The Anchorage Folk Festival celebrates its 35th Season this year with numerous events in and around Anchorage, including concerts at various venues, music-related workshops, dances, and fundraisers. The main venue for the event is the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where there will be interactive workshops on assorted music topics, as well as concerts featuring both local and national artists.
The festival’s mission, according to its website, is “to operate and perpetuate an annual folk arts festival in Anchorage, featuring live performance by the broadest possible representation of community performers,” and “to acquaint and educate the general public about the folk arts and to provide a symposium for the interchange of cultural and performance ideas regarding folk art in the community.”
As it always has been, admission to all activities and performances except fundraisers is free. This year’s lineup includes ten days of folk arts and music, with performances at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium:
ing Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings January 19-21, and January 26-28.
This year’s guest artists are rootsy neo-hillbillies FROG HOLLER from Berks County, Pennsylvania, and Irish folk-roots bans I Draw Slow, who
petition at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium Saturday, January 27 (2:30 PM)
More than 50 workshops will be held at Wendy Williamson Saturday and Sunday of both weekends. Folk Week events will be held at various venues around Anchorage throughout the festival, including (to name a few) Alyeska Sitzmark, Reilly’s Irish Pub, Hearth Artisan Pizza, Organic Oasis, Sleepy Dog Coffee, K Street Market UAA Student Union Cafeteria, Guido’s Pizza, and the Broken Blender. Fundraiser events include Frog Holler with She’s with Me at the Bear Tooth Theaterpub Saturday, January 20 (7 PM), a Barn Dance called by Brian DeMarcus and featuring music by Big Chimney Barn Dance and Split City Slickers at Spenard’s The Nave on Thursday, January 25 (7 PM), and I Draw Slow with Witty Youngman at Odd Man Rush Brewing Saturday, January 27 (7:30 PM)
Parlor in the Round on Thursday, January 18 at 7 PM featuring songwriters Darren Schlappich (of guest artist Frog Holler), Emily Kurn, and Boot.
Performances by local artists in 15-minute sets on the mainstage at the Wendy Willamson Auditorium starting Friday evening and continu-
will be in from Dublin, Ireland. Frog Holler will perform at the Wendy Williamson on Friday, January 19 at 9 PM, and Sunday, January 21 at 8:45 PM. I Draw Slow will perform at the Wendy Williamson on Friday, January 26 at 9 PM, and Sunday, January 28 at 8:45 PM.
Second Annual Alan Walters Medal Bagpipe Competition at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium Wednesday, January 24 (6:30 PM)
Thirteenth Annual Banjo Com-
The annual Folk Festival Membership meeting, including elections for the Board of Directors will be held at UAA Saturday, January 27 at 5:15 PM, with three board seats to be elected.
As always, there will be musicians milling about meeting and playing throughout the UAA arts building at all times.
A full schedule of Festival events and updates can be found at www. anchoragefolkfestival.org. or www. facebook.com/anchoragefolkfest. E-mail inquiries can be sent to folks@ anchoragefolkfestival.org.
Arts
Contributed by Bea Adler
Chickadee-dee-dee! Chickadeedee-dee! We’ve all heard that cheerful call announcing the presence of the black headed chickadee, a tiny bird that makes its year-round home here in south-central Alaska. They’re feisty, vocal, and live all around us. It is said that when you meet a chickadee while out on the trail, a friend is thinking of you. This tiny bird has been chosen as the Animal Ambassador for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games to be held in the Mat-Su Borough in March.
Looking out my kitchen window, I’m following the antics of a chickadee perched on a bare tree branch while downstairs in my studio an entire banditry (a gathering of chickadees) is taking shape. Maybe a gathering of chickadees is known as a banditry because their black face markings resemble a bandit’s mask. Over the last several months, a small team of volunteer artists has been busily building this banditry of Arctic Winter Games chickadees.
The costumes’ rotund flexible support frames lay nested like so many fish traps. Actually, their construction was inspired by the cage-like supports under women’s gowns of the Civil War era, think Gone With the Wind. The frames are made of plastic strapping recycled from the lumber department trash cans at Lowe’s with the help of their bemused staff.
SIMULATOR
“The
Work on your golf game all year long!
The hard plastic strapping which originally held bundles of lumber during transport, was cut to form hoops of varying sizes and riveted together. The frame is supported by a web harness worn over the shoulders. The entire assemblage is encased in a white fluffy cover cut from soft blankets. And I do mean fluffy. My studio will be months recovering from the onslaught of airborne fluff. While I fabricated the frames and covers, the rest of the team focused on making the heads, wings, and tails.
