Letters – Nov. 11

Hear me
Ordinance 09-46 (S)(A) is unnecessary and unwise. Ordinance 09-46 (S)(A) is a de-facto zoning variance. The Homer City Council does not have the authority to grant zoning variances. Ordinance 09-46 (S)(A) would also set a precedent leading to a myriad of other requests for exemptions from zoning laws based on financial hardship.
Frank Griswold

What makes Homer unique
As a frequent visitor and previous citizen of Homer; who has been helped innumerable times by Mike Kennedy, with items from his yard on Ocean Drive Loop, I tell the city zoners to move on and find someone else to harass!  Mr. Kennedy’s yard is frequently the only place one can find obscure items such as spare hub caps at a reasonable price.  Not to mention supplies for many an art project and even a couch the nights I didn’t find a reasonable hotel room.
I come to Alaska for people and places like Mike and his yard.  I may be wrong, but I’m guessing he was there with all his treasures before many of his complaining neighbors moved in, but I think I am right when I say they knew he was there!  To get the city to bother him now is shallow and as un-Alaskan as high heels on a fishing boat.  If his neighbors have a problem with the neighborhood, perhaps they should relocate, or look the other way, out at the great view of beautiful Kachemak Bay available from their side of Ocean Drive Loop.  
Geesh, talk about not recognizing the benefits of living across the street from Mr. Kennedy. For all the good Mike Kennedy does for his community, he should get a loophole, similar to the one created for Robert Nakada.  No, Mr. Kennedy is not disabled or financially unsound, but that doesn’t make him any less deserving of being allowed to do what he wants on the property he owns.  Not only will Homer lose exactly what it is that makes it the hamlet by the sea that I love so much, but also my tourist dollars.
Ebony Goldsmith

The spirit of giving
The Homer Community Food Pantry has much to be grateful for this fall as we have received several donations of potatoes from gardens around town. We received 300 pounds of potatoes and 100 pounds of carrots from the community garden sponsored by the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, which was planted and harvested by Lynn Maslow’s third grade classroom. We received many pounds of potatoes from Alice and Theresa Dubber and from Bruce Barnes. Many others have shared fresh vegetables. We are particularly grateful to HOPE volunteers who gathered up vegetables at the Farmer’s Market this summer. It’s been a blessing receiving weekly soup from Latitude 59, as well as miscellaneous weekly food from the Elks and occasionally from the U.S.C.G.C. Hickory. This has helped us provide food for our take out dinners on Mondays.
Duncan House continues to be a faithful monthly donor of eggs as has K-Bay Cafe with their coffee donation. The Kachemak Bay Girl Scouts collected six boxes of food and some money, which was most helpful with our shortage of canned goods. The Homer Foundation presented us with a wonderful monetary gift from a private party whose generosity is greatly appreciated.
On Nov. 14, we will collect canned food at the Homer Health Fair and have The Nutcracker bake sale on Dec. 11-12 and our quilt drawing on Dec. 14.
We always need fresh vegetables and fruit, eggs, any meat and holiday items. We have been blessed by Homer’s giving and support for those in need. Love and kindness are never wasted. You are vital to the operation and mission of our local Food Pantry. Thanks, Homer.
Diana Jeska and all HCFP volunteers
Much appreciated
On behalf of the McNeil Canyon Community Council I would like to say “thank you” to the businesses that donated items for our annual Fall Carnival. It was a fun and safe evening for our local kids! Kachemak Wholesale, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Save-U-More, McDonalds, Pudgy’s, Fritz Creek General Store, Peterkin and Homer Theatre.
Tamekia Jones
McNeil Canyon Community Council president

Hats off to scouts
I’d like to thank the scout troop that overnighted in Tutka Bay at the Sea Star Cove cabin on Oct. 30. I took over the cabin the next day. Upon my arrival by Mako’s Taxi, the boys hauled all of my gear above tideline and invited me to breakfast. The Bay was calling and I had to paddle. When I returned later, the scouts had moved all of my gear into the cabin, split my firewood into kindling, left truckloads of wood, and left me a toasty warm cabin and some warm coals in the fire pit.
God love you, I’m a huge fan! Scott, you and the good ole Mormon boys are welcome at my campfire any time.
Kris Kinney, Cooper Landing

Thank you SPH Long Term Care residents
The Students in Transition Program of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District would like to express our appreciation to the residents in Long Term Care at South Peninsula Hospital for their generous donation of backpacks and school supplies for our students.
We provide support services for homeless students who often lack these basic necessities for school. It means so much to our students and their families to know that there are people in the community who care about them.
Kelly Luck, homeless liaison
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

Taking time to help
I would really like to thank all of the kind and thoughtful people who literally helped me out on Nov. 6, when I slid off the Sterling Highway while traveling to Homer, landing neatly in a ditch, with the passenger side down, flat in the pushki.
Four people stopped immediately. They helped me out of the car and helped me locate my sweet dog. Neither of us was hurt, I’m happy to say. One person took my dog back to my house, one stayed with me to wait for the trooper, who then stayed to wait for the tow truck. Once I got to the mechanic, they helped me call my insurance company and then arrange to rent a car. There are so many angels in this town, and several showed their true colors on Saturday. Greatest thanks to each of you.
Kate Finn and Snickers

Successful future
The Students in Transition Program of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District provides support services to homeless students so they can succeed at school. Again this year, the Homer Downtown Rotary Club has generously donated substantial funds to assist our homeless teens. These funds are used to provide “survival packs” full of shower, laundry and hygiene supplies for youth, who lack a permanent night-time residence. These packs ensure that they have the basic supplies and can be ready to go to school. Last year’s project was so successful that we have expanded this year to include students living in the outlying communities.
The Homer Downtown Rotary Club also provided gift cards for food so that these students can get a meal when they are hungry.
We know that students need to have a way to meet their basic needs if they are to show up at school and succeed while they are here. This donation from Homer Downtown Rotary Club goes a long way toward making it easier for homeless youth to continue working toward high school graduation. We know that school success benefits not just our students but our community as a whole. Thank you, Homer Downtown Rotary Club for your support of our students and our communities.
Kelly Luck, Homeless Liaison
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

A Big Thank You From Nikolaevsk Mixed 6
Nikolaevsk High School joined the Southwest Conference for volleyball, and transitioned from an all girls’ volleyball team to a mixed six volleyball team this year. Nine boys and five girls field the team. Athletic boys hitting and blocking on a nearly 8-foot net backed up by the girls digging and setting has really amped up the volleyball excitement at Nikolaevsk School. The only problem is, in order to get to the Southwest Conference tournament, the Nikolaevsk mixed six volleyball team has to pay for two charters to get to Kokhanok School located on the shores of Lake Illiamna. The team has been working hard fundraising, and along with generous donations from the Homer Foundation, Lions Club, and other Homer businesses, going to Kokhanok for the Nov. 18-21 Southwest Conference Tournament is now a reality. The Nikolaevsk Warriors would like to thank the Homer Foundation and the Lions Club along with all the businesses that supported them in this endeavor. Wouldn’t it be great if more mixed six teams got organized on the Peninsula? Mixed six volleyball is an exciting sport!
Bea Klaich
Nikolaevsk Mixed Six Coach

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