Local News

About 450 people participated in the Homer March for Science on Saturday, Earth, part of national and international events to show support for science and research. Protesters dressed up as sea stars, whales and even a science library. Some wore knitted “brain” hats. At one point the line of marchers stretched from Kachemak Way to Main Street along Pioneer Avenue. The Bossy Pants Band of the Krewe of Gambrinus also marched in the event, playing the theme song for popular science personality Bill Nye’s TV show. Many of the participants came from Homer’s active science and teaching community, including marine mammal biologists, mathematicians, ecologists, geologists and oceanographers.

Volunteers last Saturday collected about 800 bags of trash and 50 bags of recyclable trash during the annual Homer Community Clean Up sponsored by the Homer Chamber of Commerce &Visitor Center.

USS Hopper, a U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, visits Homer this weekend as part of Northern Edge, a joint military training exercise in the Gulf of Alaska and the state.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Mike Navarre visited the Homer City Council at its Monday night meeting to field criticism over the borough’s recent property assessments in the Homer area, but also to defend the assessor’s model in calculating taxable property at the “full and true value,” as mandated in state law.

Even on short notice one day in advance, a community meeting with Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, last Friday quickly overflowed its scheduled spot in the 15-seat conference room at the Homer Harbormaster’s Office.

In a March 9 memorandum regarding certification of a petition for recall of Homer City Council members Donna Aderhold, David Lewis and Catriona Reynolds, City Attorney Holly Wells warned the council and Mayor Bryan Zak that “issuance of the Recall Petition on the grounds provided by the sponsors exposes the city to constitutional challenges based upon protections afforded speech under the Alaska and United States Constitutions.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R- Alaska, visits Homer for a community meeting from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, at the Homer Harbormaster’s Office conference room. The community is invited to meet Sullivan and share thoughts and concerns. Sullivan also visits the Ninilchik Senior Center on Friday. Sullivan has been visiting Alaska communities this past week, including Wainwright and Utqiagvik (Barrow).

Cooking on a boat is not always smooth sailing. Working with storage space, equipment and ingredients — and often an overabundance of fish — to please and feed a crew presents a formidable challenge for the cook on board.

Photo provided

As of April 20 the first session of the 30th Alaska Legislature enters its 93rd day. While in Juneau the House and Senate seem to be headed toward tense negotiations over key bills, including a state income tax, the Homer City Council continued work sessions to keep tabs on the Legislature. At a meeting on Tuesday, with council member Shelly Erickson absent, the council and Mayor Bryan Zak held an informal meeting to discuss key issues.

The city of Homer last week issued an invitation to bid for an expansion of Hickerson Memorial Cemetery that will solve a shortfall in services many people don’t think about: Where to bury the dead. Last month, the city sold its last burial plot at the city-owned cemetery on Diamond Ridge Road.

Where better to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday than in Homer, one of Earth’s most beautiful places?

The seats were full and the comments were plenty regarding the upcoming recall of Homer City Council members Donna Aderhold, Dave Lewis and Catriona Reynolds. However, the council was in listen-only mode on the subject at its regular Monday meeting, following the advice of city attorney Holly Wells, who was not present.

An Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Hopper (DDG 70) visits Homer from April 28-30 as part of Exercise Northern Edge in the Gulf of Alaska. Hundreds of sailors will get shore leave and participate in community service projects, excursions, sporting events and explore local culture and sites, the Alaskan Pacific Command said in a press release.

An interfaith event last month inspired by the visit of a Tibetan Buddhist teacher may lead to more community collaborations on an idea common to most spiritual beliefs: compassion. Held on St. Patrick’s Day at Homer United Methodist Church, “Practicing Compassion in Challenging Times” brought together believers of numerous faiths and spiritualities, all talking about how compassion drives their beliefs and how it transcends differences.

By McKibben Jackinsky

Update: On Thursday morning, April 6, Homer Police Chief Mark Robl said the Alaska Medical Examiner ruled that Marlene Eke died of natural causes.

Defying breakup

When the community gets together Friday to celebrate the 2017 Women of Distinction, they also will honor the 2017 Heroes of the Heart — Donna and Bernie Gareau.

A text message sent by mistake to Homer Police Sgt. Ryan Browning resulted in the indictment of three Homer residents on drug and gun charges. In an indictment on March 27, a Kenai grand jury made these charges, all felonies: