The People's Paper October 2024

INSIDE THIS EDITION:

From Darkness to Light: The Power of Shabbat and Holiday Candles

Contributed by

Rabbi Mendy Greenberg Jewish communities worldwide will celebrate Simchat Torah, the most joyous holiday of the year, on October 24th and 25th. This festival marks the culmination of a season filled with significant holidays, starting with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, followed by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, which begins at sundown on October 16th.

Simchat Torah celebrates the annual cycle of Torah readings, encompassing the five books of Moses divided into 54 portions, read each Shabbat. The holiday concludes this cycle, prompting us to begin anew, as the pursuit of divine wisdom is never-ending. Each year deepens our appreciation and understanding of the Torah.

The observance of this holiday includes joyful dancing in synagogues and the streets while holding closed Torah scrolls, wrapped in their covers. This symbolizes the Jewish people’s inherent connection to the Torah, transcending differences in knowledge and understanding.

Last year, Simchat Torah fell on October 7, 2023, and was overshadowed by tragedy, as terrorists launched the most devastating attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. As we approach the anniversary on the Jewish calendar, we reflect on how we can support Jewish communities worldwide, especially those in the holy land of Israel, in their efforts to protect themselves against forces of darkness.

Every illness has symptoms and root causes. The events of October 7 represent a symptom, and while we must take physical protective measures led by the IDF and allied nations, the root cause lies in a spiritual battle between good and evil. Darkness is combated not only with physical weapons but also by illuminating the world through positive thoughts, words, and actions—mitzvot—that bring holy energy and light.

Though our limited senses may not perceive the light generated by our good deeds, some actions have visible impacts. One such mitzvah is the lighting of Shabbat and holiday candles. Every Shabbat and holiday begins 18 minutes before sundown, when Jewish women and girls light candles and recite a blessing, ushering in the sanctity of the occasion. Each candle lit adds to the physical and spiritual light in our world.

Fifty years ago, following the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Jewish spiritual leader of our generation, initiated a campaign to raise awareness of this cherished tradition. He emphasized the importance of Jewish women and girls lighting Shabbat and holiday candles to combat the increasing darkness in our world. Since then, millions have embraced this practice, making our world a brighter and better place.

Before lighting the candles, women and girls contribute to charity, bringing light and warmth to those in need. This practice underscores the importance of charity, reminding us that everyone—whether Jewish or not, adult or child—can make a difference. Giving to charity daily, even a small amount, helps create a kinder, holier world.

This year, as we commemorate the tragic events of October 7, there is no better time to renew awareness of this vital mitzvah in the fight against conflict and hatred.

In Jewish tradition, the number three holds significant meaning, known as “Chazaka.” Actions or customs are deemed established after being observed three times. This year, three of the four holidays ushering in the new year of 5785 begin on Wednesday evening, leading directly into Shabbat on Friday night and Saturday. The significance of lighting candles for three consecutive nights emphasizes the power of these actions to increase light and positivity at the start of the year.

Let us embrace this opportunity to shine brighter together. As we stand tall and proud of our identity and values, may we strengthen our faith and trust in G- d, who has always watched over us and will continue to protect us. Through the lighting of candles, may we chase away any remnants of darkness and evil, bringing about the ultimate light of redemption with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our time.

Please see page 7 for the appropriate candle lighting times in Palmer, Alaska, and the

Paid for by Elect Edna, 1025

Woodstock Palmer, AK 99645

ednadevries com

Valley Fiber Arts Guild Annual November Sale

For over 20 years the VFAG has welcomed the public to this one-day sale featuring all hand-crafted items made by members of the guild. Year after year many people return to purchase the quality handcrafted gifts and holiday items

socks, sweaters, etc.); jewelry; children’s toys; small gifts and holiday décor; pottery; woodwork, and more…

This sale was originally started not only as a way for members to sell the abundance of items they have made; but also,

Kung Fu from the Last Airbender Coming to Alaska

Contributed by Kendall Stewart Alaska!! Sifu Kisu Stars is coming to Alaska on December 7th to share his passion of Kung Fu with you. You have an opportunity to learn from the Master! Meet the man behind the Kung fu!

Sifu Kisu is a martial arts expert best known for his role as the martial arts consultant for the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He was instrumental in developing the authentic fighting styles for the show’s characters. Each bending

style in the series (Earthbending, Firebending, Waterbending, and Airbending) was based on real-world Chinese martial arts, and Sifu Kisu helped to choreograph the movements and techniques to reflect these styles accurately.

Kisu is a practitioner of Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, which he has studied extensively for decades. His expertise in this and other traditional martial arts, including Tai Chi and Hung Gar, was critical in ensuring that the bending styles in the series had

a distinct, disciplined, and realistic feel. His work helped contribute to the cultural richness and depth of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Avatar: The Last Airbender used Kung Fu and the imagination to create a oncein-a-lifetime story. This story focuses on 4 different martial arts styles and 4 different bending styles. The four Kung Fu styles are: Air: Bagua, Water: Tai Chi, Fire: Northern Shaolin, Earth: Hung Ga. Wing Chun Alaska is bringing Sifu Kisu

to Anchorage to share his amazing Kung fu. Don’t miss your chance to become a part of the magic that shaped our culture. Oh yeah, and you will learn some cool Kung Fu. If you are a business, there is sponsorship opportunities, or you can sponsor a kid to participate. Please reach out to wingchunalaska@ gmail.com to find out more.

END OF YEAR BLOW OUT SALE

Dozens of Trees to Be Removed from Matanuska River Park After Federal Airport Funding Ultimatum

Bushatz

Contributed by Amy

Palmer officials must remove dozens of old-growth trees from Matanuska River Park and two city properties or lose millions in federal airport funding.

The trees pose a safety hazard to pilots landing at the nearby Palmer Airport and will be cut down by the end of October following a recent ultimatum from the Federal Aviation Administration, Palmer officials said.

The trees slated for removal include about 30 cottonwoods just inside the entrance to the 62-acre, borough-owned Matanuska River Park on the Old Glenn Highway, several on the Palmer Golf Course near the Matanuska River, and one in the Palmer Arboretum west of the airport.

Crews will chip the wood and grind the stumps, and replacement trees will be planted next year, Palmer Manager Stephen Jellie said. A webpage currently under development will provide clear information about which trees will be cut from the park before the project starts, borough officials said.

At issue is a vertical path aircraft use to reach the runway, known as a glideslope. To keep the airport’s 5,509foot runway operational under Federal Aviation Administration standards, officials must maintain a 5%, or 20-to-1, glideslope, said Airport Manager John Diumenti. The problem trees encroach on that slope, creating a safety issue for pilots as they navigate around or just above the treetops.

Palmer Airport officials were told of the removal demand during a meeting with FAA grant officials this summer, Diumenti said.

“They said, ‘If you don’t clear your approaches, we’re not going to fund the airport moving forward,’” Diumenti said. “I was kind of in shock.”

The city-run Palmer Airport relies heavily on federal funding for infrastruc-

ture projects, with millions expected in the coming years to overhaul runway lights and repair pavement. Since 2017, about 95% of the airport’s $20 million in improvements have been funded by FAA grants, according to city data.

Palmer’s airport, the largest in Mat-Su, hosts the region’s federal and state wildfire-fighting operations, including the U.S. Forest Service’s Convair 580, used for aerial firefighting.

While the trees identified for removal have long been a concern — some extend as much as 12 feet into the glide path, borough officials said — they weren’t removed earlier because the FAA hadn’t enforced the requirement and because previous airport managers and the borough couldn’t agree on the scope of the project, Diumenti said. He has managed the airport for about a year.

Trees at the Matanuska River Park pictured Sept. 27, 2024 just to the left of this Palmer Airport runway extend into the approach path and pose a pilot safety risk, officials said. (Amy Bushatz/ Mat-Su Sentinel) Unlike previous proposals, such as a 2021 plan that would have affected as many as 300 trees, the current project focuses only on preserving the runway as is, not extending its usable length, Diumenti said.

The Matanuska River Park project will proceed under an agreement between the borough and Palmer that limits removal to the problem trees. The golf course and arboretum projects do not require borough approval because they are on city property, officials said.

Borough officials said they are motivated to allow the removals to proceed. Blocking the project would create a safety issue for park users, who could be seriously injured if an aircraft strikes a tree that is too tall, said Jillian Morrisey, the borough’s community development director.

“We need to mitigate the risk for our user group — that’s our priority right now,” she said.

While only certain trees will be removed for now, Morrisey said she plans to work with the city to identify trees that could encroach in the future, allowing for a more streamlined management process later.

A planned borough website will include a map and other information about current and future projects, she said.

Some members of the borough’s Parks, Recreation and Trails Advisory Board are concerned that the plan has not received proper oversight or public input. They said they were first notified of the potential project in late August, then told in mid-September that it had been approved and scheduled. They have not had a chance to review which trees are slated for removal, they said.

“I don’t want to set a precedent where the Palmer airport manager calls the community development director and says, ‘Hey, I need these trees to come down,’” said James Jones, who chairs the board. “At what level is a borough employee able to just say, ‘OK, I don’t want that there anymore,’ and then the public shows up, and it’s gone?”

The tree removal project comes as city officials also look for ways to make the airport self-sustaining. While federal grants pay for the airport’s infrastructure, its operating costs are covered by a combination of user fees and city funds.

Jellie said he plans to present information ahead of the 2025 budget discussions on how the airport could operate without city funding. That could include fee increases for airport users, he said at a City Council meeting last month.

“My ultimate intent is to show how these systems can operate without subsidies from the general fund,” he said.

Contact Amy Bushatz at abushatz@ matsusentinel.com.

An airplane heads for a landing at the Palmer Airport after passing over Matanuska River Park on Sept. 27, 2024. (Amy Bushatz/Mat-Su Sentinel)

Baby Toy’s

COMMUNITY

The Bright Lights Book Project: Enjoying (Train) Ride

Contributed by Alys Culhane

Passing books on to children from the saddle bags of my packhorse during the Alaska State Fair parade was the beginning of the 2024 Alaska State Fair festivities. Beforehand, I wrote “The End” on the white splotch on my pack mare Hrimfara’s butt. I later realized that I should have written, “The Beginning,” because this was the onset of the fair.

When the subject of the Alaska State Fair previously materialized, I rolled my eyes because I equated it with crowds, noise, traffic congestion, and overconsumption of food and beverages. And this year, again, there were crowds, noise, traffic congestion, overconsumption of food and beverages.

This year I realized that you need to pay attention when attending the Alaska State Fair and seek out that which is truly special. I became aware of this as Pete (husband) and I, on a daily basis, stocked 10 repurposed Bright Lights Book Project newspaper boxes with books and filled Alaska State Fair recycling carts with recyclables.

The center area, where the fair trails converge was where I came to the above realization. There, at the center was a train, one that complemented the fair theme, “Enjoy the ride.” I was so taken by this display that I talked with Alaska State Fair Head Gardener Becky Myrold about its creation. She said that the “enjoy the ride” theme, and the ASF administrators’ wish, that the actual train come to the fair, provided her with the impetus to create a plant-based display, one that, said Becky, “was like the Rose Bowl Parade.”

Becky drew the design, then it went to the shop where it was turned into something “much, much larger than I ever dreamed of.” She added that the guys made the train frame of sheet metal and built themselves a real train.

Becky’s mind went into overdrive as she first envisioned, then began creating, the Whistle Stop passenger list, which when complete consisted of Kirk the Moose, Lewis the Walrus, Sadie

Puffin, Polly Porcupine, Martin Musk Ox.

Cindy Lou, the Fox, ran alongside. Agnes Owl, The Engineer, took care of the details of driving a train. And the conductor was Riley Coyote, who just wanted everyone to have a howling good time.

To say that creating the Whistle Stop train and crew was a challenge is an understatement. For example, Becky had to figure out how she’d keep her display watered. The plants were in a six-inch wide trough, so they had limited access to water. The inside of the train would be too heavy if it was all soil. So, she devised long tubes with holes in them that she placed at strategic locations so that the water would get to the bottom rows of plants.

Becky further noted that the shop workers put the pipes in but did not put bottoms on the pipes, so when she poured water in, instead of the pipe filling with water then slowing percolating out to the plants, the water gushed out the bottom, thereby wiping out the bottom row of plants and potentially causing all the soil to flow out the bottom. The gardening crew took moss mixed with soil and crammed it down the pipes to hold some of the water in.

The travails that centered around bringing Kirk the Moose to life, and as well keeping him alive, were equally as challenging as figuring out how to keep the plants watered. Becky revealed that she was new to using seeds, cones etc. on frames and therefore struggled to find the right kind of glue. Kirk’s fur was made of spruce cones, gathered by Becky on winter walks. Her gardening crew “painstakingly” hot glued them on, one by one, but this was not the answer.

Becky watered all the animals when they were housed in the greenhouse construction area in part because she wanted to make sure that any disaster that might happen, would happen before the animals were on display. Alas, when she watered Kirk, cones fell off here and there.

The Sunday before opening week, Becky went to Spenard Builder’s Supply

Youth 360 September Helpful Hero

Contributed by Angel and Jovan Archuleta

September has been a month full of hearing stories about new sport accomplishments, continued issues darkening steps, and a mix of hesitant “sure I’ll try I guess” and dirty looks. Attendance dropped a bit, but volunteers showed to help with e-sports, crafts, thank you projects, and to share fun stories. Once again, we had youth nominate and pick one of their peers as the Helpful Hero of the Month.

The September HH is actually home schooled. HH enjoys their time at Youth 360 and is grateful for the opportunity “to get out of the house to meet other teens and socialize”. They were once in public school and had started their time with Youth 360 then. When first transitioning to the home school environment, they stopped attending, then began again last year.

When asked what they liked about coming to Youth, they replied “all this” as they swept their arm pointing to the

and bought construction gorilla glue and applied it to the top of Kirk’s head –“just a few spots to see if it would hold.” She discovered that gorilla glue comes in expanding formulas. Kirk’s face was a boiling mass of yellow bubbling gorilla glue. She tried scraping and removing the glue, and both ruined her clothes and glued her hands together. Becky recalled, “Here I was, by myself, one day before the train and animals were scheduled to go out on the grounds, and I had just destroyed Kirk.”

What was meant to be a quick halfhour visit to check on things became a 6-hour ordeal. Becky pulled Kirk’s face off, and one of his hooves as the glue had dripped down onto and destroyed the coffee beans. She said, “One by one, I took another glue, one I had purchased from Amazon, and carefully glued new spruce cones on Kirk’s face.” Luckily, she had gathered MANY! “Yup, his hoof, carefully, one-by-one I replaced every coffee bean my crew had carefully put in place.” Hours later, Kirk had a new face and hoof, which she sprayed repeatedly with Varathane. She didn’t have enough time to test the new glue. It held. Becky said she walked by that train every day with fear in her heart that one rainy morning, she’d find Kirk’s face lying on the tracks. She paused before adding, “I probably would have removed him and put little Cindy Lou Fox in the window.”

In the end, the Whistlestop passengers and train crew were on hand to greet ASF goers. This included those like me, who in seeing Becky’s creation, found special meaning in the theme, “enjoy the ride.”

schedule, a game going on, and other teens sitting back and watching, adding “even if I don’t use (activities and information staff provide) It’s good to know it’s here”. As described by peers: HH is always positive and patient with others. If someone is having trouble understanding, they will patiently explain and help them to better understand. They are kind to everyone, and even if they don’t get along with someone, they will still show respect. If someone needs assistance, HH is willing to jump up to be a helping hand. Whenever they are around, people light up. “HH brings joy into a room”.

New Battery Storage System to Benefit MEA Co-Op Members

Contributed by Jennifer Castro, MEA

Today, representatives from Chugach Electric Association, Inc. (Chugach), Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. (MEA), the Alaska Energy Authority, state lawmakers, and other officials gathered to celebrate the commissioning of the new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Chugach’s south campus.

The BESS, a 40-megawatt, two-hour storage system, is co-owned by Chugach (75%) and MEA (25%). Situated near Chugach’s Southcentral Power Project, the system consists of 24 Tesla Megapack modules. It is set to bring significant benefits to the Railbelt’s electric grid.

“The BESS enhances system flexibility, boosts reliability, saves fuel, and brings

cutting-edge technology to the Railbelt,” said Chugach CEO Arthur Miller. “It’s a crucial step as we work to diversify power generation and create a more dynamic system.”

“We’re excited to see this project contribute to our region’s energy future,” said MEA CEO Tony Izzo. “We understand that reliability of power is the number one priority for our co-op members, and this initiative will improve power quality from the Bradley Lake Hydro project while reducing costs and increasing generation options for the entire region.”

The BESS will serve as a backup resource for both Chugach and MEA during disturbances, such as transmission line interruptions, generation issues, or other load shed events. It can

instantly respond to power disruptions, injecting or absorbing power as needed to stabilize the grid. It will also increase the resiliency of the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project, which benefits the Railbelt.

Another advantage of the BESS is its ability to reduce reliance on spinning reserve—capacity that must currently be kept in reserve on natural gas and hydro generators. By moving spinning reserves to the BESS from existing generators, the system is projected to lower natural gas consumption by about 5% annually for both Chugach and MEA.

The $65 million project may also qualify for Investment Tax Credits. The current BESS footprint allows for potential future expansion of up to 70 megawatts.

Alaska Warrior Partnership's mission is to Empower Alaska to Empower Veterans. www.alaskawarriorpartnership.org

Our Commitment

The Alaska Warrior Partnership™ (AKWP) is committed to improving veterans' quality of life in the state of Alaska through the coordination of local services and opportunities; from housing and employment to enrollment in VA ebenefits, healthcare, recreation, and more.

WARRIORS’ CORNER

Our Goals

The goal of The Alaska Warrior Partnership™ (AKWP) is to build a partnership of local Alaskan resources, improve the quality of life for all veterans, their families, and caregivers, and end veteran suicide. More info available at alaskawarriorpartnership.org or 907-312-7229.

