The People's Paper October 2021

Music and Living with Dementia

MORE ON PAGE 3 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Fall Consignment Event: Consign49

MORE ON PAGE 14 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

COMMUNITY Contributed by Debra McGhan When Jacob Hartman, age 16, volunteered with his Colony High School Junior ROTC program to support the 2021 Mat Su Emergency Preparedness Expo on September 25th at the Menard Sports Center, he really didn’t know what to expect.

Raylee Meeuwsen, also a student at Glacier View, had a similar idea.

She made a list and drew pictures of things she believes should be in a grab and go bag. “I think it’s important to have a bag you can grab and take with you if you have to get out of your house fast.”

That decision to take the initiative to draw a picture of what being prepared for an emergency meant to him earned Jacob the winning prize for his age division.

Jacob, Jordan, Raylee, Emily and 5-year-old Talon Holdon, will each be presented with a three-day survival back-pack, thanks to the American Red Cross, at an upcoming Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting. Everyone who entered also received a gift certificate from McDonalds. You can check out all the 2021 winning poster entries at https://ready.matsugov.us/

Ten-year-old Jordan Schweitzer, from Glacier View, heard about the poster contest at her school and decided to enter to show what it meant to her to be prepared. She wrote ‘Survive and Thrive ’and included a list of critical items and pictures of supplies she thinks are important to have.

“I wanted my poster to have a little rhythm and figured if you have the supplies you need to survive an emergency, then you have a chance to thrive.”

Contributed by America’s Volunteer Lifesavers Boating safety class via Zoom, Oct. 23-24 EAGLE RIVER, Alaska – “Boat America,” a six-lesson course for recreational boaters, will be offered Oct. 23-24 via Zoom by the Eagle River Flotilla, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The class will meet from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday. Students will complete the final exam online at home after the class.

Subjects covered will include small boat handling, trailering, legal requirements including Alaska boating law, navigation rules, emergency procedures and personal watercraft considerations. The cost is $25, which includes the textbook and Eventbrite fee.

Course information is at this link: http://wow.uscgaux.info/pe_class_

PAGE 2

She said her family doesn’t talk a lot about what they will do in an emergency but she’s pretty confident that they are prepared. She thinks everyone should learn survival skills. “If you can do things like hunting and foraging, you could use those skills if there is an emergency and you can’t go to the store.”

“There were only a few jobs for volunteers and once those were taken, the rest of us were told to just walk around and see what was happening so I started walking around and talking to people. It was really cool with lots of different sources of information. And then I noticed the poster contest and that no one had entered my age division. After a while, I thought, well why not me? So I sat down and drew a picture of my dad’s food cache because I figured, if there is an emergency, we’ll have food and supplies. And then I added his gun case because if we run out of food, we’ll be able to hunt for more and protect our family.”

He believes that everyone who lives in Alaska really needs to be prepared.

“I think the most important thing people need to know is that you should never think it won’t happen to you. Because it can. It probably will. I remember in November 2018 when I went to school I was thinking about the party we were going to have for a teacher that was getting promoted, but instead we had a really big earthquake and everything instantly changed.”

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Emily Williams, who took first in the 13-15 age division, said getting out fast is definitely something she considered. Her poster focused on fire safety and included supplies you should have on hand and a back pack large enough to carry those supplies in case a hasty retreat becomes necessary.

The annual poster contest, part of the Mat Su Emergency Preparedness Expo, helps to engage families and get them talking about what they would do in an emergency. Do they have a plan for where to meet or what to do if an emergency or natural disaster strikes?

This poster contest was supported by the Mat-Su Local Emergency Planning Committee, Safe Logic, Inc, McDonalds Corporation and the American Red Cross. The Mat-Su Preparedness Expo was made possible with support from the Mat Su Borough Emergency Services, Local Emergency Planning Committee, City of Wasilla, American Red Cross and AARP Alaska.

Emily Williams, 13 year-old winner with her poster at the Expo

Poster by Jacob Hartman

Expo Poster Contest 10-12 year old entries

Contest entries for 7-9 year oldsKids Get Prepared

Preparedness month (September,) is over, doesn’t mean you missed your chance to get prepared. Take the time today to make your plan, collect critical supplies and communicate what you and your loved ones should do so that your family can survive and thrive just as Jordan Schweitzer said on her poster.

Photos by Debra McGhan

Just because National Emergency

flyer.php?unit=NAT&course=26972 and the Eventbrite registration link is https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boatamerica-tickets-173963658987. Early registration is encouraged so the flotilla has time to mail the textbook to the student before the class.

Anyone who has questions or can’t register online may contact the flotilla at (907) 694-3570 or cgauxeagleriver@gmail.com.

This course meets the requirements for safety certification in many states and some insurance companies will offer a discount to skippers who have completed the course.

WEBSITES: Flotilla 2-14, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Eagle River http://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=170-02-14 U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Alaska http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.

php?unit=170 Alaska State Office of Boating Safety www.alaskaboatingsafety.org U. S. C. G. Office of Boating Safety www.uscgboating.org National Safe Boating Council www.safeboatingcouncil.org

COMMUNITY Contributed by Alaska Recreation and Parks Association The Alaska Recreation and Park Association held its annual conference Oct. 5-7 hosted by the City of Soldotna. The theme, ‘Better Together: building strong, healthy, and resilient communities’ brought together agencies, businesses, and advocates of Parks and Recreation from around the state.

The conference concluded on Oct 7th with an awards banquet highlighting the Parks and Recreation industry’s top organizations and businesses that have made significant advances and development in the area of Parks and Recreation.

Receiving one of the many awards

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

PAGE 3

was Skeetawk, the Hatcher Pass Alpine recreation area, for the Facility Excellence Award. The award recognizes significant new projects, major renovations or long-term performance as a flagship of recreation. Accepting the award on behalf on Skeetawk was Nick Jenkins, Vice Chair of the Hatcher Pass Alpine Xperience , a non profit agency associated with Skeetawk.

Also receiving an award by the state-wide Alaska Recreation and Park Association was Joan Klapperich of Wasilla for her outstanding service to the Association. The Bob Robertson award recognizes those members that give selflessly to the advancement of recreation and are recognized as the backbone of the Association.

For more information on the Alaska Recreation and Parks Association please go to www.ARPA.myrec.com.

mentia, a more measured approach can be helpful. In her article, “How to use music to help a loved with dementia”, Jan Maier suggests starting slow and tailoring the activity to the response of the person living with dementia: “Keep sessions short, perhaps up to a half hour. Tailor the length of the sessions to how much your loved one enjoys them.”

Contributed by Ann Farris The human relationship to sound and rhythm starts early. In fact, even before you were born, you began to develop an auditory system. Already, you were in a world of sound: breath and heartbeat, of rhythm and vibration. When you heard a lullaby as a toddler, it offered comfort and a feeling of happiness. As a young adult, songs that provided a beat and rhythm offered you meaning and enjoyment. As an older adult these are the special songs stored in your brain and bring back fond memories.

There is a strong connection between music and the mind. This powerful connection explains why a man in the later stages of dementia, barely able to communicate, will liven up when listening to his favorite music.

Closely related to music is rhythm, “a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound”. In fact, rhythm is as elemental to breathing and other bodily functioning as it is to singing and dancing. Our lives are driven by rhythm.

In her Master’s Thesis, “Music Therapy and Percussion for People with

Contributed by Lauralynn Robison October is the start of the Holiday Season, with November which brings us Thanksgiving and then December which brings us Christmas. Here at the MatSu Food Bank, we are gearing up for this coming season. 2021 was still a very difficult year for a lot of people and their families. Our wonderful community has grown a lot these past few years and we are trying to keep up and help folks with their food with their food insecurities. If you are curious how you can help, there are many ways to offer your time, talents, and treasures.

We appreciate all the food drives our local businesses did all summer, and all the food we received from

Dementia”, Jaclyn Bell focuses on the potential of percussion and other rhythm-based music therapies. She writes, “People with dementia may gradually lose the ability to sing as the disease progresses and the use of percussion may allow for continued musical participation…Studies have shown that rhythm interventions can sometimes elicit more of a response than singing.”

There are a variety of ways to utilize rhythm to enhance the quality of life for someone living with dementia: start a drum circle with friends, keep the beat while listening to music, dance, exercise. Creating homemade instruments is always fun: fill an empty medicine bottle with rice and you have a maraca; books, pots, and tables make great drums. Finally, utilize rhythm to assist in the desired outcome of an activity: soft music before bed; relaxing music while bathing, upbeat music while folding laundry or cleaning.

There are ways to incorporate music into activities for everyone. The key to assisting those living with dementia is selecting music that meets the need. For those in later stages of de-

our community at the Alaska State Fair. Food donations are always welcomed! You can donate your time by volunteering. We always need help at the pantry to distribute food to folks who come in every day. Also, help us collect, organize, and stock the food we received. Your time is truly appreciated, by us and our community. Finally, you can donate money! We appreciate the financial donations, as this money helps us pay our monthly expenses, so that we can keep our doors open.

Without your donations, we would not be able to serve our community.

Our biggest investment is our new warehouse, which allows us to house enough food to stock our pantry and continue to feed our community.

A powerful visual of how rhythm can assist those with dementia or other neurological disorders is the video of a man living with Parkinson’s disease.

During physiotherapy sessions, the man’s gait is enhanced first by the therapist counting “1. 2, 1, 2…”, and secondly by listening to a favorite song. These rhythmic cues assist the brain in going through the motions of walking. (This video can be found at: https://youtu.be/oTjIEtpR4yU ) The beat of our hearts, the rise and fall of our breathing, the movement of our bodies through each day demonstrate the natural rhythms of life. The power of rhythms can be harnessed to help us through many illnesses, including dementia and other neurological disorders and can help relieve the stresses of daily living. In his book Musicophilia, renowned neuroscientist Oliver Sacks writes that rhythm is one of the most basic and fundamental parts of the human experience and remains with us until the very end. We agree, and to quote from the musical Sweet Charity, “The rhythm of life is a powerful beat!”

Ann Farris is an Educational Specialist with Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska.

We have offices in Anchorage, Wasilla, Juneau, Fairbanks and Copper Center. For more information about our services and programs visit our website at www.alzalaska.org or call 907-561-3313 in Anchorage or 907864-3413 in Wasilla.

Because our community has grown, the needs have grown, and we have been keeping up with the growth, so that we may be better equipped to serve. So, as we enter this coming Holiday Season, please keep in mind of ways you can help us, help you.

We Thank everyone who has helped by donating their Time, Talents, and Treasures! Remember: No One should go hungry! Please take a minute to visit our web page https://www.matsufoodbank.org.

See the many ways you can contribute, by volunteering and making donations, help us help our community.

Please contact us at (907)357-3769 to schedule time to volunteer.

You can also follow us on Facebook … https://www.facebook.com/ MatsuFoodBank … Thank You for all your continued support, we deeply appreciate our community!

COMMUNITY Contributed by Teresa de Lima There are several notary publics in the Valley! The state has a wonderful website in which one can locate a notary.

The list of notaries is in excel format and easy to use provided you don’t put in a bunch of filters.

Contributed by Bill Brokaw Our mountainside, small three bedroom home, is located at an altitude of 1,500 feet, and about 10 miles from the center of Anchorage. I’ve lived in this house for 61 years. Winter arrives early and leaves later than winter in Anchorage. The month of March, and the feeling was prevalent that old man winter had been very good to us, with little cold and way-below normal amounts of snow. In fact, I believe January was the warmest on record, and snowfall was practically none-existent. Temperatures on this near-the-end winter March Saturday were in the comfortable mid-twenties, and the forecast called for some snow flurries, or maybe some light snow.

