The People's Paper May 2016

Contributed by Josh Fryfogle Publisher, The People’s Paper As this publication enters year 10, I consider the work that went into this business to keep it going these last 9 years.

I can’t help but consider the hard work of a man I never knew, Vaughn Fryfogle, Sr., who passed away on February 13, 1975 - over 40 years ago, before I was born.

So much time and heart and family goes into a business, and that’s what comes out of a business too.

If you work hard, like my great grandfather.

“Who Let The Girls Out, from inception to the last door closing late in the evening, is the product of many engaged and dedicated individuals...”

COMMUNITY

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35th Annual Alaska Scottish Highland Games Paint the Town,

at the Alaska State Fairgrounds

in Palmer, AK

These include: Massed Bands at opening and closing ceremonies both days, Saturday night Ceilidh with the ‘Wicked Tinkers’, children’s games, Tug-O-War competition, Clan Tents, Tea Tent, food & craft vendors and the ever popular scotch tasting events. We hope that people will join us both days for great family entertainment. We are expecting an even larger attendance than the previous year’s 7,500 people.”

Advertisers and vendors will benefit from this increased attendance.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for individuals or companies to support athletes, an event, or the games in general.

Contributed by Chris Anderson

events will be in the afternoons.

The Alaskan Scottish Club will host the 35th Annual Alaska Scottish Highland Games; featuring the World Championship Heavy Events June 25th and 26th at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.

The authorizing sanctioning body for this event is the International Highland Games Federation (IHGF), www.worldheavyevents.com

The new two-day format will allow the club to still host the Alaska Championship Amateur Competition as well as the featured Professional World Championships without overlapping the events.

Amateurs will throw in the mornings and the featured World Championship

This will bring the top 10 Professionals from around the world to Alaska.

“In addition to the amateur and professional athletic events, there will be piping and drumming competitions,” explains games Chairman, Brandon Talford.

“We have the full Highland Games with many other entertainments.

More information is available on the club’s website at alaskascottish.org Advance tickets can be purchased at alaskascottish.org or at the gate The Alaskan Scottish Club is a nonprofit organization established to promote the Scottish culture, heritage and teachings to the people of Alaska.

This is achieved this through events, workshops, concerts and other social gatherings in Alaska throughout the year.

Contributed by Chantel Welch Each year, NeighborWorks® Alaska brings community members together to work on local revitalization events, as a part of the National NeighborWorks® Week.

This year, we will be assisting the City of Palmer Public Works Department in staining and painting the Palmer Museum and Visitors Center at 723 S Valley Way, in palmer.

Join us on Thursday, June 9th starting at 8:00am in keeping our historic log cabin protected from the elements!

Wear your finest painting attire, and we’ll provide the rest.

Space is limited, please contact Chantel at cwelch@nwalaska.org or 677-8471 for more information

EDUCATION Alaska Students Receive $4,250 in Fair Scholarships Contributed by Alaska State Fair Five Alaska high school students will head off to college this fall with some extra funds in their bank accounts, thanks to the Alaska State Fair scholarship fund. The students, who are from across Alaska, received scholarship awards totaling $4,250 this spring. Every student who completed an application also received two free admissions to the 2016 Fair.

Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Alaska State Fair scholarship recipients, including: First place, $1,500: Victoria Cizek of Soldotna, Alaska. Cizek, a senior at Cook Inlet Academy, will attend Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Oregon this fall to study music technology/industry.

Second place, $1,000: Michelle Eliassen of Eagle River, Alaska. Eliassen, a senior at Chugiak High School, will attend the University of Alaska Anchorage this fall. A graduate of her school’s Spanish immersion program, Eliassen plans to minor in Spanish.

Third place, $750: Nathaniel Savel of Palmer, Alaska. Savel, a senior at Palmer High School, has

been accepted to both the University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He plans to pursue an associate’s degree in paramedic/fire science, as well as a bachelor’s degree in science.

scholarship applicants. We are always working to improve the Fair and the fairgoer experience, and appreciate the fresh perspectives shared by these students,” said Jerome Hertel, Fair general manager.

Fourth place, $500: Catherine Currier of Wasilla, Alaska. Currier, a senior at Wasilla High School, has been accepted into the medical laboratory science program at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

For example, Catherine Currier created a video explaining her idea to develop an educational scavenger hunt throughout the fairgrounds to better involve and educate young Alaskans.

Fifth place, $500: Kimberly Pikok of Barrow, Alaska. Pikok, a senior at Barrow High School, will attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks this fall, with a goal to receive a bachelor’s degree in business administration or environmental policy and return to live and work in rural Alaska.

The Fair scholarship application process is unique in that it asks students to submit an essay or creative project addressing one of four topics including: How the Fair can be of greater benefit to the state, ideas for a new “Free with Fair admission” event, how the Fair can improve its educational programming; and how the student would use a 12foot by 12-foot booth at the Fair.

“Every year, we are impressed with the creative ideas generated by our

“With doing this, we will educate the next generation, and therefore educate all generations after them,” Currier said.

Victoria Cizek would draw from her passion for music and her future music degree to open a “Make Your Own Music Video” booth at the Fair. “There is almost nothing more fun than goofing off with your friends and loved ones, especially at the Alaska State Fair.

This could be an enjoyable way for people to have an awesome video to remember the experience by,” Cizek said.

Michelle Eliassen would open a food booth called “Like Your Granny Makes It,” which would serve homemade pie milkshakes, along with other oldfashioned food items at an affordable price.

“I know, coming from a family of five, that the Fair can be expensive, so making it affordable for families is a huge deal to me,” Eliassen said.

One of Nathaniel Savel’s ideas for improving the fairgoer experience was developing themes for each of the Fair trails. For example, the “Dairy Trail” would feature vendors and activities that support the theme. “When you leave Dairy Trail, you should feel like you have just spent the last 20 years as a farmer yourself,” Savel said.

Kimberly Pikok shared her idea for displaying the culture, diversity and rich history of Alaska at the Fair by hosting a stage dedicated to cultural performances.

“There is no better way to educate fairgoers, citizens and visitors about cultures than to put on a live performance,” Pikok said.

The Fair scholarship program is open to all Alaska junior and senior high school students who plan to attend college or vocational school. A total of 43 students submitted applications for a Fair scholarship this spring.

Even more students will benefit from the Fair scholarship program in 2017.

An additional $2,500 was raised for scholarships at the Fair’s Concert KickOff Party in April.

The event unveiled the entertainment line-up for the Fair’s 2016 concert series, while raising money for the Fair scholarship fund. visit alaskastatefair.org

PETS & ANIMALS Adopt Farley Contributed by Tracy Smith, Animal Care Dispatcher Mat-Su Animal Care Shelter Farley (A059505) is a handsome 7 year old cattle dog/bull dog mix. He has demonstrated that he has a desire to please his human when he is being treated with respect and patience.

Farley loves to play fetch and will bring the fetched item back to you and lay it on the ground for more playtime.

Games like tug of war might not be best for Farley as it could lead to behavior problems.

He will sit on command, but also has a habit of wanting to jump up on you. He does promptly get down and we feel that he could easily be trained out of that habit with positive reinforcement.

He knows basic commands, but learned “wait” instead of “stay”.

Farley has a history in his former home of being growly when cornered or reprimanded in his kennel. Recently the family had adopted two new puppies and so the dynamic in the household had changed dramatically.

