The People's Paper October 2016

Contributed by Jaida Gough, Boom Town Derby Dames Fresh Meat Practice Wednesdays 6PM-8PM, Sundays 4:30PM-6:30PM Boom Town Derby Dames Mat-Su Borough Gym, Palmer FREE Admission First Home Game 11/26/2016 – 7PM Boom Town Derby Dames Menard Sports Center, Wasilla Tickets Online

It is that time of year again: Roller derby in the Valley has started, and the Boom Town Derby Dames are welcoming the next group of new skaters to the team.

Boom Town’s Fresh Meat program will teach skaters everything they need to know about roller skating, including stopping, falling safely, getting up quickly, multiple agility skills and of course, hitting! Practice for fresh meat happens twice a week at the borough gym in Palmer, Wednesday 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, and Sunday 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm.

At the end of the 14-week program, skaters are assessed on everything they learned and if they pass, they move onto rookie status and further advance their skills.

Boom Town welcomes all skill levels, and has a dedicated group of trainers working towards the success of all team members. Some of the veteran skaters on the team started with Boom Town having never rollerskated before.

Along with hard work and time, a new skater can expect to pay around $150 or more, for all new gear, depending on the package you choose. All skaters will need a mouth guard, helmet, kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards and of course, rollerskates. Some of these items will be available to use through Boom Town until the skater is able to secure their own gear.

If you’re interested in joining our team please contact Boom Town via email at boomtownderbydames@ yahoo.com or Facebook.

If you want to see what roller derby is all about, November 26 will be our first home game, featuring all eligible skaters. The game will take place at the Curtis Menard Center in Wasilla.

Doors open at 6:00 pm, wheels roll at 7:00! facebook.com/boomtownderby Instagram@boomtownderbydames for the latest information on game dates, or where we will be in the community!

Moose The Movie

Glenn Massay Theater Mat-Su College Campus October 22nd @ 6:30PM

Beautiful Lake Side Setting

Family-friendly fine dining and accommodations

on the shores of beautiful Big Lake

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VOTE LOCAL Contributed by Josh Fryfogle

Voting in an election is having your say!

Voting with dollars is what you do every day!

The greatest danger of voting in elections, and electing representatives, is that the People might be lulled into belief that they have done all that is expected of them - as Americans and as Alaskans - and afterwards it's out of our hands.

This is the fallacy, that the candidate can do what they say they want to do - what we say we want them to do.

Once in office, pressure comes from all around them. Spending fuels the economy, and newly elected representatives must quickly learn this reality. The economy is the gauge of the People’s daily activity

- what the People do. Spending patterns are what really shapes our political circumstance - not an election. Elections just decide who will proxy for us in dealing with that circumstance we create.

We hear people talk an awful lot about government spending, but really, it’s our spending that matters. We say we want American jobs, Alaskan jobs, but we spend the majority of our money with outside companies. These same companies report their earnings, by law, to the state and federal government. It is measured. Taxed.

So, the politician you sent to Juneau or DC gets a crash course in reality. And reality doesn’t jive with what the voters elected the politician to do - what they said they wanted them to do. No, in action the everyday spending patterns of all the People create the metric by which the government realizes itself.

Political actions do jive with what we, the People, actually do every day. As money changes hands, checks, cards, chips, whatever way we choose, we see increase in those areas. We create the economy, the landscape of finance that enables government to function. We are always voting, in action as well as words.

Without the economy to measure, the government would not and could not exist as we know it.

In that predictable cycle, we elect people and then we are disappointed, because we believe the myth that we can transfer responsibility with the simple act of voting in an election. That we can wash our hands of this government, by the People, for the People.

No can do, People.

Every time we spend, we empower the people with whom we invest our dollars.

We often complain that politicians rarely do what they say they will do. We complain that outside interests have such influence. We complain that politicians are influenced by big money.

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“She’s not a real Republican...”

“He’s not a real Libertarian...”

Josh Fryfogle’s not a real candidate.

Where do you think these outside interests get their big money?

Shifting your spending pattern intentionally to your neighbors, buying local a little more than usual, can realize political change. It changes the economy, and that changes government.

Sure, it's not as salacious as the presidential race, not as contentious as our Senate race, and we all like to have our say...

“After November, no matter who gets elected, it’s Alaskanowned businesses that will do their civic duty, year round, to build the communities we live in and make Alaska great again!

“You deserve a candidate that can make a difference!

“And that’s not me.

But what do we do?

Vote Local.

“Vote Local.” - Fryfogle.

COMMUNITY Contributed by Abby Lampley I’ve always wanted to live completely on my own. Growing up, my dream was to live in a small apartment in the middle of a small town, where I could get to anywhere that I wanted just by walking. I wanted to be able to take care of myself and to never have to ask people for help.

For the longest time, I wasn’t sure if this dream would be able to become a reality. This reality that I wanted was questionable because of my circumstances. I had half my brain removed as a child and due to that, I am partially paralyzed and I used to have quite a few cognitive issues.

Nothing can stop me from achieving my dreams though.

My first taste of living completely on my own started on July 27, 2015. I was eighteen and I was in danger of being homeless.

Thankfully, I got connected with MY House and they put me in their transitional housing that they had available. This was a big step for me.

In a sense, I was living on my own because I had to buy my own food, get a job and pay rent. At the same time, I was still living with other people and that was not what I wanted as my end goal.

One rule that I learned quickly about living with roommates is that you had better label your food with your name.

If I didn’t label my groceries, then somebody would eat it.

As a minimum wage, part-time employee, buying food and not getting to eat it was not an option. I just couldn’t afford to have that happen. So, I bought a sharpie one day and started putting my name on everything that I bought.

I was in transitional housing for fourteen months. I saw many people move in and out while I stayed behind, waiting for my turn to move out. I became the person in housing who told new people the rules of living there. Always, I made it clear that they had to label their food or it would get eaten. Some people listened to me, while others didn’t.

Recently, it became my turn to move out of MY House’s transitional housing and into my own place. I got connected with Valley Residential Services and ended up getting the keys to a onebedroom apartment in downtown Wasilla. It is a small apartment in a

COMMUNITY PAGE 3

small town, where everywhere I go is within walking distance. It is the dream that I always wanted to make into a reality. I am officially able to say that I am living completely on my own. I am able to make my own rules for where I live and make my apartment look the way I want it to. I am so excited to be completely in charge of myself now.

I will always be grateful for the fact that MY House let me stay in transitional housing for so long. Their housing gave me a safe place to stay while I was getting on my feet again. Living with roommates taught me patience and helped me learn who I wanted to be and how I wanted to live. The MY House staff and the people I’ve lived with through transitional housing have also taught me that it is okay to ask for help and that I don’t have to do everything myself. This is a personal battle that I have to fight with every day.

While I am grateful for the transitional housing, I am really loving having my own space. I have my own washing machine/dryer, things stay clean and you know what? I don’t have to label my food anymore!

ADVICE / INFORMATIVE Contributed by Jeanette Gardiner I bet you didn’t know an Italian economist, born in 1848 could influence your to-do list today.

But Vilfredo Pareto can. Ever heard of the 80/20 rule?

You see Pareto observed that that eighty percent of income in Italy was received by twenty percent of the Italian population. And the assumption is that most of the results in any situation are determined by a small number of causes.

Starting to see the connection?

Go ahead and grab your to-do list along with your calendar. Can you identify the actions and tasks that contribute to eighty percent of your business success? Chances are your days are brimming with what seem to be actions and tasks that generate revenue and produce energy-filled days (which both contribute to your business success).

But take a closer look at how valuable your to-dos really are. If you can’t clearly

Contributed by Elizabeth A. Maxson, Lizzy Bee’s Tax & Accounting First order of business...

The tax extension deadline for tax payers who have filed and have been approved, for a filing extension ends October 17th! Take this opportunity to find any missing credits, deductions, etc. There are a few common misconceptions about what the extension does for you when you file. The extension allows you to file 6 months after the deadline without a late filing penalty. However, you will still accrue interest from the last date the IRS requires you to file (this year April 18th) to the date you submit your return to the IRS. If you miss the extension deadline, you will then also be charged the late filing penalty.

Contributed by Devynn Maclure Your Twenties: The time of tiny apartments and cupboards laden with ramen noodles and obscure brands of peanut butter.

In American society, the idea of establishing independence as soon as you turn eighteen has become a dauntingly common expectation for millennials.

We’re expected to finish high school, move out, go to college and magically find enough time to earn a livable income with only a diploma or GED, all while only visiting the parents on weekends or major holidays. Easy enough, right? I wish. According to

Contributed by W.M. Nicholas E. Adair Matanuska Lodge No. 7 I recently wrote an article about Masonry that was going to be published in in this newspaper. It was regarding the common misconceptions of the organization of Freemasonry. The purpose of this article was to explain that most of the sensationalized junk that is found on the internet, social media, and television is not true.

I also wanted to explain that the

identify the value of each action and task on there, then it’s time to dig a little deeper.

Knowing which to-dos are the most valuable will help you make smarter business decisions and reenergize your days. If you’re not sure how to determine which are the most valuable, use these three questions to help you get started.

Can this task be done by someone else? Your most valuable tasks will always be the ones that only you can do.

If you’re a New York Times bestselling author, then your most valuable task would be writing. If you’re a coach, your most valuable task would be coaching your clients. If you’re working on a project and there are pieces that someone else can do, don’t be afraid to outsource. By outsourcing, you’ll focus on bringing your very best to the project.

If you’re not sure where to look for qualified help, here are some suggestions:

INFORMATIVE / COMMUNITY PAGE 4

commerce, networking groups or professional associations.

- Search FIVRR or Upwork for freelancers.

holding onto outdated advice or that your business has changed so much that you no longer need to do this task.

Does this task generate revenue?

Your most valuable tasks are revenue generators. This is important to understand because many business owners spend too much time on activities that aren’t profitable. Tasks like spending two hours fussing over your Facebook cover image or agonizing over colors for your website aren’t likely generating revenue for your business.

Review your to-do’s regularly.

Regular reviews of your to-do’s and calendar will help you stay ahead of energy-draining, non-revenue generating actions and tasks. At the very least, evaluate your work at the beginning of the year (quarterly would be better) to identify the truly valuable actions and tasks that are on your plate. And don’t be afraid to let go of or outsource the eighty percent tasks so you can embrace the twenty percent that will help you bring your best self to serving your customers.

If a task doesn’t generate revenue, then you need to ask if this is something that truly needs to be completed by you.

Outsourcing day-to-day tasks lets you focus on big picture tasks and actions that increase your income.

Am I energized by this task?

Your most valuable tasks are the ones that energize and strengthen you.

If you love a task and it fires you up, chances are that it’s a valuable task.

Many business owners dread the small, everyday tasks because they already know these tasks don’t matter that much.

- Ask colleagues for referrals.

- Check with your local chamber of

When it comes to activities that are energy-draining, you need to evaluate whether they even need to be done in the first place. It could be that you’re

Winter is coming, but the snow birds are leaving. Lots of homes are on the market now and if you’re one of those sellers, profits on your home’s sale are usually taxable.

The most gain you can exclude from tax is $250,000. This limit is $500,000 for joint returns. The Net Investment Income Tax will not apply to the excluded gain.

However, there are a few exclusions to paying taxes, here are some tips: You may be able to exclude part or all of the gain from the sale of your home.

This rule may apply if you meet the eligibility test. Parts of the test involve your ownership and use of the home.

If the gain is not taxable, you may not need to report the sale to the IRS on your tax return.

You must have owned and used it as your main home for at least two out of the five years before the date of sale.

There are exceptions to the ownership, use and other rules. One exception applies to persons with a disability.

