The People's Paper December 2014

The People’s Paper DECEMBER 2014

MATANUSKA VALLEY, ALASKA

FREE

Youth in Transition LEFT TO RIGHT: JASON EASTHAM, MIKE BEAVER, AND SEBASTIAN SHORT

By Josh Fryfogle SUBMISSION I went to talk with Michelle Overstreet at MyHouse homeless teen center. Two of my three sons in tow, I ordered a coffee and found Michelle in the back office. She was in a noticeably good mood. You never know what to expect, considering that Michelle puts herself where the hurt is.

Society is out of balance, that's for sure. Everyone is under pressure. We all feel it - some more than others.

Unfortunately, it's often our youth whose lives snap under that pressure.

It's a broken world, and this is where it's broken. MyHouse.

I've come to see Michelle as a social triage nurse. She deals in limited resources, helping with the fallout of our society's failures. She tries to fix the broken hearts. Sometimes she

seems on top of the world, driven with a sense of purpose. Other times, she's battle-weary. On this day she was all smiles.

We talked for a while about various things, and then I pitched the idea that had come to me – I was excited about it. I told her that I would like to stay at their new transitional housing unit - The Powell House. A project of MyHouse, it is a labor of love. I wanted to submit myself to the home of these young men, as they had submitted themselves to the homes, couches, and floors of others. I wanted to stay the night, hang out with the guys, and get to know them - talk. Not for an interview, but an interpersonal experience.

You know, humanity.

She liked the idea. We agreed that it should really be up to the fellows at the

Powell House. It is their home, after all.

A day or two passed, and I got a text from Michelle - it was a 'go'!

RECIPROCATION I arrived at the Powell House. Mike and Sebastian answered the door.

The guys at the house - Jason, Sebastian, and Mike - they welcomed me into their home. We talked a while, hung out. I treated them to some pizza, as a thank you for having me as a guest in their home. Later we went to the grocery store, where they bought me soda, ice cream, and Oreos!

Reciprocation.

We talked a lot We played video games, and I quickly found myself lacking. We watched Green Hornet - a movie about a guy that ends up in charge of a newspaper - and ate Oreos.

CONTINUES ON THE BACK PAGE

A Sandhill Crane’s Point of View...

Contributed By Andrea Weimer I am a volunteer for Alaska WildBird Rehabilitation Center (AWBRC), and am privileged to be the caretaker of Sandy, the Sandhill Crane.

Sandy is a fascinating bird, and provides many incredible moments to remember, but I have to share the latest and most amazing experience so far.

A few evenings ago, I went out to read a little bedtime story and “tuck” Sandy in for the night. I opened the door to her enclosure, or mew, closed it behind me, looked up and there was Sandy, right in front of me, gazing at a precious little Saw-whet Owl sitting on her perch, acting like it owned the joint! I had thoughts of concern - is Sandy going to hurt this gorgeous little guy? Did she already? What is it doing in here?

On and on the many questions came to mind, as you can imagine, all flooding in at once. Then it got very quiet, and all I could hear was my inner voice, yelling TAKE A PICTURE! No one will believe this! Well, of course, I had no camera with me. I never do when I want one the

most, when spectacular events occur.

Sandy was not in the least concerned about this new cell mate.

Her food dish was about five feet in front of this perch and still had some grain left in it, even though I scatter most of her menu around her mew for hunting sake and enrichment. That little beauty of an owl was hunting, sitting on Sandy`s perch looking down, focused, not in the least concerned with my presence! I stood there for ten minutes watching this event unfold. Sandy would look up at the owl, then down around the food bowl, then at me, as if to say “don’t move and scare the mice away”.

I thought, how in the world did this Saw-whet Owl get into her mew? I was getting cold and tired of the hunt, not being dressed for an extended stay. I am a fat, content human with the luxury of cellophane-wrapped meat from the grocery store. I have not the stamina to wait in silence as did these two avian slayers that night. I looked up and all around, trying to find the entrance this bird might have used to get into our Diva’s abode, but to no avail. I decided to put Sandy into her house so I could

www.akwildbird.org

try and catch the little Owl and release it back into the wild.

Sandy went in quite easily, as if knowing that putting up a fuss would only give the mouse, soon to be on the dinner table for the Owl, the advantage. As I shut the door and turned around, I saw a little brown flash on the ground, and at the same time, the Saw-whet was startled by the sound of the closing door.

The Hunter had lost its golden moment, and flew back towards the woods in the direction of open land and a pond just beyond the trees and road. It was magnificent watching the degree of skill and accuracy as this bird pulled in its wings just in the nick of time, flying right out of a two-inch opening in the fence as fast as could be. I felt like I had witnessed a miracle. That owl seemed to morph into NOTHING to fit through that opening, and made it look so easy, as if any one of us could do the same. What a treat!

LOOK INSIDE!

I immediately released Sandy from her home. She was happy to get out and went right back to the area of the hunt.

She looked up at the perch and noticed her partner was gone, then proceeded to continue watching the ground, still in pursuit of the little brown flash.

I laughed, and that was all it took to get her to happy-dance and toss a stick, jumping up and down and flapping her wings with the enjoyment of being Her own kind of Crane. What a character! I am entertained daily by our tall, grey, feathered ambassador and am grateful to be her caretaker.

FOR INFORMATION about AWBRC, to volunteer or to donate, please visit us at www.akwildbird.org, or call 892-2927.

‘Tis the season to soar, and to be kind to one another and all creatures…thank you for caring about Alaska’s wild birds!

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The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 2

“Where were you 8+ years ago in your career?

In the year 2006, Mrs. Lyn Carden entered the doorway of The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce office to begin a new career as a Receptionist.

Little did anyone know how far she would go as a result of this career move.”

CHAMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD WITH BOARD MEMBERS OF THE GREATER WASILLA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

From Reception to Perfection.

Contributed by Rebecca Ratterree Membership Director, Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Where were you 8+ years ago in your career? In the year 2006, Mrs. Lyn Carden entered the doorway of The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce office to begin a new career as a Receptionist. Little did anyone know how far she would go as a result of this career move.

Before the end of that year, she was promoted to the position of Executive Assistant. As such, she performed various duties as the right-hand to the Chamber Executive Director, meaning she could be sending out membership renewal invoices one minute, setting up a teleconference the next, and all the while, preparing for the next Tuesday Membership luncheon. It was a fastpaced world she had come to enjoy and she became quite proficient at having “many irons in the fire” at once.

Members from all venues trusted her to have the answers they needed or if she didn’t have the answer when the question was asked, she was sure to find it soon afterwards.

Sometime in 2009, following a change in leadership at the GWCC, Lyn was named as the Interim Executive Director and this changed the game of life quite a bit. As the E.D., she was directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the GWCC office as well as being accountable to the entire Board of Directors for the organization.

This change increased the work load considerably. As we can all imagine, there were those days when she just didn’t have any idea where the dollars would come from to manage expenses, pay the salaries and maintain the work that needed to be done for our members. As we all have seen, she again rose to the challenge, performing the job very well!

During 2009, an event was introduced that has now grown to be the largest fund-raising event held by the Chamber each year. The 1st Annual “Last Ball of the Season” was held in mid-September at the beautiful Settlers Bay Golf Course. Although this first event drew only a few players, subsequent golf tournaments increased by leaps and bounds. The tournament held in 2013 was the 5th Annual “Last Ball of the Season” and it turned out to be very first one that we SOLD OUT for both teams and sponsors. Quite an improvement in just five years!

Not only did Lyn prove to be quite adept at managing events large or small, marshalling help along the way from members or other volunteers, and keeping that “Get It Done” attitude out there for all the world to see, but she kept the rotation of interesting, informative speakers flowing through the weekly luncheons that the membership has come to rely upon.

To add variety to the luncheons, every 6-8 weeks, she has added something fun like member-to-member networking that allows everyone to learn something they may not have known about their fellow members.

Also, in the case of new members who have just joined the Chamber, networking events like these have proven to be an activity that helps them get noticed by members who have been with the Chamber for years. This is a great benefit to many of the newer members, getting their business name and reputation out into the community, which many times leads to an increase in profits for a new business.

While juggling various events, luncheons, day-to-day management of the Chamber office, Lyn also works very closely with our legislators to let them know what their constituents want and expect from their representatives in office. In 2012, as a result of the improved relationship between the Chamber and the City of Wasilla, Lyn

Carden and Paula Nance took the opportunity to travel to Juneau for a few days to speak with as many legislators as they could reach. Working alongside the City administration proved to be beneficial to both groups, giving an increased reach among the legislators.

In January of 2014, Lyn requested and was granted a leave of absence from her job as the Executive Director so that she could travel to Juneau to work alongside Representative Lynn Gattis. Throughout the months that she spent in Juneau, Lyn was able to see first-hand the work process of our state legislation, and gained a better understanding of the legislative process followed by all our legislators.

