The People's Paper January 2019

FAMILY PROMISE FOOD FUNDRAISER 2019 MORE ON PAGE 3 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Contributed by Paula Nance Friendly faces, the fresh scent of Alaskan air and people jumping into freezing water! Say goodbye to cabin fever, it’s getting wild in Wasilla, Alaska.

Years passed saw as many as 100 people sign up to participate in the annual Mat-Su Sertoma Plunge.

This 10th Anniversary event expects “Earth shattering” numbers to join in the shenanigans!

Sertoma Club, said that although the event requires a lot of preparation and hard work, the outcome is always worth it. “We usually have great weather and a wonderful turn out to support our annual event, Alaskan’s never stand for the status quo, but to break the mold!” said Santerre.

This year’s event is hosted by Everett’s Mat-Su Resort on Saturday, February 9, 2019. As our second event hosted by Jerry Neaser, event coordinator Ina Mueller and the amazing staff of Everett’s, last year’s plunge saw the kitchen and bar specials in high demand.

The event needs lots of volunteers, and our sponsorships are second to no other. With more than 50 Annual active local businesses and organizations joining Mat-Su Sertoma club to celebrate winter, this year’s Anniversary of 10 strong years promises to be the best ever.

In order to jump at the event, each participant must raise a minimum of $100 while most jumpers look to score the Annual Biggest Fund Raiser Ice Berg Award.

Participants from all over the world dress head to toe in colorful costumes to help raise money for hearing health and the local community. A new twist added this year is the “Name your price Costume Closet” no costume, no problem, rent one of our on-site specials! Gretchen Santerre, the president of the Mat-Su

This year, Santerre said they hope to raise $15,000, which will be donated to the Wasilla community in a variety of ways. Sertoma has numerous scholarships available to local youth and young adults. Malia Batchelder is the Mat-Su Sertoma Summer Camp Scholarship Winner, and funds raised will send her on what has become a

life changing adventure for previous winners. During the event, several “ice berg” awards will be distributed to both individuals and teams for most money raised and best costume. The awards are inspired by the ice hole, traditionally cut by the insurmountable Gage Tree Service under the watchful eye of last year’s Sertoma Volunteer of the Year, Elton, and President Elect Paula Nance, they are truly are unique and coveted!

Les Helfrich, a six-time participant and jumper, has the honor of being the long standing “fund raiser” recipient. According to Helfrich, one of the best parts of the event was being able to share the experience with his foreign exchange students.

In addition to the costumes and a good cause, Helfrich said one of the main reasons he continues to participate in the event stems highly from the people and positive atmosphere. “When it’s time to jump, you jump,” Helfrich said. “Life is short.

You’ve got to have a little fun! It something everyone should try at least once.”

www.matsuhearing.org

MOUSE TRAP AT VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS MORE ON PAGE 15 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE

COMMUNITY & EVENTS Contributed by Ashley Kincaid Palmer Lions Annual Gun Show 03/02/19 – 10AM-6PM & 03/03/19 – 10AM-4PM Palmer Lions Club @ Raven Hall 2075 Glenn Hwy. Palmer $7 PERSON (SINGLE DAY) or $10 (TWO-DAY PASS) Kids 12 & under are FREE Are you an avid Alaska Outdoorsman? The Palmer Lions Club 52nd Annual Gun Show will be on March 2nd and 3rd at the Raven Hall in Palmer.

The Lions Gun Show is the longest running gun show in Alaska. The show includes over 300 tables of vendors with hunting, fishing, shooting, trapping and much more.

It was started and continues to be the Club’s main fundraiser. 100% of all the proceeds go back into helping our community.

The Palmer Lions Club makes a huge impact on our community by giving back all money raised to organizations who truly make a difference. The list is long but includes the Salvation Army, the Palmer Food Pantry, Mat-Su Special

Contributed by Carol Montgomery What is waste? Waste comes from the root word, Vastere, which means to devastate. But waste can be a resource as well. Resource comes from the word resurgere, meaning to rise again. When we recycle, our waste rises again.

The story of reducing waste in the Mat-Su is a tribute to our community and to the hard work of many volunteers. Thanks to these efforts, Mat-Su is privileged to have a stateof-the-art recycling center, Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS).

Our story began in 1998. Up until then, residents had to either haul all their paper, newspaper, and cans to Anchorage to recycle, or throw them into the Landfill with their garbage.

Then in December of 1997, a small group of volunteers met to try to solve this problem, and by April 1998, the first recycling drop began in the parking lot of Walmart. The response from our community was amazing. People showed up with truckloads of material they had been storing in their sheds or garages, waiting for this opportunity. Eighty volunteers took turns braving the cold to help organize and load materials. Walmart supported this effort by providing the location and by hauling materials. Glass, newspaper, office paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, steel cans, scrap metal, including appliances, plastic bags, packing materials, egg cartons, and tires were collected.

By the next year, the VCRS Action Council was established. By 2001, VCRS became a 501C non-profit organization. Subsequently, 1 ½ paid positions were created, to include a Volunteer Coordinator and Director.

In addition to the quarterly Walmart drop-offs, VCRS assisted Willow in organizing recycling at the Willow Transfer Station. By December 2002, VCRS was able to raise enough money to lease space at the old Moffit Homestead, near the landfill.

By this time, VCRS had recycled 136 Tons of material. For the next 8 years, community volunteers continued to brave the cold, unloading cars and sorting materials. The first Baler was purchased in 2003. Along the way, VCRS acquired a connex to house an office, a vinyl building for a covered drop-off drive thru area, and a mobile home to house our classroom and volunteers.

Santa, Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home, Mat-Su Food Bank, the local 4-H club, local sports teams from Little League to high school. We support extracurriculars like band and science clubs, reading programs, libraries and much more.

The Lions also provide vision screenings at elementary schools/ children events and have given out reading glasses at the Project Homeless Connect to those in need.

The Lions Club truly helps and focuses on our local community.

The gun show is a family friendly show where there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Come join us on Saturday, March 2nd, from 10:00AM to 6:00PM and Sunday, March 3rd, from 10:00AM to 4:00PM at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in the Raven Hall.

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be on the watch to purchase your ticket for a chance to win one of our outstanding prizes.

All of the proceeds from the raffle are given to local non-profits to continue the amazing work they do. Come look, trade, swap, and talk shop with numerous vendors. Door prizes given away every hour, and an awesome raffle.

Come join us March 2nd and 3rd for the Lions 52nd Gun Show.

If you’re interested in being a vendor, email palmerak.lions@ gmail.com or call 907-354-3798.

One of our big highlights at the show is our annual raffle. The top four prizes include a high-quality Arctic Oven Pipeline Tent, a Tikka 300 WSM, a Springfield Armory Saint AR 300 Blackout Pistol, and a Leupold VX-R 4-12X40mm Scope with Firedot Duplex. We will be selling tickets around the community, so

Collecting enough clean, baled material to ship and sell to markets in the lower 48 was a daunting task, and some said it couldn’t be done, because we are so far from the markets, but VCRS was able to establish itself with manufacturers as a reliable source of clean recyclable material. Twelve years after that first parking lot recycling event, after a lot of hard work, grant writing, and fundraising, VCRS moved into a brand-new building. By the time they broke ground for the new building, 1,448 tons of material had already been recycled.

Check out this link for a more detailed timeline of events leading up to this milestone: www.valleyrecycling.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/TImelinefor-Web-Curves-res.jpg VCRS now has 8 paid staff and 400 volunteers. Since 1998, VCRS has collected and diverted 36,594,668 lbs. from the landfill. Now with the building, new baler, and staff, VCRS can handle 5 times the amount of material we now collect and are in a position to meet the demands of the Valley’s rapid growth.

The new facility is a state-of-the-art energy efficient building, and the first business in the Mat-Su to get the Green Star Award for energy efficiency. It has a classroom that hosts regular school field trips. The classroom has a window to look out onto the processing floor and bale storage area. It’s interesting to watch how the materials are collected and baled, and the public is welcome to visit and observe.

And if you’ve ever gone to the State Fair, you may have noticed the small army of volunteers collecting bottles and cardboard from the bins. Since 2002, VCRS has worked with the Fair and Greenstar, and hundreds of volunteers. Last year the volunteers collected 45,703 lbs. of recyclable material, which would have otherwise ended up in the landfill.

Recycling is always free to the public, so why pay fees at the landfill? VCRS is conveniently located right near the landfill which is just off the Palmer Wasilla Highway on 49th State Street If you prefer to pay to have your materials picked up curbside, Ready Recycles and Raven Valley Refuse and Recycling will bring your recyclables into us. We also have volunteers stationed at transfer sites in Big Lake,

Willow, Talkeetna, and Sutton to collect some recyclables.

What can you recycle at VCRS? In short, VCRS can take sorted and clean materials including aluminum cans, office paper, mixed paper, newspaper, cardboard, steel food cans, plastic bags, plastic jugs (#2), plastic bottles (plastic #1), plastic containers (#5), and some reuse items. Go to http://valleyrecycling. org/ for a complete list of what you can recycle.

You may wonder, what happens to all the material VCRS collects?

In the Next edition of the People’s Paper, we’ll tell you the story of how recycling works!

