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When Joy-El Culligan first came to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank in 2022, a new MASST participant at age 87, executive director Anne Weaver immediately thought she would make an excellent greeter. The Food Bank had used greeters during the COVID-19 pandemic and managed to keep the operation safely going and steadily growing. As the Food Bank's 2020 Annual Report put it, "Our amazing Mature Alaskans Seeking Skills Training (MASST) workers 'manned' the front door, took pre-entry temperatures,...
August is fair season in Alaska. The Tanana Valley State Fair is July 25-Aug. 3. It’s chock full of summer fun, from concerts to a beer pong tournament. It takes place at 1800 College Road in Fairbanks. https://www.tvsfa.org/... Next is the Kenai Peninsula Fair, Aug. 8-10. It draws about 7,000 people per year. https://www.kenaipeninsulafair.com/ … The biggest of them all is the Alaska State Fair, held at the fairgrounds in Palmer from Aug. 15-Sept. 1. It’s the place to see hard-working farm kids and the animals they raised, get delec...
Analysis of bowhead whale poop shows that more toxins from typically warm-water toxic algae species are entering Arctic food webs as northern oceans warm and lose sea ice. The findings are based on nearly 20 years of feces samples collected from bowhead whales harvested for subsistence purposes by Alaska Native people living on the Beaufort Sea coast. The study, conducted by an interdisciplinary team led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was published in July in the...
Aug. 1-31 National Immunization Awareness Month Aug. 1-31 National Motorsports Awareness Month Aug. 1 International Beer Day Aug. 1 International World Lung Cancer Day. A day to bring attention to lung cancer and the need for more lung cancer research. https://lcfamerica.org/get-involved/raise-awareness/honoring-world-lung-cancer-day/ Aug. 4 National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. Among the greatest inventions in American cooking. Aug. 8 International Cat Day (Not to be confused with the National...
Even if you lose at the Alaska International Senior Games, you win. "If you like to laugh and you like to have fun," said Diann Darnall, the president of the Alaska International Senior Games board of directors. "This is for you." The AISG are coming up Aug. 8-17 in Fairbanks. And though the early-bird registration ended June 30, there is still time to enter. A qualifying event The AISG is a qualifying event for the National Senior Games, which this year takes place July 24-Aug. 4 in Des...
July is all about Independence Day and the multiple festivals across the state. Perhaps the most notable Fourth of July celebration is in Seward with the Mount Marathon Race. This is the 97th running of the race, which is 3.1 miles but goes straight up and (mostly) straight down Mount Marathon. The race has its origins when two men debated the possibility of climbing and descending the mountain in less than an hour. “Impossible” one said... For a more laid-back experience, consider going to Seldovia for its Fourth of July celebration. Keep in...
Snowbirds are Alaskans who leave the state in the wintertime for some warmth and sun elsewhere, or it might be a couple of weeks to Hawaii to thaw out, get a tan, and eat fresh fruit. You'll return refreshed to face the remaining winter. Still, you'll be abandoning the most expensive item you've ever bought - your home. It's a sobering thought to consider what disaster might happen if you don't take precautions. To-do list 1. Winterize your plumbing Turn off the water supply at the main valve...
Amid the "No Kings" signs at the June 14 protests across the country were many seniors marching and holding signs about Social Security and Medicare. Bill Hall was one of them. "I worry they are going to reduce or destroy it," Hall said about Social Security. He lives in senior housing in Anchorage. "Everyone there is worried because everyone depends on Social Security." Others held up signs defending Medicaid, a program that supports adults with low incomes, older adults, people with...
-Sign up for text alerts by texting “Anchorage” to 67283. In Fairbanks, you can text FPDALERTS to 67283. -The Municipality recommends bookmarking trusted sources’ information outlets via website or social media. These organizations are committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public: Anchorage Police Department Anchorage Fire Department Municipality of Anchorage Office of Emergency Management Anchorage Health Department: https://www.muni.org/Departments/health/Pages/default.aspx State of Alaska: https://rea...
Alaska’s summer solstice season offers long hours of light, warmer days, and a strong pull for Alaskans to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us. For individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), June is a great time to embrace the outdoors. Summer’s sunshine brings plenty of chances for fun and connection, but it also comes with a few extra things for caregivers to keep in mind. Whether it’s a gentle walk on a local trail or time spent gardening on a porch, outdoor activities can support emotional well-be...
The Alaska Legal Services Corp. is welcoming a summer intern at its Fairbanks office. The intern is part of the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC), a partnership between LSC and Equal Justice Works. Each summer, law student fellows join LSC-funded legal aid organizations to support clients in underserved rural areas. RSLC training started in late May with interns from across the country. From helping survivors of domestic violence to advocating for veterans and seniors, these fellows will provide legal assistance this summer. Many rural...
June 1 Nationwide National Cancer Survivors Day. June 1 Palmer Stallions of the North. A parade of stallions that live in Alaska. This free event begins at 12 noon. https://www.alaskastatefair.org/site/stallions-of-the-north/ June 3 Statewide The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service is having a webinar titled “Warming things up with plastic, glass and plastic mulch” 5:30-6:30 p.m. These gardening classes started in April, but there are still some left in June. Join the classes each Tuesday via Zoom. Visit https://bit.ly/...
