Contributed by Amy Lalor Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Mat-Su 3/31/2018 - 4PM Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, Mat-Su North Bowl, Wasilla Donations Only At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, we match youth that we call “Littles”, with carefully screened mentors that we call Bigs. These professionallysupported matches meet 2-4 times per month in our community-based program, doing free or low cost activities in the community that they both enjoy. This can be anything from quiet activities such as board games, homework, baking or doing a craft, to hiking, biking, sports, 4-wheeling, snow machining, fishing and all the “Alaska” things. Bigs do not need to have any special skills to volunteer. We are always looking for folks with a positive outlook who are willing to share some of their time with a Little, doing things they already enjoy doing. In our school-based programs, matches meet once a week during the school day at select MSBSD schools spending time together working on class work, crafts, puzzles and games. High school students can volunteer to be a mentor to younger students in this program. Some of the youth we serve are matched through programs geared towards specific populations. Our Sync Program, which is specifically for youth ages 14-21 who are in or aging-out of foster care, matches youth with mentors who not only do fun activities with them, but also work on life skills together to ease the transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood. Success through education and cultural connection is a program specifically for Alaska Native & American Indian youth 9-12 years of age. In this program, matches are encouraged to find fun ways to work on academic goals as well as engage in match activities that are culturally relevant to the youth. There are currently over 30 active matches in the Mat-Su and just as many youth waiting to be matched. Sustaining our programs costs money. It costs roughly $2,500.00 per year to support one match by
providing professional match support throughout the lifetime of a match. Matches are funded through various sources, including state and federal grants, support from Thrive Mat-Su and fundraisers such as our upcoming Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Mat-Su. Community support through events like Bowl for Kids’ Sake is our greatest funding source and allows us to continue to serve more local youth. Developing a strong, healthy, resilient community starts with strong, healthy, resilient youth. Building resiliency in youth builds a foundation for a lifetime of positive decision-making and the ability to bounce back from set-backs. This year’s Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Mat-Su will be held on Saturday, March 31st at North Bowl, Wasilla. To participate is easy, just visit www.bbbsak.org/bowl, come up with a fun team name, recruit a few friends, co-workers or family members (we recommend 4-6 per team) and set a fundraising goal. Fundraising can be done mostly online, whether it’s directly from the website, through social media posts or email. We also have paper pledge sheets available if preferred. All of the funds raised here in the Valley stay here in the Valley to support our local programs.
MAT-SU CONCERT BAND MARCH CONCERT MORE ON PAGE 9 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE
The event itself is a thank you party for everyone who participates in the fundraiser. Teams that participate in fundraising are invited to bowl for free from 4:00pm-7:00pm on March 31st and free food is provided by local businesses. The local business community has also donated some amazing prizes, raffle and silent auction items. There will be prize packages for top fundraising individuals, as well as top teams. Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Mat-Su is a lot fun! Grab a group of your friends, co-worker, civic club members, church group members, work out buddies, etc. and join in the fun this year!
TRAPPER CREEK CABIN FEVER RELIEVER MORE ON PAGE 5 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
Having a caring adult that a youth can turn to and trust for guidance and support has been shown again and again in studies to be the number one key factor in building resiliency in youth. For more information about volunteering as a Big or participating in Bowl for Kids’ Sake, contact our Mat-Su office at 907-376-4617
DERBY DAMES TAKE ON #1 TEAM IN AK MORE ON PAGE 12 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
SUBMIT YOUR OWN EVENTS & ARTICLES ON OUR WEBSITE
COMMUNITY & EVENTS Contributed by Eva Cohnen-Brown Moose Poop Palooza 6/9/2018 - 2PM Kiwanis Club of Palmer, Alaska St. John Lutheran Church 440 E Elmwood Ave. Palmer Tickets: $10 What involves harvesting an authentic, organic Alaska-grown “product” that seems like waste on the outside, but in the end reaps significant rewards, even riches, to Valley residents? It’s Moose Poop Palooza! Yes indeed, this year marks the 10th Annual Moose Poop Palooza event, which makes the humble moose dropping a cause celebre. A day in the life of a nugget: It all begins when a small army of devoted Kiwanis members scour woods and fields for one thousand moose poop nuggets. Once these priceless droppings are collected, they are handled (gingerly), and each one is marked with a number, ranging from 1 – 1,000. The nuggets are then shellacked for durability, and are tucked away for the Drop. Preceding the Drop: Each of the numbered nuggets corresponds to the number of a Moose Poop ticket. Kiwanians sell these tickets all over the Valley and points beyond, to raise funds for a multitude of service projects, scholarships and charitable organizations, such as The Children’s Place. The grand prize is $2,000, and second and third prizes are each $100. All who purchase are winners, in essence, as each person is helping support many worthwhile causes.
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The Big Day: After months of selling tickets, the big day has arrived for the Drop. This takes place at St. John Lutheran Church on the Saturday of Colony Days, right after the parade. A large, circular piece of carpeting is laid out on the pavement as a bull’s-eye, with the area cordoned off to keep it clear of people passing by. Then a fire truck with a tall ladder - and helpful firemen - come to the prepared site. Enter the poop nuggets that have been waiting patiently for this event…they’re gathered together in a large bag, and are taken up to the very end of the ladder by a fireman. Drum roll, please: By now, a sizeable crowd has gathered to watch this feat of luck. With the poop-holding fireman perched at the end of the ladder, everyone starts a countdown of, “10, 9, 8…3, 2, 1 – Moose Poop Drop!” The nuggets tumble out in one big swoosh, landing on the carpet. The crowd holds its breath – who will be the lucky winners? A Kiwanis member and a third party person, i.e. a policeman, then start measuring how close the nuggets have landed to the center of the carpet. The one closest to the bull’s eye is the grand prize winner, and the two closest by are 2nd and 3rd place winners. What an adventure it’s been! And such ends the short - and almostexciting - life of a moose poop nugget, making the Valley a better
place in which to live. This year’s Moose Poop Palooza will take place on Saturday, June 9th at 2:00pm at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, right after the Colony Days Parade. Tickets are $10 each, and only 1,000 will be sold. Participants need not be present to win. ABOUT KIWANIS CLUB OF PALMER, ALASKA: Kiwanis meetings are held weekly on Tuesdays at Turkey Red Restaurant in the event room at 550 S. Alaska Street, Palmer. We have a variety of interesting speakers - representing local volunteer and business groups. The first few Tuesdays of each month are lunch meetings, held from 12:00pm1:00pm. The last two Tuesdays of each month are evening meetings, held from 6:00pm-7:00pm. Meetings are open to everyone, and you don’t have to be a member to attend. For more information, please check out our Facebook site - Kiwanis Club of Palmer Alaska - and the Kiwanis homepage at www.kiwanis.org
HUMOR & COMMUNITY Contributed by Hillary Saffran Recycling is more than a trend these days – it’s become part of our daily life, as we see recycle bins in offices, homes and businesses. However, I realized recently that I’ve been recycling all my life – the same twenty pounds over and over, the same jokes that my grandmother told me 45 years ago and the same junk mail that keeps recycling in my mailbox, year in and year out. I recall seeing old boyfriends being recycled from my high school and college days on Facebook with smiling wives named, Buffy, and 2.2 children, as well as recycled laugh lines that refuse to leave. I wish my bank account would recycle, or rather become a giant landfill full of huge deposits of cash; but alas, that’s probably a recycled dream. Looking back on my youth, I am convinced that the arguments that I had with my parents were definitely recycled. The same themes were repeated over and over, like socks circling in a dryer. Can you identify with this? If so, I’ll meet you at the grand opening of my new thrift store, Recycling R Us. Nah, I’m just kidding; but this definitely reminds me of the period in my life when I tried online dating. I witnessed more recycled profile lies and photoshopped pictures than a press conference of Congress. The irony is that I know many happy couples that met this way, on websites such as Pleaselethimnotbeaserialkiller. com, Thisisnotmyface.com and Areyoukiddingme.com – all recycled matches, from one couple that worked out, then didn’t work out,
then rematched and supposedly worked out better this time. Since I work in the employment field, I see this all day long with job seekers. It seems that many employees recycle themselves in jobs, thinking that the next one will be better. Since I’m of a “certain age” and have been a participant in the working world for many years, I am no longer convinced that the grass is greener, the copier toner prettier or the coworkers less disillusioned on the other side of the file cabinet. I guess I’ve recycled my expectations, but into what, I am not really sure. This is why I think that expressing oneself, whether it be in the form of an article, a podcast, a book, whatever form, is such a wonderful outlet for recycled ideas and frustrations. Perhaps laughter is just recycled cynical flatulence that became gleeful expressive breathing in an optimistic style. Perhaps the dust in my house is recycled spider poop that refuses to die. Perhaps it is way too late to write this, which is why I think it’s funny; but it’s hard to tell because the Matanuska wind is drowning out my breathing, my thinking and any flatulence remaining on my recycled body. I was wondering why I am so focused on the word, flatulence. I think it’s from all those times at the gym exercising on the elliptical watching those pharmaceutical commercials. You know the ones. Good looking seniors playing golf without dialogue, while the voice in the background says, “Be sure to check with your doctor before taking this ridiculously expensive medication. Side effects include, but are not limited to, insanity, repeated
