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2026

Cabbage King Cashes In Again with One of the Largest Entries in Fair History

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Help ACE’s Lending Closet and You Could Win a Harley! MORE ON PAGE 2 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER

Third Annual Frost Fest: Winter Resource Expo

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COMMUNITY Unexpected Hazard

Contributed by Debra McGhan Lawerence Agosti felt the knot in his gut tighten as he waited for a response on his radio. Nothing. Darkness was closing in fast, and the falling snow made it harder and harder to see. Standing on the rails of his snowmachine, he tried pressing the radio button and calling his buddy again. Still nothing. For years, he and his family and friends

had been riding these hills and trails. He’d felt confident and happy. Today he felt mad at himself and keenly aware he had screwed up big time. He’d taken too much for granted. Somehow, one of their friends had become separated from their threeman group while rid-ing across the hills. Now he realized he had no idea where to look. He also knew, no matter what happened, they didn’t have time to make it back to the truck tonight. Normally he carried plenty of emergency supplies, but he’d failed to replenish his gear for this ride. He’d been focused on the excitement of riding in fresh snow. Now it had become heavy, wet snow that made it a huge challenge to ride. He could feel it covering his body and soaking through his gloves. Hitting the call button, he tried again. “Hey partner, you got a copy?” His heart slammed against his chest with relief when the radio crackled to life and his missing friend finally answered the call.

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“I’m here,” came the response. “I’ve been searching for you guys. I’m on a ridge overlooking the lake. Can you see the island?” Agosti and his other friend searched the fading light. “There it is,” his friend said, pointing out the is-land just ahead through the falling snow. “Yeah, we see it,” he told his friend on the radio. “Okay, let’s all head there and we can meet up.” Relief flooded through every pore of Agosti’s body when he and his friends were finally reunited. “We are going to have to hunker down and wait out this storm,” he said. “We need to build a shelter and try to get some protection.” As they searched their meager supplies, his fear and frustration rose again. He had managed to scrounge up one emergency space blanket for three grown men, one hand warmer and no way to light a fire because the two Bic lighters he carried in his bag were both soaking wet. His friends had even less to of-fer. Working together, they managed to dig out a small, crude snow shelter and the three men crawled in-side. It didn’t take long before the discomfort of trying to lie still in the tiny, cramped space became un-bearable. The cold made their bodies ache, and Agosti and one of his friends decided they were better off trying to get one of the sleds started for warmth. As the night wore on, the real possibility they might not make it out alive hit him hard. He cursed his lack of preparedness

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and swore, if they did survive, he’d make sure he never left without a full stash of emergency gear. When daylight dawned, weak and weary, the men set out for the trailhead. It didn’t take long before they spotted a posse of friends and family heading their direction. Relief flooded through the group. They were going to make it out alive. This time. Agosti knew this hard-fought lesson would stay with him for the rest of his riding days. He planned to make sure he nev-er found himself in a similar situation in the future. September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Take the time to attend the 18th annual Mat-Su Preparedness Expo at the Menard Sports Center on Saturday, September 26, from 10am–3pm and ensure you and your family and friends are prepared for all types of emergencies and disasters. This free event, made possible thanks to the Mat-Su Borough Department of Emergency Services, Alaska Safe Riders, AARP Alaska, Links Mat-Su, the American Red Cross, the Mat-Su Health Foun-dation and more than 90 other exhibitors and sponsors, features lots of hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, safety equipment and much more for all ages. Get all the details at alaskasaferiders.org or ready.matsugov.us. Event Info: 18th annual Mat-Su Preparedness Expo; Saturday, September 26, 10am–3pm; Menard Sports Center; free; alaskasaferiders.org; ready.matsugov.us. Photos by Debra McGhan.

Help ACE’s Lending Closet and You Could Win a Harley!

Contributed by Annette Johnson Valley organization ACE needs your help, and you could win a 2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Pro Street Breakout. Raffle tickets are only $20 each. Medical equipment is expensive, and often you only need it temporarily. Then what do you do with it when you no longer need it? That’s where ACE, Austin’s Compassionate Enterprise, and the ACE Lending Closet come in. ACE provides durable medical equipment and medical supplies free of charge to individuals and families who need them. What began as a resource in the Valley has grown to serve people throughout Alaska, including rural communities that unexpectedly find themselves needing medical equipment. The story of ACE begins with a boy named Austin. On March 22, 2013, Austin was 5 years old when he was critically injured in an automobile accident in the

Valley. His mother, Tina, received the phone call no parent ever wants to receive. Austin had been severely injured and went approximately 10 minutes without signs of life before being revived. What followed were years of surgeries, hospital stays, medical procedures and challenges most families could never imagine.

Austin survived. Today, at 18 years old, Austin lives with quadriplegia and is ventilator dependent. His life is more than his medical diagnosis. His story is one of courage, determination, faith and an incredible will to keep moving forward. His journey inspired something that would eventually help thousands of others. Over the years, because of Austin’s medical needs, Tina accumulated used and unused medical equipment and supplies. Rather than allowing good equipment to go to waste, she began finding ways to pass those items along to other families who needed them. Storage became a real issue. ACE was born in 2015. Since then, donations from individuals, families, medical providers, businesses and community organizations have allowed the Lending Closet to grow tremendously. Wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and countless medi-

cal supplies have found new homes instead of going to waste. I’ve followed Austin’s story through the newspaper and social media since it happened. In August 2026, I met Tina and Austin personally. I met them because I needed to borrow medical equipment. I called Tina, explained what I needed and arranged a time. When I arrived, she had several options waiting for me. I found exactly what I needed, and ACE charges no one. As ACE continued to grow, so did its need for storage. In 2023, ACE established a large semi-permanent storage structure at the Campbell family’s property outside Palmer. The approximately 3,200-squarefoot structure gave ACE room to organize donated medical equipment on shelving so volunteers could more easily locate and distribute items. Then the relentless Palmer 2025 windstorm ripped the structure apart, damaging shelving and leaving medical equipment and supplies exposed to Alaska’s winter. It was devastating, but Tina and ACE didn’t give up. Volunteers, friends, family, churches, businesses, nonprofits and community members stepped forward to help with cleanup and recovery. ACE continued serving those in need. Today, much of ACE’s inventory must be stored in several 40-foot Conex containers. While those containers have allowed the organization to continue operating, going from Conex to Conex searching for medical equipment, especially during an Alaska winter, is difficult and inefficient.

ACE’s goal is to build or acquire a warehouse large enough to safely store, organize and distribute its medical equipment and supplies. This would be more than a storage building. It would be a permanent home for a program that helps people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives: after an accident, during an illness, following surgery, while caring for an aging parent or when a family simply cannot afford the medical equipment they need. Now, one very special donation is helping ACE move closer to that goal. An anonymous donor heard about the windstorm damage and donated a 2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Pro Street Breakout to help raise money for ACE. ACE, in partnership with the Sons of Thunder Motorcycle Club, is raffling off the Harley to raise funds for the future warehouse. Tickets are $20 each. Sons of Thunder MC is holding ARMageddon in Anchorage on October 3, an arm-wrestling tournament with a $25 entry fee. The Harley raffle will follow the tournament at 10pm. It is being held at Guido’s Pizza on International Airport Road in Anchorage. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets for the Harley raffle are still available. To purchase raffle tickets locally, call or text Annette at 907-232-5180 or Tina at 907-232-4848. Now ACE needs Alaska’s help. Buy a ticket. Share the story. Help ACE build a permanent home, and you may ride away on a Harley.

Boating Safety Class via Zoom, Oct. 10–11, 2026 Contributed by Doris Thomas “Boat America,” a six-lesson course for recreational boaters, will be offered via Zoom the mornings of Oct. 10–11 by the Eagle River Flotilla, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The class meets 9am–noon Saturday and Sunday. Students may complete the optional final exam online at home after class.

Subjects include small boat handling, trailering, legal requirements including Alaska boating law, navigation rules, emergency procedures, and personal watercraft considerations. The cost is $25, including the textbook. Eventbrite adds a $3.52 registration fee. Course info is at wow.uscgaux. info/pe_class_flyer.php?unit=170-0214&course=34128. Register directly at

tinyurl.com/2cvajwst. The Zoom link will be provided after registration. Early registration is encouraged so the flotilla has time to mail the textbook before class. For questions or help registering online, call (907) 694-3570 or email cgauxeagleriver@gmail.com. This course meets safety certification requirements in many states, and some

insurance companies offer discounts to skippers who complete the course. Event Info: “Boat America” boating safety class presented by the Eagle River Flotilla, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary; Oct. 10–11, 9am– noon Saturday and Sunday; via Zoom; $25 plus $3.52 Eventbrite fee; register at tinyurl. com/2cvajwst; questions: (907) 694-3570 or cgauxeagleriver@gmail.com.

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Hidden Whiskey Lounge in the Mat-Su Valley Contributed by Joshua Cruz

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Behind the doors of the Clock Tower, above the familiar dining room of Carina’s, a different world is waiting. Follow the staircase upward and the surroundings begin to change. The light becomes warmer. Conversation slows. Leather seating, vintage-inspired rugs, chandeliers and glowing whiskey shelves transform the second floor into a hidden retreat unlike anything else in the Mat-Su Valley. This is Carina’s Lounge, which appears to be the first and only dedicated whiskey lounge in the Mat-Su Valley. While other local restaurants and bars serve whiskey, this hidden upstairs destination places it at the center of the experience, with an international collection, guided tasting flights and hand-carved clear ice. Created for unhurried evenings and memorable conversations, the lounge invites guests to settle in, discover a remarkable whiskey and stay awhile. It is refined without being intimidating, intimate without feeling exclusive and designed to make every visit feel like the discovery of a well-kept secret.

Behind the bar is a carefully assembled collection of nearly 50 whiskeys from around the world. Scotland, Ireland, Japan, India, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States are all represented. Recognizable favorites share the shelves with bottles many guests may never have encountered before. Guests do not need to be whiskey experts to enjoy the experience. Three-whiskey tasting flights offer an approachable way to explore the influence of different countries, grains, traditions and barrels. Each flight tells a story and turns an ordinary drink into a journey through the world of whiskey. The smallest details are given special attention. Signature pours can be served over directionally frozen, hand-carved clear ice, each piece prepared as part of the presentation rather than treated as an afterthought. From the glassware and

lighting to the pace of service, the entire room is designed to make an evening feel extraordinary. Carina’s Lounge can begin the night, complete it or become the destination itself. Guests can enjoy a whiskey upstairs before dinner, return after their meal or spend the evening sharing a flight with friends in one of the lounge’s comfortable conversation areas. The lounge is open upstairs Friday and Saturday evenings at Carina’s at the Clock Tower, 290 N. Yenlo St., Wasilla.

Mat-Su Kabayan’s 16th Annual Gala

Contributed by Lhing McNeala

Child Feeding Program 907-357-5439

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Mat-Su Kabayan celebrates 16 years of service, unity, and Filipino pride. This year marks the 16th Mat-Su Kabayan Annual Gala, a special occasion to celebrate another year of service, accomplishments, and togetherness. This year’s gala carries a special Pampanga theme, “Leguan ning Alaya: Ing Pamana, Dangal at Kulturang Kapampangan.” It celebrates the beauty, legacy, honor, and rich traditions of the Kapampangan people. Located in Central Luzon, north of Manila, Pampanga is known for its proud Kapampangan traditions, flavorful cuisine, music, and vibrant way of life. Through this year’s presentation, Mat-Su Kabayan hopes to bring a little piece of Pampanga to Alaska and give everyone an opportunity to experience and appreciate its unique traditions. We are honored to have Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries as the Honorary Speaker for this year’s gala. Mayor DeVries has been a longtime friend and valued supporter of the Filipino community. Her genuine interest and encouragement have made her a meaningful part of the Kabayan family, and we are grateful for her friendship and continued support. One of the accomplishments closest to our hearts is our scholarship program, which encourages young Filipinos to pursue higher education and work toward their dreams. This year, Mat-Su Kabayan is honored to recognize Kourtni M. and Lorelei A.,

OBITUARY

both graduates of Colony High School, as our scholarship recipients. We congratulate them and wish them success as they begin this next chapter. Our young people are an important part of our future. We hope they continue to reach their goals, carry with them the values they have learned, and someday give back to others. Another memorable event was our Easter Egg Hunt, which welcomed more than 500 children and their parents. The children enjoyed meeting the Easter Bunny, searching for colorful eggs, and receiving Easter baskets and giveaways. Seeing their smiles and excitement made the day special for everyone. As the new school year began, Mat-Su Kabayan also held a Back-to-School outreach. We distributed 150 backpacks filled with school supplies, with items for students from preschool through secondary school. Families also enjoyed grilled hot dogs, cookies, refreshments, and other treats. Our participation in Bridge Builders Anchorage allowed us to meet people from different backgrounds and share a glimpse of the Philippines with them. We also extended our outreach to Fairbanks, connecting with fellow Filipinos and friends who share the same traditions. The gala will feature the Mat-Su Kabayan Community Service Award, recognizing an individual whose time, dedication, and service have made a positive difference. Many people quietly give their time behind the scenes. Our volunteers, families, supporters, and community partners

are an important part of everything we accomplish, and this award is one way we say thank you. The 16th Annual Gala is a celebration of our people, families, youth, and everyone who has been part of Mat-Su Kabayan’s journey. Guests will enjoy glazed teriyaki chicken and Traeger-smoked beef tenderloin, along with appetizers and desserts catered by Peppercini from Anchorage. Of course, a Filipino celebration would not be complete without lechon, or roasted whole pig, one of the Philippines’ most beloved and iconic celebratory foods. The menu will also include Filipino favorites such as lumpia, pancit, and bistek Tagalog. The evening will culminate with a special performance by the Kabayan cultural dancers, featuring traditional music and dances inspired by the stories and traditions of Pampanga. After 16 years, we remain grateful for every person who has helped Mat-Su Kabayan along the way. From our youth and families to our volunteers, supporters, and community partners, each one has helped make this journey meaningful. We celebrate not only what we have accomplished, but also who we are, where we came from, and what we can accomplish when we come together. Mabuhay! Salamat po! Ticket prices are subject to change at the door. Advance purchase is strongly encouraged to secure the current ticket price. Tickets: matsukabayan.org or (907) 322-9463 or (907) 229-6638.

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Marjorie Campbell, a Beloved Friend to Many Marjorie Campbell, a beloved friend to many, was born May 19, 1930, and died July 24, 2026, peacefully at home. She was a public health nurse for many at the Wasilla Health Center and finished her career in Dillingham as an itinerant public health nurse. She was known for her

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kindness, wisdom and generosity, and as a wonderful elder and mentor. She is survived by her sister Mary and many close friends who were family. Her celebration of life took place at the United Protestant Presbyterian Church on August 22 at 2pm.

