While 2023 saw the closest thing to a “return to normalcy” since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, actual COVID numbers and hospitalizations were reported to be rising for the first few months of the year before dropping to unprecedented lows. With a drastic decrease in demand for on-site tests and vaccines, the South Peninsula COVID-19 testing and vaccine site closed its doors, giving way to at-home testing and treatment at the regular hospital facilities.

Tourists began returning to Alaska in greater numbers than noted in the past three years. Statistics revealed that domestic leisure travel had “recovered,” with visitors to the Kenai Peninsula Borough choosing to stay for longer periods of time.

Many community events returned after COVID-induced hiatuses, or saw greater in-person turnout than they had for the past three years, like the Winter Carnival parade, Shorebird Festival, Kachemak Bay Writers Conference and Concert on the Lawn. Commencement ceremonies were also conducted in person again in May, rather than over Zoom.

The effects of COVID were still felt this year by some longtime community establishments. The Homer Theatre, worried that they might have to close their doors, began seeking new and innovative ways to draw community members to the movies. To date, their measures seem to be working, and the theatre has continued showing the latest box office hits on its single screen.

Community organizations also held events and conversations with the public, seeking to address widespread social issues like the ongoing housing crisis, workforce shortage and lack of available childcare.

A cold and rainy summer saw a late peony season for Homer. In response, the annual peony festival was extended.

The City of Homer tackled a great many large projects this year.

Homer entered into a feasibility study agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers, a process that was slated to take three years. Along the way, city staff and the Corps organized multiple community feedback sessions in order to determine the best outcome for Homer’s harbor. Toward the end of the year, however, the study met a roadblock with an unexpected shortage in federal funding. The City of Homer passed a resolution in support of continuing with the study, although it may experience delays in 2024, and continuing to seek federal funding.

Homer saw the start of a so-far successful green infrastructure program, with sites located at Beluga Slough and Kachemak Drive. This turn from traditional hardscape to utilizing Homer’s abundant natural wetlands marks an effort to protect both the wetlands and city infrastructure.

The city council also funded and approved a contract for the development of a new comprehensive plan, in light of the many developments that Homer is facing in the near future. Homer’s zoning and planning code will also receive timely updates.

The future of community recreation had to start exploring new and creative avenues, after it was determined that the HERC site would be too costly — both timewise and money-wise — to rejuvenate. However, the city is pursuing funding assistance that would allow the HERC to be addressed properly at some point in the future.

Homer was also honored as an official “Coast Guard City.”

The year wrapped up with holiday festivities and an abundance of snow. In the new year, Homer looks forward to continued growth and community connection, reestablishing the patterns put on hold and, as always, moving forward.

January

COVID cases in the state and the Kenai Peninsula Borough increased in the first week of January from the last reporting period in December 2022. An updated bivalent booster vaccine was made available in Alaska, which was designed the original COVID-19 strain and subvariants of omicron. Officials recommended all eligible Alaskans, from 6 months of age and older, to be up to date on their COVID vaccines to minimize the infection’s impact on communities. Cases and hospitalizations continued to rise throughout January.

Michaya Boone, Homer’s first baby of 2023, was born to parents Fractal Mic and Tenaya Boone at South Peninsula Hospital at 8:01 p.m. on Jan. 4.

South Peninsula Hospital closed its COVID testing and vaccine site on Bartlett Street on Friday, Jan. 13. During its operation, the clinic received more than 15,000 vaccine consent receipts and provided over 50,000 nasal swabs. In its peak, the site employed 15 people and was averaging 100-150 swabs a day. On its last day of operation, the site performed a single swab test.

The Homer Public Library advisory board voted on Jan. 17 to keep 55 titles purported to contain LGBTQ+ themes in the children’s and young adult areas of the library, rather than moving them to separate sections or interfiling them with the adult books. The board upheld the original decision made by library director Dave Berry on July 5, 2022, after a citizens’ group submitted a petition that the books in question be removed from the children’s section. The issue was brought to the advisory board after the petition leader appealed Berry’s decision. Public testimonies given during the four-hour meeting appeared overwhelmingly in favor of upholding Berry’s decision.

The Homer City Council moved forward on the Homer Harbor expansion project by passing Ordinance 23-01 to renew funding, originally approved in 2020, for the Army Corps of Engineers study. Several council members reiterated to the public that the study is the first concrete step toward determination and planning of the expansion, and there will be “lots of public process” in the future.

February

Homer News reported on Feb. 2 that Homer theater pioneer Lance Petersen passed away in his home on Thursday, Jan. 26 at the age of 81. His wife, Barbara, and son, Sascha, were at his side. Petersen brought 50 years of magic and joy to Homer as the community’s inspiring drama teacher, stage manager and founding director of Pier One Theatre. He taught drama, directed countless community shows and managed Homer High School’s Mariner Theater, a performance space he helped create and design, for 30 years.

Homer’s annual Winter Carnival Celebration returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Themed “Breaking out of Hibernation,” the carnival kicked off with a parade down Pioneer Avenue and featured activities that celebrated wintertime and highlighted Homer’s many cold-weather activities.

Former Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche won the special borough mayoral election held on Feb. 14, beating out competitors Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Dave Carey and Zachary Hamilton. Micciche served an abbreviated term that would expire in October, before running for reelection for a full term as mayor in October. Micciche succeeded Mike Navarre, who was appointed in 2022 to take over for Charlie Pierce, who resigned as borough mayor due to allegations of sexual harassment.