The official colors of the Arctic Winter Games are royal blue, fuchsia,
and teal. The host society added acid green for the Mat-Su 2024 games. An odd grouping perhaps but visualize the Northern Lights and you’ll immediately see where the inspiration came from. These signature colors are incorporated into the feathers of the wings and tails. But I can hear you saying, “Aren’t our little chickadee friends white with black markings and a bit of grey and tan?” Well, yes, but have you ever seen a five-foot-tall chickadee? So, you see, we were granted a great deal of artistic license.
The process was collaborative from the start. Telsche Overby, Arts & Culture
Coordinator for AWG called with the news that I’d been recommended to design and make the costumes for the opening and closing ceremonies of the games. I happily agreed to take it on, knowing who I needed to have on my team. I started by calling Linda Lockhart, a veteran creative theatrical costumer who readily accepted. Linda and I developed the design and brainstormed on construction options. I then asked Colleen Wake, another Valley Arts Alliance Wearable Art regular to join the team. We worked over several months, making a prototype, and finding appropriate materials in sufficient quantities.
A total of 2,290 feathers for the wings and tails were individually cut from varying materials including underlayment for flexible flooring. More than 800 hot glue sticks were used to adhere the feathers to a support structure. The largest feathers are supported by 260 long pipe cleaners. The body frames consist of 280 feet of lumber strapping held together by 390 rivets.
We invite you to cheer on the chickadees as they make their debut on February 17 on the runway at the Wearable Art Fashion Show in the Palmer Depot. Then plan to join our entire Mat-Su community for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Arctic Winter Games on March 10 at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla. Go to awg2024.org for details.
Chickadee-dee-dee indeed!
Calendar of Events
January 18 @ 6PM-7PM
Mat-Su 100+ Women Who Care-3rd Quarter Meeting
100 Plus Women Who Care Mat-Su Chapter
Everetts Restaurant 1850 E Bogard, Wasilla 100pluswwcmatsu@gmail.com
January 19 @ 6:30PM-8PM
Penne For Your Thoughts
Black Birch Books
2901 E Bogard Rd. #104, Wasilla (907) 373-2677
January 20 @ 5:30PM-7PM
Wasilla Warriors VS Colony Knights Hockey Games
Colony High School Hockey
Menard Memorial Sports Center 1001 S Clapp Street (907) 357-9100
January 21 @ 9AM-5PM
North Bowl Scratch Classic
Oscar Shaw IV & Cory Jones North Bowl
3250 E Palmer Wasilla Hwy (907) 357-6600
January 23 @ 9AM
How to Prepare for a Lender
Meeting & Meet Lenders ‘Speed Dating’ Style
Alaska Small Business Development Center 201 N Lucille St, Suite 2A info@aksbdc.org harley.tennant@aksbdc.org
January 23 @ 5PM – 7PM
The MatSu Social Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska Chepo’s Mexican Restaurant 3001 E Sun Mountain (907) 433-4600 18+
January 23 @ 6PM
Wasilla Warriors VS Palmer Moose Varsity Basketball Game
Palmer High School Girls Basketball
Wasilla High School (907) 746-8400
January 27 @ 12PM-3PM
MSHF Scholarship Workshop
Mat-Su Health Foundation
777 N Crusey St scholarships@healthymatsu.org.
Tickets available at eventbrite.com
January 27 @ 6PM
January Photography Workshop
Learn to Shoot Alaska –Photography Workshops
Band of Brothers AK 2050 N Merciful Cir (907) 841-1341
Tickets at book.usesession.com
Jan 27 @ 8AM & Jan 31 @ 5:30PM
Small Animal Alaskan
Mushing CE Experience
VetPD – Veterinary Professional Development
Everetts Restaurant
1850 E. Bogard Road, Wasilla info@vetpd.com
Tickets at vetpd.com
February 2 @ 9PM-1PM
Hope Social Club – Live at the Sitz Alyeska Resort & Sitzmark 194 Olympic Mountain Loop (907) 754-2256
Tickets at shop.alyeskaresort.com
February 2 @ 6:30PM
Alaska Comic Art Series:
Angela Ramirez
Anchorage Museum 184 W 6th Ave, Anchorage (907) 929-9200
2600 N. Barry’s Resort Dr. info@matsuhearing.org Register at MatSuPlunge.org
February 27 @ 5:30PM-7PM
Fashion for Fur Rondy
Anchorage Museum 184 W 6th Ave (907) 929-9200
Tickets available at 7522. blackbaudhosting.com
March 3 @ 2PM
2024 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race –Official Restart
The Iditarod
Willow Community Center 23699 W Willow Comm Center Cir. (800) 545-6874
$10 Parking
Contributed by Bradford Jackson Films
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then film is worth much more. However, neither can truly weave emotion and memories quite like music can. The importance of a film’s musical score cannot be overstated. It’s the unseen hand that guides our feelings, sets the mood, and breathes life into moving pictures. Among the talented composers who craft these sonic masterpieces, there is one Alaskan artist that stands out in the industry, a composer whose music has the ability to resonate deeply with our emotions – Nik Sharshak.