By working directly with our local legislators as well as those from other areas, relationships were strengthened considerably between the Chamber and our elected officials.

After returning from Juneau, Lyn was approached by one of the facilitators for Alaska Business Week. This program takes groups of high school students to a specified location for one week to work together to create and maintain a mock business of their own creation.

Throughout the week, Lyn and her group of students had to create a company, a specific product to be produced by that company, come up with a marketing strategy, and sell the product, while keeping control of their company financial information. The week proved to be quite a whirlwind of activities that ended on a very positive note. Lyn and her group of students took first place for the week!

Whether she is working with legislators, business people, high school students or training a new member of the staff at the Chamber, Lyn displayed the ability and knowledge needed to handle those “many irons in the fire” that a successful Executive Director must handle. During her 8 years of service to the Greater

Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Lyn made it clear that the relationship between the Chamber, local business people, and the City is one of very great importance.

In October of 2014, Wasilla elected Mr. Bert Cottle as their new mayor. As a part of his administration, Mayor Cottle appointed Lyn Carden to be his Deputy Administrator and she accepted the appointment.

Her first day on the job with the City of Wasilla was November 10th, 2014, however, even as the Deputy Administrator for the City, Lyn will maintain a close relationship with her Chamber and continue to work together to make Wasilla the best place to live and work for our community.

www.wasillachamber.org

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Alaska Drone Owners Encouraged To

“Know Before You Fly”

“We want to help make sure prospective users know what the guidelines are so that our skies are safe, that these seemingly harmless little drones don’t endanger others, in particular, the pilots and people onboard planes and other unmanned aircraft.”

Hughes and UASLTF Debut Safety Campaign, Website PRESS RELEASE Friday, December 5, 2014, Anchorage, Alaska – Key members of the Legislature’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Task Force debuted a new public safety campaign today for drone operators, vendors, and purchasers.

Entitled “Alaska’s ‘Know Before You Fly’ Guidelines” the one-page safety sheet and accompanying website bring together the federal guidelines and best practices in one easy to consume place, alaskadrones.org.

“The excitement, along with the affordability and ease of acquiring the technology, has led to a proliferation of drones on store shelves as well as of unmanned flights,” said Rep. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, and the Chair of the UAS Task Force. “Many well-meaning individuals want to fly and fly safely, but they don’t realize that just because you can buy a UAS, doesn’t mean you can fly it anywhere or for any purpose.”

Hughes said that’s where the Legislature, state and federal governments, and stakeholders come together through task force meetings.

“We want to help make sure prospective users know what the guidelines are – so that our skies are safe, that these seemingly harmless little drones don’t endanger others, in particular, the pilots and people onboard planes and other unmanned aircraft.”

The “Know Before You Fly” sheet outlines the basics of safe and responsible operation of a small UAS. Hughes said if you’ve purchased or are planning on purchasing a drone for yourself, a friend or a loved one – or received one as a gift – this sheet is for you. “There’s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm currently around UAS,” said Hughes. “We learned during today’s hearing that drones are going to be one of the top 10 selling items this Christmas season. So, for safe skies and the public good, it’s important for Alaska consumers to have this resource.”

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Legislative Task Force wants to reduce the incidence of unsafe and/ or unauthorized operations, and help ensure the safety of the skies for all aircraft, both manned and unmanned.

“The safety guidelines were based on a joint effort of the Academy of Model

Aeronautics and the Association of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems International,” said Hughes. “The Task Force would like to thank AMA and UAVSI for allowing us to incorporate their work into our safety campaign.”

“The Academy of Model Aeronautics would like to congratulate the State of Alaska for its leadership role in its approach to the advent of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),” said AMA President Bob Brown.

“And, the Academy looks forward to partnering with the Alaskan legislature and the state’s leadership in assuring that small unmanned aircraft of all types are operated in a safe and responsible manner while fostering the growth and vitality of this promising technology. The AMA has a long history of overseeing this country’s expansive aeromodeling community which over past 78 years has achieved an exceptional safety record, and we stand ready to assist in this important endeavor.”

The Task Force includes members from the Academy of Model Aeronautics, University of Alaska, the Alaska Aviation Safety Board, four other state

agencies, and members of the public.

They’ll continue to meet and prepare recommendations to the Legislature on administering the systems effectively in Alaska.

“The Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA, a Community Based Organization established in 1936, is excited to continue its efforts to work with the State of Alaska and the Legislature as part of the Task Force, the FAA and industry leaders to provide a safe environment for all users,” said AMA State of Alaska Government Affairs Coordinator and Task Force member Steve Colligan. “AMA has provided self-regulation and self-insurance for almost 80 years and continues to adapt those to new technologies and industry changes to benefit education, recreational users, and sport hobbyists.”

A copy of House Concurrent Resolution 15, the Task Force’s enabling legislation, is available here.

Hughes said further meetings will be held during the coming first session of the 29th Alaska Legislature, and through the Task Force’s lifespan of June 30, 2017.

Commentary On Salmon In the Mat-Su Borough

ABOUT 80,000 SMOLTS FROM THIS HATCH WERE RELEASED BACK INTO SHELL LAKE IN 2014. ONLY ABOUT 20,000 OF THESE SMOLTS MADE IT OUT OF THE LAKE AND DOWNSTREAM TOWARDS THE OCEAN, THE OTHER 60,000 SMOLTS WERE CONSUMED BY THE NORTHERN PIKE IN THE LAKE WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. Contributed by Erik Huebsch The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership, representing 55 organizations that share an interest in sustaining salmon in the Mat-Su, hosted a conference in November.

During the two days of the 2014 MatSu Salmon Science & Conservation Symposium, speaker after speaker gave detailed descriptions of recent and on-going projects that are providing base-line data and documenting the scope of impaired salmon habitat in the Mat-Su basin.

There were several presentations on aquatic invasive species. Elodea, a highly invasive plant species, was recently discovered in Alexander Lake, transported there by floatplane. This infestation, if not eliminated, could rapidly spread throughout Alexander Lake and creek system and further, providing excellent habitat for the other invasive specie, Northern Pike. In the 1990s Alexander Creek supported a multi-million dollar king salmon sport fishery that included numerous lodges, cabin and boat rentals and fishing guide operations.

In 2008 ADF&G closed king fishing in Alexander Creek and later documented its decline and closure as entirely due to pike predation on juvenile salmonids. In recent years ADF&G has eliminated thousands of pike from the Alexander system but it will take years of continued mitigation before the salmon runs can recover. The spread

of invasive elodea throughout the lake, creek and side sloughs will hinder ongoing efforts to rehabilitate this system.

Shell Lake is another fascinating story.

In 2006 Shell Lake had nearly 70,000 sockeye salmon return to spawn, by 2012 the salmon run had nearly collapsed due to pike predation and disease.

The Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association took eggs from the remaining salmon, incubated and reared them at their Trail Lakes Hatchery. About 80,000 smolts from this hatch were released back into Shell Lake in 2014. Only about 20,000 of these smolts made it out of the lake and downstream towards the ocean, the other 60,000 smolts were consumed by the Northern Pike in the lake within a few weeks.

ADF&G has been documenting the pike infestation in the Mat-Su basin since the mid-1990s. Numerous studies and reports have indentified the devastating consequences to the salmon populations, it is estimated that at least 50% of the salmon production in this watershed has been eliminated

by Northern Pike. All species are affected and species that spend the most time in freshwater - sockeye, kings and cohos - are the most vulnerable to pike predation.

At the Symposium we heard references to the work being done to replace culverts that block salmon passage.

At this time there are still over 400

culverts that impede the migration of salmon and need to be replaced in the Mat-Su basin. While there were no actual reports on the progress made, we know that it will take years of effort and millions of dollars to restore passage to the more than 600 miles of documented spawning and rearing habitat that have been made inaccessible to salmon due to improperly constructed culverts.

Pollution, high water temperature and turbidity can all affect water quality and ultimately affect the successful spawning and rearing of salmon. Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation gave a brief presentation about impaired waters. Big Lake, Cottonwood Creek, Deshka River, Little Su, Lake Lucille, Matanuska River and others are all impaired at some level from hydrocarbons (gas and oil), sewage, urban runoff, herbicides, fertilizers and dump debris.

Off-road-vehicle and ATV traffic damage to salmon streams was presented as a long-term challenge.

Baseline mapping of ATV stream crossings has begun. Most of the crossings evaluated were ranked as “extremely degraded”. We learned that ORV/ATV traffic in the watershed is unregulated and increasing.

One of the keynote speakers at the Symposium gave a powerful presentation on the efforts to conserve and restore Atlantic Salmon on the east coast and how partnering and collaboration among all stakeholder

groups is essential for any conservation effort. This message resonated loudly and was endorsed by most of those attending. The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership mission statement also echoes this message of collaboration.