At the shelter Farley has not demonstrated any aggression, however situations can certainly influence behaviors. Shelter staff recommends that Farley be adopted to an experienced home. With his history, a home with no small children or other dogs might be best.

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Adopt Rocky Contributed by Tracy Smith, Animal Care Dispatcher Mat-Su Animal Care Shelter Rocky (A051358) is a 6 year old mixed breed. It’s possible that he is a pit/akita mix. Rocky is a house trained dog who is very cuddly. He does have a history of digging in the yard, but no history of escaping.

Rocky is medium energy, friendly, affectionate, playful and adventurous.

He has shown some unpredictable behavior around children in the past, and should go to a home that understands he should be monitored when around children that he knows, and restrained around children that he doesn’t know.

He has also shown some food aggression in the past. Rocky loves to run, sleep with his people and play.

He has been good around other dogs, cats and small animals. He knows the commands sit, stay, lay down, and come.

Meet Olaf Contributed by Angie Lewis Alaska Animal Advocates At just one year of age, Olaf is still very much a puppy. This sweet, playful, goofy, and very energetic Rottie Mix is a very fun character.

An active family would be perfect for this handsome guy. Olaf likes just about everyone - men, women, kids, other dogs. He does tend to chase kitties though, so it would be best for him live in a cat-free home. This silly guy doesn’t understand that he’s just too big to play with kitties! ​ For more information about this sweet guy, please e-mail aaarescue@yahoo.com

Adopt Zoey Contributed by Clear Creek Cat Rescue clearcreekcatrescue.org Zoey is a short hair muted tabby with lovely warm colors blended in--a torbie.

She is about 9 months old and still a little shy.

Zoey loves to be petted and will reward you with purrs. But she will take some time in her new home to get adjusted to strangers and a strange place.

She likes other cats and would like a cat friend to cuddle with.

She lso does well with dogs. She is playful with her friends when she feels comfortable and she will need a safe outside place to go to enjoy the sun and fresh air once she has settled in her new home and bonded with her family.

She is in foster in Wasilla: Call 863-1444

ZOEY IS CAT OF THE MONTH AND CAN BE ADOPTED TO A LOVING FAMILY FOR ONLY $30!

Contributed by Angie Lewis Alaska Animal Advocates A beautiful, lush lawn is certainly inviting, especially for Alaskans who yearn for greenery all winter long.

Unfortunately, beautiful lawns are often a result of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. Studies have shown a correlation between lawn chemicals and certain cancers found in dogs. Dogs are exposed to these chemicals by ingestion, inhalation, and absorption through their skin.

Clearly, you should not use chemical pesticides or herbicides on your lawn, nor should you allow a lawn care service to do so. Avoid products that contain insect growth regulators.

Before you allow your dog or cat to meander to a neighbor’s lawn, make certain that he or she does not use such products either.

If you think that your pet has rolled around on a chemically treated lawn, bathe him as soon as possible.

Also, if your pet has walked on grass that has been chemically treated, give him a foot soak. Hopefully, this will flush away any chemicals that he has been exposed to.

If you live in an apartment or duplex, and your pet has frequent access to a common lawn area that has been exposed to chemicals, try frequent watering down of a part of the lawn, to detox a patch of grass for your pet.

Switch to using organic, natural products to fertilize your lawn.

There are many products that focus on organic lawn care.

Research online for how to control weeds and promote healthy soil. Food and garden waste promotes healthy lawns, but be cautious about mulch containers that are not covered, as decomposing waste can make pets ill.

Chemical applications for lawn care are dangerous to your pets and to humans as well. Go natural!

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HEALTH & COMMUNITY

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7th Annual Contributed by Robin Minard, Director of Public Affairs

“The Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) recently opened a funding opportunity through its Healthy Impact grant program.”

Applications for this semi-annual program are being accepted through Friday, May 20, 2016.

Healthy Impact grants fund projects over $15,000 that improve the health and wellness of people living in the Mat-Su Borough. MSHF uses a two-part application process for Healthy Impact grants. The first phase of the process is the Project Pitch phase.

Contributed by Denise Statz In Palmer, when great things happen, it is because many hands come together to make light work!

Who Let The Girls Out, from inception to the last door closing late in the evening, is the product of many engaged and dedicated individuals.

This year new events (including a fabulous fashion show and a city wide quilt show) and new businesses (including Bleeding Heart Brewery, Optimum Performance Chiropractic, AK Frayed Knot, KC’s Corner, Palmer Picasso, Charlotte’s Flowers, Artists Uncorked and Car Deets) combined forces with long established neighbors MTA, MVFCU, Valley Hotel and Colony Inn, numerous retailers, restaurants and agencies throughout town to throw a party not soon to be forgotten.

Thanks to all who contributed,

The Project Pitch is completed online at healthymatsu.org and includes information about the organization that is applying and a description of the proposed project.

The Foundation reviews all pitches and then invites projects that most closely align with the Foundation’s funding goals to move forward to the full application phase.

Prospective grantees must provide services or benefits to Mat-Su residents and be qualified Alaska nonprofit.

501(c) organizations are classified as “not a private foundation” under section 509(a) of the Code.

In select cases, MSHF may choose to fund health-related projects undertaken by religious, governmental, educational or tribal agencies seeking partners for

participated and continue to come together to demonstrate that Palmer truly is “Alaska At Its Best” and a true destination.

Helping to set the stage for an exciting and fun day for passengers on the inaugural Who Let The Girls Out Event Train on the Alaska Railroad, were a group of hostesses chosen for their vibrant personalities and knowledge and dedication to Palmer.

The hostesses ensured everyone on board was equipped with a schedule of events, gift bags and refreshments to make the most of their day in downtown Palmer.

The events of the day were made complete with lively performances by many musicians who entertained the crowds at various locations throughout the day. A special thanks to Tim Carrick and LaMarr Anderson, also known as the “NonEssentials cellists.”

And last, but certainly not least, a HUGE thank you to all of the ladies that return

health-related initiatives that impact the broader Mat-Su community and extend beyond the traditional purpose and functions of these organizations.

All potential applicants are encouraged to visit the foundation’s website at healthymatsu.org to learn more about the grant process, who the foundation funds and does not fund, and to review its searchable grants database to see the types of projects that have been awarded in the past.

Although Healthy Impact grant requests must be in excess of $15,000, smaller grant amounts are considered continuously under the Foundation’s Target Wellness grant program.

Ride for a Cure Contributed by Glen Butts Join us for the 7th Annual Ride at the Alaska State Fairgrounds on June 26th We are having coffee and doughnuts at 9:30AM; the riding starts at 10AM. A BBQ & door prizes make this event fun for the entire family.

KMBQ & the MS Association are asking for a $25 donation per entry or ticket.

Contact Eddie for more information eddie.maxwell@ohanamediagroup.com

As with Healthy Impact grants, Target Wellness grants are applied for online www.healthymatsu.org

to downtown Palmer year after year, especially for Who Let The Girls Out.

Your laughter, friendships, participation and support of local businesses encourages us to go even bigger and better in 2017!

Sincerely, Denise Statz, on behalf of the Downtown Palmer Merchants Association P.S. Loren Statz, you are a wonderful man.

Thank you to all the musicians & artists who entertained all day!

