The People's Paper September 2023

Rotary Uncorked 2023

Peace, Love & Hope: A Groovy Trip Through the 70s

Contributed by Michelle Overstreet

The Wasilla Noon Rotary Club is thrilled to announce Rotary Uncorked 2023: Peace, Love & Hope, a journey back to the 1970s that promises a blast from the past like no other. This event marks the 14th Annual Rotary Uncorked, and it’s going to be a groovy ride down memory lane at the Menard Center. So, mark your calendars for Saturday, October 7th, as we take a nostalgic trip through the 70s, filled with peace, love, and hope!

The 70s-themed evening will kick off at 6:00 pm and conclude at 9:00 pm, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the iconic rock, pop, and country hits of the era. Get ready to dance to the tunes of legends like Elton John, Willie Nelson, Heart, the Beatles, and more.

Last year’s event was a resounding success, thanks to the incredible support from individuals and organizations alike. Rotary Uncorked is not just a fun night out; it also contributes to vital causes in the community. Funds raised support organizations such as the MyHouse Homeless Teen Center, provide scholarships for graduating Mat-Su High School seniors, and fund various community projects.

At Rotary Uncorked, you can indulge in delectable tapas prepared by local culinary masters, perfectly paired with fine wines and local brews. And for those looking for some extra excitement, we have thrilling auctions featuring fantastic items up for grabs. You can secure your spot now with reserved tables or individual

tickets, available on our website at rotaryuncorked.com. Join us for this groovy trip through the 70s, filled with Peace, Love & Hope!

“Peace, Love and Hope!” This fantastic event, now in its 14th year, will take place a the Menard Center in Wasilla.

Rotary Uncorked has a proud history of supporting the youth of the Mat-Su Valley through this annual fundraiser. Last year, the event raised $30,000 for the MY House Youth Drop-In Center and $40,000 for academic and trade school scholarships for graduating Mat-Su High School seniors, in addition to supporting various community projects.

Guests can look forward to an evening filled with tapas, beer, and wine from the best restaurants and caterers in the Valley. This event offers an

exceptional experience with excellent food, drinks, and entertainment. You can eat, dance, and bid on both live and silent auction items, which include luxury travel, Alaskan art, unique outdoor adventures, and gifts. There will also be a wine pull, split the pot, and raffles to add to the excitement.

Whether you want to reserve tables for your group or purchase individual tickets for you and a friend, you can do so on the Rotary Uncorked website at www.rotaryuncorked.com.

If you’re unable to attend but still want to support the youth in the Valley, you can send a message to wasillarotary.com or myhousematsu. org, or call My House at 373-HELP.

Join us for an evening of Peace, Love, and Hope at the 14th annual Rotary Uncorked. We hope to see you there!

COMMUNITY

Summer Is Over, Now What?

Contributed by Derek

With the fresh snow on the Mountain tops, a chill in the air, and the leaves changing; Many may be wondering what is next in the world of the great outdoors. As many of us might be retreating to the great indoors for a long winter nap there are still opportunities to get outside and explore our great state. Our family enjoys kayaking underneath Pioneer Peak on the Knik River, seeing the mountains come to life in fall colors. To harvest vegetables, as a family, at Pyrah’s Farm because your summer garden failed. Let me be the first to admit my garden does not produce quite as well as their garden does, those pesky slugs!

One of our family’s other favorite fall activities includes going up to Hatchers Pass where we enjoy hiking, panning for gold, and picking berries. Another extraordinary fall time activity is going out to Denali National Park and exploring this icon after the crowds have left but before it gets snowed in. Getting outside this time of year is well worth braving the chillier days. The weather is

not bitterly cold yet and there are fewer crowds, as the tourists have begun to leave.

Alaska’s fall is short, if you blink you just might miss it. So, I would encourage you to get out and explore as much as possible. Take that trip you saw on Instagram that all your visiting family and friends posted about when they were here this summer. Grab a bucket and pick some wild berries before the bears eat them all.

Our long winter will be upon us soon. But even then, there are still some amazing opportunities to see our beautiful state mosquito-free! Mind you it might be a little bit colder if you wait too long!

Reach out to Derek at Paddle Sports by True North AK today. They are happy to help guide you to the best products and services in our area.

From outdoor gear rentals to guided tours and classes, they have the gear and the expertise to make the most of your Alaska trip! They can be reached at at reservations@adventurealaska. net or by phone 907-691-8909.

Building a Dream at Boyd Bison Ranch

Contributed by Amanda Lee Boyd Bison Ranch

I t was my third day working as a ranch intern when Adam Boyd took me to the lake. We slipped and slid down to the lake in the spring mud, and he shared the rich, 85-year history of this now 420-acre homestead. The lake was conceptualized by his father, Robert Samuel Boyd. Despite being told that it would never work, Robert did not let the nay sayers deter him. It took 7 years for the lake to fill, and it became the heart of the homestead.

Robert loved nothing more than to give tours of the ranch – even to strangers he’d meet at a restaurant or gas station. All were welcome. He would tell them the story of how his family came to Alaska in the late 1930’s, the struggles of Alaskan farming, as well as tales of hunting and trapping. As we stood on the edge of the lake feeding swans, as so many visitors had before, Adam shared his plans for a wedding and event center at the lake. Coming from the California wine country and planning events at large winery venues, it was not hard for me to see the potential. I stared out upon the natural and undeveloped area around the lake, and I assumed that we were discussing a 5-7 year plan – but that was before I really knew the Boyd’s.

At the end of our 10-hour workday, Mr. Boyd would ask the crew about their plans for the evening while he loaded his chainsaw onto the back of his truck. My plans were those typical of an Alaskan mom – feeding kids and watering a garden – but his evening plans

were always the same: cut trees and clear land for the pavilion. By the end of September 2022, the 88’ x 32’ log pavilion was completed. In 2023 our modest crew of three added an additional 20’x 40’ log pavilion, 3,200 sqft of concrete, a parking lot to accommodate 400+ guests, and a fully functional restroom facility, including showers for our overnight guests. 2023 was the soft opening of the venue and we were pleased to host four events, and our 2024 calendar is filling quickly.

The venue is only one of the things happening at Boyd Bison Ranch. The real meat and potatoes of the operation is still, well – meat and potatoes. In the spring, the Boyd’s broker and distribute seed potatoes to various retailers across Alaska, and in the fall, they sell whole bison. The herd of roughly 70 bison do not require much, as they roam free on over 180 wooded acres living as wild and free as a meat animal can.

The demand for natural, ethically raised, sustainable meat has skyrocketed in recent years. 2023 is proving to be no exception, and we are down to only 24 animals available to reserve for fall harvest. If you’re looking for a low fat, low cholesterol, and nutrient-dense meat to incorporate as a regular part of your diet, look no further than bison. For most people, the flavor of bison meat is indistinguishable from beef. With significantly less fat and calories than beef, bison also has a higher protein density. A serving of grass-fed bison has three to six times the amount of Omega-3s as that of grain-fed animals. You can learn more about the herd and

find instructions for reserving an animal at www.boydsbison.com!

Whether you’re looking to fill your freezer, or fulfill your ranch wedding dreams, we hope to see you at Boyd Bison Ranch. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on all of the new and exciting things happening at the ranch!

COMMUNITY

Alaska Car Crushing: Tow Trucks Shaping Environmental Impacts

Contributed by Jasmine Otis

In the heart of the Last Frontier, where towering mountains meet the endless ocean, one company has been quietly making its mark on both the Alaskan landscape and the world of eco-conscious business. Founded over two and a half decades ago, Alaska Car Crushing & Recycling has emerged as a leader in the automotive recycling industry in Alaska, by seamlessly blending environmental responsibility with economic efficiency.

A Humble Beginning: Founder, Gary Jacobsen, envisioned a business that would not only cater to the local community’s needs but also contribute positively to the environment. Washington-born and raised, Jacobsen witnessed firsthand the environmental challenges posed by abandoned vehicles & towing services needed by the local community. Building his first tow truck by hand at the age of 19 and maximizing every opportunity presented to him, he moved to Alaska. Jacobsen opened the doors to Wolverine Towing in 1990. Initially, serving the Mat-Su Valley and surrounding areas for towing services such as: lock outs, straight tows, & flat tire changes. All while working alongside Emergency First Responders. Jacobsen then opened multiple tow companies which he later combined and turned into the mother company, Alaska Car Crushing & Recycling. With a vision to promote responsible recycling and environmental conservation his dream then became a reality.

A Commitment to Sustainability: From the start, Alaska Car Crushing was committed to environmental sustainability. With advanced recycling techniques to ensure minimal waste and pollution. A state-of-the-art crushing facility with heavy equipment and fluid containment ensures responsible recycling. Set up to efficiently process end-of-life vehicles and scrap metal by separating materials like: steel, aluminum, and other precious metals. Today, the company sticks to their commitment of environmentally friendly practices. They’ve consistently adhered to environmental regulations, ensuring that their operations do not harmfully impact the Alaskan land. Moreover, they’ve embraced innovation by adopting technologies to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Present; Anchoring Sustainable Practices: Fast forward to 2023, Alaska Car Crushing & Recycling has not only thrived but has also become an inspiration for economically sustainable

resources. One of their most significant achievements has been their contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By recycling vehicles and metals, they’ve reduced the need for energy-intensive mining and manufacturing processes. Thus, conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions. Moreover, Alaska Car Crushing actively collaborates with local communities, engaging in cleanup initiatives to remove abandoned vehicles and scrap metals. This not only improves the state’s natural beauty but also safeguards the ecosystem from potential contamination.

Safe Environment & Roads: Beyond environmental stewardship, Alaska Car Crushing has played a pivotal role in keeping local roads safe. They’ve served Matanuska Valley and surrounding areas, providing towing services to Alaskans in emergency and nonemergency situations, 24/7. Summer or Winter, day or night, and always on call to provide fast & efficient services when needed most. Their operation also has a network of auto parts salvage, tow truck operators, and a wrecking yard. From bumper-tobumper parts for your vehicle to anything in between. Alaska Car Crushing upc ycles and has a secondary purpose for automotive parts. Cost effective and wallet friendly, one stop, U-PULL IT, and parts shop. The company’s responsible practices support the environment but most importantly sourcing materials locally whenever possible. This approach has not only fostered environmental growth but has also strengthened community bonds.

Looking Ahead; A Greener Future:

As Alaska Car Crushing & Recycling

stands on the brink of its third decade, its vision extends further into the future. The company is actively exploring the integration of electric vehicle recycling techniques, aligning with the global shift towards electric mobility. They’re investing in research and development to ensure they remain at the forefront of responsible recycling in the rapidly evolving automotive industry. Furthermore, their commitment to environmental education and community engagement remains unwavering. They plan to expand their outreach program, working closely with the Matsu-Borough and local organizations, to spread awareness about responsible recycling practice.

Conclusion: In an era where environmental sustainability is preeminent, Alaska Car Crushing & Recycling has shown that responsible business practices can coexist harmoniously with economic prosperity. From humble beginnings, they have grown into a beacon of eco-consciousness in the Last Frontier. By transforming discarded vehicles into valuable resources, they’ve protected the Alaskan wilderness. Also have contributed significantly to upcycling automotive parts and providing towing services 24/7. Their journey ser ves as an inspiration, demonstrating that a commitment to sustainability can lead to a greener, cleaner, and more prosperous future for Alaska and the planet. In a world where every positive environmental step counts, Alaska Car Crushing stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a company with a community combines innovation, commitment, and a deep love for its homeland.

Alaska Resident for 49 Years Wasilla Resident for 22 Years Retired Veteran Retired State Trooper

Free “Kick the Sick” Workshop: A Must-Attend for Parents!

Contributed by Dr. Josh Bee Well Chiropractic Attention Parents! With kids back in school, are you looking for ways to give your little ones an added layer of protection? What’s commonly called “flu season” is just the season where kids are transitioning and new stressors, more activities, and a lack of sleep are impacting their immune systems, thus causing them to fall ill easier.

Join us for the “Kick the Sick” workshop, an invaluable event for parents, hosted by Dr. Josh at Bee Well Chiropractic. This workshop is specifically designed to empower proactive parents like you with the knowledge and tools needed to

bolster your child’s immunity, ensuring they stay strong and healthy. During this workshop, Dr. Josh will take a deep dive into the science behind some of the challenges your children may face regarding their immunity.

Don’t miss this golden opportunity to learn, ask questions, and equip yourself with techniques to keep your kiddos healthy. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 18th, at 10 am in the Valley Imaging Building.

It’s FREE, but spaces are limited. Secure your spot now and step into this school season informed and prepared. Spread the word, and together, let’s “Kick the Sick!”

Celebrating Remarkable Women: The Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame

Contributed by Bonnie Jack Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame

The Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Alaska in any field, including, but not limited to the arts, athletics, business, community service, conservation, education, government, health, the humanities, Native affairs, philanthropy, politics,

Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, as young as the age of three, 18 minutes before sunset or one and a quarter daylight hours before sunset, on Friday afternoon or on the eve of Jewish holidays. They light candles to usher in peace and blessings to their homes and to the world.

theology, and science, among others.

Those to be inducted are: Adelheid

“Micky” Becker, carolyn V. Brown, Vicki D’Amico, Hiroko Harada, Dorothy Isabell, Ada Johnson, Diane Kaplan, Mary Anne Navitsky, Esther Petrie, Libby Riddles, and Marty Rutherford.

The free ceremony will be shown virtually on Wednesday, October 18th at 6pm at alaskawomenshalloffame.org

Fall Updates from MatSu Food Bank

Contributed by Lauralynn Robison

Summer is officially coming to an end.

It has been quite the summer here at the MatSu Food Bank, June we celebrated our new location with a Ribbon Cutting BBQ, we provided nutritous lunches to hundreds of youngsters in the valley, as they played in the parks, and we concluded summer with our volunteers’ collecting donations at the Alaska State Fair gates. There are so many people we want to “Thank” for helping us with our mission to Fight Food Insecurity within Our Community.

