About Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK

December's Season Of Celebrations & Sharing, Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

If all the people around you already have enough 'stuff' and you need an idea for a gift or an opportunity to volunteer, how about your local animal shelter?

There are plenty of animals at the local shelters that are overlooked. Whether you volunteer your time to walk the dogs or simply to help get them used to people, or you donate blankets, towels, food or toys most shelters will welcome the assistance.

Of course there are many opportunities to help people, sponsoring a pet is just different way to help. Many pets that come to the shelters also come with fees when they are adopted. By sponsoring a pet, you may give it a bit more time and a better chance to be adopted. If you do consider sponsoring a pet, think about the older ones as they are typically overlooked for the pups and kittens.

There is a group of folks locally spreading the word about our local shelter and what is needed. At the Mat-Su Animal Control Center, volunteers are desperately needed to walk the dogs and help socialize them. There are not enough hands to take the dogs out to potty and, in turn, they must remain in their kennels (and possibly regress in potty training).

A list of items needed at our local animal shelter (Wasilla, Palmer, Sutton, Butte, Houston and the Mat-Su Valley) is:
Canned Cat Food
Cat Toys
Cat Treats
KMR Kitten Milk Replacements
Canned Dog Food
Dog Toys
Dog Treats
Big Blankets
Baby Blankets
Towels
Chicken or Turkey Baby Food
Small Paper Food Trays (think nachos, red and white paper trays)
Latex/Nitrite Exam Gloves

Whether or not you volunteer your time, adopt an animal, sponsor an animal or two a year PLEASE pass the word to others that are compassionate towards the animals left in shelters.

***If you are running short on time, your donations can be dropped off at the Anchorage MLS, Valley Office at 201 E Swanson Ave #8, Wasilla Alaska 99654

Jacque & Larry

December's Season Of Celebrations & Sharing, Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Things to Do, Places to Go in Palmer Alaska-Palmer Colony Christmas in December

The Palmer Chamber of Commerce has outlined the schedule of events for this years Colony Christmas in Palmer.

2011 Colony Christmas Schedule

Saturday, December 10

9 am – 11 am
Lions Club Pancake Breakfast
Salvation Army, 209 W Evergreen Avenue

9 am – 4 pm
Craft Bazaar
Mat-Su Seniors Services (Palmer Sr. Ctr), 1132 S Chugach St

10 am – 4:45 pm
Information Booth and Sales
Palmer Depot

10 am – 4 pm
Palmer Museum of History and Art Open
723 S Valley Way

10 am – 4 pm
Kids Activity Events & Warm-Up Stations
Sponsored by: Frost a Christmas Cookie - Cover-Ups, 840 S Colony Way
Kids Activity Table - Madd Matters, 1088 S Bailey St

10 am – 4 pm
Festival of Mini Trees –Benefits the Special Santa Program
Colony Inn, 325 E. Elmwood Avenue

10 am – 6 pm
Gingerbread Houses, Sponsored by Alaska USA Federal Credit Union
Presented by Blueberry Moose Catering & Events
Pioneer Home, 250 E Fireweed Avenue
Various Businesses- Look for a list at the Pioneer home

10 am – 7 pm
Arts & Craft Fair
Palmer Depot

10 am – 6 pm
Arts & Crafts Fair
Borough Gym, 350 E Dahlia Avenue

10am - 7pm
Information Booth
Rib Shack at Borough Gym Foyer, 350 E Dahlia Ave

10 am – 5 pm
Arts & Craft Fair
Alaska Job Corps, Cope Industrial Way

10am – 6pm
Bad Girls of the North juried Craft Show
Downtown Palmer Plaza – 550 S Alaska St

10 am – 7 pm
“Light Up A Life” Hospice Tree
Koslosky’s Center - 642 S Alaska Street

10 am – 6 pm
Open House, Caroling & Bake Sale
Colony House Museum, 316 E Elmwood Avenue

10am – 5pm
The Original Colony Manager’s-Open House Tour
Presented by Mat-Su Bed &Breakfast Association, 308 E Elmwood Ave

