PALMER BUZZ: Cherry on the top

It was a tiny, spread-out party all over town at exactly noon on Saturday. The venues were many. People watched from west glass windows at the Valley Hotel cafe. Some stopped midstream in their bacon, hashbrown and egg brunch to lean across tables to get a better view of the show. People in sunglasses and visors sat on the park benches at the Grow Palmer gardens. Retail folks and customers ducked outside of shops to watch from the sidewalk. People were clustered at the tennis courts and ball field, some with blankets. A few of the Pioneer Home residents were out in wheelchairs and walkers, watching. Some set up lawn chairs and binoculars. Pedestrians and bikers stood still.

All over Palmer, people were poised, in interested fashion, ready to watch the cherry red ball be returned, after 15 long years, to its home on the top of the Palmer water tower.

All went smoothly as the big red Firetruck 3-1 slowly lifted the long ladder and platform into the blue sky. The ladder reached up and up until it finally reached the crown of the water reservoir, 94 feet above ground.

Fastened in the basket, with safety straps, Fire Chief John McNutt and organizer and Alaska Picker proprietor Kelly Turney worked together to make the seamless install. A videographer and drone caught the moment from the air. The copper red ball, the size of a bowling ball, was carefully placed and securely fastened.

When it was done, you could hear clapping and applause, along with scattered shouts and hurrahs and car horns, originating from all over town’s little throngs of onlookers.

The Red Ball had been replaced in its rightful spot. It was a brief moment that felt both satisfying. and momentous, a nice connection with the past, and an endorsement of the future as Palmer grows more and more precious by valuing its heritage and moving forward with hope and dreams. The act itself was not dramatic; it just felt right and you could hear the appreciation.

When they came down from the firetruck platform, Turney and McNutt shook hands. Kelly Turney smiled and said, “Palmer Here We Go.” His words are prophetic. There are exciting plans for Palmer and the “cherry on the top” is just the beginning.

And then just as quickly as everyone collected, everyone dispersed. The town predictably and casually resumed doing normal Saturday afternoon things. The Red Ball was a punctuation mark in a very good day in Palmer, Alaska.

Snow on the shoulders

When the snow line is at the actual shoulders of Pioneer Peak, then you know this is real

Termination Dust. It’s here as our close neighbor and will be with us for six months. There is no point in denial. You have a choice: Whine and rant. Or be guilt-free, get the tires on, and get ready.

Musk Ox do Chicken Dance

It was a lively night to see the musk ox polka and do the chicken dance at the Oxtoberfest last Saturday. OK, maybe they didn’t actually dance but they hung out with hundreds who did.

The Alaska Farmland Trust and Palmer Musk Ox Farm fundraiser was full of local beers, brats, homemade breads and hot potato salads. A great German Oompa band played and the fields were full of merry makers. Of course, as always, the event was sold out and as many said, “This is the best fundraiser of the year.”

Pedestrians have the right of way

Of course they do. They’re small and don’t weigh several tons like vehicles. If you see someone trying to cross the street, stop. Be kind and gracious. You’re in a big, old winterized vehicle. You’re safe from the elements. Oh, and let’s not forget crosswalks, and stop lights and school buses. It is time to give some space and patience. Recent horrible accidents remind us that Palmer is not immune to tragedy. So slow down. And safely take some pics of violators and report to the Palmer PD because thankfully, they are all over this.

Palmer embraces October

If you haven’t checked out the busting bulletin boards in town, you should. There are activities for every person regardless of your inclination. Yoga, dance, art, music, book clubs, fibers, knitting, health, volunteer opportunities, wildlife, brewing, pickling, recycling, cooking, faith, retail, massage, history, cleansing, birds, moose, foodies, movies, theater. Coincidentally, there are dozens of fundraisers, calendared to sync with the October PFD distribution. Get up and get out and enjoy your community.

Local PFD time

Walk down Palmer’s main street and drop some commitment clams. The Palmer shopkeepers, innkeepers and bread bakers need some of our Dividend bucks.

Don’t just send it out to Amazon or over to Walmart — those biggies don’t care; our local merchants do.

Winter is our friend

It’s hard to see this, in the golden afterglow of autumn. But with winter, comes the stars and the Aurora Borealis and the animal tracks in the snow. The fires and the naps and the hot bowls of soup. Little lights go up, not just for the holidays. Little lights are our friends, too, twinkling and welcoming in the quiet darkness.

Say goodbye or tie one on

Say goodbye to the leaves. The last little ones are hanging on barely. Listen for that final delicate leaf drop. Or do like smart Ellen did…..get some string and tie them on for a continuance of fall.

Palmer Depot is busy

Matanuska Market is offering many weekends of thematic events. Soon, every Monday will be a weekly, continuing farm market. Saturday the Depot was buzzing with food trucks and the Saturday Marketplace vendors and customers of the Termination Dust Denial event.

Man of La Mancha

Less than two weeks away, this play is sponsored by the Palmer Arts Council. It’s a classic and the performance is going to be great. (I know. I snuck a peek.) There is amazing costuming, choreographed fighting and fabulous performers. The talent and music alone is going to be amazing but it will open at the college’s fabulous Glenn Massay Theater on the 20th of October.

Put this on your calendar.

Palmer packed week

There’s a Fiber Retreat starting Friday along with a guest speaker at the recycling center.

Saturday is the Palmer Food Swap at the Annex, Mystery scavenger hunt at the Library, fall festivities at the Reindeer Farm, Hike at the Experimental Farm, Glenda Fields at Uncorked Art Studio, Soles in Backcountry at the Moose and the terrific Mat-Su Concert Band at the Glenn Massay. Sunday is Library crafts and fall festival at Amazing Grace Academy. Monday is a special Felted Bowl and Knitting class at the Depot. And Palmer Alaska History night is next week.

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