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.

Christmas gun show ends Sunday

The Grouse Ridge Rangers Youth Shooters present a Christmas gun show and holiday extravaganza from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. There are more than 100 vendors featuring shooting, hunting and gun-related items. There will also be 30 vendors featuring craft items and gift ideas. Admission is $5 for adults, children under 10 are free. Tables are still available, contact 373-0961 for more information.

Gingerbread House contest

ends Sunday

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce is having a Gingerbread House Contest Sunday. Categories are children, general public, business and AVPH residents. You may deliver your house to the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home at 11 a.m., Dec. 12 for judging. Entry information is available at palmerchamber.org or e-mail director@palmerchamber.org.

‘Sing We Christmas’ is Sunday

The Mat-Su Community Chorus presents “Sing We Christmas” at 6 p.m., today at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 4400 E. Elmwood, Palmer. The concert is free and doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday is the deadline to

register for ‘Santa’s Workshop’

AMVETS Post 11, 951 Hermon Rd., is sponsoring Santa’s Workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec 17-19. Space is limited to the first 200 children ages 3 to 10 to apply by Dec. 12. Applications can be picked up at AMVETS Post No. 11 from 2 p.m. until closing.

Steak feed fund-raiser Sunday

Palmer Amateur Hockey Association’s sixth annual steak feed fund-raiser is from noon to 8 p.m., Sunday at the Palmer Moose Lodge, at 110 S. Cobb St. The menu includes New York steak and baked potato, salad and garlic bread. Proceeds benefit the “Gear up for Hockey” program, scholarships for players and also provide team tournament fees.

Avalanche training

offered Dec. 18

Join NAOI from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dec. 18 at Fox Run Lodge, 4466 S. Glenn Hwy, to learn practical skills for safe travel in avalanche terrain. Includes classroom, field exercises and interactive games. Topics include terrain assessment and management, snow behavior, weather and human factors. Space is limited. Early registration is $25 and $30 at the door. For more information, send e-mail to info@naoiak.org, or visit naoiak.org.

Christmas ice show Dec. 18

More than 60 skaters will perform at Brett Memorial Ice Arena’s free Christmas ice show, “The Polar Express,” is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 18. For more information, call 376-9261.

U.S. Post Office mail deadlines

U.S. Post Office deadline for First Class Mail is Dec. 20. For Priority Mail, the deadline for delivery by Christmas Day is Dec. 21. And for Express Mail, the deadline is Dec. 22, and the deadline for Parcel Post mail is Dec. 15.

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.

Dorothy G. Page Museum presents free Fridays

Admission to the Dorothy G. Page Museum, 323 North Main St., Wasilla, is free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays for Mat-Su Borough residents. Bring a state-issued ID that shows a Mat-Su Borough address to qualify. For more information, contact 373-9071.

Lights, music set tone for holidays

The Mitchell family is back this year with its Christmas Light Spectacular. The family invites the community to enjoy holiday lights that dance to music and donate to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Alaska. The lights are on from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Find the house at 5270 S. Tennyson Court in Wasilla. Take Knik-Goose Bay Road to Mile 8.1 just past Settler’s Bay and turn at the first right, which is Kathlyn. Take Kathlyn to Gladstone and turn right, then an immediate left onto Tennyson. The family asks those enjoying the display not block the driveways of neighbors and turn radios to 91.5 FM to hear the music that goes with the dancing lights. For more information, visit christmasinak.com.

Kiwanis Club meets Tuesdays

Kiwanis Club of Palmer meets at noon, Tuesdays at Turkey Red in Palmer. The speaker Dec. 14 is the reigning Mrs. Alaska, Tracy Zeda. Dec. 21 the speaker is Dr. Stacey Lowe from Life Family Chiropractics.

King Island Christmas fund-raiser Dec. 18

Tickets to the Dec. 18 performance of King Island Christmas are on sale now at Family Promise Mat-Su. Proceeds from the Dec. 18 performance benefits the non-profit, which focuses on helping homeless families in the Mat-Su Borough. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 357-6160.