Another applies to certain members of the military. That rule includes certain government and Peace Corps workers. For more on this topic, see IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home.

the Pew Research Center, 32.1% of American millennials are rocking that at-home vibe, a number that hasn’t been this high in 130 years.

Not exclusively due to laziness, a conclusion many will jump to in regards to my beautiful generation, the matter simply comes down to two major factors: Real-life preparedness and good ol’ money.

Thinking back to the lead up to my big move into adulthood, I was hardly prepared to be an independent member of society. Lost in the world of college applications, AP Calculus and standardized tests, I had no time to think about credit or taxes or the fact that toilet paper costs money.

Many millennials share this sentiment and have come to a profound

organization of Freemasonry is not anti-church, or anti-religion in any way. There are so many religious people out there that think the organization of Freemasonry is against the teachings and tenets of their religious beliefs. Again, this is simply not true.

So, I spend the better part of a day writing this other article, and giving an explanation of the organization of Freemasonry, and a brief description of what it is about. Using statements such as: “Making Good Men Better” and “System of Morality, Veiled in Allegory, and Illustrated by Symbols.” The standard-

You must report the sale on your tax return if you can’t exclude all or part of the gain. You must report the sale if you choose not to claim the exclusion.

That’s also true if you get Form 1099-S, Proceeds From Real Estate Transactions.

If you own more than one home, you may only exclude the gain on the sale of your main home. Your main home usually is the home that you live in most of the time.

Ready to move this information into action? Download the journal exercise over on my website today (goo.gl/ oE8RcQ) and use it along with your to-do list and calendar to identify your most valuable twenty percent actions and tasks.

About Jeanette Gardiner: Jeanette Gardiner lives in Palmer, Alaska, and is the Owner of SeaStar Strategies LLC where she helps time-strapped small business owners discover the gift of time by streamlining their administrative and marketing systems.

Learn more at seastarstrategies.com If you sell your main home at a loss, you can’t deduct the loss on your tax return.

It coming up on the season of giving.

With all the charities and non-profits out there, it’s hard to tell which are credible, or not. One rule of thumb, ask the group about their status before you donate.

Only qualified charities who have applied through the IRS grant you the ability to deduct your contributions on your tax return. Churches and Governments are generally qualified and do not need to apply with the IRS to qualify. Also, make sure you get a receipt detailing the organization’s name, address, date, what you donatedor if you donated cash- how much.

If you claimed the first-time homebuyer credit when you bought the home, special rules apply to the sale.

That’s it for this edition of the financial corner! We’d love to answer any questions you may have. You can email us at elizabeth@lizzybeestax.com

realization: We are taught how to be good students, but not how to be decent adults. So sure, mock us when we burn boiling water or ask what a W2 form is; but understand that when it comes to filling in little test ovals, we will always come out on top.

Two years have passed since I reoccupied my pink and purple bedroom, and I’ve finally come to accept and embrace my situation. Moving back home for a little bit doesn’t make you a loser or a failure; it makes you a person who needs a little extra support before setting out on your own, be it due to financial trouble, mental illness, or just feeling kind of lost.

Moving out into the real world has become a much trickier endeavor with the cost of living going up and college tuition doubling since our parents’ were in school. I would know; I tried it and totally bombed out there. So, just like the 50% of twenty-somethings who move back home (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), I “boomeranged” after three semesters and found myself back in my childhood digs, now with $18,000 worth of student loans on my back and a looming feeling of failure that I just couldn’t shake.

As long as it’s alright with your parents and you’re going to school, working or being a productive member of your household, you shouldn’t feel like you aren’t living really living out your twenties.

ized statements that everyone hears.

I went into brief explanations of the meanings behind these statements. I explained what an illustration is, and how its symbolized. I even went into a brief history of the forming of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1717. I even went a step further to include “mystery schools” and “human philosophy and psychology” as aspects of Freemasonry.

I even went so far as to list names of famous people who are Freemasons. Political leaders, businessmen, athletes, authors, movie stars, and the like. It looked like a really good article. It felt like I really gave a great appeal to Freemasonry. But there was something

about it, I wasn’t really sure about.

I read over it a couple more times, editing it for content. I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I wasn’t displeased with the article, but I wasn’t pleased either. I guess I would say, my regards were neutral. So, I asked a Masonic Brother about the article, and he had something different to reply.

Setbacks are an inevitable part of life, and sometimes we wind up where we least expect it. But if you can roll with life’s curve balls for just a little while and learn a thing or two from them, I can guarantee there will be better days ahead.

He took the same standpoint I had. It wasn’t bad, and it was informative. My explanations were good, and I hit most of the main points. Then he said something to me that was so profound, I was stunned at the statement. He said “Well, it certainly toes the party line, Bro.”

HEALTH & WELLNESS Contributed by Dori Cranmore RN, Holistic Health Practitioner Melatonin in the natural form, is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, to help control your daily sleep-wake cycles.

Melatonin is used to reset the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm.

This rhythm influences how much melatonin the pineal gland makes, along with the amount of light you are exposed to each day. Typically, melatonin levels start to rise in the mid-to-late evening, after the sun has set. They can stay elevated for most of the night while you’re in the dark. Then, they can drop in the early morning as the sun rises, causing you to awaken.

For the millions of people who have trouble falling and staying asleep, synthetic melatonin can sometimes be the solution. It is best used by people suffering from jet lag, working odd hours, and for helping blind people establish a day

and night cycle. Other uses include breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, head cancer, neck cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. Melatonin is also used for some of the side effects of chemotherapy, including weight loss, nerve pain, weakness and a lowered number of clot-forming cells (thrombocytopenia). Studies are ongoing.

The proper dosage, according to a 2001 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is 0.3 milligrams. The research was conducted by Richard Wurtman, who pioneered the pharmaceutical use of melatonin as a sleep aid in 1994. Pills and supplements often sell 10 times the suggested amount in a single dose. This can lead to higher plasma melatonin levels the next day, which can cause a “hangover” effect that leaves users groggy.

People commonly make the mistake of assuming that taking higher doses of melatonin will lead to better sleep.

But the opposite is true: Too much taken at once can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness or irritability, all of which can disrupt your sleep. So talk to your doctor, who may suggest different dosage guidelines or

HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 5

another natural sleep aid. The safety of melatonin taken by children is still uncertain.

David Kennaway, the director of the circadian physiology lab at the University of Adelaide in Australia, he states there is “extensive evidence from laboratory studies that melatonin causes changes in multiple physiological systems, including cardiovascular, immune and metabolic systems, as well as reproduction in animals,” and its effects on children’s developing bodies is yet unstudied.

Melatonin supplements come in pill, liquid, chewable or lozenge forms, in doses ranging from one to 10 milligrams. For insomnia, it’s best to take a melatonin supplement 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. That way, it can put you in the mood to snooze by the time you want to turn out your lights for the night.

Keep in mind though, that melatonin supplements can negatively interact with many different medications; so be sure to check with your health care provider. It is recommended to go to www.webmd.com if you are taking any prescription medication as melatonin interacts with a very long list of them.

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Contributed by Dr. Tara E. Workman, Chiropractic Physician Did you know that one of the main causes of facial pain is poor postural design of the head and neck in relation to the shoulders? The underlying cause of jaw clenching, headaches and excruciating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is directly correlated to postural distortion patterns.

According to the TMJ Association, approximately 12% of the population, or 35 million people in the United States are affected by TMJ disorder at any given time. TMJ disorders are a serious problem.

Patients suffering from TMJ dysfunction will commonly present with restricted range of motion of the jaw, with reported “popping” and “clicking” of the jaw when opening and closing their mouth.

TMJ disorders can range from a slight irritation to a severely debilitating

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condition. Advanced TMJ disorder can impact patients’ ability to eat, breathe, talk and sleep, and can give rise to teeth sensitivities, ear problems, headaches, facial nerve pain and muscular aches in the neck and shoulder region.

“Good posture is important, yet many people don’t realize how their posture affects their oral health,” says Ludwig Leibsohn, Spokesperson of the Academy of General Dentistry.

There is a strong correlation between forward head posture and backward lower jawbone posture. TMJ disorder patients typically have both forward head posture and posterior lower jaw posture.

Often times there is a misalignment in their upper cervical region, which contributes to their TMJ dysfunction, headaches and upper shoulder pain.

With proper alignment of the head and the neck, the ears and shoulders are in alignment. As the head goes forward in relation to the shoulders, such as during computer use, when sending a text message and other

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sedentary activities, the muscles of the TMJ joints as well as all of the neck and shoulder muscles are contracted and working overtime to support the weight of the head upright against the constant force of gravity.

To correct TMJ dysfunction without specific posture correction exercises would be considered incomplete.

Although the patient may feel temporary relief, the problem will almost certainly return.

At Altair Chiropractic, Dr. Tara Workman specializes in postural correction through chiropractic and therapeutic exercises to restore your posture and optimize your health. Call (907) 3571818 to schedule your appointment today. > Cover and simmer for the suggested time.

Contributed by Winona Benson Did you know that this is the year of the Pulse? Pulse is another term for bean. The bean is an edible seed with many nutritional benefits.

Toss beans and diced veggies (such as celery, shallots and red peppers) with vinaigrette for a quick bean salad.

Blend cooked beans with tomatoes, onions and your favorite seasonings to create a yummy bean soup.

Top a green salad with 1/3 cup of your favorite bean.

Puree beans with a bit of olive oil, a garlic clove, salt and your favorite seasonings. Voila! A fast dip or sandwich spread.

“I was determined to know beans.”

- Henry David Thoreau, The Bean-Field How about you? How well do you know beans? Creamy cannellinis, meaty garbanzos, sweet adzuki, tender pintos, and so many more.

Beans are one of the most powerful, nutrient-dense plant foods around.

Consider this: Beans are packed with tons of fiber, as well as plenty of iron and protein. They are rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients. They are low in calories.

Plus, studies have found them to lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

What to Do With Beans Many people avoid beans because they just don’t know what to do with them.

Are you one of them? Keep reading:

Include 1/3 cup of beans with your other favorite toppings next time you make stuffed baked potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Add 1/4 cup of pureed beans to your favorite pancake, waffle, muffin or cake recipe. You’ll be surprised at how moist and springy baked goods are when baked with beans.

If you’re new to cooking with beans, try these tips for delicious and well-cooked beans: > Be sure to wash and clean the beans first. > Soak dried beans for 8-12 hours before cooking (hint: cut a bean in half; if the center is still opaque, keep soaking). > After soaking, rinse, fill pot with fresh water, bring to a boil and then skim off the foam. > To aid digestion, add Kombu, a bay leaf, cumin, anise or fennel to the water.

Remember: Only add salt at the end of cooking (about 10 minutes before the beans are done) or it will interfere with the cooking process.

Quick tips: For speedier prep, boil dried beans for 5 minutes, then soak for 2-4 hours. Or use canned beans instead (some people find them even easier to digest!). Be sure to avoid canned beans with added salt or preservatives and rinse thoroughly once removed from the can.

For more information on the year of the pulse, visit: www.fao.org/ pulses-2016/en Get Even Healthier!

Would you like help learning how to choose and cook healthy foods like beans? Curious about how health coaching can help you make your own healthy changes? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today, or pass this offer on to someone you care about!

About Me I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods.

Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “Roadmap to Health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences and goals.

Learn more about my training and my unique approach to health coaching visit my webpage: nourishedak.com, or call 907-982-9933

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FAITH / POLITICS Contributed by Gordon Fletcher Jr. Facebook… Perhaps the blessing or bane of our existence, especially in this election cycle.

Oh Facebook you have somehow simultaneously become a tool and a curse. Through this medium, we can grow and erode friendships. We gain knowledge and are mislead. We fight and we make peace; we laugh and we swear. At this point Facebook is probably where many individual’s world views are formed.