ALTERNATE ROUTE OFF GEORGE PARKS HWY!

TURN LEFT ON S. MAcK DR. AND THEN RiGHT ON AviATiON AvE.

376-1211 | 3800 W Museum Drive, Wasilla

Follow Us On Facebook & Instagram

www.MuseumOfAlaska.org

HEALTH & WELLNESS Contributed by Dr. Anna Altiar In 1985, I went to a family wedding - a joyous occasion! My family arrived 3 days early so we could help and celebrate the festivities. The first thing I encountered was the bridegroom soaking his feet in a pan of “tea” that he claimed was the only relief he got from the awful foot pain.

He could not stand or walk without his shoes; his feet were so tender.

I took a look. His poor toes were overlapping and crunched like tissue paper after a birthday party. I asked “What size shoes do you wear?”

“Eight” he replied, adding, “I’ve always worn an 8.”

“Since when have you worn an 8?”

I asked.

Now you must know his answer: “Since 8th grade, always an 8.”

I asked about the tea and found it to be some sort detox tea and dried off one foot asking if I could massage it some which might give more relief.

He let me work on the foot, but flinched with each touch. Every fiber in his foot was inflamed because of keeping it cramped for many years.

His shoes were way too small for his manly frame.

I told him to go barefoot which was really difficult given his sensitivity.

Then we had a short talk about bigger shoes for his crunched up feet.

Sometimes, people cannot wrap their brains around another size shoe. He had worn that 8 for twenty years.

I once knew a woman who was always complimented about her “dainty feet”. She had her big toenails surgically removed rather than go to larger shoes. She had gained 50 pounds over the years, but buying bigger shoes was not considered an option.

Gravity plays a big part on shoe size.

There are 14 bones in each foot - 28 of the 208 bones in your entire body are in your feet for the purpose of movement. If feet are held stiff many problems can evolve. For example: Leg pain back pain, headaches, slow blood return, knee challenges, ankle swelling, fatigue, weight gain, Morton’s Neuroma, to mention a very few.

Pain is for a purpose. It means something needs to change.

When symptoms are left unsolved, they compound to get your attention. For instance, the ankle swelling can back up into the heart causing congestive heart problems.

It takes years and is painful but the warning signs are present. Be a good detective and figure it out.

The bridegroom listened and started with a size 9, that felt so good he went to a 10, then 11, and now considers a size 11 1/2 his true shoe size. Getting the right size shoes is of extreme importance for your general well-being. It sure was for him.

All of the muscles in the calves connect down in the bones of the feet, therefore, when the feet are freed up and movement restored, the calves have to let go too. Many people have these symptoms and have been helped by just getting bigger shoes.

If your toes are not stretched out in your shoes, chances are, you need

HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 5

bigger shoes. Often, folks go wider, but usually that is not the right answer. If your foot is “slopping” over the sole of the shoe, longer shoes will work better.

Remember... Movement is the key purpose of feet.

I have had hundreds of patients with this same “8th Grade Shoes Syndrome.”

I was my first patient. The podiatrist wanted to cut the nerves in my feet so the pain would stop. He called it Morton’s Neuroma and I was so glad it had a name and he knew what was wrong.

Since I was a tap dance teacher in my early 20’s, that solution didn’t set with me. Thank goodness. I started massaging my feet and went from a size 4 (as I had worn in 8th grade) to my present 6 1/2 and the Morton’s Neuroma disappeared.

It has been years since I have felt that horrible constant aching that went up my legs and into my back - that electric horrible pain of stepping onto my feet first thing in the morning.

There is only one pair of blue velvet shoes with rhinestones across the toes that I would still like to have in my closet. They were so pretty, but I have learned that pretty is as pretty does and wearing those shoes sure hurt my feet! I can make the sacrifice, there are other shoes to buy.

If you want your feet checked out or a 2nd opinion, I would love to help you solve the mysteries of your pain problems. I like this type of detective work.

Dr. Anna Altair is a Chiropractic Physician in Mat-Su borough since 2004.

Her Clinic is located on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway in the Regan Building.

Research has shown many benefits including: - Healthy Immune function

Contributed by Dori Cranmore Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a polypore mushroom that starts its life as a spore and finds its way to a weakness in a living tree, (birch trees in colder northern climates) where it grows and stores betulinic acid, beta glucans, beta carotines and a large number of vitamins and phyto-nutrients, converting them to a useable form for humans and animals.

Betulin is the white shiny powdery material that is easily identified in and on the bark of a Birch tree. The stored betulin and betulinic acid can help to build the strength of the liver and reduce inflammation. It also contains B vitamins, phenols, enzymes, polysaccharides and minerals such as copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and iron.

It’s also one of the world’s densest sources of pantothenic acid. We need pantothenic acid to synthesize and metabolize proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Chaga works to prevent cellular damage before it happens, leav-

ing the immune system free to deal with more serious health issues. In Russia, they believe that the higher the chaga specimen on the tree, the higher betulitic acid content it has.

Chaga tea is used in the Russian folk medicine for a wide treatment of ailments including skin, lung and stomach cancer, gastritis, ulcers, TB and pain. Chaga extract has been an approved cancer drug in Russia since 1955.

The best time to harvest chaga is mid-July to mid-November in Alaska. If a hatchet is used always stay straight with the line of the tree.

The tree will grow another specimen ready for harvest in 3 to 5 years.

Break the chaga into small pieces to dry or it will mold.

Making Chaga tea is simple. Place chaga in a pot and steep it. Chaga tea should be the color of dark coffee. Many keep it on low in a crock pot or on a wood stove and add more chaga as the tea loses its color. Drinking 3-4 cups a day gives the most medicinal value, but any amount is beneficial.

- Energy and stamina - Anti-inflammatory - Skin and body cell regeneration - Apoptosis (cancer cell death) - Supports healthy digestive system - Vitamins and phyto-nutrients - Helps regulate blood sugar - Adaptogen - no known side effects

Alaskan Chaga chunks, powder, tea bags, chaga lotion, white chaga java, chaga chocolate bars and chaga extract is available at All About Herbs, Inc. Recommended reading: “Chaga King of the Medicinal Mushrooms”

by David Wolfe (available at All About Herbs,Inc.)

APPAREL All Seasons Clothing Co. ...... 357-0123 Growing Spurts .................... 376-4404 ART & CRAFTS Stamp Cache ........................ 745-4848 The Gallery .......................... 745-1420 BUSINESS & MARKETING SeaStar Strategies ............... 745-6127 www.SeastarStrategies.com CAFÉ & COFFEE Gathering Grounds .............. 376-4404 FLOWERS & GIFTS Charlotte’s Flowers ............ 745-5550 HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ................... 376-8327 HOME DECOR Cover Ups Designs .............. 746-4739 REPAIR, RESTORATION Comtronics .......................... 373-2669 SMOKE SHOPS Alaska Pipe Dreams ............ 746-1500 SPECIALTY GIFTS NonEssentials ...................... 745-2258 Silvertip Design ................... 745-2902 THRIFT SHOPS Red Barn Thrift Store ........... 745-5050 Saving Grace Thrift Store ..... 414-8643 3060 N Lazy Eight Ct., Palmer AK Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ...... 376-5708

COMMUNITY / INSPIRATIONAL Contributed by Antiqua Lisha Being a visionary, leader and innovator takes extreme guts. I am not talking about people who necessarily are in leadership roles in organizations, following a template created by someone else.

