Contributed by Laurie Kari
be used for the homeless guests’ services at Family Promise Mat-Su.
July 15, 2016 Alaska State Fairgrounds
This community shelter program for families with children under the age of 18 is 11 years old this year! This year with budget cuts for our program and with escalating unemployment in the oil fields, etc., Family Promise expects to serve many more guest families.
Do you know all the projects and efforts currently at work to prevent homelessness and to serve people without housing in the Mat-Su Valley? (Have you heard the word “BHAP” and wonder what that is?) Are you carrying an innovative idea for emergency housing in the Valley that you’d like to discuss over coffee all night long? Do you ever wonder how homeless people sleep at night? Have you ever wanted to sleep overnight at the Alaska State Fairgrounds? If any of these strike a chord with you, please come to Cardboard City 2016 on July 15th. You will gather pledges of $50 to attend, set up your cardboard dwelling, enter the box-decorating contest, eat at a soup and breadline, and join in this Homelessness Outreach and Awareness fundraiser with many other Valley folks who are concerned and want to provide for homeless services in a tangible way. This is a 15- hour event, spending the night in your own box dwelling, waking up to coffee, cocoa and granola bars. This is an important family-friendly event in its ninth year. Have you attended in the past? You know you want to come again. Bring more friends this time and have even more fun! All funds raised from this 9th Annual Cardboard City will
Contributed by Josh Fryfogle The English word ‘politics’ is rooted in the Greek word ‘polis’, meaning city, and the word ‘polites’, meaning citizen. We know that the influence of collective organizations - corporations, lobbying groups, unions, super pacs, etc. - has shaped our society. We all know this, but why is it so? How is it made possible? Simple: We give them our support. We as a society give incredible sums of money to these groups, and the
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Our program desperately needs this fundraiser to raise great funds to continue providing our guests with Day Center services; Laundry, computers, shelter for any family pets, case management, transportation and office operations and many other shelter costs. Family Promise Mat-Su has served over 30,000 shelter bed nights since opening in 2005. Area churches donate overnight shelter, meals and hospitality for families while Family Promise case managers work with families at our Day Center/Offices to help them regain their selfsufficiency and housing. Our families enter the program destitute, depressed and desperate to be able to care for their children! Disastrous loss of their home, family dissolution, loss of employment, daycare issues, inability to find affordable housing, medical disaster… These are the leading causes of family homelessness. Within 60-90 days in the Family Promise program, lives are changed, families are able to save 80% of their income, get help with life-skills and job searches and find self-
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PETS & ANIMALS
Adopt Cash
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Contributed by Tracy Smith, Animal Care Dispatcher Cash (A047125) is a 5 year old pit bull who loves to play fetch, but only with tennis balls. Cash is a big ‘ole bundle of love and affection, but you’d never know it if you walk up to his kennel. But don’t let his bark fool you. He would be a great “protection” dog for a person/ family with only older children and no other animals. To cover his bad points: He has been known to jump fences, slip collars, dash out of doors, dig in the yard, does not like children, does not like other dogs, and he can be food aggressive. These can all be fairly easily overcome by a knowledgeable and experienced dog owner who takes the time to train Cash to new and better habits. As for his good points: Cash loves treats and attention. He will enjoy going on walks or runs with you and knows how to fetch, sit, and dance. Cash is also house-trained and crate trained, both big bonuses! Cash has spent some time
Meet Honey Contributed by Angie Lewis Alaska Animal Advocates (907) 841-317 At just two years old, Honey has known sorrow and some less than optimal treatment at the hands of human beings.
with a volunteer on our small agility course and he is such a happy dog wagging his way through the course. He’s done very well and learned very quickly. Please visit our Facebook page and search down in the posts to find a video of him on the agility course. Cash is looking for a responsible family to love and protect. Cash will make a great companion dog in the right circumstances and we’re certain he’s not too old of a dog to learn new tricks. Please come down to the shelter if you think he might be a good fit as a new companion in your home. Don’t be discouraged by his behavior in the kennel. He just doesn’t quite know how to tell you that all he really wants is a chance to get to know and love you. Ask a staff member to assist you and give Cash a chance by visiting with him outside and in one of our visiting rooms. To re-iterate, Cash does need to go to a home with no small children and no other animals. 907-761-7501 Animal.care@matsugov.us
wonderful mom, but now it’s time for her to get the loving she yearns for. Give this sweet tempered girl a chance to prove her worth. If you are interested in learning more about Honey, call Angie at 841-3173 or email Alaska Animal Advocates at AAArescue@yahoo.com
This beautiful Husky mix, is so ready to give us people a second chance. Her wonderful foster family has restored her faith in human-kind. They have given her the attention she deserves and the socialization that she desperately needed. Honey had a litter of pups a few months ago, and proved to be a
Meet Cosmo Contributed by Clear Creek Cat Rescue (907) 980-8898 Cosmo is a gorgeous black and white boy with a lush coat. Right now he is embarrassingly naked; he has a haircut. But when his fur has grown out, it is soft and beautiful. Cosmo is a young fellow maybe a year or two old who has the nicest personality. He is so cuddly. He loves to be held and cuddled and even carried around. He is great with other cats who are friendly and dog who don’t get in his face.
Adopt Ellie Contributed by Clear Creek Cat Rescue (907) 980-8898 What a gorgeous medium-hair girl! She appears to be a long-haired Russian Blue, a Nebelung! Can you picture Ellie snuggling up to you? Ellie is young, maybe two or three years of age, has a lot of spunk, and is a bit of a free spirit. She has the most adorable little meow to get what she wants! Ellie would be great in a household where she is the only kitty and has your undying love and attention. She does fine with dogs of all sizes that leave her alone and older kiddos that respect kitties.
He would do fine with nice children who are gentle and loving. A great cat for an older child who would like a companion to hang out with and go outside in the yard to play. Cosmo does love to go outside.
She can get alone with other cats who are gentle and welcoming with her. Ellie had a bad urinary tract issue for a while, but having the ability to go outside and enjoy the freedom and happiness of the natural world has totally turned her life and health around. Therefore, she absolutely must have outdoor access to be happy! She figures out pet doors easily once she knows where her home is. She is just a pretty cool kitty looking for the right family fit!
Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates
rule of thumb, is providing between 8.5 to 17 ounces per 10 pounds.
Water is a very vital nutrient for dogs, as it is for humans. It hydrates and cleanses our canine friends.
When a dog becomes dehydrated, his gums become sticky, or his eyes start to look dry. As dehydration progresses, skin pliability becomes compromised and the skin’s ability to slip back into place when pinched is lost. If you are concerned that your dog is either drinking too much or too little water, talk with your veterinarian.
Just as with humans, dogs are made up of 80% water. Water flushes toxins from the body, regulates a dog’s temperature, and helps with a dog’s sense of smell. Unfortunately, many dog guardians neglect to properly hydrate their dogs. We should be providing a constant supply of water for our canine companions. This water should be placed in an appropriate sized bowl and be clean and germ free. If a bowl is too small or the level of water is too low, the concentration of germs becomes very high and unsafe. Just how much water a dog needs depends on various factors such as the size and age of the dog, activity level, and what the weather is like. A good
Clear Creek Cat Rescue is currently rescuing a colony of around 80 cats and kittens. We need your help! litter and grain free food is needed, and of course all of them will need dewormed, vaccinated and spayed/neutered. All food and litter donations can be dropped off at Perfect Look Salon in Wasilla. (907) 980-8898
A thirsty dog can be dealt with at home, by providing water, but a dehydrated dog will require the care of a veterinarian. On the other hand, dogs can over-drink, causing them to vomit or become lethargic. Recommendations are as follows: Use an oversize bowl. Keep water bowl as clean as you do your own drinking glass – change water at least two times per day. Never restrict water from your dog. Carry fresh water with you when hiking or traveling.
