Do I Have an Anxiety Problem?

Contributed by Jason Goldsmith, Hats of Wisdom

What is a normal amount of anxiety for a person? Am I crazy? Is anxiety a mental health issue? There are often times in our lives where we may feel the need to ask ourselves if what we are feeling is normal. And normal can be a fairly subjective term since some of us feel the keen edge of anxiety more than others. This doesn’t make us crazy.

Like any other ability, skill or talent, our ability to withstand stress and anxiety differs from those around us. Some people have a higher tolerance than others or may have more experience in handling stress. So, how do we measure if we are having a problem. Counselors have a nifty little tool to use to help individuals gauge how much stress and anxiety a person is feeling and how difficult it is for that individual. It boils down to just a few things. Do we feel anxious, worried or fearful more often than not? Do we have difficulty relaxing or sleeping more often than not? Do we find ourselves thinking of all the worst-case scenarios more often than not? Are we feeling overwhelmed by our current circumstances? Are our friends and family asking why we are so irritated?

If we answer yes to many of these, even if this is our normal, we may want to talk to a counselor in order to learn some new skills to help us gain some much-needed self-care. Living under the constant pressure of stress and anxiety is exhausting for anyone and we are not alone in feeling this way. Stress and anxiety are becoming more common in society and asking for a helping hand does not make us weak or crazy.

Living under heavy stress and anxiety can cause a variety of health issues beyond being a little irritable with those closest to us. It can disrupt our sleep which can lead to depression. It can cause stomach upset to the point we develop ulcers. We can develop severe tension head aches stretching down our back or even migraines. Sweating, shakiness, eye strain and racing heart rate can all be symptoms. Long term stress and anxiety can lead to heart disease and a lowered immune system.

Here at HOW we would like to make ourselves available to you in answering some of your questions and concerns. Please contact us and we will reply in the next edition, or directly, while keeping you anonymous. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Affordable Blood Draw & Wellness Health Fairs

Contributed by Jodie White

Alaska Health Fair is a nonprofit serving Alaskans for over 40 years. We currently have events in the Houston, Wasilla, and Talkeetna areas as well as Anchorage. AHF is considered an essential service by the State of Alaska with an approved COVID-19 mitigation plan to ensure the safety of clients, volunteers, and staff. We work with the largest clinical laboratory in the nation to bring you high-quality blood tests at nonprofit prices. Thousands of Alaskans take advantage of AHF services each year. 

We host both Community and Worksite events. Worksite health education has many benefits: reduced absenteeism, improved morale, increased productivity... AHF worksite health fairs are "turn-key" solutions customized to meet your needs. Unlike virtual and out-of-state fairs, AHF events are curated by hundreds of local medical and non-medical volunteers and health, wellness, and safety professionals. Your employees will deepen their relationship with the local community while connecting with locally available health and wellness resources.

Volunteers are an integral part of our health and wellness fairs. We need both non-medical, and medically trained people. With positions ranging from foot traffic, meet and greet, cashiers, blood pressure, check out, health educators, and most importantly those that can draw blood. We are an approved organization towards nursing hours. Head to our website, fill out an application, and select the events and duties you would like to volunteer for.

Exhibitors are very important too. We view our Health Fairs as a way for Alaskans to get in touch with their local healthcare and wellness providers, receive useful information on topics they care about, and access affordable preventative screenings and tests. You are welcome to distribute promotional information about your practice, business, non-profit service or a government program; host a free class or demonstration; distribute free product samples—as long as it helps Alaskans maintain a healthy lifestyle. Collecting information from participants is allowed, but only with explicit consent. If you work in health care or wellness, our events can help you grow your practice, connect with the local community, and raise awareness about your cause. Our Health Fairs are designed to benefit the entire community: people, businesses, non-profits, and agencies – all working together to ensure great health for all Alaskans.

Events are conducted by appointment, and you can make your appointment online. Just head to our website www.alaskahealthfair.org to schedule your appointment. Please call the office at (907) 278-0234 .We hope to see you soon!

Sleepy Hollow Golf Course Trick or Treat Trail

Contributed by Danielle Sherrer

Join us for a day of fun as you wander through our candy trails!

Trick or Treat and shop at vendors booths along the trail! Admission is FREE! We encourage you to pre-register so we can serve you better!

