The People's Paper January 2026

Mat-Su Plunge Returns

Hello Matsuvians! It’s time to mark your calendar for the official Mat-Su Plunge, “The Original Valley Dip,” being held at the Palmer Elks Lodge on Saturday, February 21, 2026. We look forward to keeping our individuality, spirit, and health intact in 2026.

The Mat-Su Sertoma Club has proudly hosted the plunge since 2009. This event is one of the highlights of our chilly winter — a tradition to brave the cold, challenge teammates, inspire family, or simply cross something off the bucket list. All funds raised stay right here in the Valley and help support the American Sign Language Honor So -

ciety at Colony High School, provide scholarship grants, and fund free hearing screenings each month. Teams are an excellent way to gain recognition for an organization. Many groups have found this to be a great team-building event that gets everyone involved in a family-friendly environment while helping the community. Thank you in advance for your support. In service, the Mat-Su Plunge Committee, Mat-Su Sertoma Club. For more info, email valleybd@ vbrealtors.org. Sign up to jump today at matsuhearing.org.

COMMUNITY

Celebrate the 64th State Winter Carnival in Willow

Contributed by Brenda McCain, Willow Winter Carnival Committee

All are invited to celebrate the 64th State Winter Carnival in Willow at the Willow Community Center, 69.5 Parks Highway, from January 23 to February 1, 2026. This historic event has activities for all ages to enjoy inside and outside the WCC and on trails around the community. The theme is “The Year of the Patriots” in honor of the 250th anniversary of our nation.

Events begin Friday, Jan. 23, with the Jamie Hansen concert from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, reserved seats $15. The concert will also be held Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m., with tickets $7 and reserved seats $12. Saturday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. is Carnival Bingo, doors open at 5 p.m., ages 19 and older. Sunday, Jan. 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. features outdoor mini golf and snow bowling, along with an inside Veteran’s Tribute Game Day and potluck, followed by the “Talent or Not Show” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. features keynote speaker Shannon Howard presenting “Midlife Mom Reset.”

The full carnival weekend begins Friday, Jan. 30 with the traditional Carnival Kickoff Dinner. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the local artists’ Quick Draw and the start of the Alaskan Art silent auction. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and includes lasagna, soup, salad, and dessert. Cost is $20, seniors and military $15, youth ages 5 to 17 $12, and younger

children free. This event is usually a sellout. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Newman’s Hilltop Marathon, CC’s Skyfire Kitchen, or the Willow Library. The Carnival King and Queen will be crowned during dinner, and the evening concludes with a fireworks display by Gorilla Fireworks.

Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1, Willow Elementary PTA will serve breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Carnival activities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Parking is $1 per carload, and each person receives a door prize ticket. Some outside competitions have an entry fee.

Inside activities include kids’ games, varied stage acts such as Colony Calypso Steel Drums, Native Youth Olympics demonstration, Borealis Dancers, Craig Walls, local vendors, a cribbage tournament, an ice cream eating contest, Scholarship Pie and Auction, mini-raffle, collectible Carnival pins and magnets, and the Carnival kitchen.

Large raffle tickets with a grand prize ATV and other prizes will be available.

Outside activities include the Vintage Sled Show and Shine, snowmachine competitions such as poker run, blind driver, and radar run, and non-motorized events including outhouse races, sled dog races, skijoring, the Historic Sven Erikson 25k run, ski, bike, skijor tour, Homesteader games, and more.

Saturday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m., the Fire Department hosts the family-friendly Fire and Ice Dance. For the full carnival schedule, visit waco-ak.org/committees/carnival.

The Sierra Winter Way: Built by Community, Fueled by Creativity

Contributed by Sierra Winter

I want to start by thanking the large community of Alaskans—and supporters far beyond our borders—who have helped grow The Sierra Winter Way. It still feels a little unbelievable that what began as a hobby creating art has become not only a full-time career, but also an avenue for bringing people together through creativity, a shared love of the backcountry, and a commitment to building a safer, more

informed community.

At its core, The Sierra Winter Way is about connection. It’s about using art and design to reflect the grit, humor, beauty, and responsibility that come with living and recreating in Alaska. That same mission has carried into my continued involvement with Alaska Safe Riders, where I’ve been proud to bring my work into the program and help grow its resources alongside the dedicated individuals who have shaped it into what it is today. Safety,

education, and community are values I hold close, and I’m grateful to contribute where I can.

In 2025 alone, I completed 294 projects under The Sierra Winter Way banner. Every single one mattered. While it’s impossible to list them all here—both to save ink and your reading time—there are a few highlights worth sharing.

One major milestone this year was expanding my collaborative print partner team. I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside Arctic FX Graphics, Deviant Ink, Octane Ink, Skyline Signs, SCS Unlimited, 139 Designs, Decal Doctorz, Eight Fifty Co., M7 Designs Co., DigitalSteez, and others, with more collaborations on the horizon. Together, we’ve also launched ready-made wrap designs that anyone can customize and purchase directly from these print partners.

Motorsports and racing continued to be a huge source of inspiration. In 2025, I had the honor of designing Iron Dog race wraps for multiple teams, including last year’s victors, and several new designs for the upcoming 2026 race. I was also asked to design official Iron Dog swag, as well as the truck and sled wraps being raffled off this year.

Closer to home, I added local flair to the Willow Fire Department’s fire trucks and wrapped a snowmobile donated to Hilltop Ski Area by Kendall Toyota Ford. I donated my time to wrap last year’s Sled for Hope Neo with Team CC Ski-Doo and created swag designs for Team CC Ski-Doo, Hatcher Pass Polaris, and Delta Powersports.

I wrapped on-the-road vehicles from the Seward Dog Lodge van to the Mayor’s Salsa truck, created event designs for the Valdez Snowmachine Club’s Mayor’s Cup Race and Mountain Man Hillclimb, supported Rally AK’s Save AK Spots fundraising efforts, and continued digital and swag design work for Sunshine Community Health Center.

One of the most meaningful collaborations of the year took place across the border with Canadian shredder Mama Gids, raising funds to put another female rider through Level 1 avalanche training at no cost to her.

The list goes on, and so does my gratitude. Your trust, referrals, and support make it possible for me to do exactly what I feel I was meant to do with my time on this planet.

Thank you for being part of The Sierra Winter Way.

City of Wasilla Fireworks Night Redo Brings Community Together

Contributed by Bryce Burkhart Manager, MAKE A SCENE Media

Due to weather alerts on New Year’s Eve, the City of Wasilla was forced to postpone its annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Extravaganza at Iditapark. As frustrating as that was for everyone involved, safety came first. The good news is the event was successfully rescheduled for January 10 — and it turned into a fantastic start to 2026. Our team at MAKE A SCENE Media was proud to once again partner with the City of Wasilla to bring this community tradition back to life. Despite the ten-day delay, hundreds of people gathered inside the park and around the pavilion area to roast marshmallows, enjoy free s’mores, cocoa, coffee, cider, and giveaways, and celebrate together. Many families also stayed warm in their vehicles while tuning into the synchronized show on 95.5 The Pass, and the night wrapped up with one of the largest fireworks displays the Mat-Su Valley has seen.

I want to personally thank the local businesses that stepped up to help make

Rock Solid

the Fireworks Night REDO possible: MTA; Imaging Associates; Three Bears Alaska; Crowson Law Group; Alaska Sweet Vapes; Special Events; Mat-Valley Federal Credit Union; MEA; Subway; Nonna’s Osteria; First Rate Financial; All About Herbs; Hatcher Pass Polaris; Set Free Alaska; Red Robin; Elevate Eye Care; Jersey

The Alaska Farm & Garden Show

Back again in 2026, the Alaska Farm & Garden Show will be in Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds the weekend of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Dozens of vendors will be on hand offering supplies and services for homesteading at home, in gardens, farms, and remote cabins, along with advice to help projects succeed and, for those interested, ways to monetize their efforts.

Traditionally, a homestead refers to a house and surrounding land worked by a family, embracing living off the land by growing food, raising animals, preserving food, using renewable energy, reducing waste, and producing more of what is needed rather than only consuming.

Your Alaskan homestead may be a large rural property, a raised garden bed in a backyard, a few chickens for eggs and meat, goats for milk and cheese, or simply plants to beautify your home. The show will feature farming implements, alternative energy solutions, chicken coops, feed, seeds, flowers, greenhouses, outbuildings, landscaping advice, and heavy equipment including tractors, trailers, and snow removal gear.

Free seminars will be offered all weekend covering livestock, poultry, fruit trees, sourdough, flour milling, beekeeping, pets, gardening, and more. Seating is limited; check in at the seminar registration

Contributed

by Erin

Messmer, Chief Communications Officer

R.O.C.K. Mat-Su is proud to announce Julie Hubbard as the recipient of the 2025 R.O.C.K. Star Award, recognizing her dedication to improving the lives of children and families throughout the Mat-Su.

A consistent champion of innovative ideas and meaningful community connections, Hubbard has been deeply involved in R.O.C.K. Mat-Su’s Community Baby Showers and Child Abuse Prevention Awareness efforts. Her leadership, creative insight, and ability to foster strong community relationships have strengthened these programs and expanded their reach across the region.

Hubbard’s involvement within the R.O.C.K. Mat-Su collaborative network continues to grow through her active role in partner meetings, where she often serves as a trusted, effective co-host. Her steady presence and commitment to partnership have helped strengthen coordination among local organizations working to support children and families. Beyond her ongoing contributions, Hubbard has been a powerful advocate for addressing foster care placement challenges in the Mat-Su. Her efforts to raise awareness about the number of children placed outside the borough—due to a shortage of local foster homes—have drawn critical attention to an urgent community need. Through her advocacy, she continues to champion solutions that support the stability and well-being of the borough’s most vulnerable children.

desk to reserve a seat. Full descriptions are at akfarmandgarden.com/seminars.

Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026: 10:00 The Art and Science of Alaskan Sourdough; 11:00 Incubating and Hatching Poultry; 11:00 Container Gardening; 12:00 Sustainable Beekeeping in Alaska; 12:00 How to Start a Cut-Flower Farm in Alaska; 1:00 Micro Homesteading; 2:00 Flour Milling and Grains; 2:00 Senator Dan Sullivan – Young Agriculture Leaders in Alaska; 3:00 Hay Nutrition; 3:00 Introduction to Coturnix Quail; 4:00 Brooding and Raising Chicks; 4:00 How to Grow Rhodiola – And Make Money Doing It; 5:00 Alaska Agriculture and the Role of the Farm Bureau; 5:00 Dogs 101.

Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026: 11:00 Alaska Livestock Nutrition; 12:00 Raising Hogs in Alaska; 12:00 Micro Homesteading; 1:00 Hog Nutrition; 1:00 Seed Germination and Plant Science; 2:00 Raising Chickens and Turkeys for Meat; 2:00 What Is AK Farmland Trust and Why It Matters to You; 3:00 Processing Meat Birds and Turkeys; 3:00 Growing Fruit Trees in Alaska; 4:00 Raised Bed Gardening in Alaska; 4:00 Raising Dairy Goats in Alaska. On Saturday at 2:00 p.m., Senator Dan Sullivan will deliver a keynote on youth leadership in agriculture and present the Alaska Agricultural Youth Impact Award. Admission is $10 for the entire weekend; kids are free. Hours are 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m.–5:00

“We are honored to recognize Julie with this year’s R.O.C.K. Star Award,” said Jessica Clarkson, Associate Director for R.O.C.K. Mat-Su. “Her passion, commitment, and unwavering advocacy have made a meaningful difference in the lives of families across our community. We are grateful for all she has done, and continues to do, on behalf of Mat-Su children.”

to remember.

R.O.C.K. Mat-Su and the Mat-Su Health Foundation extend heartfelt congratulations to Julie Hubbard on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the continued positive impact of her work in the community.