Born in Russia and transplanted to the rugged landscapes of Alaska at an early age, Nik Sharshak’s life has been a remarkable journey of exploration and self-discovery. From his early days playing hockey on frozen lakes to his achievements on the grand stage of a prestigious Hollywood film festival, Sharshak’s path has been defined by dedication and an unwavering passion for music, which resounds most profoundly in his compositions.
His mother attended the University of Alaska Anchorage. Sharshak, being very young at the time, had no real understanding of the change he was undergoing. Adapting to a new language and environment happened naturally for him, and he soon felt a deep connection to Alaska, a place that would become his home.
Alaska’s awe-inspiring wilderness
and captivating landscapes left a mark on Sharshak’s artistic journey, He explains, “Absolutely immensely, really. It’s hard to not be in awe of the surrounding visuals…I think that for me, the real beauty is in the isolation of it all, especially in the winter season.”
The isolation and grandeur found their way into Sharshak’s compositions. Film composition, however, wasn’t Sharshak’s initial aspiration. He was deeply immersed in the worlds of metal and jazz music. His foray into the realm of film music happened serendipitously when he was tasked with scoring a commercial. However, the pivotal moment came when he watched Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ and experienced the profound impact of Hans Zimmer’s music.
He emphasizes the importance of grasping the film’s message before delving into the technical aspects of composition, highlighting the creation of a musical language that speaks directly to the audience’s emotions.
In the world of film composition, building a strong rapport with the director is of paramount importance.
Sharshak emphasizes this, saying, “Building a good relationship with the director. No question. I think that being on the same page with the director, especially as a film composer, is pretty much 50% of the battle.”
Alaskan-made production or a film from another corner of the world, Sharshak’s ability to craft powerful music has resonated with audiences worldwide. He urges newcomers to prioritize forming real friendships over seeking mere connections, emphasizing that authenticity and trust are the keys to a successful and fulfilling career. “I think the best piece of advice I can give is to be as genuine and honest a person as you can be when it comes to working with people.”
As for the future, Sharshak’s recent film, ‘Botch’ for which he composed the music, has been accepted into the Mammoth Film Festival in Mammoth Lakes, California. Besides film projects, he’s delving into chamber music and embarking on a Celtic/Folk/Viking music project called Varyagi with a friend. Additionally, a musical project is on the horizon.
Sharshak recalls, “I can vividly remember actually seeing how powerful Hans Zimmer’s music was to the imagery I was watching and the intensity of it all. It was quite a unique experience.”
Crafting music that complements a film’s narrative is a delicate art. Sharshak’s approach starts with understanding the pace of the music within the film, rather than focusing on its tempo.
Collaboration in filmmaking demands a deep understanding between the composer and the director. Sharshak’s ability to foster harmonious relationships has become a hallmark of his career.
When reflecting on the projects he is most proud of, Sharshak fondly recalls ‘Come Back Home’, a historical drama that allowed him to stretch his creative boundaries. “I felt like I was working on ‘Braveheart’ or ‘Kingdom Of Heaven’ or something. It felt very exciting.”
He has lent his musical talents to a diverse range of films. Whether it’s an
In conclusion, Sharshak outlines his mission as a composer beautifully: “I think that the entire point of any art is to create a sense of suspension of time for the person consuming it. For them to be able to leave their current mental state for a bit. To give someone a space of solitude, or peace from their troubles. I think that if I can create a moment of escapism for the person who is listening to my music, or watching a film that I have worked on, well, that is pretty much why I do what I do.”
by BRADFORD JACKSON FILMS
A Local Alaskan Film Production Company
Contributed
by
Carmen Summerfield Valley Arts Alliance
The Valley Arts Alliance is proud to host their 18th Annual VAA Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show at the Palmer Depot on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Again, this year we will present two identical performances—a matinee at 3pm and an evening performance at 7pm. Wearable Art refers to hand crafted and one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork designed to be worn by the human body as an artistic expression. Using their knowledge of color, fabric and non-traditional materials, artists create unique, wearable garments which they (or their models) wear while parading down an authentic “fashion runway”, accompanied by narration and music.
