Building community is easy in Palmer

Building Community has been my life goal for decades. It’s why I write this weekly column. It’s why I run the Palmer Alaska Buzz social media platform. It is why I paint local art, teach local classes, write local stories, make local maps, build local calendars, volunteer locally and snap local pictures. The opportunities for community—in Palmer—are unlimited.

No Need for Isolation—Palmer has it all. There are fraternal organizations, knitting clubs, art events, Entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce, public service organizations, volunteer opportunities, Curling club, book clubs, History Society, First Fridays, Palmer Renaissance Project, reunions, memorial services, musical venues, political meetings, local bars, Kombuchery and coffee houses, multi-faith community, school community, State Fairground events, ice rink, Roller derby, library and museum programs, walking, ski and running and biking clubs, Gardeners, Quilters, the theater, the morning coffee crowd, Yoga studios, Salons, dance classes, Children open gym and even the grocery store aisles and the post office lines.

Palmer Excels at Connections— You know the nephew of your son’s 4th grade teacher who is the neighbor of boss’s daughter. You buy your eggs at the farm near the car dealership which is down the road from the bus stop and near the prettiest Mountain Ash tree in October sunsets. These linkages are what strengthens our community, no matter how far flung the connection. Connecting our local knowledge and landmarks helps to make our greater Palmer 99645 strong and supportive for others.

BOOM—Have you ever helped make a connection between two people—who haven’t ever known of each other. You know them both and realize they are both brilliant scientists. But they have never connected despite living within 2 miles of each other. One is old. One is young. And suddenly you have an opportunity to put them together and BOOM, the synergy just starts sparking. I’m not talking about love interests. I’m talking about brain power and creativity and swooping discussions that explore crazy boundless boundaries. That is the most fun and I saw it happen last week at the Palmer Entrepreneur’s Thursday night meeting. This is the kind of thing that I speak of when I talk of Palmer connectivity….it’s a great thing in our community.

Palmer Week—Thursday is a Food Preservation Class at the Experimental Farm off Trunk Road.

Friday, October 25th is a large annual 39th birthday event at the Mat Su Senior Center on Chugach St. The luncheon event will include a Kuspuk Fashion Show and a birthday cake. There’s a Masquerade Family Dance Night at Sherrod Elementary School. Friday night is a Haunted Barn at the Williams Reindeer Farm, complete with fire, popcorn, and hot chocolate.

Both Friday and Saturday—There is a Halloween Spooktacular at the Glenn Massay Theater and Area 907 is at Klondike Mikes.

Saturday is a spinning rod workshop at the Yule Farm. Saturday afternoon is a community conversation on Engine 557 Restoration Project at the Annex. The Mighty Monster Boo Fest is at the Fairgrounds, which is the annual brewfest sanctioned by the Brewers Guild of Alaska. Plus there is NSA Wrestling at the Palmer Depot on Saturday night.

Sunday is an Extra-Special day in Palmer because it is date of “Untold Stories at the Depot.” Every few months, Palmer storytelling happens on stage. There are about six storytellers who will share some wonderful personal stories. This time the theme is “Blue Tarps, Extra Tuffs, and Duct Tape.” You will hear original stories of “wading through, hunkering down and patching up.” There is local music and sometimes cookies. You don’t want to miss this event sponsored by the Palmer Museum of History and Art.

Monday is the anniversary of the Matanuska Valley Cooperative Association, organized in Palmer in 1936.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Her “Palmer Buzz Community Calendar” is available at Palmer shops and museum. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222.