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YMCA Shoots & Ladders Game A Success MORE ON PAGE 3 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
Drive Your Tractor to Work Day
MORE ON PAGE 3 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER Contributed by Zack Lanphier The relationship between Alaska Picker and Bleeding Heart Brewery has been around longer than the brewery itself. What started off as a homebrew for a local business owner wanting to privately celebrate his birthday, has evolved to an annual barrel aged collab beer “Death’s Inheritance” in celebration of that original collab
LOCAL BUSINESSES COOPERATE
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and, in turn, our ever-growing friendship. Kelly and Becky Turney have been instrumental and integral to the birth, growth, and success of Bleeding Heart Brewery for the last 6 years, and as excited as we are for them to move on, we are saddened by the immense hole their absence will leave. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Local Hip-Hop Pioneer Drops New Album
MORE ON PAGE 6 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE
the legacy of Alaska Picker and our responsibility as not only business members, but also members of the community, to continue forward with the mantle. With Picker packing up at the end of April, there are plans to go out with a bang! It’s simply the end of one chapter, but the beginning of the next. Bleeding Heart Brewery is looking forward to expanding into the remainder of the building in order to provide more seating, more merch, more storage etc., as well as welcoming a new independent store for some “treat yo’self” home and décor needs (more info on that to come).
For the last 2 years it’s been a privilege to occupy the same building, providing our community a place to have a beer, a bite, and shop the coolest junk in Alaska. We have partnered up for “Running of the Beers”, to put Christmas lights on the water tower, to raise money for countless charities locally, and to be an active member in the community of Palmer. We have seen each other through sickness, health, loss, and triumph; we’ve been there for each other for years and quite literally partners in life. It is this cooperative spirit that is
This year’s “Who Let the Girls Out” event coincides with the final weekend of Alaska Picker, and Bleeding Heart Brewery will have a self-service stamp pass station for all your “passport” needs. Alaska Picker has been a pillar of Palmer and an advocate for our history for over 10 years. WLTGO weekend, April 29 & 30, will be a great opportunity to wish Becky and Kelly Godspeed and good luck with their future endeavors, and to snag that final piece of “Cool Junk” you need to tie your living room together and it keeps your money local! You might have noticed that I’ve recently thrown my hat into the ring as
a real political pretender, with the Vote Local campaign. Like any fake politician, I’m going to use this opportunity to encourage you to Vote Local by voting
with your dollars. Spend money during Who Let the Girls Out, at Alaska Picker, and Bleeding Heart Brewery, and
elsewhere around Palmer. Voting with your dollars is the way to really make a difference. Every dollar you spend in a local business impacts the lives of your friends, neighbors, and our economy as a whole. Empower the people in your community who have actually built something, who have payroll to meet, who live in the real world, and who really, literally, serve the public every day. I'm asking you to vote today; someone you know could be counting on it.
COMMUNITY Contributed by Tanya Jensen The long-awaited Spring Plant Sale is nearly here! Over 100 members strong are growing plants for your 2022 garden success story. Mark the last Saturday in May on your calendar! Be at Boys and Girls Club 3700 E. Bogard Rd. in Wasilla 10am to 4pm. Select from healthy locally grown veggie and herb starts, flowers: both annual and perennial, trees and shrubs, yard art, gently used garden tools and supplies, and more. Plants will fill the gym and beautiful back patio of the Boys and Girls Club. Come early for the best selection.
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Parking is available at nearby locations on the same (south) side of Bogard Rd. Please don’t try crossing Bogard heavily laden with your wonderful loads of plants! You may put your purchases in a holding zone, go get your vehicle and drive through the one-way lot in front of Boys & Girls Club to pick up paid orders! Stay safe! Neighboring locations have offered parking and are a short walk: Fire Dance Academy and Band of Brothers and Church of Christ at Wasilla 2061 N Merciful Circle. LOOK for the PLANT SALE PARKING HERE signs. Several Hanging baskets will be raffled during this year’s sale.
Why is Tai Chi good for the elderly? Research shows that practicing Tai Chi can improve balance, stability, and flexibility in older people, including those with Parkinson’s disease. Practiced regularly, it can also help reduce pain, especially from knee osteoarthritis, back problems, and fibromyalgia.
Contributed by Sally Barnes What is Tai Chi? Tai Chi dates back over 2500 years and originated in China. It is an ancient martial art that involves the mind, breath and motion. Tai chi is often described as meditation in motion. Is Tai Chi Safe for Seniors? Tai Chi is a great exercise for seniors because the slow and steady move-
ments are low impact and can be done from a standing or seated position, making it ideal for all seniors. Many seniors think they are too old or out of shape to learn something new. With some patience, the movements can be incorporated into a daily practice to fit their lifestyle and improve their outlook, both mentally and physically. Fortunately, WASI has very experienced and patient instructors; Lee and Laurie.
Contributed by Jen Anderson On a snowy spring day, in a sunny room near the back of Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. Administration building, a group of seniors excitedly await instructions from Nancy Bidwell, an Art Therapy instructor, telling them what they will be painting next. Most have smiles on their faces and are quietly talking with their table partners; they just finished creating self-portraits using sticks, and the finished works gaze up at onlookers as they sit drying on a corner table. Today, Nancy will be guiding the seniors as they explore their emotions through the creation of a bridge drawing, which helps them identify their goals and challenges and depicts what lies behind them, the things coming next, and the stuff under their respective bridges. Nancy notices and comments on the regional accent of one participant seated near the front of the room, and the connection sparks a delightful dialogue that takes them both back to memories of their childhood. The bridges being painted are not the only representation of the values of stabilizing connection. The room permeates with the energy of relationships- with self, with chosen others, and with community.
Research has found that seniors who regularly practice tai chi enjoy benefits such as: Better balance. Decreased risk of high blood pressure. More physical strength. Improved hand-eye coordination. Increased blood circulation. Better sleep quality. Better cognitive function and memory. Reduced depression and anxiety. Our classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 1pm. Zoom meetings are available upon request. Come join a class for free and see what it ca do for you!
nent of independence and empowerment and it is embedded in Wasilla Area Seniors’ mission - “Rooted in Dignity. Serving with Respect.” When we go a step further and help seniors locate or create additional choices using their knowledge and skills, beliefs and attitudes, strengths, and personal agency, feelings of isolation are decreased and resilience is cultivated.
Nancy Bidwell, WASI Volunteer Art Therapy Instructor.
Assistant Executive Director, Marlene Munsell, looks on and remarks, “what I love about this is that a senior (Nancy) is doing what she loves and sharing her passion while leading others”. Just then, a participant was searching through the selection of paint colors and was unable to find the desired shade of brown for their bridge. Marlene takes to the supply closet and returns with additional choices, pleasantly surprising both Nancy and the participant. Respect for choice is an important compo-
Art classes take place monthly at WASI and currently there is limited availability. The classes are designed to promote mental and emotional well-being while decreasing stress. “Art Therapy is such a powerful tool with which to combat anxiety and depression, especially for seniors”, says Nancy, whose own Art Therapy journey was sparked by the loss of her 17 year old daughter in 1983 due to an impaired driver. Her nonprofit, Forget Me Not Mission, works to increase public awareness of the potential impacts of underage drinking and impaired driving. For more information contact Nancy Bidwell at 907-978-7809. For other senior activities check our website, follow us on Facebook, Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. or call us at 907-206-8792.
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Contributed by Cindi Martin THANK YOU to all the volunteers below that came out on Saturday, March 26th, to support the Mat-Su YMCA’s Annual Basketball Fundraising Event. Your generous time and support helped us raise funds to offer scholarships to our families in the Mat-Su YMCA Swimming program and Summer Camp. We can’t thank you enough for your yearly service! Thank you Wasilla High School Color Guard and Pep Band as well as Zariya Whidbee-Bohman for your support. A special THANK YOU to all the men and women that play their part every year in building community connections and provide the most essential of services to our vast Mat-Su community. We applaud the services of our Alaska State Troopers, Wasilla Police Department, Palmer Police Department, Central Mat-Su Fire Department, Wasilla Fire Department, West Lakes Fire Department, Department of Emergency Services, Department of Public Services, and Emergency Medical Services! We know we can count on you! The Mat-Su Y continues to build our social connections within our school communities with supportive programs, developing a volunteer forum within our community, and ensuring these Valley connections are affordable for all families. The heart of
Contributed by Erin Kittredge Forget about trucks, SUVs and electric cars - let’s talk tractors! Drive Your Tractor to Work Day is a community celebration and recognition of our agricultural heritage and our hardworking friends and neighbors who grow our food. The brainchild of Arthur Keyes, of Glacier Valley Farm and South Anchorage Farmers Market, it was first held in 2017. It’s been growing (pun intended) ever since with 38 participants last year. Farmers invest in and depend on their tractors and equipment. We give them an opportunity to show it off. There are shiny new ones, antiques, large and small. Children and adults alike enjoy watching them from the sidewalks in Palmer. Food is a $2 billion dollar industry in Alaska and, unfortunately, over 95% of the food consumed by Alaskans is
our Mat-Su YMCA is our community. We are creating jobs and fundraisers like this one that help offset the costs for families. Our 1st Annual Shoots and Ladders Scholarship Event was a success!! Then we had to take a pause last year due to Covid, but that hiatus is over, and we just hosted the exciting 2nd Annual Shoots and Ladders where the “Shoots” hoped to retain their title. Everyone played a great game, and the “Ladders” took the win for 2022! Who is excited to see an affordable family, lap, and lazy pool? Who wants to be involved with the Advisory Board and share your vast knowledge to better our community? Who wants to generously donate to our cause and support these valuable and affordable programs for our community? We have started our Capital Campaign to build our Mat-Su
imported from the Lower 48. Agriculture is a renewable resource that deserves more attention as a critical component of our state’s economic future. Farms in the Mat-Su Valley are an incredible asset not only locally, but to Alaska as a whole. These farms have high quality agricultural soils, are centrally located, have demonstrated the ability to produce food, and add scenic beauty. We are thankful that Alaskan farms, and farmers’ markets, exist to provide us reasonably priced, nutritious, and fresh fruits and vegetables. And don’t forget about the amazing local flower farms! On Monday, May 2nd, tractors will assemble at the Purple Lot of the Alaska State Fairgrounds along the Inner Springer at 7am. At 8:30am the trac-
YMCA as well as our two fundraisers each year to keep our costs affordable for families. Your donations to our Capital Campaign put you on the mountain to the Mat-Su YMCA’s facility, which will be displayed in our future facility. For more information, please email or call us. Join our mailing list! You can visit our website at www.matsuymca. org, email us at matsu@ymcaalaska. org, or call us at 907-373-YMCA (9622). The Mat-Su YMCA is building strong kids, strong families, and a strong community. We are a place for everyone to belong! Come join us and be part of this exciting time! THANK YOU TO Referees Allegra Butler and Hyrum Neilson
tor parade will make its way to downtown Palmer. Driving by schools, retail and commercial businesses, the Senior Center and Pioneer Home. The tractors stop at the Pavilion on S Valley Way, where farmers are treated to breakfast made with Alaskan-Grown ingredients. Until a 10am departure, there are brief remarks from organizers and dignitaries along with photo opportunities and media interviews. Alaska Farmland Trust will be at the Pavilion to educate people about the important work they do permanently protecting farmland and selling Drive Your Tractor to Work sweatshirts. This event is generously sponsored by Matanuska Electric Association and Country Financial. Any proceeds benefit Alaska Farmland Trust (AKFARMLAND.COM).