4wasilla
summerfest at tHe meNarD CarNiVal riDes, liVe musiC, fooD, Games, aND more!
JuNe 24: lt smooth Concert & Polynesian Dinner 5:30-8:30Pm 4 $25.00 aDults 4 $10.00 7-13yrs 3
PurCHase tiCkets at tHe meNarD CeNter
July 1-3: Celebrate independence weekend with live bands on the menard Center mta stage - 6-8Pm free 4
4Celebrate
fun for the entire family!
tHe 4tH of July iN DowNtowN wasilla ParaDe, mayor’s PiCNiC, fireworks! ParaDe - DowNtowN wasilla @ 11am 4 mayor’s PiCNiC - iDitaPark @ 1-3Pm 4 free Hot DoGs & musiC by elemeNt 47 4 fireworks - woNDerlaND Park @ 8Pm 4
COMMUNITY Kids of all ages will enjoy Wasilla Summerfest 2016, a family-fun and entertaining event spread over two long weekends. The Menard Center and various City of Wasilla locations will host Wasilla Summerfest 2016 on June 23-26 and July 1-4. On June 23rd, A1 Midway Amusements will kick-off the event at 4:00 p.m., providing thrills and excitement with some of the best and wildest rides, including: the Sizzler, Slide, Ferris Wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, Zipper, and many kiddie rides too! There will be rides for all ages and scream levels! A $30 wrist band lets you ride all day, or you can purchase tickets for each ride; $1 a ticket, or $35 for 40 tickets. The fare for each ride is about 3-5 tickets. Wasilla Summerfest will also have food and games! Bring the family and enjoy the wonderful food from the vendors on site! Plus, there will be yummy treats like cotton candy, caramel apples, snow cones, burgers and French fries. Rides, games, and food hours are: June 23rd, 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; June 24th – 26th and July 1st – 4th, 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Admission onto the grounds is
free, with lots of free, easy parking for the event. Also, free live entertainment on the MTA stage from July 1st - 3rd, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. daily, featuring: Blue Voodoo (Classic Rock) - July 1st; Element 47 (Classic Rock) – July 2nd; and, Studebaker Hawk (Country) – July 3rd . . . all outside on the Menard Center grounds! The shining jewel of the first weekend (June 24th) is a rare and up close concert with LT Smooth, a Grammy nominated entertainer, musician, and artist, who has shared the stage with popular artists such as: Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Adele, and the Foo Fighters! If you love the sound of Hawaiian Reggae/ Slack Key, you will love the wonderful vibes from this amazing artist, bringing to Alaska the aloha spirit and laid back Polynesian ambiance.
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Limited number of tickets are available, so call today; will-call available, too. You won’t want to miss this fabulous opportunity to see LT Smooth up-close and personal! Dinner and concert will be inside the Menard Center. Bring the kids, because there will be fun games provided by King’s Chapel volunteers. Don’t leave town this 4th of July! There will be many fun activities for the family to participate in. You won’t want to miss the 4th of July parade, hosted by the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, starting at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Wasilla. Directly following the parade will be the Mayor’s Picnic, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., at Iditapark (Nelson and Lucille), with free hot dogs, games, hot dog eating contest, and music by Element 47.
The concert includes a Polynesian Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. The plated dinner will be catered by Hula Hands, serving Kahlua Pig, Pulehu Chicken, steamed rice, macaroni salad, green salad, dessert, and drinks.
Wasilla Summerfest will continue at the Menard Center until 9:00 p.m., with amusements, games, and food. Aurora Pyrotechnics will light up the sky at 8:00 p.m., creating a wonderful display near Wonderland Park (Nelson and Weber Streets).
Purchase your tickets at the Menard Center by calling 357-9100: adults $25, youth (7-13) $10, and kids under 6 free.
You’re going to love what Wasilla Summerfest has to offer right here in your own hometown!
PRESS RELEASE WASILLA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Monday, July 4, 2016 You won’t want to miss the 4th of July parade, hosted by the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, starting at 11:00 a.m. in downtown Wasilla. This years 4th of July Parade theme is "Land of the Free, Home of the Warriors". We are now accepting applications! The deadline to get your application in is June 24th by 3pm. Due to the growing size of this event, there are expected to be additional route changes which mtaare still being finalized. The Check-in point will be the corner of Weber and Nelson. www.WasillaChamber.org
sustainable rentals. The community helps with household items for the new home, families receive a housewarming quilt from the Valley Quilters. The best moment is watching the family go up their sidewalk and enter the door of their new home. Such joy! You may not see homeless camps or families panhandling, as this is Alaska and there are vast areas to camp, and many parents are ashamed come forward to admit their need. Also, in true Alaskan fashion, many community
members will bring a homeless family into their home or rental (double up) for a “temporary stay”. Our calls from families are often prefaced with “My family was staying at a friend’s place and we have to move out.” Or, “We have four kids and two dogs and are unable to camp anymore.” At Cardboard City, you will hear some testimonials from these families. Also, Governor Bill Walker and First Lady Donna hope to join us as well, sleeping in boxes and raising more awareness!
Join us on July 15th at the State Fairgrounds, Green Gate at 5pm to receive cardboard, decorating supplies, camaraderie, live music, soup and bread, as well as some information about homelessness and how you might help.
us! We can always use more friends! We would like to thank all of our supporters over the years, and 2016 sponsors will be posted at the event, on our website and social media, and also as we speak with the media about Cardboard City.
Register and donate on our website (www.familypromisematsu.org), or at our office (561 W. Nelson Ave., Wasillaright across from Wonderland Park) or call in to register at 357-6160 M-F, 9-5. Let us know if you can volunteer to help with Cardboard City as we prepare!
Please help support this event and our Family Promise Mat-Su program.
We hope to hear from you soon. The coffee is always on here, so come visit
Family Promise Mat-Su | (907) 357-6160 Website: www.familypromisematsu.org Email: promise@mtaonline.net We can accept credit cards at our office and at the event, as well as on our website!
HEALTH & COMMUNITY Contributed by Gwen Teutsch This Little Piggy Stayed Home.
between two people that is specific and endures through time.
