The People's Paper March 2015

“The repercussions for maintaining the values of those who sent me here have been great.”

A Vote of Principle

reaD More on Page 11 by lora reinbolD

Kelly’s Story

The “Be the Match” Bone Marrow Drive will be held in Palmer on April 25th at the Koslosky’s Center during Who Let The Girls Out [10:00 am]

Become a Bone Marrow Donor - You Could Save a Life!

Contributed by Kelly Marre

My name is Kelly Marre. i am a wife, mother, grandmother, community volunteer, and a Probation officer for the State of Alaska. i also have a rare form of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and am in desperate need of a bone marrow match. of all the millions of people on the national registry, not a single one matches me. this is eerily familiar because in 1998, we had the same problem when our oldest son, Logan, needed a bone marrow match.

Logan was a healthy 9-year-old boy who loved to play basketball and baseball. one day we noticed he was really out of breath and not playing his best in his basketball game. A couple days later, he complained of being very tired and he had these small red spots on his arms. We later learned they were called petechia, which was caused because his platelets were very low. We had blood tests done and were told to get him to Providence Hospital immediately.

From there we were told he needed to be flown to Children’s Hospital in

Seattle to confirm he had leukemia. our lives were turned upside down.

Logan initially did well in treatment and quickly achieved remission. We finally got to go home and do maintenance chemo in Anchorage. in April of 1998 he showed signs of relapse and we flew back to Seattle where it was confirmed.

We were told Logan’s best chances of survival was to have a bone marrow transplant. A thorough search was done and no one matched him. ironically, his brother and sister matched each other identically. We turned to the Cord blood registry and his transplant took place in August of 1998. on october 24, 1998, Logan succumbed to a fungal infection. our lives were forever changed. We were devastated. i wanted to honor Logan in some way and became an active community volunteer. i volunteered for several organizations, but none was closer to my heart then organizing the Light the night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and promoting blood and bone marrow drives. i didn’t want a single person in the world to be without a match. i was so excited when Logan’s friend, Caitlin, got on the registry and quickly became a bone marrow donor. Someone got to live because Caitlin honored her friend, Logan.

Sixteen years to the month i heard similar words. “you have leukemia”. i was not shocked; in fact, i had suspected for a few weeks that i might have had it.

Like Logan, i was a healthy and active person. i had recently been on prophylactic medicine after being stuck

with a dirty needle while at work. the medicine made me extremely ill. After i completed the regimen, i felt worse instead of better. i had an appointment with my doctor the day after we returned from our vacation. our first day in the state of idaho was spent in the er. My symptoms had gotten worse and i knew i needed to be seen. it was there we were given the diagnosis. unfortunately, my rare form of AML is not treated in Alaska so we have had to remain in idaho.

At first, i breezed through treatment with little effects. i had two rounds of inpatient chemo and was waiting to start my third. i was walking everyday and doing water aerobics. i was sure i would be done and home before we knew it.

My blood counts would not go up, so another bone marrow biopsy was done.

We were told i had relapsed just two months into treatment.

My only hope was a bone marrow transplant. We were assured that things were different now. With the increased number of people on the registry, we would find a match. unfortunately, that is not the case. i was told i likely have “rare markers” because my ancestors lived in secluded areas in europe. now they do haploid matches where a family member is a half match and their stem cells can be mixed with cord blood and given to the patient. My brother and i were so excited that he would get to give me the ultimate gift of life.

We were both devastated when we found out he is not a half match. i want to live and be free from leukemia. i want to continue to use our family’s experience to help others. there are so

many people in the world who need a transplant. Wouldn’t you like to be the one who saves a life?

For More oF Kelly’s story Follow her blog at KillingleuK.coM how to become a bone Marrow Donor: the be the Match bone Marrow drive will be held in Palmer on April 25th at the Koslosky’s Center during Who Let the Girls out starting at 10:00 am. you can donate by going online to be the Match @ bethematch.org and request to be a donor. A donor kit will be mailed to you. Getting on the registry is a quick cheek swab. the first step to being someone’s cure is to join be the Match registry.® if you are between the ages of 18 & 44, patients need you. doctors request donors in the 18 & 44 age group 90% of the time.

When you join be the Match registry, your tissue type is added to the registry. it is not a marrow donation; you do not actually donate until you are a match for a patient. if you have questions, please visit the site, many more questions can be answered. you can donate if you are over the age of 44, but there is a fee. there is more information on the website. Again, the reason for the age is that 90% of eligible donors are between the ages of 18 and 44. if you are over this age, you can still help – the simplest way is to encourage your family and friends who are within the age range to get on the registry.

PETS & ANIMALS Adopt Ice

the People’s Paper

Trapping On High-Use Recreational Trails In the Mat Su Borough

Contributed by angie lewis ALASKA AniMAL AdVoCAteS

Contributed by angie lewis ALASKA AniMAL AdVoCAteS

ice is an active Husky Mix who would love to be surrounded with a family that enjoys being active outdoors.

there are endless horror stories of dogs being caught in traps as they are out for a walk with their guardians on public lands in the Mat Su borough.

At two and a half years old, ice is a young gal with energy to spare. She would probably enjoy the companionship of another dog, so she can have a fun-loving companion. to learn more about ice, or to meet her, please call alaska animal advocates, Donna at 907-315-5050.

Her eyes might be as blue as ice, but her heart is as warm as the sun.

The 39th Annual Parade of Stallions

Pets & aniMals PAGe 2

it seems that trappers are more highly regarded by our borough officials, than are people walking, harvesting plant life, training dogs, dog mushers, skiers, joggers, or bicyclers. this one user group – trappers – are effectively controlling how our public lands are used. these proponents of trapping on the trail systems of the Mat Su borough are quick to refer to the leash laws and how dog guardians are breaking the law when their dogs are off leash. Many responsible dog guardians only allow their dogs to be off leash when they are in the middle of the woods, allowing their dogs to enjoy the freedom that is in the nature of a dog. other dog guardians are involved in training their dogs to hunt or to take part in search and rescue trainings. Why is it that the rights of the trappers supersede the rights of all the other residents who enjoy our public trails? trappers who set their traps close to the trails or at schools need to be stopped. there should be no

trapping allowed on public trails.

Alaska has ample land available to individuals who wish to trap - areas that are frequented for recreational use should be safe for all participants.

A couple of years ago, i was walking my dog on a trail quite close to a residential area, when i heard the jaws of a trap shut loudly. i had never heard a trap before, but there was no doubt in my mind that it was in fact a trap. its jaws had closed on my dog’s pad, luckily missing the remainder of his foot.

He was less than ten feet off the trail. that is how close the trap was set. on a walk in the woods today, with my dog, i realized how many times i walked off the designated trail. there were so many huge water puddles, that i needed to go into the woods to walk safely. Although, i really wasn’t safe, nor was my dog. i spent so much time worrying about traps, that my walk was no longer enjoyable or relaxing. trapping on heavily used trails needs to be eliminated. these public trails should be safe for all users and not just to provide convenience to trappers. it is only a matter of time before a child, frolicking in the woods, is injured by a trap. Let’s not wait until then!

The Alaska Morgan Horse Association the 39th annual ParaDe oF stallions, hosteD by the alasKa Morgan horse association, has becoMe the unoFFicial “KicK-oFF” to the suMMer show season.

The event, always held on Mother’s Day, will be at the France Equestrian Center, at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, May 10, 2015. the gates open for spectators at 10:00am, and the main event is scheduled to start at noon. the event is free to attend, with a suggested donation of a canned food item to benefit the Valley Food bank.

racing patterns, in harness pulling a cart, and even bareback! on some memorable occasions, the audience was even treated to horses in costume! the Parade of Stallions is not just a place to show off the stallions, there will be demonstrations by trick riders, and the popular black Percheron draft horses owned by Jon naumann of the Horse drawn Carriage Company. there will be food and coffee vendors, a local 4-H group will be selling roses, and many other vendors! the morning is always started off with a short demonstration by the Cowboys for Christ, followed by a service.

Alaska stallion owners come out with their stallions to exhibit the many wonderful qualities offered by the breeds. Some years, the offspring may be shown in the ring along with the stallion, in order to show possible traits, such as color, temperament, and confirmation that he may pass on to his offspring through selected breeding.

don’t miss Saturday’s event the extreme trail Challenge, an event designed to test a horse and rider’s team work over obstacles. this starts at noon on Saturday May 9th, and is also free with a canned food donation.

the stallions are shown in hand, or under saddle, or even in harness. throughout the years, many different disciplines have been demonstrated.

For more information, please contact Jennifer at (907) 414-3151 or look for the Alaska Morgan Horse Association on Facebook!

Hunter/Jumper, dressage, Saddle Seat, Western Pleasure, Western reining, barrel

you can also email 2015stallionparadeinfo@gmail.com

Extreme Trail Challenge the Alaska Morgan Horse Association is proud to present the extreme trail Challenge! this annual event is going to be so much fun! the course is a secret until the morning of. but suffice to say it will be a real Alaskan challenge for sure! Anyone can participate. All “using” horses are encouraged to participate, not just show horses, but also career pack horses, backyard horses, trail horses, english, western, rodeo, doesn’t matter. discipline-appropriate gear is encouraged with bonus points for flair. that means, for example, if your horse is a rope horse, you and your horse should dress and ride the FunCtionAL part.

Kids are welcome, they are usually right up there in the ribbons. there will be 3 levels, Cheechako, tenderfoot, and Sourdough. the trail Challenge starts at noon on Saturday May 9, 2015. it is free for spectators to attend, with a suggested donation of a canned food item for the Valley Food bank. there will be food and coffee vendors, and a variety of tack and

clothing vendors, and more!

Come cheer on the teams that will be attempting to master the obstacles of the third Annual extreme trail Challenge! the yellow gate, at the France equestrian Center, located on the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer Alaska will be open for spectators at 11:00am. the walk through for participants will be at noon. Award ceremony to follow the final team.

Space is limited for entry in the challenge. entries for participation are taken on a first come, first serve basis with complete paid registration.

Find us on Facebook! Alaska Morgan Horse Association.

COMMUNITY Trails and Parks Organization Off to the Races

with Support from the Mat-Su Health Foundation

the People’s Paper

coMMunity

PAGe 3

Log Construction Workshop

nal wasilla, alasKa the Mat-Su trails and Parks Foundation recently received an investment from the Mat-Su Health Foundation which will help shape the future of outdoor recreation in the valley. the award, granted over the next five years, will be used to fund trails and parks throughout the borough.