About R.O.C.K. Mat-Su: R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Children with Kindness) Mat-Su is cross-sector collaborative of organizations, individuals, funders, and state agencies that support healthy, resilient families in Mat-Su. Utilizing the Collective Impact Framework, R.O.C.K. Mat-Su works toward a vision where all Mat-Su children are safe, healthy, and thriving. Mat-Su Health Foundation serves as the backbone organization by providing dedicated staff and infrastructure to support the work of the collective. More information is available at rockmatsu.org. About Mat-Su Health Foundation:

Mat-Su Health Foundation (MSHF) is the official business name of Valley Hospital Association, Inc., which shares ownership in Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In this capacity, MSHF board members and representatives actively participate in the governance of Mat-Su’s community hospital to protect the community’s interest in this important healthcare institution. The MSHF mission is to improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in the Mat-Su, and the tools it uses include grantmaking, convening of local partners, and policy change. The foundation’s work has resulted in significant improvements in systems that support the health of MatSu residents in areas such as behavioral health, child welfare, crisis response, community connections, workforce development, transportation, housing, and senior services. More information is available at healthymatsu.org.

COMMUNITY

Growing the Ride: Community, Membership, and What’s Ahead for Alaska Safe Riders

Contributed by Sierra Winter Alaska Safe Riders has always been about more than snowmachines—it’s about people, community, and making sure everyone gets home safe after a day in the mountains. As we continue to grow, one thing remains clear: our membership program is the backbone of our sustainability and the fuel behind everything we’re able to offer riders across the state.

Membership matters because it allows Alaska Safe Riders to plan ahead, invest in education, expand clinics, and strengthen partnerships. But it also matters because it directly benefits the people who support us. As we continue building out our membership program, we’re working toward adding even more year-round value. That said, members already have access to some solid perks.

Current membership benefits include access to exclusive members-only events, creating opportunities to ride, learn, and connect in smaller, more intentional settings. Members also receive 20% off custom designs and wraps through The Sierra Winter Way, along with 10% off swag, including new Alaska Safe Riders merchandise—also part of The Sierra Winter Way collection.

We’re proud to partner with local businesses that support riders beyond the trail. Members receive $25 off a stay at Bald Mountain BnB in Talkeetna and 10% off lodging at Gunsight Mountain Lodge in Eureka, making it easier to turn riding weekends into full Alaska adventures.

Education and information remain at the core of our mission. One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by tuning in to 95.5 The Pass for our weekly Trail Report, helping riders understand conditions and risks before heading out.

We also publish a regular newsletter packed with updates, safety information,

and event announcements. You do not need to be a member to subscribe—this is a free resource we proudly offer. This season, we’re excited to expand opportunities for women riders through new collaborations. We’re proud to work with emPOWDERed, bringing multiple pre-season maintenance clinics and a ladies ride on March 14th. We’re also thrilled to partner with AK Powder Pursuit, offering three women’s clinics in January, February, and March.

We’re proud to bring Expedition Education back this year thanks to Iron Dog and Donlin Gold, providing education and helmets to community members along the trail.

None of this is possible without our sponsors. Thank you to all who support Alaska Safe Riders, with a special thanks to Mat-Su Health Foundation for always believing in our mission.

For more information, visit alaskasaferiders.org. Thank you for being a part of it all.

Let Every Woman Know – 2026 Awareness + Arts of Healing Weekend

Contributed by Tessa Ely

This February, Alaskans will come together for something truly meaningful as the 14th Annual Gynecologic Cancer Awareness & Arts of Healing Weekend returns February 6–8, 2026. The weekend will be a powerful gathering of survivors, families, caregivers, artists, community members, and healthcare professionals, all united by one purpose: to support women across Alaska who are facing gynecologic

A True Gem Is About to Be Lost

Contributed by Steve Totten

The photo above shows a colorful Arctic char, also known as the Unicorn of the Arctic, highly sought after by avid sport fishermen. Many fishermen spend thousands of dollars attempting to catch such a beautiful fish. Here in the state of Alaska, we are blessed to have such a gorgeous fish right in our own backyard, namely the Mat-Su Valley and more specifically, Big Lake.

Since my first encounter with these fish in 1981, I have witnessed several highs and lows in productivity over the years. In 1996, the Miller’s Reach Fire wreaked havoc in the Big Lake area. Several tons of fire retardant were dropped by planes around Big Lake to deter the fire from spreading. Some of that retardant eventually made its way into the lake. Since that event, I believe from personal experience that a

large decline in Arctic char productivity has occurred. To my knowledge, there has been no research done to prove, one way or another, if that is fact.

To date, the Arctic char fishery on Big Lake is only open to catch and release. This mandate is due, in large part, to the decline in catch numbers reported by sport fishermen on a questionnaire sent out randomly by the Department of Fish and Game each year. To my understanding, there have been no scientific studies involved in the department’s decision to close this fishery to anything other than catch and release. It is obvious there is a problem, but what that is has not been determined. Unless something happens soon to change this, the Big Lake Arctic char fishery will be lost forever. So what can we, as sport fishermen, do about this problem?

cancer.

Hosted by Let Every Woman Know Alaska, the weekend is designed to do more than educate. It will create space for connection, healing, and remembrance while raising funds for programs that directly support women in their cancer journeys.

The weekend features an art show, an educational conference with experts from across the country, a Mardi Gras themed benefit concert with Denver based Blessing Chaminga, and a memorial celebrating

The first task is to encourage our local Department of Fish and Game to initiate a study to determine the reason for the lack of production. Secondly, to promote the feasibility of such a study, we should encourage our local legislators to appropriate the funding for it. Thirdly, let’s get the word out that this situation is too important to our economy and the health of our sport fishery to turn a blind eye. Local businesses depend on the revenue generated by the opportunity for anglers to catch such a highly sought-after fish. Sport fishermen, both local and visitors from around the world, spend millions of dollars to acquire the needed gear and supplies to support their ambition. Add to that the many local guides hired to show them the ropes on how catching a char is done. This is a highly valued economic driver for the valley as well as the state. I encourage

MTA’s 5th Annual Employee Giving Success

Giving campaign. Together, they’ve made an incredible difference each year, raising money for nonprofit organizations throughout our community. In the past, MTA employees have raised money for MatSu Senior Services, Battle Dawgs, Thrive Mat-Su, Alaska Behavioral Health, and United Way Mat-Su, all of which are exceptionally impactful organizations that contribute so much to our community.

As a result of this year’s Employee Giving, MTA employees have given over $21,000. This year is especially special because the donations will be spread to 13 different nonprofit organizations, all of which were

the Alaskan women lost to gynecologic cancers in 2025. Funds raised will stay right here in Alaska, ensuring that women across the state have access to the support they need while facing gynecologic cancer. Community members are encouraged to attend, donate, and spread the word. Whether you are a survivor, a caregiver, a medical provider, or someone who simply believes in lifting others up, this weekend is your chance to stand with women who need our support most.

chosen by MTA employees. Not only that, but MTA will also be matching every dollar donated by its employees, bringing the donation total to over $42,000.

This year, MTA partnered directly with United Way Mat-Su for their Employee Giving; MTA employees had the option to donate directly to United Way or to donate to a different nonprofit of their choice. This choice allowed MTA employees to donate to organizations that really resonated with them, and of the people that donated, 20% of employees gave to two or more different nonprofits.

MTA’s Employee Giving goes even

beyond monetary donations. In December, MTA hosted ten local nonprofit organizations at their Palmer headquarters, putting on a Giving Fair for its employees. MTA had over 100 employees attend this Giving Fair, interacting with the nonprofits there and learning about the positive impact of their work in our community. Hosting a Giving Fair gave MTA employees the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions, sign up for newsletters, and learn about volunteering opportunities to get more involved. There were so many meaningful connections made.

MTA’s Employee Giving campaign is not only an inspiring way to start off the new year, it’s a powerful reminder of the joy of giving in all its forms. Every effort makes a difference.

NEW INVENTORY DAILY

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Marilyn Bennett

It is amazing how the winds seem to zoom into Palmer every couple of years with a ferocity that I have never experienced anywhere else. During Christmas break of 2021/22 we endured a horrific windstorm that made the snow pile up in huge drifts. A 6’ drift at our front door and another 6’ on our patio. We needed help to

get out of our house that year. We also lost part of our wooden fence.

Therefore, when the horrific winds started up this year, I was very thankful that there was no snow. Unfortunately, the storm this year seemed to be even more ferocious. The electricity went out for about eight hours, which was not too bad, but our furnace kept turning off. We spent several sleepless nights keeping an eye on the furnace as we had to constantly reset the boiler control after each large gust of wind. When we wokeup that first morning we saw that we had several fences down and the fabric on the greenhouse was ripping and flapping in the wind. Then as we were watching through the window, a huge gust came through the back yard and went in through the sliding doors of our metal shed. The wind lifted the shed right up off its foundation and moved it over to another spot in the yard. Then as we watched, horrified, the shed was lifted again and bound-

ed through the back fence into the woods. It was pretty scary. The shed held the rakes, spades and our lawnmower. There was also two large shelves full of boxes and other sundry items put away for the winter. Both shelves were scattered along with the treasurers they held all around our yard. The lawnmower and many other items were sitting there on the floor of the now nonexistent shed wondering what was going to happen next. The greenhouse also had disgorged its collection of large and small pots all around the neighborhood. As to the fencing, every single fence had either blown over or was so weakened that the follow-up windstorm pretty much took care of taking them down.

When we had a break, I went out with a trash bag and picked up the small and broken items. We hired two great young guys to take the large trash, the remains of the metal shed and the fence that had fallen down. We realized that very little of the fence was recoverable and also could see that we might want to do something different with our fences. We are looking into putting up a wire fence next summer or at least something that may stay up during another windstorm. Just as we were considering what to do about our fence we were hit with a second storm. That time it took our trash can and hurled it into my Subaru. It cracked the front windshield and shattered the driver’s side door window

into a million tiny pieces. My husband went out and bought a large piece of plexiglass, cut it to size and taped it in place as a temporary window. The windshield was replaced quickly but the door window needed a couple of weeks, as it had to be shipped from the lower 48. The car is now back in working order and we are busy getting estimates to fix our yard. It will certainly be a busy summer, rebuilding our shed, greenhouse and all the fencing. It was interesting

the

In

was the first thing to go. Every time I went out to the front of the house I would come back in and sing “that our flag was still there.”

So, the glass flowers stand proud, and our flag is still draped over our garage door. What more can anyone ask for?

Klarissa’s Story

In 2016, I lost my best friend to addiction. It shattered me. That loss changed everything — it opened my eyes to just how deeply addiction has stolen from my generation. Even before I was sober, I knew I wanted to make a difference.

Fast forward to May 27, 2024 — the day I finally got sober. The day my life truly began again. Since then, I’ve been working toward my certifications to become a

AARS has helped more than 3,400 Alaskans rebuild their lives, but demand now far outpaces capacity: only about 461 treatment beds exist statewide, and AARS alone received 383 referrals last year while operating just 26 residential and 10 outpatient beds at a time. Our expansion will double capacity, increasing residential beds from 26 to 52 and outpatient treatment beds from 10 to 42, so people ready for recovery are not left waiting in danger. Construction is underway, with completion targeted for summer 2026.

substance abuse counselor. I knew I wanted to work at AARS, and when I got the chance, I poured my heart into it. Now, I’m proud to say I’m part of the clinical team (BHA), surrounded by incredible coworkers and a boss who believes in me. I couldn’t ask for a better family — my Ranch family.

Every day, I get to witness people fighting for their lives, their families, and their futures. My clients remind me that recovery isn’t just about surviving — it’s about living.

Recovery, to me, is the foundation for everything good in life.

Learning From a Deep Well

Contributed by Carrie Bowell

I often reflect on what I am actually doing as I devote my time to my children. Some days, I feel a quiet panic, wondering if I am hindering their development. I have to take an honest look. And yes, in some areas, we are not where a lot of kids are. But in the bigger picture, we are discovering a way of connecting and uncovering a kind of knowledge that does not exist within square footage or test scores.

I do not want to flood my children with information. I want to nourish them with meaning.

I want learning to settle in their bones. Real understanding takes root slowly, quietly, often through experience, not just explanation. My hope is that the lessons they live through childhood will take them from theory to embodiment.

