Marching into March

MONDAY NIGHT AT THE MASSAY—Palmer surely performed well at Monday Night at the Massay Theater. It was the Rock the Resilience’s Second annual event to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. Local talent explored what love is and what love is not. There were school performances from all over the district but the Palmer and Colony High School Bands and Choirs were remarkable.

PALMER’S VALLEY PATHWAYS SCHOOL PROJECT—Palmer will be fortunate to see a special Photo Voice exhibit, which premiered on Monday night at the Glenn Massay Theater. (pic above) This is a visual art production of Valley Pathway’s school. It includes 18 separate photos, mounted with small narratives, written by students and explaining their various meanings of love. These are profound visual statements that you won’t want to miss. And you will have a short extra window of opportunity because the Photo Voice exhibit will be at the Palmer Downtown Deli for a full week. The originator, teacher Amber Hayes and the United Way Mat Su’s Stephanie Allen put this great project together. This is important stuff…the student youth of our Valley, who wrote these complex definitions, are far, far wiser than most young people. There is both depth and power in their words and pictures.

THE EVE OF MARCH— In our part of Alaska, we have a number of things to look forward to this month. The 8th is International Women’s Day and then boom, daylight savings begins on the 10th! Later in the month we will see the Ides of March, Saint Patty’s Day with the Green Gallop right through Palmer. There will be pie specials on Pi Day. Owls are crazy active right now. And the ridiculous reduced state budget wars (specially designed to bring legislative chaos, anger and bitterness) will begin to resolve themselves as State Leaders become heroes and start to rescue all the broken programs. There will be the March for Respect gatherings and the Spring Vernal Equinox and plenty of Outdoor-person Shows which will most assuredly whet your appetite for summer.

AUTHENTIC MARCH MADNESS—First of all and most important, there is more and more sun is in our future. This is actually some folks’ favorite month of the year. There is lots of light. There are no bugs. And the weather is mild. BUT. There is also no guarantee of this phenomena—which means planning events is risky business. It is important to note here that March Madness can have an entirely different meaning in Palmer Alaska. In this case, March Madness is neither a basketball term nor a clinical definition. It is a time of the year, when folks are very fragile. The outside sunny weather seems inviting and seductive but indeed it is deceptive. Depression rides high at this time (and we all feel like sissys because we aren’t joyful yet, despite the decrease of the dark times.) So be careful out there. It is a sneaky month…you can slip and fall, and you can have your expectations dashed. There will not be any real flowers or bunnies this month. There will be some wind. And probably snow. Be prepared. The birds will begin to return! Even in Palmer, the most perfect place in the world, the March of March makes no exemptions from March madness.

GOOD PALMER ICE FOR YOU—Did you know there is Public Skating in Palmer at 1 o'clock on Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat and Sunday at the MTA Event Center, across from Palmer Jr. Middle School. Also on Monday and Friday at 1230pm

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK IN PALMER—Tonight is an important Neighborhood/Business Watch meeting in Palmer with the Palmer police at the Community Depot at 7pm. Thursday Night is Cash Mob in Palmer Alaska. This is the monthly gathering of locals who meet together, have a meal, have a drink and then go to a surprise location and spend 20 bucks. Thursday is also improv comedy at the Glenn Massay Theater with the Scared Scriptless Improv Troupe. Friday is March one, also known as National Pig Day. We should have some major announcements on Palmer piglet litters by that date. There is a potluck at the Kellogg Field School at noon. New Palmer Store Poppy Lane is having a First Friday event in the evening. And Blackwater Railroad is playing live at Klondike Mikes. Saturday is Oula at Level Seven, Opening of Totally Photo Design Gallery on Dahlia, and an Earthquake Lecture on Saturday night at the Palmer High School Theater. Sunday is the Matanuska Beat Percussion Ensemble at the Library, Beekeeping Class at the Annex, Illustrated Art Journaling at Level Seven, and Needle felting Bunny at the Art Cafe. And next week is Fat Tuesday followed up by Wednesday’s Ash Wednesday.