Nikolaevsk School started a successful grant-funded hydroponics program for students in kindergarten through 11th grade. The program furthered the school’s goals of providing project-based curricula and supporting students in several state-required education standards. Students also incorporated their harvests in bake sales and other fundraisers.

Homer High School had to quickly rearrange some sections of the library to avoid damage due to water coming in from the building’s leaky roof. Part of the roof covering the gym and the loading docks had recently been repaired, but the second phase of the repair that included the roof sections over the library was slated to be completed during summer vacation. The school’s failing roof was an illustration of the many deferred maintenance projects across the borough that finally received attention this year.

March

Anchor Point revived their annual Snow Rondi winter festival, with three days of events hosted by the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce, Anchor Point Library, VFW Post 10221, Anchor Point Senior Center, and Chapman School. Started in 1957, the Snow Rondi had been an annual tradition until a few years ago, when a reduction in community involvement and the COVID-19 pandemic put the event on hiatus. Organizers recreated the festival the best they could with the resources and agencies available to them this year. They look forward to growing the event in future years to come.

Students, parents and community members turned out for a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula School District Board of Education to oppose the cut of the school pool and theater staff proposed as a way to balance the district’s budget for the fiscal year. The cuts were just two of the budget reductions proposed to offset a $13.1 million shortfall. On the list of proposed cuts were theater technicians at Homer, Seward and central peninsula high schools, as well as manager salaries and benefits for pools at Susan B. English, Skyview, Ninilchik, Kenai Central High, Homer, Seward and Soldotna high schools.

The Homer City Council began tackling some large planned projects this month. The council approved funding for the development of a new comprehensive plan and a complete update of the Title 21 zoning and planning code. They also passed Resolution 23-017, approving a contract with Agnew Beck Consulting out of Anchorage for the comp plan and code development. Mayor Ken Castner vetoed the resolution and partially reduced the project funding approved by the council. City council also considered — and voted down — a resolution to move forward on testing the Homer Education and Recreation Complex for hazardous materials, including PCBs. Council members said at the time that they required further information and context in order to reevaluate what the next steps are for the HERC, and when those steps might be taken.

The 29th annual Winter King Salmon Tournament was held on Saturday, March 25 after being postponed due to inclement weather. Gail Bilyeu, fishing on the El Negro, was this year’s tournament champion, with a fish weighing in at 26.12 pounds. His official winnings amounted to $23,313, but including side tourney winnings added up to as much as $62,036 in total cash prizes.

Homer police issued a warning to the public that they had received “a handful of reports” from Homer bar patrons in recent months that their drinks were being spiked. Incidents were reported by both men and women who said they had one to two drinks followed by unreasonable intoxication, memory missing from the night and aches and pains the following day.

A coalition of community organizations hosted the first community conversation on the housing shortage crisis in the greater Homer area. The event, which discussed results from two community surveys and held a number of small-group workshops, was attended by nearly 100 Homer area residents. According to the survey results, the largest barriers to housing were indicated as affordability; a lack of availability in housing; vacation rentals or short-term rentals; seasonal housing; and “other.”

April

The Homer City Council upheld Mayor Castner’s reduction to funding for the comprehensive plan, as well as the veto of a resolution approving a contract with an Anchorage consulting firm to complete the project. In other news, the council approved a task order for testing the smaller HERC building for PCBs and “spot checking” the larger building to initially assess the presence of PCBs in that building.

Only two weeks after a spike of 50 cases of COVID-19 locally in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, cases fell in the week of April 6 to a low not seen since 2021.

The Army Corps of Engineers general investigation feasibility study into the Homer Harbor expansion was launched in the signing of an agreement between the City of Homer and the Corps. The study would be conducted over the next three years and involve a great deal of community input.

The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company conducted training for oil spill response preparation in Homer on April 5-8. Approximately 20 local fishing boats were on Kachemak Bay for the water equipment component of training. Boats participating in the training practiced with gear onshore before deploying skimmers, booms and other equipment from their vessels. Ahead of the exercise on the water, mariners had completed online training and practiced in a classroom.

The Homer Halibuts, local Native Youth Olympics team, sent eight athletes to the statewide NYO meet in Anchorage the weekend of April 21. Senior Leah Evans competed in the kneel jump, Indian stick pull and 1-foot high kick. Charity Gordon, freshman, competed in the Alaskan high kick and 2-foot high kick. Sage Laky, seventh grade, competed in the wrist carry. Rowan Matney, seventh grade, competed in the Eskimo stick pull, one-hand reach and seal hop. Molly Evans, seventh grade, competed in the scissor broad jump. Josiah Gordon, sophomore, competed in the wrist carrier and Eskimo stick pull. AJ Allowan, junior, competed in wrist carry and seal hop. Senior Elijah Gordon competed in eight of the 10 events: kneel jump, wrist carrier, Alaskan high kick, scissor broad jump, one-hand reach, 2-foot high kick, Indian stick pull, 1-foot high kick and seal hop.

A Virginia opossum, christened “Grubby” by locals, infiltrated Homer, as well as Homer community members’ hearts. Grubby caught a ride into town on a shipping container traveling from Washington state to Spenard Builders Supply in Homer. Grubby’s presence instigated numerous social media posts by local residents and businesses, including the Homer Animal Shelter and Homer Police Department, as well as marketing campaigns and messages of concern over the possum’s fate.