Thank you to Alaska State Fair, Global Credit Union, A.D. Farm, Spring Creek Farm, Matanuska Community Farmers Market, Far North Fungi, Lovely Farms AK, North Soul Salmon, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm, Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, Saint Juvenaly Orthodox Church, Larson Chiropractic, and Allie Hewitt-State Farm Insurance. Every one of these wonderful people and businesses contributed fresh vegetables and non-parishable goods to the MatSu Food Bank this summer, helping us get nutritional food our to our community.

A HUGE shout out to all of our Volunteers who assisted us in making

this summer a great success. We Thank you all.

As summer comes to an end, and we get ready for Fall and Winter, please keep in mind the Holiday Season is just a couple months away. We will once again be on a quest to collect donations so we can help families who are struggling with food insecurity, have food for their Holiday celebrations. Also, stop by our pantry and see the new and exciting wall of recipes and information about nutrition. Adair Harman, MEF&EC, has created a Recipe Wall and there is a wealth of information about healthy eating and healthy recipes.

We are truly grateful for all the resources available to help our wonderful community. Remember: No One should go hungry! Please take a minute to visit our web page www.matsufoodbank. org. You can also follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/MatSuFoodBank.

Help us help our community! Please contact us at (907) 357-3769 to schedule time to volunteer, or for more information concerning donations… Or for other questions call United Way’s 211. Thank You for all your continued support, we deeply appreciate our community!

Anchorage Audubon Society

Contributed by Susan Westervelt Anchorage Audubon Society will resume our monthly in-person meetings on September 28, 2023. The meeting will be held at the BP Energy Center at 900 Benson Boulevard from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. There will be various speakers each month relating to birds, birding and conservation efforts throughout the state of Alaska. Our first meeting will be a photosharing meeting. There will be door prizes available, and cookies are always served.

The meeting in September will be a chance to show your favorite bird photos from the past year and explain something about your experiences in getting that photo. Beforehand, please submit your photos in order to expedite the presentation on meeting night. You may submit between 5-10 photos and be sure to include your name.

Come and see what others have seen and experienced during this past year. Join friends and neighbors who are also interested in birds, birding, and conservation. And did I mention there will be cookies available?

Submit your photos to flybynightclub@gci.net. For more information go to our website: anchorageaudubon.org and click on the “photo-sharing meeting” button.

PAID FOR BY SIMON BROWN 960 CRAIG STADLER LOOP, WASILLA, ALASKA 99623

COMMUNITY

Sponsor a Bowler Today with Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community

Contributed by Rita Walker

Hey Mat-Su Valley. Did you know there is nothing more important than fostering the lives of others? Our Special Olympic Alaska Mat-Su Community athletes are the best! The goal for us is to provide the best possible opportunity for our athletes to train and compete. Bowling is by far our biggest group of athletes. We have over 100 of our athlete friends training for State Bowling competition each week. Unfortunately, bowling can be pricey. We are reaching out to our community to help offset some of the cost associated with this sport.

Special Olympics Alaska, Mat-Su Community

has many sports throughout the year that our athletes, unified partners, and volunteers are involved in. It is a safe environment to get physically active and make lifelong connections with their peers and the community. Our program provides our athletes and unified partners with equipment and uniforms they need to participate. We also provide transportation to and from State Games throughout the year. Equipment, uniforms, transportation, bowling, rental facilities, mailings, awards, are all expenses we must pay for. This is the reason we reach out to our community for help on occasion. We never want to let an athlete down so our Mat-Su community Management Team works extra hard to make sure we can provide the opportunities free to our athlete friends and partners.

Did you know that individuals who get involved in their community are generally happier and more connected? If you have not met our amazing athletes, you are missing out. They are all so unique and amazing individuals. We can all learn from them.

If you are interested in sponsoring a bowler, want to volunteer during local competitions, or state competitions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone (907) 631-8591, Facebook “Special Olympics Alaska MatSu Community” or email us at matsu@ specialolympicsalaska.org

Join Us in Celebrating Filipino Culture!

as it is home to several ethnic groups. It is a Muslim outpost in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. Although Muslims are no longer a majority, Islamic culture is evident.

The culture and tradition of Mindanao is unique. The folk dances are just one among the many things that make the cultural practices in Mindanao stand out. You will be treated to some of the folk dances at this gala’s celebration that will transport you to the Philippines.

The vintas (boats) you see at this Gala are the stars of the festival. They are adorned with vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and long flowing sails. These traditional boats are not only functional for fishing and transportation but are also a symbol of the region’s cultural heritage.

Culinary Delights:

Experience and savor the flavors of homemade Filipino cuisine with a wide range of authentic dishes, from menudo and pansit (rice noodles) to lumpia (Filipino spring rolls) with delectable treats and some American cuisine catered by Peppercini’s Catering of Anchorage.

Contributed by Lhing McNeal

Mat-Su Kabayan

On September 30, 2023, at 5 p.m. Mat-Su

Kabayan Filipino American Community will be hosting a Gala & Fundraising Event at the Raven Hall located at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, Alaska. The richness of Filipino culture is a testament to the country’s diverse history, vibrant traditions, and deep-rooted values.

If you have ever been around Filipino/ Filipino American gatherings, you will notice that Filipino’s enjoy small and simple things. The Filipino People celebrate more than 42, 000 major and minor festivals annually around the Philippines. This is not only to socialize, enjoy great food, but also to honor our tradition, culture, and religious beliefs.

The Gala:

This event aims to showcase the rich and diverse tapestry of Filipino culture, offering an immersive experience for all attendees.

Cultural Performances:

This Gala’s theme is “Mindanao.” It is the second-largest island in the Philippines at 37, 660 sq. mi and is the seventh most populated island in the world. Mindanao hosts some of the most iconic cultural heritage of the Philippines

Filipino Fashion:

Admire the elegance of Filipino fashion with a showcase of traditional attire like the Barong, Tagalog and Filipiniana gowns.

Take part and assist our organization in supporting local community events by taking part in activities such as raffle drawing, door prizes and dancing. Feel free to bring your friends and family along, as this celebration is open to everyone who wishes to experience the beauty and vibrancy of Filipino culture.

We hope to see you there, as your presence would truly enhance the festivities. Let’s come together to celebrate the Philippines’ rich heritage and create lasting memories for years to come.

If you have any questions or require more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email at Kabayan.inc.matsu@gmail.com or call or text at 907 322 9463 or check our Matsu Kabayan page on Facebook.

Tickets are now available for purchase at Fruitland in Wasilla or give us a call on these phone numbers Rhea 720 951 1231, Shiela 907 315 4556 or buy your tickets at the event.

Mabuhay! (Long Live!)

RECOVERY AWARENESS

My Recovery Story

Contributed by Sam Garcia

Military and Veterans Community

Liaison & Peer Support Specialist III

I am a person in long term recovery from substance use disorder. What that means is I have not used alcohol or any other mind-altering drugs since April 8th 2016.

Before 2016 I lived to look at my life from the outside you could only assume I was hell bent on the destruction of my own life and in the lives of those around me.

Growing up in my house alcohol and marijuana was always in the scene. At age 8 I was drinking and smoking weed whenever I could get my hands on it. By 13 I began experimenting with pain killers which began my use of opiates and the lure of the criminal lifestyle was too much for me to resist. I hit my first treatment center in Utah at 14 after a near death from my first overdose. I went through my teen years with the appearance that I had everything under control. During this time I continued to use and drink to block my feelings I considered a weakness,

I used when I was angry, sad or to celebrate. Drugs and alcohol had become my solution. Slowly I started racking up charges and hitting the revolving door in the Department of Corrections. One day I woke up in wildwood pre-trial again and I didn’t recognize the man I was. I had lost all material things I had ever gained, lost the respect of my loved ones and lost faith in myself. I knew that I had to make a change but I didn’t know how or what that would look like.

On April 15th, 2016, I went through the doors of my last treatment center which was a pig farm in the middle of nowhere. This was my last-ditch effort to try to get my life turned around. The only thing different between this time and the others is I had become willing to do whatever it takes. I had been willing to do whatever it took to keep money flowing and my habit going and now I had to put that same energy into my recovery. I had lost all hope and realized that if I continued to do things my way I was going to die or spend the rest of my life in prison. For me recovery came in the form of the 12 steps, sponsorship and coming to terms with my

understanding of a higher power. I worked each step to the best of my ability with a sponsor.

Living a program of recovery has allowed me to have a life that’s second to none. I had my son who is 5 ½ years old and has never seen me under the influence. I know if I continue to live on the principals, I have gained he doesn’t ever have to. In recovery by becoming the person I am meant to be I have also attracted those I am meant to be with. I met an amazing woman and with 5 years sober we got married and now have a beautifully blended family of 6. I have been blessed with many great job opportunities in construction yet

inevitably my path led me to the field I am in today. I have gone from prisons and homelessness to owning my own home. I went from being revived by NARCAN to now facilitating NARCAN trainings for others in hopes to save a life. I was once seemingly lost in a hole and didn’t see a way out. Now I am grateful to get to work with others daily to help them find their way out of the pit I used to find myself. Best of all is I like the person I am today and get to know what it means to enjoy the life I have without the use of substances.

If you are struggling with using or the idea of not, please reach out. I didn’t have to do this alone and you don’t either.

Did You Know September is National Recovery Month?

Contributed by Michael Carsons and The Mat-Su Opioid Task Force

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that substance use treatment can enable anyone to live in recovery with a healthy and rewarding life. Recovery eliminates stigma, acknowledges the human faces of our family members, loved ones and friends that they are more than their addiction. Recovery is possible with a new pathway toward improved health, wellbeing, positive relationships and leading a more productive and fulfilling life with the healing power of hope!

International Overdose Awareness

Day was on August 31st. It is one of our largest annual campaigns to battle against these horrible poisonings and remember those who had died without stigma and acknowledged the grief of families and friends left behind.

The campaign raised awareness of overdoses, which had been one of the worst public health crises and stimulated action and discussion about evidencedbased overdose prevention and drug policy.

The overdose crisis has been international, yet the impact has been very personal. Drug overdoses had affected everyone, especially families, loved ones, and friends, as well as spontaneous first responders and good Samaritans who

had attempted to relieve an unknown individual that had suffered an overdose.

International Overdose Awareness Day has provided each of us an opportunity to remember, but more importantly, to act. We had come together as families, friends, and/or a community to join an event. And, it might have been as simple and thoughtful as in a backyard with refreshments and conversation, in a park, or a large community event with the reading of names and/or posting tributes.

I strongly believed that the most important action had been to carry and get trained with the opioid antidote, Naloxone.

Contact or call: Project Hope @ dhss. alaska.gov (907-334-2675) to find training

Treatment Works: Meeting of the Minds

Contributed by Mack Farrenkopf

MAKE A SCENE Media

Growing up in such a small town, it was fairly easy to keep tabs on people and loved ones you’ve grown up with to check in to see how they are doing. As time has gone on the Mat-Su has grown, it has become harder to do so. With that being said, I know we’re not the only ones experiencing this.

One of the common and troubling issues I’ve witnessed amongst the people of this great community and my own family is a never-ending battle between addiction and opioid poisonings. But some of you while reading this may be asking: “What is Opioid Poisoning?”. Well, I’m glad you asked!

We define Opioid Poisoning as follows: Also known as opioid overdose or opioid toxicity, refers to a medical emergency that occurs when an individual’s body is exposed to an excessive amount of opioids, which can lead to life-threatening symptoms and, in severe cases, death. Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription painkillers (such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine) and illegal drugs like heroin.

The condition of opioid poisoning arises when the opioids overwhelm the body’s normal functioning, particularly the respiratory system. Opioids depress the central nervous system, slowing down breathing and heart rate. When taken in excessive amounts or in a manner not prescribed by a healthcare provider, these substances can cause the following symptoms: Shallow or slow breathing

Extreme drowsiness or loss of consciousness

Pinpoint pupils (the black centers of the eyes)

• Pale, clammy skin

• Blue or purple lips and nails (due to inadequate oxygen)

• Slurred speech

Inability to wake the affected person

These are just some of the medical side effects caused by Opioid Poisoning. Timely intervention with the administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone (Narcan) can reverse the effects of opioids and save a person’s life. Anyone who experiences or witnesses these with someone shouldn’t panic and should call 911 for immediate assistance.

When individuals become trapped in this horrible poisoning, it often leads to a wide range of negative consequences that can significantly impact their lives across various aspects: Physical Health Decline: Substance addiction can lead to serious physical health problems. Many substances, like opioids, alcohol, and stimulants, can damage the body over time, resulting in conditions such as liver disease, respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, and an increased risk of infectious diseases.

Mental Health Challenges: Addiction is closely linked to mental health issues. It can exacerbate existing mental disorders or lead to new ones, including depression, anxiety, and various mood disorders. The cycle of addiction often involves emotional and psychological distress. Social Isolation: Addiction can strain relationships with friends and family.

Individuals may withdraw from social circles, isolate themselves, or become involved with a new group of peers who share their addiction. This isolation can lead to loneliness and further exacerbate mental health problems.

Financial Problems: Sustaining an addiction can be financially devastating. Individuals may spend substantial amounts of money on obtaining drugs or alcohol, leading to debt, job loss, homelessness, or legal troubles. Financial instability can perpetuate the addiction cycle.

Occupational and Educational Consequences: Addiction often interferes with an individual’s ability to maintain employment or pursue education. Frequent absences, decreased productivity, and erratic behavior can lead to job loss or academic underachievement.

Legal Issues: Substance abuse can result in legal problems such as DUI (Driving Under the Influence), possession of illegal substances, or involvement in criminal activities to support the addiction. Legal consequences can lead to incarceration and a criminal record.

Physical Harm: In some cases, addiction can lead to accidents or injuries, as impaired judgment and coordination can increase the risk of accidents, falls, or risky behaviors.

