Valentines Day with Wasilla Seniors
MORE ON PAGE 5 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
Local Freemasons Show Brotherly Love
MORE ON PAGE 4 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
Colony High Anastasia at Glenn Massay MORE ON PAGE 6 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE
Submitted by Michelle Overstreet, MyHouse Director At the press conference broadcast on February 11, 2022 for Governor Dunleavy’s Omnibus bill on Sex Trafficking we heard Blaze Bell, a survivor of a terrible sex crime, praising the proposed Omnibus legislation that would offer additional penalties for sex crimes like rape and child porn. Staci Yates, MyHouse human trafficking program coordinator,
NEW LAWS COMBAT TRAFFICKING Submitted by Michelle Overstreet, MyHouse Director At the press conference broadcast on February 11, 2022 for Governor Dunleavy’s Omnibus bill on Sex Trafficking we heard Blaze Bell, a survivor of a terrible sex crime, praising the proposed Omnibus legislation that would offer additional penalties for sex crimes like rape and child porn. Staci Yates, MyHouse human trafficking program coordinator, spoke as a survivor of sex trafficking and advocate for those still trapped in the sex trade. She closed her comments by saying “if you are involved in trafficking right now, don’t give up hope, we are coming for you.” There was relief, satisfaction and hope among the survivors and service providers in the room.
And then, the gist of the first in-person question asked by a reporter was, ‘Governor, what is your response to the movement in Anchorage to legalize prostitution?’ It was a gut punch and a solid indicator of the power wielded by those who abuse through sex in manipulating our media and lawmakers. The reporter stated that he was doing a story with a group of women advocating for legalizing prostitution in Anchorage. He didn’t ask any questions about the proposed Omnibus protections and penalties for perpetrators, trafficking or sex crimes. His story aired after the Superbowl on Sunday and focused on the legalization of prostitution, with barely a mention of the Governors proposed protections. The reporter implied that the data on trafficked persons in Alaska is incomplete and law enforcement does not have the numbers to justify the legislation. The reason the law enforcement numbers are not there is
spoke as a survivor of sex trafficking and advocate for those still trapped in the sex trade. She closed her comments by saying “if you are involved in trafficking right now, don’t give up hope, we are coming for you.” There was relief, satisfaction and hope among the survivors and service providers in the room. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
because the laws are weak and arrests are not always possible; prosecution is even more challenging. The reporter mentioned Covenant House and even interviewed a staff member there but neglected to cite the Loyola University study that reported that Covenant House Alaska has the highest rates of trafficking for any Covenant House location in the Nation. The fact is that Alaska Law is like swiss cheese when it comes to prosecuting traffickers. We need new laws. For example, a 17-year-old client who escaped being trafficked at a local hotel had information about customers and her pimp that would have offered an opportunity to prosecute those involved. However, because she was under the influence of drugs her testimony was considered compromised and no charges were filed. The get-out-of-jail card that all traffickers play is to get their victims high and addicted as soon as possible, because it prevents prosecution. There
The Bright Lights Book Project
MORE ON PAGE 9 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE have been reports among families and homeless providers of girls being taken to Juneau to entertain lawmakers. One young woman known to be involved died in State custody. The State of Alaska has identified and charged lobbyists in past years who were providing underage girls as “entertainment” for State law makers and influential businessmen, so this is not unheard of or new. Please be aware and suspicious of the repeated attempts to discredit legislation that will protect our youth and young adults from being trafficked. Now more than ever we need to be aware and resist the narrative that ignores the heinous crimes against children and legalizes the sex trade further for the sake of money. Join Blaze Bell and the voices from MY House in saying “if you are being trafficked or abused, hold hope, we are coming for you”. As a community and a State, lets stand for the safety of our people.
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Contributed by Marilyn Bennett If you are feeling the effects of cabin fever during these Frosty Days of winter think about Toastmasters. At home, on Zoom, or in person we can meet and tell stories about our frost covered yards. Whether you wish to become a public speaker. Want to give lectures. Are too shy to speak to almost anyone. Wish to feel comfortable with impromptu speaking. Or just would like to find a fun group to work with on any of the above - Palmer Toastmasters is definitely the place for you. Everyone who joins our group gets the opportunity speak at least once during the meeting. However, we do not ask anyone to give a speech that will be evaluated until they are very comfortable with the process. Come visit us this next month for fun as we will be having a special Zoom Murder Mystery Meeting. For more information you may call
Contributed by Lauralynn Robison “The act of giving is the heart of happiness and community.” - Glenn C. Stewart Community is at the heart and soul of our mission at MatSu Food Bank. However, none of it would be possible without the dedicated and generous support of countless local citizens and businesses. This month we’re excited to be hosting our annual HEARTS4HUNGER fundraising event. Once again, our amazing community has come together to make this event possible by offering fabulous donations for our live & silent auc-
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.
tions, sponsorships, and most of all offering their time and talents volunteering to make this event a success so we can continue serving our local communities. We are especially grateful to ALL ABOUT HERBS and DENALI REFUSE for their generous sponsorship support. Not only is this event an important fundraiser which supports our work, it’s also a great opportunity for our wonderful supporters to come together for a fun night in celebration of community. Our entire staff and board of directors thank everyone who is helping make this event a success and we
For the Zoom link, visit the meeting directions tab at our club website: 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.
look forward to seeing you there! In other news, we’re very excited to announce the launch of our new website at matsufoodbank.org. This was a huge task, and we want to express our sincerest appreciation to Bryce Burkhart of Make-A-Scene/The People’s Paper, for his time and most definitely his talent. Now it’s easier than ever to visit our website and learn about our mission, programs, events, news and most importantly you can fill out a volunteer application and/or make a donation to support our work. We are very grateful to Bryce for making this possible! We also invite you to visit and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MatSuFoodBank. Remember - no one should go hungry! 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.
the Split the Pot for your chance to win a multitude of amazing, donated gifts and cash! Opening ceremonies begin at 12:00, noon. Bring your skis and zip along as a race participant or just enjoy our groomed trail in the park! We hope you and your friends and family can attend the Cabin Fever Reliever event, located at E. TC Park Circle (MP 115.2 G. Parks Hwy.)! Proceeds will benefit the maintenance and operation of the Trapper Creek Park and Cemetary. Contributed by Debbie Filter Join us for a family fun day at the Trapper Creek Community Park on March 12, 2022! This fundraising
event will delight all ages as they enjoy contests with prizes, games, hot food, deserts, hay scramble, t-shirts, and craft vendors. A raffle will be ongoing during the event, along with
Sponsored by Trapper Creek Community Services, Assoc., Inc. For more information, contact the park at 733-7375 or email at tccommunityservices@yahoo.com
COMMUNITY
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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veritable smorgasbord of food trucks with a plethora of tasty eats available all weekend. Are you hoping for your chance to be a big winner and take home a big prize? Several nonprofits will be raffling exciting items like an Argo, guns, ATVs, guided hunts, and much more! Of course, you can’t win if you don’t play. Even if you don’t take home the grand prize, by participating in these raffles, you are still a winner, because you are contributing to these worthwhile causes that benefit our community.
Contributed by Matt Rowley Alaska’s diverse seasons come and go, each one of them offering countless opportunities to get outside and enjoy the things this tremendous state has to offer. As we emerge from winter hibernation, the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show is coming to Wasilla – a rite of spring in southcentral Alaska, your first opportunity each year to hook up with the gear, clothing, toys, ideas, and information to help you get the most out of your outdoor Alaska experience. It’s also a great chance to fill up your summer dance card with charters, adventure trips, and other
outdoor activities that make you happy. This three-day event at the Menard Center offers something for everyone. Vendors will be there offering all manner of goods from RVs, boats, and other big boy toys, to knives, dog treats, sporting goods, wood carvings, survival gear, and other specialty items. If you’re looking for knowledge, there will be classes on where and how to catch halibut, self-defense training, career opportunities, outdoor survival, and dog training. Plus, you can learn about land and fisheries conservation, fire mitigation, and off-grid living. Don’t forget about the food! There is no excuse to go home hungry, as there will be a
And speaking of community, you may have noticed that many of the Outdoorsman Show vendors are local small businesses, the lifeblood of our state. These are your friends and neighbors. When you buy from a small business, you’re not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy his team jersey, a mom put food on the table, a dad pay a mortgage or a student pay for college. Small businesses are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods, the spine of our local economy, and the spirit of our community. These are the vendors you’ll find at the show. The Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show will be held the 25th, 26th, and 27th of March. Adult admission is $7, kids under 8 are free, parking is free, and the show is always free for military. Get the details at MatSuOutdoorsmanShow.com. We can’t wait to see you there!