I am not here to fill spaces or patch gaps. I am here to guide, to walk beside. We are

not racing through content, we are cultivating connection. And that process is timely, deliberate, sacred.

This looks like prioritizing quality of attention over quantity of content. It looks like trusting their natural rhythms. It looks like keeping their intuitive nature alive in a world that often rewards disconnection.

Where many identify with the surface or outer self, the personality self, with its thoughts, emotions, habits, and attachments, we are learning to return inward. That surface world can feel loud but hollow. It keeps people scattered.

My goal as a teacher is to help keep my children’s divine nature intact. What I hope this path inspires is a deep sense of inner compass, the ability to think, feel, and choose from a place of knowing. The courage to trust their own learning rhythm.

Learning, for us, is not performance. It is practice. As we grow together, we learn together. This work is not always tidy, but it is alive. It is a journey into the deep well, where curiosity, knowing, and life converge.

Restoring What Was Broken: How Healing Happens Through Human Connection

Contributed by Jessica Stotler

In every community, there are quiet stories unfolding, stories of resilience, loss, hope, and healing. They are not always visible from the outside, and they rarely begin with a clear solution. More often, they begin with a person choosing to stay present when it would be easier to walk away. Healing, at its core, is not transactional. It is relational.

At REACH 907, the work of restoring and empowering youth and families across Alaska begins not with correcting behavior or managing symptoms, but with building trust. Many of the children and families served have experienced disruption, instability, or trauma that fractured their sense of safety and belonging. What they often need most is not another set of instructions, but another human being, someone consistent, patient, and willing to walk alongside them.

Over time, those relationships begin to

change things. A child who once felt invisible starts to believe their voice matters. An overwhelmed caregiver discovers they are not alone. A volunteer who shows up week after week becomes a safe and familiar presence in a young person’s life. These moments may seem small, but together they form the foundation for lasting healing.

REACH 907’s mission, to restore, empower, and strengthen youth and families, extends far beyond any single program or service. From community-based programs to therapeutic foster care and family support, the organization operates with a simple but powerful belief: healing happens best in the context of safe, trusted relationships. Each program is designed not only to meet immediate needs, but to reinforce the connection between youth and adults, families and resources, and communities and one another.

This relational approach recognizes that healing does not happen in isolation. It is

nurtured through consistency, shared experiences, and environments where people are known, supported, and valued. When communities come together to surround their most vulnerable members, change becomes possible, not all at once, but steadily and sustainably.

One of the most meaningful outcomes seen across REACH 907 programs is not just improved behavior or increased stability, but a renewed sense of belonging. When people feel they belong, they are more willing to take steps toward growth. When they feel seen, hope begins to take root. And when they are supported, they often learn how to support others in return.

Community healing is never the work of one organization alone. It happens when ordinary people choose compassion over indifference and connection over isolation. It happens when volunteers give their time, foster parents open their homes, donors give consistently, and neighbors decide to care for one another in tangible ways.

REACH 907 exists to make those moments of connection possible and to remind us that restoration is not a distant ideal, but something that begins person by person, relationship by relationship. When a community chooses to stay engaged, to listen, and to walk alongside those who are hurting, healing follows.

That commitment to healing and connection will come together in a tangible way this winter, when REACH 907 gathers friends, partners, and community members for its annual Gala on February 13 at 6 p.m. at Wasilla Bible Church.

The evening will celebrate the relationships that make restoration possible, honoring stories of resilience, reflecting on the impact of shared investment, and inviting the broader community to continue walking alongside youth and families as healing unfolds. It is not simply a fundraiser, but a reminder that when people come together with purpose, real change takes root.

Start the Year Strong: January & February Moments for Health

Contributed by Sierra Winter

The start of a new year is a powerful time to focus on your health, set intentions, and take steps that support long-term well-being. This January and February, we’re offering two special Moments for Health Incentives (MHI) designed to make preventive care more rewarding—and easier to prioritize.

Healthy Starts at Home: Annual Wellness Visits – January January is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and invest in your health. When you schedule your annual wellness visit with your preferred provider in January, you’ll receive a Healthy Starts at Home Bag at checkout (while supplies last). These bags are filled with practical tools and fun sur-

prises to support healthy habits at home.

Your annual wellness visit is a chance to look at the big picture of your health. During this appointment, you can: Review recommended screenings and preventive care; Talk through goals that matter most to you; Get support with weight management, nutrition, physical activity, or tobacco cessation; Build a plan that fits your lifestyle and priorities

This visit is about more than numbers—it’s about creating a foundation for a healthier year with a care team that knows you and supports your goals.---

Protect Your Heart: Cardiovascular Screenings – February February is American Heart Month, making it the perfect time to focus on heart health. Heart disease often develops quiet-

ly, without obvious symptoms, which is why preventive screenings are so important— especially in Alaska.

Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death statewide. Many Alaskans live with undiagnosed high blood pressure or high cholesterol, increasing their risk for heart attack and stroke. A cardiovascular screening can help identify concerns early, when they are easier to manage.

Our February cardiovascular screenings help you: Learn your key heart health numbers; Understand your risk factors; Catch potential issues early; Get clear, plain-language guidance on next steps Screenings are quick, supportive, and available at both clinical locations throughout February. The first 20 patients to com-

Mat-Su Valley Project Homeless Connect 2026

Contributed by Shelly Sparrow

Mat-Su Valley Project Homeless Connect is January 27, 2026, from 10am–2pm at the Menard Center. This project is a Mat-Su Valley-wide, one-day, one-stop event to provide housing applications, homeless services, and hospitality directly to people experiencing homelessness in the Mat-Su

Valley. It brings service providers, government agencies, and the general community together to address a problem that affects everyone, with the goal of moving from simply managing homelessness toward making progress in ending it. This event has become one of the most popular in communities across our nation, and as our tradition grows here in the Mat-Su Borough

it has also become very popular.

Our target population is homeless children, youth, students, single adults, seniors, and families of the Mat-Su Borough. We hope to serve residents with no permanent, adequate, or regular nighttime residence, and we also welcome and serve individuals and families who are low-income, many of whom are living paycheck to paycheck.

plete a cardiovascular screening in February will receive a Healthy Rhythms Rock trucker hat at checkout as a thank-you for prioritizing heart health. Two Months. Two Opportunities. One Healthier You. Whether you’re starting the year with an annual wellness visit in January or protecting your heart with a cardiovascular screening in February—or both—these Moments for Health are designed to support you where you are.

Preventive care helps you stay healthy, active, and connected to the life you love. Our team is here to make that care accessible, meaningful, and supportive every step of the way. Call 907-376-2273 to get scheduled.

Last year, 2025, Project Homeless Connect was able to serve over 150 homeless individuals and families. This year, Mat-Su Project Homeless Connect 2026 hopes to connect with 200 homeless individuals and families. One of the ways we meet needs is through our goody bag handouts. Items include toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap, combs, Band-Aids, chap stick, fruit bars, toilet paper, socks, gloves, information cards, and laundry pods.

turn-A-leaf Thrift Stores at Mat-Su Project Homeless Connect

Contributed by Kimberly Kellar

Valley Charities’ turn-A-leaf Thrift Store will join fellow Mat-Su nonprofits at the 2026 Mat-Su Project Homeless Connect on Jan. 27, 2026, at the Menard Sports Complex from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event brings essential services together in one place for individuals and families experienc-

ing homelessness or housing instability. As part of its commitment to meeting practical needs with dignity, turn-A-leaf Thrift Store will again be providing clothing and footwear to people who stop by their tables and need these items.

Project Homeless Connect is a collaborative effort that connects residents to vital resources, support, and care. Valley

Charities is proud to stand alongside other Mat-Su nonprofits to offer warmth, compassion, and tangible help — one garment at a time.

Save the date: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, for the Mat-Su Project Homeless Connect at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, 1001 S. Clapp St., Wasilla, AK 99654.

Three Bears Alaska Celebrates Annual “Shop with a Purpose” Event

Contributed by Cheryl

Metiva, Director of Marketing

On Dec. 12, 2025, Three Bears Alaska hosted its annual Shop with a Purpose event, donating 10% of all grocery sales and 5% of fuel sales across every location to support local food banks and essential community organizations.

“As an Alaskan-owned company, this annual event reflects the heart of who we are, as well as our long-standing commitment to the communities we serve. Because of our incredible customers and

team members, we are able to give back in a meaningful way to the communities that support

POLITICS & OPINION

The Great Deception: How Civic Education Failed to Teach Constitutional Limits

Contributed by Dana Raffaniello

Ask the average American: “Can the federal government create a national healthcare program?” Their answer: “Yes, of course. The Constitution says the government should provide for the general welfare.” Ask them: “Which of the eighteen enumerated powers in Article I, Section 8 authorizes federal healthcare regulation?” Their response: “General welfare! It’s right there in the Constitution!” Press further: “But if ‘general welfare’ grants unlimited power, why does the Constitution enumerate eighteen specific powers immediately after that phrase?” Now they’re confused. This isn’t accidental. It’s the product of systematic civic miseducation.

What Students Actually Learn: From elementary through high school, students learn “the government helps people and keeps us safe” with no mention of constitutional limits or the difference between federal and state powers. The General Welfare Clause is presented as government’s broad purpose. The Bill of Rights gets taught; the Tenth Amendment is ignored. Even AP Government teaches current Supreme Court doctrine rather than constitutional design, dismissing original understanding as “outdated.”

The Textbook Problem: Standard civics textbooks state: “The General Welfare Clause gives Congress broad power to tax and spend for the benefit of the nation. This includes programs like Social Security, Medicare, and federal education funding.” An honest textbook would say: “The General Welfare Clause states Congress may tax ‘to pay the Debts and

provide for the common Defense and general Welfare.’ James Madison argued this describes the purpose of taxation for enumerated powers. The Supreme Court adopted Alexander Hamilton’s contrary view in 1936, though this interpretation makes the enumeration of specific powers largely meaningless.” The first version tells students what to think. The second teaches them how to think.

What the Constitution Actually Says: If Americans actually read Article I, Section 8, they would see eighteen enumerated powers: tax and spend for enumerated purposes, borrow money, regulate commerce among states, establish post offices, grant patents, coin money, declare war, raise armies, and ten more specific grants. Which of these authorizes federal healthcare mandates? Federal education standards? Social Security pensions? The answer: none of them. The Tenth Amendment states clearly: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Healthcare, education, and pensions aren’t on the list. They’re reserved to states. A citizen who reads the actual Constitution would immediately ask: “How is the federal government doing all these things not listed here?” But most Americans never read it. And when they do, they’ve been conditioned to believe “general welfare” makes enumeration meaningless.

The Affordable Care Act Example: The Affordable Care Act perfectly illustrates how civic miseducation produces policy disasters. Citizens believe: Healthcare is important, the Constitution says “general

welfare,” therefore federal healthcare regulation is constitutional. The conclusion doesn’t follow. Chief Justice Roberts, in NFIB v. Sebelius, correctly held that the Commerce Clause doesn’t authorize forcing people to buy insurance. That would create commerce to regulate, giving Congress unlimited power. The Necessary and Proper Clause doesn’t help either since there’s no enumerated healthcare power to execute. Roberts saved the individual mandate by calling it a “tax,” even though Congress explicitly said it wasn’t, President Obama denied it was, and the statute cited the Commerce Clause, not the taxing power. The bottom line: Healthcare regulation isn’t among the eighteen enumerated powers. Under the Tenth Amendment, it’s reserved to states. But citizens educated in government schools genuinely believe: “Of course the federal government can do this! It’s general welfare!”

The Missing Question: If civic education taught constitutional structure, every American would ask: “If the federal government can regulate healthcare because it ‘promotes general welfare,’ what can’t it regulate?” Mandatory exercise programs? They promote health. Dietary restrictions? They promote nutrition. Sleep requirements? They promote rest. There is no limiting principle. If “general welfare” grants plenary power, the federal government can regulate anything it claims promotes welfare. This is unlimited government, exactly what the Framers designed the Constitution to prevent.

