Streaming Tue Jun 9

Tune in to the audio or video streams of the Palmer City Council meeting at 6 p.m. on bigcabbageradio.org

On the radio this week

Tue Jun 9

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

Wed Jun 10

Tim Huffman from Midnight Sun Beekeepers joins host Ken Hoffman on Ag Matters at 7:30 a.m. repeating at 5:30 p.m.

Aimee Young gives the monthly update on the UAF Farm and Extension Service along with her sage advice at 8 a.m. repeating at 5 p.m. This is airing a week late due to illness.

Fri Jun 12

Palmer Police Dispatch Supervisor Whitney Daw joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City at 8 a.m. repeating at 5:30 p.m.

Get an update on Valley Transit service to Anchorage on Valley Edition at 5 p.m. repeating Sat. at noon.

Sat Jun 13

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

Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they continue to discuss vaping dangers and begin a discussion on prostate cancer screening.

Tracy is the Palmer Groundskeeper Foreman. She and her crew keep the hanging flower baskets in downtown Palmer blooming all summer long. The baskets hang on poles along Alaska Street from Fireweed Avenue to Blueberry Avenue. Additional displays adorn the visitor center, public restrooms, the Depot, and the temporary library. A total of 80 baskets brighten the downtown. 

Tracy has spent nearly 20 years tending the hanging flower baskets along Alaska Street. 

The baskets are sourced from Ewetopia Greenhouse in the Butte. Their bold, bright colors are designed to stand out against trees and buildings. Each basket contains 10 to 12 flower varieties. They create ever-changing displays as the season progresses. Early blooms give way to new varieties as summer unfolds. The baskets grow fuller and more colorful as time passes.

Maintaining the baskets requires work. The crew waters them three times a week: on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. They fertilize the baskets weekly. The baskets may need extra watering during warm or windy stretches to keep the densely planted baskets from drying out. Wind can be tough on the flowers, but the baskets are resilient and often bounce back after storms.

Beyond their beauty, the flowers support pollinators. Tracy sees bees among the blooms, especially around the visitor center and flowering trees throughout town. As different plants bloom in sequence—cherry bushes, rose trees, clover, and dandelions—they provide vital forage for pollinators across the community.

Palmer also features community food planters through the Grow Palmer program. These volunteer-supported beds are located along popular walking routes. They rely on residents to weed, harvest responsibly, and keep them tidy. Palmer Public Works waters and fertilizes the beds, but community participation is key. Other gardens, such as the one at the Palmer Museum of History and Art, are maintained through partnerships and contracts.

Tracy’s crew of six is soon to grow to seven or eight. They handle more than flower baskets. They mow city parks and sports fields weekly, maintain landscaping at city buildings and the airport, empty the public trash cans three times a week, and service the 13 dog waste stations across town. The crew really appreciates everyone who picks up after their pets.The volume of dog waste collected underscores how important those stations are for keeping trails and green spaces clean. 

The most rewarding part of the job for Tracy is her “victory lap.” She drives through the downtown after a week of mowing, trimming, and watering and sees Alaska Street manicured and vibrant before Friday Fling. Positive comments from tourists and locals make the hard work worthwhile.

Looking ahead, Tracy would love to expand flower displays beyond the downtown and update aging park equipment with newer, safer playground structures. She wants to explore adding flower baskets to the municipal golf course clubhouse.

Groundskeeping in Palmer is constant work. Grass and flowers grow fast with the long summer daylight. Tracy and her team take pride in keeping the city beautiful. If you see them out working, don’t hesitate to offer a wave or a thank-you.

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. 

Mike Chmielewski reported this story based on an interview last Friday. The full interview is on bigcabbageradio.org in Inside the City under Podcasts.

Page 2 is 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 Monday June 8, 2026.

This week, we discuss new medicaid rules, new proposed mail-in ballot rules, and new threats to Alaska’s tourism industry. We also host two special guests for this week’s rendition of “Who Said It?’

Join host Mike Chmielewski on Valley Edition with his guest, Amy Bushatz with the Mat-Su Sentinel, as they discuss the Sentinel’s purchase of The Frontiersman and the future of the local print based news industry.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, a foreperson for the Palmer Public Works Department, as they discuss the hanging flower baskets and keeping Palmer beautiful.

The Sutton Community Hall Working Group wants to save the crumbling Sutton Community Hall.

The Hall wasn’t always in Sutton. It wasn’t always crumbling. The single-story wooden structure was built in 1927. It was a bunkhouse for the workers who built the Eklutna Power Plant. The building was moved to Sutton in 1954. A basement and foundation were added. The Sutton Community Hall hosted events and gatherings for decades.