May

Community members gathered around the Loved and Lost Memorial Bench in front of the Homer Public Library to celebrate the installation of the etched glass and copper lotus lamp envisioned by Brad Hughes and created by Art Koeninger. The ceremony, which honored the memory of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane who went missing on Oct. 17, 2019, as well as other missing and murdered people, began with the reading of a poem, “Holding the Light” by Stuart Kestenbaum, then continued with words shared by Murnane’s parents, friends and the artists, and ended with a blessing. The bench was dedicated in a memorial on June 12, 2022, and with the installation of the lamp and the information plaque inside the library’s front doors, the Loved and Lost Memorial Bench is now complete.

The 31st annual Shorebird Festival kicked off Wednesday, May 3 and ran through Sunday, May 7. The 2023 Shorebird Festival welcomes keynote speaker Diego Calderon-Franco, featured author Julia Zarankin, festival artist Mattie Squire, and Schantz Scholar Oscar Wilhelmy. 126 shorebird species were seen during this year’s festival. Festival turnout seems to have returned to normal by pre-COVID standards, according to festival coordinator Melanie Dufour. In an email to Homer News, she wrote that people came from all over Alaska and from out of state to participate in this year’s schedule of events. According to Dufour, 735 people signed up for the basic festival registration, and there were 2,854 add-on tickets sold.

Homer’s 30th Annual Safe and Healthy Kids fair took place on Saturday, May 6 in the Homer High School parking lot. Sponsored by South Peninsula Hospital, Sprout, Homer Parks and Recreation, Homer Volunteer Fire Department and South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services, the free event included a bike rodeo, free car seat check, a teddy bear clinic, and a performance by Sea Legs — Homer’s original stilt troupe.

The USS Momsen arrived at the Homer Deep Water Dock on May 3, ahead of the Northern Edge exercises scheduled to take place this month in the Gulf of Alaska. The Momsen offered four public tours on May 4 to about 25 people at a time on a first-come, first-served basis. The last one was scheduled at 6 p.m., but there was enough public interest remaining at the start of the final tour that they offered one more to round out the evening.

Despite less-than-stellar weather and some last-minute operating changes, the 28th annual Anchor Point King Salmon Tournament saw another successful turnout. Sixty-one anglers fished this year’s tournament, with 12 boats registered and 19 fish caught overall. The number of anglers registered increased by nearly 50% from the 2022 tournament, according to chamber vice president Erin Jerde. This year’s first-place fish was caught by Judy Persnail on the Outlaw with a 21.55-pound catch. Persnail earned $1,769 for her king salmon. Second place went to Mark Tornai, also on the Outlaw, for his 18.8- pound catch, for which he earned $854. Third place was awarded to Joe Marx on the Catcher for his 16.3-pound king salmon, for which he earned $488.

Kachemak Bay Campus faculty, staff, students and community friends joined in a celebration on Friday, May 5 to say goodbye to long-time staff members Caroline Venuti from the Learning Resource Center and Christine Thorsrud, librarian technician. KBC director Reid Brewer said the two — who were part of the campus for a collective 40 years — had “shown an amazing commitment to student education, faculty support and care for community members.”

May is graduation season — Homer High School graduated about 80 seniors in a commencement ceremony on Monday, May 15 in the Alice Witte Gymnasium. Homer Flex High School graduated 10 students on Monday, May 15 in a ceremony held at the Land’s End Resort Quarter Deck. Kachemak Bay Campus conferred 62 degrees and certificates during its 53rd annual commencement, hosted Wednesday, May 10. This year’s commencement was the first held in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also the first ceremony held at Kachemak Bay Campus, with previous years’ commencements being conducted at Homer High School’s Mariner Theatre.

The Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, held a series of public workshops on the Homer Harbor Expansion Study at the Islands and Oceans Visitors Center from May 17-19. Open to all interested community members, the public work session — dubbed a “charrette” — was the first planning event for the study. Issues raised included potential environmental impacts to the marine protected area and species of Kachemak Bay; what harbor growth might mean for community traffic and general business expansion; what is the underlying basic need for more space for current existing number of vessel owners in the community; and safety concerns for having vessels rafted out in as many as five or six deep from the pier and ramps. About 50 or 60 people showed up on the first day of the study, with about as many contributing to the Thursday and Friday components.

The 2023 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference welcomed author Robin Wall Kimmerer as this year’s keynote speaker, to the enthusiasm of conference attendees and community members alike. A “mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation,” according to the writers’ conference website, Kimmerer is the author of “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants” and “Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.” Kimmerer gave her first keynote presentation on Saturday morning on May 20 at Kachemak Bay Campus.

June

Homer News reported on June 1 that Homer joined five other Alaska cities as an official “Coast Guard City.” The designation, which was given May 22 in a proclamation, “acknowledges and celebrates the positive relationship the Homer community and the USCG have shared for more than 50 years.” Homer serves as the home port to USCGC Aspen, the USCGC Naushon and the USCG Marine Safety Detachment.

This Memorial Day, the Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221 honored those veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. VFW post and auxiliary members, along with members of the community, performed services including a color guard and an honor guard at Hickerson Memorial Cemetery, the Anchor Point Kallman Cemetery and Ninilchik’s American Legion Cemetery on Monday, May 29. Post 10221 is the only VFW in the state to perform honor guard services each Memorial Day, according to Post Cmdr. Chuck Collins

Grubby, the opossum stowaway spotted on the loose in Homer earlier this year, gained a new lease on life after being captured by Homer police officer Taylor Crowder nearly two months after her arrival in town. The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage volunteered to take Grubby in, and the possum arrived at the zoo on May 24. The Homer Police Department announced on Friday, June 2 that additional opossums were spotted around town, a little over a week since Grubby was transferred to the Alaska Zoo.

