Eleven Days

Eleven Days

Contributed by G.B Jones

Mat-Su Valley/ Anchorage - You are probably aware of the true story of the little sled dog Aafes that got lost in the rugged mountains of the Alaska Range for eleven days during the Iditarod sled dog race of 2007. 

A new book, entitled Eleven Days, was published by the Alaskan Gardens Publishing Company in 2022 and is a sequel to my previous book, Lost in the Alaskan Wilderness, and is an animated account of Aafes' eleven days on the lam. This 72-page paperback book is written as if Aafes herself tells the story of where she went during those eleven days, and the unusual cast of characters she met while searching for her lost teammates. 

This is a good read for kids of all ages and highlights the bonds which unite people and dogs. Contains color photographs of actual events involving Aafes rescue. Curl up to a cozy fire and read Aafes’ entertaining version of being lost in the Alaskan wilderness! 

This paperback book retails for $11.00 and is available through Amazon, Todd Communications in Anchorage, and the Alaskan Gardens website at www.AlaskanGardens.com

Exchange Students in Alaska

Exchange Students in Alaska

Contributed by Jessie Wetherell

ALL ALASKANS - Every year students come from all over the world to study here in the United States.  Their dream is to have a host family that loves them while experiencing everything American high school has to offer.  These students are teenage boys and girls, aged 16-18, and they arrive in August for the entirety of the school year.  While each individual student is unique and will steal your heart, the people that truly make this program amazing are YOU.  Without gracious and loving host families, these kids would never get the opportunity to come to America and make their dreams come true.

Host families, just like the students, are unique.  They can be traditional families, blended families, empty nester couples, or young couples (at least age 25) who don’t have kids yet.  Ultimately, almost anyone can host, as long as they have a heart for teenagers and are excited to experience new things.  THIS MEANS YOU!!

As a federally recognized and CSIET accredited exchange organization, Pan Atlantic Foundation does require a thorough vetting process for any interested families.  Steps include a lengthy application process, a background check, an in-home interview, and positive references.  As your local, born and raised Alaskan Area Representative, I will work with you every step of the way.  I will be the one performing the interview in your home, and also the one who calls you every month to be sure things are going smoothly.  I will take your student(s) out to dinner or an activity every month to offer them the same level of support.  I will always be a phone call or a text message away and ready to jump in to support with whatever you might need.

Every year, these students – who come from all over the world including Europe, Mexico, and Thailand – go home singing their praises about their amazing host families.  They tell their friends about the adventures they went on together, the vacations they shared, and the laughter they had around the dinner table at family birthdays.  They bring home the holiday traditions that YOU shared with them, and you might find yourselves continuing some of the traditions they taught you.

Hosting is such a rewarding experience and, honestly, we could not make these amazing students’ dreams come true without you.  For more information, contact me (Jessie Wetherell) at jwetherell.panatlantic@gmail.com.  If you already know you want to apply, go towww.iwanttohost.org and fill out your application today.  I’m excited to get to meet each of you and help make the world a smaller place, one student and family at a time!

Fairbanks Celebrates New Senior Living Community

Fairbanks Celebrates New Senior Living Community

Contributed by Tony Fisher

If you’re a senior, family member of a senior or social worker, you know the frustration of trying to find availability in long term care. With long waitlists for senior housing across the state, Timber Creek Senior Living is welcome news not just for Fairbanks, but for the state as a whole. As the aging population continues to grow across the state, seniors and families sometimes feel left behind as senior services and care communities are not keeping up with the growing demand.

Timber Creek is expected to open end of February 2023 and will offer more options locally for those looking for an assisted living community for a loved one. The 2 story lodge style community boasts 68 apartments, large restaurant style dining, worship chapel, community rooms for activities, housekeeping, laundry services and 24 hour care staff. Timber creek will also be participating in the Medicaid Waiver program upon Medicaid approval. Information will be provided to help families get started with the Medicaid Waiver application process along with information about the VA benefit “Aid & Attendance” that helps cover a portion of cost of care for assisted living. 

Timber Creek is already building partnerships in the local community to enhance the lives of young and old through their community outreach. This includes local schools, the Fairbanks Native Association, Chamber of Commerce of Fairbanks and North Pole, Fairbanks and North Pole Rotary, Fairbanks Senior Center and other Senior Living communities to share resources, creative ideas and best practices to better serve seniors, their families and the community at large. These partnerships are important not only to help our elders thrive as they age but also to be seen as valued participants in the future of how we embrace elderhood as a community. 

 It is projected that the senior population for those 55 and older will grow by 40% over the next 10 years in Fairbanks and the surrounding areas. Fortunately, a creative team of community leaders from the Community Health Improvement Plan for Senior Care (CHIP Sr) are taking action. Planning is underway to fashion a summit referred to as “Fairbanks 50+ Art & Science of Aging” held at FNSB Pioneer Park Civic Center Friday, April 7th and Saturday, April 8th. Timber Creek Senior Living is proud to be a part of the planning committee as well as participants in the summit itself. For more information call 907-458-5545 or email Carol.Anthony@foundationhealth.org.

For more information and availability at Timber Creek Senior Living, call 907-328-2218 or stop by for a tour. Located at 3415

Trothno Lane, Fairbanks 99709  www.TimberCreekSL.com

Free House Cleaning for Cancer Patients

Free House Cleaning for Cancer Patients

Contributed by Bre Tschilar

Cleaning’s A Breeze

Cleaning’s A Breeze has teamed up with Cleaning for a Reason, a nationwide nonprofit giving cancer patients free home cleanings. Two free cleanings to be exact. 

Owner, Bre Tschilar is committed to making a difference for families in the community and what better way than helping others? 

“All of us at Cleaning’s A Breeze have dealt with cancer in one way or another,” said Tschilar. 