obscene gestures and extreme flatulence. Deaths of one out of three users have also been reported.” Then the commercial zooms in on the handsome silver-haired seniors laughing and kissing in wedded bliss. I don’t know about you, but this makes me want to recycle my gym membership. Maybe it’s time that I make a commercial about my life: “Hello. I am an empty nester. I am through with recycling my guilt about all the parental mistakes that I have made while raising my children. I am through with beating myself up about all my poor life choices in the past. It’s time to bag it and move on.” Oops, I think there will be a fine coming if I don’t use a hemp bag made from recycled caribou kidneys. Actually, kidneys are not recycled, but the word, kidney, begins with a “K” and there was a movie with Walter Matthau a million years ago where he expounds on the fact that words beginning with “K” are funnier. So there. I told you my jokes were recycled. ABOUT HILLARY SAFFRAN: Hillary Saffran works in social services and is also an entertainer and author of the books “Laughing in the Rain – Self Care for the Storms of Life” and “Boomer Haiku and more Random Silliness.” www.hillarysaffran.com
COMMUNITY & NON-PROFITS Contributed by Anna Plant Have you met Mary Ellen? You should; she has over 33 years of teaching experience and her passion is helping people achieve their goals. Mary Ellen is at our new location, 617 S. Knik Goose Bay Road Suite G, Wasilla, AK. You may be asking yourself, “Why do I want to meet Mary Ellen?” The answer is that Mary Ellen is part of a team of people who wants to help you reach for the stars and be as successful as you can be. Mary Ellen is the lead teacher at Mat-Su Adult Basic Education and she helps
students get the education they need to get the job they want. Now you might be thinking that adult basic education or Nine Star is just for GED and ESL services. Well, you are partially right, but we offer so much more. Our services also include college placement test and ASVAB (military placement) preparation, College and Career Readiness, Career Pathways, tutoring and much more.
We can’t say. But, by not returning, we can only assume we have helped make a difference. Maybe they will someday return the favor and help someone else.
Contributed by Robin Minard, Mat-Su Health Foundation The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) has promoted Vandana Ingle to program officer. Vandana oversees MSHF’s efforts in the area of workforce development. She manages the Foundation’s academic and vocational scholarship programs, leading efforts to ensure that the Mat-Su has the healthcare and non-profit workforce it needs today and in the future. She also manages the Target Wellness grant program. Vandana was hired by the Foundation in 2016 as a program
The great news is that we are just a phone call away at 907-373-7833 and we look forward to talking with you!
If I had to guess your next question, it would be, “What on earth is Career Pathways?” Career Pathways is a course that includes workforce preparation, digital literacy, critical thinking, and transitioning to postsecondary education and training.
of a day’s work for a day’s pay. Yes, we can all find exceptions to fit the rules, but generally people will Contributed by grow to resent someone Eddie Ezelle who does not at least attempt to provide for There seems to themselves or does not be major splits appear to be trying to in how this word lighten the burden of entitlement* is used themselves or their fellow and misused. Working in a noncitizens. profit, I have heard and read many things, “It’s a scam set up by the Republicans, Libertarians, Democrats,” We all contribute in some insert any name here and on and on. way. Most good, some not. But we must at least As defined, entitlement is something try to understand; walk in someone else’s shoes you have put time, money or efforts or find it in our hearts to into with an expectation of a return forgive and give a helping hand for yourself further down the road. where we can, however we can. For example, Social Security. We pay into it. It is not a government-funded Even just a kind word or a smile. program in the respect that it comes Folks working in the non-profit from government funds. You and arena understand this a little better your employer, by your work, pay into Social Security. You are “entitled” than most. We see it every day. We try to help every day. We here many to it. stories, every day. We try to smile every day. Often, we succeed, but Welfare is provided by the you rarely hear about the successes. government through everyone’s taxes, yours and mine, but is not The focus falls on those few who try promised to everyone who pays to abuse the kindness of others. It’s into it. It is therefore a “program human nature. We all do it in some providing benefits to members of way. They dress different, don’t eat a specified group” and is not an the same foods or just don’t fit what “entitlement” under the definitions we each define as normal. from Webster. We need to shift the focus on those we do help and we can say, We choose to support one another “Success!” as humans and provide compassion and help in whatever way we can. In my line of work, distributing food, it is hard to realize the differences we are making. I can only notice that they have not returned for more. Was it success? Did they move? Are they getting help somewhere else?
Some have decided they can live off the kindness of strangers and circumvent the conventional idea
Why should you take this course? You should take this course because you are tired of looking for work and not having the necessary skill set for the job you want. Now you are asking what Mary Ellen and the MatSu team can do for you.
In the mean time, I continue to do food. I think we do it well in our niche and hope we are making a difference. That’s all any of us can expect. Help where you can, any way
associate. Prior to that she served as director of development and communication at Frontline Mission. She earned a master’s degree in communications media for children from SNDT College, India, a bachelor’s degree in ministry from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs and a bachelor’s degree in commerce/banking and finance from the University of Poona, India. About MSHF: Mat-Su Health Foundation is the official business name of Valley
you can. Sharing a smile is a good start. The dream lives. *As defined online by Webster using, “Define entitlement.” DEFINITION OF ENTITLEMENT: 1a: the state or condition of being entitled: RIGHT 1b: a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract 2: a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also: funds supporting or distributed by such a program 3: belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges LEGAL DEFINITION OF ENTITLEMENT: 1: the state or condition of being entitled: CLAIM • evidence of victim’s entitlement to money seized • - National Law Journal 2: a right to benefits that is granted especially by law or contract (as an insurance policy) NOTE: Some courts have held that entitlements are a property interest and therefore subject to procedural due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution when denied by federal or state governments. 3: a government program that provides benefits to members of a group that has a statutory entitlement; also: the benefits distributed by such a program
Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, the MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital and protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare asset through board oversight. The MSHF invests its share of Mat-Su Regional’s profits into charitable works that improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-Su. More information is available online at www.healthymatsu.org.
HEALTH & NON-PROFITS
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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GARDENING & COMMUNITY Contributed by Ellen VandeVisse As recyclers, we gardeners would love to turn those tires into potato towers, planting pots and enclosures for our raised beds. And why not use shredded tires as mulch? It’s so tempting, but research suggests that you’ll contaminate your soil. Several studies show that microbes break down the rubber over time. These
Contributed by Jennifer T. Sharrock What is permaculture? There are varying definitions abuzz and each provides a unique perspective. Permaculture, in its simplest form, is creating a permanent agriculture. An agriculture in which the soil is replenished, pollinators are invited, pest management is accomplished by assassin bugs, water is managed and the people are fed.
Contributed by Jamie L Smith, Secretary of Alaska Rock Garden Society Alaska Rock Garden Society Meeting 3/17/2018 – 12PM Alaska Rock Garden Society MTA - Palmer Building 480 Commercial Dr. Palmer FREE Event Have you wondered what those pretty flowers are that you see along Alaska’s trails and roadsides? If you’re curious, the Alaska Rock
resulting compounds leach into your soil, and then into your food and flower crops. Leachates include aluminum, cadmium and chromium, plus rubber plasticizers, softeners and accelerators used in the vulcanization process. When tires are in contact with soil, especially acidic soil, zinc can leach at levels that are phytotoxic (poisonous to plants). As gardeners and landscapers, it’s best to avoid the risk of leachates in your soil and food. The leachate rate may be low
IMITATING THE MAGICAL SYSTEMS OF FORESTS AND APPLYING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO GROWING FOOD: Older forests are typically stable environments. There is diversity in plant and animal species (bugs included). The soil of older forests is rich with organic matter, fungi and bacteria, and the soil life is abundant. Older forests can withstand infestations of pests, disease and weather events. We want to mimic the stable environment of forests in our growing spaces. We want diversity, rich soils and resilient crops that are not decimated by pests, blights or wind.