One of the most cherished traditions in the world of baseball began as a bar bet between two saloon owners at the turn of the last century when Fairbanks was a small gold rush town. The stakes? Bragging rights for the entire winter. According to local lore, the first "High Noon at Midnight Classic" was played on June 21, 1906, between the Eagle's Club and the California Bar. Led by Eddie Stoecker, who became known as "Father of the Midnight Sun Game," the score ended with the Eagles falling to...
Only a four-mile drive to Homer enters you into a world of birds. At the Inspiration Ridge Preserve, walk through forests, bogs, meadows, ponds, and creeks, all part of the 693 acres of critical wildlife habitat best known for its visiting summer population of sandhill cranes. The legacy stewardship of the property of Nina Faust and the late Ed Bailey is continued by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, which offers guided tours. The 1.5-hour tour covers about two miles at a leisurely pace...
June is packed with events as Alaskans get the most amount of sunshine of the year this month. The summer solstice is June 20 at 6:41 p.m. Alaska time.. https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/anchorage?month=6 You can get out and enjoy the summer through a variety of activities. … An event to bring metaphorical sunshine into your life takes place June 6. The Forget-me-not Chorus, a program of Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, is performing its spring concert at the Anchorage Senior Activity Center Ballroom. Complimentary refreshments will be ser...
How many Alaska seniors have wings? Hmm, perhaps that's not the best way to phrase it. How about, "How many Alaska seniors are snowbirds?" Better. It's an interesting question because we all know at least a couple of snowbirds. Heck, maybe even you are a snowbird, but that doesn't really tell us much about the big picture. Turns out that counting snowbirds is a bit of a sticky wicket. "Snowbirds are hard to measure because they either remain residents and therefore aren't counted as...
The Social Security Administration (SSA) scrapped a service change in April that would have exacerbated their customer service challenges by forcing Alaskans to have to go in-person to a Social Security office in Anchorage, Juneau, or Fairbanks for routine services that have been handled over the phone. As a result of AARP’s strong advocacy, applying by phone at 800-772- 1213 and confirming your identity in the process remains an option for people claiming all types of benefits. Once you're receiving benefits, you don't have to prove your i...
If you are hearing “Pomp and Circumstance” a lot lately, that’s because May brings with it the commencement ceremonies happening at high schools and universities across the state. This month is also a time to reflect on the sacrifice of military personnel killed in battle. Americans also associate Memorial Day weekend with the official start of summer, and that’s no different in Alaska, where you may have noticed scenic byways getting more congested with tourists … Many coastal communities have shorebird festivals, such as the Cooper River Del...
May 1-31 Nationwide Older Americans Month. May 11 Nationwide Mother’s Day. May 3 Anchorage The Anchorage Genealogical Society is having its spring seminar. The AGS will have a slate of speakers with a variety of knowledge about genealogy, including presentations about German and Scottish genealogy, recording your family history on your phone, learning about DNA, the Mayflower Society, and Daughters of the American Revolution. The keynote speaker is Claire Gebben. Gebben is an award-winning author, historian, and genealogist. She is a public s...
U.S. travelers will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license/ID or another acceptable form of identification to board commercial flights in or out of the country beginning May 7. Travelers who fail to produce a REAL ID or an accepted alternative may not be allowed through Transportation Security Administration security checkpoints. Children under 18 are not required to provide identification when traveling within the United States. REAL ID-compliant cards have a star marking on the upper top...
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 University Drive. The sale is a fundraiser for the APU outdoor gea...
Q: Ice patterns and reduced snowfall in Alaska have created challenges for those who rely on subsistence hunting and gathering. These changes threaten access to fresh water and impact animal migration, leading to hardships for communities that depend on a stable environment. Elders like my grandmother note that shorter seasons and unpredictable ice conditions affect traditional lifestyles. It is crucial to explore ways to preserve these cultural practices. How can we do this? A: You pose an...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in March. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. March 5 Kenai Senior Center, 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 6 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai), 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 7 Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Emergency preparedness training with Valerie Flake. All registered caregivers will go home with a starter “bug out bag”. March 20 Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Emergency preparedness training with Valerie Flake. All r...
Alaska Health Fair, Inc. will offer the following health fairs around the state in March: March 8 Anchorage Moose Lodge Community health fair, 4211 Arctic Blvd., 8 a.m. to noon. March 8 Wasilla FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers, 650 N. Shoreline Drive, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 8 Salcha Community health fair at Salcha Fire and Rescue Firehouse Bldg., 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 15 Anchorage St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O’Malley Rd., 8 a.m. to noon March 15 Palmer Depot Community Center, 610 S. Valley Way, 8 a.m. to noon March 18 Fairbanks...
Fairbanks has a lot to offer the visitor. In March, brave the town's arctic weather to view the Ice Art Championship and its entries of intricately carved, sometimes gravity-defying wonders. An ice challenge The World Ice Art Championships are held from mid-February to March 1. Divisions include the Multi Block Classic is six days of four artists using nine blocks to create a massive piece. The Double Block Classic lasts three days and two carvers use but two blocks for their creation. And, for...
