PALMER BUZZ: Wind things

Palmer is famous for its mighty winds which grab vehicle doors and swing them back on their hinges. A single grocery cart will become a whirling dervish and races pellmell across the parking lot. A plastic garbage can lid evolves into a weapon and a solitary branch becomes a missile. Reports of a loose trampoline frightened Palmer neighbors as it raised up on its haunches and launched full-speed into the woods. Snow shovels become javelins. Roof tiles take flight and spin off into Oz. Pity the pedestrians with a floppy coat which becomes an airborne sail. You absolutely know the wind is bad when Carr's Grocery has their big rolling doors down to protect the tunnel entry.

And the noises of the fierce wind are stunning. Downtown — the tinkling and clanging and banging of flag pole fixtures and metallic stop signs is a crazy soundtrack — worthy of recording. We have learned to park against the wind. We have learned to wear attachable hoods so we don’t lose our hats. We have learned to look in our neighbor’s yards for the missing can lids. Our wind is a powerful force which we respect in Palmer, Alaska.

50 trees

The Tree Builders are busy. Their job is to construct Christmas trees. This happens daily now at Bishop’s Attic, the favorite Thrift Store in Palmer, Alaska. Two volunteers spend their entire days constructing and dissembling artificial holiday trees, which are donated.

Last week, the count was at 50. By the end of the season, it will be hundreds. No sooner are the trees constructed, but they are purchased and disassembled and transported to another home for the holiday. Is it a thankless task? No, the volunteers explain. Their response is that Christmas trees bring joy and everyone should have one. Thank you tree builders.

Vintage holiday market in Palmer

It’s so much fun—the Vintage Fair. It’s at Raven Hall and the Hoskins Building on the Alaska State Fairgrounds, both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. You’ve been to fairs and bazaars—but this one is really the cat’s meow. There is so much unusual stuff to see and the 75-plus vendors go all out with their displays and products.

Classic, crazy, country, upscale, chic, and heavy metal combine to make this one of the most clever events in the Valley. There is Live music, Sweetie Pies, Waffles, cooking demos, reindeer, Jesus Fish, oak barrel art, signage, and burlap bag decor.

The Buzz has it on good authority that the trendy and talented Alaska Pickers, CoverUps and Alaska Chicks will have great and unusual up-cycled furniture offerings, antiques and clothing.

And don’t forget to check out the debut of “Palmer Building Blocks” in the Hoskins building. They’re part of the “Art & Soul of PalmerTM” production. They are handmade, chubby Palmer landmarks on hemlock building blocks; you can hang them on the wall. Or, just for fun, you can put them beside a oscillating fan, and pretend the wind is blowing in Palmer!

Coolio Palmer history book

Joe and Cheryl Homme’s new book, “Palmer, Alaska Businesses and Buildings 1897-1970” is being released this week! It is jammed full of pictures of Palmer landmarks and transformations. Wednesday night Joe and Cheryl will present the book at the Palmer Historical Society’s History Night at the Moose Lodge, at 7p.m. The book will be available and autographed at the meeting. Fireside Books in downtown Palmer will carry the book and have several signings with the authors, in the next few weeks.

546 jobs

This is what is listed on the Glassdoor Job Site. It states that there are 546 jobs available in the Palmer area. After scanning through the offerings, it appears that the great majority are in the healthcare field. Some are in education. Some are in Uber. And many are — actually in Wasilla.