Many helped to Share the Spirit

Let’s begin with a big vote of appreciation to everyone who contributed to our successful 2017 holiday program providing Christmas Baskets to our neighbors in need.

Our program is fueled by this community’s donations. We have many anonymous donors and a special thank you goes to each of you. In addition, we would like to recognize and thank The Jane Little Family Endowment Fund, administered via the Homer Foundation, the Kachemak Bay Marine Detachment and the Homer Elks Lodge #2127. Whether a monetary donation or a donation in kind, your generosity makes it possible for our organization to continue to provide much needed food baskets and much appreciated gifts for households in our area. This year your help, provide for 275 families, which included over 900 individuals.

On a more personal note: I want to thank every volunteer that showed up this year or that has shown up during these past 25 years. We as an organization could not have accomplished all that we have without you:; you gift wrappers, you spaghetti feed delivery drivers and dishwashers, you school food drive organizers and can deliverers, you hat and mitten collectors, you client application helpers — you have all made this past 25 years possible and I appreciate every moment you have given.

I also want to thank the core. Whether you were there, that day in 1992 when I couldn’t keep my mouth shut and we started this ball rolling or joined somewhere along the line. Whether you have been there one year or five years; whether you have been there since you were 7 or even since you were 3, I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. I would ask that each of you continue to lend your time to Kelly and Jonathan as they go forward with this organization, with your support this organization can go another 25 years!

And of course, please, always remember to … Share the Spirit,

Kelly Glidden and Shari Daugherty, Basket Program co-chairs; Jayne Locklar, President; Jonathan Adams, Vice-president

Share the Spirit

Resolve to be grateful

I’m not one to make New Year’s resolutions, yet during the past few days a general thought seems determined to continually prod my subconscious; in fact so much so that this year I in fact am making a resolution. Perhaps it’s one that others might consider.

So here it is: I resolve to express my gratitude to individuals who go out of their way to give of themselves to their community, be it in big ways or tiny ways.

I feel that the Homer area must be one of the most wonderful places ever to exist. There’s the physical beauty of course, plus the feeling of freedom to live a life that one chooses. But it’s far more than that. One huge thing is the super abundance of incredible people who live here. Do other places have the number of people who generously give of their time and effort for contributions that go way beyond their friends and family as is the case here? It’s hard to imagine. This is evidenced in so many ways. But what probably has prompted this sustained niggling is something other than that. It’s a specific image that’s stuck with me from this past summer.

While I was showing visiting family members around, we drove into Karen Hornaday Park. At the entrance was a group of people totally involved with shovels and wheelbarrows putting in a trail, maybe putting the finishing touches on a trail. I remember telling my visitors something to the effect that Homer has a disproportionate number of residents who are just incredible people and here were some of them. I think these particular individuals included Deb Lowney, Robert Archibald, Dave Brann and Jack Wiles. Did I let these people know that I appreciated their volunteer effort? Nope! Typical!

Again my New Year’s resolution is this: resolving to express my gratitude to individuals who go out of their way to give of themselves to their community.

So a huge thanks to these four and to so many others besides. I hope I’ll remember to express my appreciation more often.

Beth Cumming

Garden of Lights keeps shining

The Garden of Lights grew from Bill, Dorothy and Louis’s desire to give back to the community and share a bit of the Christmas spirit. This year, despite having no snow, the hot chocolate flowed, the fire pit was warm, the lights were magical and the music fantastic!

For about six weeks the elves at Bear Creek are busy making displays, putting up lights and getting the gardens ready for the big event.

A great big thank you to the many talented performers who volunteered their time to come and perform for us, some of them for the third year. Homer is blessed to have some truly talented folks, among whom are Arlene Ronda and the Seaside singers as well as Kyle Schneider and the Awesome Swing Choir.

Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and shared this Christmas tradition with us.

We look forward to seeing you again next year.

Cheers.

Bill, Dorothy, Louis and Bear Creek Winery Staff

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fall short

Americans For Fair Taxation President, Steven L. Hayes, said that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act just signed into law falls short of true tax reform. Although this act contains some interesting features, this act is an overlay grafted onto the current tax code of 77,000 pages of statutes, regulations, and revenue rulings. The only bill in Congress that embodies genuine tax reform, Hayes said, is the Fair Tax Act of 2017, HR25, S18, or FAIRtaxSM.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Hayes went on, may stimulate the economy short term, but will likely add to the deficit, debt, and unfunded liability. The FAIRtax, by contrast, is revenue-neutral. The FAIRtax largely eliminates $9 Trillion in criminal tax evasion over the next decade.

The FAIRtax, said Hayes, replaces all income, payroll and self-employment, and death taxes, with a national tax on all services and new goods sold at retail in the United States, freeing labor and capital to fuel the economy. Funding for the IRS is phased out over a three-year period as tax collection devolves to the states. The FAIRtax, Hayes said, features a monthly tax credit to every household in America to cover taxes on essentials up to the poverty level.

Now that tax rates have been reduced some, Hayes called for Americans to go to www.fairtax.org; tell their Members of Congress to reform the structure of our tax system and demand that their Members co-sponsor the FAIRtax.

Wiley Brooks, Alaska State Director

Americans for Fair Taxation

Murkowski supports clean energy

Sen. Lisa Murkowski can always be counted on when it comes to commonsense clean energy policies. In fact, she recently called for a broad, bipartisan energy bill to be passed in early 2018. Hopefully, such a bill will include the renewal of the “orphaned” tax credits for renewable energy that were left out of the final tax reform bill.

For now, Sen. Murkowski should be commended for making sure her colleagues on the tax reform conference committee understood that they must maintain a level playing field for clean energy. Her efforts helped protect 80 percent of the value of the Investment Tax Credit and Production Tax Credit by repairing the Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax found in the Senate’s bill.

At the same time, she was among the most vocal supporters of reducing the corporate tax rate and eliminating the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, both of which will help many new and existing clean energy businesses thrive.

I am grateful that Senator Murkowski helped safeguard clean energy during the tax reform debate because it represented a once-in-a-generation chance to get things right. By making clean energy priority, she helped secure our energy future.

Sincerely,

Heather Reams, Managing Director

Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions

Washington, D.C.