Around the Valley

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‘Flat Baroque’ concert Sunday

Friends of Palmer Public Library will host Renaissance musical group “Flat Baroque” at 2 p.m., Sunday at the Palmer Depot. Enjoy Renaissance music and costumes with free refreshments after the program. For more information, call the Palmer Library at 745-4690.

Cantora Arctica presents

Christmas concert Sunday

Cantora Arctica presents its annual Christmas concert, “A Rose in Winter,” at 7 p.m., Sunday, at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. The concert includes Randall Thompson’s “The Place of the Blest,” and Z. Randall Stroope’s “There Is No Rose,” as well as other holiday favorites. This concert is conducted by Janet Stotts and accompanied at the piano by Sue An Roesing and by the Fireside Quartet. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Cost is $15 adults and $10 for seniors/children.

‘Handel’s Messiah’ Sunday

The 20th annual Mat-Su community performance of selections from “Handel’s Messiah” is at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at the LDS church next to Wasilla High School, 901 Bogard Road. The free one-hour performance is directed by Nancy Guiley of Wasilla, with singers and orchestra from around the Valley.

Valley Garden Club meets

Valley Garden Club meets at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at the old Catholic Church on Bogard Rd. in Wasilla. A White Elephant gift auction and a turkey dinner potluck will follow the meeting. Please bring a wrapped gift for the auction and/or a donation of a non-perishable food item, wrapped present, or gift card for the needy families we are helping for Christmas. For more information, call Fran at 745-7676.

Senior’s breakfast Tuesday

Join Primrose, an active senior living community located in the Valley, for its monthly senior breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Tuesday. Come and visit with old friends and make new ones while you enjoy Primrose’s warm hospitality. This event is free to all seniors in the community. RSVP by Monday to Debbie or Kristen at 373-5500.

AARP driver safety class offered

The AARP is sponsoring a driver safety class from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Palmer Senior Citizens Center Inc. For more information, contact 745-5454.

Alaska Forage School set for Thursday

The Experiment Farm in Palmer will host an Alaska Forage School from noon to 3:30 p.m., Thursday. This will be the first of a three-part series to improve the quality of hay in Alaska as well as profitability for the growers. Part one will focus on the fundamentals, including field preparation, forage stand establishment, proper fertilization, harvesting techniques and pasturing. There is no charge for the program and the Experiment Farm will provide a free hot dog/hamburger lunch. Contact 745-3360 for more information or to register.

Book drive for military personnel

American Legion Post No. 15 is collecting books and magazines and other items to send to military service members stationed overseas. Donations can be dropped off at the American Legion in Palmer or at Waldenbooks in Wasilla.

Donations to help cover postage also are needed. Mail cash donations to American Legion Auxiliary No. 15, Box 541, Palmer, AK 99654. For more information, contact Barbara Ray at 376-5807.

Dorothy G. Page Museum presents free Fridays

Admission to the Dorothy G. Page Museum, 323 North Main St., Wasilla, is free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays for Mat-Su Borough residents.

Bring a state-issued ID that shows a Mat-Su Borough address to qualify. For more information, contact 373-9071.

Festival of Lights Friday

Talkeetna’s Denali Arts Council is hosting the 21st anniversary of the Festival of Lights from 7 to 8 p.m., Friday. This will be a non-denominational celebration of the holiday season complete with a forum for community members to gather, sing seasonal songs, tell stories or recite poems. The event is free, however cans of food will be accepted for The Food Bank. Anyone interested in helping out or participating in the celebration can contact Nick Condon at 355-5382.

Holiday Ball is Friday

Alaska State Fair’s annual Holiday Ball is at 8 p.m., Friday at Raven Hall on the fairgrounds. Cost is $30 per person or $200 for a table of eight. Tickets are available online at alaskastatefair.org. For more information, or to purchase tickets by phone, call 745-4827.

Rebuilding Haiti dinner and fund-raiser is Saturday

A silent auction fundraiser and dinner will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Babcock Fine Arts building on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway in Wasilla. All of the proceeds of this event will go directly to support Global Outreach International in their Haitian Earthquake Relief effort and the men of Trailhead Weslyan Church in their travels to Haiti. Auction items include Anchorage Concert Chorus tickets, a Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise, and much more. Dinner tickets are $10. For more information, visit trailheadak.org or call 357-3448.

Mat-Su Orchestra hosts Christmas concert

The Matanuska-Susitna Orchestra will perform a Christmas concert at 3:30 p.m., Saturday at the Palmer United Protestant Presbyterian Church. The Matanuska Susitna Youth Orchestra will perform a short program prior to the concert. The Colony Christmas parade of lights and fireworks in downtown Palmer will follow the concert. For more information, contact Kent McMartin at kent@mtaonline.net.

Colony Christmas open house Saturday

The Colony House Museum will open its doors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday as part of Palmer’s community wide Colony Christmas celebration. The museum will be decked out in a style of days past and holiday treats and treasures will be found at the dining room Bake Sale table. Guests will also enjoy caroling around the 1895 Colony family piano. For more information, contact Gerry at 745-1935.

‘Moments in Alaska’ in Talkeetna

The Talkeetna Artists Guild will host Kym Swift’s “Moments in Alaska” from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday. Her work includes an eight panel salmon run, flora and fauna, and scenes depicting moments in Alaska. This is a free family event and the work will be on display until early January.

‘The Gallery’ to display Girard art exhibit

Mat-Su Valley artist Douglas F. Girard will be at The Gallery, 1150 S. Colony Way in Palmer, from noon to 4 p.m., Dec. 11. He will introduce three new giclees in miniature sizes as well as displaying other original works and prints. Girard also is the 2010 Alaska Railroad artist and he did a 75th anniversary print of the Colonists arrival in Palmer.