COMMUNITY & EVENTS Contributed by Laurie Kari Second Annual Comfort Food Competition 02/08/19 – 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Family Promise Mat-Su Church on the Rock 3571 W Machen Rd. Wasilla Tickets are $20 (907) 357-6160 The Second Annual Comfort Food Competition for Family Promise MatSu (FPMS) is coming up on February 8th at 6:00 PM at Church on the Rock, Wasilla Campus. All are welcome to join with us as we grow in our capacity to shelter homeless families, and to serve our Mat-Su community members in dire need. It is important that you all try to come enjoy our comfort food dishes, fantastic local music talents, and live dessert auction. We need you all!

Laurie Kari, FPMS Executive Director, will offer a few updates on our recent families’ stories and program news! You will enjoy taste-testing and voting on each congregation’s favorite comfort food dish. Our musical guests will be entertaining with high caliber talents and you will be moved! And you can go home with fantastic desserts for your friends and families after the lively bidding by our auctioneer, Pastor Duane Guisinger! But we will especially enjoy giving thanks to all

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the help, supports and good will of so very many of our Mat-Su Valley partners and volunteers! We are truly “A Community Response for Families Without Housing”!

Valley Comfort Food Fundraiser of 2018 was a stunningly beautiful event. Pam Ratliff, our FPMS Office Manager coordinates every aspect of these gatherings and we think the evening will be special and joyful once again this year.

We need your financial support for our shelter guests’ services, and tickets are on sale now for $20.

They are available for purchase by contacting our office at 357-6160, stopping by to see us at 561 W. Nelson Ave, or by message request on Facebook-Family Promise MatSu-and/or receive by mail with credit card purchase. Tickets will also be for sale at the door.

Our family shelter has been lodging, feeding and offering case management and fellowship to homeless families for 13 years! We were the first homeless shelter in the Valley. Our 10 area churches donate overnight sanctuary, bedrooms, three meals a day and volunteer hospitality. (We need new hosting congregations and community groups.) FPMS is also blessed to offer our family pet boarding facility onsite so families can keep their furry

family members with them while they are without housing. Then, after an average of 2 months or less, our families are strong enough to sustain their own housing!

We give thanks in advance for those who can attend and enjoy our FPMS Comfort Food event this year.

Place it on your Calendar!

February 8th, 6-9 PM, at Church on the Rock, Wasilla (3571 W Machen Rd., Wasilla, AK 99654).

Call (907) 357-6160 for further information and to sign up for the Comfort Food Competition!

Let us enjoy!

their focus on this ever-changing landscape as they follow the carved path laid out by local legends?

Contributed by Jill Farris Recycling has to be creative, so Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is rekindling the fire to advance our message. We have an elevated view of human potential, seeing an underutilized resource when imagination is left untapped.

Art can explore complex ideas like those that surround recycling issues and develop a sensitivity to the limits of our natural resources. Craftavists lend a listening ear to nature and use their creative input to help the greater good. Our goal this year is to harness tremendous energy in this area, with the intention to invigorate community recycling. A 2019 schedule of events is filling out and good vibes will resonate from all sorts of local landmarks. Creative minds reveal fresh ideas and useful recommendations when artists collaborate in our classroom every Thursday at 1PM. Models from the Valley Arts Alliance (VAA) Wearable Art Show will stimulate our senses with a terrific jolt at the VCRS annual OCEAN Campaign on February 28th.

Donations of any size generated at the Shake, Rattle, & Recycle fundraiser help bankroll VCRS’ annual operating budget. Local businesses are invited to bring eight guests to the luncheon at Evangelo’s Restaurant for the price of $300.00 per table sponsorship which includes the real crack up entertainment on the lower level.

Sweeping through the banquet room, generating enthusiasm intended to trigger a tsunami of monetary contributions, the models strut and sway to their theme music.

Elaborate costumes constructed out of recycled material built to withstand the magnitude of attitude radiating from the CD plumed peacock to the disruptive gladiator

sporting a suit armor/Wearable Art Show’s old event tickets. Our deepest gratitude goes out to all who participate and to BP for underwriting the luncheon. Tickets at VCRS (907) 745-5544 (OR www. valleyartsalliance.com for their show on February 16th).

Recycled art is a sponsored category at the Alaska State Fair this year, thanks to Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR) who is securing prizes to award. If you didn’t get a chance to visit our recycling education booth then you missed out seeing and voting on some unique recycled garden art pieces.

This year, exhibit areas and our “Little Green” school yard will be stocked with entries that draw attention to the many ways recycled materials can be reimagined into an attraction.

Also on the horizon: upcoming Saturday workshops to enhance this mobile classroom, including using recyclables as building materials.

Prize-winning garden art accompanies a multitude of manmade projects using recyclable materials that border our outdoor education trail. Alongside the flora and fauna reclaiming the land are hand-painted rocks and mosaic tiles revealing the hint of an “edge”.

Naturally, it’s more appealing in the spring and summer, but winter possesses its own beauty with the trail and trees blanketed in snow.

We have seen eagles, moose, fox and rabbits hunting and foraging through this corridor. Instruction on light technique when painting acrylic landscapes is available during these weekly artistic get-togethers.

Passing through reflections of broken light and breathtaking views, one may think through the finely layered details of an arrangement. Who will be the next person inspired to shift

Visitors gather ideas for future creative endeavors or come to take a self-guided tour, using our custom trail guide to identify native plants, trees and other points of interest. Behind the recycling center, a new solar powered Earth Cube Compost System speeds up the decomposition process of mixed food scraps and wood shavings to produce a gorgeous humus similar to the rich soil we see on the boreal forest floor. It’s an easy walk and also wheelchair accessible.

Few understand how to transform the unfunny idea of recycling into the local production of Alaska Home Companion Theater. Unaware, innocent bystanders get swept into the challenging, dramatic development of soft, humorous skits exposing the underbelly of a large yet uncomplicated dilemma.

Track the evolution of two-legged performers compelled to appear on stage and broadcast a live radio performance to our outlying community about everyday experiences of Alaskans.

Problem solvers united in a functional art form explore ideas necessary to create intricate Steampunk sculptures and are welcome to display in our student gallery. This is a great way to immagineer kinetic movement using elements of science, technology, reading, art, and math (S.T.E.A.M.) curriculum to fuse the old and new.

Release the pressure this time next year, let’s rejoice and take satisfaction with the seasonal opportunity to make festive ornaments together.

Using corks, we would like to pull out all the stops as we are set to trim next December’s Annual Trees of the Valley Christmas event at Glenn Massay Theater.

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions 9465 E Chanlyut Circle Palmer, AK 99645

HEALTH & COMMUNITY

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handy to inhale as it helps keep you more alert if you are drowsy.

Contributed by Dori Cranmore R.N. Peppermint has often been termed the world’s oldest medicine.

It is native to Europe and is actually a cross between spearmint and watermint.

Its botanical name is mentha piperita.

Peppermint has been studied and proven by the scientific community to have numerous health benefits. As a result, peppermint is sold in many different forms of tablets, tinctures, capsules, essential oils and teas.

Health benefits of peppermint oil can include the following: Indigestion: Peppermint oil is very helpful for digestion. Peppermint can help relieve gas, nausea and stomach pain due to an irritable bowel, intestinal cramps or

Contributed by Winona Benson Have you ever downed an entire package of chips, crackers, or cookies? Ate pizza or cake until you felt sick? Drank more coffee or wine than your body wanted?

Do you remember how you were feeling at the time?

I ask because sometimes we overeat to help distract us from emotional pain.

Think about it – have you noticed that sometimes when you overeat, you’re not hungry at all? What you are is lonely. Or angry. Or sad. Or resentful. Or frustrated. Or something else. So what

Contributed by Tony Delarm

indigestion. It is a good tonic for those who have decreased appetites. It helps during motion sickness and it’s great for nausea during pregnancy. Peppermint tea is safe for infants to drink with colic or place a cloth soaked in peppermint tea over the infant’s belly.

Dental Care: Peppermint oil, due to its antiseptic properties, is useful for dental care. It helps remove bad breath and helps teeth and gums deal with germs.

No wonder it is added to many toothpastes, mouthwashes and dental floss. It is also useful for treating toothaches along with clove oil.

Respiratory Problems: Menthol, which is present in abundance in peppermint oil, helps in clearing the respiratory tract. It is an effective expectorant and therefore provides instantaneous, though temporary, relief in numerous respiratory problems including nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, colds and cough.

hurt are YOU holding onto? Tap Into the Power of Forgiveness Wouldn’t it be more effective to address your uncomfortable feelings? The best, most thorough, most divinely perfect way to do that is with forgiveness.

Forgiving is not easy, even for the most tenderhearted among us.

If you’ve been allowing your present health to be controlled by past hurts, I urge you to commit to forgiving. These steps can help: > Talk to sympathetic friends and family about your desire to forgive. Sharing with others is tremendously comforting.

Stress: Like most other essential oils, peppermint is able to provide relief from stress, depression and mental exhaustion due to its refreshing nature.

It is also effective against anxiety and restlessness.

Pain relief: Peppermint oil (diluted) can be used externally for providing relief from painful muscles and joints. It is cooling in nature and therefore helps reduce fever.

And no, you can’t eat peppermint candy canes and receive all these wonderful nutrients!

This information is provided for educational purposes and not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any disease.

Blood Circulation: It is known to improve blood circulation. Many truck drivers keep it

minded who have overcome the same issues or trauma in a positive manner – many churches have groups to support and promote healing > Write a letter to the person you’d like to forgive. You can decide whether or not you send it. > See the situation from the other person’s perspective – your own perspective may change. > Don’t forget to forgive yourself.

Sometimes we can be harshest with ourselves. > Understand that you are responsible for your own attitude. Don’t let holding a grudge keep you from feeling free, open, and powerful in your own life. > Forgive and watch how much easier your relationship with eating becomes.