For our 18th year we’re using the theme “Fly-Away” for staging the show, and we’re encouraging artists to use the same theme for their creative inspiration. To view exciting scenes from years past, visit our Wearable Art archives pages at www. valleyartsalliance.com/archives.
Due to the overwhelming success of this event, we must limit entries to the first 25, so we urge you to submit your completed application/ registration form early. Please complete a separate form for each entry! The deadline is Friday, February 9, 2024. Visit www.valleyartsalliance. com and click “register as an artist for this event” button.
Tickets will be on sale after January 8th, 2024. The ticket price is $15 per person for each performance. For the 3pm Matinee ONLY, children 12 years old and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets will be available in Palmer at Fireside Books and Non-Essentials; and in Wasilla at My House / Gathering Grounds Café. We expect both shows to sell out, so please purchase your tickets early.
The 18th Annual Valley Arts Alliance Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show will be an exquisite evening of art and entertainment, in what has become a well-loved winter tradition in our Valley. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the arts in the Valley!
FLY-AWAY
SatURDAY
Wearable Art & Runway Fashion Show
Fostering teenempowermentthrough outdooradventures,experientiallearning, andthe power of OneHealth principles- www.onwardandupward.org 907-745-ONUP
Contributed by Alaska Music & Arts
At the end of the rock opera, Etheria (www.synthology.com/etheria), the character Polyxena jets off into space to seek more adventures. The composer of Etheria, Jeff Sponsler, has been working on a sequel and the results are a new audio recording, The Zones of Nuratopia.
Polyxena’s craft crashes on a strange planet and she is rescued by a friendly robot, Thalamax. With the robot, she sets out to find some answers and a way to get home. She meets a
handsome but danger loving pilot, Sargon. Thalamax and Sargon possess fragmentary details about the planet and educate Polyxena about the world. Nuratopia has geographic zones, and each zone has a psychoactive field that changes human brain function. The zones are separated by force field walls that erase short term memory. The planet has a resident army that is commanded by a tough General Vitrex and there are ghostly sirens, the Preliving Seductroids, who haunt the land looking for souls to absorb. Thalamax reports to Polyxena that there is a god-like computer, Brainstem, that resides in Zonus Centralis. To get to that zone requires passing through all other zones. With this knowledge, Polyxena begins a journey through the planet’s zones to find Brainstem. When Polyxena sleeps a mysterious dream spirit, Andromeda, appears to give her critical opinions and unsolicited advice. Polyxena encounters a young resident, Daphne, and this girl joins the adventure. Daphne has some mystical powers that contribute to the group’s survival on their dangerous journey. This musical play documents Polyxena’s complicated and challenging journey through the Zones of Nuratopia. This new audio recording is available as a CD and from on-line streaming services including YouTube, Apple
Music, Amazon.com and Spotify.
Zones was recorded at AMA and all singers are Alaskans. Local voice talent, Lisha Antiqua, spent hours in the studio helping Jeff record the initial rough draft of the play and then later performing the final tracks for character Polyxena. Lisha’s contribution to this project is tremendous.
The AMA Recording Studio employs Pro Tools software, Neumann microphones, API 1608 II mixing board, Native Instruments virtual instruments,
and the Burl Mothership audio interface.
The lyrics of the play and the very talented singers who contributed to this project are listed on the website www.synthology.com/nuratopia.
Alaska Music and Arts, LLC is a local facility that includes the recording studio, karate instruction, and the award-winning Mat Valley Dance school (www.mvddance.com).
AMA is affiliated with the Alaska Brain Center, LLC (www.akbraincenter.com).
BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION...
Contributed by Lainie Dreas
Alaska Junior Theater is joining the Black History Month Celebration activities with a public performance of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad” in the Discovery Theatre on Thursday, February 1st.
ALASKA
JUNIOR THEATER
Founded in 1981, Alaska Junior Theater is a private, nonprofit organization that brings the best in professional theatre from around the world to Alaska’s young audiences. Each year, thousands of students attend a variety of live performances, which share the common educational goal of “bringing learning to life.” For many students, AJT’s school-time presentations are their only exposure to professional performing arts.
