Last Pumpkin Alert

If you still have a pumpkin, share it with the creatures. Pick your favorite: moose, horses, sheep, goats, reindeer, musk ox, chickens, pigs and birds. All of these animals’ owners have indicated that pumpkins are not only a food source but a fun treat. Let your pumpkin move on to another dimension. It’s been a very fine pumpkin year in Palmer. And it’s nearly time to let our seasonal Pumpkins go and invite the traditional Turkey into our lives.

Palmer Is The Best—Palmer showed itself well last week on Trick or Treat Street and all the other festivities. There were so many things going on …… The Palmer police handed out glow stick necklaces for fun and safety. (Plus they wore Lego masks which were great!) There were excellent costumes. Dinosaurs. Dead brides. Princesses. Superheroes. Farmers. Nurses. The library handed out books. Fireside offered traditional candy AND alternative healthy treats. United Way offered hot cocoa. It was just a fun, fun place this weekend with no discussion of masks. Out in the neighborhoods, nearly everyone got in the act of giving. Some folks offered potatoes, along with candy. Some folks had outside bonfires. Some neighborhoods had halloween lights along with little maps indicating where to go. One homeowner lamented that they didn’t get any trick or treaters anymore. Instead of ruminating about the lack, this individual decided to make cookies and he and his family delivered warm homemade cookies to his neighbors!

Solid Community—MEA really came through this very wicked and windy weekend. The line-crew was out in the dark winds working the lines. The service desk and dispatch were on their toes. And MEA wasn’t the only local hero. First responders fielded many calls along with the fire departments, police, troopers, and the constant medical professionals who work 24/7 to keep us as safe as possible. Sometimes it feels like emergencies are the authentic litmus test of a good community. This past weather event shows that the Palmer area steps up and helps one another. Neighbors were looking out for the elderly and service groups were reaching out to help people in need. And suddenly politics and jibber jabber does not matter. We unite and focus on the important thing, which is helping our neighbors. This is what a good, solid community does; thank you Palmer.

Palmer Community Calendar Time—Many years ago I started the Palmer Alaska Buzz on social media. Shortly thereafter I was asked to write a weekly column for the Frontiersman. Between these two venues (plus 40+ years of Palmer community involvement) I’m quite familiar with the remarkable cadence and frequency of Palmer area events and festivities. We have so many events and it’s difficult to track them. So therefore I created the Palmer Community Calendar, which is being printed locally, as this column goes to press. The 2022 calendar took many months of work. Publishing the 2022 Palmer Community Calendar would not have been possible without support of many good people—who strongly believe in Palmer Community. Money, time, confidence, information and inspiration were offered to me for this hand-crafted Palmer publication—(not available at Amazon nor “Made In China” :))

Please be aware that without sponsorship, the local publishing cost for this type of “big, colorful, art calendar” would be exorbitant—which translates to unaffordable— to many in the community. And that is not fair—because after-all the primary goal of this Palmer calendar is Community. Thus big gratitude goes to sponsors, private businesses and individuals who assisted with “Keeping it Local” printing costs. Remember that buying local and using local services is only authentic in both words AND actions.

Fall Back—This weekend is the time change. Officially daylight saving time ends at 2am local time on Sunday. Presumably after we “fall back,” it will be lighter earlier in the morning and dark will arrive earlier in the evening. In reality it doesn’t matter. We are going headstrong into the dark season until December 21 when we will start to collect more daylight.

Another Big Week in Palmer—Thursday is the Regional Volleyball tournament at Palmer High School. Thursday night is Live Music at Palmer Ale House. First Friday is celebrated at Poppy Lane. Saturday is First Saturday Vendor Market at the Palmer Train Depot. The Alaska Herding Group Club Dog Show is at the Fair Grounds. Sunday is a Blessing of the Animals at various churches.

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 “2022 Palmer Buzz Community Calendar” is available at Palmer shops and museum in October. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222