Sound familiar? This game that has been passed from parent to child for generations. In many ways, touch is our first language. Gentle and loving touch can help small babies grow stronger and feel less anxiety. Infants who are touched display more eye contact, smiles and vocalizations. In many hospitals and birth centers, newborns are placed on the mother’s chest or abdomen to give them as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. The touch between you and your baby brings you emotionally close — a process known as bonding or attachment. Massage is a wonderful way to help strengthen that bond. Bonding has been defined as a unique relationship
Contributed by K.T. McKee It seeps through vents, under doors, and through cracks in the walls or floors. And it can have devastating impacts on your health. If your neighbor smokes, you might too – against your will. Secondhand smoke exposure in multiunit housing complexes is a common problem and can be dangerous for you and your family. Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to lung cancer, COPD, strokes, heart attacks, and asthma. It’s particularly dangerous for children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions such as respiratory or heart disease or diabetes. For children and babies, it can result in permanent damage to growing lungs and cause respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Little lungs breathe at a higher rate; pound for pound. Children
Touch is a very powerful element in human bonding. Communication, both verbal and non-verbal, and prolonged eye contact are also important elements of bonding. Infant massage encompasses and supports all these vital aspects of bonding. Delayed bonding may occur due to situations such as premature birth, recovery from cesarean, medical complications, adoption, lack of physical and emotional support and postnatal depression. In these cases, infant massage can help families recreate the elements of bonding,
breathe in nearly twice as much air as adults, resulting in higher toxic exposure. Based on several studies, an estimated 44 percent to 53 percent of multi-unit housing residents that do not allow smoking in their homes have experienced secondhand smoke infiltration in their home from elsewhere in or around the building. If this sounds familiar, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family: · Check your lease or rental agreement to see if smoking is addressed or even allowed in your complex. If it is not permitted and you think you know where the smoke is coming from and feel comfortable talking with your neighbor, see if you can reach an agreement with that neighbor to take their smoking outside and away from building’s vents and doors. · If you’re not comfortable approaching the smoker or don’t know where the smoke is coming from, let your land-
“At just 40 years young I have been privileged to have lived in many great cities and villages in the U.S and Europe, but I have never lived anywhere quite like Palmer.” Contributed by David Driscoll At just 40 years young I have been privileged to have lived in many great cities and villages in the U.S and Europe, but I have never lived anywhere quite like Palmer. This city has been my home for just over 10 years; though three of these years were spent in the Middle East, I still considered this my family home. During this time, I have had many opportunities to move elsewhere but
my family belongs here. What keeps us here are strong community values; but what does this mean and what makes a strong community? As I see it, wealth and a growing work force are certainly driving factors behind community structurer, but community strength has many other variables appealing to a much broader audience. I like to believe that our community strength is resilient and derives from more than wealth and a
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which may help a parent and baby fall in love with each other. Massage can be helpful in encouraging the connection between parent and child as children grow. It helps facilitate deeper understanding, integration and the connection with parents or caregivers. Some families have found that massaging their baby is particularly helpful in enhancing the bond of children with special needs. The advantages can be grouped into four categories: Interaction, Stimulation, Relief and Relaxation. In addition to helping you and your baby bond, regular massage may: -- Soothe baby and help relieve nasal congestion and teething discomfort; reduce crying as well as help baby sleep more deeply and longer. -- Aid digestion and help relieve colic, gas, and constipation. -- Touch combined with vocalization helps reduce pain levels up to 80%.
lord or property manager know of the issue. If that doesn’t solve the problem, please reach out to the American Lung Association office in Wasilla for assistance at 907-891-4443. We will discuss the issue with the landlord or property manager and provide resources and support to help you resolve the matter. · If smoking is permitted in your apartment complex but you wish it wasn’t, American Lung Association will try to work with the property owner or manager and residents to come up with a plan to transition to a smoke free housing complex. Smoking is often still permitted a certain distance away from main doors, windows and vents. · Through the Alaska Smoke Free Housing Partnership, we provide a comprehensive list of smoke free units throughout Alaska on the website www.smokefreehousingak.org.
-- Help develop good muscle tone, coordination, and suppleness; enhance body awareness. -- Boost the immune system. -- Help calm and relax both parent and baby. -- Massage stimulates production of oxytocin. (Oxytocin is a hormone which can be produced by both male and female persons during massage. It is useful as a pain reliever and has a calming effect on the person.) -- Boost parents’ confidence in handling baby. Babies should not receive massage if sick, if he or she has just been immunized or on any area that has a rash — the area of the injection or rash may be sore. Through massage, you can gain increased awareness of how your baby communicates. You’ll learn to read his likes, dislikes, desires and emotions. You’ll learn the best time for cuddling, playing and relaxing. And your relationship will grow as you and your baby will discover what is best for you both.
· Some of the more common groups or organizations in Mat-Su providing smoke free housing include Valley Residential Services, Great Western Service Residential Rentals, Charlene Moss Realty, Mat-Su Senior Services, Wasilla Area Seniors, and Somerset Pacific. We applaud them for standing up for health and also realizing being smoke free makes economic sense for them. Renovating an apartment that had been occupied by smokers can cost thousands. Eliminating smoking also reduces fire risk, which in the end saves lives and money. · For a complete list of smoke free multi-unit housing options in Mat-Su, as well as tips on communicating with landlords and neighbors, and other useful resources, go to www.lung.org/ smokefreehousing. · To speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist about lung health issues, call our free Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA.
This allows you to search for apartments or condos in your area which prohibit smoking. This list is constantly being updated.
K.T. McKee is the Mat-Su Manager at the Wasilla office of the American Lung Association in Alaska. She can be reached at 907-891-7444, 357-3110 or kt.mckee@ lung.org.
growing work force. I like to believe that local pride, support and vibrancy also play a part.
Local parks such as the Palmer skate park, Ben Hermon Tennis Courts and our very own Palmer Historical Society and museum....
The strength of a community can be measured by how it encourages interactions between people. In Palmer we are blessed with community wellness organizations that support local education and training such as the cooperative extension service, Toastmasters, and Job Corps. Food and shelter programs provided by Palmer Food Pantry and religious groups that provide a cornerstone to many community members. Social and sporting organizations such as Palmer Friday Fling; MTA Events Center that house games such as roller derby (Fact: Best team is Denali Destroyer Dolls), a municipal golf course.
Let us not forget individuals who put themselves out there socially and financially to generate pride in their community such as Denise of NonEssentials, making magic happen with this year’s Who Let The Girls Out! Our community public servants, independent business owners and family members volunteer their valuable time do all of this and so much more on just 5.2 square miles of land! This level of involvement by this community and the support that it provides to all of its members is why our community is strong. PALMER ROCKS!
ALTERNATE ROUTE OFF GEORGE PARKS HWY!
TURN LEFT ON S. MAcK DR. AND THEN RiGHT ON AviATiON AvE.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Tips for Preparing for a DOT CDL Physical Exam Contributed by Dr. Rizaldy Ortiz It’s time for your DOT physical exam again, and before you head off and get it done, there are a few things you can do in advance to make the process go smoother. Passing this physical means you’ll be given a driver’s clean bill of health, and more importantly can continue to work from your truck for a living. So in order to perform your best at your mandatory DOT physical, here are a few tips to help you get things off on the right foot. Avoid coffee and energy drinks 24 hours before your DOT
Contributed by Dori Cranmore R.N., Holistic Health Practitioner Chlorophyll is a critical substance in plants that allows them to absorb light and convert that light into usable energy. Chlorophyll provides the green color that is found in grass, leaves and many of the vegetables what we eat. Chlorophyll’s chemical structure is very similar to that found in our red blood cells; specifically, our hemoglobin. The difference is that hemoglobin contains iron and plants chlorophyll contains magnesium. Ever wonder why bright green, fresh vegetables will turn an olive-grey if overcooked? When plants are heated, the magnesium is removed and replaced with hydrogen causing the color change. Avoid overcooking fresh vegetables, but consume fresh, lightly steamed, green vegetables as an excellent way to obtain the health benefits of chlorophyll.
physical: The caffeine in these drinks can raise your blood pressure and make it more likely that you’ll be restricted or disqualified. Cut back on salt the week before your DOT physical: Like caffeine, salt can raise your blood pressure. Come to the exam prepared: This means coming with a list of your medications, your medical paperwork, your eyeglasses, and with a full bladder. Allow yourself time so you don’t have to rush. And if you are prescribed medications for any medicals conditions, make sure that you’ve taken them before your physical exam.