Contributed by Danielle Sherrer The 20th Annual Special Olympics Spaghetti Dinner & Auction, to benefit the Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community program, is March 26th at American Legion Post 35 in Wasilla! General admission is $10 per person. This admission is for dinner and a seat at our exciting $1 Main Auction. Dinner includes spaghetti, salad, roll, dessert & beverage. Dinner is 5pm-7pm and main auction 7pm-9pm. Dinner will only be served from 5pm-7pm! Silent auction and dessert auctions are open all evening! This event has been held the last 20 years by our friends at American Legion Post 35! All proceeds raised at this event will help Special Olympics Mat-Su Community program continue to provide sports training, equipment, social events and competitions to our 200+ athletes. All money raised stays in Mat-Su! Things are slightly different this year as we have a limit on capacity. Tickets must be purchased in advance. To purchase tickets go to myalaskatix. com. Our exciting and unique $1 auction will begin at 7pm! REMEMBER
TO BRING YOUR $1 BILLS! American Legion post 35 does have an ATM available. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN
ADVANCE DUE TO LIMITED CAPCITY. Tickets are non-refundable, unless event is cancelled due to raise in Covid-19 case numbers.
COMMUNITY Iditarod Lodge No. 20 Gives Charity to Several Youth Programs, and Houston Senior Center.
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
with the holidays,” said Charlie S., a brother at Iditarod Lodge.
Iditarod Lodge No. 20, Wasilla, is one of many local lodges of Freemasons that meet throughout the State of Alaska.
Iditarod Lodge No. 20 is proud to donate to local charities, as has been a cornerstone of Freemasonry throughout our long history.
Many non-Masons wonder what Masonry is all about, and there are as many answers as there are Masons, but charity and brotherly love is at the heart of every Freemason.
Those interested in Freemasonry should feel free to reach out to the Grand Lodge of Alaska to be directed to the nearest local lodge. 907-561-1477, or email: grandlodgeAK@outlook.com
“We have donated $2,500 to Wasilla Warrior Wrestling, $500 direct to a youth in need for the holidays, $500 to MSBSD Project SEARCH for youth, and $1000 to Houston Senior Center to help Seniors
www.grandlodgeofalaska.org Iditarod Lodge No. 20 is glad to give to the communities that we live in and love.
being stuck working in a building. In the mid-90s, I had the opportunity to be sponsored by the U.S. Navy to climb Mt. Everest. Unfortunately, it fell through. It was definitely not from the Navy’s efforts and strong support! The individual I met through Outside magazine who was putting the climbing expedition together, failed to provide the timely information required to go forth with this endeavor. Unfortunately, this once in a lifetime event was reluctantly crossed off my bucket list. Absolutely, you could say I was an adrenalin junkie, but I was never reckless. Everything I participated in was a thoroughly researched calculated risk with the odds heavily in my favor.
Contributed by Kim Butler Uttering the words, “I have never tried something”, has never been part of my vernacular. As an African American child growing up in a strict Roman Catholic military family whose parents were raised in the heart of Baltimore City, there was never any notion of not trying. Yes, my parents were poor growing up (and so was everyone else), had limited education and a shaky financial foundation; however, the concept of not trying or doing your best simply was not an option. My father, who was number eight of eight children was born and raised without a father. His father was killed in a work-related accident at a shipyard prior to his birth. Family legend has it, my dad started shining shoes on the tough inner-city streets of Baltimore to help support his family at a tender age of five. Although he did not complete high school in the traditional sense, dad received his GED and participated in the sport of boxing. He also became a strong swimmer through summer programs offered in the city parks during the 1930s and 1940s. My dad joined the U.S. Army at seventeen, was a Korean War veteran and served honorably for twenty-one years. One of his brothers served in the U. S. Marine Corps and one was a Merchant Marine. My mother was the first of six children and attended Catholic schools. Several of her brothers also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. With this strong military lineage, not trying was never an option for me. As a military dependent child, living all over the world, I participated in all the traditional organized and neighborhood sports programs that were offered: baseball, football, soccer,
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basketball, wrestling, swimming, tennis, table tennis, running, skiing, and ice skating (but I never learned how to skate backward). I often say, I was the raisin in the proverbial bowl of rice. I didn’t care and neither did my friends. Sure, I experienced kids, parents and employers that didn’t like/support me because of the color of my skin. But to be completely honest, prejudice is prevalent in all ethnic groups even my own. Anyone who says different is not being completely honest or hasn’t been anywhere. Nevertheless, I would describe my sports career as a “Jack of all trades, master of none.” As I matured, my more adventurous side led me to partake in anything requiring a test of my abilities. I learned to fly and earned various licenses and ratings and developed a taste of flying aerobatics. Why? Airplanes were fascinating, and it was my dream despite not having an aviation role model. I believed in the American dream of working hard and not settling for anything less. Did I meet the “standards” all the time? Absolutely not! For me, hard work was analogous to repeatedly practicing a wrestling take down or studying to pass an academic test. It equates to how bad do you want something and how much effort are you willing to give. I also participated in triathlons, learned to shoot, high altitude climbing (above 18,000 ft. in South America), diving, skydiving, fishing, hunting, snowmaching, studying eight languages, and traveling. You see, I refuse to allow anyone define what I am capable of and what sports I can participate in. At one time, I distinctly remember in the early 70s my grandmother asking me what I wanted to do after graduating from high school. I responded that I wanted to fly airplanes. She said that was nice but there are good government janitor jobs available. Although, a janitor is an honorable profession, my plans did not include
Moving to Alaska in 2002 with the military, opened my eyes to a completely new set of adventures. With friends and colleagues, I continued to explore many of the activities this great State has to offer. In 2004, my family and I watched the start of the Iditarod and thought “Wow, these mushers and their dogs are amazing!” In 2008, we moved to Knik, Alaska and observed my neighborly dog mushers arduously training their teams in all types of weather, both day and night. As the years passed, I began to meet many of the veteran Iditarod mushers: Larry Harris, Charley Bejna, Anna and Kristy Berington, the Redingtons, and Lev Shvarts. I also met a spry middle age corporate executive who voluntarily came to Alaska for 2 years and still counting to learn the sport. Unlike other sports, mushing is a yearround demanding lifestyle, with high expenses, few sponsorships, and many routine unglamorous duties. This past year’s Iditarod, Mushers experienced temperatures as low as -50 F along the unpredictable trail. Some mushers reported expenditures in excess of $40k a year to train and participate in the Iditarod and all the qualifying races. This is not a sport for the faint of heart or paltry wallets. There is no typical body type, age, or sex of a musher. However, the common denominator is they all have an uncanny devotion to their dogs and are some of the toughest folks I have ever known. Their dogs are unequivocally world class athletes, uniquely bred to run and ready to give their best to the trail and musher. Just as a Labrador Retriever is meant to retrieve, these athletes are meant to run and are the happiest in this element. No sleep, moose encounters, dog fights, crossing water you hope is frozen, severe wind, blinding snowstorms, extreme temperatures, getting lost, hand injuries galore, the constant aloneness, and losing and finding your team are all
part of the challenges these brave men and women face constantly. One Friday evening in February, while seated at the Tug Bar in Knik, Alaska, next to the owner Tim, we were discussing the Goose Bay 150, a race that was starting the following morning from the bar. Tim was enthusiastically describing the beauty of the trail and that the mushers would be using Talvista Lodge as the turnaround point. Tim went on to mention he would be supporting the mushers with his snowmachine. After a few more probing questions, Tim invited my son and me to bring our snowmachines and help support him on the 150-mile roundtrip ride to the lodge. I hurried home and told my 14-year-old son what I had volunteered us for. We began preparations for the trip that night. The next morning, after meeting at the Tug Bar, five snowmachines and a snow coach all made the seven-hour transit. A veterinarian, a vet tech, race official, Glenn from the tug bar, Tim, my son on his own snowmachine and I arrived in Talvista around 6:45 pm cold, hungry, but safe. The next morning, several of us departed Talvista lodge ahead of the mushers at 4:45 am for the return journey. It was a dark and cold crisp morning with a windchill temperature of -30 F. As we stopped along the trail to aid an incoming musher, the complete lack of light except for our snowmachines marking the trail, the glow from the stars in the sky, the absence of noise as the dog teams trotted by with a steady gait in tuned with the elements were indescribable. As the last remnants of the Northern Lights faded from the horizon and the majestic early rays of dawn starting to reveal the sun to the east, a sense of peace overcame us all. It was the moment I said to myself “I get it”. Then, I observed one of the mushers, taking his gloves off at -30 F to put on 56 dog booties without complaint. The musher explained that gloves do not provide the manual dexterity to ensure the booties are on properly. I realized these are unequivocally some of the toughest folks I know. In my humble opinion, as a 30-year military veteran and a former international security contractor who actively participated in a lot of the “interesting stuff”, dog mushers are a breed of their own. For me, the expense, dedication, long training runs both day and night, brutal cold, understanding/handling up to 14 different dog personalities, and the unending chores aligned with this sport, I can finally say without hesitation mushing will always be the hardest sport I have never tried. Written by Kim Butler Edited by friends
COMMUNITY Contributed by Marlene Munsell Valentine Day’s was fun at WASI, seniors dressed up in red and were showered with Valentine cards, candy and homemade cookies. We had several groups that decided to share this special day with seniors both at the senior center and with those that are homebound. Coralee Wade decided to share the love with seniors as a tribute to her GG (great grandma), she was very close to her and misses her. Coralee is 8 years old, and she recruited her friends at Frontera school to help her make 200 Valentine cards. Everyone enjoyed visiting with Coralee and her mom, Leticia. Coralee is Miss Alaska Sr. Elementary and she will be competing in the EJHC,
in June and will be representing Alaska at the national competition. Marlene Munsell, Assistant Executive Director said: the place was filled with so many smiling faces, seniors enjoyed receiving treats but best of all enjoyed being able to visit with everyone. Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. serves lunch M-F 11:30 to 12:30 and continues to provide activities for seniors, the next activity is: Paint Your Heart Out! Saturday, February 19th from 10 a.m. to 1, five volunteer artists will be teaching the classes. If you know someone who would love to participate you can register on the WASI website, wasillaseniors.com or contact marlenem@alaskaseniors.com, there is a cost of $25.