 “We have also seen our customers struggle with fatigue and pain as they undergo cancer

treatment. When we learned about Cleaning for a Reason, we knew we had to be a part of it simply to help fight the fight and support those fighting. Because nobody should have to worry about scrubbing the toilets when they are fighting for their life. We believe that a clean andhealthy home can make a difference for cancer patients and their families. We’re all honored to have been a part of this nonprofit for 3 years.”

Through partnership with Cleaning for a Reason, Cleaning’s A Breeze assists cancer patients by cleaning four families  homes per month for two consecutive months free of charge. This hasbeen an ongoing service to cancer patients residing in Mat-Su Valley, specifically Wasilla,Palmer, and the surrounding areas.

Cleaning’s A Breeze, was started by a single mom trying to make extra money to cover the bills. Word of mouth spread quickly and owner Bre Tschilar had to bring on help to support her growing business. With a focus on residential and day time commercial cleaning. The company uses all plant based cleaning products and good old elbow grease. They background check EVERY employee BEFORE they go to any home or business.  For more information, go to the company’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/cleaningsabreeze) They also have a web page that will give you more information. (www.busymomsofmatsu.com)

About Cleaning for A Reason

Cleaning for a Reason partners with more than 1,200 residential cleaners throughout the United

States and Canada to offer free house cleaning to any household battling cancer. Since 2006, the nonprofit and its partners have donated more than $15 million in services, helping more than

47,000 cancer patients. To learn more about Cleaning for a Reason and to apply for free house cleaning, see cleaningforareason.org. Be sure to choose Cleaning’s A Breeze as your provider. 

Girlfriend

Girlfriend

Contributed by Clear Creek Cat Rescue

I am a tabby girl who is said to be part Bengal, like right out of the jungle! I am about a year and a half old.

And I am a sweetheart. I am the purrfect friend for other cats and I love people. I'm young and energetic, ready for play, and honing my skills for the time when spring comes and I can go outside and use my natural skills to chase butterflies and race around with my friends or whatever fun cats might be a part of my family.

I am a lovely and wonderful girl ready for a great home. To meet me, please call or text 907-980-8898.

Great Land Trust Announces Plan to Expand Popular Settlers Bay Coastal Park in Mat-Su

Great Land Trust Announces Plan to Expand Popular Settlers Bay Coastal Park in Mat-Su

Contributed by Libb Kugel

Knik-Fairview, AK

Local nonprofit Great Land Trust (GLT) is in the final phases of a land deal to purchase 187 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the Settlers Bay Coastal Park. This expansion project will bring the total size of the park to 480 acres, increase recreation opportunities, protect forest and wetland habitat, and will directly connect a new neighborhood to the park. Pending Mat-Su Borough (MSB) Assembly approval, GLT will purchase and then immediately donate the land to the MSB while retaining a conservation easement on the property. The Borough will own and manage the land consistent with the current park and will expand their infrastructure efforts into the new area in coming years. 

Great Land Trust is a nonprofit founded by Alaskans for Alaskans with a mission to conserve the lands and waters essential to the quality of life and economic health of Alaskan communities. Since 1995, GLT has conserved over 56,000 acres of priority wildlife habitat, permanently protected more than 100 miles of salmon streams, secured increased access to public lands, and created parks and public natural areas all throughout their service area of Southcentral Alaska. 

For this expansion project, GLT has received funding for acquisition of the property from the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund, Matanuska Electric Association Charitable Foundation, MatSu Health Foundation, Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and Rasmuson Foundation. “We are so grateful to these funders for their generous support of this project, and for recognizing the positive impact it will have on our communities for generations to come,” said Great Land Trust Executive Director Ellen Kazary. “We have almost hit our fundraising goal with these funding awards, and now we’re turning to the community to help us cross the finish line by raising the last $10,000 needed to complete this project.” 

The original Settlers Bay Coastal Park project began in 2013 when the owners of the Settlers Bay Golf Course, LLC approached GLT about conserving some of the undeveloped property within the Settlers Bay neighborhood as public open space. GLT partnered with the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, ConocoPhillips, Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Settlers Bay Golf Course, LLC, the Mat-Su Borough, and over 70 individual private donors to acquire the property with the intent of creating a regional park for public recreation and habitat conservation, ultimately creating the 293-acre Settlers Bay Coastal Park. Today, the Mat-Su Borough manages the park land for conservation and public use. GLT holds a conservation easement on the property to ensure its open space and habitats are protected and conservation values are upheld in perpetuity. 

Settlers Bay Coastal Park opened in the fall of 2019 and trail development and park infrastructure projects have been ongoing since then. Mat-Su Borough and Student Conservation Association trail crews have built almost nine miles of trails (including singletrack mountain bike trails and an accessible bluff lookout trail) and installed other essential infrastructure such as restrooms, trash cans, benches, parking lots, and gates. With the support of AARP, the Alaska Conservation Foundation, ConocoPhillips, and the Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation, GLT and the MSB completed work on an accessible scenic overlook viewing platform this past summer that offers stunning views of the Palmer Hay Flats and the Chugach Mountains across Upper Cook Inlet. 

According to data gathered by the MSB, Settlers Bay Coastal Park was one of the top three most visited parks that they manage in the summer of 2022. MSB Asset Manager Joe Metzger said, “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to grow the park. Knik-Fairview is one of the highest growth areas in the Borough and it’s important to make sure we’re providing folks with close-to home places to safely recreate and enjoy nature.” 

Great Land Trust is accepting donations for the project through their website, www.greatlandtrust.org, or via mail to Great Land Trust, PO Box 101272, Anchorage, AK 99510. Kazary said, “We plan to acquire the expansion property by the end of March, and we’ll look forward to a big community celebration at the park in the late spring or summer. Our work at GLT is made possible by the support of our communities. We want to recognize and celebrate with everyone who helps make projects like this a reality.”

Guns

Guns

Contributed by Charles Dean Walker

Palmer - In the hands of a coward it becomes their expression of revenge.

To play God, the ultimate Judge.

