The People's Paper September 2021

Mountain Realm by Douglas Girard

MORE ON PAGE 9 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE

Contributed by Lauren Kane Frontier Gifts, Talkeetna Chamber “Talkeetna Together” is our new slogan for Talkeetna… Keeping Talkeetna safe and fun at the same time.

Talkeetna is known for making use of the tourist industry, bustling with locally-owned businesses that thrive throughout the summer… But we encourage ALL local Alaskans, not just out of state tourists, to stop on by and visit us here in Talkeetna. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or during the winter months!

We have several stores that will be open all winter. There’s even a new year-round Christmas store, The Magic of Christmas, that opened up September 1st!

Talkeetna offers a variety of excursions to do on your visits.

You can stay in Talkeetna a week and always have things to do.

Campgrounds, viewings, flights to the Great Denali, bike rides, ATV Tours, zip lines, fishing trips, dogsled rides, jet boat trips, shopping and dining, and wildlife viewing.

Take tons of photos of the beautiful fireweed, lupine, wild roses, forget me nots, and iris as well as the Moose, Bears, Swans, Fox, Lynx, and Birds. Walk down the river and railroad tussle to catch a view of the salmon running the rivers.

Many gift shops offer Alaskamade products. Some products include fireweed jellies and syrup, birch syrups and candy, handmade jewelry and native art, soaps, and tanned furs like

caribou, wolverine, lynx, fox, beavers, as well as many more!

Shipping is available at most locations. Alaskan made knives and Ulus are a must see and make perfect gifts for back home!

Thu Ulu makes a great pizza cutter and veggie chopper, as well as cleaning a fish or skinning a bear.

Visit the photography shops for wonderful photos of Alaskan landscapes, wildlife, and history.

The Burger Barn serves wonderful food as well as Latitude 62, The Brew Pub, Twister Creek and The Flying Squirrel to name a few.

B&B’s offer great overnight stays as well as Swiss Inn and Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

We even have a climbing school for the adventurous ones planning on climbing our beautiful mountains!

Talkeetna is a very friendly village of unique craftsmen, authors, songwriters, trappers, photographers, artists, all who are happy to share their knowledge of this unique little town.

There are still several original buildings still here. Visit our local museum to learn more about our quaint little village.

Visit the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce for a list of events and activities.

We invite people to send in their photos of Talkeetna to The People’s Paper for a chance to win a gift certificate!

You can send them to: contact@thepeoplespaper.news

COMMUNITY Contributed by Michelle Overstreet, Wasilla Noon Rotary Club

See more about this amazing print at www.HavensStudio.online.

12th Annual Rotary Uncorked 10/9/2021 – 6PM Wasilla Noon Rotary Club Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St. Wasilla Tickets: $20 - $1000

Trips and spa packages, local art and a HE-SHED will be up for grabs.

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Only 300 tickets are available, and proceeds support MY House’s homeless youth job training programs and Rotary scholarships for local high school graduates. For tickets go to www.rotaryuncorked.com.

Rotary Uncorked is happening on October 9th, and Wasilla Noon Rotary is winding up with great tapas and paired drinks, live and silent auction items, a gun raffle and a night under the stars with a Titanic theme!

The best restaurants in the Valley will be joining us to compete for the winning tapas offering, along with beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages paired for maximum flavors.

We will auction off the Denali Car on the Alaska Railroad, a private car with a 16-person capacity and a roundtrip to Seward included, perfect for a corporate retreat or family trip. Artist James Haven’s new addition to the University of Alaska Museum of the North, the stunning life-sized Wooly Mammoth will be offered in a fourby-four print reproduction, signed and number one, and it is stunning.

Contributed by Josh Christensen, Bee Well Chiropractic The Perfect Storm Workshop 9/29/2021 – 6-30PM Bee Well Chiropractic Hebrews Café 490 S. Knik-Goose Bay Rd. Wasilla FREE Event with Registration Dr. Josh at Bee Well Chiropractic is hosting an event for parents who are interested in learning more about ways to regulate the emotions and behaviors of their children.

community and giving them tangible HOPE, ANSWERS, and ACTION STEPS. “Parents, maybe you’re worried about how a label (anxiety, sensory, ADHD, or even autism) will impact your child’s life? But what if they didn’t have to be confined by a label? What if what you really need is to help them sleep through the night, have less meltdowns each day, handle transitions easier, regulate their emotions a bit easier, and get

sick less often? If this sounds like you, then the Perfect Storm Workshop is perfect for you! Get your HOPE back, your questions ANSWERED, and ACTION STEPS that are easy and effective!”

Please share this information with our community!

You can find out more and register for the event by visiting our FB event page - https://fb.me/e/1jfrGubZD.

During The Perfect Storm, Dr. Josh will dive deep into the science and neurology behind your child’s struggles, from emotional regulation and behavioral challenges, to focus and concentration issues, and more.

This event is important because it touches on the impact of stress and isolation in the lives’ of the children in our community, both of which have run rampant over the past year or so. Dr. Josh is making a BIG impact on the wellbeing of families in our

Contributed by Cathy Mosher 5th Chili Cook-Off 9/18/2021 – 5:30PM Valley Republican Women of Alaska Palmer Depot 610 S Valley Way, Palmer Tickets: $30 Saturday, September 18th will be our 5th Annual Chili Cook-Off at the

Palmer Depot, 610 S. Valley Way, Palmer. Doors open at 5:30p.m.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at www.vrwak.com.

Sportsman Warehouse is doing a Wall of Guns. Winner of the Chili Cook-Off will win a trophy with their name on it. The winner is picked by popular vote of the public. Do not forget to put it on your calendar! Hope to see

you there.

See us on our Facebook page, Valley Republican Women of Alaska, and visit our webpage, www.vrwak.com.

Cathy Mosher cmosher@mtaonline. net Paid for by VRWAK P. O. Box 876739 Wasilla AK. 99687

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Clayton Allison The Mat-Su Valley is growing quickly.

There are many homeowners looking to buy and sell property. A common problem is identifying what to do with your flooring. How do I improve my home’s value and install a new floor that can last many years? The answer is epoxy flooring!

Epoxy flooring is an affordable alternative to the many different flooring systems out there. Epoxy is tough and durable, easy to clean, and has many customizable decorative options. Epoxy can be used to seal, waterproof and mold proof your flooring area. Its longevity saves you money on repairs and maintenance.

Installation prices can vary depending on your choices. A common price range for installation is $7 - $10 per square foot.

Epoxy is extremely popular for flooring, and for good reason. Epoxy flooring is used within industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The most popular residential applications are epoxy garages, kitchens, and basements. There are many different colors and decorative styles available. If desired, extra AntiSlip properties can be given by using additives.

One of the more popular options

Contributed by Sam Stevens, Alaska Family Services Tobacco Prevention and Control Alaska Health Fair 9/17/2021 – 12PM Alaska Family Services Tobacco Prevention & Control Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St. Wasilla FREE Admission Alaska Health Fair 9/29/2021 – 9AM Alaska Family Services Tobacco Prevention & Control Palmer Train Depot 610 S Valley Way, Palmer FREE Event This month in September, Alaska Health Fairs will happen in different locations across the Mat-Su Val-

is Epoxy Flake/Chip Flooring. This type of epoxy floor contains colored flake materials that are inserted in the epoxy to create a vibrant, multi-hued look. The flakes provide each surface with subtle grooves to reduce any slips and falls. Epoxy flake floors come in an infinite variety of sizes, colors, styles, and textures that is customizable for any space. This form of epoxy flooring is popular for garages.

Another option is Metallic Epoxy Flooring. Metallic Epoxy flooring is a coating that creates beautiful, unique floors. This material is known for its modern style, and the finishes go from mat to gloss, depending on your choice. It is also offered in several colors, so you can easily adapt it to any decor. It is ideal for residential and commercial owners looking for a highly stylish and modern floor.

We highly recommend metallic epoxy coating for kitchens and basements. This coating will make sure to give an instant “WOW!” effect to anyone who sees it. The flooring is like standard epoxy, but it is created by adding metallic pigments to the epoxy resin during the mixing process. The pigments allow for a unique form of customization. It can be made into unique swirling patterns or scenes that mimic nature, such as ocean coral or cloud-filled skies.

ley. The mission for the events is to promote statewide health education and preventative strategies, and the vision is to offer optimal health for all Alaskans. A unique event where people can access free health education, screenings, and affordable blood tests. Alaska Health Fair, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

Alaska Family Services is announcing their presence at the health fairs this year and is a local nonprofit as well.

Alaska Family Services Tobacco Prevention and Control (TPC) program anticipates to participate at two Alaska Health Fairs here in the Valley.

The TPC program will likely be at the health fair on September 17th from 12pm-4pm at the Menard Sports Center, 1001 S Clapp St. Wasilla AK. The second health fair event that the TPC program will be at is on Sep-

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Are you struggling with moisture?

Many types of flooring will fail if installed in moisture-heavy locations. Epoxy flooring has moisture vapor barrier primer options. These are used once moisture testing has indicated that you have high moisture levels. It is recommended to moisture test your flooring before installation. Epoxy flooring can save you money and frustration with failed flooring systems.

It is recommended to find a professional installation company when choosing to install epoxy flooring. However, this can be done as a DIY project. Alaska Resin Supply in Wasilla offers both options. Our Epoxy Flooring Installation affiliate is GH Alaska. Alaska Resin Supply offers all the DIY materials and rental equipment needed for your project.

Contact us today to learn more about your Professional Installation or DIY options. You can call us at (907) 671-9900 or come on by to see samples at 201 E. Swanson Ave. Suite #1 Wasilla, AK 99654. If you would like a price quote for your floor, go to our website at: www.AlaskaResin. com and download our Epoxy Project Quote Request Form on our Contact Page.

tember 29th from 9am-1pm at the Palmer Train Depot, 610 S Valley Way, Palmer AK. In addition to education, the TPC program is offering cessation materials and resources to the public.

It does appear the health fairs are taking attendance from appointments for blood draws only. If anyone from the public would like to attend a health fair please inform the event check in to attend for the exhibits only. These regulations for the health fairs are set in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you cannot make it to the dates and times that the TPC program will be in attendance for the events, you may call Sam Stevens, TPC program coordinator, 907-746-6131 for tobacco cessation quit kits or other resources.