The Systematic Omission: This omission from civic education isn’t accidental. National education standards emphasize

Presidents Cry “Illegal Aliens!” and “Sedition!”

Contributed by

David Eastman

Six Democrat Congressmen recently appeared in an online video urging soldiers and airmen not to follow unconstitutional orders.

In response, President Trump condemned the video as “sedition” and retweeted an online message saying that they should all be hung because that’s what George Washington would have done.

The growing frequency with which words like “Alien” and “Sedition” appear in headlines today is enough to give any American historian a profound sense of déjà vu.

In the 1700’s, Congress passed the now infamous “Alien and Sedition Acts” triggered by fears of a looming war with France that never materialized.

The acts became infamous after they were used to jail newspaper publishers for publicly criticizing the president. The year was 1798. The president was John Adams. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison publicly declared the acts tyrannical and lead a nationwide campaign against them.

Fortunately for us, those convicted were later pardoned by President Thomas Jefferson, and the acts themselves were dismantled when Republicans took control of Congress.

Yet it now seems that we are fighting this same battle all over again.

In a stroke of irony, ten people were convicted in France this week for insulting the wife of the president of France.

Not that I am for throwing insults at Melania, or any other first lady, but perhaps you shouldn’t send someone to prison for doing so, as France is doing today.

There is a truism I’ve come to embrace when it comes to oppressive laws:

“The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one’s time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all. –H. L. Mencken

Instead of encouraging us to defend human freedom, the drive to “just support the president” encourages us to wave the white flag at the very point on the battlefield where oppression must first be stopped if, in Mencken’s words, “it is to be stopped at all.”

Yes, scoundrels do awful things. So do politicians, but I repeat myself.

Would it be a good thing if Congress passed a law to jail politicians who tell soldiers to disobey unconstitutional orders from the president?

In so many words, that is the fight being waged in the public square today. It’s not

about whether politicians who do these things should be re-elected, but whether such encouragements are so damaging to our national security that we should publicly punish any politician who utters them.

Earlier this week, the Department of War initiated a process to publicly punish one of the six congressmen, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), over his appearance in the online video.

For those unfamiliar with Mark Kelly, he was the last commander of the Space Shuttle Endeavor and is now a retired astronaut and former naval officer. His wife was critically injured in an assassination attempt while she was speaking at a public event. The Department of War has now initiated the process of demoting him and reducing his Navy pension.

A profound suspicion of government officials has been an essentially American trait, going back to 1776. Human nature often leads men and women to do profoundly immoral things when they are entrusted with power and authority.

Human nature can also lead men and women to excuse and overlook those profoundly immoral things when the person doing them is on their side of the political aisle.

When the six congressmen encouraged those in the military not to follow unconstitutional orders it undermined military

“civic participation” and “understanding government functions,” not “constitutional limits” or “enumerated versus reserved powers.” Testing asks “What services does government provide?” not “Is this program authorized by the Constitution?”

The result: generations of citizens who believe federal power is unlimited, think “general welfare” means “anything good,” never learned to identify enumerated powers, and reject constitutional limits as “extreme.” This serves the political class perfectly. Citizens who don’t understand constitutional limits won’t object when government exceeds them. Restoring Constitutional Understanding: Every day, Americans demand federal action on healthcare, education, housing, and climate, never asking whether the Constitution authorizes it. When you point out there’s no enumerated power, they repeat “general welfare” as if it answers everything. When you ask which specific Article I, Section 8 clause permits it, they can’t answer. The civic education system has successfully conditioned Americans to accept unlimited federal power as normal and to view constitutional limits as obstacles rather than protections. Restoring constitutional government requires restoring constitutional education. Until Americans understand enumeration, federalism, and the Tenth Amendment, they’ll continue demanding federal solutions to state problems and wondering why nothing ever gets fixed. The Constitution isn’t outdated. It’s unread, untaught, and misunderstood by design.

discipline, the pundits say. It was akin to encouraging soldiers and airmen to disobey the lawful orders of the president, which is sedition. All six congressmen should be criminally prosecuted, or so the argument goes.

I’m not here to support any of the six. The video was clearly a political attack against the president, a president I voted for. By all accounts, whatever service they may have given the country earlier in life, they are scoundrels today, one and all. They have no business serving in Congress. But what do we lose when we make it illegal to criticize the president by simply reminding soldiers to follow the Constitution? Do we not head straight back to that exceedingly unpleasant chapter in American history when we literally put newspaper editors in jail for criticizing the president?

Not on my watch. I may think the president was right in a particular instance, but I will still fight tooth and nail to defend your right to publicly criticize him for it. He will be wrong on occasion. When he is, you do the nation a service in helping him make the needed correction. Historically, that has been the American position. David Eastman served in the United States Army under Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama, and in the Alaska House of Representatives representing the Mat-Su Valley from 2017 to 2025. Visit davideastman.org.

People Are Dying in Mat-Su and Nobody Is Paying Attention

gry, sick, and afraid. When they die, there is no record, no acknowledgement. Their deaths vanish without a trace. Some of us

have already lost friends and neighbors, and the world did not notice. Some of us are furious because their lives mattered and nobody counted them.

Family Promise takes some families if churches are willing to host. MY House serves some youth, and maybe one day it will have sixty-four beds, but right now it reaches far too few. Single adults have nowhere to go. They sleep wherever they can and survive however they can. The shelters that exist have rules that push people out: no pets, sobriety requirements, must be part of a family. People are turned away in the dead of winter and left to survive alone.

How are we supposed to know what services are needed in the Mat-Su Valley when we have no data, no tracking, no understanding of who is out there or who dies? How are we supposed to plan when the system erases the people it is supposed to serve? How are we supposed

to say we care when we do nothing while people freeze and starve and die?

The Coalition organizes one-day events. People show up, they get help for a few hours, and then they are back on the streets. There is no outreach to find people where they are, no shelters to take them in when they need it most, no one counting the dead so their lives mean anything. People live and die and nobody keeps track.

We need beds for everyone who needs them. We need people who go out and find those who are struggling. We need a system that counts every person who dies alone. We need warmth, food, safety, respect, and action that meets people where they are. Anything less is unforgivable. If our community cannot do this, then we are complicit. When will we stop pretending? When will we demand that every life matters?

Why Liberty, Liberally?

Why the essays?

Why the poetry?

The poems are there because I like poems.

And because my poems tend to orbit the same gravity as the essays.

The essays, though - that’s the distinctive thing about Liberty, Liberally. And ironically, that distinction is often lost.

An essay is not a declaration. It is not doctrine. It is not science. It is not politics, even when it touches politics.

An essay is a test.

It is a record of thought in motion. A log of reasoning as it happens. Not a position arrived at, but a path being walked.

It is one person thinking on the page. Essays are a literary form, no different in kind than poetry, novels, or plays. They are not demands for agreement. They are not calls to belief. They are invitations to consider. Liberty, Liberally exists to publish the thinking that informs the ethos of everything else I do.

The newspaper.

The radio station.

The public events. The conversations we host and the platforms we build.

Whether in print in The People’s Paper, on the air at 95.5 The Pass, or in the physical spaces where we gather, this way of thinking is the through-line. The guiding philosophy. It is not branding.

It is orientation.

We are entering a moment that will upend everything.

AI and automation will not merely change work - they will eventually replace it. Not symbolically. Not metaphorically. Actually.

This is not hyperbole. It is inevitability.

When labor is decoupled from production, time becomes abundant. And when time becomes abundant, meaning becomes scarce - unless people are equipped to create it.

In that world, technical skills will matter less than human ones.

Creative capacity. Self-expression. Idea generation. Interpretation. Judgment.

The classical liberal arts - not as degrees, but as life skills - will become the only skills that truly matter.

Our education system was built for an industrial age. Even now, we are training young people for jobs that will largely be automated by the time they graduate.

The drift away from classical education toward narrow technical specialization must be corrected - not out of nostalgia, but out of necessity.

I don’t write these essays because I think I can fix any of this.

I write them because this is how I think, if not what I think.

You can respond to what you’ve read, or write what matters to you.

Leaders Are Readers On Reading:

I learned early that I understand things better when I read them.

Not remember them better, nor to agree with them more easily, but understand them.

At first, I assumed this was a personal quirk. A learning style. But over time, it became obvious that it wasn’t about preference at all. It was about conditions. Reading creates conditions that other forms of communication do not.

When we read, something unusual happens. We are excused from performance. No one is watching our face, no one is waiting for our reaction. No one needs reassurance, affirmation, laughter, or outrage.

We are allowed - perhaps for the only time in modern life - to simply receive a thought without immediately responding to it.

When we listen to someone speak, we are never just listening. We are participating in a social exchange. Even in an audience, the speaker hopes for something in return: applause, laughter, agreement, tension, release. In conversation, the expectation is stronger. We nod, react. We adjust our posture, soften disagreement. We signal attentiveness. Standing still, blank-faced, motionless - thinking quietly - is socially unacceptable. It reads as disinterest or hostility.

So our attention splits. Part of us tries to follow the argument. Another part manages the relationship. That division matters. Social cognition is metabolically expensive. Emotional regulation is expensive. Identity management is expensive. And the brain does not give unlimited energy to all systems at once.

And understanding is taxed to support those other functions.

Reading removes that tax.

The page does not care how we feelyet. The book does not need reassurance. The text does not mistake silence for rejection. We can pause mid-sentence. We can reread without embarrassment. We can misunderstand privately and correct ourselves later. We can sit with discomfort without anyone demanding resolution. This is not a small advantage. It is the advantage.

Reading temporarily bypasses the emotional performance circuit long enough for the neocortex to do its work. Language becomes structure instead of signal. Meaning unfolds sequentially instead of arriving packaged with tone, authority, or emotional pressure.

Bias does not disappear - but reflex is delayed. And that allows for a measured and thoughtful process.

This is why people who read regularly are not smarter, but steadier. They are accustomed to holding unfinished thoughts. They are less threatened by complexity. They do not panic when understanding requires time.

And this is why people who never develop reading as a practiced skill often experience long books as punishment rather than opportunity. It isn’t the length that repels them. It’s the demand for undivided attention without immediate emotional payoff.

They haven’t learned - through no fault of their own - that attention itself can be pleasurable once it is trained.

Nowhere is this contrast clearer than in the evolution of social media.

At its beginning, social media was mostly reading and writing. A timeline. Chronological. Scrollable. You could move backward through time. You could see how ideas developed. You could arrive late and still understand what had happened. It worked because it trusted attention.

And it became powerful quickly - not because it was addictive, but because it felt human. It resembled a shared notebook more than a stage.

Then monetization arrived.

Engagement became the product. Reaction became the metric. Emotion became the fuel. The platform had to make you do something. Click. Like. React. Signal. Emojis emerged as prosthetic body language - smiles, tears, anger - compressed emotional performances designed to replace what was missing.

Reading slowed. Reaction sped up. Later, the comment sections changed. Comments were no longer chronological. Some were elevated. Others buried. Ads were inserted directly into the stream. The last refuge of reading collapsed. You were no longer invited to follow a conversation. You were invited to respond to a stimulus. Understanding became optional. Engagement became mandatory. The environment stopped rewarding patience, silence, or delayed judgment. It began rewarding intensity, certainty, and visible alignment. The performative brain took over - without presence, without accountability, and without pause.

Text remained. Reading did not. This is the larger shift we are living through. Not from truth to falsehood - but from understanding to reaction. And the cost is not intelligence. The cost is receptivity.

Those who do not read regularly are not incapable of understanding complex ideas. They are deprived of the conditions under which understanding can arrive. They are forced to process meaning through emotional performance rather than quiet consideration. They are always responding. Rarely receiving.

There is a reason powerful people read.

Not because reading makes them powerful - but because power requires the ability to absorb complexity without flinching. To withhold reaction. To sit with ambiguity. To understand before acting. Readers are leaders not by accident, but by default. Reading trains the mind to remain still long enough for reality to disclose itself.

That is the tool many people never realize they are missing - not because they lack capacity, but because the world no longer gives them space to discover it. And once you’ve felt that space - once you’ve experienced thought without an audience - it’s very hard to accept a world that demands you react before you understand.