Neglect of Responsibilities: As addiction takes over an individual’s life, they may neglect important responsibilities such as childcare, caregiving for elderly family members, or household duties, leading to harm to dependents and strained relationships.

in your community.

There was an opportunity to build Naloxone Kits in Anchorage, Friday, September 1st, and we plan to be hosting many more in the future. These are some of the many actions we’re taking to help move towards a healthier Mat-Su and State of Alaska. If you or someone you know is interested in working with us to host one of these at your business or school, please contact us through our website matsuopioidtaskforce.com

Let’s remember those lost too soon, who were beautiful people and never to be forgotten.

Our most heartfelt thoughts and prayers were coming your way.

Risk of Overdose and Death: For some substances, particularly opioids and certain stimulants, addiction carries a significant risk of overdose and death. Over time, individuals may build tolerance, requiring larger doses to achieve the desired effect, which increases the risk of overdose.

Loss of Self-Esteem and Identity:

Addiction can erode an individual’s sense of self-worth and identity. They may feel guilt, shame, and hopelessness, further reinforcing the cycle of addiction.

Breaking free from this can be extremely challenging and often requires professional help, support from loved ones, and a strong commitment to recovery.

Which leads us to what has been going on recently to connect and shape a healthier recovery community! Over the course of September, the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force and I have been facilitating a series of roundtable discussions to find ways we as recovery centers, state and city entities can work together.

We’ve discussed things such as the process to recovery, hosting community events to remove the stigma behind this issue, direct partnerships, and so much more. We recognize that the only way we can truly make an impact and move towards a healther Mat-Su is to find more ways we can team up and get the word out!

Watch out for updates and news regarding all these issues in The People’s Paper and on our radio station 95.5 The Pass KNLT FM. We look forward to continuing our service to the community and helping create a healthier Mat-Su.

If you or your business would like to be a part of these discussions, please reach out to mack@makeascene.media or call 907-671-3858.

Matsu Valley Rebuild Needs Your Help

Non-Profit

Contributed by Tim

Matsu Valley Rebuild

Used & Surplus Building Materials Store Seeks Community Donations

Matsu Valley Rebuild needs help. We need 250 people/families/partnerships to donate $200 toward our first $50k down payment due in November.

MVR is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit used and surplus building materials store. Matsu Valley Rebuild provides an opportunity for used and surplus building materials to be diverted from the waste stream and recirculated into usefulness. We promote the benefits of sustainability through basic education, logical resourcing, and community-building. MVR works to strengthen the environmental, economic and community fabric of the Mat-Su Valley.

You may know Matsu Valley Rebuild is moving, that we bought a building and have ideas and plans for some cool stuff for the future; community programs and services to share, educate and inspire people. You probably know we are a nonprofit and that no one owns MVR, that we have a board of directors that oversee any sizeable financial decisions; including the wage of our employee; me.

We entered into an agreement to buy a property and buildings because the building we were in was for sale, it was too small, had no parking and was way off the beaten path. Moving 5000 sq ft of inventory to another rental did not make sense; there are not many affordable and available options as it is and the prospect of moving all that stuff another time after that? Not so much, so I jumped on this opportunity.

The agreement we entered into was only possible because the owners of the building like what we are doing and what we want to do for the future of the Mat-Su community. They were willing to work with us on non-traditional terms instead of a 20%+ down payment due at closing.

Did you know MVR is not making a lot of money? With rent (even at a reasonable rate), paying one employee (a very humble wage), payroll expenses, utilities, insurance and the rest there is not much left over. The long winter and wet spring this year slowed things down for us as well.

Then why buy a building? Aside from facing an impending 30 day notice to vacate (and the subsequent end of MVR) … this new place gives us highway presence that will improve traffic significantly, undoubtedly boosting sales and donations. I t also provides the opportunity to expand our footprint, to customize our footprint and to evolve with programs and services. It is a risk, and it is the critical turning point for MVR.

The agreement to purchase our new home included a $25k immediate down payment, which we had most of and raised with a generous donation from the North Lakes Community Council, some help from Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, the city of Palmer and small donations from residents and MVR shoppers. The agreement also includes a $200k non-traditional down payment over 12 months, $50k due every three months. Our first $50k is due by mid-November.

I have reached out to many larger sources for funding; the short window of time from when we began fundraising in June to finding a building just two weeks later did not help the effort. The fact that we have not previously applied for grants from these organizations did not help that effort either (they prefer to donate a little at first then proceed from there). Since I started MVR I have made an effort to pinch pennies and resources, the thought of requesting donations for things we did not need, only to pad future requests, did not occur to me. It is not the only

thing I would do differently given another chance.

I also approached (and followed up with) over 50 area businesses and requested financial help, I requested assistance from 10 Mat-Su Community Councils as a well as visiting Rotary Clubs and other groups. The NLCC, MVFCU and the City of Palmer are the only supporters that have come through for us. I am obviously not a professional fundraiser, if I was, I would not be in this situation, and I probably would not have started a non-profit building materials operation in my garage almost 5 years ago.

But I did because I saw a problem and did something about it. I have also seen what this resource has done for a lot of people. People that really enjoy it, people that love shopping at MVR, people that are so thankful to not have to throw useful stuff away and people that could not have afforded to do projects and repairs without Matsu Valley Rebuild. It inspires me to keep swimming upstream. I know this store is important and helpful, I know the workshops, tool library and other programs will change a lot of lives in our Valley. I don’t want accolades or credit and I don’t want MVR to be “Tim’s place”. I just need some help to solidify MVR as a fixture in in the Mat-Su, I know we can change this Valley for decades and grow to become a hub of community and sustainability. But I need help. MVR needs help; we need $50k by November 15. We are looking for 250 people/families/partnerships to donate $200 ASAP.

I still have requests out there for funding, but this payment is coming quickly. We also have a monthly payment staring October 1 and because we are moving, we do not have any income. Yes, our sales and donations will pick up but not enough to whip out $50k. And yes, we will

This House is Driving Me Crazy!

you off from the rest of the family can be a major bummer for the person cooking meals in the family! People often ask us, “Can this wall be removed to open up the kitchen?”

relocate the appliances.

have another $50k due in February, we will keep going after funding opportunities for that.

I k now there is a lot I could have done differently. Respectfully, ideas, accolades or criticisms are not what MVR needs right now to survive. We need money. If you cannot afford it, I understand. If you can split it with a friend or two, cool. If you don’t care, I am surprised you are still reading. If you can afford it, maybe ask your place of work to match it? That would be great.

I am asking our community for help to keep this resource alive and growing. $200 from 250 sources, please help if you can. Thank you.

Checks:

Matsu Valley Rebuild PO Box 511

Palmer, AK 99645

Go Fund Me – “Matsu Valley Rebuild”

for running lines or venting in lower part of wall and saves money.

Install exposed beam as support and maybe a decorative post.

Benefits of removing wall:

- Makes home more desirable for resale.

Nothing is more frustrating than a home that doesn’t function well for your needs. Small, cramped kitchens that wall

The answer is almost always YES! The main factor with wall removal is whether it is load bearing. Many people think if the wall is load bearing it cannot be removed, but with post and beam adaptations most load bearing walls can be adequately supported to open the Kitchen space for remodeling. In some cases, an engineer may need to assess the layout first but many wall removals are simple to do provided you have a good design in place to reroute your electrical, plumbing and can

A second consideration to keep in mind is whether your wall is needed for furniture placement like couches, entertainment centers or whether there is only a hallway on the other side. A good plan for layout can solve most problems in this area and can be re-imagined to fit the space.

Here are a few ways we deal with loadbearing walls or walls that have complications with furniture: Remove wall completely and bury load bearing support in ceiling if possible.

Remove a portion of the wall allowing open feeling but leaving lower half for couch or TV placement. This is also nice

- Improves traffic flow.

- Allows more natural light.

- Adds usable space.

- Opens the room for family and friends to enjoy.

Creating an open concept kitchen can be a wonderful way to add beauty and functionality to your home as well as increase the value when you sell. Please, before removing that wall have it looked at and approved by a qualified professional to make sure it is safe to do so! If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at 373-2400 to talk about your project.

Moose Vs Lumens: A Battle of Safety Vs Light

Contributed by Frankie Allen

Last year, I came nose to nose with a moose on my way from the house to my home office.

The light above the garage door had stopped working the week before, but I’d been too busy to fix it and, besides, it was freaking cold. I didn’t want to install it when it was twenty below. That’s dumb. So, that morning, I’d opened the door and focused on the ice, not wanting to fall on my butt… again.

Then, I felt the whuff of her breath on my cheek. My heartrate picked up and my breath froze in my chest as I looked up from the tailbone-busting ice to see a nose that filled most of my view. I already knew this, but moose are big.

That’s when I decided I needed to replace that light. However, it was still below zero and I wasn’t playing around in those temperatures. Time went by and I completely forgot about it and the neardeath experiences the lack of it brought

to my winter morning commute.

Until Lisa called me last Wednesday to tell me she needed “sunlight” in her parking lot. Remembering my own need, I headed over to her house to see what we could do. Her “parking lot” turned out to be a driveway with a gravel pad for an RV. Then, she informed me that she’d done her research, and she’d determined she needed 20,000 lumens. I looked out to see what her “sunlight” might hit and saw a covered hot tub maybe a hundred or a hundred and fifty feet away. That could be a problem. So, I told her a little bit about lumens, how far they’d go, and how much she probably really needed.

A standard flood light (the bug-eyed looking ones) are typically around 4,000 lumens. You can mount them on the side of your home and light up your driveway and front door pretty well.

But let’s say you’re in a more rural area. Maybe you have safety concerns, or you have a large area to light. Do you need

10,000 lumens? Maybe. That light will shine much further, possibly to the end of your drive. But at this point, you need to ask yourself if you’re polluting the area with excess light. We usually order lights of these lumens the front of barns that light up a large area between buildings. 20,000 lumens is typically used for parking lots, where light needs to spread over a large area. For a bit of reference, I just quoted one of these for a commercial building that was meant to light up the entire parking lot. The light is bright and hard to ignore.

I managed to talk Lisa down to 8,000 lumens. She wasn’t sure it was going to be enough, but once we installed it, she called to let me know it was a good choice. I purchased a 6,000 lumen light for myself. I have a larger area to light up, but my neighbors are a little closer. One of my guys at All Phase Electric is going to install it for me this week so I don’t forget it. Again.

The things to consider when choosing your outdoor lights are:

How much light do you really need?

How close are your neighbors and how will your light invade their house or hot tub? Can you aim the light, so it shines on the area you need illuminated?

Winter’s coming, bringing the darkness with it. Don’t be like me. Plan now. Let’s get those lights installed while the weather’s fairly good! Have questions about what kind of lights you need? Give me a call! All Phase Electric, Wasilla 907-376-1200.

Alaska Veterans Museum: Talk About Perseverance and Survival!

Contributed by Col Suellyn Wright

Novak, USAF, Ret

Seward’s Folly or Seward’s Icebox, as the United States viewed Alaska, was largely unexplored, and therefore, an unknown. The old Russian maps were accurate along the coast, but move inland and they were only guesses, with mountains where there were none and misplaced rivers or lakes.

Leave it to the US Army to take on the exploration of the US’s new territory.

In 1885, US Army Lieutenant Henry T. Allen and two other soldiers, SGT Cady Robertson of the US Cavalry, and PVT Frederick Fickett of the Signal Corps, and two civilian prospectors, Peder (Pete)

Johnson and John Bremner. Various groups of native guides also assisted.

The first goal was to ascend the Copper River. Other groups had tried, but there was no significant information gathered.

LT Allen and his party was out to rectify that. He was also to explore the Tanana River, which was virtually unknown outside of the locals.

In a trip of nearly 1,600 miles, his team explored and mapped over 1,200 miles of previously unknown territory. LT Allen also mapped almost 800 miles of the Chitina and Koyukuk Rivers. The team collected geographic data of the interior; this was looking at those aspects of terrain, flora

and fauna with an impact on military operations. How much forage would there be for horses and mules? And could a military force sustain itself off the land?

This harrowing tale of near starvation, desertion of guides, loss of boats, canoes and other transportation and more, took place from late March to early Sep 1885.

These hardy explorers traveled from near Cordova up to what is now Bettles.

The US government allotted $2,000 for this effort, but the soldiers and civilians had to live off the land.

Due to weather and herd movements etc., they often had to eat carrion and moose scraps. Snowshoe hares were a

staple, as the salmon were not running when they went through. Guides feared starvation and deserted. The team traveled 1,500 river-valley miles and suffered greatly from scurvy due to no vegetables nor citrus fruit.

Many times, the Natives saved them, and LT Allen greatly admired their skills. He, like LT Billy Mitchell adopted their foods, dress, and transportation.

Come see our new exhibit and hear the whole story! Alaska Veterans Museum, Wed-Sat 10AM-5 PM, 411 W 4th Ave, Suite 201, Anchorage.

Contributed by Elaine Martin

Valley Charities’ Core Values Promote a Happy Workplace

Contributed by Randi Perlman

Operated by Valley Charities, Inc. (VCI), Turn-a-leaf Thrift Store has been providing Valley residents with all sorts of affordable necessities for many years, but what stands out the most when you enter the store is how purposeful and glad-to-bethere the employees are. Whether it’s an associate stocking items on the floor, the cashier ringing up your purchase, or the person receiving donations from many generous supporters, you are greeted with courteous service and a smile.

Levi Chord, Store Manager at turn-A-leaf for over three years, believes a large part of the reason for that can be attributed to VCI’s core values of Pioneering, Partnering, Serving, Community and Compassion.