On February 1st, your family can join the Black History Month Celebration with an amazing performance of “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad” by Virginia Rep Theatre. A history lesson live on stage celebrating a truly inspirational American. Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad is a stirring drama filled with music, joy, sorrow and shares the challenges faced by this brave woman who changed the world through her courage.
After escaping slavery herself in 1849, Harriet Tubman went back to free her family and hundreds more through a network of antislavery activists and safe houses knows as the Underground Railroad. But her story did not end there. You’ll share in the joys, sorrows and challenges faced by this brave woman who changed the world through her courage.
Accurate and deeply moving, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad is inspiring, comical, full of good humor, determination, and the charity of its subject. You will find a new appreciation for Harriet Tubman and a deeper understanding of her times.
Virginia Repertory Theatre is a professional touring theatre for young audiences. It is known for producing
exciting, award-winning, national caliber plays and musicals.
To avoid shipping this set from Richmond, Virginia, AJT is building the set here in Anchorage with help from local artist Josh Head and with support from Nvision Architecture. Executive Director, Lainie Dreas, said “I am so excited to do this beautiful play and to work with Virginia Rep again. I can’t wait to see the entire set all put together on the stage after building it in my two-car garage.” That set will be used in Talkeetna, Alaska as well as Virginia Rep will be performing there on Saturday, January 27th as well.
Community Outreach: Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 4:00PM Join Alaska Junior Theater and Virginia Rep Theatre at the Muldoon Library for a reading of Harriet Tubman stories and a craft project with the actors.
There will be a Public Performance of this show on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7PM to kick off Black History Month. The evening will include an opening act with Sankofa Dance. Join Us as History Comes to Life On Stage!
Tickets are available at centertix.com or by calling 907.263.ARTS (2787)
Theater
Contributed by Spencer Rotach
Valley Performing Arts invites you to embark on a thrilling journey back in time with their captivating dinner theater experience, “Felons, Flappers, and Foul Play.” Immerse yourself in the charm of the 1920s at the Meta & Rose Restaurant in the Clocktower, located
in downtown Wasilla. This unique event will run from January 19th to February 4th.
Picture this – Prohibition is in full swing, and Chicago’s hottest speakeasy sets the stage for an unforgettable night. However, it’s not just about the booze; it’s a murder mystery that demands solving. The big boss is dead,
and you’re invited to uncover the truth behind the crime.
Indulge in a night of exquisite dining, accompanied by the soulful tunes of sassy jazz singers. From a delectable meal to an engaging mystery, “Felons, Flappers, and Foul Play” promises an evening like no other.
Secure your tickets now and join
Valley Performing Arts in solving the mystery! Contact us at 907-373-0195 to reserve your spot. Act fast, as tickets are limited.
For more information, including showtimes and a glimpse into other incredible performances in 2024, visit www.vpaalaska.org or call 907-3730195.
Don’t miss this opportunity to dine, decode, and experience the magic of the 1920s with Valley Performing Arts!
A NEW YEAR’S ENTRY
Contributed by Yvonne Moss
2024 was heralded in a blizzard, As an out-of-control winter wizard.
With winds up to 55 mph, Before its deafening roar, I did cower. With all things newly to consider, My spirits failed to whither — The New Year came in all a’dither!
LOOK NO FARTHER
Contributed by Nan Potts
It happened one time while shopping. A mobile app glitch was shocking. With groceries in cart, Unable to part, And pay what my bank was blocking.
Stepping aside I did calling, That my failed bank app was galling. I heard a voice say, “May I help today?”
Stunned, I stood, almost at bawling.
She kindly remarked, “Let me treat. I have helped before and can mete.”
She then swipe of her card, I found it quite hard
To believe this stranger’s bold feat.
I thanked her for being so kind. Then, asked how her I could find, “I wish to repay, There may come a day, To aid you with funds I’m inclined.”
“Pay it forward,” she retorted.
“It’s my passion which I’ve sported.” My words were lost, Grateful, my cost, Unworthy I felt and shorted.
What I learned that day about grace, An Angel appeared in my case. If you’ve any doubts Of their whereabouts, Look no farther than before your face.
WHAT COULD BE
Contributed by Leo Hughes
When you grow up on a house that’s always on fire
You believe the world is just ash and smoke
Buried under the rubble I was
Knowing not what could be
How supple the air could be
How heavy my lungs have been
My feet blackened and bleeding
never knowing how soft and cold the dewy morning grass was
Stuck under a roof stained grey by smoke and fire
A roof and walls that barely stood
Never knowing the sky or stars that never ended
The clouds that soared
But smoke and fire is my life
in a house made of ash and smoke
There I was
Mind clouded and congested never knowing what could be
What I never was
Contributed by Fred Glover
It causes too much pain to say Good Bye
So I won’t
Ever since you left
My heart feels as tho it’s been Pierced
By a cold sharp frozen icicle
Will the sun ever come out
Will it’s rays ever be warm enough
To thaw my ice bound heart
Will I ever be OK
THERE IS A NEW DAY, AND THIS IS IT!