Included with admission:

Costumes Contests
Games Candy
Petting Zoo
Vendors 
Extras available for purchase:
Hair Feathers & Face Glitter
Hayrides
Food
Beer
Coffee
Halloween Snacks

Get your tickets at www.myalaskatix.com

What most don't know about Sleepy Hollow Golf Course is that it is owned by an agency NFH (Nadon Family Home) which provides group home, day habilitation, and supported employment opportunities to adults with intellectual disabilities.

Sleepy Hollow Golf Course employs people of all "abilities." Employees with special needs work alongside their job coaches and help run the golf course and our new pizza restaurant The Headless Horseman.

They learn skills in everything from marketing, to mechanics, carpentry, maintaining the greens, cooking in the kitchen, planning these big community events, and so much more.

Our goal is to educate and encourage the individuals we serve so that they can live as independently as possible and live their lives to the fullest. By attending our free community events your support helps keep our guys busy with work throughout the year.

They are all eager to meet people within our wonderful community! Stop by and see us! You'll always get the best customer service from the guys at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course!

Getting Books Into the Right Hands

Contributed by Alys Culhane

I was stocking books at the Vagabond Blues/Koslosky Center first floor bookcase when a woman came up next to me and began examining books in the nonfiction bookcase.

“Interested in taking a book? I asked.

“Not today,”

“Sure you don’t want a book?” I asked.

“No, I have too many books at home,” she said.

“Me too.”

I wished her a good day and she made a beeline for the Vagabond Blues Café.

I remained deep in thought... Did this woman, like me, have hoarding tendencies?

There are numerous boxes of books in our main cabin, our goat shed, and my writing cabin. They contain kid and young adult books that I’m going to send to villages later this month. Our main cabin contains books that I either have read or am going to read.

When, on Saturdays, my husband Pete and fellow Bright Lights Book Project volunteer Bill Schmidtkunz salvage books at the recycling center, I take books for future reading. The problem is that I go home with a box of books a week, and part with three books a week.

Why is it, I wondered, that they call those who have more books than they will ever read hoarders? Those who own used bookstores and have stacks of books everywhere aren’t called hoarders. Nor are those who have a multitude of bookcases in their homes called hoarders. I suppose that if I had more shelf space that I’d be called an erudite reader.

Hoarder. I considered having a tee-shirt made. Instead of having Dr. Suess’s Thing One and Thing Two on it, I’d instead have Hoarder One and Hoarder Two emblazoned on the front.

Hoarder. I considered joining a twelve-step program and hoping up onto the fourth step. Yes, I’d say, “I’m Alys, and I have a problem.”

Hoarder. Hoarders don’t limit themselves to books, or do they? I don’t collect anything besides books. I do not save baloney strings, tin cans, plywood, or puppies. Recyclables do go VCRS.

A self-related definitional change came about in a serendipitous fashion. And with it came a much-welcomed change in perspective.

Anchorage resident Cheryl Chapman one day came by the Meeting House on Bailey Street in order to pass on books. I met her previously, when I went to Anchorage to pick up books that she wanted to donate to the BLBP.

Cheryl was indeed a kindred spirit. I say this because we talked books for several hours. She also dropped off some very good literature books that she brought up with her when she moved up to Alaska from Dallas, Texas.

She reminded me of poet Mariann Moore, who too was a knowledgeable reader and writer of poetry. In fact, she was very familiar with Moore’s work and, as well, that of Theodore Roethke.

“I have a book I want to send to you,” she said before we parted company. “It’s called, “The Girl who Read on the Metro, and it’s about those who, like us, pass books on to others.”

A week later, the book appeared in the mail along with a thank you card. I opened the package and examined it. Author Christine Féret-Fleury’s hardcover book was compact, and approximately 100 pages in length.

I placed it on my bedside stack of books to read, and a week later, moved it to the top of the pile. Anne Fadiman’s Ex Libris, Madeline Martin’s The Last Bookshop in London, and Kim Michelle Richardson’s The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (all books about women who get books into the hands of appreciative readers) would have to wait.

I read The Girl who Reads on the Metro while backpacking in the Yukon’s Tombstone Range.  Actually, I read it in the car late at night because heavy rains put a damper on the backpack trip. In this fictional account, the central characters stay true to their main mission in life, which is to pass on books to others. Such individuals, as defined by Feret-Fleury, are called Passeurs, which is French for “those who impart books to others.”

