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VARIETY PLAYHOUSE 4/16/2021, 5/7/2021 – 8PM Variety Playhouse Shwabenhof 4115 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Wasilla FREE Admission D&D MARKET 4/23/2021 – 10AM D&D Market Palmer Train Depot 610 S Valley Way, Palmer FREE Event EARTH DAY BEER RELEASE 4/23/2021 – 5PM Valley Community for Recycling Solutions Bearpaw River Brewing Company 4605 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. Wasilla FREE Admission www.valleyrecycling.org PRESSURE CANNER DIAL GAUGE TESTING 4/29/2021 – 12PM UAF Cooperative Extension Service Matanuska Experimental Farm 1509 S Georgeson Dr. Palmer FREE Event
MID-APR 2021
Coloring Page
PALMER ELKS CRAFT FAIR May 1-2, 2021 – 10AM Palmer Elks Lodge 2600 N Barry’s Resort Dr. Palmer FREE Admission MOTHER’S DAY BAZAAR 5/1/2021 – 10AM Big Lake Lions Club East Lake Mall 3261 S Big Lake Rd. Big Lake FREE Admission MUSICAL MAYHEM 5/1/2021 – 7PM Big Cabbage Radio/Radio Free Palmer Online Event FREE Event www.radiofreepalmer.org BLACK BIRCH BOOKS GRAND RE-OPENING 5/5/2021 – 7AM Black Birch Books 2901 E Bogard Rd. #104 FREE Admission SPRING PORTRAIT PAINTING WORKSHOP May 14-16, 2021 – 10AM Paoletti Studio of Art www.dianepaoletti.com Cost: $500
ALASKA VINTAGE HOME MARKET & FOOD TRUCK FEST May 14-16, 2021 – 2PM Alaska Vintage Market, Alaska Chicks Alaska State Fairgrounds 2075 Glenn Hwy. Palmer Tickets: $5 Day Pass, $5 Weekend Pass, $10 Early Bird Shopping www.alaskavintagemarkets.com SPRING FORWARD TO FREEDOM FUNDRAISER 5/14/2021 – 6PM Valley Republican Women of Alaska Palmer Train Depot 610 S Valley Way, Palmer Tickets: $30 www.vrwak.com
Coloring Page
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Coloring Page
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Arts
Contributed by Diane Paoletti, Paoletti Studio of Art Spring Portrait Painting Workshop with instruction by renowned portrait artist, Robin Damore. Date: May 14, 15 & 16, 2021 Cost: $500, 50% Deposit All levels of oil painters welcome! Join us for an exciting and informative time of focusing on creating a dynamic portrait in oil, while learning techniques for improving your painting. Robin has been a professional artist with her own studio/ gallery in Vancouver, Washington for over 19 years, also teaching annual workshops in oil portrait painting for the last 15 years.
MID-APR 2021
Visit her website at www. robindamore.com to see her amazing work. Space is limited. Sign up deadline is May 5, 2021. Contact Diane at 907-355-4632 or via email at dianeypaol@gmail.com and reserve your spot today!
203 Kombucha
> Raffles and Giveaways All Day! > Live Music by Tucker Tunes Through-Out The Day April 23rd & 24th - 11AM-8PM > Live Music by Gregor Saturday, April 24th - 5PM-7PM
AKtive Soles Performance Footwear
> 10% OFF One Full-Priced Item April 23rd & 24th - 10:30AM-6:30PM
Alpenglow Salon
> Enter to Win Hair Color Service & A Gift Basket Packed Full of Products Receive Additional Entires When Booking Appointment or Purchasing Haircare Products > Complimentary Treats and Espresso! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM
Bishops Attic II
> $100.00 Visa Giftcard Giveaway! Bring in WLTGO Passport by 7PM Winner Announced April 26th April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-7PM > WLTGO Participants Get 25% OFF Clothing Purchases Until 7PM April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-7PM
Botanical Rhapsody
> FREE Samples of CBD Coffee & Cookies > All Coffee, Tinctures, Gummies, & Raw Hemp will be 10% OFF Saturday, April 24th - 11AM-6PM
Dream Nails
> Enter Your Name for a Gift Card Drawing! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM
Glacier Med Spa
> $25 Derma-Planing or Light Peel with Mask. > 15% OFF Filler, Botox, Xeomin or Dysport. > $50 Lipo-B Shots. Saturday, April 24th - 9AM-5PM
