PALMER BUZZ: Busy, busy times here in Palmer

Bookstore Evolution

Palmer’s iconic bookstore, Fireside Books, is changing hands. Bookseller David Cheezum and his wife Melissa are setting off on adventures that will take them far from Palmer’s Main Street at times during the year. David is doing a cross-country bicycle trip and hopefully a book will come out of it, which hopefully will be sold at Fireside, now owned by Mary Ann Cockle, longtime employee and lover of books. We don’t have to worry about the bookstore because Mary Ann has all the right stuff to keep Palmer’s bookstore perfect.

Sunday’s Palmer Untold Stories Event

It was a train depot delight as always. Quoting Brooke Heppinstall Kroenung, “It was cozy as a campfire with hot soup, herbed biscuits and bread donated from Vagabond Blues.”

The company was good and the storytellers were sweet. Significant stories included Assemblyman Jim Sykes’ bear attack and survival tale, Don Berberich’s winter survival story, Marilyn Bennett’s story of survival of a road trip over Thompson Pass and Linda Lozanoff surviving a mountain ascent. Guitar music and quilts added to the storytelling ambiance and all train depot chairs were full. Alaska stories always trump wind and weather in Palmer. Our own community radio station, Radio Free Palmer has the event videotaped so go to their website to watch. The next one is scheduled in April, so stay tuned.

Pat Lawton is 100 and Howard Bess is 90

Pat’s birthday party will be at the Mat-Su Senior Center on Thursday at lunchtime. Howard’s birthday party will be at Vagabond Blues on Saturday evening. These two folks have lots of stories and lots of friends and it is wonderful to celebrate their Palmer longevity.

Palmer Community Foundation

On Saturday night don’t forget to drop by the Mat-Su Senior Center to learn about the new Palmer Community Foundation. The general goals are to create a long-lasting community legacy which supports Palmer’s values and unique character. This is a building block of our town and it is exciting to see it get off the ground. Our area is well loved and this will help it stay treasured and remembered.

Epic Bike Racks

They’re cool. They’re functional. And they’re artistic. They are the brand new bike racks in town which have metal art identifying “I Love Palmer”. They were designed by Robyn Schroeder and built by local businesses and Public Works’ talented Mark Hotchkiss. They are a perfect little add to our town and thanks to the Palmer Parks and Recreation Board for making this happen.

The Elusive Steak Sandwich in the Secret Subaru

It’s just a story about a sandwich. And the Palmer Bar. An individual enjoyed their delicious steak sandwich for dinner at the Palmer Bar but they couldn’t finish it—because it was so big and so delicious. So, like any smart person, they put it in their car—to keep it cold and have it as leftovers on the next day.

But this is where the story thickens.

They put that dear sandwich in the wrong white Subaru. And now they’re trying to find the sandwich. There is a bit more to this story, actually, but hopefully the owner of the white Subaru will reveal themselves and in the process be rewarded with many a future steak sandwich.

Palmer Earthquakes

They are the exclamation points in our lives. We catch our breath and hang on for the ride. And when we bore of shaking, the big freeze cracks and the wind comes knocking.

Lights Will Be Going Dark

Kelly Turney reminds us to get your pictures of the lights on the Palmer Water Tower soon. The lights will go dark January 31 until Palmer’s Colony Christmas celebration in 2018.

Community Art Show

The LOVE PALMER community art show begins on Saturday at the Palmer Downtown Deli. Art and photography pieces are to be dropped off on Friday afternoon from 2-6. Check the Palmer Buzz Facebook page for specifications. This a part of the “Love On Main Street” push for the month of February in Palmer. Merchants have lots of events planned for this month and each week the Palmer Buzz will feature the offerings. Yeah, Palmer!