FAITH:
Connect Palmer Inc. www.ConnectPalmer.org (907) 746-9675
Connect Palmer is a Christ Centered Training Center and Housing for Women located in downtown Palmer. Connect Palmer’s two primary programs are God’s Work Design, and LIFE Connect. We also have Sarah’s House, which a Safe and Caring place for ladies, without homes, to live while they participate in our back to work and life skills programs. We also offer different community assistant programs, such as The Locker, to provide personal care and basic house hold cleaning items and Scarlet Tapestries which offers basic sewing skills instruction. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
OTHER
Mat-Su Health Services, Inc. www.mshsak.org (907) 376-2411
Dedicated to improving the health of our community, one person at a time – through affordable medical, dental and behavioral health care.The clinic is a Federally qualified Health Care Center and we accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most other third-party insurances. For those who qualify, there is a sliding scale payment, based on household income.
We offer early morning and evening appointments appointment. You can also contact our 24/7 behavioral crisis intervention line by calling the main number: 376-2411.
Families & Children:
Denali Family Services
291 East Swanson Ave. Wasilla, AK 907-222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org
Denali Family Services provides therapeutic foster care to Alaskan children with mental health needs. If you are committed to working with a team, receiving training and implementing positive interventions to schoolage children and teens, we need your talents and skills.
We are in search of professional, therapeutic foster parents who are willing to make a commitment to the children of Alaska by providing a stable home environment.
For more information, please call or email our Foster Care Recruiter, Ernestina D. Olivares, at 907-222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org
Mat-Su Health Foundation healthymatsu.org (907) 352-2863
The Mat-Su Health Foundation offers financial and strategic support to well-managed 501(c)(3) organizations that offer services and practical solutions to significant health-related problems impacting the citizens of the Mat-Su Borough.
The foundation also offers academic and vocational scholarships to Mat-Su residents who wish to pursue health and wellness related careers.
Pets & Animals:
Alaska Animal Advocates www.alaskaanimaladvocates.com (907) 841-3173
Alaska Animal Advocates is a non-profit group of dedicated volunteers who are devoted to enriching the lives of companion animals in Alaska.
In order to do this, we will place homeless pets in loving environments, address medical concerns, spay or neuter, microchip, vaccinate, and offer training as is needed.
We believe that every animal deserves a loving home, for his/her entire life and Alaska Animal Advocates will provide the resources to make this happen.
In order to make this mission possible, we need the help of volunteers and foster homes.
ARTS:
Valley Arts Alliance www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com
Valley Arts Alliance, bringing the community together through the arts... We are a place for both new and established artists of all types— painters, sculptors, musicians, and those involved in the performing arts—to network and to experiment with new ideas and media.
We work with local libraries, schools, museums, art councils, and music and art groups to create more venues for the arts, and to help promote art related events.
Join us at our informal weekly meetings, every Thursday @ 11 at Sophia’s Cafe, 9191 E Frontage Road, Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Check out our archives www.ValleyArtsAlliance.com
CONSERVATION:
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions
www.valleyrecycling.org (907) 745-5544
RECYCLING – It’s not just for hippies anymore!! Everyone in the Mat-Su valley can recycle. Drop your stuff off Tues – Fri 10:30 to 6 and Sat 10:0 0 to 3:30. Recycle cardboard, magazines, this newspaper and more at your community recycling center. Remember to REDUCE, REUSE, and then RECYCLE!
Your community recycling center is located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, next to the MSB Animal Shelter at the MSB Central Landfill. Volunteer opportunities available. Make a difference in your community!
Check out our website for details , follow us on Facebook. www.valleyrecycling.org - Call us at 907.745.5544 with questions or comments.
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES:
Mat-Su Regional Adult Basic Education (Nine Star) MatsuAdultEd@ninestar.com (907) 373-7833
Mat-Su ABE provides basic education in math, language arts and English as a second language (ESL), aiming to raise student skills beyond the high-school level in order to pass tests like the GED, enter training programs or college, and advance on the job. Enrollment is open to all adult residents of Alaska, year-round. Youth Employment for ages 16-24 not in school -- get a job, keep a job, advance on the job. Nine Star 300 N Willow 373-3006 (in the MYHouse building)
FAITH:
Valley Interfaith Action (VIA) www.valleyinterfaithaction.org (907) 230-1006
To address quality of life issues for all residents of the Mat-Su Borough, utilizing the faith values of our members, developing community-wide interest and mobilization around quality of life issues.
