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The Anchorage Genealogical Society will hold its annual Spring Seminar on May 4 at the Loussac Library Event Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The featured speakers will be Alison and Tom Taylor, owners of “Pictures and Stories” from Utah. Sessions will include how to tell the best stories of your life, making a family story cookbook, organizing a family history, and advice on digitizing photos. Organizers notes that the Taylors are in demand all over the country. Cost is $55 per person; $45 for Society members; $30 for a half day, morning or aft...
Juneau residents age 65 and older are encouraged to apply for the 2024 Senior Citizen Hardship Tax Programs, offering assistance through the Senior Citizen Real Property Hardship Exemption and the Senior Citizen Sales Tax Hardship Rebate. Both programs, which require annual applications, aim to alleviate financial burdens for qualifying seniors. Eligibility is based on the gross income level for the previous year, with applications now open for consideration. Real Property Hardship Exemption The Senior Citizen Real Property Hardship Exemption...
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...
Perhaps you remember those nights in the Fly By Night Club watching Mr. Whitekeys' "Whale Fat Follies" or "Christmas in Spenard," and laughing so hard you snorted your drink through your nose. He skewered politicians so deftly it was as if he stuck needles in a voodoo doll and they felt them. That cast parading around with a salmon around their waist or an Alaska Marine Highway ferry were portends of their problems still unsolved. How the Anchorage comedy scene must miss him. The show closed aft...
Beau Bassett is 74 years old. He spent the past 27 years training over 1,000 students in community leadership across Alaska through the Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute (PYLI). visit: www.alaskapyli.org What made you think about coming to Alaska? I came up with this idea that I would combine my law background and adventure education, and I would aspire to create an adventure-based program. It all came together with setting off for Alaska. That was part of my sort of 10-year plan. I...
Robert Fowlkes, 75, has been an Alaska resident since 1975 and is a member and past president of the Anchorage Bonsai Study Group. Fowlkes has some 20 trees he maintains. It can take years to create a successful bonsai tree, he says. With 18 years of leadership, past club president Paul Marmora says people have been doing bonsai in Alaska for many years. The bonsai group became a club in 1998, and membership exploded since that time. Anchorage resident Tim Pack is in his second year as current c...
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...
Since Anchorage became a member of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in June 2021, AARP volunteers have been collecting feedback from Anchorage residents regarding what can be done to make Anchorage a more age-friendly place to live. Here is a reminder of what it means to be an Age-Friendly community: An Age-Friendly community should provide safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life. Well-designed, a...
My name is Lola Evan. I am from Hooper Bay, and I was born in 1947. As I was growing up there weren't many houses, only a few. It was a real beautiful small village with smiling friendly people. Always happy. I never did attend school, but the Elders talked to me about when we grow up to respect our parents and Elders. I used to stay with Elders most of the time, and we mostly stayed in tents by the Point. When men came from seal hunts we would line up. Our parents would teach us how to cut up...
Somewhere in the wilds of Homer is Brian George Smith, a self-proclaimed "male action figure of the opposite of a crazy cat lady." He has 13 older, special needs cats who keep him company while he writes. With a video, screenplay and film background, this man who hasn't watched TV in 20 years turned to writing books after his business died during the pandemic. "The books aren't making much money, and they pay you squat," he says of the self-publishing approach, "but I'm happy as a clam selling a...
The Alaska Long Term Care Ombudsman’s next volunteer orientation is Jan. 4-5 and Jan. 11-12, noon to 4 p.m. Volunteer ombudsmen advocate for Alaska seniors. No experience required, just bring your empathy, patience and desire to help. Free training provided so you feel completely supported. Contact Alvin Ancheta at 907-334-4480 or 1-800-730-6393 to learn more about this rewarding role....
It’s been one year since Alaskans used our new election system - nonpartisan open primaries and ranked choice voting - for the first time. What were the results? • Open primaries opened doors for voters and candidates. All voters could choose from all candidates, regardless of party, and those with the most support from a broad group of voters won. There were more candidates, leading to more competition in both the primary and general elections. • 99.8% of ballots were filled out correctly. With redistricting challenges, a special election, and...
Hello! My name is Maryann Johnson. I'm from Montana. My grandfather homesteaded there in the late 1800s, and the family is still there. They came from Norway, and my other grandparents came from Poland. My grandpa started with 360 homestead acres and turned it into 4,000 acres. He built a beautiful two-story white ranch house. His was the first home with electricity and plumbing. It was pretty exciting times. They were just starting to put up telephone lines then, at the turn of the century. We...