I am speaking to the innovators, dreamers and out of the box thinkers who create the organizations and templates that the managers, VP’s and everyone else then follows.

It takes guts to lead because people question you, as odd as it sounds people don’t like to get out of the box and usually we are so in the box that we don’t even know we are in it.

An example of a leader is one who pushes the edge so much that the edge pushes back. Leaders tend to be ridiculed, even killed for their expanded

views, like Shakespeare, Galileo, even Jesus. To be a leader you have to stand on your own, think for yourself and have faith not only in the facts but in the dreams, possibilities and the unseen.

Some people are born to lead but being a leader is a practice that starts with a deep and profound relationship with yourself.

If Jesus didn’t trust himself then he would not have broken so many rules and gone against the norm. There are many examples of him sitting in silence, listening within to hear the answers he then shared.

The same for Tesla who is finally getting recognized for the amazing breakthroughs in electricity, and Einstein, who would lock himself away for days to sit in silence and search his soul for universal answers.

Some people thought him crazy and now we can explain gravity.

I get the pleasure of coaching leaders from around the world not to lead others but to know themselves, which allows them to trust the inspiration they imagine and share new idea’s with their world. It’s fabulous seeing their businesses and breakthroughs and helping them open up to how they will share their wisdom.

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You can learn more about your power zones at AntiquaLisha.com and/or join me at the Lipstick and Leadership talk on May 21st.

I am going to be speaking about the power you have when you know the core of you and step into true self-confidence, the foundation of leadership.

Right here in the valley, in May I get to speak at the Lipstick and Leadership event for women about the guts and grit it takes to be a leading lady and what stands between most people in leadership roles from truly leading; May 21st.

The number one block that keeps my clients up at night is the fear of dying with their message still in them and not living up to their big dreams. The cure for this blocking fear that keeps so many born leaders in pain, wishing, wondering how and procrastinating is self-defining confidence in all 6 of your power zones.

reflected a deep respect for what was right.

If you work hard like my great grandfather, Vaughn Franklin Fryfogle, Sr. He started a business in small town Mississippi: V.F. Fryfogle’s Hardware.

From that lifestyle sprung a tradition of business ownership in my family. Of course, that was more common then, when my great grandad was in business, before corporate interests “invested” so heavily in our communities...

I would walk in, and these older folks would look me up and down, and ask, “Who’s boy are you?” They knew I was a Fryfogle, by family features, so they didn’t bother confirming. They just wanted to know which of my Great Grandfather’s sons I had descended from. I would oblige politely, and they would always take the time to tell me how much they respected him, by telling me something about him.

But I digress.

“Hardest working man I knew!”

He was a “Yankee” in small town Mississippi, something that would certainly present some obstacles to success. Still he was accepted and admired, despite his unorthodox religion, German heritage, or Yankee roots. My Pawpaw Fryfogle would only attend Jehovah’s Witness meetings, because the other church groups at the time were still segregated. He donated the land for their Kingdom Hall, and the materials from his hardware, and built it too. But he was a freethinker, refusing to be baptized into their organization.

“An honest man.”

Before he opened the hardware store, he built houses all over the area, tearing down old buildings and reusing the lumber and nails. He learned efficiency when times were tough, learning to work hard and smart. The Great Depression was during the prime of his life, and he was the product of that time.

Looking back on my teens and early twenties - a life of ease compared to my grandfather’s boyhood - the time I spent working for family, I see how much it shaped me.

I worked with a man named T.A. Rampshure, who knew my great grandfather very well. He worked for him in that old hardware store. He installed carpet and vinyl flooring back then, a subcontractor for my Pawpaw Fryfogle, and continued to do so throughout his life. T.A. taught me to install flooring, and paid me a percentage by the yard. He taught me to hustle.

T.A. expected a lot of me.

T.A. was working primarily for older folks in the community, by the time I came to work for him at around 16 years old. As his helper, I hauled the tools, did all the running to and from, heavy lifting, and learned the skills of a carpet mechanic along the way. Still, I learned something more than that.

Helping T.A. allowed me to work in the homes of the elders of that community.

The people who requested T.A.’s services were usually of that generation, my great grandad’s generation; his customers from the old hardware.

“All business!”

“You could set your clock by him. He was dependable.”

The compliments and admiration from these elders, heaped upon my young head as if it were my inheritance, was a heavy burden to me because I was none of those things that they said about my Great Grandad. I was a reprobate, school dropout, good for nothing, dishonest, untrustworthy kid who only worked because I had to. I did not appreciate those accolades then, at least not for what they were. I might have pretended I was worthy for a moment or two, basking in the glow of someone else’s accomplishments. But I always knew it wasn’t deserved.

These elders expected a lot of me.

T.A. would always nod along in agreement during these predictable conversations.

These people who knew my great grandfather, they spoke so highly of him.

They didn’t bring up his material wealth, but they did talk about his character, his unique characteristics, what made him someone to remember. His financial security was a side note in his legacy; wealth was a side effect of his worth.

This alludes to something special for me. My grandfather built a good business as a result of his conscious character development. No one spoke of his failures when he was gone.

They were forgotten. His business was remembered, but only for context in storytelling.

He died digging a fencepost. He died working. I’ve been told this by so many, a common theme after recollecting their unique stories. His death was the perfect symbol of the man I never knew.

A simple, hardworking inheritance - a spiritual blessing of physical burden.

Years later the hardware store burned down. All his worldly wealth, consumed in a column of flame. Yet his memory is still here, his soul beyond the reach of

that fire, eternal life.

Later on in life, I was told that my Pawpaw Fryfogle spent time in Oakley Training School in Oakley, Mississippi.

Apparently he was a troubled youth, much like I had been. But that is certainly not how he is remembered. He was remembered in other ways...

During hurricane Camille, the most damaging hurricane on the Gulf Coast until Katrina, he reduced prices, rather than raise prices like other suppliers had done.

He was driven. He talked fast, and wrote faster. He was in a bad wreck when he was 13. He couldn’t walk for a few weeks. According to family, he promised God if he could walk again, he would never slow down. And he did walk again, and he didn’t slow down.

He wore grey and brown work clothing, Deecee work clothing, and a leather belt every day. He was humble and reserved in his appearance. Practical.

He didn’t believe in having carpet in his car. Luxurious and extravagant. He rarely ate steak - again, a luxury.

He would serve his customers personally. He walked faster in that old hardware store than most jog. Every customer was treated the same, even if they were there for a simple bolt. He didn’t point a customer in the right direction, but led them there, quickly.

He was a man in charge, no matter where he went.

He forgave all debts over seven years, because it was Biblical. He would not sue over debt.

He could take a square and compass and design anything, and solve any math problem. He was a mathematical wiz, using that skill in his craft and a builder, and later in his hardware business.

He had hands like baseball mitts, rough and wide. He used them like tools, doing work.

When he died, his room looked perfect, like no one lived there. It was in perfect order.

He paid retail for what he wanted, and he never knew anything other than shopping locally.

Clearly, my great grandad lived by a code. He believed certain things to be true, and he acted on those truths. He stood up to convention, but conformed completely to hard work and humble living. He was no social justice warrior, but his day-to-day actions and behaviors

I am amazed how a man can reach into his great grandson’s heart, across time and space, and obligate my conscience.