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The Dedicated Staff Behind Every Walker and Wheelchair

Contributed by Randy Miller When a Mat-Su Valley resident receives durable medical equipment following surgery, an injury or another medical need, they see the staff member who helps them find the equipment that best meets their needs. What they may not see is everything that happens behind the scenes to ensure each piece of equipment is safe, dependable and ready for use. Staff members are the driving force behind the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Lending Program, helping thousands of Valley residents access essential medical equipment each year. Their responsibilities extend far beyond distributing durable medical equipment. Every day, equipment is inspected, sanitized, repaired, organized and inventoried to ensure it is safe, functional and ready for the next person in need. One of the DME lending staff’s most important responsibilities is ensuring every donated or returned item is thoroughly cleaned before it enters service again. DME Lending staff utilizes the HUBSCRUB medical equipment cleaning system, an enclosed industrial-grade machine specifi-

cally designed to wash and disinfect durable medical equipment. The $25,000 system was purchased through a grant from the Alaska Community Foundation, providing our DME Lending Program with hospital-grade sanitation capabilities. Wheelchairs, walkers, commodes, shower chairs and other durable medical equipment undergo a comprehensive cleaning cycle using high-pressure water, hospital-grade cleaning solutions and ultraviolet (UV) light to help disinfect against pathogens including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). After cleaning, staff inspect each item and disinfect high-touch surfaces using EPA-approved germicidal bleach wipes. Donated and returned equipment is evaluated, cleaned, repaired when necessary and prepared for reuse rather than discarded. This process keeps usable medical equipment out of local landfills while extending the life of valuable community resources. Each wheelchair, walker, hospital bed or bedside commode returned to circulation represents money saved for a local family and one less item entering the waste stream. Once equipment has been cleaned and inspected, every piece receives a unique identification number and barcode before being entered into Valley Charities’ Asset Tiger asset management database. The

system allows staff to locate equipment, monitor items currently on loan, document inspections and repairs, generate inventory reports and track the grant funding source used to purchase individual pieces of durable medical equipment. Managing durable medical equipment loans requires considerable staff time. This is our five-step process: we make a courtesy reminder call the week the equipment is due to return; if borrowed equipment is not returned after the courtesy reminder call, we send an email; if it is not returned after the courtesy email reminder, we send a letter; if it is still not returned, a final letter is mailed out; and if the borrowed equipment is not returned, we must remove the

medical equipment from our inventory, which reduces the amount of equipment we can loan out. The work of the DME Lending staff is supported through a grant from the MatSu Health Foundation, which helps fund operational costs for the Durable Medical

Equipment Lending Program. Additional grants and generous community donations provide equipment and resources that allow the program to continue serving residents throughout the Valley. Their efforts have a measurable impact throughout the Mat-Su Valley. From January through August 2026 alone, the organization helped 1,486 Mat-Su Valley residents by providing access to 2,295 pieces of durable medical equipment. The lending of this equipment saved residents $494,715 compared to purchasing equipment outright. While wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and other durable medical equipment devices may be the most visible part of the program, its true strength lies in the people who make it work every day. Their impact is measured not only in dollars saved and equipment distributed, but also in independence restored, stress reduced, dignity preserved and lives improved. Every piece of equipment that leaves the durable medical lending program has passed through caring hands dedicated to making sure it is clean, safe, properly maintained, accurately tracked and ready to help another Valley resident. Valley Charities, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing life-changing programs and opportunities to Valley residents. VCI has been quietly serving the Mat-Su Borough for 70 years. Through its Housing Assistance Partnership Program, Mat-Su Reentry Program, Medical Equipment Lending Program and Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores, alongside many strong community partnerships, VCI serves the needs of Valley residents and helps them thrive. These compassionate programs encompass and fulfill VCI’s vision to make the Mat-Su Valley a healthier and happier place to reside for everyone. For more info, visit valleycharities.org or call (907) 376-5740. PIC CAPTION: Front row, left to right: Jamie, Stacey, Eric. Back row: Randy.

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Third Annual Frost Fest: Winter Resource Expo Contributed by Emily Sparks The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, in collaboration with more than a dozen local businesses and nonprofits, will host the third annual Frost Fest: Winter Resource Expo on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11am–3pm at the Palmer Train Depot. This year, the event also includes a canned food drive and pet-friendly 5K/10K. Highlights include info tables with local organizations sharing resources on winter recreation, trails, classes and more; interactive activities for all ages; gear demos on winter activities; and door prizes and giveaways from local businesses and nonprofits. New for 2026: Canned food drive. Bring canned goods to support the Palmer Food Bank and members of our community during the hardest months of the year. Those who donate will be entered for a door prize. New for 2026: Fast and Furriest pet-friendly 5K/10K sponsored by AKtive Soles and Tier 1. Details and registration info are available at AKtive Soles. “Winter in the Mat-Su can seem long and discouraging, but it is a season full of beauty and adventure,” says Taylor Raftery, executive director of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation. “Frost Fest is a time to bring people together, let families know what resources are available to make the winter a season to look forward to, and encourage opportunities for connection in the community.”

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Revel Treks and Tours is coordinating the event in collaboration with the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation. For the most up-to-date event details, visit the event page on Facebook. The event is sponsored by the Mat-Su Health Foundation. In 2025, the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation awarded more than $700,000 in grants to 14 local organizations. In addition to its grantmaking program, the foundation works with land managers, including Alaska State Parks, to apply for, manage and match federal and foundation grants. These projects leverage community donations to generate million-dollar investments in the Mat-Su, such as the Curry Ridge Connector Project and the preservation of Independence Mine State Historical Park. To date, the foundation has invested more than $3.7 million in grants across the Mat-Su Borough. Over the next five years, the foundation plans to invest an additional $2.5 million to develop sustainable trails and regional parks. For more info, contact Kierre Childers, Revel Treks and Tours event coordinator, at info@revelak.com or (907) 9031664; or Taylor Raftery, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation executive director, at traftery@matsutrails.org or (907) 7952235. Event Info: Third Annual Frost Fest: Winter Resource Expo; Saturday, Oct. 3, 11am–3pm; Palmer Train Depot; canned food drive; Fast and Furriest pet-friendly 5K/10K; event details on Facebook.

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Paradise: How a Tanning Salon Became Something More

Contributed by NaDene Silva When we purchased Paradise Tanning in Palmer in 2022, I thought we were buying a tanning salon. And we were. But over the last few years, Paradise has slowly turned into something I never really expected: a place where tanning and wellness have come together. It started with something pretty simple:

I began paying attention to our customers. Especially during our long Alaska winters, people would come in looking tired, pale, and just a little blah. After they’d been tanning a few times, they’d tell us they felt better. They looked healthier; a little color brought life back to their skin, and sometimes they honestly looked years younger. There was something about those few minutes of warmth and light in the middle of an Alaska winter that people just seemed to love. It made me wonder: Maybe there was more to light than I had ever really thought about. That curiosity eventually led us to red light therapy. Red light isn’t about getting a tan. It uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light, and as more customers started using it, we began hearing about what they were noticing. Some talked about better sleep, less joint discomfort, and feeling better overall. Others loved incorporating it into their workout, wellness, or recovery routines. Naturally, that made me want to learn even more, and eventually we found HOCATT. The first time I learned about everything this machine combined into one session, I was fascinated. HOCATT brings several wellness modalities together,

including steam, far-infrared heat, ozone, carbon dioxide, oxygen, light, microcurrents, and PEMF. Once again, we started hearing stories. People told us they were sleeping better, had more energy, felt better overall, or noticed changes in their aches and pains. One client who had dealt with chronic joint discomfort for years shared how much better she felt after incorporating HOCATT into her routine. My husband and I started using it ourselves, too. Over time, we both noticed changes, including losing some of that stubborn weight around our middles. My husband made significant improvements in his overall health and eventually was able to come off his blood-pressure medication. But through all of this, I’ve learned something important: there isn’t one magic machine, supplement, or shortcut. Our bodies respond to so many things: sleep, nutrition, hydration, movement, strength, stress, recovery, and the choices we make every day. The wellness tools we’ve brought into Paradise aren’t meant to replace those foundations. They’re tools we can use alongside them. That’s ultimately what led us to create what we now call the Paradise Journey.

The idea is simple: start with the foundations. Sleep better. Eat real food and prioritize protein. Hydrate. Walk. Build muscle. Give your body time to recover. Then, if you want them, there are additional tools that may support you along the way. So yes, we’re still Paradise Tanning. You can absolutely still come in and get your tan. But Paradise has become something much bigger than I imagined when we bought it in 2022. What started with tanning made us curious about light. That led us to red light therapy, which led us further into wellness. Somewhere along the way, a tanning salon became a place where we’re having conversations about sleep, nutrition, movement, recovery, and taking better care of our bodies. I definitely didn’t see that coming when we bought Paradise, but I’m really glad it’s where the journey took us. NaDene Silva NaDene Silva is the owner of Paradise Tanning & Wellness in Palmer, Alaska. Paradise offers UV and spray tanning, red light therapy, HOCATT wellness sessions, body-composition tracking, wellness education, and metabolic wellness support, including access to lab testing, peptides, and GLP-1 options.

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Youth Are Our Future! Contributed by Michael Carson

For their future, we need to provide youth safe places and promote healthy lifestyles for them. Safe places will build trust to share strong emotional feelings and deal with stress. In short, skill building to cope with the everyday challenges they face, and there are many. 43% of high school students report feeling sad and hopeless for two weeks straight.

In those safe places, healthy lifestyles can be discussed to assist youth in making positive choices to become resilient and shape the quality of their lives. And youth drug prevention and education is vital to support overall health, academic success and, most importantly, lower the long-term risk of addiction. We know delaying drug use reduces the chance of addiction later in life. And many adults dealing with substance use disorders started in adolescence.

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Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free. The stated outcome of the summit will be asking you to advocate and support youth drug prevention/education with phone calls and letters to state legislators, the AK Department of Education and local school boards. I strongly believe we can come together as parents, school districts, communities and the state to keep our youth safe, healthy and thriving! Event Info: Youth Summit; October 9, 9am–4pm; Glenn Massay Theater, adjacent to Mat-Su College; community youth providers and vendors set up at 8am and are available during lunch and until 5pm.

MyHouse and the Mat-Su Youth Task Force are hosting a “Youth Summit” October 9, from 9am–4pm at the Glenn Massay Theater, adjacent to Mat-Su College. Community youth providers and vendors will set up at 8am and be available during lunch and until 5pm. Box lunches will be offered during an hour-and-a-half lunch, and/or folks can decide to go out. The AM session will set the stage with the history and phases of the opioid epidemic and how we got here with speakers. The PM sessions will highlight social media addiction, a youth panel and close with Red Ribbon Week activities, October 23–31. The theme this year is: Make a Difference.

Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame Announces 10 Inductees

Contributed by Bonnie L Jack The Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame has selected 10 women to honor during a virtual induction ceremony this fall at alaskawomenshalloffame.org. They will be recognized for accomplishments within their communities, occupations and professions, and across our great state. Hear their stories at 6pm Tuesday, Oct. 20, live and free through the website. They have shaped the face of Alaska for decades, mentored many, and continue to inspire future generations. They are: Carrie Anvil, deceased, Yupik, Yu-

kon-Kuskokwim region, served as a tribal judge for 30 years, always standing up for the civil rights of elderly people and children. She also promoted Yupik Native arts and was Togiak’s first BIA teacher. Elizabeth “Betsy” Arnold, recently deceased, reported statewide and nationally. She was an award-winning journalist in print, radio, and television and a legendary journalism professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage who inspired hundreds of students to pursue writing and journalism careers. She was called “one of NPR’s most respected and talented journalists.” Diane Carpenter, deceased, worked in the Yukon-Kuskokwim area and was instrumental in creating many valuable programs, especially those benefiting Alaska women. Her work included incorporating communities to create local schools so children could stay in their villages. She was also a leader in creating Alaska Village Electric Cooperative. Joyce Galleher, deceased, Nome and Anchorage, was known for “Blooming Where You Are Planted.” She took a positive approach to becoming more civic-minded and active in politics, served on many state and national for-profit and nonprofit boards and commissions, and was co-owner of Munz Northern Airlines.

Jana Hayenga, Anchorage, is a beacon for enterprising women entrepreneurs, owning and operating many retail shops featuring children’s toys, women’s clothing, books, yarn, and items from local artisans and craftspeople. A philanthropist, giving back is her motto as she serves on many nonprofit boards. Linda Hulburt, Fairbanks, is a life insurance agent, educator, and philanthropist through her generosity with money and time. She “lived by giving and sharing you get more than you give” and helped reform Alaska trust laws to be among the nation’s most progressive. She advocated for adult literacy throughout Alaska, was awarded the meritorious service award for her community support of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and generously supports community education efforts. Olga Michael, deceased, Kwethluk and statewide, was a traditional healer and midwife incorporating Yupik methods, the wife of an archpriest, and an English teacher. She was the first North American woman canonized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Natalie Norris, deceased, Anchorage and Wasilla, was known for promoting sled dog sports and working sled dogs. She played an important role in starting the Anchorage Fur Rondy in 1946, was known nationally and internationally for purebred Siberian and Malamute dogs, and was known as Alaska’s sled dog ambassador. Constance Taylor, Cordova, is a trail-

blazer and role model as a commercial fisher, the first woman seine boat captain in Prince William Sound, and a staunch supporter of the Open Meetings Act. She is also a printing and publishing company owner who printed many books featuring Alaska stories and themes, a supporter of the arts, an educator, a public servant, an author, and a community advocate. Deborah Williams, statewide, is an attorney and one of six trustees on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. She is known throughout the state as an environmentalist and for her work enhancing air quality. She was instrumental in creating ARLIS, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services, at UAA and is a strong supporter of Alaska youth through various programs. Biographies and photos of all women inducted since 2009 are at alaskawomenshalloffame.org. Nominations open shortly after this year’s induction ceremony in late October 2026; see the website for the form. The Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations can be made through the website. For info, call (907) 279-4836 or email alaskawhof@gmail.com. Event Info: Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame virtual induction ceremony; Tuesday, October 20, 6pm; live and free at alaskawomenshalloffame.org.

Hunger Action Month: Turning Compassion into Action in the Mat-Su Valley Contributed by Mallory Saltamacchio September is Hunger Action Month, a time to shine a light on food insecurity and, more importantly, remind our community that each of us can make a difference. For Kids Kupboard, a local nonprofit dedicated to combating childhood hunger in the Mat-Su Valley, food insecurity isn’t simply a statistic. It is a child sitting down at school without knowing where their next meal will come from. It is a parent trying to stretch a grocery budget already stretched too thin. It is a grandparent suddenly raising grandchildren and wondering how to provide enough food for the family. And sometimes, it is as simple as one car breaking down. One community member picks up 25 lunches daily to distribute to multiple families. Those lunches aren’t just 25 bags of food; they represent meals for 25 children. If that driver’s car breaks down, and it has, 25 kids could potentially go without lunch that day. That’s the reality of food insecurity. Behind every meal is a network of people, vehicles, volunteers, donations and community support working together to make sure children have access to food. Food insecurity doesn’t look the same

for everyone. Consider a grandfather who suddenly finds himself caring for three grandchildren. As a veteran living on a limited income, his budget leaves little room for unexpected expenses, including rising grocery costs. He comes to Kids Kupboard for food for his grandchildren, but getting out regularly isn’t always easy. As temperatures drop, the cold takes a toll on his body and makes regular trips for food even more difficult. Then there is a mother navigating a divorce. She is doing everything she can to keep her family going, but after paying for life’s necessities, there simply isn’t enough money left for much more than the bare essentials. For her, Kids Kupboard provides more than food. It relieves some pressure and allows her to put what resources she has toward keeping her family stable during an incredibly difficult time. These stories are different, but they share something important: circumstances can change quickly, and food insecurity can affect families who never expected to need help. Hunger Action Month, and every month for that matter, is an opportunity to move beyond awareness and turn concern into action. There are many ways to help Kids Kupboard continue providing nutritious meals to children and families throughout

theme is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The Empty Bowl is more than an upscale brunch of food, fun and fundraising. It is an opportunity for the community to come together around a very real issue: making sure children don’t have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Tickets are currently on sale, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Funds raised help Kids Kupboard continue its mission of feeding the success of Alaska’s children. As the weather gets colder and winter approaches, the need doesn’t disappear. In fact, challenges facing families can become even greater. Transportation becomes harder, heating costs compete with grocery bills, and getting children the food they need requires an even stronger community effort. This September, Kids Kupboard invites the Mat-Su Valley to take action because when our community comes together, we can make sure no child faces hunger alone. More info: kidskupboard.org. Event Info: Kids Kupboard’s annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser; Dec. 6, 2026; Knik Landing; theme: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”; tickets and sponsorships available; kidskupboard.org.

the Mat-Su Valley. Donate: Financial contributions help cover everyday food distribution costs, from purchasing food and supplies to keeping vehicles on the road and supporting the staff who coordinate the work. Donate food: Kids Kupboard regularly needs peanut butter, jelly, lunch meat, sliced cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, fruit cups, sandwich bags, paper lunch sacks and other pantry staples. Volunteer: Volunteers are essential to preparing, packing and distributing meals. Whether you have a few hours to give or can volunteer regularly, your time directly supports local children. Decorate a lunch bag: Through Kids Kupboard’s Lunch with Love program, community members can decorate brown paper lunch bags with encouraging messages and artwork. A simple decorated bag can turn an ordinary meal into something that reminds a child their community cares about them. Support Kids Kupboard when you shop: Community members can participate in programs such as Fred Meyer Community Rewards and RoundUp to provide ongoing support through everyday purchases. You’re invited to attend Kids Kupboard’s annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Dec. 6, 2026, at the new Knik Landing. This year’s

Lighting Times Sep/Oct in Mat-Su: Sep 20

Yom Kippur

7:44PM

Sep 25

Shabbat

7:28PM

Sep 26

8:47PM Light candles after 8:47PM from a pre-existing flame

Oct 2

Shabbat

7:05PM

Oct 3

8:25PM Light candles after 8:25PM from a pre-existing flame

Oct 9

6:43PM

Oct 16

6:21PM

Shabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls, as young as the age of three, 18 minutes before sunset or one and a quarter daylight hours before sunset, on Friday afternoon or on the eve of Jewish holidays. They light candles to usher in peace and blessings to their homes and to the world.