Garden Society invites you to join us at our March 17, 2018 meeting at the MTA Building, 480 Commercial Dr. Palmer AK, where Florene Carney will present our program on “Alaska Native Plants”. The board meets at noon, and is followed by a short “getting to know you” intermission. Florene will begin the program of slides and discussion at 1:00pm. Come, find out who we are and make new friends… A wonderful way to spend a cold Saturday afternoon in Alaska!
COMMUNITY EVENTS Contributed by The CFR Committee 31st Annual Cabin Fever Reliever 3/10/2018 - 11AM Trapper Creek Community Park Mile Post 115.2 G. Parks Hwy., T.C. Park Rd. Trapper Creek FREE Event This free outdoor festival will relieve your “cabin fever”! It’s a full day of outdoor fun, games and hot food for all ages! WHERE: Trapper Creek Community Park at mile post 115.2 of the George Parks Highway, on TC Park Road - Community Park WHEN: 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. - 2.5K & 5K Ski Race! - Split the pot and raffle tickets on sale during the festival! - Thousands of dollars in raffle prizes will be up for grabs! - Winners need not be present to win! - Toast s’mores over the bonfire!
- T-shirts designed by one of Trapper Creek’s own will be on sale! - Join us for the hay scramble, doughnut eating contest and much more! Presented by: The Trapper Creek Community Services Assoc., Inc. (nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization run by community volunteers) tccommunityservices@yahoo.com, (907) 733-7375 Proceeds benefit the T.C. Community Park and Cemetery.
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and more studies are needed, but these reclaimed materials are safer: recycled concrete, untreated cedar or redwood, stone and large, black plastic nursery pots. Info from Alison Draper, PhD. director of the science center at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and researcher on environmental effects of tire rubber published in Organic Gardening magazine Oct-Nov 2010 p. 54. Ellen VandeVisse offers organic gardening classes at goodearthgardenschool.com
Accelerating our food spaces to a stable, forest-like environment is one way we can practice permaculture in the Far North.
To learn more: www.seedsandsoilorganics.com
There are several layers in a forest, and each layer works with every other layer as a system. When we look at our growing spaces as a system, we too can create a healthy system that also produces food; including crops that feed the soil as mulch, canopy trees that provide protection, plants that invite pollinators and pest managers, root crops that deter pests, vining crops that use the branches of trees for security and groundcovers that help moderate soil temperature and evaporation. This is a food forest.
COMMUNITY CLASSES
COMMUNITY ADULT PIANO LESSONS Hitchcock Piano Studio ........ 745-3134 APPAREL & CLOTHING All Seasons Clothing ........ 357-0123 D’s Tuxedo ........ 707-6585 Mimi’s Closet ........ 376-2661 Mila’s Alterations ........ 830-8339 ART & CRAFTS Artists Uncorked… 982-2675 Shane Lamb Gallery… 746-3343 The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 A Black Sheep Shop ......... 376-8198 CAFÉ & COFFEE Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Espresso Café ........ 376-5282 Gathering Grounds ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blues……..745-2233
Contributed by Josh Fryfogle Many people in our community are already aware that The People’s Paper and Make A Scene Magazine are written completely by community members. They know this, because over the last decade, they’ve done the writing! The driving force and guiding philosophy of this publication has always been the people writing what they want to see in the media. It’s popular today to talk about fake news, and lamestream media, and all sorts of derogatory comments about “The
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
Media”, but we should stop and think about what the First Amendment, and particularly freedom of the press, was actually meant to achieve for liberty.
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more than ten years now, and many of our readers already know what’s up. Still, considering that the media industry is a powerful force of suggestion and repetition, it doesn’t hurt to remind our community that we are here for you.
Each individual has a right to freedom of the press, meaning the printing press.
Go to www.MakeASceneAK.com to submit your article, event, poem, whatever you feel inspired to share. We are all better when we communicate with each other.
This freedom was never to give you “news you can trust”, but information from the community at large. It was never supposed to create an industry, but to enable each individual to express themselves through the press.
Let’s not let the narrative be decided by private companies and special interests, with the power to purchase the media. Let your voice be heard. We will help.
The People’s Paper is dedicated to that mission. We’ve been doing it for
Love, Josh
Alaska Native and rural economies as a result of overly-broad bans on ivory – wrote Etsy CEO, Josh Silverman, to raise awareness and to outline a number of unintended consequences associated with the company’s policies.
Alaska Natives’ ability to exercise their statutory right to produce and sell authentic articles of handicrafts and clothing, your company is failing to live up to this mission by inadvertently discriminating against Alaska Natives’ age-old traditions and denying a market and financial development to remote Alaskans practicing their legal and cultural heritage.”
COOKWARE All I Saw Cookware ........ 376-3177 CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Artists Uncorked ........ 982-2675 EDUCATION Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 FLOWERS & GIFTS Flower Flingers ........ 745-5550 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort ........ 376-5403 HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ........ 376-8327 Invest in Yourself Fitness .... 830-6072 HOME DÉCOR Peak Boutique ........ 746-3320 PIZZA Humdingers Pizza ........ 745-7499 PRINT SERVICES The UPS Store ........ 376-6245 RADIO 95.5 The Pass ........ 631-0877 REPAIR, RESTORATION Comtronics ........ 373-2669 Premier Electric ...... 357-4220 S&S Drilling ...... 746-0225 SMOKE SHOPS Alaska Pipe Dreams ........ 746-1500 Light It Up Head Shop…. 745-5483 SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364 Non-Essentials ......... 745-2258
Contributed by Matt Shuckerow, Office of US Senator for Alaska U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan recently wrote the CEO of Etsy, Inc – an online marketplace of crafts and handmade items – following reports that Alaska Native constituents selling products or artwork with sealskin, sea otter and ivory have had their e-commerce accounts unfairly terminated or items delisted. “I write to make you aware that Etsy has been unfairly terminating some of my Alaska Native (i.e., indigenous Alaskans) constituents’ accounts. Your company’s actions – due to your well-meaning, but frankly misguided policies and terms of service – are having unintended consequences that are harming Alaska Natives and their communities in my state,” Sullivan wrote in the letter sent February 2, 2018. Senator Sullivan – who has led efforts to protect the rights of Alaska Native artisans and continues to educate others on the negative impacts facing
“These are Alaska Natives who are legally selling sustainably-harvested sealskin, sea otter and ivory-based art and clothing products. I understand your company has taken the position through your policy that these are “prohibited items”. This policy seems to lack awareness and recognition that Alaska Natives have historically and legally created and sold these products as a key source of income in rural economies,” wrote Senator Sullivan. “This policy also discriminates against my constituents, denies them a prime forum to sell their sustainably-produced goods and falls short of your company’s stated mission. You claim ,’Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods…’ [and your] mission is to ‘Keep Commerce Human’.” “By banning these products and denying
“Your prohibition without recognizing the legal production and sale of these items by Alaskan Natives is disheartening and shortsighted,” Sullivan wrote. “Worse yet, Etsy explicitly allows the sale of items made from human teeth and hair. To recognize a market for these “human remains” on your site while failing to account for unique and century’s old cultural practices of Alaska Natives seems to be an odd way to ‘Keep Commerce Human’.” Senator Sullivan closed his letter with a simple, but important request of Etsy: “Reconsider your policies to recognize sales of Alaska Natives’ legal and tradition cultural and art.”