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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POLITICS & OPINION
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– not permit to make motions and only vote in case of a tie.
Contributed by Mat-Su Mayor Edna DeVries Recently I was interviewed by a Third grader from one of our local elementary school. As I prepared I realized that many of you may have the same questions. What does the Mat-Su Mayor do – the Mayor is the chairperson for the borough assembly meetings, has veto power over any assembly action (except for school budget), appoints members of the public to serve on borough boards and commissions, meets with other elected officials (recently meet with US Senator Lisa Murkowski) regarding infrastructure monies coming from the Federal government to assist with such projects as our Port at Port MacKenzie, roads in our borough, and Knik Arm Crossing, and meets with citizens concerning their concerns in their neighborhoods. I am elected – I was elected on November 2, 2021(but didn’t take office until November 22, 2021), my term is for 3 years, Mayor and assembly can serve for two consecutive terms. I can be
Contributed by Wes Keller Do you identify as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? Whichever label you accept for voting is a respectful “courtesy” statement to others! Any label you wear, political or not, provides valuable, low-level information about who you are and what you prioritize. Some wear their labels loudly, some resist being identified with any group, including gender, race, religious preference, and political groups. When the goal is searching for and applying governing truth in a free republic, it is rude and harmful to insist on the right to privacy and cling to an “undeclared” label. Being forthright about identifying with a political party saves a lot of time and moves past the tedious group task of repeatedly “inspecting our naval”. Political parties work at producing value platforms to allow people to sort them-
Contributed by Joe Geldhof and Juanita Cassellius For a long time, significant issues about our Permanent Fund have been bungled and avoided. How long? Too long, since 2016, when then Governor Walker decided to ignore the longstanding formula to pay the dividend embedded in Alaska law. The failure to pay the dividend according to statute has created political chaos. Every legislative session since Walker vetoed the dividend payment has seen political fighting over the size of the dividend. Without a fix to the dividend fight, Alaska cannot adopt a sensible fiscal plan. The time to act on the dividend formula is now. Pointing to higher oil prices or using the upcoming election as an excuse to continue avoiding decisions is unacceptable. The financial well-being of Alaska is deteriorating because of the inaction by our elected officials. Action is needed now, not down the trail. The best way to solve the annual dividend brawl is to put a workable dividend formula before the voters as part of a constitutional amendment. In order to fix Alaska’s fiscal uncertainty, the first step is to address the dividend and then work on government needs and revenue measures. Alaska’s citizens
removed by dying, resigning or recall by the citizens of the borough. I can come back if removed by being re-elected. What powers do I have? I sign all official documents, I can veto assembly action and then they have opportunity to override my veto, I chair the assembly meetings, I recommend citizens appointments to borough boards and commission subject to the assembly approval – we have 53 of them ranging from road service areas, to animal control, senior health, borough planning, platting (approval subdivisions), and fire service areas. I meet with other government officials showcasing the boroughs projects and achievements. I speak to groups regarding the great opportunities that we have in the Mat-Su Bogough. What can I do and can’t do? - I need to be a good model for all citizens, must be honest, ethical, and a good listener. I must obey all borough code, state laws and federal laws. I can veto assembly action. I work with the borough administration for the betterment of all of our citizens.
selves, so every premise does not have to be established anew for every group action. Every group communication must include some revealing common presumptions to allow time to be spent accommodating freedom of speech. The clearness of a party label definition is critically important for obvious reasons. Resistance to political stereotyping is understandable because of the fear of inevitable envy, discrimination, racism, pride, prejudice, and other painful human shortcomings; however, the hiding of our world view is a harmful over-reaction. No label is comprehensive. I am comfortable labeling myself as “Republican”, but I quickly qualify my position explaining I am also a “constitutional conservative” to make sure I am not being included with the “Republicans” who think our US Constitution is obso-
and their dividend must be addressed first, not government spending, taxes, or any other issue related to solving the fiscal situation of our state. The Permanent Fund is the greatest thing we have done for Alaskans since statehood. The Fund takes a portion of our current non-renewable revenue from oil and holds those funds in trust for the future. Instead of allowing the current generation to spend all the funds on themselves, we wisely saved for the future. Providing a fair dividend to every Alaskan prevents a raid on the fund in multiple ways. Without a dividend, individual Alaskans are without a stake in their savings account and the Fund will quickly become less than permanent. As Gov. Jay Hammond once warned: “As go the dividends, so goes the Permanent Fund.” Without dividend protection we risk losing the Fund in the future. The annual failure of our elected officials to adopt a fair and sustainable dividend formula is corroding Alaska’s political discussion. Instead of acting decisively on the dividend, too many politicians have avoided difficult choices. Since 2013, the Legislature has gutted Alaskans’ savings accounts spending over $20 billion to fund government.
How long can one person do the job? I don’t think that one person can do the job of mayor. I have lots of people that help me, I have an executive assistant, all borough staff is available to assist me, and I have lots of people in the borough that help me in making good decisions. I appreciate the ideas that the public brings to me to assist in making the Mat-Su Borough a great place to live, work and play. Why did I want to become Mayor? I really like people and enjoy helping them and lots of times, the government seems to be against their citizens rather than assisting them. I believe that elected officials are servants of the people and that our government is by the people not by elected or appointed people. Requirements for job – you must a voter and resident of the borough; you must registered to run for the office and then get the most votes at election time, and you must be a resident of the borough for one year immediately prior to the election. Limitations – no vote on the assembly
lete! I also feel compelled to add that while I see my party label as compatible with my total identity, it is subservient to my real identity and values tied to belief in Jesus Christ. Partisanship is not a religion even though it may look like it sometimes, but nobody is expected to embrace partisanship at the cost of violation of his or her conscience! Elected legislators and governors are expected to wear partisan labels for good reason: to provide information to the voters they are proposing to represent. Like all States, Alaska is just now finalizing a redistricting plan (akredistrict.org) to adjust the “weight” of every Alaskan’s vote to reflect the 2020 census results. In your voting district all three recognized parties should be busy re-organizing according to their respective rules and traditions. The process includes identifying party officers, candidates, and issue advocates and platform planks starting with the grassroots precinct level, to be finalized as the official reorganized State Parties.
Now, with oil prices elevated and federal funding flowing into the state’s treasury, far too many politicians are seemingly content to avoid dealing with the citizen’s dividend or putting our fiscal house in order. We need to act now. But we need to act responsibly. Current proposals to use the Percentage of Market Value (POMV) formula to fund government and a dividend have potential to erode the value of the Permanent Fund. The current dividend proposal based on a 5% POMV payout is set too high. With inflation running at over 5%, the 5% POMV (with 50% to government and 50% to dividends) presents an unacceptable risk to the fund’s growth. Other threats to the Alaskans Permanent Fund loom. There is increasing evidence select individuals and special interests are salivating at the prospect of investing the Permanent Fund in pet projects that are not competitive based on normal prudent investment criteria. We are dangerously close to politicizing the investment criteria for the Permanent Fund. If we allow this to happen, the best idea we Alaskans adopted in our statehood history – the Permanent Fund - will be destroyed. Alaska’s elected officials have repeat-
Did I become mayor for my family? No, but my family that resides in the valley will enjoy the benefits of good, honest, trustworthy government. Did my mom ask me to become mayor? When I was growing up, my parents encouraged me to become whatever I wanted to be – set my sights and goals of things that would take a lot of training, wisdom, and hard work to accomplish. I don’t remember us talking specify about the mayor position but public office yes – many discussions. Is my family proud of me – I would say ‘yes’ but they also realize that I am human and could easily make mistakes and not everyone will agree with all of my decisions. If you have further questions, please reach out to me. 907-861-8682 Upcoming agenda items for the Assembly – Tuesday, Feb. 15, an ordinance appointing a Task Force to review and make recommendations to the Assembly regarding road service area services in Big Lake Road Service Area 21 and potentially other areas.