Alaska Warrior Partnership: Helping Veterans Survive Winter

Contributed by Alaska Warrior Partnership

Last year, Alaska resident and Army veteran Jessy Lakin found a veteran snowed into his home with no firewood or heat, inches away from death.

With every piece of clothing in his cabin on his body, and his dog curled up on the inside of his jacket, it took four hours to thaw the man out and get him to the emergency room. This is just one of the many problems the veteran community deals with in those freezing winter months in Alaska. “There are so many vets in our community that need help, and not just in the winter months,” Lakin said. “It’s so much greater than that.”

Alaska has the highest veteran population per capita in the country, with more than 62,000 calling the state home and, despite their sacrifice serving the country, many veterans end up falling through the cracks as they age and have higher needs.

The Alaska Warrior Partnership is working to tend to those growing needs of veterans.

Whether it be health care, housing, employment, recreation or enrollment in VA benefits, the nonprofit’s goal is to ensure veterans access to as many resources possible.

As part of its new Winter Preparedness

Project, the Alaska Warrior Partnership also provides veterans in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough the resources they need to survive the long harsh winter months.

The program provides veterans in need with firewood delivery, snow removal services and peer-to-peer camaraderie during the isolating winter months.

“It’s about people working together; vets helping vets,” said Lakin, Alaska Warrior Partnership's program lead. “The younger vets are supporting the older vets in the community.”

Lakin said the nonprofit is made up of volunteers, who last year alone helped more than 500 people, whether it was connecting them to their VA benefits, senior living programs, housing programs or Meals on Wheels.

He gave the example of a time where he found a couple living in a trailer without heat, using their car heater to stay warm.

“Imagine having to be in your car 90 percent of the time to keep warm,” Lakin said. “So we got them some firewood and 48 hours later got them into a housing program and an apartment to live in.”

The Alaska Warrior Partnership focuses on empowering veterans through

Wasilla-Knik

Contributed by

Dan

Carney

As fall continues to fall and the termination dust slowly creeps down the mountain slopes, the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society is gearing up for their annual Alaska Day Dinner once again. With a marked increase in participation in the past couple of years, we have outgrown all past venues, and this year the event will be held at the Palmer Train Depot on Saturday, October 19, 2024. The doors will open at 4:30. This event has been a long-standing tradition for the WKHS and has served as a fund raising- social gathering to bring locals together to reconnect, enjoy quality food and drink, and bid on locally produced desserts from old Valley family recipes. These items cannot be found in the

grocery store or the local bakeries. These secret family recipes cannot be found in books or online. There is not only competition on the bidding, but also a behind the scenes competition between those crafting these delicacies, as they all vie for the Betty Crocker Award, which is given each year to the one who’s dessert sells for the most money.

Last year the prize went to Florene Carney of Wasilla. In years past there has been fierce bidding for Marion Romano’s cookies from the recipe of Vivian Teeland, and Naomi Nelsons infamous fudge. The winner of the Betty Crocker award receives a complimentary 2025 Family Membership to WKHS, as well as 2 free tickets to next year’s dinner event, and a coveted trophy. Also, the Most Valuable Supporter award

connections, education, advocacy and collaboration with other veterans, their families, caregivers and the communities that support them.

The national program's mission also has a larger emphasis on preventing veteran suicide, according to their website.

“The idea with the Alaska Warrior Partnership is that together, Alaska can be better,” Lakin said. “When everyone works together we will do better; we will empower Alaska to empower vets.”

There are around 247 partners across the state, including nonprofits, for-profits and state agencies, working towards giving veterans a better life.

Recently, the Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded a $49,610 grant to hire a Mat-Su outreach specialist to help the nonprofit connect with more veterans in need.

“It’s crazy to me, people say I should feel so much pride for everything I’m doing but to me it’s like, what more can I do?” He said. “Where am I not looking? There are so many out there that need this help.”

Although the nonprofit receives some grants and sponsorships, it’s not been enough.

“To run a successful and effective team, the nonprofit needs $60,000 minimum and right now we are trying to do it all

for $10,000,” Larkin said. “But we made it work because there is no ‘no’ in our vocabulary.” last year the program rendered 521 services, 37 were veterans that were categorized as Tier 1 veterans meaning they were just moments away from death if service wasn't provided. The most motivating stat is that they graduated 17 veterans off of the program by connecting them with programs in the community that made them more self-sufficient. This year, the nonprofit is moving up from using snowblowers to renting plow trucks during the winter, but Lakin hopes to eventually buy trucks.

He added that he hopes the future for the Alaska Warrior Partnership continues to grow and be a part of communities across the state.

“There’s so much more work to be done and I hope we can continue to expand further across the state and be able to grow a stronger community for our veterans,” Lakin said. “It would be so nice to continue to see the younger community give back to the older community.”

For more information on the Alaska Warrior Partnership or to donate to the cause, please visit WWW.alaskawarriorpartnership.org or scan this qr code If you need assistance this winter, please contact us as soon as possible.

goes to the person who spends the most over the course of the evening, and they will receive 2 free dinner tickets to next year’s dinner, along with a Lifetime Family Membership, and a fashionable trophy. Anyone who wants to participate and donate items for the Auction can notify the WKHS crew at knikmuseum@gmail. com. We appreciate desserts as well as other donations for the live auction.

This year, once again Marion Romano and her crew from Nonna’s restaurant in Wasilla will provide a delicious buffet-style prime rib dinner. There will be a wine and beer bar, snacks, door prizes and a silent auction. The live auction will not only include desserts, but other non-food items of Alaskan interest as well.

Our key-note speaker this year will be local

Eaglexit-Last Man Standing Raffle

Historian Kevin Toothaker. His presentation will include stories of Shem Pete, and the history of the Upper Dena’ina people. Kevin’s presentation will provide a fascinating and little-known glimpse into the history of Indigenous people of the region. Doors open at 4:30 for the Meet and Greet, so come on down early to reconnect with old friends and family and settle in for a night of fun. The Auction begins at 6:00. Dinner will begin at 7:00pm, followed by the presentation by Mr. Toothacher. Tickets are $55.00 and they are going fast. They can be purchased at Nona’s Osteria in Wasilla, or from any WKHS board member. Or email KnikMuseum@gmail. com or leave a message at 907-376-7755 and someone will coordinate with you.

COMMUNITY

Discover Nordic Skiing and Year-Round Fun in the Valley with the Mat-Su Ski Club

Contributed by Marla

Jakab

Curious about Nordic skiing? Whether you’re a beginner eager to hit the trails or a seasoned ver looking for your next adventure, the Mat-Su Ski Club is here to help! As a local non-profit, we groom trails, host events, and offer programs for all skill levels across the Mat-Su Valley. Here’s what we’re all about:

Trail Grooming Across the Valley

Our volunteer team maintains several beautiful trail systems, providing groomed trails for both skiers and multi-use activities. GPRA (Government Peak Recreation Area): Located at the top of Mountain Trails Drive in Palmer, GPRA offers a variety of trails, from family-friendly loops to competition-level skiing. It’s the only spot in the valley with ski-only trails. Archangel Road and Independence Mine: Perfect for beginners, Archangel Road offers multiuse trails near mile 14.4 on Hatcher Pass Road. For those seeking a challenge, head to Independence Mine at the end of the road, where a steep incline awaits. Moose Range: With trailheads at Wendt and Murphy Roads in Palmer, these rolling hills and winding paths offer a scenic skiing or biking experience. New Grooming Location: Keep an eye out for new trails in the Lazy Mountain and Knik areas this season! Please remember to follow trail etiquette, respect signage, and stay off private property. Your support helps us maintain these

trails year-round. Alaska is unique in not requiring a ski pass for Nordic trails, but we rely on memberships and donations to keep grooming going!

Where to Find Information

Visit us at http://www.matsuski.org or scan the QR code in this article for trail maps and updates. We use Nordic Pulse for real-time grooming reports, weather updates, and even web cameras so you can check conditions before heading out. Programs, Events, and Races for All Ages. Our offerings are designed for everyone, from kids to retirees. We provide beginner lessons for kids through our Junior Nordics program, and adults can learn through Ski 101 and Adult Lessons.

For advancing skiers, Mat-Su Nordic offers year-round training for ages 8 through retirement, supporting both non-competitive and competitive athletes. Whether you’re looking to stay fit or prepare for high-level racing, we’ve got programs tailored to your goals.

Popular community events include the Trick or Treat Trails, Holiday Tree Tour, Ski for Women, and more. For racers, we host the annual Race to the Outhouse, now a FIS race, in November and the Icicle Double in December, along with community, high school, elite and national races.

Mark Your Calendars for These Exciting Events:

October:

Registration for Junior Nordics is open! This 8-week program (January-March) teaches kids the fundamentals of cross-country skiing, along with fun race series and social events.

October 23: SKI 101 at Backcountry Bike and Ski in Palmer. This free event is an introduction for adults to learn about gear and how to get started with skiing.

October 26: Trick or Treat Trails – a fun, spooky event for all ages!

November: November 16-17: Race to the Outhouse (RTTO) – now a FIS-level race! Venue TBD.

November 30: Ski 101 On snow- a follow up to the classroom clinic for absolute beginners

December:

Adult Nordic Ski Lesson Registration opens for January and February 2025 classes.

December 23: Holiday Tree Tour at GPRA, 4-7 pm. A free, family-friendly event where you can tour decorated holiday trees on skis, foot, or bike.

December 28-29: Icicle Double at GPRA. Our premier two-day ski race, held every year after Christmas. It’s a fun and competitive event for all!

February: February 9, 2025: Ski for Women – a fun costume-optional event to raise money for a local charity. Free to participate, but donations are welcome!

Amid Dismal Statewide Academics, Charter Schools Shine

Contributed by Jake Libbey

The latest State of Alaska public educational performance reports have now been released, and they tell two very different stories. To properly understand the two tales, we first have to realize that many rural Alaska schools have such poor testing performance that they skew the statewide averages heavily downward. Without singling out any particular rural community, digging through the data one can find many where the failing category for proficiencies in language, math, and science are over 80%, and many are even higher, some almost a total enrollment-wide failure. This lack of a rudimentary educational foundation in those

communities is undoubtedly not the sole fault of the school districts, as the villages themselves have cultural and geographic challenges that make education extremely difficult and expensive, but they do drag the statewide mean lower.

Many rural districts can only find teachers from out-of-state to fill those teaching positions, and teacher retention in rural Alaska is one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome for rural school districts. I have personally spoken with multiple superintendents of rural Alaska schools, and one story stuck out to me. Imagine being a first-year teacher in your young twenties, and you think you want to teach in Alaska, so you take a teaching job in

a river village. The pictures are majestic and beautiful. You have such a modern concept of rural that your last parting question as you board a small aircraft out of Fairbanks to head into the Alaska wilderness is: “Tell me again, how far is Walmart from my Apartment?”

Teachers like these very often quit before finishing the year from the shock of Alaska-rural living, despite the fact that breaking your contract permanently eliminates any opportunity to teach elsewhere in the State. Imagine then the difficulty for these rural school districts to manage a classroom without a teacher, mid-year, and it is not hard to understand how educational outcomes will slide and languish for so many rural students.

So, let’s take the statewide results and understand they are being skewed downward through no direct fault of any particular district, and instead let’s compare the largest, most modern and well-funded public school district performances from the three communities of Anchorage, Mat-Su and Fairbanks. The statistics recently reported on the state’s website can be summarized in the below chart for the purposes of comparison, (rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.)

The difference could not be more stark between these public school outcomes, with the performances measured apples

It Is Time to Bring Commuter Rail to Southcentral Alaska

Contributed by Andrea Feniger

The best time to give Alaskans meaningful access to their railroad was decades ago. The next best time is now.

The Alaska Railroad recently ran the fair train for the first time in years between Anchorage and Palmer during the annual state fair. The packed cars showed what many people already know: there is an appetite for better transportation options in Southcentral Alaska.

The special event trains are wonderful services to our community, and they show that we have the infrastructure to get people around our state’s most densely populated cities comfortably and safely. So why does the state not use that infrastructure to offer reliable year-round rail service for commuters?

According to the Alaska Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan and Freight Plan, called ‘Alaska Moves 2050‘, it is estimated that 33,000 cars commute

between the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage every weekday. The populations of Wasilla, Palmer, and other communities in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are the fastest growing in the state, with many residents traveling into Anchorage every day for work, shopping, health care, and other needs.

Our state should offer those commuters another transit option in the form of rail. Rail is safer than car travel. Alaskans are no strangers to reading reports of serious, sometimes fatal, crashes on the Glenn Highway. The American Public Transportation Association found that it is ten times safer to travel by public transit compared to traveling by car. Having reliable, consistent public transportation between cities in Southcentral Alaska would almost definitely decrease serious injuries and fatalities caused by car crashes. Rail is better for the environment than car travel. Cars are one of the biggest

October is Physical Therapy Month

Contributed by Trisha Magee

Physical therapy can be more than just a path to recovering from injury. It can be a holistic approach to enhancing mobility, managing pain, and improving your quality of life. The heart of a successful physical therapy experience is based on functionality, effectiveness, and compassion. These qualities transform the entire person beyond just their physical capabilities.

Functional: What good is new motion if it can’t be used? Why get stronger if lifting and moving objects still is an impossible task?

The goal of physical therapy is to get an individual back to doing the things he or she needs or wants to do. This is individualized and personal because everyone’s goals are different.

Effective: This starts with research and evidence, of course. Treatments ought to be based on what has been proven to be safe and effective. But in addition to that, treatments also should be based on what is effective for a specific individual since not all people respond the same to specific treatments.

to apples. The overall districts versus public charter schools in the Mat-Su are an almost inverse of outcomes. Roughly 2/3 of students in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Mat-Su Traditional Public Schools are either failing or falling behind, while roughly 2/3 of the three charter schools slated to expand from the school are proficient or advanced in their studies overall. Results are even better for math and science outcomes among charter schools. The proof is in the performance pudding. At the beginning of this school year, there were 448 students waitlisted and unable to send their kids to JUST these three thriving public schools. For parents who are unable or unwilling to consider homeschooling their children, Alaska’s public charter schools are exceptional, and in the Mat-Su specifically, performing highest in the nation. Obviously, parents want that kind of success for their students but sadly, these schools are full to the brim.

The only conclusion one can draw is that charter schools are working exceedingly well in Alaska for a variety of reasons. This is the reason why it is so vital to the Mat-Su residents to pass ballot measure one, which is slated to fund the expansion of three of the Mat-Su Borough School District’s thriving charter schools. As a community, we must prioritize funds to programs that are effective, and that means allowing these programs to grow. We must invest in what is working.

contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The most recent ridership survey was conducted in 2009 and at that time, 1,600 people said they would take a commuter rail service from Mat-Su to Anchorage. While one could imagine that number would be higher today considering the Mat-Su population has grown by more than 20%, even going with that 2009 estimate would mean around 15,000 fewer tons of greenhouse gas emissions being emitted every year. That is not insignificant. Rail is more consumer-friendly than car travel. People are quick to discount rail because of the cost without ever batting an eye at the money spent subsidizing highways. Even with considerable investments into road maintenance, the National Transportation Research Group found that a “total of 42% of Alaska’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and that driving on deteriorated roads costs

Compassionate: People don’t just want to be heard. They want to be heard WELL. Our current healthcare system tends to rush people through, often making patients feel like they’re on a conveyer belt of an assembly line. But in physical therapy, therapists have the unique opportunity to develop relationships with their patients, getting to know who they are and what they want to accomplish. They get to spend time with each person, building trust, and becoming personally invested in achieving goals.

Alaska motorists $340 million a year –$652 per driver – in the form of additional repairs, accelerated vehicle depreciation, increased fuel consumption and tire wear.” We are currently looking at a once in a generation federal funding opportunity for infrastructure and green projects through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As grant cycles reopen in the coming year, I hope that our state and municipalities are ready to take full advantage.

Commuter rail is already decades in the making. It is a no-brainer that would add value to our communities in the form of safety, accessibility, and sustainability. Too many leaders have let previous chances to bring meaningful progress to our community go. Let’s not let this generational opportunity to move our cities forward pass us by and leave us all wondering 20 years from now if there is more to life than sitting in traffic.

As we recognize the importance of physical therapy, let’s celebrate the professionals who live out these principles, helping individuals reclaim their lives, one step at a time. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or seeking to improve your mobility, the care of a dedicated physical therapist can be the key to unlocking a healthier, more active future. Functional. Effective. Compassionate. These are the pillars to a successful physical therapy experience. If this hasn’t been YOUR experience, I urge you to continue in your search. You are worth the effort.

** Candle-Lighting Blessing for a Holiday: Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to light the candle of the Holiday.

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nehr shehl yohm tohv

Lighting Times October-November in the Mat-Su:

Wednesday, October 16 6:20 ** FIRST NIGHT OF SUKKOT

Thursday, October 17 7:41**

SECOND NIGHT OF SUKKOT - LIGHT HOLIDAY CANDLES FROM PRE-EXISTING FLAME AFTER 7:41

Friday, October 18 6:14

LIGHT SHABBAT CANDLES AT 6:14

FROM A PRE-EXISTING FLAME.