Through training, leaders address community problems by providing forums for discussion, researching alternative solutions, and working as facilitators with residents and leaders for institutional change.
HOMELESS YOUTH:
Mat-Su Youth Housing (MY HOUSE) myhousematsu.org (907) 373-4357
MY House is a homeless youth drop in center with two for-profit businesses that train and employ homeless youth. Gathering Grounds Cafe is a coffee shop with homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and baked goods. Steamdriven is a trendy thrift shop featuring Steampunk items made from repurposed donations by our youth designers. Fiend2Clean and Young People in Recovery offer support for substance abuse recovery with activities and events.
We offer transitional housing for qualified 18-24 year olds, Outreach services to connect homeless youth, organizations and groups to services, and access to Public Health and NineStar job/education services on site.
SOCIAL ADVOCACY:
Wasilla Homeless-Committee www.wasillahomeless-committee.org (907) 521-2949
Wasilla Homeless-Committee is a 100% volunteer organization funded by private donations and regular fundraising events. Our sole purpose is to assist the homeless, those at risk of homelessness, and others who do not meet the criteria for help that is required by other advocacy agencies in the valley.
Wasilla Homeless-Committee provides case management, housing search assistance, move in assistance, job search assistance, clothing, furniture, help with transportation, and resource guidance for homeless and disenfranchised in the Mat-Su Valley.
Visit our website for application, or call 907521-2949. Find us on Facebook facebook.com/ wasillahomelesscommitteepage
SENIOR EDUCATION: REDUCING MATH ANXIETY
Feb. 12, 19, 26, Mar. 5, 12, 19 – 3:00 PM
Senior Education Wasilla Area Seniors (WASI) (907) 376-3104
WOMEN’S CELEBRATE RECOVERY 12 STEP GROUP
Every Thursday
Feb. 14, 21, 28 Mar. 7, 14, 21 – 6:30 PM
Celebrate Recovery Church on the Rock 619 E Scott Road, Palmer (907) 982-0400
GATHERING OF REMEMBRANCE
02/15/2019 – 3:00 AM
Ancora Home Health and Hospice
2851 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy Suite 7 & 8, Wasilla (907) 671-2391 ancoraalaska.com
BIG CABBAGE RADIO’S VALENTINE DANCE WITH WINTERLAND THE BAND
02/15/2019 – 6:00 PM
Big Cabbage Radio
Klondike Mike’s 820 S Colony Way, Palmer (907) 745-8981
THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY
02/15/2019 – 03/03/2019 Fridays & Saturdays @7PM, Sundays @2PM Valley Performing Arts 251 W Swanson Ave. Wasilla
$17 Students/Seniors, $19 Regular Admission valleyperformingarts.org
FEBRUARY MEMBERSHIP MEETING - ‘STARTING FROM SEED’ BY TEENA GARAY
02/16/2019 – 2:00 PM
Eagle River Elks Lodge 17111 N Eagle River Loop
Rd. Eagle River (907) 354-5660 akrockgardensociety.org
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Feb. 16, 23, Mar. 2, 9, 16 –7:00 PM - Palmer Alaska
Celebrate Recovery Church on the Rock
619 E Scott Road, Palmer (907) 982-0400
BUTTE ELEMENTARY PTA
INDOOR GARAGE SALE
02/16/2019 – 10:00 AM
Butte Elementary PTA
Butte Elementary School
4006 Butte Rd, Palmer (907) 715-8580
SUSITNA VALLEY NATURALS
GRAND OPENING
Feb 16 - Mar 24 10:00 AM
Susitna Valley Naturals - Fine
Goods & Local Favorites
Susitna Valley Naturals
Talkeetna location (907) 733-2317 susitnavalleynaturals.com
THE MUSIC OF STAGE AND SCREEN
02/17/2019 – 3:00 PM
Friends of the Palmer Library
Mat-Su Orchestra
The Palmer Depot
610 S Valley Way, Palmer friends.pplak.org
MATT THE ELECTRICIAN AT VAGABOND BLUES
02/19/2019 – 6:30 PM
Hatcher Pass Discovery Booking
Vagabond Blues
642 S Alaska St, Palmer (920) 915-5694
LIQUID BLUELIVE IN CONCERT
02/22/19 – 7:00 PM
Glenn Massay Theater