It is your call whether you are going to involve yourself in what too many now view as a waste of time. Many of you are engaged at some level, but judging by recent embarrassing low voter turnout, most are not. Disdain for politics has done incalculable damage to the proper functioning of our republic. Alaska has become particularly vulnerable because we have a legislative branch of government constitutionally weighted to be weaker than normal. The legislature is supposed to be the most responsive branch to the access and will of the sovereigns (We the People), so our government, in effect, has far less voter influence to make and enforcement of good laws than we should. I won’t insult you with details to inform you about how to get involved; but I will “prod” you by declaring we have exactly the Juneau representation we deserve. Especially if you are one who chose to hide your political identity! Wes Keller WesKeller.com
edly demonstrated an inability to spend money responsibly. Saving money has also been a problem. Many of these elected officials overpromise and underperform when it comes to dealing with Alaska’s finances. The legislature has spent too much and saved too little of our mineral wealth. That’s why we call on Alaskans to demand that dividend legislation is passed in this 2022 session. The citizens need a constitutional formula and one that works for all Alaskans, not just government. The formula needs to protect the fund from inflation. And, the formula needs to grow the Permanent Fund, not just government. The formula should provide every Alaskan with a guaranteed dividend derived from their Permanent Fund. We must avoid converting the Permanent Fund into a development slush fund to back dubious projects advocated by special interests. The only way our elected officials will protect the Permanent Fund and your dividend is if voters demand constitutional protection of Alaskans’ commonly-owned resource wealth. Joe Geldhof is a lawyer in Juneau and a board member of the Permanent Fund Defenders. Juanita Cassellius is a nurse in Eagle River and coordinator for Permanent Fund Defenders. (www. pfdak.com)
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
Liberty, Liberally Volume II - Issue II
February 2022
Alaska
by Joshua Fryfogle
Liberty, Liberally, is at the center of The People’s Paper, literally and philosophically. Liberal Arts are synonymous with philosophical thought. This publication (Liberty, Liberally) is actually mine, whereas The People’s Paper (and MAS Magazine) are made public by members of the public each month. I’m not the publisher of those papers - I’m a steward instead. My team works hard to facilitate freedom for the People in our community. My sense of duty to those publications (The People’s Paper and Make A Scene) is expressed earnestly, here in the pages of Liberty, Liberally, which is found here in the center of the pages of The People’s Paper. My heart is opened up, here in your hands, to help you understand why I would devote my life to lifting your voice. Liberty isn’t something that can be represented. It can’t be assigned to a proxy. The People’s Paper doesn’t publish anything, the People do. They make the decision to send it in, to make it public, and we agree to print their sincere expressions of conscience. But Liberty, Liberally, allows me to remind our readers why The People’s Paper exists. The supporting philosophical orientation that is required for The People’s Paper to remain true to its mission is broad. It is the Liberal Tradition, it is the founding philosophy of the West, that each individual is, by nature, free already, and that they need only realize their freedom. This happens in the mind before it happens in the social milieu. I’v been writing my whole life. Songs, poems, all manner of writings, really. My interest in the liberal arts is lifelong.
All the world’s a stage
At the center of my working life, in everything I’ve chosen to do with my professional life, is this aspiration to amplify the voices of the community, and to vivify their communication. It is this idea, that a Free Society can be peaceful and prosperous if individual rights are respected, that steers my ambitions.
And we have stages too Acting out our ages Working our way through Poets write our lines
My decision to start publishing my writings was arrived at after nearly 15 years. I could have published my writings all along, alongside the other community members who make use of our public service. (I’ve written much more than I’ll ever publish.) My worry was that as the attendant of The People’s Paper, and thus the People, my own use of the pages of The People’s Paper would send the wrong message. For this reason, I’ve only occasionally published my own writings in Make A Scene or The People’s Paper.
And we just play our parts
It’s conundrum, really. Liberty, Liberally, solves that problem.
Until our part is done
Though I would have been within my rights, and within my purview to publish my own essays in The People’s Paper, I would have risked reinforcing idea that you, the reader, are only that. But you, dear reader, have all the rights that I have. You, the individual, have just as much right to freedom of the press that anyone else has, regardless of academic credentials. Freedom of press is for everyone.
Waiting for our time Our cue for when to start Nothing new is made No new song be sung We only make believe
This poem was inspired by the oft-quoted Shakespearean monologue in ‘As You Like It’, Act II Scene VII
I’ve tried to explain this ethos to as many as would listen these last 15 years. But I’ve also tried to avoid the pitfall that other media companies have always fallen into. By not publishing my writing in every issue, and sparingly when I do, The People’s Paper could not be confused as The Josh’s Paper. Sometimes, it’s what you don’t say that says the most.
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Liberty, Liberally
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From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
Volume II - Issue II
Liberty, Liberally
2
Fifteen days to slow the spread You can’t believe a word they said Looking back, in your head You can’t believe the words you’ve read
Written August 29, 2021 There is that famous quote, attributed to Churchill, “History is written by the victors.” There is some debate as to the origin of the phrase, or at least its sentiment, that sentiment being: those who win the battles write the books. In fact, there are many written records that predate Churchill - and that perhaps he’d read - that point to this idea. It was not a new thought, but of those who have expressed that thought in various languages, Churchill was definitely the dominant historical character, and that being the case, it is usually attributed to him. You might say that Churchill was the victor, rewriting the history of that very statement, simply by his saying it. Still, those inclined to do so can dig up old books, and find that same sentiment, reiterated again and again. So this shows the modern thinker that the victor can not only write the history, but re-write history, over and over. This is not because we cannot research and reassign the credit for that statement to a series of thinkers throughout time, but because we do not do so. Our apathy accepts that those we revere are surely worthy of reverence. Our ego, combined with apathy, creates the potential that we will misunderstand history, all while written books with more accurate accounts collect dust on countless shelves. Then came the internet... In the modern world, where most information is only stored in the digital format, our human apathy is no longer the only threat to our understanding of history. Now, those who would mislead the people, in the pursuit of profit and power, can simply delete those records that are inconvenient to their interests. Before, the propagandist could only bend the truth to a certain point, banking on the willful ignorance of the populace to prevent their researching and reading otherwise. Now, the propagandists are able to bend reality into a completely new shape, because conflicting accounts can be hidden from view, and those who would remind the world of those forgotten facts can simply be removed from the high-traffic internet platforms.
Yet we’ve been all too eager to turn over this sacred, civic engagement to exactly those who lack the moral mandate that truth be told. The People are apathetic, and that is part of the problem. Thus the other oft-quoted phrase, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Truth be told, that aphorism was probably originally, “"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana was perhaps the one who deserves credit, but unlike Churchill, Santayana is detached from his famous aphorism. We’ve forgotten him, though his perspective is repeated, time and time again. Modern victors are powerful like Churchill, but lack the individuality required for a moral dilemma to arise. Never will the corporate “person” struggle with the right thing to do, as Churchill certainly struggled, because the profitable thing to do is all a corporation has the right to do. An editable history, as has arisen from the internet age, compounds the effect of our apathy. When society drifts back towards the power and control model of Monarchs and Totalitarian tyrants, that is when society tends to review history with more interest. When things revert, and absurd propaganda becomes difficult to ignore, that’s when humanity tends to look back to our history, and to reassess our future. But how can we, if history is an online database? How can we trust that what we see online is accurate? Without written records, our records are rewritten, and rewritten again. The victor will always be the corporation that has control over that record, because history is written, and re-written, by the victors. —— There is no record of Churchill speaking or writing the phrase, “History is written by the victors.”
We’ve gotten a surprising number of donations from community members at The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine over the years, and recently it’s increased with the publication of Liberty, Liberally. We’ve also received many requests for subscription services, requests to mail Liberty, Liberally, and our other publications to people near and far... So we thought, why not make it easier to donate, and get something in return, too?
Fifteen days to slow the spread All you get is blue and red
Fifteen days to slow the spread You can’t believe a word that’s said Looking back at things instead If it’s all just in your head?
by Joshua Fryfogle
Ballot Stuffing Ballot stuffing is a phrase that we’ve come to use, colloquially, to represent a simple, common form of election fraud. It’s been depicted in pop culture, and described in history. It’s important that we take pause and consider that “ballot stuffing” is likely the most common type of election fraud - but why? Why would those who seek to skew election outcomes resort to stuffing ballots into the ballot box? Why not simply lie about how many ballots were cast? Why go to the trouble to create fraudulent ballots? It’s simple, really. If anyone raises concern about the outcome, if the outcome is within a certain margin of error, then the first thing that will happen is a recount of the ballots. Recounting ballots is quite common, in fact, because it is common for elections to be close - because the two-party system has overwhelmed the process. As a result of two-party dominance over our elections, close races are commonly decided by the simple recount. A recount, then, is not a tool to determine election fraud, except in those cases where the fraudsters are foolish and unfamiliar with finer points of election integrity. No, a recount is simply a tool to count the ballots one more time. This is because human error exists, not because of suspicion of fraud.