Yet, in spite of all the scientific evidence of impaired salmon habitat, in spite of all the ADF&G reports that identify declining salmon production in the Mat-Su basin as a freshwater problem, there are still a few people with such a myopic point of view that they are unwilling to accept these scientific realities.

In a desperate and divisive attempt to blame someone else for their own problems, the Mat-Su Borough is proposing to waste the bulk of their recent state grant by hiring outside consultants to invent new research projects about salmon movements in saltwater.

Rather than killing pike, eliminating Elodea, replacing more culverts, or reducing pollution sources, they want to fund projects that fit their agenda to perpetuate the salmon allocation wars.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend increasingly scarce state funds on local projects with already identified solutions that will benefit our salmon resources, rather than waste money on high priced fishery consultants from Oregon?

Scholarship Awards $17,500 to 10 Alaskan Athletes Preparation For 2018 Winter Olympics Starts Now PRESS RELEASE (ALASKA) – The Alaska Winter Olympians Fund (AWOF), a scholarship program of The Alaska Community Foundation, invests an impressive $17,500 in scholarships to 10 Alaskan Olympic hopefuls.

“It’s great to be supported by an Alaskan foundation,” states Andrew Kurka, adaptive alpine skier from Palmer, member of the 2013 U.S. Paralympic Team and ranked top-10 in the world in both Downhill and Super-G events. “That’s Alaskans for Alaskans. Now we [Alaskans athletes] can focus on what really matters: pursuit of our athletic goals of representing Alaska and Country.”

Two of the 2014 AWOF scholarship recipients competed in last year’s Winter Olympics. The remaining eight scholarship recipients will use their awards to continue developing their athletic skills. “Last year, I competed at my first Olympics and it was possibly

the most inspirational experience of my life. While competing, I set a personal goal to someday win an Olympic medal,” says Erik Bjornsen, youngest male member of the U.S. Ski Team.

“Thanks so much for helping me chase my goals! I couldn’t imagine doing it anywhere else.” Started by former Olympians dedicated to supporting Alaskan athletes in their Olympic bids.

For a complete list of scholarship awards, visit www.akwof.org Established in 1995, The Alaska Community Foundation cultivates, celebrates and sustains all forms of philanthropy to strengthen Alaska’s communities forever.

Holding over $80 million for the benefit of Alaskans, we are connecting people who care with causes that matter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit alaskacf.org or call 334-6700

Mat-Su College Library Joins Mat-Su Library Network

Student ID's Now Work for All Public Libraries

By Jacob Mann The Mat-Su Library Network has added the Mat-Su College Library into its literary partnership.

Now all public libraries in the state share a common network of resources.

The Network's database has grown from 300,000 to 1.4 Million titles.

Inventory Projection provided by the Mat-Su Library website via http://www. matsugov.us/msln Student ID cards can now be used interchangeably with other public libraries across the state and visa versa; so a non-student with a Borough Library card could also check out books and

other materials at the Mat-Su College as well as the other UAA college libraries.

In an interview for KTNA, Ann Yadon, a Librarian at Talkeetna Public Library elaborated what that will mean for members: “Now, if you have a library card at a MatSu library, you can use it in Anchorage; you can use it at UAA Mat-Su. So, you can go to Mat-Su College with your public library card and check things out from them.”

The Mat-Su Library Network is a collaboration between the City, Borough, and School Districts - which according to the Network’s website, provides “cooperation, shared services, cost savings between all of these libraries.”

"Once an item is put on hold, it travels through the system and eventually winds up at the library the user requested. The check-out time starts once it’s picked up, and stops once it’s returned to the user’s local library, not the one it came from," Writes Manning of KTNA.

The online catalog ties libraries across the state together, enabling all collections to be borrowed from each

“If you check something out at any of those libraries, you can return it at any of those libraries, which is really nice for

The Path From Palmer Job Corps To Princeton University Contributed by Barbara Hunt It’s a long way from the Alaska Job Corps Center to the IT Manager at Princeton University, a world class university. But, this is exactly what Matt Parker did over the last fourteen years.

Matt grew up in Sitka and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and studied Computer Technology at the Alaska Job Corps Campus in Palmer Alas-ka.

He interned with the Matanuska Telephone Association, while still a Job Corps student.

Upon Job Corps completion he and three other JC stu-dents went to the advanced training program at Edison Job Corps Center in New Jersey. Matt attended Middlesex Community College when he was hired as a Systems Administrator, backup web administrator and occasionally an assistant cable installer. Matt’s knowledge and experience widened with every position.

Princeton University contacted Matt, and four interviews later, he was

hired for a tech job in the Economics Department. He has since completed a Bachelor’s degree and is the lead IT person, in addition to chairing an IT Security Group and teaching. He now has children, a four year old and a two year old. He hopes to make the big trip home to Alaska this summer, to see his family, which includes more successful Job Corps alumni, both his sister and brother-in-law.

The Alaska Job Corps Center is so proud of its alumni. Although not many end up working at an Ivy League school, many have wonderful careers in their chosen fields and live the good employed life-- all across the country.

Alumni come back to visit the Alaska Job Corps and every visit is an opportunity to engage and build community.

The Alaska Job Corps is hopeful that when Matt comes back to Alaska for a visit, he will stop by to see his alma mater and inspire the Job Corps students of today.

Your Local Palmer Toastmasters Club is Growing and Thriving!

Contributed by Kelly Caraway What is Toastmasters, you might ask?

Toastmasters is a friendly, cooperative, self-paced environment that encourages its members learning the arts of public speaking and leadership.

The reasons anyone joins Toastmasters are as varied as the number of members, but whether you want to improve these skills for work reasons or simply as a personal confidence booster, you will find a great group of people at the Palmer Toastmasters Club. Toastmasters is a program with several million members and a presence in 122 countries around the

other. This creates a shared catalog which allows members to check out items from a library miles away from their own city. Books can be looked up in the database, checked out online and even renewed without leaving the computer. Books requested by Interlibrary Loans can also be shipped from out of state libraries to the requested city.

world. Toastmasters was formed 90 years ago as an education program that helps its members learn how to be better communicators and better leaders. Palmer Toastmasters focuses on developing leadership skills through the 3 key communication techniques of speaking, listening and thinking. Our club provides a supportive, fun and friendly atmosphere in which members thrive. Membership dues are affordable and everything is structured and selfpaced.

And we are accomplishing goals and improving our skills. Here's the proof. Just during the last few months, for various projects, conferences and contests, we have had many Palmer

Toastmasters members making headlines: * Bret Kolb earned his Competent Communicator certificate. * Chris Parker also earned his Competent Communicator certificate. * Meschelle Kolb earned her Competent Leader certificate. * Karen Robinette, current area governor of several clubs in the Valley and Anchorage, completed the long list of requirements to earn the Distinguished Toastmaster's Award. This prestigious designation is the highest level of achievement within Toastmasters International and requires, on average, several years of speech and leadership projects with a minimum requirement of at least 44 speeches, fulfilling a minimum of 21 different roles within the leadership structure of membership meetings, conducting 1 leadership training workshop, mentoring at least 1 new member, serving in an officer role at a club level for at least 6 months, sponsoring a new club or coaching an existing club, and completing at least 1 in-depth, well planned and executed high performance leadership project.

Ms. Robinette is a founding member of the Palmer Toastmasters Club, and is the only current member of the Club who holds the Distinguished Toastmaster designation. * International Taped Speech Contest 1st place winner was our very own Meschelle Kolb. At the time Ms. Kolb won this contest, she had been a member of Toastmasters for about 1 year. This international competition was open to several thousand Toastmasters in rural regions from the entire Toastmasters International world.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in this contest all call Alaska their home! * John Royce, formerly a member of the Palmer Toastmasters Club and a Distinguished Toastmaster, took 3rd place in this International competition. * John Rozzi won 1st place in the Table Topics/Impromptu Speaking contest for Palmer Toastmasters. * Vicki Kluever won 2nd place in the Palmer Toastmasters Table Topics/ Impromptu Speaking contest and went

people who come up from Anchorage for the weekend.” Yadon explained.

Items can be checked out from Anchorage, Juneau, Mat-Su College alongside the other libraries in the consortium with access to the advanced search interface, "Enterprise."

This essentially creates a single library card experience reaching from the bustling city of Anchorage with stretching towers and traffic jams to the small town of Talkeetna with the Alaskan wilderness as its backyard and a cat as the mayor.

