Don’t shoot into the air

Nothing says Happy New Year like the sound of a speeding bullet flying over your head.

Have you ever heard the sound of a bullet speeding through the air toward you, flying over your head and hitting the trees behind you? I’ve experienced this twice now. This shouldn’t be happening and if you are stupid enough to shoot a weapon into the air, then you’re making a pretty good case for guns being taken away. Everyone has the right to own and use a gun, but I shouldn’t have to fear for my life. Think it through — shoot into the ground not into the air. Bullets can travel miles. Identify your target and what lies beyond it before you squeeze the trigger.

Deb Purington

Women’s March excitement continues with Jan. 20 event

Almost a year ago, I marched in the Women’s March on Washington, D.C. Afterwards, on the plane to New Hampshire to visit a relative, most of the passengers obviously had participated in the March. The buzz was palpable! Everyone was talking about the March, how hundreds of thousands of people peacefully moved en masse up Pennsylvania Avenue. In conversing with a couple of women in the seats in front of us, they said, “I heard that even a thousand people marched in a little town in Alaska!” I asked, “Which town?” To which, they answered, “Homer!”

“That’s our town!” I felt a big lump in my throat and huge pride in my heart. And as much as I was grateful to be in Washington, D.C., I wished I could have been in Homer.

Now we march a year later, Saturday, January 20, gathering at the HERC parking lot at 11:30 a.m. The March begins at noon, down Pioneer Avenue to the Gazebo at WKFL Park.

We still are marching for respect, marching to the polls, forward ever, backward never. And I get to march here. See you there, Homer.

Susan Phillips Cushing

‘Together we rise’ is theme of 2018 Women’s March in Homer

I am one of many who are working on preparations for the Women’s March on Homer, on Saturday, Jan. 20. Like last year, we will join communities around the globe in raising our voices in hopes for a better future for all. The theme Homer residents have chosen for this year’s march is “Together we rise.” Following a year of local issues that have divided us, I find this a most fitting theme.

Equal standing before the law, equal opportunity for education and employment, equal pay for equal work, access to affordable, quality healthcare, equal control over one’s own body and future, and protection from bullying, domestic violence, sexual harassment and assault — who does not wish these things for themselves, their loved ones and their neighbors? Women’s issues are humanity’s issues. They are as relevant to each and every Homer resident as they are to each and every woman, man, and child on this planet.

Regardless of who won your vote for president, city council or borough mayor, regardless of how you did or did not vote in the recall election, and regardless of how you felt about the infamous failed resolution, I urge you to put aside politics and partisan alliances for this one day. I urge you to join with your neighbors as we march in support of one another. Together we will rise!

Sincerely,

Kathryn Carssow

Giving Tree support appreciated

The Friends of the Homer Library would like to thank the community for their generosity over the holiday season. Spenard Builders Supply donated a large tree to the Homer Public Library, which gave the library a festive and merry atmosphere. From the “Book Giving Tree” volunteers hung ornaments with needed book titles for our library collection. Many people bought books for our library from the tree, and we are grateful to each of you. We are also grateful to The Homer Bookstore and the myriad of ways they support the library, including helping to facilitate the Book Giving Tree. Thank you Spenard Builders Supply, The Homer Bookstore, volunteers, and the many library supporters who purchased books, for making the Book Giving Tree a success.

This has been a season of giving and we are grateful for all the love the community gives our library.

Happy New Year!

Mercedes Harness, Coordinator

Friends of the Homer Library

More Giving Tree thanks

I just wanted to send out a huge thank you to the Homer community for supporting the library with the purchase this holiday season of new books via the holiday giving tree. For the first time the library in concert with our community business partners The Homer Bookstore and Spenard Builders Supply put up a live tree (thank you SBS) which was decorated with tags (thank you Homer Bookstore) highlighting each book that the library wished to purchase.

More than $800 worth of books were purchased by community members. Everything from cookbooks, children’s books, mysteries and graphic novels were available for purchase. With that success we hope to make the giving tree an annual holiday event at the library.

Thank you again to everyone who came in and purchased a book (there are still a few tags available if you missed out.) For those of you who are still dealing with the glitter, that was my idea and will not be repeated. Sorry about that. 🙂

Jacque E. Peterson, Chair

Library Advisory Board

Food Hub helps with food security

Food security in Alaska is a hot topic: a staggering 95 percent of food consumed here is shipped in from Outside. Fortunately, Homer is a happening place: with the highest per-capita number of high tunnels in the nation, our community’s burgeoning local foods movement is growing tangible benefits for consumers, small businesses and the city itself. Goods produced here are eaten here too — at independent restaurants, taken home from the Homer Farmers Market, and also supplied through the Kenai Peninsula Food Hub.

The Food Hub offers residents of Homer, Soldotna, Seldovia and now Anchorage with the convenient option to order produce, meat, seafood, flowers and more online from April to November. Each weekend growers list what’s fresh and available. Orders open, then deliveries are made to a centralized locations where residents can pick up their goods, assured that their food is fresh, their carbon footprint is greatly reduced, and all of their hard-earned income stays right in the community.

The Homer Foundation has recognized the importance of this grassroots movement, supporting the Food Hub with a People’s Choice award and a grant from the City of Homer. These funds, along with increasing buy-in from the community, have helped the Food Hub to double its operations between 2016 and 2017.

As our days get lighter, the hard-working farmers, fishermen and volunteers who power our Food Hub are eager to continue this growth. Bookmark www.kenaifoodhub.org to learn more about how to order or supply the finest foods on the Kenai.

Marissa Wilson, Development and Operations Director

Cook Inletkeeper