All TPC support and help is offered free to the Mat-Su.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Colleen Sullivan-Leonard Hi, I’m Colleen Sullivan-Leonard. I am running for Wasilla City Council in the upcoming October 5th election, and I humbly ask for your VOTE. A Little About Me: I am a fourthgeneration Alaskan and 25-year Wasilla resident. My husband, Ted, and I have raised our children here and have been blessed to enjoy the great lifestyle the Valley offers. We want to ensure that our children and grandchildren have the quality of life that we have been fortunate to enjoy these many years.

My Background in Public Service: After working many years in the healthcare sector, I started in public service in

1999 serving on the Wasilla Planning Commission, then Wasilla City Council in 2001. From there, I worked in the Alaska State Legislature in 2003, The Office of the Governor starting in 2006, then back to City Council in 2010 until my recent time as your House Representative from 2017-2021. I have a long-time knowledge of how government works from the local and state level.

government regulations to not put a hardship on our citizens.

Why Experience Matters: With my years of public service, I understand the important role of a council member in local government and interaction with state government on key issues. I have consistently served with a conservative mindset seeking accountability and transparency in how our city is governed. I am for less taxation and

Public Safety: We must continue to work with our Wasilla Police Department and Alaska State Troopers to tackle the crime, drugs and sex trafficking issues in the valley. Our citizens and businesses deserve a safe community.

at Steller, I took classes at West High and Anchorage Community College.

This allowed me to graduate a year early and spend a year as an exchange student before starting college.

Contributed by Lori Berrigan I’m Lori Berrigan, and I am running for the Mat-Su Borough School Board, District 1. This includes many communities in the eastern Mat-Su, from Knik River north and east to Sheep Mountain. I have been involved in education in the Mat-Su Valley for 18 years and I would like to put that experience to work for your children and you.

My journey in education started as a parent, but over the last 18 years it has shifted from being an involved parent to an advocate for all children in the Mat-Su. I moved to the Valley in 2004 when my oldest started Kindergarten. I soon realized my choices in education were limited. I am an Alaskan who benefited from choice in education. I started first grade at Oceanview Elementary in Anchorage and graduated from Steller Secondary in 1987. Steller was the first optional program in Alaska. While

Contributed by Doug Ferguson Rather than focusing on the rapid descent of our current political and social culture that a few people are finally starting to notice now that the “horse has already left the barn”, I recently decided to change what I write about. Thus, 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.

So for this writing, I want to talk about a “Great American”: Norman B. Mears. It’s not a name you may have heard before unless you were involved with weapon sighting optics during WWII or were in the color television tube industry in the 60s, or were from or lived in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Norm Mears was the son of one of the founders of Buckbee-Mears Company, originally an old small firm engaged in photoengraving, and commercial photography in St. Paul, Minnesota.

His inventions pushed photoengraving technology to new levels and expanded his company as well. This was due to his development of a precision sighting reticle for weapons that was used by all the Allied nations during the war and later, originating processes and

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I graduated from Colorado College in 1992 with a degree in chemistry and worked as a field chemist on the pipeline. Working in a lab was not my dream job. I went back to school and became a sports massage therapist, a field I worked in for 20 years. During this time, my husband and I started our family. After moving to the Valley, I again went back to school where I received a Certificate in Waldorf Early Childhood Education.

I have three children who have attended school in the Mat-Su Valley.

My two oldest are current students at UAF, both UA scholars. They graduated from Palmer High. My youngest is a freshman at Palmer High.

Luckily, the State of Alaska allows for all of us to have choices in education. In 2006, I worked hard to bring choices to other parents and students by leading the effort to start Birchtree Charter School (BTC), a public charter school.

After Birchtree was approved in 2010, I turned my attention to starting my own business by opening a Waldorfinspired childcare and preschool, while remaining on the BTC Academic Policy Board for many years.

BTC and my business, Palmer LifeWays, are now entering their eleventh year.

equipment for making color television aperture masks at a mass production rate with metal etching techniques that lasted until the end of the glass color television tube era. During this period his company produced the “shadow mask” for 99% of the color TV tubes in the world!

In 1960, I was a young engineer just out of college working for a large computer company in upstate New York. This was more than 30 years before I had any idea that I would be 25 years living in Minnesota, where we lived before moving to Alaska. At that time, we had a contract with Buckbee-Mears, Corp. in St. Paul (now known as BMC Corp) to produce scanner disks for our new optical character sensing machine, one of the first on the market. I was responsible for designing and building testers for these disks and I was sent out to St. Paul in the summer of 1960 for a week to install one of them at Buckbee-Mears, train their operators and train a maintenance person from our local company office.

Two things stick out in my mind about this trip so many years ago. One was how long it remained daylight at the end of June at this personally unfamiliar latitude!

The second was Norm Mears. He was everywhere and practically spent the whole week with me, and a quality engineer from our company who spent part of the trip with us. Norm wanted

Infrastructure: As the City continues to expand and pave our roads, we must also ensure we have clear access for our businesses and efficient routes for residents to travel throughout Wasilla. Traffic congestion remains a huge concern, a bypass and additional arterial routes are needed.

I look forward to representing you on

In addition to my work with BTC, I have been a member of the Mat-Su Ski Club Board and the Palmer Moose Nordic Ski Team Booster club. I have served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the State of Alaska for the past five years. CASA volunteers work with the Guardian Ad Litem advocating for children in foster care.

So, why should you vote for me?

What can I do for parents and community members with children and grandchildren in a traditional school? What do I offer for those homeschooling?

What I have learned over the last 18 years as a parent who started a charter school, an educator running my own business, and as a CASA volunteer, is it is not always about the curriculum being taught, but the connections a teacher, principal and staff make with a child.

To make connections, staff need time and resources. Children are not just a number, or a check list. They are fully formed human beings that are where they are on a developmental path regardless of age. Every child that I meet and work with, I work to make connection. I want them to know that I see the best in them every day.

Teachers need time to make these connections. This is time to look through student portfolios, send emails to parents, work with a student one-onone as necessary.

My goals on the School Board are: To serve all children in the Mat-Su. No one child is more important than

to know all the details of how the tester worked and what made a disk “pass” or “fail” even though his quality engineer was supposed to be in charge of the test operation! In spite of being the CEO of by this time a very large company, he was deeply engaged with the project and quite a force to reckon with!

One day, he took us to lunch at the St. Paul Club, not the kind of surroundings I was used to as a young engineer!

One of the waiters was an elderly African-American man with whom he seemed quite friendly. He explained later to us that he had been a Pullman Car Porter and Mears got him the job at the St. Paul Club when the Pullman Company was going out of business in the late 50s. He then explained that his personal secretary, who we had also noticed was African-American, was this man’s daughter! He had hired her out of college! This was in 1960 when most companies were yet to consider hiring minorities for critical positions such as the CEO’s personal secretary!

Many years later I found out more about his inspiring and productive life.

For his wartime technical achievements, he received high honors from the U.S. Armed Forces.

His company expanded and became internationally known for its printing and etching technology. In 1972, he was named a “Great Living St. Paulite”

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Wasilla City Council. I have the experience, energy,y and passion to take on the many issues facing our city.

I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for you! I would appreciate your vote on Tuesday October 5th, 2021.

Sincerely, Colleen

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.

Right now, the school board is lurching from crisis to crisis. It is difficult to provide leadership when you are always reactive versus proactive. Dayto-day operations of the district should be left to the Superintendent. The work of the board is to create a long-term vision and work with the administration to find solutions and resources to support that vision.

With my background and knowledge of our School District and School Board policy, I can help provide the necessary leadership to serve the interests of District 1 and keep the School District moving forward. I strongly believe that we have tremendous teachers and staff working with our children. We need to return harmony throughout our School District and re-establish morale amongst all district employees.

Education takes place in the classroom and the Board’s efforts must focus on enhancing and enriching what goes on in each classroom in the district.

I would appreciate your vote on November 2nd.

by the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce.

In 1993, he was posthumously inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame.

We are not done yet! An area in Lowertown St. Paul, named Smith Park, close to the Buckbee-Mears site, had been a classic park with a fountain and sidewalks radiating from it for almost 100 years, but had become very run down over the years with many of the buildings around it vacant.

When Norm retired from BuckbeeMears, he dedicated the rest of his retirement years to re-vitalizing this area, bringing many upscale owners and businesses to the renovated buildings around and near the park.

After his death in 1974, the park was officially renamed “Mears Park” in his honor. It was again re-vitalized in the early 1990s, and today sits in the middle of a re-energized Lowertown, hosting handfuls of fairs and festivals throughout the season.

Truly, Norm Mears was a great American and I consider myself fortunate to have encountered him 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.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Mark Kelsey The Mat-Su Borough needs a mayor who will bring an open mind, an open ear, and a servant’s heart to the job.

Matthew Beck stands alone among the options.

Experienced and knowledgeable, Beck was a committed and diligent Borough Assembly member with a demonstrated ability to listen to diverse opinions and represent the whole of a diverse borough. His six-year assembly tenure, including four as deputy mayor, were

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marked by broad vision and a broad ability to work collaboratively for responsible growth and a bright future for all Mat-Su residents.

Contributed by Jackie Ivie

Unencumbered by allegiance to special interests, Assemblyman Beck always put the general public interest first. The borough needs that same independent, get-it-done ethic in its mayor.

With his common-sense approach to problem-solving, and his strong support for public safety, schools, and critical infrastructure, Matthew Beck is the best choice for the borough.

You are both super busy people.

Successful.

Outgoing.

Popular.

I get that.

To my beloved son and daughter-inlaw:

I can’t find any time to actually talk with either of you. It feels like you are so busy living your lives and every second is so packed with plans and things that I only get a portion of your attention.

It’s poetic justice.

Contributed by Vlastic Marek I have read article Vaccinate and Live

by Bill Brokaw asking his nursing home staff to vaccinate in order for his wife to feel safe.

Me thinks if the vaccinated are in dan-

Contributed by Matthew J. Beck Having been asked by people from across the Borough to run for Mat-Su Mayor, it’s official, I’m in the race! The election is November 2nd, and I look forward to hearing from those that live in the Mat-Su about your hopes and dreams for our diverse communities.

Most of you know of my work while serving on the Borough Assembly between 2013 and 2019 and as Deputy Mayor for four years. Those years gave me the prospective on every corner of the Borough and how each community contributes to the Borough as a whole. Most importantly, my time on the Borough Assembly gave me the experience to lead the Borough like no other candidate. My knowledge is current. I know the budget. I know the projects. I’m ready to hit the ground running, dealing with the challenges

Contributed by Bert Cottle The question you need to ask yourself is, “In what direction do you want the Mat-Su Borough to go in the next three years?”