To carry that burden with me, willfully, so that it might help my sons, and their sons, and even their sons - this is my opportunity as a man. Doing my absolute best, accepting my failures along the way. I hope the memories of my own human weakness die along with my mortal body, and that only my struggle and effort for good might obligate my own grandchildren, my great grandad’s grandchildren, to do the same.

I never knew my Great Grandfather, but I grew up knowing that he was great.

Business is our moral fiber, it is the medium of our communal interdependence. It is so much more than a way to make money. It ties us together. Imagine how different your community would be if you had to deal with a community of neighbors to supply your needs. How would that affect the culture? To really know your neighbors, their weaknesses and strengths, and to build a community together! What stories would people remember?

How many memories are never made because we’ve lost this medium of community interaction?

That is at the heart of this Vote Local campaign, the core issue. Locally owned business is community. We learn to communicate with each other when we trade with each other.

We learn to shake hands, make eye contact, read body language and other subtle communication skills, set aside differences for the good of the community, and work together for stability.

This is the natural expression of humanity, and the self-checkout, selfserve, foreign-sourced economy that we currently live in is artificial. In Alaska we see that the oil economy is on the skids, we know it’s coming.

So what’s our plan? Mass exodus of workers looking for opportunity elsewhere could very likely be in our near future. A population decrease can and may indeed happen - what then?

And the larger national economy, and still larger international economy are also vulnerable to inherent weaknesses in the macroeconomic system that supplies our needs.

Investing in locally owned business is an investment in our own future.

Let’s not forget our past. Let’s do something in the present.

Vote Local!

POLITICS

COMMUNITY & POLITICS PAGE 7

Contributed by Governor Bill Walker

fastest growing region in Alaska and are now the second largest community in the state.

Dear Editor,

This growth is occurring all over the Mat-Su Borough. New schools and businesses are being opened, new construction and roads are in the works and Alaska’s only indoor fun center is soon to be completed. To ensure this continued growth, Mat-Su and all of Alaska needs reliability.

I’d like to thank the Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly and the Houston City Council for your resolutions in support of legislative action this year to bring the state’s budget into balance.

Thank you for your leadership in these challenging times.

I also appreciate the dozens of letters and comments I’ve received from MatSu residents supporting such action or suggesting constructive alternatives.

I’m a builder, and my ultimate vision is to build Alaska. The Mat-Su knows how to build. You have consistently been the

I have a vision for Alaska that’s very different from where we are right now. A vision where we’re not worried about balancing the budget, or what the price of oil is today. An Alaska that is not tied to the rollercoaster economy we have seen so many times before.

But first, we have to deal with our budget challenge. When I came into office, the price of oil started falling like a rock – it dropped 51 percent in 81

days. It was unprecedented. In the last two years, Alaska lost three-quarters of our income. We have a deficit of $4 billion. It’s just not sustainable.

You can’t run a business this way, you can’t run a family this way, and you certainly can’t run a state this way.

The good news is, we have options – and we have a plan. The plan calls for spending reductions, an annual sustainable draw from the permanent fund earnings and additional revenues.

I don’t like taxes or changes to my dividend any more than the next guy. But we Alaskans enjoy the lowest individual taxes in the nation.

Changes to our tax structure ensure that everyone who enjoys the benefits our state provides, including outof-state workers, contributes to the solution.

Service Connected Disability Insurance Contributed by Major Mike Dryden, AVN USAR Retired If you have just received your VA disability notice, you should take advantage of the VA’s disability insurance plan. Veterans who are granted a service-connected disability but are otherwise in good health may apply to VA for up to $10,000 life insurance coverage. The following is a summary of Service Disabled Veterans Insurance: SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS INSURANCE The Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) program was established in 1951 to meet the insurance needs of certain veterans with service connected disabilities.

S-DVI is available in a variety of permanent plans as well as term insurance. Policies are issued for a maximum face amount of $10,000.

Veterans who are granted a serviceconnected disability but are otherwise in good health may apply to VA for up to $10,000 in life insurance coverage

Contributed by Anonymous Thank you SB 91…

As a convict, I want to thank you especially for Sections 23 and 24 of the latest version offered on April 29, 2016.

Thank you SB 91…

Thank you that violating my bail conditions will no longer be a crime punishable by jail time once you become law in the near future.

Violating my bail conditions will be a violation, a minor offense, similar to a speeding ticket. I will have much less to worry about when I’m caught breaking my bail conditions. If they can even catch me at all.

Right now if I’m on bail conditions in a felony case and I violate one of the conditions imposed by the judge, the maximum time I can be sentenced to if convicted of Violation of Condition of Release (VCR) per Alaska Statute 11.56.757(a)(1) is one year in jail.

If I’m on bail conditions in a

at standard insurance rates within two years from the date VA notifies the veteran that the disability has been rated as service-connected. This insurance is limited to veterans who left service after April 24, 1951.

Veterans who are totally disabled may apply for a waiver of premiums. For those who are eligible for this waiver, an additional policy of up to $20,000 is available. Premiums, however, cannot be waived on the additional insurance.

You are eligible if: -- You were released from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions on or after April 25, 1951 -- You were rated for a serviceconnected disability (even if only 0%) -- You are in good health except for any service-connected conditions -- You apply within 2 years from the date VA grants your new serviceconnected disability ELIGIBILITY, SUPPLEMENTAL S-DVI The Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010, provided for $30,000 of supplemental coverage to S-DVI policyholders.

Premiums may not be waived on this supplemental coverage.

misdemeanor case, the maximum I face if the State files a VCR charge is 90 days and 6 months if the Municipality of Anchorage files the charge. There is no minimum mandatory jail time for VCR under State statute or MOA ordinance.

But soon after you are passed, I will be getting no jail time for intentionally violating my bail conditions.

Instead, the maximum penalty I will be given will be a $1000 fine; probably meaning I’ll be fined somewhere between $100 and $500 for my first two or three violations.

Even better, I’m hopeful that police will not even take the time to give me a citation for this violation as their time will be better spent fighting crimes that are actually crimes.

Let’s say I’m charged with misdemeanor assault for punching my spouse in the face because I got into an argument after having a bit too much to drink.

Right now, the judge would probably give some bail conditions like these: No consumption or possession of alcohol or drugs, no bars, no liquor stores, no contact (direct or indirect) with the victim, and no going back to the residence of the victim.

S-DVI policyholders are eligible for this supplemental coverage if: -- They are eligible for a waiver of premiums.

-- They apply for the coverage within one year from notice of the grant of waiver.

-- They are under age 65.

To apply for Supplemental S-DVI, you must file VA Form 29-0189, Application for Supplemental Service-Disabled Veterans (RH) Life Insurance or send a letter requesting this insurance over your signature.

The only solution I won’t entertain is doing nothing. That puts us on a course to drain our constitutional budget reserve in two years, and drain the earnings reserve less than two years later. That means no more dividend checks in less than four years, and we’ll be in a world of hurt.

The situation requires politically uncomfortable decisions. I thank MatSu leaders for recognizing that there is no free lunch.

By pulling together, we have the tools to solve our budget challenge.

Then we can go on to diversify our economy, expand our agricultural opportunities, build and strengthen our infrastructure, and invest in Alaska and Alaskans.

Sincerely, Governor Bill Walker

Veterans Affairs (VA) must receive an application for payment of Gratuitous S-DVI within two years from the date of the Veteran’s death.

