2021 Best of the Valley Toast of the Town awards

PALMER— Local businesses and organizations from across the Mat-Su Valley returned to the Palmer Train Depot for the 2021 Best of the Valley Toast of the Town award ceremony, hosted by the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

“I’m so glad we’re here together in person,” Frontiersman General Manager, Tawni Davis said.

Establishments from across the community were represented in this year’s ceremony, showcasing the Valley’s diverse tapestry of successful public figures, influential decision-makers, and inspirational stewards of the community- all under the same roof sharing stories, laughs, and rounds of applause over food and drinks.

Local actress Charly Rentz sang the national anthem, and Boy Scout Troop 54 performed the Color Guard ceremony for this year’s Best of the Valley ceremony.

Both the Palmer and Wasilla mayors spoke during the event, each joined by playful banter from the audience, cheering “go Palmer!” and “go Wasilla!”

“My congratulations to each one of you and making it through the dark 2020,” Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries said.

Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford said it was an honor to be there to help recognize the outstanding service of local organizations across the Valley in the face of COVID-19.

“It is with great pleasure, I want to personally thank each of your hard work and dedication to our community,” Ledford said.

DeVries and Ledford saw each other on their way out and shared a hearty hug.

Midnight Sun Tanning owner Amber Johnson received the 2021 Mover and Shaker award in addition to Best Tanning Salon.

“It was great,” Johnson said. “It’s a fun event every year.”

Johnson said that she was excited to be able to walk away with two awards that evening, but the Mover and Shaker award meant the most to her. She said that investing back into the community is what she’s all about. She noted that her daughter had been spending a lot of time at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center lately, so it was nice to be able to thank staff members in person.

“It’s really important to support local. We all do it and it’s so important. We’re all in the same boat,” Johnson said.

Jed Wade and his brother James Wade served beer on tap throughout the event, representing their homegrown family business, Bearpaw River Brewing Company.

“It’s nice to put faces to names and see the people behind businesses,” James said.

Jed said it was a fun event to attend.

“It was a good day to pour,” Jed said. “We’ll be here next year if they want us… It’s fun to operate a small business in our hometown. We grew up here too… The way everyone supports each other is really special.”

MSRMC marketing director Alan Craft shared several statistics from the hospital during his speech, including the fact that about 650 babies were born there in 2020.

“We celebrated the joy of their lives with their families… If any of you have ever had delivered a bay at Mat-Su Regional, you know how special it is to our staff. We just love, love, love those babies don’t we?” Craft said. “Those numbers rep somebody’s story, somebody’s life.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mannat jacob.mann@frontiersman.com