In Arizona, in one county (Maricopa), they’ve (almost) completed a forensic audit of that county’s 2020 election. I say ‘almost’ because election officials have resisted turning over subpoenaed materials, and continue even now to refuse. Still, a few months ago the auditors of the election released a considerable report for public review. It is many pages long. When they did a presentation before the AZ Senate regarding their findings, it took many hours.
Churchill actually did say, in a speech before the House of Commons on Jan. 23, 1948:
“For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history myself.”
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Liberty, Liberally
Fifteen days to slow the spread You can’t believe a word you’ve said You have to keep your family fed But all you get is blue and red
Now that we’ve clarified what a recount is, what it does, and why, on to the subject at hand.
The victor, in the internet-age, is not a warlord or tyrant, but a corporate “person” who doesn’t care at all about truth. That corporate entity exists for the express purpose of profit. It isn’t burdened by conscience, because it has none of its own. It’s a legal person, but not a human being. It doesn’t worry with right and wrong, and has no morality of its own, except those malleable mores that change with board membership. So history, then, if controlled by corporate masters, will only record those things that are advantageous to those who control the communication of such information. Before, with books, the bending of reality was recorded when it was first written, thereby becoming a reference for future generations.
Lockdown What a strange thing to call it Hunker down Like it’s wartime you called it Shut down downtown Online or call in
At the beginning of that report, as a matter of course, they did some housekeeping. They explained that, while their forensic audit was always about the validity of the ballots themselves, and not about a simple recount of the ballots, they still performed a basic recount of the ballots prior to beginning their forensic investigation. This makes perfect sense, to simply make sure that they’ve received as many ballots as were publicly reported. Considering that the election officials of Maricopa County resisted and refused court orders - and continue even now it makes perfect sense that the auditors would would want to verify the count before moving forward with their forensic examination of their election. A recount was never the goal of the forensic auditors, who were investigating fraud. A recount is a common tool to correct human error - innocent human error that inevitably occurs from time to time. In fact, when a recount if performed because an election outcome was within a slim margin, it is more common to find minor discrepancies than to not. If it weren’t a close call, then we assume that these predictable and honest errors would not amount to enough to change the outcome. An audit as was performed in Maricopa was forensic in design. It’s important to understand what they mean by forensic. They were looking at the ballots themselves, one by one, looking for evidence that the ballot box was stuffed. Ballot stuffing being the common way
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Lock down What a weird way to say it Business down There’s no way to pay, it’s All ‘round, falls down We all better pray, it’s
that elections have been defrauded, and recounts being a means of determining honest human error and nothing else, the goal of the audit in Arizona was never to “recount” the ballots. The corporate media, however, immediately seized upon the fact that the forensic auditors did a ‘recount’ and the results were within the predictable margin of error that is found in most elections. The question is why? Why would corporate powers ignore the body of the report from the forensic audit, and misrepresent the initial recount as being the goal of the forensic audit? Why would all of the corporate press echo is false narrative? There is literally a report that is many pages long, that documents considerable evidence that more than enough votes were fraudulent than necessary to flip the presidential results for 2020. Not only were there enough fraudulent votes exposed by the forensic audit to overturn the outcome statewide, but this was only one county. The implications of this are of great public interest, yet the corporate media isn’t interested. Now, I didn’t vote for Trump, and never have. I have always voted third party for the Presidential race. My interest in the outcome of this forensic audit is not because I want Trump to be President. It’s because I am keenly aware of the ongoing efforts of corporate media to prevent third party candidates from being heard. As a third party voter, I can’t help but be suspicious of the elections in our nation. My suspicions are not paranoia, nor partisan, but based on my experience in supporting candidates that aren’t allowed a voice by the corporate media. I’ve seen how the corporate media works to control election outcomes. The point of this essay is not to prove election fraud. I am not even asserting that the election was stolen by writing this, but I am pointing to the lockstep lack of curiosity by the corporate media to look into this novel forensic audit. I suspect that, as has always been historically true, ballot stuffing is the most common form of election fraud. That being the case, I believe that ballot stuffing has occurred without being noticed over the years. I suspect it might systemic, this ballot stuffing scheme. That’s not paranoia, because there are literally laws in place, processes implemented in our elections, that are aimed at assuring public confidence in the outcome of elections in our nation. Of course there are. For four years, we heard the Clinton campaign, along with the entire establishment, assert that the 2016 election was stolen. Ad nauseam, they advertised the idea that Russia colluded with Trump to steal the election. After all that time, the exact opposite has been exposed. A Russian national was just recently indicted, and this most recent indictment tied that Russian national back to the Clinton campaign. This indictment was the most recent, but two previous indictments, of an FBI agent and a lawyer, also implicated the Clinton campaign. While the corporate media were willing to pursue the baseless claims of Russia/ Trump collusion for four years, they are not curious at all about these real indictments of Clinton cronies. Neither are they curious about the body of the forensic audit report, only the first few paragraphs. Neither are they appropriately concerned about Ghislaine Maxwell - another Clinton associate - accused of child trafficking to rich perverts.
“C’mon, man.” - Joe Biden
From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle
POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Holly Sheldon Lee As Alaskans anticipate the 2022 elections this November, we must insist that state government be held accountable for what has happened through our public institutions, including the Division of Elections and Alaska Judiciary. Widespread corruption has occurred in the face of untold wealth since construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and continues through today with the Permanent Fund Dividend grab and gridlock, according to Holly Sheldon Lee. Violation of state law and statutes regarding distribution of PFD earnings by elected officials in Juneau have caused distrust in government throughout the State. Abnormalities in the 2020 elections deepen the mistrust and must be addressed before the next election, declared Sheldon-Lee. “I was tricked by the attorneys I was paying into doing something which was not in my best interest. The large Alaska
Contributed by Katherine Baker It is the season when politicians maximize & habitually embellish their accomplishments while simultaneously, those same politicians, minimize & ignore their previous campaign promises. Quick to promise but not so fast at generating any action, they usually simply utter more of their words. If we don’t start holding politicians accountable AND responsible, they will continue to ‘play’ the people and the peoples’ votes. We have the power to do something about this. Don’t let the politicians convince you that you have no power unless you vote for them! Don’t let politicians steal your vote through clever word games. We’re
law firm and State of Alaska bond counsel Birch Horton Bittner and Cherot think they are untouchable in the Alaska legal system,” stated Sheldon-Lee. “I know many Alaskans who have horror stories about their experiences in the Alaska Court System—including inside dealings between attorneys—where everybody loses but those running the system.” In this blog post, Sheldon-Lee tells her story after seven years of seeking justice in the Alaska Court System. You may read her story here: https://alaskataskforce.online/ak-court-corruption Before the elections in 2020, the US Supreme Court ruled that States were not permitted to delete the witness signatures on election ballots. “In Alaska, judge Dani Crosby over-ruled the United States Supreme Court and deleted the witness signatures off our ballots. On November 4, 2020 after all 441 Alaska precincts reported their tal-
all tired of politicians trying to steal the peoples’ power. if the politicians aren’t representing the people, who are they representing? Don’t let the politicians scare or discourage you. Many politicians don’t want you to vote unless you are voting for them. We are not their mindless, remote-control robots. VOTE. All of us turning out to VOTE scares the worst of them-those entitled ones who consider the voice of the people, a mere nuisance, which they can ignore. Simultaneously, the voice of the people, emboldens those politicians working towards real solutions, using facts to develop solutions rather than emotional button pushing to distract from the issues. The voice of the people emboldens those working towards
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
ly, Rank Choice voting lost 105,161 to 81,048. Beginning six days after in-person voting ended, 158,074 witness-less ballots without any chain of custody were added to the final tally, every few days, through the end of the month. On November 30, 2021 the Division of Elections announced that Rank Choice won by less then 1%. Without a forensic audit of the ballots they cannot prove that the Initiative won. “If they get away with forcing us to vote by their tricky, foreign rank voting system, every Alaskan man, woman and child’s freedom will be lost forevermore, as you cannot hand count or audit rank choice voting,” said Sheldon-Lee. “We know the Ranked Choice voter initiative/proposition was funded by an Outside dark money sponsored campaign, that touts their manipulation of traditional voting methods, was against dark money” said Sheldon-Lee. “We know the stats show over 100% of registered vot-
genuine problem resolution rather than punishments for the people. The Biden-Putin discussions didn’t serve the American people. Do we want to be punished with astronomical gas price hikes, war or both? Aren’t their endless hypocritical rants and lectures enough punishment? We’ve seen a lot of strange political happenings in the USA & in Alaska in recent years. But none of them stranger than Democrats supporting their favorite Republican candidates who wouldn’t support a moderate Republican POTUS but now support a radical Democratic POTUS & his Communist/Socialist/Fascist agenda. Now why would the Democrat base support CERTAIN Republican candidates? (criteria ‘appears’ to
COMMUNITY Contributed by Daniel N. Russell, MS, Physicist, Cert. Energy Therapist Drawing from my many years doing massage and various energy therapies, I have started Energy Touch Therapy as a new kind of ministry of touch combined with prayer to help people heal their bodies and spirits. I discovered that, using my consious intent, I am able to move, center and balance a patient’s energy, and that by placing a cold stone upon an area of the body, which is low in heat energy, it helps pull energy, like a pump, away from areas of high heat to that area of low heat energy. This finding is in agreement with physics, since heat energy always moves toward colder areas from hotter areas, as long as there is a thermally conductive pathway, therebetween. My patients often report having more power and energy after having an energy treatment. An advantage of cold stone therapy is that it accellerates, balances, and centers a flow of energy throughout the body more quickly and easliy than Shiatsu Acupressure and Acupuncture techniques. I also apply hot super-saturated salt solution to the skin to draw out toxins and relieve pain. BACKGROUND In this era of pandemics and germ-phobia, more and more people have been seeking out energy therapy modalities, as an alternative to massage therapy, because they can be done, without a therapist actually touching a patient’s body. Although cold stones, such as marble stones, have been used in the past to relieve congestion, headache, and inflamation, they have not been
used to pull energy or qi from places of excess energy to areas of low energy and to center the energy at the hara or tanden. Most practitioners use hot stones, and they preheat their stones in expensive and bulky hot water bath machines prior to placing them on a patient. They do not realize that hot stones repel a patient’s own energy to flow away from where they are placed. Of course, hot stones do add heat for a short time to local tissue, under which they are placed. So, hot stones are useful for warming muscles, prior to massage, and their temperature should not be higher than 1300 F, so as not to burn the skin of a patient. SPECIFIC EXAMPLE By feeling an increase in heat around a cold stone placed on a patient with the palms of my hands, I found that it pulls excess heat toward itself, and, thereby, accellerates a flow of energy throughout the body, which may increase both healing rate and energy level in patients. There are very sensitive heat sensors in the palms of our hands, and just below each lower eye lid. So, by placing one’s palms over a patient’s body, and concentrating, one can detect where there is too much heat energy or not enough heat energy. In this way it may be determined where to place a cold stone to move the energy to balance it, accordingly. It is often desired to pull energy away from places of the body having excess energy and toward the sixth tsubo on the Conception Vessel (CV-6), known as the hara or tanden in Shiatsu and Acupuncture therapy, where the qi or life-force energy should be centered. This tsubo location is 2 finger-widths below the belly button.