Taking chlorophyll can help deodorize bad breath and body odor. Asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green cabbage, celery, collard greens, green beans, green peas, kale, leeks, green olives, parsley, romaine lettuce, sea vegetables, spinach, swiss chard and turnip greens are concentrated sources of chlorophyll. Over 98% of the parsley used in restaurants is thrown away because people see it as decoration instead of nutrients. Wheat grass, alfalfa, barley or spirulina supplements contain very high concentrations of chlorophyll and can help purify or cleanse toxins from the blood stream. Yerba maté tea is one of the richest known sources of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. According to the USDA phytochemical database, chlorophyll fights bedsores and can help prevent cancer (reduces the ability of carcinogens to bind with the DNA in different major organs in the body). It stimulates red blood cells to improve
Avoid big meals: A huge buffet breakfast before your DOT exam can increase the sugar in your urine and raise diabetes warning signs. Eat something light and healthy before your exam. Don’t get “White Coat Syndrome”: For some people, being in a doctor’s office is a stressor that can raise blood pressure. Focus on deep breathing if doctors make you nervous. Dr. Ortiz is a chiropractic physician and a certified medical examiner who provides ethical, fair and friendly DOT CDL physical exams and chiropractic in the Matsu-Valley. Please call Altair Chiropractic at 907357-1818 to make an appointment.
oxygen supply, helps raise the pH and can neutralize the pollution that we breathe in (great for smokers and especially second hand smokers). It efficiently delivers magnesium and it helps assimilate calcium and other heavy minerals which can be effective in treating kidney stones. The deodorizing benefits are effective for not only bad breath but urine, fecal waste and body odor. Pets respond very well to a little chlorophyll in their food or water. Women, just after delivery, do well building their red blood cells with chlorophyll which helps build iron and also assists in enriching breast milk. Many of the mushers use chlorophyll for their dogs to stimulate better oxygen and energy levels. Whether the chlorophyll is in liquid or tablet form, the benefits can allow you to enjoy a stronger immune system, strong tissues and organs, and a naturally healthy energetic body. Dori Cranmore is a Registered Nurse, Holistic Health Practitioner, Herb Specialist and owner of All About Herbs, Inc. in Wasilla. For more information or a personalized consultation please call 376-8327
Connect, Sockeye Fire, M YHouse, Red Cross and many others. Contributed by Eddie Ezelle MatSu Food Bank A food bank collects and distributes food for organizations such as pantries, shelters and churches, (the wholesaler). To qualify at most food banks, you must be an agency of that bank. Pantries give food directly to the public, (the retail). So you have a wholesaler, the bank, retailer and the pantry. Here at MatSu Food Bank, we have helped feed the hungry since 1984 when we were known as the Food Pantry of Wasilla. We formed and operated under the Valley Christian Conference (VCC) and became an independent organization when we received our 501 c in 1994. We have been located on the Good Shepard Lutheran Church campus since
our beginning. Three years ago, we changed our name to the MatSu Food Bank to better reflect what we do; sharing our good fortune with other agencies that also provide food to folks in need all over the Valley. We formed the Food4Kids program in 2013 to help feed the children. More on that later. We share things we have in abundance due to very generous donors like you. Last year in 2015 we shared 124,000 lbs. of food with other agencies. That is not including the 3,000 clients a month we serve from our own Food Pantry of Wasilla. We have worked across the board with many different agencies to help with the Christmas Family Dinner, the Blessing at Thanksgiving, the Homeless
We are proud of the community support from all walks of life such as the Rotary, Elks, VFW, AMVETS, Sertoma Clubs. Carrs/Safeway in Wasilla, all Three Bears, Walmart, Starbucks and many other food places. Also when you visit local stores or use services such as Excel Physical Therapy. Many individuals and businesses help with money donations to support our cause that no one should go hungry here in the valley and so the “MatSu feeding the Mat Su” is a great statement. The MatSu Food Bank strives to collect here in the valley for the valley. The Food Pantry of Wasilla has helped with emergency food since the start in 1984. Sometimes not knowing from day to day what they might have to give out. With the addition of an executive director in 2009 and recently other
ACCOMMODATIONS Sunset View Resort ........ 892-8595 ALL NATURAL BEEF Arctic Alaska Premium ........ 231-7447 APPAREL All Seasons Clothing ........ 357-0123 CW Tack ........ 376-2668 D’s Tuxedo ........ 707-6585 Growing Spurts ........ 376-4404 Mimi’s Closet ........ 376-2661 ART & CRAFTS Stamp Cache ........ 745-4848 The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 BREWERY Arkose Brewery ........ 746-2337 BUSINESS & MARKETING SeaStar Strategies ........ 745-6127 CAFÉ & COFFEE Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Espresso Café ........ 376-5282 Gathering Grounds ........ 376-4404 Loose Moose Café ........ 373-3332 CHINESE FOOD/ASIAN FOOD Kings Asian Buffet ........ 357-9977 COOKWARE All I Saw Cookware ........ 376-3177 CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Artists Uncorked ........ 982-2675 EDUCATION Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 FIBER ARTS AK Frayed Knot ........ 521-9276 FLOWERS & GIFTS Charlotte’s Flowers ........ 745-5550 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort ........ 376-5403 HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ........ 376-8327 HOME DÉCOR Cover Ups Designs ........ 746-4739 JEWELRY L Forge Jewelry ........ 232-9866
support staff, we have assured that there is food to give out every day we are open, which is Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm. We are the only pantry that is open 5 days a week. Keeping in mind we are not a regular grocery store and are staffed mainly with volunteers, we have been consistently serving emergency food all these years to all who come to our door. We also have the Food4Kids program helping to feed our children with free meals.
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If yes, then we must decide how much? And for what? Contributed by Representative Wes Keller Alaskans are paying an incredibly high price for government—the highest in the nation, over $13,000 per person compared to Nevada which spends less than $4,000 person (the lowest in the nation), yet there seems to be an ironic lack of a sense of ownership. Article 9.15 of our Constitution is explicit: At least 25% of natural resource revenue shall be placed in the well-known permanent fund (PF) that cannot be spent in the normal legislative process. What is often forgotten, the remaining unrestricted 75% goes directly into the state checkbook driving the most expensive State government in existence. The entire 100% comes from monetization of the people’s resources to be managed for the “maximum benefit” of the people (Art 8.2) Recently we hear a lot of hype from some those who benefit most directly from high state spending. They insist that, because of the fiscal crisis, the legislature should spend part of the PF just as if it were part of the unrestricted 75%. This approach is coming from the highest levels of Alaskan political society that directly benefit from state spending. Specifically, the targeted pot of money is the coveted accumulation of returns on investment of the PF (the gray slice in the pie chart) that is
residual after payments of PFDs. It is a huge amount of money compared to what could be raised by all tax proposals combined.
To understand better, look at the pie chart. The blue portion of the pie represents returns from natural resources that have been put directly into the state checkbook (and spent) over the past 40 years. (It is the other 75 %). The orange portion of the pie is the PF (the 25%) that has the constitutional legislative spending restriction. The Gray slice is the part of the PF, the returns on the investments of the PF, called the “Earnings Reserve” (ER or ERA). Arguably, the gray slice (ER) also has an inferred legislative spending restriction…, or not..., depending on your bias. The great debate is whether the spending restrictions apply to only the investment itself (the PF--- the orange slice), or whether the returns on investment (ER, the gray slice), can simply be spent like the 75%. The recent ‘catch phrases’ we see and hear: “restructuring the PFD”, or “capping the PFD”, or even sometimes “Protecting the PFD”, are intended to build public support to allow spending part of the ER as if it were part of the unrestricted 75%.