My wife, Pat, left home at 5:30 pm for her ticket-scanning job at the Sullivan Area, located near downtown Anchorage. While enjoying a fire in our old Franklin stove, I was enjoying March Madness college basketball. When darkness arrived in the late afternoon, I did notice that there was some light snow falling.

Notaries perform a vital service. We act as unbiased witnesses in the signing of important documents. I had to become a notary for my work. The process was easy but it took some time and some money. I did it through My Alaska. You have to be a legal resident of a certain

About half way though the evening I looked through our living room picture window and couldn’t believe my eyes. Whiteness so thick that our neighbors house located across Our Road could hardly be seen. Their very bright illuminating yard light was all most impossible to see, and the limited visibility made it appear that the sky was falling. It was a windless night, and the snow was falling a a rate that I’ve never seen in the 61 years of Alaska living. Curiosity, as the rate of fall got the better of me, so yardstick measuring was necessary. Looking at the clock, I measured the amount on our deck, and an hour later I measured again. It was unbelievable that the hourly rate of fall was almost 7 inches. When it would stop I did not know, but I did know that if the rate of fall continued it would be impossible for my wife to come up our long driveway, and impossible for her to get home from her Sullivan work. She normally arrived home between ten and ten fifteen.

After watching the snow accumulate so rapidly, I thought maybe a phone call to Pat, warning her about the snow depth

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Jessica Wright Last night my husband and I watched the hearing been live streamed on Facebook from 6pm to 11pm happening at Anchorage Assembly Hall. The assembly hall was packed with people who wanted to testify against the mask mandate that Anchorage Assembly has recently proposed and it looked like it will pass due to the fact that the majority of assembly members are Liberals like the former Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. Early that day, my husband heard the hearing is going to be “riveting” according to Dan Fagan so he’s interested to know how it goes. “Riveting” indeed because many Anchorage people can no longer tolerate this new mask mandate and they were strongly against it.

At first, the hearing seemed like a normal hearing. Many citizens pointed out that wearing mask isn’t an effective way to combat the Corona Virus based on medical studies and it creates great discomfort even sickness. Many feel wearing a mask is a personal choice and shouldn’t be forced upon. Some argued that mask mandate isn’t necessary and it will most likely further damage the frail economy of Anchorage.

Some Anchorage residents accused

the Assembly for overreach using their power to control the public through this mask mandates. Against the current Mayor Dave Bronson’s wish, the Assembly tell the people to compliant the mask mandate or they will face the penalties.

The next group is the group of professionals like doctors, counselors, teachers testified that wearing mask creates tremendous negative impact on the people especially the youth. The youth suicide rate went sky rocking. Isolation, anxiety, and helplessness were side effect of these mandates. These professionals said wearing mask creates a barrier for their patients /students in learning or coping. It will only make their lives even more difficult. Another group said by mandating mask is the violation of the citizens’ rights because people are not allowed to excise their freedom to choose for themselves.

Then many parents who talked about how difficult to help their children (some are disable kids) to compliant with the mask mandate last year. It opens my eyes to know this mandate has put these people in the living hell because mask mandates only hinging their lives on top of the challenges they have to face their disability. One pregnant mother who happened to be

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

age and have no criminal history.

Being a notary means that I can perform civil ceremonies. So if anyone is in need of a marriage commissioner, I’d be delighted to help!

The state implemented a new statute

would be wise. However, the wise call was not made. As the time got later, and the pace of the snowfall continued, I realized that Pat would be in trouble if she decided to drive home. The shill sound of our phone, and Pat’s desperate voice told me she was buried in the deep snow located along the Seward Highway. I said to sit tight and I would be there in our old Nissan truck as soon as possible. What a shock is was when the old truck would not start, I hadn’t driven it much because of retirement, and turning the key only produced click, click.

What was I to do to rescue Pat? Another phone call, and Pat said the police had stopped and an radioed a wrecker to pull her out. She paid the $70 and said she would be home shortly. However, I had my doubts as the storm had not abated, and I was sure that there would be further trouble ahead for Pat. While waiting and praying, I decided to at least get some of the snow removed from our driveway. It was almost midnight, and Pat should have definitely been home.

in which commissioned notaries can perform notarial duties for remotely located individuals. This was put into place on January 1st of this year, HB124.

Of course it entails a little extra hoops and jumps and advance planning, but this is vitally helpful for anyone who lives in rural Alaska.

While my notarial experience is pretty limited in scope (mostly jail affidavits), I am happy to answer any questions.

Teresa de Lima at 907 450 9041

Finally, another phone call from a panicked Pat. She literally screamed that she had turned of O’Malley onto the wrong road, and had buried the car big-time. She was over a mile from our home. Since my truck would not start, I was panic-stricken, but was positive that if she started walking, a good Samaritan would stop and bring her home. Not good thinking, but better than no thinking or no action. She did as I asked and started walking through the storm. Sure enough, almost immediately 2 fellows in a pickup truck stopped and brought her home.

I was outside trying to walk through the 24 inch deep snow when the fellows stopped and told me that they had delivered Pat to our home. With a loud voice, uttering my grateful thanks to the good Samaritans, I trudged through the storm to a warm home and a exhausted wife.

The following morning, with the help of a tow line and another good Samaritan, we were able to free her car that was buried, with only a portion of the roof above the snow.

We were both so thankful for the folks that helped us survive another winter experience.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

a nurse said she had to choose between her job and her baby because she’s unwilling to take vaccine that she cannot continue to work in that hospital.

It feels so wrong that people lose their jobs because of the mandate.

The most unusual group is the youth which is a largest group in the evening.

At first, I thought they were just the mouthpiece of their parents. Later I found out they were indeed speak for themselves which I applause for their courage to stand up for themselves.

From their testimonies it unfolds what they had to go through as youngsters to live with this mask ordinance. One, they can’t learn well because they can’t see their teachers shape of mouths nor hear very well. Second they can’t see their school mates’ smiles. Third their bodies can’t function well by wearing the mask all day even at after school sports. Fourth, they were persecuted by this mask mandate when they don’t wear the mask even for a moment for their teachers or school mates will police them and demand them to wear the mask. One youth feel the mask mandate has divided the people because he has lost many friends over this issue. He also feels he has been demonized over this mask issue.

The hearing process began like a normal hearing each person spoke his/her logic, reasoning and personal stories.

During the halfway, it turned into a religious session. A lady said her family

PAGE 4

PAGE 4

moved away their homeland Germany to America 300 years ago because they were seeking religious freedom.

Now she feels the mask mandate has deprived her religious freedom. Then a teenager girl offered a prayer asking for more understanding. Then meeting shifted to a freedom fest because a group of teenager girls broke out the national anthem. The crowd cheered and joined them. It felt like a freedom concert because singing the national anthem automatically spread the patriotic spirit. Towards the last hour, however, the meeting turned into a heart wrenching pleading session because youths came forward one after another testifying what’s like to live through the mask mandate. By the time to close the meeting for that night, the atmosphere became heavy.

I think the audience were feeling grievous knowing what had happened to our youth. One citizen said, “This is a true definition of child abuse.” This mask mandate clearly has robbed our youth’s liberty, and their pursuit of happiness. I pray that we will fight for our freedom as well as our youth’s. We have moral responsibility to protect our little ones from the oppression of the tyranny. They are too Americans and they deserve the freedom that American promised. We need to defend them because if we don’t who will. Behold, the little ones.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Dolores “Dee” McKee I am Dolores “Dee” McKee, candidate for Borough Assembly Seat 3, a lifelong Alaska raised in Fairbanks. My husband and I operated a couple of small businesses both in Fairbanks and the Mat Su. We adopted two toddlers from El Salvador and 28 years ago, my husband, two sons, and I moved to the Mat Su with an assortment of cats, dogs, and other critters. I was blessed to be able to be a stay at home Mom, attending UAA in the evenings to add a Special Education certification to my teaching credential and Bachelor’s of Business Administration, minor in economics, from UAF. I am beginning my 25th year of teaching middle school at PJMS – having taught math, science, social studies, health, and Spanish. I was honored to be selected as a British Petroleum Teacher of Excellence and KTVA Teacher of the Week, both of which awards resulted from student nominations.

Things that matter to me? I am a fierce defender of our First and Second

Amendments. Every voice should be heard without fear of retribution, and our Second Amendment rights are second nature to Alaskans. As a teacher, I am devoted to sending my students along their life journey prepared not only with the subject I teach but with life and employability skills, a passion for patriotism, and a desire for excellence. The majority of our budget is allocated to the School District and I support that; however, as a teacher in the trenches every day I am not sure funding is always allocated in a way that best supports our students. Our performance expenditure for each student is among the highest in the nation and Alaska’s performance is last or near last.

While the Mat Su does better than some parts of the State, with our funding we should be top of the heap. We deserve a better return on our investment and our kids deserve better. I guarantee you, the teachers give it everything we have but there is a disconnect somewhere. We need to identify the problem, look at what’s happening in the more successful regions of the U.S., consider the solutions, and git ‘er done!

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Wasilla is open for business and has been open throughout the pandemic, but it is time to examine the necessity of all the permitting, licensing, qualifying, and other restrictions that make it difficult to do business or enter the marketplace.

Road Service Areas - Some of our roads were built decades ago and have fallen into disrepair. We have to come up with a solution to pay for the multi-million dollar bond for repair of borough roads. Will it be sales tax, alcohol tax, gasoline tax, increased mill rate?

Port MacKenzie - I won’t belabor the Port MacKenzie issue- it has gotten a lot of press; however, if we are to continue with a project that has cost us tens of millions of dollars, has an annual maintenance fee of $2.5 million, an $8.3 million debt we owe to the feds, and a $7 million grant from the feds for piling sleeves (which didn’t come for free – the borough taxpayers are out $1.9 million in matching funds), has severe geologic restrictions such as ice buildup and heavy currents, and is in competition with the safer, more easily accessible ports of Anchorage and Sewar, and has only made $1.9 million over the last ten years, perhaps we need to proceed with the $200,000 appropriation

PAGE 5

set aside by the Assembly for a study to see if there is even a market for the port before we continue to pour taxpayer dollars into what seems to be a money pit. Not saying we shouldn’t do it – but if all we have going for us is magical thinking, we need to rein this project in and evaluate it objectively. If we don’t, it could go the way of the ferry which cost our taxpayers $70 million and was ultimately sold for $2.5 million without ever having been in service.

Finally, you can probably tell I am a fiscal and constitutional conservative – government has to tighten its belt so you can hang on to your wallet. But as a teacher, I have become a bit more moderate on social issues. Our student clientele comes from many diverse backgrounds and I generally have a live and let live perspective, with some exceptions - Critical Race Theory which our school board has determined will not be taught (bless them!), appreciation for the Constitution and love of country, accountability by students, community, and government, an appreciation for the environment borne of a deep love for this incredible Alaska, and a determination that we can develop the borough responsibly so that our kids and grandkids can call this place home for at least as long as I have. the existing solution that is proven.

Contributed by Larry Wood All across this nation, states, cities and the federal governments are trying to force vaccination of their work forces against COVID-19. These tyrannical policies are also being forced upon our public safety sectors—fire and police—and the United States military.

Incredible as this seems, even upon our medical healthcare sector. This insanity will pay seriously diminishing returns in the coming months.

Singapore just reported that it had achieved 83% vaccination. CNBC reported 28,000 infections over the month of September, of which 98.1% had no symptoms or mild symptoms, with .1% deaths. Until the mass vaccinations, the average daily case rate was less than 30.