* Light candles from pre-existing flame PLEASE NOTE: Shabbat candles should be lit before sunset. It is a desecration of the Shabbat to light candles after sunset. Blessing: Baruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitzvotav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bbat Ko-desh.

Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

For more information, visit chabad.org or contact the Mat-Su Jewish Center Chabad 907-350-1787

Jewish g as the s before quarter nset, on e eve of candles sings to e world.

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Brochures Rack Cards Business Cards Envelopes Stationery

akalc.org (907) 375-6000

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

One Year in the Valley: A Thank You from Iron Beauty Contributed by Sue Scott

I really cannot believe I am writing this already, but Iron Beauty is turning one. What a year. When I opened Iron Beauty, I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted. I wanted to create a place here in the Valley where people felt comfortable and could come in and actually talk, ask questions, tell me what is bothering them, and learn about their options without feeling pressured into doing something. This year definitely hasn’t been perfect. I have learned A LOT. Some things

worked exactly how I thought they would. Some things did not. I have changed my mind, changed how we do things, added services, taken things away, and learned to listen when something could be better. I want to know why something works. I want to know if there is a better way to do it. Most importantly, I want to know if it actually makes sense for the person sitting in front of me. That has probably been my favorite part of this whole year: getting to know the people who walk through our doors. You have trusted me with your skin,

your hormones, your weight-loss journey, your hair loss, your insecurities, and other things you have not really talked about with anyone else. That means a lot to me. So really, this is just my way of saying thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on a new little business in Wasilla. Thank you for coming back. Thank you for telling your friends about us. Thank you for the reviews, the shares, the messages, the feedback, and even the questions that make me go home and research something for three hours. You guys have made this first year what it was.

Five Old-Fashioned Ways to Get Your Body Ready for Winter Contributed by Rose Sullivan, All About Herbs Long before there was a supplement aisle, people in cold climates prepared their bodies the same way they prepared their pantries: in late summer and fall, and with purpose. Five of those traditions, all of them simple and most of them inexpensive, are still worth doing. DIY elderberry syrup: Elderberries ripen at the end of summer, which is exactly why folk tradition across Europe and North America turned them into syrup right at the door of winter. A batch is nothing fancy; dried berries simmered down with water, spices and then stirred together with honey once it cools. It keeps in the fridge for weeks, and it tastes good enough that

nobody in the house has to be talked into a spoonful! Trade the second cup of coffee for roasted dandelion root: Dandelion root is harvested in the fall, when the plant pulls its energy back down into the ground. Roasted, it makes a dark, malty, caffeine-free drink that folk herbalists have long paired with the change of seasons. This coffee alternative is a digestive bitter, traditionally used for preparing the body for rich meals in the months ahead. In a place where the sun sets in the afternoon for months, a gently energizing hot drink is worth having on the shelf. Get to know propolis: Propolis is the sticky antibacterial resin honeybees gather from tree buds, used to seal and protect the hive. Beekeeping cultures from ancient

Alaska Whole Life Festival Returns Contributed by Cindy Calzada I am the owner of the Alaska Whole Life Festival, which is held in Anchorage twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The upcoming Fall Festival is October 3–4, 2026, at the Coast Inn on Lake Hood in Anchorage from 11am–6pm each day. It’s a place where you can experience all that the holistic and metaphysical community has to offer. Some of my personal favorite modes of healing are massage therapy, hydrotherapy, like mineral baths and hot showers, fasting, herbology, aromatherapy, exercise like yoga and tai chi, hands-on healing, like Reiki and energy healing, blood and hormone testing, rebalancing your body with nutrition, vitamins and minerals, tapping, mudras, and rock and crystal healing. At the Alaska Whole Life Festival, we promote these kinds of things and much more. There are so many different modes of

healing therapy. When you come to the festival, you can sample a variety of healing therapies that exist so you can see what things work for you. Every festival is different, with different things to experience each time, as well as many of the same tried and true vendors. In the past, we’ve had vendors promoting acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic care, Reiki, energy work, massage, homeopathy and sound healing. You never know what you will find. You’ll find vendors that specialize in helping you strengthen and support your emotional health with things like mindfulness and meditation. Getting in touch with your spiritual side can also help you. We promote spiritual centers that give people a place to share and experience happiness through spirit. We are also a promoter of all things metaphysical. Expand your awareness of body and mind and open yourself up to

Egypt onward saved it and used it themselves, most often for the throat and to support immunity. It comes as a tincture, a spray, a lozenge or a capsule. If you keep one bee product in the house through winter besides honey, this is a strong candidate. Eat something alive every day: Traditionally fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt and kombucha were how northern households kept vegetables and dairy edible until spring, and they happen to deliver live cultures along with the calories. A large share of the body’s immune tissue lives in the gut, which is a good reason not to let that habit lapse in November. Look for raw, unpasteurized or live cultures listed on the label. Keep an aromatic blend on the count-

readings by psychics and intuitives, card and crystal readers, and other types of metaphysical readings. Get some insight into who you are and how to discover your path. Sometimes you just want some help with everyday things that bother you, and having someone who is intuitive or psychic or healing can help you with those everyday difficulties and assist you in discovering what you need and how to grow and heal. You will also find lots of beautiful and feel-good products to buy, like art, rocks and crystals, jewelry and clothing from the many vendors and artists that participate. Our festival offers a lecture series all day each day where you can learn about a variety of topics. It’s a learning experience! At the October 3–4, 2026 festival, our keynote speaker will be John Nelson, co-owner of All About Herbs in Wasilla. He will be talking about the Laws of the Harvest on Saturday and Self-Sufficiency: From Principle to Pantry on Sunday, which will include a special demonstration. The keynote

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I still have a million ideas, probably too many. I still have things I want to bring to the Valley, things I want to learn, and things I want to make better. So, year two should be interesting. Come celebrate our first year with us! Thursday, October 1, from 6:30–8:30pm at Iron Beauty, Wasilla. I would really love to see you there. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for supporting Iron Beauty. Most of all, thank you for trusting me. One year down. Let’s see what we can do with year two. Event Information: Celebrate Iron Beauty’s first year; Thursday, October 1, 6:30–8:30pm; Iron Beauty, Wasilla.

er: The old story goes that four thieves survived robbing plague houses in medieval France because they’d covered themselves in a vinegar steeped with clove, cinnamon, rosemary and lemon. The story is almost certainly embroidered, but versions of Thieves Oil are still mixed today as essential oil blends. Diffuse it or dilute it with water and vinegar for wiping down doorknobs and countertops during the months when the whole household is indoors sharing air. Visit All About Herbs for more winter wisdom. If you’d like a closer look at where your body is starting from, we offer Cell Wellbeing epigenetic scans, a non-medical wellness report that maps which nutritional and environmental factors your system is asking for support with. And if you just want to ask questions, that’s free; come in and speak to a Wellness Consultant.

lectures will be at 1pm each day and will last an hour. At John’s booth, you will have the opportunity to talk to him about his keynote talks, as well as all that they offer at All About Herbs, including a special focus on the Lifewave brand of light technology they promote. There’s so much more out there than a lot of people realize. Open yourself up to new ideas and discover what is possible. Cost is $10/day or $5/day for seniors 65+, military and students with ID. Includes entry into our lecture series. No charge to come in from 5–6pm each day. See our Facebook page, Alaska Whole Life Festival, for more details. Event Info: Alaska Whole Life Festival; October 3–4, 2026, 11am–6pm each day; Coast Inn on Lake Hood, Anchorage; keynote lectures at 1pm each day; $10/ day or $5/day for seniors 65+, military and students with ID; free entry from 5–6pm; Facebook: Alaska Whole Life Festival.

Alaska Health Fair Returns to Mat-Su College for Palmer Community Health Fair Contributed by Wendy Carpenter

Alaska Health Fair invites Mat-Su Valley residents to take a proactive step toward better health at the upcoming Palmer Community Health Fair at Mat-Su College. The community health fair will bring together affordable health screenings, blood testing, health education, and local organizations and resources, all in one convenient location. For many Alaskans, a health fair is an opportunity to learn important information

about their health before a concern becomes a bigger problem. Alaska Health Fair offers affordable blood tests without the need for insurance, making routine health screening more accessible to members of the community. Participants can take advantage of a variety of health screenings and educational resources, visit with local health and wellness organizations, and learn more about ways to stay healthy throughout the year. Blood testing appointments can be scheduled in advance, and community

members are encouraged to visit AlaskaHealthFair.org for the latest event information, available services, pricing, and appointment scheduling. Alaska Health Fair has been serving communities throughout the state for decades with a simple mission: helping Alaskans take charge of their health through affordable screenings, education, and prevention. Whether it has been a while since you checked your numbers or you simply want to stay on top of your health, stop by the Palmer Community Health Fair at

Mat-Su College. Bring a friend, bring a family member, and make your health a priority. Learn more and schedule blood testing at AlaskaHealthFair.org. Alaska Health Fair: Keeping Alaskans Healthy. Event Information: Palmer Community Health Fair at Mat-Su College; October 10, 2026, 9am–1pm; 8295 College Dr., Palmer, AK 99645; learn more and schedule blood testing at AlaskaHealthFair.org.

From Plants to Pills: The History of Herbal Medicine and Modern Pharmaceuticals Contributed by Alexander Harmon, Nature’s Remedies

For thousands of years, people have turned to the natural world for ways to support health and treat illness. Long before modern pharmacies and laboratories existed, plants were among humanity’s primary sources of medicine. Ancient civilizations in China, India, Egypt, Greece and the Middle East documented the use of herbs, roots, flowers, seeds and other natural substances for a wide variety of health purposes. Traditional systems such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda developed extensive knowledge of medicinal contact -1787 plants. Ancient Egyptian medical writings described numerous plant-based preparations, while Greek physicians, including

Hippocrates, recorded medicinal uses for plants. Over generations, this knowledge was passed from one healer to another and eventually became the foundation for many traditional herbal practices still used today. The rise of modern medicine did not completely replace herbal medicine; it built upon some of its discoveries. Scientists have isolated active compounds from plants and studied them in laboratories. Aspirin, for example, was developed from research involving compounds associated with willow bark. Other important pharmaceutical substances have also originated from or been inspired by plants. Today, however, the pharmaceutical industry operates very differently from traditional herbal practice. Modern drugs are

generally manufactured to contain specific active ingredients in carefully measured doses. They can undergo extensive laboratory testing and clinical trials to evaluate effectiveness, interactions and potential side effects. This standardization can provide important advantages, particularly when treating serious or rapidly developing medical conditions. Herbal products, by comparison, can contain multiple naturally occurring compounds, and their strength and composition may vary depending on the plant variety, growing conditions, harvesting and preparation. “Natural” does not automatically mean safe, and some herbs can interact with medications or cause adverse effects. Quality, proper identification, dosage and professional guidance therefore

matter. At the same time, the long history of herbal medicine reminds us that plants have played an important role in human health for centuries. Modern pharmaceutical science and traditional herbal knowledge do not necessarily have to be viewed as enemies. Studying both approaches carefully can help us understand what works, what does not and where each may have a place. The lesson from history may be simple: stay curious, stay educated and continue studying the natural world. Plants have been part of humanity’s medical story for thousands of years, and scientific research can help us better understand their potential while also recognizing their limitations.

Contributed by Matt Tunseth

This article was reported by Mat-Su Sentinel and reprinted for you in partnership with

The People’s Paper. CONTINUED FROM COVER!

www.matsusentinel.com

Cabbage King Cashes In Again with One of the Largest Entries in Fair History Fair. Anchorage’s Paige Kendrick said her friend, AnnMarie Henderson, convinced the first-time gardener to get involved this spring as a fun project. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever tried to grow,” Kendrick said of her 12.3-pound cabbage she named “Mega Mind.” Junior winner Hunter Sterling, 12, said he first started getting interested in growing big vegetables during a trip to the fair four years ago. “I didn’t have anything to do at the fair,” he said. “And I saw a massive pumpkin.” Sterling stumbled across a giant pumpkin grown by Dale Marshall and was hooked. A couple of years later, he switched to cabbages. He said the trick is keeping pests off by using raised boxes and carefully examining the cabbage leaves. “See those holes,” he said, pointing to another competitor’s plant. “That’s from slugs.” Sterling, who also entered seven turkeys in the livestock competition, said he likes growing things because he can

key to his success. “She’s a tremendous support,” he said. “There’s only so much you can say about cabbages, but she listens.” Wartinbee was among a cadre of officials that included two professionals from the Alaska Division of Measurement Standards to ensure the accuracy of the scales. The rules are strict: cabbages can’t be split or disfigured, no foreign objects may be added, and roots must be trimmed within 2 inches of the leaves. Most of the cabbages entered Friday were cut just hours before the contest and driven to the fairgrounds. Members of the Colony High JROTC program were enlisted to lift the massive vegetables onto plastic sheets or tarps and carry them into the sawdust-ringed livestock pen at the center of the Farm Exhibits building. A Field of Newcomers Though the contest was dominated by familiar names, a few newcomers got their hands dirty in what has become one of the signature spectacles of the State

COMMUNITY

watch the progress of what he’s raising. “It started as a seed and became … that,” he said, pointing toward his cabbage. Some of the most enthusiastic entries came from the Native Village of Eklutna, which produced a pair of entries and showed up en masse wearing matching “Savage Cabbage” T-shirts with the word “Gabusda” (“cabbage” in Dena’ina) printed on the bottom. Eklutna Garden Manager Alex Rogers Spexarth said she thinks the key to growing a good cabbage is fish emulsion fertilizer. Growing the cabbages was a community affair for the village, which hosted a “cabbage party” the day before the contest before coming out to support Rogers and Natalie Velez, the tribe’s Land and

Environment Director. “We’re all leaves on the same cabbage,” Rogers said. Photo: Cabbage champion Scott Robb explains the best way to keep critters out of cabbages at the 30th annual Cabbage Weigh-Off at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer on Sept. 4, 2026. Photo credit: Cade Wolf/Mat-Su Sentinel.

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

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The Bright Lights Book Project: Farewell, Alaska State Fair, 2026 Contributed by Alys Culhane The morning after the final day of the 2026 Alaska State Fair dawned rainy and cold. This failed to put a damper on my mood. In fact, I walked around with a decided bounce in my step, for this year, the BLBP outreach/book distribution efforts were a huge success. I, along with one staff person and approximately 30 volunteers, parted company with the contents of 40-plus boxes containing approximately 40 books each. These books came to the BLBP via the MatSu School District, who earlier in the year closed Meadow Lakes and Larson Elementary Schools. Prior to the fair, BLBP President Pete Praetorius placed the majority of the cleaned, stamped and vetted books in 12 repurposed newspaper boxes in the vicinity of the Red Trail. The boxes had been passed on to the BLBP by Mat-Su Sentinel newspaper founder/editor Amy Bushatz, who acquired them when the Sentinel purchased the Frontiersman newspaper. Community members painted and then lent the boxes to the BLBP. The boxes were placed in theme-related locations: Brad’s Reptile House, Cornucopia Ice Cream, the Bee Demo, the Petting Zoo, the Eckert Garden, the Tiny Tots children’s area, the Mat-Su College Cabin, the Alaska State Fair recycling area, the Irwin Building,

the Hoskins Building and Raven Hall. The remaining books were available at the Hitchin’ Post in the France Equestrian Center, located off the Yellow Trail, adjacent to the horse arena and stables. The Alaska State Fair program called our site “The Hitching Post Family Rest Stop.” During the fair, it was occupied by the BLBP and Kids Kupboard. The former provided free books, and the latter provided snacks and coloring materials. The addition of patio furniture and a gas stove/fireplace created a warm and inviting atmosphere for all fair attendees. There was also a child’s reading/storytime area. There was no downtime for the BLBP or Kids Kupboard board members, staff or volunteers. The cabin was always full. There were, during the duration of the fair, horse-related events. I was particularly impressed by the 4-H’ers, who all exhibited a high degree of professionalism on and off their horses, and as well their mounts, who were excellent steady eddy companions. My favorite horsey event was the children’s costume class. Here the young riders appeared in the ring in a variety of costumes. My favorite was called “On Safari.” Two children, a striped blanket under them, were led by a third child who was wearing a safari hat. The horse ambled along beside its owner around the arena, oblivious to the crowd that clapped when it passed by the

911: What Is Your Emergency? Contributed by Aimee Moats Imagine a high-stakes emergency dispatch center in Orange County, where the air crackles with tension and the sirens never stop. This is where national speaker and best-selling author Cheryl Lynn Edmond began her career, navigating the intense world of police dispatching amid gang activity and life-or-death calls. Now an organizational leadership consultant, Cheryl

is bringing those hard-earned lessons in communication and leadership to us. Valley Pray and Play Moms and Stonecroft Ministries invite you to an unforgettable lunch and learn: “911: What Is Your Emergency?” Beyond her thrilling stories, Cheryl will dive into the Myers-Briggs Assessment, a tool used by Fortune 500 companies for more than 50 years, to show you how to transform communication

bleachers. Like last year, the BLBP conducted several storytime sessions. This year, BLBP volunteers read to rescue pigs, ponies, the Scottish Highland cow and, again, to an alligator. Last year, I literally stumbled across Alli, who was going for a stroll on the Red Trail. I then talked to her keeper, Cyndy Lopez, who agreed that she should do an alligator storytime. Alli and the children were so receptive that we agreed to do this again this year. During the first and second weeks of the fair, Cyndy respectively read the children Alligator Gumbo and Alligator Soup. Alli did not seem at all bothered by the books’ content, and in fact, both times she rested in Cyndy’s arms. After, Cyndy allowed the children, one at a time, to touch Alli, providing them with specific directives and as well, info about her charge. For instance, we learned that Alli, age 38, eats and digests more food in warm, as opposed to cold weather. She also eats while in the water, a diet that’s mainly comprised of chicken. A few days before the third and final storytime, I mentioned to an Orange Parking Lot attendant that there was to be a final Sunday evening Alligator Storytime. Hearing this, he asked if he could come along. I said yes; then I watched as his eyes lit up. And so, that evening, an entourage, which consisted of me pulling a wagon full of

within your family, your business and your community. Join us Tuesday, October 13, from 10am–12pm at the Faith Bible Gym, 14159 W. Hollywood Road in Big Lake. For just $15, cash only, you will enjoy a captivating keynote presentation, door prizes, a delicious catered lunch by a local Thai chef and free childcare featuring fun activities. Please provide a sack lunch for your children; snacks are included. Space is limited for this unique event. Reservations are required by Friday, October 9, 2026. To secure your spot,

Supper Club: A Seat at the Table for MY House Youth Contributed by Lily Elliston, MY House Communications Intern

Supper Club has been a part of MY House since the beginning. It was created to give our clients something many of us may take for granted: the feeling of sitting down together for a family meal. Monday through Friday, from 3–4pm, our clients and young adults gather around the table for a hot meal. They’re encouraged to invite friends who may need a meal or a place to belong, too.