VETERANS
THRIFT SHOPS Red Barn Thrift Store ........ 745-5050 Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 Willow Rose Thrift Store ......... 495-ROSE TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990
Contributed by Major Mike Dryden USAR Ret. Since the Yukon gold rush days, a road from the lower 48 states (outside) to Alaska had been discussed, but it took WWII to jump-start the project. The Lend-Lease Act of 1941, which authorized the transfer of military equipment to our allies before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, necessitated the construction of a land link between airstrips in western Canada and Alaska. These airfields were for refueling and maintenance points for aircraft being ferried to Ladd Field (now Fort Wainwright) from the contiguous 48 states. Once in Fairbanks, Russian pilots would continue the journey to the Soviet Union, our ally at the time. Several routes were under consideration, but the Dawson Creek, BC to Fairbanks was selected for strategic reasons. The coastal routes were considered to be too vulnerable from a seaborne attack as the Japanese invasion of Kiska and Attu later demonstrated. The 1,500 mile project had to be built over and around the permafrost, the Canadian Rockies, muskeg, lakes and rivers that lay in its path. The Sikanni Chief River Bridge, completed in 1943, was the first permanent bridge to be constructed along the 1,600 mile Alaska Highway. Army engineer regiments disembarked at Skagway and Dawson Creek in early spring of 1942 to begin the most ambitious project for the United States
since the Panama Canal. Over 12,000 Army troops were assigned to the project with a goal of completing the highway within a year. Included in this deployment were Colored Engineer Regiments of mostly conscripted black southern troopers who would challenge the validity of the Army’s policy of not assigning southern colored soldiers to cold weather climates and who would pave the way for the integration of our armed forces by President Truman in 1948. The goal of punching a pioneer road to Alaska would challenge every person and piece of equipment deployed for this vital project. New methods of dealing with permafrost-laden ground and bodies of water that vacillated in depth had to be invented on the spot. Methods for temporarily stabilizing the quagmire of wet soil found in areas of permafrost were tamed by laying small trees that had been felled across the mud, resulting in a method called corduroying. Temporary sawmills were set up to saw and mill the timbers needed to span the many rivers and streams. What seemed like good roadbed would turn out to be muskeg. When the spring sun thawed the ice, the resulting bodies of water had to be circumnavigated. And for goodness sake, let’s not forget the mosquitoes and bugs that were so ubiquitous. Logistical support for personnel and repair parts for the equipment was in short supply. Cannibalization of unserviceable graders, dump trucks and bulldozers for repair parts was the norm and essential if the project was to be finished on time. For years to come, the rusting carcasses of stripped equipment would stand as a tribute to the sacrifices made during
construction. But almost lost to history were the African-Americans primarily from the deep south, who played a pivotal role in the construction project. Black soldiers were in separate units in the Army in 1942 and were relegated to “housekeeping” duties like cooking, cleaning, clerks and guard duty. The Alaska Highway construction project would change the minds of the Army “Brass” about the capabilities of African-American soldiers. This year is the 75th anniversary of the completion of the Alaska Highway. To honor the memory of the Colored Engineer Regiment and their contribution to the War effort, the Alaska Highway Project is raising awareness about this lost piece of black military history. The project has a GoFundMe website about the effort and a 5-minute film featuring a 101 year old veteran of one of the Colored Engineer Regiments. Links to other sites and print material are also listed. Help celebrate Black History Month by getting behind this project that was so vital to Alaska. Visit the website at http://bit.ly/2krSix4. NOVEL BASED ON BLACK ALASKA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION REGIMENTS: “28 October 1942” by Major Mike Dryden is a fictional account of the perils and dedication of the Colored regiments. The historical fiction novel chronicles a young tenant farmer from Mississippi to Alaska. Sgt. Aaron Park is in charge of the 95th Colored Engineer Regiment. The book is on sale at Amazon in print and e-book.
POLITICS
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
Contributing by Rep. David Eastman
Contributed by Wes Keller Once upon a time, there was vast piece of property – a paradise – with almost unimaginable resource wealth. The “owners” wisely formed a “corporation” (the State of Alaska) to govern all the people who would pioneer the paradise to ensure fair ownership and management of the wealth. One goal was to prevent greedy exploitation while respecting the individual right to own property (and all other inherent human rights). The people of Alaska approved the “corporate structure” (constitution) defining a shocking system of natural resource ownership and management that had not been attempted in the 48 previous states. The people of Alaska approved a constitution that theoretically could eliminate the need for petty taxes by authorizing a large share of the resource wealth before it could be taxed or owned as private property! By ratifying the constitution, we swapped the potential for individual, private resource ownership,(even on private property) for a potentially generous revenue stream to pay the expenses for state government services (infrastructure, schools, agencies…). Most (75%), but not all, of the pending wealth from resources is kept by the State to pay State expenses! Natural resources are to be managed, conserved and utilized for “sustained yield” and “the maximum benefit” of its people (8.2&4). The history of Alaska has been profoundly influenced by government getting this huge cash flow with no need to seek public support for tax laws. Early Alaskans could not have anticipated the vast return from oil, and they trusted traditional safe-guards in the constitution to prevent potential big government abuse. For one thing, only the legislature has the power to appropriate funds (sign the checks). Theoretically legislators can only stay elected if they spend money their constituent voters tolerate. Who could have guessed the sophistication of the pressure to spend the windfall oil wealth? Untraditionally, $2.50 of every $10 (25%) was diverted into a restricted account (the permanent fund or PF) that could not be appropriated by the legislature – at least not as normal budget-balancing revenue! The resulting history of this unique element of our constitution (9.15) is riveting! The legislature subsequently devised a “trust-like” program to manage this money. The idea was to invest the PF and pay owner dividends from the investment proceeds. Again, who could have anticipated the outstanding success of this investment program that paid dividends and create a huge reserve? Now government insiders feel the urgent need for more than the 75% “pre-tax” revenue (easy
Contributed by Mike Dryden, Wasilla City Council Member Wasilla City Council Meetings 2/26/2018, 3/12/2018 – 6PM Wasilla City Council Wasilla City Hall 290 E Herning Ave. Wasilla FREE Event The days are getting longer, and soon the weather will become more hospitable. Some of the highlights on the Council’s agenda for the coming 30 days are routine housekeeping items like funds transfers and an amendment to the 2018 budget to re-establish a WPD K-9 program. Numerous youth and not-so-young activities are scheduled at our wonderful city library. Gather at the library for special events like Toddler Story Time, Preschool Story Time, Baby Lap Time, Homework Help, Science Saturday, Tech Thursday and Lego Day. The library will celebrate the Chinese New Year on Friday, February 16th at 2 PM. More details are online and at the library’s reception area. The staff at the library
money) to maintain over-spending. We see them maneuvering to get at the earnings reserve! Imagine how well it would be tolerated if a financial trust manager took money from one client account to spend for any reason! Even many respected legislators and governors have so speculated. It is time for the legislature to blow everyone’s mind and “double down” and significantly INCREASE the size of PFD checks! We should not resort to the risky, political thrash of a constitutional amendment or any state-wide vote on the PFD. A better answer is a plain-language statute enacted by a simple legislative majority (21 representatives and 11 senators). This would clarify constitutional values by maximizing the PFD, thereby confirming ownership! Undistributed PF earnings could easily pay $4,000 dividends for many years and still maintain a multi-billion sustainable investment principle! Current law is already on the books for setting for the “appropriate size” of PFDs. An adjustment would merely tweak some percentages with the goal of maximizing PFDs while sustaining an appropriate fund balance. It could be a one-page bill! In several years, if the projections are wrong, the law can be adjusted again, like a “control knob” to sustain distributions based on investment income. All that is needed is a legislative commitment to do the right thing! If this seems radical, it is only because it has not been fairly assessed for fear of popular opinion. In my opinion, there have been bogus arguments made for keeping the PFD small. These arguments need to see the light of day. One such argument bemoans the money that would go to the federal government because of increased federal income taxes… the implication being citizen income is “regressive” and should be diminished. The people need to hear their elected legislators openly debating these “red herrings”. New taxes are a completely different issue! It is confusing and misleading to mix debate on taxes with a debate on who can best spend “contestedownership” money! Simply taking more “pre-tax dollars” from PF earnings is arguably a violation of the values of our constitution because it presumes government ownership. The legislature can easily confirm the ownership by maximizing the PFD if they are convinced that is what Alaskans want! Once earning reserve ownership is clarified by a demonstrated commitment for PFD disbursement, THEN, and only then, can a proper decision be made on taxes. Because we would be fools to go bankrupt with our billions of dollars of natural resource assets, the only options are to pay taxes or make real spending cuts. The false hope of getting the PF earnings should be annihilated as soon as possible.
