October News

Items in this E-news: 30-Day Communications Day Break Constituent Coffee District 16 School Visits UAA Contemporary Health Policy Class HB 336 Bill Signing Upcoming Events

Urgent: Bus Barn Relocation Meeting

Reminder that the Municipality of Anchorage is holding a meeting today to discuss the Anchorage School District Bus Barn relocation. One of the sites is behind Benny Benson Secondary School off of Campbell Airstrip Road and may impact people who live near there. Community meeting on October 2, 2018, at 6-7:30pm, at the Permit & Development Center, 4700 Elmore Rd. You can get the site selection report here and learn about the meeting by calling 343-7536. For more info: contact Robin E. Ward at WardRE@muni.org. You can also check my legislative Facebook page for updates as they come in.

30-Day Mass Mailing Break

As a lot of you know it's campaign season, and Legislative Ethics recommend that legislators take a 30-day break from sending out mass electronic and hard copy newsletters before the general election. This is to ensure that state resources are not being spent on political campaign mailings. If you need to reach me, I am available by phone, email, Facebook, or scheduled office visits, so please don't hesitate to reach out during this 30-day break!

Constituent Coffee on Oct. 13th

Join me for coffee on Saturday, October 13th from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 2311 Pembroke St. If you can, please bring a nonperishable food item to donate to Immanuel Presbyterian's Food Pantry to thank them for hosting us and to help them feed the hungry.

District 16 School Visits

I've carved out some time to visit all of the schools in my district. So far, I've met with the elementary school principals at Wonder Park, Ptarmigan, and Nunaka. I read "Grace for President" to kindergartners and 1st graders at each school and then donated the book to each school's library.

Below: Reading to elementary students at Wonder Park and Nunaka Elementary.

Top Left to right: Ptarmigan Elementary's principal Kelly Ramey shared their welcoming approach to increasing attendance. Principal Blake was gracious enough to gift me a Nunaka Elementary bear pride t-shirt! I will wear it with pride. Bottom left to right: Reading to Wonder Park Elementary students and meeting with Principal Haider.

It was great to tour Clark Middle School and see all of the exciting opportunities Principal Williams and the faculty including social studies teacher Larry Moberly (Below left) have to offer their students. It was great to meet a few teachers who also live in the district and serve our kids. I will visit East High School on Friday, October 5th and look forward to learning more about the important work being done there.

UAA Contemporary Health Policy Class Assistant Professor Corrie Whitmore, Health Sciences, teaches a Contemporary Health Policy at University of Alaska Anchorage. Whitmore, also a District 16 resident, invited me to talk with her students about my health care price transparency measure. They had great questions about the nuts and bolts of the policy and how it may impact health care utilization.

HB 336 Bill Signing: The Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act Last week, I spoke on a Legislative panel for the Aging & Disability Summit last week at Special Olympics Headquarters in Mountain View and attended the bill signing for HB 336, a bill that provides our elders and those experiencing intellectual or physical differences. HB 336 presents a an opportunity to provide a more person-centered approach to support services. No Alaskan likes to be put in a box--and that is no different for those who experience intellectual and physical differences. HB 336 brings the person served to the center of the discussion about what kinds of supports they may need to realize their full potential.

Photo credit: Office of the Governor, Brice Haberger (content producer)

Upcoming Events Alaska Federation of Natives 2018 Convention October 18-20 Click here for more information. October Community Council Meetings for District 16 University Area - Wednesday, October 3rd, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the University Baptist Church on Tudor Road. Russian Jack - Wednesday, October 10th, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Williwaw Elementary School. Northeast - Thursday, October 18th, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Muldoon Community Assembly Youth Facility, 1005 North Ermine St.

To learn about other upcoming events and meetings, follow me on Facebook and Twitter . You can also check my website for past newsletters and updates on legislation. Keep in touch! ‌ ‌ Email: rep.ivy.spohnholz@akleg.gov Phone Number: (907) 269-0123.