BRIEFCASE

Convention and Visitors Bureau’s annual meeting is Nov. 19

The Mat-Su CVB annual meeting, educational seminar and awards banquet is Friday, Nov. 19 at Evangelo’s in Wasilla. This year, the educational seminar will focus on the importance of sportfishing to tourism.

The seminar is from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The membership meeting is at 11 a.m. At noon, a luncheon will honor this year’s “Stars of the Industry.” Tickets are $25 and include the seminar, the meeting and lunch.

For more information, or to reserve a seat, call 746-5032, or send e-mail to justin@alaskavisit.com.

United Way Mat-Su receives grants for local partnerships

United Way received two grants for local coalition efforts to increase school readiness and prevent substance abuse.

• Best Beginnings awarded the local early childhood partnership, “A MATter of SUccess,” $40,000 to mobilize local people and resources to ensure that children begin school ready to succeed. For more information about Best Beginnings: A MATter of SUccess, visit unitedwaymatsu.org/education.php, call Stephanie Allen at 373-5821, send e-mail to sallen@unitedwaymatsu.org.

• The Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition joined the Drug Free Communities support program directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

DFC provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years.

For more information about the coalition, visit unitedwaymatsu.org/ourwork/mssapc/index.php, call Desiree Compton at 373-5818, send e-mail to dcompton@unitedwaymatsu.org, or call Elizabeth Ripley at 352-2896, or send e-mail to E.Ripley@Msrmc.com.

Denali Brewing Company

is official beer for 2011 State Fair

Denali Brewing Company’s Purple Haze was voted this year’s overall favorite at the Mighty Matanuska Brewfest. As such, the Talkeetna brewer won the opportunity to brew the official beer for the 2011 Alaska State Fair. “Purple Haze, is an American-style wheat beer brewed with 10 pounds of wild blueberries per barrel,” according to a press release announcing the honor. The fledgling brewing company began serving its beer in July 2009.