Do you want to improve the lives of older adults in long-term care facilities? We need caring people like you to advocate for Alaska seniors. As a Long Term Care Ombudsman volunteer, you’ll speak up for residents of assisted living homes and nursing facilities across our state. We’re seeking compassionate volunteers to protect seniors’ rights and dignity. No experience required—just bring your empathy, patience and desire to help. Free training provided so you feel completely supported. Volunteer in Anchorage, Bethel, Eagle River, Fairban...
This interview was conducted on Oct. 8, 2023, at Village Inn in Anchorage. Wilson Justin, please tell us a bit about your early history. Everybody calls me Justin, but it doesn't make much difference. It's Wilson Justin. I turned 73 on August 2, this year. I was born in Nabesna, Alaska, which is part of the Nabesna Valley, which is an old traditional homeland. I was born about six miles from the original village, 1950, mid-century. How about some high points of your work history? The guiding...
Hello there! My name is Judy Miller. I am 80 years young, and published my first book at 80 years old. I've always believed that older people have an influence on the lives of younger people. That's why I believe the Elder Mentor Program works. You can share with the next generation some of the things you learned and saw growing up, and at the same time, you also find a way to relate to their generation and their time, too. For example, if you bring kids into a nursing home, the residents love i...
Valley residents are familiar with turn-A-leaf Thrift Store in Wasilla. It's a warm and welcoming treasure trove of gently used wonders. From kitchen utensils to sporting goods, electronics to stylish jeans, artwork to furniture, or that one-of-a-kind collectible you haven't seen anywhere else, you're likely to find whatever you're looking for and then some at very reasonable prices. But did you know that Valley Charities, Inc., the umbrella organization under which turn-A-leaf operates, has bee...
For the last year, the Anchorage Age-Friendly Leadership Team has been gathering input from Anchorage residents on how to make Anchorage a better place to live for people of all ages, including seniors. After considering comments from the Anchorage Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, the Anchorage Senior Activity Center and several residents of Chugach View and Chugach Manor senior housing, the team decided to look at pedestrian safety near the senior center. On Aug. 23, the Team conducted a walk audit of the area around the Anchorage Senior A...
Did you know I'm a mermaid? I'd like everyone to know that, first and foremost. My name is Thea Whitehead. You can call me Grandma Thea. I was born in upstate New York, but grew up in Florida. I never really liked it there-it's too hot and too humid. One of my kids and grandchild were living in Alaska, and I would come visit them. In December 1999, I made the move up and I have loved it ever since. I adore the mountains. When I'm out of the state, my stomach actually twitches and aches because...
Jeanne Ashcraft started out as a school librarian, but for the last 10 years she has been operating Ashcraft Historical Transcription in Anchorage. She's 80 years of age now, and periodically thinks about stepping back from the work, but hasn't yet. She seems to be having too much fun. When and why did you come to Alaska? Oh, my. I came in 1998, about 25 years ago. My daughter and I drove up. I had three sons up here and a new grandchild, so I came up temporarily to see the grandchild, but then...
The AARP Alaska Anchorage Age-Friendly team hosted a booth at the 2023 Annual Fairview Block Party July 22 and enjoyed the opportunity to collect feedback about making Anchorage and Fairview more Age-Friendly. The event was lively, fun-filled and featured live music, good summer weather along with several other community service organizations, AARP partners and many engaging community members. The AARP booth centered around what it means to be an Age-Friendly community, shown by the “8 Domains of Livability”. The Domains are Outdoor Spaces and...
Do you care deeply about improving seniors’ quality of life? Join us in speaking up for Alaska seniors living in long term care facilities. As a Long Term Care Ombudsman volunteer, you’ll advocate for residents of assisted living homes and skilled nursing facilities across Alaska. We need compassionate volunteers statewide who want to defend seniors’ rights and dignity. Free training is provided, and you’ll be supported every step of the way. No previous experience required —just bring your empathy, patience and drive to help vulnerabl...
Still haven’t used or picked up your Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program checks, worth $35 toward fresh produce? The booklets are available at local senior centers and other agencies and may be used through Oct. 31. Links to program information and a downloadable application are at https://bit.ly/3BfGvLV. Or call your local senior center or meal program for details. There’s also a proxy application form that allows someone to apply on behalf of someone else....
Hello there! My name is Rosemary Havens and I am a longtime Elder Mentor volunteer in Anchorage. I am 91 years old, and I was born in New York City. I love music, all kinds of music. When I was 14, I worked in the movie theater sorting the candy for sale then moved to cashier. I heard the music and I was so drawn to it. That's where I saw my first opera on film. Beacon Theatre in New York. It's still there. I came to work early one day just so I could see the opera. It was "La Traviata."...