This includes Martin’s central character, who owns a bookshop in Paris, and Richardson’s central character, who delivers books by horseback to those on her WPA route.

A cloud lifted as I realized that I was not a book hoarder. Rather, I was a passeur who too was adept at finding the right book for the right person. I was sorely tempted to hang onto Richardson’s book. However, I knew that it was one that other passeurs might enjoy. So I’m passing on The Girl who read on the Metro to an individual who I am sure, when she’s done, will pass it on to yet another kindred spirit.

Updates from MatSu Food Bank

Contributed by Lauralynn Robison

Donations! We have had a successful summer collecting food donations. Fairgoers donated 5,600 pounds of food during the Alaska State Fair, Food4Kids served 9,700 kids lunches, local businesses that had food drives collected 4,500 pounds of food.  Our Golf Tournament was a major success due to our sponsors and golfers. Despite all of the food and monetary donations, we are still in need of food donations for our growing community.  With inflation going up, and the cost of food going up, people are still struggling to put food on tables and feed their families. And soon we will be entering the Holiday Seasons.  So if you are able, we would be greatly appreciative of any donations. Don’t forget, you still have time to donate through PICK.CLICK.GIVE. We “Thank” our community for all of your help and support!

Community is at the heart and soul of our mission at MatSu Food Bank. We feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing community and “Thank” all of you for your continued support of the MatSu Food Bank!

Remember - no one should go hungry! Please contact us at (907) 357-3769 if you have any questions about our programs, making donations or would like to schedule a time to volunteer. You can also call United Way’s Helpline at 211, which is a multilingual & confidential service that connects community members to vital local resources. We again thank everyone who helps support our mission and makes it possible for us to serve our local communities. We are honored and immensely grateful! We also invite you to visit and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MatSuFoodBank.

A Mother’s Broken Heart

Contributed by Julie Bouchard

Let me introduce you to my amazing son, Taegge Lee, born in Palmer, Alaska on November 19,1999.  Taegge attended various schools in the Mat-Su Borough and later went on to graduate from the Alaska Youth Military Academy.

Taegge loved to travel, exploring new countries and out of the way hidden gems.  His latest adventure took him backpacking across Indonesia and Bali, by himself at the age of 20 years old. He loved art, poetry and music.  He has many beautiful art pieces, as well as music he has written.  His favorite Poet was Edgar Allen Poe. One of his favorite Poe quotes being “There is no beauty without some strangeness”.

Taegge had a unique fashion style!  He loved putting crazy prints together and expressing his uniqueness through the many, shoes, vintage and odd fashion labels he had collected from various thrift shops around town.  He had a signature brown button up sweater which his family dubbed his “Mr. Roger’s sweater”.

He was an adventurer, a loving son, compassionate brother, uncle, and a faithful friend to all who were blessed to know him.

You see, I am writing this with a mother’s broken heart, an article no mother should ever have to write!  With tears in my eyes, I am writing to share his story in hopes that is spares just one family from this utterly devastating grief!

I lost my son Taegge on July 15,2021 to fentanyl poisoning; in other words, he was murdered! He had almost 4 times the lethal amount in his system, according to state toxicology reports.  He went to bed and never woke up.  We never got to say goodbye, never got one last hug or to tell him just how much he was loved.  I was so proud of him!  Taegge was not a “junkie”, he was working in Talkeetna, had his own cabin and was working on his next adventure for the winter.  He was a productive member of society, he was not a thief, he had many friends and close relationships with family.

There is currently a police investigation open to see if they can find where he got this deadly drug.  Illegal fentanyl is being brought into our country by the truck loads. Someone is getting rich off our grief.  Recently a bad batch of drugs killed at least 7 young people in the valley over the last month or so and who knows how many others were affected. Our children matter!  We want accountability and justice!

Fentanyl does not care about your neighborhood, family status, social status, gender, race or sexual orientation.  Fentanyl, as well as other illegal street drugs have ZERO discrimination criteria.  With that being said, over 110,000 young people have been murdered by fentanyl in the last 12 months across America.  In the USA, every 7 minutes, another family gets the call that their son/daughter is gone!  Alaska saw the largest increase at 253 deaths! Fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of deaths in young people today, more than car accidents, firearms or illness combined.

