Call-Out to Non-Profits

Contributed by Randi Perlman

Are you a non-profit organization operating in the Mat-Su Valley?  Here’s a fun, legal way to expose yourself…

My radio show, Non-Profit Nuggets, airs on KNLT 95.5 FM, Hatcher Pass Radio.  You and I will get to meet & chat about one of your favorite subjects, your non-profit, and once edited, we’ll air it several times a day for a week or so.  It’s short and sweet, and an easy way to promote your mission and get your information out to the listeners, at NO COST to you!  And, if you don’t feel comfortable meeting in person for any reason, we can even do it over the phone.

Alaska is third in the country for the most charitable organizations per capita, so we know you’re out there, doing great things for our communities every day, in so many ways, and everybody needs to hear about it!  Here’s your chance to tell your story and let folks know what you do, who you serve, and how you can be reached.  If you have a Nugget to share, contact The People’s Paper at 907.373.2698 or contact@thepeoplespaper.news, and let’s get YOU on the air…

Become a Non-Profit Nugget and let your voice be heard and your mission shared.  For 95.5 The Pass, The People’s Paper, and Make a Scene Magazine, I’m Randi Perlman.

Senior Education Virtual Classes: January 2021

Contributed by Linda Myers-Steele

Senior Ed is directed toward adults who are interested in keeping mentally active, curious, learning and having fun. No tests, no grades, and no homework! At this time, classes are being presented virtually. The instructors volunteer their time. WASI (Wasilla Area Seniors Inc.) hosts the classes. Each class has a separate ID number and Passcode. For questions contact WASI at 376-3104 or senioreducationwasilla@gmail.com.

SPECIAL NOTE: Book Club meets the third Tuesday of the month and will now be presented on the ZOOM platform.

“I Read What I Want To Read” Book Club
Tuesday, JANUARY 19, 2:00
Facilitated by Andi Nations, Retired Educator.

ZOOM Meeting ID: 841 3115 0998 Passcode: 797795

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84131150998?pwd=QytLc2Y5Q0NOd0ZQWGJ4S1doM1NyZz09

OTHER JANUARY CLASSES 

Mat-Su Senior Housing Options
Tuesday, January 12, 2:00
By Wasilla Area Senior Center Staff. Presented via your web browser, https://www.gotomeet.me/WasillaSeniors, meeting ID #888438701

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: +1 (224) 501-3412 Access Code: 888-438-701

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/888438701

Set Free Alaska

Contributed by Lindsey Cashman

Dear Alaskans, 

Set Free Alaska, is a local non-profit serving men, women, and children who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.  I’m writing to ask for local support this Christmas. 

Our main purpose is to show each person who enters our building love and dignity as they walk the journey to a sober, healthy life. 

We believe, if we love others and show them grace and mercy the way we’ve received it from God, the client will begin to value themselves and live impactful, sober lives. 

As we enjoy the comforts of our blessed life and even endure a difficult year many of us are able to stretch and extend grace and love to those in need.

To help support Alaskans facing some of their most difficult days on the journey to sobriety, we have a women’s residential facility in Wasilla and the men’s residential facility is in Homer. The home-like properties is where we help our clients, we love them and teach them to love themselves, we work on healthier habits and address mental health straight on.

Sadly, during the holidays, many of our clients will receive nothing. No phone calls, holiday cards, gifts or special meals. The holidays can be especially difficult to stay healthy and sober.

At Set Free Alaska, we work with community partners during the Christmas Season to provide a small gift, not more than $75, a basket of locally made treats, and holiday cards from Alaskans cheering them on and sending support to the clients.

It’s humbling to see what our clients ask for when prompted for Christmas ideas: towels, pens, warm clothing, gas cards, etc. 

Would you partner with us this year? 

One way is to donate a gift for Christmas by visiting our website www.setfreealaska.org/donate

Another way is to drop off a card of encouragement (addressed to a male or female) to our main office at 7010 E Bogard Road Wasilla, AK 99654.

You can reach out to me, Lindsey Cashman and arrange a tax-deductible sponsorship or call our main office at 907-343-4732. We can showcase your business logo as supporters of Set Free Alaska in our marketing materials. 

I can be reached at lindsey.c@setfreealaska.org or 907-350-9593. 

If adding Set Free Alaska to your prayer list is possible, we’d greatly appreciate the support in prayer to help these beloved individuals fight for freedom from addiction.

This message is intended to hasten the stigma for those suffering from addiction and encourage you to love, first. I pray this is received as my heart intends it. 

Thank you for reading more about our mission. May you remember the reason for the season and have joyous time with your loved ones!

Merry Christmas,

Lindsey Cashman

Development Director 

Set Free Alaska 

What Can Toastmasters Offer You?

