News & Notes: Aug. 3, 2016

Larson to address Palmer chamber

Kelly Larson, the community relations and social media coordinator for the Alaska State Fair, will be the featured speaker at the weekly Wednesday meeting of the Palmer Chamber of Commerce. Larson’s talk is titled “Everything you ever wanted to know about the 2016 Alaska State Fair.” Networking time begins at 11:45 a.m., with the program set to begin at noon. The program fee is $5, and lunch is $15. A soup and salad option also is offered for $8. The chamber meets at the Palmer Moose Lodge, 1136 S. Cobb St.

Grants available for use of Alaska specialty crops

The state Division of Agriculture is seeking applicants for grants intended to increase Alaska health care and university facilities’ use of Alaska specialty crops during the summer and promote consumer knowledge of those crops. The grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The division will award multiple grants with a maximum funding amount of $5,000 each. Applications must be submitted to the division by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 5. Awards will be determined on or before Aug. 19 and distributed the week of Aug. 22. Eligibility requirements, project expectations and applications can be found at dnr.alaska.gov/ag/Grants/2016FHCU_application.pdf. Only projects related to specialty crops are permitted under this funding source. Specialty crops are defined by the USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops. For more information, contact Johanna Herron at 761-3870, johanna.herron@alaska.gov

Berry workshop set Aug. 9

Find, identify and use wild berries with 4-H agent Lee Hecimovich from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at a berry workshop hosted by the UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the Mat-Su Copper River Extension Service district office. The family-friendly event is free, but registration is required. Call 745-3360 by Aug. 3 to register. The workshop will be held at the extension service office at 1509 S. Georgeson Dr. in Palmer.

‘Dragon’s Last Ride’ scheduled

The annual “Dragon’s Last Ride” motorcycle run to support pediatric sarcoma cancer patients is set for Saturday, Aug. 13, beginning at 10 a.m. The ride starts at the Anchorage House of Harley-Davidson, 4334 Spenard Rd. and finishes at the Tug Bar, Mile 18.5 Knik-Goose Bay Rd. Registration with t-shirt, lunch and raffle ticket is $50; $40 with no t-shirt; $20 for non-rider lunch and raffle; $15 for t-shirt only. For more information, or to register, visit www.nwsarcoma.org.

Get the Junk out of the Trunk through Aug. 20

Through Aug. 20, the Mobile Flea Market Art and Handcrafts Show will host the Get the Junk out of the Trunk from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in Downtown Palmer across from the visitors’ center.

For more information and space reservation, call (907) 382-9276.

Free food preparation demonstrations

Home Economist Winona Benson of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service will be offering free food preparation demonstration classes, nutrition advice and recipes on Wednesdays throughout the summer. Classes start at 1 p.m. and will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s Five Loaves, Two Fish Kitchen Ministries at 501 E. Bogard Rd. in Wasilla. Produce is being provided by Alaska Pacific University’s Spring Creek farm. Extra produce will be given to class attendees.

Lost Lake Run accepting donations

The annual Lost Lake Run held near Seward to support research for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is now accepting donations online at www.crowdrise.com/lostlakeruninc. Visitors can submit individual donations or create a personal fundraising page to feed the general race fund. For more information, visit lostlakerun.com.

Fair concert tickets on sale

The Alaska State Fair is selling tickets for its 2016 AT&T Concert Series. This year’s acts include Cheech and Chong; Home Free; KONGOS; July Talk; Home Free; X Ambassadors; The Band Perry; Old Dominion; Thousand Foot Krutch; G-Eazy; Volbeat, Randy Houser; Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo; and Andy Grammer. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit alaskastatefair.org or visit the fair’s Facebook page.

Storytime ongoing at Wasilla library

The Wasilla Public Library’s summer story series has kicked off for the season and will run through July. On Thursdays, preschool story time begins at 11 a.m. for stories, songs and crafts designed to introduce kids to reading. According to the library, the sessions are best for ages 2 to 6, but all are welcome. On Fridays at 11 a.m., the library hosts baby lapsit storytime for kids ages 0 to 2 with their caregiver. For more information call 376-5913.

Safe Children’s Act teacher training offered

Criminologist and University of Alaska Anchorage instructor Susan Magestro will offer professional enhancement and implementation of the Safe Children’s Act supplement training to teachers in all Alaska school districts beginning at the end of August. Topics covered include suicide prevention, sexual abuse and assault awareness training, dating violence and abuse awareness training, alcohol- and drug-related disabilities training, alcohol and drug abuse education and self awareness. Training is approved for 500-level credit through UAA.

For more information, and to reserve training dates, contact Susan Magestro at sulamaestra@gmail.com or 907-529-7151.

Suicide survivors group meets twice monthly

The Mat-Su Coalition for Suicide Prevention, in partnership with the Alaska Trauma Center of Anchorage, holds twice monthly peer lead meetings where Survivors of Suicide can share their grief and problems with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to suicide, providing support for those left behind. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at 400 N. Yenlo in Wasilla, in the Turn A Leaf office building near the post office. If you or someone you know has experienced the devastating loss of a loved one to suicide, having the support of others who have had a similar experience may help. All are welcome.

Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers

Habitat for Humanity of Mat-Su is looking for volunteers to help build a home for Mat-Su College Student Retention Advisor Mike Swanson and his family this summer. Potential volunteers must fill out a two-page survey including contact information, skills and interests and availability before beginning work for the organization. Volunteer surveys and applications for those in need of a home can be obtained from Habitat secretary Israel Nelson at Double Eagle Real Estate, 900 N. Hyer Spur Rd., or via email by contacting hhumanity@gci.net

For more information, call Habitat for Humanity of Mat-Su at 373-7278, or visit the organization’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HabitatForHumanityMatsu.