WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?
Chef Pete Scott of the Inn Cafe is on enthusiastic standby to prepare a fine dinner for two lucky table winners during the Colony House Museum's Ninth Annual "Dinner for Four" raffle event.

Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 6 to the eight special persons who will be feted that evening at the Colony House Museum.

Enclosed with this newsletter are two raffle tickets, with additional chances available for your­self or others as you request. Two winning tickets (and two alternates) will be drawn at the PHS Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday afternoon, May 2, and the two lucky winning ticket holders will be notofied promptly by telephone.

You may (1) mail your stubs to PHS by return Mail, (2) bring them to our April 18 "Tony Pippel program" at the Library, or (3) drop them off at the Colony House Museum on Tuesday, May 1st or before May 2nd's 1:00 p.m. PHS Board meeting.

If you are the holder of one of the two winning tickets drawn, you and three guests of your choos­ing will be hosted by a vintage style black-tie staff during an evening of historical reminiscence.

Proceeds benefit the Colony House Museum and the winners enjoy a "night out on the town" as we celebrate our home town of Palmer, Alaska!

IN THE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
PHS members will next be entertained by inimitable conversationalist Tony Pippel, who will bring the story of the many years of "Little League" activity in Palmer and the Valley. Tony, a past "little leaguer" himself, has been researching this subject for several months, and the history covers a time period of over 50 years. Certainly there are scores of local residents who donned a uniform in their youth, who have coached a team or been a part of organizational planning, or who have supported a young­ster through games of valiant effort in striving for an important win. Tony himself has been a lifelong resident of Palmer and among other things is a current member of Palmer's City Council.

There is no doubt that our Valley residents have partici­pated in and enjoyed "team sports" since the early days of population settlement of any number. After the large influx in 1935 of the Matanuska Colony families and depending on the time of year, there were uniformed baseball, hockey, and basketball teams to accept chal­lenge and entertain onlookers. As a side note, Palmer High School fielded its first football team in September 1952 under the coaching tutelage of Norman Rousey, who later becameSuperintendent of Schools.

With summer just around the comer, we all can look forward to hours spent cheering on our Valley youth in their quest for fellowship, gamesmanship, and victory in their athletic pursuits.

Be prepared for lots of laughter and and catch a sense of those "earlier days". Tony's presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18 at the Palmer Public Library. David and Betty Mathews will have delicious refreshments at the ready, and JoAnn Utt will bring a door prize for a lucky winner!

"HISTORY OF PALMER LITTLE LEAGUE"
by
Tony Pippel

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Palmer Public Library Meeting Room

As always, the public is cordially invited to attend!

"ALASKA FAR AWAY"

You likely have heard the scuttlebutt! After eagerly awaiting the completion of Juster Hill's documentary "ALASKA FAR AWAY", the word is out. Initial showings of the long-awaited film are to be presented by producers Joan Juster and Paul Hill to "by-invitation-only" audiences on Sunday, June 10 during Palmer's Colony Day's weekend celebration. All June 10 showings are expected to be screened at the Colony High School on Bogard Road.

The producers are bringing their finished project to the Valley initially as a way to say "thank you" to the Valley community and especially to the many persons who have supported the documentary effort since 1994.

The initial showing is to be given for Matanuska Colonist family members, who will have gathered earlier that day for their annual reunion dinner at the Elk's Lodge, also located on Bogard Road. Matanuska Colonists, Inc. has prepared an invitation address list for the Juster Hill producers.

The audience for additional showings will include the documentary's monetary donors, volunteered story tellers, photo and artifact contributors, community leaders and other honored guests. Remember, the Juster Hill producers are handling the invitation mailout.

The Palmer Historical Society is working to help complete additional mailing information for the producers .. If we have not heard from you in a while, please contact us in order that your name may be included on our invitation list. Juster Hill is promising a "special with-style event". (More information next month.)

PHS has considerable belief that each viewer of "Alaska Far A way" will know that they have been exposed to a very special documentation of America's and Alaska's history, a story of an earlier time that is certain to touch the heart of all who see the film.

PROGRAMS
Coming for our May 16 program...a book talk, "Cures and Chaos, The Life & Times of Dr. Vincent Hume and His Impact on a Frontier Alaska Town". Set for release in May 2007 and presented by the author, Joe Homme.

MAILING ADDRESS
Postal address changes are causing retun of a number of newsletters. Remember to notify PHS if your HCO address isdiscontinued or if other address changes occur. We don't want to lose you!

The Colony House Museum will open for the 2007 summer season on May 1st!

WANTED! NEWSLETTER EDITOR! WANTED!