Contributed by Anthony Irsik
“There is a new day, and this is it!” said colonists as they sat transfixed, upon the shores of Alyeska, ready to farm the Matanuska.
“There is a new day, and this is it!”
Shouted all the homeless in their tents, As their first house was being built up, Just as winter’s frost was at its cusp.
“There is a new day, and this is it!” Came the farming family’s cry, with bliss, As their first buds burst out of the ground, Breaking through the Great Depression’s mound,
“There is a new day, and this is it!”
Cackled the government as they mixed, Up the currency with which they paid, Where once was the dollar, Bingles laid.
“There is a new day, and this is it!”
Cheered the barman as he gladly lift-ed a sign accepting Bingle coin, And with his loud cheer the people joined.
“There is a new day, and this is it!”
Muttered stone mason as he carved this, Phrase into rock so that all would know, The hope with which Palmer did grow.
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 environment, adress medicals 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.
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Seniors
www.alaskabvi.org (907) 771-4322
The Alaska Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired provides blind and low vision Alaskans tools to eliminate vision loss as a barrier to employment, independent living, and community participation. It is the only statewide training and resource center for vision rehabilitation. In the Mat-Su Valley we sponsor two monthly support groups for socialization and informational activities, titled “Living Well with Vision Loss”, meeting at the Wasilla Area Seniors and the Palmer Senior Center. Low Vision Clinics demonstrating low vision devices and home assessment visits for independent living are offered to those who qualify and who have uncorrectable vision loss.
Alaska Community Development Corporation
www.alaskacdc.org (907) 746-5680
Alaska Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit agency located in Palmer, AK. Our focus is housing assistance for low-income households in Alaska. We offer housing assistance to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and most areas in Southcentral Alaska and to rural areas in Southeast and Southwest Alaska. Our housing assistance includes home weatherization; housing accessibility improvements for seniors and disabled households; & homeownership assistance including home purchase assistance, home building assistance and home loan packaging.
Our housing assistance helps to keep people safely in their homes and helps low-income households move into home ownership. All assistance is free to eligible households.
Connect Mat-Su
www.connectmatsu.org (907) 373-2628
Connect Mat-Su is a program of the Mat-Su Health Foundation that provides access to information and referrals specific to the local community.
Assistance is available in the areas of care, education, food, health, housing, legal services, social connection, transportation, work, and more. It is a network that is both a physical and virtual resource center linking residents to the things needed to thrive physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.
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 Desgin, and LIFE Connect. We also have Sarah’s House, 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 assistance programs, such as The Locker, to provide personal care and basic house hold cleaning items, and Scarlet Tapestries which offers basic sewing skills instructions. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Matanuska Electric Association Charitable Foundation (MEACF) www.mea.coop/mea-in-the-community meacontact@mea.coop (907) 761-9300
$1.6 million and counting! This is the financial impact MEA’s members have had in our community since 2011 when MEACF introduced Operation Roundup. To scratch the surface on those impacted by your generosity are our seniors, recreation, local agriculture, family services, food pantries, and everything in between. We want to continue adding to this lost, so if you know of an organization interested in applying for the MEACF grant and has a specific project in mind, please check us out online for the application process - including financials. Grants are capped at $10,000 and are approved at each quarterly MEACF meeting. Individual grant requests are now completed through Connect MatSu; individual grant requests regarding a disability can contact Access Alaska.
Mat-Su Health Foundation www.healthymatsu.org (907) 352-286³
The mission of the Mat-Su Health Foundation is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su. The tools we use include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change.
We have generated significant improvements in systems that support the health of Mat-Su residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. Visit www.healthymatsu.org to learn about scholarship and funding opportunities.
MYHouse 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 job education services on site.
Onward & Upward
www.onwardandupward.org
email: info@onwardandupward.org (907) 953-5360
Onward & Upward is an evidence-based, accredited, 501c3 nonprofit organization based in the Mat-Su Valley. Our mission is to establish a culture of “One Health” in Alaska through evidence-based action. We accomplish this by engaging our students in adventurous, inspiring, meaningful, and empowering experiences with varying degrees of challenge methodically designed for positive growth and development.