“In 2015 we anticipate awarding $200,000 in grants, beginning with a first funding cycle of $100,000 this spring followed by an additional funding cycle in the fall”, said Kim ryals, the foundation’s executive director.

“The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation provided some support for the Palmer Bike Park, the Lucky Shot Bridge in Willow and the Wasilla Creek Wetlands Trail at Palmer Hay Flats”, said ryals. “The award from the Mat-Su Health Foundation gives our organization a stable platform from which to grow our ability to support trails and parks long into the future.” ryals was hired as the foundation’s first executive director, coming from a career in nonprofit development for wildlife and the outdoors. Committed to the vision of a healthy, vibrant MatSu through quality trails and parks, ryals sees the foundation becoming the “go-to” for education, advocacy and technical assistance, in addition to funding.

“We’re here to support the trails community”, she added. “Many individuals and groups have worked tirelessly to make our trails system what it is today; our goal is to leverage resources and support their work in any way we can.”

the Mat-Su trails and Parks Foundation and the Mat-Su borough recently partnered to hold a trails workshop at the Chalet at Government Peak recreation Area. trails enthusiasts were invited to attend to help guide the foundation’s plans and priorities in the coming years. “It was a great opportunity for us to maintain our connections with those we support and continue to develop the resources they need to do their work.” the chalet, a new facility built by the borough and nestled at the edge of the talkeetnas at Government Peak, is home to the foundation’s office. it’s also available for rent and is a revenue stream for trails and parks projects. in exchange for managing the event space, the foundation retains a portion of its proceeds.

“It’s a fantastic public-private partnership with the Mat-Su Borough”, said ryals.

“I encourage people to get their events booked as soon as possible. The calendar is filling and – thanks to a generous gift from the Rasmuson Foundation – installation of a kitchen will make the event space unavailable from September through December.” ryals is most enthusiastic about increasing connectivity between trail systems in the Mat-Su. “We want to keep an eye towards our ability to get around the valley off-road, any mode, from one great place to another. Looking ahead and planning for regional connectivity is particularly important in a fastgrowing area like ours.”

More inForMation on the FounDation’s grant cycles will becoMe available on its website atMatsutrails.org, where you can also FinD inForMation on renting the chalet.

log construction worKshoP May 4-29 in PalMer Contributed by valerie barber A log construction workshop taught by world renowned log home builder robert Chambers, will take place at the uAF- Palmer for Sustainable Living May 4-29, 2015. this workshop is for people interested in building quality energy efficient log structures in Alaska. Chambers, a world-recognized authority on handcrafted log home construction, will lead the sessions on how to build with green logs. uAF forest resource specialist Valerie barber will facilitate the class. basic procedures and techniques will be described and practiced to help even the novice get started with a project. building an energy-efficient log home requires the highest level of craftsmanship to meet modern standards of airtightness, indoor air quality, safety, comfort and durability. instruction includes safety, log peeling and selection, chain saw use, maintenance, cutting demonstration, practicing notches, ripping, and scribing logs and building roof trusses.

Final product will be a cabin sized log shell with log roof trusses. Cost of the workshop is $2000 and a few spots remain for this class.

Chambers has been building log homes since 1983 and teaching log construction since 1988. He is the author of the bestselling log home construction textbook (and dVd), Log Construction Manual, and the inventor of log construction methods, products and machinery. He holds u.S. and foreign patents for his log construction inventions. you can find out more about him or order books or dVds at his website; www.logbuilding.org in April 2006, the international Log builders Association presented Chambers with the Grand Achievement Award, which has been awarded only three times in the iLbA’s 30-year history. He is a consultant for log homeowners, log home companies, builders and developers throughout the world.

For More inForMation anD to sign uP For a sPot, contact valerie barber at vabarber@ alasKa.eDu or call 746-9466

This workshop is for people interested in building quality energy efficient log structures in Alaska.

Fair Releases Economic Impact Report ALASKA’S LARgEST EVENT RESULTS IN $23 MILLION IN TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT

Press release PalMer, alasKa – Since its establishment nearly 80 years ago, the Alaska State Fair has grown to be Alaska’s largest social and cultural event, regularly hosting approximately 300,000 visitors at the 12-day event each fall. to better understand and share the value the Fair provides to the state, the Fair undertook an economic impact study with assistance from the Mcdowell Group in 2014. the final report is now available on the Fair website, alaskastatefair.org. $23 Million in econoMic iMPact the numbers speak for themselves: the Fair clearly has a positive revenuegenerating impact on both its immediate community and the state as a whole. Fair-related activities, which takes into account the Fair, vendors, contractors and fairgoers, results in an estimated 2,600 jobs and $23 million in total economic impact, which would not take place in the absence of the Fair. the 2,600 total jobs includes an estimated 2,362 direct jobs associated with the Fair and Fair vendor operations. of those, 292 positions are directly employed by the Fair yearround, seasonally or just during the Fair.

An additional 400 people are contracted during the Fair to provide essential services such as security, parking and admission, and an estimated 1,670 people are employed to operate Fair vendor booths. Payroll from the Fair, vendors and contractors was an estimated $3.5 million in 2014.

“The annual Fair is a major contributor to the Palmer economy in jobs, tourism and sales tax revenues. Palmer would not be Palmer without the Alaska State Fair presence, activities and energy,” said Joe Hannan, Palmer city manager. reuben Haus co-owner Luke denbleyker and his family return as Fair food vendors each year as it’s a “good shot in the arm” financially, and also offers the chance “to do something together as a family.”

“I hope it to be something we can do

for many years, something that I would eventually pass on to my kids,” said denbleyker, whose oldest child is 10.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to start plugging them into seeing how a business operates, and eventually start turning a little bit more of the responsibility over to them as they get older.” connecting Fairgoers with issues anD organizations but looking at the economic impact only paints part of the picture of the Fair’s contribution to Alaska. beyond dollars and cents, the Fair adds value in many other ways as well, such as giving organizations the opportunity to interact with and educate hundreds of thousands of people.

For example, the Fair is the blood bank of Alaska’s most important blood drive, and approximately 20 percent of fall applicants to the Anchorage Police department originated from contact made at the Fair.

“We typically need to go to where people are to get our message out. the Fair is different – we just come out to Palmer and everyone comes to us,” said a representative from the Alaska division of Homeland Security and emergency Management about their presence at the Fair. the Fair has also been an important platform for issues like recycling. in 2014, a total of 300 volunteers collected 31,121 pounds of recyclables, including 1,619 pounds of aluminum – a 116 percent increase over the previous year.

And Mat-Su Food bank collected 16,400 pounds of nonperishable goods during the three-day food drive at the 2014 Fair. youth oPPortunities anD DeveloPMent With a mission to educate as well as entertain, the Fair places a strong emphasis on youth opportunities and development, which offers both immediate and future value to the state. in just one example, through the media production career pathway program at Colony High School, 10 students gained valuable hands-on experience at the 2014 Fair, where they helped to

produce a live internet feed of the Giant Cabbage Weigh-off.

“The Alaska State Fair gave students a real-world opportunity to put their skills and knowledge to work,” said brian Mead of the Mat-Su School district's Career and technical education department.

events, like Alaska Shield, the largest emergency response drill ever undertaken in Alaska, which was held at the Fair over a three-day period in March 2014, on the 50th anniversary of the second-largest recorded earthquake.

the Fair also seeks sponsors and provides financial support to bring Alaska students to the Fair for educational field trips each year. in 2014 alone, more than 2,100 Anchorage and Mat-Su students visited the Fair on field trips.

“We couldn’t have done it without the Alaska State Fair’s partnership and facilities. All of it led to the exercise being successful,” said Casey Cook, MatSu emergency manager.

Many Alaska youth get their first taste of the working world at the Fair.

“Golden Wheel Amusements has employed thousands of Valley youth, contributing to many special ‘firsts.’ First job interview, first paycheck or that allimportant first car. We teach job and life skills that young people take with them long after the equipment has been stored for the winter,” said Jacqueline Leavitt of Golden Wheel Amusements, which operates the carnival during the Fair. sharing anD celebrating cultures the Fair has become an important place for sharing, experiencing and celebrating Alaska’s diverse cultures. in 2014, the Gathering Place opened at the Fair, providing a dedicated area for Alaska native performers, artists and vendors, including sisters buffy Meyer and esther Hershman, owners of Fish on! Camp Grill, the Fair’s newest food vendor.

“We enjoyed the opportunity to buy and promote fresh-caught seafoods in Alaska using our blue ribbon-winning recipes,” said Meyer, who grew up with her sister and family nome, living an Alaska native subsistence lifestyle. “We are pleased to have won the bid to be bringing our recipes to the Alaska State Fair goers.” value oF FairgrounD Facilities the fairgrounds itself has proven itself to be of value to the state. the fairgrounds is available throughout the year for private and community

Protecting FarMlanD For the Future the Fair adds value to the state in other ways, too, as demonstrated in the Alaska Farmland trust agreement signed last fall, which permanently conserves nearly 40 acres of Fair property for use as farmland. the Farmland trust purchased the conservation easement to the property, with financial support from various sources, including the Fair, which supported the effort with a contribution valued at $250,000, in the form of a price reduction on the appraised value of $895,000.

“Good farmland is hard to find in Alaska.

We need to tell that story. The Fair is high-profile. We couldn’t ask for a better partner,” said Arthur Keyes, Alaska Farmland trust vice president.

“The generosity of the Fair in making this agreement possible is unprecedented.

By placing this piece of land in the Farmland Trust, we are securing some of the best farmland in Alaska for all future generations. With the high pressure for development of this land, this is a legacy the Alaska State Fair can be very proud of,” said Carol Kenley, Fair board president.

