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There is a throughline in Madeline Holdorf's life. Holdorf, the former volunteer statewide AARP president, received the Ron Hammett from the Municipality of Anchorage Senior Citizens Advisory Commission on May 6. When she graduated from high school more than 60 years ago, she received the outstanding service award. "It takes my breath away, actually," said Holdorf in a conversation after the award ceremony, held at the Anchorage Senior Activities Center. "In my retirement and when I had a...
As Alaska’s 2026 legislative session concludes, AARP Alaska is grateful for the Legislature’s bipartisan work to advance three key priorities that help Alaskans age with dignity, security, and independence. Representing more than 76,000 members statewide, AARP’s 2026 agenda focused on two fundamental needs for older adults: financial resilience and strong consumer protections. AARP has made both public and private-sector retirement policy a top priority, recognizing that increased savings empower older Alaskans to maintain independence and a...
When most people think of eating disorders, they picture teenagers or young adults. But eating disorders don't disappear with age. For many Alaskans, they can quietly begin, intensify, or resurface as they age. Eating disorders are complex, serious physical and mental illnesses affecting an estimated 65,000 Alaskans. They affect people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, body shapes and weights, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses. Like many health conditions, physical impacts...
We have a lot of official state things in Alaska. I know, "things" is a little vague, but I'll give you some examples. We have an official state bird, the willow ptarmigan. We have an official state gem, jade. We even have an official state insect, the four-spot skimmer dragonfly (Did anyone tell mosquitoes about this?) But, and this is the curious part, we have no official state word. We Alaskans are a literate people, and, in my humble opinion, I think we need an official state word. As you...
Family members, friends, and caregivers gathered on the morning of May 2 at the Anchorage Golf Course for the 2026 annual Alzheimer's Resource Alaska (ARA) "Amblin' for Alzheimer's" event. ARA hosts the event to raise awareness about the growing incidence of Alzheimer's and related dementias in Alaska. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia, but there are many others. https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/alzheimers-dementia Dementia causes issues with thinking, behavior, and memory....
The average Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace deductible saw the steepest increase in history-growing by 37% or more than $1,000, from $2,759 in 2025 to $3,786 in 2026 as enhanced premium tax credits expired, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization which also runs a health-related news service. The full analysis is available here. Between 2021 and 2025, Americans searching for healthcare coverage in the ACA Marketplace 2010 benefited from premium tax...
The Alaska Senate passed HB 96, which creates a Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board by a vote of 19-1. The legislation is meant to expand access to affordable home and community-based care. The legislation also empowers an advisory board that will develop policy recommendations for senior care improvement, and requires agencies that provide personal care to allocate a certain percentage of funding to Personal Care Assistants. Seniors are the fastest growing demographic in the state of Alaska, with an expected 500% increase by 2050....
If you're a die-hard fan of old western movies, especially those featuring John Wayne, but have never made the pilgrimage to Monument Valley, it's definitely a trip to consider. Five of Wayne's movies contain scenes from the iconic location, including "Stagecoach" in 1939, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" 10 years later and, what many would argue was his best western, "The Searchers" in 1956. Dotted with towering sandstone buttes (steep-sided formations with broad, flat tops rising up to 1,000 feet),...
Q. Can I screen incoming phone calls on my iPhone? A. The simple answer is yes. But nothing is simple in tech, because it depends on which model iPhone and operating system version is on your device. I’m going to first explain how to set this up on the newest models, and then I’m going to explain how anyone can search for info about their specific device. Call screening only requires one setting....
The Union Jack flapped briskly in the damp Southeast Alaska wind on June 2, 1840, rising for the first time over the log palisades of Fort Dionysius. With ceremony, the British flag replaced the Russian tricolor and men of the Hudson's Bay Company, clad in wool and bearing the formal letter of authority from Saint Petersburg, stepped forward. In one flourish, Wrangell entered a new chapter. Its Russian name, St. Dionysius, was replaced with Fort Wrangell, in honor of Baron Ferdinand von...
Golf tournament organized by Anchorage Senior Activities Center The Anchorage Senior Activity Center is holding “Summer Blast,” a golf tournament and barbecue June 17. The event is June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Russian Jack Springs Park. A team of four participating in the golf tournament costs $100. For more information or to RSVP, call 907-770-2000. Russian Jack Springs Park is at 801 Pine Street, but the chalet is at 1600 Lidia Selkregg Lane. Nome senior center is organizing outings in June The XYZ Senior Center in Nome is org...
June 1 Nationwide National Cancer Survivors Day. June 1-30 Nationwide Gun Violence Awareness Month. June 1-30 Nationwide Men's Health Month. Anchorage has a Men's Run on June 13, which proceeds going toward prostate and testicular cancer research and awareness. There is also a virtual option. June 14 National Flag Day June 19 Nationwide Juneteenth. Commemorates the day in 1865 that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom. It is celebrated as a day of freedom, resilience,...
The Anchorage Museum’s exhibit “Cold War to the Cosmos” was a big hit with family who visited the state this spring. It closes Sept. 7. Part of the exhibit features an interview with Dan O’Neill, author of “The Firecracker Boys,” which tells the nonfiction story of Project Chariot, a 1958 U.S. government plan to detonate nuclear bombs in Point Hope, Alaska, to create a harbor, which was stopped by local Inupiat people and environmental activists. He is giving a lecture at 6:30 p.m. June 17. Register here....