Do you want economic growth? Do you want the Borough to be selfsufficient? Do you want school bond debt paid off through partnerships with Federal and State agencies? Do you want our educational system to be funded and growing – being the number one school district in the

we face, and seeking practical solutions.

Teresa and I, with our partners, have two successful businesses in Mat-Su that we have built together from the ground up, North Star Animal Hospital and Pet Resort. Today, I spend quite a bit of my time working at the pet resort.

My mom says that I am a professional dog poop scooper. Previously, I worked fulltime for the Catholic Church for 26 years in a variety of different parish and archdiocesan settings as Youth Ministry Coordinator, Parish Life Director, and other ministerial roles.

I was there, too.

Twenty-five years ago, I’d have followed the publicized information without questioning anything, too.

But I’m older.

And have the time to research.

And now that I have been kicked out of kindergarten for refusing to allow them to curtail my ability to breathe, it occurs to me that maybe parents haven’t considered how dangerous oxygen deprivation can be.

ARTICLE CONTINUES ONLINE: www.thepeoplespaper.news/jackieivie

ger of catching from un-vaccinated, the disease the vaccinated are vaccinated against, then why in the world would it make sense to get vaccinated?

My Advice: Turn off your TV and the pandemic goes away.

in their classrooms and chaperoning field trips when they were younger. Our children have participated in a variety of sporting activities and much of our time has been spent on the sidelines and in the bleachers alongside many of you, cheering for our kids.

The volunteer experiences, spending time with other parents in the bleachers, our family’s participation in 4-H activities, and my professional work in a variety of settings have helped me develop a broad prospective of the Mat-Su. The people and geography are beautifully diverse. Our needs and desires are also unique.

Our family lives on a hobby farm and raises turkeys, chickens, sheep and an occasional calf. Many of our closest friends and neighbors are the surrounding farmers. I have worked with farmers to protect and grow agriculture in Alaska. Our three daughters have attended Mat-Su public schools, and I enjoyed volunteering

My goal is to make our Borough a welcoming place and involve rural and urban communities in the political process. I will work hard to represent everyone, including those that live inside and outside of the city limits. As I did when I served on the Assembly, I will travel throughout the Mat-Su to meet face-to-face with people and

State? Do you want the rail spur to Point MacKenzie finished, and our port further developed? Expand our tourism options? Do you want EMS coverage for the entire borough? Should the Borough upgrade our current roads and develop new roads?

Forward thinking and forward funding is key to moving our borough forward into a financially sustainable future.

With careful planning, and through fostering partnerships we have the ability to make these wants realities. Through Federal and State partnerships, we could pay off our school bond debt, saving the taxpayers a $19 million dollar per year payment.

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We have a diverse population across our Mat-Su Borough. All residents need to be heard and deserve to have a mayor who is accessible and will listen to their concerns for the MatSu. If elected Borough Mayor, I plan to develop an outreach program to do just that. Visiting each community across the borough to hear your input, concerns, and ideas. The greatest resource the Mat-Su borough

listen to your questions and ideas.

I invite all to visit www.matthewjbeck. com and discover how we make a difference together.

I look forward to serving you as the Mat-Su Borough Mayor.

possesses, is its residents. Together we can think outside the box. Together we can make things happen. I would love the opportunity to help lead the Mat-Su Borough into a bright future. Please vote Bert Cottle for Borough Mayor on November 2nd.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Nan Potts

Constitution Week is here! September 13th-19th. By the time this paper is issued, Constitution Day has past, September 17th. I hope you took the opportunity to read the basic ideologies and undertakings of our Founding Fathers and celebrate in that spirit.

Whether you were born in the United States or naturalized, they are your Founding Fathers too!

It saddens me how many citizens of this country do not understand how our form of government is supposed to function. By reading, understanding and applying the basics within our U.S. Constitution, I’m certain our troubles as a nation would decline.

Recently I watched a newscast poll asking people in various states weather they prefer Socialism to Capitalism — Some preferred Socialism; they thought people take advantage of Capitalism and it is so easily corruptible. Others stated, they’d like a combination of Socialism and Capitalism (which supports small businesses). A few felt Socialism is the way to go because it puts everyone on equal ground (much different than equal opportunity).

When you compare our Constitution to Marx’ and similar 19th century ideologies, you will discover a very expansive dichotomy. “… No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of Citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of Law…” — Amendment XIV, section 1, U.S. Constitution (ratified July 9, 1868) “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” — Slogan, popularized by Karl Marx, in Critique of the Gotha Program (1875) Socialism, has it proved better? Look at history. Then, go ask the people who have legally immigrated to this country from the U.S.S.R./Russia, China, Cuba,

Venezuela or other oppressive regimes.

What do they say?

The freedom to express one’s opinion is part of our Constitution — Freedom of Speech. Yet, our Constitution also addresses expressing an opinion and supporting it to the extent of revolution against the United States.

Let’s talk treason (definition): Treason— noun 1. The offense of acting to overthrow one’s government or to harm or kill its sovereign.

2. A violation of allegiance to one’s sovereign or to one’s state.

3. The betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.

No matter which definition you choose to use, the act of betrayal always involves consequences. Currently, news outlets espouse all sorts of betrayal examples — no matter to which side of the political aisle you lean.

The U.S. Constitution, defines treason in Article III, Section 3: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

(IMPORTANT NOTE: Look up Attainder and Corruption of Blood in a good dictionary)

Within the last 20 years (probably before), we have witnessed change in how our Federal and State levels of government operate; changing laws to increase authority — The Executive Branch has issued a multitude of mandates to its citizens, the Judicial Branch is being altered, and in some places disassembled due to a few unethical individuals. The Legislative Branch is mostly dysfunctional, since many Congressmen and Senators are focused on

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ment doesn’t work!

staying in power instead of working for their constituents who voted them into office.

Let’s look at current events: Governmental Abetting?

1. Assisting Big Tech to censor individuals 2. Assisting Big Tech to spy on individuals 3. Doing nothing: • Illegal immigration • Crime • Economic prosperity • Upholding Constitution Laws 4. False data 5. Overreach — multiple Executive mandates 6. Assisting a known enemy (Taliban) of the US, into power — who wish to levy war against us Governmental Conflicting Ideology and Incompetence?

U.S. Southern border: • Unsecured border (Open Border policy) • Reinstated “Catch and Release” policy • Thousands of unvetted migrants (approx. 10% tested positive for COVID) Conflicting COVID information — causing confusion, distrust and division Afghan War withdrawal: • Americans evacuated after troop withdrawal, abandoning some • Handing over U.S. property and equipment to a known enemy (Taliban) • Increasing the potential for increased terrorism, Worldwide (Taliban, ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda).

Restorations of these debacles can be simple but complicated to execute.

They require effort, determination and the ability to think outside of cultural trends.

Solutions: Educate the population and citizenry of the US on the proper workings of our U.S. Constitution; their privileges and rights.

Purposes and Execution of: A. Executive Branch, B. Judicial Branch, C. Legislative Branch Vote into Office those who merit the leadership to hold and conduct The People’s business (not popularity contests) 4. Understand that freedom and peace always come with a price — appease-

cooperation in this day and age. I bet they’ll behave.

Contributed by Huhnkie Lee Greetings Friends, this is Huhnkie Lee running for 2022 US Senate as an independent Alaskan.

As a student of history, I couldn’t help noticing the similarity between Afghanistan and America. Taliban mandates Afghanistan male and female citizens to wear long skirts to hide their leg contour lines. Democratic Party regime mandates Americans to wear masks to cover up their mouths. I guess they want to be stoic and emphasize disciplines and discretion.

Remember the Petticoat Affair in 1829, once upon a time in America? Even in America 200 years ago, people were heavily clothed to hide their skins. Such shyness of nudity traces back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve hid their reproductive organs with fig tree leaves. If you look at European paintings of centuries ago, both male and female Westerners were heavily clothed. Easterners used to be heavily clothed too: both male and female Asians wore long skirts centuries ago.

So, we did some time traveling to visit our ancestors in history books. Now let’s do space traveling to Afghanistan by watching TV. We are not being judgmental here. Rather, we’re not being too politically correct. Historians know that

every country is at different stage of human evolution. When we look at heavily clothed Middle Easterners, we find their fashion similar to our Eastern or Western ancestors of centuries ago.

For instance, gender equality came to America only 101 years ago, when 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 to recognize women’s voting rights. Will it take a century for Afghanistan to recognize women’s voting rights? I doubt it.

Why? The speed of human evolution is accelerating, thanks to the ever-accelerating speed of information propagation.

We have internet on our cellphones, social medias, and Afghanistan people, including Talibans, have those. I think it will take less than a couple decades before Afghanistan allow women to vote.

I’m optimistic about Afghanistan. I was deployed to Afghanistan as a US Army junior enlisted soldier for a year in 2011-2012. We interacted with Afghanistan citizens, and I learned that they are smart, strong, beautiful, and highly honorable people. Afghanistanis tasted the democracy and modern freedom, so there is no turning back. I’m not worried about Taliban regime either. I think Taliban has evolved considerably. Talibans are smart people and they’re very keenly aware of the fact that the entire world is watching Afghanistan these days. Talibans are more than smart to know the importance of international

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Now let’s get back to America and talk about mandatory masking and vaccine.

I’m kinda conservative in this issue of personal liberty and individual freedom and I don’t mandatory stuffs. But, having said that, I’m a pragmatic politician rather, as opposed to having been an idealistic activist back in the days. So, when Walmart mandated mask wearing, I wore it. When my job required me, I got twice Pfizer vaccines. My attitude was, “I may die from side-effects from masks and vaccines, or I die from starvation. Heck with it, I’ll just do it. Whatever burger.”

I got into politics by pure accident.

Three years ago, back in 2018 spring time, I was reading Google news. To my surprise, the City of Wasilla, my present hometown, made a national headline when it banned plastic bags in groceries. To voice my objection, I went to Wasilla City Council meeting and used my three minutes to say, “Plastic bags are light, durable and cheap. Plastics are one of the greatest modern technological inventions. I love plastic bags.” From then on, I became a regular in public city and borough meetings and the rest is history.

So, I did the political activist activities for about two years ,and I learned many good things from local politics and politicians. Last year, I ran for Alaska State Senate Republican Primary in

When you have an educated population seeking true betterment of its society, more than likely the society prospers.

