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DECEMBER 19, 2014 Recent Activities & Holiday Events Dear Friends and Neighbors, It's almost time for us to pack up our office for the move to Juneau and I want to give you an update on some of what I've been working on recently. Safe School Crossing for Alaska Native Cultural Charter School Senator Ellis and I recently sent a letter to the Municipality of Anchorage Traffic Engineer requesting follow up on the request to place a traffic light at the entrance to the school. We've requested an on-site meeting so we can understand how they define a safe crossing. Read the letter here: http://akdemocrats.org/docs/111314_Letter-to-Municipal-Traffic-Engineer.pdf Do you have a neighborhood safety concern? Public Safety is one of my top priorities and the more I know the better able I am to address those concerns. Recently we've focused on the need for better snow plowing along our neighborhood streets. Lack of adequate plowing is something I hear about frequently from neighbors. I followed up with our local Assemblywoman Elvi Gray-Jackson to learn more about staffing at the street maintenance office. There have not been recent cuts to positions so staffing should be sufficient. Assemblywoman Gray-Jackson suggested neighbors call the street maintenance crew at if you live in an area that needs plowing. Please call 343-8277 or go online to muni.org/Departments/works/operations/streets/WinterMaintenance/Pages/default.aspx Recent Policy Trainings I've had the opportunity to attend a few different trainings over the last few weeks, mostly focused on improving health outcomes and efficiency in health care delivery. The Affordable Care Act is allowing for improved access and the Governor is successful in his effort to expand Medicaid we will get even closer to achieving our goal of access to quality health care for all Alaskans. The Women in Government annual Health Summit focused on obesity prevention efforts, highlighting low cost or no cost initiatives that are showing success in other states. In Alaska our department of Health and Social Services has been making strides towards addressing the rising trend of obese Alaskan youth. A great resource for families is the “Get Out and Play Every Day” website sponsored by the state and community partners: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/PlayEveryDay/Pages/default.aspx I also shared information about my work on Mental Health First Aid and called on other states to consider this low cost community based prevention strategy that has been proved to be highly effective as a crisis intervention tool. I remain committed to reversing the trend of our high suicide rates. I will continue our work on next session to call for support of Mental Health First Aid and access to other mental health services, increased access to substance abuse treatment, and other counseling services. A second training hosted by Planned Parenthood focused on successful prevention efforts. We have high rates of STDs and while we previously funded some prevention efforts those funds were eliminated from the budget last year. Upcoming Events There are so many exciting and family friendly holiday events coming our way. Here are some highlights that are particularly exciting, as well as some resources to find ALL of the fun ways to celebrate the holidays in Anchorage and Girdwood. Dec. 19-28, 2014: The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is hosting a rendition of the classic Christmas show…A Christmas Carol. For more information, go to http://anchorageconcerts.org/_events/pers3.php Celebrate New Year’s with your friends and a firework show at the Anchorage New Year’s Celebration on Dec. 31st, 2014. For full details, visit http://www.anchoragedowntown.org/upcoming-events/necaibew-fire-ice-new-years-eve-celebration/ Also check out the New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks at Alyeska Resort on December 31st, 2014 at 9 pm. If you want more information on ALL of the holiday festivities at the resort, click here: http://www.alyeskaresort.com/events-activities/holiday-highlights.aspx Don’t miss the Crystal Gallery of Ice Competition in downtown Anchorage on January 9-11. Click here for more information: http://www.anchoragedowntown.org/upcoming-events/crystal-gallery-of-ice/ For more information on these events and much more, go to:
Sincerely,
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