Wednesday, October 23 5:59 NIGHT OF SHMINI ATZERET

Thursday, October 24 7:21

LIGHT HOLIDAY CANDLES AFTER 7:21

FROM A PRE-EXISTING FLAME

Friday, October 25 5:53

LIGHT SHABBAT CANDLES AT 5:53

FROM A PRE-EXISTING FLAME

Friday, November 1 5:33*

Friday, November 8 4:14*

Friday, November 15 3:56*

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo mehlekh hah-oh-lahm sheh-heh-kheh-yah-noo veh-keemah-noo ve-hih-gee-ah-noo liz-mahn hah-zeh

* Blessing for Shabbat Candle Lighting: Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

Bah-rookh ah-tah ah-doh-noi eh-loh-hay-noo meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm ah-sher ki-deh-shah-noo beh-mitz-voh-tahv veh-tzee-vah-noo leh-hahd-lik nehr shehl shah-baht koh-dehsh

Find Reliable, Easy to Understand Medical Information

Contributed by Lawrence D. Weiss

Would you go to your doctor to find out why the brakes on your car are making so much noise? Would you go to your friendly neighborhood mechanic for diagnosis and treatment of a serious heart problem? I’ll just crawl out on a limb here and say, “probably not.” And that begs the question, “why not?” Really. Why wouldn’t you see a doctor about your car problems? Because smart as your doctor is, he or she has little if any training or experience fixing cars. Same for the mechanic. Great with cars. Doesn’t know squat about heart problems. Seems like common sense. Yet everyday millions of people cruise the internet looking for health care

Aspire Med Spa

Contributed by Marisa Scott

Aspire Med Spa is recognized for delivering exceptional aesthetic care, combining science and beauty with advanced techniques to enhance natural features. Focused on personalized, high-quality treatments, Aspire Med Spa remains at the forefront of innovation, using the latest products and technologies to help clients feel confident and stay empowered.

Aspire Med Spa’s offerings cater to all genders, with services including laser hair removal, RF microneedling, dermal and booty fillers, neurotoxins, weight loss pro -

information and advice, and they find it. But who is on the other side of that website pushing those ideas? Is it health care providers and scientists with decades of training and experience? Or is it a guy who dropped out of school and decided to make a fast buck promoting wacky health ideas that would be right at home in the National Enquirer? Typically, we don’t know and can’t know.

Good news! This is a problem with a solution. There are websites on the internet supported by health care organizations with national and international reputations. At those sites you can be certain that the health information you get comes from trained and experienced health care professionals. True, they prob -

ably don’t know much about car repair, but they have spent much of their lives learning about medicine and providing health care.

For example, Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated not-for-profit medical group practice in the world. Mayo has more No. 1 rankings than any other hospital in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. It is my first stop when I am looking for medical and health care info.

Grab your computer, open your browser, and go to http://www.mayoclinic.org. Click on the “Health Library” menu at the top. That’s where you start exploring “Diseases and Conditions,” “Symptoms,” “Drugs and Supplements,” “Healthy Lifestyle,” and more. Poke around to your heart’s con-

grams, pigmentation corrections, laser facials, chemical peels, Hydrafacials, hair restoration treatments, vaginal rejuvenation,

A Look Inside Better Water

Contributed by Chris Pelton, Better Water Alaska

Welcome to the first edition of “A Look Inside Better Water.” We’re excited to share our story and provide an inside look into our company and water quality within the local area. Our story began back in 2015 when we created our first water treatment company in Washington State, Pure Water Northwest. By 2017, we had gained recognition for our ability to tackle some of the worst water treatment issues in the state. We undertook challenging projects where engineers had claimed the water couldn’t be fixed or quipped that, “It would be easier to get water from the moon than to resolve these problems.” Against all odds, we successfully solved even the most difficult water quality situations, earning write-ups that showcased our innovative solutions and commitment to excellence. We began receiving calls from all over the nation, but the majority came from Alaska, which sounded like a great excuse for a trip! When I came to Alaska, it didn’t feel like I was going somewhere new or different;

it felt like I had come home. It reminded me more of the America I grew up in and somewhere I would want to raise my kids. There was also an obvious need for a professional water treatment company, as most of the systems being sold in the state were outdated, relying on technology from the late 80s and early 90s. Based on this trip, our family excitedly began creating another company in Alaska and moving to the state.

In March of 2020, our family moved to the Matsu Valley and launched Better Water Alaska. Even though it was right at the onset of COVID-19, our company took root, and we have been growing ever since.

At Better Water Alaska, our mission is clear: to provide top-quality water treatment systems that meet the needs of our community. We believe that everyone deserves clean, safe water, and in order to ensure our systems are the highest quality and made in America, we have developed our own proprietary product line. Our systems are designed to tackle even the toughest water issues, offering cutting-edge solutions that you can trust.

alongside medical-grade skincare, and peptides. This comprehensive approach ensures optimal results in both beauty and wellness. The spa combines the latest technologies with a commitment to delivering high-quality, effective results.

Aspire Med Spa’s philosophy is grounded in ongoing education, client satisfaction, and delivering real, lasting results. With a focus on cutting-edge treatments, Aspire has become a top destination for those seeking to enhance their appearance and well-being in Alaska.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness

We take pride in giving back to our community. We support veteran organizations like The Fallen Outdoors and offer a 10% discount to all law enforcement, EMS, fire, and military personnel—both past and present. Additionally, we sponsor local high school cheer teams, investing in the youth of our community and fostering a spirit of teamwork and excellence. Understanding that water treatment is a significant investment, we offer flexible financing options to make our services accessible to everyone. We want to ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent you from accessing the quality water treatment you deserve.

Our team includes one of the top experts in the industry, bringing years of experience and knowledge to every project. With a commitment to exceptional service, we emphasize clear communication and professional installations, ensuring that you feel supported every step of the way.

tent. They won’t try to sell you snake oil. And here is a fantastic local resource right in Alaska: the Alaska Medical Library. Achy and scratchy eyeballs because you are spending too much time searching for stuff on the computer? How about talking with a real person at the Alaska Medical Library, located inside the UAA Consortium Library in Anchorage. Wander around and scope out the Natural Medicines database, the Arctic Health database, and more. Call 1-888-9977878 and talk to a real person to answer questions about available resources. After your eyeballs are rested, access the online resources hosted by the library at http:// www.consortiumlibrary.org/aml. There is a simple one-time registration process, but then their world is yours.

Month, Aspire Med Spa is proud to support the fight against breast cancer. For the entire month of October, when you purchase our luxurious Glacial Essentials Clay Facial, 25% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society Alaska’s breast cancer programs. Treat yourself to rejuvenation and relaxation while contributing to a cause that makes a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer.

Book your complimentary consultation today by calling Aspire Med Spa at (907) 600-3424, or schedule online at www. AspireAlaska.com!

We are also proud to recruit our team members through the Department of Defense’s Skillbridge program, which helps military personnel transition to civilian ca-

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Empowering Early Detection: Whole-Body Thermal Imaging for Breast Health and Beyond

Contributed

by

Tabitha W

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer. While mammograms are a common screening method, there’s another valuable tool for proactive health monitoring—thermal imaging, also known as thermography. At All About Herbs, we offer whole-body thermal imaging, and for the month of October, we’re offering 25% off all screenings.

Thermal imaging is a non-invasive, radiation-free method that detects heat patterns on the surface of the body. It can identify abnormal temperature changes, which may signal early signs of inflammation, increased blood flow, or abnormal cell activity. While it’s well-known for breast health monitoring, thermography is also useful for detecting potential issues throughout the entire body, such as inflammation in muscles, joints, or even vascular conditions.

Thermal imaging uses an infrared

camera to capture temperature variations. Areas with unusual heat patterns can indicate potential abnormalities that may need further investigation. The process is quick, painless, and requires no physical contact, making it safe for everyone. The procedure typically takes 60 minutes, and you’ll receive a detailed report to discuss with your healthcare provider.

Non-Invasive and Radiation-Free: Thermography uses infrared technology to detect abnormalities, which means no exposure to harmful radiation.

Full-Body Monitoring: While thermography is often associated with breast health, it’s equally useful for whole-body scanning. It can detect abnormalities in any area of the body, including muscles, joints, and organs.

Early Detection: Thermography can spot physiological changes long before symptoms or physical signs appear, making it an excellent tool for early detection and intervention.

POLITICS & OPINON

Comfortable and Painless: There’s no need for uncomfortable compression or invasive procedures, making it a stressfree experience.

Complementary Health Tool: Thermography works alongside other forms of imaging and diagnostics, providing an additional layer of insight. For example, if you’ve had a recent injury or are experiencing unexplained pain, thermography could help pinpoint areas of inflammation or imbalance that might require further attention.

When it comes to breast health, early detection is key. Thermography is a particularly useful tool for women of all ages, especially those with dense breast tissue, which can make mammogram results harder to interpret. Thermography detects heat patterns that can indicate inflammation or abnormal cell activity, allowing for early intervention before a lump or tumor has formed.

But the benefits don’t stop there—ther-

Eastman Derangement Syndrome (EDS): An Anatomy of a Disorder

Contributed by Silence Wat-Tyler

It’s getting to be that time again: time to elect our legislators to represent us for another 2 years. It’s also the time that sufferers from EDS are most likely to loudly and repeatedly make themselves known to the general public. In this article we will explore who suffers from this strange disorder, what the signs and symptoms of a sufferer are, and what the underlying causes might be.

First, who are the sufferers? The typical sufferer is usually a legislator, local politico, or someone with a close connection to a legislator or local politico, and not from District 27 (the district represented by Eastman). We will deal with the pathology of why these particular people suffer from the disorder as we explore the causation of the disorder, but an interesting clue is the overlap between Kurka Derangement Syndrome (KDS) sufferers, and EDS sufferers.

Secondly, let us examine the symptoms: EDS sufferers tend to experience issues with a superiority complex, as well as trouble distinguishing between fact and opinion, being precise, and being concise. Superiority complex: This is one of the more subtle symptoms for EDS. It becomes quickly apparent however in the response that EDS sufferers make to any declaration of support, or praise for Eastman, however small. EDS sufferers will promptly inform the unfortunate object of their attention that they are not the first unfortunate soul to fall victim to the seductive allure of a legislator who is honest and forthright, that the “Eastman Cult” propaganda is strong, and it’s not their fault that they foolishly fell prey to it. After all Eastman supporters are just deluded peasants who need an intelligent, elite politico to tell them what is actually good for them. The prevailing attitude among EDS sufferers is that District 27 Republicans can’t be trusted to make the “right” choice.

Trouble distinguishing between fact and opinion. This symptom displays itself quite readily in any interaction with an EDS sufferer. If you are at all familiar with any of the issues that constitute the subject matter of the EDS diatribes, you will quickly pick out one or two issues where the sufferer is either repeating an outright falsehood as truth or presenting their own opinion as a fact. It is generally not advisable to point out these distinctions, as the average EDS sufferer is not aware of a distinction between their own opinion and fact, and attempting to educate them will only irritate and confuse them.

Trouble being precise is certainly one of the most common symptoms. It is clearly evident in the lack of specifics in allegations, and assertions leveled against Eastman. EDS sufferers thrive on a “conservative” form of virtue signaling which can be boiled down to “Eastman bad because [reasons].” Simplistic questions like how, why, where, when, and what is the source, are assiduously eschewed in favor of much more vague statements where the rhetorical rhythm of the diatribe can’t be derailed by peasants unhealthily obsessed with facts, evidence, truth, and other such distractions that really have no proper place in correct political discourse.

Trouble being concise is, yet another symptom very closely associated with EDS. It seems to be that EDS sufferers attempt to subconsciously compensate for issues arising out of symptoms #2 and #3 by simply producing a larger volume of sludge. Some slight critical analysis and critique often reveals what is happening. For example, an EDS sufferer brings up some clearly false, and easily disproved assertion like: “Eastman refused to join the Republican Caucus” or “Eastman supports the killing of small children.” Upon being subjected to the intolerable process of logical argumentation and presentation of evidence, the sufferer realizes that this particular peasant refused to buy that bill

of goods. Now, contrary to non-EDS sufferers, they do not re-evaluate their suppositions, considering that some of their evidence has been disproven, but instead they simply switch to another grievance item of similarly flimsy substance. If you are tempted to engage EDS sufferers, you should be aware that they will move from one poor argument to another until they have run through their repertoire, and then they will start recycling. In this way, emphasis isn’t placed on the particulars of any one argument, but the emphatic nature of the accusation.

Although there are many other symptoms associated with EDS, these 4 should help you identify a sufferer if you encounter a loud, proud, politically involved Republican person who just seems to irrationally hate Eastman more than they hate Democrats.

Pathology: We will now explore the probable causation of EDS. The profile of the typical sufferer gives us our first clue of one of the main causes of EDS: unhealthy over-exposure to other EDS sufferers, and politics in general. The overexposure to politicos in general is a notable secondary contributing factor since the culture among such types tends to encourage viewing oneself as better than non-politicos, being in-the-know, and thinking that you understand the problems and solutions in a way that the average peasant just isn’t capable of. In addition to a plain old high opinion of themselves, politicos tend to be comfortable with double-speak, equivocation, and vague virtue signaling. Obviously, this cluster of traits is compatible with the primary symptoms of EDS. Once the secondary causal factor encounters the primary causal factor of over-exposure to other EDS sufferers, the rate of poor health outcomes is extremely high. Sufferers also typically find themselves in mostly insular groups where questioning or criticizing other group members or the

The Magical Transformation of the Juneau Swamp into Artesian Spring Water Every Election Season

Contributed by Rep. David Eastman

This year alone, legislators voted to increase state spending by more than $2 billion. Lobbyists in Juneau were ecstatic when the votes were counted. Two-thirds of Mat-Su legislators voted with the swamp. This year, legislators voted to continue taxpayer funding for gender-affirming care for kids (puberty blockers, etc.) despite the fact that these treatments are opposed by the public and have been banned in twenty-five states. The vote to continue the funding was 36-3. I was the only Mat-Su legislator to vote no.

This year, legislators voted to continue taxpayer funding for abortion, despite most Alaskans being opposed to it. The vote was 26-14. Eight Republicans voted to continue the funding.

This year, legislators voted to give $1.42 million to the Iditarod as a gift. I was the only Mat-Su legislator in the house to vote no. To offset this year’s spending increases, legislators ultimately voted to take more than $1.2 billion out of this year’s PFD during the budget process. Two-thirds of Mat-Su legislators voted with the swamp. The governor put $3,750 in the budget for your dividend. By the time legislators

were done spending it $1,702 was left.

If you had a lobbyist working for you, chances are you probably came out alright this year. If you didn’t, by the time legislators finally did leave Juneau, you may have been one of the Alaskans left holding the bag. Despite this, a great deal of effort is currently being spent to sell the idea that there are actually many very fine people in the legislature, and that all we have to do is elect one or two more, like [insert name of the politician you are being asked to vote for], and those in Juneau will start doing the right thing.

To borrow the tagline from a popular

mography can also be used to monitor a wide range of health issues. From chronic pain and joint inflammation to vascular health, whole-body thermal imaging offers insights into your overall health and well-being. It’s an excellent tool for anyone seeking a proactive approach to their healthcare.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re offering 25% off all thermal imaging services throughout October. Whether you’re monitoring breast health or looking for a whole-body scan, thermography offers a proactive approach to early detection.

Take advantage of this October special and schedule your thermal imaging appointment at All About Herbs. Early detection could make all the difference in your health journey. Call or visit AllAboutHerbs.com to learn more and book your scan today!

group’s assumed truths is the ultimate sin. Considering these circumstances, it is simple inference to pinpoint the origins of EDS: the presence of an individual who is honest, follows rules and expects others to do the same, and is not afraid to call out wrong doing, or criticize rule breakers, within a group of people who generally find honesty inconvenient, prefer to look the other way when it comes to wrong-doing or deal with it behind the scenes, decide what rules to follow based on what’s politically convenient at the time, and consider it the ultimate sin to speak against the group and its ultimate value: self-interest. It seems likely that the presence of an “overly-conservative,” “overly principled” person, in a position where politicos can’t just ignore and dismiss them, presents an existential threat to their well-entrenched system of personal favors, special interests, and self-dealing. This would certainly explain the remarkable overlap between EDS and KDS sufferers, and their unwillingness to actually enact any of the conservative things they claim to stand for.

Sufferers of EDS are easily identifiable once you learn the distinctive symptoms and at-risk population markers. Attempts to treat or alleviate the disorder will face challenging series of obstacles considering the typical sufferer’s predisposition. The best-known treatment at this time is removal from the primary and secondary contributing environments, and prolonged exposure to the peasant class.

This is light satire intended to poke fun at certain types of people. The author had no specific individual(s) in mind, and no allusion is intentionally made to any individual(s). If you thought this was written about you, or if this piece of satire irrationally irritated you, please visit your token peasant friend, and ask them if you might be suffering from EDS.

Disclaimer: EDS is not a recognized medical or psychological disease, it is simply a descriptive term for a grouping of behaviors.

national radio station, it’s a “positive, encouraging” message. And why would anyone want to knock a narrative that is so uplifting and hopeful at election time?

Of course, as soon as Election Day is over, reality comes crashing down like a ton of bricks. Many of those “good people” we sent to Juneau two years ago delayed fighting the swamp because they wanted to “choose their battles” or because they didn’t want to “rock the boat”, or because they needed to “get more experience” as a legislator first. The reasons are unimportant. Over those two years, they came to tolerate the swamp, and then to make excuses for it, and eventually to identify with and begin voting for it. Today, they have become indistinguishable from their peers who have been there far longer.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

POLITICS & OPINION

Rob Yundt for State Senate District N

Contributed by Robert Yundt

As a 4th generation Alaskan, born & raised in Wasilla, I’ve spent my entire life deeply rooted in this community. For over two decades, I’ve had the privilege of raising my children here & mentoring young athletes as a coach for local youth wrestlers. The Valley isn’t just where I live — it’s the heart of everything I believe in & fight for.

I’m running for state Senate because we need to bring common sense & fiscal responsibility back to the state legislature. Serving as your Deputy Mayor of the Mat-Su Borough the last few years, I didn’t just talk about change — I worked tirelessly to make it happen. I personally sponsored legislation to increase property tax exemptions for our seniors & disabled veterans. I also tied them to inflation, so they keep pace with rising costs. I helped pay off over $80 million in Borough debt, improved our credit score, & funded over $100 million for local roads & schools — without borrowing a single cent.