For More inForMation about the alasKa state Fair or the econoMic iMPact stuDy, Please visit alasKastateFair.org or contact Dean PhiPPs, Fair Director oF MarKeting anD coMMunications, at Dean@ alasKastateFair.org or 907.746.7153

Charter High School Proposal Pushing Full Steam Ahead Contributed by liz robinson you may have heard the buzz about an exciting new charter high school currently being proposed for the MatSu Valley. Arkose ridge Leadership Academy (ArLA) would offer placebased education and experiential learning, with an emphasis on sustainable systems, including northern agriculture. ideally, the school would be located within a farmland setting. the Mat-Su borough School district (MSbSd) offers several K-8 charter schools, but once these students graduate from the 8th grade, charter choices are quite limited. the parents, teachers and community members behind this new school initiative are committed to offering students throughout the district an additional high-school choice. the people working to make this choice a reality envision a school that nurtures the development of responsible, creative, critical thinkers, students who apply knowledge, ethics, compassion and leadership in the choices they make.

Arkose Academy would feature rigorous coursework, where Science, technology, research, engineering, Arts, and Math (StreAM), are woven together through interdisciplinary instruction and experiential learning.

All instruction would emphasize innovation, application, field research and community connections. A focus on cultural and social literacy, as well as sustainability and community stewardship, would connect students with real-world challenges and help them understand the relevance of personal, intellectual and professional growth.

As you may already know, although members of the local school board had many questions and concerns last fall regarding Arkose Academy’s charter application all were addressed and ultimately met the board’s satisfaction. nevertheless, by a vote of 4 to 3, the board rejected the initiative in december. the major reason cited by its members was a perceived lack of parent and student support, in spite of survey data referenced in the charter document demonstrating that support from scores of parents and prospective students.

Supporters of Arkose Academy were quick to regroup, and initiated an appeal to Commissioner of education Mike Hanley through a new process recently passed in House bill 278. After reviewing the reasons for rejecting the charter, the commissioner remanded the initiative back to the Mat-Su school board . on Jan. 21, rather than in a public forum, the board took up the

issue in executive session and decided not to reconsider its vote. the board made this decision in spite of the fact that more than 60 parents, students and community members attended the board meeting to their show support, and 20 offered heartfelt testimony about why this school is wanted and needed.

After receiving this news, the team appealed once again.

Commissioner Hanley once again reviewed the local board’s decision. on Feb. 6, he informed the school district, the local board, and supporters of ArLA that this time he would uphold the board’s denial of the charter based on its claim that there are not enough parents and students willing to “commit” to attending this school.

While this decision is extremely disappointing, the dedicated people behind this school will continue to work toward making it a reality. the group’s sights are set on opening in the fall of 2016. toward this goal, ArLA is launching a campaign to collect at least 125 signatures from families who would like to see this school become part of the district’s stated commitment to “choice, innovation, and customer service.”

School supporters plan to get the charter application back in front of

the MSbSd school board as soon as possible, and will need its members to clearly see the level of commitment — with names, grade levels, and contact information of prospective enrollees. you can help make Arkose Academy happen. if you would like to see a place for your student in ArLA, please complete the online form available under the “Show your interest!” tab at arkoseacademy. org. even if you completed the previous survey, you will need to complete this new form, which will better serve the school board’s requests. ArLA is particularly in need of current 7th and 8th grade students, as they will be 9th and 10th graders in the fall of 2016.

Supporters also urge local students, parents, teachers and community members to learn more about the proposed charter high school at the website address above, and to contact the Arkose team with any questions.

For updates on ArLA’s progress, and more opportunities to get involved, you can “like” the school’s page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ partnershipforarkoseridge), “share” and otherwise help spread the word through social media, and sign up for the mailing list by sending a message to info@arkoseacademy.org

COMMUNITY

the People’s Paper

coMMunity

PAGe 5

Wasilla Businessman Left a Proud Legacy Contributed by Karen robinette ray Williams retired recently after 20 years in this area as a successful businessman, leader, and involved parent. He gave his farewell speech to friends at Mat-Su toastmasters’ Feb. 17th meeting, 7:30 AM at the Primrose retirement Center. during his ten years as a member, ray served in several officer roles, including club President.

He has also been a mentor to other members. toastmasters has helped him learn to communicate more effectively with customers and employees. Several of his children have also learned self confidence and communication skills in the club’s supportive learning environment. ray opened the first Sherwin-Williams store in Alaska nearly 20 years ago at 245 Post rd. in Anchorage. After building it into one of the largest paint stores in Anchorage, he opened a second store at 595 e. Swanson Avenue, near his family’s home in Wasilla. He then led that business to success. i asked ray how he had managed to compete with the large discount stores.

He answered, “Sherwin Williams stores offer better paint at a competitive price with outstanding service.” “i like to make my customers my friends,” said ray. ninety percent of his business was wholesale. Most of his customers were contractors who knew their businesses and needed quality paint mixed quickly

and accurately. ray made sure that his staff knew their jobs and put their customers first. He proudly shared that his employees could match any paint so closely that the sample chip would disappear against the finished wall. ray has been aided by Sherwin Williams’ “customer-first” service policy and by leadership training from Mat-Su toastmasters.

When ray wasn’t working his business or working with toastmasters, he was working as a dedicated father. Children are one of ray’s great loves. He told his wife when they were first married that he wanted 12 kids. She said “We’ll see.” they did. After bringing seven of their own into the world, they began adopting. they now have 13 well loved children, six of whom have grown up and are building their own lives. ray and his wife found that adopting children can be very difficult, sometimes heart rending, expensive, and very rewarding. each time, it took from 2 to 5 years and $13,000 to $27,000. they had to find an orphanage willing to allow Americans to adopt, and then work through home inspections, paperwork, and waiting periods.

At last they could travel to the child’s birth country to bring their new family member home. they spent $5,000 - $7,000 a couple of times on applications that fell through.

Adoption aid programs offered by government and by Sherwin-Williams

The Coal Miner’s Ball celebrates the work, contributions, and memories of those who labored in our local mines.

The 29th Annual Coal Miner’s Ball the 29th annual coal Miner’s ball will be helD aPril 25th this year at the alPine inn in sutton, aK (Mile 61 glenn hwy)

Miner’s Hall of Fame and they are added to the display at the Alpine inn and the Alpine Historical Society (A.H.S.) building.

the Coal Miner’s ball celebrates the work, contributions, and memories of those who labored in our local mines.

Please come and enjoy this day with us. doors open at 4:00PM, tickets are sold at the Alpine inn and at the door for $12.00

each year a new group of individuals are inducted and added to the Coal

the ball begins at 4:25PM with dinner between 5:00PM and 6:30PM

Mat Su Relay for Life

American Cancer Society Event www.matsurelay.org Paint it PurPle color run Saturday, April 18 at the Curtis D Menard Sports Center Registration is at 9:30 Start time 10:00 am Come join us for the first relay For life of Mat-Su Color run! All are invited to run, with child care provided for

a donation. $20 registration fee, first 100 “early bird registration” participants receive a t-shirt!

All proceeds go towards the relay For Life of Mat-Su. Mat su relay For liFe June 26 & 27 at the Curtis D Menard Sports Center

reimbursed them for some of the costs in the last years. these helped a lot and are worth seeking out by those who want to adopt, but the family had to come up with the money first. ray Williams and his wife have adopted children from ukraine, Samoa, the u.S., China, and ethiopia. the process is “not pretty, but it’s worth it,” he said. they learned that millions of orphans and abandoned children suffer and die in poor countries. the lucky ones get into private orphanages where they have cots to sleep on, some food, and some chance of being adopted.

According to ray, those who are not adopted in some countries are dumped into the streets at age 13, without family or job skills, to

fend for themselves. i asked ray what has made he and his wife stay the course and put so much dedicated effort into this. Glowing with love and pride he said, “We love children. We wish we could bring more home.” ray and his wife have purchased a 25 acre “hobby farm” in northern Missouri where they plan to continue teaching their family perseverance, concern for the welfare of others, and a desire for constant learning. they can be reached at ray_99654@ yahoo.com if anyone from the valley would like to stay in touch or ask for more information about adopting children.

Valley ABATE

(Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education) Contributed by brenDon Knox Valley AbAte (Alaska bikers Advocating training and education) Corp. was organized in 2000, as a 501c3 recognized non-profit.

We have been active in charitable donations, benefitting valley residents or other non-profits, since the beginning.

A partial list of other organizations that have benefitted from Valley AbAte’s fund-raising efforts would include; Fight 4 Life, Midnight Sun Service dogs, Palmer elks Lodge, Alaska Center for resource Families, Alaska Healing Hearts, Mat-Su Salute, American Legion Posts 15 and 35, and Alaska Multiple Sclerosis Center. We have also assisted individual families on a needs basis.

Valley AbAte operates a 50-50 raffle at every AK tuesday night Fights at the Menard Sports Complex.

Valley AbAte also has a very active training and education program that operates from late April through September. interested riders can go to valleyabate. com and visit the riders education Page, there they can read the offerings

of a basic riders Course, three Wheel basic riders Course, and experience riders Course. this seasons riding schedule can be viewed with a sign up process online.

With successful completion of any one of these classes, a rider can receive a certificate that will allow their license to be endorsed for motorcycle or three wheel operation, that certificate gives them one free year of Valley AbAte membership, and may also reduce their insurance rates.

Since 2005 we have trained well over one thousand riders to safely operate a motorcycle on public roads.

Valley AbAte meets every third thursday of the month. We meet at American Legion Post 15, 1550 Mystic Circle, outer Springer Loop, Palmer, Alaska 99645.

Meeting starts @ 7:30PM, new and old members are welcome to attend. We would enjoy seeing you! you can contact us through our website valleyabate.com, or email valleyridered@gci.net. or call 746-7295.

COMMUNITY

the People’s Paper

coMMunity

PAGe 6

Ham Radio is Alive and Well Contributed by Don bush For those who are not familiar with this hobby, it can be very rewarding.

Amateur radio (Ham radio), encompass various modes and types of radio and communications protocols.

Ham radio has been around just about since the beginning of wireless communications. Ham radio operators have been in the forefront of communications designs and techniques. that is one of the many aspects of the hobby, designing your own equipment and antennas. We can communicate locally on short range radios, around the world on our long range radios and into space via satellite radios, to include the international Space Station.

We can interface computers to our radios to conduct digital communications, talk over mountain top repeating systems to extend the range of our short range radios, and send email via radio when the internet is not available. All of our equipment works off the grid and does not require commercial interface, only some sort of power and an antenna. We run mobile in our vehicles, boats, plains, snow machines, AtVs and portable operations anywhere. the local ham club is the Matanuska Amateur radio Association. We are a non-profit organization that meets at Fire Station 61, in Wasilla the last Friday of every month at 7 P.M. We present various programs at the meetings, oriented along lines of communications, emergency operations, and community support activities. Some of your community support activities are Marathons, bike races, dog races, emergency Preparedness Fairs, programs to support the Girl Scouts and boy Scouts.

