such a vinyl!” he exclaimed, nearly agitated and in that wondrous immigrants accent.

My next visit, the factory was devoid of 30 or so heavy-duty sewing machines, the kind for thick and stiff cowhide leathers. All the Puerto Rican ladies and old men were gone. Just Freddy the elevator operator and a youngster with a hand-truck were there. The thousands of hides, bolts of lining and those enormous spools of thread and cord were gone as well.

The factory was filled floor to 14 ft. ceiling with those one meter square cardboard boxes filled with the finest

acrid smelling vinyl handbags stamped made in China. Never again would Mosche make a handbag. He had transformed, apparently overnight, from a producer, a factory owner, a classic capitalist, to a trader.

A trader is a funny creature. Everything is backwards. The factory owner borrows money to make products.

The trader borrows products to sell to retailers; the retailers borrow money to pay the traders. The traders sometimes pay the factory owners for the products but at that point everything is negotiable.

Marx would have been better off to concern himself with traders but he was writing history with Das Kapital - ancient history by the time it had been written. Long had “the means of production” been supplanted with a new paradigm in not just national, but global economics. The control of distribution was now the key to capital acquisition.

A factory could produce all the goods it wanted but if those items couldn’t get to the markets, the new national

and global markets, brought about by rail and steamship, no amount of borrowing could insure survival. Socalled railroad barons and shipping magnates not only controlled the cost and availability of transport but they were also the banks loaning capital to the factory owners. And, they were also the ones loaning to the retailers, where they applied the “laws” of supply and demand to their own controlled markets.

They still are the banks.

I watch the news in the evenings, habit I suppose. My demographic says my nose should be attached to the box watching the news 16-18 hours a day. Frankly, I don’t think much has changed in 6000 years or so.

Those folks were just as smart as we are. Some evil folks like to control the world have some folks kill other folks for them. Take their wealth from them.

Same 1%, same game of chess, and we are the same pawns. I’ll probably give up the evening news, too. Like ol’ Ezekiel said “Nothin’ new under the sun”.

Of course I am tied to my social networking and that uses a lot of time.

I think it is different. I have my fan club and my bully pulpit. I’d a-been a village idiot, or a sage, or somethin’ 6000 years ago. I guess I’m nothin’ much different after all. I’d be pretty much the same person at anytime in history just some minor changes in medium and technology. You know leather or vinyl handbags.

Same with traders and distributors.

Things were a little slower back in the old days. But trade routes were guarded as feverishly as J.P. Morgan guarded his stock. It was the same idea, control of the means of distribution. Clavell’s novel ‘Tai-Pan’ is a great read on this if you don’t find the real life story of Marco Polo and his family interesting - nothin’ new under the sun.

I think I’ll go sit on my porch instead of watching the evening news. I think I’ll just wonder about Shlimy Katz. He used to work for Mosche.

My tongue still loves to say his name Shlimy Katz.

By Vic Kohring, former state representative

Little did I know the connection Stevens and I would have someday and how our political careers would both come crashing down for the same reasons at the hands of unscrupulous government prosecutors.

It came as a shock to hear the news of Stevens passing from a plane crash in 2010. My first thought as with many, was that the government silenced him since his convictions were thrown out following the discovery of key evidence hidden by prosecutors which likely would have exonerated him--the exact same thing I experienced. Could it be yet another government conspiracy and cover-up? If Stevens had lived, he probably would have taken legal action to seek damages against his perpetrators, or at least attempted to fully expose their illegal conduct, blowing things wide open and resulting in numerous criminal indictments. I’ve wondered if I would have met the same fate had my case been permanently and properly thrown out, positioning me to pursue damages and further exposing the prosecutors for who they are. It was certainly possible as the Feds are capable of anything.

Vic Kohring is a resident of Wasilla and can be reached through Facebook. His blog is available at www.simplesite.com/vickohring

Largely because of Stevens, I achieved success in court. I could almost hear the prosecutors laughing, thinking they got away with cheating by deliberately concealing crucial evidence. But their transgressions were laid bare during the Stevens trial, resulting

With Stevens’ death, we’ll probably never know the full truth. I attended a pro-Stevens rally at the Era Aviation hanger in Anchorage last year, hoping the matter would be kept alive and the government prosecutors eventually held accountable for their actions against Stevens and I. An inquiry by Washington, D.C. criminal investigator Henry Schuelke revealed stunning new evidence proving malfeasance by the same group assigned to prosecute both of us. Unfortunately, holding them responsible is becoming less likely as time passes.

Heinz Herbert Kohring Memorial Service

Dec. 20, 1921-Jan. 1, 2013 A memorial service for Heinz Herbert Kohring is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2013, 3:00 pm at the Palmer Highway Church of God at 349 E. Arctic Avenue in Palmer.

Following the service, there will be a Celebration of Life picnic in honor of Heinz at Matanuska River Park, one half mile east of the church on the Old Glenn Highway (Arctic Avenue).