Contributed by Kianna Wilson

What can Toastmasters offer you? That is a question every potential member should ask before joining any Toastmasters club. After all, you should know what you are getting into before joining a club right? Well, as a Toastmaster myself, I feel I can better speak on this subject.

Before I joined Toastmasters I was incredibly shy, and I had problems even talking to another person. The very thought of being approached by someone else terrified me, it scared me enough that I never took opportunities when they came my way. I felt as though I didn't deserve anything because I lacked the courage to speak up and make myself known.

It took my father bringing me to a Toastmasters meeting to peak my interest. In the course of one meeting they gave speeches that painted stories, and evaluations that gave insightful feedback. I was surprised upon learning there was a club designed to help with public speaking, so I went back a few more times before I got the courage to participate in Table topics.

From that 1 minute shamble full of stutters and pauses, I knew I was going to join Toastmasters. You see, while I absolutely failed to deliver an eloquent answer to the proffered question, I was still able to provide one nonetheless. And I only had that courage from visiting the club multiple times. Afterwards, they gave me a smile and told me I had done a good job.

For the first time in quite a while, talking to someone didn't seem as scary as I made it out to be. Gone was the giant, vexing, wolf that stood in my way swiping its vicious claws at me every time I tried to get by. Instead, there stood a bear with knowledgeable eyes, soft velveteen paws, and a bowl of porridge that was neither to hot or to cold waiting for me to succeed.

I had gone from the little red riding hood, afraid of the big bad wolf, to Goldilocks surrounded by friendly people waiting to help her through. This of course didn't happen overnight, but it did come to pass over time. Since joining Toastmasters I have blossomed into an advent story teller unafraid of venturing into uncharted waters.

I have also had the pleasure of seeing other newcomers grow into wonderful leaders, setting out on their own quests because of the courage they gained from Toastmasters. The Toastmasters journey is different for everyone who joins, it's not always easy, and it can be scary at times. But the adventure is made easier with the help and encouragement of your fellow Toastmasters. And that hill isn't quite as hard to climb anymore.

Every meeting is different, every member is unique, and every club is it's own family. So, what can Toastmasters offer you? It can offer you a safe, and adventurous place to grow and develop into the leader and warrior you know you can become.

If you are interested in checking out our club, you can join us Tuesday evenings at 6 pm AKDT over zoom. You can find our club website here, and you can text or call 907-539-7111 for more information. I hope to see you there!

App Helps Alaskans Understand Their Relationship With Alcohol

Contributed by Tiffany Hall

Recover Alaska is encouraging Alaskans to be more mindful of their drinking habits during a season often synonymous with overindulging in treats and spirits, especially amidst a global pandemic. Through their partnership with an Alaska-made mobile app called Step Away, users are able to identify triggers and habits early on.

Since the pandemic started, 1 in 3 Alaskans have reported using more alcohol than pre-pandemic, according to the Department of Health and Social Services. As a way for people to understand their relationship with alcohol, University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Psychology Professor Patrick Dulin, Ph.D., created the Step Away app as a tool for users to reduce their drinking, maintain their sobriety, and understand their drinking habits.

“Not only are people struggling with their sobriety right now, there are also people out there using more alcohol due to stresses related to the pandemic,” said Tiffany Hall, executive director of Recover Alaska. “The Step Away app is an amazing tool anyone can use that really gets to know you through a series of questions and personalizes solutions based on your specific habits and needs. It helps you understand your relationship with alcohol and what you can do to make healthy changes. Best thing, it’s always there for you when you need it.”

Recover Alaska has partnered with Step Away after it launched in July. While many of us indulge in mindless eating and drinking out of stress or holiday cheer, the nonprofit is encouraging Alaskans to check out the app to see if you really should “step away.”

“Staying sober during the holidays is already tough, and with a pandemic in the mix, it's making it even more challenging as triggers are everywhere and in-person help is harder to come by,” said Hall. “Whether you’re sober or even sober curious, this app really keeps you accountable. Between the visual graph of progress and the alerts that warn about possible triggers, this app supports and empowers people to take control of their lives. Recover Alaska is thrilled to be able to offer this help free of charge for people in need.

The Step Away app is available to download now on Apple and Android app stores for free using a special access code provided by Recover Alaska. Otherwise, it’s free for the first week, and then can be purchased for a monthly fee of $4.99.

About Recover Alaska

Recover Alaska is a multi-sector action group pursuing a solutions-based approach to reduce excessive alcohol use and harms across the state. Partners include the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Providence Health and Services Alaska, Rasmuson Foundation, Southcentral Foundation, State of Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services, and University of Alaska Anchorage. The vision for Recover Alaska is for Alaskans to live free from the consequences of alcohol misuse, so we are empowered to achieve our full potential. For more information, visit recoveralaska.org.

Dreading the New Year’s Diet?