Looking at those numbers, what’s the problem? The death rate is the same as the U.S. Why is the Biden Administration imposing tyranny on the American public?

There is no science behind any of this, other than vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate. Discrimination has been effected against those who refuse the vaccine with the private sector being as draconian and insane as the government sector.

Military readiness is affected by this insane drive to vaccinate everyone.

Troops are being given a choice, take the vaccination, or be unceremoniously dishonorably discharged, no matter the

length of service. The least impacted demographic by COVID-19 is the younger soldier.

Management of our healthcare sector is insane. Healthcare professionals who served on the front lines in hospitals from the beginning of this pandemic without being vaccinated are now given a “vaccinate or else” choice. The choice being you will be fired if you don’t vaccinate. We are not talking a few here and there, we are seeing the forced layoff of hundreds at hospitals and thousands in larger healthcare systems. This insanity will devastate the American medical industry and the ability of our healthcare system to meet the healthcare challenges of the U.S. For a disease that has a 99.9% survival rate.

One fact is clear if you read on this subject, those vaccinated have rolled the dice. The VAERS reporting system that is not mandatory, but which is widely quoted, shows about 1/10th of the actual adverse reactions. The deaths from adverse reactions reported under VAERS are now reported at over 14,000, meaning the actual rate may be as high as 140,000.

MSM is not telling you that most of the new cases being hospitalized are those who have been vaccinated.

Those who have been infected, recovered and now have natural immunity have a resistance that will last at least a year. Israeli studies show that natural immunity is 13X as effective against COVID-19-D than the vaccines.

As a result of the rejection of cheap, treatment by Ivermectin and Hydroxychlorquine protocols that have been shown effective world-wide, but barred by edict of Dr. Anthony Fauci here to enrich the pharmaceutical companies, the richest Americans are now the majority shareholders in the pharmaceutical companies, with Pfizer leading the pack.

Fauci lied, people died.

Our governments only recognize vaccination as the answer to COVID. Yet, the world, particularly the 3d world has proven otherwise. In Uttar Pradesh province in India where they had a mass outbreak of COVID-19-D, there were not enough vaccines, so families were given kits containing Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine, Zinc, C, D, antibiotics, gloves and masks. Uttar Pradesh has been declared virtually COVID free by the Indian Health Ministry. Over 98.7% of those infected have recovered to date. This is an area of 230 million people. Is that enough proof for Fauci et al? Of course not.

Our Congress has held hearings on the effectiveness of Ivermectin. Do you think that there are those in Congress who have taken advantage of what they learned?

Merek has an Ivermectin clone that is 44% effective versus 88% for Ivermectin, will be sold for 40X cost of manufacture that our tax dollars paid for, and may cause cancer and miscarriages.

Medical science “advances,” but ignores

Do you think maybe Fauci is getting a kick back?

Was the CDC aware of the success in Uttar Pradesh using Ivermectin and Hydroxychlorquine? Yes. The CDC helped fund the Indian Rapid Response Teams and the treatment kits that were so successful against COVID-19-D. Why then did the MSM not report this success? Ask Dr. Fauci.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Peter Dzsack, and Francis Collins, former Director of the National Institute of Health, all were responsible for the development of this bio-weapon by openly cooperating and providing funding to the People’s Liberation Army to build the Wuhan #4 bio-weapons lab and funding the gain of function research that produced the COVID-19 weaponized virus that has killed over 4.8 million people worldwide and over 350,000 in the U.S. Fauci and Dzsack bypassed the Obama Administration’s prohibition against the gain of function research. Fauci failed to inform President Trump of his “project”. All three have lied to Congress and to the American people about their involvement in the gain of function research and the pandemic response.

They are criminals who have committed gross crimes against humanity and should be arrested, tried and, if found guilty, executed.

Our doctors should have the latitude to practice medicine, not be coerced by threats from the CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Mona Van Gelder Alaska’s Marketplace was an idea born of desperation and excitement. It’s time for Alaskan’s to have an online business directory and free classifieds that represent our unique lifestyles. National advertising sites such as Facebook and Craig’s List are great for free ads, but don’t allow the sale of dogs and guns; two important facets in Alaskan’s lifestyles.

Having been banned from using the paid site of Alaska’s List for imaginary offenses; I turned to solving the problem of no place to advertise; not only for me, but anyone in Alaska that wishes to use it. I sought out another ex-user of Alaska’s List, who likewise had problems with that site and we developed a free classifieds website for all Alaskan’s to use. I’m in the process of renovating my house and constantly going to the Internet looking for businesses to help.

Being met with frustration at having to sort through toll free numbers that are middlemen for lower 48 companies, searching for elusive local business, only to find the phone number disconnected, I informed the web developer, Bryan Earl of Prescott Web Design, a former Palmer resident, that it was time

Contributed by Tam Boeve My name is Tam Boeve. I live in Willow and I represent Assembly District 7, an area that covers 2/3 of the Mat-Su Borough. It’s a big district, and a big job, and something I take very seriously.

That being said, I never intended to run for public office. 10 years ago, I wasn’t overly interested in who our elected officials were, or what was happening at the Assembly meetings in Palmer. I was content working behind the scenespicking up trash along the highway, attending community council meetings, and helping to organize a community park.

There is a long story about how I decided to run for the Assembly in 2018and it involves the Willow Fire Department and the Sockeye Wildfire and my family somehow getting caught up in the drama and politics of our local community. But the short version is- that it didn’t take very long for me to realize that our small towns depend on the local government for support- for funding, for land, for legislation. And that without involved and responsive representa-

Contributed by Emily and Peter Forstner My name is Emily Forstner and I am writing today on behalf of myself and my husband Peter Forstner to endorse Kristi Short for Mat Su Borough Assembly, District 6.

Kristi Short is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in the Mat Su. She currently lives in Hatcher Pass and cares deeply for the Mat Su. Kristi knows first-hand what the time

to also add a business directory. It only allows Alaska businesses to advertise and if they are no longer in business can immediately remove their listing.

It was exciting watching the website come to life and become a usable tool for ecommerce. Finished, it was time to advertise all over Alaska. With my meager allotted advertising budget, I started contacting newspapers. The big three, Anchorage Daily News, Fairbanks’ Daily News Miner and Juneau Empire were first on my list. ADN worked out a plan and is now running my ad, both in print on Sunday and Wednesday editions and online. Juneau Empire gave me a short article for new businesses on their front page. Fairbanks’ Daily News Miner worked up both an online ad and one for print. Then I contacted Ketchikan, Sitka and Petersburg newspapers. Ketchikan was willing to place an ad, but Sitka and Petersburg; both small family owned newspapers told me absolutely NO when they found out what my business entailed. They stated that they couldn’t afford the competition. The first place to turn me down was Sitka and my first thought was, “Don’t the people of Sitka have the right to make up their own minds rather than have the local paper dictate what they

tives, we were pretty limited in what we could do for ourselves. Fortunately for us, we had an elected Representative who listened and cared. When his seat was vacated, I stepped out of my comfort zone and ran for office. Not as a politician, but as a citizen who wanted to see increased community involvement in the Borough decision-making process.

But I didn’t have a personal agenda.

And I still don’t. My communities set my priorities. Which is why it is so important that I take the time to attend local road and fire board meetings, community council meetings, and neighborhood gatherings, to hear firsthand about local concerns. I have been working pretty much 7 days/week for the last 3 years advocating for the communities in District 7 and am proud to have helped with the following projects and legislation: Decreased the areawide and non-areawide tax mill rates Allocated $10 million for small businesses impacted by the COVID pandemic Improved winter parking on Oilwell Road in Trapper Creek

and effort it takes to make a difference in our community. Kristi is a parent, a business owner, and a Fishhook Community Council representative.

She learned to love agriculture while involved with FFA at Palmer High, and continues to work to promote agriculture in the Mat Su with her small business, Alaska Farm Tours.

It has taken creativity, commitment, and conscious decision making to start up a small business in 2020, and even more so to have it thrive in a period of so many unknowns and inconsisten-

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

are allowed to see?” In dealing with the spokesperson at the Sitka newspaper, they were upset with my less than gracious response and I was outraged on behalf of those who lived there at the blatant censorship.

I was stunned with the refusals because newspapers were not on my radar for being targeted and usually cater to a different clientele. The average small, Alaskan business cannot afford to place unending ads in print, so resort to an occasional ad, if at all. They rely on Facebook, Yelp, Twitter and other means of getting the word out. Those are my targeted competition, not newspapers.

I wasn’t worried because the big three agreed to print my ad and I could do postal mailings for the smaller areas.

One day, I checked my bank account and to my surprise, without one word to me, Fairbanks’ Daily News Miner refunded my money. I phoned them and after a couple transfers got a man named Tom, who told me the publisher absolutely refused my ad; again, stating competition as the reason. I explained I didn’t think my website was going to run the larger newspaper out of business, but they wouldn’t budge. The Daily News Miner is also in control of the local military paper and several magazines and I was told those were also off limits.

Eliminated sales tax on utilities in the Talkeetna Water and Sewer district Advocated for additional Career Tech programs at the new Houston High School Appropriated funding for the future Jonesville Area Shooting Range Secured land for a future 40 acre park in Caswell Rehabilitated the historic Willow Log Community Center Facilitated community meetings with AST and MSB Code Compliance to address neighborhood crime issues Helped organize a volunteer Fire Department in Trapper Creek Increased the license plate tab fee allocation for the city of Houston and local road service areas Testified before the State Board of Fisheries on proposals for improved Mat-Su salmon returns Cleaned up metal debris after the McKinley wildfire Built a new library in Willow and remodeled the Community Center Constructed the A Street Trail in Talkeetna Increased the number of full-time staffed ambulances from 5 to 8 Opposed the gravel pit in the Sylvan community Constructed the Trapper Creek Water Distribution Point and provided grant cies. Kristi knows that it takes more than just a long-term vision, it takes carefully planned action steps to promote economic growth in the Mat Su without losing the down home, close-knit feel that makes the Valley and District 6 such a great place to live.

Kristi is fiscally responsible. Owning a small business, she has learned that the bottom line is always about maintaining a responsible budget. She will work to make that happen in the Borough Assembly- without property owners bearing all of the burden of being the only source of revenue.

Kristi is forward thinking. She sees the value of tourism in the Valley and

PAGE 6

Having three newspapers tell me I was a threat raised many questions. What is the newspaper’s role in assimilating news for their areas? Do they have the right to censor what the residents in their areas are exposed to? Are they so close to failing that my website is the straw that will break their proverbial camel’s back?

With my newfound awareness, I still contact newspapers, but am forthright about what my website offers and explain I am not a threat to their newspaper. I have a place on my business directory for newspapers and magazines to advertise. I doubt it’s the content of my website that is making them refuse me, but the prices I’m charging versus what they are asking. I don’t run a printing press, have a large staff or have to buy paper stock and ink and my prices reflect it. But, with whatever funds my website generates, I plan on placing much back into the communities in the form of advertising and sponsoring animal rescue efforts as my company’s small part to give back. The website, Alaska’s Marketplace, is here to stay for your use and can be found at alaskasmarketplace.com Help spread the word and more importantly, bookmark and use the site so it moves to the top of the search engines. funding for free potable water Rebuilt Shirley Towne Bridge Worked with MSB Solid Waste to provide free beetle kill tree disposal sites for residents Sponsored legislation to decrease property taxes for families affected by natural disasters We were able to accomplish a lot of positive changes in the last three years, but there is more work to do. There are roads to repair and bridges to build, emergency apparatus to upgrade, code compliance cases to clean up, and parks to build. We must continue to support our local schools and staff. We need to prioritize firewise homes and neighborhoods. And to do so- we need a representative who attends our meetings and listens to our concerns. We need someone with the experience to help us find the solutions to our problems.