8295 E College Dr. Palmer
General Admission $10
MSC Students $5 (907) 746-9300
THE ALASKA RAILROAD FUR RONDY EXPRESS
02/23/2019
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
& 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
The Alaska Railroad Anchorage Depot 411 W 1st Ave, Anchorage 1-800-544-0552
BOOM TOWN ROLLER
DERBY BREW BASH
02/23/2019 – 6:00 PM
Boom Town Roller Derby
Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St, Wasilla (907) 355-6323
boomtownrollerderby.org
ROCK THE RESILIENCE
02/25/2019 – 6:00 PM
No More Mat-Su
The Glenn Massay Theater
8295 E College Dr. Palmer www.facebook.com/ events/2041019599317236
AMERICA SAVES! WEEK
February 27 - March 2, 2019
Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
Mat-Su Cooperative Extension Service Facebook www.uaf.edu/ces/matsu
MARCH TO HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH
March 1-31, 2019
MY House, Wasilla 907) 373-4357
PRESERVING FOOD AND MAKING JELLY AND JAM
03/02/2019 – 10:00 AM
Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
Matanuska Experiment Farm 509 S Georgeson Rd. Palmer(907) 745-3360
http://bit.ly/AKFoodPres
“BAND CLASSICS” CONCERT
03/02/19 – 7:30 PM
Mat-Su Concert Band
Glenn Massay Theater
8295 E College Dr. Palmer
$15 General Admission
$7 for Students, Kids Under 5 FREE matsuconcertband.org
AK TUESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
03/05/2019 - 7:45PM-10PM (Doors open at 6:45 PM)
AK Entertainment, LLC. Menard Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St. Wasilla Tickets: $18 Regular
Admission, $30 Table Seats (907) 232-3727 aktuesdaynightfights.com
CANNING FISH IN JARS
03/09/2019 – 10:00 AM
Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
Matanuska Experiment Farm, Kerttula Hall
509 S Georgeson Rd. Palmer (907) 745-3360
bit.ly/AKFoodPres
CITY OF WASILLA 102ND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
03/09/2019 – 5:00 PM City of Wasilla
Curtis D Menard Memorial Sports Center 1001 S Clapp St, Wasilla (907) 357-9100
MARCH MARIMBA SHOWCASE
03/09/2019 – 6:00 PM
Percussion in the Valley 13372 Crowther Road (907) 631-8079 percussioninthevalley.com
CANNING FRUITS (AND TOMATOES)
03/16/2019 – 10:00 AM
Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
Matanuska Experiment Farm, Kerttula Hall
509 S Georgeson Rd. Palmer (907) 745-3360
bit.ly/AKFoodPres
NORTHERN LIGHTS VALLEY KNITTERS GUILD MEETING
03/16/2019 – 1:00 PM
Northern Lights Valley Knitters Guild
Meridian Point Building
865 North Seward Meridian Pkwy, Wasilla
GARDEN DESIGN (PERMACULTURE)
03/21/2019 – 6:30 PM
Seeds and Soil-Organics Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center
323 N, Main St, Wasilla seedsandsoilorganics.com
THIRD THURSDAYS WITH EXTENSION
03/21/19 – 6:00 PM
UAF Cooperative Extension Service
Matanuska Experiment Farm, Kerttula Hall, #208 1509 Georgeson Rd, Palmer (907) 745-3360
uaf.edu/ces/districts/matsu/
Contributed by Todd Farnsworth, Owner of Wood & Wire Guitars & Music
Lots of things are great in cars: the perfect tunes for driving, spare change for tipping baristas, your dog riding shotgun – you get the picture. Heck, most of those things are even fine to leave in there overnight. Sure, probably not your pup, but your music? Spare change? Even your favorite pair of shades. But, your favorite guitar? Definitely not.
In response to Humidity and your Guitar (see last month’s issue), it seemed appropriate to talk about whether or not you should leave your guitar(s) in your car (and the duration, if so). Realistically, this should be a short article, because the answer is short: leave them in there for as long as you’d like to be left in there (even with a coat in winter, and without in summer).
