Contributed by Susan Fouch Colony Christmas December 9-11, 2016 Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Downtown Palmer FREE Admission Save the Date! The community of Palmer is proud to bring you Colony Christmas 2016!
This year’s event will kick off on Friday, December 9th! Stop by the Palmer Depot for our annual craft fair, then head over to Palmer Moose Lodge with the kids for an evening of movies at the Moose. Don’t forget to stop by the Palmer Museum for a little wine tasting and a performance by the Alaska Fire Circus.
Then, bright & early Saturday morning, head back to downtown Palmer for a full day of free memory making events. Start your day with the Lions Pancake Feed hosted at Alaska Bible College. Spend the day walking through beautiful downtown Palmer, enjoying horse drawn carriage rides,
ICE CASTLES IN PALMER
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She is known for writing newspaper commentaries on controversial subjects including genetically modified foods, cannabis clubs, human manure composting and unconstitutional government behavior.
MAT-SU CONCERT BAND
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Her book, The Alaskan Woodcarver’s Wife: A Tale of Pot, Patriots, Passion and PTSD, tells the story of Spoonguy’s encounters with unconstitutional courts and police in Arizona, California and Alaska. As a civil liberties violation investigator who calls police, courts and corrections officials on unconstitutional behavior, Spoonguy
gained notoriety in 2016 when a dog attack case brought him toe to toe with Homer police officer, Stephen Smith, over issues of warrantless arrest and probable cause, and nose to nose with Kenai Judge, Charles Huguelet, over issues of ineffective representation and sentencing the mentally disordered to incarceration rather than treatment. The couple co-founded the Citizens of Alaska Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission to provide a community forum for citizens to report unconstitutional acts by police, courts and state agencies.
Beautiful Lake Side Setting
Family-friendly fine dining and accommodations
on the shores of beautiful Big Lake
892-8595 | 892-8885
SMALL BUSINESS
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reindeer petting, dog mushing, photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus, ride a fat tire bike, cookie decorating and so much more! While out and about make sure to stop and shop at all the local retailers who are decked out for this holiday tradition of Colony Christmas.
Before heading home, end your day with the Parade of Lights and the amazing fireworks show. And to round out the weekend, get out and get moving with Active Soles as they host our annual Palmer Winter Triathlon on Sunday, December 11th.
We look forward to you and your family joining us! For more information look for us on Facebook @Colony Christmas or visit palmerchamber.org for a schedule of events. #colonychristmas #ilovepalmer
HEALTH & WELLNESS Contributed by Dori Cranmore, RN The wild leafy plant, yellow dock (Rumex crispus), is found growing throughout the world and belongs to the buckwheat family. This flowering perennial is characterized by the narrow leaves that curl along the edges, which is why it is also called curled dock, narrow dock, narrowleafed dock and garden patience. The name of the plant is associated with the yellow color of the herb’s fleshy root, which shows when it is slightly scraped. The root of yellow dock is the major source of its medicinal properties. However, its sour-sweet leaves are not
Contributed by Kate McKee Imagine for a moment that your life is suddenly turned upside down when you are diagnosed with stage three cancer and must undergo life-saving treatment immediately. Or you discover you are diabetic and need expensive medications to prevent your condition from getting worse. Now think about how devastating these frightening realizations would be if you didn’t have health insurance. These scenarios are very real and happening all the time, all around this country. We see it in all the desperate “Gofundme” posts on Facebook or hear about it in family circles. Chances are you know someone in this situation or it has happened to you.
Contributed by Robin Minard Mat-Su Health Foundation Ten local organizations were recently selected to receive Mat-Su Health Foundation grants totaling more than $1.68 million under the foundation’s Healthy Impact grant program. The grants will go to the American Lung Association, Assistive Technology of Alaska, The Children’s Place, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Frontline Mission, Links/ADRC, Nugen’s Ranch, Planned Parenthood, Sunshine Community Health Center and Wasilla Youth Baseball. Healthy Impact Grants are awarded twice annually by the Mat-Su Health Foundation to fund local health-related projects in excess of $15,000. The recently selected grantees are: American Lung Association - $83,524 for home air quality assessments and remediation plans for senior citizens,
only added to salads, but also found as an ingredient in herbal remedies. Seeds are rarely used for medicinal uses. When used as a powder, the yellow dock root is useful in treating psoriasis and other chronic skin conditions, itching, boils, sores, swellings and scabby eruptions. Yellow dock is prepared for medicinal uses as a syrup, a tincture or an ointment. Anemia symptoms respond well to yellow dock because of the high iron content. It’s been known to be used to relieve a congested liver. Over the years it has shown benefits for the digestive tract, skin and to nasal passage inflammation. One of the primary uses by herbalists is for skin conditions associated with poor digestion or poor liver function. There have been reports that it has been helpful for rheumatism and disorders like scurvy ad scrofula (glandular swellings).
Many of us like to think we’re indestructible and will escape serious health crises, but we just never know what tomorrow holds. I can personally attest to that and am grateful I have good health insurance right now. Medical costs are not going down, unfortunately. You don’t want to risk losing everything you have when faced with mounting medical bills.
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Because of its mild laxative effect, it appears to stimulate the release of bile and digestive enzymes. The astringent action of the plant’s seeds is sometimes described as beneficial for the treatment of dysentery. Blood diseases, bleeding of lungs and anemia are reported to be successfully treated with yellow dock preparations. The homeopathic tincture made of the herb while it is in its pre-flowering stage is a good remedy for an irritable tickling cough of the upper air-tubes and the throat.
Dilantin®, Miacalcin®, or Mithracin®. Yellow dock should not be used by people with kidney disease, liver disease or an electrolyte abnormality.
Due to a lack of research, little is known about the side effects of using yellow dock. Yellow dock contains oxalic acid, which irritates the bowels and may cause mild diarrhea in some people.
Information here is intended for educational purposes and not to diagnose, cure or treat any diseases. Seek advice from your health care provider.
Yellow dock should not be used by people taking drugs that decrease blood calcium, such as diuretics,
Dori Cranmore RN is the owner of All About Herbs, Inc in Wasilla, AK. Call for more information - 907-376-8327
With the upcoming change in U.S. leadership, no one knows at this point what changes will be made to the ACA and when that might occur. Open Enrollment continues, and you can still shop on the Marketplace for plan options and find out if you qualify for cost savings. In Alaska, many more folks can qualify for Medicaid coverage than in the past due to Medicaid Expansion.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), we have more opportunities to become covered and get those essential preventative exams that can save our lives, as well as ensure we won’t be discriminated against for pre-existing conditions.
In Mat-Su, residents seeking health coverage through healthcare.gov or who want to know if they qualify for Medicaid, can get assistance from yours truly and others who are certified to help in the Valley. You don’t have to try to figure it out alone. Our services are free and confidential.
We also can have peace of mind of knowing the insurance companies can’t place lifetime limits on our coverage or impose unreasonable out-of-pocket costs.
