Today, immigrant grandfather would be kicked out

My grandfather, Aldolfo Giuseppe Giovanni Baptista Motta, arrived in steerage from Italy at the age of 15, alone, with 35 cents in his his pocket and a dozen bananas. He spoke only Italian, had no profession, contacts,or prospects.. Yet Ellis Island passed him through without hesitation. He got a factory job for 5 cents an hour, and his dream of life in America began. He cried every time he retold the story and spoke of the Statue of Liberty

Today, he would not be allowed into the country. What has happened to this place called America? Were are we? Something vital has gone way off track.

Jo Going

Young actors appreciate Foundation support

The Pier One Theatre Summer Youth Theatre Camp would like to take a moment to thank the Homer Foundation donors for their generous support of the arts. Our program this summer was made possible by a $2500 grant from the Jessica Stevens Fund and the KLEPS Fund. These funds allow us to offer kids a chance to be immersed in the world of theatre: a world of focus, experimentation, and creative play. Through hands-on, open-ended practice, students gain social skills and learn about responsibility, self-reliance, cooperation, and empathy. Activities engage their bodies and minds as they stretch toward creative goals. Every student leaves with a new understanding of their own potential, and skills that will serve them in both the theatre and the world. This year we were able to offer several scholarships and provide instruction over 25 students. Thank you again to the Homer Foundation and the Jessica Stevens Fund and KLEPS Fund. Pier One Theatre is forever grateful for your support.

Jennifer Norton, Artistic Director, Pier One Theatre

Bear Canyon neighbors should work together on trail solution

It saddens me to watch and listen to the amount of distress, hostility and alienation that has occurred and is likely to occur regarding the Bear Canyon Trail. It is understandable that Brown, Zuyus and Koskovich are concerned for their safety, privacy and peaceful enjoyment of their property. The Bear Canyon trail users want cooperation, communication and respect for the affected community. I trust that there is a way for all the people involved to get what they value.

There is possibly a path for the Homer community to settle this dispute. It is my understanding that Alaska state law allows for the removal of a right-of-way or section line easement if an equal or better alternative access is provided. I suggest that the stakeholders get together and identify all of the possible alternatives for a trail and then select one that meets the need for safety and access to Bear Canyon.

Courtney Cox Brod

Pratt internship was enlightening

I would like to tell you about my summer Intern experience at the Pratt Museum.

As an Intern, I worked in collections and with the public in the galleries. In the galleries, I would display artifacts from the education collection that visitors could look at, touch, and ask me questions about. Topics ranged from glaciation of Kachemak Bay to eagle skeletons and Native Alaskan tools. My personal favorite thing to do in the gallery was to pull out artifacts from the archaeology education kit such as Native Alaska harpoon tips, knives, and lamps and talk about them and Native history with museum guests. I enjoyed sharing interesting facts about objects and history and just adding something to visitors’ museum experience — small things that make people think a little harder about what they’ve seen or help them further understand a topic they’re interested in. Working at the museum has allowed me to fulfill both my love of learning and sharing that learning with others.

Interning as a high schooler is an enlightening and valuable experience that more students should be able to pursue. The Pratt is an important community resource in more ways than one and is an organization I am happy to have worked in. My time as a summer Intern at the Pratt Museum was enjoyable and educational, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunities and support that the museum staff provided me during my time there.

I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to the David and Mary Schroer, KLEPS fund, and donor advised funds at the Homer Foundation for making my 2019 summer Internship at the Pratt Museum possible.

Lawrence Dunn

Younger council candidates offer optimism

As our community faces daunting economic, social and environmental challenges, I find cause for optimism: two sincere, intelligent, and committed younger people are running for Homer city council. Storm Hansen-Cavasos and Joey Evensen, who both grew up in Homer and have chosen to raise their families here, are ready to invest the time and energy it takes to responsibly hold a seat on the city council. I am looking forward to their fresh, yet very different, perspectives.

Although both have roots spanning generations in Homer, their life paths and backgrounds are quite different. I don’t expect to always agree with either of them, or for them to always agree with each other. I do expect both to contribute to the wealth of ideas and insights we need on the city council for our town to move forward together to meet today’s challenges. I urge Homer voters to put Joey and Storm to work for us.

Thank you,

Kathryn Carssow

Trump builds real Iron Curtain

On March 5, 1946 , Prime Minister Winston Churchill, of the United Kingdom made the term “Iron Curtain” a world wide moniker for the communistic dictatorship of Russia. That Iron Curtain never existed in a literal sense. But existence of the Iron Curtain in a political administrative sense did exist for decades to the detriment of freedom to the extent that multitudes were deprived of human liberties and life inherent to mankind. Contained within that Iron Curtain were people who were dictated to by an unworkable communistic philosophy doomed to failure.

Now, I live in a country who has a president who endeavors, even by devious means, to build an “Iron Curtain” (wall) in the true literal sense. Iron Curtains (walls) contain people as prisoners, are shameful, and have a history replete with failure.

Sovereign nations throughout the world have consistently found civil methods to maintain sovereignty and immigration without building walls.

William J. Marley