Are you ready to live your healthiest life yet? Want to change your relationship to eating? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial complimentary consultation with me today – or pass this offer on to someone you care about! Call (907) 982-9933.

About Me: For the past ten years, I have been training, teaching, and coaching individuals in the topic of Nutrition Education. My education has been on various dietary theories, nutrition science, plant-based nutrition, plant-based culinary arts, and exercise. Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals. - Winona Benson Learn more about my training and my unique approach to health coaching at www.nourishedak.com

> Seek support from groups of like-

GET EVEN HEALTHIER!

indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

So, what does it do? People across the nation have been raving about reduced anxiety, better sleep, reduced stress, and the ability to reduce pain without the common side effects associated with prescription medication. “CBD has been touted for a wide variety of health issues, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond to antiseizure medications” (Grinspoon, 2018) “In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases it was able to stop them altogether.

and how it can help alleviate serious concerns. Make sure to pay attention the The People’s Paper over the next several months as we shine light on this interesting subject!

Videos of the effects of CBD on these children and their seizures are readily available on the internet for viewing, and they are quite striking.” More and more studies are popping up every day, showing the incredible benefits of CBD

Grinspoon, P. M.D. (2018) “Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t” retrieved January 7, 2019 from: https:// www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-wedont-2018082414476

CBD stands for cannabidiol. It is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis (marijuana).

“In December 2015, the FDA eased the regulatory requirements to allow researchers to conduct CBD trials. Currently, many people obtain CBD online without a medical cannabis license.”

(Grinspoon, 2018) CBD can be found in various forms across the entire US. With new advancements come new options, including teas, gummies, and even crystal form that can be sprinkled on food.

While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant. While CBD is a component of marijuana (one of hundreds), by itself it does not cause a ‘high.’

According to a report from the World Health Organization” (Grinspoon, 2018) “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects

While restrictions may pop up in certain regions of the US, you can find many options online or at local retail facilities all across Alaska, including Alaskan Sweet Vapes in Wasilla, AK. Over the last few months, we have completely shifted an area of our “Sweet Lounge” to offer some of the most beneficial CBD products available anywhere!

We’re hearing about it more and more! We walk by local shops that offer CBD Gummy Bears and ask... “what is going on here?”

Nausea and Headache: Peppermint oil is a good home remedy for nausea and headaches. Applying diluted pure essential oil on the forehead, temples, behind the ears and inhaling can help minimize or stop a headache. A drop on the tongue can help relieve nausea.

Hair Care: Peppermint oil is very useful for hair care as it gives a cooling effect to the head and removes dandruff. It is one of the natural remedies for killing head lice. It must be diluted. You will find very few people who will not find peppermint suitable to their palate.

Peppermint oil contains numerous minerals and nutrients including manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium and copper. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and vitamin C.

If you have questions about CBD, stop by our “Sweet Lounge” at Alaskan Sweet Vapes on 224 N. Yenlo St. Wasilla, and we will be happy to help you find the best option, for you! We wish you a happy 2019 and hope that you can find relief with CBD, this great new product.

This information is provided for educational purposes and not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any disease.

References:

HEALTH & COMMUNITY Contributed by Sarah Viola A loved one looking at dementia and its symptoms from the outside has a much different perspective on the disease than a person who is living with it. As a person progress through various types and stages of dementia, they begin to view the world differently than they once did.

Understanding how people with dementia experience the world around them can help bring valuable insight to their caregivers and loves ones – and assist them in developing a better sense of patience, empathy, and understanding.

A view from the caregiver: My loved one has gotten so mean! She is just not herself. At times, she acts as I’ve always remembered her, but then there are also times where she come across very

Contributed by Katie Stark In late November, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center added the newest model of the da Vinci Surgical Systems to its fleet of surgical tools.

The latest da Vinci – the Xi – differs from its predecessor, da Vinci Si, mainly in terms of ease of positioning, according to Dr. Shannon Gulley from Glacier Surgical Associates.

“The way that the arms can rotate and move and the way it sort of self-centers itself to dock, makes it a lot easier when you’re dealing with surgery where you’re working multiple quadrants,” Gulley said.

rude, self-centered, and angry. Everything she is thinking just comes out, regardless of whether or not it may hurt or offend someone else. She is very demanding of my time and can’t seem to understand that I have so many other things to do each day in addition to caring for her.

My loved one doesn’t seem to enjoy what they use to and often says “no” to attending even things they previously loved and would have enjoyed. This creates what appears to be outbursts at those trying to care for her, it’s embarrassing at times. It’s almost like she is taking out her anger on everyone around her, the people that love her the most. I don’t know what to do, she just doesn’t listen anymore.

A view from a person with dementia: I keep hearing the word “dementia” being thrown around whenever people are with me. I try to keep up, but all the

The da Vinci system gets its name from inventor, artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci, according to the manufacturer.

Among his many scholarly pursuits, da Vinci was also a student of human anatomy.

Robotics surgery has been gaining in popularity in recent years due to its positive impact on patient recovery. The da Vinci excels at non-invasive surgery by allowing surgeons to use smaller incisions, thus leading to less blood loss and faster recovery time.

Gulley has been working with the da Vinci Si for about four years and uses the tool mainly for hernia removal. For her, the most beneficial aspect of the technology is how she can perform intricate procedures. The new da Vinci Xi is even more versatile and intuitive.

Greater precision and accuracy, and smaller incisions are the key benefits that drive hospitals to invest in new technology like the da Vinci Xi, according to Alan Craft, marketing and public relations director at Mat-Su Regional. “This is the new frontier in minimally invasive robotic surgery. It enables surgeons to perform highly complex operations through a few tiny incisions. We’re thrilled to be able to offer it to the community we serve.”

“The biggest thing is having those wristed instruments, so you can actually sew very smoothly,” she said.

Generally speaking, surgeons control the robotic arms of the da Vinci while looking through a viewing screen at a console, using the instruments almost like extensions of their hands.

“The da Vinci Xi complements the advanced robotics program Mat-Su Regional currently uses for orthopedic procedures,” Craft said. He noted that no one else in the Valley has the level of technology of Mat-Su Regional, which has the area’s only advanced robotics surgical tools. “

Another essential feature of the robot is the 3DHD camera, giving the surgeon the ability to see the process in magnification. “The visualization is pretty amazing,” Gulley said. “It’s like looking at it in an open fashion.”

Dr. Jeff Simerville, board-certified urologist with Alaska Urology, explained that the advanced technology creates a better patient experience when compared to traditional surgical methods. “The outcomes are similar, but

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conversations and planning that my family and friends are trying to do “for me” is just overwhelming me. I am having a hard time thinking lately and the world feels like it’s moving so fast that I can’t keep up.

I run into so many problems throughout my day, but the tough part is that I’m not always sure what the problems are. I don’t understand why I am having so much trouble, but I know it’s there. I am trying hard to cover for it, though, to keep my loved ones from knowing that there is something wrong.

I know that my family thinks I’m always angry and rude. In reality, I am just frustrated and overwhelmed with everything that is happening to me. I can’t process everything they are expecting of me, it’s too challenging. I say “no” often because it is the only way I can keep my loved ones from seeing my struggles.

Shopping for groceries at the store takes time. For me at least (my efficient husband is much faster.) Reading labels to find good nutritional value in the foods we will be eating is one part of my shopping. Another is to check for prices. But in this process, we have observed that food costs are continuing to rise.

Well, maybe the fruits and vegetables are coming from areas having weather changes. Or, maybe it is because of higher costs of transporting it up to Alaska. Then I saw online that USDA predicts food prices to rise this year.

Whatever the reason, it does make it necessary to look for ways to eat healthy foods with less expense. It

is always a good idea to plan meals ahead. Before going to the grocery store, plan your meals. Think about the various food groups. Include a variety of food in the meals and snacks to be eaten throughout the days being planned. Look in your pantry to see what is available. Then make your shopping list with the ingredients that will be needed.

An option to plan is to prepare large batches of favorite recipes. Serve the amount needed for one meal. Freeze the rest in containers for other meals.

Or, freeze them in individual containers to use throughout the week. This is an option to use instead of ordering takeout meals. (It costs less, and you know the ingredients in it.) Another option is to use extras in creative ways. For example, when the whole cauliflower

I don’t want them to see me in situations where I get frustrated and embarrass myself. What my family doesn’t understand is that I wish I wasn’t so short tempered.

I wish I was comfortable attending events and activities like I used to. I feel extremely insecure because my world has become so big and fast paced...

At Primrose, we know that the effects of dementia can be emotionally and physically taxing on families. You don’t always have all the answers, and that’s okay.

Remember to take time for yourself and your family, and know that if you need help, we would be honored to assist you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.primroseretirement.com

the patient experience is much better,” he said.

Simerville began using the robot in 2011 for urologic surgeries, but since its clearance by the FDA in 2000, the da Vinci has been used for gynecological procedures, prostate removal, cancer surgeries, colon removal, general surgeries, kidney removal and lung surgery.

“Anything you can do laparoscopically you can do with the robot, but most surgeons use it for probably hernias, colons, gallbladders,” Gulley said.

Operations using the da Vinci can technically be performed from anywhere in the world, however the control box is usually located in the room right next to the patient. Some patients have been misinformed that the robot actually controls itself during surgery, according to Gulley. However, the robot is a tool used and guided by human hands, although it does simultaneously minimize human error, such as trembling.