Homespun Alley
> Scavenger Hunt Event! Find A Certain Bike, Win A Prize! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM
Jenski Automotive
> General Auto Maintenance Class for Women Saturday, April 24th 10AM, 11:30AM, 1:00PM Cost: FREE
Klondike Mike’s & The Main Street Grill
> WLTGO Fashion Show! Friday, April 23rd - 7PM > WLTGO Talent Show! Saturday, April 24th - 5PM
LaFiesta Restaurant
> 15% OFF With This WLTGO Guide! April 23rd & 24th - 11AM-8:30PM
Matanuska Brewery
Saturday, April 24th - 3PM-6PM > Breakup Shakeup BBQ Competition! Small BBQ Tasters Available for Brewery Patrons, While Supplies Last > FREE Beer Coozy with Beverage Purchase
Misfit Consignment
> 50% Consignment Items April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM Boutique on Main (Inside Misfit Consignment) > Leggings Special! More You Buy, More You Save! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM Earth & Berries (Inside Misfit Consignment) > 15% OFF Everything April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM
Non Essentials
> Drawing for a Gift Certificate for 1 Medium Charcuterie Board from Forget-Me-Not Grazing Co! ($90 Value) > Drawing for a 6 Piece Box of Macarons from Oen’s Obsession! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM
Northern Lilly
> Drawing for a FREE Outfit > Sales Throughout the Store Saturday, April 24th - 10AM-6PM
Totally Photo
Palmer Alehouse
> 3 Prize Drawings! - 8x10 Metal Print From Your Cell Phone - Palmer Water Tower Pendant - Personalized Wine Tumbler April 23rd & 24th - 11AM-6PM
Palmer Bar
> Tons of Live Music! Saturday, April 24th - 12-6PM
> Live Music by i Like Robots Saturday, April 24th - 7PM-10PM
> Hoedown for the Brodown! 25% OFF Food, Only for Those That Get Dropped Off by Significant Others - April 23rd & 24th > Raffle Giveaway Announced on Saturday, April 24th
Vagabond Blues
Valley Hotel
> Mention WLTGO & Receive a Discount On Your Food Purchases! April 23rd & 24th
Whimsy Gift Shop
Palmer Museum
> Sales Throughout the Day & Drawing for a Gift Basket! Saturday, April 24th - 10AM-6PM
Peak Boutique
> 15% OFF All Accessories & > 10% OFF Lessons (w/ 2-Month Commitment) Friday, April 23rd 11AM-6PM Saturday, April 24th - 12-5PM
> 5% OFF All Merchandise in Shop > 15% OFF for Museum Members April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-5PM
> Wooden Tray Painting Workshop! Sign-Up: Call 746-3320, Stop By or Visit www.bit.ly/3g1NFtT Saturday, April 24th - 11AM & 2PM
Pizza Ria Delphi
> Dine-In: Drinks Are on The House! (Non-Alcoholic Drinks Only) April 23rd & 24th - 11AM-10PM
Poppy Lane Mercantile
> Purchase Enters You to Win A LARGE Gift Basket! > Tasty Macaroons with GG Macs! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-6PM
Silvertip Design
> Mention WLTGO to be Entered to Win a Gift Basket! April 23rd & 24th - 9AM-6PM
Stamp Cache
> Notecard Make & Take Project! Saturday, April 24th - 10AM-2PM
The Gallery
> 25% OFF The Entire Store! April 23rd & 24th - 10AM-5PM
Wood & Wire Guitars & Music
Mat-Su Running Club Starts at Palmer Depot Friday, April 23 - 6:00PM
Klondike Mike’s & The Main Street Grill Friday, April 23 - 7:00PM
OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN PALMER: 2323 Trunk Rd #3 Palmer, AK 907-745-4663 10892 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy Palmer, AK 907-707-3338
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO & CALL 373-2698 WITH ANY QUESTIONS
APRIL 23 - 6PM STARTS @ PALMER DEPOT
Kayti And Ben Heller - 12:00PM Melissa Mitchell - 1:00PM Tamara & HarpDaddy - 2:00PM Roland Roberts - 3:00PM Ellie Cullison - 4:00PM Long Nights Moon - 5:00PM
APRIL 23 - 7PM KLONDIKE MIKES
APRIL 24 - 12PM STARTS @ DOWNTOWN PALMER PLAZA
ALL OVER TOWN APRIL 23 & 24!