VCI strives to provide a nurturing environment where everyone is valued and respected, and that philosophy shines through. Chord notes that throughout the Covid pandemic, he was only away from his job for about two weeks and the store was closed for just a little longer than that. Turn-A-leaf was one of the only thrift stores in the Valley accepting donations during that time. This allowed folks to purge closets, basements, and spare rooms while hunkering down, then gave them a cheerful place to bring their ‘goods with a purpose’. It also gave Chord and his staff an opportunity to thoroughly clean out the intake warehouse, organize and put things in order.

Chord manages a staff of 12-14 employees, along with 4-6 revolving volunteers, some with special needs.

Strong partnerships with other community agencies are crucial to VCI’s

mission, and some of their partners include DPA (Department of Public Assistance), Set Free Alaska, True North, My House, Red Cross, VCRS (Valley Community for Recycling Solutions), Knik House, the Food Bank, and MASST (Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training).

MASST is an Alaska Jobs Program administered through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The MASST Program is truly a win-win for all involved. The State of Alaska places job seekers 55 years and older in businesses and nonprofit organizations called host sites and provides job training to help them become self-sufficient while bringing much needed support to those organizations and strengthening the communities they serve. This program helps Alaska retain the valuable resources of older workers while enabling them to maintain an independent lifestyle and make meaningful contributions to their communities. The salaries of MASST workers are paid by the state, enabling the host site to work with the individual and see if it’s a good fit without impacting their bottom line. Many program applicants are then hired and become full or part time employees.

One of Chord’s workers for most of the three years he’s been manager at turn-Aleaf is Barbara Ross. Ross came to Alaska in 1967 to help with the aftermath of the earthquake and has had quite a varied background as a nurse’s aide, former teacher, government work, and owner of a data processing business, not to mention a single mom of 9 children! She is proud to share with you that she is 86 years

young and came to turn-A-leaf through the MASST Program. She didn’t want a desk job and was looking for something different. “Life is not cookie-cutter,” stated Ross. Chord knew right away they had the perfect spot for her, sorting through incoming treasures in the warehouse, and he was right. About a year ago, Ross was hired out of the MASST Program and became a warehouse employee. Turn-A-leaf has several other long-term employees, including one who has been there for 11 years and one for 16 years!!

Ross loves her job at turn-A-leaf because of the many good people she works with, and says she feels appreciated. She enjoys the many learning opportunities and interesting people she interacts with daily and likes the fact that each day is different because she never knows what treasures will come through the door. She says, “steady work keeps me busy and makes the time fly” and she’s constantly amazed at the variety of items that are donated, particularly clothing. Turn-a-leaf still offers and honors clothing vouchers. On Wednesdays yearround, all adult clothing is $1.00, all kids clothing is .50, and all outerwear for all sizes is half off!

Chord proudly states, “we’ve had lots of change, growth and evolution over the past 3-4 years since I’ve come on board. The thrift store is always improving and learning new ways to make things better while ‘connecting those who need help with the help they need’. Item donations are accepted and appreciated, and shopping at turn-A-leaf Thrift Store enables Valley Charities to continue

fulfilling the large and growing resource needs in the Mat-Su.

Valley Charities, Inc. (VCI) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization providing life-changing programs and opportunities to Mat-Su Valley residents. VCI has been quietly serving Mat-Su Borough residents for over 60 years. Through their Housing Assistance Partnership Program, Mat-Su Reentry Program, Medical Equipment Lending Program, and turn-A-leaf Thrift Store, alongside many strong community partnerships, VCI serves the needs of Valley residents and helps them thrive. These compassionate programs encompass and fulfill VCI’s vision to make the Mat-Su Valley a healthier and happier place to reside for everyone. For more information, visit www.valleycharities.org or contact them at 907-376-5740.

Real Estate: What Will Happen With Interest Rates?

Contributed by Ken L. Hagler

It’s the elephant in the room: what is going to happen with interest rates? The cold hard truth is that nobody knowsand if it sounds too good to be true? It probably is! Moving forward with YOUR plans is what matters so I want to help you consider some options for your planning. Interest rates are an essential factor to consider when purchasing a home, but they should not necessarily prevent someone from buying their dream property. There are several reasons why interest rates do not have to be a roadblock for home buyers. In this article, we will explore these reasons and provide insights on how buyers can overcome the challenges posed by interest rates. Firstly, it’s important to understand that interest rates often fluctuate, and they can go up or down over time.

While current rates may seem high for some, they could decrease in the future, making it a more favorable time to buy a home. Additionally, it’s worth noting that interest rates are influenced by economic factors, such as inflation and bond yields. Therefore, it’s possible that rates could stabilize or even decrease in the long run.

Secondly, home buyers can take advantage of various strategies to mitigate the impact of interest rates. One such strategy is shopping around for the best mortgage deals. Different lenders offer different interest rates, and by comparing multiple options, buyers can find the most affordable loan. Consulting with multiple reputable mortgage broker can also be beneficial as they have access to a wide range of lenders and can help find competitive rates. If you need help with finding good lenders, call our Realtor

Team at Better Homes and Gardens Dream Makers to help.

Furthermore, potential homebuyers can consider alternative financing options. For instance, some government-backed programs may have more lenient credit requirements and lower down payment options, which can help offset the cost of higher interest rates. Additionally, some buyers may consider adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) which offer lower initial interest rates that adjust over time, based on the market.

Another approach to alleviate the impact of interest rates is to improve one’s credit score. Lenders often offer lower interest rates to borrowers with higher credit scores. By adopting good financial habits, such as timely bill payments and reduced overall debt, individuals can raise their credit scores, making them eligible

for more favorable interest rates.

Here is the deal, while interest rates do play a significant role in the home buying process, they should not deter you from pursuing your homeownership dreams. Over 4 million real estate transactions will happen this year! By staying informed about current rates, seeking the best mortgage deals, exploring alternative financing options, and working on improving credit scores, potential buyers can navigate the market successfully and purchase a home even during periods of higher interest rates.

It’s important to remember that buying a home is both a financial and emotional decision, and carefully assessing one’s personal circumstances and financial goals is key to making the right choice. Reach out for more info: ken@ bhgdreammakers.com.

The Alaska Whole Life Festival Returns October 7-8

Contributed by Cindy Calzada

The Alaska Whole Life Festival is happening October 7-8, 2023 in Anchorage. Offered twice a year, the festival is the place to go to experience all that is available in the metaphysical, spiritual and healing arts community. Joy, from Joy Propelled, in Washington State, will be coming up to be our key-note speaker for the event. Joy is a numerologist, who, in addition to doing numerology readings, will be giving lectures on the use of numerology and

the power of words. Sit in on her lectures and our other lectures in our lecture series going on all day, both days. It’s a learning experience!

We’ll have lectures on a variety of topics. Our festival has psychics, mediums, tarot and other readers, body workers, energy workers, meditation and yoga, palm reading, ayurveda, sound healing, astrology, human design, access consciousness, aromatherapy, rocks and crystals, healing and beauty products, mushrooms and other natural health items, jewelry, art, other metaphysical

items and much more. Come meet our vendors, experience the services they offer and see their beautiful and healing merchandise. Listen in on their lectures for the full experience. Awaken your body, mind and spirit and find ways to help you become the best that you can be.

Location: Coast Inn at Lake Hood, 3450 Aviation Ave in Anchorage from 11am to 6pm daily. See you there!

See detailed info about vendors and lectures on our Facebook page: Alaska Whole Life Festival. Cost is $10/day or $5/day for military, students and seniors 65+ with ID. Cost includes entry into any lectures going on that day.

Welcome to CannaBasics: Cannabis Infusion

Contributed by Bailey Stuart

Adjunct Professor UAA Green Jar | Owner

Last month I talked about dosing and how to start consuming as a new consumer and what is going on internally when you consume cannabis in different manners such as smoking versus ingestible. To sum it up start low and slowly start adding milligrams of THC until you find that perfect dose. This rule applies regardless of whether you are smoking or ingesting cannabis, the rule stays the same. This month we will be talking about how to make edibles. You have so many different paths you can take from infusing a lipid or what most of us call fat or into alcohol which then allows for other avenues of infusion.

Classically we all think about butter when it comes to cannabis infusion. And it is true you can just let it sit overnight and infuse butter, but is that really the best way? When THC degrades, it degrades into a cannabinoid we call cannabinol or CBN. This cannabinoid is most associated with its sedative like effects. Have you ever found some old pot you stashed away and once you smoked it you find yourself needing to take a nap? Over time all of the delicious terpene goodness evaporates into the air and the THC you thought you were

smoking degrades into CBN. This clock starts the moment you cut a plant down. That is what makes solventless concentrates made from flash frozen flower so tasty. The cold slows down the process, you skip the time-consuming practice of curing the flower and you keep the tasty terpenes and cannabinoid profiles intact leading to some of the best concentrates I have ever had the privilege of consuming, such a treat! Same thing happens in butters when you are infusing.

You let it go too long, you’re going to be left with CBN and it’s going to put you asleep. Not enough time and you have a weak infusion. But if you know the science behind infusion you can create an infusion that is an enjoyable euphoria and it won’t be weak or sedating, and if you are looking for that, you know what to do!

There are many products now on the market to infuse your butter with. Flower isn’t the only choice, there are manufacturers that will make the butter for you, all you have to do is measure out what you need for your recipe! I never thought I would see this day, but here we are. Fun fact, recently the Marijuana Control Board made manufacturing butters for sale to the public permissible. Prior to that regulation change butters, coconut oils, you name it, infused with THC were not allowed to be made for the

end consumer, they had to be made in your own home. However, with groups like the Alaska Marijuana Industry Associations and advocates like myself we were able to get these regulations changed through public comment and educating.

My favorite way of infusing butter is to use a fully decarboxylated full spectrum extract versus flower. It’s easier to measure and know what my dosage milligrams are in my recipe. I also feel it has a better flavor than making my own butter with flower. Not to mention it makes a minimal mess and my house does not stink like cannabis butter for days. With that said a full spectrum feels much closer to a flower induced euphoria because of the full profile of cannabinoids versus just using a distillate, a higher in THC cannabis concentrate, which is why I prefer full spectrum.

How do you ask for this on your next dispensary visit? Ask your local budtender for FECO. This is the easiest term to use to find the product you are looking for. Most full spectrum extracts come in a syringe for easy use, it’s an incredibly sticky concentrate and the syringe provides demarcations so that you can accurately dose if you have the certificate of analysis aka testing results. Which any cannabis product purchased on the Alaskan

cannabis market will have testing results.

When teaching my students, I educate them on how to find total milligrams in a local product. You simply multiply the percentage by 10 and you know the total milligrams per gram of product. Using multiple grams? Multiply the total milligrams per gram by the number of grams of concentrate used. Let’s say I bought a FECO stick that’s testing result indicates it is 75.50% THC. I take this number and multiply by 10 giving me 755.0 milligrams THC for every gram of product. Take that 755mg’s by the 1.5 grams of FECO you’re using to infuse your butter and you know that your 8oz of butter has a total of 1,132.5mg’s Total THC.

If you use a full stick divide that number by the total number of servings and you will know approximately how many grams of THC each brownie you just made has. I wish you luck baking happiness by the gram!

Above: Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Store Manager Levi Chord and Employee Barbara Ross

From Commerce to Camels: Unleashing Alaska’s Potential

Contributed by Daniel N. Russell Biophysicist Russell Energy Consulting

We must quickly expand Alaska Railroad and our road system from Delta Junction eastward to Canada, and from Fairbanks westward to Nome to build a large commercial Arctic port at Port Clarence, just north of Nome, Alaska, to increase all types of commerce in rural Alaska.

The Yukon River valley and other river valleys along the way could produce huge quantities of Alaska-sized, exportable produce. Yak, Llama, Bison, and Bactrian Camel ranches could produce milk, meat and valuable fur & hides, for example.

camels to dryer parts of Northern Canada and Alaska, from where they originated.

Domesticated Bactrian Camels, pictured here, give large quantities of naturally lactose-free milk, excellent meat, excellent fur & hides, and their dung can be used to stimulate compost piles with other vegetation placed under greenhouses to heat them. As dung and vegetation decompose in compost, the microorganisms and worms therein produce a lot of heat. In this way much more produce could be available for export than otherwise.

The Mat-Su Valley’s Community Newspaper and Entertainment Magazine.

Camels originally came out of North America, so they should be considered to be indigenous, here. Wild camels are critically endangered (See: www. wildcamels.com).

So, I suggest, we re-introduce wild

Bison can also be raised for meat and hides, but they present a challenge to manage. They are so much stronger, meaner, and heavier that they require much stronger fences and holding areas. Yak are much more friendly and docile, and easy to manage. Many people raise Yaks in Alaska. They also make great pack animals for extended hiking and camping

trips in rough terrain. Llamas are relatives of camels, and also came out of North America, originally. They can be very

What’s the Deal With the Barbie Movie?

Contributed by Marilyn Bennett

Interesting that a simple movie about a doll should become controversial. I went to the movie with my two daughters and three granddaughters to see for myself what terrible ideas this movie was attempting to put into the heads of our vulnerable youngsters. We all wore pink, of course.

The actress and actor who played Barbie and Ken were so adorable they could have been the dolls brought to life. (great casting). When I was growing up, I had a collection of dolls smaller than Barbie that were dressed in costumes representing many different countries. My dad built me a large shelf to display them, and I was very proud of my collection.

The dolls we had to play with were aways babies that needed to be fed with a bottle and rocked to sleep. However, we did have paper dolls. I cut out many outfits and played paper dolls and madeup futures for them. I thought the Barbie doll was a nice change from paper dolls for my children. Several of my friends

crocheted beautiful outfits for the Barbies. Therefore, I was pleased when Mattel started making professional clothes for the dolls instead of just sports clothes and wedding gowns. Then Mattel added Skippy and Ken plus the fancy Barbie house and car. I understand it was all about marketing, however, I felt it was great that a girl could choose to buy a Barbie that reflected what she wanted. All little girls need time to play and dream and dolls play an important part of childhood.

