Around the Valley

Community submissions for Around the Valley should be sent by e-mail to news@frontiersman.com. Items run on a space-available basis. Publication is not guaranteed.

Comment period open for Willow trails master plan

The public is invited to comment on the first draft of the Willow Summer Trails Master Plan through Jan. 16. A copy can be seen at the Willow Public Library, or online at www.waco-ak.org. Comments can be sent to Willow Trails Committee, P.O. Box 845, Willow, AK, 99688, or trails@waco-ak.org.

Snowmachine racing season begins Sunday

The racing season begins Sunday at the Houston Lodge with a Vintage Snowmachine Race No. 2. The contest will feature stock and modified 120cc snowmachine competing on the track.

Eureka Lodge will host a 100 X-Country Snowmachine Race Jan. 8. And the racecourse will be marked by Jan 1.

Prize money for the Pro Men Open Class is guaranteed at $1,000, and for the women’s open class the payout is guaranteed at $500.

For more information, visit ammcracing.com.

Wasilla Public Library holiday closures

The Wasilla Meta-Rose Public Library is closed on closed for New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. Regular hours will resume on Jan. 3.

Valley Garden Club meets Tuesday

Valley Garden Club meets at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at the Old Catholic Church on Bogard Road in Wasilla. Carmel Tysver will give a demonstration on how to make three different tabletop planters for a taste of indoor gardening in the midst of winter. Following the meeting there will be a potluck and door prizes. For more information, call Fran at 745-7676.

Kiwanis Club meets Tuesdays

Kiwanis Club of Palmer meets at noon, Tuesdays at Turkey Red in Palmer.

Post Offices close for New Year’s

All U.S. Post Offices are closed New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31 and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

Ahtna language classes offered

Ahtna Athabascan language classes are offered Mondays from 5 to 6 p.m. beginning Jan. 3, 2011, at the Ya Ne Dah Ah School, Mile 55.5 Glenn Hwy. For more information, call Kari at 745-0722.

Primrose Retirement Communities hosts breakfast

Primrose Retirement Communities invites everyone to its facility at 889 N Elkhorn Dr., off Lucille Street, from 8 to 10 a.m., the first Tuesday of each month for community breakfast. The next community breakfast is Jan. 4.

Toastmasters meets Tuesdays

Toastmasters group meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Jan. 4, 2011, at Wasilla Area Seniors Inc, 1301 S Century Cir. The group meets every Tuesday.

Toastmasters helps people develop better communication and leaderships skills, think quicker and more clearly on their feet, builds self-confidence and strong leadership qualities.

For more information, contact Dennis Moore at djmoore611@gci.net; Angela Ritchey at angritchey@yahoo.com, or visit www.matsutm.org.

VCRS open house

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions open house celebration is at 3 p.m., Jan. 6 at 9456 E. Chanlyut Circle, in Palmer. However, recycling drop off will not be offered on this day. To get there, take 49th State St., turn right before entering the Mat-Su Borough Central landfill. For more information, call 745-5544.

Quilters guild meeting

Valley Quilters Guild meeting at 7 p.m., Jan. 6, (social time begins at 6:30 p.m.) at the Palmer Depot. Program: Scraps organization. Block of the month: Pinwheel. Fat Quarters: Amish colors. Meeting includes member door prizes, basket raffle and a show-and-tell of quilts.

Dealing with chronic illness classes begin Jan. 6

A free class addressing chronic illnesses of any type meets at 1 p.m. from Jan. 6 through Feb. 10 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension office, 809 S. Chugach St. in Palmer. A similar class is at 1 p.m. from Jan. 17 through Feb. 21 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. For more information, contact the Palmer Senior Center at 745-5454.

Mayoral forums set for Jan. 6 and 7

Two Mat-Su Borough Mayor’s candidate forums are scheduled during the first week of January. Candidates will participate in a 90-minute borough-wide forum broadcast live at 5:30 p.m., Jan. 6, 2011, at the Alaska Club in Wasilla. The Wasilla and Palmer Chambers of Commerce and the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman are sponsors for this forum.

The next day, Jan. 7, the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau’s forum is at noon at Turkey Red in downtown Palmer. For more information about the Jan. 7 event, or to RSVP for the luncheon, call Justin Saunders at 746-5032 or send e-mail to Justin@alaskavisit.com.