That is the quiet power of reading. And losing it has cost us more than we know... quite literally.

Win The Babel, Lose The Word

Language is a contract to cooperate. Language is civilization, and it is civilized. When we agree on the meaning of a word, we are agreeing to an ongoing communication in the future.

Before law, before markets, before institutions, there is the implied agreement that when I speak, I am trying to be understood - and when you listen, you are trying to understand. That agreement is fragile. It is not enforced by police or policy. It exists only so long as both sides honor it.

That is what I mean when I say language is a contract to cooperate. Not a legal contract. A civil one.

Words are promises stretched across time. When we agree on their meaning, we are not merely describing the present - we are committing to future intelligibility.

“When I say this again tomorrow, I will still mean what I mean today”. Civilization depends on that continuity. Trust depends on it.

This does not mean language is static. It never has been. Language evolves because reality changes, because people change, because new experiences demand new symbols. But there is a difference - an enormous difference - between organic evolution and strategic redefinition.

Organic change rises from the many. Strategic change descends from the few. And that distinction is at the heart of the problem some are now pretending not to see.

Postmodernism did not begin as vandalism. It began as suspicion. A suspicion that language was not as neutral as it claimed to be. That definitions often reflect power more than truth. That what feels “obvious” is often what has gone unchallenged the longest. In this sense, postmodernism was a stress test of language - an attempt to see whether meaning could withstand historical pressure, moral scrutiny, and lived contradiction. That was the test. But somewhere along the way, the test became the method.

Instead of asking whether language had been used coercively, language itself became the object of coercion. Meaning was no longer examined - it was reassigned. Not adopted by the majority through use, but enforced through institutions, credentials, and social penalty.

And this is where the contract breaks.

Because language only works if refusal is allowed. If disagreement is permitted, and if meanings can fail.

A stress test that never allows recovery is not diagnostic - it is destructive.

We are told this is progress. We are told that words like good and evil are merely social constructs, contingent, negotiable, unreal. But notice the asymmetry: the

people who say this never treat power as unreal. Enforcement remains quite solid. Careers end. Reputations collapse. Speech is policed in the name of liberation. So what exactly has been deconstructed? Not authority. Not hierarchy. Not force. Only meaning.

And meaning is the one thing civilization cannot afford to lose. Our laws do not work because they are written. They work because words point to stable referents. Consent. Harm. Responsibility. Intent. These are not vibes. They are anchors. Remove their weight and the entire structure floats - until it drifts into whoever has the strongest pull.

We instinctively understand this. That is why people feel not merely confused but violated when words are bent beyond recognition. It feels like betrayal because it is one. A betrayal of the future. A refusal to be held to account for what was said yesterday.

Postmodernism insists that all meaning is negotiated. That language is always political. That agreement often hides coercion. Sometimes this is true. Sometimes it is essential to say out loud. But what it refuses to acknowledge is that shared meaning is the only peaceful alternative to force.

If words mean nothing, power decides everything; if definitions float, authority hardens.

The irony is almost perfect: a philosophy that began by questioning hidden power now supplies it with cover. By dissolving the moral weight of language, it clears the field for managerial control. You no longer need to persuade - only to redefine. You no longer need consensus - only compliance.

And so we arrive at the present moment, where language still sounds familiar, but no longer behaves as promised. Where words are updated faster than people can consent to them. Where disagreement is pathologized. Where meaning flows in one sanctioned direction and is called “evolution.”

But evolution that cannot be refused is not evolution at all. It’s gene editing of the DNA of cooperation.

I am not arguing for frozen language. I am arguing for legitimate change. Change that emerges from use, not decree. From persuasion, not threat. From the many, not the credentialed few. Language can grow without breaking faith. But once it is severed from consent, it stops being a bridge and becomes a lever.

And that is the real danger - not ambiguity, not debate, not even conflict.

The danger is a civilization still speaking, but no longer cooperating.

ABOUT: “Joshua Fryfogle, the owner of The People’s Paper, Make A Scene Magazine, and Liberty, Liberally, is heavily involved in the local community. In addition to creating a monthly paper that prints what community members submit, he also owns 95.5 The Pass, KNLT, one of the only stations in the nation to play local music in regular rotation! Josh is a lifelong singer/songwriter, and serves as booking agent and sound engineer for countless other Alaskan musicians.”

By Josh Fryfogle

August 15, 2015

Truth is violence to a lie

Words like burning arrows fly

Fighting back, they miss the mark

The archer aims to find the arc

Speaking truth while in submission

Eyes are closed but seeing visions

Telling how the war will end

Compensating for the wind

In this war of words we wound

The liar knows the lie is doomed

The convoluted fog of war

The liar lies all the more

The liar calls the truth naive A weakness meant to be deceived And truthfully that's what it sees The truth is always on its knees

Speaking truth while in submission

Eyes are closed but seeing visions Telling how the war will end Compensating for the wind

Truth is truth can never lose

And it knows that truth can't choose Its only fate through time and space To be there in its rightful place

Speaking truth while in submission

Eyes are closed but seeing visions

Telling how the war will end

Compensating for the wind

www.facebook.com/makeascene.alaska or call 907-373-2698

You can respond to what you’ve read, or write what matters to you. WWW.MAKEASCENEAK.COM

POLITICS & OPINION

Awareness is the Only Solution

Contributed by Katherine Baker

Awareness is the Only Solution. We all realize President Trump is not a smoothtalking, polished politician, and it is true there are times when we wish he had more of a filter. But could it be the pendulum has swung so far into the realm of disinformation, double-talk, spin, and false narratives that it’s pulling this country apart? Maybe we need the pendulum to take a wide swing back to the fact and reality dialogues we are so lacking, filter or not.

These noise levels we are currently experiencing remind me of the overwhelming levels we experienced during the 1960s and ’70s. Let’s take a quick glance at the dynamics.

The noise levels became overwhelming whenever any of the assassinations during that time were attempted to be re-examined. The biggest pushback came when the last Law and Order Democrat POTUS, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated and an attempt was made to investigate his assassination. It was a long process and nothing added up. Facts would emerge and quickly get side-tracked by a nonstop enormous repetitious noise. It would continue until no other voices or point of view could be heard (when they cancel the people’s speech, they cancel the people’s power).

Many of us baby boomers were children then and we remember. The adults were clearly stunned and disoriented. We were dismissed from school early because the

Assimilate

Contributed by Lela Ryterski

Why can’t they be like us? Why don’t they want to be like us? Why do they have to be like us?

Hasidic Jews in New York, for instance, have their own schools and synagogues and neighborhoods where there’s Jewish writing on the store fronts. They walk around with beards and sideburns and big hats and a certain dress code.

Americanization

Contributed by Sammy Taylor

While reading an opinion in last month’s paper, I was wishing that the writer had understood more history. When one reads the works of our founding European-born “fathers,” we will note that they were mostly Deists. That was a common religion during that time. Of course, they made it clear, by placing freedom of religion as the first right for the new nation, that all religions were to be accepted. We are all glad they did.

Each wave of immigrants arriving here searching for a better life than they had at home took a big risk. We can be proud that they had the courage and gumption

president was shot. They let our parents tell us in their own way that the president had died.

The noise soared in oppositional proportion to the presentation of the facts. The lines were blurred and truth unidentifiable. Most just wanted the confusion and the back-and-forth jerk of their brain cells to stop. The noise was comprised of redefinition, redefined word associations, spin, repetitions, and many other tactics. It sounded like a psych op perpetrated against the American people. Now who would want to program and control American minds?

This practice of allowing media communication to be weaponized against the American people needs to be course corrected. The only solution, awareness.

The end result was always the same: a total lack of clarity, mass confusion, a “dumbing down.” Certainties regarding the details were lost in the chaos. The same pattern can be seen today. History keeps repeating this noise of targeting, which always results in chaos, confusion, and conflicts within the masses.

First is the noise of character assassination. Second is the physical assassination and/or assassination attempt. Third is the noise of the “intellectual” assassination of the masses (false facts and deceptive bread-crumb trails that take attention away from the true focal points).

After an assassination attempt on Trump, in which his ear was wounded, they actually claimed there was no real assassi-

The Russians moved into Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Now there’s Russian writing on the store fronts and restaurants. They have their own clubs. There are Chinese restaurants and Chinese neighborhoods—China Town in some cities.

People assimilate as much as they can.

The Muslim kids should be allowed to leave the classroom and go to the gym or somewhere two or three times a day to pray, and miss a part of the lesson, which they’d have to make up, until they come up with their own schools.

to step into a totally unknown country and culture. I doubt any of us can blame them for trying to find something familiar to cling to as they navigated a new language, work, shelter, dress, food.

Parts of my ethnic past are the Bohemians who started arriving in this country shortly after the Civil War. Back east there were some communities that produced their own Bohemian-language newspapers. They lived in mostly segregated communities where rent was cheap. My more recent Bohemian ancestors settled in the slums of Chicago; I assume to work in the slaughterhouses of that time. Over the course of the generations that led to me, Bohemian-Americans no longer have the need for a Bohemian-language newspaper, the comfort of fellow Bohemians around them, the familiarity of the Bohemian

America’s New Money Pit

Contributed by Vicki Turner Malone

Why does President Trump want to take responsibility for 35 million Venezuelans? Their economy has been in collapse for

many years, has been plagued by hyper-inflation, has over 150 billion of debt, and a crumbling infrastructure. Apart from Chevron, American oil companies showed little interest in new investments during their

A Response to “A New Constitution”

Contributed by A. D. Tocqueville

There were some things with which I agreed, at least in sentiment, with Lela Ryterski; however, there were also some things with which I greatly disagreed. In response to Ryterski’s call for dialogue at the end of their article, I have sought to compile a response to three of those points with which I disagreed. The first point is on how to solve the division caused by the two-party system. The second point is on the current structure of the government and problems with representation. The third point is on her suggestion for an imitative method of education.

In her article A New Constitution in the Nov. 2025 edition of the People’s Paper, Ryterski made the claim that the government has become plagued by corruption such that it is no longer accomplishing what it ought to be accomplishing. With this I agree. However, part of her solution to the two-party problem (which George Washington himself warned us from) is to give power to a government agency, which she called “The Department of Elections,” to “vet” candidates to decide if

nation attempt on Trump. It doesn’t seem to matter what reality is; it only matters what they can make people believe. This also answers the question, how dumb do they think the American people are?

In the midst of this it is worth noting the unusual hush surrounding the renaming of the Kennedy Performing Arts Center to the Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center. Very few comments were uttered. What? No thunderous pushback? No word avalanches? Anything “Trump” usually generates a windstorm of sonic booms. Perhaps they don’t want anyone connecting any dots, noticing repetitive patterns.

Many politicians add to the noise using sound bites, baseless accusations, even false witness and blatant lies. It’s as though they are working towards a planned agenda. The media then plays the script repeatedly until we can all hear it in our sleep.

It’s an identifiable pattern, and the more a pattern repeats with consistent frequency and observable purpose and objectives, the higher are the odds against it being a mere coincidental occurrence. There are over 60 years’ worth of this growing verbal game pattern on video, news clips, editorials, articles, songs, books, movies, TV shows, etc., documenting this communication strategy as history continues to repeat and reveal.

A certain amount of noise is to be expected, but it wouldn’t naturally occur immediately in such astronomical proportions. It would take many weeks or months to build that kind of momentum.

My parents were immigrants, and it took them almost twenty years before they were really comfortable in American society. Before that, they socialized only with their own kind —easy to talk their own language — easy to understand each other, what they’ve been through. When my parents’ family and friends were being killed by the Nazis in Poland, they fled to Russia. Did they wait to get in legally? Apply to the proper government agencies and hang out in Poland for two years for bureaucracy to give them legal status? I don’t think so. They would be dead. Russia

Catholic church, and much more. We are now truly part of the mix.