Back to the movie. The Barbie movie was interesting although I thought the opening of the movie was a little over the top with young girls bashing in the heads of their old baby dolls. In my opinion baby dolls are just as important for young girls as Barbies. Just as we all love to hold and coo over real babies, hugging and rocking a baby doll to sleep is something that I will always think of as special.

The character of Weird Barbie reminded me of all the Barbies that my youngest daughter played with until they had only

A Sad Day in Disney

Contributed by Deborah Waisanen

I was excited to embark on my yearly vacation with two of my grandchildren to spend quality intergenerational time. Last year was Gettysburg and this year was to be Williamsburg, but those plans were put on hold when one had requested Disneyland. Not the educationally redeeming vacation that I had strived for, but they are young, and the animatronic rides do appeal to both the young and the old. We were off, carrying a special American flag that has gone with them on all trips with their dad, a former Green Beret so that they could get their picture taken holding it like they have done at each destination worldwide. We are proud to be Americans!

Upon our arrival at the security counter to get in, the neatly folded flag became a concern. I was told I could not bring it in and passed along to another “official” who said it wasn’t allowed and I could only bring in a paper-size flag. I explained their dad had been a soldier who had fought and watched fellow teammates die on missions and this flag represents the freedoms they were fighting for. At this point, the tears were starting to welt in my eyes in disbelief that Disney wouldn’t even let me carry it in my backpack if I promised not to take it out. A phone call was made to another “official” before I was told I would have to “get rid of it.” Now tears are streaming because you can’t “get rid” of an American flag and

tufts of hair and were sometimes missing a limb. The movie was about Barbie Land which was totally run by women with the men only being beach bums. Then when Barbie and Ken went to the real world Ken realized that the “real world” was run by men. He went back to Barbie Land and created a patriarchal society call Ken Land. Of course when Barbie returned she and the other women took back over. Then it seems that Barbie and Ken came to a new understanding and realized they needed to work together to have a more equal society.

That’s what I saw at the movie. Now the people in Vietnam saw a dotted line on a map across the China Sea which is disputed area between them and China. So they are banning the movie. I wonder if Disney realized that the line would be a problem or did some sneaky Chinese guy put the dotted line on the map as a political gesture and nobody noticed? Who knows, but the conspiracy lives on.

One of the criticisms of Barbie is an excessive materialism, because of her cars,

friendly, and many folks raise these in Alaska for meat and fur. They make great pack animals for hiking tourism, as well.

planes, houses and all the things young girls dream about for their future. Well, don’t we all dream about living in bigger houses, newer cars and some (not me), even want a plane. What’s unusual about that? The other problem is that her body figure is not realistic for all of us, but that is the case with all the beautiful women we see at the movies. We all realize we are not that perfect. But that is reality and when little girls play with dolls they can live in a pretend world where they can be whatever and whomever they want.

I have heard other objections that Barbie is all about feminism and against men. I did not see that. I saw Barbie and Ken and I know that my grand daughters have had them get married, have babies as well as having great careers. Play acting is about dreaming and every young girl has a different dream. It is ok to want to be an astronaut or a movie star and it is also ok to want a husband and children along with a career.

What is the deal with the Barbie movie?

Perhaps the various controversies were dreamed up by the Disney advertising department to make more people want to see the movie. Who knows, but the conspiracy lives on!

for Alaskans.

especially the bond this one that had a history of having its picture taken with fellow Special Service men who served with my son throughout the country. Emotionally I was asking for them to hang onto it and pleading for some other option. It was suggested I take it back to my hotel but when you are paying over $1,000 for 3 days at Disney and already the day was half over while searching for the correct transportation to get there it was the last option. It was then suggested I find a hotel outside the park to hold it for me. After pleading with several hotels and an I-Hop to hold it behind their counter for the day, I finally found a hotel that would take it. At this point, the grandchildren aren’t even coming into the establishments to hear my very emotional cries for someone to save the fate of this American flag! Our day was shortened at the other end as we proudly retrieved Old

Jim Cooper Has My Vote for Palmer City Council

Contributed by Herb Bischoff

What a great opportunity for Palmer; Jim Cooper is running for City Council. With his extensive experience as a veteran, a small business owner, and an active member of the community, Mr. Cooper is a good choice for Council.

He supports the improvement of infrastructure including roads and bridges. He supports community development projects and is an active board member for the Palmer Community Foundation. He also believes there needs to be better public access to health care

providers. Mr. Cooper is well known in the Palmer community and has demonstrated that he can work with people of differing opinions to come up with workable solutions. He has demonstrated his skills, knowledge and commitment while having served in various positions,

Glory. I can understand banning political flags, and banners that support controversial views, but an American flag? The person that had long braided purple hair, wearing a bright colored mini-skirt, and had a very distinct deep 5 o’clock shadow was allowed to stand in line to express his/her view. Although not a banner, many were wearing Disney ears that represented Gay Pride and their views. My granddaughter was “creeped out” as she entered the women’s bathroom stall where a male patron had just exited who was expressing what I could only imagine was stupidity because EVERYONE knows there is always a longer line for the women’s room.

I look forward to our Williamsburg trip where I am certain our American flag will be welcomed.

Deborah Waisanen

including past President of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, previous member of the Palmer City Council, and former Palmer Mayor. Palmer deserves someone who will do their homework and get things done. It’s time to head in a new direction with Jim Cooper’s proven leadership. Vote early starting September 18th. Jim Cooper has my vote for Palmer City Council.

DONATE? CALL 907-631-8591

POLITICS & OPINION

Dmitri Fonov for Assembly

Contributed by Dmitri Fonov

I’m Dmitri Fonov, a husband, a father, and a proud resident of Wasilla. I’d like to share my journey with you, the wonderful community that I’ve called home for the past 27 years. Like so many of you, my family is my rock, my motivation, and my joy. When I talk about the future of the Mat-Su, I see the faces of my loved ones and your loved ones, all looking forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Over the years, I’ve come to understand that this place is a tight-knit community of families, friends, and neighbors who support each other through thick and thin. That’s why I’ve been committed to giving back to this wonderful place. My ultimate goal is simple: ensure that the Mat-Su remains a place where families can thrive, businesses can flourish, and individuals can chase their dreams without unnecessary obstacles.

When I was sworn in, my appointment by Jesse Sumner was set to conclude in November 2023. This meant that while I was honored to step into this role, it was just the beginning of the journey.

For the short time that I’ve been a part of the Assembly, I’ve had the chance to engage with my fellow neighbors on a

level that transcends mere observation or casual interaction. Let’s talk about some of the achievements we’ve done together:

- Balanced Budget

- Lowered Mill Rate

- Funded Improvements for Local Parks

- Created Junk Car Removal Program

- Supported Alaska Safe Riders Program

- Co-Sponsored Free Landfill Weekends

- Co-Sponsored Free Driveway Permits

The Mat-Su faces its own unique set of challenges. These issues can range from concerns about public safety to economic opportunities, from housing affordability to the state of our infrastructure. They are the very real, day-to-day problems that affect the lives of our friends and neighbors. Now, let’s talk about some of the current challenges that we face:

Making Mat-Su a Safer Place: I understand that some areas have seen concerning crime rates. These concerns are not just statistics; they represent the very real anxieties of our community. My plan includes increased community policing, partnerships between law enforcement and organizations, and investments in youth programs to create a safer environment for all.

A Flourishing Economy and Business Opportunities: I’ve seen firsthand how

We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to cheer on athletes, keep scores, wave flags, and spread high-fives (our athletes love those!) There are various other fulfilling roles available too, all of which are a breeze. By volunteering, you'll have an incredible experience and make plenty of new athlete friends!

regulations and paperwork can stifle innovation and job creation. One of my key strategies is to cut through the bureaucratic red tape that can hinder business growth. We would make it easier and attractive for entrepreneurs and businesses to set up shop in Mat-Su. More businesses mean more job opportunities, higher wages, and a stronger local economy.

Investing in the Fire and Police Department for Faster Response: I am deeply committed to enhancing public safety and improving emergency response times. Every second counts in an emergency, and I understand the anxiety that can come with waiting for help to arrive. That’s why one of my top priorities is to invest in our Fire and Police Departments. These brave men and women are our first line of defense, and they deserve the resources and support they need to protect and serve us effectively - well-equipped and welltrained.

Giving Affordable Housing to All: Housing affordability is a challenge for many. Homeownership is one that resonates with so many of us - finding a place to belong and be secured. It’s a dream that I believe should be within reach for as many Mat-Su residents as possible. My approach for this is grounded in working closely with developers, local stakeholders, and

community organizations to create viable and sustainable options for affordable housing.

Road Repairs for Quality Transportation: Our roads serve as the lifelines of our community. Our roadways should not be a source of frustration or concern. I have made it one of my priorities to advocate for the necessary funds for road repairs and infrastructure maintenance. This is not just about fixing potholes or repaving streets; it’s about investing in the quality of transportation that you deserve.

Maintaining and Protecting Individual Property Rights: Community development should never be an imposition; it should be a collaborative effort. My pledge to you is firm: Ensuring that homeowners like you have a meaningful say in shaping the future of your communities. Your insights, concerns, and aspirations will be valued and respected.

I believe that through strong conservative values, hard work, and a deep love for this community, we can continue to build a future where the MatSu Valley thrives.

As I ask for your support, I do so not just as a candidate, but as a family man who is committed to preserving the Alaskan way of life that drew my family to this State all those years ago. Thank you for your trust and support as we embark on this journey together.

Climate Anxiety and Sunk Costs: Flipping the Script on Ostrich Solutions

Contributed by Joshua McHoes

Climate anxiety has us all on our toes, like a cat on a hot tin roof in the dog days of August.

But hold your horses; let’s take the bull by the horns (I’ll stop now) and pause to consider an unlikely companion in our quest to understand this anxiety: the humble ostrich.

You might wonder, what do ostriches have to do with climate change?

Well, bear with me (last one, I promise) as we explore the curious connection between the ostrich’s behavior and the psychological/economic concept known as the sunk cost fallacy.

So, what’s the connection between ostriches and climate change?

Much like how ostriches are erroneously believed to bury their heads in the sand, we, as humans, occasionally metaphorically bury our heads in past decisions, ignoring changing realities. This tendency to “hide our heads” surfaces when we encounter proposals demanding significant behavioral, policy, or infrastructure shifts over time. Instead of embracing forward-looking solutions, we often opt for short-term gains or resist altering our established routines.

Simultaneously, the sunk cost fallacy, a cognitive bias, drives individuals to base decisions on past investments rather than future outcomes. In the context of climate anxiety, this fallacy emerges in the choices made by communities and businesses to settle in vulnerable areas prone to environmental hazards.

Communities situated in precarious

locations like riverbeds, isthmuses, and below sea level knowingly accept the inherent risks. Similarly, oil giants like Exxon, BP, and ConocoPhillips allocate substantial resources to develop Arctic oil rigs, fully aware of the environmental challenges they might encounter.

While empathizing with these entities is crucial, it’s vital to recognize that the sunk cost fallacy could be influencing their decision-making. By fixating on already sunk resources, they might neglect to assess the evolving landscape and make prudent future decisions.

Now, the question of whether we should aid communities and corporations with risky investments is complex. On one hand, offering assistance in crises is compassionate, especially considering the innocent residents affected. However, a perspective rooted in individual responsibility prompts us to ponder broader implications.

Just as personal financial decisions have consequences, decisions regarding where to live or establish a business bear weight. Bailing out those who knowingly assume risks raises concerns about moral hazard—people may take riskier actions if they believe they’ll be shielded from negative consequences.

Oil companies like Exxon, BP, and ConocoPhillips exemplify the relationship between the sunk cost fallacy, climate anxiety, and corporate responsibility. Despite significant investments, the changing climate and challenges like melting permafrost jeopardize their operations. While sympathy might be tempting for some, a broader

view encourages scrutiny of their accountability. They made calculated decisions based on profit potential, and holding them responsible for willingly assumed risks is reasonable. Relying on bailouts may perpetuate risky behavior without appropriate consequences.

Shouldn’t the same logic apply to individuals who willingly bought beachfront property?

Climate anxiety, driven by environmental changes, human choices, and cognitive biases like the sunk cost fallacy, is a genuine concern. Compassion and empathy must form part of our response to those facing the consequences of their choices. Still, accountability is equally vital, emphasizing responsible decisionmaking, adaptation, and sustainability.

Balancing support and accountability, while respecting individual liberty and property rights, can address climate anxiety, fostering long-term resilience and responsible environmental stewardship. Four key suggestions can inform this balance: Reevaluate local zoning regulations and federal permitting processes, streamlining bureaucratic obstacles hindering adaptive and sustainable initiatives. Embrace market-driven incentives that naturally reward environmentally sustainable practices as sustainability gains importance in consumer preferences. Implement market-based mechanisms like emissions trading or cap-and-trade systems to provide economic incentives for reducing environmental impact.

A rededication to property rights. When individuals and businesses have clear ownership over land and resources, they are more likely to make informed choices aligned with long-term environmental sustainability.

Above all, I hope we take the ostrich’s lesson to heart. The next time you feel like burying your head in the sand in the face of climate anxiety, remember: The challenges we face will not go away just because we look away. Nor will past investments that turned out to be bad ones suddenly get better.

By tracking the traces of the sunk cost fallac y and confronting them head-on, we won’t have to moose-y around; we can stand tall, break free from the ice-cold clutches of anxiety, and make a beary good (sorry) journey towards a greener, more pristine future.

After all, our planet deserves more than a casual reel-ationship; it craves dedication and action from now until the salmon swim upstream.

This piece solely expresses the opinion of the author and not necessarily the organization as a whole. Students For Liberty is committed to facilitating a broad dialogue for liberty, representing a variety of opinions.

