February 2026 Edition
February 2026 Edition
As Alaskans, we take great pride in our unique culture and the breathtaking beauty of our state. Yet, hidden within this beauty is a pressing issue that affects a significant part of our population: our seniors. Today, I want to address the multifaceted challenges they face, including voting rights, economic security, access to quality health care, social justice, and educational opportunities. We must unite to advocate for meaningful changes that ensure our seniors receive the respect and...
Frances Perkins was tough as nails. She had to be. She was the first woman ever to serve in a presidential cabinet. Perkins was Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her beat was workers, immigrants, and the creation of Social Security. She was determined, focused, and did not suffer fools. According to her Wikipedia entry, one time she got in a spat with Alfred P. Sloan, the chairman of the board at General Motors. During a United Auto Workers strike, she...
After months of heating our homes through Alaska's long, cold winter, now is the perfect time to check that everything works safely. Your heating system has been working hard, and a little attention now can prevent fires and keep you warm through the rest of the winter and into spring. Wood stoves and fireplaces need regular cleaning to work safely. Creosote builds up inside the chimney when you burn wood. This black tar-like substance is dangerous because it can catch fire. If you've been...
My husband, Gary, passed away in December 2025 at the Palmer Veterans and Pioneers Home -his residence for almost four years. The staff graciously told me to take all the time I needed to remove his belongings from his room. Above his bed was a beautiful quilt made by his grandmother-a lady I never met. It is a requirement that only lightweight items be placed on the wall above a bed at the Pioneer Home...a precaution for earthquakes. On the wall in his bathroom was a lovely Alaska-themed lap...
Anchorage's oldest unsolved murder happened 105 years ago this month when the town's first police chief was gunned down as he tried to get a handle on illegal activities like prostitution, bootlegging, and gambling. An eyewitness account of crime in the railroad town founded in 1915 comes from Kenneth Gideon, author of "Wandering Boy," who visited the town as it began to grow along Ship Creek. Along with describing the proliferation of prostitution, Gideon noted: "The government had decreed...
Alaska Chinese Association is marking its 50th anniversary with Golden Jubilee Lunar New Year celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at Dimond High School (2909 W. 88th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99502) will feature performances, food, and family activities. Tickets and information are available here. The community celebration leads into the Year of the Horse, which begins with Lunar New Year on Feb. 17, 2026, marking half a century of Chinese heritage, community building, and cultural fusion in...
Music has a remarkable ability to reach people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, often long after other forms of communication become difficult. Melodies, rhythm, and familiar lyrics can spark recognition, ease anxiety, and create moments of joy and connection. Research and lived experience show that music engages multiple areas of the brain, allowing emotional memory to remain accessible even as other abilities change. I know firsthand the transformative power of music....
Alaska has 139 active clinical trials looking for those willing to sign up for research studies in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Bethel. Not only do you earn money for participation, but you also learn about your own state of health. Over the past few years, I've been found to have Stage 1 fatty liver disease, which the earliest and mildest form where fat accumulates up to 33% in liver cells and usually causes no noticeable symptoms. But it is crucial to address because it can progress to...
This month’s article provides an overview of Medicare coverage in 2026. The 2026 edition of the Medicare & You handbook provides much greater detail than is provided in this article; if you do not have a copy, then please contact the Medicare Information Office and we are happy to provide a copy. You may also find the handbook available on the Medicare.gov website (look for the link under the “Basics” topic header) as an eBook, as well as in large print, audio version, and in Braille. The...
If you catch a cold, know the facts. Studies have confirmed that taking vitamin C supplements regularly may only slightly reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. However, these supplements typically don't prevent you from catching a cold and can only slightly reduce the severity of symptoms for most people. Starting vitamin C after symptoms doesn't seem to help much. However, consistent daily intake in large doses (1000-2000 mg) might shorten a cold by a day or so and make it milder. In...
Alaska has been awarded $272 million to support system-level investments in health care through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), according to a press release from the Alaska Department of Health. The five-year, $50 billion national initiative is designed to strengthen, stabilize, and modernize health care systems in rural communities. Alaska is among the top recipients of the funding. “This investment represents a turning point for rural health care in Alaska,” said Heidi...
