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Spring is a season of renewal, symbolizing hope, and growth. As snow melts away and nature awakens, its impact on Alaskans living with Alzheimer's and dementia and their caregivers is profound. The changing season may spark memories and enhance cognitive function. The sight of blossoming flowers or the smell of freshly cut grass can evoke nostalgic feelings, fostering moments of clarity and connection. Additionally, exposure to natural light can help regulate sleep patterns and improve mood, reducing agitation and anxiety commonly associated...
Alaska Health Fair has been delivering health fairs and affordable comprehensive blood screenings since 1980. May is the final month of our spring health fair season. After that, we will go on a short break and begin work on fall health fairs. Now is the perfect time to visit one of our remaining fairs, connect with local health and wellness resources, and take advantage of the affordable, comprehensive blood screenings (prices begin at $20). Schedule an appointment online (www.alaskahealthfair.org) or simply walk-in at any of our events. May...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold support group meetings at the following locations: May 3, Soldotna Senior Center Guest speaker Janice Nightingale from Hospice of Central Peninsula, 1 to 2 p.m. May 14, Kenai Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. May 16, Sterling Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. May 23, Nikiski Senior Center, open discussion, 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 family member or...
For three days in mid May 2022, I held my seventh and final garage sale. (The first was in 1975 in Fairbanks, before we moved to California.) My husband, Gary, and I conducted all the previous ones together, but this time, he had been living in the Palmer Pioneer Home for two and a half months. Our son Patrick and his girlfriend, Brandi, flew up from Denver a few days prior to help and Patrick's long time local friends, Gary and Kim, provided help beginning in early April. Gary and Kim were...
The people of Nome were planning a grand celebration in mid-May 1926. They'd decorated their fine city, set up committees, arranged receptions and lined up wagon teams to take school children to the airfield to see the landing of the dirigible Norge N-1. Slated to be the event to top all events, Nome residents were none too pleased when they learned that the huge craft-which had left Norway to fly over the North Pole a few days earlier-had missed their beautiful town and landed in Teller instead...
First in a four-part series. Ever since Don and I said "we do" in Fairbanks in November 1973, my sweetie and I have been talking about taking a trip to South America to see Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, and the Amazon rainforest. When we saw an ad for a highly discounted Princess cruise from Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile, we decided to "Just Do It" for our 50th wedding anniversary. We then Googled how to get from Chile to our three goals and stumbled across Smithsonian Journeys. The...
If you have a special talent or skill that may benefit a charity or organization, then now may be the ideal to offer your services or ask how you can be of help. April is National Volunteer Month and it is dedicated to honoring all of the volunteers in our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism throughout the month. For many of us, volunteerism was instilled at a young age. Scores of organizations in small towns, rural counties, and the largest cities would not function without...
Local residents are invited to take advantage of free health services provided by Remote Area Medical (RAM) USA at events in April in Anchorage and Fairbanks. RAM USA is a non-profit organization providing free healthcare to underserved and remote communities across the United States through a network of volunteers and medical professionals. These Alaska events will be held at the following times and locations: Anchorage, April 20-21 Begich Middle School, 7440 Creekside Center Drive, 6 a.m. to noon. Fairbanks, April 27-28 Ryan Middle School, 14...
Here is a schedule of upcoming Alaska Health Fair, Inc. events, featuring comprehensive blood screenings. Prices start at $20. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.alaskahealthfair.org. Or simply walk-in at any event. April 6, Anchorage Alaska Health Fair Office, 720 W 58th Ave, Unit J, 8 a.m. to noon. April 6, Salcha Community Health Fair, Salcha Elementary School, 9 a.m. to noon. April 6, Willow Community Health Fair, Willow Community Center, 8 a.m. to noon April 9, Fairbanks Alaska Health Fair Office, 725 26th Ave.,...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following support group meetings in March: April 2, Tyotkas Elder Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. April 5, Soldotna Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. April 16, Kenai Senior Center, with presentation “Health Living for Your Brain and Body” by Cindy Harris from the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 to 2 p.m. April 18, Sterling Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. April 25, Nikiski Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share your...
The seeds of Alaska's biggest city were planted in April 1915 when the federal government authorized construction of a new railroad to connect Interior Alaska to tidewater in Seward and hundreds of hopeful workers made their way north to the construction camp on Ship Creek. And although the government tried to keep a handle on illegal activities in its new railroad town, prostitution, gambling and bootlegging flourished. One didn't have to go far to find the vice of his choice in Anchorage,...
March health fairs feature health education and affordable comprehensive blood tests. See the entire schedule and pricing at www.alaskahealthfair.org, with more events being added as arrangements are made. Schedule an appointment online or simply walk-in at any of our public events. March 2 Meadow Lakes Community Health Fair, Meadow Lakes Elementary School, 1741 Pittman Rd., 8 a.m. to noon. March 9 Anchorage Community Health Fair on O'Malley, 1801 O'Malley Rd., 8 a.m. to noon. March 16 Anchorage Willow Crest Elementary, 1004 West Tudor Rd., 8...