COMMUNITY
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
Contributed by Randi Perlman
— a fresh and frustrated generation of young people are refusing to settle for platitudes, instead taking to the streets by the millions to demand a new way forward, a cleaner, healthier world for themselves and their children. Digital and social media are bringing these conversations, protests, strikes and mobilizations to a global audience, uniting a concerned citizenry as never before and catalyzing generations to join together to take on the greatest challenge that humankind has faced.
The month of April brings many meaningful changes to planet Earth. In our neck of the woods, spring begins unfurling, snow and ice start melting, birds fly in from faraway lands to magically migrate through, and dreams of fishing and gardening creep closer to reality. April also coincides with a significant event that we touched on briefly in Episode 2, so let’s take a closer look at a very timely turning point in recycling history. Springtime brings us Earth Day! Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in the year 1970. Back then, there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act; there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment. That’s when a United States junior senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues and bring them forward onto the national agenda. Rallies took place across the country and by the end of that year, the U.S. government had created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Twenty years later, in 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe! Every year, more than a billion people come together and celebrate Earth Day to help protect our planet from the damages caused by pollution, greenhouse gases, deforestation, and climate change. Spurred on by the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962, which raised public awareness and concern about the inextricable links between pollution and public health, Earth Day 1970
Contributed by Suellyn Wright Novak The 11-year-old Alaska Veterans Museum (AVM) is celebrating its birthday by reopening in bigger and better digs in the Sunshine Plaza (411 W 4th Ave, Suite 201) on Saturday April 23rd. Hours will be 11 AM to 4 PM and admission is free, but donations to our all-volunteer, 501 c (3) are greatly appreciated! The celebration begins with the Guitar Guy, followed by the 9th Army Brass from noon to 12:55, the dedication at 1 PM. The red ribbon will be cut by Service Members, in Class aa/s and with swords and sabers. A brief dedication will be done by AVM President Bob Sherrill. Next up is Main Squeeze featuring all types of music, and concluding with Jumping Fleas, a ukulele group playing island music. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages and cake reward guests. Come help us celebrate this momentous occasion.
Contributed by Lauralynn Robison Summer is fast approaching, time to dust off your golf clubs and shoes, get ready for some summertime fun! We are proud to announce our first ever Golf Tournament, to benefit the MatSu Food Bank. KHITZ 107.1 and Settler’s Bay Golf Course are co-hosting a Golf Tournament, Saturday, July 23rd, 2022 that benefits the MatSu Food Bank. We are looking for teams of 4 players each, and
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would come to provide a voice to this emerging global consciousness, literally putting environmental concerns on the front page. Carson’s book represented a watershed moment, and through the efforts and voices of Senator Nelson and the colleague he recruited to help him, conservation-minded Republican Congressman Pete McCloskey, Earth Day has gained groundswells of momentum and reached over 190 countries since its inception. Earth Day 1970 also achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders. By the end of 1970, in addition to the creation of the EPA, the first Earth Day led to the passage of several first-of-their-kind environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act; a
By moving to the Sunshine Plaza, AVM has gained almost a 1,000 sf and our exhibits covering Alaska’s military history, and veterans’ stories from 1865 (when we were still Russian America), to modern day conflicts have also been expanded and improved. Exhibits and stories include the last shot of the American Civil War being fired in the Bering Sea, through early territory days and the Spanish American War. Furthering the timeline is the Washington Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System, followed by Alaska’s role in WW I, and the criticality of the Sea Services (Revenue Marine Cutter Service [predecessor of the Coast Guard], Navy, Marines, and Merchant Marine to Alaska. The marvel of the Alaska Highway is explored, as well as the many Army Corps of Engineers projects building Alaska’s infrastructure. Also, the Aleutian Campaign (our bread and butter) is
you can register on Settler’s Bay Golf Course website. The cost to play is $125 per golfer. KHITZ 107.1 has a variety of Sponsorships available to support this event. The range of sponsorships run from $200-$1,000, depending on what you wish to sponsor. If you have questions and wish to sponsor, you can contact KITZ107.1 at (907)203-9499 or email erin-she@ khitz1071.com or email the MATSU Food Bank at staff@matsufoodbank. org. So, register to play, or sign-up for
year after that, the Endangered Species Act was passed, and soon after the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. These laws have protected millions of men, women and children from disease and death and have prevented the extinction of hundreds of species. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest honor given to civilians in the United States — for his role as Earth Day founder. Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by over a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes. The social and cultural environments we saw in 1970 are rising up once again
The theme of Earth Day 2022 is INVEST IN OUR PLANET. Are you willing to make that investment? A wide range of events are being planned around the world to celebrate this globally meaningful and ever-growing movement. Check social media to find out how you can get involved and be part of the solution. By engaging in simple activities like picking up litter, planting native trees and perennials, turning off electronics and lights when not in use, and recycling, we’re making our world a happier, healthier place to live! Taken directly from the website of EarthDay.org: We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet. Let’s be Partners…OK?!? Pick up next month’s edition of The People’s Paper/Make a Scene Magazine for Recycling Repeats Itself, Episode 6
thoroughly covered. We have a model of the bronze memorial AVM placed at the site of Attu Village, as well as a bronze memorial to the USS WORDEN DD-352, lost on Amchitka in January 1943. This ship and its 14 lost sailors had never been memorialized until AVM did so. AVM next covers the Korean War, Cold War and Vietnam, then on to the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. “AVM is growing into what we envisioned when we first started the process to have a museum in 2001; now we have needed space to tell these stories” stated Vice President Suellyn Wright Novak. We tell these stories through uniforms, accoutrements, weapons, artifacts, prints, photos, paintings, models, dioramas, and oral histories. Come revel in our Servicemen’s and Servicewomen’s stories of service and sacrifice protecting our freedoms. “You’ll learn a lot in a short time” Novak said.
a Sponsorship, come out and enjoy a day in the sun, and beautiful scenery too! All while helping the MatSu Food Bank achieve their mission to fight food insecurity within our community! Community is at the heart and soul of our mission at MatSu Food Bank. We feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community and “Thank” all of you for your continued support of the MatSu Food Bank! Remember - no one should go hungry!
Contact: Suellyn Wright Novak Vice President & Historian Emeritus Alaska Veterans Museum Cell (907) 863-0569 E-Mail: missfiresioux2@yahoo.com URL: www.alaskaveterans.org
Please contact us at (907) 357-3769 if you have any questions about our programs, making donations or would like to schedule a time to volunteer. You can also call United Way’s Helpline at 211, which is a multilingual & confidential service that connects community members to vital local resources. We again thank everyone who helps support our mission and makes it possible for us to serve our local communities. We are honored and immensely grateful! We also invite you to visit and follow us on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/MatSuFoodBank.
COMMUNITY Contributed by Valinda Brooks MAC Federal Credit Union demonstrated what a good neighbor looks like by giving a $2,000 donation to Family Promise Mat-Su’s Diesel Spill Clean-Up fund. Other good neighbors include the Lions Club, First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla, and numerous community members. We have reached a total of $12,400.00 so far!
Contributed by Doris Thomas “Boat America,” a six-lesson course for recreational boaters, will be offered April 23-24 via Zoom by the Eagle River Flotilla, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The class will meet from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday. Students will complete the final exam online at home after the class. Subjects covered will include small boat handling, trailering, legal requirements
Family Promise Mat-Su (FPMS) was recently gifted a building to use in serving the community. Staff were quite excited to begin numerous new programs. Excitement turned to concern when a diesel spill was discovered during the home inspection. Quotes for the clean-up initially sounded manageable BUT diesel continues to be evident (157 bags so far). New estimates are now more than double the original cost and digging is not complete.
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and started a Diesel Spill Clean-Up fund drive. When the vandalism happened is still unknown. Some new programs have been able to begin, including Shining Star Academy Child Care, Sparrow’s Landing Café Outreach, and meeting space which are open daily. If you’d also like to be their good neighbor, donations for the Diesel Spill Clean-Up can be made at https://www.fpm-su. com/. Look for the yellow button, and Thank You!
FPMS, undaunted, has swallowed hard
including Alaska boating law, navigation rules, emergency procedures and personal watercraft considerations. The cost is $25, which includes the textbook and Eventbrite fee. Course information is at this link: tinyurl.com/yc5emx75 and the direct Eventbrite registration link is tinyurl. com/2p93faet. Early registration is encouraged so the flotilla has time to mail the textbook to the student before the class.
Contributed by Julie Cascio, UAFCooperative Extension Service
extra mileage are options. Another is to avoid unnecessary trips.
The cost of fuel has gone up! Of course, that makes it more expensive to drive. Ways to improve your gas efficiency and lower your driving costs are available. Modifying driving habits is the easiest way states AAA.com.
Improving fuel economy also involves driving more efficiently and making sure our cars are properly maintained. Here are tips provided by U.S. Department of Energy. “FuelEconomy.gov.” Accessed April 7, 2022.
Reducing the amount of driving has the greatest effect on how much gas each person uses. Carpool, use public transportation, and route tasks to avoid
Slow Down. Speeding, hard braking, and rapid acceleration wastes gas. Depending on the type of vehicle, poor driving habits can negatively affect fuel
Anyone who has questions or can’t register online may contact the flotilla at (907) 694-3570 or cgauxeagleriver@ gmail.com. This course meets the requirements for safety certification in many states and some insurance companies will offer a discount to skippers who have completed the course.
Eagle River wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=170-02-14 U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Alaska wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=170 Alaska State Office of Boating Safety alaskaboatingsafety.org U. S. C. G. Office of Boating Safety uscgboating.org National Safe Boating Council safeboatingcouncil.org
WEBSITES: Flotilla 2-14, US Coast Guard Auxiliary,
economy by 15 to 30 percent on the highway. Based on the current Alaska average of $4.74 per gallon (for regular gasoline), driving well can lead to gas savings between 71 cents and $1.42 per gallon.
Vehicle maintenance improves gas mileage. Under-inflated tires cost you money. Properly inflate your tires, using the guidelines in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. These are also on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb.
Observe speed limits. Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy 7 to 14 percent. Driving at slower speeds can save 30 to 61 cents per gallon.
Misaligned tires drag instead of roll freely, reducing fuel efficiency by as much as 10%. And the tires can wear out more quickly. Tires that are out of balance (symptom: vibration in the steering wheel) can cause uneven tire wear, which can result in lower gas mileage. Tires should be balanced and rotated according to the vehicle’s owner’s manual to improve tire performance and fuel economy.
Leave Extras at Home Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An additional 100 pounds in your car can reduce gas mileage by up to 1%. The reduction is relative to the vehicle’s weight: Smaller vehicles are more affected by more weight than larger ones. Use Cruise Control Minimizing speed fluctuations on the highway can improve fuel economy by up to 14%. However, if the roads are slippery do not use cruise control as it could cause a loss of vehicle control. Avoid excessive idling. A car engine consumes one quarter to one half gallon of fuel per hour when idling, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Where safe to do so, shut off your engine if you will be stopped for more than a minute. Check Tire Pressure and Alignment
Replace Spark Plugs. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence says that bad spark plugs can decrease fuel economy by up to 30%. If a car’s gas mileage suddenly drops, there’s a good chance it’s because of misfiring spark plugs. Fill Your Tank Early in the Morning—or Late at Night. Fuel is dispensed by volume. When it is coolest outside, which avoids the heat of the day, the fuel being put into the tank is more dense. As a result, you will get more gas for the same amount of money. Proactive steps can be taken to improve fuel efficiency by paying attention to and changing gas-guzzling driving habits, and following a vehicle’s maintenance schedule.
