PALMER BUZZ: Remembrance, reflection and a good story

Dia De Los Muertos Festival in downtown Palmer

This is a seasonal time of remembrance and there will be a prayer labyrinth where participants can honor their loved ones on Thursday evening. The event will include a community altar. Sunday is the day of the festival to celebrate and honor with art and culture. These significant events happen at the Palmer Protestant Presbyterian Church and are open to all. Dia De Los Muertos honors and remembers our dead in the most respectful manner. It is time to clean graves, get out pictures and honor our loved ones, who passed, with their favorite foods.

Palmer area of influence weakly defined

The City of Palmer is defined by specific boundaries. Within this lovely town the average home is $202,800. Average income is $64,700. Median age is 29.1. The population within city limits is 6,515: 51 percent male and 48 percent female. These are the standard demographics for the city, according to census data.

But these numbers really don’t show a true reflection of Palmer at all. Palmer is a gathering and shopping place for thousands from the Butte, Lazy Mountain, Gateway, Sutton, Chickaloon, Four Corners, Hatcher Pass, Bogard and beyond. Attempting to describe Palmer based on the census data would be a mistaken assumption. The Palmer area of influence is extended by the major employment generated by the larger employers: MEA, MTA, Credit Union, School District, Troopers, Courthouse, grocery stores, health providers, Horizon, Alaska Job Corps, Borough, state and city offices. But because of the approximately 2,500 business licenses, granted by the City of Palmer—in the last year—one can see that Palmer is growing and focused on small businesses offering nearly any service or needed product.

Finally, for an even more accurate picture of Palmer, consider the almost weekly festivals, bazaars, fairs and dozens of social gatherings which attract folks from all over the state. Add to this the visitor industry and the outside recreational activities which offer a constant flow of income to the main street merchants along with the providers of these services. It is this type of destination synergy which brings a town from flat-line to robust. Yep, this is greater Palmer, complete with the red cherry on the top.

Salmon stories at the depot

We’ve heard scary stories and historical stories at the Palmer Depot. Time now for another storytelling event about our favorite fish. It is on Nov. 8 at the depot and no doubt there will be some big fish tales. This is a an event hosted by the Mat Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium and the Mat Su Salmon Habitat Partnership. There will be fishing stories and Native stories and probably some amazing salmon cooking recipes. The Buzz is betting on some drop-dead delicious salmon tasting as well.

Crazy Halloween in Palmer

We missed it but some of the stories have snuck out. Apparently the Saturday night bash was spectacular at Klondike Mike’s with with partially costumed cops and angels. Gypsies and a pirate in a thong and witches—all making merry on main street. It wasn’t the only costume party; Raven Hall, Moose Lodge and private parties were filled with fun-makers and the depot hosted the children/pet/family version. And on Saturday morning Backcountry Bike and Ski sponsored the colorful costume bike ride through out town!!