I’ve not written a political piece for this publication simply because I fancy myself ill-equipped for such a daunting task. I do not think of myself to be politically savvy. I do my best to have sober judgment when it comes to politics. Granted this does not mean I am without opinion. I’ve got plenty of those. Opinions are like noses and well you know.

One thing however I am familiar with is faith. I am a man of faith and have been for 35 years. Everything I do in my

Contributed by Vic Kohring Christians have been the subject of persecution throughout time. The apostle, Paul, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, was persecuted by the Roman government for preaching his message of salvation.

He wrote multiple letters to supporters from prison, some of which became the basis of books in the New Testament including 1st and 2nd Corinthians. Fast forward to the year 2016 and you see a U.S. government reminiscent of the Roman Empire in terms of its hostile attitude toward Christianity.

The Muslim sympathizing the Obama administration has used its power to harass Christians, deploying agencies such as the IRS to attack conservative Christian groups.

The Justice Department has been used as a weapon to force the administration’s mandates down the throats of Christians who oppose Obama’s progressive agenda on moral grounds, an agenda contrary to traditional family values reflecting the sanctity of marriage and protecting lives of the unborn. Moreover, Obama has celebrated Ramadan and visited mosques while simultaneously

Contributed by Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize November. What makes us thankful?

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have.

We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.

sphere of influence is driven by what I believe, and in whom I place my trust.

Each of us exercise faith on a daily basis.

We have faith that our alarm clock will wake us up in the morning. We have faith that our car will start and get us to work on time. We have faith that our employers will compensate us for our labor every two weeks.

Without recognizing it, we all are people of faith.

Faith in the political process is no different. Every few years we place our faith in people to represent us at all levels - local, state and federal. We cast our vote with hope. Hope that these individuals will have courage, character and fealty to the causes of their campaign platforms. We cast our votes, “in good faith”.

For me however it appears our choices at the national level are slim at best.

Not a single person I have spoken to is very confident in the direction of this country - now or after the election.

I count myself as one of these. This is where faith takes on a different characteristic though.

FAITH / POLITICS / OPINION PAGE 6

these temporal things. I posted a comment on a friend’s Facebook page as part of a discussion involving this election, and thought it worth sharing on my own page as a gentle reminder of where we should be placing our trust and hope.

“Keep this in mind my dear friends; be involved in the political process. Exercise your right to debate. Flesh out the hard moral predicaments and be learned and wise in casting your vote. But also remember, Psalms 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Ultimately if we are hinging our hope in one person, we have made an idol of them. Let us follow the example of the three children of Israel, and not bow our hearts before the golden image of any man. Let us not allow our focus to fall from the one in whom we place our hope and find our peace. And perhaps the incidents tarnishing Trump and Clinton’s already flawed images can be a reminder to us that only God is perfect and therefore deserves our trust and admiration.

While my previous statements have us placing our faith in inanimate objects or human beings, faith can transcend

I am glad my future isn’t in the hands of any man or woman no matter the outcome of the election. My hope transcends all of the moral quagmire

attempting to block the traditional evangelical, Christian-based National Day of Prayer, an annual event for over 60 years established by President Truman.

supposed to be fair, unbiased and of the people. Some, if not most, were being appropriately punished for legitimate crimes against society, but others clearly were not.

The Democrat Party has spiraled downward into secularism over the past generation, attempting to cast God out of this country. Under the Democrats’ watch, school prayer was banned. Near unlimited access to abortion remains prominent in their party’s platform.

Hillary Clinton and host of democrats have led a chorus against conservative, largely Christian talk radio, to limit or even ban its programming. They’re also attempting to restrict and censure the use of the internet, a threat to the dominant liberal, mainstream media that attempts to mold the thinking of Americans with socialist doctrine.

Hillary even wishes to “reeducate” Christians not in rigid lockstep with her.

It’s scary.

One elderly inmate whom I befriended was a dental surgeon who did mission work as a volunteer in the Turks Islands.

The poor fellow was falsely accused of investing money in illegal tax shelters and forced under great pressure into a plea deal he later recanted. The charges were a crock. I experienced the same as mine, involved ludicrous bribery claims over a minuscule hundred dollar gift from a friend while a legislator. Would either of us have been tossed in jail if we were not conservative men of faith?

I seriously doubt it. An atheist democrat would never have been treated the same.

A large number of Christians, myself included, have been targeted by the FBI and thrown in prison. When I sat rotting in a cell near Death Valley, California years ago, I was surrounded by many who were genuine men of God and whose transgressions were minor and far from criminal. Some of these people were active in the Christian ministry including pastors and various leaders of the church, even a missionary. It was incredible to think we were all incarcerated by a government that’s God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan. He laid out His standard in the Bible.

He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never

Another Christian leader who found himself in the crosshairs of the U.S. government is the Reverend Dr. Kent Hovind. I’ve enjoyed the evangelist’s ministry for years and find him a superb speaker who convincingly presents the gospel in a logical, fact-based easy to understand way. Unbelievably, Hovind also found himself in prison for years.

His “crime” was allegedly not following Big Brother’s tax laws to a tee and being nailed on technicalities. While imprisoned, I attempted to emulate Saint Paul through letter writing as an encouragement to others. Like Paul, I was persecuted by an ungodly, anti-

because my hope is in Christ.” This ideal does not make me better than anyone.

I have no moral high ground because there is none to be had. I too am flawed, imperfect and in need of a stronger moral compass than my own. That is why I am delighted to place my trust in someone who is flawless.

And while you may be reading this thinking how flawed my thinking may be consider this: Even if I am wrong in placing my trust in what some may call an imaginary fairytale, is it wrong to believe I should live a moral life? It is a wrong mindset in being beholden to a moral code encouraging love rather than hate, peace rather than violence, honesty rather than lies or life over death?

If we are honest and objective, we would chose the highest law of love any day merely on the basis of being right.

I dare not delve into morality or moral law, even the existence of a moral law-giver; these are conversations for another day.

My only hope is that while some may be offended, most might be encouraged in the fact that our trust and peace isn’t found in the election of any man or woman. It is simply found in God alone.

Christian government. I’m of course no Paul as he’s a titan in the annals of history, but there are similarities between him and me.

He was a Christian who was a target of a repressive government, but used his experience in a positive way to help others and win souls. I’m hoping that my letters from jail were likewise a source of inspiration and that writings in the pages of this publication, postings on my websites and social media and my book manuscripts will provide comfort and encouragement to those down and out and in need of God. Our nation was founded on the fundamentals of Christianity. Why else does our currency say “In God We Trust”? And why else has our constitution been widely seen as “God Inspired” with a Pledge of Allegiance proclaiming we are “One Nation Under God” and the fourth stanza of a national anthem stating “In God is our trust”?

And why prayers are at the opening of floor sessions in Congress and at legislatures across the country including Alaska? If many liberal progressives had their way, all of this would be banned under the guise of “separation of church and state.”

We are a Christian nation based on Biblical principles. Not Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim, secularism or atheism. But Christian.

sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood.

of faith, not works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

“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. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

God made accepting Jesus easy. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.

God made sure that salvation was

What are you thankful for?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907-715-4001

We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Rep. Wes Keller The lawsuit against the governor for vetoing the PFD may not turn out well! Most Alaskans understandably feel violated by the veto and want justice, so the natural response is to go to court.

The Problem: There is greater risk in submitting this to a decision of the courts than in keeping it in the jurisdiction of elected public servants who must stay responsive to the people of Alaska or lose their jobs (the legislature). This lawsuit invites an inappropriate risk!

“We the people” constitutionally hold direct sway over the legislature by enforcing their populous political power. The court on the other hand, prides itself in not being influenced by politics because its job is to interpret law, not write it. Nevertheless, history reveals that once the judge’s gavel falls, some new standard will potentially be established which actually “legislates” rather than “judges”. In this case, the ownership (control) of the returns from investments of the permanent funds (the Earnings Reserves Account (ERA)) are at stake.

Any concession to the governor’s action will diminish the influence of the Alaskan people on appropriation power reserved to the legislature. I do not believe Alaskans understand the very high stakes risk of inviting a judicial clarification, potentially setting standards for redefining the “maximum benefit” of the people to mean ‘good’ government spending. This particular revenue was previously designated to become personal property (PFDs),spent by Alaskans for whatever they choose, free from government priorities. Keep in mind the constitution already allows 75% of the people’s natural resource revenue to be spent by government in the traditional budget process. This 75% (non-PF revenue) has provided approximately 80 billion dollars over the past 40 years and has driven our overspending budget habit.

The court prides itself in not being influenced by ‘politics’, but, in this case,

Contributed by Shelley Hughes State Senate District F Candidate I don’t know a soul who isn’t ready for this season of swirling accusations and heated debates to end. What I’ve found helpful is to close the social media apps, turn off the radio and TV, take a deep breath, and then think through what’s at stake, what I fundamentally believe, and what I can do about it.

Since I’m asking to be your senator for District F, I thought I’d share my recent internal ponderings—how I’m processing what’s before us and why, despite all the worry and anxiety over upcoming national election results, I’m hopeful.

You may wonder why a state level candidate would delve into the national scene, but bear with me.

There’s an intersection.

Most Alaskans, wherever we are on the political spectrum, agree that the power and influence of the federal government has increased since statehood. In fact last year, a Dittman Research poll showed that 82% of Alaskans think it’s important that we push back against the federal government overstepping its bounds.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Most of us recognize the federal government is not all bad, that it’s helped Alaska in many ways—and that certain

politics is exactly what is needed to maintain the legislative standard of using investment returns nearly exclusively for PFDs. The PFD Veto is not a matter for judicial action because the language of the constitution leaves the issue open for legislative implementation - not for definition by court action (case law). There are plenty of reasons to be concerned that justice will not be found in the courts on this issue.

Constitutionally, the legislature is the only power who can appropriate the PFD money the governor vetoed. The governor cannot use (appropriate) the money he ‘embargoed’ with his veto unless/until he can influence the majority of your legislators to be his legislative spending puppets.

He knows this, as is evidenced because he openly appealed to Alaskans to put pressure on their legislators to follow his lead. He has stated it is the “statesman-like” approach to authorize government spending of all or some of the earnings from the permanent fund savings account, even though it is arguably constitutionally restricted from legislative appropriation – a bit like the lunchroom bully demanding you give in because it is in “your best interest” to do what he/she wants. If the court decides in favor of the governor’s veto, the legislature will most likely never get another chance to stand firm on preserving the permanent fund earnings for PFDs. Instead of: “Can we get by with taking any of the ERA?”, the new political battle will instantly become, “How much can we (Government) take and still keep the owners (Alaskans) happy?”

Government should be paid for by the governed, but only with equitable taxes on personal property (enacted by the legislature at the risk of their re-election) - not by tapping into public assets before they become personal property! Once revenue is authorized to balance the government spending budget, there is irrefutable evidence that the government spending advocates will prevail. Their prevailing allows for a continued unsustainable, bloated budget - not in the best interest of all Alaskans.

functions, such as national defense, are essential. It’s the overstepping that we find problematic.

Considering our serious state fiscal shortfall, I can’t help but wonder right now how much less of a problem it would be if we’d been able to advance projects over the years without repeatedly hitting federal brick walls at every turn. I also can’t help wonder how much more quickly we could get past our current challenges if we were confident doors to opportunities wouldn’t be slammed shut by the feds or at least wouldn’t be so painfully difficult, costly, and slow to get through.

Now, back to the impending national election results. We each have preferred candidates but if history teaches us anything, we must realize to fix federal encroachment, it’s going to take more than what any single candidate can deliver.