COMMUNITY
Contributed by Adele Morgan While Alaska was still a territory in 1941, several pioneering Alaskans had a vision to start a Christian camp in the valley between the beautiful Talkeetna and the Chugach mountain ranges. Their request was introduced to the U.S. Congress to purchase 80 acres of land. After Congress approved the request, it was officially founded in 1947. It had
become a place where young and old could experience God and His amazing creation! Currently, Victory Bible Camp covers over 400 acres and can accommodate up to 300 people. Camps have expanded to include: Alpine, Venture, and Ranch Camp, each having their own unique activities and surroundings. These camps are for ages 7-17. Victory
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also has two discipleship programs: S.A.L.T and OutPost. They are designed for high school and college age students. Full-time and part-time staff opportunities are available for both the winter and summer seasons! Registration for all of these camps and programs are available on the website, www.vbcalaska.org or the old fashioned way…give
Pioneer Home the other married couple have separate rooms, but they do eat together.
Contributed by Bill Brokaw It’s seven am on a Friday morning at the Alaska Veterans & Pioneer Home located in Palmer, Alaska. This home has been our residence for two years and four months. Five years ago, my wife of 28 years, was diagnosed as a victim of dementia. A couple years later the dementia diagnosis was changed to Alzheimer’s. As I watched Pat lose her abilities I realized her total care was more than I could handle. I’m 85 years of age, while Pat just turned 82. So, a move from our hillside home above Anchorage was necessary. Fortunately, since we are both veterans, we
Contributed by Marilyn Bennett One of the traditions of Alaskan Toastmasters groups is keeping alive the history of our great state. Here in Palmer we are especially proud of the farmers who came up to Palmer in 1935 to form what is now called the Matanuska Valley Colony. The colony was settled by 203 families from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan In 1935, Americans in rural areas of northern states were among the worst sufferers of the Great Depression. The social workers in charge of selecting colonists were limited in their options. On one hand, they aimed to recruit hardy self-sufficient farmers that were true pioneers. On the other hand, they were trying to get people off of federal aid. They were to choose on the basis of need. In effect, successful farmers were best off staying put, while the less suc-
were accepted at the Home. A separate room was necessary for her because of the care she needs. While I’m in a room which is designated as independent, and I’m in need of no home-medical care. The home has three very nice dining areas where they serve their 79 residents. In the 2 years, 4 months we’ve lived here we have never eaten together in the same dining room, so I have not had the pleasure of enjoying food with my wife. Until today, I had not given our dining apart much thought. Guess eating together deserves some thought. I think it might be said that “couples that eat together, stay together”. Here at the
cessful farmers were the ones available to colonize the Matanuska valley. Of the 203 families sent to Palmer, many were not able to make a living and left within a few years. Also the Matanuska valley had been carved by a big glacier. This glacier had left areas covered with coarse gravel and rock outcroppings. The terrain was un-level and many of the parcels had to be doubled in size in order to be able to make a living. The colonists often were skilled and self-sufficient, but lacked specialized farming skills. After five years, over half of the original colonists had left the valley. By 1965, only 20 of the first families were still farming the valley. However, some of these colonists stayed on to make a living fishing, mining, trading, or doing construction for the military after the war started. This community has grown into a vibrant area which is welcoming to everyone. We, at Palmer Toastmasters
As I entered my dining area at 7:30 this morning, I was shocked to see my wife attempting to read the Anchorage Daily News. The paper belonged to a resident located not far from my table. I took the newspaper from my wife’s hands and returned it to the resident. Then. I asked my wife to come to my table. I then gave her the newspaper I had been reading in my room. While Pat was looking at The Anchorage Daily News I gave the server my order. I was quite surprised when the server asked my wife if she wanted her normal breakfast. She nodded her head, yes. Since Pat has no teeth, all her food is pureed. What a treat it was to watch Pat eat, while at the same time I was enjoying my food. Pat’s very capable of feeding herself, but not
want to hear your stories. Whether the story of coming to this area started last year or goes back a millennia, we want to hear from you. Each year we celebrate Colony Days to recognize the contribution that all the diverse people in our valley have brought together to enrich our community. This Colony Days, Palmer Toastmasters will be actively looking for anyone who wants to tell their story of coming to this delightful valley to live. We plan to put on several Colony Themed Toastmasters meetings during Colony Days and hope many in the community will join with us either in person or on zoom. In the meantime you are welcome to join one of our weekly meetings and listen or participate in fun speeches and great camaraderie. Everyone who joins our group gets the opportunity speak at least once during the meeting. How-
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them a call! (907) 745-4203. There will be a 75th Anniversary Celebration and Open House on August 20th, 2022 at Victory Bible Camp. The public is welcome! Continue to check for more information on this event at the website www.vbcalaska.org and the VBC Facebook page.
much for early morning conversation. The virus epidemic has caused dining tables to be separated, but conversation is possible, but has to be rather loud for all those hard-of-hearing residents. I’ve come to realize that eating meals with loved ones is extremely important, and, if possible, should be a big part of peoples lives. It’s so sad that our fastpaced life-style has diminished the time families eat together. One good thing about the pandemic is that has forced more families to spend more time together enjoying fellowship and food. Written by Bill Brokaw akbrokaws@gmail.com 907 707-0927 Alaska Vets & Pioneer’s Home 250 W. Fireweed Ave. Palmer, Alaska 99645
ever, we do not ask anyone to give a speech that will be evaluated until they are very comfortable with the process. For more information you may call Vicki at 907-539-7111 or go to our website: palmer.toastmastersclubs.org. Join one of our meetings in person on the 1st and/or 2nd Tuesday of each month in the conference room at Turkey red (550 S. Alaska Street in Palmer) at 6 PM or online via Zoom every Tuesday night at 6 PM. We start on time. For the Zoom link, visit the meeting directions tab at our club website: https://palmer.toastmastersclubs.org/. We are a friendly group of positive valley people who meet to help each other grow and have fun together in the process. We invite you to get to know us better by joining one or more meetings as a guest.
Contributed by Debra McGhan My daughter is in the middle of a major makeover of a house built in 1940. She has been having a wonderful time and up until recently, loving the experience. On one hand I’m excited for her and on the other I’m terrified. And now my worst fears seem to be manifesting. She has asthma and I worry all the dust and toxins released from the walls might make her sick. Determination is the definition found under her picture so there’s no stopping her from this undertaking. And her joy and enthusiasm have helped outweigh any reservations I might have. In one day, everything changed. The surprising turn started with a raging outbreak of what appeared to be the hives; an incredibly itchy rash that progressed to severe swelling and blistering. The latest symptom is trouble breathing, dizziness and chest pains. She has now been to the ER for this frightening mysterious reaction four times and still, no new answers and just more of the same standard treatment for an allergic reaction like this; Steroids and antihistamines. Ugh. She has been racking her brain to identify what might have triggered this horrible chain of events. “I do remember on Monday I was so excited to be able to start planting the garden that I was focused on getting to my seed vault in the garage,” she told me. “It was buried under some batts of insulation so I thoughtlessly tossed them aside without considering any personal protective equipment (PPE.) No long sleeves, gloves, mask or eye covering. I think all those fibers might have gotten on me, and then because I wasn’t thinking about it, I didn’t wash my hands right away or take care to avoid this type of exposure. On Tuesday I woke up at 3 am with the start of this horrible rash and itch.” Ugh. My brain immediately thought, ‘yep, that could do it.’ Now we are waiting for test results and to find out what is going to happen, then decide where to go from here. It definitely makes me think about PPE and all the times I’ve undertaken projects with no thought to it at all. I’ve nearly lost eyes, fingers or other body parts in the process and I know plenty of other people who have actually lost those things. Fortunately, I’ve dodged the worst of these experiences and I’ve gotten much better about planning in the PPE part when I start a project. Years at Alyeska Pipeline Service Company helped drill these lessons
Contributed by Glen “The Dude’ Butts SUNDAY JUNE 12, 2022, RALLY RECOVERY RIDE! This is the totally revamped RECOVERY RIDE. This event was formerly known as the Nugen’s Ranch run). This is an awareness community event and is meant to inform people in our state on the problems, and process, of recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. There will be musical entertainment, multiple speakers, and a BBQ and a 12 step meeting at the end of the ride. This will be a fun and informative community event for the entire family. Together “WE CAN” help shine a light into the darkness of addiction! There will be a BBQ, and a 12 step meeting at the end, family fun, and ALL RECOVERY at Set Free Alaska – Wasilla.
into me as well. When I hired a mentor last winter to help me build a kitchenette, the first thing he said was, “the most important part of this job is PPE. You will need safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection and skin coverings.” I appreciated his reminder and know he’s absolutely right. My younger brother who helps me with lots of home projects is another big PPE advocate in my life so I’ve been reminded of the importance many times. My brother always comes prepared with safety tools when he plans to cut trees or work around my place. Yet I have a nephew who often shows up to work these same jobs with no gloves or even long pants for protection. He’s just got the mind-set ‘he’s gonna be fine.’ I’ve sent him to the store more than once to rectify this because I know better. How do you explain to someone you love that you are suggesting they consider the Importance of this step without coming off as an overbearing, worry-monger mother? I have friends that tell me, “you can’t. This is a lesson they have to learn on their own. The hard way.” Ugh. That feels like a frightening prospect especially when I think of one of my nephews who now has a very short index finger after a table saw took the rest. I want to scream, ‘you are not a wimp to take time to protect your one and only body. You are smart!’ All I can do now is pray that this lesson my daughter is living through does not prove to be tragic and next time, she will stop and think, ‘wait, I need some personal protection for this job.’ She’ll take the time to get her skin, face and eyes covered and not just sling stuff around that could disperse toxic particles into the air. That when she picks up the sander she’ll be wearing eye and hearing protection before she hits the power button. That she’ll put on an avalanche beacon, bring along a shovel and probe and check the avalanche forecast before she heads out to go skiing in the backcountry. I really value the motto ‘Live to Ride Another Day’ from the Alaska Avalanche Information Center. I’m trying every day to take the time to think about the value and importance of Personal Protective Equipment before every project or adventure so I can avoid the tragedy that might be lurking. And I can only hope that my gentle reminders and ‘lead by example’ practices keep my children and many others safe as well.