Educationally, I created a new 2-year Fire Science program for local Juniors &

Seniors who want to serve our community when they graduate. The program is nationally recognized & the certifications will travel anywhere the children do. I’ve also worked daily to expand CTE (career & technical education) for all our high school students. Participation in CTE courses is up 217% since I was elected locally. Our children are the most important thing we should all be fighting for & I take this job very seriously.

That’s the kind of leadership and financial discipline I’m ready to bring to Juneau.

Unfortunately, while the MSB Assembly & I have been working tirelessly to defend our pocketbooks & protect our personal freedoms, the State Senate in Juneau has been attacking parental rights with bills like SB240, which allows children to get mental & physical exams WITHOUT any parental involvement. This isn’t just irresponsible legislation, it’s outright dangerous.

Every single day in this country, men are competing against women in sports or stealing their bathrooms. In the last few weeks alone, four Division 1 women’s vol-

Behind the Lies: No on 2’s False Narrative

Contributed by Sen. Mike

Shower,

District O I wore our nation’s uniform for 24 years. I voted in many elections, while active duty and since retiring. Most were as an Alaskan resident, moving here in 1993. Not one time, as a registered voter, was I denied my constitutional right to vote. Service members could always vote in primaries regardless of party affiliation before ranked choice voting (RCV) and jungle primaries were installed in Alaska in 2020. They can vote now with RCV, and if Alaskans vote to repeal RCV in November, service members will be able to vote in primaries as they did before.

The stakes are high with Ballot Measure 2, a citizen led initiative which aims to end the ranked choice voting scheme. However, don’t think for a second those who wish to “save” RCV in Alaska care about Alaska. How can I make such a bold statement?

The pro-RCV crowd have one mission, to spend millions of dollars of dark money flowing into Alaska from lower 48 billionaires and left-wing groups, in the hope of saving RCV from being repealed. Why?

Simple. Alaska is being used as the

guinea pig to spread RCV to the rest of the nation. Our own congresswoman is spending time in other states pushing RCV. They are saying we love RCV, and it works great. Those two statements don’t hold up to scrutiny, even beyond the fear mongering lie about service members being unable to vote. Polling data has been consistent. RCV is not well liked by Alaskans and a sizable majority wish to see it gone.

Here’s the kicker - if Alaska repeals ranked voting in November, it will put the brakes on the pro RCV national campaign because the logical question across the lower 48 will be - if it’s so great - why did Alaskans repeal it after only 4 years?

Indeed.

Can you see it now? It seems “no low is too low” for those trying to save ranked voting - even going so far as to blatantly lie to our military men & women trying to “scare” them into voting No on 2. I find this despicable.

The dark money pro-RCV alliance has falsely claimed that repealing RCV would prohibit the military from voting unless they registered with a political party. False! Not being affiliated with a

There Is a Real Choice in the Race for House District 27

Contributed by Ron Johnson

During this election cycle, all 40 seats in the Alaska House of Representatives are up for election. Most of those seats have more than one candidate from which voters can choose. This is an opportunity for voters to measure incumbents and determine if they’ve kept promises made or whether it’s time for a change. The race for House District 27 is one where voters have a legitimate choice between an incumbent with no accomplishments in four terms and a challenger with a proven track record during the last three years on

the Mat-Su School Board. That challenger is Jubilee Underwood.

When Jubilee saw that her voice as a parent wasn’t being heard, she ran for the school board and won. When boys tried to enter our daughters’ bathrooms and sports teams, she kept them out. When the federal government pushed policies harmful to children’s wellbeing during the COVID pandemic, she protected our kids. In the three years she has served on the school board, Jubilee accomplished everything she promised she would, but the current representative can’t say the

Follow the Money … It’s Yours

Contributed by Barbara Montgomery

There is a lot of real need in our country and no shortage of commercials featuring political candidates yammering about what they’ll do to address it if elected.

Here’s a thought: Let’s channel some of the money being spent on advertising directly to the causes these would-be leaders say they support (or is that only with your money?).

Some online estimates peg 2024 campaign spending at over $12 billion. And as we grapple with issues such as homelessness, crime, and inflation, and charitable giving is down an estimated 2.1 percent, I find it tone-deaf, clueless, and downright obscene when political campaigns brag about how much they’ve raised toward influencing our voting.

Why would hearing about a campaign

milking billionaires for more money at a gala while hundreds are experiencing a national disaster make a candidate more attractive? Similarly, why are endorsements from those wealthy enough to gorge themselves at thousand-dollar-a plate hobnobbing opportunities supposed to resonate with the middle-class?

And what do testimonials from this or that narrow segment of special-interest voters means to the rest of us? You’ve succeeded in one area. Great! Now explain how your efforts will be employed to benefit all your constituents.

How stupid can political press-panderers be? When I read about a fundraiser’s success or see back-to-back political TV ads, it not only turns me off on the candidate, but it also makes me suspicious regarding who the candidate is beholding to. (Check out the PACs sponsoring politi-

leyball teams have had to forfeit because one of the other teams has a man playing on their team. Last year our State House passed common sense legislation to prevent this gross type of behavior, but our State Senate refused to even talk about it. Turns out the only thing our current version of our Senate wants to talk about is how much of the PFD they can steal. As a father, coach & mentor to many, I cannot allow this to happen to our beloved community & this is why I’m running. Beyond public service, I’ve worked hard in the private sector to ensure our community thrives. I helped develop 162 units of senior housing in the Valley through projects like Vista Rose Senior Apartments. Preserving affordable housing so that our children & grandchildren can afford to live & build their futures right here in the Valley is very important to me. I’ve always fought passionately to keep housing attainable for the next generation & that fight will continue in Juneau.

I’ve also been honored to serve on various nonprofit & statewide boards. I’ve served as a Director for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), Coaching Director for Pioneer Grappling Academy for local youth wrestlers (my wife Trenitie

political party does not stop anyone from voting in elections, including our military. It is deceptive at best, and election interference at worst, to actively undermine the democratic process by spreading disinformation to voters.

The pro RCV crowd is skating on thin ice. Will news, social media and others do the right thing and correct the false narrative? If not, perhaps Alaskan’s need to demand legal action. The dark money they claimed they would eliminate when they urged us to vote for RCV four years ago is now being used to persuade us to keep it.

When you enjoy a great meal at a restaurant do they keep spending money trying to convince you it was great? Of course not, you simply know. Alaskans know we got burned by the dark money lie and the ‘virtues’ of RCV the first time. Alaskans aren’t buying it this second time around.

Proponents of RCV understand repealing it in Alaska would undermine their national campaign, and their desperation to save it is evident. This explains why they have over 7 MILLION dollars of outside dark money being spent while Alaskans opposing RCV have only a few tens of thousands - almost all from Alaskans.

same. In nearly eight years in the state house, he introduced more than 140 measures and has never managed to advance any of them to the House floor for a vote. However, during the last session, he did manage to frequently vote with the Democratic Minority, including voting for a significantly reduced PFD.

The current representative was 1 of 3 key nay votes in 2022 that shot down paying a full PFD. That critical vote took over a BILLION dollars out of your pockets and the private sector.

To add insult to injury, his adversarial approach towards his fellow colleagues has left him in a minority of one and gotten him removed from the only policy

cal ads. I, personally, am particularly leery of issues and “hometown” candidates with a lot of out-of-state backing.)

Don’t these “strategists” and marketers realize that much of the audience they’re playing to have become media savvy and inured to spin? We get the message—and its underlying intent, as well. (Flash! We also have remotes, TIVO, and DVRs, and we fast-forward liberally.)

My message to election-seekers is this: The more you spend blowing your own horn via superficial, repetitious soundbites, the less likely I, for one, am to trust you. If flooding us with redundant ads is how you spend your campaign dollars, it makes me question how you’ll spend my tax dollars—and forget about donations; obviously, you don’t need mine.

Don’t just tell me what you’re going to do. TALK WITH ME. And LISTEN TO ME. Hold live events and answer unscripted questions. Actually, process what I’m saying and tell me how it might be or

is still the President for this amazing nonprofit) & as President for the Alaska State Homebuilders Association.

These opportunities have allowed me to serve at both the local & state level, gaining the experience & insight needed to tackle challenges we face head-on. Trenitie & I have donated our salary from me serving on the Assembly to local nonprofits because we know how important these nonprofits & our local food bank are to our community. The Valley is more than just where we live though — it’s the greatest place in the world to raise a family, build a life, & foster a community. I love this Valley with all my heart, & that passion drives everything I do. With your help, I want to take that same energy to Juneau to fight for our children’s education, better roads, lower healthcare costs & policies that protect family values.

Your concerns & voices matter to me. I’m always here to listen & stand alongside you. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call or text me anytime at 907-232-8340 or email me at Robforalaska@gmail.com. Let’s make sure our future is as strong as our community.

Respectfully, Rob Yundt

Talk about a David and Goliath battle!

It’s time we told the lower 48 to butt out of our internal politics and leave us to be the fiercely independent political state we are.

Repealing RCV will stop the disenfranchisement of senior citizens, minorities, English language learners, and individuals with less than a high school education. Studies have shown ranked voting directly contributes to voter suppression among these groups. RCV is so troublesome in fact, the Alaska democrat party recently filed a lawsuit over a democrat candidate on the congressional ballot. They said RCV could “cause confusion and take votes from their ‘preferred’ candidate”. I agree RCV is a mess. We can do better than this - and we must!

I have had the honor of serving Alaskans as a state senator for 7 years and have been at the forefront of election issues. It’s clear to me as a veteran and elected official the time has come to end ranked choice voting. Send the message. Vote YES on 2 in November. YES on 2 will repeal ranked choice voting and put us back to a simple, easy to understand system of one person - one vote.

committee of which he was a member. Clearly the Mat-Su deserves a change. As a contrast, Jubilee will be a true representative of the Valley by working with others to move Alaska forward. She embraces fiscal responsibility, a statutory PFD, lowering or preventing taxes and limiting government spending. She is committed to defending parental choice in schools. She has committed to defending our constitutional rights and cracking down on crime.

Jubilee will stand steadfast to common sense principles and accomplish what she is elected to do, just as she has during her time on the school board.

why it might not be integrated into your platform.

Running for office is essentially a job interview. That job is REPRESENTING AND SERVING THE PEOPLE, who are your employers. Is there any other type of job where individuals can go in with the expectation that they’re more important than their prospective employers and once chosen put their agenda over that of the people they’re working for?

To those charged with “hiring” a candidate, remember that when a politician “commits” to a project, it’s your money he or she is pledging. The politician is not GIVING you anything. He/she is attempting to BUY your support with what, when all is said and done, is your money (what a deal!); and there’s no guarantee there will be a return on your investment. Don’t let a deluge of ads seep into your subconsciousness and wash away your God-given right and ability to exercise critical thinking and common sense.

Liberty, Liberally

Reforming Education Innovation VS. Institutional Inertia

with new approaches within the public education system.

Language Is A Work Of Art

Art is self-expression, and language is both a medium and a tool for that expression. Language is also how we engage in the civic process. While this process and its outcomes have been separated from the realm of art, this division is itself an artistic construct. The ability to distinguish, through language, between the art of selfexpression and the self-expression of civic engagement only emerged with the advent of self-governance as a societal model. Classical Liberalism, and other attempts at self-governance, were philosophical first. They came into the world by virtue of the moniker “liberal arts”, after all.

claim, to the people, and were willing to enforce that rule by military means. Humanity had never known another way than to be ruled, and accepted this ancient reality as commonplace throughout almost all of history.

Etymology of Fiat: fiat (n.) 1630s, "authoritative sanction," from Latin fiat "let it be done" (used in Medieval Latin proclamations and commands), third person singular present subjunctive of fieri "to be done, become, come into existence" (from PIE root bheue- "to be, exist, grow"), used as the passive of facere "to make, do." Meaning "a decree, command, order" is from 1750. In English, the word also sometimes refers to fiat lux—"let there be light" from Genesis 1:3.

It’s important to remember that classical liberal philosophy is relatively new. Totalitarians—whether fascists or communists—don’t even acknowledge its legitimacy. They are the intellectual and moral descendants of authoritarianism, stripped of the spiritual justification of the Divine Right of Kings. Classical liberalism, in contrast, recognizes the divine right of each individual to govern themselves—standing in opposition to both authoritarian and totalitarian ideologies.

The debate surrounding Ballot Measure 1, which proposes funding for the expansion of Charter Schools in the Mat-Su Borough, reveals an ironic inversion of political roles. In this instance, conservatives, who are typically defenders of tradition and the status quo, are advocating for change and innovation in the form of Charter Schools. Meanwhile, those who identify as liberals, often the champions of new ideas and reform, find themselves resisting this change, preferring to maintain the existing structures of traditional public schools. This role reversal offers a striking example of how entrenched political identities can become detached from the issues themselves.

At the heart of this debate is a distinction that is often overlooked: Charter Schools are public schools. They operate with public funding, just like traditional public schools, but with greater flexibility in their methods. They exist within the public education system but are designed to explore innovative teaching models and provide more personalized learning experiences. This flexibility allows them to address the needs of students in ways that traditional public schools, with their larger bureaucratic frameworks, often cannot.

Supporters of Ballot Measure 1, many of whom identify as conservative, argue that these Charter Schools represent a necessary innovation in education. They point to the success of schools like Academy Charter, which have demonstrated a capacity for meeting students where they are and helping them excel. A Harvard study even ranks Alaska’s Charter Schools among the best in the nation. These schools have shown they can deliver a quality education at a lower cost per student, a fact that should appeal to the fiscally conservative mindset. Yet, the conservative support for change contrasts sharply with the liberal opposition to this ballot measure.

Some who identify as liberal, a political philosophy that is typically known for pushing for change and progress, are now taking a more conservative stance in this debate. They argue that funding Charter Schools will pull resources from traditional public schools, disrupting established systems and potentially threatening job security for teachers. This defense of the traditional public school system, with all of its bureaucratic layers, reflects an adherence to the very institutional inertia that liberal-minded folks often criticize in other contexts.

Institutional inertia occurs when systems and institutions resist change, even when that change might lead to improvement. Over time, institutions become more concerned with preserving their own existence than with fulfilling their original purpose. Public education is no exception. While traditional public schools have long been a cornerstone of American society, their rigid structures often struggle to adapt to the evolving needs of students. This is where Charter Schools can offer a valuable alternative by experimenting

This debate reminds me of the lessons from history, particularly the story of Martin Luther. Luther was initially a devout supporter of the Catholic Church, adhering to its orthodoxy with zeal. Yet, he eventually became a reformer, advocating for a radical change in the institution he once defended. His call for education and literacy for the common people, at a time when reading was a privilege of the elite, was seen as a threat to the established order. The printing press, much like Charter Schools today, was an innovation that helped break down barriers to learning and access to information.

Luther’s fight for literacy was not just about reading the Bible; it was about empowering individuals to think for themselves and access knowledge independently. Similarly, Charter Schools seek to empower students and families with more tailored, individualized educational opportunities, breaking free from the rigid one-size-fits-all model of traditional public schools. Just as Luther’s reforms eventually led to the broadening of education across society, so too can Charter Schools broaden educational possibilities for students who may not thrive in the traditional system.

My own experience with Charter Schools illustrates this point. After a challenging period in my family’s life, my children needed a more personalized approach to their education. The traditional public school system, with all its good intentions, was not equipped to meet their unique needs. It was Academy Charter School that stepped in and provided the tailored support that helped them get back on track. Charter Schools, through their innovative approach, offer this kind of flexibility and adaptability, which is why I support Ballot Measure 1.

What we are witnessing in this debate is a moment where innovation is needed to break through the inertia of our current public education system. Conservatives, in this case, are advocating for change by supporting Charter Schools as a means to innovate within the public system. Liberals, on the other hand, are defending the traditional structures of public education, wary of the potential disruption that Charter Schools may cause. This role reversal is ironic, but it also highlights how deeply embedded institutional inertia can become, even among those who typically advocate for change.

Just as Martin Luther’s challenge to the Catholic Church led to a revolution in education, so too can Charter Schools play a role in reforming public education today. By supporting Ballot Measure 1, we have the opportunity to move education forward in the Mat-Su Borough, offering students and families more choices and more opportunities for success.

Vote “yes” on Ballot Measure 1 and support a future where public education evolves to meet the needs of every child.

The arts of liberty include the trivium— the foundational three of the seven classical liberal arts: grammar, rhetoric, and logic. This triad of clear communication was once only fit for kings. Only royalty and religious leaders concerned themselves with such matters. Monarchy was authoritarian, with no need for serfs or slaves to govern themselves. The idea of individual liberty was foreign to these societies.

Yet humanity was born free, and the monarchs, while protecting their people, were also oppressing them. How did they oppress—or as they would have said, rule?

Through language.

The word “author” is at the root of “authoritarian,” revealing much about the nature of such rule—oppression through control of narrative and knowledge.

How did they rule or oppress?

By authorship - by fiat.

Fiat. Rule by fiat. This was the form of government that enslaved all of humanity. They simply made the claim, and laid

For millennia, authoritarian rulers governed people everywhere, claiming a divine right from God to rule. Only they had "liberty," which stood in stark contrast to the serfdom and slavery imposed on others. However, the invention of the printing press set in motion a series of events that allowed ordinary individuals to access the written word. Before this, it was impractical for the average person to express themselves through language, as scrolls were painstakingly hand-written and prohibitively expensive. How expensive? A scribe working full-time could spend years copying a single work, and only the wealthiest could afford such a luxury— certainly not the serfs.

Today, we often take for granted our ability to speak, think, write, and learn so freely. Ironically, if we read more history, we might take reading more seriously. We forget that widespread literacy was achieved following the rise of philosophical liberalism. Our ability to read and write, to express ourselves, is our artistic power. An individual exists, selfevidently, through their self-expression. This is art in its simplest, purest form.

