Homer Foundation helps with arts camp

This summer I was able to attend Sitka Fine Arts Camp in beautiful Sitka, Alaska for two weeks thanks to the kind monetary support of Homer Council on the Arts through the Homer Foundation`s Constance M. Benston Music Scholarship.

The camp changed my life in multiple ways. To be surrounded by such dedicated and successful artists of all molds, ethnicities, art forms, and backgrounds was truly eye opening, and has helped shape the way I will go forth with my own art in the future.

Homer Council on the Arts has helped me become the artist I am today through providing various workshops, classes, and performing space over the years of my youth, and I am forever in awe of the great services they provide this artistic community.

Thank you HCOA, for your help making me a better artist as well as many others.

Chloë Pleznac

Thank you for Veterans Picnic support

The 10th annual VAVS Southern Kenai Peninsula Veterans Appreciation Picnic was held Saturday the 12th of August by the American Legion unit 16 Auxiliary. Approximately 148 veterans and family members including active duty USCG members and their families attended this fun filled event. This was an all hands on deck event with participation by all facets of the Post and the community. Thank you to Andre Drake and the 8 Mile Band for the great music and the two Kenai VA Clinic representatives Jennifer Colton and Debbie McCurty for being there to answer questions for the veterans who attended. Registration ran smoothly thanks to Darlene Sheldon, Jan Rudolph, Pam Breckenridge and Bonnie Morawitz.

The Sons of the American Legion Mike Jimerson and Norm Schneider manned the grills. Colleen Wagner and Ron Brahm made the potato salad. Bill McDaniel made the baked beans. Several Auxiliary members provided a great variety of pies and cookies. SAL also donated watermelon. I had an amazing group of kitchen volunteers including Nancy Deavers, Marlene McDonough, Sue Arseneau Sweet Old, Bill (SOB), Ron and Penny Eyre who set up and prepped food that morning. Colleen and Paula Gallagher served the food. I had a great crew of helpers that set up everything for the event, kept everything flowing during the event and stayed to cleanup at the end. This special group included Ruth Nelson, Rochelle McAlexander, Jenny McGrorty, Becky Ginter, Bill Surdyria, his grandson Logan Abocha and 2 Jr American Legion girls, Amber and Lexie.

A special thanks goes out to Debbie Anderson who worked tirelessly contacting business and collecting door prizes for the event. Terri Cole and Jackie Norvell helped with calling the door prize numbers while Donna Brockschmidt took care of the children’s prizes.

Thank you to all the local businesses who really showed their support by providing a plethora of door prizes: Alaska Flower Mill, Homer Tribune, Alaska Perfect Peony, Alibi Bar & Café, Alyeska Tire & Auto Service, American Legion Post 18, Art Shop Gallery, Bay Club, Bear Creek Winery & Lodging, Blue Urchin, Boss Hogz, Captain Patties, Caroline’s, Cosmic Kitchen, Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant, Finn’s Pizza, Fish Connection, Healing Hands Massage, Home Run Oil, Homer Animal Friends, Homer Bookstore, Homer Brewing, Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, Homer Community Recreation, Homer Detailing, Homer Golf Course, Homer Jeans, Homer News, Homer Ocean Shore Charters, Homer Shores, Homer Spit Campground, Homer’s Gold Mine Gifts, Inlet Charters, Kachemak Bay Ferry, Kachemak Shellfish Growers Cooperative, Kevin Bell Arena, Kharacters, Knitty Stash, La Baleine Café, Legends Family Hair Salon, LFS – Kachemak Gear Shed, Major Marine Tours, Mako’s Water Taxi, Mariner Gifts, NAPA Auto Parts, NOMAR, Northern Enterprises Boat Yard, Inc., O’Reilly, Pho and Thai Restaurant, Salmon Sisters, Salty Dawg Saloon, Salty Girls, LLC, Scotts Family Pharmacy, Seldovia Bay Ferry, Skiff Chick Custom Designs, Sloth Boats, Spenard Builder’s Supply, The Classic Cook, The Grog Shop, The Hair Gallery, The Sports Shed, Tire Town, LLC, Two Sisters, Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware, VFW Auxiliary Post 10221, Vida’s Thai Food, Wasabi’s Bistro, Wells Fargo Bank and Wild Honey Bistro.

A big thank you goes to all the organizations who provided monetary donations: VFW Post 10221, VFW Auxiliary Post 10221 in Anchor Point, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 18 in Ninilchik, Kachemak Bay Marines and two local businesses; All Season Honda, and Story Real Estate.

As in past years, Safeway, Save U More and McNeil’s Meats donated food items for the picnic. Their donation enabled the Auxiliary to serve an outstanding meal to our local veterans. We look forward to next year’s picnic and hope to see even more veterans at this fun filled event.

Debbie Brahm- Veterans Picnic Chairman

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 16

Hate is hate

A message to Ms. Reynolds and her followers. I am a born again Christian and believe the Bible from start to finish. I am sure that she is using her most recent temper tantrum to further her career in upcoming months. However, I am offended (once again) that she has used her position as a Homer City Council member to read the script given to her from the powers that be that are trying to destroy our nation and shake her finger at citizens of Homer that disagree.

The man who killed that woman in Charlottesville was a hater of the worst kind. He used that hate to kill a woman. I wonder where the concern was when Antifa was destroying property of those that were innocent, where you were when a man got acid thrown in his face and faces blindness as such, where was your concern when Antifa thugs beat the crap out of a woman who was simply holding our American flag?

Hate is hate and both sides deserve to be called out as such. Using your platform, Ms. Reynolds, to shake your finger at the citizens of Homer to try and shame them is wrong, using your platform to push a resolution that will bring the UN in to regulate our behavior, our rules and laws, to decide who is worthy to live and who is not worthy enough, so they aren’t helped in their affliction, is wrong and despite your clinic helping some, but advocating killing a viable life (a unborn child) is hateful in itself.

My Lord is watching our county turning into a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah and His patience is waning and His actions will be decisive and quick. One world health, one world religion and one world government have been very clearly foretold in the Bible. Everything you are doing right now is leading to a very decisive end. What you have been doing will be judged and you will be found rejected. I pray for you and your fellow citizens on the council who are like minded, because, unlike you all, I don’t hate you. I hate your actions, I hate that you feel the need to scold those that disagree with you, I hate that you feel that Antifa and BLM have more rights to perform hateful acts than any other hate group, but most of all, I hate that your actions have made myself and millions of others like me have to take a stand against your version of hate. Hate IS hate, Ms. Reynolds, no matter whose side you are on.

S. Lawver