Individual U.S. senators, members of Congress, and presidents can be great defenders of freedom, promoters of liberty, advocates for limited government, and proponents of states rights, but think about it: has any one person been able to reverse the trend of our seemingly unstoppable, overstepping federal government?

Some have done their best to slow it down—President Reagan was a fierce champion of everything I just listed; he did a marvelous job stemming the tide and increasing opportunities and prosperity. But the trend has persisted

POLITICS / OPINION PAGE 7

If the proposed lawsuit is a total win for Alaskans (meaning the court overturns the veto without qualification as we would hope), justice will have prevailed. If on the other hand, the court decision strengthens the governor’s power in any way to influence appropriations, the people of Alaska suffer a potentially huge loss. Legislators, the elected representatives closest to the people (not the courts), are the only hope for ensuring proper and just oversight management of common property. A court decision doing anything at all to diminish legislative appropriation power will potentially be disastrous because of Alaska’s already delicate balance of power. This lawsuit invites an inappropriate risk!

Keep in mind, nearly everybody in state government has very strong convictions (typically noble from their perspective) on how public money should be spent. Any legislator can tell you about the vast scope of lobbying influences from government employees and contractors for spending on various programs for Alaskans.

Typically, legislators are expected to submit and use their individual influence to protect spending for their particular priority choices. Alaska is a ‘small town’, so part-time citizen legislators almost always also have real conflicts of interest continually needing to be evaluated or declared, but there is also a potential conflict of interest for the courts needing to be acknowledged - especially when there is a balance of power determination. The best way to stabilize the PFD is for the legislature to create or clarify the definitions legislatively.

I believe the legislature should clarify what earnings from investment of the PF should not be spent (other than for PFDs) without a vote of the people.

In addition, our legislators should reappropriate the vetoed PFD portion on top of the statutorily defined PFD amount in next year’s budget.

The proper way forward is implementation of legitimate ‘politics’ to ensure the will of the people, not subservient to a determination by a state agency benefiting from government spending.

Rep. Wes Keller, House District 10 LameDuckQuacks.com

since, despite his valiant efforts.

So whoever the winners are in November, we can’t expect them to remedy this problem. Congress won’t fix itself and we need to realize that.

The President isn’t going to wake up one day and want less power. The federal judicial branch isn’t going to suddenly turn over a new leaf (yes, the pun is intended!). It’s going to take something else—and that’s what I’m hopeful about.

You see, there’s a missing element that’s left the federal government unchecked. It’s landed us right where we are - with massive and powerful and expensive federal agencies. This is where we come in, you and I, we the people.

A growing number of us are waking up to the fact that the founding fathers included an instrument in the U.S. Constitution which the states have never used. A number of concerned Americans are realizing the time has come for the states to utilize the tool we’ve been given: Article V. This section of our nation’s guiding document allows state legislatures to call for a convening of the states to amend the Constitution.

Never before has this authority been exercised, but more and more citizens are rightly concluding that the federal government will never check itself.

We’ve long understood that the states

POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Bert Verrall If you haven’t had a chance to see your candidates in action, please check out some of the upcoming forums: -- October 18th: Mat Su College is hosting a forum from 6 to 8 pm.

-- October 24th: St David’s Church in Wasilla is holding a forum from 7 to 9 pm -- October 25th: the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce is holding a forum at noon at the Grand View Inn Grill.

Each forum has a slightly different format. Also, KAKM Channel 7 is holding their “Running” television series. Finally, Big Cabbage Radio or Radio Free Palmer is also providing voters an opportunity to be better informed through

Contributed by Ray Metcalfe, Candidate for US Senate Getting dirty money out of politics and ending the pay to play games has been my number one priority for thirty years, and will remain so when I represent Alaska in Congress.

I was the whistleblower who helped the FBI and federal prosecutors convict VECO owner, Bill Allen, for bribing your legislators.

Six legislators were convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for their vote to tax Alaska’s oil at far less than its real tax value.

The bribery had gone on for thirty years; every Alaskan has paid the price.

Had Alaska been paid what Prudhoe Bay was worth, and had legislators deposited the additional payments in the permanent fund, the fund and your dividend would have grown to about five times what it is today, and the legislature would now be in position to pay big dividends and

Contributed by Tim Hale Almost exactly one year ago, I was saying that we should end the dividend program rather than institute any type of statewide tax. It turns out that I was wrong, and I would like to explain why.

I started having doubts about my position almost immediately, following a series of opinions by John Havelock, Clem Tillion and other respected longtime Alaskans. The dividend program’s effects and history are the envy of many other resource-rich governments around the country and the world. It is responsible for our state having the lowest income gap between the rich and poor in the entire country.

My doubts grew even greater as I spoke to my friends and neighbors once I decided to run for office. Their arguments in favor of taxation over dividend cuts were compelling. “The dividend is our share of the state’s mineral wealth,”

created the federal government; now we’re realizing it’s the states’ job to provide the balance.

The time has come for the states to step up and do just that.

I am blessed to be on the forefront of this effort and honored to report to you that activity across the nation is picking up.

The countermand resolution that I led

their programming.

Look for me, Bert Verrall, parked on the side of the road in your neighborhood.

I am there to provide you a convenient opportunity to stop and talk. So let’s take advantage of these clear, sunny afternoons and chat about your issues and concerns.

The most important thing I have learned since I’ve been on the trail is to listen better. At the beginning I thought people were stopping to talk because they wanted to learn about who I was as a candidate and to ascertain for themselves if I was worthy of their vote.

But I pay attention, and soon learned differently. I learned that folks were being nice enough to let me start the conversation, but were really just waiting for a break in the conversation. That is when I learned why they stopped to talk. By listening to the voters, I’ve

fund government from the earnings for perpetuity. To see firsthand what corruption is costing you today, look no further than your PFD that was just cut in half. While I disagree with the governor’s decision, the anger behind the recall petition is misplaced. The blame belongs with those who for years, accepted campaign funding from oil company surrogates and voted repeatedly to give your oil away.

Political parties and a majority of your elected officials on both sides of the aisle, have developed mutual dependencies between themselves and large donors seeking financial rewards.

After contributing, large donors (in Alaska’s case oil company surrogates) pay lobbyists to remind those they helped elect what they expect in return.

From Wall Street to Washington, from Big Oil to Juneau; it’s a never ending cycle of trading campaign contributions for appropriations, tax breaks and other economic benefits that infects both major political parties. You may have heard about a split within the Democratic Party. The split boils down to those who wish to bring an abrupt halt to the pay to play game and those who just want to end the other guy’s participation.

they argued. “Cuts to the dividend are the most regressive form of taxation imaginable,” they said.

The real kicker however, came when I read the Institute of Social and Economic Research’s (ISER) report on the short-run fiscal impacts of our choices concerning the budget deficit. It turns out that cuts to the dividend are the most economically damaging option that we have. For every dollar we take out of the dividend, we take $1.40 out of the overall economy. Conversely, for every dollar we take in a tax, be it an income or a sales tax, we take $1.15-$1.25 out of the overall economy.

I am willing to admit when I am wrong, and I was wrong on that one. Cutting the dividend may be the best solution for people in my financial peer group, but it is not the best solution for our state as a whole. Instead, I would like to propose another solution.

A balanced solution to our state’s deficit must include several things, according to the University of Alaska’s ISER. We must use some portion of permanent fund earnings, institute new broadbased taxes, realize more of our mineral

with Sen. Stoltze’s help and that passed in the legislature this past spring (we were the first state to pass it) is now being considered on a national scale.

The word “countermand” means “veto” or “abrogate.” The effort would allow states to join together to veto federal decisions not in the best interest of the states.

National news recently reported this proposal rose to the top among all those submitted at a simulated convention of states, and that as early as 2019, an actual, not a simulated,

POLITICS / OPINION PAGE 8

learned a great deal. People have deep concerns, are filled with passionate ideas and above all else, are ready for action.

the terminology of my old football coach, meaning talking one thing but doing another? Chin music in sports, rhetoric in politics.

I’ve also heard how people have been wronged by the system. For some, work force reductions or the fear of them have impacted their lives already.

Compassionately, they speak about the needs of the most vulnerable, how important the PFD is to these people as well as their own families.

So for better or worse you have to put up with us candidates for about another month. The saturation will peak November 8th – Election Day. Ah, back to hearing about Gorilla Fireworks and Christmas bazaars. Back to normal.

I hope that I’ve made enough of an impression on you through my articles, my website at bertinthehouse.com or through my radio ads that you’ve figured out that I’m for real. I have no other agenda other than what I’ve expressed to you all already.

I’ve heard other candidates share their ideas too. I’ve listened to all, multiple times. There is no left or right wing when you hear them talk. To each and every one of them, it’s about putting Alaskans first. If this is truly the case, then why have the House and Senate seemed at such odds during the last few sessions? If both sides want what is best for the people, then why is there the disconnect that has stopped the parties from working together? Is their campaign talk merely “chin music,” in

I’ll be the same person in Juneau as who you met on the side of the road, at your door or in the driveway of a neighbor. A regular working stiff who is ready to serve my neighbors and ready to serve you, ready to put Alaskans before special interests. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

With a vote of 27 to 6, the elected members of the Democratic Party’s Platform Committee inserted the following 38 words into their proposed Party Platform:

Ask Yourself: How can global warming issues be addressed while the fossil fuel industry can easily provide thirty times the campaign funding as those who wish to fix global warming?

“We support legislation that requires elected officials to declare a conflict of interest and recuse themselves from voting on legislation appropriating cash, resources or competitive advantages to themselves, their family, their employers, their business partners or their contributors.”

My other political priorities are quite similar to those of Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren. I have reviewed the bills they have proposed and I support the goals they have defined.

The old guard establishment was so anxious to exclude such language from the Platform they adjourned the convention to prevent the above language from coming up for a vote and its likely adoption on the Party Convention floor.

I want to put the above language into federal statute, making it a serious crime to fail to disclose such conflicts and recuse one’s self from voting when one has such conflicts. When I started the referendum to overturn Senate Bill 21, better known as “The Big Oil Tax Giveaway Bill”, I knew it would be an expensive fight. We came very close to winning, even though the oil companies spent thirty times what we were able to raise.

wealth and cut government spending. The legislature has decided that nothing else can be discussed until spending has been reduced further, but I disagree. It is critically important that we reduce the deficit as fast as possible in order to avoid a situation like this year, where we spent one-fifth of our savings in a single pay period. This is not fiscal conservatism, it is madness and it has to stop.

I propose that we immediately begin using the “Jay Hammond Plan” for permanent fund earnings. If this plan had been adopted for the fiscal year 2017, we all would have received a full dividend and the deficit would have been reduced by $1.3 billion, or more than a third.

I propose that we institute a new state tax to raise $700 million. A 1% flat rate income tax would raise $300 million. A 1-2% flat rate sales tax on every transaction, all the way to the top of the supply chain, could raise another $300-400 million. Raising the money this way, rather than through a “restructuring” of the permanent fund, is vastly less damaging to our overall economy.

I propose that we end the oil and gas

convening of states could take place. I am honored to report that I submitted this “countermand” or “abrogation” proposal to the simulated convention and was the first to advocate for its adoption.

So you see, there’s hope. One official cannot turn the tide, but 50 states we the people - working together can restore the proper balance between the federal government and the states.

I’m hopeful. And I’m especially hopeful for Alaska in light of this historic Article V effort.

Oh, one more important side note.

I’d be honored to have your vote for

Elected to attend the State Convention as a Sanders delegate, I’m the only US Senate candidate who has endorsed Bernie Sanders and come out in support of the legislation he has proposed.

