Coming Sept. 14, Parkiepalooza! (Better Known as Parkinson's Live Well, Alaska)

September 14 will be a good day to have PD in Anchorage. Jennifer Gilleck of the Northwest Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association has been planning an all day Parkinson's symposium, and the list of speakers and topics looks great. It's a mix of local and national experts talking about different aspects of PD. So far, the tentative schedule calls for talks on

• The importance of movement, with Doctor Nate Coomer, physical therapist
• Treating non-motor symptoms, with Dr, Pravin Khemani, Movement Disorders Neurologist
Swedish Medical Center Seattle, WA and Dr. Graham Glass & Genevieve Sykes Movement Disorders Neurologist Peak Neurology, Anchorage, AK
• Three short talks from people with PD on the subject "My PD Journey" 
• Motor fluctuations in Parkinson's Disease Dr. Pravin Khemani, Movement Disorders Neurologist Swedish Medical Center Seattle, WA
•  Surgical interventions in PD with Dr. Ryder Gwinn, Neurosurgeon Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• Breakout sessions on Dance, yoga, Rock Steady Boxing and more
•Final Session "What's next, a research update" followed by a Q&A with all the speakers.

 The event will be held at the Anchorage Senior Center, 1300 East 19th Anchorage, AK 99501
from 9:30 - 4:30. Cost is $30.00 per person, $20 per person if you sign up before the end of the day, August 15. You can register  here If you have questions, or you can either email or call on the phone (206) 695- 2905 

17 Year Search for Credible Hope

My latest blog post for the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation is about credible hope. You can find it here or at least, I hope you can!

Hungry? Hang in there, The Ever-Festive APDSG SUMMER POTLUCK Approaches!

Summer, as we know it here in Anchorage-By-The-Sea has begun, and who knows, by the time you read this, it may already be over! NEVERTHELESS, The Anchorage Parkinson"s Disease Support Group will hold its Umpteenth Summer Potluck Saturday the 15th of June, 3:30pm. What to bring: whatever you think would be an appropriate dish. It's a pot luck, let's test that "luck" thing. What not to bring: consider leaving your squirt guns and leaf blowers at home. Whom to bring: family and friends, anybody involved with Parkinson's. Where to Bring It: Our home, the Singing Fiddle Ranch is located at 9601 Elmore Road. To get there head for the intersection of Abbott And Elmore roads, in bucolic South Anchorage, on the Lower Hillside. Once at the intersection, go South on Elmore about 1/4  mile,  begin a short steep climb up a hill. About halfway up, look for our lonnnnnng driveway on your left. You should see the driveway just after the end of the neighbor's  chain-link fence. Proceed east, down the lonnnnng driveway, find ample parking near the end and at the end. Park. Exit your car, carry copious quantities of delicious food to the West lawn, where we will be whooping it up in typical rowdy Parkinson's style until the wee hours of Sunday morning or until 6:00 pm, whichever comes first. In case of inclement weather, we will hold the festivities inside.The definition of "Inclement" will be the prerogative of management. So pray for clearly clement weather thus avoiding any unseemly quarrels due to close judgement calls. I think that covers it, I hope to see you there!

Your Benevolent APDSG Ovrlord,

Peter