We Need a Sustainable Budget Contributed by Larry Wood, Candidate House District 11 Without a sustainable fiscal plan, Alaska faces fiscal calamity. To continue to spend at this rate is irresponsible. We are literally stealing our children’s future. A sustainable budget fiscal plan is the only option that will prevent the state government from spending us into the poor house and provide a modicum of optimism for the future. I support the Institute of Social and Economic Research’s (ISER) sustainable budget fiscal plan to provide for fiscal stability, continuance of the Permanent Fund Dividend, and a healthy permanent fund that will provide for Alaska’s government costs into the future. Alaska’s economy is cooling and the price of oil is still under $50/bbl and is unlikely to rise much higher, unless there is a serious interruption or threat to the supply of oil. The decline in the price of natural gas and the need to use North Slope gas to keep the oil fields
pressurized for eventual recovery of the 20 billion barrels of heavy crude remaining in the legacy fields will continue to bar North Slope natural gas from going to market. Oil will need to rise to at least $110/bbl before the heavy oil will be extracted. Oil has to be at least $36/bbl to keep current crude production rates on the North Slope. If oil drops below $30/bbl for any length of time, activity on the North Slope will grind to a halt. There is optimism that the next Republican President will open ANWR and offshore leasing in Alaska. However, it will be years before there is any production from ANWR. Offshore production does not benefit the state. Layoffs in the oil service sector are now common place in Alaska. 250 employees were laid off last year. BP will lay off another 270 this year. Other industries are cutting workforces. The Department of Corrections is going to close a prison, eleven Alaska State Trooper positions will not be filled, and one hears of
Until Alaskans have a sense of ownership of our revenue and understand better what it is buying, I am adamantly opposed to spending any of the ER (PF) by the same standards we have used to spend the 75% (the $90 billion). It offends me when revenue derived from natural resources is called “free money”. It also offends me when we are told we Alaskans don’t pay our fair share --- totally disregarding our constitutional ‘ownership’ of the 75% that currently funds State government. PFDs are paid out of the ER (gray slice). If the ER is too large, then we should increase the PFD size to balance it. The fundamental choice is whether “Maximum Benefit” is best attained by using ER funds to supplement legislative spending for existing government programs or by creation of personal property (larger PFDs). It is not an easy choice: Use of the ER to maintain our government spending habits, besides being arguably illegitimate, merely postpones a crash! Merely increasing the PFD from the obese ER does nothing in itself to avoid a crash! Cutting spending enough to match projected revenue will likely hasten a crash! No matter how we look at it, a ‘crash’ is likely pending, but of all the choices out there, (and there are others)… taking money out of the ER before it can become personal property (PFDs) is the very continuing cutbacks all across state government. The solution of our governor is to a slowing economy is to raise taxes on all sectors of resource development, raid the permanent fund, and reduce our PFDs. All to keep the government sector from suffering the privations that an economic downturn inflicts on the private sector. The fact that decreased energy prices did not produce any upswing in the economies of the developed countries should be an indication to all that the world economy is in the throes of a depression with no end in sight. The last depression of this magnitude resulted in WWII. I have not been able to find an economist who sees a quick turnaround to the current U.S. or worldwide fiscal crisis. The economic prognosis is not good; in fact, uncertainty is the only commonality in any opinions regarding what may or may not happen when the “bubbles” burst and the piper has to be paid. The Legislature and our governors have failed to ensure a balanced economy through judicious enabling of mineral, timber, and fisheries industries to provide jobs and a strong private sector along with tourism and the energy
worst option. Taking ER money before it is personal property leaves Alaskans even more vulnerable to dishonest guilt trips for getting a ‘free ride’ when, in actuality, it is their money that is being spent to fund the most expensive state government in the US. The ER balance is volatile because it can lose or gain billions overnight in market swings, but it is huge! Using the same projections as those who want to spend it for government, we could pay approximately $3500 per year dividend to Alaskans for the next 8 years and still have several billion left in the ER after that time. Again, simply putting ER money into the state checkbook is a very bad idea until there is a much better understanding of whose money it is. Incidentally, it is a mistake to think the majority of legislators do not understand or disagree. We get a constant barrage of appeals from constituents and lobbyists to fund all government programs to the maximum. In spite of that pressure, you can thank the legislature for savings (budget reserves), the PFD itself, the high balance in the ER, and very hard work to cut spending. Now is the time to encourage your legislators to continue the cuts and to leave the ER to be the very last option to avoid bankruptcy --- definitely not as proposed in SB128. Don’t be too hard on legislators who ‘tested the waters’ by voting yes to start the discussion. We have each been told countless times that most of our constituents want the ER raided now! I never believed it, but some did, likely influenced by the magnitude of the pressure to spend. sector. Instead, over the years, these industries have languished without proper incentives. The state government took the easy route and instead of investing into infrastructure to promote and to support sustained resource development and to provide a viable surface transportation infrastructure to provide for commerce and economic development across Alaska, oil became the “drug” of choice to fuel growth of Alaska’s government into a gross welfare state now doing its best to ignore a worsening financial crisis. The state government has doubled in size since 2006, and most if not all municipal; local governments and borough governments have increased well beyond need or necessity. All government must be cut. Otherwise, property taxes and a worsening job climate will result in people leaving this state. ISER’s plan will restrain government growth and spending. However, this must be coupled with a decrease in taxes and deregulation to promote private sector growth. The governor’s idea to increase taxes, cut the PFD, and raid the PF is simply wrong-headed and will result in worsening our economic crisis.
Joe Miller Blasts Senator Sullivan for Betrayal of Conservative Values PRESS RELEASE
The news of Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan’s endorsement of Lisa Murkowski’s re-election campaign versus former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan was met
with strong condemnation from 2014 rival Joe Miller on Tuesday evening.
Alaska conservatives hold dear,” continued Miller.
“From supporting Planned Parenthood’s federally funded abortions to continuing Barack Obama’s illegal amnesty and funding Obamacare, Lisa Murkowski’s loyalty lies with DC cronies and political insiders rather than the people of Alaska.”
“Dan told us he was a conservative. He told us he shared our Tea Party values. He told us he was a fighter who would confront the Obama administration. Now he has endorsed one of Barack Obama and Harry Reid’s chief enablers.”
“Senator Dan Sullivan’s endorsement of Lisa Murkowski is a betrayal of everything
“I think I owe Alaskans an apology for taking Dan at his word and supporting him in the 2014 general election.”
Just last month Senator Sullivan endorsed Alaska nemesis and ANWR development opponent John McCain’s re-election bid against strong freemarket conservative Kelli Ward. Joe Miller concluded: “This is a sad day for Alaska. Dan Sullivan needs to be reminded that we have enough talkers in the Senate. All talk, no action won’t cut it. Talk is cheap. Sadly, it appears Dan has abandoned Alaska conservatives for the DC Cartel.”
