Around the Valley

Wasilla tax filings, payments due June 30

The City of Wasilla reminds residents that sales tax filings and payments for May 2016 are due to city hall no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, June 30. Those with questions or needing assistance in preparing the return are urged to contact the sales tax administrator at 373.9088.

Outdoor adventures day set at Experiment Farm

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Matanuska Experiment Farm has scheduled an outdoor adventures day for July 7 from 1-4 p.m. at the farm, located at 1509 S. Georgeson Road in Palmer. The event, for ages 9 and up, will feature hikes, games, cooking, crafts and more, according to organizers. The cost is $10. Register before July 1 by calling 745-3360.

Run for food

The Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. will sponsor the “Miles for Meals on Wheels” 5K run/walk at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, at the senior center located at 1301 S. Century Circle in Wasilla. Early registration is $20 per person or $60 per team of four. There are prizes of 25,000 Alaska Airlines miles, a Kenai Fjords cruise, a one-night stay at the Grande Denali Lodge or Denali Bluffs Hotel available for those who raise funds for the event. All proceeds go to benefit the Meals on Wheels Program. For more information, visit wasillaseniors.com.

Trapper Creek Fireweed Festival

The 11th annual Trapper Creek Fireweed Festival is July 16 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Trapper Creek Community Park Mile 115.2 Parks Highway.

The event — which includes live music, local vendors and arts and crafts — is scheduled to go on regardless of weather.

For more information, email tcfireweedarts@hotmail.com, call 733-7377 or see Fireweed Arts Council on Facebook.

Frontline plans community clothing giveaway

Frontline Mission will host a back to school community clothing giveaway and barbecue on Saturday, July 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2001 Palmer Wasilla Highway. For more information, call 357-8600 or email helpfrontlinemission@gmail.com or visit them on Facebook.

‘Urban Junktion Vintage Market’ planned

The 2016 Urban Junktion Vintage Market will be held at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17. The market features local artists and artisans, upcyclers, vintage boutiques and more from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 at the door or online at https://squareup.com/store/urbanjunktion.

For more information and updates on vendors in advance, visit www.facebook.com/urbanjunktion

Adult spelling bee upcoming

The Wasilla Public Library will host its 8th annual Adult Spelling Bee on Thursday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Historic Town Site Schoolhouse (behind the library). This is a free event and the winner will receive a $100 prize. To sign up, call 864-9177.

Safe Children’s Act teacher training offered

Criminologist and University of Alaska Anchorage instructor Susan Magestro will offer professional enhancement and implementation of the Safe Children’s Act supplement training to teachers in all Alaska school districts beginning at the end of August. Topics covered include suicide prevention, sexual abuse and assault awareness training, dating violence and abuse awareness training, alcohol- and drug-related disabilities training, alcohol and drug abuse education and self awareness. Training is approved for 500-level credit through UAA.

For more information, and to reserve training dates, contact Susan Magestro at sulamaestra@gmail.com or 907-529-7151.

Join the GEMS gathering

GEMS (Gathering of Educators of the Mat-Su) is hosting an event Aug. 12 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Government Peak Chalet. The group is looking to connect with former, retired or longtime current Mat-Su Borough School District employees. The event is also a fundraiser for My House.

The event will include hors d’oeuvres and entertainment.

For more information, see GEMS on Facebook or contact Joe Irvine at 355-2213 or Barb Nord at 982-1844.

‘Dragon’s Last Ride’ scheduled

The annual “Dragon’s Last Ride” motorcycle run to support pediatric sarcoma cancer patients is set for Saturday, Aug. 13 beginning at 10 a.m. The ride starts at the Anchorage House of Harley-Davidson, 4334 Spenard Rd. and finishes at the Tug Bar, Mile 18.5 Knik-Goose Bay Rd. Registration with t-shirt, lunch and raffle ticket is $50; $40 with no t-shirt; $20 for non-rider lunch and raffle; $15 for t-shirt only.