ers voted in our precincts during the general election. We know that the election of the people who are now in the Alaska Legislature could have been impacted. We also know the Alaska Legislature is comprised of a majority coalition that began as a minority Democrat organization and became a majority because fake Republicans were bought off. Alaskans are exhausted from this spectacle,” states Sheldon-Lee. Sheldon-Lee’s case against the law firm that she believes defrauded her and her Talkeetna business Sheldon Air Service, is scheduled to be heard by the Alaska Supreme Court in the coming months. What began as reaching out for legal help for fair distribution of family assets from the estate of legendary pilot Don Sheldon and his wife Roberta, “has turned into a fight to save Sheldon Air Service and our life savings from the claws of ruthless and greedy Anchorage lawyers,” states Sheldon-Lee. That story has also been told previously at this link: https://donnliston.blogspot. com/2021/08/what-would-don-androberta-sheldon-have.html For more information, contact: Holly Sheldon Lee, 907-232-4063.
be a deep-seated hatred of Trump! Disgusting. They can all stop with the humanitarian lectures). Anybody buying it’s because the Democrats aren’t partisan? Most of us know the difference between burnt toast and well-done steak & eggs. Those politicians, whether they are a self-described Democrat or Republican, who arrogantly disregard the voices of the people, who give the people empty promises and frustrating unfulfilled hopes-those same politicians will be listening on Election Day! That’s the power of the people, the ballot box. Don’t let power-hungry politicians steal your power. That’s the real coup. we are a government of, by and for the people. And this is our country-one nation under God.
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
As a specific example, I have discovered, when I place a large cold stone on the tanden, or CV-6 tsubo, that excess heat dissipates from areas of excess energy, and heat energy builds up, quickly, under and around this stone. I use my mind in consious intent and I encourage the patient to use his/her mind to move the energy. I also ask God for some Holy Spirit to help the patient to heal. In this sense the stone serves as a tool to help concentrate the mind on healing and centering the qi energy. I use a single, large, smooth, black basalt stone, because these stones are good black-body radiators, which means they absorb a lot of heat and then radiate it away. I find my stones on Alaska’s beaches, where they have been deposited by ancient glaciers, which have ground them smooth and round over the past tens of thousands of years. Most types of stones work perfectly well, though, as long as they are dense and not porous. In Alaska room temperature, about 600 F, is fine for the initial temperature of a cold stone. In room temperatures above 720 F, I recommend, allowing cold running water to run over the stone for one minute, before placing it upon the body. The temperature of a cold stone should not be lower than 400 F, so as not to injure a patient. Do not cool stones by placing them in a freezer! I also apply a supersaturated salt solution to the skin. As the water evaporates, tiny salt crystals form in the pores, which draw out toxins from the skin, and which cancel pain by the principle of counter-irritation. SUMMARY Generally, energy can be moved easily and quickly from any area of the body
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having excess heat energy to any areas having low in energy by consious intent. Proper placement of a cold stone helps to concentrate the mind and speeds up the energy flow. Many Shiatsu Acupressure and Acupuncture routines, designed to center and balance energy, take a much longer time and are much more complicated and cumbersome to accomplish than this method. So, one advantage of this technique of using a large cold stone to center and balance the energy, is that it is much faster and simpler for a therapist to do in practice. A second advantage of using a cold stone is that it avoids a need for a therapist to purchase and haul around an expensive, heavy, and bulky hot stone water heating machine. A third advantage is that it is greener and cheaper, because it does not consume any electric power. One may think that it would be uncomfortable to have a cold stone placed on their belly, but it is only a single stone, and it pulls and gathers heat quickly from areas of excess energy anywhere in the body. One can actually feel heat building up under and around the stone. You do not need to have a special gift or talent to help people in this way. So, try it! Daniel N. Russell, MS is a physicist, former Term-professor at Physics Dept. and at Massage Therapy Program, University of Alaska, formerly nationally certified in massage and bodywork, and he is an ordained spiritual energy touch therapist in Anchorage, Alaska. He may be contacted by email: dnrussellms@ yahoo.com or phone: 907-444-5647.
COMMUNITY Contributed by Dori Cranmore R.N. The oil comes from the nigella sativa plant which is native to Asia. The plant has small, black, crescent-shaped seeds and is a part of the buttercup family. Its recorded use dates back to ancient Egyptian times, with Cleopatra using it to achieve her beautiful complexion and shiny hair. The oil was even found in a pharaoh’s tomb, dating back 3,300 years. Hippocrates was said to use it to treat digestive troubles. It is often incorrectly labeled as black cumin seed. Neither “cumin” nor “black cumin” is true black seed. Always look for the botanical name Nigella Sativa for pure Black seed oil. Some of the recorded uses include high blood pressure, asthma and Candida albicans or yeast overgrowth in the
Contributed by Josh Fryfogle Mark your calendars, because the 12th Annual Who Let the Girls Out spring-fling event is happening the last weekend in April. April 29th & 30th. Who Let the Girls Out is a HUGE community effort where dozens of local businesses invest time and money into unique events at their locations. They all do specials, giveaways, demonstrations, live music, and much more to draw in the large crowd of shoppers the event brings to Palmer. Who Let The Girls Out started with a group of local business women, local leaders in the Palmer community. They wanted to simply increase business in a traditionally slow time of the year. This cooperative effort was not a competitive concept, either. It was just the opposite. Most businesses in Downtown Palmer at the time were owned and operated by women. These business owners wanted to do something special, not only for women, but celebrating women in the community. The initial
Contributed by John Rozzi, Valley Charities It was an unusually cold day, so the mother threw some wood on the fire to get warmer. As she stood around the fire she continued to think about a job she could get with her college degree. Her daughters had just returned from school so her concentration was not focused entirely on the job search day dream. As they huddled around the fire waiting for Dad, the two girls caught mom up on their day. They were normally pretty gloomy but today they had lots to talk about because of the holiday parties they participated in. The mother just wished she could have contributed
thought, brought forward by founder Denise Statz, was that with a little cooperation, the downtown area could become a venue for each little shop to produce their own specials, events, and offerings that day. Denise went door to door (I know because I went with her), explaining to the shop owners how we could cooperate, producing separate events, but without stepping on each other. “A rising tide raises all ships.” That aphorism is usually quoted by those advocating for government economic policies, but when we went door to door to talk to local business owners about our cooperative effort, Denise Statz repurposed that quote. She applied it to our own voluntary cooperation, and I’ve always preferred her usage of the phrase. By making sure that the main events of the day were not in competition with one another, Who Let The Girls Out was able to bypass the competition that is otherwise the norm, that would prevent our attendees from enjoying everything we had to offer at WLTGO.
some kind of baked goods. Two hours later the Dad drove up in an old Chevy van just off work from a national retailer. They all hustled into the Van, going straight to their normal spots to get ready for dinner. The mother asked if the Van was filled with gas so they could keep the Van running to keep everyone warm. The Dad responded with a subdued “Yes”. Money was tight and he was only making minimum wage at his full time job. If only the mother could get a job they may be able to afford paying for an apartment to live in. But, in the meantime they were going to continue making the best of living in the Chevy van.