We’ve gotten a surprising number of donations from community members at The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine over the years, and recently it’s increased with the publication of Liberty, Liberally.

We’ve also received many requests for subscription services, requests to mail Liberty, Liberally, and our other publications to people near and far... So we thought, why not make it easier to donate, and get something in return, too? With a minimum $8 per

month donation, you’ll receive a copy of each publication - and even special publications and other things that might fit in a Manila envelope!

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and financial support over the years. We take your trust very seriously, as we steward content from you and your neighbors onto the printed page. It’s an American tradition which we are blessed to uphold.

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Ballot Measure 1 aims to advance education by supporting innovative Charter Schools

Social Scientific Racism Social Science + Scientific Racism = Critical Race Theory

White Supremacy is the belief that white people are naturally dominant, this being a supposed order of society. It combines simple racism with scientific racism. For a long time, the scientific community largely supported this, until the atrocities committed by the Nazis brought its flaws to light. The exposure of Nazi crimes made scientific racism untouchable, prompting the scientific establishment to distance itself from its previous consensus. In doing so, they attempted to erase their complicity—conveniently forgetting how their flawed science contributed to such horrific ends.

The Nazi version of White Supremacy (and by Nazi, I mean historical Nazi, not the rhetorical Nazi that gets applied so loosely lately) argued that white people were inherently superior in their ability to seize power. They claimed it had always been so, and it should remain so. Based on this belief, the Nazis claimed white people should be permanently positioned over other races.

It’s crucial to remember that Nazism is a form of totalitarianism, and totalitarianism has nothing to do with individual freedom. The concept of power in totalitarian thinking revolves around control.

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is another form of White Supremacy.

Much like the Nazi interpretation, CRT claims that white people have historically dominated, but with a key difference. CRT sees this dominance as something that must be addressed and changed. However, it still insists that white people have universally held power over others. While the Nazis embraced this dominance as natural, CRT laments it but still asserts it as historical fact— that white people have always wielded superior power.

CRT, rooted in Marxian ideology, is another form of totalitarian thought. It, like all critical theories, does not seek to present a true narrative but rather a transformative one—one that leads to the consolidation of power.

So, modern acceptance of CRT is in essence an acceptance of White Supremacy as a fact. The Nazis embraced it; modern Marxians resist it, but both agree it has been true. But both are simply wrong, and are the result of the Historian’s Fallacy being believed at the time of their totalitarian genesis.

That’s why it’s important to reject the false duality between fascism and Marxism. Both are totalitarian ideologies that reject the fundamental principle that humans are born free and should be treated equally under the law. Both ideologies reduce individuals to their race, ignoring the content of their character.

Classical liberalism, the philosophy of individual liberty, is the true counter to all forms of totalitarianism. Classical liberalism rejects the relevance of race, believing each individual is unique and sacred. It advocates for a society where individuals freely cooperate and flourish. Throughout history, wherever totalitarianism or authoritarianism has sought to organize society through coercion, racial and class disparities have emerged. Classical liberalism, on the other hand, has consistently and predictably erased these lines, fostering liberty in thought, conscience, economy, and all endeavors.

Liberty isn’t finished with us. It’s only just begun. These ancient systems of total control are not new; they’re merely repackaged tyranny. Totalitarianism has taken on many forms, each time worsening the human condition and blaming those who resist its grip. Liberty is a fresh force, just starting to assert itself in the grand scope of history.

Classical liberalism rejects the notion that white people have always been or will always be dominant over others. Classical liberalism dismisses the idea that any race should or should not hold dominance because it doesn’t believe in such a hierarchy in the first place. Embracing individual liberty requires letting go of this ancient fallacy.

Historian’s Fallacy Anthropology and archaeology have demonstrated that scientific racism is false. These fields have uncovered evidence of ancient civilizations with advanced technologies, many of which remain mysterious to us today. Our modern historical records barely scratch the surface of humanity’s vast history. Yet the drive for power and control continues to propagate the idea that what we know represents all there is to know. This is the error of those seeking power—the same ones who rise by appealing to the authority fallacy, promising to fix everything while assuming they know everything, only to ruin everything, every time.

The king believed that his divine right to rule was an extension of God’s omnipotence. If God ordered the cosmos, then the king’s birthright must also be part of this divine plan. Totalitarians have a similar belief. If societies are biologically predisposed to systems of power and control, and leaders naturally arise based on their ability to command, then that must be the natural order.

Classical liberals believe differently. Classical liberals hold that each individual has inherent value—a sacred soul sovereign over itself. This view completely overturns the ancient order of things. It’s only in the last few hundred years that we’ve begun to shift away from millennia of power over people. Classical liberalism is a revolutionary way of seeing the world. It’s dissolved the notions of slavery, gender subordination, and countless other indignities, but the old systems of power haven’t lost their grip entirely. The world is still shaking off the yoke of tyranny, learning to be free.

White Supremacy is a faulty idea, constructed from a narrow view of history. It ignores much of what we now know, clinging to the perspectives formed when scientific racism was considered the norm. Both forms of totalitarian thought—fascism and Marxism—mirror the racial worldview that was reinforced by the scientific consensus of that time. Their belief systems are built around the flawed idea that white people have always ruled the world, conveniently ignoring the literally monumental evidence that contradicts this view.

Classical liberalism is the antidote to this shoddy social scientific racism. We can finally leave it behind, if only we understand its origins. We must learn to recognize it, as it’s deeply ingrained in us—part of our cultural programming. Power and control have defined human history for so long that totalitarian thinking feels natural to us. But classical liberalism is about overcoming our nature and acting on our will, allowing society to flourish through peaceful cooperation and creativity. We can each rise above our lower nature and become beacons of free thought and expression if we can overcome fear and stop the infighting that holds us back. Our instincts may be at odds with our spirit, but liberty unleashes our potential, while the old systems of control stifle and subdue it.

This is why individual liberty will ultimately overcome the old order. We know too much. We know enough to reject these arbitrary power grabs. We know that freedom is preferable to fear. While we may not know everything, we know enough to recognize that White Supremacy is not reality.

First, though, we must recognize that both of these racial worldviews were born during a time when scientific racism was widely accepted, and when common racism was the norm. Classical liberalism had only just begun to challenge these racial and tribal divisions, having just disrupted the monarchies of old Europe. While scientific racism fundamentally opposed liberal philosophy, it was embraced by totalitarian thinkers who rejected the very premise of individual liberty. These godless totalitarians welcomed science— and scientific racism—with open arms. Why wouldn’t they?

Trump The Moderate Democrat

December, 2020

(Editorial Note: Now that RFK Jr. has endorsed Trump for president, and Dick Cheney has endorsed Kamala Harris, I am reminded of this essay I wrote in December of 2020, shortly after the election. It’s important that those of us who do not support the two-sided paradigm of politics remind those of us who do that political parties are social constructs, subject to arbitrary policy positions and normalized cognitive dissonance.)

Now that, by all appearances, Trump’s term in office is coming to an end, I’m excited to be able to honestly respond to his time there, without being accused of being his advocate or adversary.

The primary and most powerful weapon that the power-hungry partisans have at their disposal is public ridicule, made possible by the corporate media that controls the narrative. Trump exposed this. I have no criticism of this, and it is one of a few things that Trump did that I fundamentally agree with - he pulled the curtain back.

In endless othering, those who tried to point out the media and Democrat’s irrational criticisms were categorized as opponents. This is how Trump exposed the corporate media industrial complex. He taunted them into appearing ruthless, and Trump told the story like a main character in a theater production, affirming the uneasy feelings of those of us in the audience, who remained mostly silent.

"Br’er Rabbit, he lay low."

When I was little, one of my favorite stories was Br’er Rabbit. Br’er Rabbit was a trickster type, and that’s what Trump was like. Br’er Rabbit tricked Br’er Fox, saying,“Please, whatever you do, don’t throw me in that briar patch!”

Trump baited his opponents for 5 years or so, sucking them into this weird, lopsided war against him. Public trust in media is at an all time low, after years of overt information warfare on Trump. They have the power to craft public opinion, and Trump made that public information.

However, his accomplishments read like the long list of Democratic promises left unfulfilled for decades.

"You can’t tell what Br’er Rabbit gonna do, ’cause he always up to somethin’."

Trump gave money to HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) who had been excluded from those funding sources that other colleges and universities had accessed. As a libertarian, I’m generally opposed to government “giving” money to any college or university, because government can only “give” money by taking it from your grandchildren. However, as a simple matter of observation, had Obama done this, it would have been celebrated by the media.

Trump pushed through the only stimulus package we’ve gotten since our economy was shut down. Again, as a libertarian, I’m generally opposed to the government printing money out of thin air, while destroying the purchasing power of money

in general, in order to “give” it to anyone. However, this is more like Bernie than Reagan.

Almost 4 million jobs “created”. As a libertarian, I don’t acknowledge or accept the idea of top-down job creation. But you know who does? Progressives and Neoliberals alike. Regardless, more Americans are employed than ever in history.

Trump brought back manufacturing. No kidding, he did. He did it by using means and methods that I find to be ethically flawed, according to my libertarian perspective, but he did it - like so many Democratic partisans have promised to do over the years - and didn’t.

He improved the middle class, with median household income at the highest level ever recorded. Of course, I don’t think that the president should have these powers to affect the free market, but they’ve already printed so much money out of thin air, someone has to manage the resulting Ponzi scheme. I would have expected that from a Democrat, if I believed political promises.

African American Unemployment is at it’s lowest point ever (written in 2020). Perhaps that’s why Trump gained so many black voters this go around, combined with the HBCU’s being funded. Either way, this doesn’t sound like Republican rule to me.

Women’s unemployment reached the lowest rate in 65 years. Does that sound like modern Republicanism to you?

Trump signed Right to Try laws, that made it possible for terminal patients to try experimental medicines because they are already dying. This is actually something that libertarians would agree with, and something a democratic partisan would promise to (but not) do.

Trump assigned 6 billion in new funding for opioid addiction. Again, government money is addictive poison from my libertarian point of view, and the opioid epidemic is the result of over-regulation of medicine in general. But since our money is debased already, we’re all in this together. Either way, I would have expected a Democrat leading that charge, but they left it for Trump to do.

Hell, Trump got Republicans to cheer for government healthcare! Remember when they were opposed entirely to the idea? As a libertarian I take an even stronger opposition to tax-funded healthcare, and I would prefer to see regulations repealed or reduced so that the cost of medicine would stop being artificially inflated by our Ponzi scheme economy. But still, Trump moved the entire Republican establishment to the left on this issue, and it’s obvious.

Of course, Trump has also achieved many Republican things, which I personally oppose according to my libertarian philosophy, but that’s neither here nor there. The point is that Trump has achieved so many progressive ideas that I could double the above list. Did I mention prison reform? Oh well, you get the idea.

Trump is a moderate Democrat from the 80’s, folks. That’s what I said before he was elected, and I think his list of unlikely accomplishments proves it.

Trump is a moderate Democrat, with progressive tendencies, who occasionally agrees with Republicans on a narrow slice of that party’s platform. He took control of the Republican Party, against their own protestations, and used it to achieve incredible progress for the Democratic Party platform, while the Democratic Party resisted him every step of the way. And all of that was possible because Trump knew how to navigate that briar patch.

“I’m born and bred in the briar patch, Br’er Fox. Born and bred!”

POLITICS & OPINION

Eric Hafner, Alaska US House Democrat Candidate

`Contributed by Carol Hafner

Eric Hafner, one of the final four Alaska US House candidates, was asked for a statement to be used by the Division of Elections for their official voter reference listing. His bio also included, offers a more in depth profile of his experiences and education relating to the office. So, what does this man bring to the Congressional table in the way of experience?

From Hafner’s reply to the Division of Elections, follows:

On Maui Hawaii Island, Hafner promoted Native American sovereignty on a criminal defense team that successfully FULLY ACQUITTED Native Hawaiian Native American medical marijuana dispensaries from corporate interests threatening Indigenous rights. Hafner coordinated with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) & NORML reforming unjust drug laws promoting harm reduction. The Denver Teacher Unions had his support for NATIONAL K-12 public

The Choice Is Clear

Contributed by Paul Johnson

Out of curiosity, I printed out a sample ballot for the upcoming General Election. It’s still a Ranked Choice Ballot as I knew it would be. Voting YES on Ballot Measure #2 will eliminate that by “put(ting) all election laws, EXCEPT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, back the way they were before 2022”. In other words, the Dark Money that was supposedly eliminated by RCV will still be gone. We may still be able to have an election and know who won the next day. What a concept!

The problem runs quite a bit deeper than that though. At the top of the Ballot is the President/Vice President Ticket. Listed on that ticket are names such as Jill Stein, Cornel West & Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others who should no longer be listed as Presidential Candidates since they have withdrawn from the race. Con-

education political campaigns through Amendment 66 Fieldworks LLC Douglas County Colorado School Board race. Also in Denver, Hafner provided active support for SEIU Labor Union FastFood Fight for $15.

International experience includes Hafner’s direct support to the Washington, DC Senegalese Africa Ambassador. Hafner has provided LEGAL European Union refugee immigration assistance. He also provided Progressive Irish support electing local Irish National and European Union candidates.

Hafner’s formal education supports his political issues interests; a Denver College, Criminal Justice graduate, his studies included Constitutional Law, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), Narcotics Investigation, Sex Crimes, Judicial Function, Corrections, Criminology, Victimology, Policing Systems, Criminal Law, Terrorism and Intelligence.

At City College of San Francisco, Hafner’s focus included Critical Pacific Island;

cerned that this might skew the RCVing, I contacted the Division of Elections. A very polite person explained that the candidates who dropped out did not file to pull their names off of the ballot in time. Therefore, by law, that is the ballot that has to be used. My next question was in regard to this skewing the RCVing. I was told, “While I understand your concern, I am not allowed to have an opinion.” They went on to say that Ballot Measure #2 addresses that issue so you may want to take a close look at that. I thanked them for their time and explained that I understood the position that they are in.

My next call was to Nick Begich. I had already planned on contacting him in regard to Mary’s claims that he would end abortion altogether, no exceptions. Now, with this new information, I was more curious than ever on where Nick stood on a variety of things. I tried to contact Mary’s office last month but got no response. The spokesperson I spoke with explained to

2020 Electoral Malfeasance

Contributed by Jim

Lieb

As the 2024 presidential election draws near, there are numerous pronouncements by the national media and by various leftist groups declaring that Trump and his allies continued 2020 assertion is false …..that he did not lose the 2020 election because of inappropriate election activities.

I’ve heard it said that the national media may not be convinced that there was no fraud…. but are convinced that even if there was, Americans cannot be told about it. The media may feel that they have to counter such assertions, or our political process would somehow be endangered….or maybe the Dems might lose in November.

When you see this media message repeated so frequently you have to wonder why this is being hammered at us so much. One old adage says, ‘if you repeat your message often enough, you can get most everyone to believe you’. While there are a whole lot of people who believe the media’s message, there’s also a whole lot who do not.

The media’s message shortly after the 2020 election was that in the five battleground states that decided the 2020 outcome, recounts were conducted and thorough reviews of the results showed

that Biden indeed receive the most votes. Thus….they claim that is proof that Biden won the election fairly. What if Biden did indeed get the most votes…. BUT…. he got them as the result of inappropriate election activities.

The following summarizes and compares what happened in 2016 and in 2020.

In 2016 Trump won 30 states, including all 5 battleground states [Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin], which added up to 304 electoral votes [56.5% of the total electoral votes]. In 2020 Biden won 27 states [including the 5 battleground states], providing him with 306 electoral votes [56.9% of the total electoral votes]. Within the 5 battleground states, in 2016 Trump won 51% of the votes. In 2020 Bidon won 50.6%

There is evidence that there were inappropriate activities undertaken to get Biden the votes he needed to win in 2020. A number of professionals who study the election patterns have concluded that there was substantial unlawful activity in the 5 battleground states prior to election day. They have found that a number of groups put together a program to gather enough Biden votes so he would win these 5 states. With the arrival of the Covid pandemic, and the ‘hunker down’ push, conditions became perfect

Legislators Accountability to US Constitution Rocky

Contributed by Concerned Citizen

Go to the Alaska Legislative Scorecard at TheFreedomIndex.org to see how our legislators voted to uphold their Oath of Office to uphold the US Constitution. For example, the web site showed Senator Shelley Hughes voted 57% of the time to uphold the Constitution, and Representative David Eastman 100%. The Website also shows the Votes that gave them their Score.

What Will Be America’s

Contributed by Tom Wisthoff

The calamities’ that we have experienced in our lifetime, are, I believe, to be from God! He is calling out to a lost world that has forgotten Him. Just as He has done in times past to other nations, He is now shaking America to the very core. From wars overseas to riots on our

Ethnic; Women’s; Interdisciplinary Studies; LGBT/Diversity Rights. He has also studied Homeland Security, Political Science, History of WWII, History and Psychology.

Reflecting on his experience and diverse education, Hafner’s commentary regarding his running for Alaska US House:

“America is at a crossroads that has ripped the heart of our country. Never before have we been so polarized spewing hate to fellow Americans. Previously, we have had differences but civility and common goal of ‘One Nation’ have prevailed.

“My class exposure to ‘History of WWII taught me firsthand, hearing our veterans tell personal stories of sacrifice and horror, that war is to be avoided at all costs-not only for our valiant soldiers who selflessly gave their lives but for all families that are innocent bystanders to horror.

“America has educational opportunities teaching all ages our histories and values. We are recently experiencing an awakening to realities that question what we have accepted as historical fact. Support-

me that Nick believes the Supreme Court got it right by sending abortion law back to the States. Let the States decide.

We did way back in 1997 when one of the most liberal abortion laws in the country was ensconced in our State Constitution. While I don’t personally agree with every aspect of the law, I understand why it was written the way it is.