“Supper Club is important because you get the chance to sit down with people who care about you and connect,” shares Michelle Parker, the greenhouse project manager at MY House. “Working in the garden, I get to supply fresh and nutritious vegetables, which benefits people struggling with mental health issues.” Sometimes a simple invitation can be a first step. A friend comes for dinner, gets comfortable, meets people and learns more about the support and opportunities available through MY House.

Supper Club is unplugged. No phones, headphones or hats at the table. It’s a chance to eat together, talk, laugh and connect. “Supper Club brings people together, heightens the morale of the place, and the atmosphere is comfortable. It’s nice to experience a dynamic some of those did not have growing up,” says Linda Kingeak, participant in nightly Supper Club meals. Our Supper Club meals are donated by members of our community. We love when our meal donors stay, sit down with

bagged books, three BLBP volunteers and the parking lot attendant, made our way across the lot and into the very crowded Kid’s Zone building. There, resting quietly, was Alli, who must have recently been fed, for she had a bulging belly. Cyndy hoisted the 40-pound alligator onto her lap and invited passersby to come and listen to a story. The area was crowded; however, the children remained calm and attentive. I noticed that the one who was most rapt was the parking lot attendant. As he later told me, “I love alligators and finally I got to pet one.” In reflecting upon yet another successful BLBP fair venture, I thought, no wonder I have a bounce to my step. Alys Culhane divides her time between being the BLBP Executive Director/Operations Manager and tending to her own horses, three Icelandic mares who have an affinity for the book Mr. and Mrs. Hay.

please RSVP with the names and ages of any children attending by calling Janet at (907) 355-8482 or emailing alaskalpaca@ mtaonline.net. Event Information: “911: What Is Your Emergency?” presented by Valley Pray and Play Moms and Stonecroft Ministries; Tuesday, October 13, 10am–12pm; Faith Bible Gym, 14159 W. Hollywood Road, Big Lake; $15, cash only; RSVP by Friday, October 9, by calling Janet at (907) 355-8482 or emailing alaskalpaca@mtaonline.net.

our young people and become part of the conversation. It’s an opportunity to not only provide a meal, but to connect with the young people you are supporting. We are looking for community members, families, businesses and groups who would like to get on the Supper Club schedule. Meals should feed approximately 25 people. If you are interested in providing a meal, stop by our Drop-In Center, grab a volunteer application and learn more about getting involved. Good food, good conversation and a place where everyone is welcome. That’s Supper Club.

RV and Boat Oxidation: Why Alaska Sun Leaves a Chalky, Faded Finish Contributed by Robbie Cardon

You’re getting your RV or boat ready for storage after a summer of Alaska adventures with a thorough wash. You finish up, certain you didn’t miss a spot, yet something seems off. The dirt and grime are gone, but the surface is dull and the color has faded. You may even notice a chalky residue. If it’s not leftover dirt, then what are you seeing? Oxidation. Oxidation happens when ultraviolet (UV) rays and exposure to the elements begin breaking down the surface of your RV or boat. Over time, that exposure can cause gel coat, fiberglass, and painted surfaces to lose their smooth, glossy appearance. The finish may begin looking cloudy or faded

and, as oxidation progresses, develop that distinctive chalky appearance. Even though our climate tends to be cooler, oxidation is still a concern for your boat or RV. Alaska may not have the blazing summer temperatures of Arizona or Florida, but temperature isn’t what matters when it comes to UV exposure. Our long summer days mean boats, campers, and RVs spend hours exposed to sunlight. Add everything that comes with an Alaska summer, including dust, dirt, bugs, pollen, road grime, and water spots, and those exterior surfaces can take a beating during a relatively short season. Keeping your RV or boat clean is one of the simplest ways to care for its exterior. Regular washing removes dirt, bugs, road

grime, and other contaminants instead of allowing them to remain on the surface for weeks or months. But washing and protecting are two different things. A clean surface is a good start. Maintaining a protective layer provides another line of defense between the finish and the UV rays and environmental contaminants it’s exposed to throughout the season. Once oxidation has developed, washing alone won’t make it disappear. The good news is that a dull or chalky finish doesn’t necessarily mean it’s too late. Depending on how far the oxidation has progressed, professional correction may be able to remove the damaged surface layer and restore much of the color and gloss.

The more severe the oxidation becomes, however, the more work it can take to restore the finish. That’s why staying ahead of it makes a difference. Boats, campers, and RVs are a big investment, and Alaska adventures can be tough on them. Keeping exterior surfaces regularly washed and protected isn’t just about making them look good sitting in the driveway or on the lake. It’s about helping preserve the finish so you can continue enjoying that investment for years to come. If your RV or boat has lost its shine or you’re noticing that telltale chalky finish, bring it by R.C. Detail. Visit rc-detail.com. We’ll look at the condition of the surface and help determine what it needs to bring back the shine and keep it protected.

Volume VI - Issue IX

September 2026

Alaska

A Scene Exists When We Say It Exists walk around and friends talk over songs. Nobody is necessarily doing anything wrong; the room is simply designed for another purpose.

he fronted the alternative-rock band The Madhouse Cells. He later moved toward acoustic music in North Carolina, spent years performing as a solo artist, relocated to Kodiak in 2011, and has appeared at Salmonfest multiple times. He now describes himself as a Wasilla-based singersongwriter whose music leans heavily toward acoustic rock.

Uncharted Path, Jesse and Alisha James, Make A Scene at Everett’s in Wasilla I went to the recent Songwriters In The Round at Everett’s Restaurant in Wasilla expecting a good local music event. What I experienced felt more like a major production at an intimate scale. There are plenty of places to hear live music in Alaska: bars with bands in the corner, restaurants with somebody playing acoustic guitar, festivals with musicians moving on and off stages all day long. Those things are important. Musicians need places to play. But simply putting musicians in a room does not create a music scene. A scene exists when the people of a community acknowledge that it exists, and before we can acknowledge a music scene, we have to become familiar with the people who make the music. That is what impressed me so much about Songwriters In The Round. It didn’t merely introduce the audience to four musicians. It introduced us to four human beings who write songs. The featured writers that night were Matthew Bennett, Liella Riannon, Drew Sablon and Ellie Grace. They were remarkably different from one another in sound, experience, age, personality and approach, but the format of the evening kept revealing something beneath those differences: they were all writing for essentially the same reason. They were trying to make something out of being human. That became clearer because host and lead organizer Jesse James wasn’t simply introducing songs. He was asking good questions, and he seemed genuinely curious about the craft of songwriting and, even more importantly, about the experiences that caused these particular people to write these particular songs. He would probe a little deeper into a lyric, motivation or story, and the songwriter would explain where the song came from. Suddenly we weren’t just waiting for the next song. We were listening differently. That appears to be deliberate. Uncharted Path’s own description of the series emphasizes the stories behind original songs, audience Q&A, and the “who, what, when, where, or why” behind what each artist performs. Jesse is himself a singer-songwriter who performs with Jesse James & The Unlikely Gentlemen, but his interest in music extends beyond performing. He is an Air Force veteran, and the veteran-owned company he operates with Alisha James, Uncharted Path LLC, describes its mission as using musical

events to bring people together, support veterans and strengthen the community. Earlier this year, Jesse is also involved in demonstrating a music-therapy modality at Hope Valley’s veterans recovery program. That background makes sense when you watch him host. He treats music as something that happens between people, rather than something that simply happens on a stage. Uncharted Path has also partnered with an American Legion initiative to sponsor memberships for elderly Alaska veterans who might otherwise struggle with isolation - another example of an organization built around the idea of connection. Songwriters In The Round operates on exactly that principle.

Matthew Bennett is a singer-songwriter and member of Black Barrel and the Bad Men, a Chugiak-rooted band known for its mixture of Americana, blues, Motown and soul, with influences ranging from The Band and the Allman Brothers to Stevie Wonder and the Grateful Dead. Hearing Matthew in a songwriter setting changes the frame. The machinery of a full band disappears, and what remains is the song and the person who wrote it.

Liella Riannon is a Wasilla singersongwriter and producer steadily putting her original work into the world. Songs such as “Looking,” “Unspoken” and “I Will Always Come Through” show an artist developing not only as a writer and performer, but as a producer. At Everett’s, that production instinct was visible even within the acoustic format, as she had written and produced accompanying background music for her performance, bringing another conception of what a singer-songwriter can be into the room. Drew Sablon brought another history entirely. His musical path reaches back to New Jersey in the early 1990s, when

Ellie Grace, meanwhile, is a Mat-Su Valley singer-songwriter still building her own story in Alaska’s music community. She has been performing around the Valley, recently opened for touring singer-songwriter Natalie Gelman, and has shown a voice equally comfortable with her own material and older music such as Patsy Cline. Put those four people beside one another and, on paper, their differences are obvious. But as they began comparing notes, those differences became less important. One songwriter might approach something through rock, another through folk, another through country, blues, soul or something harder to categorize. Then Jesse would ask why a song was written, and the answer would be recognizable: loss, love, longing, fear, memory, family, hope, regret, humor - the desire to understand something that happened, or to say something that couldn’t quite be said any other way. Once you hear that, genre begins to look like a surface distinction. The person sitting across the room playing music you might not normally listen to suddenly becomes understandable. Empathy happens. That may be one of the most important things we can do if we actually want a local music scene, rather than simply a collection of local musicians. We often talk about supporting local music as though the primary requirement is economic: buy the ticket, tip the band, buy the album, hire local musicians. Those things certainly matter, but something has to happen before any of them become culturally sustainable.

What Jesse and Alisha James have done through Uncharted Path is insert a producer between the venue and the artist, and that changes the purpose of the room. Everett’s was still Everett’s. People could eat dinner and have a drink. But for those few hours, one room in the restaurant had been reorganized around attention.

The chairs faced the performers. There weren’t seats naturally positioned with someone’s back to the stage - a simple and powerful decision. People weren’t arranged primarily for face-to-face conversation, which quietly encourages an entirely different kind of behavior. The room was candlelit, the artists were close, and the event began with an opportunity for the audience to meet them before the music began. These may sound like small production decisions, but they communicate expectations. They tell the audience: something is happening here that deserves your attention. And people responded accordingly. That may be the real lesson of Songwriters In The Round. Artists create art, but communities create the scene. A songwriter can write a brilliant song alone in a bedroom. A musician can rehearse for thousands of hours. A band can make a great record. None of those things, by themselves, create a scene. A scene emerges from recognition: when people know the names, know the songs, understand some of the stories, when musicians know one another, and when audiences begin following artists from one venue to another. When somebody says “Matthew Bennett,” “Liella Riannon,” “Drew Sablon” or “Ellie Grace,” and the name means something to the person hearing it, the community has begun to develop a shared musical vocabulary.

We have to care who these people are.

That is culture.

That comes with familiarity. If I know a musician’s name, I am more likely to notice that name on a poster. If I have heard one of her songs, I am more likely to recognize her when she plays another event. If I know what inspired that song, I am more likely to listen closely when she begins another one. Eventually, the musicians in a community stop being anonymous entertainment.

And culture cannot be manufactured simply by putting up another stage. It grows through repeated encounters between human beings.

They become our musicians. That is when a scene begins to exist. The physical production of Songwriters In The Round reinforced that idea beautifully. Most restaurants and bars that regularly employ musicians are, understandably, in the restaurant and alcohol business. Music is often secondary. Chairs face one another because conversation is expected. Televisions compete for attention. People

That is what Jesse and Alisha James, and Uncharted Path, created at Everett’s. For a couple of hours, the musicians were not background music, products, content, or four people competing for the audience’s attention. They were four people being heard. And after we understood a little more about why they make the music they make, it became almost impossible not to care a little more about the music itself. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOONDOG MEDIA MICHAEL B. DILLON

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

Liberty, Liberally

www.LibertyLiberally.com

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

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

WWW.MAKEASCENEAK.COM

Liberty, Liberally

From the Journal of Joshua Fryfogle

www.LibertyLiberally.com

Govern Yourselves Accordingly

their constituents are divided into camps, and afraid of each other, we can never actually discover what the Will of the People is. There can be no meaningful Will of the People if the people cannot communicate with one another. Instead, we become competing factions attempting to exercise power over each other. And in the absence of genuine selfgovernance, our constitutional republic falls into the hands of the people who benefit from our division.

What is commonly referred to as “liberalism” today is not actually, historically, what constitutes liberalism. I’ve written about this differentiation so many times here in Liberty, Liberally. It is this idea that led to my first publication of Liberty, Liberally.

that I do, then I also have to leave open the possibility that they know something I don’t. That their experience has shown them something mine has not. That they might be wrong, certainly - but also that I might be. Disagreement, then, is not an obstacle to liberalism. It is necessary to it.

I’ve studied liberalism as an individual philosophy (rather than a political position) for most of my life. And in that process, I’ve often been confused and confounded by what passes for liberalism in the modern era. Today we tend to understand liberalism primarily as a political identity - a collection of positions on one side of the political spectrum. But in contrast to politics is something much more fundamental.

When we approach an individual with respect, we create the possibility for persuasion. When we condemn someone’s perspective, and refuse to engage with it earnestly, we make persuasion impossible, and alienation inevitable. And I believe that alienation - this “othering” process - ultimately serves only the political elite.

Liberalism begins with a proposition about the individual: that all individuals have inherent, inherited liberty, and should be treated accordingly. Before liberalism tells us anything about government, it tells us something about one another. It asks us to recognize the individual as having moral standing of their own - the right to think, the right to speak, the right to arrive at conclusions different from our own, and the right to participate in determining the conditions under which we all live. Nowhere in my life is that idea more important than with my business, Make A Scene Media. Everything we do is based on that mandate of liberalism: that all individuals have inherent, inherited liberty, and should be treated accordingly.

When we are divided, we vote out of fear. Once I have been convinced that the people on the other side are not merely wrong, but dangerous, immoral, stupid, or irredeemable, nobody has to persuade me anymore. They simply have to convince me that they are the only thing standing between me and those people. Fear replaces persuasion. But philosophical liberalism rests on a very different assumption: that if perspectives are accommodated, expressed, challenged, and allowed to influence one another, then the resulting self-governance of our constitutional republic has the possibility of becoming an accurate reflection of the Will of the People.