If you already are covered through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace and simply need help re-enrolling, we’re here for that too. Keep in mind that you need to enroll or re-enroll by December
prioritizing homes primarily heated with wood. Assistive Technology of Alaska (ATLA) - $50,000 to partially fund an assistive technology acquisition coordinator staff position who will assist Mat-Su residents in obtaining funding to purchase assistive technology. Assistive technology is any equipment, device, product or system – both low tech and high tech – that enables a person with a disability or a senior citizen to accomplish tasks safely and independently. The Children’s Place - $750,000 towards design and construction of a new Wasilla facility to meet growing demand for its services related to evaluation, investigation and treatment of child abuse. Cook Inlet Tribal Council - $120,640 to fund substance abuse assessment services and peer support in the MatSu. The assessment services will be provided in conjunction with Knik Tribal Council and Chickaloon Village.
Frontline Mission - $115,000 to strengthen the organization in the area of high level leadership development and to hire a full-time director and a part-time program coordinator. Links/ADRC - $99,523 in general operational support to continue to fund the Mat-Su’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and support the organization in achieving its goal of connecting clients to long-term services and supports. Nugen’s Ranch - $140,000 to be used for three purposes: to purchase a delivery truck, to develop an organizational/business plan for the organization and to develop an executive director transition plan. Planned Parenthood - $40,000 to market its online health services, which allow patients access to secure face-toface consultation with a health provider on their computer or mobile device. Sunshine Community Health Center - $229,387 to purchase medical
15th in order for your coverage to start January 1st. If you enroll between Dec. 16th and Dec. 31st, your coverage won’t start until Feb 1st. To be covered by Feb 1st, you need to enroll by Jan 15th, etc. Open Enrollment will end Jan. 31st, but some people will qualify to enroll during the Special Enrollment Period. I urge you not to wait until the end of January to apply for coverage. This is too important. To make an appointment for local assistance, call me at 907-891-6940. To research your options, visit www. getcoveredalaska.org or shop online at www.healthcare.gov. Kate McKee is a certified Navigator Specialist employed by the Alaska Primary Care Association. She has lived in Meadow Lakes for more than 13 years and assisted hundreds of Mat-Su residents with gaining access to the healthcare they need.
equipment for its Willow and Talkeetna clinics and for remodeling. Wasilla Youth Baseball - $60,000 to enhance both player and spectator safety through field improvements and backstop replacement. The application period for the next round of Healthy Impact grants begins on January 1, 2017. The Mat-Su Health Foundation also offers a Target Wellness grant program for projects less than $15,000, and it is open year-round. More information and the online applications can be found at www.healthymatsu.org About MSHF: MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su.
ADVICE / OPINION Contributed by Devynn Maclure I did a dumb thing. An inexplicably stupid decision that so lacks in wisdom and sense, it makes going bar-hopping the night before a final exam seem like a decent call in comparison. I procrastinated. Sure, I do that a lot, but more specifically, this is where I went wrong: I put off writing this month’s article in hopes of digging up an incredible, awe-inspiring millennial perspective to expound upon. Now it is the morning after Election Day, and instead of unearthing some great gem of twenty-something wisdom, my brain can dig up nothing but weeds and cobbles of exhaustion, frustration and fart sounds. With a deadline looming and the inability to think of anything other than where America goes from here, I’ve got no choice but to carefully and cautiously dish it out. Here is what went down within the millennial generation during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election: Often regarded as a generation with little-to-no sense of civic responsibility, millennials have earned a hard rep for being too self-indulged to care about the state of our government. However, based on what we see and hear from young people on college campuses, military bases, youth shelters and social media alike, it can be said that a majority of millennials are involved in some form of political activism, and the 2016 presidential election was no exception. Millennial voters have fought, rallied and stood firm in their
beliefs for this election season, creating a passionate endeavor by every walk of political life like none many have ever seen before. At the beginning of the election, most millennials made it clear that they wanted to see Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders become our next president. It was Bernie’s meaningful and sincere concern for the younger generation and working class that drew most in because let’s face it, student debt rates are outrageous, we can barely afford to eat and come on, a little birdie landed on the guy’s podium like he was some kind of wiry-haired Disney princess. Other candidates didn’t seem to match up to Bernie in the eyes of millennials, lighting a political fire in the hearts of many who came to “feel the Bern”. To see so many young voters come together to make their voices heard amongst the masses is now what resonates with many as the true definition of democracy, as it became a turning point for many non-involved millennial’s political involvement. As the election moved forward, the Democratic and Republican nominees narrowed down in ways that caught affiliates of either party off guard. Bernie’s lost DNC nomination and advocation for Hillary Clinton forced millennials to choose between voting for Clinton, the woman most had been furiously rallying against, and voting the senator as a write-in candidate anyway. Meanwhile, young Republicans watched as potential candidates withdrew from the race until Donald Trump fell into their laps. Those who disliked any of these options advocated
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for third-party candidates. We had become completely divided, both as a generation and as a country. Some felt disgusted and cheated by our government, opting out of casting their vote. However, not all were deterred, and a large number of millennials took to the polls, regardless of major setbacks throughout the election. The race was not what we asked for, but it was what we were given and we were going to work with it. As ballots were counted, it became clear that Clinton was the favored candidate amongst voters, ages 18 to 35. Despite this favorability, the Electoral College and older generations came to the polls at full force, leading to a Trump victory. Opinions aside, the pride felt for those who got out and voted in the most bizarre presidential election to date is overwhelming. It took a lot to take a stand this go-round, and everyone put up an incredible fight for what they believed in. If you voted and didn’t see the outcome you wanted, keep your head up and continue fighting for what is near and dear to your heart. Stay involved, speak out and stand your ground. Our generation has plenty of ground to cover between now and future elections, and it will not do us well to lose steam this early on in the game. To those who did not vote, perhaps you might see this election as a learning curve and realize the importance of a young turnout in our local and national elections. Our voice can make a difference, as it will someday be the governing voice of the country. We all get a ballot and we all get a choice; who we vote for makes us individuals, and having the right to choose simply makes us American.