Set Free Alaska is located at 7010 E Bogard Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone 907-373-4732 Fax 907-746-4749 Find us on Facebook @ RALLY RECOVERY RIDE for any updates. Ridestarts @ Anchorage Alano Club and we’ll be meeting up at 9:30 - kickstands up at 10am. Then four stops at different recovery centers, and ending at the Set Free facility, at 1pm (estimated time). As the motorcycle/car rally stops at each center, the clients and their staff will be joining the rally - showing a true solidarity of the RECOVERY community! Recovery alone is almost impossible, but together WE CAN break the cycle of addiction! Thank you, and God bless! Glen B. (The DUDE) (907) 357-0579
COMMUNITY
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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ACCESSIBILITY & MOBILITY 101 Mobility ........ 521-7101 ANTIQUES & VINTAGE The Estate Sale ........ 357-7050 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.alaskamarketplace.com 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 Mekong Thai Cuisine ........ 373-7690 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 TOOLS & WEAPONS Polaris Security & Conult ........ 764-7643 TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990
Contributed by Doug Ferguson Recently I came across a biography of Earl Torgeson I had saved. Reading it again brought back many memories of my early school days when Earl was a hero to me. Unless you are a fanatic baseball history fan or are my age and were raised in Massachusetts before the Boston Braves moved to Atlanta, you probably never heard of him. In my youth I considered him a “Great American.” Earl was the starting first baseman for the Boston Braves from 1947 to 1953 spanning the period when I was ten years old in Springfield, Massachusetts to when I was a junior in high school after we moved to Boardman, Ohio. Besides being a tall, intense and outstanding ballplayer as well as colorful character on and off the field, he was the only major league player at the time that I was aware of that wore glasses! This made him the perfect hero for a tall, skinny, near-sighted kid with glasses who also loved playing ball! The story of my wearing glasses has to be put into the context of the times in the 40’s and 50’s when wearing glasses in one’s youth was nowhere near as common as today. During WWII my father had a temporary assignment for a year as a Westinghouse factory representative in the huge Chrysler factory where Sherman Tanks were being made in Detroit, Michigan as they still are today. In 1943 when I was six years old, we moved back to Springfield, where I had been born. I hadn’t attended kindergarten in Detroit and so entering first grade in Springfield was my first public school experience. Massachusetts was one of the first states to push public health in public schools. Every year at the start of school in first grade they did an eye test in class. The teacher put a big eye chart up in front of the class and asked each student to read the line of smallest print they could. When it came to me I said I couldn’t
see the lines. The teacher, somewhat concerned, said, “Well, Doug, what direction is the big E going?” I replied, “What big E?” Thus started my life-long journey to wearing glasses! In those days, there were no plastic frames or lenses. All frames were metal and were basically the severe styles like those worn by Russian revolutionaries in the movie “Doctor Zhivago”. The first ones I got were fitted with regular glass lenses. However, one day playing catch with another kid, the ball hit a stone, took a bad bounce and hit my glasses, shattered the lens and left me with a cut on my brow, fortunately not doing any other damage. This, of course, panicked my parents and they promptly got me “safety lenses”. These were very thick and heavy safety glass again mounted in the ugly metal frames! Since I had to wear them all the time during school, they became a personal ID “badge” you couldn’t miss! I became the tall skinny kid known as “Froggie”! A lot of kids who weren’t in my class didn’t know my real first name! My dad was into sports when he was young and even played football in college. So when all this occurred, he was the first to point out that the famous first baseman of the Boston Braves, Earl Torgeson, also wore glasses! Earl immediately became my hero and when anyone taunted me, I would point this out and also that he was big and tough! Rereading the Torgeson biography, I had forgotten what a character he was! While basically fun-loving and outgoing, on the field he was intense and often got into fights on the field! One of the first of these as a pro was in 1948 against the Boston Red Sox. From the biography: “In 1948 Torgeson took offense in a preseason ‘City Series’ game at Braves Field when Red Sox infielder Billy Hitchcock got tangled up with him while returning to the first base bag. After it happened again, Torgeson belted Hitchcock in the mouth, causing both
benches to empty and a free-for-all to erupt. The skirmish cost Torgeson his glasses, and after this he would always remove them before a pending confrontation.” He had a 15-year career in the big leagues. After retiring from baseball he had an productive, interesting and civic-minded life that included starting a camp for underprivileged boys in Wisconsin. Later he became a county commissioner in Washington state near where he grew up. There, he started their first emergency preparedness department. Reflecting now on the informal sandlot ball I played living in Massachusetts, and the organized baseball later in Boardman, Ohio in what was a pre-curser to Little League baseball, Earl Torgeson was a hero when I sure needed one. A great reminder that we all have times in our life when we need a “Great American” hero to encourage us! Doug Ferguson is a retired engineer living in Palmer, AK and has had a life-long interest in gardening, science, history, sports, and human nature.
POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Mayor Edna DeVries April will begin the public process for the Borough budget. Mat-Su Borough Administration and Departments will have presented their budget on Thursday, April 7 beginning at 10 am in the Assembly Chambers to the Borough Assembly, which was open to the public. This event typical takes about four to five hours. Mat-Su Borough Budget public hearings are scheduled for April 26 at 6 pm in the assembly chambers in Palmer, April 28 (Willow Community Center), and May 2 (Menard Sports Complex). Additional budget meetings will be at Mat-Su Borough Assembly meetings during the month of May, if needed. Update on West Susitna Access Road presentation will be at the April 19 Mat Su Borough assembly meeting under borough manager’s report. Public Hearing will continue on April 19 on Ord. 22-029 which is the increase in Senior and Disable VETS Property exemption from $218,000 to $264,000. Borough Assembly Public Hearings on April 19 will include Ordinance 22-047 which was introduced at the April 5 assembly meeting – An Ordinance Providing for the Composition, Form of Representation and Apportionment of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly: and Submitting the Question to the Qualified Votes of the Borough at a Special Election of July 12, 2022; and Amending MSB2.12.010, Concerning Assembly Election Districts. The following chart shows each assembly district and the deviation:
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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2020 Population & Deviation by District Difference From Target Population (15,297) Assembly Population District
Deviation
Percentage
1
14,022
-1275
-8.33%
2
14,031
-1266
-8.28 %
3
15,206
-91
-0.59%
4
14,409
-357
-2.33%
5
17,738
+2,441
+15.96%
6
16,564
+1,267
+8.28%
7
14,580
-717
-4.69%
Population growth in Assembly Districts 5 and 6 put them much higher than our target population of 15,297 and that additional population needed to be spread out to cover the shortages in the other districts. Upcoming in May – Manger’s report on Port McKenzie at May 3 assembly meeting. Also the question of life time exemption for assembly members has been postponed from April 5 to April 19’s assembly meeting. The life time exemption for the mayor passed at the April 5 assembly meeting. Please reach out to me regarding any Borough questions, you may have. My Cell is 907-795-8133 or borough office 907-861-8682, edna.devries@matsugov.us. Mat-Su Borough website – matsugov.us Edna DeVries, Mat-Su Borough Mayor
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
Liberty, Liberally Volume II - Issue IV
April 2022
Alaska
By Joshua Fryfogle When we have spoken of ‘equality’ in decades past, we’ve really shortened a phrase to a single word. The word ‘equality’ is used as shorthand for the phrase, ‘equality under the law’. Equality under the law is a phrase that refers to a legal system that affords the same rights and responsibilities to everyone, regardless of any immutable characteristics. Still, we’ve shortened that concept down to a phrase, and that phrase down to a single word, leading to some common confusion. Equality under the law is an important concept, because equality is otherwise unattainable. In fact, I would argue that equality doesn’t even exist in reality, and can only exist under the law. We cannot affect equality in any other way. No two people are truly equal, because individuals are all unique. Even identical twins are not truly, actually equal. There is always some variation, and that difference nullifies any possibility of true equality. This is precisely why ‘equality under the law’ is such an important distinction. You might wear the same size glove as another person, but your fingerprints are yours and yours alone. Right down to the DNA, we are unique, no one else is our equal. When we talk about a free society, and Liberty of the individual, we are talking about an aspiration that is difficult to achieve. If everyone is free to do as they please, without any restriction at all, then that liberty might infringe on the liberty of others. This is where the Law becomes a necessity. Complete Liberty, with no Law, is a brutal society instead of a peaceful one. With Liberty, And Justice, For All... We’ve all said it a million times. We were taught the pledge as children, and
most of us can recite it verbatim with a mere prompt. We gloss right over this final phrase, thinking of it as a simple listing of two separate concepts. But Justice and Liberty are not easily maintained at the same time. Liberty alone leads to harm, as Justice without respect for Liberty leads to brutality. So the lofty idea that we could create a stasis where these two concepts co-exist, well, that’s what the founders referred to as a ‘grand experiment’.
To speak in the vernacular One must know the words And master the vocabulary And adjectives and verbs To engage one’s civic interest Cannot be avoided It happens automatically And this can be exploited
Equality under the law was not instantaneously realized when the founders declared it as our goal. We’ve been working, all along, to create a ‘more perfect union’, and that process continues. This is as it was meant to be, too. The founders knew all too well that undoing millennia of authoritarian rule would not happen because they declared their independence from those authoritarians. They knew that there would be a process. They knew that maintaining Liberty and Justice, simultaneously, was a balancing act.
To who so lacks the wit and will Of their own design Still has words and words to say But how did these they find? To be sure one’s thoughts are pure And not from someone else One must think and think some more Thinking for oneself
Consider the symbol of Justice, the scales held in the hand of the blindfolded woman. While she is in the dark as to the mere appearance of those who seek her guidance, Lady Justice holds scales in her hand, and a sword at her side. The scales serve to balance the Law against Liberty, and the sword shows the force of the law, to defend the innocent and punish the guilty. They knew, perhaps better than we do today, that Liberty alone would quickly dissipate, and chaos would upend our new nation. The grand ambition of balancing Liberty and Justice, erring on the side of Liberty, is the foundation of our nation. Without this concept, we’re doomed to lose both. And when we falsely believe that ‘equality’ can be achieved in all areas of life, we destroy individual Liberty.
You can respond to what you’ve read, or write what matters to you. WWW.MAKEASCENEAK.COM
Liberty, Liberally
www.LibertyLiberally.com
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
Volume II - Issue IV
(Ed. Note: I published this online, out there in the aether, and found a few folks who pushed back. I had a unique take on the topic, as you’ll see as you read. I knew I needed to write a second part to build on this, the first. Both parts are published in this edition of Liberty, Liberally.) Have you considered that had you been taught about CRT, Critical Theory and other associated academic topics, your world wouldn’t have been taken over by this nonsense? Face it, you’d never heard of Critial Race Theory until a year or two ago. You were ignorant of it, and as a direct result of your ignorance, it’s overtaken the culture. They haven’t been teaching CRT, or any Critical Theory, to school kids. If they had, we would have seen this coming. They’ve been teaching it to teachers, administrators, and usually under different nomenclature. Critical Pedagogy, for example, has affected our educational institutions in an insidious way. And those of our communities who’ve gone into the educational field, and were taught to teach in these ways, were equally unprepared to push back as are the rest of us. Had we all been taught about critical theory, and its myriad manifestations, we could have avoided all of these dialectical traps that have ensnared our culture. But we were simply ignorant of these machinations. No, they do not teach your children, as they didn’t teach you, the methodology of how they teach students. The teachers didn’t explain to you, when you were a student, what they were taught in college to prepare them to teach. And their teachers, too, were not necessarily taught the nuts-and-bolts theory behind their own curricula. In fact, the people who have most impacted education in general were the theorists who developed these systems, and those are the people who ought to be known. If you were to study, for example, Paulo Freire, you would find that his ideas about education and its administration have been profoundly important to the direction of education around the world. The problem with critical pedagogy, as is the case with critical theory in general, is that they actively problematize. They seek out problems, even and especially in the absence of a community consensus that a problem exists. This is the ‘critical’ part of Critical Theory. In contrast, a traditional, Liberal Education teaches us how to respond to problems as they arise. There is no activist dimension to traditional, liberal education. Critical Theorists and their unwitting accomplices aim to exploit this inherent limitation of Liberal Education (that we only respond to issues as they arise), to artificially create conflict to bring about predetermined outcomes.
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.
Liberty, Liberally
The opposite of ‘Critical Pedagogy’ as a methodology of education is called ‘Liberal Education’. A Liberal Education is based on the traditional seven liberal arts. A strong liberal education would include various disciplines of thought, even including critical theory, but would remind the student that their education is to allow them to respond appropriately to living in a liberal, or free, society. They are not compelled to activism by our Western tradition of education. However, the common, ironic misuse of the word ‘liberal’ in describing a partisan ideology that is literally illiberal is yet another indication that our education system has failed to teach even the basics of Liberty. In fact, most people hear the word ‘liberal’, and they associate it instantly with this political faction that only masquerades as such. This language manipulation is a sign, a red flag, that Marxian influence is afoot. And Critical Theory is, after all, a neo-Marxist development. Critical Pedagogy has a different goal than Liberal Education. Critical Pedagogy does not simply allow the student the psychological skillset to respond to a free society in a cooperative and peaceful manner, but rather, it activates the student to problematize, to criticize everything and anything, real or imagined, with political upheaval as its practical end. Critical Theory, in fact, is not and never can be simply ‘theory’. This is why a solid, Liberal Education would include an understanding about these activist traditions of pedagogy. We, as a People, must be taught about these systems of indoctrination, or we will fall prey to them. Critical Theory, Critical Pedagogy, Social Emotional Learning, they call it all sorts of things. This is part of the ‘problematizing’ process, aimed at causing chaos in a community, from which these ‘theorists’ who are literally activists hope to manifest some perfection of society. It’s a pipe dream, a fanciful thought, that by destroying whatever can be destroyed, they will leave only the perfect, indestructible reality in it’s wake. It’s the ideology of totalitarian control, applied to the psyche of the individual. We should learn to be critical of critical theory, but that’s when they call you names. Why, though? Why can’t they reasonably defend their assertions? The beauty of being critical of Critical Theory, in all its variety, is that it cannot withstand its own methods. It falls apart under scrutiny. It crumbles, almost instantly, under the watchful eye of reason. But only if you can recognize it, and respond appropriately. No, they didn’t teach us CRT in school. And it shows.
