Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Whitney Daw, Communications Supervisor for the Palmer Police Emergency Dispatch as they discuss the how the emergency dispatch system in Palmer operates.

image Credit: City of Palmer

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Wade Long, Mat-Su Borough’s Development Services Manager, as they discuss the Mat-Su Borough’s CLEAN program. The Community, Land, Enforcement, Abatement, and Neighborhood Support (CLEANS) Program is a Borough-wide effort to improve health, safety, and neighborhood conditions across the Mat-Su. It supports the cleanup of private properties with code violations, Borough-owned lands, vacant lots, and community areas that have become hazardous or unsightly. Work may include debris removal, junk vehicle towing, removal of unsafe structures, and coordinated neighborhood cleanup projects.

Logo credit: Mat-Su Borough

More than 100 kids have shown up in just a week and a half at the Summer in the Parks program in Palmer. Every one of them went home with a book.

That’s the early success of Summer in the Parks. This free outdoor literacy program is run by the Bright Lights Book Project.

Children from toddlers to middle schoolers gather from noon to 2 p.m. on weekdays at local parks. They receive a free lunch from Kids Kupboard, listen to read-alouds, enjoy hands-on activities, and get a book to keep.

“Kids are coming out of the woodwork,” says Bright Lights Executive Director Alys Culhane.

“It’s just amazing,” she continues. They’re already seeing repeat kids.

The program runs Monday through Friday at rotating locations.

Bugge Park on Cobb Street hosts the event on Mondays and Wednesdays, the Amoosment Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the Palmer Museum on Fridays. Today’s event features horse stories and unicorn books.

Culhane knew that they needed a lot of books for the expanded program. A windfall of books made it possible.

Mat-Su School District Library Coordinator Becky Williams reached out to Culhane in early May. Three schools, Glacier View, Meadow Lakes Elementary, and Larson Elementary, were closing. A surplus of books was available for the taking.

Bright Lights rented a storage unit for the books from Meadow Lakes and Larson Elementary Schools. It’s full. Fifty boxes of those books will fuel Summer in the Parks this year.

Glacier View kept some of their collection and the rest went to Sutton Elementary School.

About $7,000 in grants from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, the Rasmuson Foundation, the Palmer Lions Club, and the City of Palmer fund Summer in the Parks. These funds allowed Culhane to hire staff this year. It’s a big step up from last summer. Culhane and Swanson Elementary School librarian Kim Evans ran the program by themselves last year.

Master kindergarten teachers Mike Percell and Lawrence Giron of the Alaska Literacy Program are credited with much of the success this summer. The Alaska Literacy Program is a key Bright Lights partner.

Bright Lights Books has grown since Culhane and Bill Schmidtkunz began salvaging books at the Valley Recycling Center in 2019. Free books are spread across nearly 50 volunteer-maintained bookcases throughout the Mat-Su Borough.

Books are shipped to rural Alaska. A $30,000 grant secured by Senator Lisa Murkowski helped send Culhane to Utqiagvik, Nome, Elim, Old Harbor, and 20 additional villages last year. A grant for this year has just been awarded.

The program has gone beyond Alaska. Way beyond. Palmer resident Brad Schmidt visited Kenya and brought books to share. A teacher in Kenya tracked down Bright Lights Books — and Culhane said yes. Two pallets of books are on their way to Kenya.

Bright Lights returns to the Alaska State Fair this year. They are set up near the Equestrian Center. Children can read aloud to stuffed animals and take a book home with them.

Culhane takes a wide view of what this all means.

She said these are the types of things that make Palmer what it is.

“People can see that literacy and being literate are important.”

The Bright Lights Book Project operates its literacy center and distribution site at the Eagle Hotel in Palmer. Those wishing to learn more about the project can visit brightlightsbookproject.org or email director@brightlightsbookproject.org.

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 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 June 12, 2026.

Occupied Alaska is a timely, page-turning tome for those who appreciate high-stakes geopolitical suspense. A piece of speculative fiction rooted in the realities of modern international relations, it explores the fragility of democracy and the chilling possibilities of our shared near-future.

Holly A. Bell is an award-winning novelist and amateur voice actress. Following a 17-year business career, Holly settled in Alaska as a professor of business and economics and an administrator at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Well. That was another excellent week and now we are headed into the heart of Summer. This means one thing in the GreaterPalmerMetroPlex …Colony Days!

It’s Palmer’s annual celebration of community, history, and local pride. This tradition brings residents and visitors together for a weekend full of fun. Colony Days offers something for everyone and is a great opportunity to experience the spirit of Palmer.

Enjoy a variety of events and attractions throughout the weekend, including: The downtown parade on Saturday at 11 a.m., live music and local entertainment, vendor booths, food trucks, family-friendly activities and games, classic cars, exhibits, and plenty more! Colony Days runs tomorrow through Sunday.

Check the Colony Days Palmer Alaska Facebook page or palmerchamber.org for the schedule of events.

And don’t forget the Lions breakfast at the Moose Lodge on Saturday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Just $10 for adults and $7 for children three to 12 years old.

Big Cabbage Radio will march in the Colony Days Parade on Saturday. We no longer have Bill Tull’s sea green convertible to drive so we will be walking with our cabbage crowns and our tutus. Join us at 325 E Fireweed Avenue by 10:30 a.m. if you want to walk with us.

