Mat-Su Home Show kicks off this weekend

April 1, 2005

DAWN DE BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Whether residents are thinking about obtaining the necessary credit for a dream home or are dreaming up a functional recycling center for a current dwelling, the 2005 Mat-Su Home Show may have the answers and lots of ideas, with more than 100 booths at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex starting today and running through Sunday.

On April Fools Day, the show will open at 4 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will have identical hours, with doors opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m.

The event, sponsored by the Mat-Su Home Builders Association, will celebrate its silver anniversary; however, for the first time ever, the show will be housed in the new sports complex in north Wasilla.

"We're in the center of the whole thing, so people can come see and get ideas," said Jeff Williams, who, with his wife, Rhonda, owns Recluse Gardens. "We ended up with a big area, so we can bring patio furniture, a trellis for growing vines and some ornamental trees. We're going to display a nice water feature. We'll bring some bulbs."

He won't bring any starters, or spring planting projects. His booth will be geared toward summer.

Mat-Su Water, across the street from Spenard Builders Supply on the Parks Highway, will have filtration systems, cabin water systems and pumps of all sorts at its booth.

"We'll have free water tests, too," Mat-Su Water's Eric Kitter said.

Ben Winkler, also with Mat-Su Water, will be doing a presentation entitled, "Alaska's Ground Water, Not So Pristine," at 7 p.m. today and again at noon on Saturday. Both presentations will be in Room 2.

Winkler will not only cover water testing, but offer seminar-goers solutions for below-standard water.

Five banks, five mortgage companies and seven realtors will join the home show, offering advice on finding and financing a home. Personnel from Alaska Housing Finance Corp. will man a booth and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development will also provide information on how it can help a prospective homeowner.

Several construction companies will be on hand to offer a helping hand on how to craft your dream home.

Anyone looking for something a little softer underfoot than concrete may visit The Carpetman's booth.

One of the hazards of construction - stepping on rusty nails and puncturing a foot - will be addressed with free tetanus shots, according to Emma Markley, MSHBA executive officer.

Admission for this weekend's show will be $2 per person. Children under 12 years old will be admitted for free, as long as they're accompanied by an adult. Residents with a military ID and their families and people who bring in two cans of food will also get in free. The canned goods will be donated to one of the Valley's food banks.