“It’s very similar to the surgery we do anyway, so as far as the technical part of the surgery itself, that part I feel is a pretty smooth and straightforward transition,” she said.

Neither Gulley nor Simmerville believe that robotic surgery will entirely replace other methods in the future, but they do see the technology continuing to grow and be refined.

It’ll certainly expand from where it’s at now,” Simmerville said. “I’m happy that

is cooked for our family at one meal, there is enough left over to add to a macaroni-cheese-cauliflower casserole or favorite soup.

Contributed by Julie Cascio

PAGE 5

Some low-cost ideas to try are: -Visit the Freezer Aisle (Frozen vegetables and fruits are just as nutritious and usually cheaper than fresh).

- Buy in Bulk – It is almost always cheaper to buy in bulk. This often works well for family packs of chicken, steak, or fish. Larger bags of potatoes or frozen vegetables are other options.

- Compare – Do take a minute to check the unit price to compare which is the better buy. For example, a 32 ounce package of cheddar cheese costs more at $7.99 than an 8 ounce cheddar at $2.99.

However, when looking at the unit price, the larger one is 25 cents per ounce, while the smaller one is 37.4

Mat-Su acquired the latest and greatest version of it so that we can serve our patients in the best possible way.”

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. It is a 74-bed acute care facility providing advanced surgical service, including robotics, cardiac care, emergency services, diagnostic imaging, sleep studies, three urgent care centers, the Family Birthing Center and is home of the 30-Minutes-or-Less ER Service Pledge.

In the past few years, Mat-Su Regional has earned a string of impressive honors, including being the first hospital in Alaska to earn accreditation as a Chest Pain Center from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, and has twice been named among the Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review.

cents per ounce. Hmm, so though more money will be spent upfront, it is a better buy. For our family meal plans this week, that will be used well.

Use this method to compare different brands as well as different sizes to find the most affordable option.

- Buy It Whole – Pre-washed and cut fruit and vegetables may be more convenient, but it is often more expensive, too.

- Go Generic – Brand name products attract our attention. But generic food is more appealing to our wallet.

- Cut Coupons – Check online, in the local newspaper and at the store, for sales and coupons. Keep an eye out for specials.

Whether you spend less or get good food for the same cost as in the past, enjoy the food you make. For more information, contact Julie Cascio, (907) 745-3677 at Mat-Su District Cooperative Extension Service.

ADULT PIANO LESSONS Hitchcock Piano Studio ........ 745-3134 APPAREL & CLOTHING All Seasons Clothing ........ 357-0123 D’s Tuxedo ........ 707-6585 Mila’s Alterations ........ 830-8339 ART & CRAFTS Artists Uncorked… 982-2675 The Gallery ........ 745-1420 BOOKSTORE A Black Sheep Shop ......... 376-8198 Black Birch Books ...... 373-2677 Fireside Books ........ 745-2665 CAFÉ & COFFEE Alaska Artisan Coffee ........ 745-5543 Gathering Grounds ........ 376-4404 Vagabond Blues……..745-2233 CANNABIS RETAILER Matanuska Cannabis Co. ...... 745-4211 CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT Artists Uncorked ........ 982-2675 EDUCATION Learning Essentials ........ 357-3990 FOOTWEAR Northern Comfort ........ 376-5403 HEALTH & WELLNESS All About Herbs ........ 376-8327 Just Botanicals ....... 414-3663 Lone Wolf Aura ........ 631-0482 HOME DÉCOR Peak Boutique ........ 746-3320

LOCAL BUSINESS Contributed by Randi Perlman We are excited to announce that long-time Valley establishment, Steve’s Toyo Stove Repair, is now under new ownership! After eight years of keeping customers warm throughout our great state, we have passed the baton on to Mr. Drew Lay. As a locally well-known and respected businessman, Drew is well ‘seasoned’ to take over the reins of a thriving heating company and Toyo stove dealership.

The store will move from its current KGB location, to the historic All Seasons Clothing Company building off the Parks Highway, at 1400 Wasilla Shops Circle, behind Burger King.

including sales, service, installations or consultations. Whether you need parts, repairs, a new heater, or just more information, call 907-376-WARM to learn how to BE COOL AND STAY WARM, all year ‘round!

Under Drew’s leadership, Steve’s Toyo Stove Sales & Service will continue to provide the high-quality service it has become well known for and patrons have grown accustomed to. Drew deeply values customer loyalty just as we have and will continue to care for all your heating needs while carrying on a tradition of integrity, reliability, and outstanding customer service.

Steve and I are extremely excited to turn our business over to such a knowledgeable and capable team.

Drew and his crew of top-notch technicians, trained by legendary Toyo expert, Steve himself, are ready to make sure all your Toyo needs are met,

COMMUNITY & EVENTS

PRINT SERVICES The UPS Store ........ 746-6245 REPAIR, RESTORATION Comtronics ........ 373-2669 S&S Drilling ...... 746-0225 The Powdercoat Shop .... 841-1300 SPECIALTY GIFTS Alaska Midnite Scents ........ 357-7364 Non-Essentials ........ 745-2258 The Boardwalk Shop ........ 357-8980 TANNING The Tanning Hut ........ 376-3324

Contributed by Sherri Lilly Beards, Bands and Brews Event 01/26/19 – 5PM-9PM The Palmer Food Bank Event Klondike Mikes and the Main Street Grill 820 S Colony Way, Palmer AK LADY BARBER’S BEARD COMPETITION, THE CARHARTT BROTHERS, BREWS, SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLES, 50/50 AND MORE… Fundraiser for the Palmer Food Pantry!

The Beard Competition welcomes Beards from all over Alaska and

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A large showroom will display their line of products, including gas and propane heaters, woodstoves, oildrip stoves, and of course, the hugely popular Toyo stoves. Future plans call for additional product line expansions.

PIZZA Humdingers Pizza ........ 745-7499 PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES Valley Phlebotomy ........ 376-6435

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

beyond for this event. There will be 7 categories for the compition: Mustache, Partial Beard, Natural Beard 6” and Under, Natural Beard 6” and Over, Barbered or Urban Beardsman (Well Groomed, styled and structured), Lady’s Creative, and Freestyle.

We appreciate the loyal patronage and support of our customers, many of whom have become friends over the years, and feel confident we are leaving you in good hands.

A special THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT to Josh and Bryce of Make A Scene & The People’s Paper, for helping us grow and communicate for almost 8 years...

As always... BE COOL. STAY WARM.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

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the generosity of the community to keep going. It is amazing what can be done when as a community, we come together.

Check out AK Lady Barber on Facebook and Instagram for online registration for the Beard Competition and updates on the event.

The Palmer Food Bank could use our help to fill the shelves for others who may need a little help. They receive federal support with a shipment once a month but otherwise rely on

SPONSORS INCLUDE: Permafrost Beards, South Central Beard and Mustache Club, Quiklock Holsters, North Fork Supply Company, Klondike Mikes, Matanuska Brewery, The Teal Door, Alaska’s Healing Hearts, Carhartt Brothers, UPS Store #3548, Permafrost Distributors, Silvertip Designs, Poppy Lane Boutique, Matanuska Lodge, and more…

musicians, dinner, and silent auctions.

Tickets are available now by calling 907-357-3769 and are only $60 per person. The money raised in this great event will help The Mat-Su Food Bank continue to operate and serve food to thousands of Mat-Su residents in 2019 and beyond!

Live Music from The Jerry Wessling Band! Enjoy dinner while you kick back to classic rock and country from one of the valley’s most talented bands! The full band will be there for the first time, in their third appearance at Hearts 4 Hunger. Purchase your tickets now by calling 907-357-3769!

Live Auction! This year will be more exciting than ever with live auction items, like a signed Carrie Fisher “Star Wars” Framed Photo, a Johnny Cash autographed photo, and a signed Eagles Album “Hotel California”, just to name a few! Don’t miss out on these great items up for bid at this Hearts 4 Hunger!

WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT OUR SPONSORS! Brew HaHa, Coming Attraction Theatres, L&B Color Printing, Alaska USA, Northern Edge Physical Therapy, Shoreside Petroleum, Tundra Comics, Usibelli Coal Mine, Alaska Events & Catering, and many more supportive local businesses!

begin at 9:00 a.m., the event starts at 12:00, noon, and will continue into the evening. Please bring your family and friends and enjoy the day with us!

>> THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN RAFFLE PRIZES, WINNERS NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN.

Come and enjoy the Carhartt Brothers, a fantastic and fun local band!

THRIFT SHOPS Red Barn Thrift Store ........ 745-5050 Steam Driven Boutique ........ 376-4404 Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores ........ 376-5708 TOYS Just Imagine Toys ........ 357-1543 Learning Essentials .......... 357-3990

Contributed by Eddie Ezelle Hearts 4 Hunger Event 02/02/19 – 5PM-9PM Mat-Su Food Bank Event at Palmer Train Depot, 610 S Valley Way, Palmer (907) 357-3769 Our annual event is back February 2, 2019 from 5-9pm! Read below to get details on this year’s event!

Saturday, February 2nd, join us at the Palmer Train Depot from 5-9pm for an evening of live auctions for incredible items, live music from great local

Contributed by Trapper Creek Cabin Fever Committee 03/09/2019 - 9:00 AM-7:00 PM Trapper Creek Community Center Mile 115.2 Parks Highway, Trapper Creek, Alaska (907) 733-7375 trappercreek.org On Saturday, March 9, 2019, the Trapper Creek Community Services Association, Inc. is sponsoring the 32nd Annual Cabin Fever Reliever festival.