Ski and snowboard at Alyeska

Mat-Su Ski and Snowboard Club Inc. is sponsoring a program on alternating Saturdays beginning Jan. 8 and Jan. 15. For $300, participants receive round-trip motor coach transportation, lift tickets and two lessons for eight outings. Participants requiring rental equipment will be charged an additional $120.

Students may participate in both schedules for $550. For more information, e-mail matsusnow@mtaonline.net or visit matsusnow.org.

Home School Drama Club registration

Valley Creative Minds presents a Home School Drama Club production of “Go West: A Musical Celebration of America’s Western Expansion.” Sign-up from 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 8, at Valley Creative Minds, 1150 South Colony Way, Ste. No. 105 in Palmer, to participate in the show. The first of six rehearsals is from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Jan. 19. For more information, or to reserve a spot in the show, call or e-mail Heather at 841-3378 or creativemindspreschool@yahoo.com.

Hatcher Pass gears up for 7th annual ‘Winter Trails Day’

Seventh annual “Winter Trails Day” is Jan. 8, 2011, at Mile 10.6 Hatcher Pass Road and on the upper mountain by Rescue Cache. REI will provide cross-country skis and snowshoes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking all day at State Park parking lots in the Hatcher Pass area. Schedule includes:

• 10:30 a.m. to noon p.m. — beginner classic Nordic ski instruction with Mat-Su Ski Club instructors

• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — beginner snowshoe instruction

• 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — beginner snowboard instruction

• 1 to 2 p.m. — beginner skating clinic — with Mat-Su Ski Club instructors

• 1:30 to 2 p.m. — avalanche rescue beacon demonstration

• 2 to 3 p.m. — beginner downhill instruction

The sledding hill is open all day for sliding fun. Hot refreshments and restrooms provided along with warming barrels.

Alaska State Parks also will provide activities on the upper mountain. Meet at the Rescue Cache for events, including a tour of the Rescue/SAR Cache from noon to 1 p.m.

Gathering of Remembrance is Jan. 9

Mat-Su Regional Hospice is hosting a “Gathering of Remembrance” is at 2 p.m., Jan. 9, 2011, at the train depot in Palmer. This special candle lighting service is a time to remember friends and loved ones who have died, and who are missed everyday, but especially during this holiday season. At this service, names will be read of loved ones cared for by Mat-Su Regional Hospice in the past year, as well as individuals who were honored through the Mat-Su Hospice Foundation Light-Up-A-Life program. For more information, call 352-4800.

PHS grad to debut new CD at Vagabond Blues Jan. 9

Palmer High School graduate Emma Hill, who currently resides in Portland, will be back in Alaska debut her new album, “Meet Me At The Moon” at 6 p.m., Jan. 9 at Vagabond Blues in Palmer. At just 22 years old, this is her third full-length album. Sponsored by the Palmer Arts Council, tickets are $10 for students and 15$ for non-students, and available at Fireside Books and Matanuska Music.

Healthier recipes class offered

Certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian Rebecca Moore will teach a free class, called “Healthier Recipes for a Healthier 2011,” from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Jan. 11, 2011 at the Wasilla Senior Center, 1301 Century Circle. Pre-register for the class by calling Angela at 861-6807, or send her e-mail at a.balos@msrmc.com.

Christian Science Reading Room new location

The First Church of Christ Scientist would like to invite the community to visit the new Christian Science Reading Room, formerly located at the Creekside Plaza, now located to the corner of Lamont and Wesseling Circle in Wasilla. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday Noon to 3 p.m.

Wasilla museum closed until February

The Dorothy G. Page Museum, 323 North Main St., closed Dec. 24, and will re-open Feb. 9, 2011. While the museum is closed, staff will conduct an inventory of collections, clean various objects and begin work on updating many of the permanent exhibits. The museum will open at 9 a.m., Feb. 9 and will feature its annual Iditarod Art Exhibit. Free Friday admission for Mat-Su Borough residents resumes in February, too. For more information, contact 373-9071.

Emergency Services open house Jan. 13

Willow Emergency Services open house is Jan. 13, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Station 12-1 at Mile 70 of the Parks Highway. The open house includes general information on fire safety, tours of the station and fire trucks, blood pressure checks and complimentary refreshments.