This is not an opinion but fact — look at the past, including the US. There’s the rub! Over the years it appears more people are less knowledgeable of our government’s working and more technically savvy, which has a tendency to distract and misinform.

Another fact, some candidates are elected into office or appointed to positions who only desire the power it provides, rather than the opportunity of perusing desired goals they were entrusted to achieve.

“Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

— John Adams, Letter to the Massachusetts Militia, 1798 What caused the failure of the world’s past societies? Answer: Politically uneducated citizenry and the treasonous politicians who promised to serve them.

With this in mind, people should be asking: 1. Are the current “Woke” and Socialistic ideologies advancing or retarding our American Experiment?

2. How does Socialism, which has led to the destruction of millions of people and numerous countries, integrate with the US Constitution?

3. Why is Socialism gaining momentum?

4. Are “We The People” being deceived, resulting in crumbling confidence in our governmental leaders?

5. Is the “Woke” culture luring us into debasing our Laws, our Constitution, and our successful way of life?

6. Is that same “Woke” culture really acting to overthrow our government and destroy the world’s last bastion of liberty?

You are capable of doing the research.

Why not celebrate our Constitution in an educated manner? Allow the American Experiment to continue to prosper and then, if necessary, let us really talk treason.

August 2020. As we all know, I didn’t get elected and my campaign was over. Not knowing what else to do in my spare time, I hunkered down and started to write it all down and published some academic papers in freely-accessible online databases. I did submit to peerreviewed journals, but they all turned me down. Oh well.

Some of the dozen papers I wrote over the one-year period were about physics. We briefly talked about the inter-relationship between space travel and time travel. But that was not to endorse Mr. Einstein’s famed space-time continuum hypothesis. To quite the contrary, I believe I disproved both Special and General Relativity theories of one Mr. Einstein. If interested, please see: https://vixra.org/abs/2009.0211 and https://vixra.org/abs/2010.0192.

Now, let’s talk about my campaign.

These days, on Monday - Thursday evenings after work, I do a modernized version of “front porch campaign”.

Something good came out of COVID: the Zoom-Zoom meetings of local governmental agencies all over Alaska. I attend them and use my three minutes for campaign pitch, in the style of a daytime gameshow host or a used-car salesman.

My campaign promise? I shall annually adjust my US senatorial salary to average Alaskan salary level and donate the rest to Alaska Government. Thank you!

POLITICS & OPINION

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

PAGE 7

increase in population growth while maintaining the MatSu lifestyle.

Contributed by Kristi Short I’m Kristi Short and I am excited to be running for MatSu Borough Assembly for District 6, which includes the Fishhook and Tanaina Communities.

I am a lifelong Alaskan being born and raised in Alaska, mostly in the MatSu. I grew up in Palmer where I became interested in agriculture in high school and am still involved in the Alaska FFA Alumni. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Natural Resources Management, and a minor in Recreation and Tourism. I have worked for the MatSu Farm Bureau, State of Alaska Division of Agriculture, and a local farm, Bushes Bunches, as their Farm Manager. I now live in Hatcher Pass with my fiancé and two children.

I own and operate Alaska Farm Tours, a small business focused on agricultural

tourism. I took over the business in 2020, the hardest year in the history of tourism in Alaska. I guided the company through the pandemic remaining true to our mission to support local agriculture.

As a small business owner, I know the myriad of problems small businesses have had over the past two years. I have worked hard, like all small business owners during these last two unprecedented years, to successfully keep my business going. I also know that the bottom line is important and will work to maintain a responsible budget for the Borough.

With my background in business and tourism, I am excited to see the Arctic Winter Games coming to the MatSu in 2024. I hope to foster the Games through active support while on the Assembly by working on infrastructure solutions that will benefit the area during the Games and more importantly

for many years beyond.

I am committed to my community and public service. I joined the Fishhook Community Council Board, in Assembly District 6, three years ago because I wanted to connect more with my neighbors and foster their dreams for life in Fishhook. I will bring that same commitment to the Assembly.

The MatSu Borough is the fastest growing area in Alaska. Being a Census taker last year validated the fact that we increased our population by about 20% since 2010, and Fishhook has been one of the fastest growing areas in the MatSu. My time on the Fishhook Community Council has taught me that this growth has brought a number of problems to the area including traffic congestion and subdivisions that no longer conform to the lifestyle we have enjoyed. I would like to be part of the process to plan for the inevitable

I am known as a hard worker who can get it done. I have had to hold seven different jobs and keep all the balls in the air at the same time while still trying to manage a family. I have worked through the tangle of State bureaucracy and I have been the small business owner working against it, and I understand the tension between different interests and can navigate through them.

I have watched the divisiveness that sometimes prevents good policy decisions by the Assembly. I believe I can provide a moderating voice that can see all sides and foster positive communication among Assembly members and MatSu residents.

With my background in small business, my public service, my work ethic, and my commitment to hear all sides of an issue, I think am the best choice to be a voice for you on the Assembly.

I hope you will agree and vote for Kristi Short, Assembly District 6, on November 2.

items in a school budget ordinance.

Contributed by Edna DeVries Questions I have heard: You are running for Mat-Su Borough Mayor? We didn’t even know there was a Mat-Su Borough Mayor. What does the Borough Mayor do?

The Mat-Su Borough Mayor has lots of responsibilities, but the greatest one is representing you and informing you of the activities, challenges and opportunities which face our community every day.

After you are done reading this article, you will see (along with many others of your family and friends) I am the best choice for mayor on the November 2, 2021, ballot.

The Mat-Su Borough is governed by Borough Code, the laws which allow the borough to function. Code 2.08.010 office established – states – “There is established the office of mayor. Executive

Contributed by Dan Gallagher, On November 2nd, the Mat-Su Borough elect a new mayor. In these times of political divisiveness, we need a strong leader with a willingness to extend a hand across the aisle to members of all parties. I have known Matthew Beck as a friend for over twenty years.

Contributed by Jubilee Underwood Hello, everyone! My name is Jubilee Underwood and I am a lifelong Mat-Su Valley resident! You can find me and my family on a bleacher the majority of the year, cheering on my Varsity kids at multiple sporting events!

duties of the borough shall be vested in the mayor.” This portion is very similar to my current duties as the Mayor of the City of Palmer – a position I have held for the past five years.

for members of the board of adjustment and assembly members serving on the board of equalization, shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the assembly.

2.08.020 Term of Office. The mayor’s term shall be three years. The qualified candidate succeeds to the candidate’s elected office the first Monday following the certification of the election and acceptance of the oath of office. No person shall serve as mayor for more than two consecutive full terms.

In my opinion, the largest power that the Mayor’s possesses is the veto power – found in 2.08.040 Duties (b) – The mayor may veto any ordinance, resolution, motion or other action of the assembly and may by veto, strike or reduce items of appropriation ordinances. A veto shall be exercised before the next regular assembly meeting and shall be accompanied by written explanation of the reasons for the veto. A veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the assembly within 21 calendar days following the veto or at the next regular meeting, whichever is later.

The veto does not extend to: (1) the manager plan of borough government; (2) the actions of the board of equalization: (3) the actions of the board of adjustment; or (4) the appropriation

Let’s jump to duties – 2.08.040 – The Mayor shall: (1) preside at all assembly meetings. The Mayor may take part in the discussion of matters before the assembly, but may not vote, except that the mayor may vote in the case of a tie; (2) act as ceremonial head of the borough and (3) sign documents on behalf of the borough upon assembly authorization. (5) appoint members of the boards and commissions, except

He has always been faithful, honest, trustworthy and reliable. Matthew is the type of person who will go out of his way at a moment’s notice to help a friend in need. As a nonpartisan, he will make the tough decisions and step up to lead when others are held back by ties to political interest groups. As a recent six-year Mat Su

I am a strong advocate for parents being empowered with the freedom to make the best educational and health choices for their own children.

My goal is that all Mat-Su schools continue to partner with those same choices.

Borough assemblyman, Matthew brings a wealth of local knowledge and political experience to the table. He will work hard to preserve farmlands and keep our schools strong. A family man and valley business owner, Matthew will focus on the best interest of our community. Matthew understands the importance of families as the building blocks of society.

He along with his wife Teresa raised their daughters right here in Palmer.

I will fight to keep schools open and in-person!

I believe schools should focus on continuing to improve educational outcomes that give Mat-Su children the greatest opportunities for lifelong success.

The next Mayor of the Mat-Su Borough must be a strong, ethical leader, who has a history of taking strong stands when it comes to allowing our government to be a voice of We The People.

I have proven I am that leader during this past year, whether it was a mask mandate or a citizens’ group with ties to Black Lives Matter lobbying for the creation of a committee to oversee the City of Palmer’s Police Department, as well as allowing real estate developers to develop their own property following the City of Palmer’s health and safety code.

Government doesn’t have all the answers, but working, listening, and responding to our citizens’ ideas, we will have a better community in which to live, work and play.

I am the BEST CHOICE for Mat-Su Borough Mayor. I ask you to vote for Edna DeVries on November 2, 2021. Thank you!

A fiscal conservative, Matthew will advocate for limited taxation, responsible economic growth and development. He will support public safety and 2nd amendment rights.

Matthew knows that the Mat Su Borough is a great place to live, and he will work to keep it that way.

A vote for Matthew Beck on November 2nd is a solid choice for our future.

Finally, I am AGAINST mask mandates for students! If you’d like to learn more about me, please visit www. jubileeunderwoodforschoolboard. com or visit my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ alaskansforjubileeunderwood

Your Child, Your Choice, Your Voice Matters

Borough Mayor!

Contributed by Iris West Edna DeVries is a name you can trust!

For decades, she has volunteered and served in our communities and has always fought to protect and preserve community rights.

As a Mat-Su Borough Mayor, you can expect she will bring our valley together with the same care, diligence and authority that her community members have come to rely on in current and past roles.

Edna knows how to get things done.

She served on the Palmer Council, was chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee, a former member and vice chair of the Alaska Commission of Aging and a former member and chair of the Human Rights Commission. She also has 29 years of business experience, including real estate broker and owner of multiple Christian bookstores and a pizza restaurant.

Edna and her husband, Noel, run sev-

eral ministries that help the homeless and abuse survivors. They also run a School of Government that is open to the public that teaches others how to better support their communities by becoming more informed and involved in the public process.

Her recent accomplishments include roles as the Mayor of Palmer and the Alaska Job Corps Center Accounting Instructor. She is a leader in her church and also a former State Senator, Assembly Member and previous Mat-Su

Simply put, Edna can be trusted to lead the Borough, our families and businesses in our time of need.

