Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 694
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...
Alaska’s Pioneer Homes are a vital part of our state's commitment to providing quality care for our aging population, particularly those with dementia and cognitive changes. With six homes located across Alaska, these facilities offer assisted living services to seniors, including those facing cognitive challenges associated with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Related Diseases (ADRD). The dedicated staff at Alaska Pioneer Homes work tirelessly to ensure residents receive compassionate care, enabling them to maintain dignity and quality of life throug...
Alaska Health Fair, Inc. Alaska Health Fair events offer a great opportunity to learn about important health topics in an informal setting. Attendees can receive free basic screenings, obtain information and resources, and have their questions answered by health, wellness and safety professionals. Health fairs are also a great way to connect with local health and wellness resources. Most importantly, events feature comprehensive, affordable blood tests. Obtaining blood screenings at health fairs is a great way to get quick, accurate results at...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in February. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Feb. 5. Kenai Senior Center, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 6 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai), 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 7. Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 12. Seward Senior Center, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 20 Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 25 Nikiski Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support so...
The Alaska Radon Program is giving out free radon tests through the end of February. Radon is a colorless, odorless cancer-causing gas that is commonly found in Alaska. With homes zipped up tight for warmth, winter is a good time to test for the gas. Alaska residents may request a test kit at https://bit.ly/4aBXglx. Click “Request a kit” in the “Alaska Resources” panel on the right. Kits are mailed via USPS or people can pick up in Fairbanks or Anchorage. Details on pick-up locations and times are in the kit request page. For more informa...
In September 2021, Kawerak Inc. was awarded $3.8 million in funding for Project Regional Educational Model for Online Technology Engagement from the Dept. of Education, Alaska Native Education Program (REMOTE). Project REMOTE's goal was to increase online learning opportunities over three years for 555 Alaska Native learners in the Bering Strait Region. Project REMOTE successfully advanced remote learning capacity by reducing the technology access gap for Alaska Native residents in the Bering...
By now most people are aware that we have a lottery in Alaska. However, I don't think that people are aware of how it functions and of the benefits it provides to local nonprofit agencies of Alaska. The income from Lotto Alaska goes to support nonprofit agencies and we at Nenana Senior Center count ourselves as blessed to have received help from the lotto at the beginning of September. We are a rural nonprofit, 501.c3 senior center and have been incorporated since 1978. We have seen years when the budget went a long way in meeting the needs of...
Every senior deserves dignity, respect and a voice. In long-term care facilities across Alaska, residents need dedicated advocates like you to ensure their rights are protected and their voices are heard. As a Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteer, you'll build meaningful connections with seniors while serving as their advocate in assisted living homes and nursing facilities. We provide thorough training and ongoing support - your compassionate heart and willingness to serve are all you need to...
Few could say that they do not have memories of meals and specific foods-flavors, aromas, textures, conversations, family recipes, comforting familiar rituals and celebrations. Food is a connection to the past, to our families, identity and culture. In the expression "as American as apple pie," most of us understand the reference to patriotic values and our identity and most of us have a memory of making and eating a perfect apple pie. Legumes may not have risen to this type of distinction with...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following caregiver support group meetings in January. Meeting format is open discussion unless otherwise noted. Jan. 2 Tyotkas Elder Center (in Kenai) support meeting, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 3 Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 Sterling Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 28 Nikiski Senior Center support meeting, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a...
Editor's note: Al Clayton, who died in 2008, recounted his Alaskan truck driving experiences to his daughter, Maraley McMichael, in 2005. She has written and submitted the story in two parts. In November 1946, I was working at the Seward power plant when I received a phone call. My mother was dying in Dillon, Montana. After packing some clothes in a suitcase, I took a taxicab to the airport and flew from Seward to Anchorage on Christensen Airways. Once in Anchorage, I booked a flight to...
This coming year, the Fairbanks Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) will offer “Take Charge Tuesdays,” free monthly workshops on a variety of topics, starting with “Power of Attorney Documents: Who Needs One, Why They Matter, and What They Mean,” on Jan. 14. They will be held at the Fairbanks Senior Center, 1424 Moore Street, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Other topics in coming months will discuss advance care directives, assisted living, estate planning, behavioral health, hospice, how to manage benefits applications, and more. Organiz...
Known as the "Hostess of Fairbanks," Eva McGown dedicated her life to helping newcomers find shelter when housing shortages were the order of the day – particularly during World War II. Her empathy may have been due to her firsthand knowledge about the hardships and loneliness travelers faced on their quest to reach Alaska. Born Eva Montgomery in Northern Ireland in 1883, she had been communicating via letters with New York born Arthur Louis McGown, part-owner of the Model Café in the Golden He...
In December after an active spring, summer and autumn of physical activity, you wonder how to keep it together as another Alaska winter sets in. You could winter over in Hawaii (see deals in the travel column), but you don't have to go that far; exercise is as close as your nearest shopping mall or recreation center. Anchorage Dimond Center Mall is open for free mall walking on the first and second levels of the building, Hours are Monday through Saturday, a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to...
