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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...
As Mount Spurr shows signs of potential activity, many Alaskans are wondering how to prepare for possible volcanic ashfall while maintaining their daily routines. Understanding how to protect ourselves and our homes during these events is crucial for everyone in our region. Being prepared for volcanic ash will help keep you safe and comfortable if an eruption occurs. Volcanic ash isn't like regular fireplace ash—it's made of tiny, sharp pieces of rock and glass that can hurt your eyes and lungs....
One day last summer, as the dental hygienist walked me to the front desk, she said, "I'm excited to go home and tell my family tonight at the dinner table, that I saw a Walkman in use today." Filling in for my regular hygienist, she said this with a smile, but it still took me a few seconds to realize it was a positive comment. I've been accused of being a "dinosaur" as far as electronic devices go and been told that if I had a smart phone, I wouldn't need my Walkman – a reject left behind by o...
Spring comes to Alaska on the wings of nearly five billion birds, making epic journeys under the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Many will breed and nest within the state's 16 National Wildlife Refuges. Americans didn't always preserve wild birds this way. A century ago, birdwatchers would have spotted species from waxwings to warblers to woodpeckers adorning hats. Bird hats became popular in America in the late 19th century, when mass printing of fashion magazines spread the trend...
The Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898 drew thousands of hopeful prospectors north in search of fortune. While often overshadowed by tales of strong, rugged male adventurers, numerous courageous women also made the arduous journey, carving out unique roles and leaving an indelible mark on this pivotal chapter of North American history. While dancehall girls like the infamous Kate Rockwell – known as Klondike Kate-and prostitutes were indeed part of the Klondike landscape, they represent only a f...
First it was COVID, then a chronic non-life-threatening illness kept Richard Glazier from performing. This year, he returns to the stage where audiences can again experience the pianist seamlessly blending recitals with fascinating personal stories describing friendships with legendary figures in American popular song such as Ira Gershwin. I first encountered the master musician and music storyteller in 2011 during a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Wandering the decks late one Friday night,...
Q. I want to FaceTime with my mom and sister, but not all of us have iPhones. Is there a way people on Android or other phones can join a FaceTime call? A. Yes! Both Android and Windows users can join a FaceTime call. This may require extra patience on your part to set up because the configurations are not automatic on non-Apple devices. You will need to make sure the other devices are new enough to support FaceTime calls, and the recipient may have to set some permissions to enable the microphone in the browser. Carefully following the...
Q: I have a family member who lives in the Lower 48 whom I do not see often because she suffers from anxiety when flying. The last time she traveled was a few years ago and I’ve told her that today’s flights have onboard Wi-Fi so she could be absorbed in social media, email, streaming videos, etc. She said that may be enough to distract her from anxiety. Do all flights offer this service? Are there other new services that may help her get through a three to four hour flight? She’s tried using...
This month’s article provides an overview of Medicare coverage in 2025. The 2025 edition of the “Medicare & You” handbook provides much greater detail than is provided in this article; if you do not have a copy, please contact the Medicare Information Office and we are happy to provide one. This handbook is available as an eBook, as well as in large print, audio version, and in Braille. The “Medicare & You” handbook has also been translated into Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish,...
Having a clear and easy-to-find emergency contact list can save important time in a crisis. Today, I’ll share the key information you should have ready to keep you and your family safe. Let’s make sure you’re prepared for whatever might happen. First, write your emergency contact list in big, easy-to-read letters. Keep it in a place that’s simple to find, like on your fridge or next to your phone. Make a few copies—one for your wallet or bag, one for your nightstand, and one to give to a trus...
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, this being the second part. Once I sold my food goods, I started thinking, what am I going to d o with my Diamond T truck? I decided to sell lots from land I owned a ways out of Anchorage, in Spenard. My property, which would later become 25th Avenue, bordered that of Dr. J.H. Romig. I sold some of these...
A giant pill bottle. A fighter jet. A Queen Elizabeth look-alike holding a corgi. What do these things have in common? They are all quirky ideas for an equally quirky event held each February during the Fur Rendezvous: Outhouse races down Fourth Avenue in Anchorage. Alaska's history with outhouses is as rich and colorful as the outhouses in this annual event. From essential facilities in undeveloped areas to the Fur Rendezvous races, outhouses have played a significant role in Alaskan culture....