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I recently wrote an essay, and published it online, on social media. The title of the essay, ‘They Don’t Teach Kids About CRT, But The Should’, was intended to draw attention to a new perspective. It was a mildly provocative title, but it truly encapsulated my perspective. In that essay, I embraced the common defense of CRT, being that they are not actually teaching your children CRT in school. This was not a tricky title, but a substantive assertion. They really aren’t, and that’s by design. Now, you would think that those who support CRT, Critical Theory, and associated disciplines in general, would have at least appreciated that I was agreeing with them on this point. You would think that, though I made my criticisms of these academic traditions clear in the essay, those who support these concepts would have at least appreciated that I agreed with them that they are not teaching CRT to kids. They didn’t. I went a step further, though. I didn’t just affirm that well-worn defense of CRT, that they weren’t teaching it to kids, but I said that they should be. At this point, you would think proponents of ‘critical consciousness’ would have rallied behind my message, regardless of my criticism of the Critical Theory tradition. After all, I agree that they aren’t teaching it to kids, but more than that, I think they should be teaching it to kids. But that’s the thing about Critical Theory in general. They really don’t want the masses to understand it - only those who’ve been properly trained, and whose trajectory is set towards activism. That’s where my essay went wrong for the proponents of CRT. They didn’t care that I backed up their defense of CRT, or that I even wanted to teach kids about it. What they cared about, what bothered them, was that I wanted that topic to be taught... critically. You see, in the liberal educational tradition, we teach all kinds of ideas, and those ideas would all be subject to critical thinking on the part of the student. Liberal Arts, the traditional seven, teach this type of critical thinking that allows for diversity of thought to arise in a free society (this is the true fountainhead of progress, but that’s another essay). However, Critical Theory is distinct from critical thinking. That’s why they don’t teach kids about Critical Theory, because kids say the darndest things. Kids will suss out any inkling of unfairness, inequality, any iota of idiocy, and call it for what it is. Critical Theory informs a so-called ‘critical consciousness’, but that ‘consciousness’ goes against common sense. It is counterintuitive, and children will make a mockery of it. That’s why they don’t teach it TO kids - they apply it ON kids. This prepares those children for further indoctrination at a later date, when they’ve become conditioned to not question or criticize these ideas, for fear for social castigation.
Those who actually believe in instituting ‘critical consciousness’ through infiltration of institutions understand all too well that they cannot hope to succeed any other way. They know that without ongoing indoctrination of these ideas, no one will accept these overtly discriminatory practices that Critical Theory suggests as a means to an end. They believe so much in their modern mythos that they know that rational investigation will challenge their faith. For those of you who oppose CRT, pay attention. The way to defeat these maddening manipulations is to become aware of them. Understand them, learn them - dig in. That’s the only defense against them, and it’s a victorious one. That’s why my essay triggered some proponents of Critical Theory, even though I seemingly agreed with their premises. The biggest red flag about this ideologically driven drivel is that it cannot be questioned. This is the totalitarian ethos, evidencing a Marxian root. The hypocrisy, that everything is subject to criticism, except their own ideas about everything; it’s an abuser’s perspective. In our Liberal Educational system, all ideas can be challenged, just like any healthy relationship. That’s why the founders spoke of a ‘more perfect union’, because free expression allowed for a process of perfection to occur. Critical Theory, a neo-Marxist tradition by its own admission, simply does not believe in that freedom of thought, or the freedom to question authority. Those who author these ideas are the authority on these ideas, and those who adhere to them without question are the collaborators of that authoritarianism. My essay seemingly supported the widespread dissemination of these ideas, removing them from the rarified air of Mount Olympus, where the traditions of the Totalitarian Titans are taught. My essay was a promethean perspective, that these ideas are only powerful over humanity in that they are kept from humanity. This is why these sycophants were offended, because they know that their power is tenuously maintained by widespread ignorance of their methods. In closing, consider this... If these ideas were good ideas, that everything should be subjected to ‘critical consciousness’ in the tradition of Critical Theorists, then why wouldn’t they want Critical Theory itself to be ‘critically’ considered? If their ideas were good ideas, wouldn’t widespread dissemination of those thoughts prove that to be the case? Can’t they gain a consensus through public discourse? If my criticisms of Critical Theory as a broad tradition were unfounded, then my advocacy for CRT to be taught to kids would be a win for its proponents, right? Right.
So my essay, that affirmed that CRT is not being taught to children, and advocated that it should be taught to children, was met with scorn from the people who defend CRT. Imagine that. I summarized my critical sentiment at the end of that essay, by saying that applying criticism, even their Critical Theorists’ process of criticism, to Critical Theories themselves would destroy them forthwith.
www.LibertyLiberally.com Liberty, Liberally
www.LibertyLiberally.com
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
COMMUNITY Contributed by Antonio Loffredo After Two Years Virtual, Congregations Will Meet Together Again Beginning April 1 All congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses across the world are being encouraged to begin holding in-person meetings during the week of April 1. “The first time I attended a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses was in 1990 and, since then, they have become a prominent part of my weekly routine,” said Antonio Loffredo, a resident of Wasilla. “I am excited to resume in-person meetings because no virtual association can recreate the warmth we experience when we meet together.” For most of the last two years, buildings for worship have remained closed globally due to the risks associated with meeting in person. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the U.S. also suspended their public ministry on March 20, 2020. Since that time, they have carried on their ministry through letters and phone calls while holding twice-weekly meetings in a virtual format. Average attendance at these meetings exceeded 1.5 million each week in the U.S., even though
Contributed by David Haeg Kenai, Alaska—Over 30 people attended an impromptu “AlaskaGrandJuryRights.com” demonstration at the Kenai, Alaska Courthouse on March 30, 2022 to protest the fact that Kenai’s seated grand jury is the fifth investigation into crime and corruption by public officials in Alaska, which has been shut down. The central accusation of “AlaskaGrandJuryRights.com” is that Alaska’s only judge investigator for the past 33 years (and counting) has falsified official investigations, so corrupt judges can remain on the bench and continue ruling. And when 5 separate grand juries have tried to “audit” this person’s work (as they are constitutionally and legally able and required to do) government officials, including implicated judges and Alaska’s Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore, stepped in to personally order the grand juries to stop investigating.
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
there are fewer than 1.3 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in some 13,000 congregations. “There is a collective shout of joy among Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world right now,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. Spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “While we have prospered in many ways as individuals and congregations using technology to bring us together, nothing can adequately replace being together in person. We have longed for this moment for the better part of two years.” The move back to in-person meetings coincides with two global events being held in all 120,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The first is a special lecture scheduled in most congregations for April 10, 2022, entitled, “Where Can You Find Real Hope?” Additionally, the annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ will be held on April 15, 2022, the very day he sacrificed his life 1,989 years ago. Both of these gatherings will be held in person at local Kingdom Halls with live speakers. No collections are ever taken.
Now, all five grand jury investigations have been successfully stopped by the very public officials, these grand juries were trying to investigate. See grand juror affidavits, evidence of corruption, and learn more about Alaskan grand juror rights at: https://alaskagrandjuryrights.com/ “Thank you to all who bravely protested at the Kenai Courthouse, especially the dismissed grand jurors, for confronting a very evil domestic enemy which has grown in our midst.”—David Haeg Denying these grand juries the opportunity to investigate and operate appears to be illegal, unconstitutional and a blatant denial of grand juror rights: Alaska Constitution, Article 1, Section 8 The power of grand juries to investigate and make recommendations concerning the public welfare or safety shall never be suspended.AS 12.40.030 Duty of inquiry into crimes and general powers. The grand jury shall inquire into all crimes committed or triable within the jurisdiction of the court and present
“The timing of resuming in-person meetings could not be better,” said Hendriks. “Bringing everyone back together for these special events will have a powerful effect on the worldwide congregation.” Guidelines for holding “hybrid” meetings have been sent to all congregations in the United States. Over the past six months, many Kingdom Halls have been equipped with the required technology to hold a productive meeting that allows for in-person and remote attendees, all of whom can participate in the discussions. A pilot program was held in October and November in countries around the world to assess how this could be done most effectively. The lessons learned in these pilot meetings have helped form the plan for moving forward with reopening all Kingdom Halls, where the law permits. “It has been heartwarming to see the peace and unity among Jehovah’s Witnesses during this very divisive time,” said Hendriks. “We know resuming in-person meetings will bring us even closer together. We’re anxious to see one another again.”
them to the court. The grand jury shall have the power to investigate and make recommendations concerning the public welfare or safety. AS 12.40.040 Juror to disclose knowledge of crime. If an individual grand juror knows or has reason to believe that a crime has been committed that is triable by the court, the juror shall disclose it to the other jurors, who shall investigate it. Alaska Constitutional Convention (page transcript 1307-1409): The power of grand juries to inquire into the willful misconduct in office of public officers, and to find indictments in connection therewith, shall never be suspended. The grand jury is preserved, for all purposes, particularly for investigation of public officials. The grand jury can be appealed to directly, which is an invaluable right to the citizen. Alaska Grand Jury Handbook, Page 16: Can a grand juror ask the grand jury to investigate a crime that the district
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Likewise Loffredo said, “Another reason why I’m happy to resume in person meetings is that socializing with likeminded people, before and after the program, can be done to a much deeper degree.” As of now, Jehovah’s Witnesses have no plans to resume their public ministry, though their “alternative” ministry continues. In fact, since the start of the pandemic through November 2021 in the U.S. alone, Jehovah’s Witnesses spent more than 400 million hours in virtual Bible studies, writing letters of comfort to their neighbors and making phone calls. They have released 77 new language translations of the Bible and held two global virtual conventions in more than 500 languages. “No time was wasted in the past two years,” said Hendriks. “Our congregants have been busy and productive helping each other and their neighbors through this most challenging time. That’s what love and unity are all about.” For more information on Jehovah’s Witnesses go to jw.org.
attorney has not presented to them? Yes. The Alaska Statutes state: “If an individual grand juror knows or has reason to believe that a crime has been committed that is triable by the court, the juror shall disclose it to the other jurors, who shall investigate it.” Alaska Grand Jury Handbook, Page 26: It will be up to the grand jury to decide whether to investigate. AS 11.56.590. Jury Tampering. (a) A person commits the crime of jury tampering if the person directly or indirectly communicates with a juror other than as permitted by the rules governing the official proceeding with intent to (1) influence the juror’s vote, opinion, decision, or other action as a juror; or (2) otherwise affect the outcome of the official proceeding. (b) Jury tampering is a class C felony. All Alaskans, who agree that corruption must be stopped, are invited visit www.AlaskaGrandJuryRights.com.