10am - 5 pm
The Gallery –Douglas François Girard, in person from Noon to 5 pm
1150 S Colony Way (in the Key Bank Plaza)

11 am – 2 pm
Cookie Contest presented by Mat-Su Bed & Breakfast Association
Palmer Museum- 723 S Valley Way

11 am – 7 pm
Nativity Displays
LDS Church - 560 W Arctic Ave

11am – 3 pm
Denali Destroyer Dolls- Holiday Hair
Downtown Palmer Plaza, 500 South Alaska St

11am - 3pm
Photos with Santa, Sponsored by IBEW Local 1547
Downtown Palmer Plaza Deli - 500 South Alaska St

11am – 4pm
Sweet Adeline’s- Christmas Caroling around Palmer

Noon - 3pm
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides presented by AK Alaska Bling
585 S Valley Way

Noon – 4 pm
Snow Machine Sled Rides -Presented by Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours
Open area next to Colony Inn

Noon – 3 pm
Reindeer Farm, petting, feeding and photos & warming station
Silvertip Design-421 S Alaska St

Noon – 3 pm
Free Kids Games, presented by CCS Early Learning
Palmer Depot – Outside

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Snowshoe Obstacle Course
742 S Alaska St. (in front of the Depot)

1 pm – 4 pm
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides Sponsored by Usibelli Coal Mine
Pavilion across from Palmer Museum

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
“Ice Castles on the Green” Ice Sculptures-Presented by Valley Arts Alliance
320 E Dahlia Street in the Historic District

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Smoosh Race
742 S Alaska St. (in front of the Depot)

2:30pm
Youth Mitten Money Scramble, Presented by CCS Early Learning
Palmer Depot – Outside

2:30 pm – 4 pm
Air Force Band of the Pacific Alaska Express

Presented by KMBQ Q99.7
Mat-Su Seniors Services (Palmer Sr. Center), 1132 S Chugach Street

5:00 pm
Parade of Lights, Sponsored by MTA
Downtown Palmer

6:30 pm
FIREWORKS, Sponsored by BP
Borough baseball fields & Library parking lot

7:00 pm
“Love Came Down at Christmas” Concert
By The Alaska Children’s Choir
St. Johns Lutheran Church 440 E Elmwood

Sunday, December 11

9 am – 10:30 am
Triathlon Registration,
Sponsored by Mat-Su Health Foundation
Presented by Peak Fitness
Peak Fitness, 12051 E Palmer Wasilla Highway

10 am – 6 pm
“Light Up A Life” Hospice Tree
Koslosky’s Center, 642 S Alaska Street

11:00 am
Triathlon Race Starts, Sponsored by Mat-Su Health Foundation
Presented by Peak Fitness
Peak Fitness, 12051 E Palmer Wasilla Highway

Noon – 8 pm
Palmer Pioneer Hockey Steak Feed
Moose Lodge, 1136 S Cobb Street, Tickets $15 available at door or from players

2 pm – 7 pm
Nativity Display
LDS Church - 560 W Arctic Ave

For more information, call the Palmer Chamber at 745-2880

Things to Do, Places to Go in Palmer Alaska-Palmer Colony Christmas in December

Wasilla, Then and Now-1980s to 2011

Growing up in Wasilla, Alaska I can tell you things have changed!

The roads that were gravel or just dirt have mostly been paved or upgraded. We even have paved bike paths that go through town, around the Wasilla Middle School, through Wasilla Lake-Newcomb Park and around town.

The traffic lights have multiplied like bunnies! We had one, right on Main Street, back then.

We had a couple small grocery stores (Carrs and D & A Shoprite) and the one room Hernings/Teeland General Store. Now, D & A and Hernings/Teeland are closed but we have Carrs (Safeway), Fred Meyer (Kroger), WalMart, Target, 3 Bears box stores (like Costco or Sams) and many quick shops all over.