Governor’s community reception is Jan. 15

Governor’s Mat-Su Inaugural Community Reception for Gov. Sean Parnell and Lt. Gov. Treadwell is from 2 to 5 p.m., Jan. 15 in Raven Hall at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer. Tickets are $20 each and children 12 and under are free. For more information, contact the Mat-Su Inaugural Committee 354-4380.

‘Winter Family Fun Day’ Jan. 15

Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge will hold its fifth annual free Winter Family Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jan. 15, 2011, at Reflections Lake at the Knik River Access exit at Mile 30.6 of the Glenn Highway.

Participants can try cross-country skis, snowshoes and ice skates, or walk the scenic 1-mile loop trail around the lake, learn about avalanche awareness and safety and warm up with hot cocoa, coffee or tea and cookies by the warming fires.

Winter Family Fun Day provides an excellent opportunity to learn about these family-friendly and heart-healthy winter sports and have fun while discovering the beauty of the Hay Flats Refuge. The 2010 event attracted more than 400 participants, and more than 500 are expected to turn out for the 2011 Fun Day.

APH works closely with the Mat-Su Borough, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, REI, Alaska Trails, Mat-Su Ski Club, North America Outdoor Institute, MSRMC and other partners to hold this National Winter Trails Day event each year.

For more information on the refuge or this event, call Alaskans for Palmer Hay Flats at 357-8711 or visit www.PalmerHayFlats.org.

Free Avalanche Awareness Field Training

North America Outdoor Institute offers a free avalanche awareness class in the Talkeetna area from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 15, 2011, at the Sunshine Public Safety Building, Parks Hwy., Mile 99. The class also will be offered at the Eureka Lodge, Mile 128 Glenn Highway, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 22, 2011. Funded through a Department of Public Safety grant, these day long classes will focus on safe travel in avalanche terrain. Topics include: hazard assessment, route selection, snow behavior, terrain management and an introduction to the use of avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels. For more information, or to signup for the class, visit naoiak.org or call 376-2898.

Better Choices, Better Health Jan. 17

Better Choices, Better Health, a six-week chronic disease self-management class begins Jan. 6 at the UAF Cooperative Extension office at the Mat-Su Regional Hospital. Please sign up ahead at the Palmer Senior Center.

Alzheimer’s resource group meets Jan. 20

The Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Jan. 20, 2011, at the Trinity Barn Plaza, Mile 2.2 Palmer/Wasilla Hwy. Join us to learn how to choose a health care professional and how to work with the health care team. Learn the steps to be a successful health care advocate. For more information, contact Sam Meneses at smeneses@alzalaska.org, or visit alzalaska.org.

Mayors’ Ball is Jan. 29

A boroughwide Mayors’ Ball is planned from 8 to 11 p.m., Jan. 29, 2011, at the Palmer Moose Lodge. The Bill Tull Jazz Band will perform and all proceeds benefit Valley food banks. For more information, call 745- 3206.

Ice fishing derby Feb. 5

“Getting Jiggy” Kids Ice Fishing Derby of the year for kids 3-16 is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Feb. 5, 2011, at Knik Lake. All proceeds go to the “Alaska Make A Wish Foundation.” For more information, contact Paul Reed at prochevy@yahoo.com, or online visit themasterangler.com/forum/showthread.php?911-Official-2011-Gettin-Jiggy-Kids-Ice-Fishing-Derby&p=2710#post2710.

Museum to re-open with Iditarod exhibit

The Dorothy G. Page Museum in Wasilla will be closed through Feb. 8. During this time, museum staff will conduct an inventory of collections, clean various objects and begin work on updating many of the permanent exhibits.

The museum will re-open at 9 a.m., Feb. 9 with its annual Iditarod Art Exhibit. For more information, view videos of the town site move and read about upcoming events, exhibits and activities, visit cityofwasilla.com/museum.

Palmer Lions Club 44th annual gun show

Palmer Lions Club 44th annual gun show is March 12-13 at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds. The annual event includes more than 300 tables of guns, knives and outdoor gear, as well as a free chance to win a fishing charter, hourly door prizes and a rifle raffle. The event is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., March 12 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 13. Park at the state fairgrounds purple gate and a free shuttle will deliver people to Raven Hall. Cost is $5 and children under 13 are free. For more information, call 761-3750.