I have already proven I can do that. I show up. I work hard. I care.

The Mat-Su Borough Election is November 2nd and I would appreciate your vote. Thank you.

Tam Boeve Tamboeve.com

strongly supports the Arctic Winter Games 2024. But, more than anything, Kristi Short recognizes that the increasing population in the Valley threatens our quality of life without forward-looking leadership and planning.

Kristi Short is energetic and excited to be a part of whatever it takes to lead our community through difficult times for a safe and successful future. She follows through with what she says she will do.

She is pragmatic in her approach and honest in all that she does.

Thank you for joining us in supporting for Kristi Short for Borough Assembly, District 6 on November 2.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Wes Keller A very wise man once said, “What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” To declare oneself “woke” in 2021, is merely declaring re-discovery of some aspect of humanity that has existed and been demonstrated for centuries. History shows entire cultures can indeed seem to be in a coma as its members blindly embrace really bad things together.

(Consider Chinese ‘lotus feet’, or the Holocaust!). It stands to reason there is also a time for awakening. (Consider the “Great Awakening”, circa 1720.). This 2021 “woke” fad is most likely barely a blip in the history of human whims and swings. The modern Wikipedia definition of “woke” relates it to re-discovery of racial prejudice and discrimination, and an awareness of systemic social inequality regarding gender and sexual orientation. The evils of racism and prejudice are not new, nor are the efforts to promote moral awakenings.

The actual sensation of being morally or physically “woke” is as old as humankind and has little practical value without

Contributed by Brian Stanley On September 8th, 2021 I had a routine checkup with my general practitioner.

After 6 years of having this person as my doctor, she turned into a medical tyrant.

I was told that unless I got vaccinated, she would no longer provide me with medical care. Unbelievable.

subsequent action and application.

The modern usage of the word “woke” is merely a variation of what Webster’s 1828 defined as “awakened: Roused from sleep, in a natural or moral sense”.

It is a very normal human sensation.

It is usually irritating when someone experiencing it anew determines others are asleep, and insist they too, should be awakened. It is particularly annoying when entire groups of people self-identify as ‘special’ because of newfound moral insights they claim others don’t have. On the other hand, few things are more hopeful and encouraging than a renaissance of good governing and moral laws — a nation being “woke” or “awakened”. America itself is a creation by people passionately working together to ensure justice and freedom for all. These attributes are the results of “awakening” from the oppression of a monarch and sincere application of something we call truth.

The message itself is good: “Wake Up!”.

We do need a wake-up call, but not necessarily to just become aware of subtleties of incomprehensible racism or social injustice opinions! These are merely symptoms of a popular delusion (a dullness) we have fallen into, which resents and denies absolute truth supersedes both popular and personal

I guess it all started a few visits back when I showed up for an appointment and the “you must wear a mask to be here” coercion started. As a doctor, she should know that masks are an obedience charade and there is zero scientific or medical evidence that they work for anything other than stopping a sneeze from spraying all over.

I was offered no alternative to the vax like therapeutics and prophylaxis such as Ivermectin, Regeneron, Remdesivir or Hydroxychloroquine, among other over the counter choices. This is absolutely unethical at best, and probably misfeasance that violates the Hippocratic oath, which in part reads:

I don’t need a medical degree to comprehend some basic facts, like the “surgical” masks that you see everywhere, have a gap between the fabric weave of between 30 and 40 microns. And the bandanas people have draped off their faces have even bigger gaps. The virus is around one tenth of one micron in diameter. (300 to 400 times smaller than the holes in the face diaper).

“I will use those dietary regimens that benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgement, and I will do no harm or injustice to them….I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan…..in purity and according to divine law I will carry out my life and my art”

Some mask questions to ponder: Tell me how the virus stays out of my eyes.

If masks work, why did they let prisoners out of jail instead of giving them masks?

If masks work and you are wearing one, then you’re protected…right?

Or why don’t my pants stop farts?

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

PAGE 7

opinion! Government is meant to create an environment where man can expect justice and freedom. To do so, it must either provide, or subscribe, to good law. The standards referenced in the founding of America was called “natural law” by which was generally meant to be the human consensus on what was right… to most, arguably, “God’s law” sourced in the Old Testament. A modern “woke” perspective has evolved and insists everyone can/must make up his/her own minds about right and wrong, and nobody should impose his/ her standards on anyone else. “Truth” supposedly comes from discovering who you are and identifying your “designer standards”, and then being true to them with all integrity. The big “thou shalt not…” has become – never judge others using our “designer standards” to interfere with others. Everybody’s “designer standards” are to be viewed to be as right as anyone else’s. The reason we need to wake up should be obvious!

Wake Up! The authority of the “rule of law” simply cannot exist unless there are moral absolutes. Our constitution is based on a humbling truth that there is something dreadfully and universally wrong with our human nature, requiring the imposition of an external Divine standard to ensure social justice! We all have an imperfect sense of right

and wrong and a drive to identify and enshrine it. We have a rare opportunity as Americans to renew application of God’s laws to how our Republic is governed (legislatively, judicially, and administratively) to everyone’s personal best interests! This would be the ultimate “woke”!

“Trust the science…..”

This mandatory masking stance by my doctor does not inspire my confidence in her ability to see plain logic.

Over the years, my doctor had asked me many times to get a flu shot, but I always declined. I’ve never had one and didn’t feel I needed it.

During the last visit she condescendingly said “I have to get something from my office, but when I get back, I would love to hear your reasons for not getting this vaccine” I have read quite a bit about the vax and have a laundry list of reasons.

I said to her that the pharmaceutical companies themselves have disclosed that the efficacy rate is only around 40 percent, and there will be a neverending string of variants and “booster” shots. If I get the shot, I can still contract covid and transmit it, and I would still have to wear the chin diaper. But at least they don’t contain eggs, preservatives or latex.

My doctor vehemently refuted every point I had. Although she was wearing a mask, I’m pretty sure she was foaming at the mouth under there.

The one thing that didn’t occur to me was to say “My body, my choice” I asked her how much time I had to find a new doctor.

The vaccine rabbit hole is very deep.

The main factors regarding the jab are personal choice and your health condition, it has never been about public “safety”.

The CDC’s own numbers bare out the fact that most people (without severe comorbidities or advanced age) have a 99.7 percent chance of survival if the virus is ever contracted. Yet, you are being told that that you must get an emergency vaccine that is not fully tested, and the pharmaceutical companies are immune from all legal ramifications if the recipient is caused any harm or death. The CDC has listed at least 21 severe, possible side effects, including Kawasaki Disease. Whatever that is.

Oh, and Congress is exempt. And their staffs.

You say: “Yeah, but the FDA approved some of them….” Sure, politically, in my opinion. Since it takes nearly 12 years to get approval for a new vaccine or medicine with all the clinical trials and proper testing.

“Trust the science…..”

Remember, every medicine that has ever been recalled because it caused harm or death to a person was also approved by the FDA. I wonder how long it will be until we achieve herd intelligence.

Politically, this opportunity is provided by the US Constitution openly embracing underlying Biblical values such as the sinful nature of man. “Tolerance” must never be about empowering every perspective at the table, but rather, having a real working relationship with someone who may disagree after a fair, rational analysis together. If you want to really “wake up” politically, reflect on how far the Bible goes in explaining the source and extent of God’s role in human government: “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all (Psalms 103); and, “There is no one righteous, no not one.” (Romans); and, “…the government will be on His shoulders” (Isaiah).

Indeed, the Christian “Gospel” is the good news about the Ultimate Government by providing saving grace for us individually as well as nationally!

Wes Keller WesKeller.com

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Bridgette Preston Dear Fellow Mat-Su Citizens: As Borough Elections are drawing near, (Nov 2,) I hope you’ll take a closer look at Kristi Short as the best choice for a seat on the Borough Assembly to represent District 6. Kristi Short is a great example of the new generation of political leadership our growing Mat Su Valley needs to guide our borough through the growth process.

Contributed by Jennifer Walther I’m Jennifer Walther and I am running for the District 4 seat of the Mat-Su Borough School Board. District 4 includes the city of Wasilla and the greater Wasilla area, with Seward Meridian, Knik-Goosebay Road, Vine, and Spruce as boundaries.

Her experience as a business owner, involved Fishook community council member, and longtime valley resident give her the perspective to see and understand the challenges and opportunities facing our Borough.

Please vote in the upcoming election and Ihope you’ll support Kristi Short for Borough Assembly-District 6. Sincerely, Bridgette J. Preston

always be diversity of opinion on hot topics, but we can find common ground as a board by focusing on our ultimate goal of providing quality education for all students. Excellence in education requires a team effort and begins with the leaders of our school district.

I am a lifelong Alaskan and have raised 5 children in this school district. Over the past 20 years I have watched our district grow and change positively, and am proud of what this district has grown into and where it is going.

However, the strained relationships that have developed over the past few years puts this progress in jeopardy and will ultimately halt our ability to grow and improve.

My highest priority is preparing students for success in their future.

Strength in the core subjects of reading, math, and writing will benefit every student -whether attending college or directly entering the job force.

After 2 years of disrupted education, our students need to have learning opportunities to compensate for any learning loss that may have occurred. It is my goal to keep schools open, safe, and in-person!

The students of this district deserve to have visionary leaders. There will

To learn more about me please visit WaltherForSchoolBoard.com

Contributed by Teresa de Lima It is a human right to breathe clean air, drink clean water and not be trespassed against by a toxic neighbor.

My last contribution to the paper on this subject was an article about my experience with PM2.5. It is first hand experience from 28 years of living in Fairbanks underneath the stacks of the power plant on First Avenue. And you ask- WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE THERE??? Well, because... it’s my family home. Of generations.

Contributed by Edna DeVries, Candidate for Mat-Su Borough Mayor I am Edna DeVries and I am running for Mat-Su Borough Mayor. I am writing this article to introduce myself and give you some information on voting in the upcoming election in November.

Some reasons to vote for me: I believe that our government is By the People, For the People, and Of the People.

Leaders must realize that leadership is a position of serving rather than being served. I believe in the US Constitution.

At the City of Palmer, we have put the First Amendment into practice by ensuring people can petition the government for a redress of grievances and not abridging their freedom of speech.

We have protected the citizens’ right to address their government and have their voices heard, and I have made sure that the wishes of the citizens of Palmer have been carried out. The Mat-Su Borough has provided instructions on

It’s where Gramma Hutch brought up around a dozen kids, to include some of Alaska’s Pioneers. I’m not sure the year it was built, 1910 I think, but it’s the home of James and Helen Hutchison, for whom the The Hutchison Institute of Technology was named. It’s where my mom grew up, where her children would go visit and run over to Lindy’s and get groceries for Gramma. It was the safe haven for a single mom to come home to raise a couple of boys.

So right after I contributed the PM2.5 article to The People’s Paper in August, I had the incredible opportunity to listen to a broadcast on NPR about Air Pollution and Adult Cognition. The radio

its website regarding how to vote in the November 2 election. If you desire to vote by absentee the following instructions apply: The deadline for absentee by-mail ballot requests to be received by the Borough Clerk’s Office is Tuesday, October 26, 2021.

Absentee by-mail ballot applications may be mailed to the address on the application or submitted via fax to 907861-7845.

Each person requesting an absentee by-mail ballot must personally sign the application. No one can sign the application for you. Complete your ballot request carefully and immediately return it to the Borough Clerk’s Office to allow sufficient time for processing.

