5TH ANNUAL

Sponsored by:

CONTESTS, DOOR PRIZES & MORE!!

Palmer Bar

SL CookPottery

MADDMATTERS

The Gallery

LAVENDER [SALON]

SPECIAL THANKS:Active Soles, Valley Womens Running Team, Silva Insurance, Valley Hotel, The UPS Store Palmer, Palmer Museum of History & Art, Valley Arts Alliance, Palmer Senior Center

GUIDE BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY

5th annual who let the girls out >>W

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Celebrating female business

owners in Palmer, Alaska

u North Star aNimal hoSpitalDr. Shauna Henry and Dr. Teresa Beck opened the doors of North Star Animal Hospital in October 2006 in downtown Palmer.

We offer full service small animal veterinary medicine and surgery, including cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents, birds and some farm animals.

Our motto is “Personal and Compassionate Care for Pets and their Families”

dr. tErESa BECK &dr. ShauNa hENry

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u CovEr upS dESigNCover Ups will be showcasing their new paint line, Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan, and Having a SALE.

Celebrating its 25 year anniversary, this amazing paint is now available for the first time in Alaska, exclusively at Cover Ups.

Whats so special you may ask? Stop in for free demos and see for yourself. If you’ve ever wanted to paint furniture, here’s your chance to get all the techniques, tips and tricks. Every hour on the hour - 10-6.

u thE upS StorE, palmErThe UPS Store Palmer, Alaska is locally owned and operated by Stacie Stigar.

Since 1999, we’ve used our knowledge and expertise to handle all of your mailbox, packing, shipping, and professional printing needs right here in Palmer. We’re passionate about what we do!

We are open Monday - Friday 8:00am - 6:30pm and Saturdays 10:00am - 5:00pm.

Stop By aNd viSit uS at 1150 S ColoNy Way iN thE KEy BaNK plaza.

StaCiE Stigar

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Don’t miss the Professional Women’s Clothing Exchange SPOnSOrED by IbEW LOCAL 1547Bring in clean, gently used professional clothing, shoes, purses and/or accessories and “exchange” them for items brought by other participants. It’s totally free.The exchange will take place at the Palmer Moose Lodge, 110 S. Cobb St Saturday, April 25th from 9am – 5pm, with a fashion show at noon

u KloNdiKE miKE’S & roadhouSE BBQ The newly remodeled Klondike Mike’s & Roadhouse BBQ is Palmer’s oldest watering hole. An awesome team working together to provide something fun for everyone!

Our kitchen serves great in house smoked BBQ meats in a family environment.

The saloon offers three pool tables, darts, live music every weekend starting with “Full on Fridays” at 5pm, large dance floor with awesome new led and laser lighting for a new “nightclub” scene on Saturdays after 10pm, variety of games and even buzztime trivia on 4 screens - coming in April!

We are not the old Klondike Mike’s, we are a family-friendly entertainment venue with great food and awesome mixologists! Live Music, DJ Dance, Karaoke

Come check us out!

lilly NyBorg & homEr

u Check out the map on the next page for events happening around town! (at participating businesses - look for the dot!)

u BaCKCouNtry thErapEutiCS

Backcountry Therapeutics is a locally owned pediatric therapy clinic offering occupational therapy for children age 0-21 years. Our therapists realize that life doesn’t always happen in a

clinic setting; therefore we offer a wide range of locations to meet the needs of the clients and their families.

We provide clinic based therapy in Wasilla and in Palmer, home based care, community based care, and aquatic therapy. We have a client/ family centered treatment style that emphasizes interactions and engagement of families during and after therapy sessions to ensure success and increase performance and independence in and out of the clinic.

We focus on a holistic, whole body approach to care and work very closely with other holistic and medical facilities in the valley to offer the best care available to your child. We are accepting new clients and would love to welcome you to our family!