‘Berry Fairy’ book signing Dec. 18

Teresa Ascone, local author and artist, will sign her books, The Berry Fairies of Alaska and Book 2, Lizzie Scarlet at Fireside Books from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18. Come and meet the author and artist and have your book personalized. For more information, visit alaskaberryfairies, or contact Fireside Books at 745-2665, or online at goodbooksbadcoffee.com.

Santa Cop wrapping party

A wrapping party is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Wasilla Senior Center. The event is open to anyone who wants to bring a dish and help Santa Cop participants wrap gifts for senior citizens. For more information about Santa Cop, visit www.matsusantacop.org.

Holiday shopping at Espresso Café

Do some holiday shopping while sipping your favorite coffee, from noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 18-19 at the Espresso Café, 1265 South Seward Meridian Parkway, across from Wal-Mart in Wasilla. Select from fiber art scarves, wire crochet jewelry and more. For more information, contact 746-1614.

‘King Island Christmas’ production ends Dec. 19

Valley Performing Art’s production of King Island Christmas is at Machetanz Theater in Wasilla at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m., Sundays through Dec. 19. The musical is a uniquely Alaskan holiday story based on the book written and illustrated by Alaskans Jean Rogers and Rie Munoz. The performance tells the true story of 150 residents of a tiny island in the middle of the Bering Sea overcoming adversity to achieve the impossible. The Mat-Su Special Santa Program also is collecting unwrapped toys to be distributed for the Toys For Tots Program. Toys can be dropped off during any performance of King Island Christmas. Tickets cost $16 for youth and seniors and $18 for adults. To purchase tickets, call 373-0195 or visit www.valleyperformingarts.org.

Matanuska Valley Christmas bird count Dec. 19

The 31st Matanuska Valley Christmas Bird Count is Dec. 19. Valley field counters will attempt to count every bird seen inside of the Matanuska Valley Count Circle, a 15-mile diameter circle centered at Four Corners on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway at Trunk Road. Valley residents who live within 7.5 miles of Four Corners and have bird feeders in their yard can participate in our local count by counting the birds that visit their feeders on Dec. 19. For more information, visit matsubirders.org.

Angel Tree returns

Wasilla Physical Therapy is again a sponsor of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. To make a donation, stop by Wasilla Physical Therapy and get a gift tag. Purchase a gift for the child on your tag and return the unwrapped gift to Wasilla Physical Therapy before Dec. 20. For more information, call 376-7334.

Holiday tours at the reindeer farm

The Reindeer Farm in Palmer will offer holiday tours from noon to 9 p.m., Friday to Dec. 24. Tours include Christmas lights timed to music, reindeer tours, hay rides, smores and photos with Santa. Open Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the Holiday Season. For more information, contact Denise Hardy at hardyof5@yahoo.com, or visit online reindeerfarm.com.

Christmas Friendship Dinner Dec. 25

The 19th annual Christmas Friendship Dinner is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 25 at the Curtis D. Menard Sports Center. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there, along with entertainment and food including turkey, ham and dessert. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 746-1053, or e-mail CFD@mtaonline.net.

Wasilla Public Library holiday closures

The Wasilla Meta-Rose Public Library will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25, regular hours will resume on Dec. 27. The library will also be closed for New Years on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Regular hours will resume on Jan. 3.

MOMS Club open house Dec. 28

Palmer MOMS Club open house is Dec. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mat-Su Borough gym.

Ski and snowboard at Alyeska

Mat-Su Ski and Snowboard Club Inc. is sponsoring a program on alternating Saturdays beginning on Jan. 8 and 15. For $300, participants receive round-trip motorcoach 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.

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. To get there, take 49th State St., turn right before entering the Mat-Su Borough Central landfill. For more information, call 745-5544.

Mayors’ Ball is Jan. 15

A boroughwide Mayors’ Ball is planned from 8 to 11 p.m., Jan. 15, 2011, at the Palmer Railroad Depot. The Bill Tull Jazz Band will perform and all proceeds benefit Valley food banks. For more information, call 745- 3206.

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.

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.