Contributed by Stephanie Figon, MS, RDN, LD

This is the time of year clothes are getting tighter and many people start making plans to lose these extra pounds along with the ones from past holiday seasons.  This year may be particularly tough if pandemic baking has become a part of your life.

Soon the ads will start popping up promising effortless weight loss with the “before” picture showing a gloomy overweight person contrasted with their beaming happy self about 4 months later and 50 pounds lighter.  These ads are part of “diet culture”, an unjust and sometimes infuriating cultural belief that equates a person’s body size and food choices with moral virtue and value as a human being.  For some, it drives a relentless pursuit of thinness that distracts from everything that is truly important in life.

But, when a third of Americans have a BMI of 30 or more (the point at which health problems really start showing up), it’s time to recognize that there’s a lot more going on than a couple of months of dieting is going to solve. Stress hormones, sleep cycles, gut microbiota, hunger and satiety hormones.  All these are playing their part in influencing a person’s food choices and making a person’s weight go to where it does—for most people, that would be up, and then, up further.  It can feel like your weight is on autopilot and, just like your blood pressure and cholesterol, sometimes it just goes where it wants to go and doesn’t ask your permission.

But just because the body makes it difficult, that doesn’t mean you can get out of the rigged weight management game.  The body you’re in needs to last you a long time, and carrying extra weight is just too costly.  Whether it’s hunting, hiking, or playing with kids or grandkids, weight affects your ability to do the things you want in life.

What the dieting ads won’t tell you is that most people who start a diet won’t stay on it long enough to lose significant weight, because it’s darn hard to follow all rules of a diet long term. Any calorie-restricted diet will produce weight loss; the real problem with the dieting approach is that it’s actually a lot easier to lose weight than it is to keep it off.  Dieting is a temporary solution to a very permanent problem, that the body always wants to go back up to a higher weight.

Since your body has such a predisposition to defend its highest previous weight, dietitians recommend putting a lot more emphasis on preventing overeating during the holiday season and rejecting the popular, but flawed idea that the new year's diet will fix things later.

By all means—enjoy every bite of these special holiday foods, but focus on mindful eating and adapting your food environment *now* to help prevent weight gain.

Here are our top recommendations:

1.         Put those tempting foods out of sight.  Research has found that cluttered kitchens cause overeating.

2.         Jot down everything you eat (when you are eating) in a small notebook.  This will cause you to unconsciously plan ahead.

3.         Be mindful of physical signals of hunger and satiety.  Stop and ask yourself if you are really hungry, and then stop when you feel full.

4.         Take time to thoroughly enjoy each bite.

So, whether you ultimately decide to try that new year’s diet or decide not to, the research clearly shows that maintaining weight loss and preventing next year’s holiday weight gain is going to depend on long- term mindfulness and figuring out what habits are really causing that upward weight trend.  At Alaska Weight Management and Diabetes Counseling, we’ve found that this is often a very eye-opening discovery process for our clients. 

For dietitians, weight management counseling is all about equipping clients with all the positively proven tools for achieving long-term health.  Many people are surprised that their private health insurance preventive care benefits cover nutrition counseling at 100% for anyone with a BMI above 30. Find details at Nutrition907.com.  As always, we wish you a happy Christmas and wellness in the New Year.

Art Courses Available at Mat-Su College

Contributed by Felicia Desimini

If You Can Draw Stick Figures Then Mat-Su College Has Art Courses For You

Have you finally come to the realization that Art Stirs Your Soul? Has your passion for art been sitting on the back burner or needing a little guidance? If so, the MatSu College Art Department has just what you need! Come and explore art and improve your art-making skills with us.

Are your paintings not catching your audience’s interest?’  If that’s the case, perhaps a beginning painting and/or a beginning drawing class can help sharpen your technique, help define your work’s perspective and value - and put some ‘POP’ in your style! Are your skills in painting and drawing good - but something still feels off? Perhaps our Color Design course is just the course for you! Color Design is a great course for anyone who doesn’t truly understand how colors react with and entice your audience. In 15 weeks, if you apply yourself, you will learn this life-time skill for artists - color mixing.

Our Intermediate Drawing and Intermediate Painting courses offer promising artists the opportunity to rethink their development and growth through exhibition. How do you turn a good drawing or painting into an exhibition-ready work of art?

Mat-Su College’s Three-Dimensional Design is a conceptual course, where one truly learns how to “think” like an artist. This is the gateway course for visual artists - Thinking in 3D Absolutely Inspires your work as an artist, no matter your preferred discipline.

If music strikes a chord with you, or if you think Broadway is calling, Mat-Su College offers 3 courses in these disciplines during the spring semester. Music and theater are fundamental - the Greeks used music as the framework for the educational system - and we all know about the great Greek myths and their playwrights.