But there is richness where we have groups still keeping separate. Our witch-making Puritan predecessors left us with cultural values still treasured by many. Shaker communities left us an interesting architectural legacy. Quakers who wanted their own space in Pennsylvania are now around the globe sharing their community values. The Amish are still separate, showing us other ways of making a living. Chinatowns in various cities still provide us with unique perspectives and good food. Historically, Americans have seen waves of immigrants bringing their language, social patterns, and ideas to this new continent. We know that our Native American countrymen were not pleased with the mindset and disrespectful habits

January 9, 2026, meeting with Trump.

U.S. actions will further destabilize an already unstable country, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis for the Venezuelan people will be our bad. Do Americans really think Venezuelans won’t push back when they watch their oil being exported

It couldn’t possibly occur on cue unless it was organized, orchestrated, and planned in advance.

A message was sent globally through the socialist/communist-backed criminal network in this country. It was the assassination of J.F.K. We’ve long been informed how socialist/communist governments are run by their nation’s biggest criminals, psychopaths. Criminals networked together to form governments and conduct national surveillance of their fellow citizens.

If they can kill a U.S. President and get by with it, they can kill anyone. That’s their gloat, their power, and their bond. But it’s never enough. They want all the power. They want all the people’s power. To do whatever they want, when they want, to whoever they want. Wouldn’t every hard-core criminal want to be a part of that? That’s the psychopath’s redefinition of freedom. What they actually are striving for is absolute power. The American people need the cure, awareness.

The American people do want the truth, the facts, and not mind games. The truth serves the American people, even unfiltered truth. Deception, no matter how charming and pleasing to the ears it sounds, does not serve the people. Deception steals the power that rightfully belongs to the people.

they are good enough to be in the top ten to run for office. Further, the politicians campaigning would be mostly limited to government-run media. Perhaps Ryterski only believes that the politicians are corrupt and that government agencies and media would not be tempted to the same lows that our elected officials are. If that belief is correct, then her solution is a marvelous step in the right direction, but if it is wrong, then I only see this method propagating further corruption, and given our recent revelations, I suspect the latter is true, not the former. The second is formed from a base belief that “people are more important than land,” and that that means that the government needs to be controlled by the greatest number of people (it is the second notion, not the first, that I disagree with). The way this is to function is by a threefold change: eliminate the electoral college, drastically increase the size of the House, and make the number of Senators be based on population, not two per state. This does, as Ryterski admits, give significant power to California specifically and takes power away from places like Alaska.

However, we should not be concerned about this proposed shift in power because, according to Ryterski, the voters of California will keep us in mind and vote for what is best for those states that provide them food (even though Alaska does not provide any). This indicates that Ryterski anticipates the power will shift so dramatically that votes outside of California, New York, and Texas will be so diminished in power as to be nearly pointless, such that the Big Three will have to consider other states’ needs when they vote. This does mean that if California wishes to go to war, then Alaska must silently follow, and if New York wants to raise taxes, Louisiana must mutely open its purse. It is unlikely that any state outside those three will experience real representation, so why would they stay? The Revolutionary War was started due to a similar power imbalance; what is to keep the present Nation from fracturing in the proposed model? Maintaining the balance between the different groups of people with different values maintains unity.

Finally, Japan has a society that Ryterski would love to emulate in how polite and civil they are. It is certainly a good desire to want a polite and civil society, it is a desire I

was close and was against the Nazis.

After the war, my parents went to a Displaced Persons camp in Germany where they tried to find any living relatives. From there they applied to come to the U.S. and had to wait a year. Poland wouldn’t take them back. They were hostile to the Jews. They had occupied their homes and taken their possessions.

Is America big enough to hold these other cultures? Do we have big enough hearts? Can we respect other people’s way of doing things? Do we have compassion? Can we be friendly?

the newcomers of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries brought with them to this continent. We can’t blame our own ancestors for clinging to something familiar when they chose to venture far from home to make a better life. Americans have always initially maligned every new group of immigrants. We even have our derogatory names for them. But deep down we admire their American spirit of bravery for doing exactly as our ancestors did. They ventured into a new world for a better future for their family. Let’s celebrate our rich American English, which includes words and ideas from our Native Americans and all the different cultural groups that now claim to be Americans. We are richer for them all. It’s all part of the process of Americanization.

to the United States while their families starve?

America is the new government standing behind their same old government, the new colonial bad guy, and it all smells like another protracted insurgency war. The U.S. Congress needs to stop it now.

share, but Ryterski would revoke (I suspect through ignorance) values that are potentially greater. Japan is a polite and civil society because they are trained in their schools from youth to be Japanese, and if they do not fit within the confines of what they are taught they are un-Japanese; they are not a part of the people but sit outside along with the undesirables. Ideals that support individualism (such as freedom of speech or religion) may be maintained by law, but by societal norms would be abolished within Ryterski’s wish. But the reason I suspect this is from ignorance is that in Ryterski’s article they say in the same breath that we should teach the whole of U.S. history, but the Japanese famously do not teach their own. It is well known that Japanese history courses avoid their crimes during WWII, such as their military expansion and human experimentation. This avoidance may be orchestrated to create and maintain the culture that leads to Ryterski’s dreamedof polite society, but that requires more sociological research on my part. The point being Ryterski seems to want to emulate the Japanese in only the ideal ways, without knowing all the aspects of society which fuel that ideal.

POLITICS & OPINION

Chapter #3: Hope I Get Elected Governor, So I Don’t Go to Prison.

Contributed by David Haeg

On August 16, 2022, Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Winfree wrote a letter thanking “Attorney General Treg Taylor” for “establishing procedures for grand jury investigations and reporting… an issue of some concern to both the Alaska Court System and the Department of Law [DOL].”

A November 22, 2022 Supreme Court “Memorandum” states, “SCO 1993 would clarify and set procedures for grand jury investigations…the proposed effective date is December 1, 2022, so the grand jury procedures can be used right away.” It also states, “the rule changes were important and serious changes of a constitutional nature.”

What caused AG Taylor and the Supreme Court to rush through a Grand Jury rule change “of a constitutional nature” so it “can be used right away”?

A Kenai Grand Jury (KGJ) had started investigating the DOL (which AG Taylor headed) and the Court System (which the Supreme Court heads) for corruption. Particularly that judges, DOL attorneys, law enforcement, and private attorneys were conspiring to rig court cases; the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct, Bar, DOL, Supreme Court, and Court System were

conspiring to keep this covered up; and DOL attorneys and judges were tape-recorded ordering Grand Juries to stop investigating the foregoing, when Alaska’s Constitution states, “The power of Grand Juries to investigate and make recommendations concerning the public welfare or safety shall never be suspended.”

SCO 1993 changed Rule 6.1 so Grand Juries are prohibited from investigating “a court case of any type, whether open or closed.” But for the KGJ to uncover the truth, it would have to investigate court cases. And the 55 Delegates who wrote Alaska’s Constitution stated, without a single dissent, “The Grand Jury can be utterly vital in its investigative power as well as for the fact it is sitting there as a panel sometimes is the only recourse for a citizen to get justice, to get redress from abuse in lower courts… it is the only safeguard a citizen occasionally has when for any reason and very often for political reasons, a case is not dealt with properly.” (Alaska Constitutional Convention, transcript page 1328.)

SCO 1993 also changed Rule 6.1 so citizens, individually or in groups, are banned from appealing to the Grand Jury “directly” and are required to give all their evidence to the DOL, which decides if it will be given to the Grand Jury. But for the KGJ to

uncover the truth, citizens would have to appeal directly to the Grand Jury, because the evidence directly implicates the DOL in felony crime and cover-up. And the 55 Delegates who wrote Alaska’s Constitution stated, without a single dissent, “The Grand Jury can be appealed to directly, which is an invaluable right to the citizen.” (Alaska Constitutional Convention, transcript page 1328.)

Judge Thomas Matthews used SCO 1993 to permanently seal the public KGJ report/recommendation before the public could ever see it. Then Judge Matthews dismissed the Grand Jury’s indictment of a judge.

AG Taylor, citing SCO 1993, launched a new Grand Jury process that makes the AG “gatekeeper” to Grand Juries. On August 18, 2025, and just three days before announcing his Governor candidacy, AG Taylor held a Town Hall meeting to “restore public confidence in the system,” but was virtually eaten alive by angry citizens when he could not refute that SCO 1993, Rule 6.1, and his new process are unconstitutional and eliminate citizen and Grand Jury constitutional rights. Meeting video: youtube.com/watch?v=pGeAV9ooaig

Constitutional violations are crimes under AS 11.76.110. Jury Tampering is a Class C felony under AS 11.56.590. Attorney Gen-

eral Treg Taylor and the Alaska Supreme Court violated both and appear to have conspired to do so. Obvious motive: they would be implicated in corruption if they didn’t stop the Kenai Grand Jury.

Some citizens take their constitutional rights very seriously and will defend them at all cost. Honorable Treg Taylor, we intend you see the inside of a prison long before you see the inside of our Governor’s mansion.

We also plan a peaceful sit-in at noon on December 11, 2026 (after the new Governor takes office) in Anchorage’s Atwood Building (Governor’s office), until citizens receive the KGJ report/recommendation, Rule 6.1 is rescinded, and until the new Governor appoints an independent “Mollen” type commission that publicly investigates. Citizens planning to join the sit-in or help with forums, please text/email your name, phone number, and email to (907) 398-6403 or haeg@alaska.net.

It’s time for “The Sleeping Giant” to wake up and kick ass. For too long we have “walked softly.” It’s time to swing, with the full might of an outraged public, the “big stick.”

Articles containing facts justifying a sit-in will be archived at alaskastateofcorruption.com

Debt Slavery or Real Money: A Choice That Can No Longer Wait

Contributed by Alexander

Harmon

America is facing a reality that can no longer be ignored: the system we are living under is not sustainable, lawful, or free. At the foundation of this crisis is money itself. The U.S. Constitution is clear—lawful money is gold and silver. Yet today, we operate entirely on the U.S. dollar, a fiat currency that is not money at all, but an IOU. It is debt issued as currency, and it enslaves everyone who uses it. Because our currency is debt-based, our entire society is built on debt. Federal,

state, and municipal governments do not fund themselves through real value—they borrow it into existence. This guarantees inflation, guarantees taxation, and guarantees that the public is permanently behind. A system that requires endless borrowing can never be balanced, and it can never be free.

This is why municipal governments across the country, including cities and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, are financially broken. They are not failing accidentally—they are failing structurally. When money is fake, budgets are fake. When value is imaginary, solvency is impossible. To survive, these municipalities have transformed themselves into incorporated entities, operating as commercial contractors rather than lawful governing bodies. Once incorporated, a municipality no longer functions under common law, but under commerce law. Citizens are no longer treated as free people, but as customers, accounts, and revenue streams. Fees, permits, licenses, fines, and taxes replace

consent and representation. This is not governance—it is corporate administration imposed onto a community without lawful authority. Governments were never granted the authority to convert themselves into businesses and rule over people through commercial contracts. That transformation is unlawful at its core. Yet it continues because debt-based money demands constant extraction from the public. The system cannot survive unless the people are continuously charged to exist within it.

There is only one way out of this trap: a return to lawful money. Gold and silver do not require debt. They cannot be printed. They cannot be inflated. They represent completed labor, real value, and true ownership. When a transaction is made with gold or silver, it is final—no interest, no obligation, no future debt attached.

Tools such as Goldbacks demonstrate that gold can function as everyday money again. They allow people to store and exchange value outside the banking

system, reduce exposure to inflation, and begin rebuilding local economies based on honesty instead of debt. This is not a theory—it is already happening where people choose it.

Gold represents freedom because it removes dependency. Fiat currency represents control because it requires permission, surveillance, and compliance. One system produces independence; the other produces servitude. The longer we delay this change, the deeper the chains become.

Alaska was built on independence, not corporate governance, on self-reliance, not perpetual debt. The question before us is simple and urgent: do we continue accepting a system that guarantees debt slavery, or do we reclaim lawful money and lawful governance?

This is not a problem for the next generation. It is a problem now. And it will not fix itself. Contact me at alexanderharmon94@gmail.com.

On the Christian View of Pets

Contributed by Gilbert Keith C.