When the news hit that my senator, Mike Dunleavy, was resigning from the legislature to run for governor, I immediately began getting phone calls asking if I would consider allowing my name to go forward to finish the final year of his 4-year term. While it would be a privilege to represent the Mat-Su in the Senate, I chose not to allow my name to go forward. More than enough people expressed interest in the position, and I was confident that Mat-Su Republicans would be able to send three qualified names to the governor for appointment, as both Republicans and Democrats have been doing for decades. I remember six years ago when fellow firefighter, Rep. Carl Gatto, represented a portion of Dunleavy’s district. After serving as my legislator for nearly 10 years, Rep. Gatto succumbed to cancer during the legislative session in 2012. Local Republicans interviewed candidates and selected three names, mine among them, to go to the governor. Each of the candidates were interviewed by the governor, and Governor Parnell selected Shelley Hughes from that list. While I was disappointed at not being chosen, the process was both open and fair and, most importantly, it showed respect for the people who had succeeded in choosing their legislator in the last election: Mat-Su Republicans. While Alaska’s Constitution assigns the governor a role to play in that process, the governor performs that function on behalf of the people. That same constitution declares, “All government originates with the people, [and] is founded upon their will only.” Certainly the governor’s role in replacing legislators who have died in office or resigned is no exception. I expected that Governor Walker, as every governor before him, would honor the will of the people. But I was wrong. Two weeks after making the decision not to let my name be put forward, Governor Walker did something that no Alaska governor had ever done: He ignored the three candidates sent to him by the Democratic Party and recruited his own candidate: someone who had never been a Democrat. While the governor’s choice in replacing Rep. Dean Westlake in January is certainly an endorsement of the person he selected, that endorsement is largely overshadowed by what it says about the governor’s relationship with the people. In two words: Not good. By choosing someone who had never been a Democrat to replace a Democrat legislator, Walker’s action was a breach of the public trust, no less so than his decision to unilaterally decide his own amount for the PFD while ignoring the
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fact that state law already spells out exactly how the amount of the PFD is to be calculated. Similarly, current state law (Alaska Statute 15.40.330) requires that the governor appoint an individual who is of the same political party as the legislator being replaced. After rejecting the three individuals put forward by local Democrats, Walker selected his own candidate and then asked that individual to change his voter registration to Democrat. Such gimmicks may be expected of a lawyer like Walker, but they erode the trust placed in that office by the people. Lawyers often view our constitution and our laws with an eye for technicalities, reasoning that if a judge doesn’t strike it down, it must be okay. But our constitution is much more than a legal contract. It is a means by which the will of the people is to be expressed over time. It exists to protect their will and to protect their rights. It exists because the people have placed their trust in certain offices and institutions to perform their duties and to honor that trust. Constitutionally, there is nothing to stop President Trump from appointing a new Supreme Court Justice tomorrow. The U.S. Constitution places no limit on the number of justices the president can appoint. Legally, he would be entirely within his rights as president to make such an appointment. And yet, were he to do so, each of us, Republicans and Democrats alike, would immediately recognize such an action as a violation of the trust we have placed in the office of president. No judge could rise to stop him, but we would each feel the violation. Governor Walker’s action in replacing Rep. Westlake and now Sen. Dunleavy is no different. It is a violation of trust. Certainly every previous governor has considered the value of being able to choose an individual who will support their agenda in the legislature. And yet, they have continued to honor that process or attempted to restore that process when it has started to go astray. Not so with this governor. The individual selected to replace Sen. Dunleavy will be chosen by the people in an election later this year. If the governor does not let the people participate in selecting Dunleavy’s replacement today, I fear that any individual he chooses will be placed in a profound disadvantage come November. It will no longer be about the credentials and good qualities of that person. It will be about restoring a relationship between the governor and the people that has become dysfunctional. Rep. David Eastman has served in the Alaska State House representing the Mat-Su since 2017. He ran on a platform of fighting for genuine conservative reform, fiscally and socially, and remains committed to delivering on that promise.
Wes Keller | www.WesKeller.com
have something going on for the kids every week, so please visit the city’s newest attraction. The Curtis Menard Memorial Sports Complex has its popular indoor walking program again. The fees are posted on our city’s website. Get fit and outlive your detractors. You owe it to yourself. Some of the special events happening at the Menard Sports Complex are Sweetheart Skating, Kids’ Dance Party, Boon Town Roller Derby, the return of Tuesday Night Fights, Spring Ice Skating and an indoor intro to football camp. Many special events are on the agenda at the center, so check it out. Go to your Facebook and send the Menard a friend request to stay abreast of all upcoming events. I have been threatened with a trip to the woodshed if I don’t mention the Museum’s activities. An Introduction to Dog Mushing 101 began Friday February 2nd and runs for six weeks. This class is open to those newly arrived residents who haven’t fully filled out their MatSu Valley Cheechako card. If you didn’t understand the last sentence, then attendance is compulsory.
Regular council meetings are scheduled for February 26th and March 12th at 6 PM, or 1800 hours for you military types. Regular agenda items include reports from all department heads, a spokesperson for the Friends of the Library and a report covering student activities from Katelyn Boswell, a student attending Wasilla High School. An update on activities at WASI rounds out our regular reports. The main item on the agenda for the next month is our city’s budget. Department heads in the administration have been working on the proposal for months. The city council will be briefed on the details and will have the opportunity to question department spokespersons. A personal visit to the council meetings would be great, but an email will serve the same purpose about issues. Several routine items will be addressed like intra-departmental funds transfers and proclamations by the mayor. As always, the public is invited to express their opinion in the public arena. Seasoned visitors have been known to avail themselves of all of the opportunities on the agenda. The number of opportunities to speak for three minutes ranges from three trips to
the microphone to as many as there are items discussed in the meeting. As I have stated in the past, your participation in your city council meetings is the grassroots of American democracy as envisioned by the Founders. The city council will let you opine without regards to your address. All input is welcomed and considered. My email address is mdryden@ci.wasilla. ak.us. In closing, let me wish each of you and your loved ones a wonderful Chinese New Year. 2018 looks to be a great year for Wasilla, Alaska and the nation, so let’s be thankful and joyous that we live in such a great place. Until next month, be safe and wellinformed, and God Bless America. Author’s Note: The above column represents, unless otherwise noted, the opinions of Mike Dryden and not necessary the City of Wasilla or any other organization with which he is associated. But it should be. Dittos. Editor’s Note: This article will be published after the February 12th meeting. However, the minutes are presently available at www.cityofwasilla.com
POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Jessica Wright First of all, I want to “thank” Governor Walker for waking me up. In the last five to ten years, I was fully aware of what Obama and Hillary did to our country. For a year, I’ve been praying that Hillary wouldn’t win. Thankfully, Trump won. I remember on the election night, my family stayed up late, holding our breath and nervously waiting for the result. After they announced who’s the new president, my son told me, “Mom, let’s do a victory dance.” I remember that we were so happy and so relieved. I also remember that I was feeling a little bit of sadness during our celebration, thinking we still have Bill Walker to deal with. The last two years have been really difficult. The state legislature held the longest records in session - 4 sessions because Walker wanted special session after special session to get the result he wanted. He even went to state legislature to watch them vote, just to intimidate them. Now the Senates and House mostly agree with him. There’s no stopping for Walker. Besides taking the PFD from Alaskans three years in a row, he proposed a state-funded natural gas pipeline project with China, which could cost the entire PFD. Speaking of PFD, Walker also appointed numerous members on the board, all but the director will soon retire. So what would happen to our PFD? With the newly passed bill, the senates plan to use POMV formula to gradually use up our PFD. And with Governor Walker’s controlled PFD Board, our PFD will probably invest on the natural gas pipeline.
What’s left for Alaska? It’s scary to think about it. I remember after we moved here to Alaska in November 2009, our friends told us a disappointing election result that Lisa Murkowski beat Joe Miller. At that time, I didn’t know who they were talking about, but I remember asking them why they were worried, if the state of Alaska is a conservative state? They told us, “Yes, the majority of Alaskans are conservative; but because of our oil money, it might attract the bad guys.” Now we all know who they are - it’s Walker and all the RINOs. Unfortunately they are now controlling our state. Do we know their conspiracy? Probably not. Do we confer the power to them? Probably yes. We are allowing it to happen by neglecting our civil duty. Most people don’t even vote in the Primary. In 2016, the voting rate in the Primary was 9-10 percent. Some show up and don’t know who the candidates are. This is how the RINOs got into power. When we are not involved in politics, we lose out to other special interest politicians. Good candidates need to run at all levels of government to filter out the bad actors. We need to flush the far left ideas and take back our state government from the liberals like Representative Gabriel Ledux, a RINO Republican who keeps voting like a Democrat. Now we are paying the price and it’s a huge price to pay. So Alaskans, if we don’t change our attitude and our voting behavior, we are going to end up losing our money, our rights and our resources. Soon our state will be controlled by not just liberals, but the foreigners. It’s not somebody else’s job to govern our state. It’s OUR JOB!