Does learning a bit about why visual culture is so important in our lives interest you? It is everywhere, influencing (almost) everything we think, do, and say. For this reason, an Art Appreciation course will help you navigate the art world, from prehistory to Banksy and the Global Art Market. Want to delve even deeper into the History of Art? Or even, perhaps learn the significance of and how we have been influenced by cave paintings and the arts and artists of the 13th Century? Then the college’s offering of Western Art History I (from prehistory to the proto-Renaissance) is just the course for you.

Beginning Drawing,         ART  A105               Felicia Desimini (P)      Jan 11-May 01            Online   3 Credits

Color Design,                  ART  A112                   Barbara Laucius 3.000          Jan 11-May 01        Online   3 Credits

3D Design                       ART  A113                   Felicia Desimini                     Jan 11-May 01        Online   3 Credits

Art Appreciation               ART A160                   Felicia Desimini                     Jan 11-May 01        Online   3 Credits

Intermediate Drawing      ART A205                 Jason Isley                  Jan 11-May 01            *Online/Collaborate 01:00-                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                      3:45 pm- 3 Credits

Beginning Painting               ART A213                      Felicia Desimini                    Jan 11-May 01       Online   3 Credits

History of Western Art I  ART A261                  Barbara J Laucius (P)  Jan 11-May 01            Online   3 Credits

Intermediate Painting     ART A313                     Felicia Desimini                     Jan 11-May 01       Online   3 Credits

Music Appreciation         MUS A121                 Meghan Aube              Jan 11-May 01             Online 3 Credits

Music Appreciation         MUS A121                     Naomi Stamoolis                  Jan 11- May 01 Online 3 Credits

Theater Appreciation       THRA111                 Mattew Sale                 Jan 11- May 01            Online 3 Credits

Seasoned artists continue their studies - forging ahead, working day to day to add new tricks and techniques to their skill sets. A pandemic is the perfect time to hone your skills. Apply yourself to art studies at MatSu College during the spring semester. Don’t sit still! Think about and Make Art. You’ll be glad you did.

Questions? Contact Felicia Desimini at fdesimini@alaska.edu or by telephone (907) 745-9755.

See you in the spring!

Call for Entries: Grace in the Time of a Pandemic

Contributed by Felicia Desimini

Show Dates: January 25 - March 12, 2021

Deadline for Submissions:  January 9, 2021

The MatSu College Art Department welcomes digital submissions for an Art/Word opportunity. Art/Word is based on artwork that incorporates visual art and literary art. Your art must contain text. Some artists choose to incorporate their own poetry or narrative alongside their visual art, as well. The theme of 2021’s Art/Word show is “Grace in the Time of A Pandemic.”

Eligibility: The show is open to all community members including students and faculty at MatSu College. All entries must represent original works of art or design, and must not have been exhibited previously.

Media:  Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media, including but not limited to: drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, installation, video, etc.

Delivery and Return of Work:  All work accepted for the exhibition must arrive via e-mail. Works that do not exhibit good craftsmanship will not be exhibited. 

Entry Fee: N/A

Insurance: N/A

Sale of Work: All work, unless indicated as not for sale (NFS), will be available for sale during exhibit. MatSu College will not retain a commission.

Images: In an effort to conserve resources, the MatSu College Art Department accepts only digital images and entry forms for consideration. (See details below.) The Gallery will retain the submitted images of accepted artwork and reserves the right to use the images in publications and gallery publicity. 

Image Format: Digital image of artwork must be sent via E-MAIL (email: fdesimini@alaska.edu.) The image must meet the following specifications: File names = artist’s last name(underscore) first name, image number  (i.e. Jones_Mike_1.jpg) 

Secondary images, such as details, installation, or alternate view images must include the word ‘detail’ in the file name (i.e. Jones_Mike_1detail.jpg).

Images file should be in HIGH QUALITY JPEG format, image should be no smaller the 1000 pixels in any direction (about 13”) and 72 dpi. Images must be oriented properly (i.e. top of image is top of artwork) and must not include artist’s name, or other descriptive text within the page itself, nor contain borders, frames, or margins except as part of the actual work. Video work should be sent with similar naming conventions in quicktime compatible format.

Please follow these specifications carefully. Feel free to contact Felicia Desimini (fdesimini@alaska.edu) for assistance if you have questions - Art/Word - Grace in the Time of a Pandemic in your subject line.) (The email and online submission process makes our process more efficient and saves postage and materials for the artists.

Information and updates: matsu.alaska.edu

Best regards,

Dr. Felicia M. Desimini

Associate Professor of Art

Art Department Coordinator

UAA MATSU College

907-745-9755

Save the Date! Mat-Su Summer Festival 2021

Contributed by Matt Rowley

We are excited to announce that the Mat-Su Summer Festival will be held the weekend of June 25th, 26th and 27th at Alaska Raceway Park in Butte!