COMMUNITY & POLITICS
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ing some iron to building trust, loyalty, and candid communications between citizens and their elected agents. Contributed by Wes Keller As a newly appointed Alaska State Representative, I was mistaken as being US Representative Don Young on more than occasion as people seemed to think we looked alike. One time a stewardess was so convinced I was US Rep Young, she insisted on a photo-op with me! I can only imagine the story she was telling when she figured out I had in fact been telling her the truth, I was not US Rep. Young. Now, Don is gone and we are watching 40-50 replacement wannabees signed up to try to stand-in for Don (I am not one of them). Dealing with a crowd like this, combined with the unintended consequences of the new “ranked choice” election law, means we are likely in for more Alaska style political drama! The process of whittling down this “herd of potentials” to a few viable contenders will be undoubtably interesting and confusing with numerous and various pending sub-plots as campaign strategists, media, and the governing elite each scramble to find new strategies
to protect their interests! To get a hint of what we are up against, look at the official overview by the Department of Law Division of Elections online: https:// tinyurl.com/3mc5w9hf It proposes a tentative special primary scenario for June 11, to be followed by a special general election to coincide with the regular 2022 primary on August 16! I ask the old tongue-in-cheek question: “What could possibly go wrong!?” My best effort to offer sage political comment is to advise you to not be distracted by all of the crowd “noise” and keep your eyes on the big underlying goal. Focus on building (or re-building) your relationship with any person who you may potentially choose to represent you! Then, do the best you can to make sure your vote is cast and fairly counted! These are the fundamental elements of any republic and are critically needed if America is to sustain justice, freedom, and prosperity! There are some highly qualified and good people in this “herd”, but whether you are able to relate to them or not has direct and im-
Not because of its religious significance, which is certainly debated vigorously to this day, but because of the Bible’s profound influence on every other course of degrees that our society has developed. Rebbe, By Joseph Telushkin
Contributed by Josh Fryfogle Being raised in a religious household, and being bookish from an early age, I learned to see the Bible as both a religious text and also a literary masterpiece. The more I learned about books, poetry, and literature as a youth - the more I studied to satisfy my own curiosity about these topics - the more I realized that the Bible served as support for the entire corpus of Western Civilization. Although I was raised to revere the Bible as a religious text, I learned on my own that the books of the Bible were pillars, upholding a galilee of higher education. Unlike many academics who have divorced themselves from this foundation of education, my own reflective studies were built upon it. As I continued my own studies into various topics, learning on my own, I was never presented with an adversarial or religiously bigoted view of the Bible. Instead, I saw it as a foundational work of Western literature that could not and should not be disturbed, unless we see the whole of Western Civilization falling in on itself.
A few years ago, I was introduced by a dear friend to the life and work of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who was responsible for a renaissance of the orthodox Jewish traditions. My friend gave me a copy of a book about the Rebbe (as he’s affectionately referred), which I was unable to put down. From the first chapter, I was intellectually compelled by the brilliance and beauty of the life of the man who would bring about such a change in the Jewish world, and the world at large. Besides his legendary leadership in Judaism, he also kept company with some of the most powerful, non-Jewish leaders of the world. His wisdom was renowned, and the leaders of the world would often seek it out. But the Rebbe advocated especially for education for children that would include a moral education, to build up the character of children. In fact, when a child is born in the Jewish community, it is customary to have a copy of a particular verse from Psalms, Psalms 121, (see below). The verse serves twofold function: comfort the mother in childbirth, and to represent that the child will be learning from day one. The United States Congress established the annual proclamation of Education
mediate consequence on whether you re-establish your sovereignty as one of “We the People”. If there is a renewal, and enough people do this in the 2022 election cycle, we may save the country at the same time. It is so very elementary… while remaining radical in the context of the value of the history of all human government! We tend to be lazy at getting to know (befriending, not just “lobbying”) those who we are voting for well before Election Day. Then, naively perhaps, we presumed nobody would be so low as to unscrupulously manipulate the election system even though it is obviously happening. Even if you agree with the system experts who insist actual fraudulent ballot counts or ballot stuffing is rare (I don’t), how could anyone excuse hiding information needed by voters (Hunter Biden’s laptop), fake news (lies), or shutting down social media accounts to silence the patriots (censorship). These also are actions of unscrupulous election manipulation. There may be little you can do directly about these acts, but it can be overwhelmed by add-
and Sharing Day in 1978. The date of the annual celebration is celebrated on a different day of the Gregorian Calendar, adjusting each year for the original Hebrew Calendar date of 11 Nissan, to honor the birthday of the Rebbe himself. I find it compelling that this day, each year, serves as a reminder that in matters of history, it is imperative that we invest the tools of continued self-education in our youth. But this requires a curiosity that is sorely lacking. Simply taking the steps, handing out degrees, this doesn’t make a good student. A good student continues as a student, of their own free will, all the days of their lives. It’s not a chore, to the good student, to learn and grow and seek to know. I think the Rebbe must have realized that the liberal philosophy that supports our Constitutional form of government was a social philosophy, as well as political. He surely understood that we put the power with the individual, a power that, when removed from a ruling class, defaults into a liberal society. He must have seen that America was a liberal, free society, that would allow for such moral teaching. He must have considered the sentence structure of the First Amendment. He surely knew that there was a public trust in America that didn’t exist in the Communist and Fascist nations of Eastern Europe, where he matured into his own morality. He must have noticed that our First Amendment upholds freedom of religion in the same breath as speech, publishing, and gathering together. This first amendment encapsulates the freedoms necessary for a moral education, while it respects religious
Also, we need to make good on our motto (“In God We Trust). We cannot govern without His standards (law) and authority. I really want to believe most Americans know this and will soon reassert themselves. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan (Proverbs 29:2). As you go about building relationships with candidates keep in mind all other qualifications pale compared to whether, as public officials, they will be using a world view based on what the Declaration called “Natural Law”. A candidate who will not admit his or her need to humbly ask God for help is not somebody I want representing me…. Ask candidates forthrightly if they believe in God and how that belief has and will affect them. Because of ridiculous “political correctness” this may seem awkward at first, but it should be transparent for all to see… is is part of the “resume” for the job being applied for. Wes Keller WesKeller.com
freedom first, in its primary clause. I am inspired by the life and legacy of this man who survived multiple genocidal totalitarian extremes, and who came to the land of the free, and devoted his life to education - as had always been the tradition of his faith. Inspired A good student should be inspired to learn and share what they’ve learned, so I will share something I have learned about the word ‘inspired’. Inspired comes from the Latin ‘inspirare’, which means to ‘blow into, breathe upon’. This is also described in the book Bereishit (Genesis), when the Creator ‘breathed’ the spirit (Neshemah) into Adam and then humanity. The word spirit, and inspire, share this same Latin root. I’m not trying to inspire your faith with some mystical interpretation here. I’m pointing to a literary observation. Our language today, which is generations removed from the hebrew tongue that precedes it, by many millennia, still reflects a similar connection between breath and creativity, life and spirit. Our American English, still to this day, is influenced by the Bible, and this is only one example of that permeating phenomenon. All our modern languages are inextricably interwoven, and it’s from that fabric that Western Culture is crafted. Our coat of many colors is to be envied. Inspirational What this suggests is simple. The entire corpus of Western literature and learning, all of it, is being communicated Continued on page 11
COMMUNITY Contributed by Paul Keller Brethren. Sisters. Elders. Young’uns. We have arrived. We have arrived—at the edge of civilization, we have arrived at a time and place that is unlike many others in history. The human race is a shadow of its former self. There have always been problems, corruption, competing interests, and debauched people, but civilization used to have its own methods built-in to deal with the errant entities within itself. These included such things as social customs, norms, courtesies, widespread knowledge/education, and an overriding willingness to push back against predators that threaten the fabric of social order, no matter what form they took. What was once metaphysical, and profound has become the cheap refuse that public discourse and glamorizing have sterilized to allow the impotency of the mind to philosophically castrate our current and future offspring. Values, veracity, principles--anything with continuity that bonds people together is being eroded or redefined, so that those who wish to influence the course of societal development ensure that it follows their agenda, more or less. Companies, agencies, and organiza-
A Life of Learning
Continued from page 10 via a language that still connects these ideas. English came after the writing of Genesis, and it is subordinate and intellectually subservient to those ideas that were first set in motion thousands of years earlier. This means that you literally cannot get a complete education, even if you lived to be a hundred and twenty, without bumping into these earliest biblical texts, and realizing the same thing. They serve as a foundation for the whole of our reality, even if you don’t believe them to be inspired. The Rebbe’s vision of Education and Sharing Day was not a Jewish one. It was a biblical view, starting with the story of Noah, whose sons made up the nations of the earth - all of them. It was an inclusive effort, aimed at all of ‘children of Noah’, not only the children of Jacob. For an orthodox rabbi, the Rebbe could be rather unorthodox in his inclusivity. He had learned (as I learned in the book my friend gifted to me) that if his people didn’t find a way to coexist with the world, and demystify the misunderstandings about his people that led to ignorance and prejudice from the descendants of Noah, then the folly of pharaohs and Fascists, Communists and Czars, would lead to more mass murder, which the Rebbe had been fortunate enough to escape. While it’s important to remember that our religious freedom and public discourse go hand in hand, and that each of us retain the right to come away, and be separate from our liberal society, we are all allowed to engage and affect that society. In fact, we will engage and affect that society even if we don’t do so deliberately, so there is a moral obligation to self-education, so as to be a positive influence on our society. This can only come from moral teachings,
tions--both public and private, small and large--view their staff and donors as human capital. We are a commodity to be invested into the production of goods and services, and we are something that can be both consumed and easily replaced. By monetizing time itself, firms have found a way to pay their laborers under a system of structured compensation, where the amount of work and time put into a firm’s output is often much more valuable than the compensation paid to the people making that same production. Yet, our system is driven by the never-ending desire to produce, consume, and profit, in the presence of all its observable contradictions. In this soup of conditions, as we enter 2022, there are a few important things to remember. This year, Alaska is facing a brand-new voting system called ranked choice voting that stands to change the way we select and vote for candidates in government. Here are a few important facts about the passage of this ballot measure from 2020: * Though the ballot measure passed in 2020 was decided upon by local voters, there was a decided push to implement the system by Outside money, to the tune of nearly $5 million dollars (much of the funding has been coming from
which are the first teachings, that first inspired humanity to study at all. Our inaction and ignorance, as the Rebbe surely knew, would never relieve us of our tendency to moral degradation and lacking education, which tends to precede totalitarian persecution. Even the modern atheist must consider these connections between the traditions of education themselves, and the traditions of ancient religious practice. The two are one. Morality must be instilled in the mind of the young, and in America, the Rebbe new that we could do so from a plurality of religious perspectives. As an UltraOrthodox Jewish leader, you would think he would have instead focused his attention on the Jewish community alone, but the Rebbe was revolutionary, like America. Consider that the field of human knowledge alone is neither good nor evil. It can manifest as either. This is both dangerous and demanding. Stalin and Hitler made use of scientific knowledge, while removing any idea of a Creator, or the value of individual human life, from the equation. They persecuted the people who kept these traditions alive, vainly attempting to disconnect knowledge from morality, and the results speak for themselves. The individual, inspired to do good with knowledge will seek understanding, and wisdom. This is the beginning of moral education, which is the beginning of all education. Try as we might, even our language constantly alludes to this reality, that without morality, humanity will use knowledge to bring about our own destruction. An education, then, must first seek to train the student towards right action with whatever knowledge that they are given. Continued education, and
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the Action Now Initiative, which is majorly funded by a form Enron executive... hmm, builds confidence there considering their history, i.e., Enron financial scandal). While this is certainly not an isolated case of lobbyists having big donors who fund their movements (“Big Oil”, “Big Pharma”, and other industries do it often) in exchange for support for their particular platform or initiative, the fundamental change to our voting system impacts the majority of us directly as candidates push or retract their policies or methods * Ranked choice voting can be confusing if you don’t thoroughly research the mechanics of its system--which, by the way, I suspect is designed to be overly confusing (my own insight, but examine the system yourself to see what you think). Please be vigilant when you start to vote this year--research your candidates, examine the ranked choice system, and communicate with other voters if you see weird or inconsistent things. There are plenty of candidates who will probably attempt to use the complexity of the new system to try to “game” their way into a position. Should you become aware of such things, expose any of these attempts and keep others informed. The last thing this state needs is more manipulation by those who see us as just a jurisdiction to