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Auditions Dec. 11-12

Valley Performing Arts will be auditioning for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 251 W. Swanson Ave. in Wasilla. Director Kevin Cochran is looking for 16 actors, men between the ages of 20-60 and women between 20-45 for various roles. Bring a recent photo of yourself to the audition. For more information, contact 373-0195 or visit valleyperformingarts.org.

Christmas gun show Dec. 11-12

The Grouse Ridge Rangers Youth Shooters present a Christmas gun show and holiday extravaganza from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 11 and 12 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. There will be more than 100 vendors featuring shooting, hunting and gun-related items. There will also be 30 vendors featuring craft items and gift ideas. Admission is $5 for adults, children under 10 are free. Tables are still available, contact 373-0961 for more information.

Gingerbread House Contest Dec. 11-12

The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce is having a Gingerbread House Contest Dec. 11-12. Categories are children, general public, business, and AVPH residents. You may deliver your house to the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 9 and at 11 a.m., Dec. 12 for judging. Entry information is available at palmerchamber.org or e-mail director@palmerchamber.org.

‘Sing We Christmas’ is Dec. 12

The Mat-Su Community Chorus presents “Sing We Christmas” at 6 p.m., Dec. 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4400 E. Elmwood, Palmer. The concert is free and doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Register for Santa’s Workshop by Dec. 12

AMVETS Post 11, 951 Hermon Rd., is sponsoring Santa’s Workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec 17-19. Space is limited to the first 200 children ages 3 to 10 to apply by Dec. 12. Applications can be picked up at AMVETS Post No. 11 from 2 p.m. until closing.

Steak feed fund-raiser

Pioneer Amateur Hockey Association’s sixth annual steak feed fund-raiser is from noon to 8 p.m., Dec. 12 at the Palmer Moose Lodge, at 110 S. Cobb St. The menu includes New York steak and baked potato, salad and garlic bread. Proceeds benefit the “Gear up for Hockey” program, scholarships for players and also provide team tournament fees.

King Island Christmas fund-raiser Dec. 18

Tickets to the Dec. 18 performance of King Island Christmas are on sale now at Family Promise Mat-Su. Proceeds from the Dec. 18 performance benefits the non-profit, which focuses on helping homeless families in the Mat-Su Borough. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 357-6160.

‘King Island Christmas’ production ends Dec. 19

Valley Performing Art’s production of King Island Christmas is at Machetanz Theater in Wasilla at 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m., Sundays through Dec. 19. The musical is a uniquely Alaskan holiday story based on the book written and illustrated by Alaskans Jean Rogers and Rie Munoz. The performance tells the true story of 150 residents of a tiny island in the middle of the Bering Sea overcoming adversity to achieve the impossible. The Mat-Su Special Santa Program also is collecting unwrapped toys to be distributed for the Toys For Tots Program. Toys can be dropped off during any performance of King Island Christmas. Tickets cost $16 for youth and seniors and $18 for adults. To purchase tickets, call 373-0195 or visit www.valleyperformingarts.org.

Matanuska Valley Christmas bird count Dec. 19

This year’s Matanuska Valley Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 19 will be the Valley’s 31st consecutive CBC. Valley field counters will attempt to count every bird seen inside of the Matanuska Valley Count Circle, a 15-mile diameter circle centered at Four Corners on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway at Trunk Road. Valley residents who live within 7.5 miles of Four Corners and have bird feeders in their yard can participate in our local count by counting the birds that visit their feeders on Dec. 19. For more information, visit matsubirders.org.

Holiday tours at the reindeer farm

The Reindeer Farm in Palmer will offer holiday tours from noon to 9 p.m., Friday to Dec. 24. Tours include Christmas lights timed to music, reindeer tours, hay rides, smores and photos with Santa. Open Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the Holiday Season. For more information, contact Denise Hardy at hardyof5@yahoo.com, or visit online reindeerfarm.com.

Christmas Friendship Dinner Dec. 25

The 19th annual Christmas Friendship Dinner is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 25 at the Curtis D. Menard Sports Center. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there, along with entertainment and food including turkey, ham and dessert. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 746-1053, or e-mail CFD@mtaonline.net.

Wasilla Public Library holiday closures

The Wasilla Meta-Rose Public Library will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25, regular hours will resume on Dec. 27. The library will also be closed for New Years on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Regular hours will resume on Jan. 3.

MOMS Club open house Dec. 28

Palmer MOMS Club open house is Dec. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mat-Su Borough gym.

Ski and snowboard at Alyeska

Mat-Su Ski and Snowboard Club Inc. is sponsoring a program on alternating Saturdays beginning on Jan. 8 and 15. For $300, participants receive round-trip motorcoach transportation, lift tickets and two lessons for eight outings. Participants requiring rental equipment will be charged an additional $120. Students may participate in both schedules for $550. For more information, e-mail matsusnow@mtaonline.net or visit matsusnow.org.

Mayors’ Ball is Jan. 15

A boroughwide Mayors’ Ball is planned from 8 to 11 p.m., Jan. 15, 2011, at the Palmer Railroad Depot. The Bill Tull Jazz Band will perform and all proceeds benefit Valley food banks. For more information, call 745- 3206.

Better Choices, Better Health Jan. 17

Better Choices, Better Health, a six-week chronic disease self-management class begins Jan. 6 at the UAF Cooperative Extension office at the Mat-Su Regional Hospital. Please sign up ahead at the Palmer Senior Center.