POLITICS Contributed by Representative Lora Reinbold The State House and Senate just passed the Conference Committee Operating Budget bill and to no surprise, it reveals that little progress was made to reduce the cost of state government. Despite continued claims of significant operating budget cuts, the budget numbers published by the Legislative Finance Division tell a different story. First, when looking at total funding for the State’s Operating Budget, the Governor’s amended budget request for Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) was $8.97 billion, compared to the Senate approved budget of $8.73 billion, and the House approved budget of $8.66 billion. The Conference Committee landed on a compromise with the minority, with an operating budget of $8.83 billion. Unfortunately, the compromise budget is higher than budgets approved by either the Senate or House! Compared to the $9.30 billion FY16 Operating Budget, the compromise Conference Committee budget represents a reduction in total state operating costs of $470 million or 5.1%. At this level, that doesn’t sound so bas to some, but there’s more to the story! The operating budget is broken into two categories: “Agency Operations” (i.e., the cost of the day-to-day operations of the state’s departments) and “Statewide Items” (i.e., operating costs not associated with a particular department such as debt service, state retirement assistance and fund capitalization). Although agency operations account for about 90 percent of the state’s operating costs, the $470 million reduction occurred almost entirely in the “Fund Capitalization” portion of Statewide Operations. “Fund Capitalization” appropriations are made to various state funds (such as the Disaster Relief Fund, Community Assistance Fund, Public Education Fund, Oil & Gas Tax Credit Fund, etc.) was reduced from $536 million in FY16 to $66 million in the Conference Committee budget. This $470 million reduction in “Fund Capitalization” does not represent a reduction in the
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fundamental operating cost of state government. It simply means that certain funds may become undercapitalized or underfunded, and therefore may not be able to meet their obligations. Setting aside money in these accounts is a decision that Legislators make every year. Reducing appropriations to these funds is a tool that has been used to create the appearance of lower operating budgets. Now, let’s take a closer look at “Agency Operations”, the fundamental cost of operating state government. The FY16 Enacted Budget included $8.20 billion for agency operations. The governor’s FY17 amended budget requested $8.31 billion for agency operations, compared to the Senate’s budget of $8.07 billion, and the House’s budget at $8.17 billion. The Conference Committee landed on a compromise budget containing $8.21 billion for agency operations, again above the level approved by either chamber, a $13.6 million increase over the FY16 budget. The governor’s plan to fund future budgets is similar to the plan being promoted by the AFL-CIO, GCI and others, calling for a combination of budget cuts, new taxes, and restructuring of the permanent fund to pay for state government. Unfortunately, the data is clear, there has been no real progress made this year in reducing the fundamental operating cost of state government in Alaska. Many are in a very big hurry to lock down a funding source for big government, despite failing to make real, sustainable reductions in the fundamental cost of state government. Budget cuts were supposed to be part of the solution. Despite this failure, many continue to call for new taxes (HB 4001), and a restructuring of the permanent fund (HB 245). We are rapidly approaching a vote on both. I say no way! Fix government spending first! Until we demonstrate responsible government spending, there should be no new taxes imposed on Alaskans and no change to the permanent fund! Alaska spends almost 3 times the national average per capita on state government. Shifting the burden of big government on Alaskans is the wrong solution. We must fix government spending first!
Isn’t it Time to End the Shell Game? Contributed by Bruce Walden, Veteran’s Party of Alaska Candidate for US Senate This nation is $19 trillion in debt and rising quickly to $20 T. Let us put that in perspective. The American dollar bill is .0043 inches in thickness. If you took nineteen trillion of them and stacked them up, you’d have five stacks that reach the moon and a sixth that that would reach two thirds of the way there. Did you hear me, people? That is over $60,000 in debt for every single American. The IG of the Federal Reserve recently admitted that the Fed has lost $9 Trillion! They just lost it like it went down the sofa cushions. And she shrugged it off like a child who’s lost his lunch money. That’s close to $30,000 you owe for that nine trillion they lost and can’t account for. Friends, how did we get here? Was it the Democrats? Yep, but guess who else helped them. You guessed it. The Republicans aren’t clean in this either. From the time I was 18 until very recently I was a member of the Republican Party and faithfully so, but with the 114th Congress I saw the Republicans turn into the Democrats as the Democrats had turned into the fully-fledged socialists. You can hate me for saying it, but prove me wrong. I decided that it was time for a voice to be heard that has not had its chance. We who are Independents, Third Party folks and so forth (I’m a member of the Veterans Party of Alaska) have had enough. We’ve seen the buying of the candidates by the lobbyists and the people have gotten very sick and tired of it. We see how Lisa Murkowski has walked in lock step with Obama and there are those who defend her by saying she is the most powerful woman in America. Well, be that as it may, it’s time for something new, wouldn’t you say? And do you really expect to fix it by electing another career guy right out of her party? How about a candidate who does not wait for the handlers to tell him how to vote, or what to propose? Or would you perhaps like a candidate who not only thinks for himself, but who has
I’m Running for the State Senate to get Things Done. Contributed by Adam Crum, Candidate State Senate Seat F
I have been asked why I am running; it’s a fair question, as I am NOT a politician.
headed home to the family business of Northern Industrial Training (NIT).
I am a born and raised Alaskan who believes it’s time for new people to step up and lead. I have a track record of putting in the time and effort to get things done.
A few years ago my siblings and I purchased NIT, as we believe in Alaska and the relationships we’ve built in the Mat-Su.
I’ll also be more effective at fighting for our valley and Chugiak schools, public safety and transportation. I’ll get that done.
I grew up on the Kenai Peninsula hunting and fishing, riding four-wheelers and snowmachines. My parents stressed the importance of hard work and attitude, and I’ve held onto to those lessons my entire life.
There’s been a lot of talk about getting us more fish and game, motorized access to public land, and standing up to federal overreach. I’ll be more effective at getting these things done for you.
After high school, through hardwork and the grace of God I earned a full-ride scholarship to play football at Northwestern University. After I earned my masters degree from Johns Hopkins I
As a businessman I have invested in the local community, hired locals, and encouraged a culture of community service amongst the employees. I have also had to make the tough decisions that come with being in business, such as layoffs, business planning and the pain of making payroll.
The biggest thing I want to get done is a state government we can afford. I’ll vote to cut government spending. It’s time to cut, not talk.
But all of it has been more than worth it as I love our great state and I want my family to stay in Alaska for generations to come.
written book after book about how things might be fixed. I learned in Special Forces that you never point out a problem without offering a solution. Wouldn’t that be refreshing? Okay, you want to sell gas, or coal, or oil (if we ever get any of that out of the ground) to Korea? How about a man who attended the same school as South Korean President, Park Geun-hye, and who speaks her language as his second language? Special Forces saw to it I could speak Korean. Okay, we’re neighbors with Russia. How about a senator from Alaska who speaks decent of Russian, or one who speaks German, and other languages? Might this be very good for the one state that straddles the International Date Line? How about a guy who can chat about oil with the Arabs (if I must) because he speaks their language passably? To those in the remote villages, let’s say you have internet and phones. Would you like a senator who’ll go out and strive to bring in tech support jobs into those villages, a thing I dreamed up and which I’ve dubbed “Bush Sourcing”. How about putting your local schools “on the cloud” so that one skilled teacher can teach classes in several villages and bring the education system alongside the rest of the state (whose schools also need to be improved vastly)? We’re either 49th or dead last in the nation. In my book, Wickedness in High Places, I go into detail and show how this enormous national debt is sort of a smoke and mirrors kind of gig. Prove me wrong. I followed the philosophy of watching our pennies and letting the dollars see to themselves. I went into the numbers revealed by this outfit’s own websites and showed the pork, and wasteful spending. Friends, before I got half way through Obama’s cabinet, I had seen that between six and ten years, the entire national debt could be eliminated – and that without sending you one red cent in new taxation. But who am I? I’m not one of the slick politicians who has been groomed by party big wigs for those positions. Alaska, it’s time for the shell game to end. We move the same faces around from one office to another and we get nothing in return except more of the same. If you are ready for real change, consider voting for me for US Senate. Visit my page at www.facebook.com/ BruceWalden2016/. I hope to see you on the trail.
My wife and I strive to be good neighbors and are very active in our community and church. If it’s painting the chapel walls at Teen Challenge, or donating resources to MyHouse, I’ve been there and supported the fantastic people that lead these organizations which help make our communities stronger. At NIT we have made it a priority to help veterans and transitioning service members gain access to their benefits, and have fought long battles with the VA. We have donated people, vehicles and resources to groups like Alaska Healing Waters and Alaska’s Healing Hearts. I have done these things, not in hopes of political office, but because I believe it is the right thing to do. We need a new direction, new energy and someone who will get things done. My name is Adam Crum. I appreciate any and all support and I will continue to work to earn it. Let’s go to work!