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired's Elijah Haines, pictured, will conduct two low-vision clinics in Fairbanks, March 11 and 12, at the Golden Towers Building. A certified orientation and mobility specialist, he will assess and match people with the best possible device for their condition. Center for the Blind staff will also be in Fairbanks on March 21 and 22 to make presentations and home visits. Reserve your spot (home visit appointments fill fast) by calling Pete McCall,...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following support group meetings in March: March 1, Soldotna Senior Center, discussing direct services models, 1 to 2 p.m. March 5, Tyotkas Elder Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. March 19, Kenai Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. March 21, Sterling Senior Center, open discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. March 29, Nikiski Senior Center, with overview presentation on home health nursing, 1 to 2 p.m. Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support...
In the fall of 2002, my husband and I attended a Pioneers of Alaska Convention dinner for 400 people in the gym of Monroe High School in Fairbanks. A Glennallen Panther banner hung on the wall along with banners from the other schools Monroe competed against. Looking at that banner instantly brought to mind several basketball memories. When our family first moved to Glennallen in the early 1960s, the Panthers (under Coach Noonkesser) played basketball with the Monroe Rams. In those days, the...
Fairbanks Senior Center’s annual March fundraising campaign returns this year, with a goal to raise $100,000 to fight hunger and isolation. The month-long March for Meals campaign supports Meals on Wheels, which last year delivered 60,000 meals to some 400 seniors in the Fairbanks area, the senior center says, noting that over half live on an income of $19,000 or less per year. Activities scheduled throughout March include a “Lend a Hand” fundraiser at the Co-Op Market on Gaffney road; Volunteer Appreciation Week, March 11-15; “Cham...
The two legendary visionaries who conceived the 1,049-mile race from Anchorage to Nome hardly could have imagined the success and changes that would happen over the next half century of the "Last Great Race." In 1964, a history buff who lived in Wasilla had an idea. Dorothy Page, secretary of the Aurora Dog Mushers Club, saw that snowmachines were fast taking the place of dog teams and mushing. She thought a sled dog race on the historic Iditarod Trail, which originally began in Seward during...
This month's column features a probate fight over a strip joint. Now that I have your attention, I have to confess that the case, which was reported recently from the Alaska Supreme Court, has little to do with the strip joint itself. In fact, in the written decision it is merely referred to as a “Fairbanks cabaret”. A more cynical individual might suspect that the reason they called it that, and made no reference to the fact that the establishment was fairly well known to be a place where wom...
Our eyes turn to the skies in early spring with the return of the birds that signal warm weather and another generation of their species. In Utqiagvik, it's the welcome sight of the snowbird and, in Fairbanks, the sandhill cranes, with their cries that penetrate and bring us outside to wonder at them. And with the birds, there are the annual festivals, with opportunities to celebrate and learn. Here's a preview. Ketchikan Hummingbird Festival, April, dates to be announced. Celebrate the return...
February, the month of love, is also an opportune time to show some love to your heart. As we observe Heart Health Month, we're reminded of the critical role heart health plays in our overall well-being. Here are some simple, actionable steps you can take right now to embark on a journey toward better heart health. Step it up with walking. A stroll might seem mundane, but it's a powerhouse of heart health benefits. Walking is a wonderfully accessible form of exercise that bolsters heart strength, aids weight management and uplifts your mood....
Staff from the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will be in Fairbanks Feb. 6 and 7 to conduct support group meetings and conduct home visits. A support group meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 6, at the Southhall Manor building, 401 7th Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon. Another support group meeting will be held in the afternoon at the Golden Towers building, 330 3rd Ave., at 2 p.m. Staff will be available for home visits throughout the day. Home visits include an assessment of the living space to eliminate falling dangers and...
The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following support group meetings in February: Feb. 2, Soldotna Senior Center, with a training on transfers, by Annett Brookshire from Nettie’s Care Coordination, 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 6, Tyotkas Elder Center, round table discussion, 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 15, Sterling Senior Center, “Alzheimer’s and Diet,” with Cindy Harris from the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 20, Kenai Senior Center, “All About Medicaid,” with Valerie Flake from Val’s Care Coordination, 1 to 2 p.m. Feb. 21,...
Linda Webb escorted me into a conference room at Access Alaska in Fairbanks. There were photographs on the walls and a Christmas tree in the corner. Outside, it was still an hour before sunrise; the temperature hovered at -15 degrees, and ice fog hung above the roads. Inside, Linda talked warmly and easily about her journey from Georgia to Alaska. She came to Fairbanks in late summer of 1999 to help her daughter-in-law while her son was on military duty in South Korea. She decided to stay...
Spring semester is here for older (aka “lifelong”) learners, with registration underway both in Fairbanks, through the OLLI program, and in Anchorage’s OLE. OLE stands for “Opportunities for Lifelong Education” and while courses are open for all ages, they are designed for learners age 50 and older. Members pay $200 per year, which allows them to register for as many courses as they like. Spring semester classes begin the week of Feb. 12. A full catalog with course descriptions is available on the OLE website. There truly is something...
Editor's note: This press release was received on Jan. 9, 2024. On Monday, Jan. 15, the Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Court System and Alaska Legal Services Corporation will host their fifteenth annual MLK Day free legal services event in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Bethel. “The Alaska Bar Association has followed the national lead of making this a ‘day on, not a day off’ as a powerful way of building community and providing service,” stated Krista Scully, Pro Bono Director of the Alaska Bar Association. “The need in Alaska for affordabl...