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
Contributed by Bruce Walden For decades, the people of our state have been trying to move the capital. Typically, most of the folks outside of Juneau vote in favor of the move. But each time, though support for the move is overwhelming, the same answer is given: It would cost too much. I think the last figure given was around $4.5 billion, but please correct me if I’m wrong there. Hmm. I love numbers. Let’s crunch a few, shall we? To my thinking, if we move the capital, it should be moved to the Mat-Su, smack in the middle of our two major population centers. And the new capital would be named for the man who made the first serious move toward statehood in 1916 Wickersham. One looks across the Knik Arm from Anchorage and there are many thousands of acres of vacant land upon which we might lay out and build a capital from the ground up. If so, what would be the cost? We’ll estimate the price of the land last of all. A new capitol building, to my way of thinking would look like the one designed by Miss Marianne Cusato of Anchorage and which resembles a Russian-style building. See: www. tndtownpaper.com/Volume7/alaska_ deserves.htm. Let’s assume it would be 170,000 square feet and would go let’s say seven times the going price for construction. That’s a bit better than $170 mil. Okay, let’s say we build a new governor’s mansion. A state’s top exec should live in a nice home that impresses visitors. That Antebellum Mansion in Juneau, well… Let’s say we do as I would have done and build a duplicate of Kokomo, Indiana’s Seiberling Mansion as it is in some of my books. It has 11,000 square feet, but let’s say it’s the size of the one in existence - 14,000 square feet and let’s say it goes for ten times the normal price of construction. You are talking around $21,000,000. And let’s say we build a huge log home for the Lt. Gov for $7 million.
Contributed by Lawrence Lease Trump’s speech took place as his administration continues to be bogged down in the muck of the Robert Mueller investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion between Trump staff and Russian operatives. President Trump addressed tax reform, national security, infrastructure, trade and immigration reform. The Big Takeaway: What most people will draw from this State of the Union Address is his continued reference to major bipartisan policy plans. President Trump drew some boos when he discussed parts of his immigration plan. He did manage to draw bipartisan applause when he addressed infrastructure. President Trump managed to take a shot at former President Barack Obama while he promised to avoid “complacency” on North Korea. He also laid out some major proposals for this year. Proposals for 2018: - President Donald Trump offered up a massive bipartisan infrastructure plan, asking for $1.5 trillion for federal, state, local and private sector spending. - President Trump proposed his “four pillars” of the immigration reform plan. • A path to citizenship for nearly 2 million undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as children by their parents. • Border security in the form of building the wall along the southern border and hiring more ICE agents. • Terminating the visa lottery, which Trump has said randomly hands out green cards to anyone without an regard to skill, merit or safety of Americans. • Terminating the “chain migration”, a major point that Trump has pressed throughout his campaign and his presidency. He claims it allows immigrants to bring to the U.S. unlimited number of relatives. This pillar was met with
boos and hissing by Democrats in attendance. - President Trump said it was time to reform the prison system. - Trump said it is time to end the defense sequester and modernize America’s nuclear arsenal. - Trump asked Congress to give every Cabinet agency the power to reward good federal workers and remove federal workers who undermine the public trust. - Trump also asked Congress to pass legislation that allows terminally ill patients to try experimental treatments. Along with outlining his future plans for the year, he also mentioned some new orders he enacted moments before he gave his State of the Union Address. New Action: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep Guantanamo Bay open. Trump said he would be detaining more ISIS and Al-Qaeda prisoners there. Best Line: “My duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber, is to defend Americans, - to protect their safety, their families, their communities and their right to the American Dream. Because Americans are dreamers too.” This is actually President Trump’s second address before Congress. In 2017, he addressed Congress. Now Congress is back to argue over immigration with the hope of making some compromise so that “where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the critical reforms it needs and must have.” Following the State of the Union Address, Rep. Joe Kennedy III delivered the Democratic response where he said, “Politicians can be cheered for the promises they make, but the country will be judged by the promises we keep.” On this issue of the recent turmoil last year, Kennedy said, “We all feel the fault lines of a fractured country… We hear the voices of Americans who feel forgotten and forsaken.”
Oh, and the Supreme Court building, say another $40 million. Then nice homes for those three to live in. For another $6 million. Now, the state has 28 folks in the legislature from outside of core area.
Contributed by Rick Small, Abolitionist Society of Anchorage/ Mat-Su Valley It has been established that Human Abortion is a Hate Crime and that The Time for Justice is Always Now. Let’s discuss the true motivation that drives this intense evil in our state. Rebellion and disobedience against Almighty God, our Creator. In other words, sin. Abolitionists put it this way: Abortion is sin… always and everywhere sin. God exists. Every adult and young adult with a properly working brain, knows this. Created things have a creator. From your toaster to your smartphone to your home to a 737, and definitely to every human… creations always have a creator. The problem is, we, in our unregenerate state, hate Him. One of the primary ways that hatred is manifest is by the statement, “I don’t believe He exists.” In fact, predictably, some who respond to this article will choose that very statement in an attempt to justify their rebellion and disobedience. Abortion will be abolished when we cease to tolerate it. The fact that there are those who want the murder of the pre-born to continue is without dispute. There are many, like those who openly hated black humans and dehumanized them in extremely evil ways, who will say, “My body, my choice,” (nothing more than, “My plantation, my prerogative.”) as they dehumanize and murder preborn humans. Their problem is not intellectual; it is a heart problem. They actually want babies to be murdered and removed. The good news is that God can change their hearts. We need to pray for that and do our part to
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That’s 9 senators and 19 reps. Round it up to 30. And let’s say we built a nice apartment building, so that each of them had a 2,500 square foot apartment to live in while in session so they no longer rob us for per diem, and we spend five times the norm to build it. That’s a bit more than $56 mil. And you’d need housing for the top military folks’ offices and you’d need other office space. So, let’s say another building of similar cost. Not including the price of the land, roads between the points or landscaping. You are now at around $357,000,000. Throw in the price to move sixty folks, lock, stock and barrel for a whopping million per. That’s another $60 mil. Add a liberal $20 million for raw land and another $50 for landscaping and roads (see my December article on the price of roads). You are now at $487 million. When you consider the money this state blows every year sending these folks on boondoggles or per diem $233 times 57 legislators - we blow as they go into special session after special session. And they wind up voting on such things as making the 30.06 the official rifle of the state or that insane Alaska Marmot Day joke. Alaska, you can do better. You have been lied to and you’ve been robbed. But the people are beginning to wake up and wise up. We’re not going to ask that the capital be moved anymore. We’re going to demand it. You legislators were hired to do the work of the people and you folks in Juneau haven’t been doing it. The last reason given to not move the capital is the tired old chestnut of, “Well, Juneau would become a ghost town.” The thing is, a city is a place where people dwell. If the people who work for the state move to Wasilla, Willow or Wickersham, those same people would still be working, but they’d be under our steady gaze, not hiding in Juneau where they are bought and paid for by lobbyists. Juneau will forever be a stopping spot for the cruise ships and now that America has adults in charge again, maybe our timber industry will restart. Ketchikan and Juneau will always have that. I’ll repeat myself here. The powers that be will tell you, “Well, it’s just not that simple…” Are you still listening to them or are you getting wise? You’ve been lied to Alaska.