VOTE LOCAL! Shopping Local IS Political
Paid for by Citizens for Wes Keller | 4501 E Foxtrot Ave • Wasilla, AK 99654
COMMUNITY Contributed by Antiqua Libbey
Alaska is ranked one of the top states for abuse and violent crimes. Let’s change this. Have you heard this before too? Maybe you have even been a victim of the abuse yourself. The common belief is that this is a one-sided deal. That women are the only ones being abused, or kids, but honestly the more I look into this epidemic, the more I see that it isn’t a segregated issue; it affects us all. So how do we change it? How do we protect the next generation? As a trauma specialist, self-care coach and advocate for survivors of all forms of trauma, I have had the opportunity to speak with 100s of women and men about the side effects of both prolonged abuse and single event traumas. What I found may shock you. The most damaging effect isn’t what you may think. The most common side effect is negative self-image and worth. This one symptom turns many who were abused into repeat victims or worse abusers themselves.
Contributed by Donna Turner
Did you know that the wedding arch is meant to replace something? The setting for your wedding is one of the most important elements in planning your big day. Some opt for a church wedding while others will choose a different setting such as an outside venue such as a park, golf course, country club or back yard. The wedding arch is meant to replace the alter at a church or temple. The wedding arch, arbor or chuppah is a decorative structure that adds a touch of elegance and beauty to the room or space. The arch is a symbol of the future home of where the bride and groom will start their family. The literal translation of the “chuppah” is a blanket or protection and designates the canopy that Jewish couples stand during their wedding ceremony. It is a platform with four poles supporting a cloth or sheet. If the wedding party holds the poles to the chuppah, it signifies that they are supporting in the union of the marrying couple. The chuppah has been a Jewish tradition for hundreds of years.
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I know, what creates confidence is selfawareness, to know, and be in control of your personal power. When have you ever heard of a happy, confident person beating another person up? You don’t. Over the last decade, I have dedicated myself to creating programs, and an online community of self-development coaches to help you celebrate and feel great about being you. This year we have added another layer of greatness to our quest to end abuse, our Divinely YOU 501-C3. This organization is raising awareness and money to give out scholarships to members of our community who need it most. The men and women who are ready to take their power back and end the cycle of abuse in their lives. I have often noticed when coming out of abuse (of any kind) the victim has great intentions to change their pattern, but lacks knowledge and support – mainly money. This is why Divinely YOU has put together a scholarship fund for those in need. Will you help us, help others? Adding your tax deductible donation here; and come out July 23rd from 11-5 at the Palmer Alehouse as we celebrate YOU with music, self-empowerment workshops, and family fun. Our events are designed to not only raise money and awareness but consciousness and love as well. Enjoy music from Element 47 while supporting this great local organization!
Usually wedding arches and arbors are structures that can be moved easily within parts or as a whole unit. Some are made of metal, lattice work and are typically decorated with flowers, tulle, lights and or other decorative fabrics. Some couples make their arches from tree branches and all arches stand by themselves. We are familiar with the wedding arches often seen in American wedding movies, but this element of decoration and symbolism is finding its place even overseas. Arches can change the mood of the ceremony entirely, giving the space poise and decorum that can be fun and original.
The Mayor of Palmer, DeLena Johnson, Cares What YOU Think!
VETERANS Contributed by Courtney Brooke Smith On May 24th, 2016, at the Settler’s Bay Golf Course, The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce honored our past, present, and future Military members. Community youth came out to support this joyous occasion.
Veterans Assistance Contributed by Major Mike Dryden, AVN USAR Retired Some Veterans, as they age, find themselves to be financial straits with little or no resources and in poor health. If this is your case, then I urge you to consider applying for a VA Pension and especially the Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits. Under current law, VA recognizes the following wartime periods to determine eligibility for VA Pension benefits: Eligible Wartime Periods
-- Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1916 – April 5, 1917 for Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or adjacent waters) -- World War I (April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918) -- World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946) -- Korean Conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955) -- Vietnam Era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975) Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation)
Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person or are housebound, may be eligible for additional monetary payment. These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility to Pension. Since Aid and Attendance and Housebound allowances increase the pension amount, people who are not
Contributed by James Hastings Recently I learned of three warriors killed in Afghanistan and another who took his own life on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. I received this information from two warriors who recently joined us in our Alaska’s Healing Hearts Spring Camp & Bear Hunt. What a small and interconnected world we live in. This is sad news and hurts the heart and soul to hear, but worse yet is that they are not the only ones who will meet their end this day. Each and every day, an average of 22 veterans take their own lives. So you know what that means? Twenty one more are gonna do this today as well, whether we hear about them or not. So this brought me to thinking on why each of them took an action that
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Guest appearances included the “Melodic Minors” an award winning Community High School Jazz Choir formed by Colony High School sophomore Leah Smith and junior Isabella Krostek. They sang a harmonic rendition of the National Anthem. Benjamin Boyle, a 1st grader from Swanson Elementary, eloquently recited The Soldier’s Creed.
(Left to Right) Leah Smith, Andrew Cooley, Isabella Krostek, Daniel Lorentzen and Grace Eldridge
eligible for a basic pension due to excessive income may be eligible for a pension at these increased rates. A Veteran or surviving spouse may not receive Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time. Aid & Attendance (A&A) The Aid & Attendance (A&A) increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount if you meet one of the following conditions: -- You require the aid of another person to perform personal functions required in everyday living. Such as: Bathing, feeding, dressing, attending to the wants of nature, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of your daily environment. -- You are bedridden, in that your disability or disabilities requires that you remain in bed apart from any prescribed course of convalescence or treatment. -- You are a patient in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity. -- Your eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes; or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less. Housebound This increased monthly pension amount may be added to your monthly pension amount when you are substantially confined to your immediate premises because of permanent disability. How to Apply You may apply for Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits by writing to the Pension Management Center (PMC) that serves your state. You may also visit ultimately sacrificed their lives. Despite the rhetoric and bunk that you hear from the mainstream press or the coffee shop talk about oil, copper or even human rights, I would assuredly express to you that not one of these brave men walked into a recruiter’s office looking to fight for any of that. In fact, I’ll wager that they each willingly walked in seeking to serve and defend this nation, and her people and our inalienable rights as American citizens, as set forth in our Constitution - and to fight and die for them if need be. They signed the papers and raised their right hand, knowing full well the commitment and consequences, and despite any reservations they may have held, they fulfilled that promise to us all. The decision to take one’s own life surely cannot come easy. I’ve never tried it myself, although admittedly it did once cross my mind as a solution to facing my perceived failures and short comings. I personally believe that this is likely a “normal” human consideration, whether
your local regional benefit office to file your request. You can locate your local regional benefit office using the VA Facility Locator. You should include copies of any evidence, preferably a report from an attending physician validating the need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound type care. -- The report should be in sufficient detail to determine whether there is disease or injury producing physical or mental impairment, loss of coordination, or conditions affecting the ability to dress and undress, to feed oneself, to attend to sanitary needs, and to keep oneself ordinarily clean and presentable. -- Whether the claim is for Aid and Attendance or Housebound, the report should indicate how well the applicant gets around, where the applicant goes, and what he or she can do during a typical day. Also, it is necessary to determine whether the claimant is confined to the home or immediate premises. -- As is the case for this and any other VA benefit, you should take your DD 214 to one of the service organization representatives at your local Veteran Center, VA clinic or hospital. The service rep will enter all your information on the proper forms and file it that day. -- Be prepared to wait up to a year for your notification, but your benefits will be retroactive to your filing date.
Regardless of your situation, you should file. You have earned this benefit so don’t lose this valuable benefit. For more information on this and any other VA benefit, go to benefits.va.gov or not we choose to admit it. I also believe that, fortunately, in most cases the mind will move on and find other ways to end the need to torment itself. That being said, I care not one iota for what is written about suicide (by those who have obviously never successfully done it), nor do I care about the religious beliefs to its regard. We can only guess and make proposals at what thoughts and images may press so deeply on one’s soul as to weigh the results of living or dying, and then to find living to be the lesser of two evils.
a helping hand, a shoulder, a moment to listen with the most genuine desire possible in order to make a difference for the greater good of not just mankind itself as a whole, but for the “man” himself?