To understand the Christian view of pets, one must first understand the Christian view of animals and our relationship with them. “God made the animals of the earth according to their kind… and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:25 NASB). This comes right before God makes humankind in His own image. After both man and woman are made, God then gave them a purpose: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (1:28). After He informed man and woman what they and the animals would be eating, He called everything very good. What can be taken away from this is that mankind is separate from animals in both the purpose given and in being made in God’s image, and also that the animals are considered good, but that mankind, with their purpose and position fulfilled, is

considered very good. Now what is meant by “rule over” has been a point of theological discussion for some time, but the idea that seems most likely is that God would have us rule as He does, not as some famous kings who have ruled in history with wanton violence and exploitation. What are the attributes of God’s rulership then? Grace and mercy, an allowance of free will, providing for all, and justice and punishment when perversion occurs. How would this then carry over to our treatment of animals? Perhaps the greatest example would be in the common biblical symbol of a shepherd. A shepherd’s primary goal is to tend to the sheep, ensuring they are well fed and watered, and that they are kept safe from any predators that would consume them. They accomplish this task through their shepherd’s crook, a hook to pull on one end and a spike to drive forward with on the other, and by examining the grounds upon which the sheep graze, looking out for things that

may harm the sheep and removing them.

Now, after the world was broken by man’s rebellion and the Flood was sent and dissipated, God made the animals fear us at the same time that He allowed us to eat them (9:2–4). This shows that the fear of humans that we see wild animals performing is not part of the natural, created order, but is instead the result of rebellion against God. This is why the more docile animals flee, the moose stampede, and the bears maul. The world was forced into a state far away from that of how God designed it to be, and thus the animals and our relation to them has also been driven far away. What we then see in domesticated animals is an overturning of this result of rebellion, at least in part, and only in rare instances or with particularly amicable species. Pets are a further step in that process, where we take particular interest in the well-being of one or more of these creatures to tend to them as we were supposed to from the beginning, to rule the dogs and cats as a shepherd, to rule the fish of the aquarium and the birds of

the aviary as dim reflections of God who rules all. We are not required to take this special interest (there is no record of Jesus having a pet). It is neither sin if we don’t, nor a greater holiness if we do, but in its right place it is valuable and good. Having pets is like Eden looking into a steamedup mirror: it does not give all the details, but you can see the rough outline of what once was.

Finally, there is the question of if our pets will join us in the afterlife. There is no indication of such a truth in scripture. The animals are as much a part of the material world as the plants and mountains, and Revelation 21 indicates that God is not saving any of this world, though He may remake certain parts of the new one to imitate what He once created. We need to balance our love with this seeming reality. The only thing clearly carrying over from this broken world to the new one is ourselves and our fellow Christians, so keep that in mind. Our pets, while a good thing and a healthy thing, are not necessarily an immortal thing like your neighbor is.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Returning to the Basics of Health

Contributed by Alexander Harmon

For decades, Americans were taught to follow a food pyramid that emphasized processed grains, low-fat products, and calorie counting. Over time, rising rates of chronic illness and inflammation forced a reevaluation of that approach. Today, national dietary guidelines have shifted away from the old pyramid toward a model that more closely reflects how humans have eaten for most of history: whole foods, balanced portions, and nutrient-dense ingredients drawn from nature. This shift is important because modern diets — despite appearing abundant — often lack essential vitamins and minerals. Industrial farming practices, depleted soils, food processing, and long storage times all reduce the nutritional value of what ends up on our plates. As a result, most people experience some level of vitamin or mineral depletion, even if they eat regularly. Common deficiencies include magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, iron, and B vitamins, all of which play critical roles in energy produc-

tion, immune health, and inflammation control.

Supplementation can help fill these gaps, but not all supplements are created equal. Nutrients that come from real plant and animal sources tend to be more recognizable and usable by the body than fully synthetic alternatives. Whole-foodbased supplements retain the natural cofactors — enzymes, trace minerals, and amino acids — that help nutrients work as they should. This approach aligns with the growing understanding that the body responds best to what it recognizes as food, not isolated lab-created compounds.

One example of this philosophy is the work of Dr. Josh Axe through the brand Ancient Nutrition, which focuses on supplements derived from traditional food sources such as herbs, fermented plants, bone broth, and animal-based nutrients. These products reflect a broader movement toward ancestral and functional nutrition — supporting the body by supplying what modern lifestyles often remove.

Diet alone, however, is only one part of the wellness picture. Regular physical activity plays a significant role in managing inflammation and improving overall health.

Exercise supports circulation, helps regulate blood sugar, strengthens joints, and encourages the body’s natural detoxification systems. Even moderate, consistent movement — such as walking, stretching, or strength training — can enhance the benefits of improved nutrition and proper supplementation.

more people return to these fundamentals, the conversation around wellness continues to shift away from trends and back toward time-tested principles.

True health is not built through extremes or quick fixes. It is the result of daily habits that support the body’s natural design: eating real food, restoring missing nutrients, and staying physically active. As

Many of the whole-food supplements and brands mentioned, including Ancient Nutrition, are available locally in Wasilla at Nature’s Remedies, making it easier for community members to access tools that support a more natural approach to health.

COMMUNITY

To Save a Life

“A rabbi gave this little book to my mom,” the message read. “I’m dying to know what it is…”

A book was the last thing I ever expected to receive. My small nonprofit had reached out to this consultant for help, but the older gentleman was hesitant to take on a new client as he was preparing to retire. Our communications, however, had led to some interesting exchanges, so when he declined us, I sent him a beautiful Chumash (the first five books of the Bible) and some Alaskan salmon to thank him for his time.

A week later, I received an unexpected email stating that he had also sent me a package. The message read: “In 1947, my parents traveled to Europe, where a rabbi gave this little book to my mom. I inherited it from her but never asked why she was given the book. Even not knowing what the book was, I have always treasured it and lately have been concerned about what would happen to it after I am gone. I know now: you are the new guardian. I’m dying to know what it is but at my age I’m happy not to be dying for any reason! But I do hope you will give me a clue”

Familiar with Jewish customs, I expected the little book to be more like a pamphlet. Rabbis don’t give Hebrew books to nonJews. When it finally arrived, I was quite surprised and recognized it immediately as being a siddur (a Jewish prayer book) A sense of awe and mystery washed over me as I carefully opened the book. It looked ancient. I had never seen a siddur so small. Deceptively delicate and harmless in its appearance, the book measured no more than two and three-quarters by four inches in size. Nevertheless, the aura of the little book felt ominous, and it seemed to possess a life and soul all its own.

As I gently inspected the pages, I noticed strange pinholes, letters punched out, and markings. There was even a lock of hair placed within the text commonly used for a bris (a circumcision ritual for a newborn boy), presumably from an upsherin (a traditional hair-cutting ceremony for a threeyear-old Jewish boy).

Amsterdam in 1871. However, because the title page was missing, we could not initially confirm this.

Upon further observation, we found pencil markings encircling particular words in the prayers, and one word, yeladim, meaning “children” in Hebrew, entirely cut away from a page in the middle of the book. The word “Shema,” had also been cut out in the last part of the Shema prayer. These appeared to be coded messages of some kind. Reminded of the words in Isaiah 55, “Your ways are not my ways,” I knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that this mystery was placed in my path for a reason, and the executive board of our tiny non-profit agreed.

Together with various members of the board and other dedicated volunteers, we embarked on eight years of intensive research that led us worldwide. We traveled and consulted with experts in the United States, Europe, and Israel. At the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, the director of the National Institute for Holocaust Documentation was the first to confirm the authenticity of our siddur.

While we were in Europe, the curator at the Ets Haim Conservatory Library graciously reviewed the entire catalog of books in the library’s microfiche files in both Amsterdam and Italy, comparing all the old siddurim on record with our own. Again, we could not find an exact match with any existing copies.

We contacted several distinguished Sephardic scholars who astutely pointed out the differences in the spine and the reinforcement tape used to secure the binding, indicating that the book had been taken apart and sewn back together multiple times. While slight mispagination is not uncommon with old books, the level of disarray and mistreatment of this siddur was so noticeable that an Amsterdam-based Jewish historical scholar noted, “No Jew would ever deface a prayer book like this, unless it was needed for education or to save a life.” That said, it did give us some indication of why our siddur was so hard to match with others.

The most eye-catching feature was an inscription on the inside cover, which read, Book over 100 years old. Before [the] war 5,000 worshipped, now 400. From Jewish section, where 75,000 Jews were killed by Hitler (after being taken to Poland) 120,000. Only 5,000 left (underground).”

My immediate sense was that this siddur had been used as a codebook to carry messages, much like those passed around in the Lithuanian underground during the war.

Arguably, the greatest tip we received led us to an elderly rabbi, of blessed memory, in Israel. I had the good fortune of visiting him before he passed. He remembered the siddur from his youth and confirmed that it was used to pass messages. He also made a fascinating statement: “It was so small, it could be hidden inside a hollowed-out loaf of bread.”

Article Contributored by Chaplain Ruthann Crosby

Referencing the city’s archives, we learned the house with hidden alcoves had been remodeled in 1939, along with two other homes on adjoining lots. Searching the library’s archives, I discovered an obscure reference to late-night, secretive meetings with important out-of-town officials during the same period. It became obvious that a key piece of history was being purposefully concealed.

While walking in the neighborhood, I befriended an older woman working in her garden. Like most women in the south, she was reserved at first, but I was delighted when she warmed up and began to chat with me. Her tone shifted, however, when she learned what I was really looking for and reluctantly confessed that the whole town had been compelled to take an oath of silence regarding Jewish refugees being smuggled through their small community. When the woman learned I knew about the secret late-night meetings, she finally told me her story.

At sixteen years of age, she remembered seeing as many as thirty to forty Jews getting off the train at one time. When the townspeople saw these refugees arriving with so little, they were astounded and began making ragdolls and wooden toys to give to their children. The Jewish families were put up in the homes that had been

duced quick results. He assisted Jim Novy, a prominent business owner from Texas, in securing forty-two travel visas. Novy and his son traveled to Poland, where he helped members of his family and other Jews escape the mounting anti-Semitic pressures under Hitler. That became the beginning of a plan known as Operation Texas. Through this operation, refugees secured passports to Cuba or South America. Once there, they sailed on to Galveston, where Novy said they were housed in Texas youth camps until they could be relocated throughout America. I talked with an expert from LBJ’s Presidential Library who said there had never been any proof that refugees were housed in the youth camps. Considering the language barriers and the range in age, it would have been difficult to use youth camps for housing Jews.

We then discovered another congressman working with Johnson who was covertly meeting with men from this small Ozark town. Remembering what Louis had told us, that refugees got off in Port Arthur and boarded the Flying Crow heading north, we made the connection. This operation could have been appropriately named The Southern Belle Express, which was an alternate train used to transport refugees from New Orleans to our little rural town in the Ozarks. One thing is for sure: many hundreds of Jewish people were able to escape Hitler’s grasp through this selfless, monumental, humanitarian undertaking.

While in Israel, we also spoke with an antiquities dealer in Safed. That was the first time I learned of the Sephardic custom of using pinholes to mark a martyred relative’s death, a tradition dating back to the Inquisition, but this has been hard to confirm with other Sephardic experts and scholars. These marks are only in the Pasukim (verses) recited for a person’s name, and not in any other place in the siddur.

With my love of mysteries piqued, I flooded the owner with questions. There was little to learn, though I did manage to find the synagogue where the siddur originated. The overarching question that kept racing through my mind was: “Why would an orthodox Sephardic rabbi give a Hebrew prayer book to a non-Jewish woman, especially right after WWII?”

I called my rabbi, R. Yosef Greenberg of Anchorage, Alaska, founder of the Alaska Jewish Campus and Museum. After examining the book, he and the museum staff estimated that the siddur was indeed very old, and in addition to the anomalies mentioned above, they found a stamp mark imprinted on one of the pages. Rabbi Greenberg snapped some photos and sent the message to other scholars in his rabbinic circle. The stamp turned out to be from an orphanage in Amsterdam that was bombed when Germany invaded the Netherlands during WWII. Rabbinic experts at the Lubavitch  Library in New York matched the font in the siddur with a set of siddurim titled From Their Lips,” which were printed in

The research conducted for the provenance of this siddur has led us on a remarkable journey. I will never forget the words of one of the experts we consulted, the chief conservator for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

I asked her, “Do you think it’s crazy for me to try to track down the truth about this siddur?”

