Michael Polzella

The holiday season is in full swing, and contrary to popular memes, you do not need alcohol to make it through. Whether you’re sober or not, plan sober-friendly celebrations by providing alcohol-free options and never pressure people to choose alcohol.

Dear Santa Letter Week is observed each year in the second week of November, which is said to be the optimal time to send your letter so Santa receives it in time to prep for Christmas.

Internet Day, held Oct. 29, celebrates modern history’s greatest invention. Although the technology dates back to the 1957 Sputnik launch, the first email was sent in 1971. The internet timeline progressed, and by the 1990s, it became commonplace in American homes. Today, there are 2.62 billion social media users, and U.S. e-commerce accounted for $446.8 billion in 2017.

With school back in swing, juggling carpool responsibilities is one task almost every parent dreads. Conquer your school carpool with these tips:

Now that PFD season is upon us, head to a gallery near you and invest in beautifully crafted Silver Hand artwork. Seen on everything from small carvings to large paintings, the Silver Hand seal indicates a piece was created by hand in Alaska by an Alaska Native artist.

September is National Recovery Month. Recover Alaska and organizations around the state are hosting a number of events dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of alcohol and substance misuse in honor of Recovery Month.

Shiver me timbers. Sept. 19 marks International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and Alaska has a storied pirate history.

NFL football kicks off Sept. 6. Make sure you never go hungry and your beer never runs dry at some of Alaska’s best sports bars.

Capture memories that will last a lifetime and make a dent in your travel bucket list with visits to Alaska’s best lighthouses.

It probably won’t come as a surprise that the Arctic and sub-Arctic animals living at the Alaska Zoo, such as gray wolves, Amur tigers and moose, thrive in cold weather. As the temperature continues to drop, they become more active – a treat for zoo visitors.

With school back in session, many families deal with the sniffles that accompany having children. A health savings account from Fidelity Bank can help you better prepare for unexpected medical expenses. An HSA can be used only if you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) — generally any health plan with a deductible of at least $1,350 for an individual or $2,700 for a family.

The trauma of surviving a disaster can impact mental health for decades. Studies show that meditation can help reduce feelings of depression, anxiety and even physical pain following trauma related to surviving a disaster. Meditation offers tremendous healing benefits, including stress reduction. It also aids in coping with flashbacks, allowing people to better focus on the present.

With kids back in school this month, it is harder to avoid germs and illness.

Every homeless youth deserves a home, food, guidance, an education and the right to be loved. Covenant House Alaska offers support to homeless youth in their journey to become healthy, self-sufficient members of our community.

With daily summer departures both north and south of Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad is an ideal way to plan a memorable daytrip outside the city – before catching the train back to Anchorage that evening.

Alaskans are increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes. Over 59,000 Alaskans are currently affected, and an additional 194,000 Alaskans are pre-diabetic. If present trends continue, it is estimated that one-in-three Americans will be affected by 2050.

Sunday, July 15, marked the 95th anniversary of the completion of construction on the Alaska Railroad. If you are not familiar with the story, President Warren G. Harding made a historic trip to Alaska in 1923, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Last Frontier. This date commemorates the completion of the railroad in Nenana, when the president himself drove in the golden spike that officially completed the main line.

It seems the social media world never stops evolving, always launching new tricks and features to keep consumers wanting more.

An estimated 29 million Americans have type 1 (T1D) or type 2 (T2D) diabetes. Both share warning signs, including increased hunger, thirst and frequent urination. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:

University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute professor Carl Tape and colleagues witnessed accelerating activity before a 2016 earthquake at Minto Flats, and this research discovery may help to detect early warning signs for earthquakes.

The Turnagain Arm bore tide in the Cook Inlet near Anchorage is one of the largest in the world. It’s the only bore tide in the far north. If you catch it at its peak, it could be 10 feet tall moving 15 miles per hour.