Are you a Farmland Superhero?

Contributed by Amy Pettit

Alaska Farmland Trust is 501c3 nonprofit based in Palmer. If you’re not familiar with our mission, our primary goal is the permanent protection of agriculturally viable soils throughout Alaska. Since our inception 15 years ago we have helped landowners place conservation easements on 318 acres in the greater Palmer area. Not only will these acres never become strip malls, subdivisions or gravel pits, but they will stay farmland FOREVER. The soils will always and only(!) be used for agricultural production – to grow vegetables for our communities, hay for our thriving equine industry or other actively managed uses for long term soil health.

There are two ways that a landowner can work with Farmland Trust to permanently protect their farm: by donating an easement on their property or by negotiating purchase of their development rights to Farmland Trust. You can learn more about both options on our website at akfarmland.com or by scheduling an appointment with our Executive Director or a Board Member.

In the past four years we’ve doubled our protected acres, tripled our corporate giving, and sold out nearly every event we’ve hosted. As the interest in our organization grows, more farmers seek our assistance in preserving their farms. This is GREAT news – but – in order to capitalize on the momentum, we need to develop a sustaining members program. And…we need YOUR help! That is exactly why we’ve launched our “2020 by 2020 Farmland Superhero” campaign. With two thousand and twenty Alaskans contributing as little as $10 a month towards Farmland Trust, we can save a farm per year! We can become less reliant on the uncertainty of State and Foundation funding, and protect more Alaskan farmland!

There are multiple ways to join the campaign and become a Farmland Superhero:

  • Use the DONATE button on our website at www.akfarmland.com/2020

  • TEXT your donation amount to (907) 802-5892

  • And be sure to check the “recurring” box to make your contribution monthly and become a Farmland Superhero!

Remember that your donation to Farmland Trust is tax deductible. When you become a Farmland Superhero there are more benefits than just knowing you’re helping protect our food future. You’ll get first access to tickets to our events, special invites to unique gatherings on our properties and more! Sign up today – let’s do this!

If you have any questions or need additional information about Farmland Trust, or becoming a Farmland Superhero, please don’t hesitate to contact our executive director at AmyPettit@akfarmland.com or at (907) 355-2706.

Senior Education Classes

Contributed by Lindqa Myers-Steele

Senior Education is a program for those 50+ years who want to keep active and continue life-long learning. Classes are offered free (except for occasional supplies as needed). The fun part is there are no tests, no grades, no homework! Wasilla Senior Center, 1301 Century Circle, Wasilla, hosts the classes at no charge and all presenters are volunteers. Volunteers who are experts in their field! Please join us. No registration required unless noted in the class description. (senioreducationwasilla@gmail.com)

JANUARY 2020 SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 14, 28, Feb. 4*, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

A SERIES OF WRITING CLASSES

Have you ever thought of writing about memories of your family or even your own autobiography, or about something that interests you, but you don’t know where to start? This is the class for you. A talented instructor, Tara Wreyford, will help you draw those thoughts out and put them to paper.

Tuesday, January 21, 3:00-4:00 p.m. BOOK CLUB “I READ WHAT I WANT TO READ”

(NOTE: Book Club will meet monthly every third Tuesday until May 2020.) ** Participants will be given an opportunity to share a summary of their book of interest with others. Learn from others about books that might interest you. Facilitator: Andi Nations, Retired Public School Educator/Non-Profit Facilitator

FEBRUARY 2020 SCHEDULE

Tuesday, February 4*, 3:00-4:00 CONTINUE WRITING CLASS

Tuesday, February 11, 3:00-4:00 DE-CLUTTER – FREE LIVING!

It’s silent. It’s sneaky. Suddenly, clutter is there! Clutter is all around us and is a growing problem. Let’s explore what clutter is, how it occurs, and emotions involved. Learn declutter techniques, downsize strategies, clutter buster ideas and paper clutter control. Facilitator: Julie Cascio, Home Economist, Cooperative Extension Service

Tuesday, February 18**, 3:00-4:00, BOOK CLUB “I READ WHAT I WANT TO READ”

Tuesday, February 25, 3:00-4:00 COMMUNICATING FOR BETTER LISTENING & TALKING Are people mumbling more often? Are you interrupting others by speaking when they are without realizing it? Are you frustrated by feeling you’re not being heard? Learn tips for listening and talking regardless of your hearing abilities. Facilitator: Dr. Joyce Sexton, Doctor of Audiology, Northern Hearing, Wasilla & Anchorage