That means that in the pages of The People’s Paper, all thoughtful perspectives are welcome. But also, in our company culture, all perspectives are encouraged. I want people to disagree with me, because embedded within liberalism is a kind of humility that allows for liberty.

And I think this is where we are missing something when we talk about selfgovernment. Self-government is not simply voting. Voting is one mechanism of self-government. Actual self-government requires something that happens long before anyone walks into a voting booth. It requires communication, disagreement, persuasion, and the possibility that I might affect your perspective, and you might affect mine.

If I genuinely believe that another individual possesses the same moral standing

We wonder why politicians don’t do the will of their constituents, but as long as

My company is built with this mission in mind. Our purpose is to propagate perspectives of the people who live here, and who share in the outcome of our cultural, social and political order. It’s not strictly political. It just happens to apply to politics. Because this principle applies to culture, too. It applies to music, art, business, and the way individuals relate to one another every day. That’s what I mean when I describe liberalism as an individual philosophy about the individual. Liberalism obviously became a political philosophy, and some of the most important political ideas in the modern world grew from it. But I believe there is something underneath the politics that we often overlook. The political philosophy begins with the individual philosophy. It’s meta; it’s self-referential. It is about aligning ourselves, by choice, with an openness to other individuals and their opinions. It is the decision to regard another person as someone worthy of being heard and capable of both persuading and being persuaded. While that will inevitably influence our politics, politics is downstream from that principle. A society cannot really practice liberal government if the people themselves have abandoned liberalism toward one another. And that brings me back to media. The word itself is instructive. Media is the plural of medium. A medium is something through which something else passes. That is what I believe media should be: not an authority standing above the public and telling people what they think, but a medium through which people can communicate with one another. With Make A Scene Media, we focus on that idea in our day-to-day company culture. I want my team to influence the company and its growth, and I want the community to do the same. I want my company to provide a medium for the people to affect their own culture. And I use the word affect deliberately, because there is an enormous difference

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.”

Volume VI - Issue IX

September 2026

between a population that affects its culture and a population that is merely affected by it. A healthy media ecosystem creates a feedback loop. The people speak. The media reflects what they say. Other people respond. Ideas collide. Some survive, some change, some disappear, and new ones emerge. Then the media reflects that back again. Over time, something extraordinary happens: a community becomes conscious of itself. We begin to discover what we actually think and care about. Not what someone tells us people like us think. Not what a political party says we think. Not what a corporation’s demographic analysis predicts we think. What we actually think. The corporate mass media has, for so long, used its influence with enormous authority, confusing the right of the individual to speak for themselves with the right of corporations to do the same. Of course corporations and media organizations are made up of individuals, and those individuals have perspectives of their own. The problem is not that a media company has a perspective. The problem occurs when the medium stops behaving like a medium. When instead of carrying the voices of individuals, it begins replacing them. When instead of allowing people to speak, it speaks for them. When instead of reflecting culture, it begins manufacturing it. When the media industry displaces the rights of individuals in the process of expressing corporate interests, we lose the plot. The relationship becomes inverted. Instead of the people affecting public discourse, public discourse affects the people. Instead of citizens becoming participants in the creation of their culture, they become consumers of it. And the whole concept of liberalism - this individual philosophy of the individual is circumvented. Self-governance simply doesn’t happen. Because self-government requires more than freedom from government interference. It requires the ability of ordinary individuals to participate meaningfully in creating the social world around them. It requires spaces where people can encounter one another. It requires the possibility of persuasion, the possibility that I can change your mind, and, just as importantly, that you can change mine. That is ultimately what I want Make A Scene Media to provide: not a media authority telling a community what to think, but a medium through which a community can hear itself think. Because perhaps the most important prerequisite for governing ourselves is simply this: we have to be able to hear one another first.

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

Alaska

POLITICS & OPINION

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

Help Keep the Greedy from Making Decisions That Affect You Contributed by Sammy Taylor With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror, I’m still thinking about the importance of meaningful work and a living wage for that work. So many of us are struggling to make ends meet while the wealthy get wealthier. All most people want is enough to take care of their families and their community’s needs. So much of our nation’s wealth seems to be siphoned off by those who already have enough. The greedy just

keep wanting and taking more. They take more because they are already in control of politicians and policymakers. To keep us ordinary folks from noticing that our schools and roads need more attention and money, they distract us however they can. Of course, the easiest way to do that is to make us hate someone. The greedy ridicule and demonize a part of our community. The greedy bully and blame part

of our community to keep us distracted as those same greedy ones keep taking more of our wealth for themselves. They conflate our differences, so we don’t see that we have so much more in common than what makes us different. They accentuate whatever difference they can concoct so we don’t get together to talk about our common needs: a healthy place to live and enough money and resources to live in a healthy way.

Could Goldbacks Help Put the Power of Money Back in Local Hands? Contributed by Alexander Harmon As the cost of living continues to challenge families, businesses and communities, a growing group of Americans is asking an important question: What should money be based on, and who should control it? One movement gaining attention is the use of Goldbacks, physical gold incorporated into spendable notes designed for everyday transactions. Goldbacks were launched in 2019 and have expanded into multiple state series, with thousands of businesses participating in the merchant network. Each denomination contains a measured amount of 24-karat gold, with

a 1 Goldback containing 1/1,000 of a troy ounce of gold. Now, a group of people is working toward something bigger than simply buying and selling Goldbacks. The goal is to build a full local supply chain, connecting consumers, merchants, farmers, manufacturers, service providers, precious-metal dealers and financial institutions, including the development of community-focused “gold banks.” The idea is that communities should have more ways to exchange value without relying entirely on a centralized monetary system. Supporters believe this could help create a more resilient local economy. Instead of money constantly leaving the community

or losing purchasing power through inflation, they argue that a gold-based medium of exchange can help preserve value and encourage people to trade with one another using something tangible. The Constitution is often cited in discussions about sound money. Article I, Section 10 states: “No State shall...coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.” That language is frequently discussed by advocates of constitutional and precious-metal money. However, Goldbacks are not U.S. legal tender; they are generally used when both parties voluntarily agree to accept them.

Continuing the Conversation Re: A New Constitution Contributed by Lela Ryterski Why is the land more relevant than the people who live there? The greatness of this country was that it aspired to be a democracy: by the people, for the people. Do the people who have a lot of land around them need more representation? Two senators for each state gives them an unfair advantage. The Constitution is old. Times change. It was said that two senators for each state balances majority rule with protections for minorities and smaller states. Balance the majority so that the minority

rules? What do smaller states need protection from? This small state finally got a minority Native to represent us, Mary Peltola; but you don’t want her, although I think she’s quite moderate. Don’t we want to protect Native interests: their sacred land, monuments and hunting grounds? The immigrants who have come to this country seeking a better life, fleeing persecution and poverty, are not only white people; they’re Black and brown and everything in between. Most are hard-working, talented and even better educated than many home-grown Americans. They bring

diverse cultures and traditions. When we come in contact with them, it enriches our lives. Respect others. Live and let live. Everyone deserves the same chance in this country to better themselves, from oppression to freedom. But now we’re going from freedom to oppression, from democracy to authoritarianism. Democracy only works when people participate. Voting is the backbone. Republicans, not my friends, the old-time Republicans, have been eroding people’s rights under the false guise of morality. Because they’re not in the majority, their

Alaska Voters’ Rights at Risk with Ballot Measure 2 Contributed by Jim Sykes

As people prepare to vote on Ballot Measure 2 on November 3, it’s important to revisit the 1990 governor’s election that Walter Hickel won with only 39% of the vote. 61% of Alaska voters did not approve the winner. Tony Knowles placed second with 31%, Arliss Sturgelewski was third with 26%, and the last two candidates got a combined 4%. The strength of the top four candidates was not tested by vote. There was no runoff election. A candidate who did not earn ma-

jority support won the governor’s seat. We don’t want to go back to that situation. Ballot Measure 2 would remove open primaries and ranked choice voting, taking power from the voters and entrenching it in the hands of political parties and their bosses. Today, all three of Alaska’s recognized political parties and 11 political groups make up only 37% of Alaska’s voters, a real example of the tail wagging the dog. If Ballot Measure 2 passes, political parties can decide whether or not to allow Alaska’s 63% of independent non-party

voters into their party’s primary. Right now, all Alaska voters have equal access. Measure 2 would also remove Alaska’s nation-leading ban on dark money, prohibiting secret political spending. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, gave $1,500,000 to Alaska campaigns supporting Ballot Measure 2, which would allow huge anonymous money into Alaska politics. Voting no on 2 would protect the transparency laws that let us know when billionaires, like Elon Musk, spend in our elections. Voting no on 2 also supports participation

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As we get closer to choosing our group decision-makers in November, I think we need to discover which of our candidates are the greediest/richest. Those are the ones we need to remove from positions of authority and power so we can all thrive, not just them. So please take time to find out who are the wealthiest/greediest among the candidates and rank them as your last choice or no choice at all when you vote. Ranked choice voting gives you more power to choose for the benefit of us all.

Whether Goldbacks ultimately become a major part of the American economy remains to be seen. But the larger question is already here: Can local communities build parallel systems that preserve wealth, encourage local commerce and give ordinary people more choices about how they store and exchange value? For those involved in this effort, Goldbacks represent more than a piece of gold. They represent an opportunity to rebuild economic relationships from the ground up, one business and one transaction at a time. Interested in learning more or becoming involved in building the local supply chain? Contact Alex at (907) 707-9295 for more info and join the Facebook group Alaska Goldbacks.

policies are unpopular, they have to muscle their way in. If the Supreme Court had to adhere to ethics rules, Clarence Thomas would be removed for bribery. And I don’t believe the Senate would vote themselves a cut in salary or benefits. It might have to be a law written into the new Constitution. The government has become corrupt. It needs an overhaul. We know how and why it went wrong. We can fix it. Wouldn’t it be nice to get money out of politics? That seems to be the root of the corruption, bribery. Japan teaches respect in school. Our military schools demand respect as well. When we respect others, we can have peace.

by allowing all voters to participate in primaries, whether they belong to a political party or not. Respected former Alaska Attorney General Bruce Botelho summarized it clearly: “Alaskan voters passed these pro-voter reforms in 2020. We have already approved this system, and we have benefited from it. Voting no on Ballot Measure 2 will keep the power in voters’ hands. Voting yes will take that power away again and give it back to political elites, special interests, and outside interests. Don’t let them win. “Vote no on Ballot Measure 2 to keep the power and freedom where it belongs, in the hands of the voters.”

AContributed Great byOpportunity to Learn About Child Vaccinations, AI & Education, & Alternate Cancer Treatments influence of socialism/communism in their Dr. Pierrre Kory, nationally known critical are a parent, guardian or grandparent, you Linda Boyle All of us value our personal freedoms above all and the ability to make informed choices for ourselves. Alaskans4personalfreedom has a power-packed agenda of speakers on freedom. If you want to learn about children’s vaccinations, hyperbaric oxygen treatments, alternative cancer treatments and how to protect your children from the influence of socialism/communism coming to your school, you should come to our event on October 3. You can register at ak4pf.org/itshere-its-time-to-register-for-our-october-3annual-event. Here’s your chance to learn about what vaccinations your child should receive. Dr. Bob Sears, a pediatrician with 30 years of clinical experience, will speak on the pros and cons of children’s vaccinations. If you

need to hear what Dr. Sears says about each vaccination. He provides the specific info so parents can decide which vaccination their child should receive. He is neither pro-vax nor anti-vax but believes parents have the right to make the final decision about their children. Are you or someone you know suffering from dementia, Long Covid, traumatic brain injury, strokes or other neurological symptoms? Then you have to hear Dr. Ted Fogarty speak on hyperbaric oxygen treatments and how they help people with these underlying conditions. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments have made tremendous strides in people overcoming strokes, TBI and dementia. This is great news for helping people return to their normal self. There seems to be a great increase in all types of cancer since the pandemic.

care doctor, will tell you all about alternative cancer treatments that could save or extend your life. These alternative cancer treatments have been hidden from the general public. If you or your friends have suffered from any type of cancer, Dr. Kory will give you hope where hope has been lost. Finally, we have an outstanding speaker from the national DefendingEd organization. Paul Runko will speak on DEI, Critical Race Theory and the efforts of both national teacher union organizations to control AI on K–12 curricula across the nation. The CEO of DefendingEd has testified multiple times to Congress on protecting our children from the influence of socialism/ communism in our nation’s public schools. If you love your children and are concerned about their K–12 education and the

Learning How to Think, Not What to Think Contributed by Dr. Justin Archuletta

Education at its best is never a oneway transfer of information. It is a shared pursuit, teacher and student searching together for what is true. At Alaska Bible College, we believe the most powerful way to do this is dialectic education: a return to genuine dialogue and reasoned argument. The word dialogue itself comes from two

Greek roots, dia (“through”) and logos. In its philosophical sense, logos means reason, the governing principle of the universe. Dialogue, then, is conversation that moves through reason. It is not debate for the sake of winning. It is the disciplined, humble work of testing ideas, listening to opposing views and following the argument wherever it leads. Our aim is not

Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? Contributed by Vlastic Marek

So how can Republicans win governorship in red Alaska with blue Juneau and RCV shenanigans?

Apparently, you keep ranking red down the ballot because candidates that could not unite even behind their own party primary winner are really going to work for

to hand students a finished set of conclusions. It is to place in their hands the tools of logic and clear thinking so they can wrestle with ideas themselves, alongside their professors and peers. Truth is not imposed from the lectern. It is discovered when a student examines the evidence, asks hard questions and is persuaded by reason rather than by personality or pressure. In short, we teach them

you and me once they get in power. And as an added bonus, you will provide non-winners with enough votes to make it close enough to cheat. Because nothing says honest elections like counting votes weeks after elections. We’ve been there, done that. Or we could just vote for primary winner

curricula, this is a must-hear presentation. Nowhere else can you get vital info from well-respected professionals on health freedom and education freedom for a mere $60 that includes a box lunch. A great value. The event is at the UAA/Wendy Williamson Auditorium on October 3. Go here to register: ak4pf.org/its-here-its-time-toregister-for-our-october-3-annual-event. You cannot afford to miss these informative presentations for you and your kids/ grandkids. Freedom is expensive, especially after you lose it! Event Info: Alaskans4personalfreedom annual event; October 3; UAA/Wendy Williamson Auditorium; $60, includes box lunch; register at ak4pf.org/its-here-its-time-to-register-forour-october-3-annual-event.

how to think, not what to think. We do not find it accidental that logos also names the divine wisdom made manifest in creation, history and redemption, the Word who is Jesus Christ. Because He is Truth, objective truth exists. And because truth exists, we are confident that students trained to reason well will recognize it. That is the heartbeat of Alaska Bible College: equipping minds to think clearly so they can see the Truth that holds all things together.

Bernadette because that is why we have primaries that have winners, and that is how you keep the party of open borders and child mutilation out. That is the one name I’ll mark, the only one, and the Hickel family can keep their endorsement of a loser in that place without the sun I cannot name in this letter.

POLITICS & OPINION A Constitutional Celebration for 2026 Contributed by Nan Potts

Do you have your copy of the Constitution of the United States? Several years ago, I picked up a free pocket-sized one at a local coffee shop. I took one and paused to scan through it. It looked complete. I took two more. There were several people who I thought may like to have one. Curious about this little pamphlet, I gave it a more thorough perusal. When I returned home to compare it, it proved to be the complete Constitution, unabridged, with index and The Declaration of Independence. Altogether, 46 pages. The last page of the booklet impressed me. It was entitled “Celebrating the Constitution.” How does one celebrate the Constitution? A short essay on page 46 read: “To commemorate the September 17, 1787, signing of the Constitution of the United States, Congress has designated September 17 of each year as CONSTITUTION DAY and September 17–23 of each year as CONSTITUTION WEEK. “In 2004, Public Law 108-447, Section 111 was passed requiring the following:

“Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution. “...each Federal agency or department shall provide educational and training materials concerning the United States Constitution to each employee...on September 17 of each year.” I felt ashamed not knowing this. I attempted to absolve myself from this lack of knowledge, but a more pressing question arose: “Why aren’t all citizens of this country included in this celebration?” Here in the States, “We The People” acknowledge all sorts of “Days.” Why not Constitution Day or Constitution Week? That question posed more questions, such as, why did Congress stop at Federal levels? Aren’t we, as citizens, entitled to a celebration commemorating our freedoms, understanding and implementing our Constitutional rights? Why did Congress forget “We The People”?

