VALLIY SETTLER
Published every Friday at Palmer* Al
aska by the Matanuska Valley Farmers Co
operating Association for tho purpose of
giving news of the Association's work*its
problems* its accomplishment * and news of
local and general interest.
Bv L. H» Allen
Subscription ratesi
Local $1.00 per year
By mail 1.75 '• "
Single copy .10
WAR WITHIN WAR
IS NOT SO GOOD
The iron fist of War has so far tapped
but lightly on Alaska. Only the armed
forces* the parents of sons who are in
military service* those whose every day
living requires them to drive trucks and
ears and traetors* those who have to staff
offices and food emporiums with help and
those whose responsibility it is to keep
hospitals staffed* know thru experience
that a war is going on. With these ex
ceptions* Alaskans are leading nearly
normal lives with plenty to eat, plenty
to wear* plenty of blankets and fuel to
keep them warm* no dread of physical vio
lence today or yet tomorrow, hanging over
them.
It is one thing to listen to the radio
and to read the newspapers and to try to
realize the suffering of the people in
the invaded countries and to say to our
selves when we hear the wort1 e, "only three
of our planes were lost," "oh dear, there
go more dear sons of some mothers some
where!" There are many mothers in the
Matanuska Valley whose sons are out there
somewhere. Those mothers carry in their
hearts a constant dread. They KN07 that
a war is being wnged.
So far the Matanuska Valley rides the
crest of the wave. Silos are full, cel
lars are crammed with vegetables, fish,
meats, canned goods, and wodd-piles are
high. All this has been accomplished
under the business acumen of the present
general manager-and board of directors of
the MVFCA.
Only that they dislike the onus of
having been "kieked out" if they are kiek'
ed out at the meeting on November 3, they
will shed their responsibilities with a
smile. They will be less than human if
they do not continue to smile while a new
general manager and. board of directors
face the horrors of tightened credit whicl
the war has brought about.
Thru years of experience, the present
board has learned most of the answers-but
even if the two members of the present
board are re-elected as is the plan, the
The annual 4-H Achievement Day program
for all 4-H member* who completed their
project work for 1942 was held in the
Lounge Friday evening, October 16, from
4i00 to 7i30 o'clock. A varied recrea
tional program was conducted. Harry Wim
mer, chairman of th* 4-H Council, led
group singing, following which a buffet
supper wus served by the leaders. After
tho lunehoon, pins were awarded te all 4-H
members who had eomplotnd their work and
to the leadoro. Dr. David Hoehn showed
a series of kodachrome slidos which ho had
taken at the 4-H Cump held in McKinley
Park in 1941. He also showed a number of
pictures taken in the Fairbanks vicinity.
Miss Stephenson showed a number of slides
taken of the 4-H activities thruout the
Uatanusku Valley and j&lutna. The meeting
was dosed with the singing of "God Bless
America."
Nino Homemakers clubs wore represented
at the Uatanusku Vallay Homemakers Achieve
ment Day banquet held in the Lounge yestor
day at 1 p. m. The program included a
short talk on Extension organization by
Harold 'V. Rice, District •het-'nsion Agent;
a report of Extension work in the Matanus
ku Valley by Miss Mao Stephenson, District
Home Demonstration Agent; a report of the
Homemakers Council by Mrs. Irving Newville,
president of the Council. jJaeh of tho
following club presidents gave a summary
of work accomplished and introduced the
now officers for 1943: Butto, Mrs. J.Lentz;
Civic Center, Mrs. L. C. Stock; Glacier
View, Mrs. W. Hoskins; Hilltop, Urs.R.Ware;
Hiverbend, Mrs. Jim Berry; Sourdough,Mrs.
Irving Newville; Spruce Grove, Mrs. Arthur
Benner; Wiasilla, Mrs. Martin Olson. .Enter
taining numbers wore givon by tho Glacier
View, Hilltop-Kiverbend, Sourdough, and
Wacilla clubs. Mrs. Don Irwin, who pre
sided at the meeting, also 1*4 the sommun
ity singing. --
tightened erccit will prevail, will prob
ably be withdrawn altogether, because the
wholesalers in the Stutes are not in a
position where they can afforc. to deal
with untried boards of direetore anywhero.
The present credit rating of the MVFCA ia
marvelous - acquired by the present gen
eral managor anc board of directors - und
ne others.
It is unfortunate that by means of this
"flurry of spite" end the consequent news
stories in tho newspapers in ths States,
the wholesalers are already "jittery" and
the outcome of a change of management for
the Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperating
Association may very easily prove disas
trous*
DANCd TOi'iOuROW NIGHT AT C<M,iUNITY HaLL.