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Reading for Transformation

Contributed by Sharon Aubrey

Like many Alaskans, you probably found yourself entering 2020 a little surprised. It seemed we entered a time warp at the last decade, as the last 10 years flew. The daily grind for survival kept most people distracted. Stuck in a routine punctuated by moments of pain or pleasure, we often fail to look up. Not planning a vision for our future, it suddenly arrives and a decade has past, catching us off-guard. The 2010s brought new relationships into our lives, fresh opportunities, freedom from old ruts, and many unexpected journeys. I’m sure you see them now as you look back. To others, it brought the death of a loved one, the loss of a home, a challenging diagnosis, the chains of addiction, or a search for the meaning of life and peace.

Reflecting the transition to another decade made me ponder, “How can we truly change the next ten years?” After all, millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions, most of which they fail to actually keep. So aside from a well-intentioned wish, how do we bring purposeful change to ours lives in the next decade? The answer is surprisingly simple. Real change comes from knowledge and begins internally. If we want to experience positive growth, we need to expand our understanding and bring correction to our lives from our new paradigms.

There are many ways to expand our knowledge, but the most effective and least expensive is to read a variety of books. Reading exposes us to innovative concepts as well as timeless truths, reveals cultural differences and universal struggles, and uncovers scientific discoveries. Above all, it encourages personal development. There are literally millions of books to bring introspection and growth. Even if you don’t feel you have the time to sit and read 15 minutes a day, audiobooks provide knowledge and are perfect for car rides, workouts, and daily chores. But with a vast array of good choices, how does one know where to begin their literary journey to personal improvement and real change?

The answer isn’t simply choosing the “right” books, as much as it is diversifying genres. The most prosperous people today, including Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, and Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, live by expanding their reading selection to encompass almost every aspect of life not just areas that bring them entertainment.

This year challenge yourself to read one book a month and include autobiographies; personal growth; historical books on your country or state; other cultures; animals, environment, and other scientific wonders; and of course fiction. From the above genres, the wealthiest readers advise focusing primarily on autobiographies for inspiration followed by history and personal growth books. They also recommend cultivating personal financial management, one of America’s most challenging subjects, with 8 out of 10 people living paycheck to paycheck.

As a starting point for your 2020 literary journey, here is a list of the most recommended books in the last 10 years: Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins, and Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin. Whatever you read, whether it is one of these books or another title, don’t let this decade pass you by like the last. May 2020 enrich and bless you in new ways.

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Palmer Resident, Jeannette Brown Publishes New Children's Book, Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift

Contributed by Melissa Bleier & Dustin Bradshaw

Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift ​ is an understated but powerful ode to the most important gift we can all share, our genuine selves.

Tucked away in a box of family papers for more than 20 years, this once lost tale, ​Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift ​ has been published with the goal of bringing it’s delightful story to a wide array of hands, including; early child, and elder care, assisted living facilities, schools, libraries and memory care facilities as well. This inspiring and heartwarming story is sure to be a beacon of love to all.