Contributed by Northern Lights Valley Knitters
Contributed by Larissa Peltier Tax time. Entering the tax office, I lead my toddler to the kid friendly corner. By the time I sat down, my husband and the tax preparer were already through the basics, my husband’s W2 form and the kid’s social security numbers. Then on to my investing paperwork, the numbers were added and subtracted. When the preparer announced the capital gains from the previous year it was a surprise for both me and my husband - $36,000. I’m not gonna lie, I was pleased. It took me three years after I got my degree to find a job that paid at least $30,000 a year. I sat up straighter in my chair. Suddenly, my black yoga pants were more reminiscent of black tailored slacks. With more authority
in my voice I asked how that would affect our married filing jointly income tax bracket. It moved us up to the next bracket, we were informed. My husband let out a sigh. I peered at him through my glasses like a librarian to errant school children and gently chided him, “You can’t be afraid of making money just because you have to pay taxes on it.” Then the next year, same tax office, and there it was again. The capital gains earning. I knew I made a bad trade and was expecting a loss of $10,000 to report. The accountant looked up and refuted my claim that I was sure I had lost money. “No,” she said. “I’m actually showing a gain of $14,000.” Again, my husband’s exasperated sigh, he was looking forward to writing off a loss on the taxes. I didn’t have anything glib to say,
I wasn’t expecting a gain. I’ll have to rehearse something smart and sassy, and wait a whole year to use it, if I’m ever so lucky again. I began investing in stocks years before I married and had children. After college, I landed a job as a lab technician. I wasn’t making a lot of money, but enough to invest. I went to my laptop and researched. While E-Trade charged $14 per trade at the time, Scottrade only charged $7 per trade. So I set up an account on Scottrade and after work I drove to their office and wrote a check for $2,000. Afterwards, I made my first trade. Here are the fundamentals that I’ve learned:
A Multitude of Memorable Multicolored Mittens 11/19/2016 – 1PM The Northern Lights Valley Knitters Meridian Point Building, Wasilla FREE Event The Northern Lights Valley Knitters will focus on a special “A Multitude of Memorable Multicolored Mittens” at their Saturday, Nov. 19th meeting. The event will be 1-3 pm at the Meridian Point Building, 865 N. Seward Meridian Parkway, Wasilla. All knitters and all those interested in the marvelous, wonderful and colorful skill of knitting are most welcome to participate. For more information contact: northernlightsvalleyknitters@gmail.com
EDUCATION
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Contributed by Paul Morley, Mat-Su Schools Foundation The Mat-Su Schools Foundation awarded seven grants to MSBSD teachers. Two of the grants were partially funded by David Clawson through the Adobe Volunteer program. When employees document community volunteerism, Adobe donates money proportionate to the hours of service to support a cause of the person’s choosing. Mr. Clawson chose to support Mat-Su Schools Foundation and its teacher grant program. Grants were awarded to the following exemplary teachers: Michael Backus, Teeland Elementary School: $1000 grant for an IoT (Internet of Things) Smarthome for their school’s new computers elective course. Expanding on standard computer skills, students will learn programming by solving programming puzzles online, building simple apps and programming robots.
Becky Moren, Talkeetna Elementary School: $1000 grant towards their “Project Ocean” field trip to Homer. The 4th and 5th grade five-day field trip is the culmination of a 9-week academic program that includes student-initiated hands-on projects and instruction in marine science and outdoor education. The curriculum integrates math, science, reading, research, technology and physical education skills.
children to focus on the work required of them, while still allowing their bodies to move.
Sharon Johnson, Dena’ina Elementary School: $1008 grant to build a leveled library of “just right” books primarily for grades K-2. They will also be useful to struggling readers in grades 3-5. The library will help students become more successful readers by providing a diversity of nonfiction and fiction stories. The leveled library will be used over and over again for many students, classes and years.
Diane Clawson, Palmer Jr. Middle School: $950 grant for mini quadcopters. The quadcopters will inspire students to develop problemsolving skills, to be logical, to be organized, to form intelligent questions and to collaborate with peers.
Fortunately, the book company is running a “buy one, get one free” deal now, so they will be able to buy double the books with this MSSF grant. Connie Bamburg, Teeland Middle School: $968 grant for fidget-friendly items. Research by a number of experts supports a fidget-friendly classroom. A 2008 study found that many children actually need to move to focus during a complicated mental task. The children in the study - especially those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - fidgeted more when a task required them to store and process information, rather than just absorb it. This is why students are often restless while doing math or reading, but not while watching a movie. The materials will improve learning by allowing
With the addition of IoT Smarthome, students will learn how various sensors work, the difference between analog and digital sensors and how to use various protocols for communicating with sensors. Students will also learn to use a simple API to send/stream information to the Internet and retrieve information and commands from the Internet via a web-based control panel. With IoT technology, students can control objects in the physical world remotely from the Internet. They will outfit a dollhouse with electronics and turn it into a demo Smarthome.
Items including hokki stools, bouncy bands for chairs, fidget pencil toppers, balls in bands, air stability wobble cushions, tangle junior fidget toys, and bouncy ball chairs with bases will allow for young learners to “fidget” while their brains focus on the lesson.
Students spend much of the school day sitting, reading, listening and writing. While these are excellent and necessary activities, they don’t always allow genuine curiosity and hands-on investigation. Flying a mini quadcopter will challenge their abilities and give them authentic reasons to push beyond the horizon. Chris Gooch, Colony High School: $1060 grant for equipment to study physics video analysis of motion. In physics, many phenomena happen so fast it is impossible to observe with the human eye. By recording events on video with a high definition camera, the video can be slowed down and examined to examine physics in action. Rotational motion specifically is better studied with video analysis. Students are not only engaged in watching and studying motion, but they are also highly engaged in capturing the video as well.
This grant will allow Mr. Gooch to purchase two GoPro Hero5 cameras, two GoPro 3-Way camera mounts and two SanDisk 64 gig micro SD cards. Nicole Kelpe and Joshua Rockey, Sutton Elementary School: $1000 grant for their 5th grade field trip to the state capital. The trip will focus on government and science and will be the culmination of a year-long study about civics and government. Students will get to observe our state’s legislature in session and to meet the people who make the laws we live by. For the science portion (which this MSSF grant is contributing to), students will get to compare our local boreal forest to that of the temperate rain forest in Juneau. They will take a boat tour focused on marine science where they will learn about glaciers and the local sea life. Joining the class on the trip will be a local environmental educator who will also be teaching other lessons during the trip. Our MSSF Teacher Grant and Student Scholarship programs rely on public donations. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit organization. Since 2008, the MatSu Schools Foundation has disbursed over $100,000 to students and teachers. Donations can be made at our website at www.matsuschoolsfoundation.org/ help.html. Another way to contribute is through Pick.Click.Give. If you are interested in attending one of our board meetings, and perhaps becoming a member of our team, our next meeting is Monday, November 21 at 5pm in the Mat-Su Regional Urgent Care building at 950 E Bogard Rd, room 220. For information about other future meetings, please contact us at matsuschoolsfoundation.org/contact
COMMUNITY Contributed by The Boardwalk Gals Community Christmas Celebration 12/3/2016 The Boardwalk Shop Prices Vary On Saturday, December 3rd, The Boardwalk Shop invites you to help us bring our friends, families and neighbors together for a day filled with community celebration while focusing on supporting those in need. Our support focus this year will be geared towards the children and youth of our community. Through gift wrapping services and the Salvation Army angel tree, we are help-
Contributed by Betsy Woodin, Alaska Center for Resource Families Thanks to the generous donations from our community, we were able to host the 2016 Annual Adoption Celebration in the Mat-Su! The children celebrating their adoptions got to pick from holiday quilts donated by Valley Quilters’ Guild, afghans made by the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center Knit Witz or fleece blankets tied by the Mat-Su Grandparents Support Group, and they also received special pillows donated by Pillows for Kids. The Office
ing make this Christmas brighter for many children and the future of many youth more promising! We at the Boardwalk Shop believe in community that celebrates together and supports one another.
Guiding Influence is a non-profit we have supported through different activities in the shop. Last year was the first year that we offered gift wrapping services that fully benefit this non-profit, which in turn benefits troubled youth across the state and country!
