Letters – Oct. 7

Showing a little Homer pride
Wow, what a game Saturday at Nikiski! If you weren’t there, you missed history in the making and a great game for the Mariner football team. Being part of a fantastic rowdy crowd of parents, family and friends, we watched and (occasionally) cheered as “Big Blue” went on to defeat the “Dawgs.”
Congratulations to all the players, coaches, managers, volunteers and the Mariner Football Booster Club for all the hard work that makes this possible.
We encourage anyone from Homer who can make it to come to the game on Saturday and support our Mariners as they chart their course in history. The game is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Anchorage Football Stadium against the Soldotna Stars.
We are proud to be part of the Mariner family.
Jack and Becky Turner

Let’s hear some ‘Mariner Thunder’
In case you have not heard the news, the Homer High School Football Mariners made history on Saturday. 
They beat the Nikiski Bulldogs 24 to 15, which not only allowed them to advance in the playoffs, but also, and more importantly, gave the Mariners their first playoff victory … ever.
The Homer crowd in Nikiski was unbelievable: loud and rowdy, just the way a football game should be.
I would like to challenge all Mariner parents, friends of parents, friends of the players, friends of friends of the players – anybody and everybody to attend the playoff game in Anchorage Saturday, when we square off against one of our biggest rivals – the SoHi Stars.
This is a loser-go-home game. We need to show our support for our Mariners with voices, megaphones and cowbells; but most importantly, with our presence.
These players have worked very hard, and they really need to see the support the community can give. The game will be played at 4:30 p.m. at Anchorage Football Stadium across from Sullivan Arena. According to the ASAA website, parking is free, adults are $10, students up to seventh grade are free, and students in grades 8-12, as well as seniors, are $5.
Come on out for the Mariners playoff game and let’s hear a little Mariner Thunder!
Phil Celtic

Questioning swine flu vaccine safety
I was glad to see so many local people against taking the swine flu vaccine. Aside from the totally unnatural act of sticking a needle and injecting a foreign substance into oneself because the government encourages it, studies show that one is almost two and a half times as likely to get the flu if one takes the shot.
My sources tell me this very new and extremely minimally tested vaccine contains Squaine, formaldehyde and mercury – as well as other live viruses. Cancers, immune system disorders, autism and long-term health problems are possible consequences associated with it. It is impossible for the long-term effects on health to be known.
Meanwhile, Bayer and other medical industry corporations have much to gain by promoting it and scaring you into taking it. I admit there is absolutely no reason to distrust the government, but one-third of people already have a natural immunity and would have no benefit taking it. Many in the healthcare industry and protective services are having their jobs threatened if they refuse the injection. Also, those who do take it help promote its mutating into a even more deadly virus and a future populace that haven’t the resistance.
Go ahead and take the vaccine if you wish, just don’t try to pressure me and mine into it. The Gardasil vaccine is another one I could rant about. I am not a medical professional and so the opinions here expressed are representative of mine alone. Do your own research.
Richard Olson

Who will bail us out?
It may take more than an education to solve the issues of the healthcare system, but one thing is for sure: it belongs to all the citizens of this country, not just the few who think they are safe because they can afford good health insurance.
My mother’s health insurance did not save her life, and she could afford it. This right-wing campaign is about scapegoating bogus targets by using conspiracy theories to distract attention from insurance companies who are the real culprits behind escalating healthcare costs. Taxpayers are in debt for things they didn’t and do not wish to own.
In order to wipe out the corrupt insurance companies who steal from the poor to give to the rich, the government needs to intervene. We all witnessed this when the former president started bailing out the corporations before his term ended. Most taxpaying citizens had never heard of Bear Sterns or AIG, or the many other bailed-out corporations. These people were all failing completely on their own, as were the banks. When has any insurance company, or bank, rushed to bail anyone out when they were failing? They take the property instead. If a teacher bailed out a failing student by passing him, would we call that a good teacher?
Acorn is only connected to the government by the IRS 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status. Like any other nonprofit organization, it is not the government. There are more than 120 nonprofit, tax-exempt agencies in Homer at this time. Are we to believe these are all government agencies? They are “business plans” that have been approved by the IRS. They write grants and throw benefits for survival. Acorn is allowed to do those things according to the IRS.
Maka Fairman