After a year of COVID and other delays, Pier One Theatre opened their 50th season of theater on the Spit with “Cosmic Hostel,” a comedy written and directed by Homer’s Sally Oberstein.

Homer’s updated version of the local Halibut Festival ran June 1-30. The event started about 34 years ago and used to run all summer long. It was shortened this year to a one-month event with less emphasis on chasing the biggest halibut for the entire season. With COVID conflicts in 2019, the chamber shut down the event and reopened it in 2021. 2023 offered new variations, starting off with the inaugural Big ‘But Ball that took place at Homer’s Elks Lodge on Saturday, June 3.

Homer police investigated vandalism reported at the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic and REC Room youth center on Ben Walters Lane. On June 5, KBFPC staff returning to work after attending the Soldotna Pride celebrations found that the Pride flags hanging in front of the clinic and REC Room entrances had been vandalized over the weekend, CEO Claudia Haines told Homer News. According to video surveillance footage from the clinic, the culprit or culprits returned multiple times to the KBFPC campus, first shredding both flags and later cutting down the flag in front of the clinic and damaging the flagpole.

KBBI’s Concert on the Lawn found its way home, returning June 24 to its former longtime location, Karen Hornaday Park. After a six-year hiatus from 2015 to 2020, and then two years shifting to live broadcast “Concert on Your Lawn” due to COVID, the concert was resurrected last year at the Down East Saloon with more than 500 individuals attending.

The 23rd annual Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival returned June 15-18 to “celebrate the light in scenic Seldovia.” This year’s festival was the first held as an outdoor tent event at the new Seldovia Waterfront venue.

WKFL Park had space for everyone to safely celebrate Pride and Juneteenth on Saturday, June 17. This year’s Liberation Celebration, the third to combine Pride celebrations with Juneteenth, was centered around teaching about and honoring intersectionality in the LGBTQIA+ community. The scheduled Pride and Juneteenth community celebrations lasted for three days, Thursday through Saturday, with food, outreach activities and Juneteenth educational readings.

Homer hosted the first annual Summer Solstice Street Fair on Wednesday, June 21. Organized by Sage Anderson, the event took place from noon to 10 p.m. on Hazel Avenue between Safeway and Homer Public Library.

The Homer City Council passed Resolution 23-058, expressing support for and adopting the Homer Harbor Expansion Charter, during their last regular meeting on Monday, June 12.

Facing financial crisis, the Homer Theatre aimed for revitalization in an effort to keep its doors open. Between battling the impacts of increased at-home streaming availability and the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater faced financial difficulties that could make its continued presence in the Homer community impossible, said owner Jamie Sutton.

On the June 21 summer solstice, Bunnell Street Arts gallery hosted a reception at Bishop’s Beach for the installation of “Tuyanitun: Tuggeht,” a sculpture created by local artist Argent Kvasnikoff, a member of the Ninilchik Tribe of Alaska. The sculpture, which resembles a stack of smooth glass stones on top of a pole, was commissioned as a land acknowledgement piece of art and is now a part of the City of Homer’s Municipal Art Collection.

The fourth annual Homer Peony Celebration kicked off a month of events and activities in June to recognize local peony farms and farmers.

July

South Peninsula Hospital reported on July 6 that they saw 14 emergency room visits for COVID-19 and two hospitalizations for COVID since June 11. The clinics also saw additional activity in June, and SPH saw a slight increase in employee absences related to COVID over the last few weeks preceding the July 6 Homer News issue. The SPH front desk has also seen an increase in demand for home tests, providing 60 boxes in the last week of June.

Homer News reported on July 6 that an Arkansas tourist suffered major injuries on Friday, June 30 after being struck by a car that veered into her while she used the Homer Spit bike and pedestrian trail. Lily Casteel, 21, had to be transported by a Medevac aircraft to an Anchorage hospital. Homer police said that at about 4:40 p.m. on June 30, Tyler Brewer-Cote, 18, of Homer drove outbound on the Spit near Mile 2 when he went into the oncoming lane and the bike path and his car hit Casteel. The crash closed or delayed traffic until about 9:30 p.m.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers sought information on a sandhill crane that was shot with an arrow on Saturday, July 1 on East End Road. The crane was alive but pierced with an arrow through its chest. This particular crane had been nesting in the same area for more than eight years, and was known and admired by those in the neighborhood. The crane was later rescued and treated on July 9 and released back into the wild.

The 2023 Kachemak Bay Highland Games last Saturday, July 1, held a variety of events for all to enjoy, from the traditional heavy athletic events and a Kilted 5K race to a reading of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” by Pier One Theatre combined with participation of the Barony of the IceFire Bay during the play’s battle scene, to musical performances by the Mariner Sandpiper, Nerea the Fiddler and the Harp Twins with the Volfgang Twins.

A limited harvest opportunity for east Cook Inlet razor clams was opened up in the Ninilchik area by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game from July 1 through July 4. During this period, all beaches along the Kenai Peninsula from 3 miles north of the Ninilchik River to the tip of the Homer Spit were game for prospective clammers. However, the razor clam fisheries in the Clam Gulch area remain closed.