These deviants only seek to inflict pain.

None of their justifications are a true reason.

Reason doesn’t exist in a terrorist.

There is only hate and cowardice of the highest degree.

Sleep is for Losers

Sleep is for Losers!

Contributed by Dr. Josh

BeeWell Chiropractic

We all know what it’s like to not get enough sleep. You feel moody, easily agitated, and unfocused—plus, little sleep takes a big toll on your physical health over time. Our bodies do some of their best work while we’re sleeping, and that’s as fully grown adults.

Now imagine the effects of children getting interrupted or limited sleep. Kids are always going through some level of growth; learning how to regulate their emotions, exercising and nourishing their bodies, adjusting to new routines with friends and school, etc. Not only is sleep essential for their physical, mental, and emotional development, but without it, children don’t have a sense of normalcy. Consistent poor sleep in children can contribute to digestive issues, immune system problems, focus and behavior challenges, anxiety and depression, and other health concerns. 

FACTORS THAT PREVENT CHILDREN FROM SLEEPING:

There are all kinds of things that can get in the way of sleep for children. Their environment, health, mood, and more can all interfere with a sleep schedule. If your child is consistently not getting enough sleep, the following factors could be at play.

- Interrupted circadian rhythms

- Sleeping or breathing disorders

- High stress or anxiety

- “Stuck on” nervous-system

- Too much stimulation.

CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS ARE KEY:

As chiropractors, we know exactly how to measure this.  We have the technology and tests. If your child has really struggled with sleep, you may have gone to a sleep center and had sleep tests done or EEGs on the brain.

But we know what the brain is doing – it’s doing whatever the body tells it to do because the brain is one big sensory organ. For children especially, it is sensitive to a lot of stress stacked up over a lot of time.

Neurologically focused chiropractors measure the “sleep center” using the INSiGHT scans. We can find, locate and quantify how much a child or person may be stuck in this sympathetic overdrive – and it only takes 10 minutes. That’s why we see sleep as such a common secondary challenge with ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and anxiety kiddos. 

If your child is struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, get good quality sleep, or all of those, the number one thing to do is find out if they are stuck in this parasympathetic overdrive. 

Chiropractors find that stress and make gentle, easy adjustments to release that tension. When we release that tension that has built up over time, not only do we get the stress out of the way, weare also able to stimulate the vagus nerve which is the calming, sleeping side of the nervous system.

Success Story: Meet this little one! When he came in one of his biggest challenges was sleep. Not only was he having a hard time falling asleep, but he was waking up multiple times during the middle of the night. This made his moods, behavior, and energy throughout the day all thrown off. His body was stuck on stress and never able to fully access rest mode, leaving his brain not only tired, but wired. So, with consistent chiropractic care, he was able to calm and regulate his nervous system!

Better sleep = better moods

How Ranked Choice Voting Is Manipulating Your Vote

How Ranked Choice Voting Is Manipulating Your Vote

Contributed by Katherine Baker

Anchorage/ Mat-Su Valley - A voting system in a free and fair election is NEVER intended to favor any candidate, political affiliation, or designated group. The USA election system-in all fifty states-had a long- standing established integrity known to work fine & favor none. The American people were proud of their free elections. It's no small or arbitrary adjustment to change that system. So 'why' the determination to fix a system which isn't broken?

Direct voting-one registered voter, one legal vote, was conducted on a level playing field. Nobody's political thumb was on the scale.

Any voting system, which favors whoever is labeled, truthfully or otherwise, as a 'moderate' over every other candidate is a rigged voting system. Period. It's not complicated.

Jaw-droppingly, a tilted scale for electing 'moderates' is the reason given for touting ranked choice voting as a success. There must be more to this. And there is. Much more.

It certainly seems in the final tabulation, whoever has been labeled 'moderate' gets elected! That's controlling the vote!

JFK was the last 'law & order' Democratic POTUS. We all know it's virtually impossible to elect a 'law & order' Democrat. Likewise, it will now be impossible to ever again elect a 'law & order' Republican. Here's why-ranked choice voting overrides the will of the voter.

Something is definitely going on here. So let's take a closer look. Is this the same 1960's mentality now working from INSIDE the system to accomplish what they failed to do back then-the takedown of the United States system of government? By the 1970's they had announced their intent to take the country down from the inside instead of from the outside. Almost fifty years later they do seem to be INSIDE the system.

It's up to the people, at all times, under all conditions, facing all issues, to vote moderate, or right, or left. It is the people's DECISION. It is their VOTE. It isn't up to a politically driven, corrupt voter system to manipulate the votes cast and then ultimately decide who gets elected. 

Nor should ranked choice voting repeatedly sort and tabulate over & over-no matter how many times it takes, in order to produce a recalculated result, which resides far from the intention of the original votes cast. Therefore, it's a voting system which simply fails to properly interpret the will & intent of the original ballots. Probably because the people's votes as cast should not be re-interpreted but should stand as cast by the voter!!! It's our 'right to vote'.

Sometimes the voters want to elect someone who will take a stand, even a strong stand on an issue. At other times, voters may want to elect someone who will negotiate in full or partially. Voters have a variety of valid reasons for voting the candidate of their choice. Manipulative ranked choice voting has one primary objective-to favor the labeled 'moderate' candidate. That's the bait.

Here's the hook-In order for a Republican to obtain the coveted 'moderate' nod from the Democrats, it involves 'selling out' the very people who voted them into office in the first place. Oddly, the Democrats have redefined 'moderate' for the public. For example, 'moderate' labeled Republicans are expected to vote for radical leftist Supreme Court Justices who can't define what a woman is!

According to the Democrats-conservative Republicans (the nerds?) are terrorists while any violent group supported by the Democrats are peaceful protesters & not radical at all - (Why of course not. Don't be silly. Antifa and BLM are 'moderates'). 

The stench of this is overwhelming.

