April 2025 Edition
April 2025 Edition
In the city of Houston, an innovative program is addressing two critical issues: reducing fire hazards and supporting vulnerable community members. Spearheaded by a creative use of the United States Department of Forestry's Wood Innovations grant, the program has not only mitigated the risk of wildfires but also provided essential firewood to seniors, veterans, and disabled residents. The program's origins stem from a pressing need to address the threat of beetle-killed trees, which pose a...
To help Anchorage residents protect their properties against wildfires, the Mayor’s Office, Anchorage Fire Department Wildfire Division and Solid Waste Services (SWS) are partnering together to open the local wood lots for free to Anchorage residents clearing their properties this spring and summer. From March 29 to Sept. 30, no Anchorage residential loads of woody debris will incur fees. “I live in South Anchorage, so I know firsthand our need to prepare for wildfire risk. People want to...
Shaquil Aribuk was born and raised on the island of Palau, where his childhood was filled with the simple joys of fishing, hunting, and playing basketball. However, the limited opportunities on the island prompted Aribuk to pursue a new life in the United States, where he joined his family in Alaska. Tragedy struck when Aribuk contracted a rare bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis. After suddenly collapsing, he was rushed to the hospital, where he spent 10 days in a coma. When he...
RurAL CAP's AmeriCorps Seniors Program includes the Elder Mentor and Senior Companion Programs, which provide volunteer opportunities for people 55 and better. RurAL CAP partners with schools, Head Starts, local governments, and health agencies to set up volunteers host sites. Volunteers get training, support, and a small stipend as a thank you for I never expected to become an Elder Mentor. One of the teachers at our school called me and asked if I would volunteer. At the time, I wasn't...
Community members are invited to join the Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at Wasilla Area Seniors, Inc., 1301 S. Century Circle. This elegant gathering will raise funds for Meals on Wheels while celebrating mothers and loved ones with an afternoon of tea, delicious treats, and great company. Seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot soon! An online auction will run from May 6–10, allowing supporters to bid on unique items and experiences to further benefit...
We were a group of eight ladies sitting in a circle in the living room of the Colony House Museum, gathered for our annual docent meeting in May 2024. The Colony House Museum features all things relating to the 1935 United States government New Deal project that brought 203 families from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to the Matanuska Valley to create an agriculture community. The phone rang during the middle of our brainstorming discussion about how to recruit desperately needed...
It’s springtime. In the Municipality of Anchorage, that means it’s election season. The last day to turn in your mail-in ballot or vote in person is Tuesday, April 1. The municipal election includes the Anchorage Assembly, the school board, and a slew of bond propositions. The Anchorage People Mover is free all day on Election Day … Alaska Pacific University is hosting an outdoor gear swap. The event is Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at APU’s Mosely Sports Center, 4400...
The Anchorage Museum will host artworks by famous American artists through a partnership with the National Gallery of Art for the National Gallery’s “Across the Nation” program, which brings key works of art to regional museums across the United States this year and next. Through this loan, the Anchorage Museum will receive three works of art: They are Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Winter Road,” 1963, oil on canvas; Nancy Graves’ “Consequence,” 1982, oil on canvas; and Mark Rothko’s...
By the time you read this, Mount Spurr, an active volcano 80 miles from Anchorage, might have erupted. Then again, its rumblings might just be a preview of what's to come. In any case, now is the time to prepare for this possible emergency and take stock of your readiness to confront other emergencies, such as earthquakes and wildfires. Scientists say the volcano is showing signs that an eruption is likely. In mid-March, they announced that the chances for Mount Spurr to go off "within the next...
There is a funny scene in a British sitcom called “The IT Crowd,” in which woman is trying to explain to her nerdy, clueless co-workers — both men — that she is having her monthly menstrual cycle, by using the euphemism “Aunt Irma has come to visit.” They, of course, don’t get it, so she tries others, my favorite being “I’ve fallen to the Communists” (to which one co-worker grudgingly admits that “they do have some strong arguments”). As a biological male I have never had to experience that particular unpleasantness....
Personally, I'm one for three in the mix. I am 78 so I have been on Medicare for years, but so far (knock on plywood-I'm in my home office) I have not had to sign up for SNAP or Medicaid. I have been very lucky in that my personal resources have been enough. But who knows what the future holds for us as individuals or for the programs as a whole? Suffice it to say that at this point on the program side it is not looking too rosy. Here's the big picture, and I'll just editorialize that we...
Dear Savvy Senior: My local Social Security office was recently shut down because of staff layoffs and large-scale downsizing by the Department of Government Efficiency. All this disruption makes me very nervous, as I’ll be applying for my Social Security retirement benefits later this year. My question is, how are we supposed to get help with our Social Security questions or problems now that our office is permanently closed? What can you tell me? –Anxious Aaron Dear Aaron: I’ve been getting a lot of questions on this very topic. The...
The nonprofit Road Scholar celebrates 50 years with new tours, as well as free armchair travel. Offering a wide selection of destinations for avid travelers, it also keeps in mind those who can no longer travel or cannot afford to. "For 50 years, Road Scholar has empowered older adults to explore, learn and connect with the world around them," said James Moses, CEO of Road Scholar. "Beginning with our first program at the University of New Hampshire in 1975, we have partnered with thousands of...