Born in Boone, North Carolina, Jeannette Brown spent much of her life in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In early 2012 she retired and relocated to Palmer, Alaska. Throughout her career as a legal secretary, Jeanette focused on supporting Samaritan’s Purse, an international charity and disaster relief organization, but that same spirit that allowed her to professionally help improve the lives of people around the globe began in a much smaller way, and that kindness is reflected in the story of ​Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift ​ . Jeannette has written short stories and poetry her entire life, and so the discovery of ​Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift ​ was no surprise to her family. However, the delicate way that Emily, “a very little girl” goes through her day, bringing joy to each member of her community resonated so strongly as a reflection of Jeannette, that her son knew it was different. “There’s so much that she touches on. Inclusion, special needs, Alzheimer’s, youth and aging, self worth, and communication. She had no angle. She just wrote about her life and her friends and family that she has loved.” The characters Emily visits are indeed based on real people in Jeannette’s life. Mary is a neighbor who lived in a cabin down the road from the author and her family in Boone, North Carolina. Ms. Addie is her grandmother, who lived to be 100 years old. Ben is Jeannette’s younger brother, who had Down syndrome. Ms. Ida is a dear family friend. The real people in Emily Higgebotham, The Gift are not just relatable, they are recognizable as our own neighbors. Emily’s eventual understanding that her gift is her time. Her time and the kindness she pours into the simplest interactions is a powerful message. In an age when the push to give the “Best Thing” is amplified at a frenetic pace, Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift reminds us all that the most important gift of all is ourselves, our love, our time and attention. Facing her own challenges with Alzheimer’s disease since 2018, Jeannette embodies the heart of Emily. She wants everyone to know that it’s never too late to make a difference, and that even the smallest act of kindness can change a life, even the world. A portion of the profits are donated to charity. Find Emily Higgenbotham, The Gift at all fine booksellers and on Amazon at:​https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/1734344318/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_thcv_p1_i0 Coming soon: AudioBook and Braille versions. For readings, signings or outreach engagements, please contact: Dyer West Press dyerwestpress@gmail.com  828-773-4131  Some Quotes from Readers:   “​It is a great book. It opened up a lot of different conversations, it’s a good warm feeling. We really enjoyed it!” E.Troutman “An absolute treasure, "The Gift" is a gentle reminder to us all, that our most valuable gift to the world, is our loving presence in the lives of those in need around us. Never underestimate your value in the lives of others.” D. Hawes “Absolutely love this book and its message that we can ALL do SOMETHING to love and care for those around us!!” E. Trivette

The Problem With Humidity And Guitars

You’ve felt the effects of low humidity - perhaps dry, itchy skin, bloody noses or general uncomfortableness. Now shift your attention to the guitar hanging on your wall (just please don’t tell me it’s part of your mantelpiece aesthetic) or sitting on the stand in the corner: it’s suffering just as much. Alaskan musicians face a constant battle against low humidity, and the effects can add up to high dollar repairs VERY quickly. Don’t get me wrong –fixing guitars is my jam, but many humidity problems are avoidable with some basic understanding of how your guitar reacts to relative humidity.

First and foremost, you need to understand that even if you buy a guitar brand new (from my shop or elsewhere) it’s very likely at least a year old. Unless it was crafted in the good ol’ US of A and you purchased it fresh off the showroom floor, chances are it came from overseas. It shipped in a Conex Box (weeks in transit), sat in a port, trucked to a warehouse for distribution, trucked to whichever retailer and hung on the wall for however long before you purchased it. That’s a lot of shock for a guitar in its infancy. And I would bet in all of its young life adventures, it was never kept humidified (amongst other problems) and is already showing signs of unchecked changes in humidity.

Now let’s get more specific: its final destination is in your home, somewhere in Alaska. There’s a lot of great things about The Last Frontier, but stable, comfortable humidity is not one of them. Nonetheless, you pick up your new lover, hold her in your arms, tune her up to pitch, and strum that first, beautiful chord… And you get bit by sharp, buzzy frets. Ouch. So much anticipation and then she lashes out. You’ve now felt and heard firsthand signs of low humidity.

So let’s talk about some symptoms of low humidity: Sharp fret ends, unplayabley low action, excessive buzzing, a hump in the neck, cracks in the finish or wood and failed glue joints/bracing. Most of these are avoidable with routine maintenance and diligent humidification. As an Alaskan musician, you must understand that dips in temperature or spikes in heat will require immediate attention to your guitar. It’s what we signed up for, living and playing in this state. Now let’s talk about some simple steps to maintain proper humidity (and hopefully prevent future trips to the guitar ER):

1. Store your guitar in its case. A lot of people struggle with this, so if this is you, you’re not alone. But the case will help protect your guitar through many extreme conditions. I realize that guitars are functional art and you want them close at hand, but a stand or wall hanger is not the best place for them to live unless you are diligently humidifying your entire house.

2. If you choose not to store your guitar in its case, at least put it in there for ten or twelve days a month with a guitar humidifier (longer if we dip into negative temperatures). Think of it as a week at the spa or a split custody arrangement - whichever analogy works for you. Believe me, your guitar will thank you.

3. Keep a digital hygrometer in your case or in your home and look for 40–50% readings. They’re inexpensive (same goes for guitar humidifiers) and they certainly beat paying a luthier to fix the resulting problems.