For Mat-Su College students, this is yet another expansion to the ever growing archive of information, increasing the amount of material available on their path to higher learning.

on to be the 2nd place winner in the overall Alaska/Yukon regional Table Topics Speech contest in October, 2014. * Ms. Kluever also won the Humorous Speech Contest with the Anchorage Advanced Toastmasters, and went on to win for Area 5. * Jan Thurlow won the Humorous Speech Contest for Palmer Toastmasters and went on to win for Area 7. * Jan Thurlow then won 2nd place overall in the Alaska/Yukon regional Humorous Speech contest in October, 2014.

It seems Palmer Toastmasters might be a breeding ground for future comedians, noting the number of Humorous Speech Contests won by our members!

Come see for yourself what we're all about, and how we can help you accomplish goals and improve your skills.

We meet Tuesdays, 6:00 pm, in the lower level at the MTA Building in Palmer.

Need a ride? No problem - feel free to call 907-539-7111.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: palmer.toastmastersclubs.org, or visit Toastmasters International site at toastmasters.org.

Guests are always welcome, and there is no fee to attend.

Authored by Kelly Caraway, who has been a Palmer Toastmaster since February of this year. She teaches traditional cooking and preserving methods, and edited a recently published book written by her husband, Tim Caraway.

Toastmasters is helping her with confidence and delivery when speaking on issues that matter to her, as well as providing great leadership training through her new role as VP of Public Relations for Palmer Toastmasters.

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Nourish is a gift shop located in scenic downtown Wasilla, Alaska.

We carry journals, cards, books, fine gifts, handbags, candles, bath and body, coffee, tea and gourmet foods. We offer a wonderful assortment of products that will nourish your mind, body and soul with humor, delicious gourmet foods, and luxurious body products.

500 E. Swanson Ave., Wasilla (907) 357 3355

The People’s Paper

Fun vintage themed consignment shop with THE BEST prices around. Home of the ONE DOLLAR HOLLER! Meta Rose Square, Wasilla (907) 373 6040

Beauty for Ashes RELIGIOUS GIFTS AND BOOKS

We have a wide range of gifts and books for you to choose from. We carry cards, ornaments, journals, stationary, pens and a large variety of books.

Come and take a look! We are constantly adding merchandise to the store!

Beauty for Ashes is located off Bogard Rd, across from the MatSu Resort.

Proud supporter of Isreal, with unique products made in Isreal through Lev Haolam 1150 N Helen Ln, Wasilla (907) 376 8198

The People’s Paper

Fancy Lou Vintage, reused, recycled madeover furniture for all tastes!

Come check out the selection of custom dressers, dining room sets, reupholstered chairs, fabulous tables and more!

Call for more information.

In the Meta Rose Clocktower 290 N Yenlo St, Wasilla (907) 841-7968

REPURPOSED, RECYCLED, VINTAGE FURNITURE AND MORE

Boardwalk Shop

HOME TO CRANBERRY COTTAGE, HOME AGAIN DECOR, GLADHEART ACRES, AND ALASKA CHICKS

Cover Ups

VINTAGE AND REPURPUSED ANTIQUES AND FURNITURE

Centrally located in Wasilla, you will find the most unique store. The Boardwalk Shop, bursting with fun finds, gifts, décor and accessories and is a town favorite.

Customers commonly refer to it as “my new favorite shop”. If you have never been before, you are in for a treat. What is The Boardwalk Shop?

Combined together under one roof Cranberry Cottage, Gladheart Acres, Home Again Décor, and Alaska Chicks make up the core stores in The Boardwalk shop. Recently The Coffee Corner was added.

At this delightful shop you will find a blend of trendy new gift ideas and unique treasures from the past.

The Boardwalk has soaps, lotions, perfumes and bath salts handmade

by Gladheart Acres. Hoodies, hats, T shirts and other trendy styles by Alaska Chicks. Vera Bradley hand bags, USA made products including candles and wooden signs, and many and other smart gifts from Cranberry Cottage. Also, a unique blend of old, new, and handmade décor and accessories from Home Again Décor. A fashion corner has been added with new apparel.

Visit The Boardwalk Shop and you will find gifts for any occasion.

Things for her: handbags, clothing, jewelry and perfume. For him: old tools, coffee mugs, hoodies, ties and cologne. For kids: stuffed animals, Webkinz, and baby gifts. For all: cards, soaps, journals, candles,

and candy. For the home, handmade and vintage or new: ornaments, signs, baskets, mugs, original and limited edition art, pottery, glass items, hand crafted wood, accent furnishing, upcycles, frames and more.

You can get a coffee to-go at The Coffee Corner or stay and enjoy time with friends, build a puzzle, play a game or browse the shop.

Customers have raved that The Coffee Corner has some of the best coffees, teas, fresh baked cookies, and homemade whip cream.

Cover Ups staff ENJOY helping our clients achieve their unique vision for their home, whether it be window treatments, furniture, or home accents and accessories.

We are happy to be a team that challenges and amazes each other daily. Cover Ups continues to grow, create and build. Our sterling quality is persistence and optimism.

840 S Colony Way, Downtown Palmer (907) 746 4739

There’s always a happiness to be found at The Boardwalk. The staff at The Boardwalk Shop thanks you for shopping local and supporting so many local businesses and talents.

They say “We can’t be, without you.

Merry Christmas and many blessings all year long.”

The People’s Paper

TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION, MENTION READING THIS ARTICLE WHILE VISITING THE SHOP AND RECEIVE A FREE LITTLE GIFT. (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST NOW THRU DEC.24TH) LIKE The Boardwalk Shop on Facebook to stay tuned for new things, events, prizes, and sales.

701 E. Parks Hwy in Wasilla (907) 357-8980

BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SUPPORT LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT RETAILERS, ARTISTS, CRAFTERS, RESTAURANTS AND MORE!

POLITICS The Gurus Of Groupthink

By Tim Johnson www.tj49.com An extreme case of cyber bullying has been committed in the name of patriotism and free speech and driven by groupthink. First, some history.

Eric Arthur Blair published his last book in 1949. He was already sick from Tuberculosis and died the following year. Blair was a journalist by profession and a socialist by party affiliation.

He was a member of the Democratic Socialist Party of England. Blair is quoted and misquoted frequently today.

Blair coined many terms that have been absorbed into the popular lexicon. Among them are “thought crime”, “inner party”, “outer party” and “newspeak”. Those terms inspired the military psychologist Irving Janis to subsequently describe terms like “groupthink” and “outgroup” and “outgrouping”. The definitions of these terms should be clear from their usage in this article.

Blair opposed communism, authoritarianism (regardless of political position) and the cult of personality[1].

He wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. The last book by this socialist author was 1984.

Sixteen years after the publication of 1984, a scholarly paper by a college teacher laid the groundwork for a vicious campaign against her.

That year Frances Fox Piven wrote "Mobilizing the Poor: How It Can Be Done". Ms. Piven is a Professor of Political Science and Sociology. She is a member of the Democratic Socialist Party of America. Like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the “gun toting, meat eating lefty” Ed Schultz, Piven is a rabble rouser and trouble maker – not that there's anything wrong with that.

In this paper and related articles, Piven

advocates causing the collapse of the bureaucracy of the United States. I think Grover Norquist is her brother-in-arms because he promotes the same, but with different methods. Norquist would starve the bureaucracy of money and then drown the shriveled body in a bathtub [2].

Piven would accomplish something similar by mobilizing the poor to put such overwhelming demands on Government that it would stall and implode from a sort of economic “Denial of Service”[3] attack.

Like a certain Jewish carpenter of whom I am a fan, Ms. Piven is a fan of the poor. In Orwellian terms, they are her “ingroup” or “inner party”. Her lifelong mission has been to give the poor a hand up and also a pitchfork[4].

Norquist, Beck, Limbaugh and others express the opinion that the poor would be uplifted by the “economic tide that lifts all” and if the poor don't get lifted it is because they are undeserving.

Glenn Beck is a self-styled guardian of Democracy and employs an illustrative tool that he calls the “Tree Of Revolution”. If you are not familiar with the Tree, think of it as a blacklist.

He hands out pitchforks to anyone who listens to his broadcasts.

The number of listeners to his broadcasts drives his advertising revenues. The Tree is the scaffolding upon which he hangs the heads of those that he considers to be enemies of the Republic. As a consequence of her writings, Ms. Piven's graying tresses have been suspended from the Tree's branches for the last few years.

Beck and his followers, whom I shall call “Followers Of Beck” or FOBs, have resurrected this aged lefty from obscurity. She is 82 years old in 2014.

Her resurgent notoriety has come with blessings and curses.

The cults of personality around newspeak practitioners like Beck have led to groupthink. The FOBs think of themselves as the inner party and Piven a member of the outer party.

This has the effect of marginalizing and devaluing her. She has been placed in the outgroup, and from some examination of things that FOBs have to say about her, she has also been placed in some jeopardy.

What is true for the right is also true for the left.

