NEWS BRIEFS: Jan. 15, 2017

Martin Luther King program set Monday

PALMER — Mat-Su Senior Services in Palmer will host this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. program on Monday.

“Citizenship! Civic engagement, more than just voting” is this year’s theme for the 15th annual program arranged by the Mat-Su Martin Luther King Junior Foundation. Cheryl V. Puryear will serve as this year’s guest speaker. Cal Williams of Anchorage, community leader and activist, will provide the program’s keynote address.

The program also includes performances from the Mat-Su Community and Palmer High School choruses. Students from Sherrod Elementary School, under the direction of Annie Williams, will present a theatrical skit. Jean Pollard with the Alaska Highway Project, will present a piece on the building of the Alaska Highway.

The event is free and open to the public and runs from 1-4 p.m. at the senior center, located at 1132 South Chugach St. The Mat-Su MLK, Jr. Foundation is a nonprofit 501 3(c) organization. It’s mission is to promote unity, equality and to strengthen the Mat-Su community by facilitating a forum to bring citizens and stakeholders together through education, communication and social interactions by unifying diverse cultures, ethnicity and faiths through sponsored events.

Mat-Su Ski for women scheduled Feb. 5

Women of the Mat-Su are invited to Government Peak Recreation Area Super Bowl Sunday for the annual Mat-Su Ski for Women.

The Feb. 5 event is an untimed ski on a 4-kilometer course. Organizers state it is meant to be a fun event for a good cause. There are no entry fees, but a donation of $25 is suggested. Participants are also asked to bring a dish to share. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit Alaska Family Services, a nonprofit organization. Established in 1979, ASF’s purpose is the respond to the needs of women and children in crisis throughout the Mat-Su Borough and is the only nationally accredited domestic violence/sexual assault shelter in the state.

The Mat-Su Ski Club hosts the event, which is sponsored by Mat-Su Health Foundation and Backcountry Bike and Ski. Organizers welcome anyone interested in volunteering. Onsite registration takes place from 10:30-11 a.m. with the event starting at 11. A raffle and potluck follows.

Costumes are encouraged and welcomed. This year for the first time, organizers will sell long-sleeved tee shirts at $20 each. Those wishing to order one are asked to do so no later than Sunday, Jan. 15. To register, go to https://matsuskiclub.wildapricot.org/event-2395853. For questions or to volunteer, contact Tammy at tammp.sipos@matsuski.org.

—Chris Ford