I love an excessively played, well worn guitar - I sincerely do. The more faded the paint and worn the fretboard, the better. Especially on a maple neck. But neglecting your guitars humidity is needlessly damaging and expensive, especially when you compare a luthiers’ bench rate versus a humidifier. Alaska has a unique climate and there are inherent challenges therein, regarding humidity and your guitar. Make no mistake – I repair guitars for a living, so I’ll gladly take on your neglected instruments to pay my bills. But why do that when you’re now armed to battle low humidity?

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Talent Show

Contributed by Michael C

Who Let the Girls Out is just around the corner, and with that amazing event in downtown Palmer comes the Who let the Girls Out Talent Show! Sponsored by Matanuska Cannabis, 955 The Pass, Make A Scene Magazine, and Michael C Marketing, this show is sure to please with it’s new, larger venue Klondike Mike’s and The Main Street Grill! 10 acts will compete for $1000 and they get one song to do it! Poetry, Comedy, Cover songs, Originals, guitar players, singers, they’re all welcome to this event which happens one night only, on a Saturday in April. Judges include last year’s winner Jerry Wessling and the owner of Matanuska Cannabis Co., Chad Ragsdale. First place gets $500, second $300, and third $200 and attendance is free for those 21 and older. Date and time are TBD, but this event is going to be a lot of fun and it’s right at the height of the Who Let the Girls Out Event, right in the heart of downtown Palmer, AK.

Those interested in sponsoring or participating in this one of a kind event should contact Michael C Marketing: michaelcmarketingak@gmail.com or on Facebook. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you at Who Let the Girls Out and the Talent Show in April.

Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show 2020

Contributed by Carmen Summerfield

The Valley Arts Alliance is proud to host their 14th annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show at the Palmer Depot on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Again this year we will present two identical performances—a matinee at 3pm and an evening performance at 7pm.

Wearable Art refers to hand crafted and one of a kind pieces of artwork designed to be worn by the human body as an artistic expression. Using their knowledge of color, fabric and non-traditional materials, artists create unique, wearable garments which they (or their models) wear while parading down an authentic “fashion runway”, accompanied by narration and music.

For our 14th year we’re using the theme “All Shook Up!” for staging the show, and we’re encouraging artists to use the same theme for their creative inspiration. To view exciting scenes from years past, visit our Wearable Art archives pages at www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com/archives.

To become a part of the 14th annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show, download our application package, which contains the 2020 Entry Form, along with criteria, guidelines, and tips to make your entry a smashing success! Then return the completed application to us by Friday, February 7, 2020. Due to the overwhelming success of this show, we must limit entries to the first 25, so we urge you to submit your completed application early.

The ticket price is $15 per person for each performance. For the 3pm Matinee ONLY, children 12 years old and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are on sale now—in Palmer at Fireside Books and Non-Essentials; and in Wasilla at My House / Gathering Grounds Café. We expect both shows to sell out, so please purchase your tickets early.

The 14th annual Valley Arts Alliance Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show will be an exquisite evening of art and entertainment, in what has become a well-loved winter tradition in our Valley. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the arts in the Valley!

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Global Warming Won't Raise Sea Level