Develop responsibly, protect the environment and get paid market value for the renewable and non-renewable resources we place on the commercial market; that’s my motto.

Addressing the political corruption that permeates our political system is my number one priority.

When elected to Congress, I will represent you - the people of Alaska, not special interests. Having me for your senator would be almost as good as being senator yourself.

tax credit program. This would save us an average of $250 million a year according to the Department of Revenue’s (DoR) “Spring Forecast 2016”. Some argue that this program provides benefits in the form of employment and new exploration.

I would counter that by saying it is not the government’s role to create jobs.

Corporate welfare is not a free-market principle, and the fact of the matter is that we simply cannot afford this program.

Even if all of these measures were adopted tomorrow, we would still be facing a deficit of $800 million. There will be cuts, and they will affect all of us.

Still, it is much easier to cut $800 million than it is to cut $3.2 billion.

Talking to people over the last several months, I have found that nearly everyone is willing to give a little for the future of our state, as long as the solution is fair and the money is spent wisely. That is what I will work toward if elected in November.

Thank you for your consideration, Tim Hale 907-590-8243

Senate F on November 8. With your support, I can help lead this effort to stop federal overstepping as well as apply the same principle at the state level—working to lessen the grip, the burden, and cost of state government—so that you don’t face brick walls and slammed doors, but can pursue opportunities in Alaska.

I am committed to staying accountable and accessible to you.

My cell is 907-841-1634.

Choose Hughes! www.facebook.com/alaskansforhughes and www.alaskansforhughes.com

POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Patricia Faye-­Brazel It’s time for us to stand up and take back our state legislature for the people of Alaska. We can’t afford to wait anymore for any hope that the career politicians and want­to­be career politicians will fix the mess that our state is in.

I have spent my life as a community organizer, as an advocate for working people and as a resource for tribes.

Through that work in Alaska, over the

Contributed by Joe Miller Our nation and state are clearly on the wrong path.

Alaskans feel it: Mounting national debt, steep deficits, social unrest and an economy that has all but flat-lined.

Unfortunately, Lisa Murkowski has been a big part of the problem, and to borrow a phrase from Ronald Reagan, “I cannot and will not stand by and see this great country destroy itself.”

Murkowski stated earlier this month she “cannot and will not support” Republican nominee, Donald Trump, for president, meaning she presumably would rather see Hillary Clinton occupy the Oval Office.

As chief executive, Clinton will fill the Supreme Court and the rest of the federal bench with liberal justices, while taking America further down President Obama’s road to ruin.

During the last session of Congress, Murkowski voted with President Obama 72 percent of the time, making her the most liberal “Republican” senator up for re-election.

Because of her votes in Congress, the senator received an “F” rating from Conservative Review coming in below lib-

last 19 years I have learned how resilient and innovative Alaskans are. We are very good at finding local solutions that work for our unique geography and demographics. For far too long this ingenuity has not made it to Juneau and lobbyists have been bending the ears of our representatives instead.

We take pride in our communities and we care about our neighbors. If we see someone broken down on the side of the road in the middle of winter we don’t care what their political orientation is. We stop to help. It’s what you do in Alaska. When someone comes to

eral New York Democrat, Charlie Rangel.

Murkowski also garnered failing grades from Heritage Action and FreedomWorks. Family Research Council also gave her an “F” and National Right to Life, did so as well during the last session of Congress.

Meanwhile, NARAL Pro-Choice America recognized Murkowski as being an abortion supporter, giving her an 80 percent rating for her votes in 2014. Just this past December, Murkowski offered legislation, along with Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, seeking to block Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

This is not the record of the “Conservative Voice for Alaska” Lisa Murkowski claims to be in campaign ads.

Despite being from the Last Frontier, “Murkowski acts like a Republican from New Jersey,” conservative radio talk show host, Mark Levin, charged on his program a few weeks ago when he endorsed my candidacy.

Murkowski’s liberal, big government credentials are long-standing. While serving as a state legislator, she cosponsored legislation to take part of your PFD and use it to fund state government, and also voted to institute a state income tax.

Earlier this year, she suggested that your PFD should be on the table as a pos-

politics / opinion PAGE 9

your house, you offer them tea or coffee and invite them to sit down for a conversation. It’s what you do in Alaska.

Now we need to bring that spirit back to the legislature in Juneau. We need to set aside our differences in political orientation and have conversations with each other about what solutions will work for us and our state.

I have never run for public office before.

I have always worked hard behind the scenes to help people find and implement solutions to their problems.

Alaska faces many serious problems right now that need to be dealt with.

Our budget deficit. Our crumbling infrasible solution to the government’s spending addiction. Her record in Washington on issues that specifically impact Alaska is no better.

The senator voted to confirm anti-gun Attorney General, Eric Holder, and antidevelopment, radical environmentalist, Sally Jewell, to be Secretary of the Interior.

Under Jewell’s leadership, Alaskans saw control of another 100 million acres of their land ceded to the federal government over just the last few months.

Nearly two-thirds of Alaska’s territory is already controlled by the feds, ranking second only to Nevada. Washington, D.C. should not be taking more of our land; it should be relinquishing it, as the Statehood Act (1958) requires.

Murkowski facilitated this most recent land grab in her position as chair of the Senate appropriations subcommittee on the Interior and Environment, when she voted to fund the very program that is responsible for the theft.

If you grant me the honor to serve as your next United States Senator, I’ll fight to protect your interests, not special interests.

The constitution will be the North Star that guides my decisions.

You have my word that I will stand up to the establishment, in both parties, and be relentless in the fight to restore our nation to its constitutional foundations, for the people of Alaska.

Contributed by J.R. Myers, Chairman of the Alaska Constitution Party It has now been two years since my run for Governor of Alaska. At that time, I warned of many changes which were coming to our great land. We are beginning to see these careless and destructive changes being rapidly implemented by our leaders in Juneau. Alaska is now in a recession.

out of touch, is a gross understatement.

They have now declared economic war on the people of Alaska. There is serious talk about imposing a statewide income tax, a statewide sales tax and even a statewide property tax, in addition to myriad fee increases on such things as hunting, fishing and recreation. The decision has been made to sacrifice the private economy to benefit the public sector. This is doomed to failure.

We are seeing increasing numbers of our friends, family and neighbors leave the state. The government in Juneau is increasingly out of touch with the people. We have witnessed the governor attack the PFD, cutting in half what the people rightfully expected to receive this year, seizing a thousand dollars from every eligible man, woman and child in Alaska in a scheme to feed bloated government. This is the singular most destructive economic act possible at this time in our history. To say that the governor and the legislature are

We the people of Alaska must reassert ourselves in the face of this growing tyranny. That is why the Alaska Constitution Party has been working so hard since 2010. It is our goal to recruit and support quality candidates and to educate ourselves and the public about what is now taking place in the cloistered halls of power. Juneau has become an elitist fortress, set against the people of Alaska. They have forgotten who they serve, and why they were sent there. We are here to remind them, and to take back the reins of power

“What did you mean by toeing the party line?” I asked eagerly, as my feelings about this article changed from complacent to fervent immediately.

He explained to me that all of the information I was using was all well and good, but it all seems a bit like the standard fare we are all given when we first come into this organization. I thought about it for another moment, and I realized my whole article was nothing but basic Freemasonic “Marketing.”

I was using the “bullet points” given to anyone who picked up the brochure regarding Freemasonry and started reading it without any frame of reference of what this organization is actually about.

I knew this wasn’t how I truly felt about Masonry. I knew it right from the beginning. I felt as if I had boiled down the adroitness of my Craft to a bullet list full of talking points, in order to satiate the

misunderstandings within and without the organization of Freemasonry.

I realized that it doesn’t matter which famous political leaders, businessmen, athletes, authors, and movie stars are Freemasons. Freemasonry regards no man because of his worldly honors. Nor does Freemasonry regard men because of their race, color, religion, or ethnic origins.

To me, the Craft of Masonry is so much deeper than the surface level organization. It’s so much more than bulletpoints, or a “Famous Freemason’s” list. It’s so much more than just spaghetti dinners, and stated meetings.

When I started to think about how deeply the craft of Masonry has affected my life, I realized that utilizing a bulletlist of marketing tools was no different than looking at a magazine advertisement. Masonry is something that can-

This year we will have six candidates on the Alaska ballot. In addition to our presidential ticket of Darrell Castle/ Scott Bradley, we have four legislative candidates.

The Alaska Constitution Party legislative candidates are: Pamela Goode House District 9, Delta Junction; Karen Perry House District 12, Chugiak; J.R. Myers House District 30, Kenai/Soldotna and Kenneth Shaw House District 36, Ketchikan. We have agreed to the following seven point contract with Alaskans.

“Restore and Protect the PFD” The PFD belongs to the people!

“No Statewide Income Tax” Don’t feed the bloated ravenous beast!

“No Statewide Sales Tax” The government appetite for revenue never ends!

“Promote the Sustainable ISER/Goldsmith Budget Target” Currently about 3.8 billion dollars.

“Restore Privacy Rights” Stop state collecting and sharing of personal info with the feds in vulnerable data bases!

not be conveyed, it has to be experienced.

Imagine the euphoric feeling of accomplishment a wood-worker receives when he finishes his first table; a project he’s been working on for quite some time. It’s something that can’t be explained to any person who doesn’t understand the labor of love that went into making that table. And when you try to explain, you seem a bit obsessive to people who think that it’s “just a table.”

Masonry is not just slapping together any ol’ card table. It’s the process of building a masterpiece of yourself. Not only that, but what you learn during the process expands your horizons, and consequently, makes you a better person. It’s the process that you put your heart and soul into in order to bring out the exquisite details. The best part about this, is that there are people there who help you with your process of building. They share their advice, their techniques, and their own personal sto-

structure. Our defunded education system. Our statewide struggles with high rates of domestic violence and drug addiction. Our broken criminal justice system. It has become clear that we can’t afford to wait any longer, we need to step up and be the solutions that we have been waiting for. We can do better and we will do better.

We need a representative who is willing to meet with people and hear what problems they see and what ideas they have for solutions - to gather the will of the people and then represent that will in Juneau. I am stepping up to be that representative and do the work that needs to be done. where government is once again the servant and not the master.

I will fight to rescind all of President Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders, including executive amnesty.

Americans shouldn’t lose their jobs or see their pay held down due to cheap, illegal labor.

Further, the administration’s Islamic refugee resettlement must end, unless a means to adequately vet individuals seeking entry can be but in place.

Our foremost liberty is the right to life. I am the only U.S. Senate candidate that has been endorsed by Alaska Right to Life and Alaska Family Action.

The second amendment is essential to our liberty, and I will oppose all efforts to thwart this fundamental right. I am the only candidate in the race backed by Gun Owners of America.

As a veteran (endorsed by Combat Veterans for Congress) who has used Veterans Administration medical services, I will be tireless in ensuring our nation keeps its promises to those who have served our nation in uniform.

It is time for Alaskans to take control of our destiny. With courage and hard work, the fortunes of America and Alaska can turn again. I believe a return to constitutional government can restore the nation we know and love.

I would be honored to have your vote on November 8th.

“Protect Innocent Life from Conception to Natural Death” We oppose assisted suicide and all attempts to diminish our humanity!

“Comprehensive Election Reform” Stop subsidizing meaningless party primaries. Let all candidates and parties compete on an equal footing. Implement verifiable balloting and vote counting.

We hear much about patriotism. What is true patriotism? The most patriotic thing one can do is register to vote, become informed on the issues and educated on the process, and then participate by casting your vote! Encourage others and get out and vote on Tuesday, November 8. Consider the Constitution Party and our candidates, as well as other liberty loving constitutionallybased candidates.