Ms. Piven has been called names as foul as some names that Bill Maher has used against Sarah Palin. Worse, she has received death threats and multitudes of threatening and bullying emails. On line comments made by the FOBs about Piven reveal the mentality of outgrouping and groupthink. We can see self-brainwashed right-wing automatons carefully lifting their boots to precisely the same height and goose-stepping in lockstep.

He has no moral high ground – even though the FOBs have used the same “C” word towards Piven.

I see this as one of the things that is wrong with America. Many people who are average Americans and otherwise responsible citizens have voluntarily given up their freedom to think. They have fallen under the thrall of personality cults inspired by individuals who are basically (and often by self-description) entertainers or “infotainers”. Good citizens have seduced themselves and become selfappointed thought police.

I doubt very much that any but a very, very small percentages of FOBs would actually do violence to Piven.

The greater damage (until we hear that Ms. Piven actually has come to harm) is that a climate of virtual authoritarianism is being created by those who have abdicated the use of their own intelligence.

Consider the following example – Bill Maher claims that he is no Rush Limbaugh. The liberal so-called comedian, who has been the target of criticism for calling Sarah Palin a “c***” claims that his name calling is entirely different from Rush Limbaugh's tarring of a female college student as a “slut”.

Maher is as deep in the swamp as Beck or Limbaugh. In spite of contrasting politics, Beck, Limbaugh, Maher and Shultz are more alike than they are different. Decent liberals should boycott Maher and his kind. And decent conservatives should boycott Beck and his kind. More importantly, liberals and conservatives need to think more for themselves and talk to – not shout over – each other.

“I want my country back. When I get it back, I'm going to call it Glennbeckistan and I'm going to rename the capital city Limbaughgrad.”

– Anonymous Curmudgeon FOOTNOTES:

[1] Cult of personality – arises when an individual uses media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized, heroic, and at times, worshipful image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.

[2] Grover Norquist – a conservative political lobbyist who is fond of saying that he wishes to shrink government to such a size that it can be drowned in a bathtub.

[3] Denial Of Service – an attempt to make a digital device unavailable to users by overloading the target device with requests.

[4] Pitchforks – weapons of opportunity in peasant uprisings of the Middle Ages. You can kill your neighbor – and clean the barn – with a pitchfork. Just try cleaning the barn with an automatic rifle.

“Licensed to Lie”

Exposing a Crooked Government

By Vic Kohring As I go about my business each day here in Wasilla, the majority of those with whom I speak remain supportive and convinced I was railroaded by the government into a false conviction during my legal fiasco of a few years ago. Occasionally I run across a close-minded individual who refuses to accept that it’s possible I may be innocent.

These “low information voters” have been duped by a manipulative, anticonservative press led by the former Anchorage Daily News who portrayed me in the worst possible way and refused to report the truth without twisting the facts and omitting crucial information. Fortunately, most people recognize that Washington is full of nefarious characters including the so-called U.S. Justice Department especially after what happened to Ted Stevens and I. They’re right.

Despite a mountain of evidence the government fought to disclose showing how FBI agents lied and how prosecutors cheated by deliberately concealing material that would have cleared my name, there are still some too stubborn to accept that fact that I might be innocent of the charges. I may never convince this minority that it’s possible the claims were bogus and involved only minor,

inconsequential issues. And I suspect politics plays a role as most of these folks refuse to accept the facts no matter how compelling. Moreover, if I can’t convince them with hard core evidence, perhaps if they were aware a former federal prosecutor within their ranks has revealed widespread corruption within the Justice Department, they would change their minds. Sidney Powell was a career prosecutor with the department who has written a book entitled “Licensed to Lie” exposing appalling conduct that has been commonplace for years.

Who would know better than one who worked in the department and observed it first-hand?

Powell writes that not only has Attorney General Eric Holder failed to make any of the reforms promised in the wake of his forced dismissal of the indictment against Stevens in 2009, the changes he made have been for the worse. Absent a dramatic aboutface, when Holder exits as attorney general, the department will remain littered with corrupted prosecutions and prosecutors, his own contempt of Congress, numerous Supreme Court reversals and scathing rebukes from federal judges, per Powell.

Ms. Powell presents how Holder reluctantly requested dismissal of the Stevens charges because, among other violations, his department concealed the horrible record of

Natural Law

By The Federal Father Let’s face it. For much of the last century, Christians in America placed their faith in humanism – her foundations and the institutions constructed upon them.

This trend began long ago with the import of european enlightenment

philosophers, but we seem to have reached an apex a few decades ago.

Public schools were woven into the fabric of our culture with no perceived need to discuss alternatives to the system. The welfare state promised security in a blatant, messianic posture.

We looked with awe and allegiance at each president pictured on our bills of exchange without a thought given as to how and why our monetary system worked like it did (and does). Political debates were as robust as they have

its key witness heavily relied on in Stevens case and mine - Bill Allen - including Allen’s involvement in sex-trafficking of minors and perjury on the witness stand. Powell also discusses a recent report from the non-partisan, non-profit Project on Government Oversight that revealed more than 400 instances of intentional or reckless misconduct

by Justice Department prosecutors in the last decade, including my case. A significant number of those have been acknowledged by the department itself during Mr. Holder’s tenure including some that have been especially egregious.

Despite the public flogging, the Stevens’ dismissal and the prosecutors criminal conduct in my case, Holder refused to request a new trial for me as Powell noted. I appreciate him calling for my release from prison, but his failure to ask for a dismissal despite mine being more grievous than Stevens forced me to appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court where I was ultimately successful. Powell explained that Holder’s “minions” argued that the evidence was somehow not germane to my defense, a feeble argument and one designed to give cover to his cheating prosecutors.

Powell further explained how the Ninth Circuit Court appropriately “slammed” the judge assigned to me, John Sedwick, for refusing to denounce

always been, but were carried out within the context of a state that had its integrity largely intact.

Then it happened. The humanistic institutions began to visibly crumble.

The cracks in their foundations became vast fissures that would no longer bear the bureaucratic weight of fat, stodgy and ethically schizophrenic establishments. Crises arose and our baptized humanism did not have answers. People began to search.

Christians in particular began to ask questions they had not asked in a long time.

the prosecutors for their conduct, for failing to dismiss my 2008 convictions and how Judge Betty Fletcher wrote separately to express her outrage over matter. Powell writes how Fletcher urged outright dismissal of my charges because the “prosecution’s refusal to accept responsibility for its conduct is deeply troubling and indicates that a stronger remedy is necessary to impress upon it the reprehensible nature of its acts and omissions.”

Fletcher said a “mere reversal” was “insufficient to deter future illegality.”

Sadly Powell adds, it turns out Fletcher was right.

Instead of seeking justice as he is constitutionally and ethically required, Holder politicized the department beyond recognition, according to Powell. Instead of enforcing the rule of law and following legal precedent, he ignored and twisted the law to suit his president. That’s precisely what I experienced. She adds that it is now abundantly clear that Holder is protecting and retaining prosecutors whose intentional and reckless misconduct has been confirmed without a doubt.

I hope Ms. Powell’s account will convince those who still refuse to believe I was targeted by a corrupt agency that resulted in erroneous convictions that I am indeed innocent.

Through the end of the last century, crises continued and the search for answers continued. Then came the Internet. Like the printing press was to the Catholic Church, the World Wide Web is to the statist and elitist institutions of our day.

The integrity of the systems known to us for over a century is being undermined at a deafening rate.

In addition, the consequences of pluralism within the institutions are being exacerbated. The last straw for these monoliths will be when

POLITICS

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 10

Natural Law Continued From Page 9 they run out of money. Any bit of faith maintained by the general populous will be dashed at the announcement of “insufficient funds”.

In all of this, there has been a return to a more broad discussion about law. This is because the concept and reality of law is basic to any culture. It makes up the bricks and mortar as it were of a society’s basic institutions.

When the institutions begin to fail, the construction materials are inspected so that the next edifice can be built with greater confidence in its durability.

In Christian circles we are having this discussion at a time when we are largely ignorant of the scriptures. This makes the going rough, but we must press on. From the homeschooling mom to the state representative – this conversation is crucial. The discourse has bearing on all of the political hottopics such as abortion, foreign policy, gay marriage, healthcare, immigration, education, monetary policy, taxes, etc. It also has bearing on less public but equally as vital issues within our churches and homes.

So what are some of the buzzwords and phrases used as Christians dialogue on the subject of law in our society? In the Christian arena most blogs, conversations or social media posts will include phrases such as God’s law, man’s law, theonomy, natural law, theocracy or the constitution. Each of these carries with it the question of authority. Who is the ultimate lawgiver and what are the laws by which all societies should be governed?

Should there be different standards for different cultures? Should all men have to submit to the same laws?

Are theft, rape and murder universal transgressions? What should the punishments for each of these be?