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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body. Black seed oil may help to reduce inflammatory arthritis symptoms and may extend to improving asthma and bronchitis symptoms. Eating black seeds or taking black seed oil is also associated with relieving stomach pain, cramps, reducing gas, bloating, and the incidence of ulcers as well. The oil may help fight against skin cancers when applied topically. Black seed oil or seeds has been shown to reduce high cholesterol because it’s high in fatty acids that can help maintain healthier cholesterol levels.
can balance the immune system. It can increase immune function without encouraging an immune reaction against healthy tissue in the body.
When people with type 2 diabetes consumed 2000mg of black cumin per day for three months, it led to reductions in fasting blood sugar and HgbA1c.
Black seed oil is available capsules, oil and seeds. You can add the seeds to casseroles, stir fries, salad dressings and baked goods, sprinkle them on salads, or even add them to your coffee, tea or smoothies. You can make black seed tea by pouring hot water over the seeds (about one tablespoon) and letting it steep for 10 minutes.
Black Seed can help fight off many different strains of bacteria, including salmonella, E. coli, listeria, staph and MRSA. For internal bacterial infections, black seed oil can be added to herbal teas, and for a skin infection, you can apply it directly to the skin. It’s particularly beneficial for those with autoimmune disease, because it
Businesses are always competing for your dollars, your time, but with WLTGO, the downtown Palmer business owners were able to avoid overlap. These downtown businesses are always working to keep the doors open, and in their daily occupations they are fully occupied. WLTGO allowed each business owner the creative freedom to create their own events, or special offers, or other interactive opportunities as usual, and our planning group worked to make sure that these separate events and efforts benefitted each other. This was the secret to success for WLTGO. By not dividing our attendees’ attention, we were able to create a concept that starts with the annual run on Friday evening, and ends Saturday evening. The goal was to make sure that the day’s events were not conflicting with each other. That’s where my company got involved. Make A Scene media company has organized and distributed the official WLTGO guide inside Make A Scene
This is one of many stories that can result from something as simple as work hours being cut or a car repair. Being Homeless is not a choice for many families. It’s a situation that occurs because of living on the edge paycheck to paycheck. Too many times when we see people living in a car we automatically assume that being homeless is their fault and their problem. Why don’t we think of homeless families as neighbors or community members that are down on their luck? These homeless families may have more in common with us than we think. Living paycheck to paycheck. One major chal-
Black Seed oil, honey and garlic make a powerful tonic for soothing coughs and boosting immunity, especially during cold and flu season or if you feel like you’re coming down with an infection. Black Seed oil can even be used topically to treat psoriasis and eczema or mixed with facial cream to moisturize and soothe your skin.
Dori Cranmore is a Registered Nurse and owner of All About Herbs, Inc at 4621 E. Palmer Wasilla Hwy. 907-3768327.
Magazine, and also the Stamp Pass. As we build the guide each year, we let the separate planners know when their event might be in conflict with another, and with small adjustments to their respective plans they were able to benefit each other rather than detract from each other. The guide includes a schedule of events and a list of businesses with their special offers. Our goal was to create a schedule that, if someone were to follow it, would allow an attendee to enjoy everything the event has to offer! Not only did this eliminate competition between the participating businesses, and event promoters, but it ensured that each participating business and event promoter was given the best possible opportunity for success! It’s hard to get outside of the competitive mindset. It’s difficult, especially for business-minded people, to set aside their own competitive interests in favor of cooperation and coordination. But WLTGO is a testament that when we do cooperate, voluntarily, with an earnest desire to help each other, we succeed in doing so.
lenge away from not paying the rent. What are your thoughts? Go to the Facebook page of the “Matsu Coalition on Housing and Homelessness” and give us your feedback. Valley Charities, Inc. is a strong supporter of preventing homelessness and making our community safer through a very solid reentry program. Submitted by John Rozzi, Executive Director of Valley Charities, Inc.
COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY & MOBILITY 101 Mobility ........ 521-7101
APPAREL & CLOTHING All Seasons Clothing Co. ........ 357-0123 ART & CRAFTS The Gallery ........ 745-1420
Here in the Mat-Su Borough, we are extremely fortunate. A small band of passionate recyclers, including our beloved long-time director, Mollie Boyer, came together 24 years ago and began to formulate a plan, a way to make recycling available to Valley residents while keeping the process clean and sustainable.
AUTO REPAIR Fairview Loop Automotive .. 887-6137 BOOKSTORE Black Birch Books ...... 373-2677 Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 CANNABIS RETAILER Matanuska Cannabis Co. ...... 745-4211
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
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to fund and expand existing recycling programs are paramount to the future of this industry. Corporate and residential sponsorships could be a route forward, putting sustainable growth back in the hands of the private sector as the public sector recovers and reorients itself, post COVID.
ANTIQUES & VINTAGE The Estate Sale ........ 357-7050
COFFEE & CAFÉ Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Gathering Grounds Cafe ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blues……..745-2233
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
Contribuited by Randi Perlman In 2019, the recycling industry was at crisis point due to China’s imposed bans on imported recyclables from the U.S. and other markets. Episode 3 brings us to 2020, and another devastating worldwide event – COVID 19. Even though recycling was deemed an essential service, the sweeping effects of the pandemic have wreaked havoc on an already ailing industry. There have been many more closures, and municipalities around the U.S. have had to dedicate more time, funding, and effort into the increasing issues that are plaguing their recycling programs. Amidst the industry bans and pandemic outbreak – what does the future of recycling industry operations look like? Many experts have weighed in on this question, and many agree that now, more than ever before, there is a pressing need to continue recycling waste – in order to reduce contamination
Contributed by Quinn Townsend A student’s ability to read is a critical predictor of educational and lifelong success. A strong reading program, beginning in kindergarten and continuing into the third grade and beyond, gives students the best possible chance to maximize their education and succeed in their future endeavors. Unfortunately, only 25 percent of Alaskan fourth-graders were proficient in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) as of 2019. A student who misses the opportunity to learn to read proficiently before fourth grade rarely catches up. However, students who enter fourth grade capable of reading and able to use their reading skills to learn, are positioned with a much higher probability for high school graduation and readiness for college or a good job. A student who still needs time to master reading must have every opportunity to strengthen and gain this skill before entering fourth grade—to better ensure a successful future. An effective program to help struggling students before entering fourth grade includes parent involvement and intensive training, such as after-school programs, extra tutoring, or summer programs.
levels and slow the harmful effects of greenhouse gases and climate change. Today and beyond, the industry worldwide will need community leaders and forward-thinkers to come up with state-of-the-art solutions to unprecedented problems. This means discovering and investing in entrepreneurs with innovative, new-to-the-table ideas backed by science and research. It also means improving the rate of technology adoption in the recycling industry, so that digital transformation can have a positive future impact. It means embracing technology-driven recycling techniques and partnerdriven collaborations with unlikely bed-fellows… And all of this will take technology-based recycling education in order to help solve the wide-scale problems faced by MRFs (Materials Recovery Facilities).
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is still following that mission today, collecting clean and sorted materials, baling them separately, and finding markets throughout the Lower 48 looking for those exact commodities. Our materials are not shipped to a sorting facility, they go directly to an end-user, saving time, effort, resources and money while finding their way INTO new products and uses, and as importantly, staying OUT OF the solid waste stream and our landfills. The recycling industry is too important to ALL of us to let it shut down. In 2022, let’s consider the history of recycling, the battles fought and won to protect the earth and its people. Let’s chart a new course throughout our great country and around this amazing world, to rework the systems that we have, or come up with better ones, to keep our essential recycling programs alive & thriving!
Considerations like recycling plant automation, encouraging closed loop recycling policy and environmental protections, and finding new models
Pick up next month’s edition of The People’s Paper/Make a Scene Magazine for Recycling Repeats Itself, Episode 4
Once struggling students have been identified, an individualized reading plan should be created in collaboration with the student’s parent or guardian. The reading plan explains what interventions the student’s teacher will pursue at school as well as strategies for the parent to practice at home.
extra practice to catch up with their peers. Summer reading programs are important because academic gaps between students can widen dramatically during the summer. If students lose reading skills during the summer, their progress towards reading proficiency by the end of third grade slows.