As for the Ballot measures, Number One being the Minimum Wage Graduated Increase to $15 an hour, and Number Two being Ranked Choice Voting Abolition, Nick believes strongly that #1 is a small business killer (look at California) and a NO vote is what is needed. He believes even more strongly that RCVing has been a disaster for Alaska and YES, YES, YES, #2 should be adopted!

I can’t tell you how to vote. What I can tell you is what I won’t be doing, playing their game! I’ll be voting for 1 candidate ONLY and the Ranking goes away. We need to unite behind Nick and send him

for their scheme. Registration forms and voting ballets were mailed to practically everyone. Ballet deposit cans were placed everywhere. Covid made it so much easier for an estimated 100,000+ Biden “campaigners” to gather votes in the 5 states. Numerous voters in these 5 states have described how they were approached, handed a registration form if not registered to vote, and were told how important it was to register. When many responded, ‘I don’t vote’, they were told… ‘not anymore’. They had to register and had to vote …. for Biden. They were told how everyone in their neighborhood was voting for Biden and they were expected to follow suite or incur the wrath of their neighbors. It was also pointed out that if they did not cooperate, they might need to move out of the area. As soon as ballets arrived, “campaigners” would return and tell all registrants to sit down and vote and “hand your signed ballet to me, and I will assist you and take it to a ballet deposit can”.

Testimonial evidence can be an effective way to establish that there has been a crime and is admissible in a court of law. Many of the battle ground state voters who revealed what had transpired were asked if they were willing to testify as to what had happened. Very few were willing to testify. “Neighbors would probably find out and it would be bad for me” was one of the typical responses.

Some of the involved “campaigners”

Canary in the Coal Mine

Contributed by Vlastic Marek Born in eastern gulag decades ago I am your canary in the mine when it comes to all this psychopathic Marxist woke madness. In my opinion this may

ing EducationForAll brings truth out of the shadows. Be it for reasons for why we have gone to war, why our Indigenous peoples are denied rights, why women should have the right to appropriate medical choices, what books we read, Black history, etc., continuing access to HigherEducationForAll is vital. We need EVERY talented American and teachers to bring our country forward.

“Alaska is at the forefront for our environmental crisis now manifesting its wrath on the Lower48-our universities and Indigenous communities have led awareness-our resources like ANWR are precious, not for short-term exploitation.

“Together we must unite in our goal, bringing communities together in problem solving, finding viable solutions for the good of all, not immediate greed.

“Your vote will determine our direction.”

Hafner may be contacted via email: AlaskaEricHafner@gmal.com, messages at 212-920-4809.

to Washington, where he looks forward to working with President Trump who recently gave Nick his full endorsement.

I mentioned that Mary and her minions have been throwing some pretty serious shade at Nick in regard to his business dealings in India. I was advised that the Tech Business, just one in a diverse portfolio, is outsourced as a result of not only Alaskans, but Americans in general not having the skill sets to accomplish the required tasks. Nick feels strongly that education right here in Alaska is a primary concern so we can become competitive in the World Market again and NOT have to outsource anything ever again. Nick is also the ONLY candidate listed that has signed a paycheck for Alaskans, hundreds and hundreds of them.

The choice is clear. Donald Trump, Nick Begich, NO on #1 and YES on #2 are the ONLY boxes you need to tick for Alaska and ALL Alaskans! Let’s Make Alaska Great Again!

who were identified, were also contacted and told that their actions were illegal, and they could be arrested and charged. The typical response was that they had done nothing illegal and were just doing normal door to door campaigning. What the experts have concluded is that without the testimony of approx. 10,000 battleground state voters, what happened cannot be legally proven. So where does this leave things. If you are anti-Trump, does that mean that you will ignore the above evidence and continue to believe that the 2020 election was completely fair. Or as a number of anti-Trumpers have declared, “who cares if it was illegal, as long as it stopped Trump, it’s great”.

No matter where you stand politically, is it possible for you recognize at this point in time that there is substantial evidence of 2020 election malfeasance? Obviously, this is 2024 and the clock cannot be turned back. But such recognition could begin to bring left and right Americans closer, get them to agree to disagree in a more affable manner.

And lastly the really important question: what will this mean for 2024 and afterwards….will we ever be able have our elections operate in a completely fair and honest manner.

Jim Lieb has lived in Alaska for the past 45 years, worked as a state biologist and written numerous scientific and popular reports.

be or may be not our last free elections. If confused remember history “lonely shooters” only ever fired at presidents that did something good for the country. In other words, if the government bans a book, it’s probably worth reading. Hope you make it to vote.

homeland to 9/11 and the corona virus, financial collapses

POLITICS & OPINION

Let’s Talk Bathrooms!

Contributed by Marguerite Boehm

I am tired of hearing the constant arguments about the use of bathrooms. I am astonished to see lawsuits to try to force the use of your choice of bathrooms. I can think of several ways to fix this issue, and Alaska is certainly on its way

with it’s multitudes of outhouses. The outhouses at the fair worked quite well for everyone with only one occupant in each booth.

Anyone who grew up in a public school knows that one of the last places you want to be is the bathroom. I myself had

Election Integrity — How You Can Make a Difference

Contributed by Dave Johnson

If you haven’t noticed, the upcoming General Election is a very hot topic. Our country is a divided one with polarized political and social mistrust. Emotions are raw and everyone has one or more opinions to unburden themselves with. The primary issue, Voter/Election Integrity. You may have expressed, “What can I do?” to friends or like-minded people.

You also may have heard, “Get involved, we need your help!” Although this is true, your communities DO need your help, you may not know where to start. Why not begin with election integrity by volunteering to be a Poll Watcher? Being a Poll Watcher is an important role in bolstering election integrity. No party affiliation is required, and all are welcome. The training involves a couple of hours

my purse stolen in high school and was also attacked. There are a lot of things going on in these bathrooms that should not be going on. Additionally, the stalls are not safe as someone can easily stand on the toilets and take from you whatever they want in your compromised position or even slide under the door.

None the less if you feel you must have multiuse bathrooms, I suggest taking Boy and Girl off the door and make them uni-

ahead of the Nov. 5th election. As a volunteer Poll Watcher, you will learn and know what to look for in maintaining fairness in this election and beyond. On the day of the election, you can work the entire day or just a few hours. Many people are needed to make this happen and we all have a responsibility to preserve the integrity of our elections. Participate in something meaningful and volunteer! You’ll see your neighbors and other members of your community

EASTMAN: THE MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

How many years have legislators been unable to resist the temptation to stick their hand in the PFD cookie jar? They failed again this year. The vote was 39-1. Of the six Mat-Su legislators in the house, I was the only legislator to vote NO.

How many years have legislators in Juneau ignored the will of the people and refused to move the capital? This year was no exception.

During his first term, Governor Dunleavy formally called the legislature into special session in Wasilla. A handful of us attended. While we assembled in Wasilla, 38 legislators ignored the constitution and flew to Juneau instead (at taxpayer expense of course).

How many years have legislators ignored the will of the people by staying in Juneau long after they were required to leave? They did again this year.

Alaska voters went through the expensive and time-consuming process of passing a state law to prevent legislators from camping out in the state capitol for more than three months. Legislators busted the

90-day limit this year after simply voting to ignore the law. The vote was 34-6.

Where are these “good politicians” in the legislature? And if they are good, why is it they keep voting with the “bad politicians” so often?

On the 122nd day of session this year, the governor finally stepped in and started vetoing all laws passed by legislators because they had clearly exceeded their constitutional authority by staying in Juneau too long.

The beginning of session this year wasn’t any better. On the very first day, the House of Representatives kicked off the session by ignoring the constitutional mandate that legislators meet to either approve or disapprove Gov. Dunleavy’s veto of education funding. The vote was 20-20.

Whenever a law is passed by the legislature and vetoed by the governor, the constitution requires the governor to explain why he vetoed it and for the legislature to decide whether to accept or reject the governor’s veto (Art. II, Secs. 15-16).

Consider Voting to Support Schools

Contributed by Brett Ahern

This November election includes a bond for the Valley’s charter schools, for extensive essential repairs for 2 of them, and expansion into grades 9-12 for Academy Charter School, where my grandson attends.

I shared our testimony at the MSB Assembly Meeting public hearing on 8-6-24.

I thought you might like to read it.

***

Hello. Thank you for this time.

My grandson is attending his 5th year at Academy and entering 7th grade. A small school provides a heightened sense of community, due to the needed increase in participant involvement. This has a significant impact on the level of community spirit and interaction.

This involvement plants the seed of a core concept of our democratic culture: see a problem, have an idea for a solution, get involved, and make it happen; locally and nationally.

The key reason I see it is necessary to

expand the Academy’s upper grade levels is that the principle part of teenage development is socialization – how a person will enter our world and make a meaningful impact.

A small school develops a closeness that makes it a great environment to develop involved citizenship. As one goes through the stages of teen development, routinely volunteering in her community (an Academy requirement), the sense of citizenship puts meat on its bones, developing its strength, meaning, and vibrancy.

This summer I had the opportunity to volunteer at the school for lawn maintenance. My budding teenage grandson participated with me a few times, wondering why he ‘had’ to do this. We discussed what I already shared with you. Then he had a hands-on application of the taught lesson.

During the next few years, I will gladly volunteer with my grandson at Academy Charter School, his nucleus community of the real world. We will experience hands-

Alaskan Seniors Need a Defender in Washington

Contributed by Nick Begich

In today’s political climate, social security often comes to the forefront of our political discussions and candidates are highly scrutinized for their positions on this all-important program. Rightfully so. Alaskan seniors have a reason to be concerned about social security. The latest estimates from the Social Security Administration and the Congressional Budget Office show that without improvements the program will be unable to meet its promised obligations within 10-15 years. Elected officials must understand that protecting social security and ensuring the needs of Alaskan seniors are met is crucial. For me, Social Security is deeply personal. I grew up with my grandparents and great-grandmother. At the time, my great-grandmother relied on Social Security as a vital part of her income. Today, my grandfather relies on his social security as well as his own FAA retirement to sup -

port himself in Alaska. I have witnessed firsthand why the promises that we make to each generation are important to keep, and Social Security is one of the most important that is made.

It has always been my goal to put action behind promises. However, elected officials are often not held to account for the promises they themselves make in their campaigns. Our current representative has talked about the importance of social security but has done little to address the program’s looming funding crisis.

Over the past year and a half, I have traveled across our state and developed a strong understanding of the challenges and needs of our communities, in particular our senior population. I have engaged in numerous discussions focused on social security and have expressed to Alaskans my dedication to protecting social security.

Social security is often a lifeline for Alaskans and many rely on social security

You may remember that legislators also voted to ignore this same portion of the constitution in 2016 when Walker first vetoed the PFD. By refusing to follow the Constitution, legislators allowed Walker’s veto of the PFD to stand without the mandated response from the people’s elected representatives.

This year, it was only in response to intense public outcry that Republican legislators relented and agreed to follow the Constitution and vote on the veto.

Predictably, their first order of business after the vote had taken place was to punish the legislator who first pointed out that the constitution requires us to act.

With no small amount of irony, legislators congratulated me on successfully defending the constitution, and then immediately voted to remove me from the committee that deals with the constitution. Only in Juneau.

It comes down to this. Either Juneau is still just as swampy as it was when legislators left the capital back in May, or it has changed.

on citizenship, expanding his understanding as he goes through the complexities of the layers of teenage socialization, educating his maturing mind, as he goes through high school, annually volunteering, developing his heart’s community spirit. We expect him to graduate; ready, willing and able to continue volunteering, deepening his citizenship role in multi-faceted ways in our Valley community, and beyond. Healthy citizenship.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

***

A current reveal – Academy Charter School is now well under way for the school year. Every year every grade level does a volunteer community activity. This year the third-grade students chose to volunteer to fill the Palmer Food Bank.

As they coordinated they learned the Food Bank usually is low in January, February and March. They chose to gather enough food, and the Food Bank agreed to stock their inventory accordingly, to also cover this year’s critical low food months.

to meet everyday needs. This is even more true in Alaska’s more rural communities.

A secure retirement program ensures our parents and grandparents can remain in the state they love, close to children and grandchildren. By strengthening social security and providing a stable income for our senior population, we are supporting the local economy, reducing strain on other social programs, and keeping Alaskan families together.

My message to Alaskans is clear: social security must be preserved for both current and future retirees. It’s time for the games that continue to jeopardize this program to end. Earnings paid into Social Security belong to the people, not to the government for general funding purposes.

In Congress, you have my commitment to: Support measures that preserve social security and enhance the sustainability of social security without compromising benefits.

Advocate for policies that ensure social

sex. I myself believe there is no reason to have multiuse restrooms because people are used to queuing for the bathroom or outhouse already. I’m pretty sure every home I’ve been in has single use bathrooms with no issues. Except those girls who have to wait forever for a brother who stands in the bathroom finessing his hair then opens the door and says “Well, how do I look?”

on Election Day. This is traditionally a day for celebration, so commemorate it with friends and make new ones. Plus, this is a historic election. Why not be part of it? You will be glad you did. Interested? Good! The following is the contact information you need to get started, if not just to get the news out. For more information contact, Cause of America Alaska: info@causeofamericaalaska.org.

If the swamp has been drained and now looks more like an artesian spring, our job is easy. All we have to do is elect one or two more good people to go down and support the legislators who are already in Juneau.

If it’s still a swamp on the other hand, we have an entirely different task in front of us, and the Good ‘ol Boys Club is not going to be on our side. If it’s still a swamp, we are going to need to send men and women to Juneau who are willing to take the very worst blows that the swamp has to throw at them and somehow manage to stay in the ring and keep fighting. Those back home deserve no less. You must decide which description of Juneau is the more accurate one, and act accordingly.

Rep. David Eastman is running to represent Wasilla and Meadow Lakes in the Alaska House of Representatives. He is the only Alaska Legislator with a constitutional lifetime rating of 100% on the Freedom Index. He is endorsed by Save The PFD, the NRA, the Alaska Outdoor Council, General Michael Flynn, and Alaska Right to Life. Visit davideastman.org for more information.

The effort and results were amazing. Over 20 businesses agreed to have donation boxes on their premises. Some businesses that didn’t allow boxes donated cash instead, so the kids could shop with their parents for donations.

Over 3,500 items were donated, with over 3,000 pounds of food. Their goal was 1,000 pounds. This morphed into another grade participating. The second grade collected over 1,000 items. Kids volunteered to do chores for pay, so they could buy food for the drive.

Obviously this was a large-scale operation, involving many adults, coordinating kids, and following their ideas that generated three times as much as their goal. Academy Charter School is on the right track for inspiring volunteerism. Now imagine if they continued this through the students’ high school years. I look forward to seeing what the future brings to their school, and its effect on our community. Let’s help make this happen! Thank you for your consideration.

security is adequately funded and separated from other government spending. Advocate for a consistent retirement age. Alaskans know the path to a more prosperous future will not come from rolling the dice once again on Congresswomen Mary Peltola. She has failed Alaskans on every important issue that matters to us. As a business owner in Alaska who has signed paychecks for hardworking Alaskans and who has helped create thousands of jobs across our nation, I plan to take a pragmatic and business-minded approach to Washington. It’s time that someone stands up for Alaskan values. I hear it everyday from Alaskans around the state who are fed up with the status quo and feel overlooked and ignored. It’s why I am more committed than ever to fight for Alaskans and our way of life. As your next Congressman, I will fight relentlessly for Alaska seniors, protect your social security, and put Alaskans first.

ACCESSIBILITY & MOBILITY

101 Mobility ........ 521-7101

Durable Medical Equipment

Lending Program ........ 907-521-1908

ANTIQUES & VINTAGE

The Estate Sale ........ 357-7050

The Winter’s Cache ....... 745-3911

APPAREL & CLOTHING

All Seasons Clothing Co. ........ 357-0123

ART & CRAFTS

The Gallery ........ 745-1420

AUTO REPAIR

Fairview Loop Automotive .. 887-6137

BOOKSTORE

Black Birch Books ...... 373-2677

Fireside Books ........ 745-2665

CANNABIS RETAILER

Matanuska Cannabis Co. ...... 745-4211

COFFEE & CAFÉ

Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543

Gathering Grounds Cafe ........ 376-4404

Vagabond Blues……..745-2233

EDUCATION

Gille Learning Center ..... 357-1100

Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990

EPOXY SUPPLY & INSTALL

Alaska Resin Supply ........ 671-9900

FOOTWEAR

Northern Comfort Shoes ........ 376-5403

HOME DÉCOR

Peak Boutique ........ 746-3320

The Wagon Wheel ........ 671-0189

MUSIC LESSONS

Wood & Wire Guitars .... 745-7457

ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS www.gunsalaska.com

PRINT SERVICES

L&B Color Printing ........ 376-2081

REPAIR & RESTORATION

Alaska Resin Supply ........ 671-9900

Comtronics ........ 373-2669

S&S Drilling ...... 746-0225

Steve’s Toyostove Repair ..... 376-9276

The Powdercoat Shop .... 841-1300

Wood & Wire Guitars .... 745-7457

RESTAURANTS

Locals Pub & Pizzaria ........ 357-3100

SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES

Mr. Plow ........ 521-2376

SPECIALTY GIFTS

Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364

Non-Essentials ........ 745-2258

The Wagon Wheel ........ 671-0189

TAXI & TRANSPORTATION

Mr. Taxi ........ 707-6011

THRIFT SHOPS

Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404

Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708

TOYS

Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543

Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990

POLITICS & OPINION

Wake Up, Alaska!

Contributed by Richard Howes

Wake up, Alaska and research for yourselves the facts about Proposition 2 on the November ballot. It was lower 48 organizations that were the heavy funders behind getting ranked-choice-voting in Alaska. Now they are the heavy funders behind keeping it in Alaska. Notice the “No on 2” commercials focus on open primaries and make no mention of the ranked-choice voting. They know that the vast majority of Alaskans do not like the ranked-choice-voting.