This fun-filled, family event offers a chance for the cabin-bound to shake off the cold while experiencing a variety of outdoor activities that reflect the pioneer spirit of the Upper Susitna Valley.

This indoor and outdoor event includes games for children and adults, a bonfire, hot food, a ski race, art and history exhibits, chili cook-off and a bake-off contest. Another big draw at this event is the raffle.

Many raffle prizes worth thousands of dollars are donated from generous businesses. Food contest entries

WHERE: Trapper Creek Community Park at mile post 115.2 of the George Parks Highway, on TC Park Road.

The event happens from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

MORE EVENT INFORMATION: >> 2.5K & 5K SKI RACE >> SPLIT-THE-POT TICKETS ON SALE DURING THE FESTIVAL >> RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE DURING THE FESTIVAL

>>TOAST S’MORES OVER THE BONFIRE >>JOIN US FOR THE HAY SCRAMBLE, DOUGHNUT EATING CONTEST AND MUCH MORE! >>HOT FOOD ON THE BBQ, CHIPS, SODA, THE CHILI AND BAKED GOODS AVAILABLE

The Trapper Creek Community Services Assoc., Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Corporation run by community volunteers.

CALL OR EMAIL FOR MORE INFO: (907) 733-7375 or tccommunityservices@yahoo.com

COMMUNITY & EVENTS Contributed by Scott Taylor Northrim Bank Lecture Series Presents: Dr. Ralph Townsend “Demographic Challenges in Alaska’s Economic Future” on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Reception @ 6pm, Presentation @ 7pm at the Glenn Massay Theater, Mat-Su College, 8295 E College Road, Palmer, AK 99645. Free Admission.

Palmer, AK, Jan 7, 2019 – On Tuesday, February 12, Mat-Su College will

Contributed by Robin Minard Mat-Su residents are invited to apply for MatSu Health Foundation (MSHF) academic scholarships that can be used to pay for higher education in health and

Contributed by Jessie Lavoie The Alaska Community Foundation It’s January of 2019, and that means it’s time to file your Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) and participate in Pick.

Click.Give!

This year the Pick.Click.Give. Charitable Contributions Program will be found

Contributed by Michelle Overstreet On February 7th, 2019, Kristan Cole’s Home of Hope is celebrating 35 years in business in the Valley and dedicating the proceeds from the upcoming Customer Appreciation Event to MY House, to help them purchase the building they currently occupy. Kristan has demonstrated her commitment to supporting homeless youth in the

host Dr. Ralph Townsend, keynote speaker of the annual Northrim Bank Lecture Series. The presentation, titled “Demographic Challenges in Alaska’s Economic Future”, will focus on how changes in Alaska’s demographics will affect the workforce and how healthcare costs will be influenced by population shifts, such as aging.

Recent reports show Alaska has the highest healthcare costs in America.

Find out what research and big data can tell us about the stakes for Alaska’s economic future. This free lecture is open to the public and begins at 7pm.

human services. The scholarships can be applied toward the full cost of attendance for students pursuing degrees in health-related fields at accredited colleges and universities.

Applications are accepted online at healthymatsu.org. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2019.

within the PFD application. Instead of completing and submitting the application and then choosing to donate to a nonprofit after submission, the Pick.Click.Give. program has been moved to the end of the PFD application itself. It is now located alongside the UAA Savings program and Veterans Assistance program pieces of the PFD application.

Valley by making generous donations over the past several years, citing personal experience and a love for Alaska and this community, as her motivations to remain engaged.

Last month, Kristan and her team hosted a fundraiser in Scottsdale, Arizona, that raised $50,000 for the locally founded non-profit, and included special guests John Maxwell and Sarah and Todd Palin. Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle and MY House founder and Director, Michelle Overstreet also

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

PAGE 7

There will be a reception with light refreshments at 6pm in the Glenn Massay Theater.

to going to New Zealand, he was a professor of economics at the University of Maine for 25 years.

Dr. Ralph Townsend is the director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage. H

In Maine, he was involved with a range of public policy issues, including education finance, health care cost management, public utility regulation, antitrust policy, and natural resource management.

e joined the University in August 2016, prior to that time, he was dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Winona State University, in Minnesota, from 2010 to 2016. Dr. Townsend served as Chief Economist of the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries from 2007 to 2010. Prior

“There is significant demand in Mat-Su for health and human services workers, and the need can only be met with a highly trained and educated workforce,” said MSHF Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Ripley. “Our scholarship program helps local residents get the education they need to participate in this fast-growing sector of the

In 2018, 24,155 Alaskans donated $2,294,464.38 to 637 nonprofits across the state. Since its inception, the Pick.

Click.Give. Charitable Contributions Program has raised over $21 million for Alaskan nonprofits.

Alaskan’s are strong, generous people and they continue to support causes they care about.

attended, advocating for homeless programs that provide transitional housing and job training in an effort to “end youth homelessness”.

“If we don’t support this organization, who’s going to support these kids?” asked Mayor Cottle, “without MY House we have more theft, shoplifting and kids hanging around, getting in trouble. That costs us all a lot of money”.

It was clear from the response of the attendees that they were impressed with the mission and outcomes

He has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (907) 746-9355

economy, while also enjoying fulfilling careers.” The number of individual scholarships and the total dollar amount varies each year.

In 2018, the foundation awarded more than $1 million in scholarships.

Complete eligibility requirements and the online application are available at healthymatsu.org

Pick.Click.Give. provides them a convenient, simple, safe way to do that. Pick.Click.Give. is a charitable contributions program managed by The Alaska Community Foundation and the Permanent Fund Dividend Division of the Alaska Department of Revenue with support from the Rasmuson Foundation and The Foraker Group.

Contact: jlavoie@alaskacf.org

of the non-profit. Former Arizona Diamondbacks baseball player, Shea Hillenbrand, was in attendance and proud to be supporting Kristan’s efforts, offering signed baseball “swag” that will be available at the Alaska fundraiser.

Clients of Kristan Cole Real Estate services are very familiar with the notorious Customer Appreciation Night, and the trip to Mexico that is given away at this event. This event will boast more giveaways, raffles, prizes and opportunities to donate.

RSVP at: www.kristancole.com/35years

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

POLITICS & OPINION please the “Supreme Judge” of the Declaration of Independence.)

Contributed by Wes Keller Every human being must answer either a “yes” or a “no” to life’s most basic question! We cannot avoid eventually answering it. Denial of the need to answer is either the same as a “no” answer, or denial of reality which is another form of “no”. We each have the human dignity and freedom to be utterly free to choose how we answer, and, to own the consequences.

We are free to test, and even change, our answer based on personal experience and evidence – but, answer the question we must. This question is the starting point for a web of countless subsequent conclusions which accumulate into a personal “worldview”. Refusal to answer merely postpones the starting point! “Does God exist? ... yes, or no?”

That question is fundamental to all “philosophy”. Philosophy literally means “love of wisdom”.

Even an agnostic who claims to believe this question’s answer may not be “knowable” must deal with related subsequent questions, such as: - What do I want? (as opposed to does God want?)

-How do I decide right from wrong (universal wisdom)?

-Who cares? (as opposed to trying to

Contributed by David Haeg (INCLUDES AN EXCERPT OF ALASKA JUDICIAL COUNCIL 1987 REPORT, MADE AT THE REQUEST OF THE ALASKA STATE SENATE)

In response to instructions from the court or the district attorney, or in response to petitions or requests from the public, or on the initiative of a majority of the members of the grand jury, the grand jury may investigate concerns affecting the public welfare or safety. These public welfare or safety concerns may arise from criminal or potentially criminal activity, or they may involve noncriminal public welfare or safety matters.

After completing its investigation, if the grand jury has found sufficient evidence to charge an individual or individuals with a crime, the grand jury may ask the district attorney to prepare an indictment or indictments.

Human death before considerations of these questions seems tragic (i.e. a child or young adult); however, being in denial of the questions is more tragic and foolish!

“We the People” (the sovereigns in our government) consist of everyone – those who have answered “yes” as well as those who have answered “no”.

The ratio between the two groups is determined solely by the electorate.

Our resulting “national worldview” is the consequence of time plus the decisions of our elected politicians! America and our Constitution simply cannot be understood or fully appreciated without comprehending the impact of philosophy and religion.

Contrary to foolish, yet popular opinion, the founders anticipated America to be governed with a majority consensus among those who have answered “Yes” to life’s most basic question! The presumed truth wins so long as free choice flows rationally from a belief in God! Ben Franklin may have been pondering this when he quipped, “It’s a Republic, if you can keep it”. (emphasis mine) Even a cursory look at history reveals the republic being solidly based on God-given (natural) human rights and responsibilities. Our laws (standards) are based on ancient Asian, Judeo-Christian laws tested throughout recorded history. Moral absolutes did not originate with our country

‘Public welfare or safety’ has been interpreted very broadly and includes concerns with public order, health, or morals. Black’s Law Dictionary defines general welfare as ‹the governments concern for the health, peace, morals, and safety of its citizens.› ‹Suspend› is defined in case law and by Black’s as ‹to cause to cease for a time; to postpone; to stay, delay or hinder.› In other words, the Alaska Constitution gives grand juries the power to investigate into and make recommendations addressing virtually anything of public concern. This broad general power can never be hindered or delayed.

The Committee on the Preamble and Bill of Rights of the Alaska Constitutional Convention submitted a proposal entitled “Grand Juries, Indictments and Information”.