Any Republican politician selling out to receive the 'moderate' badge of shame from the Democrats would be following a non-Republican platform & agenda. That would make the politician, not a 'moderate' Republican but a ... (wait for it) ... RINO! (Republican in Name Only). Yes Alaska, Rinos are REAL. I'm surprised too!! Once again, we are seeing a dynamic intentionally designed to divide the Republican Party.

If politicians can obtain their political power from ranked choice voting instead of from the people - then they will have taken away the people's voting rights. RINO Republicans wouldn't be beholden to the voters, but to the political powers behind ranked choice voting!

If only the elected officials in the great State of Alaska would listen to the people & give the people back their voting rights. By doing so, it would let the people know they are the politicians who truly represent them & who need & deserve their vote.

If they can manipulate away your right to vote, then they can manipulate away your right to bear arms.

Keeping a Promise

Keeping a Promise

Contributed by Bonnye Matthews

I rarely promise, for I agonize when I cannot fulfill a promise. That is even more important to me when the person I promise is a child. 

When the Young Writers Conference, organized by Sharon Russell, took place at Sherrod Elementary School annually, I participated as a presenter for several years. One year I had written most of my middle-grade fiction, Arctic Dinosaurs of Alaska, and I decided to share that and have the young writers become a critique group. It was middle-grade fiction. What better opportunity? The young writers came up with significant, mature suggestions and they loved the story and illustrations. There was one suggestion I didn’t take. They loved the illustrations but freaked out over my curve in a Nanuqsaurus tail. Nanuqsaurus is a t-rex type dinosaur only about half size. It terrorized my dinosaurs. 

I wondered why the tail on the t-rex needed to be stiff in their minds until I saw some reproductions and realized the tail was stiff to stabilize the resin reproduction for standing. I kept the tail image with a curve in the illustration.

I assured the young writers that I’d add their great effort to the Acknowledgements, and, if they wanted their name in the book, write it out for me and I’d put it in there. I’d bring a couple of copies to the Library at Sherrod, if they wanted to see their name in the book.

On January 9, 2023, I finally fulfilled that promise. Arctic Dinosaurs of Alaska launched August 20, 2022 at the Alaska Museum of Science and Nature in Anchorage. I received notice December 28, 2022 that the book had won an Honorable Mention in The Royal Dragonfly Book Award international contest my publisher entered. Usually, contest results don’t arrive until May of the year after publication. My publisher, Connie Taylor at Fathom Publishing, had also entered it in other contests. I competed in the contest where I’ve entered my other books. For those, it’s wait time. 

At Sherrod Elementary School, I presented two copies of the Library Edition of Arctic Dinosaurs of Alaska to the Librarian, Sean Williams. Since the books are for a Library, the personal copy “Arctic Dinosaurs of Alaska can be colored” style doesn’t work. You do not mark inside library books! To solve that problem, my publisher put out the Library Edition and has a website where the images can be downloaded for coloring.

It makes me sad that the Young Writers Conference no longer exists. It was a wonderful event for children and presenters. It was a real treasure for the Borough. How special it would be if this could be revived as a state-sponsored event regionally administered with the thought to encourage reading and writing among Alaskan children.

I AM OFFENDED

I AM OFFENDED

Contributed by Stuart Thompson

Mat-Su Valley/ Anchorage - I am offended by the boot-licking spectacle of Congress entertaining Ukraine’s Zelenski lobbying--- for support of an undeclared World War III. So Zelenski is Time’s Person of Year---an obvious propaganda whitewash.  Adolph Hitler was Time’s Person of the Year in 1939 for a similar purpose.

I am offended by Congress and the President repudiating Rule of Law by directly (financially and with military equipment) supporting the Ukraine War before 1) compliance to the Constitution’s requirement of a legal Declaration of War against Russia, or, 2) compliance with the US War Powers Act’s requirement to have a defensive purpose to legitimize use of military-relevant funding and resources. This is either dishonoring oaths of office, or being too functionally illiterate to understand what the oaths cover.

I am offended by the public use of propaganda and censorship to achieve selfish objectives through mental enslavement of human audiences. Propaganda is basically bearing false witness (which encompasses clever lying, demonization, or telling half-truths).  The immorality of propaganda is declared very simply in God’s 10 Commandments: “Thou shall not bear false witness”. History and the experience of every human being are replete with the misery and evil traced to propaganda and propaganda wars. Naturally, in a propaganda war, each side calls the output of the other side “disinformation/misinformation” ---not letting the audiences inspect verifiable facts or evidence to make up their own minds.

I am offended by elements of American aristocracy (read leaders and experts) ---who see advantages in conflict and war. They intentionally suppress world peace by using propaganda to justify use of the Just War Theory and its handmaiden: “Conflict Resolution always results in Appeasement of Evil ''.  Furthermore, those who support escalating the Ukraine War into a hot international war are doing so when the US military is not really war-ready. Nor are the US and its allies industrially geared up for a conventional war. This means that the insane people on all sides would catapult us into a nuclear war when conventional warfare fails. It would then no longer be an issue of dominating the world. There would no longer be a world--- indeed life--- to dominate. That makes the warmongers of today worse than Hitler by far. 

Stuart Thompson

lookitover@att.net

Leave my Mummy Alone

Leave my Mummy Alone

Contributed by Marilyn Bennett

Anchorage/ Mat-Su Valley - I just read that the British Museum and other British centers are told to cease using the term mummy and instead say "mummified remains". This is apparently to dignify the embalmed people of Ancient Egypt. I was not aware that the embalmed people had ever complained and until they do I want the "speech police" to leave my mummy alone.'