This is why each year we focus on a non-profit or a need in our community to support through our shop, and this year we’re inviting you along!
You have the opportunity to give back this season by selecting an angel, or several, and by bringing your gifts to be wrapped at the Boardwalk Shop.
For several years now, we have had the pleasure of hosting a Salvation Army Christmas angel tree at the shop. We have enjoyed seeing our friends and customers choose “angels” and watch all the gifts pour in throughout the season!
December 3rd will also serve as a great day to bring your family for a community Christmas celebration!
of Children’s Services arranged for the party room and arcade cards, ACRF provided pizza and drinks and Catholic Social Services brought a lovely cake. In addition, the Extreme Fun Center gave us a discount on the party rooms and our wonderful staff and volunteers made sure everyone had a fabulous time! If you are interested in learning more about foster care and adoption, please visit our website www.acrf.org.
There is much in store for this fun event, including but certainly not limited to horse-drawn carriage rides, live music
Contributor by Glenn Butts
by Adele Morgan, cookie decorating for kids, story time and so much more. We are working hard to make this a fun day for the family and have other events in the planning stages. Many events are free and some have a small fee, you can check in at the Boardwalk Shop for details. Join us for this Community Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 3rd, and help us support the true meaning of Christmas and community!! To learn more about the event visit the Boardwalk Shop on Facebook or call 907-357-8980. To learn more about guiding influence visit www.guidinginfluence.org. To select a Christmas angel, stop by the shop Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm.
Biker Elves are at it again. We will be collecting toys for the Matsu Special Santa program for the Toys for Tots.
We are having another special event with Denali Harley Davidson-Santa will be there December 17th arriving by helicopter again, and giving as many rides as possible to the children that come out. Contact Denali Harley for complete details and times. This is our 5th year for our drive, and we hope to be able to continue to help Santa out with bringing a great Christmas to the children in need of one.
Running from November 1st to December 25th. There are many different drop sites for the toys.
I would like to thank all those in our toy drive that make this happen every year. Thank you all, and God bless.
Biker Elves Toy Drive November 1, 2016December 25, 2016 Mat-Su Valley Kids Cost: New Unwrapped Toy
VETERANS Contributed by Major Mike Dryden, AVN USAR Retired The People’s Paper recognizes and honors veterans every day for their service to our nation. On Veterans Day, November 11, special thanks were needed. A reprint from the VFW’s website on the origin of the wellknown red poppy is appropriate for this edition.
Buddy Poppy The VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans’ organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. During the 1923 encampment, the VFW
decided that VFW “Buddy”® Poppies would be assembled by disabled and veterans in need, who would be paid for their work to provide them with financial assistance. The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh assembled VFW Buddy Poppies. The designation “Buddy Poppy” was adopted at that time.
In February 1924, the VFW registered the name Buddy Poppy with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. The VFW has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label
FAITH
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ACCOMMODATIONS Houston Lodge Marketplace…. 892-5124 Sunset View Resort ........ 892-8595
Contributed by Linda Steele Community Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser 12/10/2016 – 9AM-12PM Five Loaves and Two Fish Kitchen Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wasilla Cost: $15 each, $30 for 2 people Five Loaves and Two Fish Kitchen, an outreach ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, invites everyone to
their community pancake breakfast. Happening on Saturday, December 10th, and goes from 9AM-12PM. Breakfast costs $15 per person or $30 for two people. This fundraiser is meant to raise money to provide meals for the MatSu Valley homeless that are serviced by our partner agencies: Knik House, Family Promise and MY House. Thank you for your support!
ADULT PIANO LESSONS Hitchcock Piano Studio ........ 745-3134 APPAREL All Seasons Clothing ........ 357-0123 CW Tack ........ 376-2668 D’s Tuxedo ........ 707-6585 Mimi’s Closet ........ 376-2661 ART & CRAFTS Shane Lamb Gallery… 746-3343 The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 CAFÉ & COFFEE Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Espresso Café ........ 376-5282 Gathering Grounds ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blue……..745-2233 CANDY Monica’s Confection ... 315-3999 CHINESE FOOD/ASIAN FOOD Kings Asian Buffet ........ 357-9977 COOKWARE All I Saw Cookware ........ 376-3177 CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Artists Uncorked ........ 982-2675 EDUCATION Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 FLOWERS & GIFTS Charlotte’s Flowers ........ 745-5550 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort ........ 376-5403 HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ........ 376-8327
Contributed by Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain Christmas is about Christ. Unfortunately, Christmas has been overshadowed by commercialization and takes us away from the real reason for the season. Matthew 1:18-23 explains the meaning of Christmas. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 18
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Christmas is the birth of a virgin born son, who came to save His people from their sins, who is God. The baby born at Christmas grew up to be a preacher of righteousness, who willingly went to the cross to die
for the sins of mankind, was supernaturally resurrected, and is alive in heaven today interceding for us. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This Christmas, the greatest gift you could receive, is a new life in Jesus Christ. Believe on Him and you will have past from death to life eternal. You will have answered the age old question, “Where will I go when I die?” You will go to Heaven to be with Jesus forever and ever. Have a blessed Christmas. Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
HOME DÉCOR Cover Ups Designs ........ 746-4739 JEWELRY L Forge Jewelry ........ 232-9866 PIZZA Humdingers Pizza ........ 745-7499 PRINT SERVICES The UPS Store ........ 376-6245 RADIO 95.5 The Pass ........ 631-0877 REPAIR, RESTORATION Comtronics ........ 373-2669 Steve’s Toyostove…. 376-9276 RELAXATION The Tub House & Tanning….. 376-8827 SALONS Hello Darlin Salon.… 373-3307 Light It Up Head Shop…. 745-5483 SMOKE SHOPS Alaska Pipe Dreams ........ 746-1500 SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364
ADVICE / COMMUNITY
THRIFT SHOPS Red Barn Thrift Store ........ 745-5050 Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543
Step 1: Save Your Money There are the essentials that we need: Food, clothing, shelter and in our society, toiletries and transportation. We don’t need movies, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, expensive jewelry or clothes, manicures, pedicures and frequent trips to the salon or restaurants. If it is difficult to abstain from spending, think of it this way, would you rather buy that diamond ring or a house? And over time, the house will be a reality. Step 2: Make Money Now as a Stay-At-Home Mom, you may already be a secondhand hustler or a coupon queen, most moms are with the cost of raising kids. But there are ways to make money from home. By offering childcare you can make money while staying at home with your own child or children. Another way to bring in some extra cash is by renting any available space you have in your home. I surf local Craigslist ads and often come across an ad for international students seeking a room, even a shared room for $400 each, which they would need for the summer. If you’re not comfortable housing students, then there are people simply looking for space to
rent for their vehicles. There was a person on Craigslist looking to keep three cars garage-parked over the winter for $750 per car. So keep an eye out for opportunity. Once there are funds, set up a trading account. And remember to always buy stocks on limit orders, where you set the exact price that the stock sells or buys at. Do not use market orders. If a computer glitch sends that real time price grossly high or grossly low, it won’t matter. A stock is bought or sold once the order goes through. In Scottrade, when I buy or sell a number of shares of stock, I always mark the option, All of None, so the brokerage doesn’t buy 100 shares of stock in sets of 10, only all 100 at the same time. Step 3: Don’t Panic If you buy a stock and the price decreases, don’t sell the stock. Wait until the price goes higher than the price the stock was at when you bought it. Now this may seem common sense, but it is incredibly hard for some, if not most people, to watch a stock decrease in value and not sell it to prevent losing more money. Stocks go down and then back up, constantly. If a particular stock
value goes down, unless there’s an imminent bankruptcy of the company, hold it and wait. Step 4: Panic When Etsy, a website that sells handmade items became public, I bought it at $24 a share. Just a few days later, Amazon announced its new handmade selection, virtually the same marketplace as Etsy. It took me a year to accept that the $20,000 I had invested in Etsy was now worth less than half that, and I sold it in defeat. And if investments don’t work out, at least we have each other. Step 5: Support Each Other When I wrote a fantasy story, I asked my friend to read it and offer any comments or constructive criticism. Even though my friend had two children by then, she still read the copy I sent her, edited it with a pen and mailed it back, helping improve my novel before I self-published it on Amazon. When she started her sewing business, I made sure to share any announcements for her business on Facebook. Her business has taken-off, and she is busy filling orders. So be brave, and take a risk.