A fire on Thursday, July 6 severely damaged the Fritz Creek General Store, a Southern Kenai Peninsula landmark and the center of the community of Fritz Creek east of Homer on East End Road. Kachemak Emergency Services and the Homer Volunteer Fire Department responded to the structure fire of the historic log building early Thursday morning. The building’s structure was still standing, but the interior suffered heavy fire damage.

A tsunami alert triggered an evacuation warning in Homer on Saturday, July 15 around 11 p.m. Mixed messages from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management and the Homer Police Department caused confusion as to whether Kachemak Bay residents needed to evacuate or if there was no cause for concern in the local area. Homer Harbormaster Bryan Hawkins noted that during the evacuation, people progressed in an orderly manner out of the lowlands to get above the inundation zone.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management installed new tsunami siren equipment across the borough, starting on Monday, July 24 with the replacement of the siren at the Homer Harbormaster’s Office. Siren equipment in the 14 existent locations were replaced, and two additional sirens were built in new locations, totalling 16 tsunami siren installations by the project’s end.

Bret Herrick, 62, of Anchor Point was convicted of attempted murder in connection to a 2021 incident during which he shot an Alaska State Trooper five times at the Warehouse Grocery Store in Anchor Point. Herrick was found guilty on all charges following a multi-day trial, including attempted murder, four counts of assault in varying degrees, escape in the second degree, resisting arrest and two counts violating conditions of release. Herrick was scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 1.

August

The number of alternatives being considered for the Homer Port and Harbor expansion remodeling plans were reduced from 13 to five, as reported by Ronald McPherson, coastal engineer with HDR Alaska Inc., at a July 24 Homer City Council work session.

The fourth annual Homer Peony Celebration, traditionally hosted through the month of July, was extended two weeks further and scheduled to end on Sunday, Aug. 13. After the cold and rainy spring weather Homer experienced this year, leading even into summer, peony farmers experienced a delay to the start of their season by as much as four weeks.

Two seats on Homer’s City Council were up for grabs in this year’s municipal election season. Incumbents Caroline Venuti and Rachel Lord both filed for reelection. Homer resident Joni Wise also filed for city council candidacy on Monday, Aug. 7. Homer resident Daniel Hasche filed for candidacy on Monday, Aug. 14.

Throngs of tie-dye clad revelers, ardent environmental advocates and musicians of all persuasions swarmed Ninilchik over the weekend to celebrate Salmonfest — the annual festival that this year brought around 60 performers to four stages scattered throughout the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds. The weekend-long event, billed as “Three Days of Fish, Love and Music,” kicked off Friday afternoon on Aug. 4.

On Aug. 4, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Naushon was in port to offer public tours of the vessel in celebration of Coast Guard Day. Established on Aug. 4, 1790, the Coast Guard celebrated its 233rd birthday this year.

On Aug. 6, the 78th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Homer Public Library’s Kevin Co, curator of the Heiwa or “Peace” tree, was joined by a small group of community members to harvest a sprout from the library’s existing ginkgo tree and create a new plant for the community to share. The original tree was provided from seeds from Hiroshima, Japan by Steve Yoshida, a long-time resident of Homer, retired lawyer and former member of the local Rotary Club. Yoshida now lives in Hawaii and is still a U.S. Heiwa leader.

The Kenai Peninsula Fair opened at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik on Friday, Aug. 11. The theme for this year was “It’s a Family A-Fair.” The community of Ninilchik has hosted the event for 69 years.

On Aug. 9, the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District sponsored a regional mariculture meet up at Kachemak Bay Campus. The event hosted a variety of speakers from across the state, who presented information on current market issues that are relevant to established and interested shellfish and kelp farmers in Kachemak Bay.

Kachemak Bay Campus continued to advance its new sustainable agriculture program with the completed planting of the campus high-tunnel greenhouse. The tunnel is located just below the campus buildings on the corner of Kachemak Way and Klondike Avenue. The campus opened the high-tunnel as a teaching lab, and started its “Ask a Grower” education series on Aug. 8.

The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon and adjacent waters, excluding the Homer Boat Harbor, opened to snagging on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at noon. This move, described as “liberalizing existing sport fishing regulations” remained in effect through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31.

The varsity Mariners football team won their home opening game of the season on Saturday, Aug. 12. The host Homer football team, the defending Division III state champions, began the season with a 38-12 victory over Barrow. The game was nonconference.

Homer began leading the scene on going green when the Homer City Council adopted Ordinance 23-46 on Monday, Aug. 14, accepting a grant directed toward the Kachemak Sponge Green Infrastructure Stormwater Treatment System project. As a further step, the council also adopted Resolution 23-078 approving a contract for appraisal services to support the project.

At a special city council work session on Monday, Aug. 14, it was determined that the HERC will be sticking around town a while longer. Economic development director Julie Engebretsen gave an update to the council that, based on the results released from the hazmat testing conducted on the HERC earlier this year, demolition of HERC 2 “hit some pretty serious roadblocks.” Engebretsen advised the council to start looking into alternatives to achieve the city’s goal of establishing a new community recreation center.

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Zucchini Festival returned Saturday, Aug. 26 to the Homer Farmers Market with much aplomb. Preceding the kids’ zucchini car races, reigning Zucchini Queenie Luba Dorvall of Luba’s Garden led a parade around the market before passing on the crown to this year’s queen, Jen Castellani of Will Grow Farm.