I grew up in St. Paul Minnesota in the late 40's and 50's and was fascinated by the Egyptian mummy at the Science Museum. Back when I was 7 or 8 my brother and I went to the Science Museum every Saturday. It was right behind the Capital building in St Paul, which was about a mile from our house. The Science Museum was in a very old building and we went there to watch cartoons and National Geographic films. It was a very interesting place to go. The building was torn down in the 60’s as part of the Capital approach improvement project. I have always thought it was a shame as the building was an old Gothic style with gargoyles on the outside to keep evil spirits away. The new Science Museum is very state of the art and all the exhibits are sanitized. The mummy has disappeared into the basement. The kids now climb over hexagons and push buttons to light up various plastic items on exhibit.

In my childhood the mummy, was in a glass case, was partially unwrapped and very creepy looking. It was just sitting in the middle of a room and we could go right up to it and look down into her face. It was assumed the mummy was female and we all thought she must have been a princess.

There is an interesting history to this old mummy. After the King Tut tomb was discovered in 1922, museums all over the world wanted mummies. Chicago and New York both had mummies and Egypt had no formal laws against mummy smuggling at that time. So in 1925 a wealthy supporter of our museum went off to Egypt, purchased a mummy and brought it back to St Paul in a suitcase. It was a mystery as to whom the mummy might have been.

When they built the new museum they hid the mummy in the basement for years. Finally, in 2010 they took it to the Children’s Hospital for a CT scan. Found out it was a man, probably a priest. The evidence pointed to a shaved head, callused feet and hands that showed no signs of manual labor. So now they are assembling a 3-D model of the mummy and making an enhanced exhibit, so the new generation of children will have a properly sanitized, non-scary exhibit that will be called "mummified remains". How special is that?

They tore the interesting old building down, turned the mummy from a princess to a priest, sanitized and renamed it "mummified remains". Glad I am here in Alaska where we still retain the time honored name of "Colony Days" for our summer celebration.

What will the "word police" go after next? 

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has changed the following Homeless: Persons experiencing unstable housing Poor: People with self-reported income in the lowest income bracket. Gay: LGBTQ (or LGBTQIA or LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA2. Now that is a mouthful!

Then the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Is making the following changes: He/she should be replaced with them. Un-manned to unscrewed. Repairman to technician. Airman to aviator, and of course cockpit to flight deck.

Then we have the schools. In Minneapolis they are changing the name of Patrick Henry School Patrick Henry signed our original constitution and famously said "Give me liberty or give me death!" Then he went on to fight for our freedom in the Revolutionary War. Minneapolis has not settled on a new name as yet. But the cost to change the name of a secondary school in MN is around $300,000.00. Seems like a waste of money for a supercilious virtue signaling name change.

Then we have birthing people instead of mothers, equity instead of equality and diversity instead of affirmative. action The only way to stop this type of renaming is to push back where-ever we see it.. Woke activism seems to be determined to change our language in the name of inclusivity. I personally feel we should not rush into eliminating public memorialization of our past heroes because they were not perfect people. 

We self-righteously laud ourselves for our woke, inclusive sensibilities. This renaming and virtue signaling is costly and separates people rather than bringing them together. I much preferred the old term "Melting Pot". I would be willing to live and let live, but I cherish the memory of my Mummy Princess so please: 

Leave MY MUMMY Alone!

Lessons for Alaska on Workforce Development

Lessons for Alaska on Workforce Development

Contributed by Sarah Montalbano

ALL ALASKANS - People of all ages are unprepared for the evolving job market, but Alaska can adopt policies to help learners prepare for good careers and meet the needs of the state’s economy.

Alaska businesses are facing a shortage of workers. Job openings remain near record highs. It’s tempting to blame labor shortages entirely on the pandemic, yet the state has underperformed for years: Alaska had the highest unemployment nationwide from 2017 to 2019. From 2015 to 2018, the state experienced 36 months of declining employment — a period in which the U.S. as a whole saw steady expansion. The only Alaskan industry that grew between 2015-2021 was educational and health services. 2022 marked the tenth consecutive year in which more people left the state than moved in.

While Alaska’s economy struggles, students are taught that not going to college dooms them to a lifetime of low earnings. That simply isn’t true: students who choose non-four-year pathways such as associate degrees, apprenticeships, or occupational certificates often earn more than four-year degree holders for less debt.

Machinists, dental hygienists, plumbers, and electric line installers report median lifetime earnings between 10 and 60 percent higher than the earnings of four-year degree holders. At the University of Alaska, three of the top five degree programs ranked by typical earnings and debt burden were associate degrees and only one was a bachelor’s degree. Students who do pursue a four-year degree should choose a major and university that will allow them to pay off their student loan debt.

This odd combination of high unemployment and near-record job openings suggests that workers are not finishing a credential or degree that would lead to lucrative careers. Students leaving Alaska’s high schools and colleges should have credentials that mean something to businesses. One option for students to take advantage of existing coursework is the correspondence school allotment program. Enrolled families can use the allotment to pay for skills-based classes offered online or by private schools while being able to enroll in classes from their neighborhood public schools.

The state needs to do more to identify and promote in-demand careers in high school and college. There is a clear mismatch between the skills and certifications required by industry and those earned by students: Alaska needs more Microsoft Office specialists and paramedics, but too few students are earning these credentials in high school to meet in-state demand. Some credentials are extremely oversupplied, such as the food-handling ServSafe certificate and welding certifications endorsed by the American Welding Society (AWS).

The state of Alaska could identify in-demand credentials by undergoing a return-on-investment analysis of career and technical education (CTE) programs. The CTE programs offered in high schools and colleges should be valued by employers and lead to high-skill, high-wage jobs for students. Collecting robust data about student outcomes and using it to inform decisions about which CTE programs to offer would guarantee more students have access to high-quality credentials during high school. 

The process considers how well programs align with K-12 and postsecondary certificates and degrees, industry certifications, and employment opportunities within the state. It also considers student outcomes like academic achievement, college readiness, postsecondary enrollment, and credential and certification attainment. Several states have the components needed for successful audits of their CTE programs, and Mississippi is currently undergoing one. Florida performed its first formal, statewide annual audit in 2020: more than a quarter of its programs needed further review of their institutional performance, and 5% required review of local or industry needs. If Alaska were to undergo an ROI analysis, it should make the findings of its audit transparent so students can make informed choices while unsuccessful programs are being phased out.

