Ted Hammer of Hammers Family Birch joins host Ken Hoffman.

Ted Hammer, his brother Alex, and a childhood friend, Chris Sorensen, started Hammers Family Birch.  They now have 6,000 trees on 100 acres of land. Each tree produces ten to twenty gallons of sap per season, and it takes 135 gallons of sap to make one gallon of birch syrup. They also harvest chaga from the trees and produce several natural remedies from sap, bark, and leaves. For more information about the products and which retail stores carry them, visit hfbirch.com.

We aired the interviews with the candidates for mayor on Sept. 14 at 5pm.

John Alcantra

Jim Cooper

Cachet Garrett

Victoria Hudson

Josh Tudor

Council candidates will air on Sept. 21 at 4 pm and be posted later that day at 7pm.

Mike Chmielewski and Scott Blair from My Favorite Realty have their monthly talk about real estate.

They discussed commercial real estate pricing, comparing new versus older sites. The mortgage rate is staying steady at 7% to 7.5% depending on the loan agreement. What can be done to make your house seller-friendly, Scott reminds us, is that it’s the kitchens and bathrooms that make a home more buyer-friendly.

Sarah Lengler discusses with Mike Chmielewski the process of writing and publishing her first novel, Twin Pines.

Mike asked Sarah what she had learned from writing her first book. Sarah says that she never knew how bad her grammar was. She notices everything around her, whether on walks or as she watches TV, and often identifies small details in the scene that she recognizes as important.

Twin Pines crosses numerous genres, including speculative fiction and sci-fi. The leading character, Shea Murphy, is haunted by her inability to remember a past just out of reach. Shea must trust a stranger and try to remember before the truth finds her and destroys her. What was Twin Pines supposed to be? Why is remembering potentially more dangerous than forgetting?

John Prevost, Intermin Chief of the Palmer Fire Department, joins Mike Chmiekewski and David Shields.

John answers David and Mike’s questions about gear, from weight to special ways to clean the different parts of the equipment. Training drills, such as those held at the old library building, are essential for keeping firefighters ready to meet the challenges of a real fire. John also reminded everyone to ensure that they have working fire and CO2 detectors in their businesses and homes. If you are interested in learning more or becoming a firefighter, please look at the website, www.palmerak.org/fire-rescue.

Mike Chmielewski hosted Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington to talk about the City Council meeting of June 24th.

Gary Wolf gave a presentation about the new library. There are three parts of a project this size: Design estimate, construction, and actual cost. We are still in the design phase. The council awarded the contract for the demolition of the old library. Nick Spiropoulos delivered a presentation on the opioid crisis, urging the city to collaborate with the Mat-Su Borough on this problem.

Mike Chmielewski and Emily Forstner discussed the School Board Meeting of Wednesday, September 3rd.

Dr. Randy Trani was honored for being named the 2026 Superintendent of the Year for the State of Alaska. Teachers and staff members were celebrated for winning state and national awards. Education issues discussed by the board for the next session of the legislature , include funding for K-12 education and proposed term changes for school boards to 4-year terms.

CEO Mandy Mitchell and Procurement and Sales Manager Danielle Kudla from the Alaska Food Company join host Ken Hoffman on Ag Matters.

Alaska Food Company makes freeze-dried fruits, custard ice cream, and mashed potatoes. Freeze-drying preserves flavor, nutrition, and shelf-life. Some fruit comes from the lower 48, but they are exploring ways to use more Alaska-grown foods. Alaska Food Company will partner with local farmers to utilize their unsold produce or contract with them to grow specific vegetables for the company. The goal is to supply sustainable food for Alaskans and beyond.

You can view all the products and the stores that carry them on the website at alaskafoodco.com. Online ordering is coming soon.

For Episode 18, John and Rachel discuss the Railbelt’s looming energy crisis, play public policy pursuit, and contemplate the grand jury clause of the 5th Amendment.

Lauren from the Valley Performing Arts chats with Mike Chmielewski about VPA’s new production, Aboveboard, a romantic comedy set in a New York Apartment in 2025.

The play runs from September 5th through September 21st. Show times are 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 pm on Sundays. For more information, look online at vpaalaska.org.