Image Credit: Mat-Su Solid Waste Division.

The City Clerk’s Office serves as the official record keeper for the City of Palmer and plays a vital role in supporting transparent, efficient local government.

Image Credit: City of Palmer

The West Butte Trail is the most popular hike in the Mat-Su Borough. It’s being loved to death. The borough is going to save it.

“It’s the first hike someone might take if they live or visit the Mat-Su,” Operations Branch Manager of Outdoor Recreation Hugh Leslie said.

He says that repairs are overdue. 520 steps carry hikers up the steepest stretch. The wooden stairs and support posts have degraded and can’t be repaired.

The Assembly realized that something had to be done to preserve this popular trail, says Leslie.

$600,000 covers the cost of replacing the aging wooden staircase. The project required public and private funding. The Borough Assembly put $500,000 toward the repairs in the 2027 budget. The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation put up the remaining $100,000.

A bid for design and engineering goes out this month. The new staircase will be built with serrated steel steps and railings. These steps need little maintenance and will last about 20 years.

The borough is targeting completion by the spring 2027 hiking season. Hikers can expect disruption and partial closures during construction.

The need for repairs comes amid explosive growth in trail use across the borough. 700 annual trail parking passes were sold in 2013. That number has climbed to 4,000 so far for 2026.

The growth is visible at the West Butte trailhead. 500 daily parking passes were issued at the trailhead parking lot in the last week of June. An unknown number of annual pass holders also parked there that week. Each pass represents one vehicle. The number of hikers is higher.

Ralph Basner has hiked the West Butte Trail three to four times a week for about 10 years. He stopped on the trail to chat. He has noticed an increase in traffic over that time. Even on a rainy Monday morning the parking lot was a third full.

Basner hadn’t heard about the planned repairs. “That’s great news! I had no idea!” Basner said. He noted that some of the steps are so eroded that it’s hard for him to fit his feet on them.

A dedicated crew maintains the trail. One year-round staffer is supported by 12 seasonal employees. More than half of the seasonal crew returns each year. It is one of the longest standing, fully funded trail crews in the state according to Leslie.

The trail is personal for Leslie. He first hiked the West Butte trail 11 years ago with his three-month-old daughter in a BabyBjörn backpack. His family had just moved to the Valley.

A photo of his daughter on the summit appears on the pamphlet available at the trailhead today. Her arms are stretched over her head in a classic “Butte Pose,” with Pioneer Peak and the surrounding fields behind her.

Once the West Butte staircase is improved, the crew expects to shift focus toward other trail systems, including Jordan Lake Park and the Settlers Bay Coastal Trail.

For Leslie, public access to trails isn’t optional. He said while they may seem a luxury, they’re not. They are essential infrastructure for the community that citizens are devoted to, one footstep, one staircase, at a time.

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 and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was reported by -Emily Forstner 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 July 10, 2026.

Photo y Emily Forstner for Big Cabbage Radio : The wooden steps on the West Butte Trail.

Joan Patterson

Photo Credit: City of Palmer

Look out! Here comes another fun-filled weekend in the Greater Palmer Metroplex.

The fix is here for the live music addicts among us. Hatcher-Romp 2026 kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at the Palmer Alehouse. Sunflower Season; Fine, Great; and Justin Morris and Co. are scheduled to play.

HatcherRomp begins on Friday at Skeetawk. Bands from Palmer, Anchorage, Juneau, Seattle, Hawaiʻi, New Orleans and beyond perform at this two-day music festival. Schedule, tickets and deets are at HatcherRomp.com.

The Palmer Museum hosts Alaskan artist Melissa Jacobsen on Friday at 10 a.m. Her work reflects an appreciation and connection with the natural world from mountain vistas and winding trails to quiet moments in nature.

Friday Fling features local favorite The Robotz from noon until 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Mat-Su Pride celebrates queer and gender-diverse joy, resilience, and community care at the Fairgrounds on Saturday from noon until 7 p.m. This is a gathering of resistance, tenderness, and radiant pride beneath the surface. The Queens Guard hosts this free event. Park at the Purple Gate. Accessible parking is through the Red Gate. More information is on The Queen’s Guard Facebook page.

