Valley FRONTIERSMAN
Published each Wednesday and Saturday
Palmer, Alaska
ViSla Daniels .Editor
Evon DeLand.Advt. Manager, Palmer
Marilyn Rhodes.advertising manager Anchorage area.
No printed material in the Valley Frontiersman may be re
produced except by permission of the editor.
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Delivered by carrier in Palmer. Mailed to all points in
Alaska and the United States.
Printed in Anchorage plant of Anchorage Daily Times
Daniels —In the Lion’s Den
The town of Palmer last week showed at least two healthy
indications of its being ready to quit its infancy and emerge into
preparation for adulthood.
In a child, two sure signs of adolescence are an interest in
appearance, and the beginnings of a belief that maybe teacher
is a good thing for a classroom instead of an ogre whose regula
tions are to be evaded whenever possible.
The indications aren’t so different in a town. Last week the
Northland Pioneer Grange announced its adoption of a com
munity service project which is designed to “clean up our road
sides and beautify our country and town homes and our business
establishments.” The project is pretty good evidence that Palmer
is beginning to be interested in the reflection that is mirrored
in the eyes of visitors and Valley residents alike.
Wasilla’s Grange this week announced its sponsorship of a
like project of home and yard beautification, showing that our
Neighbor, too, is becoming concerned with external appearances.
The second indication of our step toward adulthood and the
assumptions of some of the responsibilities of that state, was the
announcement of the appointment of a merchant patrolman to
police the downtown business section through the night. The
feeling is becoming more and more apparent that conditions of
law and order will be a decided improvement to the town of
Palmer.
Both these indications of dawning adulthood will become a
reality only as we of the Valley stand ready to prove our own
ability to think a problem through in an adult manner.
It is not impossible to imagine a situation in which a Valley
property-owner, either rural or town, could spoil the over-all
project of road and yard beautification by refusing to allow any
such “nonsensical ideas” to be put into practice on his premises.
It is to be hoped that there are not many among us who have
not yet grown up enough to give serious thought to the appear
ance of our surroundings, both at home and at work. It is only a
child that can remain oblivious to the ugliness and desolation of
the environment in which he lives.
The same thought holds true in the support of the new mer
chant patrol plan. There are those who may reason, in the simple
and obvious thought pattern of a child, that there is no need for
that protective measure. There may be those, who will say, “We’ve
gotten along so far without anything like that, so we don’t need
it now.”
We who are deeply and sincerely interested in the future of
Palmer and the Valley hope that these children among us are
few, and we trust that the others of us will be able to evaluate
their immature reasoning for what it is.
Both projects need support, whole-hearted and unanimous,
i£ they are to succeed. The whole project for road and yard
beautification can be a failure, if only several among us refuse
to work with our neighbor in the plan to make our Valley even
more beautiful to look upon than it is now.
The merchant patrol plan can and will fail, without the sup
port and financial aid of every business establishment in town.
In its initiation, the project is being carried financially by only
a few merchants. It cannot continue without the financial back
ing of us all.
The decision is squarely up to us. The answer will mark us
clearly for what we are—children who do not yet possess the
reasoning power to back a worthwhile project for common good,
or adults who can see beyond a plan to its ultimate goal of im
proved living for us all.
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Saturday, Feb. 21, 1948
Good Fair Needs
Early Planning,
Much Publicity
The two most important pre
requisites for the production of
a good fair are early planning
and the promotion of participa
tion through publicity of plans
by means of neighborhood lead
ers. Those were the points em
phasized strongly by Mrs. Lydia
Fohn-Hansen in her discussion
of what makes a good fair at the
Farm and Home Institute this
week.
Mrs. Fohn-Hansen, home dem
onstration leader of the Exten
sion Service, introduced her
topic by outlining some of the
reasons for producing a fair of
the type planned for the Mata
nuska Valley.
She said principal objectives
are to develop and encourage
local industry and the use of
local products, advertising for
the Valley, and to stimulate in
terest in the production of qual
ity foods and vegetables.
To improve Valley fairs it was
suggested that it might be ad
vantageous to alternate premium
payments in various classes from
year to year. In this manner,
larger premiums could be of
fered in the classes designated
for judging each year.
The point was stressed that
fairs can improve only as inter
est in participation is built up
among Valley residents. To stim
ulate interest in Valley affairs,
Mrs. Fohn-Hansen suggested
inese possiDinties:
(a) Premiums and prizes;
(b) Displays of educational
materials;
(c) Displays designed to ad
vertise Valley commodi
ties;
(d) Displays to advertise local
industries;
(e) Concesions and entertain
ment features.
(f) Contests and recreational
events.
The opinion was voiced that
displays of local exhibits should
be more educational and more
practical. As a concrete exam
ple, it was suggested that a good
canning exhibit might consist of
one large display of all types of
local products raised on a farm;
or the exhibit might show all
the. Alaskan-raised foods neces
sary to keep a family in food
for a year.
Mrs. Fohn-Hansen said the
most practical point to remem
ber in planning exhibits and dis
plays, was to show local pro
duce to the best advantage, in
order to create a demand for it
in the minds of purchasers. She
urged that toursits be remem
bered as potential buyers when
planning fair exhibits.
Lorin T. Oldroyd, director of
Extension Service, also urged
the advisability of increasnig the
educational value of displays. It
was suggested that the work of
the agricultural committee might
be integrated in the fair program
by building a fair’s displays
about the topics to be studied
by that group this year.
In the open discussion follow
Mrs. Fohn-Hansen’s remarks, the
concensus of the group was that
fair books must be printed much
earlier, in order to plan well
rounded and complete displays
for exhibition.
Harold Thuma suggested that
the Valley’s fairs will go far to
ward breaking down prejudices
against the products of Alaska’s
farms.
Robert Klem urged that native
arts and crafts be given consid
eration in fairs of the future.
Coffey natures Everything_
Remember? —Adv.
Matanuska Electric
Association, Inc.
For Power Distribution
When you buy tires ask
about the guarantee
SPECIAL TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE
ON SETS OF TIRES
Be sure you see the new Gates
Silent Safety all-size passenger
tires
GRAHAM SERVICE
Machine Work Welding Repair
Gas Oil
I
Palmer !
Automotive Service & Storage 1
7600 Gasoline
WE NEVER CLOSE
Royal Triton Lubrication
Special Rates on Storage
Have Those Rejair Jobs and Tune-up Jobs Done
While You Sleep
Stop-Wear Lubrication All Work Guaranteed
Phone 25
Severns Cabinet Shop
(Formerly owned by Charles Elton)
We build to your specifications
Millwork
Cabinet Work
EVERYTHING GOES
Prices marked way down io clear our racks of all
robes, dresses, suits, and other women's wearing ap
parel.
Come early for best choices, for bargains like these
can't last long.
Sale opened Monday. Feb. IS and will continue until
our slock is sold out.
Variety Vogues
(Now Under New Management)