Visit our page on Facebook at backcountry Therapeutics (907) 982-3897

aNdrEa BartoK

BECKy oviat & lyNX mullEN

u ForgEt mE Not FiBErSForget Me Not Fibers is a Specialty Shop. We are at our NEW PERMANENT location. 1085 S Cobb St.

We have over 20 local artisans who provide locally crafted, one of a kind ready to wear items, yarns - hand spun and hand dyed; as well as hand dyed roving for spinning or felting your own crafts. Several local woodworkers have crafted tools for our customers, too!

Jill Farris will be joining us with her Silpada Jewelry collection during Who Let The Girls Out?We will be demonstrating carding, using a hackle, and making earrings from quiviut.

Forget Me not Fibers - bringing you Alaska's Artisans One Fiber at a Time!

u lavENdErNew to Palmer, Lavender! At Lavender you’ll find great talent and a fun, free spirited environment. Lavender is an up beat salon that is dedicated to enhancing the world’s beauty, one head of hair at a time.

u WiShiNg WEllNESSWishing Wellness is a women-owned business focusing on weight loss. With the ideal protein weight loss program and individualized nutritional and lifestyle coaching.

www.wishingwellnesspalmer.com907-707-1270Karen Gardner, AnP, IFMCP

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GUIDE BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY

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all day @ SHANE LAMB GALLERY“Name That Print Contest” This is your opportunity to participate in the naming of one of local artist Shane Lamb’s new releases! If your title is selected, you will win a print of the piece you helped name. all weekend w/ JOANIE KIRK, NDHealthy Happy Hour“Making Healthy Cool!” in the Kozlosky Center 9:00am starting 9am @ PIZZERIA DELPHIChampagne Brunch

starting at 9am @ PALMER MOOSE LODGEIBEW Professional Women’s Clothing ExchangeFashion Show at 12:00PM

9am-12pm @ NON ESSENTIALSHuge Clearance Sale - Store Wide 9am -1pm @ PALMER SENIOR CENTERCity Health Fair - Free Screenings Learn How to Improve Your Health 10:00am starting 10am @ THE GALLERYStorewide Clearance Sale - 40% OFF 10am @ PALMER MOOSE LODGESowing Seeds of Success, Business SeminarJeanette Gardner, Seastar Strategies DanaLyn Dalrymple, Dalrymple Law Tammy Bruce, Edward Jones

10am-5pm @ LODESTAR EYE CAREEyewear Selfie Contest - Win a new pair of frames! Samples and Snacks Available

10am-6pm @ COVER UPSHuge Sale and Product UnveilingFree Demos and Demonstrations

10am-4pm @ SILVERTIP DESIGNFREE embroidered WLTGO facial towelWhile supplies last

10pm-4pm @ PALMER MUSEUMSL Cook Pottery, Raku Firing starting 10am @ MADD MATTERSDena Tanguay Fiber Painting Demonstration

starting 10am @ GARDEN GATEScarf Tying Demonstrationswith Sabrena Silvernail

10am-5pm @ SILVA INSURANCEBy The Spirit Photography FREE Military Family Photos! 11:00am 11am-4pm @ KLONDIKE MIKE’SMixology Demonstrations starting 11am UP AND DOWN THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN PALMERValley Arts Alliance Parade of Wearable Art 11am @ NON ESSENTIALSTea Sipping w/ Sherry Maresca of Clumzy Clover Teas & Treasures starting 11am @ BBELLA HAIR DESIGNFifty Shades of Grey [Hair] Photo Event 11am @ FORGET ME NOT FIBERSWe will be demonstrating carding, using ahackle, and making earrings from quiviut. 11am-1pm @ SHANE LAMB GALLERY 3-D Pop-Up Box Card Making Classes 3-D Pop-Up Box Card making classes with paper-craft artist Donna Smith - $25.00

12:00pm 12pm, 2pm, 4pm @ STAMP CACHE Drawings and in-store specials Grand Price Drawing at 5PM (Worth $50!)