Live 80’s Music by I Like Robots 7:00PM - 10:00PM Saturday, April 24 - 5:00PM Klondike Mike’s 820 S Colony Way
PICK-UP YOUR WLTGO STAMP-PASS AT ANY PARTICIPATING MERCHANT
Music Contributed by Julie Hopkins Feaster, Big Cabbage Radio Board Member Musical Mayhem 5/1/2021 – 7PM Big Cabbage Radio/Radio Free Palmer Online Event FREE Event Big Cabbage Radio, aka Radio Free Palmer, will be celebrating May Day by hosting “Musical Mayhem”, the third event in our virtual concert series. Save the date: May 1, 2021 7:00pm-8:00pm. It’s halfway between spring equinox and summer solstice, a perfect time to bring in our Alaskan spring (maybe the snow will be gone?) with music and song! May Day is historically rooted in agriculture and springtime merriment including dance and song, and bonfires… and later involved gathering wildflowers and dancing around Maypoles. While originally the rites may have been to ensure fertility for crops and livestock and humans, these days some of the traditions have survived just as popular festivities, a reason to rejoice and welcome long sunny days.
their talents with you. You can enjoy watching the concert video and interviews with the artists online or you can listen to them on Big Cabbage Radio. The performer lineup for the May Day concert: “Vested Interest” with Jeremiah Millen, Andrea Childers, Rob Debach, Keith Barkwood “Palmer Percussion Trio” with Meggie Aube-Trammel, Lene Kennison, Heather Lampard “The River Livers” with Jessie Maybin, Lisa Miles, Phil Hawkins For additional details as the time draws near, check our website at www.RadioFreePalmer.org and/or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ radiofreepalmer. If you are interested in participating in the virtual concert series for future dates, send an email to lee@ radiofreepalmer.org. All musical genres welcome. In the meantime, please join us for “Musical Mayhem” online and on the air.
Our virtual concerts showcase local artists and allows them to share
Everyone is sure to catch May Fever!
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So, we’ll provide the music, and you can dance around your own Maypole or flowers!
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Poetry & Prose Contributed by Charles Dean Walker
Contributed by Charles Dean Walker
In high school, I dreamed of having a band. There would be covers I’d want to do. One I wouldn’t want to release as finished. Especially if I sang with a woman I love. Two versions, one song, one goodbye. The final goodnight to cap off our lives. The song is “My Song” by Johnny Ace.
I know, I’m not this handsome man. Truthfully, I feel, like I grotesque you. Cause who, could befriend an ugly beast? Full of emotional baggage. Sure would love you every day, that’s who I am. Never want to let you go.
A music video that is simple and beautiful. A night sky, constellations of our faces. Then the voices of us, with a song pledging eternality together.
Tears of a beast, roses wilting away. Petal, petal, petal, petal. I’m dying alone. Yet, I’m so young. I just think you’re a sweet friend. The beauty neglected, by the ugly. I love you, but I don’t understand love. It’s hard to be self-aware.
Contributed by Nan Potts What’s befell the human race? Logic’s fallen out of grace. With it though, you’re out of place; Arouses Wokeness to erase. Mob Rule loudest, so is heed, “Compassion!” for those in need. Yet burden shirked, of helpful deed What remains is rotten seed.
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Contributed by Katherine Baker A new beginning, an old ending to be united all must be accepted, and together have a common purpose. As practiced, politics is intolerance for people whose views or opinions differ, for this unites. And without an enemy common, modern politics could not exist, for with but one friend and one enemy, a politician emerges. Taking what is defined & rendering it ambiguous, much as practiced is power & vengeance, and the power to have vengeance. - politics, only as sincere as the politicians, who have shown us, far more difficult it is, to sustain a nation than to destroy one.
Contributed by Katherine Baker The children of the slain are feared, because of those they so revered, as LOVE endures above all else, and purpose forms inside the self.
Please, don’t leave my life. Please, don’t go. Please, help me feel welcome. Be the friend I need. I need a friend. I got stay alone for now. So I can be more complete. A broken man, can fix himself. I’ve said and done a million things wrong. But I can still get something right. I need to glue the cracks shut. Need to keep evolving. I love you but, obsession isn’t healthy. Need you, has a million meanings. I need it to mean one thing. I just need you apart of my life. But I can’t be this way. Drives people away.
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Photography
Contributed by Richard Estelle, Palmer Museum of History & Art
as soil. Over the thousands of years, forest vegetation developed on this new, wind-blown soil (called “Loess”) to further slow the winds and cause more silt to fall. By the time homesteaders and farmers settled here, they found some lands on the eastern portion of the valley had accumulated over six feet of this topsoil.
Most everyone living in the Matanuska Valley has experienced the local wind. What many may not realize is the considerable effect the wind has had, and continues to have, on the physical environment of the Valley and, particularly, the farmers who settled here.