Together, we can reclaim our government. We must get involved and do it! God Bless Alaska! The Alaskans are coming, see you at the polls.

For more information: alaskaconstitutionparty.com

ries about how they are coming along on building their table.

One of the best things about the organization of Freemasonry, is that there is no spokesperson. There is no one Mason who speaks for the craft itself.

Just like this article, if anyone tells you all about Masonry, you should know that they are only giving you their opinion. If you want to know more about Masonry, look up your local Lodges.

There are two in the Matanuska Valley (Matanuska No. 7, and Iditarod No. 20), and one in Eagle River (Eagle River No. 13), as well as three more in the Anchorage area.

There are many more lodges across Alaska, and can be found on the Grand Lodge of Alaska’s website at: grandlodgofalaska.org

W.M. Nicholas E. Adair Matanuska Lodge No. 7

POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Rep. Mark Neuman Alaska faces difficult times and needs strong leadership in Juneau, individuals with a clear knowledge of the budget, how it works and the deficit we face.

In the past, our abundant resources provided opportunities for many Alaskan families. Now, the low price of oil and declining through-put in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline has significantly impacted the paychecks of many Alaskans and the state’s revenue.

As a parent and a new grandfather, I am concerned about the future and the

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dwindling opportunities many families have to make a sustainable living. Not to mention the social impact that comes with a weak economy.

As co-chair of the House Finance Committee with the responsibility of overseeing the operating budget, I have led the fight to decrease the day to day cost of state government, while resisting the call for increased taxes and decreased PFDs. In my first year of chairing the operating budget (FY2016), we reduced state day to day spending by 10%. This year required even tougher decisions, but with persistence we cut an additional 10% in (FY2017), totaling a 20% reduction in the last two years.

Contributed by Senator Lisa Murkowski

annual military construction budget being directed to investments in Alaska.

With the senate in a state work period until mid-November, it’s great to be back home. One of my first stops was to check in with folks in the Valley, where I attended the grand opening of the Mat-Su Valley Cancer Center, walked through the new Wasilla Library and met with local officials. I will continue to travel throughout our state for the next month, listening to your concerns and sharing ideas, so that we can continue to build on our already strong record of accomplishments.

Of even greater importance, the Milcon/ VA Bill will invest in our people by taking care of our veterans. I included language to address a series of challenges, such as staffing shortages within the Alaska VA Healthcare System, including the long-standing physician vacancy at the Wasilla CommunityBased Outpatient Clinic. We require the VA to resolve its provider recruitment challenges, which veterans in the Valley have unfortunately seen too often.

I am pleased to report that the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill has now been signed into law. It supports crucial defense projects in Alaska and will create thousands of new jobs in our state.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I have consistently pressed our military leadership to recognize the leading role that Alaska plays in our national security, and I appreciate how Senator Dan Sullivan has reinforced that message from the Armed Services Committee. Our senate colleagues are recognizing this fact, and we see that reflected in the largest share of our

Contributed by Mike Coons

the same.

I am voting no on on Prop 1. I hope my following comments will encourage others to do

Our last election, primary for legislators, was at best 18% voter turnout. That was 18% of those registered voters, not of all Alaskans. I would dare say that if each Alaskan that applied for the PFD was a registered voter (as this prop will do),

We also push the VA to return to the system of care that worked in Alaska prior to the Choice Act. We direct eligible veterans to community providers, Community Health Centers, and Native health facilities for care that the VA cannot provide in its facilities, or if the community is not served by the VA. In addition, we authorize the VA to purchase care for rural veterans – including those in the Valley – from Community Health Centers as well as the Alaska Native health system.

As I seek to ensure the health of our veterans, I am also focused on the increasing rise in healthcare costs due to the failures of the Affordable Care

that 18% would now be maybe 2-5%!

As an adult, I have voted ever since I was 18. The times I missed a vote were few and far between, mostly local races when I was overseas with the USAF and had no idea about the issues or the persons. I don’t vote for or against if I don’t know the person, issue, record, etc.

So what will happen with Prop 1 if passed? Well, for one, how about those no longer illegible for the PFD that are known to apply anyway? Sure, they

Future reductions will require reforming the scope of government. By reducing state regulations we will cut costs to Alaskans, Alaskan businesses and the state. I’m working to remove roadblocks by ensuring that the mission each department has matches what’s in the constitution and appropriate for government to be doing.

Alaska is still a land of great opportunity and although it’s true that there are negative economic impacts in cutting state spending, I believe those are offset by the positive impacts created when we cut regulations, expand our economic base, and enhance the business climate.

Alaskans understand the vast natural resources we own. The legislatures (and the executive branch) should be focused on the smart development

Act. We have seen time and time again that the Affordable Care Act – which I have opposed since Day 1 – does not work in Alaska. But knowing that a full repeal will be impossible under the Obama administration, I have been working to address the ACA’s costliest and most harmful provisions.

I was proud to join Senator Sullivan in introducing the Ensuring Health Care Opportunities Act, which will allow Alaskans to buy health insurance that doesn’t include certain ACA mandates that might not apply to them. If we can pass this bill, it will help restore Alaskans’ choice in their healthcare coverage, which the Affordable Care Act has taken away.

As Alaskans grapple with rising healthcare costs, many are also bracing for higher heating bills as we head into the winter months. I recognize the burden that high energy costs impose, and that’s why I am continuing to advance policies that will lower these costs for all Alaskans.

As chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I wrote and led the Senate’s passage of the first broad, bipartisan energy bill in nearly a decade.

It will help us produce more energy and pay less for energy. This is now in conference where we are developing a final version with the House of Representatives. may be denied the PFD, like those “actors” did in the southeast. However, they will still be on the voters’ role. The second those who could care less will be “registered to vote”, then will not exercise that right!

But here is the major issue for me. If a person doesn’t vote, doesn’t want to vote or doesn’t care about “politics”, then those are the vast persons whom have not registered to vote. That is their choice and I do respect that choice. I’d rather have educated voters than those whom have no intent on knowing or researching the issue.

Why is this then up for a vote? Simple, the Democrats want to have the individuals are afraid to stand for what is right!

Contributed by Pamela Goode Our state government is a reflection of who we are as a whole and in my opinion, it’s not a pretty picture. For the past ten years, their over-spending and over-promising has financially just about run this state into the ground and is now jeopardizing your liberty and your earned income with it.

It is time for strong, unwavering, disciplined, ethical, knowledgeable and God-fearing individuals to fill these positions and replace those that are soft, compromising, lukewarm and selfserving.

Party lines continue to fail us as the two majors seem to have morphed into one and in some instances traded places.

We need principled representatives we can count on and know they will not compromise our liberties, behave

fiscally responsible at all times and stick to their sacred oath of office. That is not asking too much.

Well Alaska, now is your chance! We are out of time, patience and options.

We need new leadership and only you can make it happen. Not lukewarm candidates for State House: Aaron Lojewski (D5), Pamela Goode (D9), David Eastman (D10), Karen Perry (D12), John Myers (D30), Kenny Shaw (D36), William Weatherby (D37). U.S Senate – Joe Miller.

New blood, new direction, brighter future! All will protect and defend your God-given rights, restore your PFD, say no to state income/sales tax, adhere to their oath of office and protect life, liberty, property and privacy. They all know what being fiscally responsible means, which is not wasteful overspending and over-promising on the backs of current and future Alaskans.

Special interest groups need not apply, all Alaskans matter! None of these

What is your liberty worth? Have you contributed to it lately? Freedom’s not free. Help out and go to their websites/ Facebook pages, and prayerfully consider donating to their efforts which they have been doing selflessly and tirelessly on your behalf for years. These people are not rookies. $1 liberty-buck will make a difference and it’s not an insult. Provide more if you can. Be a part of the bold solutions now needed, and vote these fine folks into leadership. You will not be disappointed! In fact, you’ll be energized for getting involved and making a positive difference. Duty is rewarding.

If you are like me, Alaska is our home.

I am not going anywhere or passing through. We are the last frontier and at the end of the road in more ways than one, which puts us on the front lines of liberty. We have the highest level of personal freedom in the world right here, and that needs to be protected. Decision makers need to stop comparing us to other states as

of them. Diversifying our economy by unlocking opportunity and allowing Alaskans to create good family-sustaining jobs should be a priority. This will create new jobs in sectors like fisheries, forestry, mining, agriculture, aviation, tourism, oil and gas. In turn, that success ensures growth in the retail services and medical sectors. All Alaskans will ultimately benefit when we add value here as opposed to shipping the raw resource out of state.

Alaskans are engaged in a discussion about the appropriate size and scope of government, I encourage you and your family to be involved.

My focus will always be on smarter government and reigniting Alaska’s Future.

Rep. Mark Neuman (907) 376-2679

My energy bill is filled with provisions that will benefit Alaska – advancing everything from research into renewable energy, to mineral permitting reforms, to reauthorizing programs to help keep our energy costs down. It requires timely decisions for LNG export applications to prevent unnecessary bureaucratic delays and provides routing flexibility for a gas line project, which will help Alaska market our stranded gas. We also spent significant time going through the U.S. Code to repeal old, outdated provisions of law that are simply no longer needed.

I’m proud that my energy bill includes my Sportsmen’s Act, which protects access to our public lands by declaring that them to be “open unless closed.”

For too long, access to these lands for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor activities has been restricted at the whim of the federal government. When it comes to hunting and fishing opportunities, Alaska’s are unmatched, which is why preserving public access to our lands and waters is one of my top priorities. I look forward to the day when I will be able to tell you that this crucial piece of legislation has been signed into law.

Thank you for the opportunity to share this “legislative update”. I thank you for the opportunity I have to represent Alaskans. appearance of that we of the state of Alaska, are doing all we can to not have disaffected voters. In today’s voting, the only disaffected voters were those whom were turned down to vote as Republicans or given two ballots, etc., as happened in District 40 that our Division of Elections glossed over!

Bottom Line: If you want to vote and haven’t registered to vote, then do so.

It is so easy to do, go to www.elections. alaska.gov/csm_contact_reo.php to find out where to register. All you need is a valid ID, simple! For those who don’t care, don’t want to be bothered, have no desire to vote for candidates or for issues that impact all Alaskans, then don’t bother! Vote no on Prop 1! though we should be more like them.

Alaska should aspire to be the example of what this country is supposed to stand for, not the exception. It’s all about individual liberty, personal responsibility and less government. Less government.

I am Pam Goode running for State House District 9. You will not find a more fiscally conservative candidate that truly understands the ISER/ Goldsmith sustainable budget model solution for Alaska.

Just remember, liberty starts with fiscal responsibility. With over seventeen years at NASA, I’m about as analytical as it gets, then over eleven years circumnavigating the globe on a small sailboat living independently on our own extremely limited sustainable budget model and to top it off, my husband is a CPA. Cut him and he bleeds numbers. We need fiscally knowledgeable leadership now more than ever. Your vote for Goode is important! Visit me at goodeforalaska.com or call 907-251-1528

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POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by DeLena Johnson We the people of the United States are just plain worn out when it comes to politics.

Add tired of politicians, campaigns and unbridled political rhetoric to that same list. It concerns me very much that the noise from the national election will cause Alaskans to stay home on November 8th.

As I go out to visit with the residents of District 11, I appreciate anyone who will take a few minutes to tell me about their circumstances, and what they believe would be best for Alaska.

What I hear most of all, is the desire for thoughtful, commonsense leadership.

Luckily, my political hero and common sense mother kept articles worth rereading tucked away in her recipe

Contributed by Karen Perry, State House District 12 Candidate Hello Voters! I am Karen Perry, running for our House District 12 seat.

I am running under the Alaska Constitution Party banner. Our growth is surging.