12:00pm @ NORTHSTAR ANIMAL HOSPITALAlaska Trappers Association Presentation How to safely release a pet from a snare or trap FREE Trap Release Kit 1:00pm 1pm @ MADD MATTERSShoe Painting with Pam Strahan 2:00pmstarting 2pm @ FIRESIDE BOOKSWho Let the Poets OutRecite your own original work or that of an author you cherish

2pm-4pm @ SHANE LAMB GALLERY 3-D Pop-Up Box Card Making Classes 3-D Pop-Up Box Card making classes with paper-craft artist Donna Smith - $25.00 3:00pm 3PM @ NON ESSENTIALSTea Sipping w/ Sherry Maresca of Clumzy Clover Teas & Treasures

4:00pm starting 4pm @ KLONDIKE MIKE’SAlaska Variety Show - 4PM-5PM 7:00pm 7pm @ PALMER BARPurse Auction - Benefiting Santa Cops & Heroes Program - Extended Dinner Hours

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Magpie Clothing Exchange will be welcoming all aspiring fashionistas to come in and show off their style sense by creating an outfit for themselves, a friend or a mannequin. The outfit that receives the most likes on social media will win its designer a $50 gift certificate good for anything in the store.

4:00pm-6:00pm @ ACTIVE SOLES 5K Fun Run Registration 6:15pm @ PALMER PAVILLION 5K Fun Run Pre-Run Yoga @ the Palmer Pavillion 6:30pm @ PALMER PAVILLIONValley Women’s Running Team 5K Fun Run

6:00pm @ KLONDIKE MIKE’SLive Music, DJ Dance, Karaoke

7:30pm @ KLONDIKE MIKE’S5K Fun Run Award Ceremony

8:00pm @ KLONDIKE MIKE’SCharity Poker Run for Autism Awareness

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4 15BONE MARROW DRIVE 10am to 4pm in the Downtown Palmer Plaza – Turkey Red hallway as part of Who Let the Girls Out Benefiting Kelly Marre

GUIDE BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART BY

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1. Lodestar Family Eyecare2. Silva Insurance3. Palmer Pavillion 4. Koslosky Center - Vagabond Blues- Whimsy Gift Shop- Active Soles- Stamp Cache - BBella - Joanie Kirk, ND

5. Palmer Bar6. Lavender

7. Nonessentials8. The Gallery9. Forget Me Not Fibers10. Madd Matters11. Klondike Mike’s 12. Northstar Animal Hospital13. Coverups14. Palmer Moose Lodge 15. Downtown Palmer Plaza- Shane Lamb Gallery- Downtown Palmer Deli- Wishing Wellness- Turkey Red

16. Palmer Museum17. Pizzeria Delphi18. Garden Gate Gifts19. Silvertip Design20. Valley Hotel21. The UPS Store22. Fireside Books23. Palmer Senior Center24. Roots Hair Salon

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Magpie Clothing Exchange will be welcoming all aspiring fashionistas to come in and show off their style sense by creating an outfit for themselves, a friend or a mannequin. The outfit that receives the most likes on social media will win its designer a $50 gift certificate good for anything in the store.

15 CAKEWALK @ DOWTOWN DELIDowntown Deli 1PM & 4PM, Saturday Cakewalk Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness

u SilvErtip dESigNWhile having some special in store sales for our ladies (and gents) we will be handing out while supplies last, a special remembrance embroidered WLTGO facial towel for the lucky ladies who grace our store on Saturday,

April 25th starting at 10am.

We are also hosting a “Kick Starter” promotion for a new Brewery in the Valley and they’ll be here with an awesome audio and visual introduction to there new business opening in the fall.

So come to Silvertip! Enjoy the activities, we’ll have a refreshment, a special gift to our customers (while supplies last) and savings galore on special items See you there!

u magpiE ClothiNg EXChaNgE Magpie Clothing Exchange will be welcoming all aspiring fashionistas to come in and show off their style sense by creating an outfit for themselves, a friend or a mannequin. We will post their looks on our Facebook and Instagram pages. The outfit that receives the most likes will win its designer a $50 gift certificate good

for anything in the store.

