Octoberish Joy

It’s the time that the frost is literally on Palmer Pumpkins. Most pumpkins are iced up or at least frighteningly freezey right now. And the old solid cottonwoods are dark shapes against the autumn sky—hoisting their scary, long limbs up in scary silhouettes. This is a delicious time of year….full of meaning, full of fun, and full of wonder and significance. This week is the Halloween time, a jubilant time of costumes and candy. And there is All Saint’s Eve, All Souls Day and Dia De Los Muertos honoring the dead. This is the festival time before the deepest dark which we will all handle well with the help of lights, snow, candles, holidays, and holy days. Throughout this entire time, our Palmer Community will thrive with activity to prove we are not scared of the dark.

It’s Cold—And we know it by all the birds on the wires. Why do birds line up on telephone wires? Well, scientists say the birds find telephone wires and lamp posts to be perfect perches. Plus if there is a food source near by, the wires and lamp posts are a pre-boarding area for snack time. We see birds frequently, specifically ravens and seagulls, by McDonalds where food bits are laying around. And there’s always a linear cluster of birds lined up on the wires, over on Snodgrass Farm near the Palmer Cows. The farm area seems to be a very social area. The eagles seem to be watching the small birds. The birds seem to be watching the cows. No doubt the the cow feed is the interesting food target. So the birds flock together waiting for a perfect opportunity to stage a quick down-flight to share in the bounty. I have always thought the telephone or electrical wires were warmer on their little bird feet. Supposedly the bird feathers act as an insulator and the low current does not pass through them. But science doesn’t back me up on the heat or “warm feet” factor. I still believe it and I hope someday it will be proven true.

Open House Wednesday at the Depot—This public gathering is to discuss how Palmer’s long linear railroad corridor throughout Palmer can be improved. It’s from 530-730pm. Everyone treasures Palmer’s historical rail-track corridor. Kids grow up walking on the the old pilings. People walk their dogs and fly their kites. The Friday Fling happens on part of the corridor. The Grow Palmer Food Project is in the grassy corridor. The little Engine and Train Depot is part of the corridor. There is a delightful walking trail, skate park, lovely trees, picnic tables, sitting spots and it extends from one end of town to the other. The entire corridor is actually owned by the Alaska Railroad so only limited “nonpermanent” uses are permitted. It is a historical grassy river that winds through our town, filled with history and purpose. The open house is an opportunity for the community to make suggestions for this important feature in Palmer.

Lots of Palmer Events—There are nearly a dozen Halloweenish events in Palmer this week. This isn’t a complete listing but it’s the best I could collect:

• Trick or Treat Street on Friday at 4pm downtown—This is a wonderful full community effort of engagement on all streets of downtown Palmer. Dinosaurs and spooks will be everywhere and most of the shop people will be out and enjoying the costumes.

• Spooktacular—Halloween on the Farm 11-5 both October 29 and 30 at Our Little Farm in Palmer—games, prizes, candy, pony rides, hay maze, petting zoo, haunted house

• Mighty Monster Boo Fest and the Alaska State Fair on Saturday at 6pm—brewfest with 18 local brews all in one great place

• Colony Haunted Knight at Colony High School on October 28 from 5-9 includes games food prizes and a wicked Haunted Trail

• Howloween Trick and Treat Open House at The Classy Canine on Sunday October 30 from 12-3

• Pyrah Pioneer Peak Farm Fright Night on Friday at 6pm

• Witches Day Out on Saturday at Homespun Alley for 10-6

• Halloween Movie Night—House on Haunted Hill—at Omnivore on Friday at 7pm

• Path to Bantry Live @ 203 Kombucha on Saturday at 6pm

• Klondike Mike’s Halloween Party with live music and costumes

• Palmer Ale House live music

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. (She is working hard on the 2023 Palmer Community Calendar, which may be available in October.) Barbara 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