This event is the natural sequel to the Fall Festival held last August that many of you participated in, where we were able to welcome nearly 10,000 visitors.  As you know, the fall event was the first ever held at Alaska Raceway… and there was a learning curve.  We learned some things, we have listened to your suggestions, and we have made some changes to help make this upcoming festival an even better event!

The Mat-Su Summer Festival will be held within the large oval track at Alaska Raceway Park.  There are four full acres within the oval, giving everyone room to safely spread out.  The music stage and the beer garden will both be in closer proximity to the vendors.  Steps are being taken to make sure that internet service is available and reliable for you point-of-sale needs.  With live music being an important part of the festival, three-day passes and RV camping are available for visitors who wish to make it a fun-filled music, shopping, and food truck weekend.  Weather for any outdoor event in Alaska is always the wild card, but we are hopeful that June will provide a favorable weather window. 

Information is online at matsuevents.com, and we’re accepting vendor reservations now.  We hope to see you there in June!

Christmas, Cheer!

Contributed by Nan Potts

If darkness grows oppressive,

Crushing soul until it cries

And hope of joy returning

Leaves you, squashed with its goodbyes…

When, fire of the hearth and heart

Hast dwindled into naught

And spirit, in many pieces lay,

Scattered, now are sought…

When surrounding world lays lifeless,

Either sere or tombed in white

And loneliness taps at your door

Chilling you with fright…

But wait, the tap gains cadence,

Tis no ghost but human hand

Which knocks upon your barricade,

Why for and what’s its plan?

Something moves you to address it,

An unexpected thing,

A flutter of desire, lost,

Poses now to ring…

When the door has opened,

A merry face appears,

The sturdy dam of sadness cracks;

Releasing grief with tears.

A mere voice heralds greetings,

Its tone is full of Joy,

A surge of Hope rekindled,

Tis such a glad-tide ploy…

“It’s Christmas, Friend!” It claims, “Rejoice!”

A smile spreads ‘cross your face.

With a nod its entrance made,

Your heart now fills with Grace…

Enter Light and Wonderment,

Christmas Spirit dost arrive,

To pay a call to one and all,

Restores Hope for us to thrive.

Now, tis the season to reflect

And not for you to jeer,

The time has come to offer Love,

Because it’s Christmas, cheer!

Northern Lights

Contributed by Katherine Baker

Swirls of color, seductive glare,

arousal in the midnight air.

Elusive grace, granted freely,

one of nature's lively species.

United souls, collide as one,

when art we share denying none.

Observing northern lights' physique,

partaking natures' modest peak.

It is as though we are transposed,

erasing worries, ills & woes.

Abandoning every care, 

enjoying life without despair.

The night belongs not only these,

for deeper still the mystery.

Day is not to be forgotten,

forever sky's bow begotten.

Solar System Solstice

Contributed by Randi Perlman

As winter solstice fast approaches, two giant planets will align

To present a spectacular occurrence, me thinks it is a sign

That Mollie shines above us, an authentic & bright North Star

And smiles down her kindness, on believers, near & far

Saturn and Jupiter will kiss up together,

and delight the world’s star-gazers

With a once-in-a-lifetime celestial sight

that is sure to impress even non-fazers

The heavenly conjunction will appear on solstice day

In an interstellar light show that will brighten our darkest day

This double planet moment will produce a “Christmas Star”

To illuminate the galaxy, visible wherever you are

Like the biblical Star of Bethlehem, proclaimed a miraculous sign

Comes this blessing of our center at a very fitting time

The likes of this great merger have been unseen for 800 years

A reminder that the world keeps turning, in spite of all our fears

The New Year is approaching, a new vaccine as well

Good news on the horizon, a safer place to dwell

Despite the spatial distance and the millions of miles away

We do NOT feed our landfills, ‘cause there’s no such thing as AWAY

Ten years in our new building, so much to celebrate

Let’s revel in what’s yet to come, with a 2021 date

Mollie will always surround us with her vision, strong and true

She is celebrating with us, for the good work we’ll continue to do

Happiest holiday wishes, may seasons’ greetings abound…

Let’s ring this in together, ‘cause

Together, We Are Turning it Around!!

Note:  This poem was written for the Annual Recycling Center Blessing, which takes place every year on the Saturday closest to Winter Solstice.  It’s a tradition started by Mollie Boyer, founding member & long-time Executive Director of VCRS who recently passed, and will be continued in her honor, and because it’s a great idea!  Join us this year for our 10th annual blessing on Saturday, December 19, at 12 noon.  Call 745-5544 for more information.

Sonnet of Bells

Contributed by Wendy Brooker

Bells say, “What on earth are you waiting for?”