Additionally, home reading strategies or programs should be provided to the parents of struggling students. Home reading programs help parents support their child’s literacy skills in a safe, comfortable environment. Research shows that reading activities done at home with a parent or guardian improve children’s literacy skills as well as their outlook and interest in reading. The strategies can include a “read-at-home” plan, parent training workshops, or regular parent-guided home reading activities.
The best summer reading programs include regular student attendance, smaller class sizes, individualized teaching, involvement from parents, effective teachers, alignment of the school year and summer curricula, and progress tracking. Summer programs that focus on literacy can improve students’ reading performance, increase opportunities for family engagement, and increase students’ motivation to read.
A comprehensive read-by-nine program will also provide for interventions outside of regular class time. Students learn better when they have the opportunity to practice literacy skills in a variety of different environments and with different media. This will require before- or afterschool programs or extra tutoring, as well as summer reading programs. Providing these interventions gives deficient readers the time they need with targeted instruction and
An effective policy to help students read by nine should include early testing, individualized reading plans, parent involvement, and additional intensive training. Beginning in fourth grade and beyond, a student must be prepared to read to learn across all subject areas. A strong state-based read-bynine policy would require parent involvement and additional interventions outside the classroom. Without support, Alaska’s children will never get ahead.
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animals over the years. He seemed quite friendly and had a nice set of antlers. So with camera in hand I followed his movement around the house. I snapped a couple pictures as the moose was heading to our back door to greet my wife and enjoy her apple. He walked right up to her and was reaching for the apple when it fell to the ground. Both the moose and my wife reached for the apple at the same time, and the collision of my wife’s face with the moose’s antler caused her to suffer a long bleeding gash above her left eye. She quickly slammed the door and screamed for my assistance.
Contributed by Bill Brokaw
animals.
“Hey Pat, there’s a large bull moose up against our front deck!”
Upon hearing my words, my wife quickly moved down the stairs to see the big animal. Upon seeing the moose she immediately went to our fridge and retrieved an apple. She dashed out our front door, and proceeded to hold the apple for the moose to eat. He gently and quickly took the apple from her hand and gobbled it down. After
These were words that I would regret! Even though my wife, Pat, and I have lived in our hillside home located above Anchorage for the last 22 years, we never seem to tire of watching the antics of these big, long-legged
exclaiming how quickly the moose ate the apple, she ran to the fridge for another apple. Seeing my wife disappear, Mr. Moose, decided to munch our house-side greenery on his way to the back of our home. Being that he was up tight against our house I decided to add another picture to the hundreds that I have accumulated of these placid
Meanwhile, before my wife screamed, I had heard the back door shut, and saw an angry moose on it’s back legs pawing the back door. A shill scream, just before the moose’s angry action, made me fear that the moose had done major damage to my wife. I dashed to my wife’s aide. We both thanked God, when we realized the antler caused cuts were not deep, and the surface bleeding pretty much stopped when I doused the cuts with Neosporin and hrodrogen peroxide and covered with a large band aide. Also, thankfulness for a spared left eye. Pat, realizing how close she came to major injuries, told me to never again inform her of a moose in our area. And believe she will not be sharing food with any wild animals. Sharing food with wild animals can be dangerous to your health.
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Contributed by Angie Lewis Meet Socks, Patches, Spencer, and Penelope. They are ready for a foster of forever home. They are tired of being in different temporary homes. These Black Lab Mix pups are three and a half months old – three females and one male. They are ready – vaccinated, dewormed, life enrollment in a microchip program and spayed or neutered. These critters are going to be fairly large dogs, so open your heart wide!!! To meet these sweet souls, call Angie at Alaska Animal Advocates at 8413173
treat. Get your dog’s attention by asking her to heel and then requiring eye contact. If she is focusing on you, she will be less focused on the other animals or people around her. Add some challenges to your walk, such as going up/down stairs, vary your speed, and walk around obstacles. Give your dog a treat if she walks by a distraction without barking. Purchasing a pheromone collar can provide calming down scents for your dog. There are various oils that help with this. Visit your pet supplies store to explore the various products available. Contributed by Angie Lewis Occasionally, when you are walking your pooch, she will bark at other animals or people. This can become problematic when your dog is out of control, barking and lunging. These behaviors are not only embarrassing, but can also be seen as a sign of aggression by other dogs. There are strategies to address these negative behaviors. If your dog is a puppy, that is the best time to begin training. Make certain that your dog is fully vaccinated, before taking her out into the world.
Training when your dog is young, is an easier task, but it is certainly possible to “teach an old dog new tricks.” Make sure that you have an appropriate collar or harness for your dog. Have a good amount of treats available, as a reward for good behavior. Treats can eventually become less important, but they are invaluable to begin. Hold onto your dog’s leash firmly, but not too tightly because this will increase the likelihood of her pulling. Teach your dog the “heel” command. Reinforce your command and positive responses with an immediate
You can also throw treats on the ground ahead of you. This will help with her not becoming obsessed with the other dogs. If this doesn’t work, ask her to “heel” and make a sharp 180 turn away from the distractions. Her brain might just require a reset. Be patient with your dog and remember that it will take some time to develop these good habits. Also, formal training can be very beneficial to develop positive behavior in your dog. Angie Lewis, President of Alaska Animal Advocates
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of service dogs fail the program. You can tell which puppies will be a good service dog at the age of 6 weeks old. Obviously this dog is not a service dog. I offer absolutely no discouragement on any breed... I love all breeds, all animals, all dogs and reptiles. But to claim that your dog is a service dog, and bring it into a store where children are in danger, this is not okay with me. She’s lucky that I had my child with me and that the dog didn’t try to lunge at me, because that would have been a lot different situation. I was so frazzled by the situation, trying to check myself out, while demanding that a manager come right there at that instant. They needed to get that dog out of this store now!
Contributed by Amber Martin Hello Mat-Su Valley friends! Long story, but this is an extremely important situation. I am writing this hoping to make this situation known to everybody out there claiming that their dogs are service dogs. (In no way whatsoever is this the grocery store’s fault!) Recently there was an incident at the Wasilla Carrs Grocery Store with my three-year-old (soon-to-be four-year-old) and a big, beautiful bully breed. My child was in a shopping cart, sitting down with the balloon that we had just picked out from the picture included here. I was walking, with her in the cart, passing the hot food section where you can pick out pizza pockets and burritos, Sushi, corn dogs and all that deliciousness. There was this beautiful tan fawn colored bully on a leash with this lady standing there. The dog was not at a heel by this lady’s side or sitting down waiting as the lady waited for her
food. There were two ladies together with the dog. As we are rolling by and slowly approaching this dog, I start to realize that the dog’s body language is super tense, and the leash is extremely taught, and he’s waiting and watching my child as we are approaching. Let me just give you a little bit of information about myself: I am a dog trainer. I’ve trained service dogs for 5 years for the Army, for post-traumatic stress. I now do behavior modification and I go into people’s houses and help them with dogs so that they can learn and have tools in order to be able to keep their dogs, and not have to give dogs away that seem unmanageable. As I’m walking by, I realized that this dog’s stare is not nice. One of my specialties is being able to read a dog’s body language and stop a fight or an action before it happens. If you know your dog well enough, you are able to stop your dog from do-
ing the bad behavior. Before I can do anything, this dog starts lunging at my three-year-old in the shopping cart. The owner who is holding the end of the leash is not being mindful of the dog, and he pulls the owner to the cart. The dog almost bites my child in the face, not only once but twice, and I whip the cart behind me and start charging, almost in a stance like a mama bear because if anybody’s going to get bit it’s going to be me - and I’ll be damned if my child is going to get hurt! I instantly tell this lady that her dog has no business being inside the store, especially if he’s going to be acting like that. She tries to tell me that this dog is a service dog. She doesn’t know that I’m a service dog trainer. A service dog should be desensitized to anything related to children (balloons, loud noises, etc…) to prepare them to help their owner in a public situation. This is why it takes at least 2 years to 4 years to fully train a service dog. 72%
Other parents and customers are coming up to me trying to calm me down because I’m so frazzled about the situation, telling me that I’m a good mom and I handled it really well. They saw what happened and that it was absolutely insane. The lady with the dog sat there and argued with me profusely about how her dog is a service dog and my child was waving a balloon in the shopping cart. No service dog should be lunging and trying to bite my child in the face like that. Moral of the story, guys, is please, please, please do not try and pass your dog off as a service dog and bring them into the store. First, it is extremely disrespectful to those that are in need of the service dogs for you to abuse the situation, only making the problem worse. Second, if you can’t leave your dog in the car on a hot or extremely cold day then leave your dog at home. Dogs are going to be a lot safer and happier at home than being in a hot car or a frozen car. And thirdly, if another dog comes at my child, this mama bear is going to rip it apart!