The clause that addressed the investigative function read:

and our founders certainly did not intend for absolute standards to start “evolving” later! Proponents of a “living constitution” are simply denying our undeniable foundation in faith.

For more thoughts on our national standards, check out some past editorials: -Intrigue of Law (July 2018): http:// weskeller.com/the-intrigue-of-law/ -Government Theory (January 2018): http://weskeller.com/ government-theory/ -Law Career (Delight in the Law August 2017): http://weskeller.com/ delight-in-the-law/ Our “rule of law” works because of our high regard for the standard (“nature’s law” or common law). Because of our “freedom of religion”, nobody in America is forced to believe any particular doctrine or sect, and, nor can belief in God cannot be mandated! But, our constitution becomes meaningless if the majority truly rejects belief in God. Our American commitment to government neutrality on religion (“secularism”) is intended to respect the free, autonomous choice of every citizen, trusting the majority to make the right, rational, choices. There is a presumed, inescapable link between the “state of our nation” and the “state of our citizen’s faith”.

Yes, the founders understood the options and knew our nation could only prosper if God-fearing people …the power of grand juries to inquire into the willful misconduct in office of public officers, and to find indictments in connection therewith, shall never be suspended.

The commentary of the section stated: “The grand jury is preserved, for all purposes, particularly for investigation of public officials.”

The grand jury once a year investigates the jails (under territorial law) and sometimes is useful where any particular fraud or general scandal has occurred…

(Rivers, 1323) …I am against the use of a grand jury in criminal prosecution…I would say retain the grand jury all right for investigative purposes of officials in public institutions…it serves no useful purpose except for just investigative purposes. (Taylor, 1324) The grand jury should certainly and definitely be preserved as an investigatory

PAGE 8

were making and enforcing the laws.

If you want evidence, spend some time checking out one of the largest collections of America’s historical documents, including founders’ letters and notes. Go to https://wallbuilders. com/library-2/ and explore the online library. I have been in Dallas, Texas, and seen the tens of thousands of documents and find myself troubled by society’s ignorance of this history!

As an addendum to this editorial, and on a personal note: anyone who decides God exists and then openmindedly tries to figure out what he wants, will eventually have to deal with the claims of Jesus Christ. In my opinion, you will save yourself a lot of time and trouble by starting with him, as he is revealed in any of dozens of translations of the Holy Bible!

Again, you alone “own” the benefits and consequences of your religious conclusions… it is honorable, and nonjudgmental, for others to care about your conclusions. In America, we all have a vested interest in one another’s conclusions. Your worldview directly impacts your voting choices, which in turn, directly impact me, my family, justice, and government – just as my voting choices directly impact you, your family, justice, and government.

Great damage is being done by those who wrongly insist freedom of religion (philosophy), authorizes secularism as the exclusive, authorized religion (philosophy) of America. agency. There is no question about it at all… (Hellenthal, 1325) The debate suggests that some votes for mandatory grand jury indictment may have been cast to assure free exercise of the grand jury’s investigative function: …[I]t is true the investigative grand jury had been preserved in the bill as set forth here. However, an investigative grand jury will only be called under certain specific circumstances, and somebody is going to have to find conditions pretty bad before an investigative grand jury will be called.

Whereas a grand jury which is empaneled regularly, once or twice a year in our division, has full investigative power as well as the power to consider indictments.

The grand jury is there and may take any step that it feels may be necessary towards investigations. (Davis, 1326) …The grand jury in its investigative power as well as for the fact that it is sitting there as a panel sometimes is the only recourse far a citizen to get justice…(Kilcher, 1328)

FAITH & OPINION Contributed by Vic Kohring On Christmas Day, our family received the best gift ever when our missing furry friend – a kitty named Sampson – suddenly appeared on our front porch happily meowing his head off after being gone for over two weeks.

It was almost surreal to see Sampson again. I thought I may be hallucinating as our optimism for his safe return had seriously waned. We had received eight inches of snow following his disappearance and temperatures fell into single digits, with one night dropping to nine below. Worrying and wondering each passing day was a painful, heartbreaking process. I feared the worst.

We concluded that my “little brother’s” only chance for survival was if someone

Contributed by Barbara Andersen It’s a natural reaction to survive. Every one of us are born with this sense and value our lives. We run and hide to get away from things that will harm us.

We weren’t even taught this, it comes automatically from within. When we see others being harmed, we step in to help them. As mothers and fathers, we guard and protect our children with our own lives for their safety. As we grow, it is no question that, across the board, EVERYBODY knows it is wrong to harm another individual. It is a natural thing to have these convictions.

Thus, we have a conscience. A conscience which innately knows right and wrong. Have you ever wondered from where it is that our moral code is derived? How can it be, if we are simply

was kind to take him in and provide food, water and shelter. It would be next to impossible for him to survive such harsh winter conditions, particularly without water.

By Day 3 of Sampson’s disappearance, I embarked on a campaign to seek his whereabouts, refusing to give up without a fight and shifting my efforts into overdrive. I put up posters around the neighborhood and knocked on 125 doors. I posted notices on Craigslist, Alaska’s List and various public Facebook sites. The time involved was reminiscent of one of my campaigns for public office. But it was well worth it because we knew our friend was out there somewhere.

round face, scary smart – as if human and super lovey-dovey), perhaps that family would eventually see his poster or handout and realize he belonged to someone and that they probably missed him a lot.

Some may ask, Why all the fuss over a cat? The simple answer is, Sampson’s a very special part of our family whom we love dearly. Feline, canine or human, it doesn’t matter. So, if something bad happens, we take it seriously and do everything possible to help. I guess you have to be a pet owner to fully understand. I know many local animal fanatics like me can relate.

My theory was, if Sampson was taken in and thought to be a stray (he’s a very desirable cat – awesome-looking with his huge, lynx-like paws and big,

Whoever took care of Sampson, we express our profound gratitude. Thank you for keeping my buddy warm and safe and for feeding him. He returned to us a little plumper than before, so you obviously fed him things he enjoyed!

atoms clumped together into cells as the result of a big bang, a chaotic unordered event, possess any type of orderly systematic thought process to understand “right and wrong”? Honestly asked and humbly concluded, we are not products of a big bang.

rights. If you are a person who loves your liberty and freedom, you must acknowledge God as the origin of those rights. And forget not, which one of these is listed first... LIFE. Without life, there is no liberty nor pursuit of happiness.

To the contrary, we were given life by our creator who is master of the universe. The omniscient and majestic God almighty. He has a purpose, he has laws and commandments which he has told us in his Word that we must obey in order to live and worship him. He created us with purpose, ON PURPOSE. He is the author of life. He makes no mistakes.

Regrettably, we, as an American culture, have embraced the brutality of abortion, as a “constitutional right”.

Interesting how far we have come, from acknowledging LIFE as a primary gift, given by our creator, to allowing MURDER of humans in the womb, the place of God’s order in which we are to pass in ORDER to become the people we are today.

How can it be that we write laws against God’s holy order of things?

Subsequently, our own Constitution states that we have been endowed by our creator with certain unalienable

Yes, we all acknowledge that we value our lives and would not allow any harm to come to us or our children. We want to survive. We are born with this, because it is God’s order.

We appreciate your kindness. We also wish to thank those who helped in our search. Many offered prayers, promised to keep an eye out and networked with others. Local animal shelters prepared “lost reports.” Compassionate people such as Jennifer Smith of HELP, a pet lost and found advocacy group, along with her son Robert, got word out and generously provided posters. We live in a very caring community – and one that loves animals.

We consider it a miracle that Sampson returned to us healthy and without a scratch after so long. And to do so on Christmas Day of all days, made it extra special. What started off as a sad day ended with happiness. A real success story and answer to prayers.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

– Anatole France Why then, do legislators write bills to allow the murder of innocent children at certain times, under certain conditions, when they have reached a certain length of life, when someone can detect their heartbeat, whether their father is a violent criminal, or their mother selfishly wants them murdered and removed?

More significant than what the legislators do, is the fact that many of us put them into those positions and condone their actions. It is unnatural to allow these convictions. Inequity is iniquity, and we are responsible if we allow them to write such decrees.

We must repent. We must show our repentance by our actions. Murder is not a right. Stand up, speak out, take the blinders off of your eyes, open your ears to hear the truth.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

POLITICS & OPINION

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soundly slumber, illuminated by the afterglow of smoldering wreckage of nice people they demolished that day.

Contributed by Andy Evans Nice people should not seek public office. There are manifold reasons for this...

McGovern Memorial. Not there you say?

Evidently. Basic decency robbed yet another nice person of a marble edifice on which could be etched his favorite quotes.

First, nice people are possessed of a sense of basic decency. Everybody knows that successful politicians have no sense of decency. It is this dearth of propriety that makes them successful in the first place.

Second, nice people are generally modest. These folks are commodiously uncomfortable with the idea of selfpromotion. Imagine the state of world affairs had JFK been a nice person. “OK, you guys take Cuba and we’ll get the next one....”

Being hampered by a conscience, morality, or just a nagging desire to do the right thing will consign a politician to the ash can of history every time. When in Washington D.C., take a leisurely stroll past the George

Alternatively, consider the implications in a world without Trump/Pence campaign buttons. As they endlessly demonstrate, successful politicians are passionately in love with, well, themselves. They delight in seeing

Contributed by Jim Sykes Congratulations to the Butte Community on passing 2018 without clean air violations except for an odd one in early September! Mild and active weather, along with people burning drier wood, helped and we can celebrate this small but important victory.