We will be collecting gently used bras for Free The Girls: a non-profit organization that helps victims of human trafficking regain their lives by helping them establish a small business reselling gently used bras in their community.

You bring them in, we’ll ship them off. www.freethegirls.org1901 N hEmmEr rd SuitE 108, palmEr (907) 745-5551

u lodEStar Family EyE CarE Lodestar Family Eye Care is proud and excited to be participating in our first Who Let the Girls Out Weekend, which happens to coincide with our 1-year anniversary in Palmer! To celebrate, we are hosting a frame contest and one lucky participant will win new frames!

Our staff will help you select a frame that suits your style and personality, and we’ll post a picture of you in the frame of your choice on our Facebook page.

Whoever gets the most “likes” wins! We also have a selection of photo props for your Who Let the Girls Out selfie!

Samples of moisture drops and four delicious varieties of popcorn from our friends at Jazzy Gourmet will be yours for the taking just for stopping by! We will be open 10am-5pm - get ready for a fabulous time!

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By the Spirit Photography and Studio – an eclectic little studio on the outskirts of Palmer, brought to you by Barbie Wagner. Offering extremely affordable portrait photography for families, school and business, with a unique twist - you get all your edited images with a

print release, which makes them more affordable for everyone. Barbie will offer FREE photos for Military Families during Who Let the Girls Out! (Hosted at Silva Insurance)

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u rootS hair StudioRoots Hair Studio is the new home of Barbara McDonough, Shelly Ivey & Alexa Stricker.

Advanced stylists specializing in custom color and cuts. 745-3335 - iN thE KEy BaNK plaza 1150 South ColoNy Way, #15

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u thE ShaNE lamB gallEryNeed art work or a gift? We can help you out! Come see our large selection of Palmer artist Shane Lamb art and photography and over 50 other Alaskan arts and crafts artisans’ creations in our gallery.

“3-D Pop-Up box Card Making Classes” with paper-craft artist Donna Smith. All inclusive class - $25 – two sessions available 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm

“name That Print Contest” This is your opportunity to participate in the naming of one of local artist Shane Lamb’s new releases! If your title is selected, you will win a print of the piece you helped name.

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MTA is a proud sponsor ofWho Let the Girls Out.

Local Long Distance Mobile Business Solutions Internet Directory Television

Eagle River, Palmer, and Wasilla694.3211 or 745.3211mtasolutions.com

COMMUNITIES

BUILDINGSTRONG

MUSIC SCHEDULE

Meet a few girls of earlier times! Follow their miles of footsteps throughout the Valley as reminders of their spirit come to mind today. They are a “can-do” group!

In 1937 Thelma Cope came to Palmer as a bride. She was Palmer’s first cosmetologist, and with her husband Jack Cope, a barber, they ran their first business, including a gift shop, until signing up as replacement colonists and moving to their farm in 1940. (Cope Industrial Way.)

Thelma next managed the Palmer school lunch program for many years and then was hired to teach school lunch procedures in the Bush. She ended her varied career by opening the Palmer Pioneer Home kitchen in 1971.

Colonist Emmy Havemeister was left with a grade A dairy farm to run and three children ages 10, 5, and 2 when she lost her husband in 1942. She couldn’t drive, so she sold the family car, shut down the dairy operation, sold the horses, and began to raise cows for other people’s dairies. The family also started selling potatoes and carrots.

By the early 1950’s, with the children older, the family started putting the dairy operation back together. They had managed to keep the farm intact! Emmy had commented “You had to do what you whatever you had to do. Never give up – be strong!”

The family’s Havermeister Dairy operation remains alive and well – check your local market!

ruth DeArmond (Estelle) came to Palmer as a Home Economist in 1936. Besides teaching homemaking skills such as food preservation to Colonist families, she was a participant in the early theater productions.