An incomplete application or mail delay could prevent you from receiving your ballot on time. If after you submit your application, your residence or mailing address changes, please contact the Borough Clerk’s Office. To be counted, your ballot must be postmarked and

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Warren Keogh As a Vietnam veteran, I took offense at the school board’s action in 2020 to ban two books from the high school curriculum. Catch-22 and The Things They Carried are classics of contemporary American literature about war experiences in WWII and Vietnam. When our school board makes fundamental missteps like this it’s time to make a change.

Contributed by Sandy May November 20, 2021 the Mat Su Republican Women’s Club Est. 1947 will be having our monthly general meeting from 10 a.m. til noon and the location will be announced later. You can find that update on our webpage under meetings & events tab. matsurepublicanwomensclub.org Kimberley Strassel is a member of the editorial board for The Wall Street Journal and writes editorials and weekly for the Potomac Watch political column.

In the past, Ms. Strassel has been a regular contributor to Sunday political shows, such as CBS’s ‘Face the Nation’, NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ & Fox News Sunday. She is currently a contributor to Fox News.

Ms. Strassel is the New York Times best selling author of “The Intimidation Game: How the Left Is Silencing show was Freakonomics and entitled “This is your brain on pollution”. They posit that it is “well-established that air pollution has significant negative effects on the human body. And many places do require a public announcement when pollution levels are high.

But is it possible that on a given day, high pollution can affect your brain, your cognitive abilities?” It was fascinating. And sad. And scary. And it sure made me feel depressed that in Fairbanks Alaska coal is the main thing being burned to generate electricity.

It’s outdated, antiquated and there is a better way- or ways... ways that do not exact the human toll of coal.

mailed by Election Day, November 2, and received by Friday, November 5, 2021. If you want to hand deliver your ballot, please deliver it to an election official no later than 8:00 p.m. Election Day. An absentee by-mail ballot application can be downloaded from www.matsugov.us/elections or call the Borough Clerk’s Office at 907-861-8683 to request an application.

EARLY VOTING ASSISTANCE A Touch Screen Voting unit will be available at the Mat-Su Borough (DSJ) Administration Building and the Mat-Su Division of Elections from October 18 through November 1.

ALL precincts in the Mat-Su Borough are open on Election Day, November 2, 2021.

Proposition No. 1 “Borough Transportation Systems Projects Bonds” will be on the ballot. For a copy of Ordinance Serial No. 21-076 placing Proposition No. 1 on the ballot, please visit the Borough’s website at www. matsugov.us/elections . To see project

PAGE 8

Our school district will be in better hands if we elect Lori Berrigan to replace the incumbent in District 1. We will be better represented by someone who has ideal background and credentials to keep our schools on track to deliver quality education. For Lori’s values and her history with charter schools, community service and small business, visit berriganforschoolboard.com.

Free Speech” and “Resistance At All Costs: How Trump Haters Are Breaking America”.

During these anti America, socialist times, patriotism has been wildly increasing and many people come to our meetings and say, “I want to get involved!” We select speakers that we hope will motivate and suggest ways for just that. Many times their subject ‘speaks’ to folks and they have learned how they can help in our community and state. Being in the right place at the right time and getting connected.

For others, they have the opportunity to learn the truth from our speakers and not MSM or second to fourth hand rumors. So, please feel free to come to our meeting. They are always open to the public and we think you will really enjoy hearing from our November 20th speaker Kimberley Stassell! Mark your calendar!

I look forward to learning more about what is going on in Fairbanks to address the pollution of both air and water but the ground as well. I’m sure that several coal fired power plants don’t help things at all. Because whenever coal is burned, waste is generated.

Toxic Waste. And that toxic waste is taken from the powerplants -hot and steamy- and dumped on the ground- in unlined areas- upstream and adjacent to wetland and wildlife refuge(s).

This is a human rights issue and it needs to be treated a whole lot more seriously than what I see currently.

Respectfully, Teresa

information and maps please visit: https://transportation-system-package21-msb.hub.arcgis.com or call the Borough Clerk’s Office at 907-8618683. A copy of the ordinance will be available at all voting locations.

I would appreciate your vote for Mat-Su Borough Mayor. I have the experience, the ability, the enthusiasm, and the integrity to lead the Mat-Su Borough for the next three years.

Remember: a vote for Edna is a vote for a lover of freedom, a supporter of pro-life (from conception), a Second Amendment supporter, and one who supports limited government with less restrictions on business and personal freedoms within the Mat-Su Borough.

I was the original sponsor on the Term Limits legislation which governs the Mat-Su Borough’s elected officials today. As your Mayor, you can expect that same visionary leadership for the next three years.

Edna DeVries, 907-355-3243 ednadevries.com; ednadevries@yahoo.com

POLITICS & OPINION

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

PAGE 9

employees as they fulfill their respective responsibilities.

Contributed by Matthew Beck A close friend frequently reminds me, “A pothole in the road doesn’t care about who does the work or even necessarily how it is done, it just wants to be repaired.” My guess is that everyone who drove through the intersection of the Parks and Palmer Wasilla Highways during the weeks just before the recent paving will agree with this statement.

All we cared about as we bounced up and down and back and forth, and sometimes got a flat tire from the poor conditions, was for the road to be fixed and safely maneuverable once again.

The MatSu is unique in that people know what it means to come together, roll up their sleeves, and work to get the important things done. We might spend time discussing and arguing about

Contributed by Patti Fisher We all seem to be a lot crankier since the pandemic started. We’re seeing It has been shown that there is more violence, more hateful talk and less patience. So, I am putting in a plea to not bring that ugly mode into our localthe election campaigning which is currently underway.

Contributed by Barbara J. “Tamie” Miller She has the experience, ability, and desire to serve, we the people of the fastest growing Borough in the State of Alaska. She has seen the growth of the Borough over the years, first as an Assembly Member, then as Borough Mayor, and as an Alaska State Senator.

She has served as Mayor of the city of Palmer and can relate to the needs of a growing population. She has the ability

Contributed by Lori Berrigan My name is Lori Berrigan and I am running for School Board in District 1 in the Mat-Su Borough I grew up in Anchorage starting 1st grade at Oceanview Elementary School and graduating from Steller Secondary School in 1987. I also attended O’Malley Elementary, Hanshew Junior High, and Service High in Anchorage. I have a Degree in Chemistry from Colorado College. I worked as a field chemist on the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline in the 90s.

After realizing living in a lab was not my dream job, I went back to school to become a Massage Therapist, specializing in Sports Therapy. Later, after I had children, I went back to education and earned a certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education. I have lived in the

Contributed by Shannon Van Holstyn Your government is supposed to be staffed by YOU. Decisions in your best interest should be made directly by you.

Our employees staffing the government were created to undertake the responsibility to protect you and your property assets at all costs against all comers.

What if instead, your government preys upon you, threatens you, harasses you, makes you fearful, extorts money from you to fund their pet projects and lobbyist crony capitalist friends. What if the government we elected to be our hired employees began using our own “Delegated Powers” and operating in “our names” colluding to evade their true obligations? It’s been happening for 160 years, and it is time to stop this madness.

Six generations of Americans have

how to go forward, but eventually, we find a way to move ahead by finding reasonable compromises and working together. That is how most of the challenges are that we face in the MatSu Borough.

We all want safe and drivable roads, great schools, successful businesses, fish in the rivers and lakes, productive industries, food security from abundant agriculture, and a continued happy way of living in the MatSu. Our common hopes mark a good beginning point for what must be done. Our local government can help provide services so we can receive much of what we want.

When I served on the Assembly, I met countless MatSu residents who work tirelessly in assorted roles to make this a reality. This includes volunteers on boards and community councils, elect-

I believe we should show respect for our residentsce who are trying very hard to serve our Borough, State and Federal governments. Let’s not take the low road and succumb to exaggerations, trash talk and outright lies. The truth will come out in the end, and no one needs to sink to the level of throwing dirt on an opponent. Unfortunately,

to lead the Borough in the up coming trying times. She is very familiar with the budget process and the needs of our population.

She works well with people of all backgrounds and all cultures. She relates well to all people in all instances, she knows Robert’s Rules and will make sure to enforce them, while making sure that the Borough will be well protected for the betterment of the whole Borough. The State of Alaska is

MSB since 2004. I have 3 children who attend/have attended MSBSD schools.

All 3 of my children attended BIrchtree Charter School (BTC) and Palmer High.

Prior to BTC, we were a homeschooling family. My two oldest children are students at UAF, both UA Scholars.

Since living in the MSB, I have worked hard to bring choices to other MSB families by leading the effort to start BTC. After BTC was approved in 2010, I turned my attention to starting my own business, a Waldorf-inspired childcare and preschool. I remained on the BTC Academic Policy Committee for many years. BTC and my business, Palmer LifeWays, are now entering their eleventh year.

In addition to my work with BTC, I have been a member of the Mat-Su Ski Club

been preyed upon and targeted by the power-hungry beast posing as our government. By contract under the Constitutions, our government is supposed to be providing well defined, enumerated “governmental” services. Instead, our misdirected employees have been racketeering against us to misidentify our political status, impersonating us to defraud us and to harm, pillage and plunder our families, our resources and sweat equity labor instead of supplying the protection we entrusted them to provide.

What if I suggested to you that you were born of your father and your mother with the capability to love all and if you loved all, that means you would not cause harm to others. Sounds reasonable, right? By our birthright, we, lawfully (and by our US constitution) are given unalien-

ed officials, business owners, members of several different clubs and charitable organizations, and many other individuals with good ideas and solutions.

I have always thought of myself as a teacher and a coach, who works to bring people together in order to achieve a common goal and get things done. We are a large Borough. My hope is to collaborate with all members of the communities across the MatSu. In the role of Borough Mayor, I will listen to the leadership of the Borough Assembly and making certain their priorities are front and center in the work of the Borough staff and employees and those who represent us in Juneau and Washington DC. As your Mayor, I look forward to supporting the Borough Manager, Directors, and other that is happening right now. Making false statements such asSaying such things as “the Borough wants to take away your guns” or my opponent wants a “strong mayoral form of government” are intended to inflametrash talk.

MAnd most important they are just NOT true.

So, let’s stop it now. The current Assembly person for District 7 Tam Boeve is a dedicated public servant who has the largest district in the Borough (from Meadow Lakes almost to Cantwell), which includes 7 Community Councils,

young with a fast growing population, of which the greater majority settling in our Mat-Su Borough. Edna has the ability and knowledge to keep the order of necessary growth as successful as we all want. Edna is completely at ease with the budgeting process, and will work to ensure that the necessary spending will be handled in a manner to respect the wishes of we the taxpayers.

I truly believe that Edna will keep the taxpayers’ wishes in the fore front of Board and the Palmer Moose Nordic Ski Team Booster Club. I also serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the State of Alaska.

My goals on the School Board are: To plan for the growth in the MatSu so classroom sizes can be kept small.

To serve all children in the MatSu. No one child is more important than another.

Foster partnerships and relationships between schools and parents.

To be fiscally responsible and provide transparency of public funds.

Improve proficiency in students that are below proficiency levels.

Maintain, create, and promote programs that give students choice, including college prep and vocational education tracks, and make public schools available to home schoolers.

To keep schools open and buses running.

able rights to live peaceably and free and to stand in self-governance. So why is your birth certificate literally an Insurance Indemnity Receipt which is required under the Lieber Code/Hague Conventions printed on bond paper?

They must give you an indemnity receipt for the property they are stealing from you-essentially an insurance policy guaranteeing that your property won’t be harmed because of their use of it.

Your birth certificate was created under auspicious and nefarious intentions to deem you diseased so you could be lost at sea and a fictitious strawman aka a corporate entity was created to misidentify you and was set up using your name. In such event, you are nothing more than chattel slaves used to pay the national debt. How did this happen? What can we do?