The Alpine Civic Club has stewarded the property since 1959. The basement started collapsing as the building aged. The Club wanted to put it on a new foundation. However, they lacked funding to proceed.

The Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. It had fallen into disrepair by then and was no longer used.

A push to explore whether the hall could be restored began in 2022. The Sutton Community Hall Working Group formed and came up with ideas for the building. They supported assessing contamination hazards and the potential for cleanup.

Richard Chiolero ran the Environmental Department at Chickaloon Village Traditional Council. He had an idea. He would research whether they could get funding through the Brownfield Program. The US Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA) had created the program to identify possible contaminated sites and provide a way to clean them up for re-use. It seemed a perfect fit.

Chiolero submitted a Draft Brownfield Assessment and Cleanup (DBAC) application to request funding. The Sutton Community Council provided a letter of support.

The EPA and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation provided the funding for samples to be collected and analyzed. Samples were taken inside the building, outside the building, and in the soil. They were sent to laboratories to determine whether there is contamination from oil, asbestos, lead, or other common contaminants found in old buildings. Another round of sampling may be done.

Engineers and architects have walked through the site. They noted weakness in the structural integrity. The building would probably not survive being moved again.

The Community Hall Working Group continues to assess information as it comes in. The next milestone will happen when laboratory results are completed, probably in the fall. A community meeting will follow. The community is working step by step with agencies to address the contamination and to envision a new use for this site. The Hall holds so much of the history of Sutton and the surrounding area.

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.(post on FB and Web/don’t read on air)

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

This Page Two article was reported by Kendra Zamzow 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 Friday June 5, 2026.

Acting Palmer City Manager Jude Bilafer joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City at 8 a.m., repeating at 5:30 p.m. 

Amy Bushatz talks about her acquisition of The Frontiersman and her plans moving forward with both The Frontiersman and the Mat-Su Sentinel on Valley Edition at 5 p.m, repeating at noon on Saturday.

A wise man once said, “No matter where you go, there you are.” We have done even better just by living in the Greater PalmerMetroPlex because wherever you go, it’s going to be a good time.

Tomorrow, of course, is Friday. Time to fling! The Friday Fling runs from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the pavilion in downtown Palmer. Come on by for local crafts, food trucks, live music and fun! Alaskan bluegrass maestro Todd Grebe takes the Fling stage this week.

The Palmer Museum of History and Art features artist Heidi Scott this week. Scott works in fused glass and draws inspiration from the beauty of Alaska. She will be at the Museum starting at 11 a.m. on Friday. Her artwork is on display at the museum today thru next Wednesday.

The Strawberry Moon Market kicks off on Friday. This three day event celebrates community, creativity, and summertime magic. The open-air market brings together a curated lineup of local makers, artists, and food trucks for a weekend of shopping, snacking, and soaking up the season.

Cold Moon Collective hosts this event at the corner of the Glenn Highway and Scott Road in Palmer. More information is on the Strawberry Moon Market Facebook page.

The Palmer Classic Bicycle Ride returns on Saturday. Be on the lookout for bicyclists in the Palmer area and beyond.

Peak Feed and Seed hosts a pop-up market on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market features farm and garden items, horse gear, outdoor gear and more. The store is near Bushes Bunches on the Old Glenn Highway.

The Children’s Book Fest celebrates Alaskan children’s book authors on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the pavilion in downtown Palmer. Come on by for an afternoon of games, activities, crafts, and story time with some Alaskan authors.

Meet Alaskan authors Miranda Miller, Brooke Hartman, Tricia Brown, and Barbara Brovelli-Moon. Their will be books available for purchase.

All are invited to this free event. It is presented by Fireside Books, the Palmer Public Library, United Way Mat-Su, and the Palmer Arts Council.

The 9th annual Recycle Revival is on Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. at Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass. This fundraiser for the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions features music from LuLu Small & John Cook, The Robotz, Denali Cooks, and the Jerry Wessling Band.

Come enjoy food, music, a silent auction, the beer garden, face painting, and chair lift rides. Kick off summer, support recycling, and have a great time. It’s only $20 at the gate for the zero-waste, 100% fun event. Find information at valleyrecycling.org.

It’s another weekend to brag about. We live in one of the best places on Earth. It would be a waste to sit around and collect dust. Get outside and enjoy!

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.(post on FB and Web/don’t read on air)

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 June 4, 2026.

Join host Mike Chmielewski with Peter House from Deep Tree as they discuss current cybersecurity threats, dealing with new passport controls, phone security, and elections.