In the early 1950’s, Ruth Estelle purchased a flower shop from Maud Hosler (Maud Road) and operated it in the now well-known Estelle building in downtown Palmer. Soft-voiced Ruth gifted the Palmer Pioneer Home community a special kindness by providing each resident birthday celebrant a small fresh flower bouquet.

Lea Ehrhart (Lea’s Dress Shop) offered and attractive source of fashion, from special occasion to nice basic essentials. Lea lobbied devotedly for Palmer’s beautifully located golf course.

betty Mears served as City of Palmer Mayor and on City Council , and her shop (known simply as “Betty’s”) catered to both the high school set and young professionals.

Dorothy Saxton came to the Valley in 1947 and in 1949 began her 30 year career as Palmer’s Magistrate. She has been described as having a heart as big as the valley, and throughout her career her cheerful, caring personality touched base with many if not most residents. She once commented “I never had a case that I didn’t have some heart in.”

Two wonderfully special gals in our town were Clarabelle Kopperud and Clare buzby. Clarabelle arrived in 1937 and became a nurse at the Colony

hospital. She hadn’t necessarily planned to stay in Alaska but her kind and gentle caring the hospital soon earned her the descriptive title of being an angel. She had found her home and remained in Palmer throughout her days.

Clara Buzby, known widely as “Buzzie” brought straight-talking wisdom and delightful humor wherever she went. How she was missed by local voters when she retired from service on our election board. “Where’s Buzzie?” they would exclaim. In her late years she was often seen kibitzing with Mat-Su Miners game fans in bleacher-land.

And then there was Mrs. Margaret Cope, a teacher par excellence. In 1939 she came to Palmer with her two children after her bush pilot husband Alonzo Cope was killed in a plane crash on Taku Galcier.

Mrs. Cope began a 30 year teaching career at Palmer High School, shwer she taught typing, shorthand and bookkeeping to her hundreds of students. She was quiet spoken, kind but no nonsense, and for many years always wore navy blue or reay. No doubt the skills she taught were put to good use by her students in many of our local businesses.

Think of all the footsteps these ladies have left in their pages of time! Consider the legacies of thought and deed they leave behind.

Well done, girls!

@ PALMEr bAr FrI 9PM The Rockin’ Candys

@ VAGAbOnD bLUES SAT. 2PM Boogie Willis - Harpist SAT. 3PM Meggie Aube & Friends

SAT 4PM Devynn Maclure SAT. 5PM Amy Beth

SAT. 6PM Mountain Waxwings

@ DOWnTOWn PALMEr DELISAT. 4PM Emily Kathryn Barry

SAT. 5PM Melanie TroustSAT. 6PM Devynn Maclure

SAT. 7PM Amy Beth

@ KLOnDIKE MIKE’S & rOADHOUSE bbQ SAT 9PM Blue Voodoo

w/ Ashley Current

@ THE CAbOOSESAT 9PM Doug Geeting & Steve Durr

u BBElla hair dESigN BBella Hair Design is changing!

We are working on our salon renovations!

During this transition you will find the most

current information and updates on the

BBella Hair Design Facebook Page.

During Who Let the Girls Out we’ll be

hosting the Fifty Shades of Grey [Hair]

Photo Event.

Stop by or call for more details! (907) 746-9007

u NoN-ESSENtialS nonEssentials will open the doors early on Saturday April 25th for a HUGE clearance sale, up to 40% off store wide! from 9 am - noon only. Swag bags for the first 100 customers with coupons and goodies good for savings on merchandise and services on the very things you love around Palmer!

NonEssentials welcomes Sherry Maresca of Clumzy Clover Tea and Treasures in Wasilla and Eagle River, for a tea sipping!

u Who lEt thE girlS out 5K FuN ruN Friday april 24th at 6:30pm

Valley Women’s Running Team (VWRT) is once again happy to be part of the Downtown Palmer Merchants Association’s Who Let the Girls Out Version 5.0 on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, 2015.