If the person making the claim is mentally or legally incompetent, and did not file the claim in time, VA can receive the application within one year after incompetency ends.

PREMIUMS FOR S-DVI INSURANCE Premiums are based on your age and amount of coverage you purchase.

Before you apply for S-DVI coverage, you should compare the premium rates to commercial insurance companies.

You must apply for the coverage within one year from notice of the grant of waiver of premiums.

If your disability is not serious, you may be able to find better rates from a commercial company.

GRATUITOUS S-DVI: Gratuitous Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) is granted posthumously to Veterans who: -- Met the basic eligibility requirements for S-DVI. -- Did not apply for S-DVI because of a continued mental incompetence due to a service connected disability.

-- Died before the appointment of a guardian or within two years of such appointment.

Under certain conditions, the basic S-DVI policy provides for a waiver of premiums in case of total disability.

Policyholders who carry the basic S-DVI coverage and who become eligible for a waiver of premiums due to total disability can apply for and be granted additional Supplemental S-DVI of up to $30,000.

Thanks to SB 91, I can do all of these things and not get charged with a separate crime. Yes if the police catch me, I can be taken to jail on my assault case; but prosecutors will no longer be able to charge me with the separate crime of VCR.

an accurate picture of how often I will violate my bail conditions in the future. Violation of Condition of Release will soon be a violation, a minor offense. APSIN, the Alaska Public Safety Information Network, is used by State Troopers and other law enforcement officers across Alaska, including prosecutors, to run criminal background checks on suspects and defendants.

Thank you SB 91…

For weakening the position of prosecutors. Right now if I violate my bail conditions prosecutors can charge me with an additional crime, giving them more leverage to force me to take a deal from them.

By a deal, I mean a plea and sentencing agreement where I give up my trial and appellate rights on one or more charges in exchange for a specific amount of jail time related to those charges.

But when you are signed into law, neither me nor my defense attorney will have to negotiate this charge with prosecutors any longer since prosecutors will not be resolving Violation of Condition of Release charges any longer. Instead this will likely be left in the hands of the police for the most part, just like traffic tickets.

Thank you SB 91…

For making it very tough for judges and prosecutors to be able to get

For more information, go to www.VA.gov

APSIN shows prior criminal convictions within the State as well as arrests for crimes. APSIN access can also be used to access Alaska driving records. Minor offenses are not typically tracked by APSIN unless they are driving-related.

So it appears unlikely that APSIN will track convictions of Violation of Condition of Release once you transition it to a minor offense.

In other words, five years from now at my arraignment on a new felony offense, if I have accumulated 10 convictions of the minor offense of Violation of Condition of Release between now and then, the judge and the prosecutor are likely to never know.

Thank you Senate Bill 91!

Sincerely, Convict Conn

The Mayor of Palmer, DeLena Johnson, Cares What YOU Think!

FAMILY & COMMUNITY Parenting: Technology War Contributed by Gordon Fletcher Owner, Humdingers Gourmet Pizza

What’s with children; making our lives sheer joy one moment and utter chaos the next? I can only speak for myself and while I don’t want to brag, I was a pretty great kid. I didn’t party. I never did drugs. I grew up in the valley and have never smoked weed. Nearly miraculous I know.

Don’t get me wrong I am fortunate and have been blessed with some pretty amazing children. Parenting has not been without its challenges, especially in this incredible age of technology. Are there parents out there who ever feel like they are in an episode of Spy vs. Spy when it comes to keeping tabs on their children’s online and iPod activity? I don’t think I am the only one.

I have learned some great tricks and tips to help parents win this new cold war of technological, familial, espionage and your children will rue the day you read this!

The First Trick has a preface. The greatest obstacle I have found in parenting is unarticulated expectations. I have to let my children know what I expect. We all have a picture in our minds of what nearly everything is, “supposed” to look

Contributed by Michelle Overstreet My House offers transitional housing for young adults age 18-24. With a grant from Alaska Housing for one 4 bedroom housing unit, we ask our residents to pay rent for their housing, and by doing so we were able to leverage one housing unit into three, so we have housing for 15 clients rather than 5.

Rules for the house are clear: Everybody pays rent. Everybody has to have a job.

No drugs or alcohol allowed, period.

We reserve the right to search rooms and drug test at any time. Nobody is allowed at the house between 10am and 4pm unless working a night shift and sleeping during the day. If clients

like. It shows up at work. It shows up in our friendships. It even shows up in our marriages. The hard part is articulating those images of what ought to be.

Trick One: Let your children know what you expect. It is hard to enforce uncommunicated ground rules without embittering your children. Make sure they come to you to ask which applications are appropriate to download, which shows are appropriate to view and educate them on the dangers of shared online information.

Come to an agreement with your children on these ground rules so, if and when they violate the rules they not only understand the consequences but you have leverage when the debate begins about what is fair and unfair. If they break the agreed ground rules they will only have themselves to blame for the consequences.

Trick Two: Always inspect what you expect. I don’t inspect my children’s iPods or check their Netflix viewing routinely. If I did there would be no true litmus test of their integrity. I inspect randomly.

Sometimes in the middle of the day and occasionally in the middle of the night.

There is no set time for them to hand in their devices for inspection. I check their messages, the history on their web browsing. I inspect new applications and research the function of the new applications.

COMMUNITY PAGE 8

My third trick is simple: Know your technology. Educate yourself on setting up different user accounts on Netflix. While our family only pays for one subscription of Netflix we have five profiles, one for each member of our family. After setting up the account profiles you have the ability to access the viewing history of each profile.

Set up is easy and convenient for each member to access their particular shows. It is also convenient for parents to hold the entire crew accountable on usage and content.

Another technology at our fingertips is Apple’s parental controls. Restrictions can be set fairly easily and customized to your particular ground rules. We have ground rules in place that none of our children are to have Snapchat. Any application that deletes the message instantly makes me nervous. It is designed to be a parental bypass and it is prohibited in our house. Facebook, Instagram and message applications are allowed, but not behind closed doors and devices sit on the refrigerator every night before bedtime.

This second trick accomplishes several things: It tests their integrity, it informs me of data usage and which of my three children consumes the most and above all, it reinforces the ground rules they have agreed to.

I questioned the integrity of one child because snapchat continued to appear on their iPod. I went into the iPod and set the restrictions to give the ability to download applications but not delete them. My child was downloading the app but deleting it quickly, prior to my random inspections. Needless to say, their desperate attempt to “reset” their iPod on the home computer didn’t faze me. I found the app; they lost the privilege of having the iPod because they broke our ground rule agreement.

Parental controls are at our disposal, be creative, set a good passcode and hold your crew accountable.

At this point in reading you may think me to be overbearing and perhaps invasive in my approach and I am okay with that. You set the rules. Whatever system you put in place should match the dynamic of your family. I am sharing what works with mine.

My fourth trick is probably the most difficult: Give your crew a safe place to fail. While each of my children have failed the technological test a few times, I do not shame them for doing so. I reason with my children by asking them questions directing them back

are not working, then they are expected to be out doing community service.

There are NO visitors allowed, period.

Violating this rule will get you evicted.

