Northern lights are still with us

They aren’t as massive or elegant as last week but they are still dancing. As the Worm Moon fulls up, it will be harder to see the lights this week. But for the FOMA crowd, FOMAURORA is a real thing. Translated it means, “(n.): fear of missing out on aurora sighting.”

So keep doing your alerts, texts, and phone calls so no one misses these magnificent sky shows in Palmer.

Wizardry of Oz Last Week—The Colony Production of the Wizard of Oz was no ordinary little high school musical. This was a big show with big talent, big audiences, big music, and big applause. Hopefully all the Matanuska Susitna School Board members attended because if they did, then they know how tremendously hard their students worked to pull off this production. Hopefully all the naysayers of public school activities attended to see the perseverance, dedication, and skills of the parents, students and staff. Oftentimes only Football or sports events get unbridled acknowledgement, loyal accolades and inherent praise. But this school theater production along with many other high school art and musical events demonstrate huge levels of commitment, effort and diligence.

The Time is NOW—Apply for your annual Alaska Permanent Fund and include a donation for a Palmer group—like the “Friends of the Palmer Library!” There are quite a few wonderful groups in Palmer, on the state provided list: Academy Advisory Board Inc; Akeela Inc; Alaska Cat Adoption Team; Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue; Alaska Animal Advocates; Alaska Bible College; Alaska Family Services; Alaska Farmland Trust; Alaska Freedom Journey; Alaska Legal Services Corporation; Big Cabbage Radio; Birchtree Parents Guild Inc.; CCS Early Learning; Friends of the Palmer Public Library; Mat Su Senior Services Inc; Mat Su Ski Club; Mat Su Trails and Parks Foundation; Matanuska Susitna College UAA; Matanuska Valley Sportsmen Inc; MATSAR Search and Rescue; Musk Ox Farm; Palmer American Legion Post 15; Palmer Arts Council; Palmer Little League; Skeetawk; The Salvation Army; United Way of Mat Su; Valley Community for Recycling Solutions; Valley Hospice Resources; Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers; Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association

Dogs, Lambs, Owls, Moths, and Moose—If the dogs are running the Iditarod, then the lambs are dropping! Lambing is a thing right now. Owls are heavy into hooting and have probably mated by now. The first moth hatch happened on Sunday. There are so many moose absolutely everywhere, just lolling around waiting for the snow to melt. This is March and we love it.

This Week In Palmer—There is an Art Festival on Sunday at the downtown Palmer Train Depot with a demonstration by Australian Lyn Diefenbach and other Alaska Artists. It is from 11am to 8pm with food served between 1 and 5. It will be a spaghetti feed fundraiser for 12 bucks per person and 20 bucks for a family of four. There will be a variety of artists’ tables with art for sale and live auctions at 4pm and 6pm. Next week is Pi Day which means pie is on the menu at NonEssentials and other shops. There is a membership meeting at the Mat Su Senior Center on Wednesday. There is live music at the bars this weekend. There’s lots of gorgeous skiing and hiking right outside your door right now, with no mosquitos!

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. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222