Parents and the public should know how well Alaska’s K-12 schools prepare their students for education, employment, or enlistment. Indiana has led the way by mandating the creation of the Indiana Graduates Prepared to Success (IndianaGPS) dashboard, which compiles statistics to measure students’ academic mastery; career and postsecondary readiness; communication and collaboration; work ethic; and civic, financial, and digital literacy. The dashboard compares certain inputs and outputs of a specific school or district — such as high school graduation rates, the percentage of students enrolled or employed in Indiana within a year, and the percentage of students earning college and career credentials — against the statewide average. Schools are also required to host a webpage of the same information in a similar format for transparency.

 The state could also make as transparent as possible all the options for students by creating a student-facing resource website. Texas is in the process of developing the My Texas Future portal, which will contain an “integrated advising chatbot,” inform students of educational pathways and earnings potential, and provide resources for students enrolling in or returning to college. Any student-facing website for the state of Alaska should outline the true costs of college as well as the costs of specific programs, average student loan payments and total debt, and pathways to achieving in-demand jobs in local industries.

Alaska’s economy is not so different that the state can’t learn from others. Given the declining economic outlook and record job openings, Alaska should help workers earn credentials, fill in-demand and high-wage jobs, and meet the needs of local economies.

Lost in Alaskan Wilderness

Lost in Alaskan Wilderness

Contributed by G.B. Jones

Mat-Su Valley/ Anchorage - It was one of the most severe winter storms the Alaska Range had seen. The year was 2007 and me and my “sixteen best friends” were racing in the annual sled dog race. 

Upon leaving the Rainy Pass checkpoint and mushing through the dark and extreme cold, the winds dramatically increased to a hurricane-force velocity. All trail markers were swept away and I and the other team members were trapped within “the bowl” atop the Alaska Range. 

It was the most severe storm I have ever been through, and I have been through many. Temporarily blinded in one eye from a flying projectile, and with the severe winds thrashing about, there was no escape, and our only option was to shelter in place. 

After the winds subsided, I climbed out of my partially buried wind-swept sled bag and found the entire team “missing!” Each dog was buried in the snowdrift, and a prominent breathing hole appeared above each one’s snout. 

We persevered through the menacing winds but inadvertently took a much longer trail through the treacherous area known as “Hell’s Gate.” This section of the long trail is appropriately named! 

The chaotic winds continued, and upon crossing the Alaska Range, we went for many miles through bone-chilling open water on the South Fork River. We were no longer in a race. We were in survival mode. Upon reaching the Rohn checkpoint I was devastated to discover that our dog Aafes was gone! It was one of the worst days of my life. I had trained harder for the 2007 Iditarod than any of my previous Iditarods. But now, only a couple of hundred miles into the race, my only option was to scratch from the race.  

With Aafes missing somewhere in the vast Alaska Range and with the severe storms and the active wolf pack lurking about, some had said that the only thing left of Aafes would be her torn-up blue neoprene jacket. They were wrong! Eleven agonizing days later, two pilots who had been searching for Aafes found her at Rohn! 

This little dog had captivated the hearts of many people throughout the world, but nobody rejoiced more than me. Upon the urging of friends throughout the years, this incredible story of Aafes has finally been told by me in a 72-page book entitled “Lost in the Alaskan Wilderness.” 

The book was published by Alaskan Gardens Publishing Company in 2021 and is distributed by Todd Communications in Anchorage. This book tells the story of Aafes rescue and also tells of her other adventures including her return to Rohn in 2009 on the Alaskan Expedition to get the mountain bike that was used in searching for her. 

“Lost in the Alaskan Wilderness” also tells the story of Aafes’ two trips on the Stampede Trail to “the magic bus” and some very unusual things which occurred on these trips. This book concludes with the 2011 Iditarod where our dog Aafes finally crosses the finish line beneath the burled arch in Nome! 

This paperback book retails for $14.95 and is available through Amazon, Todd Communications in Anchorage, and the Alaskan Gardens website at www.AlaskanGardens.com.

Mat-Su Concert Band paints “Portraits of the North” with Alaska theme

Mat-Su Concert Band paints “Portraits of the North” with Alaska theme

Contributed by Drewcilla Holifield

Mat-Su Concert Band celebrates the musical wonders of our Alaskan home with a performance emphasizing music about the state and its people, including a world premiere of a new composition. 

The “Portraits of the North” concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11 at the Glenn Massay Theater at Mat-Su College. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $5 for students. Children under 5 get in free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.matsuconcertband.org.

The band is made up of nearly 70 volunteers who come from different walks of life and professions to play music under the baton of Gleo Huyck.  

This concert features the world premiere of Anthony Susi’s “Alaska: The Last Frontier”.  Combining traditional Alaska Native song lyrics and dance rhythms, this piece attempts to capture the spirit of Alaska’s indigenous peoples as seen in the inspirations for different sections: Kodiak Alutiiq Dance; Tsimshian Dance; and “Neets’ee T’yaa”, a Gwich’in two-step. Susi has been teaching music in Connecticut schools at the middle, high school and college level since 1985. A guest conductor and adjudicator, he has also composed and recorded seven CDs of original music. 

The band will also perform “A Klezmer in Alaska” by Marcus Bishko, a teacher, performer and vocalist who presents workshops on the art of phrasing in the Klezmer tradition and taught music at Mat-Su College and the University of Alaska from 1997 until 2005. Klezmer music has its origins in Europe among the Ashkenazi Jews; the word is a Yiddish contraction of the Hebrew words for instrument (kley) and song (zemer). 