All family, friends and those who knew Heinz are welcomed to attend one or both events.

> For more information, please call 352-3582.

May 2013

In Dallas, Stevens arranged for special, notable guests to speak to our small Alaska delegation each morning at our hotel. One was the late Maureen Reagan, the president’s daughter. I managed to work up the nerve to pull Maureen aside afterward for a few minutes and chat. She surprised me by openly speaking about her father, the president and one of my life’s hero’s. She said she spoke with her dad that morning who informed her that he planned to wear his “long underwear” that day when attending the convention to deliver his acceptance speech for the nomination.

The long underwear reference was to his bulletproof vest, a precaution from the 1981 assassination attempt. I couldn’t I last saw Ted in his Washington, D.C. believe my ears what I was hearing. office at the U.S. Capitol the year before all heck broke loose with our legal cases,

in an investigation that revealed gross misconduct. If not for this, I would have rotted in prison for years as no one would have known of the government’s deception and massive evidence coverup.

I didn’t know Ted as a close friend, but more as an acquaintance. Lots of people claim they were “good friends” with him because of his status. People like to rub shoulders with the powerful and influential. But many of these same Sunshine Patriots abandoned Stevens after he was convicted on seven felony counts a week before the 2008 election. You indeed find out who your true friends are when you’re down on your luck. I can relate, having been targeted by the same crooked federal prosecutors assigned to Stevens. Yet when things are on the upswing, these same people want to jump on your bandwagon and be buddies again. Stevens was set to be sentenced and would likely have been sent to the same federal prison where I was thrown.

I even asked my attorney to help arrange that he be assigned to my cell so I could provide emotional support as a fellow Alaskan in time of need.

leading to the demise of our jobs as lawmakers. It was March 2005. I was representing the legislature’s Oil & Gas Committee and was joined by three of my colleagues including current House Speaker Mike Chenault. We discussed at length the proposed Alaska gas pipeline and brainstormed how it may come to pass. As mean and tough as Stevens sometimes portrayed himself, as arrogant with his Incredible Hulk tie and standoff-ish as he seemed publicly at times, in private I found him very personable and easy to talk to. A real nice, polite fello. He gave my colleagues and I all the time we needed and was very engaged, knowing the issues well.

Most important, it was clear Stevens loved our state and strove to do his best to help Alaskans. He struck me as a good and decent man and public servant who was dedicated to his constituents.

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

Ted Stevens is known by many as Alaska’s most famous politician, having served in the U.S. Senate for 40 years, longer than any Republican in history. I first met Stevens at the state Republican convention in Fairbanks in May 1984.

As a 25 year old, I was in awe of the popular United States senator whom I’d only seen on TV as we shook hands and exchanged a few polite words. That summer, I served with Stevens on the Alaska delegation to the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, to re-nominate President Reagan for a second term.

Even though Stevens and I were of the same party, we had our differences. He was a man whose primary focus was to direct federal tax dollars to Alaska in the form of a multitude of spending programs. That effort accelerated when he became chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, basically in charge of the country’s purse strings. In that role, he funneled tens of billions to Alaska, so much so that the state’s economy became artificially stimulated and was often referred to as the “Stevens Economy.” He was also given the nickname “Uncle Ted,” a spin off of Uncle Sam because of his role in shoveling vast sums into the state and endearing himself to many special interests, which concerned me as a conservative legislator. I also disagreed with Stevens’ vote against impeaching President Clinton for lying to a grand jury over the Lewinsky debacle. A handful of Republicans, Stevens included, blocked Clinton’s removal from office after the House already voted to impeach.

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Knowing “Uncle Ted”

May 2013

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

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NAOI Wilderness Safety Continued...

NAOI Wilderness Safety Challenge game. This ‘game’ challenges children to learn the steps important for safe outdoor activities.

“It’s always amazing to see how many children hike, bike, boat, camp…yet have never had any sort of outdoor safety training or talk,” said NAOI Education Director Dorothy Adler. “But it’s also refreshing when the children share stories of their adventures and many know the right things that should be done.”

If the NAOI team did not visit your school this spring, or maybe your children are homeschooled or missed that day, you can still participate in the safety challenge by attending a summer camp.

From Little Explorers (ages 4-7) to Advanced Teen Camps, you can get the full schedule of opportunities offered by NAOI at www.naoiak.org or call 907-376-2898 to learn more.

night of Latin Dance Fusion.

Gaia Tribal Belly Dance is pleased to announce another production at Valley Performing Arts.

Club Tango will open June 15 with pre-show fun starting at 6:00 pm and curtains opening at 7:00 pm. This will be an evening of dance and music with a Latin Flare.

We are featuring a variety of live music, including The Colony Calypso Steel Drum Ensemble and Djinn Fizz World music group, vocalists and over 20 dancers from around the state and beyond.

This year we are pleased to welcome Molly McClellan Director of TribalTique Dance Company all the way from Denver Colorado. She will be a fabulous addition to this years production.