Alaska is now the second state that has drafted a Bill and submitted it to Congress to make education and resources mandatory in high schools and other public education facilities in Alaska.  Please reference Bruce’s Law for more information on that Bill. Alaska Senator’s Murkowski & Sullivan are behind this law and have been big supporters.

Federal and state tax dollars are going to fight the covid pandemic but where is the help for our young people who are being murdered every day?  Our young children need to be educated, not only on the dangers of using illegal street drugs but the ever-increasing counterfeit pills that are being sold on social media sites and readily available within minutes.

Please talk to your young children about these dangers!  All children are at risk today, it only takes one pill to kill!  Consider writing your local government officials and urging them to take this pandemic seriously and allocate money for education, prevention, and treatment.  If you have a substance abuse problem, please get help!  NARCAN kits are free through Project hope and MY House in Wasilla.  Please consider having these life-saving kits on hand.

For the future of America, we must stop this senseless murder of our children!!!

Submitted with a broken heart,

Julie M. Bouchard, mother of Taegge D. Lee, forever 21.

Silvers for Seniors

Contributed by Charice Chambers

Friday is fish day at the Palmer Senior Center! Seniors lined up early because it marked the highly anticipated annual Silvers for Seniors dinner. Head cook Yosef Assis didn’t disappoint with beautiful red fillets topped with thinly sliced lemons and capers. There was even an optional lemon butter sauce. The oohs and aahs could be heard throughout the room, and soon the fish stories began: the one that got away, the memories of youthful family fishing trips, the tales of smoke houses filled to the rafters with bright red salmon strips. It was clear that this dinner evoked many memories for folks who might not share such meals, if it were not for this annual event.

Silvers for Seniors. Is the brainchild of fisherwoman Page Herring. With the help of husband and fellow fisherperson, Bob Cellers, Herring convinced her fellow members of Northern District Setnetters to donate a portion of one day’s catch during the summer fishing season to the senior center in Palmer. They enthusiastically agreed. For over a decade they have annually participated in the event with the exception of last year, when seas were simply too dangerous to attempt to fish on either day chosen for the catch. Each year Copper River Seafoods provides a tote with ice in which to collect and transport the fish.

Once the silvers are delivered to the center, a team of seniors goes to work gutting and prepping the fish for consumption. The job includes removing all the pin bones, a tedious task. This year there was a problem. The crew that had performed this task for as long as most could remember,  had fallen prey to the hazards of old age: too many injured shoulders and rotator cuff replacements sidelined the group. In true Alaskan style, the call went out for help, and by nine o’clock in the morning on delivery day over a dozen volunteers had arrived to work on the fish. Meg Forrester was entirely new to the process and came to learn how salmon were gutted and prepped. She had cut up chickens in the past, so she was sure that she could learn to cut up fish. She was right. After a bit of instruction and observation, she was wielding her knife like a pro. Taylor York had trouble standing for long periods of time, so he brought his needle nose pliers and several friends to work as pin bone removers. Soon steaming mugs of coffee dotted the tables between bright orange fish fillets and volunteers. Two seniors appointed themselves as quality control and were seen sending several fillets back with a few more pin bones to be removed. With over a dozen volunteers working together; in less than two hours the fillets were ready to become memorable dinners and clean up was nearly complete.

This year’s Slivers for Seniors donation will be put to good use.  According to Head Cook Yossi, the Center will be able to provide nearly 140 salmon dinners to local seniors and an additional 110 meals to home bound seniors and eligible individuals through the Meals on Wheels program. Additional silvers will be used for other salmon based dishes throughout the fall season.

During the last fiscal year, Palmer Senior Center has provided 12,400 nutritious congregate meals in their community dining facility. Additionally, 7,250 meals were delivered to home bound seniors and eligible individuals during the same period.

“We have the honor to serve this vulnerable population with food, for which there is no greater honor. Our seniors have spent so much of their lives giving to others, and now we can have the privilege of giving to them, “ said CEO Brandy Burchett of the Silvers for Seniors program.

Pix 1 (group holding silver salmon)

From left:Senior Center employee Nick Lloyd, Transportation and Facilities Director Tim Pettit, Northern Setnetter Page Herring, Head Cook Yosef Assis, and Center employee Jon Price.

