PUBLISHER’S NOTEBOOK: A Packer Backer in Seahawk territory

We had a little Monday Night Football action in the Valley this week as the Mat-Su Seahawkers and the United Way of the Mat-Su teamed up to host a fundraiser at the Elks Club on Finger Lake. The Seahawks making the trip were defensive end Tylor Harris and offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo, along with senior defensive assistant coach Travis Jones (with two Super Bowl rings on his resume).

Seagals Hannah from Alaska, and Olivia were also guests for the event. The spread provided by Mat-Su Regional Hospital was not your granddad’s hospital food. It was quite delicious. When one considers the work that both organizations do for the community it’s easy to support an event with the Seahawks as the main attraction even if one is a diehard Packer backer.

I still haven’t moved past the 2014 NFC Championship game. Wednesday the Seahawks played host to some 200 kids to promote the NFL Play 60 initiative. Getting our kids out to play for a minimum of an hour a day is good idea and shouldn’t be that hard to accomplish, especially in beautiful Alaska. Kudos to Tom Spindler, President of the Mat-Su Sea Hawkers and Stephanie Allen, Executive Director of United Way Mat-Su and their respective teams for organizing two great events.

Wasilla comes together with a Governor-sized assist

The City of Wasilla’s police department is in need of a K-9 officer to step in for Marshal, who passed away from cancer. The community came together corporately and individually to raise the needed funds. These specialized pups don’t come cheap. It’s been well documented the Gov.Walker has decided to reduce his salary by 33 percent but he can’t just get paid 66 percent of his salary, so he is donating the 33 percent to various charities including $11,000 to the new K-9 officer. Good for us, and I thought everyone would be excited by such a gesture.

Well Facebook, being what it is, brought out the trolls. Comments on Facebook included, “it’s a tax break for him,” or “where did he get the money, from last year’s PFD raid?” There was more ugliness but I’ll stop there. We could realize that the man could have just kept his pay and Wasilla would’ve had to raise another $11,000. Let’s not look a gift horse, or in this case a gift governor, in the mouth. Thanks to all who helped the Wasilla Police Department take a huge step in getting a very important member of their team. Especially you Governor Walker, that was a very gracious act on your part.

Sleep in a Box and help end homelessness

Family Promise Mat-Su will be hosting their 10th annual Cardboard City fundraiser on July 21 on the Alaska State Fairgrounds. Family Promise assists families who are homeless to find suitable and sustainable housing. Laurie Karl, Executive Director, presented to the Wasilla Sunrise Rotary this week. 80 percent of the families who come through Family Promise Mat-Su find housing. Of course, the goal is 100 percent and together we can make that a reality. If you would like to participate in this year’s Cardboard City event you can register online at familypromisematsu.org. If you would rather just donate to the cause there is a link on the website to do so or call 357-6160. Life can change in an instant and most times families are put in this situation due to an unplanned event happening in their lives. As a community, we do a great job of supporting one another and I am confident this will be another successful event for Family Promise Mat-Su.

Thank you for reading the Frontiersman!