Look at the volume of commercials, you know that requires a whole lot of money. Lower 48 money trying to control our elections. “No on 2” top contributors: Unite America, Denver, CO; Action Now Initiative, Houston, TX and Final Five Fund, Chicago, IL.

The “No on 2” are running misleading or out and out lying, you decide, commercials about our military and veterans in reference to Proposition 2. The commer-

How

Contributed by Nan Potts

If you voted in the August 20th Primary, you’re probably scratching your head wondering how your vote was counted. Ranked-Choice voting is a very complex, easily corrupted, confusing voting system. It is lauded by individuals and organizations whose candidate won using this system. Why not, it worked for their candidate. When asked what voters’ impression of the system was, the voters whose candidate either didn’t make it through the “instant run-off voting” or lost in the first round, there were a myriad of answers. However, all agreed that it’s confusing, manipulative and unfair. Many feel it is being used as a political weapon in our voting system by suppressing their votes and manipulating election outcomes. The sense of being invalidated and powerless to overcome the current voting system is overwhelming. This is where the “Yes on 2” campaign steps in to give hope to voters and pathways for voters to return the one-vote-per-voter practice back to its traditional format. — yeson2ak.com

By definition, RC voting provides for voters to rank the candidates,1st through nth places. Very non-traditional from one vote per voter. However, according to AK Division of Elections, it is not mandatory to fill-in or rank all of the candidates. Voting for one or two candidates is OK. Remember to rank wisely.

— www.elections.alaska.gov

By now you understand, if no candidate wins a “majority” (51% or more) of initial votes, the race goes into multiple “rounds” called instant-runoff voting until one candidate receives a majority of the votes. (For a FULL EXPLANATION go to, www.elections.alaska.gov [See, How RCV Works]). Once you’ve watched the explanatory video several times, you’ll catch on to how RC really works. There is logic to this system, but you may find yourself thinking, Is that really fair?

Our August 20th Primary resulted with Mary Peltola accumulating 50.89% of the votes, Nick Begich with 26.57% and Nancy Dahlstrom with 19.90% of the votes. Since Peltola was 0.11% shy of a majority, the counting went into the next round. Begich and Dahlstrom split the Republican race but Nancy withdrew allowing Begich to step as the Republican candidate. After several weeks, further rounds selected

cials show a new voter registration form that is not even the Alaska registration form. The block they emphasize as they say that service members and veterans are “FORCED” to choose a party is actually located on the back of the Alaskan form and contains additional options that are contrary to what the “No on 2” are saying. People registering (including military and veterans) can also elect to select “Nonpartisan” and “UNDECLARED.” Does that sound like anyone is being “FORCED” to choose a party?

I served in the Alaska National Guard and the regular Army. Most of that time, I was “undeclared.” When I went in to vote, I just told them which ballot I wanted for that primary. I would get the one that contained who I wanted to vote for. An undeclared person could vote on the Democrat primary one time and the Republican the next, their option, their CHOICE!

Go to https://www.elections.alaska. gov/doc/forms/H42.pdf and look at our past elections and you will see the truth. In 2020, 2018, 2016, etc., read who could

Eric Hefner (a convicted felon, imprisoned in New York State) and John Wayne Howe to testify ballot. A write-in candidate is to complete the Alaskan US Representative ballot — www.elections.alaska.gov/ (See 2024 Sample Ballots).

In others, words, the tabulation of the ballots took weeks. What can change in a few weeks? Increased opportunity for error and fraud.

Since RC voting can be daunting to many, due to its complexity resulting in some voters refusing to vote, low voter turnout has happened. Witness 2022 Alaska Midterm Election — the first time RC voting was used saw a record low voter turnout of 44% (18,000 less voters than the 2018 election). — - www.elections. alaska.gov/results/24PRIM/ElectionSummaryReport.pdf.

This system also makes voting more complicated. When enough voters feel the elevated potential to make an error in voting for whom they truly wish to elect and the possibility of their ballot being tossed or candidate lose due to their error, they refuse to vote. This is even more problematic with absentee ballots since mistakes on ballots at the polls can be easily caught and corrected, mailed in votes (absentee ballots) cannot. Instead, voting errors are detected during tabulation and are irreparable. Wouldn’t these issues fall under the heading of voter suppression?

Then there is the confusion with “exhausted” or “inactive” ballots. These are ballots that are finished being counted due to candidates being eliminated from an election (and all other ranked choices on the ballot have been counted, if any) or the ballot format itself limits preferences. These are not tossed, instead these ballots have exhausted their count.

— www.elections.alaska.gov (See Exhausted Ballots)

Yet, the true trademark of RC voting is its creation of a fake majority. Because candidates fail to win a majority in the first round, RC voting allows for votes in the second round to be distributed to other candidates and so on until a majority is achieved and a winner selected.

Is this fair to the voters who do not want to vote for the other candidates? They want one vote, their candidate. Yet, if they place votes for the lesser candidates

vote on the specific ballots. Nonpartisan and Undeclared could vote on either ballot, their choice. Like all Alaskans, our military and veterans do NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE A PARTY, just a ballot.

There are mailings that are going out pushing the same “veterans must choose” message by Veterans for All Voters (another lower 48 organization). They say right on the mailers, that Veterans for All Voters endorses “No on 2.” Proposition 2 of 2024 takes things back to the way they were before the Proposition 2 of the 2020 election roped us into Rank-choice voting. Interestingly, if you run a search on Google for Alaska Proposition 2 you will get a ton of information but be careful, the vast majority of it is pertaining to the 2020 version. You need to be specific, run the search for 2024 Alaska Proposition 2 to see the current information.

Vote YES on Proposition 2 in November. Show the lower 48ers that Alaskans want our elections our way, not theirs. We do not want Ranked choice voting like they do in San Francisco and other places.

as well, those in 2nd thru nth places, those candidates may accrue votes sufficient enough to win the election. It has happened. — www.elections.alaska.gov

Who’s pushing Alaska to keep the RC voting system (vote no on measure 2)?

If you quickly read the bottom of their TV ads or heard the ending of their radio spots, they are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), nonprofits that have questionable purposes. Most of these are outside Alaska and some have origins outside the US. It’s known as “dark money”, and it is fueling election re-engineering in our country. Names can be called out and fingers pointed at billionaires who have a history of contributions to clandestine agendas. But, why? — They have money, given as donations and they use it for the power to control. Whether you believe it to be for Globalization and Globalism or a Marxist Society, those ideological elements and practices being carried out right now, create chaos to diminish the individual’s rights and freedoms. What can be done to stop RC voting in Alaska? It’s on our November 5th ballot. We must use RC voting for our Presidential and US Representative candidates. But to rid this menace of a system it takes a YES vote on Measure 2 (See sample 2024 ballots at www.elections.alaska.gov). If you download a sample ballot, read it thoroughly. Educate yourself and assist your friends plus, get involved with the “Yes on 2” campaign — yeson2ak.com. There is a good chance it will be repealed. Once you gain this information necessary to repeal RC voting, you are armed with the knowledge and it’s time to spread the word. Volunteering to canvass, do a phone bank or distribution of literature, your time and efforts are invaluable. Lastly, donate. Financial support for this venture will enhance the outreach efforts. Vote YES on Measure 2, and this rank choice will be gone!

(Interesting research sources to consider on YouTube: Ranked Choice Voting Explained — Foundation for Government Accountability, Ted-Ed Which Voting System is Best — Alex Gendler, Rigged Choice Voting — Heritage Foundation. For comic relief try the short, Ranked Choice Voting Explained [Kidding]).

WASI Hosts Autumn Harvest Brunch Fundraiser and ‘Taste

Contributed by Heather Sommerville

The Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) is thrilled to invite the community to its Autumn Harvest Brunch, a special fundraiser dedicated to supporting local seniors in the Mat-Su Valley. The event will take place on Saturday, October 26th at the WASI Center and promises a morning of delicious food, community spirit, and exciting opportunities to give back.

The event will feature a seasonal brunch menu, live auction, and the highly anticipated ‘Taste of the Valley’ raffle, where one lucky winner will walk away with $1,200 in gift cards to some of the best restaurants in the Valley.

Sponsorship Opportunities

WASI is offering various sponsorship levels for businesses and individuals who want to contribute to this important cause: $250 Beverage Sponsorship: Includes 2 tickets, with your company’s name featured in event materials and on social media.

$500 Sponsorship: Includes seating for 4, with promotional visibility at the event.

$1,000 Table Sponsorship: Includes seating for 8, the opportunity to decorate your table with your business’s branding, and recognition throughout the event.

$2,500 Sponsorship: Includes seating for 8, table branding, a 3x5 banner on the Wall of Fame, and recognition during the event as well as across all promotional channels.

All proceeds from the brunch and raffle will directly support WASI’s senior programs, aiding in the fight against senior hunger, boosting wellness initiatives, and sustaining the crucial work of empowering our seniors to live independently for as long as possible.

From July 2023 to June 2024, Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) provided a total of 118,606 home-delivered and congregate meals to 1,224 seniors across the Mat-Su Borough. These meals were served at two locations: WASI’s Main Campus in Wasilla and the Mid Valley Senior Center in Houston, Alaska.

WASI’s service area includes Palmer, Wasilla, Meadow Lakes, Big Lake, Houston, and Willow. Seven Meals on Wheels driv-

of the Valley’ Raffle

ers covered an astounding 87,330 miles to deliver hot meals to homebound seniors during a period of soaring gas and food prices. With such a vast service area, WASI depends on the support of donors and the community to help mitigate the impact of today’s inflated economy, enabling us to serve the growing number of seniors without resorting to waiting lists. We are deeply committed to our mission that no senior should go hungry. Tickets for the event are on sale now and it’s not too late to sponsor a table. Those interested in attending or sponsoring can visit WASI’s website at www. wasillaseniors or stop at the center. Don’t miss out on this chance to support a great cause while savoring the flavors of the Valley!

Event Details: Date: Saturday, October 26th

Time: 10:00am

Location: 1301 S Century Circle, Wasilla

Ticket Price: $50 per person | Sponsorships starting at $250

Joyful Living

Contributed by Linda

Pelton

What an extraordinary area we live in! Viewing natural beauty uplifts the soul and it is free to enjoy! I hate to miss any as throughout each day and sometimes the night it appears in many forms. From first light of dawn to middle of the night Northern Lights and magnificent star gazing. Some days are heaped full of amazing sights and some fun to see. This morning

driving along the KGB I was delighted to see two dog sled teams in training! The Sun highlighting the jagged, dramatic Chugach Mountain peaks was stunning and glinting on Cook Inlet reflected like pure gold!

The mountains closer in looked like powdered sugar had sifted over them! Snow time is here! The colder weather drives me right into the kitchen making soups, stews and baking that fills home with delightful aromas. Thought I would share a fun, easy recipe for delicious Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. Great to

make with children.

Scald 1 1/2 cups of milk, stir in 4 teaspoons of salt, 1/3 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup vegetable shortening. Cool to lukewarm, and whisk in 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cup lukewarm water, and 6 3/4 teaspoons yeast, or 3 yeast packs. Whisk in flour until pudding consistency, then add more flour stirring in until dough forms, but still a slight bit sticky. About 8 cups of flour. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.

I take half out at a time, drop onto floured surface, and shape into a rectangle pressing it thinner. Spread with 1/4

Children’s Health - Prevention is the Key!

Contributed by Mark Lackey School is in full swing and so is the season of coughs and colds. We all know when kids go back to school, they not only bring home the knowledge they have learned but germs that cause illness. Parents may think their child getting sick is inevitable, but there are preventative measures that can be taken.

One of the best things to do is to take your child in for the well child exam with their primary care provider. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends multiple visits in the first three years of a child’s life then yearly well child visits from age 4 to 18 years of age. A well child visit is a regularly scheduled visit where your medical provider and health care team make sure a child is growing and developing well, address any concerns you may have, and do a full head to toe exam. They will also discuss upcoming changes to expect as your child develops, educate about proper nutrition, sleep, exercise, and safety. Well child visits include screening for developmental delays, vision or hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder, and exposure to toxins. Chronic medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes will be addressed. Making sure these diseases are well controlled

will make the respiratory season a lot smoother and much less missed school or daycare.

Childhood vaccinations will be updated at the well child visit. There are vaccinations to prevent some of the circulating respiratory illnesses that coincide with back to school season. One of those vaccines is for pertussis which causes whooping cough, an illness that starts out with cold symptoms but becomes a persistent cough for 6 or more weeks. It can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death in babies. Unfortunately, there has been a pertussis outbreak in Alaska starting this summer. Children get multiple vaccinations for this disease during their childhood including a booster at age 4 to 5 years of age and again at 11 to 12 years old then every 10 years after that. Yearly influenza and COVID vaccines are recommended for anyone 6 months or older. RSV or respiratory syncytial virus is another virus you may have heard of that causes significant respiratory illness each winter. This is the second year we have an option to help prevent it. It is called Beyfortus (nirsevimab-alip) and it is a single dose, long-acting antibody that prevents serious RSV infections. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways of the lungs) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in infants less than age one. Beyfortus is given as an injection for infants less than 8 months in their first RSV season and some toddlers up to 24 months with chronic medical conditions that put them at higher risk of severe disease.

Well child visits also include congratulating parents on their own accomplishments. There is nothing better than hearing about a child who is now sleeping through the night or another that has not had any asthma symptoms because parents have been keeping up with daily medications. We work together with parents to help keep their child healthy and thriving. It is the most important partnership when it comes to health and the parents are always the ones who make all the decisions about any medical testing, vaccinations or medications.

There are other partners in our community and the child’s life that help keep them healthy as well. Childcare centers and schools help to make sure your child is up to date on vaccinations and to some regular screening for vision and hearing loss. CCS Early Learning is one particular

Proposition 1 – A Charter School Testimony

Contributed by Brett Ahern

This November election includes a bond for the Valley’s charter schools, for extensive essential repairs for 2 of them, and expansion into grades 9-12 for Academy Charter School, where my grandson attends.

I shared our testimony at the MSB Assembly Meeting public hearing on 8-6-24.

I thought you might like to read it.

***

“Hello. Thank you for this time.

My grandson is attending his 5th year at Academy and entering 7th grade. A small school provides a heightened sense of community, due to the needed increase in participant involvement. This has a significant impact on the level of community spirit and interaction.

This involvement plants the seed of a core concept of our democratic culture: see a problem, have an idea for a solution, get involved, and make it happen; locally and nationally.

The key reason I see it is necessary to expand the Academy’s upper grade levels

is that the principle part of teenage development is socialization – how a person will enter our world and make a meaningful impact.

A small school develops a closeness that makes it a great environment to develop involved citizenship. As one goes through the stages of teen development, routinely volunteering in her community (an Academy requirement), the sense of citizenship puts meat on its bones, developing its strength, meaning, and vibrancy.

This summer I had the opportunity to volunteer at the school for lawn maintenance. My budding teenage grandson participated with me a few times, wondering why he ‘had’ to do this. We discussed what I already shared with you. Then he had a hands-on application of the taught lesson.

During the next few years, I will gladly volunteer with my grandson at Academy Charter School, his nucleus community of the real world. We will experience handson citizenship, expanding his understanding as he goes through the complexities

of the layers of teenage socialization, educating his maturing mind, as he goes through high school, annually volunteering, developing his heart’s community spirit. We expect him to graduate; ready, willing and able to continue volunteering, deepening his citizenship role in multi-faceted ways in our Valley community, and beyond. Healthy citizenship.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.”

***

A just completed example – Academy Charter School is now well under way for the school year. Every year every grade level does a volunteer community activity. This year the third-grade students chose to volunteer to fill the Palmer Food Bank.

As they coordinated they learned the Food Bank usually is low in January, February and March. They chose to gather enough food, and the Food Bank agreed to stock their inventory accordingly, to also cover this year’s critical low food months.

The effort and results were amazing.

cup soft butter, sprinkle on cinnamon and raisins, chopped nuts as desired. Roll carefully, then cut across roll 1 1/2-inch slices. place in greased baking dish just touching. Cover, let rise to double size, bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. I run a stick of butter over them when they are out of the oven, and frost with vanilla or glaze when still warm. Sharing with family and friends is a good thing too!

partner that does a great job to make sure a child gets their yearly well child exam, screen their vision, monitor growth, and screen for anemia and lead exposure. They are also trauma informed and work with the child’s family to educate about healthy eating, safety, dental care, and building resilient brains. CCS operates the Early Head Start (pregnancy to age 3) and Head Start (age 3 to school entry) programs. Both of these programs are free of charge for families that are eligible. The primary eligibility criteria include child in foster care, families who are homeless, and family income. They work in partnership with families to give both the child and the family a “head start” on success in school and in life. There are locations in Palmer, Wasilla, and Fairview. Please go to www.ccsalaska.org to find out more and to enroll now or you can call 907-373-7000. They are currently enrolling new students in both programs.  Our children are the future and preventative care can make that future much brighter for them. Call your child’s primary care provider for an appointment today! Dr. Therese Tomasoski is a pediatrician that has been serving the Mat-Su Valley since 2004. She is currently working at Ptarmigan Pediatrics. Dr. Tomasoski also serves as the physician advisor for the Mat-Su Borough School District and has served on the Board of Directors for CCS Early Learning for 11 years.

Over 20 businesses agreed to have donation boxes on their premises. Some businesses that didn’t allow boxes donated cash instead, so the kids could shop with their parents for donations.

Over 3,500 items were donated, with over 3,000 pounds of food. Their goal was 1,000 pounds. This morphed into another grade participating. The second grade collected over 1,000 items. Kids volunteered to do chores for pay, so they could buy food for the drive.