This is the third in a series about people finding or rediscovering creative pursuits later in life. The reporting project is funded by a grant from the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism. If you have a suggestion of a person who has explored their artistic or creative impulses upon retirement or when other life demands lessened, email editor@seniorvoicealaska.comeditor@seniorvoicealaska.com. A couple of tragedies have bracketed Laurie Murdock's craft of weaving, but she keeps going with...
Alaskans are contacting the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline regularly to report suspicious activity, seek guidance, or recover from a scam. What they’ve experienced is not unique. In fact, it reflects trends we are seeing nationwide: Scammers are persistent, sophisticated, and constantly evolving their tactics. In recent months, we’ve heard from several callers who were contacted by scammers posing as law enforcement. The impostors told the victims that they had missed jury duty and nee...
Daylight floods the state in June. Fairbanks receives roughly 21 hours and 49 minutes to 22 hours and 10 minutes of daylight, while Anchorage receives 19 hours and 20 minutes. Take advantage of all the activity ... The Celebration Native festival, organized by the Sealaska Heritage Institute during even years, in Juneau is June 3-6. https://sealaskaheritage.org/shi-celebration/ ... The Three Barons Renaissance Festival is held over two weekends 801 Pine Street in Anchorage, June 6-7 and 13-14. The first weekend is pirate-themed and the second...
Q. Some years ago I had a photo book printed, but I no longer see that option in my photos app. Where did it go? A. There are photo printing services online that print photo books. If you were using a Mac, you might be referring to its legacy photo service, which was discontinued years ago. Today, no matter what device you use, consider Photobooks Pro (link below). They are a high-quality photo printing service that offers dozens of book designs. And if my guess is correct that you were talking about Mac legacy software, Photobooks Pro has...
Katie Chadwick got the idea last summer that she wanted to do the all-women Gold Nugget Triathlon, an event with origins in an early 1980s effort by moms to create sports opportunities for their daughters and other girls. Katie had been on what she describes as a “health journey,” and saw the Gold Nugget as an opportunity to demonstrate how she had become stronger and leaner. Her 60th birthday was coming up, and she wanted to set a goal to mark the moment. “I just had this idea that I wante...
Q: Ongoing health issues and financial pressures weigh heavily on me. Many days it feels hard to find anything positive about getting older. How do I get through these struggles? A: I am truly sorry you are facing this. It is tough when the challenges of aging create obstacles that lead to feelings of hopelessness. What if you approached these hardships with a positive aging mindset that emphasizes adaptability and intention? This small perspective shift can change your focal point from what...
The Alaska Commission on Aging will hold a quarterly meeting in Juneau on May 27. The event will be online via Zoom, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In preparation for writing the next four-year State Plan for Senior Services, the focus of the meeting will be the Older Americans Act (OAA). The Commission will receive training on the OAA and hear from agencies managing OAA programs. There will be a public comment period at 1 p.m., allowing for feedback from individuals and organizations. To participate via Zoom, use the address http...
Choking is one of the scariest emergencies that can happen. It strikes without warning, and it can occur anywhere: the restaurant, a senior center, or alone at home. It can happen to anyone. Here in Alaska, where many of us live far from the nearest hospital, knowing what to do could mean the difference between life and death. When someone is choking, something is blocking their airway. This is usually food. The person cannot breathe, speak, or cough properly. You may notice them grabbing at...
Anchorage and Juneau will both host events in May to connect members of the community with resources about Parkinson's disease that are organized by the American Parkinson Disease Association. The event in Juneau is May 6 and it's an afternoon of information. The event in Anchorage is May 9 and it's all day. Both events are titled "Parkinson's today: A conversation on care, treatment and living well." There is also a Parkinson's Care Partner Education Day in Juneau on May 7. It's from 9:30 to...
3 Rings Circus is coming to Anchorage and Fairbanks in May. This circus features the motorcycle high wire, aerial ballerinas, Argentinian gauchos and the dueling wheels of death. A portion of every ticket sold benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, a nonprofit that creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships for children facing adversity. The organization matches youth (Littles) with adult volunteers (Bigs) to provide a supportive relationship that helps children achieve their full potential. www.bbbsak.org Show Schedule Carls...
On a chilly May morning in 1906, as the snow lingered on the mountain peaks and icy winds swept down through Skagway, word spread through the bustling railroad camp: Congress had at last legitimized the tracks that would stitch together Alaska and the Yukon. The act granting the right of way for the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway was more than a dry legal document-it became a lifeline for a young land still finding its footing, and a testament to the grit of the men and women who called this...
This is the second in a series about people finding or rediscovering creative pursuits later in life. The reporting project is funded by a grant from the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism. If you have a suggestion of a person who has explored their artistic or creative impulses upon retirement or when other life demands lessened, email editor@seniorvoicealaska.comeditor@seniorvoicealaska.com. Frank Entsminger came to sculpting the hard way-through fire. A taxidermist by trade for...