On Aug. 31, Homer News reported that on March 10 earlier this year, Doyon, Limited purchased 4.5 acres of land known as Lighthouse Village on Homer Spit Road. According to a spokesperson for the company, plans for the land’s use were still in the early stages at that time.

The visiting Homer football team defeated Kodiak 52-0 on Friday, Aug. 25 in Mid Alaska Conference action. The Mariners, the defending Division III champions, moved to 1-0 in the league and 3-0 overall. Kodiak dropped to 0-1 in the league and 0-3 overall.

Alaska environmental protection agencies hosted a statewide event in Homer from Aug. 29-31 discussing the discovery of invasive European green crabs in Alaska waters. The event addressed what agencies can do collectively to detect and protect against the species. The organizers were particularly interested in improving public awareness on the topic and in citizen-based invasive species monitoring, according to facilitators and event participants.

September

A community contra dance was held on Saturday, Sept. 9 as a memorial in honor of Gary Thomas, “The Giving Man.” Thomas, Homer’s longtime volunteer and public-spirited master of ceremonies, passed away in January 2020 due to an accidental boiler explosion while checking on a friend’s home when they were out of town.

Homer Electric Association crews worked over the weekend to restore power after a massive windstorm. HEA received thousands of calls from Kenai Peninsula customers reporting power outages from approximately Clam Gulch to the northern reach of the service area in Nikiski and Sterling. High winds picked up slowly on Thursday evening, Aug. 31, outside of regular service hours with high winds reaching 30-40 miles an hour and gusting more than 50 miles an hour. Downed power lines and power issues still remained to be assessed and addressed as of Monday, Sept. 4.

The Bagel Shop reopened Friday, Sept. 1 after a week spent cleaning up the aftereffects of flooding on East End Road on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Homer Burning Basket celebrated 20 years with the “Create, Basket of Remembrance & Unburdening” on Sept. 10.

The Kenai Central football team celebrated its homecoming at Ed Hollier Field on Saturday, Sept. 2 by defeating Homer 29-8 in Mid Alaska Conference action. The Kardinals moved to 1-0 in the Mid Alaska Conference and 3-1 overall, while the Mariners fell to 1-1 in the league and 3-1 overall.

Homer kicked off the fifth year of the Alaska World Arts Festival with an afternoon gala event at the Homer Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Sept. 7

The Division II Palmer Moose handed the Division III Mariners a loss at their homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 9. Homer is now 3-2 overall but on a two-game losing streak, while the Moose are 2-3 overall. Homer head coach Justin Zank said his squad had a tough time stopping the run for a second straight week.

The Homer City Council adopted the newest six-year capital improvement plan during their last regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 11. The plan also establishes capital project legislative priorities for fiscal year 2025.

The 19th annual Homer Documentary Film Festival ran Sept. 21-28, after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This year’s selection featured seven films, two of which were presented in a double feature.

In a rematch of the 2022 Division III state championship game won by Homer, the Hawks notched the victory on Saturday, Sept. 16 with 13 points to Homer’s 8. Homer dropped 1-2 in the league and 3-3 overall after starting the season with three straight wins, then going on a three game losing streak. Houston settled at 2-1 and 5-1.

Multiple candidate forums for the municipal elections to be held in October were hosted in Homer by the Homer Public Library and Homer Chamber of Commerce. Forums focused on the borough mayoral candidates, candidates for the borough assembly, and Homer City Council candidates.

Homer News welcomed UAF journalism student, Finn Heimbold, as an intern for the fall 2023 semester.

October

The Homer Harbor Expansion project faced delays due to an unexpected loss in funding. The feasibility study was designed to be half-funded by the City of Homer and the State of Alaska, with the other half funded at the federal level through the Corps of Engineers. The $1.5 million 50% federal match was intended to be paid through congressionally directed spending, however, the president’s fiscal year 2023 budget included only $300,000 in funding. The lack of funds from the Army Corps was reported to put Homer’s feasibility study on hold at least six to 18 months, beginning in January 2024.

Certified results from the Oct. 3 municipal elections revealed that Peter Micciche was reelected for a full term as Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor. In Homer, Kelly Cooper beat out Heath Smith for a seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Homer city council incumbents Rachel Lord and Caroline Venuti retained their seats for another term.

The Homer Mariners lost narrowly in a conference playoff heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 7, against the Kenai Kardinals, 16-21. The Mariners were in control of the game for most of the afternoon, until myriad mistakes from Homer and a late surge by Kenai turned the game in the Kardinals’ favor.

Kenai Peninsula students had a close encounter with the salmon life cycle, as part of Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s annual “Salmon in the Classroom” educational series. On Wednesday, Oct. 11, about 400 elementary students from schools in the central and southern peninsula attended hourly outdoor presentations and coho salmon egg takes in the Anchor River State Recreation Area in Anchor Point.

Presented by the Homer Fiber Arts Collective, the annual Wearable Arts fashion and art show took place at Land’s End Resort, with two sold-out shows on Oct. 21. The theme and title for the event this year was “Camp.” There were 95 model presentations, many with multiple pieces of clothing and other wearable art for each model. Sixteen local models participated in the four-stage event.