First, we go back where we got derailed and we take a stand. We take back control by self-governing our states as our

The MatSu Mayor is the face of the Borough and I’d be honored to be that person. I’m thankful for the encouragement and support that so many have offered thus far and I ask for your vote for Matthew Beck for MatSu Mayor on November 2.

Matthew Beck 907-355-3223 www.matthewjbeck.com NOTE FROM PUBLISHER: We received nearly a dozen article submissions in support of Matthew Beck for Mat-Su Borough Mayor.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the space available to print all of them in the physical edition. For more letters of endorsement submitted to us in regard to Matthew Beck, please visit www.thepeoplespaper.news/beck

8 Road Service Areas, 6 Fire Service Areas and 3 Special Service Areas. She is a member of the Joint Assembly/School Board Committee on School Issues and the MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission, and regularly attends 12 meetings a week to meet the need of the district.

Her list of accomplishments for residents is long and impressive.

TamShe listens to residents and workstries very hard to meet theirre needs. I urge you to vote to reelect Tam Boeve to the Borough Assembly for District 7.

the expenses necessary to keep our Borough growing while keeping the budget in check. I know that Edna will represent the Borough in such a manner that all persons she comes into contact with, will think, the Mat-Su Borough has elected an intelligent,well spoken, friendly human.

Please remember to vote November 2,2021 for the betterment of our Mat-Su Borough. Barbara J. “Tamie” Miller

To do all of this, we must invest in the teachers, staff, and students of the MSBSD. I recently read a teacher saying that teachers this year are “April tired” and it is only October. Without support from the administration and School Board, I worry that we will lose many great teachers and staff and will have trouble recruiting great teachers and staff. We see this already in our sub pool, bus drivers, and support staff. Teaching is a calling, but to be a great teacher you need manageable classroom sizes, support staff, and administration support.

I look forward to bringing my years of experience working with Charter Schools and budgets, running my own business, working with foster kids, and non-profit board work. It is time we all recognize we are on the same side, the side of teaching and supporting children in our schools and community.

Please Vote November 2nd, 2021.

forefathers designed our US government to be. You are in control of your destiny and the destiny of your country.

You earn your rights by accepting your duty to serve your actual American Government and failing that, you have no rights. You haven’t been taught this in public school intentionally so the vermin could continue to take advantage of you and your labor in bondage, so you must listen up and learn fast, because it’s all up to you. Join your local assembly (we are governing in all 50 states) and be a part of claiming our country back. United we stand so let’s stand together! GOD BLESS US ALL! Shannon Michelle Van Holstyn, American State National Eagle River, Alaska Correct Your Status – The American States Assembly (americanstatenationals.org) http://www.annavonreitz.com/

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Brenda McCain Tam Boeve has my vote for Borough Assembly District 7, not for what she promises that she will do, but for what I have witnessed that she has done. I have rarely seen a person stand for the people of the community more than Tam Boeve.

I know that Tam continually travels the entire length of far-flung District 7 to stay engaged with those she serves, but I can only speak to my personal experience with this amazing woman.

I first met Tam more than 6 years ago, a few months prior to the Sockeye Fire.

She was a driving force in organizing large community meetings to support strengthening our Willow Fire Dept. I knew who she was but had not seen this quiet, determined woman in action before!

During Sockeye she and her family evacuated from their home and imme-

diately came to the Willow Community Center and began helping others, not knowing if her home was lost or not.

They helped many evacuate dog teams and cared for them down at Houston Middle in the unusual heat. In review of my emails from during the fire one was “ I’ve lost track of who’s donating what, but we could really use 23 metal dog bowls and some buckets, maybe a shovel for scooping, that sort of thing.

Right now!”

The entire family worked in the immediate response and long-term recovery of the Sockeye fire. She worked the next few years with Forestry and Willow Garden club in having trees and other plants available for the Sockeye survivors to replant their property Tam then served on the Willow Fire Board of Supervisors and continue to support our fire department, The past two years I have worked with Tam on the McKinley Fire Long-term Recovery Workgroup. Since the first

of school had gone. My granddaughter told me her tale in a an angry voice.

Contributed by Nan Potts It’s Fall and children are back in school!

A time for kids and their parents to rejoice. Classrooms filled with anxious youngsters eager to learn and parents anticipating the continuation of their growing child’s educational experience, right?

Well, that’s the ideal scene.

It wasn’t until the second week of school in Vancouver, Washington, my ten year old granddaughter encountered her first snag in the fifth grade.

Her teacher assigned the class to create posters to welcome all of the students, returning and new. The posters were to be positive and colorful, an “All Welcome” assignment.

The kids worked independently while casually discussing ideas, each coming up with crayon drawn themes. She did two posters. One, “Kindness Zone” which included a bright rainbow. The other poster she came up with was, “All Lives Matter”. This was in response to the idea, “Black Lives Matter”, mentioned by another student. My granddaughter immediately realized the BLM poster was not inclusive and countered with hers.

The ALM poster was rejected by the teacher. WHY? The teacher’s explanation was that some groups required more help or attention than others.

Needless to say, my granddaughter returned home that afternoon upset.

Why? The teacher’s explanation didn’t make sense to her.

I happened to call my daughter that night to find out how the second week

Contributed by Dan and Jill Adamson The State of Alaska has been operating a rock quarry illegally and carelessly in Talkeetna. Residents have been fighting for years to protect our community from this quarry, but have been met with only contempt from state officials.

This site has substantially impacted public parklands, wildlife patterns and our beautiful lakes. The rock crushing and processing disrupts the adjacent parkland by leaving clouds of diesel fumes hanging over the area and blasts

My initial reaction, “What word in ‘All Lives Matter’ does your teacher not understand to be inclusive?”

“I don’t know!” she replied. “I’m so angry!

I want to write the Principal!”

I suggested she write out her frustration. It would help clarify her understating of what happened. She could decide later if to send it.

She did. And, she sent it — to her teacher. This was the email she wrote and sent: “On Friday you told me that you wouldn’t hang my “ALL LIVES MATTER” poster. Even though at the moment I said that I understood. Now I realize that I do not. I would also like to bring to your attention that we were doing INCLUSIVE posters, the definition of inclusive is not focusing on specific groups like LGBTQ or BLM, it is not even close to that. The definition is really: including DIFFERENT items (or in this case people). So technically by not hanging up my poster that is not being inclusive.

Also by not including my poster, which says “all lives matter”, makes me feel like you’re saying, [name of friend]’s life doesn’t matter, [other name of friend]’s life doesn’t matter, YOUR life doesn’t matter, which they do! I just think that all people matter and we all should be appreciated, and you might think that my parents are telling me to write this but that is not the case, this is all me.

So I will ask one more time, not angrily but politely, will you please hang my poster? I will leave it at your desk and let you decide tomorrow.

— [granddaughter’s name] The following day, her teacher confronted her. “I was very impressed,” her teacher said. Her teacher did not hang

ringing in the ears. The parks are home to miles of groomed trails beloved by participants in Talkeetna’s famous Oosik Classic ski race as well as snow-bikers, snowshoers, hikers, swimmers, paddlers, bird watchers and lovers of wellplanned natural spaces.

This quarry is surrounded by Mat-Su Borough parks and the Christiansen Lake Special Land Use District, which prevents even light industrial use. Proper permitting and safety measures have been bypassed. The quarry has ignored the EPA’s industrial permitting process

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

day of the fire and through the long recovery, Tam has had a hands, day to day involvement with the survivors of the fire. She worked to find funding donations and resources to help with the re-building of homes and lives.

In December 2019, when late night ice jam flooding in the Willow Creek area caused residents to evacuate due to threats to life and property, the Red Cross of Alaska opened a shelter at the Willow Community Ctr.(WCC). I responded to the WCC as Willow CERT team leader and Red Cross volunteer and was not surprised that Tam Boeve was already there, in the middle of the night, ready to help in any way she was needed.

Her commitment to community service is legendary.

Tam was among those instrumental in bringing about the restoration of the historic Willow Community Center, now nearing completion. She played an ac-

the poster but continued to defend her stance with an analogy regarding focusing on specific groups. Here is the cartoon analogy the teacher used to justify her stance: My granddaughter decided on another poster. This time it read, “You Matter”.

She felt good about her idea being accepted and enjoyed the remainder of the school day. Unfortunately, she didn’t finish it and it was not posted.

Later that evening, when she told her mom and me how the situation was resolved, she realized she had been manipulated — tears flowed.

In my book that’s an act of betrayal.

My granddaughter has moved past this episode, but she is thinking twice about what happened: How is ALM different than You Matter? How is, “certain groups, individuals, etc., need more attention than others”, inclusive?

Can different words or wording convey the same thought? The answer, Yep! Words matter for clarification. However, in this case, have the definition of words been changed? The answer, Yes! In my February article, “The Cancer of Cancel Culture”, I wrote about Cancel Culture (CC) and how it has changed the definitions of words to qualify their fictitious narratives. Now, the CC, our Woke Government and the mainstream media are changing the significance of sentences and phrases: Peaceful Protesters = Rioters White Supremacists = Disagreeable White People Government Mask Mandates = Governmental Control Government Vaccine Mandates = Governmental Control Lock-downs = Governmental Control Monetary Congressional Bills = Higher

that prevents pollution to air and water.

There have been instances of leaking equipment and there is no storm water pollution protection plan to contain contamination from storm runoff into lakes and wetlands. The land was never classified or subjected to the required public processes that must precede use as a quarry.

PAGE 10

tive role in the development of our phenomenal Newman Park which includes a wonderful, well-utilized dog park.

She is a longtime volunteer for the historic State Winter Carnival in Willow.

She has worked on securing funding for our new library and community center restoration.

She volunteers at our Su Valley Emergency Preparedness Fair and the Mat Su Emergency Expo.

I really could go on much longer and still not cover all this amazing, dedicated woman has done.

Her actions speak louder than anyone else’s words.

Tam is about working with and for people, families, community needs, not about politics.

She has been serving as Deputy Mayor for the Borough because of her dedication to the entire Borough. There is no one more capable or proven when it comes to serving our community.

Please vote to retain Tam Boeve for Borough Assembly Seat 7.

Brenda McCain

Taxes, Inflation and Governmental Control According to Teachers’ Unions, School Boards and the DOJ: Domestic Terrorists = Concerned Parents What? School Boards are voted in by The People (many parents)! What part of the First Amendment is not understood? When have parent voices been silenced in regard to their children’s education? Answer: Never! In fact, teachers for decades have desperately WANTED parental INVOLVEMENT in education.

What has changed? Answer: Leadership, from top government leaders to our teachers and the WOKE folk.

Kids aren’t stupid! Although their minds and emotions are malleable, some kids “get it”. Social trends and teachings have changed dramatically. Kids recognize the divergence from the things they were taught in Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grades. How can the teachers be trusted if students realize their morals are being twisted — supporting a trending narrative? Kids know it doesn’t make sense. Are these kids confused? You bet!

Meanwhile, other students absorb the propaganda that social media and WOKE parents provide.

True Socialism has arrived folks. And, people in power have plans for it to stay!

Scary? You bet!

How are you planning to take back control of your kids’ minds and education?

WARNING TO “EDUCATORS”: There are sharp kids in your classrooms who can see through your “Bait and Switch” (BS)!

Despite this recognized history the quarry parcel has yet to undergo state and Federally mandated Historical Preservation and Archeology reviews.

We and many in the Talkeetna Community respect Indigenous People, places and non-renewable natural, cultural and archeological resources.

