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Anchorage bird feeders came down this April heavy with uneaten seed and unresolved questions. Throughout the winter, local birdwatchers remarked on the absence of small passerines-an order of perching birds that includes more than half the world's avian species. Where were the redpolls, the pine grosbeaks, and white-winged crossbills? Last year these birds mobbed feeders and fir trees across the city. How could the flocks vanish like so many melting snowflakes? Science offers important clues....
Wildland fire danger is growing across Alaska. A warm and dry winter has put fire officials on high alert and prompted residents in zones where wildland meets urban development to take precautions. "The wilderness surrounding us presents a significant fire risk," said Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance at a recent town hall about fire prevention efforts across the Municipality. "Our beautiful green spaces, while cherished, also mean that the risk of fire is ever present, even in our urban core. We...
-Sign up for text alerts by texting “Anchorage” to 67283. In Fairbanks, you can text FPDALERTS to 67283. -The Municipality recommends bookmarking trusted sources’ information outlets via website or social media. These organizations are committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public: Anchorage Police Department Anchorage Fire Department Municipality of Anchorage Office of Emergency Management Anchorage Health Department: https://www.muni.org/Departments/health/Pages/default.aspx State of Alaska: https://rea...
Firewise Alaska Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Municipality of Anchorage Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (available in several languages) Anchorage Fire Department Wildfire Division Alaska Wildland Fire Information A comprehensive website with regular updates on fire activity. Wildland-Urban Interface Community Action Team Organizations like Access Alaska offer specialized emergency preparedness information and toolkits tailored for individuals with disabilities and seniors. The "Get Ready! Toolkit" includes checklists and...
David Washburn received the 2025 Ron Hammett Award from the Municipality of Anchorage Senior Citizens Advisory Commission on May 7. Washburn, the long-serving editor of the Senior Voice who retired in March, was singled out for his service over the course of a three-decade career at the Senior Voice. The award was presented during Older Americans Month in May. "My community work has been your community work," Washburn said in receiving the award at the Anchorage Senior Activities Center. In 2005...
Statistics published by the American Cancer Society in 2025 suggest that one of every eight men (12.5%) will experience prostate cancer during their lifetime. And the incidence rate has increased by 3% each year since 2014. Men who are 65 and older are experiencing the highest rates of prostate cancer. Yet with intervention, the survival rates for prostate cancer are high at 97.7%. Since cancer goes into remission and never really goes away, the question “What future can I expect when living with prostate cancer?” has many answers. The pro...
The Alaska Legislature has passed the fiscal year 2026 operating budget with a $2.5 million increase for senior community grants, half a million less than the $3 million increase the House originally proposed. This funding is meant to strengthen critical senior services such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, and caregiver support. Funding for an additional Assistant Long-Term Care Ombudsman position was included in the budget to address the growing needs of Alaska's aging population. The state has experienced a significant increase in...
Alaskans are more likely to lack health insurance, according to Census Bureau data. They are also racking up more medical debt. Alaska showed a 32% increase in medical debt from 2020-23, with the percentage of residents in medical debt growing from 4.90% to 6.48%. Where one lives can determine what kind of medical coverage you can get and also influence the cost of health care. Iowa had the greatest number of residents falling into medical debt, while Delaware was able to reverse medical debt the most of all states. An analysis of government...
The 42nd annual First Alaskans Institute Statewide Elders and Youth Conference will take place at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Oct. 12-15. Elders and Youth is open to all who want to learn and immerse themselves in a gathering that centers Elders and youth in Native ways of knowing and being. The Elders and Youth Conference is not open to the public the way the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Conference is. EY Council representatives each register and agree to the rules that help keep the conference safe for Elders and youth. First A...
The Alaska Legal Services Corp. is welcoming a summer intern at its Fairbanks office. The intern is part of the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC), a partnership between LSC and Equal Justice Works. Each summer, law student fellows join LSC-funded legal aid organizations to support clients in underserved rural areas. RSLC training started in late May with interns from across the country. From helping survivors of domestic violence to advocating for veterans and seniors, these fellows will provide legal assistance this summer. Many rural...
Many of us as children may have wondered what's going on inside the mind of an animal-what are they thinking and feeling? Most animal researchers study science because of their fascination with animals, but for a long time scientific norms made it impossible to even raise the question of animal consciousness without losing scientific credibility. Fortunately, those days have ended, thanks in large part to pioneering work by scientists such as Donald Griffin, who argued from the 1980s to his...
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House approved the “big, beautiful bill” on May 22 that Republican leaders spent months negotiating with centrists and far-right members of the party—two distinct factions that hold vastly different policy goals—over intense opposition from Democrats. The 215-214 vote ships the package to the Senate, where GOP lawmakers are expected to rewrite much of it, before sending it back across the Capitol for final approval, a process likely to stretch through the summer. President Donald Trump, who said he backed the House version,...
Women LISTEN is an Anchorage-based group of women dedicated to the mission of supporting women living with cancer by focusing on sharing information, offering emotional support and practical ideas while advocating for people with cancer, and connecting women in meaningful ways. Those who are new to the cancer journey, as well as longtime survivors, celebrate courage, give voice to fears, provide helpful tips and help smooth the path for women who have experienced the trauma of hearing the...