However, there are still a couple of months left, when air violations often occur, and we are not out of the woods yet as we start 2019. So why should people that are living outside of the Butte community care?

In 2017, the Borough narrowly escaped being classified into “non-attainment”, by the skin of our teeth. That’s an EPA federal classification for air quality violations that can bring down federally enforced regulations onto the local responsible government — in this case the Mat-Su Borough.

The trouble is that once classified into “non-attainment”, state and

federal regulators can decide what steps need to be taken to remedy the violations. They also determine the area that will be regulated. That’s where people living outside of Butte in areas like Wasilla, Big Lake, KGB, Sutton, Palmer and others could also be sucked into the area EPA decides to regulate.

The EPA included large areas in both Juneau and Fairbanks boroughs after numerous violations. Please view the video from former Fairbanks Mayor, Karl Kassel, who relates some of their experience with EPA “nonattainment.” https://tinyurl.com/ yafgx3l6 Once trapped in the “non-attainment” process, there’s no way out for about 20 years, when onerous regulations that cost lots of local taxpayer dollars are enforced to meet the federal EPA plan of improvement. We simply cannot risk entering that “non-attainment” trap when it’s fairly easy to stay out with some easy local steps.

Lots of people in Butte willing to delay burning outside trash, slash and burn barrels during cold air inversions.

themselves on television, they revel in hearing themselves talk, and they are overwrought with emotion upon seeing images of themselves on giant billboards. Politicians not fully vested with a resplendency of supreme pomposity, abject narcissism, and unlimited egocentrism cannot long endure. Nice people simply can’t measure up to these standards.

Third, nice people are fundamentally honest. If politicians can’t get behind destroying their opponents with fabricated photos and false testimony, paid for with diverted campaign funds, then they have no business running for public office. Nice people lie awake some nights wondering if they did the right thing. Successful politicians

Most will burn dry wood if they can.

If the Borough designates a Butte air district with scientific data to back it up, it will provide significant evidence that the problem is being addressed and it will create leverage with federal regulators on behalf of local residents.

There’s been a lot of misinformation floating around lately, but the Borough is not attempting to regulate wood stoves, and never has been.

In fact, the proposal now before the Borough Planning Commission includes the following language: “The Mat-Su Borough wants to protect residents’ way of life, including their right to heat their homes with wood and this legislation does not regulate wood stoves or other heat sources.”

More people are realizing that there is a real problem and that it won’t go away by itself. Another major area of more agreement is that no one wants the EPA to force its regulations on the people of Mat-Su. It is important for people to get questions answered

Finally, nice people just can’t go the distance. Ultimately, they can no longer suppress conscience, modesty, or a sense of fair play and find themselves standing before the gateway to the great abyss. Thence, the nice person summons moral courage and steps back from the abyss. The successful politician, on the other hand, lives in the great abyss. It’s a nice dank place to concoct villainy, and it has cable television and good barbeque.

As an infamous, if not completely successful, politician once lamented of his experience, “Once I gave up integrity, the rest was easy.” It just goes to show you that nice people do not belong in politics... They really do finish last.

factually from the regulators.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO AN OPEN HOUSE AT BUTTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ON JAN 22, 2019 FROM 6-8PM People can ask questions and there will be a short presentation and discussion starting at 7 pm. Representatives from Mat-Su Borough and DEC will be available with information.

I’ve had numerous conversations about the terrible experiences with those who dealt with EPA in Juneau and Fairbanks who made it quite clear that anything Mat-Su can do solve the problem locally needs to be done.

It is these small local steps that are most likely to avoid the heavy hand of EPA regulations and keep people living outside of the Butte area free from regulations in case violations go over the limit. Doing nothing is not a solution.

Jim Sykes is a Member of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and the opinions expressed are his own.

FAITH & OPINION Contributed by Destiny Korchi Mattityahu (anglicized as Matthew) 19:16-21 is an interesting passage.

The rich man wants to know how to enter into everlasting life, Yahushua (commonly referred to as Jesus) answers him with “…Guard the Commandments.” With 613 laws in the Torah, the rich man wanted to know if he had to obey all the laws that would apply to him, or if there was a specific commandment that’ll do it, thus his response asking, “Which?”.

Yahushua goes on to list some of the Commandments of the Torah. The rich man, confidant in his status as an observant follower of the Torah goes on to say, “All these have I watched over from my youth, what do I still lack?” Yahushua said “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in the shamayim (Heaven). And come, follow Me.” – Matthityahu 19:21. Yahushua knew that the rich man already knew the Law, and he watched over it, but He knew that this man, though observant, had become greedy in his heart because of his great wealth.

He was doing good so far, but in order to be perfect, he had to watch over his character, his heart, his inner man, as much as he watched over the other aspects of the Law, he says he follows.

Yahushua was showing him what the Law really is: Yes, it is all the things you are doing, but it is also this thing as well.

MADE TO ORDER, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 REPENT for allowing such insanity and lawlessness. The time for justice is always NOW! Let us abolish the practice of abortion, deeming it what it truly is, murder.

Murder is already against the law, yet for some reason, abortion is not in that definable category in Alaska.

Abolitionism, not pro-life rhetoric, is what

Some people take this passage to mean that we no longer have to keep the Law, because Yahushua listed things in the 10 Commandments, not the 613 laws. But this argument does not hold up. The 10 Commandments are part of the 613, it’s what makes up the 613.

The 10 are summary of the 613, just as the 2 Commandments that Yahushua (Christ) spoke of (To love Yahuwah— God, his Father—and to love our neighbors as ourselves) are a summary of the 10. You can even make the 613 into 1 Summary, or one Commandment: To Obey God. Now to do that, we have to know how, and the 613 laws given in Torah tell us how, it is the details of the Instruction, the Commandments, the Law, the Torah. And to say that we no longer need to keep the Law, because Yahushua didn’t go into massive detail also does not hold up, because if we would form any doctrine, it would be that we cannot have salvation unless we obey! What Yahushua is doing, is teaching him how to be perfected in the instruction that Yahuwah laid out for us to follow and connect with him.

Commandment in Hebrew is Mitzvah, and this Hebrew word is related to the Aramaic word “Tzavta” and means “To attach or join” or simply put “Connection”. Every time we obey, we form a connection to Yahuwah and anytime we disobey we sever this connection. He does not want us destroying our connection with him by breaking the Law, which caused his son to die for us in the first place. Yahushua died so we can live in obedience, with the renewing of his blood — and not the temporary sacrifices of the blood of animals. He did not come to die so that we could continue

will end the lawlessness.

Urge legislators to take action and Support HB250, The Alaska Life at Conception Act. They all know about it, yet they ignore It because they do not fear God. If LIFE is truly important to them, they would waste no time seeking justice for the innocent. Remember that defending ourselves against murder is a natural reaction, when violence comes our way. Abortion is violence to the unborn and they cannot be heard

to break the Law and keep nailing him to the tree again and again.

Mattityahu 19:16-21 shows us that the man’s heart was not in the right place, as we can see in the next verse (v.22).

That’s when we get the famous line: “Truly, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the reign of the shamayim (Heaven).” – v.24. It’s not that rich people can’t be saved, and if you want salvation, you have to be in poverty.

The rich man needed to address his heart issue, so Yahushua told him what he needed to do to fix this, become a giver from the heart and do not allow riches to make him greedy of gain. Do not let money corrupt who you are. Yahushua knew that he knew the Law, but the rich man did not quite get it, as he also needed to focus on his heart’s condition, not make the Law into an outer act without letting it also become internalized. Yahuwah (God) does not want us to mark things down like a check list. He wants us to live and breathe the Commandments! He wants us to worship not just in truth—his law—but in spirit also! In the spirit of the letter, and the letter of the spirit—not divorce the letter from the spirit and the spirit from the letter. They are one.

This is what Yahushua has been teaching us all throughout the last part of the book! We are to have both! But today, people choose to only talk about the spirit, and want nothing to do with the truth, nothing to do with the letter. rejecting it. That is the mistake of the modern day, just as the mistake in the ancient days was them having the letter

as they scream within their God given home, the womb. You have a voice, use it for them. Call, email or meet with your representative/senator and urge their support of HB250, The Alaska Life at Conception Act. If they tell you that they are pro-life, that is not good enough.

Pro-life legislators merely support prolonging the process and never want to truly end abortion. They will continue to tell you that it takes time and must be funded because it is complicated. This is untrue. If they have the power to write

but rejecting the Spirit. “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father also seeks such to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him need to worship in spirit and truth.” – Yohanan (John) 4:23-24, “Here is the endurance of the qodeshim (holy ones, children of God), here are those guarding the commands of Yahuwah and the beliefof Yahushua.” – Hazon (Revelation) 14:12.

Commands of Yahuwah + faith of Messiah Yahushua = worshipping in spirit and truth, letter and spirit.

This is the faith we had from the beginning, waiting for Messiah and now we have him. It becomes a fulfilled prophecy of the Torah, it does not become a different religion. This really is what the faith of the Bible is, and we should cling to this truth, not hold onto the counterfeit of what he really taught.

“Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning.

The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.” – 1 Yochanan (1 John) 2:7.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” – Mattiyahu (Matthew) 5:17-18 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” – Ecclesiastes 12:13.

bills incrementalizing murder, they can use that same power of the pen to put an end to abortion now.

Unborn children deserve their life to continue, which requires protection from all of us. We all began our lives in a womb.