> Emergency Fire Preparedness

PROGRAMS for KIDS HERE!

Tribal Tique Dance Company

> You can purchase tickets at www.gaiatribal.com Ticket prices are $35.00

373-2698 www.MakeASceneAK.com

May 2013

ADVERTISE YOUR SUMMER

> Molly McClellan, Director of

Working in teams, the children get the opportunity to go on a mock adventure that requires planning, packing and preparing and traveling to stations where they are confronted with a series of challenges.

By Amy Tucker

Gaia Tribal Belly Dance strives to bring high quality multicultural dance productions to the Valley through out the year and this will be a fabulous

Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

The program begins with a chance to learn about the instructors, volunteers and children through a series of ‘What do you like to do outdoors?’ questions.

From wilderness medical emergencies to fire safety and shelter building, the NAOI safety challenge is an adventure in taking the proper steps to make sure your children are prepared for their summer outdoor excursions.

Club Tango

By Gaia Tribal

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Visit www.MakeASceneAK.com

May 2013

The Crystal Mandala Ask about our classes on Saturday from 2-5pm

907-892 5562

Eastlake Mall, Big Lake

Tues-Sat 11am to 7pm Sunday 11am to 5pm

March Against Monsanto

By Rebecca A. Goodrich

Also, Northern Lights, C St., and A St. are also bike routes so parts are slightly wider than other sidewalks.

The other parts of this route have average sidewalks which will be fine for traveling as well.”

> The March against Monsanto

Corporate Rule

Submitted by Cindee Karns Members of Anchorage’s Move To Amend group gathered on Friday for a rally and educational picket outside of the Federal Court House Building Friday from 11am-1pm on the 127th anniversary of the Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad Corp Supreme Court ruling of 1886.

The recent Citizen’s United case, granting corporations and other artificial entities a constitutional right to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, was based on that 1886 ruling. The case has sparked

widespread outrage and protests from all parts of the political spectrum.

The rally today drew attention to the problem. The Anchorage Chapter of the national Move to Amend organization advocates for passage of an amendment to the United States Constitution which would establish that corporations and other artificial entities are not persons and are not entitled to constitutional rights, and which will repeal the decision in the Citizens United case.

> The local chapter meets the

2nd Thursday of each month at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church (Tudor and Lake Otis) 6pm-8pm.

Everyone is invited!

in Anchorage will be Saturday, May 25, beginning 10 am.

Lisa Strachen, organizer, says:

“. . . proposed route would be a total of 3.1 miles. This can be easily walked by most people, especially with the mid-march stop at the Cordova market. There will be a hill on C St. and A St., but we can keep the march pace slow and steady.

This will be beneficial to anyone with physical disabilities or asthma or small children, etc. Keeping this kind of pace will also make it easier for cars and passerby’s to read our signs, hear our message, and join our march.

> For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/ events/156492317845438/

THE MENARD SPORTS CENTER 357-9100

1001 S. Mack Drive, Wasilla

www.cityofwasilla.com

FOR RENT! Small-Med-Large Space

Single day use or monthly rates for office space, meeting rooms, or large events is available now. For more information contact 357-9100.

{If you can dream it, we can help you create it}

SPRING IS HERE!

The Menard Sports Complex is Your

Spring and Summer Convention Center!

Features: Main Arena 23,100 Square Feet. Seats 1200 for a banquet, 4000 for a concert. Up to 131 10’x10’ booths for a trade show!

Turf Arena: 21,000 Square Feet. Seating for 800 for a banquet, 146 8’x10’ Booths!

Three Meeting Rooms: Each hold 35 persons with tables, 49 with chairs only.

The Meeting rooms can be configured into two or three rooms combined. Up to 135 persons with tables, 240 people with chairs only.

Parking: Up to 967 spaces with hook-ups for R.V.s High speed wireless internet access available throughout the facility.

A seasoned staff to cater to your every need!

Brought to you by: PEDA - Palmer Economic Development Authority

Downtown Palmer Pavilion

Every Friday 10am - 5pm

Celebrating 11 Years!

LIVE MUSIC

MAY 24 – The Legendary Lulu Small 11:30-1:30 MAY 31 - Marty & Matt Raney 11:30-1:30 (from Nat Geo’s Ultimate Survival Alaska!)

May 24-Aug 16 AK GROWN PRODUCTS

ARTS & CRAFTS

IN TANDEM WITH COLONY DAYS! JUN 7 - Wild Cat Trio (Rock N’ Roll!)11:30-1:30 JUN 8 - H3 (Island Reggae Band!) 11:30-3:00 JUN 9 - Andy Mullen (Fun!) 1:00-4:00 Meggie Aube’s Percussion Camp Students 5:00-6:00 JUN 14 – Firefly: Nici Peper and Chris Snyder

For More Info Call 355-9415 www.palmerchamber.org

and plent yo

FOOD f !