However, the fact remains that every single day, and I will restate this so as to drive the point home: Twenty two warriors “purchase a one-way ticket home” because of the demons that have been forced upon them or are somehow allowed to take up residence in their mind.
It’s not enough to “paint the wall” my friends. We must patch the holes and create a solid base before we even attempt to pick up the brush. Otherwise we are simply whitewashing the problem rather than repairing or creating inroads to relieve the source of an existing situation.
Can we in good conscience sit idly back and allow this to happen, without taking every single possible opportunity to reach out to someone in need and offer
Make a difference. Be the difference.
This was written June 11, 2013. In that time over 24,000 veterans have taken their own lives.
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New NASCAR Oval Track in Palmer Contributed by Alaska Raceway Park Alaska Raceway Park is one of three tracks in the country to join NASCAR in 2016! Now a Home Track in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, the 1/3-mile asphalt oval was the site of a wildly successful June 4 debut, sponsored by Tesoro. There will be an additional nine oval race days in the 2016 season throughout the summer, with spectator capacity over 1500. The new track greatly expands racing opportunities for youth and adults in Alaska, and racers with nowhere else to race after a local grandfathered oval closed in 2012 are ecstatic to once again have a racing venue they are calling “amazing!” They love how smooth and fast it is proving to be. There is plenty of room to maneuver the racecar, with good speeds for the size. It’s a perfectly sized track for community weekly series racing, to accommodate all sorts of cars. ARP is working hard to make racing affordable for local racers and attract as many participants as possible. Kevin Nevalainen, the Director of Weekly Racing Operations at NASCAR, flew up from Daytona, Florida, this past winter to discuss with ARP owners their vision and plans. A day-long discussion and contract-signing resulted in a successful ARP sanction announcement at Daytona Speedweeks. Kevin also joined us for the weekend of the June 4th debut race, talking in-depth with local reporters and offering advice.
The Alaska
Barefoot Mile Contributed by JOY International & MyHouse June 17th: The 2nd Annual Alaska Barefoot Mile in Wasilla to benefit child sex slavery rescue efforts. Dr. Jeff Brodsky, President and Founder of JOY International®, will be in Wasilla on Friday, June 17th at Wonderland Park to raise awareness about the tragedy of child trafficking around the world. This will also be an opportunity raise funds for global rescue operations as well as to benefit Wasilla’s own MyHouse, which meets the needs of homeless youth in and around Wasilla. In a sea of attendees, Dr. Jeff will be the 63 year old Santa Claus look-a-like who has been totally barefoot (even during the winters at his home base in the mountains of Colorado) for the last 6 years in solidarity with impoverished and desperate children sold into the world of sex trafficking. No shoes or socks for 2,152 days (as of today), Dr. Jeff and his organization, JOY International, will be in Wasilla on Friday, June 17th to lead a walk of everyday heroes of every age. Asking for area residents to join him, the event will include those determined to raise awareness for the children sold into sex slavery one “Barefoot Step” at a time. Held at Wonderland Park in Wasilla, the event will include a shoes optional one-mile walk for
None other than NASCAR’s famous Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth, 2012 Daytona 500 winner, recorded a shout-out video, welcoming Alaska Raceway Park as a NASCAR Home Track – which thrilled and impressed local fans when it was splashed across social media. Architected by Earl Lackey and Dana Pruhs of Pruhs Construction, active construction on the oval track began in 2014 and the project took 18 months. Activities included land clearing, land leveling, track sculpting, processing material, installing the foundation, pouring concrete footings, pouring concrete walls, back-filling, electrical grid design, and laying and compacting a leveling course. The freeze/thaw cycle over the winter allowed the 2015 work to settle. Over the winter Earl, facility manager, Pete Mattison, and crew got the track grandstands up and built a ticket booth, concession stands, spotters’ tower, race director’s tower, and tech inspection building. As soon as the ground was thawed, next phases included fencing and – with funding for emulsion from Tesoro – the all-important paving, then painting, erecting the scoreboard, and installing the lap counter system. Straight stretches of the oval are 3%; corners are progressive from 4, 8, to 11%. 11% is about as steep of banking as we can get in Alaska without special paving gear. its attendees. While walking barefoot is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Hoping to encourage compassion for the children who are lost to a world they never could have imagined, the Barefoot Mile event will be one small part of a 35-year effort. Brodsky said of the organization’s mission, “I have been fighting child trafficking for over 10 years and I can assure you it is without questions the worst, most evil, heinous crime ever perpetrated against a child since the dawn of creation. We have rescued children as young as 4-years-old from brothels. This work is the most important work I have ever done.” A resident in the mountains of Colorado, Dr. Jeff is a best-selling author and global public speaker, Brodsky’s JOY International coordinates the rescue of children and then works diligently to restore and reintegrate the rescued victim back into a healthy home life. Their teams then work to prevent further commercial sexual exploitation wherever they find it. Actively working with like-minded organizations in relevant geographical locations like Cambodia, Thailand, India and many other locations around the world, JOY International links arms with police, task forces and prosecutors. Helping to bring captors to justice, Brodsky is determined to see children released from the child sex trade and brought full-circle. That entails healing emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. JOY International partners with safe houses and rehabilitation professionals poised to do just that.
The track owners, the Lackey family, have put everything on the line for this exciting expansion and construction has been a family and racing community effort. Lackey sons, John and Jim, have pitched in during the construction process, and Pete, the facility manager, has been an indispensable and tireless coordinator. The scoreboard and leaderboard came from Daktronics and were installed by DG Signs. Facility EMT, John Akers, worked under Pete’s guidance from November 2015, when the bleachers arrived from Florida on three semitrailers. Technology implemented in support of the new oval includes a state-of-the-art LED electronic timing system, the transponders to activate the timing system, and the raceceiver system which the drivers will be able to hear race director instructions. A new Matanuska Telephone Association fiber optic internet and phone feed helps the facility upgrade to incorporate technologies previously unavailable to the drag strip due to old electrical infrastructure. Our recent promotions by press release and on social media have gained the attention of southcentral Alaska TV stations and newspapers, statewide racers and race fans who knew us only for drags, as well as caught the imagination of country-wide NASCAR followers on Twitter and Facebook. Brodsky adds, “Depending on the age of a rescued victim, our safe homes work to educate and train survivors in relevant schooling and job placement courses. That prepares them to integrate back into society as healthy, educated and trained adults when they are ready.” JOY International also sponsors young women’s continuing education costs, providing them an opportunity to go to university and end the poverty cycle. The Alaska Barefoot Mile will also benefit local organization, MyHouse, as JOY International with MyHouse and gives their highest endorsement. Dr. Jeff says, “In my travels around the world I meet and work with many individuals and organizations that fight child and human trafficking in various ways. Michelle Overstreet of MyHouse has become a close friend and co-worker in this fight, as MyHouse is a powerful force, especially in restoration and prevention efforts. I am honored to call MyHouse a partner organization.” The Barefoot Mile, Saturday, June 4th at Wonderland Park, 500 W. Nelson Ave., Wasilla. Registration Begins at 5:00pm the walk begins at 6:00pm www.myhouse.joy.org
In-kind donors and sponsors include Tesoro Refining and Marketing, Pruhs Construction, Diversified Tire, Matanuska Telephone Association, Soper’s Concrete, Valley Block and Concrete, Carson Construction, Cruz Construction, Yukon Equipment, National Response Corporation, Carlisle Transportation, CMI Equipment, Granite Construction, Airport Equipment Rental, E-Terra, Acutek Geomatics, New Horizons Telecom, J.D. Steel Co., Emerald Fuels, and AAA Fence. For more information www.raceak.com
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