There is always someone who loves and cares for you

Life happens. Whether we want it to or not, it happens. There is no going around it, no speeding up the things we want to, or slowing down the things we’d like. It goes at the pace it wants, and the pace our state of minds make up. We must take all that it has to offer, and all that is has to give us.

How we get through it all, and what we do in this life determines the kind of person we are. The actions we take and the words we say affect not only ourselves, but those around us. Everything we do has an action and an effect. If you want your life to be the best that it can be, you have to treat not only yourself with respect, but all others around you as well. If you don’t do either, your life will be filled with much negativity and friction in not only your life, but with others also.

Live for not only yourself, but for those around you. We all have a connection to each other in one way or another. Be it as family members, friends, even strangers we all have a connection to each other. What happens to one, affects all others within that connection and anything bad that happens only makes things worse for all. It never solves anything at all if you hurt yourself in anyway. No one ever truly wants anything to happen to anybody and that one negative act will have lasting repercussions for a long time.

No matter how it turns out, no matter how it may seem, no matter what it feels like, there is always someone out there that truly loves and cares for you. Always someone that is willing to help no matter what the problem is. Always someone there that thinks you matter no matter what. Always someone, always.

Francis Lake
Dispatcher, Hooper Bay Police Department
Hooper Bay, Alaska

Akiak residents Clean Up Green Up Success and Thanks

May 16: The Annual Clean Up Green Up began at the ANC Community Building with 59 participants which included 3 adults and 2 supervisors. In all, the participants picked 80 bags of trash and 12 bags of aluminum cans and #1pete bottles.

The second day of Clean Up Green Up was rescheduled to the 20th when the weather was more favorable for the younger participants (rain).

May 20: Today the turn out for the participants was a little less with 42. In all, the crew picked up 30 bags of trash and 8 bags of recyclables.

The participants did a noticeably impressive job all around the community in 2 days of picking considering the majority’s age group. In total, the crew picked up 110 bags of trash and 20 bags of recyclables (enough for 1 boatload to be backhauled!)

The picnic was held May 29 at the Community Building where the cash prizes were drawn. Here are the winners: Kindergarten-2nd grade: Joseph Phillip-$100, Kenneth Phillip-$75; 3rd-5th grade: Brody Smith-$100, Matthew Ivan-$75; 6th-8th: Willijo Williams-$100, Brooke Dock-$75; 9th-12th: Aiden Ivan-$100, Waylon Charles-$75. Various participants also won donated miscellaneous items.

The Akiak Native Community IGAP Program would like to thank the following for their generous donations: ALPAR, DONLIN GOLD, CALISTA CORPORATION, AVCP ADMINISTRATION, KOKARMUIT CORPORATION, AKIAK NATIVE COMMUNITY GAMING, and AKIAK NATIVE COMMUNITY ADMINISTRATION.

All donations are greatly appreciated. Thank you ALL participants for doing a great job and making our community beautiful!

Akiak EPA IGAP, Akiak, AK