This article is an modified reprint from LearnLiberty.org and can be found at the following link: https://www.learnliberty. org/blog/climate-anxiety-and-sunk-costs/

Project Nickel Continues to Enhance Transparency

Sarah Montalbano

Alaska Policy Forum

Project Nickel is a tool designed to help families, taxpayers, and policymakers understand how much is spent per student at schools across the country and compare schools on the factors that matter to parents. The data provided by Project Nickel can help parents make informed decisions about their child’s education by bundling together statistics of interest.

After the Every Student Succeeds Act was passed in 2015, states are required to report each school’s perstudent expenditures — not just perstudent expenditures at the district level. The per-student spending data reported by Project Nickel, however, may not encompass schools’ full spending because it excludes debt and construction, which can vary substantially from year to year.  Project Nickel’s search feature shows that in 2020, Bowman Elementary in the

Anchorage school district spent $19,570 per student while Bayshore Elementary spent only $12,944 per student — below the 2020 national average of $13,494. Despite similar demographics and student/teacher ratios, Bowman Elementary spends $6,626 more per student than Bayshore Elementary.

Bowman Elementary serves a larger student body of almost 500 students, while Bayshore serves about 350, but some evidence suggests larger schools should enjoy lower per-student costs as they reach economies of scale. Only about 44% of Bowman Elementary’s students were proficient in reading and math on the 2022 AK STAR assessment, while about 55% of Bayshore’s students were.

The costs in Alaska’s rural school districts are typically much higher than in urban districts due to several factors, including increased costs of hiring and retaining teachers and staff, increased

materials and transportation costs, and differing student needs. Small enrollments drive up per-student costs. But even among rural schools, there are substantial differences in per-student spending.

The Adak School, within the Aleutian Region school district, spent $86,941 for each of its 15 students in 2020. Two schools within the Northwest Arctic Borough school district, Ambler School and Deering School, serve similar student bodies in terms of demographics. Yet the Deering School spends $58,533 for each of its 53 students while the Ambler School spends $45,596 for each of its 71 students. In each school, more than 90% of students were not proficient in either reading or mathematics on the 2022 AK STAR exam.

Contrast the spending in Alaska’s traditional public schools, both rural and urban, with the spending in Alaska’s correspondence schools, which are public charter schools. The largest, Interior Distance Education of

Alaska (IDEA), spends $4,948 per student. The correspondence school allotment program allows IDEA to educate an enrollment of more than 9,000 students while maintaining a relatively small staff of teachers to supervise each student’s individualized learning plan. The correspondence school allotment program allows parents to be reimbursed for books, educational materials, and classes that are part of their child’s individual learning plan.

One of Project Nickel’s contributions is that it can enhance education transparency in Alaska. The database allows anyone to view the spending of individual schools in the state and nationwide. This provides greater accountability, as parents and community members see how funding is distributed among schools and can determine whether their tax dollars are being spent wisely.

Restoring Trust in Local Government

Contributed by Bee Rupright

First, I would like to introduce myself.

I am Bee Rupright, Candidate for Wasilla Mayor. I have been a resident of Wasilla for 26 years. I have been married 28 years, with two daughters born and raised in Wasilla. I have been involved with my community and politically active for a majority of those years. Wasilla faces many continued challenges with the surge of new residents in Wasilla and the Greater Wasilla area. Traffic congestion and public safety issues have increased. City owned roads and our parks do not receive necessary maintenance. The current Mayor, Glenda Ledford, has said she would like to see our city limits expanded. This will lead to lessening of services and increased cost, placing the burden on you, the homeowner and increase the costs of goods for everyone shopping in the city through higher sales tax. The city suspended the collection of property taxes many years ago, removing your city property tax bill. The bill you do find in the mail is a Borough tax assessment.

Expansion of the city will force a move to a higher sales tax cap and reinstitution of a city property tax to cover our bills. This should not stand. I believe in Family First in uncertain economic times! The current administration is not mindful of that fact. Our Sports Complex, water and sewer service and Airport are enterprises of this city and mandatory sound management of those enterprises is required by law. Yet the Sports Complex and Airport receive heavy transfers from the general fund and the sewer has lost its DEC cooperative agreement permit! Also missing to date is our annual Audit, this is very important because timely reporting is a key factor in receiving Federal and State grants for infrastructure development. The Audit was due April 1st of this year and has yet to appear while the current Mayor makes statements about finances.

Our hometown values that determine our quality of life and plans for the future growth of our city need to be determined by you, so actively engaging and listening to your desires is of the

upmost importance for me. The key is an open-door policy with the mayor and staff fostering access and open discussion of your concerns. I will embrace the controversy that will inevitably come, as it is the only way to ensure our future growth reflects the citizen’s direction. The doors of our city government will be open to meet that goal. Additionally, traffic safety is of deep concern in Wasilla. A comprehensive road network, maintenance and monitoring plan is a necessary component of a modern city. With a strong voice, we can only encourage better development on state roads and a bypass to lessen congestion through the city. Yet we can and will address the many issues on our city roads promptly. When I am elected Mayor, this is one of the priorities I will tackle. Wasilla should look, act and advance itself as the premier city of our state. With a clean look, an engaged community and with many practical and lifestyle amenities -along with an enviable financial status, we will be that city.

I have the experience necessary to achieve this goal. My community and political profile includes Wasilla Parks and Recreation Commission Chair, Trails Committee Chair, Secretary of 2 State political organizations. Advocate for Iditarod Elementary to fund our recently built new school and former Volunteer Firefighter Mat Su Central. My work experience includes CDL driver, surveyor, and materials comptroller for a construction company. I am college educated, but for me, my greatest achievement is a 4-year Certificate in Education for Ministry which I undertook for personal growth. This is on my flyers and very important as it is the study of social contract and included the history of the world’s philosophical views and their impact on social norms at any given time. Government service is a social contract and elected representatives must adhere to the Constitution of our country and state. This is our contract and I intend to keep it. This is how you restore trust in local government.

Again, I am Bee Rupright. I am asking for your vote on October the 3rd and thanking you in advance for your support.

Palmer Public Library General Obligation Bonds: The $135 Question

Contributed by Steve Carrington

First things first, the disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the City of Palmer, or any other affiliates.

On this year’s ballot for our Palmer Election October 3 (or earlier if you vote early), there is a Library Bond. It’s official title is “City of Palmer Proposition No. 1, Palmer Public Library General Obligation Bonds” according to the sample ballot. It’s for a lot of money, not to exceed $10 Million. Like a good bond proposition it even has a dash of latin in the middle of it. At the end of the description it says it could cost $135 for every $100,000 assessed value.

How much is this bond going to cost Palmer? The Library Bond is not to exceed $10 Million. Wasilla built their new library in 2015-2016 for $15 Million (Frontiersman article: “New Wasilla Library building tak ing shape” Jan. 28, 2016). The first step

is for the voters to pass the Palmer Bond at the Oct. 3 election. The architects are still working on plans so in the next few months we will know how much a new library will cost. Thus far Palmer have raised $5 Million from the State of Alaska. Palmer is still working on raising more funds. So if the bond passes, then this winter Palmer will be able to setup bonding for what amount is appropriate. Palmer has a track record of only using as much as needed for the bonds. My personal belief is that will be in the neighborhood of $4- $6 Million.

How do bonds work? Bonds are not a new thing. Palmer has done quite a few bonds over the decades. Since 1995 there have been 7 Utility Revenue Bonds and 3 General Obligation Bonds.

The Utility Revenue Bonds are connected to their respective utility, so those bonds are secured and paid back through the public utility’s revenue.

The general obligation bonds are covered by the city’s general fund thus they are called general obligation. The two main sources of income for Palmer are Sales Tax (70%) and Property Tax (12%). The 2023 Library Bond will be paid back through the regular operations of the city for the next 20 years, unless we pay it off sooner as we have done with some of our bonds.

So why the legal fine print of $135 per $100,000 assessment? Simply put, to keep the bankers and lawyers happy. Those dollar amounts mentioned are the legal fine print of the worst case scenario.

Palmer has used general obligation bonds in the past. Bonds for the Golf Course were passed in 2005 and paid off in 2015. Bonds for the Ice Rink (MTA Events Center) were approved in 2003 and paid off 2 years early in 2022. In 2010 bonds were approved for acquiring Mat Maid property. Those were never used

Sydney Zuyus, School Board Candidate for District 3

Contributed

Sydney Zuyus

The Mat-Su Valley has always been more than just a place; it has been the heartbeat of growth, development, and community for countless families, including my own. Today, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Mat-Su School Board in District 3.

My roots in the Valley run deep. This is where I learned the importance of community support, experienced the dedication of our educators, and saw firsthand the immense potential within

our young minds. However, today, a troubling disconnect exists. Educators are being undermined, ridiculed, and discredited. Parents are having choices taken away from them. Student voices are being silenced. All of this by the very institution meant to support these stakeholders. This isn’t merely a disservice; it’s a critical misstep that poses a threat to the growth and well-being of our students and the community as a whole.

My vision: Mat-Su students deserve the opportunity to be curious, to excel,

and to be supported. I aim to foster an educational system that champions unity between families, educators, and the board. By bridging gaps and actively participating in learning, we can create an environment where each student thrives, and every voice is valued.

I am alarmed by the current trajectory of the Mat-Su School District and believe deeply that we can and should do better. My campaign is more than just a list of policies or reforms. It isn’t rooted in political identity or agenda. It’s an answer

Campaigning In Your Mat-Su Backyard

Contributed by Kathy McCollum, Ole Larson and Nan Potts

The Fall traditionally, is a time of transition of seasons, this year it’s not only into Winter but into Election Season for the Mat-Su Borough — specifically, MatSu Borough School Board elections. This November 7th, voters will be going to the polls to vote for their School Board representatives. In the running are two incumbents: Kathy McCollum (SB District 3) and Ole Larson (SB District 6). Both are conservative choices and have played critical roles in improving education and forging routes to higher learning for MatSu students. They are now out on their campaign trails.

Kathy, a resident of the Mat-Su Borough

for 34 years, retired classroom teacher and current school board member, has this to say regarding her campaign, “I believe that parental rights, excellent teachers and fiscal responsibility are key. When children learn through effective and focused instruction in the early grades, and quality choices in vocational and college pathways in high school, we can make steps towards improvement in education.

Using informed decisions, we can maximize the impact of our budget and ensure that every dollar is directed toward providing the best educational opportunities for our students. Re-elect Kathy McCollum, the conservative choice for school board.”

Jim Cooper for Palmer City Council

Contributed by Jim Cooper

Who is Jim Cooper? I grew up in Juneau in a Coast Guard family. Continuing the tradition with a 26 year Coast Guard career myself, my wife and I lived in many coastal communities in and out of Alaska. Upon retirement, my wife, Cheri, and I moved to Palmer in 1995, and purchased the Just Sew fabric store and operated it for 11 years. During that time and since then, we became thoroughly committed to the community.

Why Jim Cooper?

- Former Palmer Mayor

- Former Palmer Councilman

- Past co-chair of the Palmer Pride &

Special Events committees

- Past president of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce

- Past member of the Palmer Planning and Zoning Commission

- Past chairman of the Palmer Community Development Task Force

- Current Board member of the Palmer Community Foundation

- Current Board member of the National Brain Tumor Society

- 26 year military veteran & licensed marine captain - City of Palmer Citizen of the Year. Some of the issues and priorities I believe we need to insure happen for

Ole Larson, also a current school board member, is moving forward with his campaign, states “I have been working hard to include parents/guardian in the decision-making process of their student’s education. We have passed the fair playing field policy, bathroom policy set up the library review committee and are committed to maintaining policies that parallel federal, state and local laws. I am working hard to maintain an education system which has access for all students, centered around academic excellence, career technical education and extracurricular activities. I stress safe schools, well-maintained buildings and a clean environment for all students and staff.”

Palmer and her residents.

- Maintain the charm and integrity of downtown while encouraging and assisting small businesses to locate and prosper here.

- Promote customer service from City government and involve business owners in decisions that affect them

- Upgrade our current infrastructure; e.g. fix sidewalks and crosswalks

- Pave remaining roads within the City

- Ensure the Palmer library meets the needs of the community

- Prioritize walkability for all ages and abilities

- More community conversations; i.e. involving citizens in decisions.

- Work with the Borough and State to

and expired in 2020.

Will Palmer raise taxes (Property or Sales Tax)? Let’s look at history… Palmer was incorporated in 1951 with the territory of Alaska. Palmer had a varying property tax between 4 and 6 mils.

In 1996 the mil rate was changed to 3 mils and has not changed since.

Many decades ago Palmer setup a 2% sales tax rate.

In April 1996 it was changed to 3% sales tax rate and has not changed since.

Personally, I recommend voters of Palmer vote for the Proposition 1: Palmer Public Library General Obligations Bond. This will invest in our growing community by building a new library. This will overcome the tragedy of our library roof collapse and leave us with a library for Palmer to use for many years into the future.

Join me in voting Yes for Prop. #1 Oct. 3.

Steve.carrington47@gmail.com

to the heartfelt pleas I have heard from community members across the district — an earnest commitment to ensuring that voices from every background, from students and educators to bus drivers, school workers, and community members, are valued and heard.

My hometown and the people in it have made me resilient, creative, kind, and above all— brave. I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves, listen, learn, and ardently advocate for the needs of this community. The journey ahead will be challenging, but with your support, we can truly live up to MSBSD’s mission to “prepare all students for success.”

Now the hats are in the ring and and the bell has rung, the bout of campaigning has begun. It is you, the voter, your turn to get accurate and pertinent information regarding all of the current candidates running. Then, make your informed decision and VOTE!

Early/Absentee In-person voting starts October 23rd and runs through November 6th at the following locals: Mat-Su Borough Building, Clerks Office, 350 E Dahlia Ave., Palmer, AK Division of Elections, North Fork Professional Building B, Suite 102, 1700 E Bogard Rd., Wasilla, AK.