The Knik and Matanuska winds continue to transport their silt into the valley today, to be deposited as the trees and other obstructions interrupt the air flow and cause the fine “glacier flour” to fall. However, it may not stay where it has fallen. If this wind-blown soil is left exposed to the winter winds on one farm, it’s likely that some will be picked up and deposited in the woods or covered field of the next farm downwind.
A major attraction of the Valley for farmers was the deep, fine-textured, workable soil they found here. However, thousands of years ago, there was no soil in this Valley because the glaciers flowing out of the Matanuska and Knik Valleys ground down and carried away everything above bedrock. But over those thousands of years, as the front of the glaciers melted away faster than the ice mass flowed down the mountains, land that had been covered with the ice became exposed. Left behind were vast quantities of rock fragments the ice had broken from the surrounding mountains. This “gravel” ranges in size from house-sized boulders down to the tiniest fragments. As meltwater from the glaciers flowed downstream, it picked up these tiniest
particles (producing the grey-colored water we associate with glacial streams) and deposited tons of the fine “mud” on stream banks along the way. When the mud banks dried out, the tiny particles became easily disturbed by the wind.
Cold, heavy air above the mountain glaciers flows downhill to replace the warmer, rising air above the ocean, creating strong winds which pick up the tiny particles and carry them along as “dust”. As the strong winds slow down over the valley floor, they drop their loads of dust, or “silt”, to accumulate
Our photo this month illustrates just how much soil may be lost from a field left through a single winter without a cover crop for protection. We see that the handful of carrots left unharvested the previous fall have had a couple of inches of soil blown away from around them. And winter, with its robust Matanuska winds, appears to not be over yet!
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Arts
MID-APR 2021
Contributed by Gina Murrow, Pastel Society of Alaska An online art auction by the Pastel Society Alaska (PSAK) in May 2021 will raise funds for a special needs orphanage, half a world away in Panama. The newly-formed pastel society started this project last year after the group took a workshop with world-renowned Australian pastelist, Lyn Diefenbach. Inspired and motivated by the class, the group wanted to use their talents for more than just art sales; they wanted to help someone with their art. The artists worked for over a year creating anywhere from one to five paintings each for the auction. The paintings are on display online at www.alaskapastel.com. Bidding on the paintings will begin on the website May 17th and run through May 31st. The goal is to raise $25,000 to donate to Heart’s Cry Children’s Ministries in Panama. One of PSAK’s founding members, Ruthann Crosby, is friends with the founders of Heart’s Cry, Matt Hedspeth. Crosby knew the story of the orphanage and also how hard the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting them. It didn’t take long for the idea of an online art auction to take form. The subjects of the paintings vary from portraits of indigenous people of Panama and Panamanian landscapes, to birds, butterflies and iguanas. Imagine buying a gorgeous painting of a hummingbird and knowing it provides meals to orphans for a month. A butterfly painting fills bowls with beans and rice, an iguana painting can help handicapped orphans get the tools they need to thrive, and on it goes.
Packs of five greeting cards will be offered for a $25 donation. It’s a great option for people wanting to help, but without the budget for an original painting. The greeting cards feature five of the 40 donated paintings, in 5x7-inch form, ready to mail or frame. The five cards in each pack will be selected at random, grab-bag style. For the past year, PSAK painters have been guided by continuing Zoom classes from Diefenbach. The group painted scenes from Panama based on pictures by photographer Kenneth R. Meyers (www.panamaphotos.com). Meyers has also visited the Heart’s Cry Ministries Orphanage and was excited to help raise funds for the children. According to the www.Heartscrychildren.com website, the special needs orphanage was birthed from an life-changing trip to Panama in 2008 by Hedspeth and his wife, Misty. They were so moved by what they experienced, they decided to move their family to Panama to help. One PSAK member wanted to be involved because she was inspired by her parents and grandparents, who frequently took in displaced families and orphaned or fostered children. “I consider it an honor to be a part of a group of kind and talented artists who desire to improve their creative skills and use their art for a greater good that helps meet a need,” Carol Roper said, “I hope this auction is not just a one-time event but rather the Pastel Society Alaska can reach out and assist others within our own Alaskan communities, as well as those in other locations like Heart’s Cry Orphanage in Panama.”
Using their artistic talents to help the world was a big motivator for these painters. “To use my God-given talent to make the world a better place is what drew me in,” said Cathy Poppert. The group plans to do a similar auction every year. “Our goal is to help an organization in need every year,” Crosby said. At the rate they are going, the group looks like they will meet their goals.
Art by Cathy Poppert
Art by Gina Murrow
Art by Sheri Burnem
Art by Diane Paoletti
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Arts
Art by Karen Denny
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Art by Lyn Diefenbach