VWrT will be hosting the Who Let the Girls Out 5K run/Walk which will start at the Palmer Downtown Pavilion Friday evening at 6:30pm. This fun 5K is open to walkers and runners alike. Online registration is open until April 22nd at www.vwrt.org. Race day registration is also available from 4:00-6:00pm at Active Soles in the Koslosky Building in Palmer. Midnight Sun Yoga Center will be leading racers in pre-run yoga at the Downtown Palmer Pavilion at 6:15pm. We will have an Awards Ceremony at the Roadhouse BBQ at 7:30 p.m.

The Valley Women’s Running Team welcomes new and aspiring runners to participate in this race. By hosting the WLTGO 5K, VWRT hopes to bring new members into the club and encourage Valley women to embrace a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise.

VWRT is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide an educational and recreational running program for people of the Mat-Su Valley. Their goal is to encourage new and veteran runners to set and meet personal goals and increase the enjoyment of the sport.

raKu FiriNg at thE palmEr muSEum oF hiStory aNd art Saturday, april 25, 10 to 4 pm

Raku is a participatory ceramic firing process. Pick a ceramic pot or two, glaze the pieces and watch as kiln temperature reaches 1900 degrees in 20 minutes; red hot pots are removed from the kiln and put in buckets with newspaper and organic materials.

The hot pots ignite the paper and a lid smothers the fire, causing the air starved flame to take oxygen out of the glaze, creating beautiful iridescent glazes. Pots are then removed from the buckets and plunged into water for finishing and ready to go home. Join SL Cook Pottery for this exciting event. Ceramic pieces range from $10 to $35.

WhimSy giFt ShoppE Whimsy Gift Shoppe is a charming little home décor, novelty, fashion and gift shop located in beautiful downtown Palmer at 642 S. Alaska Street in the Koslosky Building.

The store is owned by a sister-mother trio. The sisters, Ingrid Ling and Cindy Skow, handle the finances, purchasing and daily operations while their mother, lovingly referred to as the “not-so-silent partner” rearranges the store when her daughters turn their unsuspecting backs.

There is never a dull moment with this group of ladies. Stop by the store to find out what all the buzz is about.

For Friday, April 24Drawings at 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00

For Saturday, April 25Drawings at 12:00, 2:00 and 4:00Grand Prize Drawing at 5:00 on Saturday (worth $50) In store specials both days: Select Tim Holtz stamps, embellishments and inks, and various selected card stock. In the Kozlosky Center, Palmer.

Stamp CaChE

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Sowing Seeds of Success:Tips, Tools and Strategies to grow your business and investments

As part of Who Let the Girls Out, three women professionals from Palmer have partnered to offer a unique seminar for women. Jeanette Gardiner of SeaStar Strategies, LLC; Tammy Bruce of Edward Jones; and DanaLyn Dalrymple of Dalrymple Law, PC have developed this seminar to help women take control of their limited time and resources, and grow their business and investments.

Each spring we strive to clean out the old and make a fresh start in our lives at home and at work. As Jeanette explained, “Spring brings the promise of new growth and renewal, both in your garden and your business. To help that new growth thrive, it’s essential to clear the weeds and prepare the ground. And while it’s easy to spot the weeds in your garden, it can be a little more challenging to spot and clear the “weeds” that keep your business from thriving.” Clearing the weeds and preparing the ground for a thriving business is all about finding the right tools and strategies that work with you, your customers, your team members—and your unique type of business.

Jeanette will share 21 tips, tools and strategies to help you clear the weeds that are stunting your business growth, and plant the seeds of success to help your business thrive.

New growth in your business can often be overshadowed by challenges to your personal financial well-being. Tammy Bruce teaches us that you have to take control of your financial goals as well. Tammy advises, “Just like eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is a smart choice for your health, diversifying your investments can be healthy for your portfolio. But there’s more to portfolio diversification than

just owning a few stocks in different sectors.”