On November 7th, the polls open, at the local precincts, 7am and close at 8pm. For further information on times and days available, go to the Borough’s website: matsugov.us/elections or call: (907) 861-8683. Let the games commence!

improve their roads and infrastructure that surround the City

Remember the City of Palmer election is on October 3, 2023. Polls are open from 7:00am to 8:00pm. For more information on polling places and candidates visit https://www.palmerak.org/elections

Early voting begins September 18th. Absentee ballots are also available. Contact the City of Palmer for more information. 907-761-1301.

Please Contact me if any questions/ concerns or clarifications.

justsew@mtaonline.net

907-795-1791

I t is time for a positive change for Palmer. I would appreciate your vote.

the Unrepresented Independent Majority

Valley Republican Women of Alaska Presents: A Heritage Harvest Chili-Cookoff

Contributed by Cathy Mosher

The Valley Republican Women of Alaska is having their sixth annual Chili Cookoff. Our theme this year “A Hometown Harvest Chili Cookoff”. There will be the Wall of Guns, local candidates, fabulous auction items and you will have fun trying out the different chili’s available to sample. Then

vote for the chili you like the best. See how you can vote more than once. David Ion-sterling Silver Band will be providing the music. It will be an entertaining night with fun, food, music, and auction items. You will be able to hear from local candidates running for office. Nick Begich will be our Masters of Ceremony.

It will be Saturday, September 23, 2023,

at the Palmer Depot, 610 S Valley Way, Palmer, AK 99645. The Heritage Harvest Chili Cookoff starts at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online VRWAKK.com. If you have any questions, call 907-982-2646. We hope to see you there.

Tacos & Volunteering: Changing Lives One Bite at A Time

Contributed by Sarah Imme

Ancora Home Health & Hospice

Tacos – we all love them! Imaging being able to combine a shared interest in food with creating a memorable connection that will last a lifetime.

There is an undeniable boost to your mood when you meet with a good friend, share a special moment with someone, or just encounter a kind stranger. Unfortunately, as some people prepare for end of life, they don’t have the support they may need or want and there is a longing for the company of others. Alternatively, some people may have all the support imaginable, but they still want to share new experiences with others. That’s what hospice volunteers are for.

Volunteers are offered to all hospice patients as an additional resource and benefit on top of the other services hospice provides. As every patient’s situation is different, as are the roles of volunteers. Patient visits offer a myriad of opportunities to suit both the patient and the volunteer. From sharing music, reading a good book, attending special events, providing pet therapy, trying your hand at arts and crafts, writing or journaling, or veteran-to-veteran support – the options are endless.

In some cases, the answers are surprising, such as in the instance of tacos. For one patient who had excellent support and was surrounded in love, a simple request to Ancora’s Volunteer Coordinator for tacos created a friendship

and experience he looked forward to weekly. Phil had a lot of support from his friends and hospice team, but when asked what more his hospice team could do for him, tacos was the answer. Our lovely long-term volunteer, Bud, was the man for the job, and the two hit it off immediately, bonding over tacos and good conversation. Even if tacos aren’t your strength, we can guarantee that there is a match out there for you with someone with similar interests.

To put it mildly: volunteers are exceptional humans who selflessly share their time and talents with others. If you’re unsure if volunteering would be a good fit for you, or if you have no past experience, please know that at Ancora

Hospice training and ongoing support is provided from day one to ensure our volunteers visits are comfortable, confident and ready; all you need to be willing to provide is companionship and compassion. Pictured above is Ancora Hospice Volunteer, Bud, with his companion, Phil, during one of their Taco Tuesday

If you would like to learn more about volunteering, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinators at either our Anchorage (907.561.0700) or Wasilla (907.561.9240) locations, or visit our website (ancoraalaska.com).

Choose to make a difference in the lives of others!

Liberty Tax Offers Nine-Week Tax School

Contributed by Michael

Schmahl

Liberty Tax is offering their annual tax school at their main office located at 3400 E Cottle Loop Ste 100 in Wasilla. As always, there will be no charge for tuition, and books are $159.00. This is a comprehensive overview of the Form 1040 – U.S. Individual Income Tax Return and its associated schedules.

Classes will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm starting September 18th. The last class will be on November 17th. The instructor will be Michael Schmahl.

Topics covered will include Filing Status; Dependents; Wages and Withholding; Dividends and Interest; Retirement; Other Income; Standard

Contributed by Sierra Winter Smith Sunshine

Center Sunshine Community Health Center would like to thank our vendors,

and Itemized Deductions; Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit; Education Credits; other Refundable and Nonrefundable Credits; Depreciation; Business Income and Deductions; Rental Income and Deductions; Qualified Business Income Deduction; Payment Plans; Quarterly Estimated Tax; Extensions and Amendments; and finally Practice, Procedure, and Professional Responsibility.

According to Mr. Schmahl, “Having a good grasp of the basic principles of income tax is useful to everyone. Knowing how the tax code works helps everyone make better financial decisions. When looking to hire new tax professionals, we always look first at successful Tax

crafters, over 40 vendors and exhibitors, great food, an 18ft bouncy slide, and most importantly, community. We look forward to hosting this event again next year on

School students. Rhonda Hughes, the owner of Liberty Tax in Wasilla, says, “This is invaluable information for everyone, whether for their personal use, making business decisions, or to boost their career. A good understanding of taxation will open doors throughout anyone’s lifetime.”

About Michael Schmahl: Michael Schmahl is an Enrolled Agent and has been the General Manager of Liberty Tax in Wasilla since 2016. He has a total of 13 years of tax preparation experience and 12 years experience conducting Tax School. Interested students should visit libertytax.com/tax-education, call (907) 357-3278, or email libertytaxwasilla@ gmail.com to enroll.

information here: www.tinyurl.com/ sunshinevendors1

Thank you for choosing Sunshine Community Health Center as your

A Sweet Tradition: Alaska Day Dinner and Famous Dessert Auction

Contributed by Linda Frey

Wasilla-Knik Historical Society

On October 18, 1867, in a ceremony held at Fort Sitka, the Territory of Alaska was formally transferred from the Russian Empire to the United States of America. Alaska had been purchased on March 30 of that year for $7.2 million dollars - less than 12.3 cents an acre. Although many recognized the potential of this addition to the United States, many did not and called Alaska Seward’s Folly or Seward’s Icebox, after President Lincoln’s Secretary of State, William Seward, who had negotiated the deal. In 1917, the territorial legislature declared October 18 to be Alaska Day.

In 1967, to celebrate the centennial of the Alaska Purchase, several Mat-Su residents banded together to form the Wasilla-Knik-Willow Creek Historical Society. They were an ambitious, hard-working group, determined to preserve the history of the area. Some of the charter members were LeRoi and Margaret Heaven, Joe and Vi Redington, and Dorothy Page. A dog race was held that year, on the historical Iditarod Trail, as part of the centennial celebration. The Knik Museum was opened by Vi Redington and Dorothy Page to preserve the history of Knik, home to the Dena’ina people, and later a booming port community at the turn of the century, serving miners in Hatcher Pass, Iditarod and beyond.

The Wasilla Museum was also opened in the old Community Hall, and buildings from around the area were moved into the Historic Town Site. In 1993, the original Herning-Teeland Mercantile was moved from the corner of Main Street and the Parks Highway to its current location and

restored by the historical society when the Parks Highway was widened. It now houses Krazy Moose Subs upstairs and the office of the historical society downstairs.

Today the Knik Museum, located at 10524

S Knik Goose Bay Road, is run by the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society and is open Wednesday-Sundays from 1-6pm, May through October. The Wasilla Museum is owned and operated by the City of Wasilla and is open Tuesday-Friday 10-3pm yearround. Both of these museums continue the mission to preserve and share the history of the Wasilla-Knik area.

More than fifty years ago that newly formed Wasilla-Willow-Knik Historical Society held their first Alaska Day Dinner in the old Wasilla school house. The early potluck dinners were attended by the board and members of the new society with guest speakers and Gold Pan awards for members who had made special contributions over the years. Marian Romano, then owner of the popular Deli in Wasilla, soon started catering the event, making the Alaska Day Dinner an annual treat indeed!

A few years later a dessert auction was added to the event as a way for the society to raise money to support its projects. Members vied with each other to create the tastiest desserts which were sold to the highest bidder. Cookies were great favorites, with bakers delivering them to the auction in decorative cookie jars, usually returned empty to be refilled and auctioned off the following year. Eventually candy, jams, pies and cakes were added by the large membership. Margaret Heaven always supplied several jars of her homemade apple butter which were hugely popular with bidders. Marian Romano’s ricotta cookies were a big hit,

and Vivian Teeland’s famous coconut pie usually drove bids past $1000.

As the invitation to the event was extended beyond the membership to the community, the Alaska Day Dinner and Famous Dessert Auction was moved to the Herning-Teeland-Mead Mercantile, now home to the Krazy Moose Sub Shop, and eventually to the Elks Lodge on Finger Lake.

The Wasilla-Knik Historical Society welcomes historical enthusiasts old and young to this year’s Alaska Day Dinner and Famous Dessert Auction on Friday, October 20th, at the Palmer Elk’s Lodge. Chef Marian Romano, proprietor of Nonna’s Osteria, will again be catering the event. Jeff Schultz, the official volunteer photographer for the Iditarod for over 40

years, will be the guest speaker.

All bakers are invited to bring your favorite confections for the Dessert Auction! If you’re not a baker, you’re always invited to raise a bid paddle to support the efforts of the historical society! The doors open at 4:30pm for delivery of baked goods and a Meet and Greet, followed the Famous Dessert Auction at 6:00pm, then dinner and the program at about 7:00pm.

Tickets are $50 and reservations must be made by October 15 by contacting the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society by email at KnikMuseum@gmail.com, leaving a message at 907-376-7755, or by contacting any board member.

Visit us on Facebook or online at www.wkhsociety.org

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church “Holiday Market” is Back!

Contributed by Patricia Ott

What did you miss during Covid? Well, I missed seeing the community come to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for our Holiday Market each fall. It’s back on October 7th this year and I am looking forward to seeing you and over thirty vendors that attend annually at our Holiday Market.

After a hiatus of several years, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s “Holiday Market” is back. We will have vendor spaces filled with unique homemade crafts, jewelry, woodworking, baked goods, and many other items. We will also have a silent auction, bake sale and Holiday Drawing. Plan to eat lunch at our Five Loaves Two Fish Kitchen. They will be serving delicious soup and sandwiches.

This year, Roger Hansen, a church member, has again donated a few prints of his aunt’s diverse collection of Alaskan artists. One of the prints is “Shore Birds” by William (Bill) Kimura, a former art professor at numerous Alaska Universities. It will be a part of our fund raising during this Saturday event. There will also be a

Santa Clause collection for anyone who would like to add to theirs. I am excited about the woodworking projects. One of the donated items is a spice rack that holds 54 spices, just like the one I have in my kitchen. Also, there will be two quilts in our drawing. One is Christmas themed and the other a traditional quilt.

“What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a cucumber and when I’m old I want to be a pickle.” This was a conversation that was between our Preschool teacher and a 4-year-old student at Good Shepherd. You may have heard about Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s outreach programs. Our Youth Ministries include a Preschool that teaches around twenty 3 and 4-year-olds three days a week, the Mat-Su School District’s Next Step Program that resides in our classrooms and office space to assist special needs students in working towards a successful transition to adult life. Beginning this fall, we will also host on our campus the Youth 360 after school program for middle and high school students. Our Five Loaves Two

FAITH & COMMUNITY

Fish Kitchen ministry sends meals every Thursday and Friday to youth at MyHouse Mat-Su Homeless Youth Center and families who are staying in a transitional shelter. Our Kitchen also sends frozen casseroles to families with students at local schools who need food throughout the weekends. Good Shepherd sponsors Boy Scout Troop 300 from which the largest number of Eagle Scouts have originated in Alaska. Other ministries include: Valley Interfaith Action, Turn A Leaf, Valley Residential Services, Strong Women Exercise Group, and Trapper Creek Lutheran Fellowship Mission. With your support, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church can continue to be the vehicle that supports these many community outreach missions as well as our Sunday Services and Youth Ministries. We still have a few vendor spaces to fill and are looking for those that have homebased goods for sale to complement our handmade products. For anyone looking for a space at the market, please contact Kelsey Ramos at 907-232-3975 or kelseyramos7@gmail.com. I look forward

Helping, Serving, Loving Our Neighbors

Contributed by Elder and Sister Cromar

Our faith teaches us that “when we are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches us to follow the example of Jesus Christ in loving and serving our neighbors.

The NAACP and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first came together in 2018 to in Church President and Prophet Russell M. Nelson’s words call on the entire world to “demonstrate greater civility, racial and ethnic harmony and mutual respect.” A year later, President Nelson told the NAACP national convention in Detroit that “we strive to build bridges of cooperation rather than walls of segregation. We are

all connected, and we have a God-given responsibility to help make life better for those around us. We don’t have to be alike or look alike to have love for each other. We don’t even have to agree with each other to love each other.”

At the Memphis Branch of the NAACP on Juneteenth 2023, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave $500,000 to help renovate the Memphis Branch of the NAACP creating an inviting community gathering spot for MyBaby4Me meetings. They also installed a commercial kitchen to feed the women and children participating in the program.

To promote education, the Church has given $2 million to fund 116 scholarships via the United Negro College Fund.

The extent of the Church of Jesus Christ

Local Holy Days Celebrations

Contributed by Brett Ahern

We are entering a special month in the Biblical calendar, observed by Jews and Messianic Christians alike. It begins this week when the Peoples’ Paper is available. These Holy Days typically go by the historical Hebrew names. They are listed in Scripture, with an English equivalent, in Leviticus 23. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, scripturally referred to as the Feast of Trumpets. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year, with an annual reconciliation with God. Sukkot is a celebration week, with a

booth set up outdoors for community meals and sleeping in. This is in remembrance of the traveling conditions when Israel exited Egypt during the Exodus.

