PALMER BUZZ: If the walls could talk

If the downtown Palmer Train Depot walls could talk, they would have such stories to tell. This building has been the center stage of community functions in Palmer.

It has seen funerals and weddings. Technology shows and quilting bees, fundraisers and proms. Bake sales and public hearings. Film festivals and poetry slams. Ghost mysteries and church services. Hip hop and barn dance. Symposiums and craft fairs. Book clubs and casinos. Celebrations of Life and science fairs. Voter day central and victory rounds for World Wide Wrestling. Bellydancing and bluegrass.

The Depot is our revolving community theater—in a sense. If you look at the City of Palmer calendar you will see it’s normally active at least four scheduled days a week and often more.

It’s just an old functional and very well-cared for building, with a small portion of historical relevance retained in the train office section. It is the blueish color of the winter sky—with old white trimmed windows from another era and a footprint that harkens back over 80 years. But the rest of the interior revolves around the theme of the day and changes with the group who rents it.

An official train hasn’t come by its railway siding for many years. This is a sad thing. But it hasn’t stopped the use of the community center by everyone. Located at the 4-way stop sign in the epicenter of downtown, it’s hard to miss. It is the locator for many.

Farm markets are staged at the depot nearly year round, along with several other regular events. This past Sunday it hosted the wrestlers, complete with mat, boxing ring, sweat, grunts and cheers. But the next event will have cupcakes and soft music and quilted fabrics. And so goes the variety offered by the Depot. And perhaps the best thing is that at each specific event, a different crowd is attracted. Thus this iconic building is held and heralded in the hearts of many.

Thank God for pancakes

Non-Essentials celebrated National Pancakes Day yesterday with a Sourdough Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. Denise is known for her fabulous cooking and she served up sourdough pancakes, farm fresh eggs and sausage. The beneficiaries of this breakfast were all who attended, along with the Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue. Dr. Beck from North Star Animal Hospital and Ron from Alaska Artisan Coffee donated to this excellent event.

And the Downtown Deli’s Sunday morning breakfast featured big fat pancakes with homemade blueberry sauce. Frankly, after a very long and abundant season of zucchini, broccoli and lettuces, these pancake carbohydrates are so appreciated.

Big weekend events in Palmer

Friday is Backyard Composting Class at the Central Landfill at 2 p.m. And the big Frontiersman 70th Anniversary Celebration is all afternoon at the newspaper office. Then there is Essential Yoga Grounding at 6:30 at the Midnight Sun Yoga Center. There is also a home football game and International Fly Fishing Film Festival at Mat-Su College.

Saturday is the “Between Earth and Sky” screening at the college’s Glenn Massay Theater. It looks interesting and begins at 7:30. It focuses on Alaska’s glaciers and arctic soils.