sharing what we learn, and how we interpret the moral implications of that knowledge, are specifically protected for the individual in the First Amendment. Information alone, without equal and balanced moral orientation, will only make the individual a danger to themselves and others. We must support our education with edification, we must share what we know with our neighbors, and that requires... inspiration. Two Become One There are two traditions of Judaism that are coming together this year, in regards to a particular portion of the biblical text: Psalm 121. When a child is born to a Jewish family, it is customary to have a copy of Psalm 121 in the delivery room, as a comfort to the mother, but also as a symbol that the child begins to learn immediately upon birth. The day of our birth is the beginning of our education on earth. The second tradition is also related to birthdays. A common Jewish custom is for a child to learn to recite the Psalms, corresponding with their progressing age, each year learning the next Psalm. The Lubavitch Jewish community, which was revived and revitalized under the leadership of the Rebbe, honors the Rebbe by reciting the Psalm that would correspond to his own birthday. This year, they’ve progressed to Psalm 121, corresponding to the Rebbe’s 120th year. It’s inspiring to me, to think of the seeming serendipity, that these two traditions are coming together, and I wonder at what might come of that. Psalm 121 1. A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
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start or extend their political career or as a piggy bank to take the hard-earned resources of the residents of this state, whether legitimate or otherwise. As we approach our elections and other important activities this year in this state, remember that, despite the chaos and disruption we have seen in recent memory, you are more valuable than all of the money, policies, and ideas that get thrown around in popular culture. Without you, as a human being, none of those other things would have any meaning. We have preserved things, traditions, and customs here in Alaska that have made our towns places to call home, and we are a treasure chest of fundamental meaning that the world at large soon forgets. The majority of people here are kind and heartfelt in their efforts with whatever they are doing, and they are the backbone of our society. You are my neighbors, friends, colleagues, and family, and rest assured that this is one man who does not forgot that all of the stuff that surrounds us is ultimately distilled down to the most important thing of all… …people. Take care in your life and the lives of others, and stay steadfast in our communities and principles. Peace out, Paul Keller
2. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Remember, one thing leads to another. If you feel inspired to learn something, in honor of Education and Sharing day, I would suggest reading the book, Rebbe, by Joseph Telushkin. It’s the book that my friend gave to me, and it created connections in my understanding of so many things that I had never considered. It edified me, adding to the edifice of my own education. “The great writers to whom the world owes what religious liberty it possesses, have mostly asserted freedom of conscience as an indefeasible right, and denied absolutely that a human being is accountable to others for his religious belief. Yet so natural to mankind is intolerance in whatever they really care about, that religious freedom has hardly anywhere been practically realized, except where religious indifference, which dislikes to have its peace disturbed by theological quarrels, has added its weight to the scale.” - John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
COMMUNITY Contributed by Jessica Wright What will you get from Stephen Wright as your next Congressional Representative? Stephen Wright is a Republican candidate from the valley. He’s born in Alaska, moved away as his father’s enlistment and the Vietnam War ended it but he moved back through his military assignment and later retired as
Air Force Resource Advisor and called Alaska home. Stephen Wright is from a conservative background so he’s pro-life, pro- 2nd Amendment, and pro-business. He believes in free economy and limited government. He also believes we need to be energy independent so he’s for resource development. Stephen Wright ran for US Congress in
Contributed by Kalea Hogate
with this group.
The recent outrage over rebranding of an almost 100-year celebration has brought to light an issue that runs deep in America today. My opinion of Braided River is inconsequential to the issue, not to mention moot since Colony Days has unanimously returned.
Sam Dinges gives walking tours of historical sites in Palmer. He isn’t afraid to do the dirty, heavy lifting like rolling out a 250 lb. 300-foot electrical cord each Friday morning, only to roll it back up at the end of the day.
The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Board is not our enemy; hate is. What transpired on social media over a 48-hour period--and continues to transpire--included wicked, vile hate. And it was ugly. Hate asks no questions, hate does not try to understand, hate does not see a human. Hate is not unique to our century, our community, nor our situation. But our community is unique; Alaska at its best is not just a slogan. It is for this reason that I implore you to do better. The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) Board are our neighbors. You do not have to be a business nor a GPCC member to benefit from their mission to ensure Palmer stays what we know it is: the best place to work, play, and visit. We have much in common
Rob Foxley is building a sustainable future. He sets up and brings his family to events from dinner auctions to Arctic Olympics. Not even shoveling endless slush off the floor of an outdoor tent is below him. Justin Saunders promotes the outdoors through photography and videography. At the end of events he does those thankless jobs, like bussing dirty tables and hauling leaky trash bags. Lucas Parker is in construction, but did you know he’s the head chef behind the Christmas Friendship dinner? He’s there to load garbage cans and picnic tables long after everyone who has enjoyed Colony Days is gone. Anne Thomas invests in the longevity and health of our community. There isn’t a fundraiser for which her businesses do not make a donation. If she
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2016 inspired by Trump’s run in his first run for office was against Don Young, also filing for other positions learning valuable lessons from his experience and has conservative ideas and beliefs remain intact. With so many people filing for special election for Congress this time, Stephen Wright has already presented his four major platforms. His platform is specifically for Alaska aiming to make Alaska great again are as follows:
sees you on the street moving sound equipment or folding tables by hand, she along with her kids help until the chore is done. Ailis Vann is employed by the GPCC, but it is not a paycheck that drives her commitment to community enrichment. She has a long record of volunteering days, nights, and weekends and she doesn’t say no to a challenge. Did your kids or grandkids enjoy Trick-ortreat Street amidst a pandemic? Ailis fostered that idea. There are members I don’t know, but I know they include Palmer High School graduates, parents raising kids who attend our schools, customers who purposefully spend their money at our small businesses. Have they lived here as long as your family? Maybe not, but even Colonists were newcomers at one time. Do I share all opinions and beliefs with these individuals? Most certainly not. Do I believe the best about our neighbors? Absolutely, because when the fire behind the screen has long burned out in the over 5,000 people who signed the “Preserve Colony Days” petition, you will see this board tirelessly promoting, fundraising,
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Abolish Jone’s Act to reduce shipping cost for all Alaska. Restore US and Alaska oil production. Reduce federal land in Alaska. Reduce federal regulations for Alaska industries. In addition, Stephen Wright will sponsor a for America First agenda and Make America Great Again. If you like his platform and agenda please vote for him on June 11th in this special Primary Election.
and putting on the events we love to attend. Our words can be destructive, misconstrued, hateful, and empty. It is our actions that are of the greatest significance. Let our resolve be to use dignified words and ask inquisitive questions. Instead of hurling insults and making ignorant comments, may we request transparency courteously and make rational demands. May we have the courage to admit mistakes and amend them. May we not be so entitled that we come to believe our voice is the only one that deserves to be heard. In the future may we make the news as a community that comes together to comfort each other, to raise awareness and help others, to celebrate the achievements of success and innovation, and to remember those who walked before us. In the future may we unanimously deem hate unacceptable. In the future may we call out a wrong face to face, may we do so with respect, and insist that our neighbors do as well. Your neighbor, Kalea Hogate, née Myers
COMMUNITY Contributed by Sabrena Combs I love Palmer. I always like to start out with that when I tell people why I ran for public office in the first place. I’m a born and raised Palmer girl who bleeds blue and white. My children, when they graduate from Palmer High one day, will be fourth generation Moose. Everything that happens in this town is important to me. Which is why this Recall campaign has been so disheartening. My motives, along with the motives of
my colleagues on the City Council have been questioned and torn apart. Lies have been told and my character has been put into question. So here are the facts, plain and simple: I’ve never planned a BLM march, I’ve never attempted to defund our police department, I’ve never tried to get our Chief of Police fired, I’ve never tried to replace every board and commission member with liberals. These are all untrue statements that have been said about me and two of my fellow council members.
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The truth is that I have brought things to the City Council that my constituents have asked to be brought forward. That’s my job – whether or not I even agree with the items we bring forward, it is our job as council members to give a platform for discussion and debate. Another fact is that I have always voted with the will of the people. I have listened to public testimony and voted for the majority, regardless of my personal beliefs. Because that is also my job. It has been said that I conspired in private to enact legislation secretly. This is not true. There has never been anything said in a private group that I haven’t been open and transparent about and also spoken about in public meetings. I have not tried to circumvent the process, rather I have done my best
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to listen to all of the citizens of Palmer. Recalls are not the way to get rid of public servants simply because you don’t like the way they lean politically. I invite anyone who doesn’t agree with the way I represent Palmer to put their name on the ballot the next time I’m up for re-election. That’s the true Democratic process and I look forward to the challenge. Engagement from our community members is what helps make Palmer the best place to live, work and play. Let’s stop the partisan rhetoric and malicious attacks. I hope that you vote NO on April 19th and we can get back to running the city in a thoughtful, respectful and meaningful manner.
related Marxist goals? Must be, she’s on the BOD. Contributed by Larry Wood The recent revelations in the Alaska Watchman’s March 28, 2022 article “The real architects behind the woke agenda appearing across Mat-Su” regarding the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s movement into promotiong Marxist indoctrination and social change, should raise hackles all across the Mat-Su Valley. It seems that the health of Alaskans would be better served under a socialist society, given the goals expressed by CEO Elizabeth Ripley in the 2020 Annual Report of the Mat-Su Health Foundation: “2020—the year that challenged and connected us! Many times, it felt as difficult as climbing through thin air towards a high mountain peak. Now we are finally summiting. Every day more people receive COVID vaccinations. With each shot in the arm, we’re closer to the top. Like mountaineers roped together to prevent any climber from falling into the crevasse or off the cliff, we had to work together to solve problems and conquer COVID-19. This took strong social connection and centering community. We take these attributes and lessons forward into this new decade. You will see these themes woven throughout these highlights of the foundation’s work in 2020 . . .Youth 360 publicly debuted its data feedback loop in 2020 to share with parents how youth are reporting their mental health, connection and belonging to community, use of substances, experiences with bullying, volunteerism, time spent with fam-
ily and more. . . . In response to a global call for racial equity, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su (Raising Our Children With Kindness) deepened its commitment to developing a localized racial equity curriculum. The workshop pivoted to a virtual platform, and 32 community members trained during the pilot phase with plans underway to fully deploy in 2022. The curriculum is now called Braided Stories: Building Equitable Communities for Alaska’s Children & Families.” (2020 Annual Report, Reaching the Summit and Reconnecting, Mat-Su Health Foundation, p2; “Braided Stories”, “equitable communities”, “equity” . . . now you know where the assault on the Colony Days celebrations originated. It is obvious in Ms. Ripley’s words that there is a strategy to promote ‘racial equity’, not equality, but equity. Like a 3 year old is going to understand ‘equity’? They are indoctrinating your kids starting with the very young under R.O.C.K. I am unfamiliar with the Youth 360 program, but given the way the Marxist mindset works, one is a continuation of the other. I did not realize that Marxist doctrine was a healthcare initiative. You can bet that the Mat-Su Health Foundation will be providing support for like-minded school board candidates and local elected officials. Ms. Ripley’s and the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s vision is right out of the Black Lives Matters’ goals, and Marx-
ist doctrine. You have to love Ripley’s use of language promoting a vision of divisiveness, but sugar coating the bitter lie. Equity means that you take from someone else. Equity is not equality. I would like to know what the $92 million in joint ventures, the $143 million in long term investments and the $11 million were spent on? These figures are listed on page 4 of the 2020 Annual Report under the “Statement of Financial Position”. Changing Palmer’s Colony Days to ‘Braided’ whatever is not a defensible healthcare expenditure. This is all money that could have gone towards improving and reducing the cost of our healthcare. Not building Marxist empires for subverting our Constitution and way of life. Since when does a hospital fund ideological movements dedicated to promoting Marxist doctrine? These ideologues who have taken control of and manage this foundation manage an entity with over $236 million in assets. The cash over the years was provided by the Mat-Su Regional Center’s Board of Directors (BOD). Further, guess who is on the hospital cash cow’s Board of Directors? None other than Elizabeth Ripley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mat-Su Health Foundation. How is there accountability when Ripley votes on her budget? Is the hospital BOD in agreement with Elizabeth Ripley’s non-healthcare
If the hospital is making so cotton picking much money, why was it not used to reduce and to improve healthcare directly through payment reductions for services, senior healthcare, transportation, parenting, childcare–without the Marxist thought--and other healthcare related services? The commies have figured it out, but the hospital BOD needs to fix this, or tell us why not. The hospital BOD needs to 1. Immediately remove Elisabeth Ripley from the hospital BOD; 2. Demand immediate reimbursement of all funding not used specifically as stated in the contract; 3. Require a full audit of the Mat-Su Health Care Foundation and the immediate reimbursement of any monies not used according to contract, and use those monies to benefit the hospitals patients and outpatient services. 4. Demand the immediate removal of Ripley as CEO and the current BOD of the Mat-Su Healthcare Foundation, and their replacement with people who will not subvert the foundation for political purposes. What has happened here is absolutely cynical, something one would see in a third world oligarchy. It does not look like that there is any accountability, oversight, and/or audits required under the contract for the millions turned over to these ideologues. I believe that the governor should ask the Attorney General’s Office for an investigation into potential wrongdoing in this matter.