Join Susitna Animal Urgent Care for Paws on the Path on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event focuses on pets, community, and collaboration. Meet at the park-and-ride at Trunk and Blue Lupine Roads. Pick your walking challenge and enjoy socializing with local veterinary clinics, pet organizations, and pet vendors. Bring your family, friends, and four-legged companions. More information is on the Paws on the Path Facebook page.

Are you a fan of craft brews? Join the fun at the third annual Lagers on the Lawn at the Palmer Alehouse from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday. This family-friendly outdoor beer garden celebrates Alaska-made beer, cider, and spirits. It features pours from members of the Brewers Guild of Alaska, live music from Braided River and the Casey Smith Project, lawn games, and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are at the BrewersGuildofAlaska.org website.

The intersection of Seward Meridian Parkway and Bogard Road will be completely closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists from 7 p.m. tomorrow through 5 a.m. on Monday.

Finally, a request: Did you work at the Palmer Dairy Queen before it closed last week? Page 2 is compiling stories from DQ employees. What was it like selling burgers and ice cream cake in Palmer? Do you have any favorite stories to tell about your experience? Email us at page2@bigcabbageradio.org and let us know how we can contact 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 and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: 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 July 9, 2026.

The Brewers Guild of Alaska (BGA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 2000 by craft brewers in Alaska to promote Alaska’s craft beer industry through consumer education, community events and legislative advocacy. The BGA now represents breweries, wineries (including cideries and meaderies) and distilleries across Alaska and serves its members through ongoing legislative advocacy, as well as continuing education and peer and supplier networking opportunities.

Hospice care started in the Mat-Su Valley in the 1980s. Volunteers, churches, and community members led this grassroots effort. Later, Valley Hospice Resources and other organizations focused on emotional support, grief counseling, respite care, and helping families care for loved ones at home.

Hospice has come a long way since its beginnings. Volunteer-based services could no longer meet the needs as the Valley grew. Medicare-certified hospice providers now serve our growing population with trained interdisciplinary teams.

Maria is a Patient Care Navigator with Ancora Home Health and Hospice. She explained how hospice services work in an interview with Mike Chmielewski on Big Cabbage Radio last week. She also cleared up common misconceptions.

Ancora provides stability and support for patients and families during serious illness. Maria emphasizes that hospice care is generally 100 percent covered by Medicare for eligible patients. There is usually no out-of-pocket cost for those who qualify. The name Ancora comes from the Latin word for “anchor.” It is a for-profit agency.

Maria stresses that hospice is not just for the final days of life. One of the biggest misconceptions is that entering hospice means death is imminent. Patients and families benefit most when hospice begins months earlier, allowing time to receive symptom management, emotional support, education, and guidance. Patients with a terminal diagnosis and an expectation of six months or less to live are eligible for hospice care.

Mike Chmielewski shared his family’s recent experience with hospice while caring for a relative in Florida. The patient returned home after the hospital physician recommended hospice. A hospital bed, oxygen, and other medical equipment were delivered before the patient came home. Nurses, aides, social workers, and other team members visited regularly, helping both the patient and family through the final days. Maria confirmed that families in Alaska can generally expect a similar approach.

Each hospice patient and the caregivers are supported by an interdisciplinary team. A registered nurse serves as the patient’s case manager. Certified nursing assistants provide personal care. A social worker provides support for the family, and a chaplain is available for spiritual support. A medical director oversees care. Hospice teams focus on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life rather than curative treatment.

Maria also explained that hospice does not provide around-the-clock caregivers in the home. Families provide the day-to-day care. Hospice staff are available 24 hours a day by phone. Nurses make regular home visits and visit when symptoms require attention. Hospice professionals provide training, guidance, and reassurance that reduce caregiver stress and burnout.

Patients do not always need a physician’s referral to begin the hospice evaluation process. In some circumstances, patients can request an assessment themselves. The Ancora medical director reviews medical records and determines eligibility for hospice services.