Kenai Peninsula College finalized the purchase of 565 East Pioneer Ave. on Oct. 13 for Kachemak Bay Campus. The lot, which lies adjacent to KBC, was the former location of Young’s Downtown Inn and Restaurant. The property had been off and on the market for a number of years, and both former KBC director Carol Swartz and former KPC director Gary Turner had previously looked into acquiring it for the college.

The Homer City Council passed two resolutions at their regular meeting on Oct. 23 in an effort to cut alternate paths for resolving the issue of the Homer Education and Recreation Center once and for all. One resolution authorized the city manager to apply for a multipurpose Brownfield grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of revitalizing the HERC site.

The City of Homer tried again with moving forward on a new comprehensive plan. After more than a year of groundwork and debate, the city council took a concrete step toward the development of a new comprehensive plan and update of the city’s Title 21 zoning and planning code by passing Resolution 23-119 during their regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 23. Funding for the comprehensive plan and zoning code updates was properly budgeted by city council, and the resolution reapproved a contract with an Anchorage consulting firm to complete the project.

An Arkansas resident was arrested on a charge of second degree murder in the killing of a Homer woman on Saturday, Oct. 28. Around 4 p.m., Homer police responded with Alaska State Troopers to reports of a shooting on Adams Drive. They found 22-year-old Brianna Hetrick inside a residence dead, and arrested 35-year-old Arturo Mondragon-Lopez Jr. outside of the home.

November

Homer’s Rotary Health Fair returns for its 40th year on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Homer High School commons and gymnasium. The theme for this year’s fair was “It’s Your Life…Take a Day to be Well.” The free one-day event offered the community the opportunity to learn about local health services available and current information on health topics.

Homer’s NOMAR celebrated 45 years of producing and providing fishing gear and other outdoor gear and clothing for Homer residents.

The Homer High School hockey program returned, taking the ice for the first time after missing all of the 2022-2023 season.

Kachemak Bay Campus’s Semester by the Bay students provided presentations on marine biology and marine mammals from international locations on Friday, Nov. 3 at the 2023 Marine Mammal Symposium.

Bret Herrick, 62, of Anchor Point was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 1 for the attempted murder of Alaska State Trooper Bruce Brueggeman and related crimes that occurred outside the Warehouse grocery store in Anchor Point in August 2021. Herrick received a composite sentence of 74 years with 15 years suspended.

A GoFundMe was launched to raise funds in support of the family of Brianna Hetrick, who was fatally shot on Saturday, Oct. 28 in Homer.

Homer High School students, with support from the Southern Kenai Peninsula Resilience Coalition and the Kenai Peninsula Youth Court, took their first steps toward creating an event calendar and resource guide for Homer youth during a gathering on Nov. 2. The idea was launched in response to a MAPP community meeting that took place in May.

Several veterans organizations, as well as members of the community, turned out for a parade in recognition of Veterans Day and America’s servicemembers on Saturday, Nov. 11. Among those who marched were members of the Homer American Legion Post 16, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Riders, the Homer Elks and Emblem Clubs, and the Anchor Point Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221.

The Homer City Council introduced an ordinance, which will be considered in February 2024, to begin regulating short-term rentals in Homer.

On Nov. 16, an Alaska Superior Court Judge ruled to reinstate the regulation prohibiting personal watercraft use in the two overlapping critical habitat areas of Kachemak Bay and the Fox River Flats. Plaintiffs in the case, Cook Inletkeeper, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park and Alaska Quiet Rights, initiated the case in May 2021.

December

The 35th annual Homer Nutcracker Ballet opening weekend took place at the Homer High School Mariner Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3. Additional shows were scheduled for Dec. 6 and 8-9. The play’s opening weekend also coincided with Homer Council on the Arts’ annual Nutcracker Faire.

The City of Homer held a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 6 to discuss the rezoning of a property on the base of the Homer Spit from residential to general commercial zoning. This is the 4.5-acre property that Doyon Inc. purchased earlier, known as Lighthouse Village, with the intent to create a large hotel complex.

Kachemak Bay Campus announced that current campus director Dr. Reid Brewer is resigning, and he will be taking a new position as the Kasitsna Bay Lab Director and the Supervisory Environmental Scientist for the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration starting Jan. 16, 2024.

Kenai Aviation announced that they would no longer be offering service in Homer after Dec. 31.

The Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Area celebrated 50 years since its commencement.

Western Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers responded to a plane crash Friday afternoon, Dec. 8 near the Sterling Highway approximately 2 miles north of Anchor Point. One adult female passenger was extricated and transported by medics to South Peninsula Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Medics also extricated the pilot, Kurt St. Jean, age 52 of Homer, who was determined to be deceased upon arrival.

The head of the Homer Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors entered the race for the southern Kenai Peninsula’s seat in the Alaska House of Representatives. Michael Daniel, a Republican, on Sunday, Dec. 10 registered to run as a candidate for House District 6, which includes the communities of Homer, Seldovia, Ninilchik and Kasilof. That district has been represented by Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, since 2019.

On Dec. 14, Homer News reported that Hilcorp applied for an exception that would allow it to begin prospects on an exploratory well closer to adjacent property owners than currently allowed under state regulations. The private property is located west of the Alaska Sterling Highway and the gas site is on the east side at approximate Milepost 149, roughly 7.25 miles north of Anchor Point.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Alaska Julia Hnilicka announced in a Dec. 11 press release that 21 projects to improve rural Alaskan water and wastewater infrastructure have been federally funded by a $9.2 million investment from USDA. Included in these are infrastructure projects in Seldovia, Kachemak City and Voznesenka.