Contributed by Carrie Lee Christmas Bazaar December 3-4, 2016 East Lake Mall, Big Lake FREE Event The Big Lake Lions Club will hold their annual Christmas Bazaar at the East Lake Mall in Big Lake on December 3rd and 4th, 2016. Saturday’s bazaar will run from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday will be from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Plan on spending the day shopping for that perfect gift, visiting with Santa, lunching in either of our local restaurants and grocery shopping - all in one great location! Santa will be there from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and 1:30 to 4:00 pm on Sunday with goodies for the children. For additional information/vendor spaces call 907-892-7268.
POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Josh Fryfogle [Note: The author is a third party voter that did not vote for Trump or Clinton. This article is not an endorsement or denigration of the president elect.] Wouldn’t it be interesting if Donald Trump was able to continue spinning the corporate media around in circles, even after he takes his oath of office? Set aside your feelings about Trump for the course of this article, and let’s consider the clear dominance he seems to command over the media. They really pulled out all the stops, and still he had the last word. Donald Trump is the new president. That’s real, People. That just happened. His media skill set is something that most politicians strive and struggle to develop on the job, while Trump has been heavily involved in media for decades prior to running. He was able to see the big picture through the small screen, and never showed a loss of confidence in his candidacy, not once. Trump brought a deep understanding of the human condition, keeping our attention, focusing differing factions into one action to affect change. And it seems that the media didn’t even notice! They said it couldn’t happen, but they couldn’t convince the voters. The people that voted for Trump completely ignored the big media. They already knew the score. Trump voters had already realized that the media was not trustworthy. Trump spoke to those people, that was his audience.
Contributed by Vic Kohring America has been pulled back from the brink. As I sat behind my computer monitoring the election returns shortly after midnight on November 9th, I fretted a Hillary Clinton victory. The big government advocates and establishment politicians were pushing hard to elect her and the leftist press was in full around-the-clock attack mode, trying to destroy Donald Trump and sway the election. Pro-Hillary pollsters were working overtime to manipulate voters by publishing skewed numbers falsely suggesting a Clinton landslide was imminent. The idea was to deceive Trump voters into discouraging them, giving up and staying home from the polls. There were reports of widespread cheating and election fraud by the Clinton political machine. People were supposedly voting twice and the dead were being registered to vote. Hillary voters were crossing state lines to vote in more than one state where no identification is required, a faulty provision the Democrat Party has fought for years to keep as it represents cheap, easy votes. Voting machines and computer software were tampered with. And Republican voters were harassed and intimidated with
And now the modern liberal has lost trust in the media, too. They may not come right out and say it yet, but it’s true. They are processing it for now, but that’s what has happened. The polls! The polls let them down. The polls are a premier product of the big media. The polls serve the immediate purpose of informing the public about the election, but also serve a separate purpose of validating and qualifying the Giant Media as authoritative and trustworthy. The polls serve as political prophecy, and when they come true in the election, the prophets are venerated. So, the logical conclusion is that the media is not as trustworthy as previously thought. Trump voters were not surprised by this. The liberal voter was. Their false prophets were exposed. See what I’m getting at? The newly disenfranchised liberal voter is going to be looking for a new news! And the new president is going to have the bully pulpit to push the conversation, with an unprecedented ability to tell the media to get lost, vamoose, gidoutaheer! And what will the media do about it? Report it? Spin it? Perhaps poll the People? Clearly, this is a whole new ballgame. Trump reset the rules when he won. He undermined the credibility of the entire media establishment. The hyperbole and signature sarcasm of the left has become passé. It used to be refreshing, pointing out the fiction in the matter-of-fact recitation of right leaning rhetoric. But it was born under Bush. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert went from satire and parody to a palatable aggregation of information under
violence. Youtube is full of examples including one lady whose living room window was broken out with a large rock. All of this was part of a strategy designed to steal the election for Hillary. If not for the cheating, Trump no doubt would have won in a Reaganesque wipeout instead of a relatively narrow margin. Even Alaska’s two Republican U.S. senators caved and jumped on Hillary’s bandwagon, denouncing Trump and withdrawing their support. The same for political milk-toast weaklings like Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. It all left little room for optimism for the average, unsuspecting Trump voter. Adding to the dismay of many was Hillary’s dubious conduct through the years. The chronic lying and deceit was sickening. Endangering Americans by exposing classified material with a private email server hidden in her home, gave away highly confidential information to our enemies who wish us harm. The secret email system was allegedly intended to conceal illicit activities of the Clinton Foundation, a front organization that pilfered money for Bubba and Hillary’s personal use from millions in “donations” - bribes really - from selling her position as Secretary of State to the highest foreign bidders.