To make a short story long, winter is harsh enough on your instruments. Why would you leave your precious baby in the car? Things shrink up, cracks happen (both superficially and the wood itself), glue joints become brittle and likely to pop. Not to mention the ever-present possibility of theft.
Summer in a car is no better on your guitar. Sure, we like the warmth, but just like you wouldn’t leave a human baby in the car, you shouldn’t leave your stringed baby either. Heat is to glue; what Kryptonite is to Superman. Think about all those glue joints: bracing, bridges, fretboard, laminates...the list goes on. And theft would seem even more likely in summer.
The truth is we’re probably all guilty of leaving them in the car at some point. Perhaps it was after a late-night gig and you just don’t have it in you to deal with it. Maybe you had one too many and passed out before taking them out. Whatever the reason, it gets easier each time, and every time it’s damaging your instrument. And all of this certainly applies to other instruments.
I’ve said it before – I repair guitars for a living, so by all means, neglect your one true love. It’s how I pay my bills and keep my shop doors open to the Palmer community. Just don’t be surprised when you run into trouble with your guitar in cars.
Contributed by Scott Taylor
Featuring Grammy-winning musicians and outstanding vocalists, Liquid Blue is bringing their high-energy blend of pop music’s greatest hits to the Glenn Massay Theater on Friday, February 22.
The Concert begins at 7PM. Tickets available online at glennmassaytheater.com, by phone at 907-746-9300, or at the box office.
Admission: General Admission $10
MSC Students $5 www.glennmassaytheater.com
Contributed by Patricia Chesbro
Our lives are stories, waiting to be told. That is why the Palmer Museum of History and Art (PMHA) sponsors Untold Stories. Similar to Anchorage’s Arctic Entries or The Moth, our episodes feature local storytellers in a cozy setting. In January, our narrators took us on a chilly dogsled ride, helped us to feel the ’64 earthquake on Anchorage Fourth Avenue, and shared vignettes of life in Cordova through a child’s eyes. Throughout the nine episodes, audiences have laughed, cried, and marveled at the exploits and coincidences of our neighbors’ lives.
PMHA is looking for storytellers for its April 7, 2019, episode, “All Shook Up.” Though perhaps inspired by our November 30 shaker, there are many ways we can be “shook up.” Perhaps dancing to the Elvis song or perhaps in an unexpected turn of events or
perhaps on a scary airplane ride, most of us have been shook up from time to time. Those stories are begging to be told. And Untold Stories is the place to tell them.
We know it may be scary to tell a story in front of an audience. However, we have scheduled in two coaching sessions to help narrators get comfortable with their performances. Then, on April 7, the Palmer Depot will host the event from 6-8 PM.
Thalia said, “Everybody has their own story; everybody has their own journey.” Consider sharing part of your journey in the next episode of Untold Stories. Submit your story outline to director@palmermuseum. org by March 8, to be considered for this episode’s roster. Coaching sessions are required, and are held on March 27 and April 3 at the Museum.
Contributed by Michael Consalo
Make A Scene Magazine, The City of Wasilla, Ohana Media Group and Michael C Marketing are working together to provide our community with another amazing summer concert series, “Music in the Park”. The popular FREE concert series at Wonderland Park kicks off again, with four Fridays in June from 6-9pm: June 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th! Food trucks, prizes, vendors, and live music are all totally free. Best of all, here’s your chance to be a huge part of its success…
Formerly “The Pass at the Park”, Music in the Park is continuing the tradition of having local art and music come together, in an attempt to build connectedness in a world of division. We’re hoping to increase activities related to art, art vendors, and continue the already
popular poster submission contest. With that in mind, we are looking for local artists that would love to have their art showcased around the Valley, by painting, drawing or graphically designing our poster for 2019. This poster is meant to be a representation of “Music in the Park” and will be the main “branding” across all the social media and print ads over the course of the next few months. This year’s theme is “Community Connectedness”.
Are you an artist? Do you love the Mat-Su? Submit your art to us and we will have the masses vote on the best artwork over the month of March. Please submit any entries to Michael C Marketing – consalobliss@ yahoo.com or call (907) 203-0621 for details about sponsorship, vendor space, or donations. Thank you to everyone that has made this event successful in the past!