We train our members and operators on how to build antennas, install radios and antennas, radio procedures, to include how to send messages and work with borough emergency

Services and supported agencies during disasters. We also conduct license training classes and conduct our own FCC testing sessions. one of the requirements to be a ham radio operator is you must have a license to transmit.

We have 3 classes of licenses. First level is a technician class that allows you to use short range communications equipment, next is the General class, which allows you to use long range communication equipment and the 3rd class is extra. this is like our engineer class. each class of license requires, you to learn the rules and regulations that govern the use of our equipment at each level, various electronic and antenna knowledge, and radio procedures; the formulas required to build various circuits and antennas and the activities and many modes of operations that we do. the club has constructed a mobile communications trailer and a generator and tower trailer to assist in our activities and to provide backup communications to the borough in time of emergencies. We have over 600 operators throughout the borough which can provide a lot of local knowledge during times of emergencies to assist the borough in providing the required assistance to our residents. We have participated in floods, wind storms, power and phone outages, and medical emergencies.

All of these activities are conducted by volunteers, who offer their time an equipment to assist. As Ham radio operators, we cannot receive pay or compensation for the services we provide. And being a non-profit organization we can only receive donations or grants to support our trailers and activities which we can provide a tax deduction for the donation or grant. this is where we support the community and they are kind enough to support us.

our web site, www.kl7jfu.com lists our current sponsors and contributors.

We also provide support to our military thru various programs like MArS (Military Auxiliary radio Service) and the American Legion. We can provide phone patches between deployed units, vessels and aircraft to their families or supporting agencies. And with the navy having humanitarian missions to support various places during disasters, we can provide health and welfare traffic for the civilians they are assisting. our Facebook page includes are upcoming events and photos of our various activities. it is listed as MArA Club or KL7JFu. our next fund raiser will be our Annual Hamfest, held at American Legion Post 35 just outside Wasilla. this will occur Saturday, 9 May 10 AM to 5 PM. this is like a large garage sale, with new and used equipment.

We also will be conducting training seminars and Ve testing (License testing for your Ham radio License). We will have our trailers on display and a good barbeque. We are currently working with our local businesses to collect door prizes and donations to raise funds for our activities. one of our major fund

raising activities is to collect enough donations to replace our aging local repeater. this unit provides extended communications to assist us during emergencies and mobile operations.

Any donations that could be provided would be appreciated. the cost of ham radio equipment varies, depending on what you are looking for or want to get involved in.

Hand held radios (walkie talkies) can be as inexpensive as $35.00, mobile equipment $200 to $700.

Long range High Frequency radios from $700 to $20,000. used radios and antennas are readily available on ebay or from local hams. the first step is getting your license, and then our group provides support in assisting the new hams in learning the finer parts of the hobby. if you would like to get more information about Ham radio, come to our local meetings and check out our web site. We would be more than happy to invite you to our stations to see what it is all about. our contact information is on our webpage www. kl7jfu.com or on Facebook. our motto is “When All else Fails Call a Ham”.

Susitna Salmon – Past to Present Contributed by eriK huebsch A brief history of Susitna salmon management begins when the first escapement goal was set for Susitna sockeye in 1979.

A bendix sonar counter was placed into service about that time to measure the escapement. in the late 1980s the goal was revised based on a study of 24 sockeye producing lakes in the Susitna drainage. the purpose of an escapement goal is to ensure sustainability and maximize yield (harvest). State policy requires that escapements goals must be scientifically defensible.

For over 25 years there was a perception that the sockeye returning to the Susitna river were not meeting the escapement goals. this was driven by the assumption that the bendix sonar counter was accurately counting the sockeye escapements. the perception led to numerous time and area restrictions on the Central district drift fleet and northern district setnets. the escapement counts in the Susitna were periodically called into question, particularly after the 1989 season when the exxon Valdez oil spill caused drift gillnetting to be closed in Cook inlet. the closure resulted in a large over-escapement in the Kenai river but had no apparent effect on the Susitna escapement sonar count. increasing uncertainty with the Susitna escapement assessment prompted AdF&G to initiate a 3-year study in 2006. the study utilized a didSon system, weir counts and a markrecapture program to compare with the bendix sonar counts. in 2009 AdF&G released a special report because the study determined

that the errors with the sonar counts were so significant. (AdF&G, FMS 09-01) the report documented that both the bendix and didSon were grossly underestimating the number of sockeye salmon returning to the Susitna system. the study results indicated that the bendix sonar count (dating back to 1981) was biased low by more than 100 percent. From 1981 through 2008 escapement goals were being exceeded by an average of more than 100 percent, some years the goals were exceeded by 300-400 percent or more.

More recent data indicates that trend continued until at least 2011. A reasonable person would think that, once this error was discovered, both AdF&G and the board of Fisheries would revise the management plans that were based on this faulty data, but they did not and still have not. during the decades that time and area restrictions were placed on the drift fleet to conserve northern sockeye stocks, no studies were ever done and no evidence or data was ever generated to show that the restrictions had any effect on escapements.

What we have learned from the use of mandatory restrictions is that they prevent fishery managers from reacting to real-time information during the season and interfere with their ability to manage the whole fishery.

Harvest opportunity has been lost due to the restrictions; not only the millions of sockeye that exceeded escapement goals in the Susitna, but also millions of sockeye that exceeded escapement goals in other Cook inlet systems due to mandatory restrictions that were based on the faulty sonar data and flawed assumptions. When you hear someone say the commercial fisheries

are catching all the fish, it’s not any more valid today than it was twenty years ago. those statements reflect an old paradigm that has been proven wrong. it’s not true for sockeye, kings or coho. the drift fleet harvest of Susitna sockeye is about 35-40% of the run, their harvest of king salmon is about zero percent.

Lake had nearly 70,000 sockeye salmon return to spawn, by 2012 the salmon run had nearly collapsed due to pike predation and disease. the Cook inlet Aquaculture Association, with funding from commercial fishermen, took eggs from the remaining salmon, incubated and reared them at their trail Lakes Hatchery.

in an extensive mark and recapture study, AdF&G found that commercial fisheries harvested less than 6% of coho returning to the Susitna and Little Su rivers. (AdF&G, rir 2Ao3-20) the commercial harvest of pinks and chums range from 2-6% of the run which leaves a huge unharvested surplus of these stocks.

in 2014 about 80,000 smolts from this hatch were released back into Shell Lake. only about 20,000 of these smolts made it out of the lake and downstream towards the ocean. the other 60,000 smolts were consumed by the northern pike in the lake within a few weeks.

the decades-long fixation on blaming the saltwater harvest of salmon for the alleged poor returns to the Susitna system distracted attention from the real and growing threats to salmon populations in the valley. recent research has clearly defined the factors that are limiting salmon production in the Mat-Su: impaired/ polluted water bodies; the introduced and now abundant invasive northern Pike populations; disease and parasite occurrences; beaver dams blocking salmon passage; warm water temperatures that are lethal to most salmon populations; improperly installed road culverts that block salmon movements; unregulated habitat destruction due to 4x4's, AtVs and air boats; and known poaching occurrences.

At least 14 of the original 24 sockeye producing lakes studied in 1989 now contain invasive northern pike. eight of those lakes with pike no longer produce salmon or trout; six more lakes with pike have severely reduced production. Shell Lake is a welldocumented example. in 2006 Shell

Although much of the research has been focused on sockeye production, coho and kings are affected in much the same way, as they all spend a year or more in freshwater. Alexander Lake and Creek had had its king run virtually eliminated by pike. this led to a complete closure of the sport fishery, a loss of 26,000 angler days per year and the closure of 8 sportfishing lodges, impacts to associated guide business’ and float plane charter operations. the board of Fisheries and AdF&G need to focus their efforts on the cause of declining salmon runs, not just the effects. A new action plan should be developed that will help stabilize salmon production in systems that are still functioning, work towards eliminating pike from other systems, set goals for removal of migration impedances and develop a rehabilitation and stocking program. until AdF&G, the board of Fisheries and the Mat-Su borough start eradicating the pike infestation in a significant way the salmon runs in the Mat-Su basin will never recover.

POLITICS

the People’s Paper

eDucation

PAGe 7

Alaska’s Deadliest Hemorrhage Contributed by Daniel haMM PreSident, ALASKA rePubLiCAn ASSeMbLy the crash in world oil prices has sent Alaska state financial officials reeling.

After years of high oil revenue, nearly unrestrained government growth, and unrepentant “bring home the bacon” pork spending, Alaska now finds itself with a whopping fiscal year deficit expected to exceed $3.5 billion. if you divide this amongst Alaska’s tiny 738,000 population, this financial bloodletting amounts to a staggering $4,742 per individual Alaskan, $18,970 for a household of four, or $28,455 for a household of six.

For years Alaska has grown our state bureaucracies on autopilot by mathematical formula (around 6-9% per year) into cash draining behemoths. We now employ over 24,000 state employees- many of which to help protect Alaskans from themselves. our legislature also writes huge annual checks to literally hundreds of state funded non-profits for myriads of diverse social causes or even to entertain us, such as the Alaska State Fair. if you want to get a good laugh at some of the more humorous titled non-profits getting state funding just from just one state agency- Alaska’s department of Health and Human Services, download their Fy2014 report. i caution you not to try to print it out because it is 302 pages long and you may run out of ink, or paper, or patience trying.

Perhaps the worst example of legislative largess is found in the Capital budget (i call it Alaska’s pork budget which may be a little harsh considering some of it is good). this is the part of the budget where new roads and bridges are funded. Who can argue with that right? this has however devolved into a catch-all category where legislators fund micro “pork” projects at every level in their voting districts- from sewer pipes, to extra fire engines and police cars,

to senior center vans. these can be argued as good things to fund from a social viewpoint, but shouldn’t local governments fund local projects with local tax dollars and not rely on the state legislature to bridge the gap between their bronze-plated haves and gold-plated wants?

