Sarah Palin: Wasilla Celebrity

In another Sarah Palin story, Associated Press writer Becky Bohrer has written "All-things-Palin still reigns in Alaska:"

Reporting from Juneau, Alaska —

Anyone who doubts Sarah Palin's celebrity need only talk to Lyn Carden.

As head of the Chamber of Commerce in Wasilla, Alaska, Carden tends to be the front line for tourists wanting to see Palin, perhaps even grab a cup of coffee at her house. And she has heard it all.

When Palin makes news, or carries a snazzy purse women want to buy, Carden invariably gets a call, or a flurry of calls. Some callers have left credit card information, hoping to get that purse. Others send fan mail or money for Palin's political action committee.

There are those too who just stop in, hoping for directions to her house, which they do not get, or eager to learn as much as they can about Wasilla's most famous resident. Many snap photos of themselves with Palin's cardboard cutout. ...

... She also is among the most well-known but polarizing political figures in America, revered by supporters as a God-fearing Everywoman who fights for what she believes in, and derided by critics as a political lightweight and quitter.

"There's no gray area," Carden said. ...

The story continues with a description of John Coale's trip with Sarah and Todd Palin to a Boston pastry shop. John Coale is Greta Van Susteren's husband.

At the end of the story, we're told, "Associated Press reporter Mark Thiessen contributed to this report from Wasilla, Alaska." This post's photo was found at another version of Bohrer's story.

Wasilla's Light

At Gryphen's, there is a story from The National, a newspaper in the United Arab Emirates. In The National's story, about Sarah Palin's book signing in Wasilla, there is a photo of Wasilla's Mocha Moose, during full daylight, and a photo of Jessica's Beehive Beauty Shop in low-light. The National's Mocha Moose photo reminded me of a photo of the Mocha Moose made in low-light by Bill Hess. Seeing The National's photo of Jessica's beauty shop reminded me, too, that there can be some beautiful light in Wasilla.

Here's The National's Mocha Moose photo, where Sarah Palin drives-through:


Here, Bill Hess has made a photo of the Mocha Moose when he visited at another time of day:

As I pulled up to the drive-through at Mocha Moose for my
afternoon coffee break, ...

And, here is the low-light photo of Jessica's Beehive Beauty Shop, where Sarah Palin has had her hair done:

Frank Flavin's photos are from a story about Sarah Palin's book signing, in Wasilla, Alaska.

Bill Hess covered the book signing, too. Bill Hess has seen Russia from Alaska! Bill Hess' blog — Wasilla, Alaska, by 300 ... — can be found on the blogroll.