Palmer Alaska

On Monday, October 1st, local groups and merchants will start accepting non-perishable foods for a food drive benefiting the Palmer Food Bank which, in turn, helps those in need in our community. This drive ends on Saturday, October 13th, culminating in an afternoon and evening of art, music, and fun and a chance to vote on your favorite display of donated items as part of Second Saturday.

According to the organizers, the Palmer Food Bank is running very low on food right now and donations have dropped tremendously. This limits what can be given away to families looking for some help. With several displaced
families due to local flooding, this food drive will be a huge help and is needed now more than ever.

The goal is for each group/business to collect 200 cans or more!

After the end of the drive, pickup of donated items will be Monday-Thursday the following week.

Please feel free to call for any questions and a big THANKS for joining us in this worthy cause!

List of Suggested Foods for Canned Food Drive

Canned Fruits – applesauce, pears, fruit cocktail, peaches, oranges
Canned Vegetables – corn, peas, green beans
Canned Soups and Stews
Canned Pasta – Spaghetti-Os, Ravioli
Boxed Pasta or Rice Dishes – Hamburger Helper, Rice-A-Roni
Pasta Noodles and Canned Sauces – Spaghetti sauces, marinara sauce
Hot and Cold Breakfast Cereals – boxed cereals, oatmeal, Cream of Wheat
Peanut Butter
Canned Juices – apple, cranberry, grape, orange, V8, vegetable juices
Canned Meats – beef, chicken, sandwich spreads, corned beef & hash
Canned Fish – tuna, salmon, etc.

…A Great State Fair!
Alaska State Fair 2012

“You’re gonna love it!”
August 23 – September 3

When I was a little kid, I looked forward to the fair every year. My sisters, brother and I love to ride the rides, enter baked goods in the fair and see the little piglets that were magically birthed on time every year. As I got older, my favorite ride evolved from the Spinning Apple to the Gravitron (I never get dizzy), my favorite sight from the baby animals to fascinating shows, and from cotton candy to delicious tacos from Taco Dan’s in Log Cabin #6.

Fair time always brings back memories of quality family time – Mom dragging us to the exhibits and Dad pointing out the fascinating log splitting machinery. My siblings and I squabbled over cotton candy colors and Dad taught us to walk “fair speed” through the crowds. My mom’s birthday is the 28th of August, and her one request for as long as I can remember, is to have a day alone at the fair.

With today’s economy and tighter budgets, some people may be wondering… how can I afford the fair?
Thankfully, there are number of ways to save money on admission and ride tickets. If you purchase a 6 pack of tickets online, you’ll save up to $18, $3 off every adult ticket (if used on a weekend). The opening day, Thursday August 23, is only $2 admission!
Coca Cola Buddy Days enables you to grab a coupon from a Holiday station and when you purchase a ticket at the gate, you receive a free one of equal or lesser value for your buddy.
On Alaska Grown Day, you can wear your Alaska Grown t-shirt to the fair and receive $2 off the ticket price.
For more info on the discounts, click here.

The Fair posts their daily schedule online, so you can plan out what you’re going to see before you even arrive! Click here for the daily schedules for the entire fair.

Are you interested in entering a contest with your friend, child, or own skills? The Alaska State Fair has 25 different contests throughout the fair! Click here to find out more about contests!

They are located next to Valley Harvest Church at:
10823 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway
Palmer, AK, 99645

Hours Of Operation
Mon through Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm

You can find a wide selection in clothes, shoes, toys, games, movies, books, small appliances and more. The decor is very nice with freshly painted walls and well maintained. This thrift store is very clean and tidy; I appreciated the fact that each section has its own area which is clearly marked.

Thrifters Rock accepts donations only during business hours. You may bring most unwanted items that carry some value and/or are in working order. Large appliances like refrigerators, mattresses or fueled appliances are also accepted.

Thrifters Rock also has an active facebook page where you can find the deals of the day!
Click Here for the Facebook Page!

Church on the Rock Palmer meets in Sherrod Elementary school at 11am on Sundays. The store is their community project to raise funds for a Palmer church building. Once the goal is met and building location secured, all future proceeds will go to community projects! This business really wants to give back to the community!

Alaska Agriculture Appreciation Day at the UAF Experimental Farm

TOMORROW, August 9, 12-6pm
Free for everyone!

• +Live Music
  Air Force Band: AK Brass
  Back Acres
• + Sheep-to-Shawl deomonstration
• + Hay wagon rides
• + Local Food and Craft Vendors
• + Alaska Grown Produce for sale
• + Games and Activities for children
• + Prize giveaways and Much More!!

Click here for photos of last year’s event.

Come to the Palmer Center for Sustainable Living, UAF Experimental Farms at 1509 S. Georgeson Drive (formerly S. Trunk Road) and celebrate the integral role that agriculture has played in Alaska and specifically the Mat-Su Valley.

Thanks to Challene Shoun and Rachel Courtnay for providing the above information.

Written by