Last but not least is the profligacy of local entities continually voting to sell bonds for capital improvement projects such as roads and schools where the state is on the hook for paying back 70% of the bond debt back while the local entity only pays back the remaining 30%. Alaskan bond debt is now a crushing $40,714 per Alaskan– the highest in the nation.

At this hemorrhage rate, the legislature has only about three years’ worth of savings left in the financial blood bank before it turns anemic and must adopt new revenue sources such as a state income tax, a state sales tax, new oil taxes, or a raid on the PFd. All are being actively discussed for implementation as early as 2017. We need not go limping down this gray government-bricked road. the university of Alaska institute for Social and economic research (iSer) has calculated a maximum annual sustainable budget amount of $4.5 billion (unrestricted general fund that is currently around $6.1b or $6.3b if you add the $262 Million annual PerS/terS retirement contribution to make yearly comparisons). this is the amount we can spend annually nearly into perpetuity without having to implement Any new taxes or raid the PFd. With oil trading at $60 per barrel, Alaska will only generate about $2b in oil revenue. in this scenario Alaska will generate more income from our savings invested in financial instruments than from oil. However, if the Alaska legislature continues to plow through our savings like a Valdez snowplow in January on thompson Pass, we will have no investment income left and therefore the sustainable budget number will also plummet to around $2b. it is absolutely essential therefore to reduce the state budget from $6.3b to $4.5b. if i were governor, i would rip the band-Aid off in one year by

vetoing any budget that came in a penny over $4.5b (this number does not include federal grant money which is additional). However since i am not governor, the current plan is to reduce our state budget to $4.5b over a three year period to help reduce price shocks in the economy. the goal then is to reduce state spending to $5.5b this year, then $5.0 the second year, and $4.5b the third year and thereafter.

Many grassroots politicos are putting the entire political weight of their organizations behind this plan. bigspending scoffers will likely find us funding their opponent during the next political primary.

Many legislators from both political parties would rather increase revenue rather than cut spending owing to the intense lobby pain being inflicted on them by special interest groups (who are also the largest campaign donors). the big-government ideological phrase now echoing through the legislative halls in Juneau is, “you cannot cut your way to prosperity.” really? imagine yourself as a Ceo at the helm of a large corporation that was losing fistfuls of cash because of having too many redundant employees on their books that used that phrase to their investors. the board would fire the Ceo immediately. Historically, states like texas that have had the most prosperous economies in the nation have also governed themselves in the most businesslike manner by attempting to keep their bureaucracies small, budget balanced, and taxes low. those that have tried to overtax and spend their economies into a utopian existence like California always seem to be in financial trouble and have high unemployment. you cannot spend your way to prosperity either.

Having too many state bureaucrats living off the private sector reduces Alaska’s prosperity in three fundamental ways.

First, public pay and benefit costs must be born on the shoulders of the private sector. Secondly, the state loses out on the potential economic growth from state employees that could be otherwise similarly employed in the private sector.

thirdly and not insignificantly, too many red-tape producing bureaucrats can slow new economic activity to a crawl as potential new natural resource developers are dragged through a veritable glacial mud steam of regulations, fees and permits.

Alaska’s economic future now rests in the strong hands of State representative Mark neuman (r-big Lake). He is Co-Chair of the powerful House Finance Committee and in charge of Alaska’s massive operating budget (the Capital budget is assumed to be nearly zero during this financial crises). rep. neuman told me he has a goal to reduce the operating budget by $600-700M which would put Alaska on the recovery trajectory.

However, he is facing enormous opposition from special interest groups to keep spending levels near their historic highs. Quite frankly, the special interest voices being heard in Juneau for continued levels of spending can be much louder than their district grassroots voices for spending restraint. the roman Senate had a famous saying of vox populi, vox dei or “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” though somewhat blasphemous for a person of faith like myself, i am convinced that many legislators informally poll their districts daily by the volume of daily phone calls, emails, and faxes they receive as their district vox populi. if you the grassroots are silent on this issue, than the budget will likely follow the voices of the special interests and your family will soon be facing a state income tax, a state sales tax, an industry stifling rise of oil taxes, or the raiding of your PFd- or possibly all at once. Keep Alaska financially solvent and a good place to do business and raise a family.

Call rep. neuman today to encourage him and his staff along with your local legislators. Crimson red now paints the Alaskan skyline. Whether it is on the east or western horizon is up to you.

Contact rep. Mark neuman at 907-4652679 or rep.Mark.neuMAn@akleg.gov to give him encouragement along with your local representatives. remember our elected legislators work for us, not the other way around.

Warning: You May Be Next Contributed by vic Kohring it’s painfully evident that we live under a repressive government that routinely harasses and targets Americans with prosecution, while ignoring the constitution as if it’s not worth the paper printed on. i’m reminded of the old Soviet union where no one is safe.

Many refuse to believe it’s true until they’re a victim of prosecutors running amok or dictatorial judges circumventing the rule of law and refusing their due process rights in court. in recent weeks, a slew of newspaper commentaries have appeared on the topic. Articles published in Alaska dispatch news by Adn vice president Margy Johnson and assistant federal public defender darrel Gardner underscore my concerns. Johnson discussed ted Stevens’ case, noting how the u.S. Justice department is an agency that operates as a law unto itself, does what it wants to, and if you object, “you can take a long walk off a short pier.”

She adds that the only rights the government gives you are the ones they will allow while they break their own rules without repercussion.

Gardner explained that it’s an unfortunate fact that truth does not always prevail at a trial as it’s often a secondary consideration. He added that the number of wrongful convictions is staggering, something i learned the hard way. no one is perfect and most of us have fudged a little here or there as we struggle with life’s challenges. but the vast majority of Americans are honest people of integrity. despite this, the government often takes minor issues and creates big federal cases from them and in the process destroys many good people. Just look at Stevens and me.

My case centered around a hundred bucks to buy easter eggs for my step daughter, a gift that was perfectly legal according to the Legislative ethics Committee. yet since i innocently suggested i “lobby” (a word i used loosely) other legislators on an oil industry tax reform bill, the Feds used it as the hook to turn it into a massive case of bribery. even if you have nothing to hide like me with no intent of doing anything criminal in your daily activities, watch out and be vigilant as your words and actions can be easily taken out of context and come back to haunt you. be careful what you say on the phone as the line may be tapped. A person inviting you to lunch might be a government snitch with a concealed camera or hidden mic.

When a friend calls to say hello, the nSA may be listening. be mindful of video cameras in and outside buildings. Walking down a sidewalk having an ordinary conversation with someone is potentially dangerous as hand held devices can pick up sound from a hundred feet away by a prying G-man. even through walls of your home.

Many insist that “it can’t happen to me” or that “i have nothing to worry about.” but it can happen to you. it has to thousands of people, filling our prisons with unfortunate souls who have no business being there. i speak from experience, having met upstanding men in jail including church pastors and even a missionary who served in the turks islands.

do not fully trust anyone you don’t know well as the Fbi may have sent an informant your way to manipulate you into saying something they’ll use against you.

the united States has the largest prison population in the world with a high percentage who are innocent. Studies have shown that up to 136,000 inmates have been falsely convicted.

With a snooping government armed with high technology and swarms of federal agents fanning out across the land motivated by politics, personal gain or simply control, increased numbers of us are being intimidated and threatened with prison over small, inconsequential matters, so you can’t be too careful. remember, our government spies en masse on the public and has been caught monitoring millions of emails and cell phone calls.

Let my words be a clarion call to action and a sounding of the alarm from a modern day Paul revere.

they even eavesdrop on social networking sites and will pick up on subtle comments and twist them into an alleged crime. Moreover, the Patriot Act has given alphabet agencies an excuse to sidestep the constitution such as detaining you against your will without evidence and arresting you with no warrant. big brother is here.

i was sacrificed on the altar of big government, but you don’t have to be.

the Star Spangled banner touts America as “the land of the free” and the Pledge of Allegiance declares everyone is entitled to “liberty and justice for all.” Sadly, these noble words are no longer always true. it’s no wonder i often read and hear about calls for a revolution.

OPINION

the People’s Paper

oPinion

PAGe 8

Influenza-Part II: Pandemic Influenza Contributed by by r. e. lyons Jr in part i, some of the medical knowledge regarding seasonal influenza was touched upon; especially the relationship between immunologic activity and the glycoprotein spicules composed of Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase on the surface of the virus. Additionally it was noted the italians gave us the name influenza in the years when the origin was unknown and attributed to celestial influences (such as a blast from the stars).

the pigs brought by Columbus to feed his sailors.3 Another pandemic in 1510, swept across europe involving nearly every family on the continent. And in 1889, an outbreak in St. Petersburg, russia swept across europe leaving nearly a million people dead before it subsided.4 this was a disease that burst full-blown from nowhere – rampaged across whole continents; killing indiscriminately – and just as abruptly, disappeared. it respected no boundaries regarding economic status, social stratum or regional location. And the medical community was largely impotent to fight against it.

in good health.9 Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of the disease was the speed with which it killed. People could go from onset of symptoms to death in as little as 18 hours. even today, it is difficult to grasp that an illness could cause one to feel normal at breakfast, feel horrible by dinner and be dead before midnight. indeed, the majority of deaths worldwide occurred within 48 hours of onset; and there are reports of people dropping dead on the streets and while traveling in public transportation.

it is little wonder then, in the days before electron microscopy opened the gates of knowledge for virologists, many people believed it was a mysterious disease wrought by exploding stars or some form of celestial influence.6

nor was it a pleasant way to die.

Witnesses in 1918 report patients drowning as their lungs filled up with their own bloody sputum, mentally delirious and wracked with diarrhea. indeed, modern textbooks of medicine list diarrhea, Central nervous System dysfunction, and multisystem organ failure as complications of this illness.

yet, all of these outbreaks are dwarfed by the carnage wrought by the influenza pandemic of 1918. Coming at the close of the First World War, it has largely been lumped in with the war as something people would prefer to forget. yet for sheer lethality, it was one of the worst plagues to strike mankind in recorded history.

eyewitness reports from survivors also point out there were so many dead that mortuary services were overwhelmed and many funerals were not held for days after people died.

Coffins were depleted and in many instances, medical providers were stricken necessitating the urgent call for volunteers to attend the dying.