Bells say, “Fire!” “Hey!” “Pay attention to that!”

Bells say, “Roll out of bed!” “Run to the door!”

“Christmas is coming!” and “Here comes the cat!”

There are bells on the hill. Hear them ringing?

You’re either late or right where you should be.

School bells, Church bells, Angels newly winging

Cracked, silent, hope-filled Bell of Liberty

Hell’s bells! Dead ringers, Bells on dancers’ hips

Criers ring “All’s well!” Cooks ring “Dinner time!”

Cow bells, Service bells, Bells on trains and ships

Bells ding, dong, bong, clang, ting-a-ling, and chime

When I pick up mine to give it a swing

Does my bell darkly toll or brightly ring?

The End

Contributed by Robert Lyons

Made slaves by deceit

Peace freedom and liberty

Taken easily

A New World Order?

Contributed by Andrew Brewer

The crisis facing the American Republic is not going to end with “a” political decision. Trump, at this hour, has not yet regained the Presidency, which is to be hoped; but even if he does, what can he do that he has not done already? Has he proved to be effective against the mandates and restrictions associated with a virus which the medical establishment refuses to treat? Instead we are told to implement measures, like masks and social distancing, which cannot work, except for their universal ability to shut down our way of life !

We are being killed by the policies of the CDC, the NIH, the AMA and the FDA, which are being mandated by our elected bodies, governors and mayors. How can they be doing this? The first answer is that the mainstream media is backing the overthrow of the American Republic. How we got to this point is another matter, but it is sufficient to note that it is so. This provides the cover and the narrative to proceed with the dismantling of America, as it occurs before our very eyes. This is what enables our politicians to act with impunity against our rights, our liberties, and our prosperity! The goal is to bring America to its knees…

If sufficient resistance can be mustered at the political level, the consolidated media could be busted up. In fact, it must be, or eventually the Global-Left takeover can only be forestalled. The relentless message of the networks, the Press, the magazines, and the News is writing the story we hear. That it is creating a false reality, a corruption of the Truth, somehow does not matter to them. Their goal dictates what they write, print, and say to a public that depends on them for information. This Goal is not the goal of America, but the transition into a New World, which will be dictated by the Big Money interests whom they serve.

If the people we elect to public office are beholden to these interests, and it’s apparent that they are, and not the good of America, its freedom, ideals and prosperity, then the scope of the problem is magnified, and the way forward more tenuous. The day when Teddy Roosevelt was able to bust up the Trusts was over a hundred years ago. That success needs to be duplicated on several levels, if we are to regain what is quickly fading away, our American Independence.

How long is it necessary to argue with the lies and foolishness that masquerades as good science? The hoax has gone on for way too long. We know what we are dealing with and how to cure it. How to deal with the onslaught of the New World Order is the greater problem, because the enemy operates within our own Country. Yes, the People will back the President. But does He have enough support within the Government itself to eradicate the Enemy within? That is the deadly game that is being played out before our eyes, while the mainstream media supports the downfall of our Nation.

The times are being called “unprecedented”. And indeed they are. With the perversion of the Truth, and the designs of the Global-Left being manifested throughout our Culture, the situation is tenuous at best. The Left vows not to allow a return to “normal”. The oppression of America is slated to persist until we are rendered into obedient servants of the New World Order. Mind and body-altering vaccinations are next! We are at the beginning of the reign of a worldwide terror! Let the word get out! American Patriots know what is happening and what is at stake. We will take action to preserve our Nation!

A Year We’ll Never Forget

Contributed by Bill Brokaw

2020 is a year we’ll never forget.  The arrival of the world-wide virus has changed our lives completely and forever.

Only God knows what the future holds.  We have to rely on him to supply us with the wisdom to handle the huge changes necessary to survive.  We are all very social beings.  Physically, we have to distance ourselves from so many of our good friends and relatives. 

This distancing is so difficult, since tradition has always allowed us to physically enjoy relationships with these folks we love.  Since we are in the age of technology, communication via phone and computer 

are possible and enjoyed, but not in the same way as is face to face.  

Stay-at-home is now necessary! Our immediate home-bound families are the recipients of our stay-at-home actions and conversations.  As the virus continues to grow, we have to grow in our adjustment to the actions and communication that are necessary for a healthy, stay-at-home existence.

May the arrival of the vaccine bring a change-back to our lives before the virus.

Written by Bill Brokaw who is located in room C37 of the Palmer Vets and Pioneers Home.  907-707-0927

Alaska Needs Judicial Selection Reform

Contributed by William R. Satterberg, Jr.

I have been practicing both civil and criminal law since 1976. For several years, I have been asked why I did not become a judge. There are numerous reasons. One primary reason is because I have a serious skepticism over the current selection process used for judges in Alaska. While proponents claim it is solely a merit-based system, I dissent.