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The last two paragraphs on the page seemed to answer my queries: “In keeping with these congressional mandates, recent presidents have solicited federal and local government leaders as well as civic and religious leaders to hold events to commemorate the occasion. “We encourage all citizens to use their influence to organize and support programs that honor the Constitution. Resources for holding such a celebration may be found at the National Center for Constitutional Studies, nccs.net.” Having read through the booklet, I came to a realization. If everyone took the time to read the Constitution, we, as a nation, could better understand and respect one another’s viewpoints. This would be an opportunity to clarify misinformation, if one is open to it. Just a suggestion: The Declaration of Independence is less than 1,500 words and the Constitution, just over 4,500. A good dictionary is recommended due to words and terminology you will encounter which are now obsolete. For those of you who wish to have it put into modern English, I recommend a booklet, The Constitution

Why I’m Running for Mayor of Wasilla Contributed by Alina Rubeo, Candidate for Mayor of Wasilla

Wasilla isn’t simply where I live. It is home. I was born and raised here. I am a second-generation Wasilla resident, a Wasilla High School graduate, a wife, a mother of four, a small-business owner, a coach and a public servant. This community helped shape who I am, and for nearly 20 years, I have been building businesses, raising my family and investing in the place I have always called home. Now, I am asking for the opportunity to serve Wasilla as its next mayor. I have watched our city grow tremendously. Growth brings opportunity: new families, new businesses, new investment and new possibilities. But it also demands leadership that is willing to plan ahead. We cannot wait until traffic is worse to address transportation. We cannot wait until infrastructure is overwhelmed to plan for it. And we cannot allow growth in government spending to become the automatic answer to every challenge. Wasilla needs leadership that is prepared

to lead today and plan responsibly for tomorrow. For nearly two decades, I have built and operated successful businesses in this community. Business ownership teaches you quickly that budgets matter, accountability matters and results matter. When challenges arise, you cannot pass responsibility to someone else. You have to listen, make informed decisions, take responsibility and find solutions. I have brought that same approach to public service. I served on the Wasilla Planning Commission from 2019 to 2022. I have served on the Wasilla City Council since 2022 and as Deputy Mayor since 2023. That experience has given me a firsthand understanding of our city’s operations, budgets, infrastructure needs and opportunities. I am not running to learn how Wasilla works. I am running because my experience has prepared me to lead Wasilla forward. As mayor, infrastructure and transportation will be a top priority. Our roads and major corridors are feeling the pressure of growth. The city must be proactive and

More Knock, Knock, Knockin’ Contributed by Beatrice Adler

For the past weeks, I’ve devoted time to support candidates that I believe represent my concerns and values. I’ve knocked on over 100 doors in neighborhoods from downtown Palmer to Meadow Lakes. In the process, I’ve learned so much about our community’s residents’ attitudes toward our electoral process and the conduct of government. I recently had the opportunity to ask several college students if they planned to vote. Their overwhelmingly negative or

disinterested attitudes came as a shock. I had expected that educated young people, upon reaching the age at which they were eligible to cast their first vote, would have expressed enthusiasm or at least a bit of curiosity about the process. Nope and nope. Most weren’t registered or didn’t know if they were, and didn’t care to find out. I wonder if their parents vote. Perhaps not, reflecting on the responses many older adults gave to the same question. I asked, “Do you plan to vote in the upcoming election?” The responses included everything from: “Yes, I always vote,” “I

One Person, One Vote? Contributed by Patricia Chesbro

Poll workers celebrated the turnout for the recent primary elections in Alaska. These trained volunteers said they were busy; there were many more voters than usual in this primary. Bravo for everyone who voted! Even better, every person who voted made the decision for around 3.5 registered voters. We may be happy that around 28% of registered voters in Mat-Su voted, but really? Elections are important. Participation is easy. There are varied opportunities. Some say your vote doesn’t count, but your vote does count. Some elections are decided by fewer than 15 people. Only 30 out of 100, or fewer, people vote in some elections. In October 2025, seven out of 100 voters chose the Palmer mayor and City Council. Around 68 out of 100 people voted in the 2024 presidential

election. That is better, but where are the other 32? Here are some reasons I’ve heard: “I didn’t have time on Election Day.” That makes sense. Alaskans are working hard. Many commute to work outside the borough. Polling places are open from 7am–8pm. There are many places to vote, and a voter can vote a questioned ballot anywhere in the borough. “What if I want to vote early? Can I do that?” You can vote early at several borough locations, starting Monday, October 19, for the November 3 election. Check out the days and hours at the Borough Building in Palmer, the Menard Center in Wasilla, Houston City Hall, the Talkeetna Library or the Trapper Creek Library. Check with the cities for their guidelines. “I’m not in the state on Election Day.” You can request an absentee ballot at

Vote Yes on Ballot Measure 2

Contributed by Jim Lieb

Alaska Democrats have apparently, for many years, been frustrated with their inability to get their candidates elected. Then they found out about the ranked-choice system (RCV), thanks to outside leftist groups who had figured out a way to assist Democrats in getting elected in red states. They explained to the Alaska Democratic Party how they could begin winning by

“splitting,” namely, ranked-choice voting could split the conservative vote by getting multiple conservatives to compete against each other in general elections and result in the more liberal candidate being elected. These same outside groups also provided large amounts of financial support used to convince Alaskans to vote for RCV. The 2020 ranked-choice voting proposition on the Alaska ballot wound up passing 50.5%

persistent in working with the borough, state, DOT and other partners to improve safety, connectivity, utilities and long-term infrastructure. I will also remain committed to fiscal responsibility. I do not support increasing the city sales tax or adding a city property tax. I want to protect Wasilla’s zero property-tax mill rate, grow our tax base through economic opportunity, support businesses, pursue grants and partnerships when they make financial sense and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Public safety must remain a core responsibility of city government. Our families deserve safe neighborhoods, our businesses deserve a community where they can confidently invest, and our police department deserves the resources and support necessary to do its job effectively. But leadership is about more than policies and budgets. It is about how you lead. I believe in showing up, listening, doing my homework and asking hard questions. I believe people deserve to know where their mayor stands. I believe in transparency and accountability, even when they are uncomfortable. I will work with people who

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Made Easy, by Michael Holler. The Constitution is placed side by side with language of today. The claim of this edition is, “Read and understand the whole Constitution in under 30 minutes!” I read this, too. It proved to be an excellent refresher, and it was fun! Since that day at the coffee shop, I have handed out the copies, and I carry one with me. Plus, I’ve downloaded it to my iPhone. It surprises me how many folks really do not know their Constitutional rights or how our Founding Fathers designed our government to function. I can refer them to a resource. If you haven’t guessed, I will be celebrating September 17, Constitution Day, and September 17–23, Constitution Week, by taking an online course, Constitution 101, from Hillsdale College. You are invited to create your personal celebration. “The power under the Constitution will always be in the people.” George Washington There are many ways to obtain a copy of our Constitution and, with it, you can assist others in celebrating September 17. Happy Constitution Day!

have different perspectives, because good ideas do not belong to one person or one side. And when a difficult decision has to be made, I will make it and stand behind it. As Wasilla continues to grow, I also want to protect something that cannot be measured on a balance sheet: the character of our community. Some families have called Wasilla home for generations. Others arrived recently and chose to build their lives here. Both are important to our future. We can welcome new businesses, families and opportunities while preserving the sense of community that makes Wasilla special. The next three years will matter. The decisions we make about growth, infrastructure, public safety and spending will help determine what Wasilla looks like for years to come. I am ready for that responsibility. My roots are here. My businesses are here. My family is here. My record of public service is here. Wasilla is home. On October 6, I humbly ask for your vote for Mayor of Wasilla. Born Here. Built Here. Ready to Lead. Alina Rubeo Candidate for Mayor of Wasilla

don’t know yet,” “It’s not my concern,” “No, it’s all rigged,” “It’s too much effort,” and “How do I tell the lies from the truth?” That last one has me thinking about how to address what could be a terminal disease that has infected our civic health. How can we discern what’s true or false when outright lies are commonplace strategies in political advertising? To counter that tactic, I would expect each candidate’s website or social media pages to be the place to go for accurate and truthful information. But not every voter has the time or inclination to look it all up. How many of us took the time to research each of the many candidates who ran for governor in the primary? Is truth in the political arena

even possible given how far we’ve gone in the opposite direction? What if political advertising campaigns were held to the same standard as other commodities offered to the public? When I was growing up, both school and family imprinted me with the responsibility and privilege that exercising my right to vote represents. If we fail to vote, to make our needs and preferences known to those making decisions in our name, then we open our country to the potential loss of something precious. Generations of our ancestors fought to gain the right, responsibility and privilege of the ballot box. Don’t let this cornerstone of our democracy crumble.

absenteeballotapplication.alaska.gov. Borough election requests are at matsu.gov/ elections. City websites have their info. “I don’t know my district.” By entering your address at Alaska’s My Voter Portal, myvoterportal.alaska.gov, you can find out. “I don’t know when elections occur.” State and federal elections are the first Tuesday in November, November 3, 2026, in even-numbered years. Mat-Su Borough has changed its elections to coincide with those elections. City elections are the second Tuesday in October, October 6, 2026. “I don’t know who is running.” The Division of Elections and the borough send voter guides to each registered voter. These include a statement from the candidate, office sought and other info. A list of candidates is also on the Division of Elections website at elections.alaska.gov/ election-candidates. City websites have the list of candidates for their elections; the borough has a list of candidates for borough elections. “I don’t like any of these candidates.”

This is a tough one. How do you know you don’t like any? What are your criteria? Have you considered running yourself? Becoming a candidate is a sure way you will like the candidate, probably. “I still don’t know who to vote for.” You can further investigate candidates via their websites, various forums or news articles. You can contact them directly. You can ask a friend who shares your values, or your mother or your spouse. You can choose the one-letter method: D, R, N or U. Though easy, it might not be the best way to choose. The most important thing is to take advantage of the right that many have died for. Women have been able to vote for only a little over 100 years. Non-citizens cannot vote and, according to research by the Heritage Foundation, few have ever voted. When I was a high school principal, we asked students to follow some guidelines we called Rights and Responsibilities. Voting is your right. Please accept the responsibility. Let’s go for 100% turnout on this test of citizenship.

yes, 49.5% no. Any claim that, prior to ranked-choice voting, the Republican primary system only allowed a minority of Alaska voters to participate and select a Republican candidate is absolutely incorrect. In addition to registered Republican voters, those registered as undeclared and nonpartisan could also vote in a Republican primary. For example, this meant, according to the Alaska Division of Elections, in 2020, 71% of all Alaska registered voters could vote in the Republican primary. Alaska’s conservatives know that the pri-

mary system that existed for so many years worked very well. Republicans of many views, as well as someone approved by the Alaska Republican Party, could compete for primary votes, and the one with the best ideas and experience could be selected to run. Alaska conservatives are working hard to get rid of ranked-choice voting and get back to what has, for many years, worked so well for obtaining good Alaska leaders. For more info, contact Warriorkingak@ mtaonline.net.

Meadow Lakes Land Giveaway Worse Than a Data Center which functions like a major investment bank, but without the federal regulations that apply to other large banks. The state’s plan offers few details on why such a large area is needed or when and how the development will take place. State law (AS 38.05.810(g)) requires the state, in most cases like this, to place restrictions on what the land may be used for. Under the current plan, those restrictions have been entirely waived. Once ownership is transferred to AIDEA, it can move forward with a large data center, or it can scrap those plans and build a new HAARP or a landfill. How does that square with the Alaska Constitution (Art. VIII, Sec. 2), which requires that state land and waters be utilized, developed and conserved for the maximum benefit of the people of Alaska? The Alaska Constitution provides for public land to be leased. The state could have proposed a lease. It decided it wanted to give full ownership of the land to AIDEA. Why? Art. VIII, Sec. 10 prohibits state land from being given away without adherence to

the “safeguards of the public interest as prescribed by law.” The state is attempting to quickly grant the land to AIDEA using a noncompetitive process reserved for “Public and Charitable Use.” Even if AIDEA builds a data center exactly as some have described, how does a data center fall into either category? The politics of this project are as clear as the plan itself is opaque. The current administration has put this transfer on the fast track. The governor has three months left in office. He wants it to happen now. Republican legislators have lined up behind it, not because it is a good idea, but because the governor wants it. Now, because the outgoing administration is demanding it, the state is pursuing a land transfer “for public and charitable use” on a scale, 20,000 acres, that has never been attempted before. Even if a data center is built and there is absolutely no negative impact to wildlife, public access, water quality or the price of energy, this project would set a terrible precedent for the future, one which will undoubtedly be

abused by future administrations. The fact that such a poorly written proposal has even gotten off the ground is a wake-up call to how unsuccessful our current laws and legislators have been in discouraging plans like this from being pursued. I call upon each of our Mat-Su legislators to insist that the current administration follow the Alaska Constitution and state law, which requires that legal safeguards be followed to ensure that any transfer of state land is not just in the political interest of the current administration, but is in the public interest of Alaskans. That means demanding answers to difficult questions and having the courage to say no at times, even when the governor is a member of your political party, and even when there may be political consequences for doing so. David Eastman served in the Arctic Military Police Battalion on JBER and represented Houston and Meadow Lakes in the Alaska House of Representatives in Juneau. Visit davideastman.org to sign our petition opposing the land transfer and ensuring that your constitutional rights as an Alaskan are protected.

Introducing Leatherneck Marksmanship

ship course to each trainee that includes both classroom and range instruction. We have selected specific firearms, accessories and gear to utilize for training that represent cost-effective alternatives to current standard-issue military equipment. We are developing partnerships with both MVS Shooting Range and Birchwood Recreation & Shooting Park to ensure range and classroom availability. And both Mike and I intend to volunteer our time. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in start-up funding to purchase new equipment and ammunition. If you’ve got extra .22LR or 5.56, we’ll take it. Thanks to generous support from

family and friends, and a recently launched sweepstakes in partnership with Blue River Aviation, we are well on our way. By enlisting, these young men and women are making a commitment to serve and protect all of us. We aim to honor their commitment by providing them with a competitive advantage at the beginning of their military careers. They will still have a lot to learn, but by teaching them a stressful and valuable skill in advance, we can give them a head start. We’d love your help to spread the word. If it was up to Mike, he’d still be serving. Through Leatherneck Marksmanship, we both can.

Contributed by David Eastman

If you thought the idea of giving away 20,000 acres of state land to build a computer data center was bad enough, you are in good company. Even if you are very supportive of data centers in general, the idea of parking a huge facility just across the Parks Highway from Nancy Lake has to make you stop and scratch your head. My father has worked in data center management for the last 25 years, traveling to Singapore, the UK, Sweden and all across the United States. The state’s current plan has him scratching his head too. Why Houston, Alaska? The proposed land to be given away is huge: 19,950 acres of state land stretching from the Nancy Lake area almost to the intersection of Schrock and Church in Wasilla. Older Alaskans will remember that this includes some of the state land set aside for a new state capital after Alaskans voted to move the capital out of Juneau. In total, the plan would give away more than 31 square miles of state land to AIDEA,

Contributed by Maggie Chiolero This year, in lieu of watching cars launch off a cliff, my husband Mike and I celebrated our country’s 250th anniversary by launching a nonprofit organization: Leatherneck Marksmanship. The goal? Teach the basics of rifle and pistol marksmanship to young men and women enlisting in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, instilling in them the skills and confidence they need to succeed throughout their military careers. Mike retired from the USMC in 2007 after serving as an armorer and primary marks-

manship instructor. Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to instruct thousands of people, but four specific individuals stand out: young men and women preparing to enlist in the USMC, Army and National Guard. They gave us the idea to start this “business,” and the desire to offer the training at no cost is what made us decide to launch it as a nonprofit. Our plan is to work directly with recruiters to identify 20 young men and women from the Mat-Su Valley to train this fall, scaling to 40 in 2027. Before they report for duty, we will provide a full-day marksman-

and should be transparent. Knik Lake Appeal Raises Questions About Mat-Su Borough Accountability background Residents participated in the borough Contributed by Knik Lake Neighbors A group of longtime Knik Lake residents is appealing the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission’s approval of Resolution 26-10 involving the expansion of Knik Landing, associated with Doug Massie and Broken Boat LLC. At the heart of the appeal is a broader question of government accountability: Will the Mat-Su Borough consistently apply the plans, setbacks and protections it has established, and clearly explain how those standards are applied when residents raise concerns? Residents want to make one thing clear: this is not a fight against the historic Knik Bar or against development. The existing bar has long been part of the community, and residents say they have had no complaints about its traditional operation. Their concern is whether the borough consistently and transparently applied its own standards when approving the much larger new venue and considering its potential effects on a residential lake community. The Knik Lake Management Plan has been in place since 1995 and remains published by the Mat-Su Borough. It addresses residential quality of life, recreation, water quality, access, fish and wildlife, and public health and safety. Residents also note that Knik Bar has publicly referenced the plan on its Facebook page. Residents are not asking the borough to create protections from scratch. They want existing noise and quiet-hour protections recognized and meaningfully enforced as Knik Landing expands. Their concerns include noise, parking, traffic and highway safety, wastewater and septic capacity, shoreline setbacks, emergency access, and the overall intensity of the expanded operation.