Pandemics of influenza are not a unique byproduct of the 20th Century. in Ad1173 one occurred which spread over most of europe.1 in 1485, another mysterious illness swept europe called the english Sweat, which carried a high mortality rate and is now felt to have been a form of pandemic influenza.

the black death of the mid-portion of the 14th Century killed approximately 25 million people over a period of about four years.7 the 1918 influenza Pandemic killed roughly one of every three human beings on earth over the space of a year and a half – about fifty million deaths. it attacked people on every continent except Antarctica, and even struck on islands in the central Pacific ocean.

in 1493, large numbers of native Americans died on the island of Hispaniola from an outbreak of influenza believed to have arrived with

even more horrifying, it killed young healthy adults in huge numbers. nearly half of those who died were between 18 and 40 years of age and considered

What then causes the lethality of Pandemic influenza? no one yet has the whole answer, but it centers on the glycoprotein spikes and antigenic recombinations of genetic material. the 1918 influenza pandemic involved an avian influenza A virus (A/H1n1), which managed to make the leap from birds to humans. there is a known interrelationship between birds, pigs, and humans in the lifecycles of the viri; with birds at times a source and swine a reservoir, which accounts for such names as Swine Flu and bird Flu. because the (A/H1n1) virus that caused the 1918 influenza Pandemic was the

Finally, it was noted that while seasonal influenza is potentially lethal to infants, children with diabetes and respiratory diseases, as well as the elderly; most healthy children and adults who contract the disease recover within a few days. this part of the story, however, deals with influenza epidemics that escalate beyond their local regions to spread to other continents and at times completely across the globe. these are the Pandemic influenzas.

Pandemic influenza -- even the name has a sinister, ring to it. they are still the type A strain of viri from the orthomyxoviridae family; however, something caused them to dramatically increase their potency and lethality.

Article Rebuttal: Influenza: Part 1 Contributed by stuart thoMPson i wish to comment on Mr. Lyons article regarding vaccination in the last issue of the People’s Paper (Influenza: Part 1). though he was quite eloquent and lucid, the foundations for his point of view have errors in it.

His description of the action of a vaccination (using one type as an example) is not one for a vaccine but for an anti-biotic. the amount of vaccine normally used is arithmetically insufficient to act as described anyway.

He furthers the myth that today’s vaccines are a sort of magic bullet with some fancy talk meant to intimidate the impressionable.

Any doctor who parrots the mantra that everyone needs to be vaccinated is in violation of the medical Hippocratic oath (re treating each

most catastrophic and the first to be serotyped, it will serve as a baseline. the 1890 russian influenza outbreak involved a virus (A/H2n8) with genetically altered Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase spicules. in 1957, the Asian Flu Pandemic involved the virus (A/H2n2) and in 1968, the Hong Kong Flu Pandemic involved the virus (A/ H3n2).13 each of these viri exhibited re-assortment of genetic material from human and avian influenza viri that resulted in marked changes in the glycoprotein spicules on the surface of the virus. And this appears to have altered their infectivity and lethality.14 in 2009, another pandemic influenza virus appeared. Although it was serotype (A/H1n1) like the 1918 virus, it is believed to be a quadruple reassortment of genetic material from Swine Flu viri, Avian Flu viri and Human Flu viri. With the discovery of antigenic re-assortments of genetic material among influenza strains and across mammalian species, even more genetic combinations are possible, with potentially more deadly consequences. it is an area, which urgently cries out for more research. For as John barry so eloquently put it in his book: the Great influenza: the epic Story of the Greatest Plague in History; “the clock is ticking, we just don”t know what time it is”.

What we do know, however, is that failure to take the threat seriously is a sure way to hasten the return of the days when undertakers struggled to handle the dead and children, in the dark shadows of the Grim reaper, jumped rope and sang: I had a little bird And its name was Enza I opened a window And in-flu-enza

I wish to comment on Mr. Lyons article regarding vaccination in the last issue of The People’s Paper (Influenza: Part 1)

patient as an individual). Honest medical professionals will tell you that mandatory vaccinations will naturally harm or kill what is hoped to be a small number of people. Governments decide dictatorially that it’s okay for some people to be harmed or killed “for the greater good” —when they make vaccinations mandatory. Consider. it’s in the Congressional record that mandatory small pox vaccination was halted in the uS because the vast majority of small pox deaths had become directly traceable to vaccination, not wild small pox.

government welfare program for big Pharma. the flu shot version distributed every year is based on a yearly guesstimate on the strain expected to predominate. think it through. they start pushing flu shots at the beginning (!) of “flu season”. there is no reasonable time to investigate and test for the truth. thus this year’s grossly ineffective flu shot becomes possible.

of the scientific method possible.

Furthermore, such betrayal is actively stopping scientific advancement in its tracks.

the most monstrous matter is that people questioning the efficacy of specific or general vaccination are met with well-funded public attacks.

it is painfully obvious that the uS Center for disease Control — populated by many ex-big Pharma employees — will exaggerate disease outbreaks into epidemics so there is commercial advantage to be had.

Government judgment on vaccination enforcement has literally become a

they are monstrous because freedom of thought/freedom of choice based on plausible harm in a public practice are hypocritically identified as the whole cause of the harm that vaccines are arguably responsible for. Such suppression of honest questioning is the grossest betrayal of the discipline

Lastly, Mr. Lyons has omitted mention of the vast influence of quarantine and hygiene over disease control. the only effective responses to ebola are a case in point—since nobody yet has come up with a vaccine. I apologize now if he brings it up in Part II.

Who says nature doesn’t allow a more effective means of suppressing disease than vaccination? it’s people who are making a buck off vaccinations—that’s who!

i do thank Mr. Lyons for bringing this topic up for public debate.

Stuart Thompson lookitover@att.net

COMMUNITY HEALTH MY House Works to Prevent the Spread of AIDS/HIV Among Youth Contributed by Michelle overstreet recent data on HiV diagnosis from the CdC make it clear that HiV diagnosis touches every corner of the united States, and Alaska is no exception.

Alaska has one of the highest rates for Std’s in the nation, with limited access to medical care in many parts of the State, and limited access to HiV testing. this is a ticking time bomb! the greatest growth in number of new HiV infections diagnosed was among youth age 13-24 and went up a whopping 22% since 2010!

Heterosexuals accounted for 25% of new HiV cases and two-thirds of those infected were heterosexual women.

So if you are a young, heterosexual female you are at risk and likely don’t even realize it. it seems clear that we need to continue to educate the youth in our community, those who are homeless or who use iV drugs as well as those who do not, to keep these statistics in mind as they make their way to adulthood. education and awareness keep the danger fresh in their minds and is critical to help them make healthy choices. Another effective prevention strategy is to increase the availability of protection measures, like condoms and HiV testing. Condoms are available at no cost at Public Health

Centers and at the Public Health office in the My House drop-in Center. this is not to promote promiscuity, but to promote safety for those with few options and many risk factors. in an effort to increase awareness, My House is hosting a Wear red day on Friday March 27th, or March 26th on the uAA Mat-Su Campus. on the 27th, Mat-Su Public Health will offer free HiV testing at the My House drop- in Center at 300 north Willow Street, just down the street from Wasilla City Hall. there will also be activities and discounts at Gathering Grounds Café and Steamdriven boutique, as well as partnerships with united Way in Palmer, Set Free Alaska on the Palmer Wasilla Highway, the City of Wasilla,

Mat Su SAGA and Mat Su Public Health.

And uAA Mat-Su, where you can participate by wearing red and talking about solutions. if you would like to participate in Wear red: be Aware and Show you Care, please call the My House office at 3544357 and ask for James or email us at myhousematsu@gmail.com.

Submitting Articles:

Advertising:

To submit content for print, visit our website for guidelines: www.MakeASceneAk.com Deadline is the 10th of each month.

Submissions are not accepted via Facebook.

For information on advertising rates, current sales flyers, deadlines, professional graphic design and more, please call 373-2698

Having Issues? Email us directly at makeasceneak@mac.com

POLITICS

the People’s Paper

Politics

PAGe 9

Sen. Murkowski, Heinrich Announce growing Bipartisan Support for Sportsmen’s Act Press release FroM tHe oFFiCe oF oFFiCe oF u.S. Sen. lisa MurKowsKi Legislation would increase opportunities for hunting, fishing and boost outdoor recreation economy. u.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (r-Alaska) and Martin Heinrich (d-n.M.) today announced 12 new republican and democratic cosponsors to the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015. the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act, which was introduced last month, includes a broad array of bipartisan measures to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, reauthorize key conservation programs, improve access

to public lands, and help boost the outdoor recreation economy.

“Growing support for the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act shows that increasing access and providing greater opportunities are important to America’s sportsmen and sportswomen,” Sen. Murkowski said.

“the Sportsmen’s Act is gaining new momentum and earning widespread, bipartisan support,” Sen. Heinrich said.

“Hunting and fishing are a way of life for millions of Americans – especially in new Mexico where outdoor recreation as a whole is directly responsible for 68,000 jobs.

“outdoor activities like hunting and fishing are traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. in my home state of Alaska, more than 125,000 sportsmen and women engage in hunting activities each year.

this bill would improve hunting and fishing access on public lands while growing the outdoor recreation economy. America's public lands are part of the fabric of our democracy, and i remain deeply committed to preserving them for future generations to enjoy.”

the sale of fishing licenses alone last year generated an estimated $1.4 billion for Alaska’s economy. i cannot underscore enough how important protecting these activities is for Alaska, and the growing support of this legislation shows that it’s important to protect these activities nationwide.”

The Balloon is Up Contributed by Daniel haMM PreSident, ALASKA rePubLiCAn ASSeMbLy the caucus rule must end “en toto” this session. it forces every republican to vote for the budget regardless of what’s in it or risk losing your position on committees and resultant office space and staffers. in terms of our republican Party limited-government

and balanced-budget platform, it is a grievous evil. the caucus rule provides the political cover for the republican controlled legislature to vote for huge annual deficits- the last two pre-oil price decline deficits being the largest in Alaskan history, and this year on a percapita basis, one of the largest ever in American history. this, “you vote for my pet area and I’ll vote for yours or will throw you out of the majority caucus” is the enemy of

FAITH

A piece of my childhood died the other day. ernie banks was a Hall of Fame short stop for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971. He was the first black man to play for the Cubs.

He was a role model to me. He was an energetic, hard working, wholesome man. He was well known for the phrase, “Let’s play two.” He played 18 years without any scandal, controversy, or disputes.