This is for the safety of our clients who are survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, or those who have been trafficked.

cameras that can be monitored on cell phones. While this may sound invasive, it is a safety feature that is appreciated by many residents. We are grateful to Northern Industrial Technology for the donation of the security cameras and monitoring system, and to Valkyrie Security for donating the installation and software to monitor.

When they pay rent, clients earn a rental history that allows us to become a reference for more permanent housing when they are ready to transition out. It also encourages them to adopt a budget for their income and prepare for using at least a third of their income for housing. .

Our housing case manager who comes and goes from housing, is able to offer rides at certain times of the day and monitor what is going on when not present through the use of security

So far, we have housed 44 individuals overall. We have had 19 successful transitions and ALL those clients are still in safe and sustainable housing! There are 10 clients still in housing, and five who left but returned-usually after getting clean and sober. We have had 14 total evictions, which were due to substance abuse issues (8), mental health issues (2), both mental health and substance abuse issues (3) and one went back to jail. Nine of the 14 who were evicted were successfully referred for services

attendees. These are college-level courses and provide Continuing Contributed by Mat-Su Coalition for Suicide Prevention The Alaska Trauma Center in partnership with the Mat-Su Coalition for Suicide Prevention will be hosting the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Awareness Symposium in the Mat-Su Valley June 7-10 to raise awareness of this preventable cause of death in our state.

While suicide is the 10th cause of death in this country, it is unfortunately the 5th leading cause of death here in Alaska and is the #1 cause in people aged 15-34 and the 2nd leading cause

in ages 35-54. We believe suicide IS preventable with the help of each of us.

Since this is a community problem, we believe that by educating as many members of the community as possible we may stem this horrific trend.

This symposium offers training on suicide prevention, intervention and post-vention with the hope that by educating a team of community members about the risk factors, along with signs and symptoms, we can raise awareness of this preventable cause of death in Alaska.

This training is offered at no cost to

Education credit to professionals attending, and are open to the public as well, anyone wishing to learn more about suicide prevention in Alaska.

Those wishing to help us fund this symposium are urged to visit www.gofundme.com/https-aktrauma.

Fully funded, we will be able to provide training for 100 members of the Alaskan community who will, in turn, be able to share this information with others in Alaska.

For more information or to register for this symposium, please email secretary-symposium@gmail.com

to their own actions and helping them understand the error in their, “thinking”, which caused the behavior and lead to a breach in trust. Our children have to know they can fail at home. While we do not invite intentional failure, we do understand it is an inevitability. Do your best to respond and not react. If you are like me and can be swept away with the emotion of the moment, do yourself and your children a huge favor and process before having that imminently uncomfortable conversation. Plan out your arguments so you can calmly articulate and reinforce those broken expectations. Make sure you convey your love for them more than your disappointment in their actions.

Along with these tricks let me leave you with one thing for consideration: Know the law and communicate it to your children. We’ve had the “sexting” conversation with our children. Because technology is readily available, easily accessible and selfies can be sent in a moment’s notice, the legal ramifications are vast.

If an underage individual sends a nude pic via text, messenger, snap chat or any plethora of apps, they have essentially disseminated child pornography. That picture becomes evidence of a serious crime and anyone passing that pic along becomes guilty of disseminating illegal pornographic material.

The chain of custody can involve hundreds of unwitting individuals, regardless of how quickly it may be removed from your child’s device.

Educating your crew about the dangers of sexting, it can save you.

In the long run, we are both the first and the last line of defense in our children’s lives. Let us be diligent in the task of preparing this next generation of really decent individuals.

Be encouraging, be gentle, be loving, be kind and most of all be cunning, you’ll need it!

to help with the challenges that caused the eviction.

Of the clients successfully transitioning: Two left housing to attend college, and three went to Job Corps for continued training. Two clients currently in housing are attending college, and almost all are in training programs of some kind and completing high school or a GED equivalent.

With 29 of the total 44 having success at “adulting” with regard to housing, education and job training goals being met, we feel like the first year has been successful!

Thank you Alaska Housing, Northern Industrial Training and Valkyrie Security!

We are so proud to have your partnership!

COMMUNITY

community PAGE 9

“With this policy, we are asking fairgoers who choose to smoke to do it far enough away from those who choose not to smoke. The smoke-free policy clarifies what that distance should be,” Hertel said.

Contributed by The Alaska State Fair The annual Alaska State Fair is going smoke-free in 2016! The Fair’s new smoke-free policy was adopted earlier this year, and will take effect at the 2016 event, to be held August 25 – September 5.

“It’s not about the right to smoke but about the right to not have to breathe second-hand smoke. Smoking is an active choice. Breathing second-hand smoke is not,” said Jerome Hertel, Fair general manager.

Hertel added that the policy will decrease smoking-related litter and

accidents; decrease the negative effects related to second-hand smoke, which is an established cause of cancer and respiratory disease; and discourage smoking around non-tobacco users, especially children.

The Fair’s decision follows a state and nationwide trend of “smoke-free” businesses and organizations.

The Fair took a first step toward becoming smoke-free during the 2015 event, when it implemented a one-day, fairground-wide no smoking policy in conjunction with Wellness Day. Numerous community partners, including Breathe Free Mat-Su, American Lung Association in Alaska, Alaska Family Services, Set Free Alaska and the American Heart Association,

support the Fair’s decision to become smoke-free.

“We applauded the Alaska State Fair for having a smoke-free day in 2015, and we are even more excited that this year the clean air will last throughout the event,” said Mat-Su Health Foundation Executive Director Elizabeth Ripley.

“Smoke-free environments do more than protect the health of everyone who experiences them. They also change social norms about smoking, which leads to improved health for all.”

Under the new policy, during the annual Fair event, smoking is not permitted anywhere within fenced common areas of the fairgrounds property. Smoking is also not permitted within 40 feet of the main gated entrances to the Fair.

The smoke-free policy applies to tobacco products and/or vapors from electronic smoking devices. Specifically, it prohibits carrying, holding, inhaling or exhaling the smoke of a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, plant material, or of any other lighted or heated smoking equipment, including e-cigarettes that create a vapor or any other oral smoking device.

Compliance with the smoke-free Fair policy is mandatory for all employees, exhibitors, vendors, volunteers, performers and patrons visiting the Fair.

Look for smoke-free signage at Fair gate entrances and other prominent places on the fairgrounds.

“BE SMOKE FREE/Thanks for not smoking buttons.” will also be available at Fair gates for fairgoers wishing to express support for a smoke-free Fair.

Cabin Builders Contributed by Dick Palmatier Lost! Now where did I put that? I’ve already checked my pockets.

Not there. But where?

How about that top drawer in my bedroom dresser? Hope. That junk drawer in the kitchen? Nope. The junk shelf in the garage? Foiled again. Where next?

The glove compartment in the car! Not there.

Okay, now it’s looking like it’s going to be tough. I know. I’ll go, retrace my steps from this morning. Not on the bedroom floor. Kitchen? Not there. I walked the dog, remember? Alright, outside I go! Should I take the dog along? Silly me! All he knows is how to sniff for other dogs’ pro-offerings.

Now, I’m back from the repeat-walk.

No luck. Guess I’ll sit a little while, relax and think. Not good, I’m snoozing. Get

up Dick, and find it before it’s gone forever.

and I could relax, and stop looking for what seems to be awfully hard to find.

Should I ask anyone if they’ve seen it? Nah, I misplaced it and no one else had a part in it. Hope I don’t have to go all day without it - the days are long enough as it is.