Pix 2 Senior Center member Meg Forrester gets instruction on fish cutting from Center employee Jon Price.

Pix 3 Former Palmer Senior Center Board President Janet Beeter cuts salmon as member Bill Tull admires her agility with the ulu.

Recycling Repeats Itself: Episode 9

Contributed by Randi Perlman

From the very beginning way back in 1998, when Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) first formed with the goal of collecting recyclables in the Mat-Su Borough, the model and mantra of ‘clean & sorted’ was put in place.  VCRS was fortunate to have a strong, passionate and inciteful group of early grassroots leaders who understood that a successful recycling operation would have to move forward in a sustainable way while still making good business sense.

At VCRS, everything is viewed as a resource, and different resources are sought after by different end-users.  Another word for resources could be commodities.  As long as they are clean and sorted, each recyclable material dropped off at your local recycling center is baled separately and sold to end-users around the United States seeking that particular commodity.  When those businesses purchase those commodities, it creates a sustainable and economically viable loop by diverting tons of material from our landfill while providing businesses with the products they need, and revenue to continue operation and expansion of our recycling programs.

Another important reason VCRS has been able to grow and continue serving our community is:  our COMMUNITY!  By educating Valley residents about the reasons it makes good sense to clean and sort their recycling, and welcoming one and all to come, learn, and help spread the word, VCRS has become a vital hub of our community and an integral part of the Valley’s borough-wide infrastructure.  In turn, the enormous support, participation and community buy-in for the ‘clean & sorted’ model have allowed the state-of-the-art recycling center to grow, add staff and expand its offerings over the years.

Manufacturers are making something new with the recyclables you bring to VCRS.  You can help provide them with great material to work with by making sure your recyclables are empty, clean, and put in the right place when you drop them off.  Volunteers and staff are on hand to assist you in doing that.  VCRS is a drop off facility for your sorted recyclables. Your time and effort to sort is what makes this program possible.

Clean & sorted recycling is also creating new businesses and jobs in our community.  Did you know that ALL the newspaper (and some cardboard) recycled at VCRS stays local?!?  It's turned into cellulose insulation, hydro-seed mulch, and stable bedding at Thermo-Kool of Alaska, right here in the Mat-Su Valley.  This type of economic growth and development is continuing to make the Mat-Su the fastest growing area in the state.  If you are looking for a way to be more environmentally responsible, save money on your heating bills, and support our local economy, visit us at www.valleyrecycling.org to find out about newspaper and all the other material categories we accept.

Sometimes, all it takes to change the world is one person, a great idea, a little support.  Since its founding in 1998, VCRS has been determined to make an impact.  The staff has a passion and purpose for what they do, and along with over 400 like-minded volunteers, this formidable team works together tirelessly to make recycling convenient and available six days a week.  The quest to recover as many resources from the local waste stream as possible is the conviction behind their beliefs.  The support of our caring community is greatly and gratefully appreciated!

Pick up next month’s edition of The People’s Paper/Make a Scene Magazine for Recycling Repeats Itself, Episode 10

No Time to Procrastinate

Contributed by Debra McGhan

In 2020 we all watched our country shut down completely. The supply chains are still a mess. Our food security remains at risk. And indications remain strong, this can easily happen again. Living in Alaska means preparedness is even more vital than in other parts of the US. Procrastination is not your friend. Ask Lawrence Agosti and his riding partners.

In the spring of 2019, Agosti and his pals set out on the Kenai Peninsula for a day of snowmobile riding. They were familiar with the area and Agosti felt confident he could handle anything that might come their way. But he put off checking his survival supplies and ended up forgetting to do that all together. His in-action nearly cost his life and those of his friends.

Agosti realized they survived only because they are a strong team. “We kept encouraging each other and we kept a positive attitude. When I was ready to give up, Ben kept me going. Mark knew some arctic survival skills and we were able to improvise with the few things we did have to stay alive.”

He also understands the decisions you make when out riding with others will affect everyone in your group and potentially your family and community. Having a positive attitude is critical.

“We got through this because we helped each other and we stayed focused on surviving. I hope we all learned something from this so we never have to spend another night out like this again. I know for sure I’ll check my survival gear from now on. And I’ll be prepared with the simplest things like a flint and steel, hot packs and a survival blanket for each person.”