The mail was delivered to 'General Delivery, Wasilla Alaska.' I remember that building well because someone painted the state of Alaska on the side of the building. It was actually painted in such a way that it was the profile of a full black bear in the shape of Alaska. We have several zip codes now, post offices and annex stations, UPS, FED-EX and others. The bear has long been painted over to match the now mint green building.

We had two high schools, Wasilla and Palmer. It was Warriors vs. the Moose and Red Vs. Blue for rivalry. Palmer would host Wasilla at the 'Potato Bowl' football game in the fall (Palmer grows some awesome potatoes). Rivalry once prompted someone to dump a huge load of rotten potatoes on the football field as a prank. Now we have several schools, several mascots and even more school colors.

Homes have sprouted up where I used to ride my three wheeler.

Homes have been lifted an moved (or torn down) to expand roads or to add retail and shopping centers.

A field was cleared, a mall added, stores came and went. The mall was torn down after about a decade and is now home to Target, Walgreen's, Sports Authority, Taco Bell, Subway, Alaska Wild Berry Products and more.

We have restaurants for whatever your taste buds desire. American, Asian, Greek, Italian, Mexican, a few bakeries and at least on vegetarian friendly (more than just lettuce) and, of course, the standard fast food places too.

Wasilla has grown leaps and bounds since I was a kid. Some changes were necessary, others welcome but I still (at times) miss the way it used to be.

The photos to the left are of Seward Meridian. There were numerous homes that were purchased by DOT and then were (or will be for the once still there) moved. The other is a gas station on Knik Goose Bay Road that was there for as long as I can remember but is now gone.

This is where homes once looked out onto Wasilla Lake. The photo on the right is where the Cottonwood Creek Mall once stood.

Now the area is home to Fred Meyer, Kroger, Sports Authority, Subway, KFC, Carls Jr, Alaska Wild Berry Products and several more retail shops.

Wasilla, Then and Now-1980s to 2011

Jacque & Larry

Things to Do, Places to Go in Alaska, Santa Cop & Heroes Dance in Wasilla

December's Season of Celebration & Sharing ideas

The What:
Santa Cop and Heroes Barn Dance, 2nd Annual

The Where:
The Curtis D Menard Memorial Sports Center
1001 Mack Drive, Wasilla (off the Parks Highway, near Church Rd)

The When:
6PM Friday December 2nd, 2011

The Cost:
$15 per person, $25 per couple

The Why:
To raise funds for the Santa Cop and Heroes program. It is an outreach program developed to assist, visit and deliver food to the valleys elderly residents.

The Extras:
Not just because it is for an excellent cause, but they do have some fantastic entertainment and prizes to thank you for your community spirit and generosity. This years entertainment includes the country group the Ken Peltier Band with Ken (a local Palmer raised crooner with an awesome voice). Prizes include a trip to Denali, gift cards, a plane ride, a case of wine and much more.

Have fun this holiday and stay safe out there!

Jacque & Larry

Things to Do, Places to Go in Wasilla Alaska, Compete in a Gingerbread Competition!

Develop nerves of steel to (edible) glue all that yummy candy down to the spicy roof, walls and anything else that stands still. Here is your chance to create a Hansel and Gretal home for the tiniest of elves. Your opportunity to be inspired, create and build your own home in much less time than with two by fours.

The What:
Gingerbread House Contest

The Where:
The Wasilla Museum
323 N Main St. Wasilla AK

The When:
Drop off beginning 9AM Thursday December 1st
Drop off ends at 4:30PM Friday, December 2nd
Pick up entries no later than 5PM, December 3rd

The Why:
Gingerbread houses are fun, something to to as a family or group and you do not have to have any special training. THe winning entries will be displayed at the Wasilla Community Christmas Celebration on December 3rd, 2011

The Rules:
For rules and more information, click here.

Have fun and get creative! Of course, if you want to build a real home, visit us at Alaska Dream Makers for all your real estate needs.

Jacque & Larry

This is one we did a few years back. It was the pride and glory of all the gingerbread houses we have ever made, have since made and will probably ever do again. No kit was used in this one! The lake was created by melting hard candies on tinfoil (dangerous, so be careful not to burn yourself)!