Selecting judges in Alaska involves a rather unique method. Interested candidates must first submit their names to the Alaska Judicial Council. The Council is made up of six members drawn three each from the public and the legal profession with a tie breaking seventh member being the Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court.

As designed, the Judicial Council was intended to be an organization which would vet candidates who had applied for judgeship. After engaging in this vetting process, the Council would then forward names which the Council voted as acceptable potential judges to the Governor, who would then appoint a judge only from that list of approved Judicial Council candidates. Regretfully, the system does not work as intended.

In 1990, I was a campaign coordinator for then-to-be Governor Walter J. Hickel, who ran on Joe Vogler’s Independence Party ticket. After the Governor had been elected, I was encouraged to apply for a judgeship. I answered that the likelihood of me ever getting an appointment was dismal. After all, I did not have the experience at the time, having only been practicing for fourteen years. In addition, my self-esteem had always suffered. A timid person by nature, I did not want to see the results of the required Bar Polls.

One staffer suggested that I should still submit my name. If my name did not get referred from the Judicial Council, he said the administration could simply keep rejecting names until mine eventually showed up. Although that is not how the selection process actually works, I still was flattered. However, I did not believe in participating in such a charade. I declined. Which brings me to my personal opinions to follow.

Alaska’s Judicial Council has become a politicized organization in many respects. Presumably, the Council objectively analyzes the qualifications of various candidates, investigates backgrounds, conducts impartial interviews, and then forwards “the most qualified” candidates to the Governor. The Governor’s obligation is to then pick a candidate only from that list. No latitude is allowed. But, the process does not start there.

Rather, even before prospective candidates are reviewed by the Judicial Council, they must first submit to the “Bar Poll.” The Bar Poll is supposed to be candid evaluations of the candidates by fellow legal practitioners, who must sign a statement that they intend to be truthful in their evaluations. In practice however, the Bar Poll is often an opportunity for answering attorneys to take shots at any applicant that they may dislike. For years, the Bar Poll has been slightly more than a sophisticated blog, long before blogs became commonplace. And, to make the insults even worse, respondents can submit their comments anonymously. Because disclosing one’s name is optional, the Bar Poll has very little practical credibility.

The considerations which go into evaluating attorneys for potential judgeship as expressed in the Bar Poll often have nothing to do with the qualifications of the candidate. To the contrary, Bar Poll responses are often calculated to take advantage of geographical location, gender, and other political considerations. Traditionally, the perception is that Anchorage votes against Fairbanks candidates, and Fairbanks votes against Anchorage candidates. No one knows what Southeast Alaska does. And it goes on – Prosecutors vote for Prosecutors. Defenders vote for Defenders, etc.

ARTICLE CONTINUES ON OUR WEBSITE: www.thepeoplespaper.news/williamsatterberg

Declaration Of Alaska Land Settlement

Contributed by Velvet Beiswenger

The Alaska General Jural Assembly hereby gives public notice to the people of

Alaska, the corporate State of Alaska, CEO President Trump, et alia:

We the People of Alaska have assembled and are declaring land settlement with a

covenant.

We the sovereign people living on the land of Alaska, a Free and Independent

nation=state, declare the Alaska General Jural Assembly under God’s law, common law, and the laws of nature. Every Alaskan is protected. Every Alaskan is free.

Interested parties may read our Operations and Functions document and our Covenant on alaskadejure.org

Notice to the Principal is notice to the Agent and Notice to the Agent is Notice to

the Principal! The position and opinions stated in this notice are not the position

and/or opinions of the employees of this newspaper or any other parties in its

publication.

Pendulum Swing

Contributed by Wes Keller

Analogies can be dangerous! Comparing the presidential election to a gently swinging pendulum every four or eight years may have set us up to be unprepared for reality! Most of us alive have never experienced anything but peaceful power transitions, but this one is not over. Presidential campaign losers are typically expected to graciously step aside with no more than hollow promises and platitudes for the next four-year cycle. Now it looks like American history is on the cusp of an anomaly — an abrupt mutation of governing authority! Presidential elections will likely never be the same again.

The analogy has worked ONLY because voters trust election results. If a loser believes the majority has spoken, the only honorable credible reaction is to graciously bow-out… no matter how personally humiliating the loss may be. Now it looks like voter trust has been horribly ruined. The mainstream media is telling us the choice of 70 + million patriotic Americans is a loser and refusing to report the overwhelming evidence of election fraud! (I use the word “evidence” because that is EXACTLY what credible public testimony is!). Of course, all public testimony must be carefully verified and tested before it becomes the basis for judicial conviction and sentencing, but an election is not a judicial action! (Remember, credible accusations are exactly what grand jury’s act on). The media is way out of line to ignore (hide) documented public testimony, the best of the fruit of the of free speech.