Evidently, lots of citizens out there are attracted to a party that puts elected official’s feet to the fire to hold them accountable and advocates only candidates who vow to keep their word.

Most citizens I talk to range from dissatisfied to angry by the status quo in Juneau. Once down there, many politicians seem to ignore the will of the very constituents that sent them down to represent their interests. Too often, representatives seem more interested in getting reelected than to make the risky, hard choices. Both sides of the aisle seem to ignore the will of their constituents and plow ahead with legislation that chips away at your precious liberties, saddle you and your children with staggering debt and plunder your pocketbook.

Now, we have a governor that thinks it is just fine and dandy to sweep in with his pen and take away half of your PFD. While in Juneau, what did your legislators do to stop him?

The senate refused to meet to even consider overriding the vetoes.

Bill Wielechowski, my hat’s off to you!

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box and bible. In an attempt to make this political season a little more pleasant, I will leave you with a light-hearted piece that she clipped from somewhere, perhaps the “Grit” newspaper.

From “The London Times,” an obituary that was meant to wake people up and get them onto the business of problem solving.

It read as follows: Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain.

- Why the early bird gets the worm.

- Life isn’t always fair.

- Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound

To stop the PFD theft, you filed suit against the Permanent Fund Corporation for not following the statute which mandates transfer of the dividend in its entirety to Alaskans.

I also support the recent bill proposed

by Senator Mike Dunleavy which restores the vetoed amount of your PFD. When you send me to the House, I will gladly cosponsor that bill as will the other AK Constitution Party members!

Also back in July, two months before he jumped into the U.S. Senate race, Joe Miller revved up his Recall Walker Petition on the premise that Walker is not following the Rule of Law. Energetic volunteers, more faithful to you and more concerned with your money than most of elected representatives, have been collecting signatures by the thousands.

I have worked with the recall effort and sadly, many of the representatives have refused to sign this petition including my opponent when I personally asked her.

For more information on this recall effort, visit www.recallgovwalker.com.

The Alaska Constitution Party vehemently disagrees with Walker’s highhanded capping of your PFD. We will strive to our uttermost to get his powergrab turned around and the PFD money back into your hands where it belongs.

The Alaska Constitution Party and its candidates will defend your liberties and strive with everything in us to put Alaska back on a sustainable fiscal path.

financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

a beating when you couldn›t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers: - I Want It Now - Someone Else Is To Blame - I’m A Victim Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took

It’s been a long campaign season, and now more than ever we must resuscitate Common Sense!

Please vote on November 8.

That starts with following the ISER/Goldsmith-Keithley economic model which limits what amount of the general fund the state can afford to spend.

able to you. It is a great page to learn about the issues and what actions you can take as we move forward. One of my goals is to get the capitol moved to the road system, so that constituents from around the state will have easier access to their elected representatives. It most likely is cost prohibitive for the near future, but must certainly be a priority as the budget allows. Right now, Juneau is overrun by special interests and too often you see that played out by votes being cast.

Going into the next legislative session, here are our platform priorities: The Alaska Constitution Party’s Contract with Alaskans: *Restore and Protect the Permanent Fund Dividend *Refuse State Income Tax *Stand Against Statewide Sales Tax *Promote the Sustainable ISER/Goldsmith Budget Target *Restore Privacy Rights *Protect Innocent Human Life from Conception to Natural Death *Strive for Comprehensive Election Reform The Official Election Pamplets (OEP) will soon be arriving in your mailboxes.

Please learn more about the following Alaska Constitution Party candidates.

Here is the info for our Facebook pages: House District 9 – Pam Goode FB: goodeforalaska House District 12 – Karen Perry FB: KarenPerry4AK House District 30 – John Richard Myers FB: J.R.MyersforAlaskaHouse2016 House District 36 – Kenneth Shaw FB: Kenneth-Shaw-for-Alaska-District-36 Please follow us on Facebook page “HAC and SAC” (House Accountability Caucus and Senate Accountability Caucus). There we discuss the issues, track legislators’ performances and work to keep elected representatives account-

Let’s bring back sane fiscal policy and liberty to Alaska.

Let’s retire those perverse to our interests and replace them with fresh, strong and courageous leadership.

As we move forward to tackle the tough issues of FY2018, we vow to listen to our constituents. We refuse to bow to special interests and corrupt, high-pressure leadership. The Alaska Constitution Party will defend your liberties and do all in our power to put Alaska back on a sustainable fiscal path, starting with following the ISER/Goldsmith-Keithley economic model, which determines what part of the general fund the state can afford to spend.

I would appreciate your vote on November 8th!

Karen Perry Candidate House District 12 www.karenperryforalaska.com “It’s not enough to say ‘I don’t intend to break the Constitution’. You either believe in the Constitution or you don’t.”

-Rand Paul Worse than a state income tax, worse than a state sales tax and worse than any of the other fiscal options. For every $1 taken from the PFD, the state economy will lose $1.40.

Contributed by David Eastman As it stands today, the Alaska Legislature and the governor have broken faith with the people. That faith will not return quickly, but for even a portion of it to return over the next two years, the 2016 PFD Restoration Act needs to be one of the first orders of business when the legislature reconvenes. Passage of the bill would restore to Alaskans the portion of this year’s dividend that has been withheld by the government (approximately $1,030 per Alaskan), with dividends arriving on Alaskan doorsteps as early as February.

Yes a lawsuit is being pursued against the withholding of the PFD in the first place. But the outcomes of lawsuits are uncertain, and even a favorable outcome will do nothing to restore trust in a legislature that stood by silently while the governor attempted to slash this year’s PFD to less than half the amount set by state law.

Failure to pay this year’s full dividend is yet another example of Alaska’s failure to meet its obligations. When payments are not made on time, roads are not plowed on time and budgets are not passed on time, Alaskans suffer the

consequences. It only follows that those responsible for the delays should be held to account for their failures as well.

As a current candidate for the state legislature, if I am elected to replace Rep. Wes Keller, I will gladly stand beside Sen. Mike Dunleavy in sponsoring the 2016 PFD Restoration Act in the state house. Four other prospective house members have already expressed interest in doing the same - Rep. Tammie Wilson, Aaron Lojewski, William Weatherby, and Rep. Benjamin Nageak.

That number will grow as current and future legislators take their stand with the people and safeguard what is in their interest, over and above what is in the interest of a state bureaucracy that has outgrown our ability to pay for it.

As a state, we have courted and welcomed government spending to a greater degree than any other state.

We now boast the highest government spending, per capita, of any other. Our own state government now incurs even more government spending in an effort to market to voters the notion that we have done all we can to cut the budget, and now we need to tax the people and curtail the permanent fund dividend.

Truly, there is the world of Juneau and then there is the world in which all the rest of us try to work and live.

In the world of Juneau, the PFD is too big and must be “restructured” so that most of it goes toward future government spending. In the world of Juneau, even while our state is in a recession, we need to tax the people more to pay for the government. In the world of Juneau, the government is what must stay, even if the rest of us eventually have to leave the state for lack of jobs in a shrinking state economy.

The good news is only for those in government it seems. Good news?

In the very midst of the current fiscal crisis, government spending in Alaska is actually higher this year than it was last year. It’s fantastic. At this rate, the private sector will continue to deteriorate and the government sector will only increase its gains. Does anyone, in either sector, see this movie having a happy ending?

Earlier this year, the University of Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) compared the net result to Alaska’s economy of each of the state’s various fiscal options.

ISER concluded that reducing Alaska’s private sector, through reductions in the PFD, had the very worst possible effect on Alaska’s overall state economy than any of the other options studied.

A state income tax would be a terrible idea, just like it’s been a terrible idea for each of the other states who have tried state income taxes in recent years.

Yet even a state income tax would only reduce the state economy $1.30 for every $1 taken.

Throughout his time in office, Rep. Keller spoke very forcefully about the people’s ownership of the permanent fund and the PFD. It does not belong to government. It is not a piggy bank for the government to run to when it has spent all it has and wants more. It belongs to the people.

And I for one, believe the people will much more wisely their money than the government will spend it for them.

If your representatives in the legislature have not yet risen to support the 2016 PFD Restoration Act, perhaps you should suggest that now would be an excellent time for them to do so.

David Eastman is a candidate for the Alaska State House in District 10. He is endorsed by fiscal conservatives such as Brad Keithley, founder of Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets, and social conservatives such as Eagle Forum Alaska and Jack Phelps, founder of the Alaska Private and Home Educators Association (APHEA).

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PETS & ANIMALS

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Contributed by Angie Lewis, President of Alaska Animal Advocates At nine months old, Maddie is a big girl!

This Great Pyrenees is a sweetheart who loves children, dogs and cats. Her current guardian doesn’t have enough time to care for her, and so she finds herself needing a permanent home.

Do you have enough room in your heart for this fabulous young pup?

To learn more about Maddie, please call Angie at Alaska Animal Advocates, at 841-3173.

Contributed by Tracy Smith Animal Care Dispatcher Macy Gray is charming girl. She is quite affectionate with people, but being a cat, it is on her terms.

She does like to sleep in her human’s bed, though she’s not super cuddly.

Macy Gray has previously enjoyed the company of dogs, but has never been around children, only adults.

When it’s nice out, she likes to go play in her catio/yard, and she’s a great mix of playful and lazy. Her favorite snack is tuna and she loves cat treats.

Macy postures herself in a litter box in such a way that she will need a larger size box to accommodate her and avoid litter box misses. A large litter box, possibly covered, that is easy to get in and out of may be best for her.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer, AK 99645 907-746-5500

Contributed by Contributed by Tracy Smith, Mat-Su Borough Animal Care Laurel is an absolutely gorgeous 4 year old golden retriever/chow mix. She came to the shelter as a stray, so we don’t know much about her.

She is treat motivated and knows how to sit. She’s quite engaging with people and is responsive to training.

For a 4 year old, Laurel is full of energy and would make a great dog for an outdoors-loving family. She loves to play and would probably make a good hiker too! She has been curious about other dogs at the shelter. If you have another household dog, we encourage you to bring them in and do a meet and greet to see how they may get along.

Contributed by Tracy Smith, Mat-Su Borough Animal Care James Franco is one handsome guy! He’s about 2 years old. He enjoys pets and scratches, can be quite playful and also quite lazy. He’s fairly silent as most Akita’s are known for, but will let out the occasional bark. James Franco is treat motivated, trainable and knows “sit” and “down”.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer, AK 99645 907-746-5500

Previously, he lived with small children and did very well with them. He should not however, be in a home with any small animals or cats. In general he does well with submissive dogs, but James is picky about his dog friends and does not get along with all dogs.

Contributed by Angie Lewis, President of Alaska Animal Advocates

He is house-trained, but has separation anxiety and can be destructive in the home when he’s alone if he hasn’t gotten enough attention or exercise.

Although many people would love to help homeless animals, they are not always sure of where to begin. The problem of animal rescue can seem insurmountable and a very difficult challenge to deal with.

Fairly recently, he was given a haircut and his fur is growing back in slowly. James Franco would love a family that can appreciate his Akita traits.

Luckily, there are a number of local rescue groups that have already done the difficult work of building a foundation to address the needs of homeless animals.

These groups can be found on social media, through word of mouth, recommended by veterinarians or local pet supply stores. Once you have found a reputable non-profit rescue group, make an appointment to speak with a representative of the organization.

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Shelter 9470 E. Chanlyut Circle, Palmer, AK 99645 907-746-5500

Figure out your skill set and where you might be most helpful to the

SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENTS & ARTICLES ON OUR WEBSITE

PETS & ANIMALS / COMMUNITY organization and in which capacity you would be comfortable and productive in directing your volunteering efforts.

