Lately it seems like Homer has had some really important people come to visit. Earlier this month King Harald V of Norway dropped in to chat about climate change. The Norwegian ambassador Kåre Aas also came with the king. This week Her Excellency Anne Anderson, Ambassador to the United States from Ireland, graced our town. His Majesty might have been royal and all that, but Her Excellency smiled a lot more. 

Why do really important people visit? Madame Ambassador said she came to expand relations between Ireland and Alaska. Heck, we might even craft a sister city relationship with someplace in Ireland, maybe one of those cool west coast fishing ports. Slainte! See, the Betster has already learned an important word, what you say when you make a toast over a wee nip of Bushmills.

Thousands of people visit Homer every year. Lately, it seems like they have all come at once. You don’t have to be really important to see the end of the road. Ever since the first people came to Uzintun, Homer has been a hip place to visit. As far as the Betster is concerned, all of our visitors are important.

You bring interesting stories. You liven up the place. You remind us of the wonders we take for granted in this amazing town. You dress a bit different, usually a lot better than we slobby Alaskans. You ask good questions. You ask silly questions.

Mostly, though, you bring the world to us when we get so caught up in our own little world and forget that there’s a big beautiful universe beyond the bay. Oh, and your contribution to our economy is appreciated. Don’t leave town without buying the Homer News, the best 75 cents you’ll spend this week.

So visitor or longtime resident, get out and enjoy this town, maybe with these Best Bets:

BEST BIG BOATS BET: Don’t know a seiner from a crabber? Want to learn about Homer’s harbor? At 3 p.m. every Thursday and Friday this summer the Pratt Museum offers guided harbor tours where you can learn all sorts of cool stuff. Admission is $10. Meet at the wheelhouse by the Salty Dawg on the Spit.

 

BEST RUN UNTIL YOU GET WET BET: How do you know you’ve run too far in the Spit Run? It’s when you run out of trail and your feet get wet at the end of the road. The big annual race starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Homer High School for runners and 9 a.m. for walkers. Registration is at 8 a.m. or save some money and register online at www.kachemakbayrunningclub.org. Proceeds support local youth running programs.

 

BEST SPIFF IT UP BET: The city cleared out the lot west of the Homer Public Library, but it needs a bit more work. Join the crew from 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Bring loppers, pruning shears and shovels.

 

BEST SLEEP TIGHT: Ever wonder what happens after hours at the library? Bring your stuffed animals from 6-7:30 p.m. and let them spend the night Monday with the Stuffed Animal Sleepover and pick them up the next day. Check out photos online to see what they were up to. It’s also a pajama collection drive for South Peninsula Haven House. Bring new or gently used pajamas.