Should it differ according to each society or culture? The fundamental question here is one of ultimate authority.

What we need to understand from the outset is that there are really only two alternatives – God’s law or man’s law; God’s rules for governing his creation or Satan’s rebellious alternatives. It has been this way since the beginning. God says, “Don’t eat of this tree”. Satan says, “You can eat of this tree.”

So who would say that anyone other than the God of the universe should

determine right or wrong? Would Christians argue over this point? Well, when pressed the answer would be “no, of course not”. So what are we to make of these debates over natural law vs. theonomy, or man’s law vs. God’s law? Strangely enough, most christians detest the idea of God’s law when we have the constitution…

I don’t think most people contemplate the source of law in their society.

They are content to accept norms and traditions without any thought given to where such norms and traditions are derived and why they are or are not legitimate. This is not to say they do not engage in discussion over what is right and wrong in the world around them. On the contrary, most can become quite passionate when talking about ethical issues. The “pro-life” and “pro-choice” advocates do not lack zeal. What most of them lack is a well thought-out basis for the presuppositions they are bringing to the debate.

So, I will state it again. Most people do not contemplate the source of law in their society. In regards to this level of the debate, most people don’t care. There are more pressing matters at stake. The latest TV drama, little Johnny’s soccer season, piano lessons, career moves, a new car, church activities, Fox News and a host of other things drown out any reflection on how one defines what is normative or standard for society’s conduct. Yet, understanding the source of law is crucial.

The basis for law in any society ultimately proclaims the God of that society. Law expresses character. Law manifests identity. If you want to know who is proclaimed as God over society, you only have to look as far as that society’s laws. Legislation is a declaration of collective right and wrong. What is right and wrong defines morality. Morals express the will of a god. It is not a question of God or no god in a community or culture. There is always a god. It is a question of who is god.

This brings us to contemporary discussions of God’s law vs. man’s law.

God has decreed right and wrong and such is the standard for all of life.

Anyone who does not subscribe to this has only one other option – man, seeking to operate outside of God’s

Obama’s 19 Seconds

By Stuart Thompson Citizen, I ask you to compare what James Madison—our 4th President— wrote to a transcript of what our current President said in a recent speech video’d in Germany.

Contact your elected representatives about your reaction. James Madison— perhaps our foremost expert on American political theory and practice—published the following in the National Gazette, April 2, 1792: ________________________________ THE UNION: WHO ARE ITS REAL FRIENDS: ________________________________ - Not those who charge others with not being its friends, whilst their own conduct is wantonly multiplying its enemies.

- Not those who favor measures, which by pampering the spirit of speculation within and without the government, disgust the best friends of the Union.

- Not those who promote unnecessary accumulations of the debt of the Union, instead of the best means of discharging it as fast as possible; thereby increasing the causes of corruption in

the government, and the pretext for new taxes under its authority, the former undermining the confidence, the latter alienating the affection of the people.

- Not those who study, by arbitrary interpretations and insidious precedents, to pervert the limited government of the Union, into a government of unlimited discretion, contrary to the will and subversive of the authority of the people.

- Not those who avow or betray principles of monarchy and aristocracy, in opposition to the republican [1] principles of the Union, and the republican spirit of the people; or who espouse a system of measures more accommodated to the depraved examples of those hereditary forms, than to the true genius of our own.

- Not those, in a word, who would force on the people the melancholy duty of chusing [2] between the loss of the Union and the loss of what the union was meant to secure. ________________________________

authority, determines what is right or what is wrong, collectively, as a democracy. This category of law we might call “the law of the people”. As to those who declare that God is the source of law, they would subscribe either to a natural law (common to all men), law derived from special revelation or some combination of both.

talking past one another.

What is important to notice is that God speaks in the latter alternatives. Natural Law (loosely defined) might include the natural revelation that surrounds all men and testifies to God and his prescriptions for living (Romans 1).

Special revelation would also involve God’s Word for man but in a way that is more concrete or specific.

I am not speaking of natural or general revelation, which is a thoroughly reformed and biblical concept. I am pinpointing the use of the term “natural law” as used by some, including the current “Two Kingdoms” community. In this sense, the term is touted as biblical and covenantal.

It cannot be dismissed as the same concept derived from the stoics or even equivalent to a natural law concept held during the time of the Reformation.

As to the people’s law, we might just refer to this as the “group ethic” or general consensus of the people. With my intended audience, I will assume that this alternative is taken off the table as it would allow for atrocities such as genocide or the current legality of abortion due to popular vote.

The contention among the Christian community seems to center around this issue of a common law for Christians and non-Christians living together in a society. Where do we anchor ourselves as we engage in debates about public policy and the aforementioned issues? Should community life be governed by a “natural law” common to all people or from the Word of God or both? If the Word of God, then what part of God’s Word? Only the New Testament? The Ten Commandments plus the New Testament? The Old Testament Case Laws? Which of these are also included in what might be called “natural law”?

Well, before we get to all of these questions it would probably do us well to define the concept of natural law.

Natural law has in some ways been caricatured and dismissed without really wrestling with its current definitions.

The debate has been oversimplified by announcing that one either subscribes to “God’s law or man’s law”. In theonomic circles, God’s law usually equates to thinkers like Greg Bahnsen’s definition and anything else is relegated to autonomous man’s law. Yet, this does not do justice to the current debate. Parties seem to be

- Who are friends to the authority of the people, the foundation on which the Union rests.

I have seen very little written material that adequately captures the modification to natural law put forward by Two Kingdom proponents.

I have also seen many discussions become vague and squishy when they reach the point of defending a basis for specific laws or political action in general. It is important for us to be able to articulate the basis for our public convictions. Christians will get sidelined if we just engage in political discussions like everyone else. We will be relegated to the all-to-common shouting match of “our program is better than yours”.

It is for these reasons that the subject should be further addressed, and addressed in a way such that the layman will embrace the conversation.

In doing so their understanding can be more consistently and self-consciously applied to everyday life.

I will state clearly from the start – I believe that the reformed foundation of natural law espoused by some is a sandy one and that ultimately natural law advocates are trying to raise a corpse.

It will do us no good to engage current cultural battles under the direction of a dead commander. So what does the corpse look like? What is the traditional understanding of natural law? Stay tuned.

EMAIL@FEDERALFATHER.COM

- Who are friends to liberty, the great end for which the Union was formed.

Who are friends to the limited and republican system of government, the means provided by that authority, for the attainment of that end.

[3] A universal or general solvent in which other things are dissolved or disintegrated or lose their separate identities

- Who are enemies to every public measure that might smooth the way to hereditary government; for resisting the tyrannies of which the Union was first planned, and for more effectually excluding which it was put into its present form.

“…and for the international order that we have worked for generations to build.

- Who considering a public debt as injurious to the interests of the people, and baneful to the virtue of the government, are enemies to every contrivance for unnecessarily increasing its amount, or protracting its duration, or extending its influence.

In a word, those are the real friends to the Union, who are friends to the republican [1] policy throughout, which is the only cement for the Union of a republican people; in opposition to a spirit of usurpation and monarchy, which is the menstrum [3] most capable of dissolving it.”

THE REAL FRIENDS TO THE UNION ARE THOSE: ________________________________

Natural law has colored the ethics of the church since before the Reformation and has continued until today. This is not new. What is new is the extent to which a reformed concept of natural law has been iterated forward or modified beyond traditional definitions.

[1] In this essay, “republican” refers to system of government, not a political party.’

[2] choosing, the modern spelling

Here is an excerpt from a recent speech given in Germany by President Obama:

Ordinary men and women are too smallminded to govern their own affairs.

That order and progress can only come when individuals surrender their rights to an all- powerful sovereign.”

Now there are reports of this video being faked. These are contradicted by verified reports of Obama’s minions saying how the stupidity of Americans aided in getting Obamacare passed.

You decide.

Incredible Women of the Mat-Su Valley Contributed by Sandy Rogers-May Most of us know many women who would fit into that category, right? You think....school teachers, school principals, Mothers, sisters, Grandmothers, best friends, women in politics, business owners....the list grows and grows.

community in different ways, such as what it will do this month by giving $500 to My House that helps homeless teens, and $500 to Hope for Heroes that helps our local Veterans and their families, and $500 to Healing Hearts which is another excellent organization that helps our wounded warriors.

And speaking of grows and grows, the Mat Su Republican Women’s Club fits into all of this. Some recollections put the date before 1947 as a group of women got together and loosely formed this club. They weren’t sure whether it would be a social type of club or one that they were politically active.

Our members will also give warm, winter items to the Homeless Vets program in the Valley. We don’t say these things to toot our own horn, but to let you know what our club is all about. During each year we have various fund raisers so that we can do things like this. Not just at Christmas.

