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(907) 357-FAST To be eligible for the $6,250 loan amount, your expected Federal refund less authorized fees must be at least $8,400. An Easy Advance loan is a loan secured by and paid back with your tax refund and is offered by Republic Bank & Trust Company to eligible taxpayers. It is not your tax refund. Loan amount options are based on your expected Federal refund less authorized fees. If approved for an Easy Advance loan, a Finance Charge will apply. Loan is subject to underwriting and approval. Easy Advance loan proceeds are typically available within 24 hours of IRS acceptance of tax return or within 24 hours before the IRS start date; however, if direct deposit is selected, it may take additional time for

Saturday, March 7 - 3rd Annual

Winter Discovery Day

MEA elections are now primarily electronic voting. If you would like to receive a mail-in ballot for the April 2026 MEA election, please submit your request by March 13. You can call Member Services at 907761-9300 or request a mail-in ballot in your SmartHub account.

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INSIDE THIS EDITION:

Building Update: The Vision Is Taking Shape MORE ON PAGE 5 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Join the Cast Three Barons Renaissance Fair MORE ON PAGE 2 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE

Contributed by Kierre Childers

Through the Ice

MORE ON PAGE 2 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

How to Appeal Your Mat-Su Property Value Assessment MORE ON PAGE 11 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER This article was reported by Mat-Su Sentinel and reprinted for you in partnership with The People’s Paper.

Revel Treks & Tours The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, in partnership with local businesses, nonprofits, and recreational groups, will host the third annual Winter Discovery Day on March 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Government Peak Recreation Area. This free community event invites residents to explore local winter recreation opportunities through hands-on gear demonstrations, including fat bikes, snowshoes, and sledding equipment. Attendees can also warm up with hot chocolate and fire pits located throughout the parking area. Winter Discovery Day is hosted by the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation in collaboration with the Mat-Su Borough and more than a dozen local businesses and nonprofits. Participating organizations include Revel Treks and Tours, Backcountry Bike and Ski, AKtive Soles, Onward and Upward, the Mat-Su Ski Club, Alaska State Parks, Alaska Geographic, Skeetawk, TrailMates, Adventures by True North, WildFree Kids Occupational Therapy, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center, the Alaska Avalanche School, the Palmer Visitor Center, and

the Alaska Office of Boating Safety. Winter Discovery Day is open to all ages and offers an opportunity to connect with local organizations while enjoying winter in the Mat-Su. About the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation: Since 2014, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation (MSTPF) has provided grant funding to various nonprofits and agencies, resulting in over 85 miles of new trails and 12 parks, the purchase of essential trail grooming and maintenance equipment, trail markers, and interpretive signage, and necessary trailhead amenities like bathrooms. In 2025, MSTPF granted out over $675,000 to 14 different local organizations. In addition to its grantmaking program, MSTPF works with land managers, including AK State Parks, to apply, manage, and provide matching funding for federal and foundation grants. These projects allow community donations to be leveraged to facilitate million-dollar investments in the Mat-Su, such as the Curry Ridge Connector Project and the preservation of Independence Mine State Historical Park. To date, total grantmaking investment in the Mat-Su Borough has been just over $3,000,000. With continued support, MSTPF plans to make an additional $2.5 million investment over the next five years in developing sustainable trails and regional parks in the MatSu Borough.

Alaska Junior Theater: Ball in the House