Residents are also seeking clarification about how the Mat-Su Borough’s waterbody setback rules apply to the proposed expansion and what this decision could mean for commercial development around lakes throughout the Mat-Su Borough. The Mat-Su Borough’s waterbody setback requirements generally regulate structures and development near designated waterbodies, including required setbacks from the ordinary high-water mark. Residents understand the rule to require a 75-foot setback from the ordinary high-water mark for structures, subject to the specific provisions, exceptions, variances and definitions contained in borough code and applicable land-use regulations. Accordingly, approval of one project should not be interpreted to mean that future commercial development may automatically place structures within 5 or 40 feet of a waterbody without complying with Mat-Su Borough setback requirements. Any proposed structure or commercial use near the shoreline must be evaluated under current borough code, including applicable exceptions, variances and other requirements involving wetlands, floodplains, septic systems, access, parking, lighting or public safety. Residents are asking the borough to identify the precise setback rule applied to Knik Landing, explain how the ordinary high-water mark was determined, disclose any approved exceptions or variances, and clarify what the decision could mean for future commercial development around Mat-Su lakes in general. They also want the borough to explain how the project complies with the Knik Lake Management Plan and applicable waterbody setback provisions. The new venue has not yet opened to

Leave the Lights on: Vote No on 2 Contributed by Irene Waggoner

Are you in the dark about Eric Hafner? Who is he and why did he get any votes? Last-minute urgent texts for Eric Hafner? Multiple flyers stuffed in your mailbox for Carol Hafner, a “progressive” for U.S. Senate? Signs popping up that say “Yes on Ballot 2”? These are examples of political influence called ballot engineering: the use of substantial outside money to elevate little-known, “real” candidates to potentially weaken a stronger opponent, or to promote attempts to influence Alaskans to vote “yes” on Ballot Measure 2. There is little or no real info available on these flyers, texts or billboards. “Someone” is simply telling you what to do. Who are these “someones” exactly? Alaska’s current laws require disclosure

of this type of info: who is spending, how much and on what, intended to influence Alaska’s voters. Significant amounts of money from outside entities, more than 50% of its contributions during the previous 12 months coming from donors who are not Alaska residents, equals political money originating from outside Alaska that is used to influence an Alaska election. It’s challenging to locate and understand some of these laws and reports, but the info is required and available. Voting “yes” would repeal these laws and make it much easier to allow more outside influence on Alaska’s citizens. Ballot Measure 2: “An Act Restoring Political Party Primaries, Ending Ranked-Choice General Elections, and Repealing Recent Campaign Finance Laws” asks Alaskans to turn the lights off on the availability of this info and accountability and transparency on these outside money influences.

Time for Change for Palmer

Contributed by Michael Bowles

My name is Michael Bowles and I am running to bring change to the Greater Palmer area this November. I am a combat veteran who served two tours in Iraq and received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in a combat environment. I have served both my country and state since 2001. My experience

serving in the Army and State of Alaska has taught me that a successful mission has objectives, goals, and measurable outcomes. Legislators should be held to the same standard. Delena Johnson has served our community for years, and I respect that service but after nearly a decade in Juneau, voters are entitled to ask if our government is more

the public, but residents say its impact is already visible. Nighttime photographs taken from across Knik Lake show extensive exterior lighting reflecting across the water. Residents who have long enjoyed dark skies, stars and the northern lights worry that increased artificial lighting is changing an important part of rural lake life before the venue has even opened. Because light and sound travel across open water, residents say impacts from a shoreline venue can extend well beyond the immediately adjoining properties. Public access has also become a concern. In an August 20 public comment on the Knik Landing Facebook page, a longtime visitor described being heartbroken over the apparent loss of lake access she remembered from years of kayaking there and watching children play along the bank. Residents say important questions remained unresolved when the project was approved, including the combined occupancy and intensity of the operation, parking, emergency access, wastewater capacity and shoreline setbacks. They are asking the borough to clearly explain the standards it relied upon and how the project satisfied them. They also point to a documented connection they believe deserves transparency. Borough records show Misty Massie served on the Mat-Su Borough Waterbody Setback Advisory Board in 2023 in the Home Builder, Lending and Real Estate representative seat. The same borough record identifies Planning & Land Use Director Alex Strawn as support staff to that board. Service on an advisory board does not establish wrongdoing or a conflict of interest. But because shoreline and setback issues are now part of the Knik Landing dispute, residents believe the connection is relevant

process, testified and documented their concerns. After the Planning Commission approved the expansion, they exercised their right to appeal. Some community members say they are uncomfortable speaking publicly and prefer to remain anonymous. They point to Doug Massie’s former senior law-enforcement role and his current candidacy for Alaska State House District 30 as reasons some perceive a power imbalance. This is not an allegation that Massie has threatened or retaliated against anyone; it explains why some residents say they are reluctant to publicly attach their names to their concerns. The larger question is simple: How meaningful is public participation if residents can document concerns, appear at hearings and point to longstanding borough protections, yet still cannot clearly understand how those protections were applied in the final decision? Mat-Su is growing, and development will increasingly meet established residential neighborhoods and lakes. Development and private property rights matter, but so do consistent rules, transparent decision-making and the rights of neighboring property owners. The standards the borough applies in this case may have significance well beyond Knik Lake as similar development questions arise around other Mat-Su lakes. Knik Lake residents are asking the borough for reasonable safeguards, enforcement of protections already in place, clear and consistent application of its waterbody setback rules, and a fair and transparent review of their appeal. For the families around Knik Lake, this is not an abstract planning dispute. It is their neighborhood, their homes and their lake.

“Bundling” is also a problem. This single ballot is all or nothing: if Ballot Measure 2 is passed, all three of these initiatives, party primaries, ending ranked choice and repealing campaign finance laws, will change significantly. Clever advertising is focusing on the “ranked-choice” portion of this ballot measure, when the real devil is, as usual, in the details: repealing or amending campaign finance disclosure provisions about independent-expenditure-group requirements. The Attorney General’s official summary says that the measure intends to remove current limits and disclosure requirements involving donations to joint governor/ lieutenant-governor campaigns, digital political advertising, out-of-state contributions, undisclosed contributions, disclosure of the “true source” of contributions, some campaign-finance fines and aspects of what legally constitutes a campaign expenditure. The “true source” disclosure section is particularly important: an out-of-state

donor can be completely disclosed, while money originating inside Alaska can potentially be dark money if its true source is obscured. Out-of-state contributions must be accounted for, as well as inside Alaska, and current law applies special disclosure requirements that tell voters when certain political communications are financed by entities substantially funded from outside Alaska. True, it is challenging to find and understand disclosure laws and find and understand actual filings and reports. However, it is doable. But deliberately making it impossible by repealing these sources of info means turning out the lights and locking the door to access this info. This should not be acceptable to Alaska’s citizens. We need more accountability, more info and more transparency, not less. Ask your favorite candidates what their views are on this and vote no on Ballot Measure 2. Keep the lights on.

accountable, more affordable, and more effective than when she arrived, and it’s not…quite the opposite. This race isn’t about whether my opponent is a good person or whether she’s served our community. She has. This race is about who is best for this job. It’s about whether nearly a decade in Juneau has produced the results the Greater Palmer area and District 25 deserves or whether it’s time for a different approach. I have served in government from inside

State of Alaska agencies and from the elected local-government side as your Assemblyman. I have the proven experience and outstanding record that shows I work hard and get positive results. After nearly a decade in Juneau, I want the conversation to be about measurable results for Palmer, Butte, Lazy Mountain and Knik River. This isn’t mudslinging, this is accountability. It’s time for integrity, honesty, and accountability. It’s time to clean House. Vote for Michael Bowles this November.

COMMUNITY

WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY www.makeascene.media

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Recuerdas: A Community Remembrance Exhibit

Contributed by Bethany Buckingham Follett The Wasilla Museum invites you to participate in our fifth annual Recuerdas exhibit, held as part of our Día de los Muertos celebration. Recuerdas offers a special way to remember those who are no longer with

us. All are invited to take part: bring a photograph and share a memory of an ancestor, loved one, friend, child or animal companion as part of this community exhibit. Photographs are accepted as temporary loans through a simple museum loan process. Photographs are encouraged by October 6 so they can be included when the exhibit opens, but you’re welcome to add a photograph at any time during the exhibit. The museum will care for each

photograph while it is part of Recuerdas and return it to the family afterward. Join us at the museum on Saturday, October 24, from 1–3pm for our Día de los Muertos celebration, where the Recuerdas exhibit and the stories behind the photographs will be part of an afternoon of remembrance, sharing, activities and celebrating the lives of those we remember. Bring a photograph. Share a

memory. Be part of Recuerdas. For more info, contact the Wasilla Museum at (907) 373-9071 or museum@ cityofwasilla.gov. Event Info: Recuerdas exhibit and Día de los Muertos celebration; Saturday, October 24, 1–3pm; Wasilla Museum; photo submissions encouraged by October 6; (907) 373-9071; museum@cityofwasilla. gov.

An Evening with La Llorona at the Wasilla Museum

Contributed by Selena Ortega Chiolero As autumn settles over the Mat-Su Valley and October nights grow longer, the Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center invites the community to gather for an evening centered around one of the most enduring and haunting figures in Mexican and Latin American folklore: La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 6–8pm, the museum will host a free evening of bilingual storytelling, mocktails, hors d’oeuvres while they last, and raffles, all inspired

by the power of stories to carry culture, memory, and tradition across generations. Because some stories and themes may be frightening or unsettling for younger audiences, the event is recommended for ages 14 and older. For many people with roots in Mexico and throughout Latin America, the cry of La Llorona, “the Weeping Woman,” is immediately recognizable. There is no single version of her story. Instead, La Llorona belongs to a long and evolving oral tradition, with versions changing across communities, families, regions, and generations. In one of the most familiar tellings, she is the spirit of a woman condemned to wander near rivers and waterways, mourning the loss of her children. Her cries are said to carry through the night as she searches endlessly for them. But La Llorona is more than a ghost story. Her legend reflects layers of Indigenous, Spanish colonial, Catholic, and Mexican cultural traditions that have developed and changed over centuries. Scholars and storytellers have connected elements of the legend to older Indigenous traditions involving powerful female figures, motherhood, water, death, and omens, while later versions reflect the profound social and

Great Alaska Duck Race Contributed by Kelsey Lellig, Development Coordinator & Great Alaska Duck Race Official, Alaska EXCEL The Great Alaska Duck Race returns to Ship Creek in downtown Anchorage on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Hosted by Alaska EXCEL and the Anchorage Hockey Associ-

ation, this nonprofit fundraiser supports several Alaska organizations. Alaska EXCEL is based in the Mat-Su Valley and provides educational, career and life-skills opportunities to rural Alaska students. The Great Alaska Duck Race is one of our major annual fundraisers and helps support our programs while giving partic-

cultural changes brought by colonization. Over time, La Llorona has become many things at once: a cautionary tale told to children, a frightening story shared after dark, an expression of grief and loss, and a figure through whom people have explored motherhood, displacement, identity, and cultural memory. Like so many stories passed from one generation to another, La Llorona changes depending on who is telling the story. Some remember being warned as children not to wander too close to rivers or arroyos after dark because La Llorona might get you. Others remember grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles telling the story at family gatherings. Some versions are terrifying. Others are deeply tragic. As anyone who has spent an evening swapping stories with family knows, not every tale ends with a chill; some end with everyone in the room laughing. While La Llorona provides the inspiration for the evening, guests shouldn’t expect two straight hours of ghost stories. Storytellers will mix the mysterious and spooky with lighthearted tales filled with humor and laughter, reflecting the many ways storytelling brings people together. The bilingual event will celebrate Span-

ish as an important part of the cultural traditions from which many of these stories emerge. Some stories will be shared in Spanish, allowing audiences to hear them in the language in which they may have been heard around family tables and passed between generations. Translations will be available so everyone can follow along and enjoy the stories. Whether you grew up hearing tales of La Llorona, have family stories that still make you laugh, or are encountering these traditions for the first time, the evening offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in culture through language, folklore, food, humor, and community. October in Alaska provides just the right setting. Gather together, enjoy something to eat and drink, share a few laughs, and perhaps experience a chill or two along the way. Just keep an ear open when you leave. If somewhere in the distance you hear a woman crying... well, you can decide for yourself whether it was only the wind. Event Info: An Evening with La Llorona; Saturday, Oct. 24, 6–8pm; Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center, 391 N. Main St., Wasilla, AK 99654; free; recommended for ages 14 and older; (907) 373-9071.

ipating nonprofit teams an opportunity to raise funds for their organizations. The event area opens at noon, with the duck drop expected around 2pm. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site before the drop, and attendees can also shop for duck-themed merchandise. This year’s participating nonprofit teams include Alaska EXCEL, the Anchorage Hockey Association, the Alaska Zoo, the Alaska Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and Alaska Potbelly Pig Rescue.

We would love for Mat-Su families to join us for an afternoon of fun while supporting nonprofit organizations serving communities throughout Alaska. Event Info: Great Alaska Duck Race, hosted by Alaska EXCEL and the Anchorage Hockey Association; Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026; event area opens at noon, duck drop expected around 2pm; Ship Creek in downtown Anchorage; tickets available on-site before the drop.

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Beyond the Mat: Building Grit, Character & Community Contributed by Brytnee Chase Wrestling is one of those sports that teaches a lot more than what people see during a match. Yes, wrestling takes strength and skill, but it also takes discipline, patience, and a willingness to keep going when things are challenging. These are life lessons that stay with a wrestler long after their season ends. One of the biggest skills wrestling teaches is accountability. When a wrestler sets foot on the mat, it is just them and their opponent. There is no teammate to pass the ball to and no one else to blame if things do not go their way. They quickly learn that preparation, effort, and attitude matter. They learn to rely on themselves rather than others. They learn independence. Wrestlers also learn how to lose. Losing may not sound like a benefit, but it is. They learn to control their emotions when it’s incredibly hard not to. These athletes learn to shake an opponent’s hand after a tough match, listen to their coach, determine what they need to work on, and come back with grit, ready to try again. That kind of resilience is something they will use for the rest of their lives. Wrestlers also tend to develop qualities employers value. They learn how to show up, work hard, take direction, and accept feedback. They understand that improvement takes repetition and success usually does not happen overnight. Those habits matter in the workplace. Whether a wrestler becomes a healthcare worker, first responder, business owner, employee,

coach, or something completely different, the work ethic they build through wrestling will stay with them. Furthermore, wrestling is a sport with room for everyone. Wrestlers compete within weight classes, so there is not one body type that fits the sport. Athletes of different sizes, builds, and genders can compete and be successful. Girls’ wrestling continues to grow all over the nation. Female wrestlers show every day that determination, strength, discipline, and confidence have nothing to do with gender. Wrestling gives girls the same opportunity to build these skills, compete, grow stronger, build confidence, and become leaders in our community. Even though wrestling is an individual sport during competition, it is very much a team sport behind the scenes. Wrestlers train together, push each other, celebrate wins together, and support each other through losses. This is what makes wrestling special. Wrestling is the best community to be part of. Here in Palmer, we are fortunate to have young athletes willing to put in the work and represent our community. Wrestlers can start as early as age 5 and often continue through high school, some even into college. Moose Boosters Wrestling supports our middle and high school athletes in the Palmer community. We are currently looking for local sponsorships to help support our wrestlers and the program. Sponsorships help cover team attire,

travel, competitions, equipment, and other opportunities throughout the season. To become a sponsor, visit phswrestlingboosters.square.site. Supporting Palmer Moose Wrestling is about more than supporting a sport. It is about investing in your local athletes. These athletes are learning how to work hard, handle disappointment, accept responsibility, respect others, and keep going when things get difficult. Those qualities will mat-

ter long after a wrestler laces up their shoes for that final match. Their medals may not last forever, but the lessons learned along their journey will. Photo 1: PHS 2025 Season Team Photo. Photo credit: Northern Renegade Photography. Photo 2: PJMS 2026 Season Team Photo. Photo credit: Chase N Moments Photography.