“No,” was her response, “I think it’s noble. But the more answers you find, the more questions you will have.”

That statement still resonates with me. About a year into our research, the project took an unexpected turn. I followed the siddur’s journey, traveling from Europe to the small Ozark town where the siddur had come to rest after WWII. Old brick buildings still line the streets of this quaint country town where “everybody knows everybody.” Yet, as we asked questions and visited sights, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more history here than we were being told about. Then we discovered an old house that had been remodeled to incorporate secret hidden alcoves. Circular rosettes trimmed the doorpost corners throughout the house, except for those rooms connected to the hidden alcoves. They were adorned with Star of David rosettes. Using the Magen David might seem like standard practice for a Jewish family, but we searched the city records and found no Jews had ever lived there. This mystery launched a second research project.

remodeled with secret alcoves, providing concealment and protection if needed. They found rest from their long journeys in these homes, and many who were ill received medical treatment. After regaining their strength, they were put back on the trains, traveling on to safe havens throughout America’s heartland.

When another resident found out that the old woman had broken the oath of silence, he also spoke freely with us. While only 14 at the time, he used to jump on trains heading south to pick up refugees from ports in Louisiana and Texas. He said, “I remember coming back from Port Arthur on the Flying Crow and handing out sandwiches to the refugees made with funny-looking bread.” He said a rabbi had come to town, teaching the residents about Jewish customs and kosher dietary laws, including “what type of food they could eat.”

Discovering this connection between Jews escaping Europe and a quiet town in the Ozark backwoods posed another question: How did such an elaborate underground network come to exist? Answers, followed by more questions.

I thought of the sad plight of Otto Frank’s family. Nathan Straus Jr. was a longtime friend of Otto’s, yet even with his connections to FDR, he could not help the Franks obtain passage to America. A quick search revealed that Straus had made a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, about the time “secretive meetings” were taking place in our little town. As we dug deeper, some of our expert researchers discovered several interesting ship logbooks from the late 1930s involving Straus. One vessel he contracted sailed from New York to Cuba and returned home with many more passengers. Another boat’s manifest revealed that it had sailed out of New York with only a few people on board and no destination stated. The ship returned to New York with close to one hundred and fifty people, all listed as being Straus’s employees.

Another article from 1938 revealed a connection between Straus and a young Congressman named Lynden Baines Johnson. They worked together to get America’s first low-income housing project started. Further research on Johnson pro -

As we made these amazing discoveries, I continued to ask: How could these people in different parts of the world have known each other? How could they have worked together so closely in such a secretive manner at a time when technology and communications were nowhere near what they are today? The answer came to me through personal experience.

When our nonprofit organization received a call to assist a stranger in Ukraine, an extensive network of individuals who did not know each other successfully helped a family escape the country. I now have a whole new appreciation for the Talmudic statement, “To save a life is to save the world,” and I’ve realized that those individuals who worked together during WWII did not need to know each other. They prioritized saving a life by responding to the opportunity at hand, doing their part, while Hashem sewed together a vast network of assistance for the good of His people.

None of us could have guessed that this little prayer book would contain such secrets. The collective emotions of Jewish souls woven together through centuries of war and genocide are, in my opinion, bound together in the pages of this little brown book. Their voices echo through eternity, calling to us in the present day to acknowledge their experiences and follow their example, banding together to do our part in the Great Tikkun of healing the world.

We have many details from our research that provide a much bigger narrative. This story grew so large it astounded us all, prompting the need to document it. Historical accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and broad scholarly knowledge of the unfolding narratives are critical. These accounts have the potential to bring a deep appreciation and understanding of the harm that antisemitism has inflicted over generations, as well as the attempts at restoration wrought through the actions of real-life individuals. The world owes a debt of gratitude to all the individuals from any walk of life who are willing to step forward and risk their careers, fortunes, reputations, and even their lives to help their fellow man.

Chaplain Ruthann Crosby has a B.A. and M.A. in Jewish Studies from Gratz College in Philadelphia and completed her residency at Einstein Medical Center.

Article Contributors: Bob Conder, Zachary Grashin, Jeff Hewitt, & Jill Chadbourne. Edited by Tabitha Foret-Durham.

PETS & ANIMALS

Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

Adopt Habbie

Adopt Pearl

I play like I’m part of the pack with both dogs and cats. I would do best with a kitty friend, and nice dogs are just fine too! I do great with gentle children as well. A family that has the time to give me extra love and attention is a must. I will need a home with a safe outdoor enclosure, or I will need to be supervised all the time when I am outside.

Adopt Titan

I am a sweetheart of a lady with a heart of gold! I have a beautiful, sleek, tabby coat and keep myself very neat and well groomed. And I have excellent house manners. I am inquisitive and like to explore my surroundings. Everything needs to be checked out, every nook and cranny, every possible kitty friend, and of course my human family. Give me some time and let me make the first move to come to you and I will soon be your best friend! I love food! I just can’t get enough and am not picky...I am just happy to have yummy snacks and meals. I love other cats and am always wanting to play, so a kitty friend in my new home is a must. I am not sure how I am with dogs or kids, but I might do okay with a mellow pup who respects my space and older gentle kids that will play with me. I prefer a quieter home, but chasing a feather toy and balls, and rolling in catnip are my favorite things to do on these cold winter days!

I am estimated to be 2-3 years old. Come summertime I will need a safe yard to enjoy basking in the sun and feeling the warm breeze blow as I hunt bugs!

Adopt Keiki

I am just stinking sweet, as my foster mom so elegantly puts it! My foster mom may be a little partial, but I truly am the sweetest girl and ready to show my unbounded love to a new home. I warm up fast to new people and waste no time demanding pets and attention.

I love cozy places to lay, preferably on you. And I like to sleep under the covers! I am quite the talker, especially when I want love. I do great with feline-friendly dogs and warm up to them almost as fast as humans. Cat companions take just a day or two longer, but I love them and enjoy playing with them when the mood suits me. A home with older children will be just fine and a safe outdoor area to enjoy the long summer days would be blissful. I am 8 years young.

I am a little love machine! If you’d seen me a year ago, you would have never guessed I’m the same cat. I ended up at the animal shelter and, after a few weeks there, I was so stressed that I could no longer pass the behavior test. I was worried, overanxious, and overstimulated by everything. Things did not look good for me. But after a couple of weeks in a foster home, I became a different cat!

In a loving home without all the chaos and confinement of a cage in a busy, noisy place, I am a dream kitty. I love to be pet and snuggle up with my people. I am about 2 years old. I am petite with big expressive eyes.

I am fine in my foster home with the other cats. (I don’t know about dogs.) But my absolute favorite in the house is the human who gives me lots and lots of love. If you’re looking a little sweetheart to fill that happiness void in your settled home, I would be a perfect fit! I would love a little yard where I can go outside and smell the breeze and sit in the sun.

Adopt Scooter

I will scoot my way right into your heart! My little meows and chill attitude will bring a special addition to your home. I love playing with toys and enjoy snuggling up close. Despite being born with a spinal deformity, I show little limitations when it comes to climbing the cat tower or jumping into bed at night. I have been checked by the vet and have been given the all clear. I may experience some arthritis later in life and would benefit from a supplement to help with any joint pain. I drag/scoot on my back legs the majority of the time so I need a quick backside bath on a weekly basis. I would prefer that my new home has rugs so I can get around the house easily. I move faster than you can blink when I get the kitty zoomies or hear the treat container shake. I am sweet, handsome, and about a year old. I use the litter box with no concerns and love my morning wet food and kibble throughout the day.

I am the total package with my sleek black coat and tiny white chest marking...I am as handsome as I am sweet. I am about a year old and like to have fun. I was a member of a group of cats that were cared for by a kind person. So, I trust people and I hope to be part of a family that will appreciate my loving nature and give me lots of love back. I am affectionate, gentle, and enjoy the company of people, cats, and dogs alike. I will do great with a cat friend who I can hang out with and play with sometimes. I will need a place where there is a yard or safe outside area that I can explore and romp around in with my family.

Adopt Vita

I have once again learned about the luxury of a warm house, a soft bed, and people to dote on me. And my beautiful green-eyed tortoiseshell self couldn’t be happier. I once had a home but then somehow, I ended up at a construction site as a hungry stray. That was not a good life. But now that I’ve been rescued, everything has changed! I am the sweetest, friendliest, and most lovable girl around. I will happily greet you at the door when you come home and will help you all around the house. Reading, sewing, knitting, watching TV: I am just tickled to sit in your lap and soak up all the attention. I enjoy sitting on your chest while reading a book in bed and nosing into your hand for head rubs and pets. I get along with the other cats but don’t want to make friends, so I would be okay as an only cat if I get LOTS of attention from my family. With how loving I am, I should be just fine with gentle children. I don’t know about dogs, but possibly a mellow dog would be okay. I am a couple of years old.

I will need a safe yard to bask in the sun, hunt bugs, and just enjoy the softness of grass beneath my feet come summertime. A sunny day spent with my family will top off the perfect life.

To meet any of these kitties, please call or text 907-980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, please visit https://clearcreekcatrescue.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/clearcreek.catrescue.

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

COMMUNITY

Contributed by Randi Perlman

Back in ancient times, circa 2007, a young man with great vision made the Mat-Su his new home. He was courteous and soft-spoken, with a slight southern drawl, a talented singer-songwriter in his own right determined to help other local talent gain recognition and reach an audience. So, he made a scene and created MAKE A SCENE Magazine, a small grass-roots newspaper of sorts, showcasing fellow musicians and other artists trying to make a name for themselves. He pounded the pavement, seeking advertisers to fund his vision, getting to know all the fine individuals, companies, and organizations that populated his new Valley home.

His initial brainstorm steadily gathered steam as the townsfolk grew to know, admire, and trust him, and lo and behold,

The People’s Paper was born. A FREE newspaper, BY the people, FOR the people, with no paid staff writers, with all content submitted by community members, and with the beloved MAKE A SCENE Magazine now an insert lovingly tucked inside. Several years later, 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM was added to his expanding business offerings, and it is one of the few radio stations to include the work of local musicians in its regular rotation.

Ever since Josh Fryfogle left Mississippi and found his way to the Mat-Su Valley, his business acumen, kind spirit, and genuine concern for others have enabled countless nonprofit organizations to expand their reach, have produced wonderful music events at various venues, have boosted sales and visibility for countless businesses, including my own, and have created meaningful partnerships throughout our community. Josh and his team, particularly Bryce Burkhart who has been Josh’s right-hand man behind the scenes since the early days, have given folks an actual voice in shaping that community and

growing borough in Alaska.

MAKE A SCENE Media now offers a full range of services and an array of digital and print platforms. By combining print, radio, and social media, MAKE A SCENE has been helping Alaskans get the word out for over 18 years. They provide a wide variety of unique, affordable, and creative marketing opportunities and event management options. AND they know EVERYBODY in town, so they are familiar with everyone you and your business would like to connect with.

This all might sound like an advertisement for MAKE A SCENE Media, but I assure you it is not, or maybe it kind of is… This is Randi Perlman, longtime Valley resident, former local business owner, and great admirer of Josh Fryfogle, his team, and his vision, reaching out to YOU, Valley residents, readers of and contributors to The People’s Paper and fans of 95.5 The Pass, asking for your help to celebrate what MAKE A SCENE Media has brought to the Valley. The MAKE A SCENE team has done so much to help our community grow, and they are approaching almost 20 years

of doing all that, so I think it’s time to turn the tables on them and show them some major love and appreciation for many jobs well done. If you have something nice you would like to say about the paper, the radio station, the crew, or any of their services, in whatever format feels right to you, please share it and let’s hear it.

EDITORS NOTE: As MAKE A SCENE Media and The People’s Paper approach 20 years in business,