We-the-People know we are not the judge and jury for justice, but we are the authority that authorizes and pays taxes to maintain a judicial system based on the Rule of Good Law. “We the People” own and are the power behind the US Constitution (the “contract”) we are supposedly governed by. (We even reserve the right to amend it as needed!) It is embarrassing to see the mainstream media posing as a judicial or electoral authority as if they are our legal representatives! They have no right to declare winners and losers — or to censor and hide testimony to support their declaration! They are authorized to report, not manipulate. This is especially ridiculous in light of the scope of information out there. Freedom of Speech requires listening, especially to coherent, recorded, public testimony in particular when the testimony comes from whistle-blowers charging treasonous election fraud.

If either Biden or Trump is actually confirmed without a transparent, unbiased Congressional (legislative) investigation to vindicate the win, you (we) will have been overthrown (fired) by those supposedly working for us because our voting power will have been lost. The 2020 “transfer of power” election would no longer be about our choice for president. It will have become a coup — a transfer from the authority of the voting majority to some nebulous oligarchy! This disregard of voter choice would include the chaos we always see when “sovereigns” (in this case, “We the People”) are overthrown. All constitutional promises would be off! Don’t expect SCOTUS to come to our rescue if our State legislators concede and allow this vote to be certified before illegal votes are identified and eliminated. Why would SCOTUS act on behalf of the Constitution when the alternative is to be counted in a new ruling oligarchy? We must do whatever we can to make sure illegal votes are identified and eliminated whether it confirms Trump, Biden, or the House’s choice!

The Republic is ultimately doomed if we tolerate the destruction of trust in the election system. It will be dead or dying at the hands of media and cheaters! If voters have no faith our vote will be fairly counted, a rapid mutation of our republic will be underway. Public testimony must be evaluated in our court system in a process that will inevitably go well beyond December 14. In any event, a pre-mature inauguration will put us in dark, uncharted waters. I am very convinced there are enough 2020 voters who are hard-core constitutionalists to get us through this mess given the chance, but it is unclear to me how this can happen without voting. I cannot imagine an America where our civic duty to vote is despised because it has been demonstrated to be a sham!

We can survive loss of trust in the media, maybe even the loss of some state sovereignty, and maybe some loss of faith in court system justice — but, there is no recovery if “We the People”, the Constitutional power source, is overthrown! If we have no reliable voting system, the pendulum analogy is proven a farce. Without honest, fair elections, our constitutional government based on the “the rule of law” cannot even exist! Instead, we would have “the rule of TV”! We become subject to the rule of whatever “mob” grabs our government assets and pretends to represent us – not comforting thoughts. It would truly be a tragic, cruel irony if the very product of freedom as represented by the Statue of Liberty (We the People) — surrenders to self-destruction!

 Wes Keller | WesKeller.com

Rise and Fall of the Democratic Party

Contributed by William Hibler

Emeritus Professor, UAF

A recent trenchant election article in the National Review by Charles Cooke pointed out that it is “…no great overstatement to say…the media did not so much cover the Biden campaign as they were the Biden campaign.” Combining this with Trump’s lack of discipline and self-indulgence via claims that he won the Election big time now ongoing, it is not hard to see how Biden eked out a win.  However, while the Media’s claim of a massive 7 million vote differential muddies the water, the real point is that the winning margin was only ~120 thousand votes in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona combined; less than Trump’s victory in 2016. Biden won by a hair’s breadth!

With substantial Congressional losses, the real question is whether the National Democratic Party has now become a permanent Minority Party.  Their unwillingness to compromise is legendary. They filibustered the Senate pandemic relief bill and Tim Scott’s Police Reform Bill after the endless summer of ‘mostly peaceful’ demonstrations. Ostensibly, Democrats have drunk the ‘cool aid’ and actually believe the slanted Press coverage and nonsensical poll numbers. But Trump, who makes the most incompetent reporting seem sensible, will soon be gone.  What will media and Democrats do then?

As noted by William Shirer early in his monumental work ‘The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich’, you can’t decode Nazi Germany without understanding how Goebbels’ Press was clouding what was actually happening. Now rather than Goebbels we have Amazon’s Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post.  While they claim they speak “Truth to Power”, the suspicion among many Scientists is the Press can’t distinguish between fact and fiction if it hit them in the face.  To do so requires recognizing that there are other points of view.  Indeed, to listen to a hubristic Elizabeth Warren, a former Harvard Law Professor, it is clear that like the Puritanical New Englanders of Yore the underlying operative assumption (or Faith) of Democrats is that ‘rightly informed consciences all reach the same conclusion’. This myth ultimately led to the downfall of the Puritan Religious State. Will it lead to the Demise of National Democrats?