On Dec. 21, Homer News reported that Homer Public Works Director Jan Keiser is retiring from her position with the city in January.

A discussion on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict hosted Friday, Dec. 15 at Kachemak Bay campus drew a standing-room only crowd to a Pioneer Hall conference room, with overflow listeners tuning in from the campus commons via a screen display. Billed as an open-format discussion, the event was moderated by Associate Professor of History Jeff Meyers, and included panelists Jason Davis, Shaddin Tirhi, Alex Koplin, Tim Steinberg and Andy Haas.

South Peninsula Hospital received a $1.3 million grant from thread, a private, nonprofit child care agency in Anchorage, to open a child care center for hospital employees. The center will also serve as a training facility for people interested in engaging in the service area field. Derotha Ferraro, SPH director of PR and marketing, estimated that among hospital staff there are more than 120 children of child care age who may require child care services.

Photo from Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital South Peninsula Hospital employees remove COVID-19 testing signs from the SPH test site Friday Jan. 13., 2023

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion From left: Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska .

The Krewe of Gambrinus dances down Pioneer Avenue in the 69th Annual Winter Carnival Parade on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Delcenia Cosman

The aurora borealis can be seen overhead from East End Road, in Homer, Alaska, on Feb. 26, 2023. Photo provided by Christopher Kincaid.

A small group discusses common themes in the ongoing housing crisis during the community conversation on housing solutions in the greater Homer area on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Christian Community Church in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Delcenia Cosman

Tournament champion Gail Bilyeu (center) holds the winning fish during the Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament awards ceremony on Saturday, March 25, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Pictured right are the tournament’s previous two champions, Weston and Andrew Marley. Photo by Delcenia Cosman

Col. Damon Delarosa, Alaska District Commander USACE (front) signs the feasibility cost-share agreement with the City of Homer on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at the Harbormaster’s Office in Homer, Alaska. Pictured in the back from left to right are Melissa Jacobsen, City Clerk & Acting City Manager; Bryan Hawkins, Harbormaster & Port Director; Aaron Glidden, Port Maintenance Supervisor; and Bruce Sexauer, Chief, Civil Works Project Management at USACE.

Community members gathered on Wednesday, April 26 at the Homer Public Library for a ceremony to celebrate the installation of the final aspect of the Loved & Lost Memorial Bench, an etched glass and bronze lotus lamp, envisioned by artist Brad Hughes and designed and created by Art Koeninger. Photo by Christina Whiting

Birders participate in the Birdability on Beluga Slough event on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Christine Thorsrud (left) and Caroline Venuti celebrate their retirement from Kachemak Bay Campus on May 4, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/ Homer News)

Kachemak Bay Campus Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Jeff Johnson (right) presents the KBC Faculty Choice Award to valedictorian Elizabeth Rozeboom (left) during the 2023 KBC Commencement on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Delcenia Cosman

Photo by Homer Police Department “Grubby” the Virginia opossum is captured by Homer Police officer Taylor Crowder on Wednesday, May 24.

Delcenia Cosman/Homer News Attendees of the Homer Pride and Juneteenth Liberation Celebration browse for handcrafted merch by Kachemak Bay Crafters at WKFL Park on Saturday, June 17., 2023 in Homer, Alaska

Kachemak Emergency Services personnel work to extinguish a fire at the Fritz Creek General Store early Thursday morning on July 6, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Mark Kirko

Emilie Springer/Homer News Mayor Ken Castner (left) and Kevin Co replant the Peace Tree sprout on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023 at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska.

Jen Castellani from Will Grow Farm (right) is crowned the new Zucchini Queenie by the former queen, Luba Dorvall from Luba’s Garden (left) at the Homer Farmers Market Zucchini Festival on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Homer’s 20th Burning Basket, “Create,” is engulfed in flames at Mariner Park Beach on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 at sundown in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/Homer News)

Rachel Tussey, election official with the City of Homer, helps a voter with registration before voting in the election on Tuesday Oct. 3. (Finn Heimbold/Homer News)

Members of the VFW Post 10221, American Legion Post 16, American Legion Auxiliary, Homer Elks and Emblem Clubs and members of the community march down the Sterling Highway during the Veterans Day parade on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Snow Queen Tiya Martushev and corps dancers strikes the final pose in the “Snow” dance onstage at the Mariner Theatre during the final Nutcracker dress rehearsal at Homer High School on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Photo by Christopher Kincaid

“Walk on the Wild Side” participants observe an outfall into Kachemak Bay on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 near Colin Tolman’s shop, Tolman Skiffs in Homer, Alaska. The water coming from this outfall has been filtered by pristine peatlands and is cleaner than other nearby outfalls. “Walk on the Wild Side” is a hands-on community field walk at the site of a new City of Homer Green Infrastructure Project near Kachemak Drive. Participants learn how this project will mitigate flooding and erosion, improve water quality, and support the Lower Kenai Peninsula moose population.

Kachemak Bay Campus programs coordinator Jill Burnham (far right) welcomes the audience to the Israel-Palestine conflict panel discussion on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/Homer News)

More than 90 community volunteers help pack food and gift baskets for households in need as part of the annual Share the Spirit holiday donation drive on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 in the Homer High School commons in Homer, Alaska. Working from 9 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m., volunteers packed 273 baskets. This year’s drive also provided goods and gifts for 300 kids. Photo courtesy of Emmy Olsen-Drye