deliver His message to them. These people are pro-aborts. Here’s the truth: They are NOT the reason that baby murder is sanctioned and protected in the Alaska Statutes. There is another group of people. These people acknowledge the truth that God exists. At least with their mouth. Many of them will “say” that they are “opposed” to murdering children. Some will throw a few dollars at organizations or votes at politicians that claim to be in the battle. Most of these people do not have a correct understanding of the root problem, and are not working to apply the proper remedy. Some of their ignorance is just because they haven’t heard the truth yet, but in some cases, they have heard the truth... and just don’t like it. I’ll admit, it is not pleasant truth, and the actual battle is not fun. But people who love truth will repent of their wrong thinking and wrong actions and get involved in the battle anyway. You can count on this: It will cost you. If it doesn’t, you’re not actually in the battle. Silence is consent. There is a battle. Jesus is our Lord and King. You have two choices: Remain silent and at peace with the fact that five babies are being murdered every day, protected by the Alaska Statutes and those with the ability to change them, or you can repent of not being engaged as one of Gideon’s 300 and draw the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and join. If you do not join in the battle, YOU are the reason that baby murder is sanctioned and protected in the Alaska Statutes. I was once the reason. I am now an abolitionist of human abortion. #HB250 is only a part of what we are doing. Abolitionists cry, “No compromise!” Prolifers cry, “Get the best that you can get
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POLITICS / OPINION Contributed by Jeffrey L. Sponsler News Flash: Recently, in Communist Red China, the People’s Armed Police destroyed a Christian megachurch. Located in Shanxi province, this church had an unknown number of people in its congregation. The church was funded by local Christians and cost $3 million to build. It is now a large pile of rubble. Religion is officially legal in Communist Red China, but churches must register with the government and there have been other instances of religious intolerance by the government there. In the Yugan province, churches were required to remove crosses from their buildings by the government. In another strange episode in 2016, a pastor and his wife were buried alive by bulldozers as they stood in front of their church trying to protect the facility. The pastor crawled to safety, but his wife was suffocated as a result of the intentional burial. In April 2016, at an official government conference, President Xi Jinping called on leaders to reassert, “Communist Party ... control over religion.” In November 2017, Chinese police stormed a small “unapproved” congregation and arrested these worshippers for have a Christian
Contributed by Niki Raapana, Director at Alaska HEMPFEST® Alaska HEMPFEST® 2018 June 22-24, 2018 Alaska HEMPFEST® Flag Day Fest Campground 700 S Full Curl Dr. Wasilla FREE Admission, $50 VIP Membership, $5 Parking, $25 Campsite Dear Community Members, You and your business are invited to participate in this year’s Alaska HEMPFEST® 2018 on June 22, 23 and 24. Our free public festival is designed to educate, entertain and engage our guests in innovative and fun ways. Our
Contributed by Vic Kohring When I served in the Alaska Legislature, being true to your word was crucial to survival in the political arena. With all the vote trading and “legalized bribery”, if you failed to keep a promise, you became a marked man (or woman) and would eventually render yourself useless and ineffective. And for good reason as who can trust a liar? But it’s a totally different story on the campaign trail, where candidates make lots of promises simply to get elected and then change their tune once they arrive in the capital city, often with no repercussions. Strangely, most voters have short memories and forget the plethora of promises by the time the next election cycle rolls around and repeatedly allow candidates to bamboozle them with slick campaign ads, slogans and fancy signs. The typical mantra of, “I’m a conservative and believe in lower taxes, protecting the permanent fund, less government, blah, blah,” is always touted as it sounds nice and resonates with voters. But sadly, when pols assemble in Juneau, these promises are mostly thrown out the window. After all, who wants to be the sacrificial lamb and take
service. Bibles were confiscated and people were jailed. The list of such actions by the Communist Red Chinese authorities goes on and on. Why do I mention this? The Chinese American trade balance is $347 billion. That is, we buy so much product from China that this amount of money flows into their country. How much does the United States Government owe China? The Chinese hold $1.2 trillion in US debt. The total US debt at this time is about 20 trillion dollars, but that is another sad story. So we all go to the big box stores and www. amazon.com to shop. Yippee! So we get these products because they are very inexpensive. Why? Let’s take a look: 1. Child Labor: 11,575,000 children between the ages of 10 to 14 in China work in their factories. Children work cheap. Investigators have found the hours to be long for these children (12 hours per day) and the pay quite low ($30 per week). Yes, you read that correctly - $30 per week or $5 per day or 42 cents per hour. These kids do not go to school. 2. Pollution: China burns half of the coal used in the entire world each year, estimates as high as 114 billion tons of coal in 2011 were burned for electricity; few or no regulations on air pollution are imposed on these power plants. In 2011, China released 7.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. China is ranked
guests are treated to many ancient, new and established ways to think about cannabis as medicine, paper, plastic, zero-net construction, bio fuels and nutritional foods and drinks. Our goal is to bring the facts about the cannabis plant into the sunlight. We introduce Alaskans to the variety of opportunities cannabis presents as a renewable resource. We show how healthy, easy-to-grow, non-toxic cannabis products can replace many of the unhealthy and toxic medicines and necessities we depend upon and use. This year our keynote speaker is Lance Mackey. Our theme is “Community Health & Wellness”. We’ve got free cannabis workshops planned (from salves to hash to hempcrete), free samples to give away and free entertainment. With your contribution,
lead on spending cuts for example, by standing in front of the Big Government freight train? Most pols are more interested in their careers than following their convictions. They discover it’s much easier kick back instead of rocking the boat of controversy. When I first ran for office 24 years ago, I made pledges to make government more spendthrift that I was determined to keep. But it cost me politically as I became an outcast among my legislative colleagues who saw me as a thorn in their side as they preferred to lay low and stay quiet. It got me in trouble and sideways with others simply because I attempted to follow through on my campaign promises and caused me to become something of a recluse. There’s a Japanese proverb that fits the Juneau scene which says, “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” If one attempts to make fundamental changes through spending cuts and restructuring the state’s mammoth bureaucracy, more often than not, they’re not only stymied but castigated. Nearly everyone who campaigned for the legislature two years ago pledged that they would protect the Permanent Fund Dividend, but look how the bold
SILENCE IS CONSENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 when you can get it,” and consistently support the “lesser of two evils”. You can be a secular pro-lifer. You cannot be a secular abolitionist.
is evil and ought to be abolished regardless of whether 99.99999% of the rest of the human population agrees with you requires the existence of a binding moral law, which has its reference point outside of humanity.
To be an abolitionist, you must believe in a higher law. One does not need to believe in a higher law or deity to embrace an adverse opinion regarding abortion. But to argue that abortion
Pro-lifers prefer common ground. Abolitionists prefer to proclaim the gospel. A majority of pro-life leaders and organizations argue that one need not convince a person that God exists or
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
number one in total CO2 pollution. 3. Americans require decent pay for their work and demand minimum wage or much more for factory work: Workers here expect vacation, health insurance benefits and safe working conditions; all of these are expensive. Children are not allowed to work in factories in the US. 4. China subsidizes its industries: Take solar for example. All solar companies in China get huge financial support, and so their panels are very cheap and have driven most other solar manufactures (in the US) out of business. Due to major subsidization, Chinese goods sell for 30% less than similar products manufactured in other countries. China in 2007, subsidized its steel industry with $27 billion. Steel is therefore 25% cheaper than US steel. Where does China get all that money to inject into its domestic industries? The money that you spend on Chinese goods, that’s where. Now let’s turn our attention to free speech in China: Recall that in 1989, there were student-led demonstrations for democracy in Tiananmen Square. The response of the Communist government was to declare “martial law” and 300,000 troops were deployed to Beijing. The forces killed 400 hundred or more demonstrators. 1,602 individuals were imprisoned for protest-related activities and at least two of these are still in jail (29 years later). In other words, no free speech... and no democracy.
participation or support, we can bring important free education to the Valley. AKHF promotes diversity, equality and collective support for good ideas, good candidates, good business practices and provides a showcase for them. Win the Sleeping Lady Cup! Alaska HEMPFEST® is proud to announce its first Cannabis Quest competition. Categories include Commercial, Limited, and Home Grows, Flower, Shatter, Oil and Edibles. Deadline is April 15. Entries and judges contact stoney@cannabisquest.win or visit http://cannabisquest.win. Cannabis Sativa, also called, hemp, is the low THC, non-drug strain that is used in 50,000+ 100% organic products including FOOD, FIBER and FUEL. Hemp is big business filled with
promises fell flat when the fund was pilfered. Many proclaimed that they would reduce the size of government, yet it keeps growing. The operating budget is more than triple what it was when I served a decade ago. And that’s with Republicans and so-called “conservatives” in charge. Where are the true Republicans when we need them? Has everyone become a spineless RINO (Republican In Name Only) more interested in staying in office to collect their generous tax free per diem? Moreover, has any alleged conservative proposed significant spending reductions or any type of government restructuring that would run the bureaucracy more efficiently and save money? The last time I remember anything of significance was nearly 20 years ago, when House Bill 20 (sponsored by someone named, Representative Kohring) was signed into law doing away with the Department of Community & Regional Affairs. The legislation achieved the actual elimination of one of twelve departments that comprised state government - unheard of and the first and only time in state history. HB 20 rolled most of the former DCRA’s programs into the newly restructured Department of Community & Economic Development (now Commerce). The idea was to deliver the same level of services to the public, but with much less overhead and a smaller
that abortion is sin, in order to convert them to the pro-life position. While this may be true, abolitionists never choose to remove God or the gospel from the conversation. Abolitionists believe that abortion exists because men deny that God does. The pro-life movement argues that we should talk less about sin and more about science. Less about salvation and more about “saving the babies”.