Over the years there have been many wonderful women join this club and become involved and yes, the club grew into one that was politically active! The beginning members laid the ground work and as new ladies joined and offered their ideas and talents, this club evolved into a very community minded organization.

When the political races hit the streets, many of our members jump in there to help! With money to help with campaigns and the other valuable ways as well. You see women waving signs for a candidate...many are our members. You may answer the phone to one of them as well....reminding you to vote and consider voting for a certain candidate.

The Mat Su Republican Women’s Club decided that it wanted to help the

Being involved in our club develops some incredible friendships and you

learn so much from each other. We have members who are in public office in our state and local governments and it is always a joy to work to help them get elected and to celebrate when they do! They have mentored other women who have considered running for office.

Personal and honest ideas and advise go such a long way. We have quite a few gals who are classified as excellent mentors! Many of our members are associates and are husbands of the women in our club.

Annually when February blows in usually cold and dark, we have the first fundraiser of the year...Lincoln Day Dinner. Great speaker....wonderful food, the opportunity to mingle & catch up with friends as well as chat with some of our elected officials. It’s great with silent & outcry auctions which bring in generous dollars to beef up our bank account and be ready for elections and donations within the community. For members, putting this fundraiser and our summer annual Garden Gala and the State Fair Booth and our annual Fall Wine & Cheese Event together is a blast! Speaking of the State Fair. A

Voices of Grandparents Raising Children of Incarcerated Parents Dear Sue, I am a grandmother. Both my husband and I are raising our three grandchildren because both their mother and father are presently incarcerated. My eldest grandson is in high school. He is an excellent student, involved with student government, and plays three varsity sports. He also works part time on the weekends to help pay for some of his own expenses.

My granddaughter is in middle school. She is struggling. She goes to school but she does not turn her work in to her teachers. I am told she is very quiet at school and doesn’t participate much in her classes. She does have a small group of friends she hangs around with outside of school. I don’t know them very well.

She is quiet here at home as well.

She does help her grandfather and I around the house, but she always seems sad.

My youngest grandson is in elementary school and has had some behavior problems at school in the past. He hits other children, yells at the teacher, and throws things. In the past, his work at school is often incomplete. All three of the children have lived with me for the past three years. Their father was incarcerated four years ago, and their mother was incarcerated three years ago.

Both parents will be getting out, their mother in one year and their father in two years.

In the meantime, money is tight for us. My husband retired but has gone back to work to help make ends meet. I am working part time but we are still struggling. Between financial worries, and keeping up with the grandchildren, we are exhausted. One weekend a month, we take the children to visit their mother where she is incarcerated.

Another weekend a month, we take our grandchildren to see their father.

He is incarcerated further away.

We have already raised four adult children. Three of our children are doing great with jobs and families.

Our fourth child, our son, has made poor choices. My husband and I decided to raise our three grandchildren after their mother went to prison.

Do you have any word of wisdom for us?

- Sincerely, Exhausted Grandma and Grandpa

________________________________ Dear Exhausted Grandma and Grandpa, ________________________________ I applaud and commend you for raising your three grandchildren while both their parents are incarcerated. It is definitely a taunting labor of love that one never plans for in their senior years.

This situation tends to put a strain on the best of marriages.

It is not unusual for parents to raise many children whereby one goes astray and the others are doing great.

This is not reflective of your parenting, but the sum total of all your son’s life experiences that led him down this path. Oftentimes, drugs are a factor.

It is also not unusual for each of your grandchildren to be so vastly different in their behaviors. Children of incarcerated parents tend to react differently to their parent’s incarceration. It sounds like your eldest grandson is doing everything he needs to be doing in order to move forward in his life. It is typical for some youth of incarcerated parent’s to be overachievers. Their rationale is that they don’t want to wind up like their incarcerated parent. Continue to support his endeavors, good grades, and keep the communication flowing to make sure he is addressing any questions or resentments he is having about both of his parents being incarcerated.

Your granddaughter may appear sad, because keep down she is sad. Many children of incarcerated parents have a permeation of sadness. She wants her mother and father at home and wants to be like her friends. Keep a close eye on her and get her talking as much as possible. Try to do engage in special projects or outings with her. These are special just for you and her, or she with grandpa. I encourage you to speak with her counselor or teachers and let them know what she is struggling with.

Perhaps they can give her a little extra attention at turning her work in.

As for your youngest grandson, he appears to be displaying many of the signs characteristic of an angry child of an incarcerated parent. I have had telephone calls from many principals around the state describing this exact scenario. First, it is important that your grandson’s teacher, principal, and school counselor know that his parents are both incarcerated.

Once they can address the real issues affecting your grandson’s behaviors, they can move forward. Oftentimes, when a student can simply talk to their teacher, counselor, or principal, they can then start working on ways to dissipate and de-escalate their angry behaviors.

All can work on a behavior plan for your grandson keeping his situation in mind.

Be careful to work on changing one behavior at a time with him. Once that is achieved give him a positive reward, then move on to changing a second behavior.

You wrote, that your grandchildren visit their father once a month and mother once a month at the prisons. It is

wonderful you have continued to facilitate these visits and allow the bonds and relationship between your grandchildren and their parents to continue, even if it is in a visiting room of a prison.

Those being said, please start to track behaviors and see if sadness and inappropriate behaviors are worse right after the children visit their parents. It is common and understandable that they are filled with mixed emotions after a visit. It is important they be able to debrief the visit with someone after it is over. Just going to a prison is traumatic for a youth. Between observing the double fences and “constantine wire”, hearing the loud clanking of the doors in the sally ports, the restricted contact in a visit, and seeing their parent in this setting, it is upsetting.

Children never get used to this picture, no matter how many times they visit their parent. It does not get easier.

Oftentimes children don’t know what to talk about in these visits. Is it better to keep it real and tell their parent about their struggles or is it better to put on a happy face so the visit runs smoothly?

Children are conflicted about this.

Discuss this with them prior to a visit.

Saying goodbye to their parent is never easy. It is important that you or their parent let them know when there is 10 minutes remaining, then five minutes remaining. This prevents a visit from ending abruptly without the child being prepared to say “goodbye”. This also allows their parents to “parent behind bars”.

On the ride home, it is typical for everyone to be quiet. The sadness or behavior issues usually arise later that day or the next day. If possible, stop for a meal or snack on the way home. Start the dialogue about how visiting your son and daughter-in-law is hard for you as grandma. Ask them what they are feeling after a visit. You can support each other through this.

Oftentimes, grandchildren will not initiate a conversation about this with their grandparent; because they are sensitive their grandparent is struggling emotionally as well.

As you get closer to their parent’s release date, it is important that there is a plan for the children. It is always jolting to the children if they leave your stable nurturing home, where they have lived for many years, to move in with their newly released parent. There is so much unknown with the newly released parent and more stability with you.

Their parent may have conditions of parole or probation they must meet and it is an overwhelming task to be able to focus on their own re-entry.

Many inmates create a Release Plan.

I encourage you and your husband to have one visit with your son and daughter in law without the children.

Discuss their release plans. Ask your son and daughter-in-law what their plans

few years ago the State Fair gave us a ribbon for being the oldest booth out there! Their records showed 1946...that loosely formed club that I mentioned in the beginning.no doubt earned us that ribbon. However, all of those years have seen many, many members dedicated time to volunteer to help run our booth and it is still an on-going presence out there each year. It gives candidates a Republican friendly place to come to meet and greet the locals.

We are able to answer so many questions for people who stop by. Be sure to come see us when you are at the Fair this summer!

What it all boils down to is the Mat Su Valley is important to the Mat Su Republican Women’s Club and the people who live here are the best! We want to be active and helpful and it seems like we sure have a fun time doing it!

We’d love for you to be a part of our club and invite you to our meetings which are once a month.

Go to our Facebook Page or website matsurepublicanwomensclub.org to find more information.

are for release. The parent’s release and re-entry is an especially difficult time for a child of an incarcerated parent. They are fearful they will be uprooted and have to leave their school and friends.

And most importantly, they are worried about leaving the stable, consistent security you have provided them. They fear moving into an unknown setting where their parent is struggling. And sometimes, they are torn about having these conflicting feelings.

Rather than move the children in one day, offer one of these two scenarios.

The newly released parent can have some time to get on their feet, get a job, save some money, and see the children.

Once they are settled, the children can spend time with them for weekends.

Another scenario is for you to keep the children with you and their parent moves in with you, so they can get themselves on their feet.

Regardless of which choice is made, it is very important to pay attention to the children during this time and address their fears. These fears will manifest as behavior problems, plummeting grades, etc. It is important that everyone talk about his or her fears honestly during this time. And perhaps consider, the children’s input as part of this plan.

What you are doing is not easy.

These days, almost everyone has a family member who is or has been incarcerated. They just never talk about and keep it a secret. In those days that are most challenging, I encourage you to look at your three grandchildren and really see the differences you and your husband have made in their lives.