“Kivgik” by Carl Strommen recognizes the “messenger feast” a ritual thousands of years old and still celebrated, most recently this year in early February at Barrow High School where hundreds gathered for dancing, visiting, feasting, sharing stories and exchanging their crafts. Three pieces by composer Robert Buckley -- “Arctic Fire”, “Land of the Midnight Sun” and “Iditarod” -- round out the northern theme. Huyck is one of three co-founders of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  

The concert will include a few pieces off the main theme. “Nimrod” by Edward Elgar is the most played of the composer’s “Enigma Variations” and described as the most beautiful. 

Composer Julie Giroux dedicated “In My Father’s Eyes” to the four little girls who died in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama that injured 23 others. Giroux called the bombing “an act of racial terrorism” in her program notes. “We remember and honor all of you. We have made strides but not enough.” The piece is written for wind ensemble, solo cello and singers. 

Mat-Su Concert Band got its start in 1984 as the Mat-Su Community Band, formed by Matanuska Music owner Hank Hartman. Other directors have included Neil Long and Phil Munger. 

Current director Huyck is a retired music educator and private instructor. Under his baton, the band performs a wide-ranging selection of challenging music. The band this season numbers about 70 amateur musicians who assemble every Monday night for rehearsals at Teeland Middle School.

The Bright Lights Book Project: Making Books Accessible to Students

The Bright Lights Book Project: Making Books Accessible to Students

Contributed by Alys Culhane

The Bright Lights Book Project Books in the Schools program was initiated by BLBP Project Manager Pete Praetorius. Former School Board Member Sarah Welton had just donated a bookcase to the project, and Pete thought that locating it in a Mat-Su District High school would serve the students in good stead, as would stocking it with BLBP books.

I called Colony High School librarian Stephanie Haase, who liked Pete’s idea. Pete, with the assistance of a handful of students, put the bookcase in the lobby. And Colony High School students and I loaded it up with fiction, nonfiction, and general interest books. Stephanie also agreed to be the bookcase guardian – she’d make sure that the shelves remained stocked and would let me know when more books were needed. 

On May 3, 2021, Pete arranged for a dedication ceremony, in honor of Sarah Welton, a lifelong reader and literacy advocate. Those in attendance included Mat-Su School District Superintendent Randy Trani and other BLBP community supporters.

After the ceremony, Pete, who is both an avid reader and Bright Lights Book Project Community mainstay, had yet another idea. Why not have additional bookcases placed in other local schools?

Pete contacted Randy Wolfe, the shop teacher at the Mat-Su Vocational and Technical High School and proposed to him that his students build eight bookcases. Randy liked the idea so Pete then contacted the Palmer Community Foundation. Support, which came in the form of a $1,500 grant, was near-instantaneous.

In November 2022, I began making calls to schools. I told them about the BLBP and that we had bookcases and books available. I also noted that the majority of the books that they’d receive had been donated by the Mat-Su and Anchorage School Districts, private donations, and most recently, local CCS Head Start programs. Librarians and principals alike said yes, they’d welcome our donation.

The construction of the bookcases was an ongoing project, with Randy and Pete conferring on a regular basis about building particulars. The finishing touch came shortly after the students put the final coat of varnish on the bookcases. Randi’s students fastened the plaques that Pete had made on the outgoing bookcases. The plaques noted that Career Tech students had built the bookcases, and that the Palmer Community Foundation had funded this effort.

BLBP Volunteers vetted, cleaned, and made sure that each of the boxes contained age-specific books. The listed school recipients included The Mat-Su Technical and Vocational School, Teeland Middle School, Palmer Junior Middle School, Palmer High School, Valley Pathways School, Sutton Elementary School, and Wasilla Middle School. We have one bookcase left; where it will go will be decided in the next few days.

Pete dropped the bookcases off at the above-mentioned schools. I accompanied him when it came time to deliver the books. School administrators welcomed us with open arms, and immediately let the principals and librarians know that we were on site. The high schoolers moved the bookcases into place, and the children at both the high school and elementary levels placed the books on the shelves. Pete and I pointed out to administrators, principals, and librarians that involving students in setting up the bookcases and stocking the shelves increased the likelihood that they’d become lifelong readers. We upped the odds of this by supplying all the schools with pristine books on a variety of subjects, science fiction, art, and general interest books included.

Pete and I also requested that participating principals and teachers appoint a bookcase guardian for their bookcase. Colony High School Librarian Stephanie Haase was our shining example. She not only encouraged the students to take books, but to talk with one another about their finds.

I added that I’d keep in touch with school principals and librarians by contacting them every so often and finding out if and when they’d want any additional books. I added that I’d also ask if there were any specific titles or subjects the students might have in mind.

I presumed that once the final bookcase was delivered, that the Bookcases in the Schools program would be complete. I was wrong. Pete’s next idea was to seek additional funding and have Randy’s students build another eight bookcases. We could, he added, ask the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union for a donation. They did provide us with funding, and now additional bookcases are being constructed.

The first bookcase will be placed in the lobby of the Credit Union in Wasilla, and the others will be placed throughout the Mat-Su Valley.

No One Should Go Hungry

No One Should Go Hungry

Contributed by Lauralynn Robison

Mat-Su Valley - Happy Valentine’s Day!  The Hearts4Hunger Committee of dedicated and hard working volunteers have been diligently putting together an event for folks in our community to attend and help the MatSu Food Bank with their mission to fight food insecurity.  This wonderful event is being held Saturday,  February 18th, at the Curtis D. Menard Sports Complex, Wasilla, Alaska.  Doors will open at 5:30pm, Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant will be hosting a cash bar, serving up fabulous adult beverages.  Alaska Events & Catering has put together a Prime Rib/Seafood smorgasbord that will delight your taste buds.  This year’s entertainment is brought to you by Peak Entertainment, presenting Wendy Maybury, comedienne. 

The MatSu Food Bank and the Hearts4Hunger wish to express our gratitude to all of our sponsors and donors, who donated spectacular items to be auctioned off in our Live & Silent Auctions.  There are (2) Raffles too, One for a Booze Cart (filled with lots of great booze) and One Gun Raffle, tickets are $20 each for either one.