Sustaining through flame
In a brilliant display, Homer Burning Basket 2009 met its fiery conclusion at Mariner Park, Homer Spit. Its fire light reflected the incredible beauty of the landscape and the human spirit of those gathered.
Unforgettable.
Hats off to the determined volunteers who collaborated on Homer’s sixth-annual basket creation. Thank you for your skill and focus, and for the heart that you brought into the project.
To the local plant community: alder, birch, spruce, wild grass, fireweed, devil’s club, nettle, currants, we are blessed with your presence in our world.
To Fireweed Academy, thank you for your lively presence and impressive contributions. What a gift.
To collaborators of the Trilogy Labyrinth – including the footprints of all sizes left in the circular path – thank you. It remains on the beach to continue its interactive mission.
A third interactive art installation held a powerful, resonant presence. Thanks to those who delivered and installed the amazing 5,000-pound gong sculpture by artist and master welder Doug Schweisow. Thank you, Doug, for setting the tone, for allowing us to be part of its heart-opening acoustical elegance. We honor the intricacies of its purpose and will never forget.
Thanks to material-gatherers, drummers, fire spinners, bagpipes, firewood providers, photographers, radio, newspapers, Dept. of Parks and Recreation, and to those who brought food. Thank you for weaving your threads of ambiance into the overall impermanent art experience.
To all who came to respectfully interact with the three installations and attended the basket burning, your presence was valued. Your heartfelt inclusions added so much, making it a rich, uplifting experience for us all.
“Sustain – Basket of Remembrance and Unburdening” has left the landscape, releasing our heartfelt messages inside and out. May the memories we made keep us illuminated and connected, and sustain us as a creative collaborative community.
Something has ended. Something has begun. A peaceful and productive autumn to all.
Mavis Muller

Picnic a success thanks to donations, volunteers
The Veterans Picnic Committee and Homer American Legion Auxiliary would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their donations and assistance with the Veterans Picnic: Petro Marine, Safeway, Fritz Creek Meats, Kachemak Grocery, Car Quest, Ulmers, Homer Gold Mine Gifts, Alaska Outlaws, Homer Run Oil, Salty Dawg, Down East Saloon, Envious, Spenard Builders Supply, Homer Shipping Center, Kachemak Gear Shed, Maura’s Café, Manana, Starvin Marvin’s, Tire Town and K-Bay Marines.
Thanks also to the volunteer time the bands donated, including Sunrise and Tim – “Relatively Famous” and Andre Drake and “The 8-Mile Band.”
Thank you to the Sons of the American Legion who helped prepare food, manned the barbecue grill all afternoon (in the rain); the ladies of the American Legion Auxiliary who put this picnic together, baked cookies and brownies and helped during the day; Spud Dillion for extra parking space and the American Legion.
To the 90-plus veterans and their families who ventured out in the rain – we hope you had a good time and come back next year. It was an indoor picnic so all were dry. And, for those of you who didn’t make it, our tent was set up on the front porch for the bands. It was pretty cool. If I missed thanking somebody, I am sorry. We thank you also.
Darlene Sheldon, Danny Smith,
Nora Anderson, Christy Hill
Picnic Committee

Anchor Point seniors offer thanks
It is with the greatest measure of thanks that the Anchor Point Senior Center wishes to acknowledge the generosity of the Kenai Peninsula United Way Board of Directors for their contribution to our organization. Your help has made it possible for the senior Center in Anchor Point to continue serving our community with a much needed program. We would also like to express our deep appreciation to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Revenue Sharing Program for their generous grant. With it, we were able
to acquire much-needed equipment for the Senior Housing Units, as well as for the Congregate Hall at the Center. Thank you again.
Betha Chesser, President
Anchor Point Senior Center Board of Directors

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