As i grew older and was exposed to the person of Jesus Christ, He became my role model, Lord, and Savior. He shed His perfect blood so that imperfect me could be saved.

Colossians 1:15-18 expresses why i chose Jesus Christ as my ultimate role model.

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,

the leaders of the Senate Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus are original cosponsors, including Sens. Jim risch (r-idaho), Joe Manchin (d-W.Va.), deb Fischer (r-neb.), and Heidi Heitkamp (d-n.d.).

A hearing on the provisions of the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act under the jurisdiction of the Senate energy and natural resources Committee is scheduled for thursday, March 12, at 10 a.m. the Senate environment and Public Works Committee is planning on holding a separate hearing on the provisions under its jurisdiction soon. the text of the bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 is available online. A full list of the provisions included in the package is also available on the energy committee’s website.

REP. LORA REINBOLD, R-EAgLE RIVER, BREAKS CAUCUS TO VOTE AgAINST BUDgET - BACKLASH ENSUES the republican Party Platform and therefore the enemy of the Alaska republican Assembly as well as grassroots conservatives everywhere. on a positive note, i’m very happy with the reversal in the growth of state government towards a sustainable budget- thank you! i empathize however with representative Lora reinbold's vote however because she is for more budget cuts than just 5% with a 60% decline in oil revenue.

if representative reinbold is punished for her vote in any way, this will trigger a civil war within the party itself to rid ourselves those who would reward socialism and punish conservatism under the banner of leadership. depending on the result of the committee on committees, this will mark a huge turning point in the Alaskan republican Party as well as many individual political careers. the battle lines are drawn and the balloon is up.

Mat-Su Farmer and Road Service Area 19 Tax Fight

Who is Your Role Model?

Contributed by toM stearMs WASi CHAMPLAin

the bill’s new cosponsors include, Sens. tim Kaine (d-Va.), Steve daines (r-Mont.), Joe donnelly (d-ind.), John Hoeven (r-n.d.), Jon tester (d-Mont.), John barrasso (r-Wyo.), Claire McCaskill (d-Mo.), tom Cotton (r-Ark.), Michael bennet (d-Colo.), Cory Gardner

(r-Colo.), Angus King (i-Maine), and dean Heller (r-nev.).

visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

(Colossians 1:15-18) Jesus Christ is the Perfect role model.

He is God, who voluntarily gave up His position in Heaven, to come to earth, be born of a virgin, preach Good news to a sinful and wicked people, die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, raise from the dead, appeared after the resurrection to over 500 people, and ascended back up to Heaven. that is my kind of role model. ernie could not do that.

Who is your role model?

Have a great day.

Tom Stearns WASI Chaplain 907 715-4001

Living in RSA 19 and in the Mat-Su Borough is like the 'Animal Farm'!

Contributed by ray Devilbiss When searching for answers i discovered the Alaska law A.S. 29.35.450, 3 & 4; which was been added to the borough code in 2008. this law was the result of H.b. 185, passed in 2007, called the rSA Fairness bill. it authorized the adding of properties to the rSA if their access was using rSA roads. it also authorized the excluding of properties from the rSA when they do not access, using rSA roads. both the adding and excluding no longer required the public vote. the Legislature changed the law in order to make life in the rSA more just, more equal, by making it easier to add properties or to exclude. before this remedial law, any public vote to add or exclude qualifying properties would be mandatory to the borough. i took the position that the remedial law authorizing a “right to be excluded” when qualifying and requested,is as mandatory as the public vote would be!

My neighbors and i took 10 properties to the borough, who agreed the properties qualified to be excluded. ordinance 11-53 went to the assembly May 3, 2011, proposing the 10 parcels to be excluded. it was shocking to watch officials who were elected and hired to obey Article 1 of the Constitution; to protect the rights of us the people; clutch their chest at the horror of losing their yearly windfall of excess revenue. the finance director pointed out that if all the properties in the rSA which qualified,were to be excluded, the loss of revenue to rSA19 would be

reAd tHe FuLL ArtiCLe onLine:

approximately 86,700 or 39% of the yearly tax revenue. they concluded that they didn’t have to exclude, according to the borough attorney, and if sued he could win. i filed a lawsuit in February 2012. After much opposition from the borough attorney the case went to Judge Smith in the Superior Court the end of April 2013. in September, 2013,the Judge ruled in favor of the borough.He agreed that rSA roads,services,benefits,and taxes are a 'public purpose' and not Special.

Also that Alaska law doesn't require a benefit to property nor require excluding non- accessing properties. i appealed the decision and the appeal went to the Supreme Court november, 2014.At oral arguments several other disturbing comments were made by Spiropoulos which i also consider to be false information, besides the one i mentioned earlier. on pages 20 -22 of the transcript, the Chief Justice Fabe asks very important questions of Spiropoulos.

'When would the borough ever decide to exclude,has it happened'? reply-'Has not happened to my knowledge'.'We haven't pulled someone out/ haven't pulled someone in'.

Chief Justice Fabe, 'What would motivate a borough to exclude from the rSA a taxpaying person? Why would it do that'? reply- 'might consider whether or not it's fair'.

www.makeasceneak.com/Make_A_Scene/Mat-Su_Farmer

COMMUNITY

the People’s Paper

eDucation

PAGe 10

Country Legends Morning Show Releases Interactive Mobile App local Mobile aPP coMPany creates coMPrehensive Mat-su aPP For More than Just country Music lovers aurora Mobile apps along with country legends 100.9FM released the Kathy Mitchell in the Morning app this month, Alaska’s first interactive Local Morning Show App.

Kathy Mitchell, the longest consecutive female on air personality in Alaska, brings her program and Country Legends 100.9 FM to you via your mobile devices on all platforms. not only does the App make it easy to interact during and outside of her program, it is also provides resource information about the Mat-Su Valley.

“From local road conditions to the area forecast to news from the cities of Palmer, Wasilla and the Mat-Su Borough, it has many uses outside of the Country Music realm. We are excited to see this app completed and Kathy has worked very hard to make it happen” – Mike Ford, operations Manager

With the Kathy Mitchell in the Morning App you can find things to do in the Valley, submit information about Mat-Su events and more. to DownloaD to your Device, log on to: WWW.CountryLeGendS1009.CoM

Backcountry Safety Awareness Be prepared for your Alaskan Adventures Contributed by anDy roMano it generally happens in the blink of an eye, the unexpected occurs and suddenly your great outdoor adventure has the potential to turn into a fight for survival.

“There are no hero’s in the wilderness,” said Grant Pearson, a retired denali national Park ranger, “only wise people who are prepared and those that are not so wise and unprepared.”

Pearson, who was quoted in ‘Humility in the Alaskan Wilderness’ by daryl Miller, said “There is a harsh but basic rule in the wilderness of Alaska, survival is your responsibility”. that rule is one that the Alaska State

troopers want everyone to remember. every year the troopers and volunteers respond to dozens of search and rescue calls. the victims often underestimated the vastness and potential dangers of Alaska’s great outdoors. other times, even when a thorough plan was in place, the unexpected happened. in either instance, the end results are sometimes tragic. thanks to support from the Alaska department of Public Safety, division of State troopers, you have the opportunity to attend a free training program presented by the north America outdoor institute (nAoi) in partnership with the Alaska Avalanche information Center (AAiC). these twoto-four hour programs will help you get

prepared so that your adventures will provide great memories and not tragic loss.

to be teaming with AAIC as they bring the more avalanche specific training to the table.”

Whether you are a veteran or new to outdoor adventures, there are some important tips to remember that will help you increase your chance of survival if the unexpected happens to you.

“The great thing about this program is that it is adaptable. It can work for youth, families or seasoned adventurers,” stated nAoi education director, dorothy Adler.

“The classes can be the initial exposure to these topics, or a great refresher.”

“These Wilderness Safety Challenge courses cover a variety of topics from avalanche awareness to wildlife encounters,” explained nAoi executive director, Andy romano.

you’ll find programs available for youth, families and adults in Anchorage, MatSu, Cordova, Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Fairbanks and Valdez. if you would like to request a program for your community, call 907-376-2898.

“It’s important for people to learn and practice skills like filing a trip plan, avoiding dangerous ice, safely traveling in mountain terrain and more. I’m excited

For a Full scheDule oF PrograMs available visit besnowsMart.org or alasKasnow.org

“There are no hero’s in the wilderness, only wise people who are prepared and those that are not so wise...”

Local Boy Needs Your Help When Jackson came home he told his mom, “that helicopter didn’t have stuffed animals like the other one did”. you are invited to join Jackson’s Project at the Health Fair March 22, 2015 in Wasilla Alaska as he collects new stuffed animals 10” or less for emergency services.

Jackson is an eleven year old with severe medical needs.

He has frequent trips out of state and has had many surgeries. Jackson has had to occasionally be life medevacked. in october2014 Meadow Lakes Fire Station 71 assisted in medevacking him to the hospital.

the Health Fair is located at 2101 n.

Lucille St. We will also be collecting new pajamas for children in the hospital. Volunteer fire fighters and eMS will be honored by some vendors with discounts, id needed.

- Caring for our community, Wasilla Seventh-day Adventist Church.

COMMUNITY Making a Difference in the Valley the People’s Paper

eDucation

PAGe 11

Sammy Taylor started Mid Valley Recycling with a $2000 dollar grant from the Big Lake Community Council.

Contributed by Karen wichert

in october of 2012 i met Sammy taylor at the transfer site in big Lake. i do not know anyone who works harder at making our planet a better place. Sammy is a retired teacher who volunteers in the classroom educating students about composting. this is just one of the areas of recycling that she works at daily in her own life and weekly in building a program for recycling in the Mat-Su Valley. Sammy arrives every Sunday at the big Lake transfer site, home of Mid Valley recycling, to sort items that have been left but not placed in the proper bins.

Sammy taylor started Mid Valley recycling with a $2000 dollar grant from the big Lake Community Council. the money was allocated for rent on a trailer with bins, and the fee to empty the trailer once a month. it took just a few weeks to realize that once a month was not going to be enough.

A twice a month schedule was implicated to meet the demand but this resulted in the program running out of money in six months. by sheer determination and many dedicated hours Sammy kept the program running.