We offer a diverse range of course offerings from open enrollment summer adventure courses, professional development courses, to year-round after-school and homeschool opportunities. Check out our website at www.onwardandupward.org for more information!
Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community Program (907) 631-8591
www.specialolympicsalaska.org
The Special Olympics Alaska Mat-Su Community Program is an accredited program of Special Olympics Alaska, Inc., a 501c (3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide year-round sports training and competition to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the Mat-Su Valley, there are 137 active Special Olympics Alaska athletes and 56 Unified partners (non-disabled peers) that train and compete in 12 sports year-round.
There is no cost to participate for qualifying athletes. For more information on the Mat-Su Community Program, please call 907-631-8591, email matsu@ specialolympicsalaska.org or visit us on social media@soakmatsu.
United Way of Mat-Su (907) 373-5807
www.unitedwaymatsu.org
550 S Alaska St., Suite 205 Palmer AK
United Way of Mat-Su strives to make our community a place where all individuals can thrive. We focus on the building blocks of education, financial stability, health for all, providing resource assistance, community collaboration and advocacy, outreach and engagement across the health, human, and social services spectrum.
Early childhood and family support, youth programs, grants for non-profits, and disaster relief; Mat-Su Valley Resource Guide; volunteer opportunities; Stuff the Bus; Project Homeless Connect, and more. Call for more information on Thrive Mat-Su Mat-Su Coalition, Early Childhood Partnership, Youth 360, and the Alaska Wellness Coalition.
Valley Charities, Inc.
www.valleycharities.org
400 N Yenlo Street, Wasilla AK
Valley Charities, Inc: Connecting those who need help with the help they need. Valley Charities, Inc. (VCI) oversees a locally owned non- profit Thrift Store, turn-A-leaf. VCI Re-entry Program assists ex-offenders to become successful citizens helping to stabilize a home, work, per-
sonal needs, and basic council. Our Homelessness Prevention Program provides financial assistance creating housing stability for Valley residents.
Lastly, our Durable Medical Equipment Lending Program supports our residents with short term equipment loans to help with their recovery from illness and injuries. Housing Assistance: 907-354-4660; Re-Entry Assistance: 907-232-7125; Durable Medical Equipment Lending Program, see our website: valleycharities.org
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 at www. valleyartsalliance.com
Valley Recycling Valley Community for Recycling Solutions www.valleyrecycling.org (907) 745-5544
REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! Drop off your clean, separated recycling Mon-Fri 9:30 to 5 and Saturday 8 to 5. We accept cardboard boxes, aluminum beverage cans, magazines, this newspaper and more!
We are located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, near the MSB Central Landfill, just past the MSB Animal Care Shelter. Follow the smells. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Become a member, visit our classroom, schedule a field trip, find out more about volunteer opportunities and ways you can make a difference in your community. #dontfeedthelandfills. Go to our website for more details.
Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc.
www.wasillaseniors.com (907) 376-3104
Wasilla Area Seniors mission is to provide for the lives of seniors living in the Matanuska Susistna Valley and to enable seniors to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.
WASI provides services, resources, and activities to promote health and independence such as Club50 Fitness Center. Club50 is for individuals 50 years of age and older and provides clean, accessible exercise equipment and offers a variety of FREE fitness classes for seniors of all skill and mobility levels.
For more information, give us a call or find us on Facebook.
& Prose
THE WAY OF THE MAGICIAN
Contributed by Brittani Grace
Hello everybody! Welcome to my column. Each month I will draw a Major Arcana tarot card which represents one of many possible paths to follow. Major Arcana cards represent the archetypical themes of life, presenting the overall possible experiences.
Deck: Mermaid Tarot by Leeza Robertson Illustrations by Julie Card: 1 The Magician
The Magician is the embodiment of manifestation, co-creation, and our own personal power. Being the first card in the deck to follow “The Fool”, it shows us the way in which we create our reality upon this journey. The Magician card is a call of stepping back into our power by releasing the need to be perfectly in control. We start by making small decisions for ourselves vs allowing what IS to dictate our path. The magic of manifesting comes as we choose to focus our energic minds on a sustainable result. Part of embracing our inner magic is to allow ourselves to
make decisions and then continue moving forward with magic’s guidance, trusting that no matter the result, we made the right choice in the moment. As for me, this winter, doubt and worry have been my challenges. I feel as though I am “normally” living from joyous, loving, and inspirational frequencies with some moments of doubt, insecurity, and sadness. However, these last few weeks, the depth of winter has hit me hard. I recognize that I have been living more from a depressive, insecure and unmotivated space with just a few moments of joy to keep me from feeling as though I am completely drowning. The societal pressure of jumping up and starting new “resolutions” as we rang in the new year has left me feeling as though I have fallen behind. Here’s the thing though, I am still in a me of rest and reflection, just as the Earth is still at rest and asleep. Very recently, knowing that spring, a me when the Earth awakens, the flowers bloom and the sun gets warmer, is another day closer; I am choosing to follow through on the decisions I made to rest by not putting so much pressure on myself; breaking a pattern I have lived before. I am choosing to trust that the solutions I have been waiting for will appear at the right me, understanding that the patience of Life’s Divine Timing is happening for me and not to me.