Contributed by Drewcilla Holifield
“Band Classics” Concert
03/02/19 – 7:30 PM
Mat-Su Concert Band
Glenn Massay Theater
8295 E College Dr. Palmer
$15 General Admission
$7 for Students, Kids Under 5 FREE
Some of the finest music ever written for band will take center stage at an upcoming performance by the Mat-Su Concert Band.
The “Band Classics” concert is at 7:30 PM on Saturday, March 2, at the Glenn Massay Theater in Palmer. Concerts have an admission: tickets are $15 for general admission; $7 for students; and children under 5 get in free. Tickets are available for purchase at www.matsuconcertband.org
The “Finale” of what’s known as the Organ Symphony by Camille Saint-Saens – his Symphony No. 3 in C minor – features a glorious, cathedral-sized organ part. The composer said of this, his last symphony: “I gave everything to it I was able to give. What I have here accomplished I will never achieve again.”
The timeless music of Leonard Bernstein comes to life with selections from “West Side Story” that includes melodies from “I Feel Pretty”, “Maria” and “One Hand One Heart.” Set in the 1950s on Manhattan’s West Side, but based on William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, the musical tells the tale of Tony and Maria, members of rival gangs whose love turns to tragedy.
The band is excited to perform Gustav Holst’s “Suite in E-flat for Military Band”, which is considered one of the cornerstones of the concert repertoire, written specifically for band. Triumphant yet moving, the piece features delicate wind solos and sonorous horns as well as rousing melodies – plus a rare bass drum solo.
Also on the program is “Manhattan” by Philip Sparke, a tribute to a weekend in New York City that was commissioned by the U.S. Army band, for their solo cornet player. This will be performed by our band’s own U.S. Army Band standout, William Rabun.
There’s some Sousa in the mix too – but you’ll have to come to the concert to see which selections emerge.
The band got its start in 1984 as the Mat-Su Community Band, formed by Matanuska Music owner Hank Hartman. Other directors have included Neil Long and Phil Munger.
Current director, Gleo Huyck, is a retired music educator and private instructor. Under Huyck’s baton, the band performs a wide-ranging selection of challenging music. The band this season numbers about 70 amateur musicians who assemble every Monday night for rehearsals at Palmer High School.
Contributed by Charice Chambers
Kate Wattum was about to retire and was looking for something to do in her next life phase that would be exciting, entertaining and helpful to the community. Several years before, she had purchased both sheep and alpacas for her farm.
Like a good farmer, she harvested her animals’ fur and planned to have it processed so that she might make some unique home-grown knitted projects. To her great surprise, she was forced to send her fiber “outside,” wait over ten months for its return as yarn, and she had to spend over $1200.00 in the process. There was simply nowhere in the state to get the job done.
So, the search began. Kate envisioned a complete mini fiber mill in her future, one that could process as little as a few pounds of fiber or as much as 100 pounds. To that end, she researched manufacturers, ultimately visiting and then purchasing a mill in Nova Scotia. Her choice was predicated on the facts that the manufacturer was warrantied, had mills around the world and provided training and support to mill operators.
Her mill was installed in the fall of 2015 on her five-acre farm near Fairbanks. From the beginning, it was a family endeavor. Even father, Ben Wattum rolled up his sleeves and worked the machines following long commutes from Palmer.
Turning mounds of dirty animal fiber into beautifully dyed finished yarn is quite an involved process. First the fiber is washed: soaking, washing and rinsing repeatedly depending on lanolin content. Then, it is dried. Next, it goes through the picking machine where it’s separated, and conditioner is added to it. Some fibers possess a dual hair requiring separation. It’s put through a unit, which allows the heavy hair to drop out, and the clean, fine fiber comes out the unit’s other end.
Next, the fiber is carded, a process that blends and homogenizes it. Here, other fibers may be added
to it, to help it hold together or to give it different attributes. The carder is the heart of the mill. Next, the roving, as it is now called, is put in the drafting machine, where it is stretched and blended. The machine aligns all fiber in preparation for spinning. Now, the fiber is ready to spin into strands of varying thicknesses and is wound onto bobbins. On the plyer machine, several strands can be combined to create multi-ply yarns. Finally, the finished yarn is transferred to cones where the yarn can be left or fashioned into skeins in preparation for use.