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Obama. And then they started losing ground, as the left could no longer inspire hope in light of their failures. When Stewart and Colbert made their exit strategies known, we should have known something new was coming. The absurd abandon of these infotainment pioneers used to make the ugly truth easier to look at. It was refreshing to hear a talking head say what people think, with a smile and a wink. It worked to the advantage of the liberals, who were new to power at the time. Now the new republicans are in office, and a new republic is being shaped. Trump has taken the absurdist role, with the same serious subtextual potency, into the halls of power. Meanwhile, the new media emerges, with Alex Jones and Steve Bannon both being validated for being early adopters, having laid the track for the Trump train via their non-mainstream media portals, Infowars and Breitbart. What used to be fringe news will now explode with information seekers, among them disaffected democrats along with establishment republicans who realize and reflect on their reluctance to winning. The Republican Party didn’t do much better than the Democrats or the media in regards to building bonds with the Donald. They hung him out to dry, they built their argument against him on the pollsters’ predictions, and failed along with them. Those who stood by Trump’s side within the party were few, and they did so seemingly to keep up appearances and tradition. Once he was the nominee, much to their chagrin, Republicans were obligated to support the candidate to some degree. But it was the People
who put Trump in power. Not the republican base, but a surprising cross-section of Americans who have abandoned hope in the Ship of State, and decided to take the train. So, let’s take account here. Democratic Party? Check. They have never seemed less relevant. Giant Media? Check. They totally lost control of the dialog, and in the process exposed their real role as propagandists. Republican Party? Check. These folks have never been more reluctant for their candidate. The resistance to Trump, even within his own party, seemed insurmountable at times during the campaign. Now the entire establishment has been effectively dismantled, taken offline. He could not have been this wellpositioned without the preceding problems that plagued his campaign. The media that was so overtly critical of him is the same media that assured the People that he would never win. Trump promised he would win, and that we would win with him. So much winning, he said. Assuming all of this is real, and Trump is actually the outsider he claims to be, this is an opportunity to really make change happen. The question is, with all this power, and with his detractors discredited to an all-time low, what will this new president do? What will happen next? Because the truth is, Trump can do anything he wants. He’s proven that.
Then for Hillary to lie that no classified emails were ever sent or received (contrary to FBI Director Comey’s testimony), deleting them from her server and using special, sophisticated software to permanently wipe the server clean - all after receiving a subpoena from Congress to turn the evidence over as part of an investigation, was a major criminal cover-up and erased any remaining doubts that she was a credible presidential candidate.
the United States as we know it. While Trump is no saint, he is an extraordinarily successful businessman and leader. He believes as do most conservatives in less government influence, greater individual liberty, low taxes, limited regulation of small business and a strong private sector. He’s straight forward and brutally honest. And most important, he’s a man of faith. This is precisely what we need and a vast improvement over the current White House occupant.
Such lying under oath, destroying evidence and obstructing justice would have landed anyone else in jail. But not Hillary. The equally corrupt Obama Administration protected her, from the “Justice” Department to the FBI to the State Department, all of whom collaborated to block an indictment. It was a gross abuse of power by our president, unprecedented in history. Then there was Hillary’s vigorous defense of her serial rapist husband who was impeached by Congress for lying to a grand jury during his presidency. You can’t get any uglier.
After praying, I placed my trust in God that He would do what was best for our country. I felt peace for the first time in a long while. When the electoral votes revealed Trump the winner hours later, it was clear God had intervened. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, realizing our eight- year national nightmare was about to end.
I prayed for God’s intervention, as I know many Americans did. As I went about my business driving around Wasilla on Election Day, I asked that God help our country. The thought of four more years of a socialist agenda that promotes massive government control of us “deplorables” led by corrupt, anti-Christian leaders was frightening. It could have spelled disaster and proven the death knell of
We were truly at a crossroads on November 8th and thankfully chose a new direction. As Ronald Reagan used to say, “It’s morning in America again.” I feel like it’s a new dawn after so many dark years. I’m thankful that we did not slip into the abyss and reach the point of no return. But it was very close as we dodged the proverbial bullet. This election experience does indeed prove that good triumphs over evil. Proverbs 14:19 says, “The evil bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” God’s hand was no doubt on the election, helping Trump win one for America.
POLITICS / OPINION
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Contributed by Sara Williams The state of Alaska is at a turning point. The realism of the situation here in Alaska is that we have zero sustainable industry. Alaskans have counted on Big Oil and Mining and Big Seafood to sit alongside Big Tourism as our primary industries for far too many years without a backup plan. Times are changing and Alaska must change with them. Alaska is poised to be a powerhouse of economic development in the industrial cannabis market if the right people can see the potential. Industrial Cannabis is more than people getting “high”. The cannabis plant can single handedly replace Big Oil, Big Lumber and Big Textiles. The versatile uses of the plant can create industry and economic development in the state of Alaska that can be capitalized on globally. Products such as paper, plywood, hempcrete and even cars can be created with industrial cannabis. New fuel sources and bio-degradable plastics, as well as ropes and even toilet paper can be made from industrial cannabis. The media in this state would have you believe that the point of the Alaskan Marijuana Industry is to get people stoned, and they are extremely shortsighted in their outlook.
Contributed by Paul Johnson I first started refuting the anti-vaping ads and articles in this paper in the July issue. Since then I have exposed the lies, presented facts supporting the truth and refuted the irrefutable. Not surprisingly, there has been no response to my articles and the antismoking organizations have reverted to anti-smoking ads. Opinion and pseudo science are no match for the facts and the truth, and I suppose I should consider this at least a small victory for pro-vaping advocacy. Unfortunately, that is not the case. This is a tactic that opinion based, pseudo science movements have started using over the past several years. It works like this: We’ll spread our opinions and lies until someone challenges them and once they are exposed, we’ll just go silent and end the discussion. With nothing to challenge, the opposition will tire and go away. The truth and the facts won’t get out and we’ll continue on our merry way, quietly and behind the scenes. Well, I’m not going away. The FDA’s “Deeming Regulations” are marching forward unchecked and even many vapers don’t understand the full implications of these regulations. Most think that it just relates to child safety caps on the e-liquid bottles and device safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. This nearly 500-page document of regulations (another tactic – make it so long and involved that even the people it directly affects get frustrated with the minutia and give up) covers every constituent of vaping devices from cotton to wire to batteries to chip sets to the e-liquid, with or without nicotine. It subjects every device and e-liquid not available on or before 2007 to pre marketing fees at a cost of an estimated $100,000 per SKU, not including the cost of the actual testing and scientific analysis. That’s every device and every flavor of e-liquid and it’s not just a one-time fee for a single flavor, it’s every nicotine level within that flavor. Say you make a single flavor of e-liquid and you provide that flavor in zero, 3 mg./ml., 6 mg./ml. and 9mg./ml. nicotine levels. The cost of the pre-marketing fees for this single flavor would be $400,000 and it does not guarantee that your
single flavor will be approved for sale. Furthermore, the retail stores are restricted by law to not teach battery safety, device safety, modify any device (which includes building or installing coils or wicks for their customers) or to provide free tastings. The industry as a whole is restricted by law from stating that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking tobacco or that modern vapor products are the most effective tobacco harm reduction products available, even though that is the fact on both counts (see 2016 RCP and NHI reports). Since 2007, the vapor industry has self regulated and done very well at eliminating the very compounds in e-liquid that the FDA is forcing the industry to go back to because that is the most recent research they have based their regulations on. One has to ask themselves, whether they feel this issue affects them or not, if this is honestly in the public’s health and safety interest. Here’s why you don’t know what you don’t know. In this month’s (Oct.) issue of Scientific American, find the full article titled “How the FDA Manipulates the Media”. It explains that the FDA has a tool that they use to suppress information. It’s called a Close-Hold Embargo. A basic overview of how this embargo works is this: A scientific finding, in this case the FDA’s deeming regulations, is posted to select trusted reporters and media outlets with the stipulation that the information cannot be published before a stated time and date and there can be no outreach to other sources than those approved by the organization making the release. This essentially eliminates independent and objective reporting. (Full details can be seen here: www.scientificamerican.com/article/ how-the-fda-manipulates-the-media/# ) Last month I concluded my article with, “Your deep fried or flame broiled delicacy may be next.” To some that may have sounded like hyperbole but on 9/26/16 the news media reported that the Oklahoma Cattle Farmers Association is under fire from the SPCA. The SPCA is trying to create federal regulations for that industry, making it too exorbitant to raise cattle for your dinner plate. We all have very busy lives. At the same time, if we all plod along as sheep, special interests will rule us all. Your silence speaks volumes too, and they are loving it!