It is God’s perfect order for growth and development. Remember, five Alaskan babies are being sacrificed every day. The count continues while pro-life legislators ignore them. www.FreeTheStates.org for more info.

PETS & ANIMALS

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann Jimi is a lovely, tiny girl in a short, neat coat and the cutest face ever. She is about 12 years young.

Jimi is full of life. She may be a ‘senior’ cat, but she is nowhere near ready to retire.

She is curious, energetic, intelligent, interested in everything, and the sweetest little girl you could hope to share your home and life with. She is affectionate and so easy to live with.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

Contributed by Angie Lewis

Contributed by Sue Fujimoto Kelly is an easygoing, 8-year-old, spayed female Mastiff. She is very friendly and playful.

Kelly is VERY enthusiastic about food and might accidently bite your finger when taking food from your hand. She is an indoor dog that loves car rides. She would be happiest in a home with other dogs and older children.

She does well with other nice cats; she had a cat friend in her former home. She would probably be just fine with a mellow dog.

Her identification number is A101316.

We are located at 9470 E. Chanylut Circle, Palmer, beside the Landfill, and open from 11am until 6pm, TuesdaySaturday.

CALL 980-8898 FOR MORE INFORMATION

CALL 746-5500 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contributed by Angie Lewis Vanna has been part of our rescue group for over two years now and is so anxious to have her own forever home.

She is an eight-year old Walker Hound, who has the energy of a young puppy. Vanna has

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Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann Charcoal is a soft bundle of cuteness.

She is about 5 months old and SO cute in her pretty gray coat.

She is feisty and full of kitten antics and makes every attempt to keep up with her bigger faster friend. She is not interested in being picked up but when it’s time to nap, she will snuggle up on the bed and purr herself to sleep. When the sun comes back and is warm again, Charcoal would love a yard to play in with her friends and family.

CALL 980-8898 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Yukon loves rides in the car, playing, being pet, and sleeping in bed with his people.

He does not like being on a leash, coming when called, and not much interested in learning tricks. Just barely a year old, this Husky mix has shown a great deal of progress since he was rescued from a musher’s lot.

Clearly, he knows what he likes and what he doesn’t! With a little training, Yukon can become an awesome part of your family. Give him a chance!

CALL 841-3173 OR EMAIL AKARESCUE@HOTMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

unfortunately been mistreated by other dogs, and as a result, needed to have her right ear amputated.

Originally, when we rescued her, she didn’t seem to like other dogs, but has since shown us a more sociable side. She now loves the company of two other dogs at her foster home.

If you would like to meet this delightful girl, please call Angie at 841-3173 or email Alaska Animal Advocates at akaarescue@hotmail.com

CALL 980-8898 FOR MORE INFORMATION

PETS & ANIMALS Winter can be a very dangerous time of year for your dog. There are a variety of weather-related issues that can cause major problems for your canine family member. At a minimum, exposure to the cold, dry air, icy rains, sleet or snow, can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin. If your home has dry heat, you may want to use a humidifier and towel dry your pet’s paws, so that they do not cause skin and paw problems.

More seriously, chemicals from icemelting products, when licked off paws, can cause intestinal problems that can become quite serious. After going for a walk, wash and dry your dog’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals, checking for cracks or redness between toes.

Contributed by Angie Lewis President of Alaska Animal Advocates

Rubbing petroleum jelly onto the paw pads before going outside, offers protection for these sensitive areas.

Using booties is best, but many dogs refuse to walk when wearing these.

We have all seen hilarious videos

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

of dogs “dancing” to remove these uncomfortable things on their feet.

Shaving your dog down to his skin takes away the protection that a longer coat provides. You can trim his fur to minimize clinging ice balls. Shorthaired dogs benefit from wearing coats or sweaters.

Bathe your dog only when absolutely necessary during cold weather.

Frequent baths can remove essential oils, adding to the discomfort of already dry, flaky skin. Use a moisturizing shampoo if bathing is necessary.

Antifreeze is a lethal poison, so be sure that your dog does not have access to this. Clean any spills in the vicinity of your vehicle and try to use products that are less harmful – propylene glycol, instead of ethylene glycol.

Dogs use extra energy, just trying to stay warm during the winter.

COMMUNITY & CHARITY Contributed by Michael McKiernam At a recent Reentry Summit hosted by the Valley Reentry Partners, Palmer Juvenile Detention Facility Superintendent, Theron Powell, and MY House Executive Director, Michelle Overstreet, teamed up for a panel discussion about Youth Reentry services.

Powell talked about Mat-Su DJJ and the youth served, sharing that the facility has a capacity for 17 youth and has been over capacity since July, sometimes having as many as 21 youth on-site.

Contributed by Engen Sundberg A group of Alaska Association of Business Professionals of America members is planning to attend the BPA National Leadership Conference. We are currently working on one of the

treatment services along with the DJJ consequences, not just send them back to detention,” says Overstreet.

Recidivism rates among young offenders are as high as 76% across Alaska and the Nation, however, Overstreet says that the MY House youth recidivism rate is 38%, with 95% of those go back for a substance abuse relapse that is a probation violation, not for additional or new charges.

With a recidivism rate at half of the statewide average, they have clients completing treatment programs and staying clean and sober at a rate that is clearly contributing to saving lives.

“These youth are not out there stealing cars or robbing banks. They are getting drunk and high. This would indicate that the best thing we can do is provide

largest fundraisers of the year for this organization. See below for details.

We will appreciate your support!

Prizes: (each raffle ticket is $20) Grand Prize Winner: will receive an Unlimited Passes for two at The Valley

So, feeding him a bit more during the cold will provide him with the necessary calories. Also, make sure that he has access to lots of water – this will keep him hydrated and help with drying skin.

Do not leave your dog outside in your car, as this is like a refrigerator and holds the cold in, potentially causing dogs to freeze to death.

Give your dog a dry, warm place to sleep inside your home, away from drafts. Offer him a warm blanket or cushion. Some people believe that dogs are meant to live outside; nothing could be further from the truth.

IF IT IS TOO COLD OUTSIDE FOR YOU, IT IS TOO COLD FOR YOUR DOG. KEEP HIM INSIDE! When left outside, dogs can become disoriented, get lost, or stolen. Dogs are very social animals and thrive when they are treated as family members – inside with their humans – where they belong!

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

The majority of the conversation centered around services, with a focus on partnering to prevent recidivism.

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through partnerships with CITC and True North Recovery, so they have a person in long term recovery to talk with, go to meetings with and identify relapse triggers that lead back to jail.

And the job training programs that provide vocational training through Northern Industrial Training partnership require sobriety and encourage them to continue to pursue their goals and dreams, not get derailed or sabotaged by negative peer groups.”

When asked how MY House achieves such low recidivism rates, Michelle says “We develop relationships with them that are supportive, with wrap around services that help them stay on track, in recovery and motivated to stay out of trouble. We have on-site peer support,

MY House is not funded by the local Reentry Coalition, by the Department of Corrections or Juvenile Justice, using outside grants, fundraisers and donations to serve the re-entering youth in their programs.

Cinema for an entire year!

Second Prize: will receive two Gold Passes to the Extreme Fun Center.

What is included in a Gold Pass? It includes: three rounds of laser tag, 10 arcade tokens, one round of bumper cars, one game of mini bowling, and one climb on the climbing wall.

Technical High School on March 1st, 2019 at 2 PM. (Need not be present to WIN!)

Drawing will be held at Mat-Su Career

Are you interested? If you are interested, please let me know. Contact me at any time: engens98@gmail.com (State Vice President). Also, please spread the message to anyone you know. Thank you for your support!

COMMUNITY & CHARITY experiencing homelessness, the challenges are tenfold.

Contributed by Michele Harmeling, United Way of Mat-Su

This is why United Way of Mat-Su, the Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, the MatSu Food Bank, MYHouse, Alaska Family Services, the Salvation Army MatSu Valley Corps, Family Promise Mat-Su, WASI, and many other community partners will host Project Homeless Connect in January.

1/23/2019 FROM 10AM-4PM MENARD CENTER 1001 S CLAPP ST WASILLA FREE EVENT The winter months can be a challenge for all Alaskans, but for Valley residents

Project Homeless Connect is an annual, one-day, one-stop hospitality event providing connection, health and wellness services, and needed amenities, and assistance contacting loved ones.

MAT-SU VALLEY, ALASKA

The event seeks to alleviate some of the challenges of homelessness, while encouraging individuals to learn about and utilize local resources. It is also a wonderful source of community connection and companionship for those who may spend much of their time alone in the elements.

Services offered throughout the day may include foot care, health and wellness checks, haircuts, showers, and access to local service agencies.

Resources available will include the United Way of Mat-Su Resource Guide, pharmacy discount cards, housing resource listings, and vendor tables. We are still seeking vendors to participate.

You must represent an agency offering a service, such as employment assistance, affordable housing, or help with basic needs.

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A hot meal will be served during the event, with the generous support of Mat-Su School Nutrition Services and the help of community volunteers.

Each guest will receive a reusable bag containing essential personal hygiene items, non-perishable snacks, and bottled water.

Past years’ events have served 200300 Valley guests, and reaches demographics of all kinds, including families and youth. Childcare is available on-site.

2019 Project Homeless Connect will be held at the Curtis D. Menard Center on Wednesday, January 23rd from 10am4pm. Transportation will be available on the day of the event only.

For more information, including the vendor application, to volunteer, or with questions regarding day-of transport, please call Becky Stoppa at (907) 745-5827