Wattum opened Coyote Trail Farm and Fiber Mill in January of 2016, following a great deal of training, practice, advice and assistance of the local fiber community. There was a tremendous amount to learn. Today, the mill processes much of the animal fiber produced in the state. She is working with clients in New York, Texas, Missouri, and Oregon as well. Locals appreciate the generally two-month turn around for processing, and the delivery service offered in much of the state saves them both time and money.
In promoting her business, Wattum has traveled extensively throughout the state including Nome Tuksuk Bay and even Nunivak Island. As a result, she is processing large amounts of qiviut (musk ox fur). Often referred to as the Cadillac of furs, qivuit is a highly sought-after commodity. Wattum’s mill has become adept at handling the fiber, dying it in rich deep hues. In addition to qivuit yarn, Wattum is extending the fiber’s uses by turning out beautiful musk ox fiber rugs made from qiviut guard hairs that had previously been discarded.
Mat-Su Senior Services Gift Shop is proud to be one of two retail outlets for Coyote Trail Farm and Fiber Mill’s products. MSSS features a variety of yarns for knitting and crocheting in numerous colors. Yarns feature merino, Shetland, and Suffolk wools from Palmer and Wasilla as well as alpaca from Anchor Point, and, of course, multi-colored qiviut yarn. For those wanting a finished Alaskan woolen product, reversible, double-sided hats are available in a double rainbow of colors.
Mat-Su Senior services gift shop is located at 1132 South Chugach Street in Palmer.
Open to both seniors and public Monday through Friday, from 10 am to 2 pm.
Contributed by Michael Consalo
As a musician, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spent several hours, hauling equipment, setting up microphones, practicing, and dialing in sound for a 4-hour gig. These gigs are fun, but long, and require equipment, which costs money. These gigs are already hard to pull off, so when the pay comes, it always seems tough to split 4 or 5 ways… What if there were an opportunity to get double the money in half the time?
Well now there is…
At the end of April, Make A Scene Magazine and Michael C Marketing are teaming up again for the “Who Let the Girls Out Talent Show” This event gives performers the opportunity to win $500 for one song! Second takes home $300 and third place still gets $200 in cash for one song! This is the opportunity of the year, for those of you with musical skill!
We’re looking for 10 performers, with various talents, to fill our roster. The talent show will be held during one of the busiest events in downtown Palmer during Who Let the Girls Out at the Valley Hotel Caboose Lounge. Interested performers should call Michael C today at (907) 203 0621. Forget the hours and hours of travel and packing for a long gig and show us what you’ve got!
Sign up today for the Who Let the Girls Out Talent Show! Call (907) 203 0621 or email consalobliss@yahoo.com
Poetry & Prose
Contributed by David Jenkins
After an interminable slumber, I rolled over to my side And lazily opened my eyes to unveil a brilliant sight, within a narrow field of view.
Peering through a windowpane, gleaming with condensation. There were layers upon layers of trees, coated in a winter morning’s frost… a sea of spruce, shrouded in an amber haze. For a moment, I was lost.
Contributed by Dan Walker
Sixty years after the family left Sugar Tree Ridge, Ohio, I unexpectedly received a shoebox full of letters penned in 1958 by my parents, as they traveled north to Alaska. The letters prompted me to write this memoir, an exploration of memory and reflections on a time when my family built a home, lived off the land, and learned the ways of the north country. Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble as well as locally at Cover to Cover Books in downtown Seward. signed copies from the author: www.danlwalker.com; call me or email, Dan Walker: 907-224-3848 dlwalker@gci.net
– Nick Jans, contributing editor to Alaska Magazine and author of A Wolf Called Romeo, called Letters for Happy Valley, “Emotional, unforced, and grounded, Letters from Happy Valley is destined to be an Alaska classic.”
– Dan Seavey, author of The First Great Race: Alaska’s 1973 Iditarod, called it a ‘literary triumph’.
Letters from Happy Valley: Memories of an Alaska Homesteader’s Son
Author: Dan L. Walker
ISBN: 978-0-9986883-2-9
Price: $17.99
My eyes gazed for a minute or two, swaying from the left to the right –surveying… absorbing the entire scene. It never ceases to stun me; exiting a dream. Then, averting my eyes from the wall or ceiling to find nature’s painted canvas… so placid, alluring.
For only a second, yet it feels like an eternity. Captured in this momentarily perpetual perplexity. When does the dream end, and reality begin? It all seems so palpable, Yet – is any of this real, or am I still dreaming?
