Brand New Coloring Page Inside! PAGE 6 OF MAKE A SCENE MAGAZINE
Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters Guild
Alaska Junior Theater Performing Arts
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Kids Day at The Races
PAGE 8 OF THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
AUG 2023 > WRITTEN BY THE COMMUNITY > ALASKA OWNED & OPERATED
Silvers for Seniors Returns Annual Salmon Donation Brings Joy to Palmer Senior Center PAGE HERRING, TIM PETTIT (CEO), BETH WESTLAND (COO), ELDA MCCRAW (BOARD MEMBER), AND BOB CELLERS
Contributed by Charice Chambers Mat-Su Senior Center Gift Shop Early on the morning of Friday, August 4th, a quiet miracle occurred. Four coolers filled with freshly caught silver salmon were delivered to the Palmer Senior Center by fisherwoman Page Herring and her husband, fellow fisherman, Bob Cellers. For the 12th year in a row, with exception of 2021 when rough seas prohibited fishing, the couple has deposited portions of a single day’s catch to the Center. It is an annual gift from the members of Northern District Setnetters. Both the longevity of the annual donation, and the number of fish donated this year (nearly 100) comprised the miracle of the day. Silvers for Seniors, to which it is fondly referred, is the brainchild
JIM AND BETH EHRHART
of fisherwoman Page Herring who approached members of the Northern District Setnetters asking them to share in her dream of providing fresh salmon to seniors in the Matsu Valley. She knew that many seniors no longer had access to Alaska’s much-loved salmon, and she wanted to provide them with at least one memorable meal each fall. Northern District Setnetters has stepped up year after year to make that dream a reality. Once unloaded by the setnetters, there were nearly 100 silvers waiting to be gutted, filleted, wrapped and stored in the freezer; the job was completed in less than three hours. It was quite a feat, when one considers the fact that pin bones had to be pulled as well! Volunteers made quick work of a time-consuming job. It helped to have retired professional fish cutters Jim and Beth Ehrhart as a part of the volunteer
crew. At the height of her career, Beth could process one salmon a minute, an astounding feat! As always conversation and camaraderie were a key ingrediant of the day’s success, as volunteers reminisced about days gone by, and the Alaska they had experienced. Though early for Alaska’s annual Salmon Day, by the middle of the following week, the seniors at Palmer Senior Center were sitting down to a delicious barbequed salmon dinner complete with donated commercial sides. There were great conversations, tall tales of big fish, and unbelievable experiences connected to one end or the other of a fishing pole. Another miracle for the Center had arrived thanks to Northern District Setnetters, Page Herring, Bob Cellers, and Center volunteers www.matsuseniors.com
ANIME CONVENTION
RETURNS TO ANCHORAGE
ANIME CON VENTION RETURNS TO ANCH ORAGE
ART MUSIC EVENTS POETRY THEATER & MUCH MORE!
Hagen Park in Palmer To Be Open for Play Soon
Contributed by Michele Harmeling United Way of Mat-Su, Thrive Mat-Su, Palmer Rotary, and the City of Palmer are overjoyed to announce that new play structures have been fully installed at Hagen Park in Palmer, AK.
Hagen Park is situated between Eagle and Dolphin Avenues in Palmer, near Sherrod and Swanson Elementary Schools. In 2020, Hagen Park was identified as needing some care and attention; new play equipment was purchased by Thrive Mat-Su, and coordination of the
improvement project was spearheaded by United Way of Mat-Su’s Development & Outreach director. A brand new geodome climber, Harry the Hippo colorful climber, and large swing set with slides have been installed and are awaiting a concrete pour and
surfacing work. Immense gratitude is due to local contractor Exerplay, Inc., who has donated the time and labor to install the equipment as a service to the community. Many thanks also to Palmer Rotary for sponsoring the park and providing volunteers to ensure the project runs smoothly, and to Alaska Block & Concrete for their assistance. The long-awaited final touches are slated to be complete at Hagen by early next week. The public is asked to remain away from the playground until at least Tuesday, August 22, to allow time for concrete to fully set and surfacing to be finished. Questions regarding the Hagen Park project can be addressed to Michele Harmeling, Development & Outreach Director at United Way of Mat-Su, (907)7455822 or give@unitedwaymatsu.org.
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