Tammy will walk us through her tips from this month’s Edward Jones Perspective seminar, taking a look at the four D’s of diversification and their possible implications for your portfolio. Other topics will include:

You’re in control: the power of 3; Women and retirement income: what you need to know; and 3 common risks to your retirement strategy.

You’ve cleared the weeds, discovered some time, and made healthy long-term financial choices. Along the way, it is important to make sound legal decisions to protect the bounty of your hard work. DanaLyn Dalrymple will discuss some simple dos and don’ts of common real estate transactions, contract issues, and estate planning. It is critical for women not to rely on others to protect their interests. Being aware of risks and common mistakes can go a long way to ensure a bountiful harvest.

Join these professionals at 10:00 am on April 25, 2015 at the Palmer Moose Lodge for this free seminar on sowing the seeds of success. register by phone at 746-1175. Seating is limited. Jeanette Gardiner works with time-strapped small business owners who are trying to grow their business, but are immobilized by the energy-draining, day-to-day activities of their business and schedule. She helps them discover the gift of time so that they can redefine their day, grow their business and take back their personal life.

Tammy Bruce joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor in 2010, opening the firm’s third branch office in Palmer. She became a financial advisor because she has a passion for investing and helping people meet their financial goals.

DanaLyn Dalrymple is an attorney with Dalrymple Law, PC in Palmer. She practices in the areas of business, real estate, wills and probate.

By Carmen Summerfield

Traditionally, the word Raku referred to the Japanese pottery used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony; it means enjoyment, comfort, or happiness. Nowadays, the word Raku refers to the practice of utilizing both heat and smoke to create unique patterns and designs.

The Raku process starts with firing the pot until it reaches its maximum temperature (approximately 30 minutes) and then placing it into a sealed metal container containing combustible material.

The combustible material immediately ignites, drawing oxygen from the hot pots and glazes. This process, called post fire reduction, leaves ions and iridescent luster behind, creating a metallic effect on the glaze. Unglazed areas turn a matte black color.

When the pots have cooled somewhat, they are removed from the sealed metal container and submerged in water. The timing of each step directly affects the shades of each glaze color, and contributes to the unpredictable results and intense colors of Raku that attract modern potters.

Local potter Sandra Cook, owner of SL Cook Pottery and Fiber Werks in Palmer, has perfected this technique and, with her portable raku kiln, is bringing it to the community this spring.

In the next few weeks Sandra will conduct two workshops to help participants design and create individual Raku pieces.

During these workshops, Sandra will provide each participant with pots of fired and unglazed ceramic ware, known as bisque. The participants then decorate their pot with a variety of glazes, and then Sandra fires the pots in one of her special portable Raku kilns. At the conclusion of the workshop, all the participants will be able to take their unique creations home!

On Saturday, April 25, Sandra will be setting up her portable raku kiln at the Palmer Museum of History and Art, from 10am to 4pm. This is part of the annual “Who Let the Girls Out” event in Palmer, which will also feature art, music, food, and product demos.

On Saturday afternoon, May 9, starting at 2pm, Sandra will conduct the 7th Annual Valley Arts Alliance Raku Pottery Party at Pat Garley’s Arctic Fires Bronze in Palmer, Alaska. Don’t let the “party” name fool you—this event is a true informal workshop.

The workshop fee for the Valley Arts Alliance Pottery Party on May 9 is $50, and is payable at the door. Seating is limited, so please reply to “Carmen (at) ValleyArtsAlliance (dot) com” or call 746-2370 to reserve your place.

So join Sandra at the Palmer Museum on Saturday April 25 from 10 to 4pm, or at Arctic Fires Bronze (located at 15615 East Outer Springer Loop in Palmer) on Saturday May 9, from 2 to 6pm.

These workshops are a unique experience, and part of bringing the community together through the arts!

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