Palmer bookstore filled with ‘Spirit of Youth'

April 20, 2007

By Will Elliott

Frontiersman

PALMER - A local bookstore was recognized Wednesday for its exceptional commitment to community youth.

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich appeared at the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce noon meeting at the Palmer Moose Lodge to congratulate the Valley's first recipient of the Youth Friendly Business Award.

Co-owner Melissa Behnke of Fireside Books in Palmer received the award. Co-owner David Cheezem was not present. The honor recognizes businesses that treat youth customers with respect and support, help youth toward success in school and future careers, and support community activities for youth.

According to a Spirit of Youth press release, &#8220The Youth Friendly Business recognition program is a positive way to engage businesses and teens in the overall aim of changing the public perception of teenagers from troublemakers to positive contributors.”

Although more than a dozen businesses in the Anchorage Bowl and a handful of other communities have received this award, Fireside Books in Palmer is the first award recipient in the Valley.

&#8220That's only because few people here are aware of the YFB now, but we aim to change that,” said Valerie Schleich, Wasilla resident and member of the Spirit of Youth Teen Action Council. Schleich, a freshman at Wasilla High School, along with Katherine Parker, also a WHS freshman and Spirit of Youth member, presented the award to Behnke.

&#8220This seemed like the perfect time and place, with Mayor Begich in town, because he has been an important part of the Spirit of Youth from the beginning, and helping businesses understand their role in supporting youth is certainly an opportunity common to Anchorage and Palmer,” said Cher Easley, Valley resident and executive director of Spirit of Youth.

Fireside Books, a downtown Palmer establishment since 2001, has encouraged youth patrons with a comfortable atmosphere and progressive selections. The store has featured Harry Potter events and, on April 27, will host a Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson look-alike contest in honor of National Poetry Month.

Last year, the store was nationally honored by San Francisco's famed City Lights Bookstore for its &#8220Howl” literary festivities. Fireside hosted a dramatic reading and discussion of the landmark Allen Ginsburg poem.

&#8220I'm just so honored by the award. I like to think it's an offshoot of what we're doing here anyway,” Cheezem said. &#8220We try to be welcoming to everyone. The future of independent storefront retail is not a given. We have to do more than just sell products. We really work hard here at creating experiences in reading, and genuine person-to-person interaction.”

Zoe Fuller, a Palmer resident, was one of several local youths to nominate Fireside Books for the award.

&#8220They have a great selection of books for me, and I always feel welcomed when I go there,” she said.

For more information on the award, contact Cher Easley at 746-1842 or visit www.spiritofyouth.org. For more information on Fireside Books' current events and programs, call 745-2665 or visit www.goodbooksbadcoffee.com.

Contact Will Elliott at 352-2252 or will.elliott@frontiersman.com.