Dr. Jill Valerius and Lee Henrikson begin a 3-week discussion on breast cancer screening on Your Health at 7:30 a.m. repeating at 5 p.m.

Tue Apr 14:

Hear from Kelley Shoemake on what’s going on in our Palmer Chamber of Commerce at 8 a.m. repeating at 5 p.m.

Wed Apr 15:

Alex Davis AD Farm joins host Ken Hoffman on Ag Matters at 7:30 a.m. repeating at 5:30 p.m.

Peter House from Deep Tree talks about current cybersecurity threats at 8 a.m. repeating at 5 p.m.

Fri Apr 17

Airport Superintendent John Diumennti talks about the Great Alaska Airmans Get Together on May 2 and 3 with Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City at 8 a.m. repeating at 5:30 p.m.

Emily Forstner interviews School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani on Inside the District and Valley Edition at 5 p.m. repeating at noon on Saturday.

Hear a report from the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center at 7:20 a.m. followed by Ed Strabel talking about cross country skiing at 7:30 a.m.

Sat Apr 18

Rachel Levitt and John Robertson review federal actions that impact Alaska on Home to Roost at 12:30 p.m., repeating on Monday 5:30 p.m.

Tune in 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Glacier View or online at bigcabbage.radio.org

See the full schedule at bigcabbageradio.org/schedule

Jesse Jones, Pacific Region Representative and National Programs Manager for InfraGard, joins host Mike Chmielewski on Valley Edition to discuss the current crypto-based scams targeting vulnerable populations.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Jen Mickelson, K-12 Outreach Director at the UAA College of Engineering, as they discuss the UAA Summer Engineering Academies.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests from the Palmer Museum of History and Art, Executive Director Dylainie Nathlich, and Collections Manager Richard Estelle as they discuss the upcoming summer season and the historical photo collecting process for the museum.

Let’s take a look into the crystal ball of things to do in the Mat-Su this weekend.

Shaun Paccaro plays the Palmer Alehouse Unplugged tonight. Paccaro mixes the warmth of Hawaiian Island melodies with the soul of Alaska. This free all ages show has limited seating. Attendees under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. More info is on the Palmer Alehouse Facebook page.

Don’t forget the Nerdvana Trivia Night at the Silver Fox Inn tonight. Nerdvana Trivia features two fast-paced rounds of questions covering everything from pop culture to history. The contest runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info is on the Silver Fox Inn Facebook page.

Friday night is special for one of our favorite local humans. Ken Peltier’s birthday bash is taking over the Palmer Depot for a night of music, dancing, and good company. The party features a live set from the Ken Peltier Band and tasty treats from Pizza Ria Delphi. Doors open at 6 p.m. The party starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at eventbright.com. Let’s all wish Ken a happy birthday.

Tim Easton is playing two shows at the Hatcher Pass Lodge this weekend. Both the Friday and Saturday shows start at 4 p.m. and run until 7 p.m. The Hatcher Pass Lodge Facebook page has the details.

Saturday brings robots! The Mat-Su College Robotics Club is hosting the Mat-Su College Sumo Robotics Competition starting at 10 a.m. in the Glenn Massay Theater. The competition follows International Sumo Robotics rules. The rounds will last up to three minutes. A round ends when one robot pushes the other robot out of the sumo ring. Sounds like fun to see and cheer our local robot wrestlers.

The Mat-Su Animal Shelter is hosting a teddy bear check-up clinic on Saturday. Bring your favorite stuffed animal to the shelter for a free check‑up with a real veterinarian! This is a low‑pressure way to inspire the next generation of animal lovers and responsible pet guardians. The check-ups run from 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday afternoon yields a book and beer lovers event. The third Annual Boozy Book Fair is hosted by Fireside Books and held at the Bleeding Heart Brewery on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. It celebrates our favorite genres: fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. Local authors Tamsin Ley, Sean Schubert, and W.B. Clark will be there to sign copies of their books. Don Rearden will stop by. Bleeding Heart Brewery is located on South Denali Street in Palmer.

Curious about riding a motorcycle but not sure where to start? Join Denali Harley-Davidson on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. for an introduction to riding! This event is perfect for anyone who has thought about motorcycle riding and wants to learn in a relaxed, welcoming environment. There will be food, fun, and prizes, so bring a friend and make an afternoon of it! Denali Harley-Davidson is located on Hyer Road, just off the Parks Highway.

For the foot-powered enthusiast there is a Weekend Ramble Hike on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Reflections Lake hosted by Revel Treks and Tours. Reflections Lake Trail is an easy, level, 1-mile gravel and boardwalk loop just off the Glenn Highway next to the Knik River. It’s free for Revel Adventure Club members and first-timers to a Revel event; all others $15. Details and registration information available at reveltreksandtours.com

This was just a toe dipped into the many, many fun and informative events happening this weekend. Get out and shake the winter off. Go have some fun.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org

Please support Page 2 News. Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was reported by Keith Peticolas and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Thursday April 9, 2026.

Join host Ken Hoffman and his guests as they discuss the upcoming FFA convention.

There’s a new Farm Manager at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center. Aimee Young is stepping into the leadership role. Her move from Senior Admin to Farm Manager is based on her background in community programming and her indigenous plant studies. Her tasks include deepening relationships with the community and expanding outreach.

UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension Director Jodie Anderson introduced Young yesterday on our monthly show “From the Farm.” Anderson is a former farm manager. She describes Young as a strong member of the team.

Anderson and Young discussed challenges for agriculture this year due to the weather conditions. This winter’s frost line is a major factor. It has penetrated deeper into the ground than recent years. They explained that this could lead to widespread damage to perennials including shrubs and trees.

Those planted in residential settings without the insulating benefits of forest ground cover are vulnerable. Watch for signs of stress in plants this spring. Some may leaf out and then ultimately fail due to roots damaged by freezing.

The deep frost can create drainage issues. Meltwater may be unable to penetrate the soil. This could lead to pooling and soggy conditions across yards and fields.

Warmer overnight temperatures, especially those staying above freezing, promote a gradual thaw. This will improve soil conditions and ease the transition into the growing season.

Planting times tend to remain consistent year to year, even with variable winters. However our growing season is now two to four weeks longer compared to a century ago. The season is extended even further with tools like greenhouses and high tunnels.

There are several upcoming educational opportunities from the farm.

On Thursday April 16 at noon is a session on biointensive farming techniques with farmer Brandi Jo Nyberg. She is the owner of Sauntering Roots Farm. Nyberg grows more than 30 varieties of vegetables on less than an acre.

Methods discussed will include bed sizing and spacing, essential tools, interplanting, and soil/plant health. This will be in person at the Extension Center as well as via Zoom. Please register for either option at bit.ly/NybergTalk

The Experiment Farm is hosting Food Security Through Agriculture on April 18 at the fairgrounds. This free, day-long gathering will feature workshops, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions. The event is centered on strengthening local food resilience and knowledge. It runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsors include the Alaska State Fair and the Mat-Su Health Foundation.

Regular farm tours and the return of community garden programs will be announced soon.

Check out the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center Facebook page for lots of resources including an updated publication on slugs.

The From the Farm episode with Anderson and Young is on bigcabbageradio.org in Agricuture under podcasts.

Page 2 airs weekdays at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:50 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Tune in at 89.7 in Palmer, 89.5 in Sutton, 88.3 in Chickaloon and Glacier View or online at bigcabbageradio.org.

Please support Page 2 News. Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was reported by Mike Chmielewski and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.

That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Wednesday April 8, 2026.

(photo credit: Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center)

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Jodie Anderson and Aimee Young from the Matanuska Experiment Farm, for updates on the farm.