I’m getting more cynical as I get older. Whenever I hear that Congress has passed something by an overwhelming bipartisan vote, and it has a really nice sounding name, I start getting nervous. After all, the SECURE Act actually made your retirement savings less secure, and the Corporate Transparency Act didn’t require big corporations to do anything, it just required small businesses to have to deal with a lot more paperwork. So when I heard that Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act...
Q. Is Incognito Mode in my Web browser truly private? A. True anonymity online requires considerable technical expertise and is near-impossible to achieve. The short answer to your question is no. Incognito Mode, which is also called Private Browsing, InPrivate Browsing, Private Window, or Guest Mode tells your device to avoid recording information such as browsing history and cookies. There are other sources for this information that you may not have access to, like your service provider’s log files, third-party software, system caches, b...
Martha woke up early, feeling the familiar ache in her hip as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She rubbed the sore spot, a reminder of her 75 years on this earth. Despite the discomfort, she was determined to get her laundry done today. As she entered the laundry room, she was greeted by a technician tinkering with the washing machines. Martha's eyes widened as she saw the coin boxes being removed, replaced by sleek credit card readers. "What am I supposed to do?" Martha asked the technician, concerned. The technician, a young man...
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...
Gift cards have become a staple in the world of modern shopping. But before you grab one from that colorful kiosk, you should be aware of the potential pitfalls. While gift card sales skyrocketed from $130 billion in 2015 to $173 billion in 2021, they have also become a popular target for criminals as they can buy them anonymously and redeem them remotely. Researchers estimate that $40 to $50 billion is stolen through gift card scams each year. There are two typical scams involving gift cards: cards purchased that have a zero balance and gift...
Q: People talk about improving their lives each year, but where do I begin? A: With a new year upon us, many individuals want to hit the reset button or find a new direction in their lives. But starting that journey can be tough, especially in a world that ties well-being to happiness and success. Many adults end up stuck in languishing—caught in a space where they aren't completely satisfied, but aren’t really unhappy either. The great news is that this feeling of stagnation can be tra...
Medicare coverage is good, but it is not all-inclusive. There are many things that Medicare does not cover. For example, Medicare does not cover most dental, vision and hearing care, including hearing aids. Nor does it cover most non-emergency transportation or care outside of our country. Even when Medicare covers your care, there may be costs left to you, like copays and coinsurances—these costs can add up. An example, for an outpatient visit to a physician who accepts the assigned billing r...
The power can go out any time, leaving us in the dark and potentially vulnerable. While outages are usually just an inconvenience, being prepared can help keep you safe and comfortable until the electricity returns. Get ready for power outages by keeping important items where you can easily find them. Your emergency kit should have three main things: flashlights with fresh batteries, a radio that works on batteries, and enough bottled water. Keep everything in a drawer or cabinet near where you...
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...
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...
As one of the last prolific character actors who launched their film and television careers in the 1950s-and subsequently spanning eight decades with hundreds of roles – it's no surprise that H.M. Wynant didn't have instant recall when interviewed by author Steven Peros for his new book, "H.M. Wynant – You Must Believe!" "I was kind of amazed -he wanted to do a book about me?" said Wynant from his home in Los Angeles. "But Steven did his research and dropped clues about my previous roles and...
Let us imagine I am a local TV weatherman, and in the promos leading up to tonight’s newscast, I say “A massive storm is about to hit Alaska!” But then, when it comes to the actual newscast, I admit that the storm, while massive, will only be reaching the most westerly of the Aleutian Islands, not coming anywhere near most of the state. You would probably be more than a bit annoyed with me for wasting your time. But on the other hand, let us say that word had gotten out that there was a massi...
Q. I would like to find someone to tutor me on how to get the most out of my new Mac laptop. I’m looking for classes, coaching or any other suggestions you can offer. A. This is a great question, and the answer depends somewhat on your location so I will start there. But there is also a wealth of online options as well. There once was a thriving network of Apple User Groups spread across the world where volunteers would gather regularly to share information. These can be great places to find tutors or information about your local Mac c...