These days, the doomsday prophecy has been playing the starring role in the secular theaters. Anti-Climate-Change activists has taken over the schools, politics, academia, and media. Their theory is that as we consume fossil fuel, carbon dioxides (CO2) level in the atmosphere will go up; the increased CO2 will have a green house effect and trap the light energy inside of the earth; the earth’s temperature will go up; the raised temperature will melt the icebergs in the arctic and Antarctic oceans; the ocean level will go up; and finally the cities nearing the seashores will be submerged under the sea. I contend that such theory is misguided. I further contend that, even if 100% of all the ice in polar regions melt away, the sea level will not rise, not by a single centimeter. Actually, the sea level will go down by a little bit. Though perhaps this contention may come as a shock to many, it is based on science. Let us examine. Let us conduct a thought experiment. It won’t take an Einstein to know that if you freeze water on an ice tray, the volume of the water expands as the water freezes and form an ice cube. If you look into an ice cube, it has many bubbles in it. Also, even if ice has no bubble, the rigid structure of the ice has a bigger volume than fluid water, because in water, molecules slide by to minimize the volume, while in ice, molecules cannot move around like they can in water. For these two reasons, the density of ice is less than water’s density. Not all matters in nature behave this way but water certainly does. The solid form of water, ice, has less density than water. Because ice is lighter than water per volume, i.e., because ice has less density than water, if you put ice in a glass of water, ice floats. And if you recall, about 10% of the volume of the ice floats over the water, while 90% of the ice is submerged under the water. Now, the question is, will the level of water rise in your glass, after the ice is all melted away? You may experiment it for real easy, but a thought experiment will suffice, because it is an easy concept. You may want to online search the term “buoyancy” and familiarize with the concept. Basically, the reason why 10% of ice is floats the water is because ice is 10% less dense than water. It means that, if you had 100 cubic inches of water and freeze it, the ice will have the volume of 110 cubic inches. Now. Imagine that the base of your glass vase has the shape of a 10-inch by 10-inch square and its height is 20 inches. You fill the vase with water up to 10 inches high. Now, you pour 100 cubic inches worth of water into a jar. Now your vase’s water level is 9 inches high. Then you freeze the jar that contains 100 cubic inches of water. After that, the ice will have expanded its volume by 10%, and thus the ice’s volume will be 110 cubic inches. Next, you put that ice block into the vase. What will the water level be, after you put that ice block into the vase? 9 inches? 10 inches? 11 inches? If you ask Mr. Archimedes, an ancient Greek physicist in 200’s BC, he will say 10 inches. The water level did not change because 10% of the ice is above the water level, and the submerged 90% of the ice has the same volume as 90 cubic inches of water. If you push down the 10% above-the-water ice into the water, the water level will rise by 1/10th of an inch, making the water level 10 plus 1/10th of an inch. But if you let the ice go, the 10% of the ice will float above the water, and the water level will go back down to 10-inch level. What happens when all the ice melts down? 10 inches. During the whole process of the ice melting, the water level will stay the same as 10 inches. This is what’s known as Archimedes’ Principle, which I learned in a high school when I was about 15. As I have no kids, I do not know what young people learn in America or Europe or even in Asia, as they don’t seem to know this very basic physics concept. Even if they learned it, they don’t know how to apply it. What do these young people do? They think the melting ice will raise the sea level and they have to stop it, even if it means they should walk out of classrooms and do the “School Strike for Climate” activism. Now, if all icebergs melt down because the earth is too hot, then what will become of the sea level? It will actually go down, because hotter air can contain more moisture, and more sea water will be in the atmosphere. See? Yes, Children should stay in classrooms.

PFD Larceny Aftermath

Contributed by Jessica Wright

Yesterday our family went to Anchorage to stay for a couple days and as we drove by a huge building, we noticed it was an empty commercial building that belongs to Johnson Tire Store. It was perhaps the biggest and fanciest tire store building I’ve ever seen and yet it was empty. It sadly reminded me how Governor Walker and AKLEG’s PFD theft doomed Alaska’s economy. During the Walker Administration, Alaska experienced economic recession not because of the oil price declined in 2015 but the decision that Governor Walker and AKLEG made. Instead of cutting government spending to encounter the budget deficit they increased the government spending and took people’s PFD to subside the budget deficit for 3 years in a row (2016, 2017 & 2018). They took 1/2 to 2/3 of people’s PFD each year. The result was like a 8.0 earthquake shook Alaska’s economy. It was estimated 12,000-15,000 jobs loss according to AP, ADN. We have seen so many stores, malls, shops, and restaurants closed during that period. Meanwhile, our state government funded hundreds nonprofits/ government agencies which created a great financial burden for our state. In March 2018, Businessinsider revealed Alaska was ranked the last place in the nation in economy and highest unemployment rate. Some might wonder why I bring it up. With new Governor, Governor Dunleavy, we now are slowly coming out of economic recession. I just want to remind everyone that we are not fully recovered yet. It’s a shame because we have so much natural resources and our tourism is booming but we have to fight with our own legislature who has the same ideology as Governor Walker, that is, big government spending and our PFD belongs to the government even though they already have their own resources funded by the PFD and yet they want our PFD as well. They preferred Governor’s Walker’s budget over Governor Dunleavy’s leaner budget. We have seen the show down last summer and they won the battle once again which enable them to take our PFD 4 years in a row. Recently we heard the same narrative once again by Giessel, Edgmon, Johnston, Von Imhof and many others. Something has never changed for they still want our PFD to continue their big government programs. My question for every Alaskan is, are we going to allow this happen if they tell us they need our PFD to fund the government services? What are we going to tell them? What action are we going to take? Do we compromise again and say take our PFD because we like all the government programs? What’s going to happen is Alaska is going to have a very difficult time down the road because we are heading the Socialism path. We can’t afford the ever increasing big government spending. Like Senator Ted Cruz said a few weeks ago, the Lobbyists are the ones bankrupt America with their 1.4 Trillion spending package submitted to Congress in December 2019. These state funded government programs are also going to bankrupt our state. First they want to spend our portion of PFD, then they are going to go for the PFD corpus and in the meantime, they are going to increase taxes. That’s how Democrats operate economy which is Socialism approach and we all know Socialism/Communism only creates poverty. We’ve seen Russia, China, Venezuela, Soviet Union who practiced Communism/Socialism. Are we going to go down the same road again? Haven’t these empty malls, stores, shops, restaurants already served as solid witnesses how the Socialism only deprive the Alaska economy? Do we need several more election cycles to finally learn our lesson like we finally learned Lisa Murkowski is corrupted? I’m afraid it might be too late by then because our legislature only speaks for the lobbyists not for the people and they plan to use up all our resources regardless how we protest it. My fellow Alaskans, this coming election is our only chance is to correct our course. Please don’t ruin it. Vote them out, vote all these corrupted politicians out before it’s too late.