What are some decisions you can make to bring yourself some relief and peace, as you rest, waiting for spring on the horizon? How can you get back into your own Divine power of co-creating the reality of your dreams?
OASIS
Contributed by Robert Lyons
I look back before Id grown a mane
Remember that song about a horse with no name
They walked through a desert looking at things I had been blind, all I saw was the pain
Tears like rain poured on everything
A heart of gold stolen by a miner’s dream
My songs being drowned in the steady stream
A river’s course bent through my veins
Soul trembling in a vast expanse of rolling waves
Surging tides over rocks and things
The birds and plants never looked so strange
Lost in my own vastness, I went insane
Then waters calmed, meaning came
Paradise found
I floated out to sea
Life’s water pouring out of me
We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to cheer on athletes, keep scores, wave flags, and spread high-fives (our athletes love those!). There are various other fulfilling roles available too, all of which are a breeze. By volunteering, you'll have an incredible experience and make plenty of new athlete friends!
Theater
Contributed by Audrey Weltman Kelly
RKP Productions and Anchorage Community Theatre present The Lifespan of a Fact, it is based on a true story about an editor trying to save a prominent magazine from financial col-
lapse, a renowned writer whose essay on suicide might save the magazine and an overzealous fact checker who questions every statement - leading us to question the definition of truth. John D’Agata and Jim Fingal wrote a novel of the same title which detailed their debates and discussions about disinfor-
Contributed by MVR
Matsu Valley Rebuild, the Valley’s nonprofit used building materials store is having a fundraiser! With the help of local valley artists MVR is hosting a one-of-a-kind repurposed art exhibit and auction February 21-24…it’s called Divided Art.
Local artists have shared their talents and creativity in a repurposed art project that turns used bi-fold closet doors into room dividers and pieces of art. The generous participating artists took used doors from Matsu Valley Rebuild and have unleashed their creativity to give these outcasts of the closet door world new life and a new identity. Those who attend Divided Art can see the wonderful talent that we have here in the Matsu Valley and even have an opportunity to own one of these
cool statement pieces. These oneof-a-kind room dividers are great for creating a private space such as reading nook or changing area, blocking out unsightly equipment or appliances, perhaps even for providing privacy at a window without having to close the blinds or black out all the natural light. It could even be a mobile art piece that moves around the house! You may have a need for one of these awesome pieces already or just fall in love with one when you see it then find a need. The finished pieces will be on display at Matsu Valley Rebuild and available for bidding through a silent auction. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the artists behind the work and to bid on their favorite… winning bidders get to take theirs home!
The auction will close Saturday February 24 at 5pm, all proceeds benefit Matsu Valley Rebuild.
Matsu Valley Rebuild is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit used and surplus building
mation and misinformation during the fact checking period of the suicide essay. This play was based on their book and leaves one wondering “What IS the truth anyway?”
RKP Productions and Anchorage Community Theatre present The Lifespan of a Fact from Jan 12 through Jan 28 at Anchorage Community Theatre. Tickets are available at actalaska.org or (907) 344 - 9713
materials store with the mission of keeping useful building materials and related items out of the landfill. MVR aims to save people money by reducing dumping costs and offering great prices for shoppers. Through wiser building practices we will preserve green space and spread sustainability.
Divided Art ‘24 provides artists an opportunity at a unique challenge, it exhibits their talent and promotes access to their work through websites and social media while repurposing and making cool stuff. Matsu Valley Rebuild is pleased to involve and promote members of our community in its fundraising effort and thankful for all the artists’ time and effort. Before, during and after the event information on each artist and their work will be circulated online and available at MVR so we can spread art too.
Support local sustainability and support local art at Divided Art ‘24! www.matsuvalleyrebuild.com