Envision 10,000 square foot cultivation facilities coupled with processing plants located in villages all over this state. We bring Alaskans together over two primary causes. First, we revolutionize the Alaskan economy with a renewable versatile resource of industrial cannabis that employs the very members of our communities in a way that co-creates products that will be sold globally. Additionally these grow facilities will produce fruits and vegetables to self sustain the population of Alaska. We have counted on federal support for so long that we have become soft in our eye to the future. We are at the beginning of the end of an age where the federal government took care of its people. Now the global economy is shifting and the United States has become complacent to the demands of the future in forward planning, and
are genuine products of the work of disabled and veterans in need. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name Buddy Poppy. Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and veterans in need in VA Hospitals. The VFW Buddy Poppy program provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home For Children. Reprinted from https://www.vfw.org/ Community/Buddy-Poppy/ World War I Casualty Inspires Famous Poem During the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres, a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, was killed on May 2, 1915, in the gun positions near Ypres. An exploding German artillery shell landed near him. He was serving in the same Canadian artillery unit as a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae. As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis because the chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening after the burial, John
Alaska is no different. If we lose access to imports of food from the lower 48 or other countries, we will find ourselves in a position where within 4 days it will not be money that people kill others for, it will be food should there be a disaster. It is time that Alaskans had a 50year strategic economic plan for the future that utilizes the largest commodities we have at our disposal: Land and People. These cultivation facilities will not only employ our citizens in respectable jobs that bring community together, but it will also bring a new economic industry to Alaska that can change the world and save our planet. We have spent too long raiding the precious gifts of the land we call home. Instead I say let’s create a renewable resource industry that will not only revolutionize the state of Alaska’s economy, but it will change the world! When I came from Oregon to Alaska in 2009, the first thing I noticed was that the Alaskan people are fiercely independent. Now we have an opportunity to use that fierceness in turning inward in our darkest hour and building a self sustaining economy that can set the example for the world to follow. My personal journey starts with helping to normalize the training and business operations across the state for the cannabis industry. On a macro level, I tell my 50-year strategic plan to anyone who will listen because I don’t need credit for these ideas. Instead I must attract the right people who can see the writing on the wall and join me in advocating for a new economy in Alaska, built on bringing Alaskans together for a common industry instead of counting on the fluctuations of out of state interests. The time is now to build a sustainable Alaskan future. Please share this article with everyone in the world because an investment and project of this scale will take global support. Thank you for your support in advance for helping me share my message. Now let’s go change the world! Email info@phoenixrisinginalaska.com if you want to help me achieve this vision for the state of Alaska!
began the draft for his now famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.” (Copyright © http://www.greatwar.co.uk) The death of his friend was the inspiration for this famous poem: In Flanders Fields By John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the dead. Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe To you, from failing hands, we throw The torch, be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us, who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields.
For all veterans, young and old, their families and friends and a grateful nation, salute. We are the fabric that binds this nation and I, for one, am grateful and humbled to have been a part of the military. Mike Dryden is a retired Army Major and current board member of Older Persons Action Group, Inc., a volunteer for the SOA Long Tern Care Ombudsman program and author of The 95th Colored Engineer Regiment and the African Americans that help built the Alcan during WW ll.
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PETS & ANIMALS Contributed by Sumitra Shinde, Animal Care Dispatcher
a tap on the shoulders means it’s time for a hug! She’s a wonderful girl!
Ellie is a pit bull mix that’s about 3 years old. She’s a medium energy, playful, smart and an affectionate gal. She’s a people pleaser that really looks forward to treat time! Ellie is quiet, gentle, and loves to cuddle and be by your side. She’s house broken, crate trained, doesn’t have any destructive habits and likes a moderate amount of exercise. She enjoys car rides and playing with squeaky toys makes her day. Sometimes, she is food aggressive with other dogs, but does enjoy doggie playmates. Ellie knows how to sit, lay down, come and she knows
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Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates Cookie’s eyes will melt your heart! This beautiful husky mix is under two years old and has the sweetest temperament. Cookie was born in a Bush community and has recently had a litter of puppies. She loves her walks and is quite loyal to her humans. Now, she is ready to settle down in a home and become part of a loving family.
Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer Phone: (907) 746-5500
If you are ready to give Cookie a loving home, please email Alaska Animal Advocates at AAArescue@yahoo. com or call Angie at 841-3173
Contributed by Sumitra Shinde, Animal Care Dispatcher Cleopatra is a 3 year old, short haired tabby. She is a playful girl who enjoys human interaction. Grace is sweet and loveable and looking for that purrfect home! Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer Phone: (907) 746-5500
Contributed by Sumitra Shinde, Animal Care Dispatcher Kevin is a year and a half old chow chow mix. He was found as a stray and quickly adjusted to the other dogs he temporarily lived with. Kevin does have a hard time adjusting to new people though, especially men. He can react very fearfully, or be quite protective of his human. Once Kevin brings you into his inner circle, he is quite the snuggle bug! Since being at the shelter, Kevin has grown far friendlier with people. He’s met a lot of new faces, and he warms up to people much more quickly than when he arrived here. Once you are Kevin’s friend, he will want to play chase, tag and ball with you! He can be quite boisterous, and will require some training with not jumping up on people and with inside manners. Kevin can also be very vocal when there is something that he wants, or if he hasn’t gotten
enough exercise. When approaching Kevin’s kennel, he will usually greet strangers with growls and barks. Being part chow, Kevin may think he needs to protect his territory. Ask a staff member to assist you and give Kevin a chance by visiting with him outside and in one of our visiting rooms. An ideal home will be one that understands Kevin’s temperament - affectionately playful and suspiciously protective. Strange and new people always coming into Kevin’s territory will keep him in high alert and protective mode. He would likely do well with controlled and supervised socialization outside of his home territory, but will need to be either kept restrained when visitors arrive, or he will need training to teach him more proper ways to protect the home and his family. Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer Phone: (907) 746-5500
Contributed by Sumitra Shinde, Animal Care Dispatcher Sylvester is a handsome, domestic shorthair kitty with very unique markings that’s approximately 2 years old. He was anxious upon arrival, but has warmed up to staff easily. He’s become quite an engaging and friendly boy. The previous owner said he was socialized around other cats, people and dogs. Mat-Su Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer Phone: (907) 746-5500