She is experienced, authoritative and knowledgeable. She is competent, trustworthy and ethical.

She is dependable, accessible and straightforward.

She cares about you and will use her experience and pro-active approach to lead and protect the rights of those she serves.

POLITICS & OPINION am and here are some of my thoughts about our sweet city.

Contributed by Lee Henrikson, Candidate for Palmer City Council Try, try again. Two years ago, a friend wrote an article about me for this paper, titled, “Newcomer throws her hat in the ring” about my candidacy for a seat on the Palmer City Council. I lost that election, licked my wounds, and am back to try again. You might ask, “Why? Why put yourself through that again?”

I am trying again because Palmer matters to me: its residents, its businesses, its parks, its sidewalks and roads, its trees, its trails… And I asked the question, “If not me, then who?” So here I

Contributed by Robert Shields Today, I am calling out the posers.

Greenwashing bullies who are only interested in dominating the conversation so they can control the flow of information. The climate distractors who have betrayed the public trust and their duties to protect the environment by maintaining a willful wall of ignorance, that continues to deny people the freedom to choose for themselves who represents them. To dictate what options are available as economically viable solutions, and who for decades now, take your money in good faith that they are providing answers, when all they do is create circular conversations around convoluted issues that leave you to believe “for now” coal is clean, natural gas is cheap, and consumption, extraction, and exploitation are the only industries worth investing in.

Several self-proclaimed “environmental organizations”, including The Alaska Center, Native Movement, The Nanook Diversity and Action Center, the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition, and UAF Climate Scholars, have chosen to weigh in on the election while remaining utterly silent on the abomination

Contributed by Wes Keller I’m convinced everyone, including myself, struggles with something like cognitive dissonance when we try to decide if we are rich or poor. The way we feel about our “wealth” depends on so many variables: we may think we are prosperous one moment, and then, very sure we are poor at another.

If we want to buy something we cannot afford, we feel poor; when, on the other hand, we are celebrating with family and friends, perhaps on Thanksgiving Day itself, we feel rich. Add the human tendency to compare what we have with what others appear to have, with the potential devastation of covetousness or pride, and we get even more confused!

Government authority factors into our evaluation of our “pursuit of happiness”.

What is “money”? Some authority invents it, but why does it work? Do “We the People” (the sovereigns in our republic) have control of monetary policy? How much should be created per capita, i.e. our money supply? What does it cost to get money — interest rates? There is no intrinsic value in the money itself — the paper makes a poor firestarter and it is cheaper to drill holes in our coins than to use them to buy coin-sized washers we might need to

Residents We have a compact city of just over 5 square miles with a population of 5,888 according to the 2020 US Census.

This is slightly smaller than the 2010 population. So, while the population in the borough grew by 20%, the population in Palmer was flat. The borough is crowding in around us. We feel it in increased traffic on our roads, more folks in stores, more folks in parks. How do we adjust to this changing environment and keep our quality of life? How do we make sure our town is welcoming and serves the needs of the 28% of the population under 18 years old, the 11% over 65, and the 61% that are 1865 years old? (https://www.census.gov/ quickfacts/palmercityalaska) I am interested in answering that question. We need to make sure there are varied options for housing as well as safe streets for walking and biking for all ages and abilities in all seasons.

Businesses:

and fraud that is the UAF coal plant in their own front yard. These posers, along with bad actors at the Northern Center for the Environment, the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power are all corporate puppets, who repeatedly use studies and demonstration projects to distract from real game changing solutions viable a decade ago.

Bad actors who are paid to distract and disenfranchise advocates into submission, so their hyper vocal opinions are the only one people hear.

The lack of significant action from these actors and their political pandering is why, in 2021 the villages continue to struggle with the corporate welfare of the PHC, the Interior has the worst air quality and the highest cost of energy.

Why everyone is forced into silence on the black lung impacts of our continued coal addiction. The people of our state could be thriving for generations not suffering in perpetuity.

I am the chair of the Green Party of Alaska, chair of the Climate Reality Project Alaska climate hub, chair of the Extinction Rebellion, and Sunrise (Arm

build something. How do we protect ourselves from thieves who increase the money supply to pay for debts incurred based on pre-inflation values? These are lofty questions and confuse the question of deciding whether we are rich or poor.

Is our currently apparent “prosperity” real? Is it sustainable, or not? The market seems to be booming for recreational equipment, vacations, entertainment, campers, travel, houses, cars, food, energy… in spite of massive COVID-19 production shortages!

“Business as usual” coexisting with production loss makes me uneasy. My theory is the is distribution of trillions of “covid dollars” (debt from the Fed’s printing presses) is robustly changing hands just as if we are continuing to prosper as a nation! If this was the intent, it seems to be working, at least for now. If the prosperity is sustainable, maybe we should do our part by spending more!? My guess is we are all trying to grasp the phenomena and wondering what the future will bring.

Money works ONLY because everyone, by consensus, trusts it. Buying and selling with “tokens” of promised value utterly depends on continued trust. The US Dollar works because it is backed by our US Federal physical assets

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

We depend on our businesses for services for our residents and for the sales taxes that pay about 60% of the City’s general fund budget. It is important to expand commercial and retail business within the City to keep it financially strong. Parking is an issue for downtown that could be better addressed and help with business income.

Parks, Trails and Trees: Ideally, there would be a park in every neighborhood. Ideally, one could easily and safely walk or bike anywhere in town. Trail connectivity is an issue. I will be looking to improve our safe access to outdoors in parks, on trails and on the city streets.

Planning: We have several plans out there including the Stantec Area-wide Plan, the City’s Strategic Plan, the Bikeability Plan, the Board of Economic Development 2021 Recommendations for Economic Development Goals. Let’s continue to make progress on them.

About Me: I moved to Palmer in 2000 after a whirlwind courtship with Mike Chmielewski.

We met at Aikido Camp in California in June (he fell for me… over and over in Arm) in Alaska. I have a degree in Natural Resource Management and 22 years of professional experience in the nonprofit as well as the business arena of permaculture. In 2021 I became the state’s first EcoDistricts accredited professional (urban planner).

On top of all that I founded, in 2011, an environmental organization, the Alliance for Reason and Knowledge, (ARK) who has for a decade organized solar tours, annual resilient city conferences, and workforce development in clean career fields. I am an environmentalist with a business background for practical solutions that lowers the cost of living and improve the quality of life.

This makes me a threat to maintaining business as usual “environment”.

I struggle to know which is worse. A system that is filled with corruption, cronyism, and nepotism or the reality so many people are aware of it and play along because “that’s the game”. As children games are a fun way to learn essential life skills, to socialize, and how to survive. However, these blatant games of coercion, control, and bullying erode the foundation of our trust in ourselves and each other making us vulnerable to manipulation, misinformation, and abuse.

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and over again). In December, I moved to Palmer to live with my new husband in the little log house he and his kids built. Soon after, we moved to Raleigh Hills up by Hatcher Pass so that Mike’s dad could live with us (the log house was too small for three). After Mike’s dad passed in 2005, we moved back to Palmer. My work history is varied: I’ve managed a food co-op, traded commodities, ran the computers and networks for the SETI Institute, and worked as an instructional designer at UAA. I like learning new things.

The decision to run again was not an easy one to make. Running a campaign is a lot of work. Once I decided to run, I was all in. My favorite part of campaigning is walking the various neighborhoods in Palmer and meeting residents.

I look forward to sitting on the City Council. It is a responsibility I take seriously. For any action that I would have to vote on, the bottom line is, it must benefit city residents for me to vote yes.

I hope you will vote for me for the same reason, that you think I am good for the city and its residents. You can find more information about me at www.LeeForPalmer.com. Thank you.

Policy makers carry a heavy burden because the decisions we make impact people’s lives now and into the future. The complete incompetence of our political leaders at all levels as we routinely watch them violate their own principles when they become politically inconvenient is why people don’t trust the government. This lack of trust costs lives needlessly every day, it has allowed our community to become a superfund site, and it is destroying our economy and our environment faster than any coal plant ever could.

A leader should be willing to compromise on the plans, the procedures, the partnerships, and priorities, but never on principle. When good people violate their own code of ethics, that’s when they become part of the problem.

On October 5th, there are statewide elections about who will lead us into the future. Only those who are vocally committed to the cause of doing their part to ensure 140 years from now Alaska will still be a good place to raise a family deserve your support. Don’t be distracted by fools who are comfortable enduring another decade of environmental degradation and human suffering in the name of short-term profits or the comfort of their own position.

and, more importantly, the historical credibility and reputation of our government — designed and working to protect and defend inherent, unalienable human rights! A dollar has the profound global value it has because of successful application of the original intent of our US Constitution — freedom. Our trust in US money is inseparable from our trust in the value of our government. Trust in our money system, or our nation, is appropriate only in the context of our greater trust in God — which is specifically stated on our money: “in God we Trust”. Politics, government, and God all matter when contemplating our prosperity — our “pursuit of happiness” is one of the inherent human rights of Declaration of Independence.

government, giving us every reason to think shrewdly about what we ultimately trust.

The 1828 definition of the word “happiness” is about the same as ours: “That state of being in which our desires are gratified.” The founders, like us, presumed the pursuit of happiness included the ownership of property and money. Ultimate “happiness” however, is only artificially related to currency and has everything to do with what/ who we are ultimately trusting. If you remember, this is precisely the message of the famous “Sermon on the Mount” in the Bible (summed up in Matt 6:33). The evening news confirms we have less and less reason to place too much trust in government, and more than ever this includes our American

We “ordinary folks” do not often admit to ourselves we do not have much more than nominal control over government spending! It seems more and more unlikely we will be able to stop the spending-debt spiral.

It was a wise man who once said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.”

– Thomas Jefferson, US President [Robert G. Moscatelli, The Quote Manual (Bloomington, IN: Author House, 2005), 193.]

Long ago, “We the People” were extricated from the power to directly control monetary policy! Congress authorized the creation of the Federal Reserve system (the “Fed”) in 1913.

Theoretically we could force reform and restructure our monetary policies by empowering lawmakers, but we would be hard-pressed to forge consensus on what ‘improvements’ to this entrenched institution would look like. We tolerate escalating deficit spending even though we don’t look too closely at how this results in more and more money being printed/minted, which is creating a bigger and bigger debt load.

Read the rest of this article at weskeller. com/are-you-wealthy-or-poor/.

