Briefcase

Johnson’s Tire Service offers free brake safety inspections

Johnson’s Tire Service will participate in National Brake Safety Awareness Week by offering free brake inspections through Aug. 27 at its five locations in Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla and Soldotna to promote Alaska driving safety.

Small Business Development Center names new statewide director

University of Alaska Anchorage has named Debi Fowler as the new statewide director for the Alaska Small Business Development Center.

Fowler has been at UAA since 2007 when she was hired to serve as the Alaska SBDC’s Southcentral director and later as associate state director. In that position Fowler was responsible for operational management of the statewide program, including employee development planning, strategic planning and helping establish annual SBA goals for year-end reporting with business investments, client counseling hours and business start-ups.

For more information, visit aksbdc.org.

Wells Fargo gives $1,000 to The Children’s Place

In recognition of Mat-Su Valley District Manager Aryne Randall’s three years of service on the board of for The Children’s Place, Wells Fargo will donate $1,000 to the nonprofit as part of its Volunteer Service Award program.

The Children’s Place is a nonprofit organization that provides child abuse victims and their families with counseling, support services and on-site evaluation, investigation and treatment in a child-friendly, neutral facility for children in the Mat-Su Borough and outlying areas. The Children’s Place also provides child abuse prevention education and resources for Mat-Su residents.

Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency names new president

Sharon K. Elliott was named president of Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency. Sharon has more than 25 years of real estate experience in title and escrow services and loan origination.

She has spent the last 18 years as the owner and president of Alaska Exchange Corp., specializing in 1031 tax deferred exchanges.

Alyeska Title Guaranty Agency will be working together with Alaska Exchange Corp. to provide customer service in title insurance and escrow closings for residential and commercial real estate transactions along with tax deferred exchanges.

MEA board OKs rate decrease

Matanuska Electric Association Board of Directors has approved a base rate decrease of .44 percent, effective the first week of October.

The rate change requires approval from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

For the average MEA consumer, which uses about 700 kilowatt hours of electricity per month, the savings equals about 31 cents.

Under the terms of rules set by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, MEA is allowed on a quarterly basis to file for limited increases or decreases in base rates, provided that the adjustments stay within certain financial parameters established by the RCA.

The rate filing is based on the test year ending June 30.

Hall Quality Homes Grand Opening continues Sunday

Hall Quality Homes announces the grand opening of Mountain Ranch Estates 3 subdivision located off of Inner Springer Loop and Crowther, behind the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer is from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Builder Jess Hall will share insights about his houses’ design and the area. Register for a chance to win an iPad2 and other door prizes. Tours of five new model homes that showcase the latest technology in energy efficiency, family friendly floor plans, beautiful details and spectacular mountain views also will be offered. The property also is uniquely engineered to drain excess water and prevent pooling and freezing culverts. The design uses wide, shallow ditches planted with grass to carry the water, instead of culverts, which is better for the surrounding environment in that the water is directed to the edges of the lots and absorbed.

Hall Quality Homes is known for building energy efficient homes in the Valley for more than 20 years. Included in every “Five Star” or “Five Star Plus” home are features like a Heat Recovery Ventilation system and airtight construction, which efficiently keeps the heat inside and the cold outside.

Valley Company launches new iPad application

Business Application Developers, a Wasilla-based software development company, has launched a productivity application for the iPad. The Idea Center iPad application is designed to capture ideas and thoughts as they occur, store them, arrange them into formatted documents, and print or email the results to friends and colleagues. The Idea Center is now available at the Apple iTunes applications store.

Fair recycling needs volunteers

The Alaska State Fair needs volunteers for its recycling program. Volunteers who donate at least four hours of their time to the program receive free entrance to the fair that day and help make a positive impact on their community and state. For more information on the program or to volunteer, contact Linda Skalsky at 357-9387 or 355-0061.

Alaska Speakers Bureau recruiting members

Alaska Speakers Bureau is looking for presenters and trainers who are interested in expanding their speaking career to join their new organization.

The Alaska Speakers Bureau facilitates speakers for large and small corporations, professional and trade associations, meeting planners, educational or public institutions requiring keynote, motivational, after-dinner speakers, trainers, and conference facilitators.

For more information, contact the Alaska Speakers Bureau at 339-0178.

Toastmasters groups meet Tuesdays in Wasilla, Palmer

There are weekly Toastmasters meetings in the Valley, one in Palmer in the evening and one in the morning in Wasilla. Mat-Su Toastmasters meets Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Wasilla Area Senior Center. And the Palmer Toastmasters meet Tuesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. downstairs at the MTA Building in Palmer. Toastmasters groups offer an educational and supportive learning environment where you can improve and hone all of your communication skills. Learn to prepare and deliver a speech, provide effective evaluations, and think on your feet with impromptu speeches. For more information, contact Melissa Vega at 841-0077 or email melissa@greatlander.com.

Houston Farmers Market continues

Houston Farmers Market continues Fridays from 3 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in the Spenard Builders Supply parking lot. For more information, contact Peggy Bjornton at 892-4727.

Wasilla City Market continues through August

Wasilla Farmers Market is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays through August at the corner of Willow and Herning Streets downtown.

Willow Farmers Market is Fridays

The Willow Farmers Market opens from 2 to 7 p.m., Fridays through Sept. 23 at Mile 68.8, Parks Hwy., across from Newman’s Tesoro. Check out the fresh local produce, crafts and the new food vendor. See what’s new each week on Facebook. For more information, contact Nina Davidson at ninamarie.willow@gmail.com.