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we’d get another month’s free storage. “How about a bigger locker?” I queried. “No problem,” the manager said. We were escorted to locker #1463, which, as I told Pete, had enough room for the incoming load. I feel uneasy about asking for donations, so I waited until the morning in which I was to assist Pete (husband) and Bill (Sutton resident) in sorting through the books. The U-Haul facility manager said that, yes, he would provide us with a month’s free storage for a mid-sized locker. The next day, James and his crew unloaded three shrink wrapped pallets of books into locker #1338.
Contributed by Alys Culhane It’s a truism. Stories connect us to one another. We remain strangers until we hear someone else’s story. The individual who then has our full attention then becomes an acquaintance or better yet, a lifelong friend. There are the stories contained in books, ones that we internalize, then tell others. There are also the stories that center around books. Quite often, someone will stop by a Bright Lights Book Project bookcase, pull forth a book, and say to wherever is present, “I remember reading this book as a child!” I recently experienced this firsthand when I found a copy of Mary Dodge’s Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates in a box of donated books. I remembered being ten years old, and reading it, late
at night, by the streetlight light that streamed in my bedroom window. The other night, I again read it, this time by the light of the moon. There are also the stories that directly relate to the BLPB. The seven of us volunteers now tell our stories to all who will listen. One of mine is as follows: Four months ago, I received a call from James Rogers, the Mat-Su Borough School District Warehouse Supervisor. He said that he had three pallets of young adult and children’s books on hand. I remarked to Mat-Su Borough employee Danielle Rutledge that we now needed more space for book storage. Dani (who’s area of expertise is Borough surplus) suggested that I call around, and see if any storage facilities owners might donate space.
I mentioned to Nan Potts (BLBP Events Coordinator) that finding places for these books would take two months. Nan then paid for a second month of storage. A month later, Anchorage Daily News reporter Emily Messner did a story on the BLBP for the Anchorage Daily News. The article and photos generated considerable project publicity. We received several small book donations and one very large one. Brent Kendell, the Anchorage School District Warehouse Supervisor, called and said he had books that he’d gladly pass on to us. The question then was, what do we with seven additional pallets of books? There wasn’t enough space in our mid-sized unit for them all. A near-serendipitous solution soon materialized. Pete and I stopped by locker #1338 in order to retrieve several boxes of books that we were sending on to Utqiagvik. I lifted the metal door and noticed that water was seeping under the rear wall of the storage unit. Upon further examination, Pete noticed that three boxes were damp on the bottom. I hailed down a U-Haul employee, who handed me some rags then ran off to tell the manager what happened. I asked and was told that because the books were most likely damaged, that
Two large box trucks pulled into the storage unit area two days later. There was considerable fanfare on the part of the U-Haul employees, Pete, and Robert Wallace (a BLBP board member) as the Anchorage School District crew maneuvered the pallets into place. The library books had been discarded by the Tyson Elementary School. The guys watched as I, with an knife in hand, cut away the shrink wrap on the outermost box, and then opened the first of innumerable cardboard boxes. I pulled forth several books then jumped up and down, for the box was full of children’s books. The shipment arrived a month ago. I have since sorted through and distributed two pallets of books. The remaining books will be passed out at upcoming events. In addition, The Palmer Community Foundation recently provided us with a grant that will be used to build a dozen bookcases, to be placed in area schools. The bookcases will be built by students in the woodshop class at Mat-Su Career and Technical High School. The search is now on for a larger, and more permanent storage site for incoming books. The other BLBP volunteers and I would like for this site to be in the Palmer area proper, this being most conducive to our distribution efforts. Stories beget stories, this one being no exception. As with any good story, I am anticipating more narratively-related twists and turns. This will add to an already amazing story, which is one that will be enjoyed by all who are now familiar with our already successful project.
PETS & ANIMALS Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates We’re looking for a temporary foster for these two dogs. Their family is currently in a shelter, and unfortunately, they do not permit pets on the property. The owner hopes to be in a place of her own in about a month, but until then, these-two need somewhere to stay. This family has had these two dogs since birth, and we want desperately to keep them united. Alaska Animal Advocates will provide whatever supplies are needed and help out in any way that we can.
Contributed by Angie Lewis There are many reasons for adopting a dog either from an animal shelter or a rescue group. When you do this, you are not only saving the life of the dog you are rescuing, but also making space for yet another dog at the facility. If you are looking for a purebred dog, these are often available at the shelter or a rescue group as well. Finding a rescue dog if a fairly easy task – word of mouth; Internet; phone book; Animal control; and various rescue groups. Once you have located a dog you want to share your life with, the process for adoption will be fairly similar in all the entities. You will most likely have to complete an adoption form. Some groups have a process that is a bit more stringent, such as background checks and home visits. There is typically an adoption fee for the dog, but this
If you’d like to help this family out, call Angie at (907) 841-3173
is usually much less expensive that purchasing a purebred dog. The fee includes spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, and microchipping. The funds raised from the adoption fees are reinvested in other costs to maintain the group and care for future animals. There are many things to consider when choosing a dog – do you want a mature dog or a puppy? Breed? Male or female? Large or small? Exercise level? Training level? Health? Temperament? Fortunately, the shelter or rescue staff/volunteers can often provide you with a great deal of information about the dog. Be sure to ask lots of questions and utilize the shelter or rescue as a resource for addressing various issues. One of my biggest frustrations when adopting to a family is that the people have so little patience. They
where we can learn about/grow our own business empire.”
Howdy neighbor! This is Olivia Freeman from SBAkids with a special announcement: Many of you remember me from gas stations, grocery stores and drive-thrus, last year, everywhere from Wasilla to Willow, asking, “What would you like in a teen center?” This is what you said: “Give us a place for fun; to hangout, watch TV, play video games, a getaway, AND a place
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Uther (white Malamute mix, 1 year) and Thor (Black Lab mix, almost 10 years) are dog and child friendly.
COMMUNITY Contributed by Olivia Freeman
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
So, opening in September, you’re getting a real teen center designed by YOU just for YOU, in Big Lake. No cap! Just stop in at the open house April 28th noon to 5PM at the Big Lake Library and see what we’ve already planned and get your personal design kit. “The Hangout” will be in the old Hangar motel. You’ve got a 15,000sq ft space to build the teen center of your dreams!
expect that their dog will be perfectly behaved, housetrained, and show an even temperament, despite the trauma, many changes, and fears that the dog has experienced. Just like human children, dogs need training, guidance, and love. You will need certain supplies to welcome your new dog into your home. Collar, leash, dog bed, crate, food and water bowls, treats, etc. Before you bring your new dog home, make sure your house is dog-proofed, particularly if you are adopting a puppy. Research a positive based dog trainer who will be helpful to you for addressing any training needs or challenging behaviors. Most importantly love and enjoy your new family member. Be patient and don’t expect perfection – your dog won’t expect it from you. You are in for the most rewarding experience of your life!
So far, we’ve planned a Fun Zone and a Venture Zone. Your Fun zone will have flat screen tv’s, pool tables, lots of video games, sofas and even a performance stage. There will be contests, competitions, tournaments and even team games. Your Venture zone will contain computers, 3D printers, tutoring services, and everything else required to make your academic/potential business dreams a success. Parents: What sort of things would you like to see in the teen center? Bring your ideas/thoughts to the open house April 28th!
COMMUNITY
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
Contributed by Doris Thomas Friends of Nike Site Summit invites the public to an open house on Wednesday, April 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Atwood Building, 550 West 7th Ave., Anchorage. The evening will include information about the restoration of Site Summit, the former Nike Hercules missile battery atop Mount Gordon Lyon in Arctic Valley. The event includes information about tours and volunteer opportunities plus a slide show about restoration efforts. Tom Namtvedt of Wasilla was a sentry dog handler at Site Summit and Site Point in 1967-68. Seen here with a portrait of himself and one of the dogs, he now helps lead tours at Site Summit. (Photo by Mike Morganson)
A safety brief, mandatory for all volunteers, will begin promptly at 6:15 p.m. Volunteers who miss this briefing will need to attend training at Range Control on Fort Richardson, conducted at 10 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays and at the beginning on each site tour.
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After stabilizing three sentry buildings in 2009 and 2010, FONSS began stabilization work on two larger, more damaged buildings, the Missile Maintenance and Launch Control buildings. FONSS subsequently rebuilt the facility’s dog kennels, which had been scheduled for demolition. There is still much work to be done, and FONSS is raising funds for more extensive work, acquisition of a decommissioned missile and its permanent endowment fund. FONSS operates under the auspices of Preservation Alaska, a 501(c)(3). Call (907) 694-3570, email fonss2007@ gmail.com or visit us at www.nikesitesummit.net for more information about the open house and the organization. FONSS is on Facebook at Friends of Nike Site Summit, and on Twitter, @_FONSS.
Refreshments will be served.
A spent booster from a Nike missile fired from Site Summit in the early 1960s is embedded in the ground below the site. FONSS tour guide Ivan Hodes is seen here pointing it out to visitors. (Photo by Mike Morganson)
FONSS was formed by local volunteers in 2007 to advocate for the preservation of Nike Site Summit. In 2009, it partnered with the U.S. Army (now Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson), the National Park Service, and State Historic Preservation Officer to preserve the historic mountaintop fortress overlooking Arctic Valley. FONSS’ mission is to preserve and interpret the site for the education of current and future generations about the Cold War, and by doing this memorialize the millions of veterans who served during the Cold War.
A volunteer cleans up a storeroom at Site Summit. Volunteers, both skilled and unskilled are needed for all sorts of projects, from painting to carpentry and electrical work. (Photo by Greg Durocher)