POLITICS & OPINION Contributed by Harry Moore, Palmer My name is Harry Moore. I, along with my wife, Jane, are strong supporters of Matthew Beck to be our next mayor in the Matanuska Susitna Borough. I hope to communicate, in the next few paragraphs, why he is the best and clearest choice to help lead and form our Borough into the wonderful place to raise a family and call home.

Matthew is one of those few and unique individuals who care deeply about the community he is part of and has worked tirelessly in making a positive impact wherever he may find himself. I met Matthew and his wife, Teresa, over 20 years ago when he came as the youth minister at our local Catholic parish of St. Michael in Palmer. He quickly made an immediate impact in the lives of our children and

Contributed by Larry Wood Venezuela used to be the richest country in the world with more oil than Saudi Arabia. Now, under communism, the people are starving, the economy is devastated, and people are eating out of dumpsters. Yet, the Democrats are trying to convince us that a communist oligarchy will work “better” here.

No. It won’t.

The political wars are heating up, slowly, but surely. Democrat districts in Anchorage are openly coordinating and planning their support for local elections in the MOA. The Republicans?

Who knows?

I have no doubt that the same thing is happening in the Valley and elsewhere in Alaska.

For some reason, the Republicans still hold to a non-existent bi-partisan’ hands-off local elections policy. Yet, the Democrats are not at all shy about their support for the candidates at every level, including community councils.

The country and every state is engaged in a cultural, political, and legal war.

Communism has openly declared itself with representation in every level of elected and appointed government.

Our President is openly appointing communists to cabinet positions. Communists openly serve in our government agencies. This is incredible as

the community. He imparted his love of community, faith and neighbor into the youth and quickly energized our parish community to action and service, organizing several out of state and in state opportunities for those who were interested in responding to the call to action in their hearts.

Matthew and Teresa started and built two businesses in Palmer with their business partners, North Star Animal Hospital and the North Star Pet Resort.

Teresa was raised in the Palmer area and having the opportunity to build her veterinary practice in her hometown was a wonderful opportunity. It has afforded the Beck’s an opportunity to employ others in and around Palmer by hiring additional veterinarians, business managers, and even those who are first time employees. They are helping to build and strengthen our local economy. You can tell a lot about a business

there was a time in the not-so-distant past that such a declaration would have ensured a visit by the FBI. Within the Democrat Party itself, the radical Marxist/communist is now the norm, not an exception. Where, in the Dem party of the past, the Constitution was respected, the rule of law was respected, life was respected, and our way of life, culture, law and heritage were respected. Today, no. Violence is not only tolerated, but advocated by Democrat leadership and elected officials. Worse, justice is no longer blind in Democrat jurisdictions.

Where did this vitriol come from?

It seems the COVID-19 pandemic response was the catalyst for this change from some degree of open respect to absolute contempt for the opposition.

I cannot remember when members of Congress and our national leadership openly advocated violence as a means of change. Always before it was through the ballot box.

Given that communism seeks to overthrow and to end our constitutional republic, it is time that communism was once again recognized as a threat to our way of life and our freedom. Communism/Marxism has to be opposed wherever it rears its ugly, bigoted head.

Those who espouse a communist/Marxist point of view are traitors and need to be treated as such. They oppose the Constitution. Yet, we find them in our

without knowing whether we helped or enabled the recipient.

Contributed by Marilyn Bennett Is it helpful to give money to someone asking for it on the street?

Perhaps.

It depends on what the individual plans to do with the money. Generally speaking, anything that is received with nothing required of the recipient could be harmful.

I remember my mother telling me about being on the farm during the depression. Men would come down to the farm and ask to chop wood or do anything to earn a meal and a place to sleep. What she passed on to me was that it would be shameful to ask for a hand-out without giving anything in return. That used to be a pretty universal attitude.

We are sure a long way from that!

Feeling good about doing good. Is the effectiveness of our giving based on that good feeling rather than the outcome? We should not ignore the negative side effects of giving without expectations. We often evaluate our charity by the rewards we receive through feeling good about ourselves,

Resources provided without any commitment or expectation from the recipient can foster resentment in both the giver and the recipient. Charity can have the effect of creating dependence.

Helping is doing something for anyone who is unable to do it for themselves.

Enabling is doing something for an individual who could and should be doing for it for their self. The primary goal of charity should be to improve the lives of the recipient. Creating a cycle of dependency looks like something other than compassion.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in January 2020, there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in America; of those, 161,569 lived in California. That is more than 25% of the total. A few years ago, I was visiting my brother in Sacramento and saw a huge crowd of people walking down the street. I asked my brother if a sporting event had just gotten out.

No, he said that crowd is the homeless going for their noon meal at the city homeless shelter. In my many visits since, I have seen the homeless encampments growing by quantum leaps.

I have noticed that the “good people” in California are feeding the homeless,

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

and those that own them by how you are greeted and served by employees of the business, and we along with our pets, have always been treated well and have been well taken care of.

Matthew served for two terms on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and was the Deputy Mayor for four years. While serving on the Assembly, he worked tirelessly to ensure the future of farming in the area by helping to form the Agriculture Advisory Board which is designed to give those who carry on the tradition of farming in the Mat-Su a unified voice in bringing awareness of issues impacting agriculture to the attention of the Borough Assembly and Staff. He helped to build support in the cutting of the boroughs financial losses and selling of the M/V Susitna, which was quickly becoming a financial burden upon the borough. He is a very strong supporter of Mat-Su public schools, and

educational system from top to bottom, in our government at every level, even our military, in our community councils and school boards. Look at Anchorage, the Palmer City Council, Fairbanks and other local governments. All have a similar Marxist infestation problem.

The idea of Marxist ideological indoctrination would find its way into our school curriculums is both incredible and reprehensible.

Where is the teaching and example of Martin Luther King or the progress made since the Civil War? Instead, Marx? Divisiveness, bigotry, and discrimination?

After all the misery and hardship in restoring respect and dignity to all Americans, we want divisiveness and division promoted by government with our children made into little ideologues who will just do and not think? This is what the CCP is doing.

In the Peoples Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party is reorganizing their school system back to the model that produced Mao’s Red Guards of the 1960s who devastated China’s economy, food production and the people of China. The children turned on parents and grandparents accusing them of being counter-revolutionaries.

Is this what we want?

If you lose the kids, you lose the country.

Evidently, the Republican Party is willing to lose this country. We know that the establishment Republican as represented by Mitch McConnell and others

providing them with state-of- the-art tents and putting up sanitary stations along, what used to be a bike trail.

Just imagine how difficult it would be to look for a job while living in a tent, trying to keep clean or have enough to eat. I do not judge a person who is down on their luck as I definitely experienced being broke as the result of my bad choices in the past. However, I changed my situation by working two or even three jobs to pull myself back up. Later in life, I became a landlord and have delayed collecting the rent many times when someone renting from me was experiencing a hard time. Most of the time, I was paid back when they got back on their feet.

Helping someone to get a job, providing a temporary place to sleep and a meal is one thing. Helping them to exist on the lowest level of our society is cruel. Simply giving, without requiring accountability, is irresponsible. We need to develop discernment to help us know the difference between helping and enabling. When you intervene by not allowing someone to suffer the consequences of their actions, you are limiting that person’s ability to help themselves.

For a long time, we, as a society, have thought that it’s a good idea when you

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his children are either currently enrolled in the local schools or have graduated and have begun their college carriers.

He was proud to support the partnership of the Borough in collaboration with the Great Land Trust to protect the trails leading up the Butte trail system, so that this wonderful family hike can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Matthew and Teresa are committed to their local community, and they have literally put their money where their hearts are. The Mat-Su has many challenges facing it in the coming years and it is important and critical that we choose wisely in who will lead and represent the diverse residents and communities of the borough, meeting the challenges ahead. Matthew has the proven commitment, knowledge, and experience to take this task on.

Mathew Beck is my friend and if you do not know him yet, please look for the opportunity to meet him – you won’t be disappointed.

in Congress is of the belief that give and take is a good thing. They lose nothing if the Dems are in power, they still enrich themselves. After all, the plebes will pay the bill.

How can the Alaska Republican Party change from passive to actively face the Marxist Democrat threat?

By restoring the precinct organization as the foundation of the Party.

Note that on the Alaska Republic Party website, all that is listed are the House Districts. There is no information regarding House District Precinct chairs and vice chairs. Further, the party needs to vet and to promote election of conservative Republicans at every level, including community councils, school boards, city and borough elections and appointments to boards.

It is time to take the gloves off and to fight as if this were for our very lives, for our freedom, and for the future of our children.

Bi-partisanship to the current generation of Democrat means sit down and shut up, or else. They openly speak of reeducation camps or worse for the opposition.

Replace any Republican who uses the term “bi-partisan”. We need people who are willing to stand for their convictions and to get into the face of the opposition.

The Alaska Republican Party must fight to support the Constitution and the party Platform.

MAGA.

see a homeless person to give them a little money. Dignity has become a buzzword in the world of services to the homeless and it’s easy to feel good about the idea of restoring dignity to people in need. But no one can give someone else dignity. The caregiver who says, “We will treat you with respect because of your inherent dignity,” is not helping, as every other day in the life of a homeless person is devoid of dignity. Such sentiments are equivalent to saying that I give you dignity by my gifts to you. Instead of facilitating empowerment, the message comes across as paternalistic Remember: Comfortable people have zero motivation to change their behavior. Who are these homeless people?

Some are young addicts who got kicked out of the house by Mom and Dad, others are lifelong hobos living off the land. Some are just recently down on their luck or out of a job with no place to live.

We must try to help those who are interested in rejoining our society and not enable those who are intent on continuing to live on the streets. I know many don’t share my views, but my concern is to keep Palmer a safe place to live and enabling people to live on the streets is not healthy for them nor for our city.

FOR MORE INFO CALL THE BOROUGH CLERK'S OFFICE AT 861-8683 OR VISIT WWW.MATSUGOV.US/ELECTIONS

ELECTION OFFICIALS NEEDED! For the Mat-Su Borough Regular Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021

DON’T DELAY, SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TODAY! The Borough Clerk’s Office is recruiting precinct workers for the November 2, 2021, Regular Borough Election. If you are interested in applying to serve as an election worker, you must complete and submit an application. Additional info and applications are available online at www.matsugov.us/elections or contact the Borough Clerk’s Office at 861-8683. In order to serve, you must be a registered voter of the Borough. Training and compensation are provided.