It is Scripturally referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles, the harvest celebration. Simchat Torah. The day after Sukkot ends, it is observed as the annual culmination of the Torah cycle reading. Deuteronomy finishes and Genesis begins afresh. New applications are considered as the New Year commences. Scripturally Sukkot and Simchat Torah are references to the set-up

of Latter-day Saints humanitarian efforts worldwide is substantial. Expenditures in 2022 for those in need in 190 countries worldwide exceeded $1 billion. The largest donations the Church gave in 2022 include $32 million to the World Food Programme and $5 million to UNICEF’s global nutrition program which helps malnourished children. Other significant donations were $5.1 million to the American Red Cross and another $5 million to Rotary International for polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus vaccinations. In addition, our members volunteered over 6.3 million hours of labor in humanitarian services. Helping Hands and JustServe are familiar to many people. These figures are, of course, an incomplete report of our giving and

of the coming Kingdom of God. This is

discussed in Messianic Christian services.

Locally, we have more traditional synagogue type services, with Christian understanding, in the Beit Tikvah (House of Hope) Messianic Community in Wasilla. Our Holy Days schedule is posted on our Facebook page. Our location is in the ‘About us’ section of the page at: Beit Tikvah (House of Hope) Messianic Community, Wasilla, AK.

Brett Ahern, who is a member at Beit Tikvah, has concluded the summer community Bible Study series at the Black Birch Books store. The study is moving to a home in Wasilla, continuing as a monthly study, the first Sunday of each month,

to seeing you on Saturday, October 7th from 10am-4pm at 501 E. Bogard Road in Wasilla. Free admission.

Patricia

Ott Holiday Market Chairman Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

helping. It makes no mention of what our members do individually through innumerable charitable organizations.

Locally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Wasilla Stake) contributed $9,000 to Kids Kupboard to install a new commercial dishwasher.

We follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as stated in scripture, “And thus, in their prosperous circumstances they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished, . . . and they. . . were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “A man who is full of the love of god is not content with blessing his family only, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”

starting on October 1, from 2:00 – 4:00. Email Brett at brettact2@gmail.com for the location. It too will begin in Genesis 1 with a focus on how the Creation Week is also a roadmap for spiritual growth that is found blossoming in all sorts of interesting locations throughout Scripture.

As a community study it is open to discussion. The first hour is for the monthly topic, then the second hour is a lively discussion with what people want to hash out to resolve their questions. It is also open to topical Bible study requests. You can email them to Brett for study preparation.

The Winner Is: The Mat Su Senior Center Float!

and attaching them to the sides of the mural. So much work and so many volunteers helped to make the float the best in the parade. I am so proud of our Senior Center and especially of the vision and follow through that Taylor York showed throughout the enterprise.

structure for the mural and finding materials. He also had help painting it after he had laid out the artwork. Then came the job of getting it on to the flatbed trailer and dismantling it after the parade.

But what amazed me was all the detail that needed not only coordination to finish the mural in time, but the brains, brawn and ingenuity needed to get the mural up onto the flatbed trailer and anchor it soundly. They even constructed a railing of hay bales so the old people wouldn’t fall off during the parade. Then came the final touch of taking real trees

When the parade was over, and the mural was unloaded, Taylor decided to cut it up into portions that could be taken home by the seniors at the center as momentous. What a wonderful ending to a beautiful mural.

We hope the mural will make more people aware of what senior citizens can contribute to our community. Also, please be aware that Taylor York is one of the many area artists who have work for sale at the Senior Center gift shop. He paints some lovely scenes of the mountains, trees and flowers in the Mat-Su area.

Just another reason you should visit the Palmer Senior Center gift shop. Although, of course the hours make it difficult for

many of our friends who would like to shop here. Unfortunately we can only be open from 11AM to 3PM, Monday through Friday due to a paucity of volunteers. So if you are considering being a volunteer this would be a great place to start. One of the advantages is that you would be the first to see some of the one of a kind items

that the gift shop takes in. Secondly you will get the opportunity to meet interesting senior citizens and hear great stories. For more information on the Senior Center gift shop go to the Palmer Senior Center to volunteer or give them a call. Thank you in advance for caring!

Grandparents Day: Honoring the Keepers of Traditions

Contributed by Miranda Gibson, Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc.

The celebration of Grandparents Day (September 10, 2023) is an opportunity to recognize the significant impact grandparents have on our lives. They are the keepers of traditions; their wisdom and experiences shape our lives, and their influence reaches far beyond just one day of celebration. In a world that often moves at a rapid pace, Grandparents Day reminds us to slow down and deeply appreciate the generations that came before us. As a child, some of my most vivid memories

took place at my grandparents’ house watching Cartoon Network from the comfort of their recliner, which I must add I had to sneak into before my grandpa made it in for his afternoon nap by the window. My Grandma had a stunning real China tea set that she let me fill with apple juice, goldfish, and tootsie rolls. I know, the diet of a toddler at its finest. These are the days I would give anything to relive.

In addition to celebrating on a personal level, Grandparents Day also highlights the importance of advocating for the rights and well-being of older adults

across society. It serves as a reminder that our elders deserve respect, care, and attention. It is a time to ensure that programs are in place to support the aging population and address the unique challenges they may face.

As we reflect on Grandparents Day, we also ask that you consider how you can support the rapidly growing senior community here in the Mat-Su Valley.

At Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) we prioritize appreciating our older adult community daily. We have an opportunity for you to support this vibrant community through our MY-O-MY IT’S PIE! Annual

Holiday Pie Fundraiser.

We are accepting event sponsorships, pie donations, and item donations to our online auction.

If you or your business/organization want to be a part of this worthy cause, reach out to Miranda Gibson, Fund Development Manager at WASI for more information. She can be reached by email at mirandag@alaskaseniors.com or by phone (907) 600-4065.

Thank you for your consideration of the generations that paved the way for us. We hope you had a wonderful Grandparents Day this year!

PETS & ANIMALS

Adopt Tommy

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

I am a sweetnatured and beautiful young boy. I am a flame point Siamese boy with gorgeous blue eyes and orange highlights. I am a year or two old.

I am friendly, loving, and everything you could want in a member of your family. I have a sweet temperament and get along with everyone in the house. Dogs, cats, whoever will be friendly, I’m ready to oblige. I love to indulge in yummy food and treats. I’m playful and love to be pet.

I will need a cat buddy and a safe place where I can go outside and play. To meet me, please call or text 907-980-8898.

To meet other adoptable kitties, please visit our website: clearcreekcatrescue.org

Chico and Dusty

Contributed by Angie Lewis These boys are nine years old and have lived with their current family since they were about eight weeks old. The family is moving out of state and has chosen to rehome them. They have never been apart from each other. If we cannot find them a forever or foster home, they will be taken to the pound. Certainly not a good end for two elderly gentlemen. Let’s work together to place them in a loving environment.

For more info please call Angie at Alaska Animal Advocates at (907) 841-3173

Traveling with Your Pet

Alaska Animal Advocates

Although moving with your pet can be challenging, problems can be addressed with careful planning and being prepared. Before we talk about the details of moving with your pet, PLEASE do not consider abandoning any of your pets. When you adopted your pets, you should have made a commitment to them. They would never even consider rehoming you or abandoning you. If you do not allow that choice as an option, you will be able to focus your energies on more positive solutions.

Traveling by air: If you are able to have your pet stay in the cabin with you, that would be best. You will have to do some research with various airlines to learn about their policies. Choose the correct size carrier – your pet should be able to move around comfortably. Consider flying first class, which will afford you more room for a carrier. Also, check into transport planes for pets. Check reviews to make sure that the company is a reputable one.

Traveling by vehicle: Your pet should be restrained in a carrier or a gate to close off the back part of your vehicle. Dog seat belts are still a debatable issue and have not been found to be very effective.

As far as letting your dog hang his

head out the window while you are driving is not safe for your pooch. Various items could fly in your dog’s face or hit them in the head. Of course, never let your dog ride in the back of a pickup, for obvious reasons.

Prior research into hotels that allow pets is a wise strategy. This will give all family members a break from traveling in the car. You can also place your critters in a boarding facility for the night.

Traveling by Water: When traveling by ferry, pets must stay on the car deck . In addition, they must be in a secure carrier, accompanied by an adult driver. Certain boats will allow for a pet to remain in a cabin with their human family.

Some things to remember when moving or traveling with your pet(s):

- All pets must have had a recent examination from a vet and have a health certificate.

- All pets must have a current certificate of vaccinations.

- Depending on the length of the journey, have food, treats, and medicines your pet may need.

- Also, have some meds to relax your pets if they are really stressed.

- Make sure to have a current photo of your pet and that he is microchipped. Also, have a collar with current contact info on the tag.

Again, thank you for moving with your pets and not abandoning them.

Contributed by Angie Lewis

ALASKA SAFE RIDERS

Alaska Safe Riders: Prepared For Terror?

by Debra McGhan

Contributed

Jim Whisman, a retired Lynden long-haul truck driver with millions (and I mean fiveplus millions) of accident-free miles, told me once that driving is often hours and hours of boredom interrupted by seconds of sheer terror. For most of us, we may go weeks, months and even years enjoying incident free, boring drives. But that can all change in one instant. Are you prepared for potential terror?

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Do you have an emergency kit in your car? Do you know how to drive on ice and snow? Do you know what to do if you are the first on-scene at a major accident?

As the days get shorter, the temperatures cooler and the leaves settle on the ground, it’s a great time to prepare for upcoming winter adventures and all types of emergencies and possible disasters.

“I think September and October are the perfect months to catch your breath from the previous winter and busy summer seasons and start getting prepared to do it all again,” said five-time Iron Dog champion Chris Olds. “It’s also the time I usually either tune up my old sled or take delivery of a new one.”

Olds says there are a lot of little things you can do to make sure you spend your days riding and not turning wrenches once the snow flies.

“I go over my machine to check or change the fluids, make sure everything is tight, the chain, track, belt…and make sure the belts not worn. If it’s a new machine, I want to get real familiar with it. And if I rode it before, reacquainted.”

Sarah Carter, avalanche instructor for the Alaska Avalanche Information Center (AAIC) and an instructor for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) also spends this time preparing for winter.

“One thing I like to do is take pictures of

my favorite terrain before the snow covers it,” said Carter. “That way I’ll know what is under the snow and where I might need to be aware of a weak area or trigger point like rocks, glaciation or vegetation.”

She also recommends brushing up on trip planning. “I suggest you start thinking about where you want to ride and maybe plan goals and objectives for the riding season. Think about past rides that were fun and successful. Or maybe ones you learned something important from.”

Carter says she gets in the habit of watching the weather and snow forecast so she’ll have historical data.

“It’s good to get familiar with the weather and avalanche forecast websites. Then you can think about places where you might be able to enjoy some early season tours or where you’ll need more snow to go. And it gives you a good idea about the layers of snow we get when we have cold, rain, wind, or snowy days.”

Finally, both Olds and Carter recommend you get your safety gear out and checked.

“Fall is a great time to host a beacon search party,” suggests Carter. “You can invite your friends to bring their avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes for some practice (games.)

“We always hope that your avalanche skills will keep you out of a slide, but if you ever get called on to search for someone else, you don’t want to be trying to figure out how to do it at that point,” said Carter. “Practicing during the pre-season fall is a sure way to make sure you’ll be confident and ready to go when it’s time to get out in the mountains.”

Did you know that most avalanches that injure or kill people are triggered by the victim or someone in their party?

At the 15th annual Emergency Preparedness Expo, set for September 30, 2023, is at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla from 10 am to 3 pm, you’ll find a host of experts to talk with who can give you great tips and tricks to help you be prepared for all types

of emergencies and disasters.

Not into backcountry skiing or riding? Maybe you enjoy cozy nights by the fire with popcorn and a good movie. Are you prepared if the wind starts howling, the snow starts flying and the lights go out? This is your opportunity to learn everything you can so you’ll be ready to face a variety of potential emergencies or disasters that might come your way.

More than 70 exhibitors and food trucks are expected at this year’s event. With the cost of everything going up, this is one event that is still free to the public thanks to support from the Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services, AARP Alaska, Local Emergency Planning Committee, American Red Cross, Alaska Safe Riders, Mat-Su Health Foundation, the Mat-Valley Federal Credit Union, McDonalds and more. The first 200 attendees will receive an emergency gift bag. And for everyone else, there will be lots of opportunities to earn prizes, participate in interactive demonstrations, gain k nowledge, and get needed supplies.

Now is the time to get ready. Winter is coming. Prepare your family. Prepare your pets. Prepare your community. Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 30 from 10 am to 3 pm and head to the Menard Sports Center to get prepared to confront any terror that might come our way.

Learn more at ready.matsugov.us or alaskasaferiders.org

CITY OF HOUSTON

PRECINCTS & POLLING LOCATIONS:

> 30-580 Houston No. 1

Houston City Hall, 13878 W. Armstrong Rd.

and a complete candidate list, please visit: www.houstonak.com/elections

Trips into remote areas can be exciting and adventurous, but they also come with risks. It is important to take safety precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Emergency Gear:

Always carry emergency gear with you, such as a first aid kit, mud extraction gear, fire starter, a repair kit, and extra food and water. In case of an emergency, these items can be lifesaving.

Communication:

Make sure to carry a communication device with you, such as a satellite phone, InReach or Zolio. This will allow you to call for help in case of an emergency. It is also important to let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.

Ride Plan:

Before heading out on your trip, make sure to plan your route and let someone know your plan. This includes the route you plan to take, the estimated time of arrival, and the expected time of return. This will help rescuers find you in case of an emergency.

In Alaska, it is also important to be aware of the weather conditions and the terrain. The weather can change quickly, and the terrain can be challenging. Always wear appropriate clothing and protective gear, and be prepared for any weather conditions.

By following these safety tips, you can enjoy your trip into remote areas while staying safe and ensuring you are prepared for any situation.

www.alaskasaferiders.org

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA PAGE 16