What do you think?

Perhaps, I should just read a bit and hope its whereabouts might pop into my head. Sounds good but, hell no! I can’t read anything without it. Drat! I wish I had taken better care of it.

“Who, me? I don’t know.

I’m the one who lost it!”

Nuts!! I’ll make a real concerted effort and check everywhere again and - oh, look!

There it is! Right where I’ve searched so many times before.

That’s it! I’m going to find it if I have to tear the house and yard apart. Now, that’s the gumption I should have had before I lost it. Here goes, except it’s kinda hard getting out of this comfortable chair, just to look for it.

Now, I can read, at least for another day. Hope I can hang on to it this time.

It is kind of precious.

Maybe, I can figure a way to get along without it? Who would it hurt? Life would go on for all those around me

Sometimes it’s tough being 86 years old with a mind that tends to get lost.

This chair is comfortable and this is book is a good one.

“The Hunting Grounds is a documentary emphasizing the frequency and severity of sexual assault, and how it is inadequately handled by college administrations.”

Contributed by Brandi Kinney Have you or someone you know been sexually assaulted? What would you say constitutes as a form of sexual assault?

Do you know the definition of sexual assault? Who do you think deserves to be sexually assaulted?

The Hunting Grounds is a documentary emphasizing the frequency and severity of sexual assault, and how it is inadequately handled by college administrations.

It is astounding that 15-20% of all women enrolled in college are sexual

assaulted while only about 3% of those incidences are actually reported.

In Alaska, the rates are 1 in 3 or 33% for the general population!

We are outraged, and would like your support raising awareness.

Please join 5/20 at The Glenn Massay Theater in Palmer (on the Mat-Su College Campus) for a screening of this short documentary and a group discussion on how to combat the sexual assault problem we are battling in Alaska.

Brandikinney@myhousematsu.org

Workshop Contributed by Chuck Kaucic

Join us at Friesan’s Custom Cabins in Palmer on Saturday, May 21st from 10am-2pm to learn how to build your own cabin.

This workshop will walk you through the process as we build a DIY cabin kit.

This event is free and lunch is included.

However, you must pre-register. Registration is limited.

Contact Chuck at (907) 746-2082 or email him at: friesenscustomcabinsck@gmail.com Life is better at the cabin!

to 6pm

. e for

CARRS MALL, WASILLA

Enjoy the fun finds and local products fromThe Boardwalk Shop

Thank you to all the local businesses that participated in our Mother's Appreciation Event.

THESE BUSINESSES GENEROUSLY DONATED PRIZES >>

Thanks to all our customers for shopping local. It makes a huge difference to our economy.

ALLISAW COOKWARE SEVEN NORTH SUNSATION STAMP CACHE HUNNIBEE FLOWERS FROM BETTY JACOBSON'S GREEN HOUSE DARLING BOUTIQUE SELF INDULGENCE NON ESSENTIALS ALLAN & PETERSON BLESSED & DISTRESSED CHUGACH CHIROPRACTIC ANCHORAGE DENTAL ARTS WHIMSY & BEAU HAIR DESIGN

fit in

ns

HEALTH & COMMUNITY Contributed by Donna Turner

Did you know that the bride’s shoes were once symbolic of possession and authority?

A wedding car pulling away with bumper-tied shoes dancing in its wake is the iconic image of a bride and groom’s getaway from the wedding. Spirited, bouncing shoes seems like such an innocent, whimsical fun. But are they?

The Bride’s shoes were once symbolic of the possession of authority; not the

Contributed by Mary Beth Feldman How do you celebrate the beginning of the glorious Alaskan summer?

The Annual Country Fair at Saint Herman’s Orthodox Church is quickly becoming one of the area’s anticipated summer events.

This is the Fair’s sixth year of offering a day full of great food, games, shopping, and lots of family fun! The Fair will take place on June 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Saint Herman’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, 6988 N En Dove Road, Wasilla.

This event provides a great way for the kids to celebrate the beginning of summer vacation. The carnival games, including the ever popular Chicken Fling, and bouncy house provide tons of fun.

There are lots of prizes to be won! Children will also enjoy meeting our farm animal friends in the Petting Zoo. Our face painting booth has some of the best face painting you will see this summer. Participate in the pie eating contest or buy a duct tape sword for a safe, mock battle!

While the kids play, mom and dad can

Summer of

Heroes PRESS RELEASE Alaska Communications

Summer of Heroes is back for its sixth year, and Alaska Communications and Boys & Girls Clubs - Alaska are once again looking for heroes aged 6-18 who are making a difference in their local communities.

Five outstanding heroes, plus one from the Employee Program, will each receive a $1,500 scholarship and be

Bride’s, but of her father’s. The shoe ritual may have begun in the ancient Egypt as a sign of the transfer of power.

The father of the bride removed the bride’s wedding sandals and gave them to the groom. The groom would complete the “power” ritual by using one of the shoes to tap his new bride on the head, signifying his acquired position as her new master. (I am certain that the Groom and her father would be deceased if this happened today!)

Bruise or no bruise, the father then had no more authority to “guide” and “discipline” his daughter. Those task became the responsibility of the bride’s new husband, the wielder of the shoe.

In later Tudor cultures, shoes were thrown at the bride and groom as a

COMMUNITY & PETS & ANIMALS

gesture of good luck as the couple departed the wedding. Symbolically, one can hope that shoes tied to the backsides of modern wedding cars are an evolution of the shoe throwing good wishes and not descended from the shoe to head power tap!

These origins of modern wedding customs make us think, but when it comes to traditions, pin pointing origins is often difficult.

PAGE 10

being thumped on the head with her own shoe in front of her friends and family!

All in all, the modern age is a fabulous time to make new wedding traditions, or at least bend old ones to your personal taste.

Customize traditions to make your very own living wedding legend even if you create new traditions of your own.

Much of the information has been informally handed down from story teller to story teller.

There are no photographs from those ancient period to confirm or deny the exact birth of a particular wedding tradition.

The bottom line is that the Bride should simply be thankful she doesn’t have to consider her burial when choosing her veil, or worry about a concussion from

check out the Trading Post for some great deals on locally handcrafted items. Then, the whole family can try to win a delicious cake from North Star Bakery in the Ultimate Cake Walk.

Visit with neighbors and meet new friends over the fantastic food – gyros, pulled pork, locally handcrafted artisan sausages donated by Bear Mountain Meats, hot dogs, slices of pie proved by North Star Bakery and more!

Don’t miss Fizzywig’s sodas, the allnatural soda stand serving sodas the old fashioned way, with your choice of cream, whipped cream, or ice cream.

There will be lots of tasty treats including old fashioned candy and snowballs.

One of the highlights of the Annual Country Fair is always the Cupcake Contest.

If you have ever wanted to try your hand at a great baking competition, this is it! There are categories for both adults and children.

Watch for details on our Facebook page – Annual Country Fair, Saint Herman’s OC. Start your summer with a beautiful, fun filled day for the entire family!

honored during a special ceremony at the Alaska State Fair in August.

Nominate Your Hero Now This year, Alaska Communications will contribute $25 to Boys & Girls Clubs Alaska for every new Unlimited Internet order or unlimited Business Internet contract signed between April 27 and July 15, 2016.

Cardboard City Mat-Su