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How much money does Communist Red China have? The Chinese banks have about $3.1 trillion in cash reserves. Compare that figure with the USA and its $20 trillion deficit. Shocking isn’t it? Analysts have stated that China could butt Venezuela outright if that country was up for sale. Where did they get all that money? Answer: Walmart, Amazon. com, etc. And lastly, there is the Chinese military: Wow! Total military personnel count is 2.2 million fighting men and women. They have 1200 fighter jets, 1400 attack aircraft, 900 helicopters, 6500 combat tanks, 4800 armored fighting vehicles and 1700 rocket launders. The Chinese Navy has only 1 aircraft carrier, 35 destroyers, 68 submarines and 220 patrol boats. The annual defense budget is $162 billion. China possesses 260 total nuclear warheads and is rapidly expanding its nuclear forces. And guess who is paying for all that heavy metal... YOU! So you may not care about any of this. Or you might be interested to know that you can buy clothing that is made in the USA. Visit www. allamericanclothing.com and www. usalovelist.com/made-in-usa-womensclothing/. Google on “American-made clothing” and you will find many websites devoted to this. Each and every time you buy something “Made in China” you are supporting Chairman Mao’s giant experiment where there is child labor, a giant deadly military, no pollution laws, no freedom of speech, no freedom of religion and no democracy. Buy American.
1000s of opportunities for the little guy. We believe Alaskan innovations have a rightful place in the future hemp market. Many Alaskans are hungry for the knowledge their cannabis economy needs to flourish. Whenever our spirits lag or the obstacles loom large, we think about the hope and excitement on the faces of the people who learned about hemp during the last two Alaska HEMPFESTS. These are tough times for many of our rural adults and children; there are not a lot of things that give them hope. Hemp is one of those things. Hemp gives them a peek at a future that isn’t so bleak. Please join us in bringing the hope of hemp to Alaskans who want it and deserve to know more about it
government workforce including eliminating duplicating programs and trimming the upper reaches of the bloated bureaucracy. Much more of this concept is needed. But is any such thing being proposed and is anyone taking lead? No. All remains quiet on the Juneau front as the gargantuan deficit remains along with the threat of taxes. From a personal standpoint, being true to your word is an important virtue and a reflection of one’s character. Even something as simple as showing up at a time promised is a big deal, as it shows respect for others. I’ve sometimes taken my promptness to the extreme by arriving for an appointment extra early, but then driving around until the actual time so that I show up exactly when promised to make a good impression. It’s a pet peeve of mine when people who fail to keep a promise. Some say that as a Christian, you should never make promises, as you subject yourself to being discredited if you’re unable to deliver. Instead of promising something - just do it they say, otherwise it amounts to speaking foolishly. However if you make a promise as a Christian, it places extra pressure on you to keep your word and hence your credibility. Ecclesiastes 5:5 says that, “It’s better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it.”
More about that here: Why Are Abolitionists Different Than Pro Lifers (YouTube) Those who worked to abolish slavery were called fanatics and told to keep their moral and religious beliefs to themselves. Don’t. Silence is consent. Watch the video at: www.allgodsmustdie.com
PETS & ANIMALS
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH Contributed by Michelle Overstreet, MY House February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month, and at MY House, we are sharing information and raising awareness to help youth and families recognize the signs and symptoms of relationship violence. Research tells us that 80% of girls who report dating abuse continue dating the abuser. In our community, this means adult women, who have been abused since they were children/teens, are raising girls who see the abusive behavior as “normal”. One of the striking aspects of relationship abuse is that the appearance of violence in a relationship can be rationalized and tolerated, even when it is beyond what is acceptable to the person, family and social situation. Expressions like, “It won’t happen again,” or, “It’s because he/she is so stressed,” rationalize the abuse rather than addressing the fact that the behavior is totally
unacceptable and ending the relationship. The violence is combined with love - affection, apologies or complete submission with the promise that it will never happen again. The problem is that it almost always does happen again, and it gets more violent. It can’t be explained away time after time. The victim starts to separate from anyone who might point out the disparity between what is loving and caring and the outbursts of violence that clearly are not loving, but become tolerated and even considered “normal” as time goes on. The abuser may be fiercely protective (or working to increase isolation) and may insist that they cannot live without the victim, even threatening suicide should they leave. The victim then feels responsible for (literally) keeping the abuser alive, even as the violence continues and escalates. This whole process leaves the victim feeling incredibly lonely. Isolation and a feeling of being undesirable or “not good enough” start to permeate
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all aspects of the victims life, and any attempts made by concerned family and friends are rebuffed with explanations of, “You don’t understand,” or, “You don’t know them like I do,” or even, “I can’t let them die.” Eventually their support system falls away, and they are truly alone. As a teen, this can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, rejection and even suicide. As the violence escalates, the victim is in grave danger, and the abuser feels untouchable - particularly if they have successfully removed the victim from all support systems. This is where murder or suicide often occurs. To stop this terrible experience in our community, we must educate our youth on the signs, symptoms and risks, and never stop identifying abuse for what it is. Call it out and remain available as support and a “reality check”. Use all means necessary to separate the abused from the abuser, particularly if you feel their life may be in danger, because if you think that to be true, it probably is. futureswithoutviolence.org
COMMUNITY & SPORTS
MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA
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Contributed by Jaida Gough, Boom Town Derby Dames Boom Town Derby Dames VS. Rage City All Stars 2/24/2018 – 7PM Boom Town Derby Dames Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St. Wasilla Tickets: $5-$16.66 On February 24th at the Menard Sports Center, Boom Town Derby Dames take on the #1 ranked team in the state, the Rage City All Stars. Currently Rage City is ranked 63rd of the 420 WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) teams, worldwide. Boom Town is working on establishing their WFTDA ranking, after recently completing their WFTDA apprenticeship. After the Rage City game, BTDD will need to play two different ranked teams to find where they place among other WFTDA teams. Becoming a
Contributed by J.T. Lindholm, little a triathlon little a triathlon 2018 6/30/2018 – 10AM little a triathlon Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area 4376 Glenn Hwy. Palmer Cost: $90-$180 Come take part in a truly unique and Alaskan event! This event is both a fundraiser and a memorial event. Funds raised from this event will go to a family with a child currently receiving treatment for cancer. The event will start and finish at the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area (formerly known as Kepler-Bradley) at 10am on Saturday, June 30, 2018.
ranked team will provide Boom Town with more opportunities to compete in out-of-state tournaments. With the current ranking algorithm, a ranked team playing against an unranked team could cause the ranked team to lose their current place, even if they win. Boom Town has the opportunity to play against Rage City, at no risk to Rage because this game is referred to as a
Distances: Swim: 800 meters in Matanuska Lake (wetsuit strongly recommended) Bike: 11 miles of off-road biking Run: 4 mile trail run Our 2018 recipient is Jazee (pronounced “Jah-Zay”) Halloway and her family. Jazee Holloway is a 7 year old Anchorage resident. She has an amazing spirit and greets everyone she meets with a smile and hug. She loves and lives her life to the fullest as best as a 7 year old can. She regularly attends church, and helps the younger kids in her bible study group and in Sunday School. She loves her Barbies, singing, dancing, baking, and can eat a whole container of strawberries if you let her. She is a wonderful and helpful daughter, who
“Strength Factor Game”. This essentially gives Boom Town a limited time placement on WFTDA rankings, making it easier to find equally matched opponents. Recently, Boom Town played against Orange Crush, Rage City’s B team, and was able to eek out a victory during the last jam. Boom Town has played Orange Crush multiple times, and while Orange
Crush has been known to add an all star or two to their roster, Boom Town has never played against the Rage City All Stars. It will be a game you can’t miss! YOU CAN BUY TICKETS AT THE DOOR, ONLINE AT BROWNPAPERTICKETS.COM, OR FROM ONE OF THE BOOM TOWN DERBY DAMES. THE DOORS OPEN 6PM, AND WHEELS ROLL AT 7PM.
sees the positive in all situations, and is wise beyond her years. Jazee also loves school. Above all, Jazee’ is also the very proud big sister of her 6 year old brother, Jahlon. Jazee spent the entire summer preparing her and her brother for the school year at her new school but, two days into the school year, she was diagnosed with a Pineoblastoma Wednesday, August 23, 2017 (two days after beginning 2nd grade). Pineoblastoma is very aggressive and extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of all primary brain tumors. About little a triathlon: We are a 100% volunteer organization and are also a registered non-profit organization. The race itself brings together athletes and volunteers for a day to bring awareness to this family in need, as well as celebrate with each other and that family. The triathlon
actually feels like just a small part of what transpires. In the past two years of the event, we have been able to raise over $20,000 to give to our recipients due to the generosity of donors (the racer fees pretty much cover the cost of the race). TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JAZEE, SEE MAPS OF THE RACE COURSE, TO REGISTER FOR THE RACE AND SO MUCH MORE, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: LITTLEATRIATHLON.COM