The rich history of the Dena’ina, Athabascan, Ahtna and Upper Kuskokwim People is outlined in ShemPete’s Alaska The Territory of the Upper Cook Inlet Dena’ina (Kari, J.,et al).

The brazen disregard for the community and lack of compliance with rules is not the precedent the state should want to set for itself. The community of Talkeetna will do all it can to protect wild places.

The park and quarry area both have traditional Dene place names and uses.

Dan and Jill Adamson Talkeetna

COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY & MOBILITY 101 Mobility ........ 521-7101

APPAREL & CLOTHING All Seasons Clothing Co. ........ 357-0123 ART & CRAFTS The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE Black Birch Books ...... 373-2677 Fireside Books ........ 745-2665

COFFEE & CAFÉ Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Gathering Grounds Cafe ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blues……..745-2233 EDUCATION Gille Learning Center ..... 357-1100 Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 EPOXY SUPPLY & INSTALL Alaska Resin Supply ........ 671-9900 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort Shoes ........ 376-5403 HOME DÉCOR Peak Boutique ........ 746-3320 The Wagon Wheel ........ 671-0189 MUSIC LESSONS Wood & Wire Guitars .... 745-7457 ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS www.alaskamarketplace.com www.gunsalaska.com PRINT SERVICES L&B Color Printing ........ 376-2081 REPAIR & RESTORATION Alaska Resin Supply ........ 671-9900 Comtronics ........ 373-2669 S&S Drilling ...... 746-0225 Steve’s Toyostove Repair ..... 376-9276 The Powdercoat Shop .... 841-1300 Wood & Wire Guitars .... 745-7457 RESTAURANTS Locals Pub & Pizzaria ........ 357-3100 Mekong Thai Cuisine ........ 373-7690 SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES Mr. Plow ........ 521-2376 SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364 Non-Essentials ........ 745-2258 The Wagon Wheel ........ 671-0189

PAGE 11

contents to return them to Condition 1. Attempts to kill, encapsulate or inhibit mold instead of proper source removal generally are not adequate”.

Many like to disagree with that statement or wordsmith their way around it, but there are 64 pages with 17 sections in the standard that are backed by science and peer reviewed credible documentation.

ANTIQUES & VINTAGE The Estate Sale ........ 357-7050

CANNABIS RETAILER Matanuska Cannabis Co. ...... 745-4211

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Patrick Hartshorn We have all heard those scarry words: “Black Mold”. Well, I have some interesting news for you, many molds are black or are mixed with dark enough colors you can’t tell the difference. There are many factors that go into the color of mold, you cannot determine the type, toxicity or any other useful information about mold based on its color alone!

Many years ago, the media industry coined the term black mold to reference a specific mold family called Stachybotrys while reporting on a famous mold case in Texas. Stachybotrys is only one of many molds that can establish growth in our homes and the interesting caveat is that Stachybotrys can be white, black, or any color in between.

Mold is impregnated within many man-made building materials and most porous construction materials already contain the necessary foods for mold to eat. Once moisture intrusion occurs the requirements for growth are already present. Once a mold growth is established, the presence of high humidity, about 60%, can sustain the growth.

Which brings us to the most-oft asked question, “Why is mold growing in my house and what is the correct way to deal with it?” Typically, the cause that starts a growth is always the same, moisture has been able to intrude our indoor space and allowed building materials to become wet enough for growth to start. The moisture source is the very first item that must be determined and corrected. Removing the mold is the second step and unfortunately, it is usually the most expensive

and misunderstood part of the entire process. There are “snake oil” products and salesmen on every corner, but the correct process of mold remediation dates to biblical times and still stands true today, remove the mold! Last is the clearance process. Clearances are intended to confirm the remediation was done correctly and completely with visual documentation and analytical data. The intent of clearances is to remove litigation risk for the building owner, the remediation company, and any other parties of material interest.

This brings us to the point of this conversation, once you have indoor growth (referred to as “mold contamination” within industry standards) what is the proper approach and intended outcome. Well, just like most contractual obligations, best practices are to follow laws, regulation, codes, or industry standards. For the industry of Mold Remediation and Indoor Environmental Consulting there are no local laws, regulations, or codes, but there are American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved industry standards.

Following these standards assures the process is done to the best-known methods available to-date and to a level sufficient of obtaining the necessary clearances. Failure to follow the standards leaves all parties involved at risk for that dreaded litigation, a pathway I can assure you is never a win for project owners, or any others involved.

The industry standard has entire sections dedicated to the proper removal of mold without the use of chemical products. The standard states, “Physically removing mold contamination is the primary means of remediation.

Mold should be physically removed from the structure, systems, and

There is also a federal law forbidding the use of chemical products “in violation of their labeling”. The chemical products I have been introduced to for this industry typically state on their label “for use on non-porous solid surfaces only”! One very common over the counter product recently changed their label to say, “on hard surfaces”, tricky wordsmithing there! In short, they are solid surface cleaners, not remediation tools for porous construction materials.

It is also worth noting they are registered pesticides, and that EPA Number on the bottle is not the “Mold Killer Registry” (there is no such thing), it is the “Pesticide Registry number”!

Science has proven that mold does not die, it goes into dormancy. Studies have shown that an active (growing) spore has the same allergenic and toxigenic characteristics as an inactive (dormant) spore.

With actions such as the application of chemical products, mold can go into a “defensive state of dormancy” while the conditions are not favorable. Mold can then become viable (able to grow) once the conditions return to a favorable environment. Any sampling during the dormancy stage will provide a false result of “nonviable” (dormant) mold, leading service providers to claim the mold is “dead” and consumers to believe the problem is solved. I have personally witnessed chemical attempts at remediation that have cost innocent consumers thousands of dollars for legitimate remediation that was not their responsibility!

This is the start of a conversation that cannot be covered in one article, more on this subject next month.

Patrick Hartshorn IH, CRMI Advance Look Building Inspections & Environmental Testing 907-232-1007 • info@advancelookak.com

TAXI & TRANSPORTATION Mr. Taxi ........ 707-6011 THRIFT SHOPS Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 TOOLS & WEAPONS Polaris Security & Conult ........ 764-7643 TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990

Contributed by Doug Ferguson As with last month’s article, rather than focusing on the rapid descent of our current political and social culture, it’s been my intent to focus on past personal experiences with people that I have come to appreciate as representing what has been great about America during my lifetime in hopes that future generations will appreciate what we had then that enabled these individuals to do what they did.

This time I am featuring an outstanding professor whose class I was fortunate enough to be able to take in college, Dr. Jason Nassau. He then was Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Case Institute of Technology (Now part of Case University) in Cleveland, Ohio where I was a freshman engineering student.

To understand the significance of this class to all who were fortunate enough to have taken it, we need to go back a few years to early September 1955 when I, and the rest of the freshman class of Case were on campus for Freshman Orientation Week. The week was filled with the required move into dorms, registrations, campus orientation, how to pay for our food at the cafeteria, buying textbooks, lectures on curriculums, Case history and traditions and many other things we needed to know before classes started the following Monday. These were all during the day except for one event. On Thursday evening we were all loaded into buses and taken out to the old Warner and Swasey Observatory on Taylor road in East Cleveland to hear a lecture by Dr. Nassau.

As we all filed in and noisily sat in the high student gallery in the beautiful old Observatory building, we gazed down upon old 9.5-inch refractor

telescope which had been donated to the college in1919 and gazed up at the impressive 24-inch Burrell Schmidt telescope built in 1939 and donated to Case, now residing on Kitt Peak in Arizona. Presently a small, balding white haired older man in a rumpled suit slowly walked out and, in a high pitched raspy voice announced that he was Dr. Jason Nassau, head of Case’s Astronomy department and that he was going to tell us about the observatory, Case’s astronomy program and the fascinating story of our Universe.

know both Fred Hoyle, the originator of the “steady state” hydrogen theory of the universe popular at the time, and George Gamow, the originator of the “Big Bang theory”. He was 82 years old when we first saw him as freshman and 86 years old when I was a senior and took his course. By then he only taught one undergraduate course a year. Thus it is a credit to his ability to inspire interest in astronomy in a group of young students that it required getting up at 3:00am. four years later to stand in line to make sure you got into his class!

Given his unimpressive appearance, his age and his high raspy voice, I don’t believe any of we freshman thought this was going to be a fun evening. Boy, were we wrong! He spoke for about an hour and during that period you could hear a pin drop during his pauses. I don’t remember all he said, but he talked about the universe beyond us and how man’s wonder of it drove him to quest for more and more knowledge of what it was, how it came to be and what place the earth had in it.

He left a lasting influence on me about the subject of knowledge, along with an interest in the subject of astronomical science and science in general that I have had ever since.

This was because his class was more than astronomy. It really was a course in the philosophy of science and knowledge in general. His belief was that man will always quest for knowledge as long as man exists and that we will never know it all. He also believed that as we gained more knowledge we will find much more we don’t know and will continue our quest to find it.

He gave us examples to imagine the scale of the universe and how it related to the earth. He mentioned the famous astronomers that he knew personally, such as Fred Hoyle and George Gamow and their debate on the origins of the Universe. In spite of his high, older and somewhat frail voice he held over one hundred freshman spell bound for over an hour. Afterwards, we all got to have a glimpse at a celestial object (I don’t remember what it was) through the old 9.5-inch refractor which was in use only as a teaching instrument.

Dr. Nassau was the first chair of the department of astronomy and later became Professor Emeritus. He was a pioneer in the study of galactic structure and he personally really did

This humble message from a great scientist is a stark contrast to the cry of “settled science” we hear so much about today.

Truly, Dr. Jason Nassau was a great American college teacher and I consider myself fortunate to have experienced his class and lived in America at a time when such a person could flourish, be effective and be appreciated.

Doug Ferguson is a retired engineer living in Palmer, AK who has had a lifelong interest in nature, science, history and human behavior

COMMUNIT Y Contributed by Clayton Allison Diligent homeowners are researching the best options for coating their concrete flooring. Properly prepared concrete surfaces ensure any coatings applied will adhere correctly. The longevity of any concrete coating is dependent on how well it bonds to the surface of the concrete. Meticulous and correct preparation is essential.

There are four commonly used methods to prepare concrete surfaces: Diamond Grinding, Shot Blasting, Scarification and Acid Etching,. The preparation before coating a concrete floor is also referred to as surface profiling. Achieving the correct profile can make or break the adhesion of a new concrete coating.

For professional installers, the most important factor is CSP or Concrete Surface Profile. CSP is a standardized measure for the roughness of a concrete surface. This can range from CSP-1 (smoothest) to CSP-9 (roughest). The thicker the coating system, the higher the required CSP to get a good bond.

Thin coating systems do not perform well over time. Commercial coating systems are thicker for good reason— they last longer. This is why professional contractors look for a CSP-3 to CSP-9 for the best bond and performance. To achieve this, professional contractors use diamond grinding, shot blasting and scarification. When the concrete surface is too smooth, coatings bond poorly. This can cause your floor coating to fail over time. The coating may also fail to bond due to the surface not being cleaned properly from dirt, grease, oil, or chemical spills.

Contributed by Marilyn Bennett Today if you join a Toastmasters Club you can attend any toastmasters meeting in the world as long as you are an eligible member of any club. For nearly 100 years, in-person meetings have been at the heart of Toastmasters. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many clubs have been unable to continue with inperson meetings. A hybrid club meeting combines online and in- person attendance.

A Toastmasters club provides its members with a safe and supportive environment to become better communicators, leaders, and public speakers.

