Representative democracy isn’t pretty, Betster persons. What with a contentious campaign, a diverse slate of candidates and allegations of speciesism, the vote for president could get ugly.
What? Did you think the Betster meant the U.S. Presidential election? Nope, we’re talking the Homer Public Library’s “Books Get Our Vote” election to choose the next president — the book character president. Consider the slate:
• Pete the Cat from the “Pete the Cat” series
• Molly Mabray from the “Molly of Denali” series
• Greg Heffley from “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”
• Raina Telgemeir from “Smile,” “Sisters” and other books
• Jordan Banks from “New Kid”
It’s quite a selection from, well, a cat, to city slickers like Jordan from New York City or Raina from San Francisco. You have small town choices like Pete, who likes to make music and help his friends, or Greg, a middle school student who loves drawing and video games.
But if the Betster can be a bit biased here, my choice is for the Alaskan, Molly from Qyah, a 10-year-old who loves basketball, researching things and vlogging. You can’t go wrong with a girl who’s smart and technologically hip.
Kids, if you want to make your choice, go to the Homer Public Library or the Homer Bookstore, pick up a ballot, cast your vote and drop them off. Or go to “Books Get Our Vote” online at https://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library/books-get-our-vote and print out your own ballot.
And for you adults considering the general election, absentee ballot voting in-person has started at Homer City Hall. Visit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Already have your mail ballot? Fill it out and drop it off at city hall like the Betster did on Tuesday. Bonus: You can get a cool Barbara Lavallee “I voted” sticker in several designs and Alaska’s major languages.
When you’ve done your civic good deed, go out and celebrate, perhaps with these Best Bets:
BEST GET INFORMED BET: Alaska Elections 101 Episode 4 will be presented virtually from 10:30-11:30 a.m. today. This is presented by Kenai Peninsula Votes and the Homer Public Library. Episode 4 is “It’s All About the News,” and will feature reporters discussing what it’s like to cover elections in Alaska. It will be moderated by Rhonda McBride, the veteran journalist who also moderated the U.S. Senate candidate debate.
To watch the webinar, go to this link: https://zoom.us/j/96926409513?pwd=dUZyZDZnbGtMeUVacVpJRUszUThrdz09
Webinar ID: 969 2640 9513; Password: 440298
BEST REMEMBER BET: By virtue of living in this awesome state, every Alaskan has a cool life story to tell. Learn how to tell yours with “Writers Workshop: Mini Memoir with Miranda Weiss” happening from 2-4 p.m. this Saturday at Homer Council on the Arts. It costs $52-$60.
This is a two-day session workshop that will help writers get started and push further in their personal essay and memoir writing through exercises that help them find the stories that emerge from their experiences and get the critical distance they need to make personal writing powerful to readers. Space is limited. Please register at HomerArt.org.
BEST ON THE PROWL BET: Hunting for Compassion, an online event, will be at 3 p.m. this Sunday. This is an online scavenger hunt to benefit Hospice of Homer. Register as an individual or team for $50. Call the office 235-6899 to register. Email address required. All participants on a team must play from the same location and only one registration is required. Receive the Zoom link and instructions via email the day before the event. Meet on Zoom at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, with tech support available starting at 2 p.m.
Find things, create things, win prizes while you support Hospice of Homer. Prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded to the first individual/team to correctly complete each round by finding the whatever, creating the who knows what, or writing the answer. Additional prizes will be awarded for costumes, creativity, and random acts of hilarity.
Points will be awarded to each individual/team to complete a round within the allotted time. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded to individuals/teams with the most points.
BEST MEN IN KILTS BET: If “Haunted Shakespeare” last weekend got you inspired to brush up on the Bard, here’s another chance to learn more about William Shakespeare. At 1 p.m. Sunday it’s the monthly reading in full of one of his plays via Zoom. The Friends of Homer Library, in partnership with Pier One Theatre and Kachemak Bay Campus, invite the general public to participate in an online reading of a play by William Shakespeare. Readings are conducted over Zoom at https://alaska.zoom.us/j/92321508676. Online texts are available at https://www.opensourceshakespeare.org. Call 907-235-1674 with questions.
Sunday’s reading is “Macbeth,” known among theater people as “that Scottish play,” because playhouses apparently get cursed when the title is said aloud. The classic play of political intrique, betrayal and treachery features those evil witches all double-double toil and troubling and Lady Macbeth, who just can’t find a good soap to remove the blood from her hands.
Anglers fish for steelhead in the Anchor River upstream of the Anchor River Bridge on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