Because of you, they are stable and receiving love and consistency in their lives. It is because of you and your husband that they will thrive and become the adults they were meant to be. If their grandma and grandpa were not in the picture, this would change the trajectory of their lives.

And lastly, remember to take one day a month for just “you and your husband” and celebrate all the blessings in your life that both of you have created.

Keeping it real!

Susan Magestro, Criminologist & Interventionist If you have questions you would like to ask Susan about “Whose Running Your House”, email them to sulamaestra@gmail.com If you child is a child of an incarcerated parent, we will be hosting two celebratory days in April, called “Project I Am Not Alone, Children of Incarcerated Parents”.

There will be more information coming about this in months to come.

Mary Christmas from The Powell House Cover Story Continued

reality.

I didn't want to be a victim of circumstance.

I wanted to be a confident leader for him. To this day, I am most confident when I'm surrounded by my sons.

Their faith in me gives me courage. I love them.

Honestly, I felt really comfortable. I've been where they were. I was a wayward youth myself. The feeling of failure, of life not yielding itself to me, was very frustrating.

Broken families are the norm in America.

If your family is functional in the USA, well, your family is a statistical anomaly.

Be glad.

Empathy comes from pain, and experience in life. I believe very strongly that we are missing an opportunity, and making human suffering for not.

What a waste! We have people, young people, who society casts aside. They qualify for welfare assistance from the government, but do they qualify for time and love?

When I was a wasted youth, wasting my days wondering why, I often felt like I had foolishly walked over some invisible precipice. I must have crossed some point of no return, not knowing what I was doing. Now, looking back, I had indeed crossed a threshold, but through a doorway, not over a cliff.

When my first son was conceived I found myself taking ownership of my

COMMUNITY A week had passed since my time at the Powell House. Life led me to park there. Talking on the phone to a business associate, I decided to pull over into a parking lot in Wasilla so I could focus on the conversation.

I could see Sebastian walking. He works locally, walking to work usually. He had his headphones in, so he couldn’t hear me yelling for him.

My conversation came to an end, and I pulled around the block to catch up to him. He was going to MyHouse, following one the rules for living in the Powell house.

Not only does he pay rent to be there, but also when he’s not working at his job, he has agreed to be available to volunteer at MyHouse or some other charitable endeavor.

I gave him a ride and went about my day.

Jim Maddry of Wasilla was out for an afternoon hike with his dogs Yukon and Piper near the Menard Sports Center recently when he discovered a horrible truth about trapping.

Maddry is a member of MAT-SAR, a volunteer search and rescue group based in the Mat-Su. He is training his dogs to assist in searches for lost people and was joined by Patty Howell, a fellow dog handler, and her dogs on this day.

As part of their training routine, Maddry and Howell were letting their dogs run loose between the Menard Center and the airport as they walked the trails.

Suddenly Howell noticed Piper was missing. The two stopped, called out for the dog and then listened intently. To their surprise they heard a faint yelp and knew something was wrong.

A search of the area revealed Piper appeared to be caught on something under a spruce tree.

“At first I just thought she’d gotten tangled up in a rope or something,” said Maddry.

“But then I heard another yelp and turned around to find Yukon had gotten his foot caught in a steel trap. Fortunately he’d only gotten one of his toes caught and I was able to free him pretty quick with only a minor injury but Piper wasn’t so lucky.

The trap she was caught in was a snare that had been baited with a caribou head.

She had the snare wrapped around her neck and it was choking her.”

My heart was relieved. Not greed, but his need to pay his way. I smiled on the inside and probably on the outside, too.

As I was leaving I hugged him. He was not receptive. He said, in my ear, "I'm not a hugger." Straight up, clear as a bell, right in my ear. My overly emotional moment turned awkward.

Boundaries, Josh.

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WILLPOWER Last month I gave my account of my trip to Africa. It's easy to sympathize with people on the other side of the planet.

It's not next-door, after all. It's easy to feel sympathy to some folks some 10,000 miles from here.

But this suffering is happening in every town. We all suffer, some people more than others, some places more than others. Suffering is human.

Often I’ve wondered about the nature of suffering, and death, too. Seems so cruel, that we all must endure.

Later, while I was talking with Michelle, he came back and sat for a while. I saw him in my peripheral. In hindsight, he was waiting for a lull in the conversation.

Maybe the suffering is there as an opportunity for the rest of us to care.

Not because the government forces us to care. No. That wouldn't work at all.

He told Michelle that he had spoken

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 12

I told him I was sorry for the hug, and for his grandmother passing. Mostly for his grandmother passing.

BOUNDARIES Saw Sebastian a few days later, and with a sense of urgency he informed me that his grandmother had passed away the night before. He was scattered, talking on the phone with some family member somewhere.

Snared.

By Debra McGhan

with folks back home, and that he was inheriting some money from his grandmother. At first, I worried that he would reveal his weakness: avarice.

Then, he told Michelle that his first thought was to pay the ticket in Arizona.

But, maybe humanity needs suffering?

Maybe… Humanity has a beautifully built-in release valve through suffering?

In order to find balance, we might need to make the sacrifice… willfully.

Pete Buist, a long-time trapper, former president of the Alaska Trappers Association, and once member of the Alaska Board of Game, said that while there is no law against trapping near a public trail, there is a code of ethics that trappers should adhere to.

Fortunately for Maddry, Howell was carrying a pair of wire cutters in her pack and they were able to work it under the snare that was cutting off Piper’s air supply and snip it free.

“The big question is, was this just a kid that didn’t know any better and needs some parental guidance and instruction, or an adult that should be reprimanded for their actions?”

Another group from MAT-SAR was walking on the opposite side of the Menard Center and they too discovered several baited traps.

Vikki Gross, another MAT-SAR member and dog handler knows from experience this is not a unique situation.

The incident left the group rattled. Was it legal to set traps and snares this close to a trail frequented by the public?

Maddry contacted the Mat-Su Borough animal control and the Alaska Trappers Association to find out.

“I was disappointed and surprised to learn it is legal. But I just have to wonder, is it smart to be trapping this close to a public use area that is frequented by lots of people and dogs? What I learned is that if a trapper has a license they can set their traps just about anywhere.”

Pete Buist, a long-time trapper and former president of the Alaska Trappers Association and once member of the Alaska Board of Game, said that while there is no law against trapping near a public trail, there is a code of ethics that trappers should adhere to. “Or as we say, use common sense,” said Buist. “It is not okay to trap on other people’s private property without permission or near public trails.”

Buist explained that of course every situation is unique but a conflict between people and trappers is not something the Trappers Association wants to see any more than the general public.

“Years ago I remember walking my dogs with a friend in the Kepler-Bradley state park when we had a similar experience with a trap. It was a winter when we didn’t have much snow cover but the lakes were frozen so we chose a path that took us across Matanuska Lake. When we reached the hill on the opposite shore and started up toward the trail I heard a snap and realized my dog had been caught in a trap. At the time I thought this can’t be right for someone to trap in the state park so I dug up the trap and took it to the troopers only to find out, I was actually in the wrong and could be fined.”

After Maddry shared his experience he learned from Michele Bear, the MAT-SAR dispatcher, that other dogs have been caught in traps around the Crevasse Morraine trails, the Matanuska Trail system and in the Willow area.

One of the members of the equine team, that uses horses in search and rescue calls, also issued a warning that someone was setting bear traps in the shallow water of local lakes and to be careful before leading your horse into the water. Another member said they were concerned that someone in the Willow area might be trying to hurt the dogs in the area by intentionally setting traps on the trails and throwing down

glass shards and meat with objects in it.

Darla Erskine, an animal control officer with the Mat-Su Borough, told Bear that it is legal to snare trap most anywhere as long as the trapper has a license. Erskine told Bear that she has found dogs caught in traps less than 10 feet from a public trail. Erskine also confirmed the Willow story.

“After this happened to me and I started sharing my story, I discovered this happens a lot more often than people realize,” said Maddry. “I just worry that what if this was a child? I think it’s gotten too populated in the core area of the Valley to be doing this kind of activity.”

Gross agreed. “I just wonder at what point do you say, this area is too well used, too populated by the general public, it is just not compatible for these two activities to coexist. Alaska is the biggest state in the union and we have a lot of places more suited for trapping. I know from my trapper friends that they typically don’t put traps near trails. Maybe it’s time for our law makers to look at this and come up with an acceptable solution.”

She also wondered if trapping in these areas is actually being productive.

“I really think we should be proactive,” said Gross. “And not wait for a kid to get caught in one of these traps and maybe die of hypothermia before we finally take action to change the rules.”

TO LEARN MORE www.adfg.alaska.gov where you can view the rules and regulations for trapping in Alaska.