Every year the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Mountain Rescue Group and other professional agencies and organizations respond to dozens of search and rescue calls when people find themselves in situations they are not prepared to handle.

If you love to ski, board, sled, hike, ride snowmachines, dog mush, fish, climb, boat or otherwise get out to explore this beautiful state, you owe it to your family and friends to make sure you are prepared.

September is National Emergency Preparedness month. And we know, Alaska truly delivers a land of big adventures, wild open spaces and vulnerable to a host of potential disasters and emergencies. Ask yourself, are you ready? Do you have an up-to-date emergency kit in your car? Do you have enough food and water for yourself and your family for at least three days? Are you prepared to treat a medical emergency if you are the only one there to help?

If you answered no to any of those questions, or maybe you’re not sure, you should plan to attend the free 14th annual Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Menard Sports Center. This event is made possible thanks to Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services, Alaska Safe Riders, Local Emergency Planning Committee, American Red Cross, AARP Alaska and the City of Wasilla.

This year Iron Dog champions Tyler Aklestad and Chris Olds, along with other professionals, will be on hand to share tips and tricks to help you enjoy great experiences exploring Alaska. Scouts 2359/359 will be demonstrating how to put together a safe campsite. Or go on a scavenger hunt to learn, get prepared and earn a chance for two round-trip tickets on Alaska Railroad.

This event is completely free and the first 100 guests will receive an emergency preparedness gift bag thanks to AARP Alaska and other great sponsors.

The popular youth Poster Contest, for everyone 5 to 18 years-old, invites youth to draw a picture and show what being prepared for disasters and emergencies means to them. All entries receive a free ice cream thanks to McDonalds. People’s Choice Award top winner in five age groups receive a gift card thanks to the Mat Valley Federal Credit Union, a three-day emergency back pack thanks to American Red Cross and a community service award presented by the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.

If you enjoy exploring Alaska or just want your home to remain a safe, cozy haven even in the worst of times, don’t put off getting prepared. Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 14th annual Emergency Preparedness Expo on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. Learn more at www.ready.matsugov.us

Marlene Munsell Announced New Wasilla Area Seniors CEO

Contributed by Sally Barnes

The Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce Marlene Munsell as the new WASI CEO. Marlene joined WASI as Assistant Executive Director in January 2019 and quickly established herself as a capable leader in non-profit senior services.

Before joining WASI, Ms. Munsell completed a highly successful, 28-year career with Walmart Stores, Inc., where she earned a reputation for outstanding work ethic, effective leadership, and firm commitment to overall team and business success. It was her approach to team-building as the foundation of success that marked her tenure as Assistant Executive Director at WASI.

Ms. Munsell holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Wyoming, and a Certificate of Non-Profit Management from the Foraker Group.

As Chief Executive Officer at WASI, Ms. Munsell will continue major initiatives outlined in WASI’s 2021 Strategic Plan, including construction of new, affordable senior housing at the Wasilla Senior Campus and creation of a new Adult Day Service in the Houston – Big Lake area at the Mid-Valley Senior Center. At the same time, she will manage the rapidly growing demand for existing senior services, including community meals at the Wasilla and Mid-Valley Senior Centers, and Meals on Wheels of the Mat-Su Valley. In the past year, WASI served more than 134,000 meals; the need will continue to grow.

Ms. Munsell said, “I am so glad to have this opportunity to serve. I am blessed that I can do what I love and love what I do. At WASI we believe in our motto: ‘Rooted in Dignity. Serving with Respect.’ Each day gives me a reason to do my best.”

Board President John Weaver said, “We are so pleased to have Marlene step into this new role at WASI. For years we saw her talent, drive, and skill as Assistant Executive Director. Now we look forward to working with her to further improve the system of senior care in the Mat-Su. Please join us in welcoming Marlene Munsell, our new CEO.

Alaska SCTP Shooters Set Their Sights On 7th Summit

Submitted by Alaska SCTP Staff

Five High School Teams Break Ground For New Shooting Club

7th Summit is a dream come true for Neil and Lindy Moss, and for countless families who have needed an accessible facility for their sport shooting purposes. 7 years in the making, 7th Summit Shooting Park & Outdoor Experiences hosted a groundbreaking ceremony, on Tuesday, August 30, with local leaders and dignitaries, including Governor Mike Dunleavey in attendance. The facility will accommodate many outdoor opportunities for local youth, with a focus on shooting sports, and is estimated to cost roughly 3.5 million dollars. It will be the largest club of its kind in the state, one of the largest in the United States, and is likely the only one owned by a youth shooting program.