For more information, or to register, visit www.nwsarcoma.org.

Grief recovery program offered

Mat-Su Regional Hospice will offer a seven-week grief recovery program on Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. beginning June 8. There is a $12 program materials fee for the public and no cost to Hospice families. For more information, call 352-4800.

Statewide Opiate Task Force meetings online

Alaska’s Opioid Policy Task Force now streams all of its meetings online, with an opportunity for public comment via teleconference following each meeting.

The topic of the next meeting is “Pain Management and Opioid Prescribing Practices,”scheduled for Friday, July 8 from 9 a.m. to noon.

For more information — including meeting agendas, minutes, related links and the task force roster — visit dhss.alaska.gov/AKOpioidTaskForce.

The task force is also on Facebook (Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force) and Twitter (@AKOpioidPolicy).

Field courses offered at Denali National Park

The Murie Science and Learning Center, with support from Alaska Geographic, is offering five multi-day field courses in Denali National Park this summer, in celebration of 100 years of the U.S. National Park Service.

Each course takes place in Denali National Park and Preserve and explores a topic with a subject matter expert. Courses are limited to 10 participants and advance registration is required. Teachers attending field courses can earn professional development credit through the University of Alaska.

The Centennial Series courses are: “100 Years of Geology in Denali” (July 6-8), “Predators, Prey and Politics” (July 22-24), “Find Your Park: Family Adventure Camp” (Aug. 4-7) and “Living Legacies: Hiking in the Footsteps of Denali’s Conservation Icons” (Aug. 24-26).

The Living Legacies course takes place on the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. Participants will hike the same mountains that inspired Denali’s original conservationists and discuss how to be a 21st-century “wilderness champion.”

For more information about all courses, visit the Alaska Geographic field course webpage at http://akgeo.org/field-courses/. Email additional questions to courses@murieslc.org or call 907-683-6432.

Lost Lake Run accepting donations

The annual Lost Lake Run held near Seward to support research for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is now accepting donations online at www.crowdrise.com/lostlakeruninc. Visitors can submit individual donations or create a personal fundraising page to feed the general race fund. For more information, visit lostlakerun.com.

Summer food program ongoing

Food4Kids, a program of the MatSu Food Bank, will be held from May 23 through Aug.12 at the Food Pantry of Wasilla and Newcomb Park. The program is open to all kids age 18 and under and doest not require registration. Lunch will be served Monday-Friday at each location at noon. For more information, call 357-3769.

Palmer alums to meet in Washington

The Northwest Chapter of the Palmer High School Graduates and Friends will hold its 10th annual reunion Sept. 10-11 in Lacey, Washington. There will be a dinner starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, and a breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 11. Please RSVP by Aug. 15. To RSVP or for more information, call Mary Jane and Ed Phelps at

(503) 364-3927 or email phelpsor@g.com or Donn and Nancy Moyer at (253) 472-0693 or djmover55@telisphere.com.

Host families sought for exchange students

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking local families to host boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 18 from a variety of countries. Students have their own money for expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. Students are selected based on academics and personality, and families can choose students from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests. To become a host family, call 1-800-733-2773 or visit host.asse.com.

Alaska Community Foundation offers grants

The Alaska Community Foundation is offering capacity building grants of up to $10,000 (awards typically range from $3,000 to $5,000) to Alaska nonprofits through its Strengthening Organizations Program. All Alaska 501(c)(3) nonprofits or equivalent organizations — including tribes, schools, churches and local government agencies — are eligible.

For more information, visit www.alaskacf.org/grants or call 907-274-6700.

Fly tying classes offered to veterans

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing offers fly tying clinics at the Wasilla Vet Center, 851 E. West Point Dr., Suite 102 in Wasilla on the first and third Tuesdays of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, email PHWAlaska@gmail.com or call Jan Schnorr at 907-538-1818.