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COMMUNITY Contributed by Michael Consalo For most of us, the holiday season is a time to celebrate. We surround ourselves with loved ones and a sense of “care” enters the air like a wind off the mountains. In these times, it’s easy for most to look at what we have accomplished, both as individuals and as a community, and be proud! For some however, the holidays are a reminder of what they don’t have. Not being able to provide heat for your one’s own children, or looking into the eyes of a child on Christmas morning with little to offer. In these times, do we stand back and look at the less fortunate and say, “Glad that’s
Contributed by Mat-Su HAM RADIO The winter months are beginning and it’s time to look to some nice inside activities. Amateur Radio, more commonly known as Ham Radio, is a hobby that cannot only help with cabin fever but provide a long lasting relationship with operators around the community, state, nation, and world. You can talk to other hams in communities where your friends and relatives are and not have to use the telephone. This is really handy for our valley folks that live off the grid. The local Ham organization in the Valley is the Matanuska Amateur Radio Association (MARA). We meet the last Friday of the month at 7PM., normally at Fire Station 61 in Wasilla. Our website is www.kl7jfu.com and look for us on Facebook. There are approximately 3000-3500 hams across Alaska. We have about 550-600 here in Matsu Borough. Our hobby has many aspects and can cover interests for various age groups and support community activities. Within ham radio, there are several organizations that support ham radio. Our nationwide organization is Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL). It provides for training material, representation for all US Amateurs to the FCC, promoting programs for our children and schools, training
COMMUNITY
not me?” Or do we reach out with an ear and an empathetic
hearts? Did you know that Alaska is in the top ten for homelessness in the nation? Think about that! We live in one of the most remote places in the world with some of the harshest weather conditions and most dangerous wildlife. How can we let this continue? The Wasilla Homeless Committee, a non-profit group right here in Wasilla, works tirelessly year round, to help families in our community. Over the past couple years, they have helped countless families and will continue to do so with or without your help. But doesn’t it make sense to jump on board with an organization that is already making a difference? Shouldn’t we as a community, lift up these great organizations and come together in times of need? Debra Barrett thought
and planning assistance to support Emergency Services during exercises or disasters, international cooperation and coordination, Boy and Girl Scout programs like Jamboree on the Air or the Girl Scout Encampment held at the state fairgrounds and affordable insurance for our equipment and clubs. There is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) that support Borough Emergency Services and other community programs, such as marathons, bike races, local dog races and community emergency preparedness fairs. Then there is the Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) program. A lot of our vets remember possibly talking over the radio on what we call a phone patch to their loved ones back home when they were deployed. Besides that, we provide support for DOD and FEMA activities through various radio channels, passing necessary radio messages as needed. Contact Ron/KL7YK at ronkeech@ armymarsregionten.org, or Don/KL7JFT at don.bush@armymarsregionten.org for additional information on the Army MARS program. To become a ham operator, you will be required to obtain a FCC operating license. Our club provides free classes and training to assist you in obtaining that. We provide the testing for free at the end of the class, and is open
so! That’s why Debra, with Barrett and Associate Insurance, reached out to Hatcher Pass Radio to help. She’s tired of families being left on the street. She’s tired of families not having a reason to celebrate! And so am I! We are looking for our community to help! We are hoping local business owners and families will come together in this time of giving. The more businesses and organizations that get involved, the more successful the Adopt A Family Program can be. Businesses or families can make donations or even adopt an entire family themselves. All of the donations and proceeds go to families right here in the Valley! e will be accepting applications for W families in need through the Wasilla Homeless Committee’s website, www.wasillahomes.website, and will be selecting the ten with the greatest need. These families will receive gifts, a sense of happiness, and best of all,
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hope! Together, we as a community can end homelessness and needs in the Valley, one family at a time. Please join our cause! Bring donations of anything: Food, clothing, coats, gloves, money, toys, games or any gift your heart desires. Our goal is to provide an amazing Christmas to ten families this year, and increase it next year to fifteen! This is a ball that is already rolling and will continue to build, but with your help it could become epic! Let’s stop settling for mediocre! Let’s stop saying it’s not our problem! Let’s come together and make a difference this holiday season! Thank you for your attention and Happy Holidays from Hatcher Pass Radio, Barrett and Associates Insurance and Wasilla Homeless Committee! www.wasillahomes.website
to the public to test on the fourth Saturday of every month at Fire Station 61. You can find additional information on that on our website. Getting the license is the first step toward your new hobby or activity. We provide mentors to assist you learning about your new hobby and guiding you through the maze to reach your goals. We call them Elmers. Like any organization, there are always a bunch of new terms, acronyms and slang to learn, but it is very enjoyable and satisfying and a great distraction from the busy traffic and work schedules. We will teach you how to operate your radio, recommendations on what type of radios you may want, set it up and build antennas with all the necessary requirements to obtain the full enjoyment out of this activity. We have hand held radios (like Walki-Talkies), mobile radios for your car, camper, boat, 4-wheeler and snow machine, base stations to set up at your home base and portable radios to setup almost anywhere. Some folks may think this is an
expensive hobby, well it can be but depending on our goals and the type of communications you would like to operate in can run as low as $50-$75 dollars, then you can add to it. Ham Radio has been used to experiment, and almost every communication system today started by a ham trying something new. Did you know that every astronaut has to have his ham license before he goes into space? We have our own satellites, and communicate with the various spaces stations currently in orbit. There is the “Challenger Program” down on the Kenai that promotes activities for our children, interested in space activities. So give us a try, check out our website and Facebook. Thank you Don Bush, KL7JFT Matsu District Emergency Coordinator for Ham Radio!
COMMUNITY Contributed by Melissa Keefe The Alaska State Fair celebrated its 80th birthday at the 2016 event, which took place August 25th– September 5th at the fairgrounds in Palmer. An estimated 293,424 people came to help the fair celebrate in 2016. This was down from 299,698 last year, but on par with the 293,827 fairgoers in 2014. Following the historical trend, Saturday was the most popular day to visit, with attendance of 19,064 on the first Saturday and 22,337 the second. A total of 26,294 music-lovers attended the AT&T Concert Series this year, compared to 31,986 attendees last year. A total of 5,150 fairgoers attended the rapper G-Eazy concert, making it the most popular performance, followed by The Band Perry and Volbeat.
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After a 16-year hiatus, monster trucks returned to the fair, drawing sell-out crowds to the Grandstand. The All Star Monster Truck Tour made its debut at the 2016 Fair, with 5,327 fairgoers attending. In celebration of its 80th birthday, the fair raffled off a commemorative fair quilt, with all proceeds benefiting the fair scholarship fund. Lorraine Stotts was the lucky winner of the quilt, which featured artwork designed by Alaska artist, Ruth Hulbert, and was sewn by local quilter, Kathy Rockey. The quilt raffle brought in $3,990 for the fair scholarship fund. Those funds, combined with the proceeds from the fair’s Concert KickOff Party in April and the Cabbage Classic Lottery, will allow the fair to triple scholarship awards to Alaska high school students in 2017.
The 2017 Alaska State Fair will take place August 24th–September 4th.
For more information, please visit www.alaskastatefair.org