“This fall we will have more than 20 athletes shooting for their collegiate team, most on scholarship! For the first time, we will have a club at UAA- our very first collegiate team here in Alaska, as a direct result of this program,” said Lorinda ‘Lindy’ Moss, head coach of the academically-elite leadership team AlaskaYESS Varsity Team. The team is made up of a dozen athletes from all over the state that travel to collegiate and regional competitions for the purpose of gaining scholarships on university clay target sports teams.

The new shooting club, 7th Summit, won’t have an official address until the road is built, but it will be located at Mile 8.5, second right after Settlers Bay, at the end of Carmel Rd. Having a facility like this will allow for a wide range of shooting sports that cannot currently be accommodated in the Mat-Su area. Word is already getting out about this triumph for local youth shooting sports, with many enthusiasts not realizing that the facility has yet to be built. Lorinda Moss said that they received over 100 applicants for the 6 Mat-Su teams the most of which will be turned away until the facility is up and running. Once operational, 7th Summit will have 7 combo trap and skeet fields, 2 sporting clays walkthroughs, and three 5-stands, accommodating approximately 200 youth with a wide range of outdoor and shooting opportunities.

Governor Mike Dunleavey attended the recent groundbreaking, along with a list of local dignitaries like Representative Kevin McCabe, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna Devries, Borough Manager Mike Brown, Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford, several local Mat-Su Assembly members, and others.

“Responsible gun ownership starts with training and practice,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “I am pleased to see a new facility open that allows all Alaskans, young and old, to safely learn about and approve their shooting skills.”

Local high school and youth teams outgrew their previous two facilities years ago, which served as the impetus for their dogged pursuit of 7th Summit Shooting Park.

This facility will serve more than 19 clay target sports teams across the state, and eventually archery, biathlon, and indoor rifle teams as well. Archery teams are welcome to the fold, along with various other shooting clubs, including biathlon, in order to grow the facility’s appeal to shooting enthusiasts in a variety of disciplines, and the folks at Alaska SCTP are building those community connections now, at the ground level.

“7th Summit was first conceived as a place where high school teams and young shooters in Alaska would have an opportunity to shoot at lower cost, to be able to shoot more targets, more disciplines, more often, and to be more competitive on the national level, with more kids going to university on scholarship through this sport. With the size of 7th Summit, we will be able to accommodate more types of outdoor activities. Our focus is primarily on developing the character of youth in a positive direction,” said Neil Moss, President of Alaska SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program)

For additional information, interested parties should contact Lorinda “Lindy” Moss at 907-354-5344.

Alaska Day Dinner and Famous Dessert Auction

Contributed by Linda Frey
Wasilla-Knik-Willow Creek Historical Society

On October 18, 1867, in a ceremony held at Fort Sitka, the Territory of Alaska was formally transferred from the Russian Empire to the United States of America. Alaska had been purchased on March 30 of that year for $7.2 million dollars - less than 12.3 cents an acre. Although many recognized the potential of this addition to the United States, many did not and called Alaska Seward’s Folly or Seward’s Icebox, after President Lincoln’s Secretary of State, William Seward, who had negotiated the deal. In 1917, the territorial legislature declared October 18 to be Alaska Day.

In 1967, to celebrate the centennial of the Alaska Purchase, several Mat-Su residents banded together to form the Wasilla-Knik-Willow Creek Historical Society. They were an ambitious, hard-working group, determined to preserve the history of the area. Some of the charter members were LeRoi and Margaret Heaven, Joe and Vi Redington,  and Dorothy Page.  A dog race was held that year, on the historical Iditarod Trail, as part of the centennial celebration. The Knik Museum was opened by Vi Redington and Dorothy Page to preserve the history of Knik, home to the Dena’ina people, and later a booming port community at the turn of the century, serving miners in Hatcher Pass, Iditarod and beyond. The Wasilla Museum was also opened in the old Community Hall, and buildings from around the area were moved into the Historic Town Site. In 1993, the original Herning-Teeland Mercantile was moved from the corner of Main Street and the Parks Highway to its current location and restored by the historical society when the Parks Highway was widened. It now houses Krazy Moose Subs upstairs and the office of the historical society downstairs. Today the Knik Museum, located at 10524 S Knik Goose Bay Road, is run by the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society and is open Wednesday-Sundays from 1-6pm, May through October. The Wasilla Museum is owned and operated by the City of Wasilla, and is open Tuesday-Friday 10-3pm year round. Both of these museums continue the mission to preserve and share the history of the Wasilla-Knik area.

