PALMER BUZZ: A lesson in community

When great personal tragedy struck last week in the Butte, everyone felt it. This is a real demonstration of our community’s parameters for strong empathy and our solid dependance on one another. Yes, as time passes, routines have been reestablished and life continues—but not without a gaping hole.

School teachers, children, hairdressers, law enforcement, bankers and bakers go about their business. But there is this very noticeable ripple in greater Palmer’s weather and it has nothing to do with climate, temperature, rain or wind speed. Our community’s personal weather is fragile and rocky because five children are dead, from a brutal fire.

As a community we grieve. We are careful. We donate. And we realize that life is so tentative and delicate. We will greet our neighbors with more hearty hellos. We will hug our children tighter. We will thank our teachers and firefighters with more vigor. We will be nicer to strangers. And we will hold the door open for the next person.

Because this is our community lesson. Tragic deaths teach kindness. Learn it and live it—in honor of five little girls.

Community Vigil is on Saturday night at the Palmer Train Depot from 6 to 8 p.m.

By request — Palmer chores to do before winter

You asked for it and here it is. This is a totally Palmer Buzz crowd-sourced list and there’s lots of good info here. Clip and save!

Patio furniture put away

Flower pots into storage

Screens off, washed and stored

Touch up painting

Get out holiday lights

Rake leaves and put in flower bed

Get out bird feeders and hang and fill

Unload shed, remove snow tires, refill shed

Pick apples and last berries

Hide golf clubs

Find snow shovels

Pedicure

Mow last time

Get out snow gear

Set up vehicle for winter needs

Clean gutters and determine snow storage

Purchase airplane ticket

Collect seed pods

Pre-dig pet graves

Unhook and drain hoses

Button up greenhouse

Winterize motorhome

Drink more wine

Make applesauce and sauerkraut

Buy hay

Put away wind affected items

Buy more Yarn

Get chimney cleaned

Stack 3 day pile of wood close and dry

Buy TP, batteries, lantern oil, candles, wicks and globes

Plan trip

Harvest everything

Check smoke alarms

Have heat source checked

Store gallons of water

Vehicles serviced and snow tires at the ready

Expand reading library resources

Dig out down blankets

Check fire extinguishers

Free public film screening Thursday at college

The Alaska Humanities Forum and Alaska Public Media are inviting the public to see an immersive and multi-faceted narrative on the Vietnam War, from many perspectives. This film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick took 10 years to craft. Get your free seat at the gorgeous Glenn Massay Theater at the college on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Palmer cow is now named!

Proprietor Stan Guthrie of Country Cutts is pleased that his Cow Couch is now named. They sponsored a community contest and it took nearly two months to come up with the perfect name. Paula Mootchell is the winning name offered up by Kathryn. Go over and sit down on Paula Mootchell (a distant relative of the Paul Mitchel Salon hair products.) Photograph her and chew the cud. She will like it.

Untold stories

This is a wonderful Palmer event that happens twice a year. It is storytelling at its best and a form of performance art. This Sunday, Sept. 17 is the “Reunions, Revivals, and Redemption” theme, and no doubt there will be some major reveals.