VOTE ABSENTEE

Interested Borough registered voters may apply for an absentee ballot by submitting a completed Absentee By-Mail Ballot Application to the Borough Clerk's Office, by the deadline: Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Absentee By-Mail Ballot Applications are available online at www.matsugov.us/elections, from the Borough Clerk's Office located at 350 E. Dahlia Avenue in Palmer, or by calling 861-8683 to request an application. Applications must be submitted annually.

Early Voting / Absentee In-Person voting will begin on Monday, October 18, 2021, and continue through Monday, November 1, 2021 at the following locations and times: • Mat-Su Borough Building: 350 E. Dahlia Avenue, Palmer Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Division of Elections, Mat-Su Regional Office: 1700 E. Bogard Rd, Bldg B, Ste 102, Wasilla Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

Voting Assistance A Touch Screen Voting unit will be available at the Mat-Su Borough Building and at the Division of Elections, Mat-Su Regional Office 15 days prior to the election. Touch screen voting is intended for the blind, disabled and voters with reading difficulties. The touch screen units allow disabled voters to vote unassisted with a magnified, high contrast and audio ballot.

Absentee In-Person Voting Locations Ballot Styles Available Will Be Limited & Specific to Each Location HOUSTON CITY HALL, TALKEETNA AND TRAPPER CREEK LIBRARIES October 18 thru November 1 (M-F) – During Normal Business Hours

NOTICE OF VOTER REGISTRATION

The deadline to register to vote in this election or update your voter registration is: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021 You can update or register to vote online or print a Voter Registration Application from the Alaska State Division of Elections at www.elections.alaska.gov, or you may register to vote at one of the following locations: Alaska State Division of Elections North Fork Professional Bldg B, Ste 102 1700 E Bogard Rd., Wasilla 373-8952

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Clerks Office 350 E Dahlia Ave, Palmer 861-8683

Voter registration applications are also available at the City Clerk's Office in Houston, Palmer, and Wasilla.

Voter Qualifications. A person may vote in a Borough election only if the person: is qualified to vote in State elections under AS 15.05.010; has been a resident of the Borough for 30 days immediately preceding the election; is registered to vote in State elections at a residence address within the Borough at least 30 days before the Borough election at which the person seeks to vote; and is not disqualified under Article V of the State Constitution.

POLITICS & OPINION MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

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support helps elections of more conservative Republican candidates.

APPAREL & CLOTHING All Seasons Clothing ........ 357-0123 D’s Tuxedo ........ 707-6585 Mila’s Alterations ........ 830-8339 ART & CRAFTS Artists Uncorked… 982-2675 The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE A Black Sheep Shop ......... 376-8198 Black Birch Books ...... 373-2677 Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 CAFÉ & COFFEE Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Gathering Grounds ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blues……..745-2233

Contributed by Evelyn Bunch, Mat-Su Republican Women All Aboard Extravanganza 10/2/2021 – 5PM Mat-Su Republican Women’s Club Evangelo’s Restaurant 2530 E Parks Hwy, Wasilla

CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Artists Uncorked ........ 982-2675 EDUCATION Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990

HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ........ 376-8327 Just Botanicals ....... 414-3663 Lone Wolf Aura ........ 631-0482 HOME DÉCOR Peak Boutique ........ 746-3320

Purchase tickets online, $75 each, or VIP seating tables of 8 for $600 on our website: matsurepublicanwomensclub.org or visit us on Facebook.

Bid on wonderful auction items, wall of guns, and listen to renown speaker, Brigadier General Mike Bridges. Your

Ladies and gentlemen, everyone is welcome, membership not needed!

COMMUNITY

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

FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort ........ 376-5403

$75 Individual, $600 VIP Table of 8 Join us for an exciting evening of fun and enjoy a wonderful prime rib and halibut dinner.

Contributed by Lauralynn Robison The “Giving Season” is fast approaching, as we Alaskan wind down our summer.

November 30th is the day of “Giving” and October starts the season. As we

enter this wonderful time of the year, getting ready for winter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the Holidays in between, let us remember to help our neighbor in need and give! There are so many ways to give, (donate), Food, Your Time and Financially. The MatSu Food Bank has been helping our community for 32 years. We have experienced a tremendous growth within our community and are here to always help with food insecurity. Recently we had to expand to a new warehouse facility to house all the food we collect and believe me it’s a lot of food! We are looking for assistance financially to make this happen.

We are having donation drives, with the

PIZZA Humdingers Pizza ........ 745-7499 PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES Valley Phlebotomy ........ 376-6435 PRINT SERVICES The UPS Store ........ 746-6245

Contributed by Marlene Munsell

REPAIR, RESTORATION Comtronics ........ 373-2669 S&S Drilling ...... 746-0225 Steve’s Toyostove Repair ..... 376-9276 The Powdercoat Shop .... 841-1300

Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce James Drayton as the new WASI CEO. He is replacing Chuck Foster who is retiring from WASI after seven years at its helm.

SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364 Non-Essentials ........ 745-2258 The Wagon Wheel ........ 357-8980

James joined WASI on August 30th, providing sufficient time to complete an orderly handover.

THRIFT SHOPS Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990

Mr. Drayton is a highly experienced, successful, and well-regarded leader in Alaska Senior care. In the past 12 years he has worked as the Chief Operating Officer for a senior care service organization providing Home and Community Based Waiver services in both Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, a State of Alaska Senior and Disabilities Services Division Compliance Investigator and as a Behavioral Health Services Administrator for Southcentral Foundation.

During his tenure at LifeWorks as COO, he successfully expanded the member-

ship by 85% while tripling operational reach, enabling previously unserved seniors to be connected to services. As a Compliance Investigator for SOS he closed over 275 cases with 20+ of them resulting in major felony fraud convictions and amassing over $9 million USO in fines and over payment judgments.

With his business education, experience in program expansion and a strong compliance background; the Board is confident that Mr. Drayton is uniquely qualified to navigate and execute our strategic plan.

Board President, John Weaver said, “The combination of his experience, proven ability and drive makes him an ideal fit for our company’s next stages of growth. James’ level of confidence and work ethic is complimented by his deeply ingrained sense of humility and pragmatic leadership style. Please join us in welcoming James Drayton, our new CEO.”

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

PAGE 11

help of local businesses, holding auctions (Hearts4Hunger, February 2022), and social media events (follow us on Facebook for details). There are many ways you can help us help our community with this wonderful endeavor. Also, we are always looking for volunteers to help us at the Food Pantry and in the warehouse. 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 Paula Nance, Valley Board of Realtors For the 22nd consecutive year, the National Association of Realtors® is honoring 10 finalists for its 2021 Good Neighbor Awards Program. This award honors Realtors® who have made significant, tangible volunteer contributions in their communities to improve the lives of their neighbors in need.

“Despite the many challenges navigating COVID-19 restrictions and running a non-profit during the pandemic, these Realtors® were there to help their communities at a time their contributions were needed most,” said NAR President Charlie Oppler. “I am so proud to honor this year’s Good Neighbor Award finalists for continuing the Realtor® tradition of giving back and making a difference.”

Beginning now, the public can vote for their favorite of the 10 Good Neighbor finalists. The top three finalists will be recognized as Web Choice Favorites and take home an additional donation of $2,500, $1,250 and $1,250, respectively. Cast your vote at www.realtor. com/goodneighbor between September 2nd and October 1st.

Both the winners, as determined by judges, and the Web Choice Favorites will be announced on October 6th. The five winners will receive a $10,000 grant and national media exposure for their charity, including a feature in the fall issue of REALTOR® Magazine. The winners will be honored during the 2021 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego, Calif. Five honorable mentions will receive $2,500 grants: The 10 REALTOR Magazine Good Neighbor Awards finalists are as follows: Dawn M. Adams, The Palmetto Real

Estate Company, Aiken, South Carolina Since 2011, Adams has been helping to rescue and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking both in the U.S. and internationally. As a board member with Abolish Slavery Coalition (www.

AbolishSlavery.org), Adams organizes multi-agency task forces that help locate those who were kidnapped, while helping rescued victims begin the process of restoring normalcy in their lives.

Bob Bell, Mile Hi Property, Denver, Colorado Every Friday, Bell and hundreds of volunteers meet to pack and deliver weekend meals for 10,000 at-risk children scattered across 72 Denver-area schools. By eliminating overhead and relying on his dedicated volunteers, Bell has turned Food for Thought into a powerhouse, with 497,205 backpacks of food delivered to date, the equivalent of almost 4 million meals.

Sharon Chambers-Gordon, Windermere Professional Partners, Tacoma, Washington Founder of Raising Girls, a non-profit that helps low-income young women boost their confidence and self-esteem, Chambers-Gordon and her volunteer team donate menstrual hygiene products to tweens and teens who might otherwise skip school and sports because of embarrassment or financial constraints.

Chris Cockerham, F.C. Tucker/Bloomington REALTOR®, Bloomington, Indiana Cockerham helps combat homelessness by taking advantage of his expertise and contacts in the real estate industry. He has spent more than a year helping New Hope for Families find a new permanent location, which doubled its shelter capacity and raised $1.2 million, in large part from local REALTORS®.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Sydney Ealy, Brooks & Davis Real Estate, Houston, Texas In 2014, Ealy founded TWST4Girls, a non-profit organization that offers a variety of educational programs and one-on-one mentoring for low-income girls. The opportunities are designed to help girls aged 11-17 boost self-esteem, learn important life skills, and start on a path toward higher education.

Brent Gieseke, Exit Realty Professionals, Kansas City, Montana Gieseke wears many hats as a volunteer serving the needs of refugee families. Since 2018, he’s helped acquire and renovate homes, called “Blessing Houses,” while teens from refugee families work at his side to learn job and life skills designed to help in their acclimation to life in America.

Kibe Lucas, KW The Kibe Lucas Team, Wasilla, Alaska For 20 years, Lucas has been a passionate board member for the Children’s Place, a no-nprofit that offers hope to families impacted by child abuse and neglect. He has leveraged his real estate experience to secure land for a new headquarters, raise half a million dollars, and recruit countless supporters to promote the well-being of more than 4,000 American children.

Denny and Linda Ellsworth-Moore, Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWoodDelta, Lansing, Michigan Since 2004, Denny Moore and Linda Ellsworth-Moore have volunteered with Child and Family Charities, a nonprofit that supports children in need. The couple has raised $345,000 and collects donations of bikes, school supplies, clothing, and holiday gifts, with special emphasis on bikes for foster children.