Beyond hospice, Ancora also provides home health services for patients recovering from surgery, illness, or injury who need skilled nursing or therapy at home. Maria highlighted the agency’s free “Bridge” program. It stays connected with vulnerable patients after home health services end. The program does periodic wellness visits and check-ins. They can identify changing needs before a crisis occurs.

Maria concluded by encouraging listeners to learn more about hospice before a crisis develops. Alaska remains one of states that underutilizes hospice services. This is despite the significant support available for patients and families facing serious illness. Education, early planning, and understanding how hospice can help means that people receive compassionate care when they need it most.

Mike and his family became fans of hospice. You can learn more about hospice services at ancoraalaska.com. .The interview with Maria is on bigcabbageradio.org in Community Health Connections 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 and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: 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 July 8, 2026.

Photo Credit: Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center

Let’s say you’re heading out to the great outdoors for a few days or longer. You’ve got your backpack. You’ve got your tent. You’ve got your rain gear and a good pair of boots.

What are you going to eat? It’s not an easy question to answer. Your favorite cast iron frying pan is too heavy to carry if it even fits in your backpack. And a lot of your favorite grocery store items are too heavy or too bulky or too fragile.

And your nutritional needs are different out there. You’re hiking in the sun and rain all day. And you’re sleeping in a tent through cold nights. Your body needs fuel. It needs calories.

We asked the people at NOLS how they feed their students. NOLS is the National Outdoor Leadership School. Their 40 acre Alaska campus is on an old dairy farm in Palmer. NOLS hires over 100 instructors who lead over 800 students on trips all over Alaska during the summer. They take them on backpacking trips, mountaineering trips, and sea-kayaking trips.

Some of the trips are one week long. Some are three months long. NOLS takes students to the Talkeetna Mountains, the Chugach Mountains, and Prince William Sound. Program Manager Caio Poletti is really excited about the new sea kayaking course from Whittier to Seward.

NOLS also provides training for astronauts. There’s a hallway in their main building lined with photographs of NASA astronauts who’ve graduated from one of their top-secret training expeditions.

NOLS courses are rigorous. Depending on the course, the weight students carry, including food, can be up to 45 to 60 pounds or 40 to 45% of their body weight according to their website.

Students burn a lot of calories on NOLS trips. Keeping them fed is important. Adventure nutrition is both a science and an art at NOLS.

Students carry enough food to last ten days. For longer trips, pre-pack bags are dropped off for them at pre-determined spots.

Ashley Boone is the rations manager at NOLS Alaska. She uses a computer program as a guideline for food distribution. The students need a diet that’s high in carbohydrates, protein and fat. Yes, fat, especially in the colder seasons. The software sorts out the general nutritional needs, but it does not do the daily meal planning.

Boone says that camp cooking is part of the adventure. She wants them to be creative. They have the tools to make quesadillas, spaghetti, pizza, even cake on their camp stoves. Campers cook in teams of three or four. They take turns cooking. It’s exciting when they develop their own recipes. One time, students came back with a new recipe for camp-stove butter chicken!

All Boone does is give them the tools. She gives them quick-cooking rice and pasta. She gives them tomato powder. She gives them cheese, chicken and tuna packets, summer sausage, butter, olive oil, and cake mixes. And she gives them spices.

Those spices are important. You use a lot of calories when you’re hiking in the mountains. You are not going to eat enough if the food is boring, she says.

So, how much of this applies to your five day backpacking trip? Not all of it. Boone says that when camping on her own, she might use a hybrid approach. She might even splurge and buy one of those expensive freeze-dried meals at REI. But she’s got the skills to cook a great outdoor meal of her own. If you’ve got the skills, you might as well use them.

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

It is also posted on bigcabbageradio.org, Facebook, and NextDoor.

Please support Page 2 News and Big Cabbage Radio. Become a member: Donate today at bigcabbageradio.org.

This Page Two article was reported by David Cheezem 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 Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Image by David Cheezem:

NOLS Rations Manager Ashley Boone shows off their snack mix.