We still have some tickets left, please call (907)357-3769 for tickets to this annual event.  Proceeds for this event will be going to the Food Bank and Anchorage Police & Fire Chaplains, so that we will be able to continue serving our community.  

We are truly grateful for all the resources available to help our wonderful community.  Remember: No One should go hungry! Please take a minute to visit our web pagehttps://www.matsufoodbank.org. You can also follow us on Facebook,https://www.facebook.com/MatSuFoodBank.  See the many ways you can contribute, by volunteering and making donations, help us help our community. Please contact us at (907)357-3769 to schedule time to volunteer, or for more information concerning donations…Or for other questions call United Way’s 211. Thank You for all your continued support, we deeply appreciate our community!

Out Here Doing Rap Things

Out Here Doing Rap Things

Contributed by Justin Pender

Wasilla - The Alaskan Rap duo, Justin Pendergrass and Mike Sisson of Newsense Music have released their latest EP titled “Trynna be a Rapper.” This 3 track EP touches on pivotal moments in the careers of both Justin and Mike and expresses their overall desire for becoming artists in their home community. 

With songs about finding rap music as their dream, to the critical questions they have been asked by those in the community, “Are you still trying to be a dope rapper?” Justin and Mike leave nothing for question and make sure everyone knows that they are “out here doing rap things.” 

You can find this project on all streaming platforms under the name Newsense Music and follow them on Facebook @NewsenseMusicMinistries to learn more about what they are doing. 

Race On

Race On

Contributed By Debra McGhan

ALL ALASKANS - Photos: 1. DMcGhanAM photo – Riders at Arctic Man. 2. DMcGhanRace photo– More riders at Arctic Man. 3. Jeremy Henke photo – riding in the mountains, 4. KSalys photo, training center in Thompson Pass, 5. SHildebrand photo, avalanche search near Grandview, Turnagain Pass.  

The roar of snowmobile engines filled the air as Richard Strick put on his familiar black and red helmet and climbed aboard his sled. Pulling the starter rope, his Polaris fired to life.  

The snow, which had been falling off and on for the past few weeks, was once again piling up on the trails around McGrath this Valentine day in 2006. The Iditarod race, just days away, would pass through this stretch of the interior as it headed for the coast. Strick’s job was to make sure the trail was clear and passable. 

He realized he needed help to cut the course. After a quick ride around town, he managed to assemble five other riders who were strong, capable and ready to roll with him. 

“Chuck you take up the rear,” he instructed. “I’ll take the lead and the rest fall in. Just make sure we have enough distance between sleds so we’re not riding on top of each other in this weather. It’s tough to see out there.”

As Strict lead the way through Rainy Pass, the group triggered a massive avalanche burying three riders. Two of the riders were able to get out on their own or recovered quickly, but Strick, covered by more than 10 feet of snow, wasn’t so lucky. No one in the party carried avalanche transceivers or probes. It took hours to get the help needed to recover Strick’s body leaving his family devastated. 

This year, before the Iditarod and Iron Dog racers set out along the same route, Alaska Safe Riders, led by Mike Buck, will serve as ambassadors.  They will be carrying messages of safety and chances for the children to receive a new snowmobile helmet thanks to support from Donlin Gold, Eagle River Polaris Arctic Cat, Saltchuk Corporation and Iron Dog. 

“Our goal is to share stories and safety tips that can save the lives of others,” said Buck. “We understand riding snow machines is a critical part of life in these rural communities. We want kids to grow up understanding and living a culture of safety so together we can reduce unintentional injuries and deaths.”

From avalanches to collisions, drowning to exposure, communication to companion rescue, this short program covers a wide range of potential hazards and ways to prevent tragic outcomes. 

“There are many things we can each do to make sure our rides are round-trip, not one-way,” said Buck. “But it takes lots of help and volunteers to make this possible. 

“We depend on the generosity and compassion of those who understand the importance of these training programs and are able to support our work,” said Buck. “In memory of folks like Richard Strick Jr., we are working every day to prevent future tragedies like this through education.” 

You can learn more, get involved and access safety videos compiled by Alaska Safe Riders and Iron Dog racers by visiting www.alaskasaferiders.com. 

Rasmuson Grant Application Season is Here

Rasmuson Grant Application Season is Here

Contributed by Alaska Independent Musicians Initiative

Three ways to get assistance with your Rasmuson IAA Grant Application in 2023

It’s that time of year for Alaskan artists — Rasmuson applications are due on March 1st, and awards this year are $10,000 for a project grant or $25,000 for a fellowship. AKIMI and the Rasmuson foundation are offering help to musicians:

● FREE Zoom workshop with Rasmuson on Saturday, Feb 11th at noon

● FREE One-on-one assistance writing your grant application

● FREE mixing and mastering of work sample tracks for a limited number of applicants

RSVP for the Zoom workshop on Saturday with Enzina Marrari from the Rasmuson Foundation: https://forms.gle/ank1ziJBKkjFWgMbA or see the details on Facebook.

Want some individual help with your application?

There are some slots available for one-on-one coaching and assistance, whether a little or a lot, courtesy of Yngvil Vatn Guttu, a veteran of grant writing.

This opportunity is first-come-first-serve

So read the details here and send an email to reserve your place.

Want your audio work samples mixed and mastered by a pro?

Rasmuson is sponsoring free mixing and mastering for 10-15 applicants, courtesy of Anchorage producer Peter Ratner. Deadline to reserve a place: Feb. 16th

This opportunity is first-come-first-serve, and there’s fine print —

So read all about it here and then send an email to jump on the opportunity.

Remember - bands and ensembles are now eligible to apply for a grant, and all genres are accepted!

We hope you’ll take advantage of these terrific opportunities. And if you're applying this year, we’re cheering you on!