Her first area of business after the money ran out was to recruit teams

that would take on the job of emptying the trailer every two weeks. drawing on the citizens from the immediate area she managed to get several couples and one or two single people to join her in her quest. these volunteers use their own vehicles and gas and approximately 3 hours of time that it takes to empty the trailer at the recycle center in Palmer. rotating every 5 to 6 weeks these teams (one driver and two people to help empty the trailer) have continued to do the job. it has now been two and a half years and without a relief the original core volunteers (all over 60 years of age) need a break. Sammy is down to less than half of the needed volunteers. this has resulted in the trailer being emptied once a month and at times every five to six weeks. Volunteers come and go, doing what they can, but it is a relentless job. Sammy fills every opening in the crew when a crew member can’t make it. despite this she continues to sort, try to raise money and recruit volunteers. raising awareness about the program is high priority. the Mid Valley community has been operating this recycling program for several years and has collected over 50,000 cubic feet that has been taken for recycling and saved from the landfill. At this time volunteers

A Vote of Principle Contributed by lora reinbolD

people.

As a fiscal conservative, i am dedicated to creating a sustainable budget, not to save money, but to help

As our oil revenues diminish, it is the men and women of this great state who will bear the cost of big government.

Last week, i voted against an unsustainable operating budget. i knew this decision likely meant an end to my membership in the House Majority caucus, but i firmly believe it was worth the cost.

i took a solemn oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of the united States and Alaska. My responsibility is to those sacred documents and to the people of Alaska, particularly my constituents in eagle river. those bonds are stronger than any i shared with the caucus here in Juneau. if there is ever a conflict between my oath to the Constitution or promises

are needed for sorting, driving and empting the trailers, grant writing, etc. and donations toward retro-fitting two trailers that the borough owns. in a petition to the Mat-Su bough for support; Where the Mat Su borough has a Zero Waste Policy (resolution 06-165), and Whereas the Mat Su borough’s Waste Management Plan (2002) cites the need for the borough to recycle in order to extend the life of its landfill for cost savings purposes, the MVr petitioners asked the borough to: provide a permanent recycle site at the big Lake transfer Station and haul the recycle materials to VCrS (Valley Community for recycling Solutions) in Palmer.

Just lately the borough has shown an interest in helping but they need to retro fit two trailers that they presently have. they will do this if Mid Valley recycling can raise the $10,000 that it would take for each trailer. the borough would then be able to empty the trailers.

Mid Valley recycling has several faithful core volunteers that make this program possible. Claudia and ralph buzard have served in various capacities.

Claudia serves as our treasurer. ralph has been instrumental in obtaining donated trailers and in overseeing the retrofitting of those trailers for recycling.

i made to my constituents and the caucus here in Juneau, i will choose the former every time.

When i joined the House Majority caucus, i agreed with the guiding principles that we collaboratively set: live within our means, save for future generations, identify the core functions of government, and to develop a longterm plan for Alaska. it was precisely these closely held principles that caused me to vote against a budget that simply does not reflect the fiscal crisis at hand. i believe that the published guiding principles of the caucus should take precedent over an unwritten caucus rule. it is important that the caucus establish an agreed upon fiscal goal to work toward rather than requiring members to make blind allegiances to an open state checkbook. in the weeks to come, i intend to

Claudia and ralph have also been faithful haulers of our trailers to Valley Community for recycling Solutions in Palmer. robert Hall with Gorilla Fireworks has provided hauling of recyclables. yvonne Lindblom continues to quietly monitor recyclables once a week. Jo Walch has served as our secretary and as a monitor from the outset.

Missionaries from LdS church help us unload trailers at VCrS. others have volunteered in the past and new volunteers have joined our efforts.

We appreciate them all!

empower the people of Alaska with knowledge as i pursue my legislative priorities. i will continue toward grassroots education reform, and act on the ideas that Alaskans are bringing to the table. i will seek opportunities to work across party lines to limit government spending in order to ensure we have essential government services for generations to come. together we can create a more transparent government which is responsive to the people of Alaska.

The Alaska Club

water is better than none. My intention to drink more water was not enough - i kept forgetting. i’m a busy guy, time flies by and i forget. So i decided to use the Alarm app built in to my iPhone.

Setting my alarm to remind me every two hours to have some water, i was able to remember.

by Josh FryFogle i’ve lost roughly 60 pounds in the last 18 months. but to be clear, now it’s more like 45 pounds. this is because i’ve recently gained muscle, which is heavier than fat. this has been a learning experience, as much as a weight losing experience. i’ve learned lots. the first thing i changed was my diet. notice, i didn’t ‘go on a diet’. that phrase is a trick to sell books and prepackaged meals. your diet is what you eat and drink, all the time – not a temporary change to drop pounds.

Also, and this is a really important part, i started drinking water. Personally, i chose to drink alkaline water, but any

Still, i had to stop what i was doing and actually drink it. but i did, and still do.

At this point, i’ve trained myself to thirst on schedule. i often find myself with a glass of water in my hand when my alarm starts. the subconscious is an amazing thing; it can be trained to our benefit. that brings me to my second life change... i joined the Alaska Club in Wasilla. After touring all the gyms in the Mat-Su area, my choice was clear. i have children, young boys, and i needed a place that they would enjoy. the Alaska Club was the only place that had the facilities that would appeal to my kids: a pool, basketball court, game room, even a small movie theater! i was a little nervous about the cost. it is a commitment - an investment. but considering the entertainment value for my boys, it was really not that much.

At this point, considering the amount i would spend on entertainment without the Alaska Club, it really doesn’t make

sense to stop. truth be told, it probably saves me money. now the third thing i actively did to change my health - and this is the part that ensures success - i hired a personal trainer. the Alaska Club offered this as an upgrade, spreading the cost of my twice a week, 6 weeks of training over a year. this only increased my cost slightly each month, but the value it added to my health goals is immeasurable.

When you walk in, there are all these machines, and it’s intimidating. you can probably figure out how the machines work, but you also have to know how your body works. this is what personal trainers do, they train your person. they teach you proper form, and proper process; they will give you solid advice on diet choices. i am sure that i would have not made as much progress, and maybe given up in frustration, had i not hired a trainer. this article is my personal endorsement of the Alaska Club. i love it there. it’s my ‘me’ time. And if you’re a parent, you know how valuable that can be. i go nearly every day, put in my headphones, and go into my own little world. My kids come along, and are totally entertained.

How much is that worth?

Here’s something really important, and it may not pertain to you, but if it does…

i was an emotional wreck before i joined. i had gone through several years of trying and difficult circumstances. My marriage was falling apart, and i was eating my feelings.

And i had lots of feelings to eat. My life was in pieces. i kept eating. it was the only thing that made me feel better, but it also made me feel worse. it was a vicious cycle, and it was killing me. but after seeing my ‘before’ photo, i was fed up.

Going back to my earlier point about ‘going on a diet’, simply changing your diet will not drastically change how you feel. Physical activity causes a release of endorphins, the hormones that make you feel good. you don’t feel good simply because everything is going your way! its chemical. So really, my experience has been just the opposite. things started going my way because i felt good! And that’s a result of my decision to work out at the Alaska Club. if you’re struggling with your weight, and you have children, there really is no other choice but the Alaska Club. i don’t often take the time to personally endorse a local business. i only write this article because i can honestly say that it has changed my life.

And the best part of all, according to my youngest son, is that he can reach all the way around me with a hug!

Brotherly Love - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska i park in front of the house, turn off the car and walk toward the front door. it opens before i can ring the doorbell.

“Hey!” Mark exclaims with excitement to see me. it had been a challenging day at work, the ones that drain you, but in that instant his excitement rejuvenates me. there were no exceptional plans for our time that evening. in fact, the time together was going to be relatively short being a school night. Although i was eager to get going he invited me into the house, eager to show me his new snowboard, helmet, pants and about twenty other things - all of which i take genuine interest in. thirty minutes later, we are almost out the door, when Mark exclaims “oh! one more thing, i almost forgot,” and hands me a folded piece of paper with considerable pride in his eyes. opening it, i glance over a midterm report card from the middle school. “All A’s and one b,” he states, awaiting my response.

His earlier progress report suffered due to homework and attendance issues; i recognize his pride with the accomplishment of improving the

grades. i only hope he feels my pride as i give him a huge high five! before even driving ten feet towards my house across town i end up owing him a dollar because of a game we play. if the vehicle moves before my seatbelt is buckled and he calls “seatbelt” i pay up. it’s a great motivator for me to become more consistent with the act. Mark and i catch up on the drive since our last get together a week before.

My job involves a decent amount of travel so we do our best to seize even small opportunities like tonight and hang out. before reaching my place we have formulated a list of things to cram into our three hours.

Cooking dinner together is always a blast, watching how quickly Mark learns and something i enjoy as we talk about anything and everything in general, laughing as we go. Like most times his eyes are bigger than his stomach and i get chuckles watching him trying to finish all his food which, normally goes home in a doggy bag.

His great interest in outdoor sports is evident as he asks me to show him

various pieces of hunting, fishing and camping gear after dinner and before we sit down to do seventh grade math homework. For a 35 year old whose profession is Federal legal compliance in the outdoor retail industry i normally don’t have all the answers. instead, we end up working through the problems together in a race against the clock, so we can fit a few more activities in before i have to take him home. it never fails that we lose track of time and Mark is texting his mom to tell her we are on the way when he should actually be walking up to his front door.

As we pull up to the house our plans of attending a hockey game that Friday are finalized and i ask him to tell me how our homework turns out. “thanks for hanging out tonight, it was fun!” the exuberance in his voice punctuated by a slamming car door. He doesn’t realize how hard he closes car doors and i don’t care. it makes me laugh every time because it is done with the energy level of an excited twelve year old. As he turns and waves goodbye at the front door, i wonder if he knows how much of that energy and excitement rubs off on me.

on the solitary drive home i marvel at how much Mark and i can fit into a small amount of time. i also consider that we never seem have enough time. usually it’s just a few hours, a phone call, or a few texts but recognize that it all adds up. His mother tells me constantly how i have made such a positive difference in his life and i pray it’s true because i always end up feeling like the one benefitting from our time. i never considered the power of his impact on me as a big brother or how it would change my life with such little time investment on my part. i consider our hockey game on Friday with a smile. it will be another short amount of time; just an evening hanging out and i can’t wait! our time makes a difference in both of us.