Alaska’s voter-approved mandate for paid sick leave has not yet gone into effect, but some lawmakers are already trying to reduce the number of workers who would benefit from it. A bill pending in the Alaska Legislature, House Bill 161, would exempt businesses with fewer than 50 employees, a change from the 15-employee threshold in the labor-rights initiative that voters approved in November. The bill would also drop seasonal workers from the mandate for accrued paid sick leave. The bill was introduced on March 28 by Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R...
A series of training videos specifically made for rural caregivers came out last month to a warm reception among service providers. "These are amazing! Wonderful for quick on-point training or a 6-month refresher," said Mary Beth Westland, chief operating officer for Mat-Su Senior Services in an email to other caregiving agencies. The project is the brainchild of Jennifer Garrison, who works in home- and community-based programs for Catholic Community Service in Juneau. While at a Title VI...
The Valdez Senior Center Inc. is offering tours through the Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruise company in May. The dates are May 19, May 23, May 27 and May 30. Seats are $41 for members of the senior center. The tour goes to the Columbia Glacier. “Each year, the company gives senior center members a discounted tour rate for select dates in the early season,” said Haden Bricker, activities coordinator and office assistant at the Valdez Senior Center. If people are interested in joining these tours they can contact the senior center off...
May is a special time as we celebrate Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is “Flip the Script on Aging,” focusing on how society perceives and approaches aging. The Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA) is highlighting senior issues throughout the month on our Facebook page. We invite you to follow us for daily updates on activities and issues affecting seniors across Alaska. Staying connected is easy: simply search for "Alaska Commission on Aging" on Facebook. Save the date! Monday, May 12 from noon to 1 p.m. the American Aging Assoc...
The Homer Senior Center is raising funds after accruing substantial debt. Late last year, the nonprofit center revealed that it had debt from unpaid payroll taxes and unpaid invoices, according to a report in the Homer News from Nov. 21, 2024. In mid-April, the IRS executed a one-time levy, removing more than $138,000 from the center’s accounts—leaving it unable to cover essential expenses like meals, medication, and care for seniors, according to a message on the donation site. The center’s Facebook page reads, “Homer Senior Citizens, Inc. ha...
Over the past year, I have received numerous text messages from my bank indicating issues with my account. Surprisingly, some of these messages were from banks where I do not even hold an account. When I checked my accounts, I realized these texts were bank impersonation scams. In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that business and government impersonation scams accounted for nearly half the reported scams. The losses from these scams topped $1.1 billion last year, more than three times what consumers reported in 2020. In that...
This newest volume, titled “Pioneers From Alaska’s Past,” is filled with a cast of characters so colorful they may outshine the Northern Lights. This captivating collection of short stories and historical photographs follows in the footsteps of the five previous volumes as it brings to life many colorful personalities who helped shaped Alaska's history shortly before, during, and just after the gold-rush era. Stories include those of: Swiftwater Bill Gates: A master of outrageous spending and spectacular cons. This Klondike magnate could teach...
There is a funny scene in a British sitcom called “The IT Crowd,” in which woman is trying to explain to her nerdy, clueless co-workers — both men — that she is having her monthly menstrual cycle, by using the euphemism “Aunt Irma has come to visit.” They, of course, don’t get it, so she tries others, my favorite being “I’ve fallen to the Communists” (to which one co-worker grudgingly admits that “they do have some strong arguments”). As a biological male I have never had to experience that part...
The Social Security Administration has updated recently announced measures to verify the identities of recipients and applicants. In-person identity proofing for people unable to use their personal my Social Security account for certain services will be effective April 14. “We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations,” said Lee Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner in a media statement. “In addition to extend...
American women accumulate at least $1 million less than men over a typical 40-year work career, according to research conducted by the Investors Observer research team. Key findings of the study show that the average male worker in the United States accumulates $2.73 million in portfolio wealth, assuming average retirement contributions are invested in an S&P 400 index fund. By comparison, an average female worker investing her savings under the same conditions accumulates $1.75 million in portfolio wealth, resulting in a $1 million gap. This...
By the time you read this, Mount Spurr, an active volcano 80 miles from Anchorage, might have erupted. Then again, its rumblings might just be a preview of what's to come. In any case, now is the time to prepare for this possible emergency and take stock of your readiness to confront other emergencies, such as earthquakes and wildfires. Scientists say the volcano is showing signs that an eruption is likely. In mid-March, they announced that the chances for Mount Spurr to go off "within the next...
I’m struck by the number of men and women who show up at the YMCA Anchorage to lift, swim, bike, and sweat who are well beyond me in age. Many of my fellow morning gym-goers are well into their 60s, 70s, 80s, even 90s. There is even a well-known woman who swims regularly there. She is 102 and has a special parking place as close to the front door as possible. Another regular is there five days a week, walking on the treadmill at a steep incline and hanging out with her friends. She recently told me she felt her gym friends had helped bring h...