Valley Charities’ Leaves of Change Online Auction Contributed by Janice Melvin

Love a good deal? Love to help others? Love the excitement of an auction? Now you can have them all! Valley Charities with Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores is holding our third online auction. Our Leaves of Change auction opens

Oct. 10 at 7am and closes Oct. 17 at 9pm. You can sign up now and be first in line for new items listed between now and opening day. We have artwork, exciting trips and experiences, food, fun, and fantastic treasures. Maybe a great gift idea will be in the auction lineup. Visit valleycharities.org or sign up directly at vcifall26.cbo.io. Proceeds directly support our Endow-

ment Fund, which helps Valley neighbors who fall on hard times and through the cracks of other programs. Our community has its share of people working and living on the edge, and just one unplanned expense, like car repairs or high medicine costs, can make life a real challenge. Our Endowment Fund has been growing thanks to donations from people like you who want to help and look for reliable sources to support.

Come help us give help and hope to our community members and have fun at the same time. Going once, going twice, gone, and you WON! The Valley Charities Leaves of Change online auction is coming! Join now. Event Info: Leaves of Change online auction presented by Valley Charities and Turn-A-Leaf Thrift Stores; opens Oct. 10 at 7am and closes Oct. 17 at 9pm; valleycharities.org or vcifall26.cbo.io.

National Preparedness Month: Get Your Household Ready Without Breaking the Bank Contributed by Taylar Sause, Red Cross Spokesperson Major disasters are happening more often now than before, making it critical that everyone prepare their household. But as prices continue to climb on just about everything, you may feel getting prepared is too much of a financial burden. Not anymore. The American Red Cross of Alaska has a few simple, low- or no-cost steps everyone can take to help get their household ready. Download the Red Cross Emergency app, which helps you and your loved ones before, during and after a disaster. The app includes guides to help you prepare, National Weather Service alerts, live weather maps and help locating Red Cross shelters. Best of all, it’s free, available in English and Spanish, and designed with accessibility in mind. Find it by searching for “American

Red Cross” in your app store or visiting redcross.org/apps. Develop an emergency plan for your household, a great way to get started that won’t cost a thing. Pick two places to meet: right outside your home and somewhere outside your neighborhood in case you can’t get home or have to evacuate. Plan how you will evacuate. Think about where you will go, how you will get there, where you will stay and what you’ll take. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation. Don’t forget your pets. Keep a list of pet-friendly hotels, motels and animal shelters on your phone. Customize your kit to meet your household’s needs. If you have young children, don’t forget formula and diapers. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, bowls and litter. Make emergency contact cards for the whole family in case the internet is down,

and save the info on everyone’s phone. Don’t forget the number for your children’s school or daycare. Gather supplies for a go-kit and a stayat-home kit. Use items you already have to keep costs low. Build your kit slowly, perhaps buying an item every time you shop. Look for sales, buy-one-get-one-free offers, clearance bins and coupons, and shop at discount stores. Your go-kit should include three days of supplies you can take with you. Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water and a one-month supply of medications, if possible. Other items could include a flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, and battery or hand-crank radio. Include backup batteries and chargers for your devices, such as a cell phone, CPAP or wheelchair, and critical personal records. You might also include sanitation

and personal hygiene items, extra cash, area maps, pet supplies, baby supplies, matches, N95 masks, a manual can opener, extra car and house keys, towels, work gloves, a multipurpose tool, blankets and sleeping bags. If you own a business or are part of a school or organization, it’s critical that you are prepared and know what to do should an emergency happen. The Red Cross offers the free Ready Rating Program, which provides tools, resources and info for improving your group’s ability to withstand disaster, maintain operations, and protect lives and property. National Preparedness Month is a great time to start down the road to readiness. Disasters can happen anywhere, at any time. Being prepared is your best defense. Take these few easy steps and get ready before an emergency occurs.

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Need Help Staying Independent At Home? Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. Chore Services Can Help! Daily household tasks can become difficult with age. Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc. (WASI) offers Chore Services to help seniors remain independent in their own homes. If you are a senior, family member, or caregiver looking for support, we are here to help. WASI’s trained staff can assist with routine household tasks such as: ; Light housekeeping ; Bathroom and kitchen cleaning ; Laundry and linen changes ; Organizing and decluttering ; Trash removal pathways for safety ; Vacuuming and floor care

To learn more or request services, contact

Wasilla Area Seniors at 907-206-8800 Supporting seniors throughout the Mat-Su Borough. Payment Options: TriWest for Veterans, Medicaid Chore Waiver, or Private Pay

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Get Ready for Winter with the Mat-Su Ski Club Mat-Su Ski Club offers Ski 101 clinics designed for adults who are brand new to Nordic skiing. Ski 101 begins with an indoor session covering equipment, ski care, what to wear and what you need to get started. Once the snow arrives, an on-snow clinic helps participants get comfortable on skis and learn basic skills. Ready for the next step? Adult Cross-Country Ski Lessons offer beginner classic and skate instruction in small groups, giving new skiers individualized help as they build their skills and confidence. Lessons are offered during the winter season, primarily January–March, at GPRA and other local trail systems, depending on conditions. For adults moving into intermediate or advanced ski levels who want to keep skiing, learning and staying active with a group, Mat-Su Nordic Masters offers another opportunity. Masters is part of the year-round Mat-Su Nordic (MSN) program and welcomes a wide range of abilities. The focus is on having fun, improving fitness and continuing to build skills alongside other local skiers. Mat-Su Nordic also offers year-round training for youth who want to continue developing their skiing, fitness and racing skills beyond the Junior Nordics season. Learn more about Ski 101, Adult Lessons and Mat-Su Nordic at matsuski.org. You don’t have to wait for snow to get involved. The Mat-Su Ski Club has two community events coming up in October. Volunteer Trails Day @GPRA, Oct. 10: Join us at Government Peak Recreation Area for a day of giving back to the trails! After a busy summer of trail building and improvements, we’ll tackle fall trail work and prepare the trails for their first snow. No special trail-building experience

is necessary. Whether you can give a few hours or stay for the day, every set of hands helps. It’s also a great way to meet other trail users and see some of the work that goes into maintaining the places we all enjoy. Trick or Treat Trails @GPRA, Oct. 24: Grab your costumes and candy buckets and join us for one of our favorite fall traditions! Families can follow a festive route through the trails, stopping at stations for treats and Halloween fun. Costumes are encouraged, and the event welcomes kids of all ages and abilities, with allergen-friendly treat options available. Proceeds from Trick or Treat Trails support the Mat-Su Ski Club’s year-round work caring for and maintaining the trails our community enjoys. Whether you have a child ready to join Junior Nordics, want to learn how to ski, are looking for a group to train with, want to volunteer or simply want to enjoy a community event on the trails, there are plenty of ways to be part of the Mat-Su Ski Club this fall and winter. Visit matsuski.org to learn more, become a member, register for programs, volunteer and find upcoming events. Sign up for the Snow News Newsletter for club news, registration reminders, events, volunteer opportunities and other updates. You can also follow the MatSu Ski Club on Facebook and Instagram for trail news, program updates, photos, events and a look at what’s happening around the club. The Mat-Su Ski Club (MSSC) is a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting Nordic skiing through exceptional trails, programs, outdoor education and community events throughout the Mat-Su Valley.

The 1929 Eklutna Hydroelectric Project

Anchorage Light and Power Company. The line expansions to areas outside Anchorage, which Frank I. Reed was counting on to increase the power load, became impossible to finance. Reed was hoping that the additional supply of cheaper power would encourage more business, a hope shared by the community. Unfortunately, the depression effectively stopped this development. Although the company got off to a rocky financial start, the wisdom of building the Eklutna Hydroelectric Project was obvious when the WWII military buildup and other factors led to the sustained population growth of Anchorage and the surrounding area. Frank Reed sold his power plant to the city in 1943 and passed away at the age of 71 only a year later. In 1950, the federal government purchased Reed’s company from the City of Anchorage when the Bureau of Reclamation, a division of the Department of the Interior, began construction of the second Eklutna Power Project. At that time, the first Eklutna plant was shut down, and the old dam was allowed to fill with silt and gravel. The new Eklutna Power Project, funded and built by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, was built several miles up the Knik River from the old power plant. A 4.5-mile-long tunnel was bored through East Twin Peak to provide water for the new power plant, and drilling the nine-foot diameter tunnel from both the Knik River side and the Eklutna Lake side began in 1951. When it connected in October 1953, it was declared a marvelous engineering feat, but today few people know it was not the first such tunnel generating electric power for the area. Photo Caption: The first Eklutna Power House. The words “Anchorage Light & Power Company” are engraved on the side of the building, circa 1930-32.

Contributed by Marla Jakab

FORESIGHT GCQUAD

Golf Simulator Work on your golf game all year long!

Fall is here in the Mat-Su Valley, but ski season isn’t far behind! The Mat-Su Ski Club is getting ready for another winter of skiing, programs and fun on the trails, and October is a great time to get involved. Junior Nordics registration opens Oct. 10 at 10am for returning families and Oct. 13 at 10am for new families. Junior Nordics welcomes kids ages 5–16 and gives young skiers of all abilities a chance to get outside, build confidence and learn lifelong cross-country skiing skills. Practices run January–March at Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA), where volunteer coaches teach classic and skate skiing through instruction, games and plenty of time on the trails. Junior Nordics is one of our most popular programs and can fill quickly, so families are encouraged to learn about membership and registration ahead of time at matsuski.org/junior-nordics. There are plenty of opportunities for adults to get on skis, too, even if you’ve never tried cross-country skiing. The

Contributed by Helen Hegener, Alaskan History Magazine, Northern Light Media

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The Eklutna Hydroelectric Project has used the energy of melting glaciers to provide electricity for the Anchorage-Palmer region for almost a century, but decades before the current wellknown power plant was built, Anchorage businessman Frank I. Reed founded the Anchorage Light & Power Company and harnessed the power of the Eklutna River. In 1921, Alaskan Engineering Commission (AEC) engineers John Longacre and C. D. Pollock conducted a brief survey which resulted in a highly favorable recommendation regarding future development at Eklutna Lake for hydroelectric power production, but generating electrical power for Anchorage was not a primary function of AEC’s operations. Sensing an opportunity, businessman Frank Reed and engineer John Longacre teamed up and began efforts to develop a power plant at Eklutna. From 1922 to 1928, Frank Reed invested a significant amount of time

getting the Eklutna power project off the ground. In 1924, he hired Seattle engineer Robert Howes to conduct an initial study of the project, and he secured contracts to purchase electrical power from the City of Anchorage and the Alaska Railroad and identified other potential markets outside of the immediate Anchorage city limits, such as the Eklutna Industrial School and the growing population of the rural Matanuska Valley. Several miles downriver from Eklutna Lake, Reed’s Anchorage Light & Power Co. built a concrete arch dam, 98 feet long and 61 feet high, which diverted water from the Eklutna River into an 1,800-foot tunnel through Goat Mountain to a concrete powerhouse. A concrete reinforced building 61 by 27 feet, it housed a 1,500 horsepower Pelton Wheel water turbine and a standard General Electric 1,000 kW generator. The tailrace, a reinforced concrete-lined channel extending from the back of the building, carried water away from the powerhouse and into Knik Arm. The Eklutna power plant was finished only a month before the devastating stock market crash of 1929, which created a depression throughout the next decade. Though Alaska did not suffer as much as the rest of the country, there were immediate consequences for the

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Contributed by Kelleigh Orthmann

Adoptable Cats Looking for Loving Homes Meet a few of the wonderful adoptable cats currently looking for their perfect homes through Clear Creek Cat Rescue.

Peter

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I am a bright-eyed 3-year-old ginger boy. I have a neat short orange coat and big paws! I am an easy-going guy who will be an excellent family member. I love people and will be your little shadow no matter the task. I love to give head butts and

Tulsi I am a petite Siamese with a gentle soul and a heart full of love. While I may be a little shy at first, I truly blossom during the quiet moments of the day. One of my favorite routines is keeping you company while you get ready in the morning. I’ll happily flop over at your feet, asking for gentle pets and soaking up your attention. I am looking for a calm, predictable home where I can feel safe and loved. I would do best in a home without young

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Hunder Heart Introducing Thunder Heart! He was found outside, and we aren’t sure how his people got lost but he is ready to find a family again. His purr is like distant rolling thunder. He is a big boy with a heart of gold and is ready to shower you with love. Thunder Heart is about 8 years old, mellow, and gets along with other cats and dogs. He is one of those cats that just takes everything in stride and is happy to

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children, where peaceful days are the norm. Having a feline friend is important to me, as I enjoy the comfort and companionship of another cat. I am fine with mellow gentle dogs who will respect my space. I am estimated to be 1-2 years old. I must have a nice safe yard in which to spend time with my family once I am bonded and know I have found my perfect home forever. If you’re looking for a sweet, affectionate companion who will quietly steal your heart with adorable flops and loving nature, I may be the perfect addition to your family.

be with his family snuggling on the sofa. An easy-going kitty friend to share naps and snacks with would be good for him in his new home. He does get a little intimidated by the rambunctious antics of the kittens in his foster home, so he prefers to watch them from a safe distance. Calm and cool is his speed! Sporting a beautiful soft flame point Siamese coat, he is sure to wow anyone that sees him. Thunder Heart will need a nice yard to spend warm days basking in the sun and enjoying the sounds of nature.

To meet us, please call or text 907-980-8898. To see other adoptable kitties, visit clearcreekcatrescue.org or facebook.com/clearcreek.catrescue.

Put a “Paws” on the Winter Blues

Contributed by Heather Hart Although the changing leaves and foggy mornings make Alaska a breathtaking landscape in the fall, the transition into the colder months can be really difficult for those struggling with anxiety and depression. Isolation and loneliness can make mental health struggles worse. Often, having an adventure buddy or a furry companion to come home to can make a world of difference, and HRT K9 has got you covered. Currently, we have three dogs who have washed out from our service dog program for one reason or another and are available for adoption. Even though they don’t have what it takes to be a service dog, each one is a great dog and would make a great companion. All are spayed/neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, potty trained, kennel/crate

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kisses, adore my people, and love to be pet. My favorite pastimes are playing and finding the highest perches in the house to nap. I have lived with other cats before and do fine with cats who like me...but I don’t necessarily need a cat friend. I don’t know about dogs because I haven’t really been around them. I will need an outside area where I can run around and play with my family and friends.

trained, and trained in basic obedience. Nora is a sweet snuggly little mama of a dog. She wants to know that everyone is okay. If you don’t look or sound okay, Nora will come and check on you immediately. On family walks, she is conscientious to make sure no one is left behind and we haven’t forgotten anyone. She is eager to please and do what is expected of her. Despite her calm demeanor, when Nora gets the zoomies, she is FAST. She loves to run, but her very favorite game is tug. *Nora will need to be an only dog as she is dog reactive and occasionally aggressive. James is everyone’s favorite, hands down. He is the quintessential gentle giant. At 95 pounds he’s a pretty big dude, but if you approach him, he is guaranteed to offer you his belly to rub. James is calm and confident in all locations and

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Calling all animal shelters, rescues, and vet clinics — Paws for Justice, a local community initiative sponsored by Crowson Law, wants to partner with you! We’re building a community campaign to help local pets find loving homes. Local organizations will feature the adoptable pets in the pages of The People’s Paper and on the airwaves of 95.5 The Pass KNLT-FM—and we’ll help coordinate free adoption events, promote them, and cover adoption costs or other services to help our furry friends find forever homes. To learn more about Paws for Justice or to sign up to help today - call (907) 373-2698. That’s 3732698. Brought to you by Crowson Law Group— defending the injured and giving Alaska’s rescue pets a voice.

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situations, and he’s never met a person or animal he didn’t like. Outdoors and off leash he does enjoy a good run across the yard, but is much more likely to hop, bow, flop, and eat grass. Jessie is our bounciest dog (literally). She is full of enthusiasm and excitement. Whatever you’re doing, Jessie wants to be doing it with you. The thing she craves most is your company. If you need to slow down, Jessie will be the best snuggle partner you’ve ever had. Jessie is fully confident and adventurous at home and in familiar places but can be very hesitant and unsure in public places. She can be slow to warm up to new people, but once she knows you, you will be her best friend forever. Until they are adopted, dogs will be available to meet and greet on a rotating basis on the second Saturday from 1-3 and last Friday from 12-3 each month at Band of Brothers Alaska during our Coffee, Canines, and Camaraderie events. You can also reach out to us at wegotyoursix@hrtk9.org to arrange a time to meet a pup. *There will be NO Coffee, Canines and Camaraderie on September 25th.

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