We also will live stream the parade from bigcabbageradio.org. It will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel for later viewing.

There’s a full lineup of music this weekend at Colony Days and beyond.

On Friday

Colony Days has live music at the Palmer Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Will Johnson plays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Schaefer Mueller plays from 3 to 6 p.m.

And elsewhere

Hope Cassity plays the Fishhook Bar & Grill from 6 to 9 p.m.

H3 Hawaii Reggae plays the Palmer Alehouse from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday

Colony Days again has live music at the Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sergio Adam plays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Jokers Wild plays from 3 to 6 p.m.

And elsewhere

The John Budnik Band plays at Hatcher Pass Lodge from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Robotz plays at the Palmer Alehouse from 4 to 6 p.m.

Hope Social Club plays at the Palmer Alehouse from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Sunday

Colony Days has live music at the Pavilion with

The Lingonberries from noon to 3 p.m.

Ever wondered how the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game keeps Reflection Lake stocked and looking great? Come out on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for a free outdoor learning experience.

Walk the one mile loop trail at Reflections Lake and visit the discovery stations. You can help stock the lake with fish, practice bird identification, create fish prints, and test your skills with spin casting and other outdoor games.

You can also learn about falconry, learn about boating safety with Alaska DNR, test inert bear spray, and more. Reflections Lake is in the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge. Access is from Mile 30 on the Glenn Hwy at the Knik River access exit.

This is going to be a mighty fine and fun weekend in our neck of the woods. Enjoy Colony Days and more! Have a great day and a better tomorrow.

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 June 11th, 2026

Photo credit: Matanuska Experiment Farm

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Aimee Young, Farm Manager from the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, for the latest updates from on the farm.

Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the recent city council meeting for June 9th. 2026, on this week’s Mayor’s Minutes with host Mike Chmielewski.

Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer

Photo credit: City of Palmer

Tim Huffman of the Midnight Sun Beekeeping Club joins host Ken Hoffman on this episode of Ag Matters to discuss beekeeping in Alaska.

Photo Credit: Midnight Sun Beekeeping Club

The Mat-Su Sentinel bought the Frontiersman. The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman has been reporting news and sports in the Valley since 1947. Arizona-based Wick Communications bought it in 1996.

Wick Chief Executive Officer Josh O’Connor says, “We could not have found a better successor. The Mat-Su Sentinel is truly the perfect local owner.” 

Thousands of newspapers in the United States have closed over the last two decades. Survivors tend to be digital and located in urban centers. Amy Bushatz has watched this trend unfold over her 25-year journalism career. 

She moved to the Valley in 2016. She was astonished to see local newspapers still operating in Alaska. The Frontiersman, the Peninsula Clarion, the Cordova Times, and the Nome Nugget were still in print. 

“I saw the writing on the wall, how that was going to end,” says Bushatz, “and I wanted to make sure that I had an organization where we were providing trusted local news.”

Bushatz launched the Mat-Su Sentinel in 2024. It’s a digital-only, non-profit news source. It was meant to complement, not compete, with the Frontiersman. After all, there are a lot of communities in the Mat-Su with stories to tell! 

The timing was remarkable. About six months after the Sentinel started, the Frontiersman was put up for sale.

The Sentinel purchased the Frontiersman last month. People can read the Frontiersman digital archives for free now. Bushatz removed the paywall. She hopes to keep the archive accessible. No news is being added to it at this time. 

Bushatz also received decades of print newspapers. These provide a record of Mat-Su history. 

Some coverage formerly reported in the Frontiersman, such as sports and the “Best of the Valley” celebration, will be covered in the Sentinel in the future. 

The Sentinel reports on events, public meetings, and public notices. It provides a calendar of events and a community bulletin board where readers can post announcements. Stories are organized by region. There are still gaps in coverage, especially for towns in the Matanuska Valley.

“It’s a big valley,” says Bushatz. “So, we need more of all the things we’re already doing.”

Bushatz also promotes civic engagement. The Sentinel held a “Flip the Script” election event in 2025. Voters used live polling to express their views on topics. Candidates listened from their seats among the audience. Another Flip the Script is scheduled for this fall. The Sentinel will also host an interactive voter guide based on topics submitted by readers.

Bushatz believes local news coverage strengthens communities and fosters connections. She is betting that still matters even in a changing media environment. 

If you have a news tip, you can reach Bushatz in her office across from the Valley Hotel in Palmer or through matsusentinel.com. 

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 summarized by Kendra Zamzow from the Valley Edition interview with Amy Bushatz last week. The full interview is on bigcabbageradio.org in Valley Edition under podcasts.

Yours truly, Lee Henrikson produced this article. 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 June 10, 2026.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Kelley Shoemake, Executive Director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, as they discuss the 2026 Colony Days celebration.

Let’s have a parade! The Colony Days Parade will take place Saturday, June 13th, at 11:00am in Downtown Palmer! Be sure to come out and find a great spot to view the Parade, and enjoy! Can’t make the parade in-person? Listen to the livestream provided by Big Cabbage Radio by visiting their homepage www.bigcabbageradio.org.