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Clinging or Releasing – Let it go and JUMP!

During my daily walk, I saw the fallen leaves, long gone, and glorious in their leaving, laying scattered thick on the ground, not surprised that I could see them all due to our lack of snow.  I wasn't expecting these crunchy has beens to whisper encouragement and instruction to my soul but I listened.

You see, we all leave in many ways.  I am not alone.  Each of us are constantly being invited to stop clinging, clutching the old, and release ourselves to the wind into the new.

Falling from the tree into the unknown can be disorienting and scary.  Where am I going?  What will I become?  Who will I be without my previous identity as part of a glorious tree?  Will my story cease in my falling?

Here's the actuality.  We all are a walking, breathing, dynamic system of releasing and being made new. It's happening right now even as you read this.

Unknown to you, osteoclasts inside you are breaking down your bone tissue, and osteoblasts are filling your bones with new skeletal material.  And it's not just your bones being made new. Your stomach cells can renew as fast as every two days. Your skin cells every two to three weeks.  Red blood cells, four months, white blood cells two days to a week. I am sad to report, fat cells linger and can last an average of ten years.

You are constantly being made new. 

Yet, we clutch and cling to the old like a dog wearying a bone.  We clench tightly outdated visions for ourselves we had when we were in our twenties and thirties.  We fear change.  We cling to theologies that we no longer really believe, fearful of being tagged a heretic.  We clench our fists holding thoughts that no longer hold water.  We clutch past definitions of success, significance, as if our very survival depended on it.

We are slow to realize the unfolding glory of our own personal, seasonal story.  What looks like approaching death and darkness, is actually more life and light than we can imagine.  Those of us who have lived in Alaska for decades know the truth of it.

Everything about you is changing.  Unless your thoughts, visions, and paradigms change with your season, you will end up frustrated and depressed.  Trust me, I know.

As we look to a new decade, find the new season in your life – come jump in the Mat Su Plunge on February 22, 2020 at Everett’s/Mat Su Resort and raise funds for a great cause.  Register at www.matsuplunge.org.

To a renewed YOU in 2020!

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Family Dinner

Contributed by Dave Holmquist

Occasions of gratitude

Years of dinners around our table with family and friends

Time has only enhanced the richness of these gatherings

Our children grandchildren family and friends bear witness to the feeling of togetherness and gratitude throughout the years of these sacred gatherings around our table

And as we move forward in this world of incredible beauty and seemly chaos

We can only hope these times of reverence will help heal and carry forward the torch of light hope and wellbeing for ourselves and all of the souls we encounter along our journey in this life

Adopt Gigi

Hi my name is Gigi! I am a young boy, sleek and utterly gorgeous. I have tons of energy and love romping around the house playing. I adore having someone to play with! I'll curl up and sleep at your feet! When I'm in need of pets and attention, I'll come to you and wind around your legs while I purr and meow. I can be a little shy and will need patience but I can assure you, I'll be a wonderful Kitty friend. I get along well with gentle dogs and other cats! I’ve been patiently waiting for the right family to love me! I’m only a year old with lots of life and love to give!

In Wasilla. Call 980-8898

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