Obviously this was a large-scale operation, involving many adults, coordinating kids, and following their ideas that generated three times as much as their goal. Academy Charter School is on the right track for inspiring volunteerism. Now imagine if they continued this through the students’ high school years. I look forward to seeing what the future brings to their school, and its effect on our community. Let’s help make this happen!

Thank you for your consideration.

https://propositions.matsugov.us/ pages/prop1 - more information on Proposition 1

3 Ingredient Fish Sticks in Ken’s Cast Iron Kitchen

PETS

Alaska Cat Adoption Team

Contributed by CarolDan Drake

Alaska Cat Adoption Team is a non-profit feline rescue group. Our mission is to

help cats and help humans help cats through rescue, homing, education, outreach, and coordination with other rescue

groups. Sometimes cats bond with other cats,

Different Kinds of Services Provided by Dogs

Contributed by Angie Lewis

Service dogs play a vital role in the lives of people with special needs. Without these dogs, these individuals would have very diminished and unsafe lives. Service dogs provide a variety of services/tasks that require different types of serious training. These dogs are not considered to be pets, but rather dogs with a specific job to do. These dogs wear a vest that helps to distinguish them as “worker” dogs and they are not to be interacted with while they are doing their job. They are permitted to enter premises such as stores, businesses, schools, and medical facilities – which would not be accessible to a regular dog. We will look at the different types of service dogs in the next few paragraphs.

Guide dogs are the original and most recognized service dogs. Guide dogs help blind or visually impaired individuals navigate the environment. They can be recognized by wearing a harness that includes

Adopt Jack

I’m

by Kelleigh Orthmann

Did you know

COMMUNITY

a bar for the handler to hold onto as they walk through the area. Something interesting about the relationship between the handler and the dog, is that the dog can be disobedient toward the handler, indicating that the dog knows better than the human if there is danger ahead. So that, if the handler wants to go in a certain direction, the dog knows better and will steer him in another direction.

Hearing dogs assist people who are deaf or hearing impaired. These dogs alert their handlers to various sounds such as doorbells or telephones ringing, babies crying, or knocks on the door. When the dog hears a sound that is something noteworthy, he alerts his handler and either goes in or away from the direction the sound came from – as appropriate.

Seizure alert dogs are tuned into their person’s slight physical changes when they are about to have a seizure. The dog alerts that the handler is about to have a seizure, plus the dog situates himself to

owning a gray cat is a symbol of good luck? I’m around 2-3 years old and have a quiet, loving disposition. I am an excellent door greeter ready for pets and love and will watch out the window to make sure all is right in the world.  I am fine around mellow dogs and would do well as an only cat or with a mellow cat who doesn’t mind having another kitty to share their home with. I am not looking to be best friends with another

Professional Development

Contributed by Jody Serrano, Resource & Outreach Development Coordinator

At Nine Star Education and Employment Services, our mission is to empower individuals in our community by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive professionally.

To advance this mission, we are thrilled to announce the expansion of our professional development offerings. On the second Tuesday of every month, Nine Star is hosting a class in Financial Literacy taught by the financial professionals from Global Credit Union.

Twindly Bridge Carnival

Contributed by Kami Heisterman

Come One, Come All, For a Fun-Filled Fall Event! Join us for a festive day that’s perfect for the whole family! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 19th, 2024, and head to the Menard Sports Center (1001 S. Clapp St., Wasilla) for our exciting Twindly Carnival. The fun kicks off at 1 PM and runs until 4 PM, so be sure to stop by for an afternoon of laughter and entertainment.

We have carnival games, bounce houses, face painting, a dunk tank, a photo booth, a treat walk, a balloon stand, and ice skating—there’s something for everyone! Feeling hungry? Enjoy deli-

cious snacks like pizza, hotdogs, nachos, pretzels, cotton candy, frozen treats, snow cones, and popcorn. Tickets will be available at the door for $1 each, and they can be traded in for food, games, and activities. Costumes are welcome, but please keep them family-friendly—no gore or weapons.

This is not just a fun day—it’s a fundraiser for the Friends of Twindly, so come out and show your support! Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun, and help us make this an unforgettable event for a great cause. Don’t miss out on this fantastic community event!

offer protection for their person. There is no scientific evidence to prove how a seizure dog is capable of doing this, but it has been demonstrated many times over.

A diabetic alert dog uses his incredible sense of smell to detect slight changes in the chemical composition of the blood of his person. This means that the dog can detect when their person’s blood sugars are getting dangerously low and alerts others to this dangerous situation.

For people experiencing severe allergic reactions. Allergy detection dogs can alert their person to things that will have these allergy causing items. This service is very important, especially for children, while they are at school away from their parents. These dogs often accompany the child to school, providing a vital service.

Mobility assistance dogs help people experiencing mobility issues, particularly those that use a wheelchair. These dogs help people who are extremely challenged by accomplishing tasks that we

cat, but a companion to say ‘hi’ to would be just fine. Older kids in the home would be okay. I will need a safe space outside where I can spend time with my forever family on nice days and take in all the wonders of nature.

To meet me, please call or text 907980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit https://clearcreekcatrescue. org/ or https://www.facebook.com/clearcreek.catrescue

To meet these couples,

take for granted. These dogs provide services to people with muscular dystrophy, severe arthritis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord issues.

A newer category of help for support dogs is autism support dogs. Social interactions are very difficult for people with autism, especially children. These dogs help individuals with autism to enter social situations and increase confidence. Also, children with autism tend to wander off and get lost, so these dogs help to keep track of them. Most of all, these dogs provide incredible friendship and partnership.

Psychiatric support dogs provide support to individuals experiencing various mental disorders such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorders. These support dogs will help calm down a stressed person and make sure that their personal space is not invaded.

The list of service dogs and how they continue to help humans increases frequently. Dogs are amazing creatures and have almost magical abilities. Humans owe a huge debt of gratitude for the help provided by dogs.

This class is designed to provide participants with the essential skills to manage their finances and make informed financial decisions. Additionally, Nine Star is excited to offer a course on the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship, led by Misty O’Connor from the Small Business Development Center. This course is crafted to inspire and guide aspiring entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools and in-

sights necessary to launch and grow their own businesses. These classes are open to everyone in our community, demonstrating our commitment to inclusivity and education for all. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to expanding our range of services to meet our community’s evolving needs and to support its members in their journey toward personal and professional success.

Adopt Chessie

Contributed by Angie Lewis

This sweet boy has to leave the only home he has ever known. His mom is allergic to him and therefore cannot keep him. He is a little over one year old and is a 1 yr 2-month-old Chesapeake Retriever Mix. Coming from an only pet home. He

knows how to sit and lay down and is house trained. He is also kennel trained up to 8-10 hours. (way too long - my comments)

Very active boy who needs more exercise than he is currently getting.

This guy will be going to the pound if he doesn’t find a foster or permanent home. PLEASE HELP!!!

Contact Angie at Alaska Animal Advocate at (907) 841-3173.

Adopt Amalia and Baru

Contributed by CarolDan Drake

Meet Amalia and Baru. Born around the end of November 2023, these two complement each other. Baru is a true explorer who tends to startle (but recovers quickly) and his sister, Amalia, is his favorite friend whose lead he usually follows. She is more outgoing, he’s the strong, silent, mouser type. They drain each other’s energy well and are bonded as brother and sister. Good for families with children over 12, and dog friendly, these two love treats and play, Baru is very active. Amalia also loves interaction with play and treats.

To meet these two, visit https://www. alaskacatadoptionteam.org and call their foster mom, Laura, in Wasilla at (907) 2292755.

Adopt River & Flounder

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

They are the purrfect pair! They became the best of friends in a foster home, and are now inseparable! Flounder was rescued first and was timid and uncertain of his new human friends. Then, River was brought into the foster home, and she taught Flounder that humans can be nice and offer lots of pets and delicious wet food! Now they are ready for their forever home where they can spend their days playing and snuggling with their new family. They would also enjoy a gentle dog friend (they are both great with nice dogs and will even play with them after they get to know each other).

River is a one-year-old tabby girl. She’s very sassy and talkative. She loves to explore outside and is an excellent hunter. And she loves to sit on your lap and purr. She’ll even let you carry her like a baby from room to room. As long as she’s getting attention, nothing else matters!

Flounder is a one-year-old orange boy. He can be easily frightened at first, as he was born from a feral mom. But, once he gets to know you, he’s the snuggliest boy you’ll ever meet. His dream life would include laying in bed all day getting pets. He’s not very fond of the outdoors because there are a lot of scary loud noises out there. So, he leaves the outdoor

Adopt Loretta and Callum

Contributed by CarolDan Drake Meet Loretta and Callum.

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

I am the coolest looking one-year-old kitty with a cute heart-shaped black spot on my side. I am a very shy but curious and playful young cat. The first few months of my life were spent living outside in the middle of winter, trying to survive. I came into rescue dirty and matted. I was fearful and would hide in the smallest spaces. Now I am loving life in a nice warm house with blankets to sleep in, consistent food, and kitty friends I can play with. I am not a lap cat yet but could be with time. I am still shy and will run

Adopt Arthur

– playful and shy and very food motivated – and are often found cuddling.

To meet Loretta and Callumvisit alaskacatadoptionteam.org and their foster caregiver, Carol, at 907-355-3587.

away when approached. But I will accept pets in my safe space (currently the cat tower) and will become a purring machine once I realize I’m safe. I love catnip and toys and will play with just about anything. I am looking for kind, loving, and patient people who will continue to work with me to build confidence and will give me time and attention. I will need to go to a secure home because I still love to hide in the tiniest spaces I can find. Other kitties in the home are a must; I love to play, chase, and wrestle with the other cats in my foster home and will follow what they do. Other cats in the home will surely help me continue to come out of my shell. I do ok with nice dogs. Older kids

exploring to River. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t like to play though. He can be very energetic! He loves to throw and chase his mouse toys all over the house and will wrestle and chase River up and down the cat tower when she’s ready to play!

To meet River and Flounder, please call or text 907-980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit https://clearcreekcatrescue.org/ or https://www.facebook. com/clearcreek.catrescue.

980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit https://clearcreekcatrescue. org/ or https://www.facebook.com/clearcreek.catrescue.

COMMUNITY

Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace

Contributed by

Kourtney Shannon

The Mat-Su Holiday Marketplace is a one stop holiday shopping extravaganza for Wasilla and the Mat-Su Valley. This event takes place at the Menard Sports Center (44-mile Parks Highway) November 9-10 and gives the area an opportunity to shop for unique and one-of-a-kind gifts without that long commute to Anchorage.

Artists and craftsmen will fill over 100 mini specialty shops with literally thousands of holiday gift ideas. Jewelry, furs, original artwork, clothing, pottery, home décor, holiday décor, tasty treats… you’ll find unique items from all around the state. No need to waste a tank of gas looking for the perfect gift! Make Santa proud this year and get all of your holiday shopping done in one warm location with lots of EASY… FREE… parking!

There is a $5 admission charge, kids 12 and under are free, and Sunday is free to Military with ID or anyone who brings 2 cans of food for a local food bank. Satur-

Consign49 Fall/Holiday 2024 Pop-Up Consignment Sale

Contributed by Ryanne Ori

Does the onset of cooler weather have you in the mood for pumpkin spice everything, and also a serious seasonal refresh for your wardrobe and home decor? How would you like to shop from a selection of thousands of high-quality items at 50-90% off retail prices, all while directly supporting local community members!

Consign49 is a four-day consignment sale held each spring and fall, in which over 300 local community members participate by bringing new and gently used clothing, accessories and home décor items together to form a large-scale resale pop-up. Each consignor independently prices and prepares items to be brought to the event, and items are dropped off at

the event location approximately one day before the sale begins. Consign49 Team Members work to organize all the items to ensure everything can be easily shopped according to category and size in a retail like setting. Once the event opens, shoppers can browse the entire venue before bringing their selections to the central checkout station.

Consign49 events are a smart, sustainable way to shop, save and earn money, and extend the lifecycle of high-quality items! Consignors are motivated to clear out items from their homes, while also earning some extra cash for the holidays. Shoppers get the opportunity to buy brand name items, or much needed seasonal items, for a fraction of retail prices. Additionally, many items that go unsold at the end of the event will be donated to local charities in need. For the upcoming

Holiday Expo Returns to Dena’ina Center

Contributed by Matt Rowley

The Holiday Expo is not your ordinary arts and crafts Christmas bazar! On November 23rd and 24th, the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage will be filled with local vendors showcasing an amazing selection of artwork, ornaments, books, sporting goods, toys, clothing, jewelry, stocking stuffers and tasty treats. There will even be big-boy toys like campers, snow machines, RVs, side by sides, and wheelers. Thousands of Christmas shoppers come to the Holiday Expo looking for that unique something to put under the tree or to stuff into someone’s stocking. Shoppers will find a little something for everyone, and Santa will be there too!  Our motto is “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy local, and that’s kind of the same thing.” We encourage visitors to resist the temptations of shopping online and at big box

event, Consign49 is partnering with the My House Foundation homeless youth center as the primary recipient of unsold items to be donated through the generosity of our consignors.

The Consign49 Fall/Holiday 2024 Consignment Sale will be held November 14-17 at Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, Alaska. Admission and parking are free, all major credit cards are accepted, and dressing rooms will be provided. Event hours are 9am –8pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 9am – 5pm on Sunday. On Sunday, November 17th, many remaining items will be marked half-price, depending on whether the individual consignor has chosen to put the item into the half-price sale.   If you are interested in becoming a consignor at a future event, please go to www.consign49.com for more information. Consignor spots are limited and will be on a first-come basis.

don’t want to miss this fun filled outing!

A More Prepared Mat-Su Valley

Contributed by

Debra McGhan

Thanks to the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services, Alaska Safe Riders, American Red Cross, Local Emergency Planning Committee, AARP Alaska, and the City of Wasilla, the 16th annual Mat-Su Emergency Preparedness Expo was held at the Menard Sports Center on Saturday, September 28th from 10 am to 3pm and served more than 1,800 individuals. This year’s event featured over 80 exhibitors and provided indoor, outdoor, and classroom presentations with exhibits designed to help residents and visitors prepare for a host of emergencies and disasters.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska Department of Public Safety, Division Alaska State Troopers, the Mat-Valley Federal Credit Union, Alaska Railroad, the American Red Cross, and McDonalds Corporation. Heather Becker and her family came to the event hoping to get better prepared for all types of situations and walked away the big winners of the day. They attended the ‘Prepared for the Backcountry’ presentation given by Alaska Safe Riders, and two of their children were awarded helmets thanks to Iron Dog Race, the helmet sponsor. Later in the day, she and her husband were drawn as the grand prize winners of this

year’s ‘Scavenger Hunt’ sponsored by the Alaska Railroad. They received two roundtrip tickets to Fairbanks for the summer of 2025, a $1,100 value.

The event also featured the youth poster contest which received a record number of entries by youth ages 5 to 18 from across the valley. The top poster by People’s Choice Award in five age categories, will receive a three-day emergency backpack for four people from the American Red Cross, a $100 cash gift card thanks to the Mat-Valley Federal Credit Union, and a community service award to be presented by the Mat-Su Borough Mayor and Assembly. Winners will be announced on the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services website soon. According to Talon Boeve, Emergency Operations Specialist and chair of the planning committee, the continued success of the expo is because of the wonderful, interactive, and informative displays, and helpful and delicious products showcased thanks to the sponsors and partners.  Organizers said they are always looking for new ways to get the word out and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their thoughts, many who expressed how impressed they were with the quality of the exhibits and food and very appreciative of the opportunities this event provides.

If you missed out on this year’s event, mark your calendar for the last Saturday of September, 2025 when the 17th annual Expo plans to return. You can also view photos from past events and see the latest entries in the poster contest at https:// ready.matsugov.us/.

Thank you again to everyone who attended, exhibited, sponsored or contributed to this year’s Mat-Su Emergency Expo. Together we are making the Mat-Su Valley a safer, more resilient and prepared community. Learn more at https:// alaskasaferiders.org. Photos by Debra McGhan.

STRONG SENIORS

International Artist Coming to Mat-Su College

Contributed by Nick McDermott

College

(Mat-Su, Alaska) Dominik Modlinski is a multiple award-winning artist best known for his colorful and vibrant landscape paintings. He immigrated to Canada from Poland at the age of 16, at which point he studied painting and drawing at the Ontario College of Art. Later, he went on to study at the Algoma School of Landscape Arts. He enjoys seeking out beautiful and hard to reach places for his paintings and bringing them to life with each brushstroke.

Mat-Su College (MSC) Fine Art Professor Michelle Mishaan has worked hard to bring him to campus for

students and community members to learn from. She says, “Everyone dreams of painting incredible mountains, capturing their majesty and beauty on canvas. Now, here’s your opportunity to learn from the best! Join Dominik Modlinski’s painting workshop and discover the techniques and skills needed to create breathtaking landscapes that reflect the awe-inspiring power of nature.”

There will be three opportunities to meet Modlinski: An Artist Talk, a Gallery Opening of his work, and a 2-Day Workshop.

The workshop will be held on November 7th (9am4pm) and 8th (9am-1pm). Professor Mishaan says, “Join us for an exclusive painting workshop led by renowned Canadian artist Dominik Modlinski, where participants will explore dynamic landscape painting techniques while

learning about color theory, composition, and creative expression. This workshop is perfect for artists of all skill levels, providing a rare opportunity to work alongside a master in the field.”

The workshop will cost $175 for community members and $87.50 for MSC Students. Register at http://tinyurl.com/DominicWorkshop.

Both the Artist Talk and Gallery Opening will be free and open to the public. The Artist Talk will take place in the Glenn Massay Theater on November 8th from 2pm3pm. The Gallery Opening will take place later that day in room FSM 200 from 4pm-6pm.

For more information on this opportunity and Mat-Su Collage’s Art Department, contact Professor Mishelle Mishaan at mlmishaan@alaska.edu.

Mat-Su