Christina Sauger, Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc., Clearwater, Florida Sauger founded The Harbor Dish, a

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nonprofit that provides healthy meals and companionship to anyone regardless of their ability to pay. The mobile program includes hosting large-scale community dinners on a pay-whatyou-can model, and delivers hot meals to seniors, foster children, domestic violence survivors and others in need.

Raymond Siddell, Keller Williams Legacy Group, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Siddell mobilized his community’s emergency response after a violent derecho damaged 90% of the homes and buildings in his hometown. During his efforts he discovered an underlying food insecurity in the region, leading him to create Together We Achieve.

This now permanent food pantry has distributed 1.2 million pounds of food to local residents in one year.

NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards is supported by primary sponsor realtor. com®, plus Chase and The Center for REALTOR® Development.

“Volunteers help bring and hold communities together, especially during challenging times like those we continue to face today,” said realtor.com® CMO Mickey Neuberger. “The Good Neighbor Awards finalists exemplify that spirit of volunteerism, and we are proud to celebrate and recognize the impact these changemakers have had and the lives they’ve touched.”

Nominees were judged on their personal contribution of time as well as financial and material contributions to benefit their cause.

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

PETS & ANIMALS / COMMUNITY

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates

foster or permanent home. Honey is housetrained, knows basic commands, and likes people and kids.

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

Honey is a sweet Pit Bull/American Bulldog Mix. Just a young gal, only about a year old, and ready for a

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

Contributed by Clear Creek Cat Rescue Amazing, wonderful, friendly, affectionate... There are not enough good things we can say about this boy.

Tonka is handsome; that’s an obvious fact. But what comes in that handsome cat suit is a bundle of the most friendly, mellow, terrific cat you could hope for.

Contributed by Angie Lewis, Alaska Animal Advocates One of the many choices you will be faced with, when adopting a cat, will be deciding if you want a male or a female cat. Each gender has characteristics that will make them unique.

Typically, female cats are smaller than male cats. Male cats are usually more friendly than are females. Female cats often take a bit of time to demonstrate trust in their humans. They are just a bit more cautious. Once you have earned their trust, they will be equally loving.

Male cats sometimes have the disadvantage of spraying. This is when a cat backs their body up to a wall or cabinet, tail straight up, and tail shakes or vibrates. A terrible liquid/urine mixture

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He was rescued with a group of cats after his person was in a fatal car accident. Immediately upon being turned into the Houston Shelter, he was all about making friends. He loves to be pet and help with chores and just be the best companion! He seems to love all people. And he does great with other cats; he’s an excellent kitten dad in his foster home. We don’t know about dogs. He had free reign of the outside at his former home and will need that in his new home, along with someone who wants to really bond with him and be his special one.

Tonka needs a family to really make him a part of things, not just the cat that passes through and is ignored.

He’s a good buddy! We think he is a couple of years old.

sprays out. I have had cats my entire life and have never had one spray. If they are neutered early in life, anywhere from four to six months. they are unlikely to develop this nasty habit.

Both males and females can spray, but males are more likely to do so.

is not necessarily true. It all depends on the kitty. I have all male cats and haven’t ever had a mouse in my house.

One did manage to get in years ago, but suffice it to say, he didn’t get back out!

A disadvantage of having a female kitty is that she can get pregnant. This can happen as early as four months old. When a kitty is ready to mate, she goes into heat, which can be a very challenging time for the cat and the humans around her. There is a great deal of howling, yowling, and rubbing against objects or people. At this time your kitty will become obsessed with escaping to look for a male.

To meet Tonka, please call 980-8898.

More important than thinking about getting either a male or a female cat is the understanding that each cat has a personality of his own and must be seen as an individual. Make your choice based on the cat’s personality characteristics.

There is some thought that female cats are better mousers than males, but this

for the audience to respond.

Contributed by Marilyn Bennett This article is condensed from an article by Joel Schwartzberg, who is the senior director of strategic and executive communications for a national nonprofit in New York City. He is a valued Toastmaster member who asked me to share his article about slowing down your speech to make it more memorable.

As you know, radio commercials sometimes end with legal language that must be included, but is said purposefully quickly so the listener can’t fully process the information, and that’s the point. The producers of that commercial know anything said quickly is less likely to be processed or retained.

Why Speaking Quickly Hurts Your Speech To understand the connection between speaker pace and audience processing, consider the roles of speaker and audience. As the speaker, you’re making a point you’ve understood and practiced for some time.

Your audience, on the other hand, is hearing it for the first time. As such, they need to hear it, digest it, process it, determine its relevance, think about its application, and consider writing it down or tweeting it.

Why People Talk Quickly Unlike the voice in commercials, public speakers don’t typically talk quickly on purpose, but they may be nervous about speaking or they want to cover a lot of content in a short time Whatever the cause for quick-speak, it always decreases clarity and impact.

Remember: Your audience needs

twice as long to receive your point as you need to make it. And if they don’t successfully receive it, there’s no point making it in the first place.

Raise Your Volume If you speak with a loud voice it projects competence, confidence, and authority. Try saying something both loudly and quickly. Very difficult, right? Since volume in and of itself is a public speaking asset, use it also to decrease your speaking velocity.

Over-Articulate Articulation is another effective speed-reduction tactic because it creates oratorical “speed bumps” that force you to slow down, while boosting your vocal clarity. When you use your mouth, not just your tongue, to increase enunciation, you’ll also come across as more committed and feel more energized, because you’re making points with greater physical effort.

Embrace Pauses Pauses can be a speaker’s best friend because they give you time to choose your words with precision and draw attention to critical points. When you pause, remember to take a quiet breath. That breath will further slow and calm you down. If you fear how your pauses will be perceived, don’t worry. Audiences generally don’t remember short pauses so use them strategically.

Ask Questions Find places in your presentation to pose questions to your audience, even if you’re only asking them to raise their hands. This technique brings your speed down because you naturally won’t ask a question quickly, and you need to wait a few - seconds

Put Breaks in Your Notes Good speaking notes can remind you not only what to say, but also what to do. Write the word “PAUSE” in your notes where you need time to allow a point to sink in. Also, break up your notes into concise bullets or phrases.

This practice will condition your mind to think of your presentation as separate and distinct expressions, with built-in pauses between them.

Cut, Don’t Run Finally, if you find yourself running out of time as you’re speaking, which happens to the best of us, try to cut less important content, not speed up, because anything you rush will not be retained. As a general rule, your presentation should start with the most significant ideas and end with the least significant ideas, making emergency cuts easier as you progress.

Learning From Toastmasters In Toastmasters, we often learn the best techniques by practicing in a non-threatening environment.

Discover more about Palmer Toastmasters at our website: www.palmer. toastmastersclubs.org. Join one of our meetings in person on the 1st and/or 2nd Tuesday of each month in the conference room at Turkey red (550 S. Alaska Street in Palmer) at 6 PM or online via Zoom every Tuesday night at 6 PM. We start on time.

For the Zoom link, visit the meeting directions tab at our club website: Palmer Toastmasters Club.

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.

COMMUNITY

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Susan Wallin The Valley Garden Club hit the ground running this spring with our first faceto-face meeting outdoors in downtown Palmer at the pavilion. It was great to see everyone, even through a mask!

Our club held its annual end of May and Mid-August Plant Sales. We painted a July Fourth float and handed out numerous bedding plants, candy and pinwheels to the happy crowd in City of Wasilla Parade. Members hosted Pop Up Garden Tours when their gardens were at the peak of beauty. VGC shared booth space with the Peony Society at Palmer Mid Summer Garden and

PAGE 14

Art Faire sponsoring make-and-take butterflies for kids. Many club members volunteer as well as enter items in the Alaska State Fair, and so much more!

We enjoy helping each other as we uphold our club motto: “Share, Show, Tell.”

We are happy to announce regular in person meetings at the First Baptist Church of Wasilla on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30am. Please join us for coffee, tea and cookies while we promote the art of gardening and the study of floriculture and horticulture.

Face masks and social distancing are highly recommended at our meetings.

If you have questions about Valley Garden Club, please email us at matsuvgc@gmail.com or checkout our website www.valleygardenclub.com.

injury.

Contributed by Kirsten Kendrick, Health Quest Therapy, Inc. Health Quest Therapy, Inc. is offering complimentary fall-risk screenings during September’s “Fight the Fall,” a month-long initiative to help our community members understand if they are at risk for falling.

According to the National Council on Aging, 1 in 4 seniors fall each year, with many incidents leading to hospitalization. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal, trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. COVID-19 has created a heightened risk for balance related problems. Studies show that there has been a 30 percent increase in falls due to inactivity and isolation. (APA)

“Falls do not have to be a fact of life as we age,” said Shain Zumbrunnen OTR/ CHT, practicing therapist and owner of Health Quest Therapy, Inc. “Most falls are entirely preventable, but it is important that our community understands their individual risks for falling and to know what steps to take to minimize risks.”

Fall-risk screenings include a questionnaire followed by various balance activities. During the exam, our therapists will monitor a patient’s balance, as well as functional limitations caused by poor posture and weakness in hips and ankles. Chronic conditions such as arthritis, poor vision, challenged hearing, orthopedic conditions and neurological disorders can be contributing factors to falls. Additionally,

certain prescription medications have potential side affects such as dizziness, headaches, nausea and sleepiness which can increase the risk of falling.

At Health Quest Therapy, Inc., we believe that balance is the core to your wellness. A national leader in falls prevention, Health Quest’s balance therapy program has helped a large part of our community retrain their balance and regain confidence to successfully navigate through challenges of their daily lives. How does it work? Our therapists use a safety support system that consists of an over-head track and a movable trolley. Strong and quiet, the system allows for ease of movement while secured in a simple, comfortable body harness. The system enables our patient’s the ability to perform functional activities with minimal risk of

Health Quest Therapy, Inc. is launching our, “Fight the Fall,” initiative to support the National Council on Aging’s Falls Prevention Awareness Week – September 20-24, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls truly are preventable. “A fall-risk screening is a great opportunity for a balance checkup of sorts, a way to learn each individual’s unique strengths and weaknesses,” Shain comments. “The goal for “Fight the Fall” is to educate members of our community and provide personalized solutions to keep us all safe, healthy and loving our lives!”

We look forward to your call to schedule a complimentary fall-risk screening.

Wasilla (907) 376-6363 Eagle River (907) 622-6363 Media Contact: Kirsten Kendrick (907) 315-9174 Kirsten.Kendrick@Fyzical.com Health Quest Therapy, Inc. 650 North Shorline Drive Wasilla 99654 11432 Business Blvd #18 Eagle River 99577