No muffins — or hay — for moose

Despite what people may think when they enjoy the sights of Homer’s city-dwelling moose population, hay is for horses — not moose.
In fact, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Assistant Biologist Thomas McDonough said hay proves fatal for a moose because it plugs the digestive system. That keeps the moose from being able to take in her proper forage of willow and other winter browse. At that point, the moose would starve to death.
McDonough said he received a report of a moose wandering down the …

Halibut capital maintains sport quota

The International Pacific Halibut Commission allotted 3.6 million pounds of halibut to Area 3A at its annual meeting on Friday in Seattle.
The IPHC, the body that, under treaty, has a responsibility for determining overall catch levels each year, kept the allocation at last year’s Guideline Harvest Level.
The amount is to be shared among all guided recreational sport halibut fishermen in south central.
“We’re not under threat as far as being restricted this year,” said Rex Murphy, who attended the IPHC’s annual meeting. “One of the reasons …

Sterling Highway faces potential threat from eroding bluffs

Just a few miles north of Anchor Point, the portion of bluff forming a shoulder to the Sterling Highway has fallen piece by piece to the scoured bluff below, prompting concern that this portion of the Kenai Peninsula could lose its road out.
From the radio tower at Stariski, to the top of the hill, several areas from Mile Post 151 to 154 appear in imminent danger of causing the road to fail. And though this is not a City of Homer problem, Councilman Kevin Hogan brought it …

Budget dominates early legislative process

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell’s proposed $10.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year includes an 8.5 percent increase in general fund spending — a fairly “generous” budget that will require careful study.

Into the labyrinth, back to the frosty beach

Even with a windchill at 20 below, artist James P. Buncak, unhampered, sets up his oil-based paint for a seat by the heaving ice in Kachemak’s Mud Bay. Or maybe he’s hunkered down among glistening ice crystals out on Diamond Ridge.
Weathering Alaska’s chill is something Buncak expects of himself.
“I try not to invent things.” he said. “As a painter, you can’t just stay in a studio because then, you might start inventing and get off track with what’s in front of you.”

Metropolitan Opera makes overtures at Homer Theatre

It took about two years for Homer Theatre owner Jamie Sutton and manager Robin Daugherty to pull it off, but their extra efforts were rewarded recently with the theater’s live telecast of five Metropolitan Opera performances. Homer will share the showings with other communities throughout the country.
And while Homer may well be the first small community in Alaska to tap into the talent of the famed Lincoln Center’s productions through this new media offering, Anchorage has shown Metropolitan Opera for the past year.

Homer Ice Racing Standings 01-31-10

Standings as of Jan. 31, 2010

Stock Car # Total Points
88 — 113
5 — 88
51 — 85
23 — 78
24 — 74
13 — 39
15 — 24

Modified Car # Total Points
10 — 107
32 — 96
4 — 78
91 — 74
72 — 50
99 — 33
25 — 32
11 — 16
21 — 8

Pitman Stock Total
Justin Millage — 67
Mike Brooks — 65
Heather Schade — 50
Sienna Rucker — 45
Jacob Sparks …

Casseri calls turnovers Mariners’ ‘Achilles heel’

Despite a first-quarter lead and strong inside game, the Homer Mariners fell to the Soldotna Stars on Friday 34-49 in conference play.
The M’s opened strong, with senior Michael Pate picking up 8 points in the opening quarter, and giving his team a 16-13 first-quarter lead. By the half, SoHi had taken a 5-point lead, but the Mariners fought back to within 3 by the end of the third quarter.

Sports Briefs – Feb. 3

Mariner hockey heads into postseason play
Homer Hockey closed out its regular season with a loss at home against Kenai on Saturday. The M’s held strong in the first period, allowing only two goals by the Kards, and picking up one of their own from freshman Carson Duggar. Kenai opened up a larger lead in the second period, sneaking three goals past Homer goaltender Luke Eckert. Duggar answered with another goal, and the Mariners stayed within three points heading into the final period. The M’s fate was sealed …

Skiers keep clawing their way up

Homer skiers took to the trails up north against some 200 high school racers at Colony High School’s two-day cross-country ski competition over the weekend.
The Homer girls varsity took second place overall, while the boys team took sixth.
Lady Mariner sophomore Marie Schmidt led the way for the varsity girls with a sixth-place finish in the 3 kilometer competition on Day 1 with a time of 10 minutes, 40.7 seconds. She finished 14th in the second day of events, coming in at 21:52.2 in the 6k race.

Meet-up on the Internet, then take it outside

A new online group started this month seeks to match people of like interests for organized excursions on hiking trails and other outdoor pursuits.
The site, called the “Homer Outdoor Meet-up Group,” was organized by Valerie DeLaune, who said she started it in order to assist people in finding fellow hikers, skiers, kayakers, mountain climbers, or even those who want less arduous walks, to meet up for activities.

Restorative yoga: not your usual body twist

To create a pose for “Instant Maui” — a restorative yoga technique — Ramona Pearce places a rolled blanket under her student’s knees.
Resting on a yoga mat covered in a wool blanket, the student reclines at a 90-degree angle on wedges likewise covered. Elbows are aloft to either side of the body, resting on padding. Pearce then sets a scented pillow over the eyes to shut out light.