Together, you can determine the group’s primary needs. These are just some of the many ways in which you could be helpful to meet a rescue organization’s mission.

Foster a Homeless Animal: Many rescue groups provide food, treats, crates, blankets, bowls, etc.

Medical and training needs are addressed by rescue organizations.

You provide the love.

Foster Coordinator: Find foster homes for rescued animals.

Maintain contact with foster homes to

Contributed by Barbara Gerard 2nd Annual Holiday Bazaar 11/12/2016 - 10AM-5PM Academy Charter School, Palmer FREE Admission Each year Academy Charter School is fortunate enough to send their 8th grade class to Washington D.C. to immerse students in the culture and history of our nation. In order to finance this wonderful learning opportunity, we hold multiple fundraisers during the year supported by the 8th grade class and many of our Academy students, staff and families.

The time we spent in Washington D.C was a priceless experience where we learned about our government, our

Contributed by Mary Scheie, Just Imagine Toys 7th Annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day 11/12/2016 – All Day Just Imagine Toys, Wasilla FREE Admission

meet their needs.

Adoption Clinic Volunteer: > Contact foster families to bring animals to clinic/Pick up. > Set Up/Take Down > Animal Care > Assist Potential Adopters Grant Writers: > Work with Board of Directors > Research Available Grants > Write Grants Transporting Animals or Supplies: > If you have a vehicle, you can help with picking up animals from the airport, veterinarian, groomer or trainer. > Pick up or drop off pet food, crates, bedding, etc.

history and above all, the price our nation has paid to have freedom. Going through the monuments at the National Mall has taught us the story of American heroes through our own eyes, and has given us the ability to grasp the vast concepts that this nation was founded upon. Among some of the most impactful places we visited were the Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Library of Congress because they provided us with insightful knowledge about how our government functions today. Each and every monument we visited has its own story to tell about the morals and ideals our country stands for today. This was a very enlightening and uplifting experience to see the heart of our nation’s history. The learning we experienced during our visit to Washington D.C. will remain as indispensable tools in our ev-

These days, those in the know “shop local” to support the environment and their community alike.

On Saturday, November 12, Just Imagine Toys will join hundreds of locally owned stores across the country to celebrate the seventh national Neighborhood Toy Store Day, an annual celebration in which independent toy shops kick off the holiday season with special events to introduce consumers to the benefits of shopping local. Just Imagine Toys will offer fun, child-friendly activities such as games, an art project and entering to win their favorite toy on our Best Toys for Kids wall.

“Specialty toy store owners are the real experts when it comes to choosing toys for kids,” said Kimberly Mosley, President

Special Events/Fundraisers: > Auctions > Super Adoption Events > Dog Walks > Holiday Events Marketing – Spread the Word: > Share adoption profiles, fundraising events, and organizational needs on social media. > Hang up fliers – Adoption events, animals available for adoption and fostering requests Special Talents: > Office Work/Computer/Technology – Website, Facebook, maintain spreadsheet, maintain licensing requirements > Crafty Folks – Create homemade toys, pet clothing, “Adopt me” vests > Accountants – Help with accounting paperwork, provide statements

eryday lives when it comes to making moral judgements, casting our ballot and being grateful for the liberties and freedoms Americans possesses.

For this generation, it is becoming increasingly important to appreciate the freedoms, liberties and basic building blocks our country was founded upon, especially in this time of division throughout our nation. I’m immensely grateful for the hard work our principal, teachers, families and community have given to make this learning experience a reality.

Coming up on Saturday, November 12th, we are hosting our 2nd Annual Holiday Bazaar at Academy Charter School from 10AM to 5PM. Come on down because this is the perfect opporof the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local toy shopping and creative open-ended playtime for children. “These store owners spend time with kids day in and day out. They understand the value of play, and what types of toys will truly engage children.”

As a result, neighborhood toy stores offer a carefully curated product selection and provide trusted recommendations on quality toys that offer good value.

Because they needn’t adhere to a national sales plan like major chains, they can customize their offerings to specific community needs.

And because they source products from both big-brand manufacturers and small, entrepreneurial companies, they introduce children to a world of toys that often, can’t be found elsewhere.

COMMUNITY

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> Lawyers – Stay on top of legal forms, contracts, etc. > Photographers – Take photos of adoptable animals, events, and adoption clinics > Veterinarians/Vet Techs – Surgeries, medical care, discounts, medicines, etc. > Carpenters/Plumbers/Handymen – Repairs, projects, events, etc. > Trainers – Provide positive behavioral training (clicker, BAT) > Groomers – Provide grooming services for animals These are just some of the many volunteer opportunities available - the possibilities are limitless.

Choose the most appropriate venue for volunteering and decide the amount of time you are willing to help out.

Get involved! Save a life. tunity to find a Christmas gift for a loved one, or to browse around our unique selection of holiday crafts. Here you can find whatever your heart desires, ranging from hand carved bowls to steampunk jewelry, but the thing that makes this bazaar stand out is the collaborative teamwork done by our 8th grade class to make your time here more than a shopping experience.

By participating in our bazaar on November 12th, you are supporting the future generations and ensuring students will be able to seize the great learning opportunities this trip brings for years to come.

We hope you walk away from this bazaar with a cool craft, but also with the knowledge that you’re supporting the generation of tomorrow to become brave leaders and productive members of society.

“Local stores also make holiday toy shopping easier, by offering a personalized approach and customer service that contrasts with the experience of shopping large retailers,“ said Mary Scheie, Owner of Just Imagine Toys.

In addition, shopping locally supports the community by creating jobs and preserving neighborhoods. Compared to chain stores, independent local businesses put a significantly larger share of revenue back into the local economy in the form of taxes, salaries and more.

They also support environmental sustainability, by helping to maintain vibrant, walkable town centers, essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

For more information on Neighborhood Toy Store day, visit ASTRA at www.astratoy.org/ntsd

COMMUNITY Contributed by Debra McGhan Snow Fest 11/5/2016 – 11AM Anchorage Loussac Public Library FREE Event Whether you ride the Polaris AXYS ProRMK, snowmobile reviewers pick of the year for mountain sleds, or the most improved Arctic Cat M8000, or how about the Ski Doo XM Summit or mighty fourstroke Yamaha M-TX-LE, powder riding in the mountains is the stuff snowmachiners dream and drool over.

But before you hit the slopes or the trails, remember that November is Avalanche Awareness Education month.

Brenda Smart, Patsy Coyne, and Janet Tally all have one thing in common: They are mothers who lost a child in an avalanche in Hatcher Pass, Alaska.

And they are not alone. There have been

COMMUNITY

eight fatalities in Hatcher Pass from avalanches in the past 10 years. Alaska has had 49 people lost in snow slides since 2000. That’s an average of about four people every year. There were six fatalities during the 2015-2016 season.

Sons, daughters, wives, husbands, friends… All people that set out for a fun day of snow adventures and never got to come home to ride another day.

It was 30 years ago when I lost my husband, Bruce, after a frozen slope collapsed and buried him. He died from severe trauma and the only thing that likely could have saved his life was more awareness and education about the potential hazards.

When my children grew to be teenagers and were riding snowmachines, skiing and boarding in the mountains around Alaska from Hatcher Pass to Thompson Pass, I realized that it was often just a lack of knowledge that killed people in avalanches. They were all just in the wrong place at the right time.

new beers on an ongoing basis in out taproom.

Contributed by June Geteisen, Arkose Brewery Five years ago in October 2011, Arkose Brewery opened its doors for the first time in Palmer at 650 E. Steel Loop.

As Palmer’s very first brewery, we have played an instrumental role since that time in shaping the craft brewing industry in the Mat-Su Valley through ongoing education, events and tastings. Mat-Su Valley residents are passionate about craft beer, and it seems we have started a trend with more and more breweries choosing the Valley as their home.

We take great pride in our craft and strive to offer a wide variety of beer styles to please every palate. With usually nine beers on tap, all brewed at our facility right here in Palmer, the public has the opportunity to sample

We began distributing beer in kegs shortly after we opened and over the past year we have been busy bottling and distributing in 22 oz bottles throughout the entire state of Alaska, so we not only have a presence in the Valley, but all over from Juneau, to Fairbanks, to the Peninsula.

Our brewery has evolved quite a bit since our humble beginnings. We have tripled our brewing capacity and hired a full-time assistant brewer and beer ambassador, Anthony Origer. You’ve probably seen him at the brewery or at many of the events held throughout the year.

We are also grateful to the occasional and invaluable part-time work from Pete LaFrance and Dave Rector. Hiring plans are in the works as we hope to employ more talent in the next year.

We appreciate the support from all of those who visit our taproom, buy our packaged product and demand we be on tap at their local restaurants, pubs and liquor stores. It is your support

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Since 2004, I have been on a mission to help make snow safety knowledge common place and available to everyone.

Today I serve as the director of the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, working every day to get this information out to the public. Thanks to a grant from the Alaska Community Foundation, we now have a website AlaskaSnow.org where you’ll find a wealth of information on snow and weather conditions. You’ll also find routinely updated forecasts, observations, safety tips and training opportunities.

lanche School and a host of snowmobile vendors, sport shops and more.

On Saturday, November 5th you can also take part in the annual Snow Fest!

It’s a day of free educational training, gear demonstrations, new equipment displays, video premieres and all things snow from 11am to 3pm at the Anchorage Loussac Public Library.

This winter, start your season out right by tuning up on your mountain travel skills, checking out the new technology available, and learning everything you can to avoid having your mother, wife, husband and friends endure the toughest of lessons in life.

This program is made possible thanks to support from AARP Alaska, the Alaska Avalanche Information Center, the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center, the Alaska Ava-

Take the time to get educated so you can live to ride another day.

that has gotten us to where we are today and we look forward to further evolving and growing to support that demand. Thank you for supporting your local brewery! We want to give a special thanks to JB Chocolatier, Palmer Museum & Visitor Center, Greater Palmer Chamber, Mat-Su Convention & Visitor Bureau, Pho Nora Food Truck and Percussion in the Valley all of whom have been unwavering supporters and partners.

bring their portable grill and offer their amazing pizza right here at the brewery.

We brew for all of you and invite you to help us celebrate five years of beer with the following events: Friday, Oct 21st Anniversary Beer Meets Chocolate, 6 p.m. $25. Special Arkose chocolate will be handcrafted by local JB Chocolatier.

Attend for a chance to win a free “Arkose Handcrafted” logo mug. Sign-up online at Eventbrite.com or call 746-2337. Must reserve in advance. 21 years and over.

Come early and have pizza first from Humdinger’s! Beer, pizza and chocolate?

Don’t miss this!

Humdinger’s Gourmet Pizza by the slice! 5 - 7 p.m. (weather permitting). We are super excited to have Humdinger’s

Learn more at AlaskaSnow.org 907-255-2242.

Mandarina Moose IPA Brew Debut at the brewery beginning at noon. German Mandarina Bavaria hops and grapefruit add just the right amount of fierce brightness to this IPA to remind us that beers like this are great any time of year.

Saturdays, Oct 15th, 22nd & 29th 3-Day Community Drum Workshop, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. $45. We are excited to be partnering with Percussion in the Valley for this special workshop. Includes instruction and beer! Call 907-631-8079 to reserve. 21 years and over.

Tasty Thursday, Oct 20th Small Batch Peanut Butter Porter + Pho Nora Food Truck at 5:30 (weather permitting) Tasty Thursday, Oct 27th Small Batch Gingerbread Ale + Pho Nora Food Truck at 5:30 (weather permitting)

Arkose Beer at Events this Month Saturday Oct 15: Palmer on Parade Auction & Dinner, 6 p.m.

Palmer Senior Center Saturday Oct 29: Mighty Monster Boo Fest at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.