Contributed by Robert Lyons
Banned the Book, the Roman Catholics did Control of thought, we are never rid
On an European tarmac, ideas sacked, fires lit
Biting the bit, we observe powers vanity
Know that we aren't to be told, be bold, Read moldy books as the liars fold, your knowledge gold
Surpassing the old. Do not hide in the cold refuge of ignorance
Enjoy the suspense! Break down every sentence and reissue an order, “Do as your told,” these masters say because they have nothing We are already free, Jesus made us to be, so listen to me!
Books are to be read! Red, my eyes see as I deform into Hyde
Hiding the past? A blast comes fast as we are up to the task.
Fought Fascist thought police since the days of Pope One, We will never be done so keep the ammo in the guns and read for fun
And read different thoughts, different talk about stuff you don't see, it will alleviate the loneliness When surrounded by stupidity
Be aware, the Good Samaritan was holier than those who chose not to see
The Samaritan didn't even believe
But was closer to God than he who dropped to knee daily in reverence for power
As they let hours pass before right was done. Don't be won over by those who don't let you see the whole picture, it won't fix your soul to be ignorant and conniving,
Only denying the blinding temptation to sin, given knowledge of it is power
Awareness through experience, can we fight censorship of thought
Read all the books you can until you have bought yourself enlightenment
And off I excitedly went knowing I did God's work because I heard that seeking is all that's needed considering where all the roads are leading.
Please read more.
Contributed by JF
Those who don’t accomplish much and some of those who do
Think their only turn of luck is to somehow turn the screw
On some undeserving schmuck
So they too should pay their dues
And learn to not accomplish much
But somehow think they do
Bitter unrequited will, undone by their desires
Stop to taste the berries but get caught up in the briars
Too much too soon can burn the ground
Contributed
by Marilyn Bennett
First fly
There he is
He's wondering where he is
I'm wondering why he's here
Just flying in lazy circles
Unaware of the danger
Where did he come from?
Hatched from some dark corner
Perhaps an egg his mom had laid
Between the wall and floor
A tiny crack no one noticed
Now he awakes this frosty morn
The snow is melting more each day
But it is - This Little Fly
That tells me with no doubt at all
That spring has come
Awaking life another year
It brings me joy
To watch him fly
Around in lazy circles
And know that he
In his short life
Brought realization
That spring is truly here What joy
That first fly
Like too much fertilizer
And when there is no fruit to bear
These are none the wiser:
Those who do not plant the ground
Or plan around the seasons
Will always come up short except for Being long on reasons
As to why their ground is dry -
No hive to keep the bees in
Who’s around to till the ground
But he who puts the seed in
The quickest path from a to b
Is always a straight line
And if you want to plow a row
You must learn to set your eyes
On the other side, something distant
As your guide
Yet all that you’ve accomplished
Was only moving towards the prize
Some who don’t accomplish much
And also those who do
Both find out that all their doubts
Can turn out to be true
Still the ones who do much more
But know before they do
Are less let down, into the ground
When their days are through
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.
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.
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 school-age 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 907222-2331 or eolivares@denalifs.org
Matanuska Electric Association (MEA)
Charitable Foundation
www.mea.coop/mea-in-the-community/round-up meacontact@mea.coop
907-761-9300
Since 2011, the MEA Charitable Foundation has given grants to fund projects impacting libraries, playgrounds, seniors, veterans, recycling, at-risk youth, and much more. In 2019, MEA Charitable Foundation reached over $1,000,000 in contributions to the community with Operation RoundUp® Program!
Organizational grants are capped at $10,000. Please remember to check our website for requirements and submit your completed application — including financials! For meeting and reviewing grants, MEACF operates on a q uarterly cycle
Mat-Su Health Foundation
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 healthymatsu.org to learn about scholarship and funding opportunities.
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.
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)
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.
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
Valley Charities, Inc.
www.valleycharities.org
Valley Charities, Inc. has proudly served the Mat-Su Valley Community for over sixty years. Our purpose continues to be “Connecting those who need help with the help they need” specifically and directly within the Mat-Su Valley. We provided community services through our turn-A-leaf thrift store, medical equipment loans, Housing and Safety Grant Programs. We have expanded our services and partnerships to reach additional families in the Mat-Su needing support beyond clothing vouchers and Medical Equipment loans when an unexpected crisis arises.
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions
www.valleyrecycling.org (907) 745-5544
RECYCLING: Be part of the solution.
DROP OFF: The community recycling center is located at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle, next to the MSB Animal Shelter at the Central Landfill. Follow the smells.
NEW HOURS: Drive through drop-off open Tues – Fri 9:30 - 5:00 and Sat 8:00 to 5:00. Recycle cardboard, aluminum cans, magazines, this newspaper and more. Remember to REDUCE, REUSE, and then RECYCLE!
ONLINE: Visit our website for more details, follow us on FaceBook and Instagram.
To learn more, visit our classroom. Volunteer opportunities available. Make a difference in your community!
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.
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 907-5212949. Find us on Facebook facebook.com/wasillahomelesscommitteepage
Contributed by Judy Vars
We want you to create some recycled/up-cycled yard art.
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) and the Alaska State Fair (ASF) are sponsoring the annual “Recycled Yard Art Contest”. Your creations will be displayed during the fair at the VCRS Recycling Education Booth on the purple Miners Loop trail just beyond the pony rides.
The criteria for entry is:
- Made entirely of recycled previously-used materials
- Can be easily moved for display purposes
- Limited by height/width and length for purposed of movability
- Weather worthy and/or anchored to make it so it will withstand the rain and wind during the fair
- Self-supported or anchored to make it so
This year entries will be accepted at the Alaska State Fair August 14th and 15th at the Hoskins building.
Visit www.alaskastatefair.org and search for “Recycled Yard Art Special Contest 2020”. There you will find all the specifics: judging criteria, specifications and display requirements. The ASF will award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons. In addition, ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling) has provided corresponding $100, $75 and $50 gift cards from COSTCO. Fairgoers will vote for their favorite yard art during the fair, and the winner will receive a special People’s Choice award ribbon from VCRS.
After the fair, entrants are welcome to donate their entries to Valley Community for Recycling Solutions. VCRS will have exclusive rights to display the yard either indoors or on the art/nature trail. We may auction the item off at a future fundraiser. Yes, credit will be given to the creator. Thank you for participating and recycling.
907-745-5544 education@valleyrecycling.org www.valleyrecycling.org www.alaskastatefair.org