More than fifty years ago that newly formed Wasilla-Willow-Knik Historical Society held their first Alaska Day Dinner in the old Wasilla school house. The early potluck dinners were attended by the board and members of the new society with guest speakers and Gold Pan awards for members who had made special contributions over the years. Marian Romano, then owner of the popular Deli in Wasilla, soon started catering the event, making the Alaska Day Dinner an annual treat indeed!

A few years later a dessert auction was added to the event as a way for the society to raise money to support its projects. Members vied with each other to create the tastiest desserts which were sold to the highest bidder. Cookies were great favorites, with bakers delivering them to the auction in decorative cookie jars, usually returned empty to be refilled and auctioned off the following year. Eventually candy, jams, pies and cakes were added by the large membership. Margaret Heaven always supplied several jars of her homemade apple butter which were hugely popular with bidders. Marian Romano’s ricotta cookies were a big hit, and Vivian Teeland’s famous coconut pie usually drove bids past $1000.

As the invitation to the event was extended beyond the membership to the community, the Alaska Day Dinner and Famous Dessert Auction was moved to the Herning-Teeland-Mead Mercantile, now home to the Krazy Moose Sub Shop, and eventually to the Elks Lodge on Finger Lake.

The Wasilla-Knik Historical Society welcomes historical enthusiasts old and young to this year’s Alaska Day Dinner and Dessert Auction on Saturday, October 15, at the Elk’s Lodge.  Chef Marian Romano, proprietor of Nonna’s Osteria, will again be catering the event. Dick Mackey, one of the original Iditarod mushers and subject of One Second to Glory: The Alaska Adventures of Iditarod Champion Dick Mackey, will be the guest speaker. And of course, all bakers are invited to bring your favorite confections for the Dessert Auction! If you’re not a baker, you’re always invited to raise a bid paddle to support the efforts of the historical society! The Dessert Auction happens first at 6:00 with doors open at 5:00 for baked goods to be delivered, followed by dinner and the program at 7:00.

Tickets are $45 and reservations must be made by October 10 by contacting the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society by email at KnikMuseum@gmail.com, leaving a message on the phone at 907-376-2005, or by contacting any board member. Visit us on Facebook or online at www.wkhsociety.org

A Recycling Success Story to Duplicate in Palmer

Contributed by Sammy Taylor

Folks complain:  why should I recycle?  All that stuff is trashed.  Not so!  Valley Community for Recycling Solutions has found buyers for all materials collected.  The unfortunate thing is that most materials have to be shipped south to be used. 

That’s why local recyclers love the Thermo-kool story!  Thermo-kool is a local Palmer business that makes and sells products produced from recycled newspaper and corrugated cardboard they purchase from Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS).

Here’s what their operation looks like.

Bales of corrugated cardboard from VCRS.

VCRS newspaper ready for the conveyer to shredder.

Conveyer belt leading to shredder.

Shredding machinery.   

Employee supervising shredding.

Packing products.

Employee loading packages onto pallet for storage and transport.

Finished products ready. 

Thermo-kool provides nine local jobs.  Products are sold  to local wholesalers like Astro-Mulch which sells to consumers including the Alaska Department of Transportation, Lowes and  construction companies.

Thermo-kool uses about one quarter, by weight, of all VCRS-collected recyclables.  That leaves about 1,100 tons of material that still needs local remanufacture.

To that end, Mid Valley Recycling is offering grants to youth and adults to come up with ways to use the other recycled materials collected by VCRS.  Applications are available on the VCRS website, Mid Valley Recycling’s Facebook page or by emailing taylorsammy230@gmail.com.  Take you bright idea and turn it into cash.  Applications are open till January 31, 2023.