For many, their club gives them a sense of belonging. In light of the coronavi-

It is important to identify if your concrete is sealed. Sealed concrete will not allow a coating to adhere. You can do a simple test to check if your concrete is sealed—pour a cup of water on it. If it absorbs into the concrete, then the surface is not sealed. If the water sits on top of the concrete, then a sealer has been applied. A sealer will prevent any coating you apply from bonding to the concrete. It is recommended to use a Diamond Grinder or Shot Blaster to remove any sealers, glues, caulks, mastics, or previous coatings. Newly poured concrete must be profiled as well (and also must cure for 28 days before coating).

Today, most coating manufacturers no longer recommend acid etching for a multitude of reasons. The best acid etching tends to produce a CSP-1 to CSP-2 profile, which is suitable for only very thin systems. As previously discussed, thin systems have poor longevity. Acid etching results are inconsistent and unreliable. The surface can end up uneven, over-etched or under-etched.

Acid etching involves the application of acid to the concrete, then rinsing it off with water. Dangerous if not done correctly—it can damage concrete and cause serious bodily harm as well.

The etching process can leave behind a white powdery residue (calcium carbonate) that can cause your coating to fail. Many local and federal agencies have imposed restrictions on washing the acid solution down the floor drain, due to the risk posed to the environment. Most coating manufacturers will no longer warranty a floor prepped with acid.

rus disease (COVID-19), our club has a hybrid meeting two days of the month.

Which means that those who feel comfortable may come to Turkey Red in person and those who cannot make it to the meeting, or feel more comfortable on-line can still participate.

The other days of the month we only meet online to protect the safety and well-being of our members.

By transitioning to online and hybrid meetings, our club allows it’s members the ability to continue pursuing their goals and provide human interaction that they might not otherwise get.

While many aspects of personal and professional lives have been disrupted, we hope our Toastmaster club can meet

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Diamond grinders use rotating discs—special tooling embedded with diamonds—to clean, level and abrade the concrete surface. This allows them to remove the smooth top layer of concrete to expose the raw aggregate beneath. Grinding makes controlling the surface profile easier and ensures a consistent result. A dust containment system or “Pulse Vacuum” is used to collect the concrete dust during grinding.

Diamond grinders are versatile and can be used with special tooling to provide more than a surface profile. They can be equipped for concrete polishing systems as well.

Shot blasters use centrifugal force to propel tiny steel shot at high velocity onto the concrete surface. A big advantage of shot blasting when compared to other mechanical methods is it produces very little airborne dust. The process is confined in an enclosed blast chamber that recovers and separates the dust and reusable shot. Magnet brooms are commonly used to collect any stray shot after the job is completed.

PAGE 12

Scarifiers allow you to cut or “scar” the surface of the concrete in rows. It uses spinning blades on a drum that rotate at high speed, cutting into the top level of the concrete. These are more aggressive than a diamond grinder or shot blaster. Some models can remove as much as a quarter inch or more of concrete in one pass. These are utilized when you need to remove a large amount of the concrete surface.

When talking to your contractor, ask them which surface profile the manufacturer recommends for the material being installed. If you’re going to be paying for a quality flooring material to be installed, you should make sure that the floor is properly prepared.

Contact us today to learn more about your Professional Installation or DIY options. We have a full equipment line available for rental. You can call us at (907) 671-9900 or visit us at 201 E. Swanson Ave. Suite #1, Wasilla. If you would like a quote for your floor, go to www.AlaskaResin.com and download our Epoxy Project Quote Request Form on our Contact Page.

online and in person when possible, to provide a sense of normalcy to our members.

will stretch your personal learning network and enable immersion in wider cultural environments

Toastmasters who are already embracing online club membership will tell you that the experiences have helped them to develop their skills to another level among an international audience.

Once you join our club you may access any other on-line club in the world.

Attendance online is easy, no travel required, no need to leave your home in bad weather, no restrictions for differently abled people.

Discover more about Palmer Toastmasters at 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. so please come early to join up.

Performing meeting roles online is challenging but the rewards are the ability to build networks and build skills for screen presence. It can also build confidence for presenting webinars and online meetings. Becoming a member of our hybrid club and therefore access to the world-wide Toastmaster network,

For the Zoom link, visit the meeting directions tab at our club website: https:// palmer.toastmastersclubs.org/.

We are a friendly group of positive valley people who meet to help each other grow and have fun together in the process. We invite you to get to know us better by joining one or more meetings as a guest.

PETS & ANIMALS / COMMUNIT Y

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Angie Lewis Honey is a sweet Pit Bull/American Bulldog Mix. Just a young gal, only about a year old and ready for a foster or permanent home.

Honey is housetrained, knows basic

PAGE 13

commands, and likes people and kids.

She is spayed, micro-chipped and vaccinated. Honey would prefer to be the only dog in the household.

Call Alaska Animal Advocates, Angie at 841-3173 to meet this awesome gal.

ward the dog for being able to focus elsewhere. Continue to give the dog short viewings of the cat throughout the day. If the dog is too excited to see the cat, simply close the door and feed each animal on his/her side of the door. Feed them close to the door, this way each animal associates good food smells with proximity to the other pet.

This process might take days, or it could take months. It is possible that the dog and cat will never get used to each other and you will have to keep them separate in your household.

Keeping them safe must be your first priority.

Contributed by Angie Lewis Some dogs and cats can live in the same household and become best friends, while others will never be able to do so safely. Individuality is crucial here with personalities playing a huge part in certain dogs and cats developing friendships. Introductions will therefore need to be dealt with individually as well.

A knowledge of body language, for both dogs and cats, is vital. Pay particular attention to the dog’s body language. Look for a stiffening body, staring, whining, and barking. When this happens, do not allow the dog to go near the cat. A relaxed, loose body stance is what you want to see.

If the kitty’s ears are pinned back and her tail is swishing back and forth, she is not in the happiest of moods.

Remember that the location of the interaction is important as well. The animals may do well inside the house, but outside is often very different.

Cats are more often seen as prey when they are outside.

Be flexible when choosing a method for introducing a dog and a cat. It is best to have at least two people available – one for the dog and one for the cat. If you have more than one dog, just introduce one at a time.

If your dog seems too fixated on your cat, you will want to desensitize him to the kitty by gradually increasing his exposure to her. Put the cat in a room, that your dog cannot access, and separate them with a baby gate.

Do this various times of the day. This way they are separate, but they can still see each other. Make sure that your cat cannot escape over or under the gate. Stock the kitty’s room with food, litter box, or toys to meet her needs.

To begin desensitization, let the dog view the cat briefly through the gate, and then get the dog to focus on something else, such as playing with a toy or practicing training cues.

Sometimes it helps to keep the dog on leash so that you can move him away from the cat when you try to refocus his attention. Praise and re-

Another faster introduction technique is the face-to-face introduction.

One person should hold the dog on a loose lead, constantly monitoring the dog’s body language. If the cat is not showing aggressive or stressed body language, then she can be allowed to move around freely. Have your dog sit or lay down. If he is maintaining his composure, reward him verbally or with treats.

There is another strategy called, “Look at That” and it would be best to talk to an actual dog trainer about this. This involves you teaching your dog to look at your cat momentarily, but then to look at a treat in your hands. He will discover that it is more rewarding to look at your treat, than it is to pay attention to the cat.

Animals with good past experience often adjust well and quickly to a new pet in the house. But if introductions don’t go well, seek help from a professional dog trainer or behavior consultant. Don’t ever use punishment: It will not help and it could make matters much worse.

Angie Lewis Palmer

event of the natural world. The fruit of this remarkable tree has been partaken of by mankind for centuries and is utilized in the making of jellies, jam and syrups.

It has been said that this tree species crowd and over-run our native tree population, but in the many years which I have cared for these trees, I find that this Alaskan cherry tree co-exists nicely with my spruce, birch and willows which thrive next to them.

Contributed by GB Jones There is not a species of tree in Alaska that is more impressive than our Chokecherry tree. The only undesirable thing about the Chokecherry tree is its name.

This amazing tree chokes nothing.

Just as the Bald Eagle is not bald, and the Mute Swan is not mute, the Chokecherry tree chokes nothing.

Therefore and hereafter this amazing and impressive naturalized Alaskan tree shall simply be referred to herein as the Alaskan cherry tree.

A few well meaning but misguided Alaskans have labeled this cherry tree as invasive, and this is very unfortunate for we who live in this great land, as well as for those who visit us!

Our Alaskan forest and neighborhood

trees are rapidly being depleted due to insect infestations, forest fires, logging and an accelerated rate of climate change. I submit to you that this Alaskan cherry tree is not the invasive one, but it is mankind and his tenacity to destroy that which is wholesome and beneficial to all.

The Alaskan cherry tree purifies our air and provides us oxygen while combating emission from our excessive use of automobiles, airplanes and vessels of the sea. These trees enhance the beauty of our rural and urban dwellings. These trees stabilize the soil and reduce land erosion, and provide life sustaining nourishment to our migrating bird population.

Have you ever seen a swarm of Bohemian Waxwings descend on the fruit of the Alaskan cherry tree? If so, then you have beheld a most spectacular

It has also been argued that the foliage of this tree species can be toxic to moose, and yes, under some circumstances this is correct. If a young moose is going through a tough winter when food is scarce, and should be forced to eat the leaves and branches of the cherry tree, then it could be fatal to the moose.

I submit to you however, that the automobile, the railroad and the rifle are a hundred times more toxic to the moose than any cherry tree!

I would encourage all my fellow Alaskan land owners to plant at least one Alaskan cherry tree within your yard this coming spring. Let this cherry tree provide you and your loved ones with the spiritual contentment it brings. Let the fragrance of the cherry tree blossoms serve to remind you, that in a world where man is being invaded with war, disease and chaos, a touch of goodness prevails within the branches of this praiseworthy tree!

COMMUNIT Y Contributed by Ryanne Ori Consign49 Consignment Sale November 11-14th Raven Hall, Alaska State Fairgrounds Does sweater weather have you in the mood for not only pumpkin spice everything, but also a seasonal closet refresh? How would you like to shop from a selection of thousands of high quality items at 60-90% off retail prices, while also supporting local community members! The holidays are just around the corner, and so is the next Consign49 consignment sale.

Consign49 is a four-day consignment

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

sale held each spring and fall, in which over 200 local community members bring new and gently used clothing, accessories, and home décor items together to form a large-scale resale popup. Each consignor individually prices and tags items, and items are dropped off approximately one day before the sale begins. Consign49 Team Members work to organize all items, so everything can be easily shopped according to category and size. In addition, there is a “vendor row” where over a dozen local businesses will have booths for sharing their products and services.

lifecycle of high-quality items! Consignors get to clear out items from their homes, while earning some extra cash for the holidays. Shoppers get the opportunity to buy brand name items, or much needed seasonal items, for a fraction of retail prices. Additionally, many items that go unsold at the end of the event will be donated to local charities in need. For the upcoming event, Consign49 will be partnering with the MyHouse homeless youth center as the primary recipient of all unsold items donated through the generosity of our consignors.

Consign49 is a smart, sustainable way to shop, earn money, and extend the

The Consign49 Fall/Holiday 2021 Sale will be held November 11-14 at Raven

PAGE 14

Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, Alaska. Admission and parking are free, all major credit cards are accepted, and dressing rooms will be provided. Event hours are 9am – 8pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 9am – 5pm on Sunday. On Sunday, November 14th, many remaining items will be marked half-price, depending on whether the individual consignor has chosen to put the item into the halfprice sale.

If you are interested in becoming a consignor, please go to www.consign49. com for more information. Consignor spots are limited and will be on a first come basis. Additionally, a limited number of vendor spaces are available.

Please send an email to info@consgin49.com for more information.