Letters – Dec. 16

Enforce or amend
The City of Homer and area residents spend countless hours and many dollars developing detailed comprehensive plans, zoning codes and enforcement procedures to promote the community we want to live in.  Then, when individuals or businesses desire to do – or as is more common, have already done – something contrary to these constraints, the city bends over backward to accommodate. And the community voice usually supports these accommodations. 
Perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate our city code and either agree to enforce it, or amend it to better fit what vision we really have for our town.
Mary Griswold

Scare tactics fail
It appears the city is financially better off than the grim forecast by the city manager and finance director. Instead of fully investigating projected income, they decided to take the city Samurai Sword, slash everything in sight and upset the entire community. This was done to try to override the seasonal grocery tax exemption we voted in last year. They failed.
We deserve better than this. The city manager has captured a preponderance of the city council to the point that they do little more than occupy space. Antics like this call for a change of management and the finance director. Their estimate was only off in excess of 35 percent.
Roy E. Hoyt Jr.

Home safe
To me war is futile and ugly. I hope we evolve and learn to settle with words, not bullets. I want to share an event of goodness. My grandson, Jinx’s son, Capt. Dan Strelkauskas (now Major) received the Silver Star “for conspicuous gallantry… in action against the enemy as Marine Commander, Marine Special Ops in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, June 2008, Afghanistan.” The ceremony took place Nov. 25, 2009 at Camp Pendelton, Oceanside, Calif. We are very proud of Dan, and his going beyond the call.
There are sadly many unsung heroes in all wars who did their duty – some luckily to return. I am thankful that Dan reacted courageously. It is how one meets whatever challenge in life that who you are comes to the forefront in this instant. It is the upbringing, thinking, savvy and attitude that shows – or not. We are uplifted when one acts with courage. At some point, challenge faces us all in life. React, commit and do what must be. All of the Snow clan is proud of Dan. We hope all ends well and all are soon home. The best news is that Dan is home and OK.
Betty L. Snow

NPs rock
Recently, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell proclaimed Nov. 8-14 as “Alaska Nurse Practitioner Week,” and encouraged Alaskans to recognize the many contributions that this dedicated group of health care professionals makes to the health and well-being of the people in the communities they serve.”
There are more than 650 licensed Nurse Practitioners in Alaska, providing high-quality, personalized health care. They are licensed Registered Nurses with a minimum of a Master’s degree and additional advanced clinical experience (including prescriptive authority).
NPs diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems and provide a full range of health services, from treating illness to encouraging and advising patients on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Besides clinical care, NPs focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling. They are considered your partners in health. NPs practice in bush, rural and urban communities and in many types of settings. In Homer you will find Nurse Practitioners providing health care services in medical clinics, hospital setting, Native clinics and villages, mental health, schools, college educators, naturopathic care and more.
We would like to recognize the following local nurse practitioners for their contributions to health care for our communities (we apologize if we inadvertently omitted any one): Elizabeth (Betsie) Brennand, Melissa Bunker, Gayle Claus, Ella May Cooper-Waldron, Donna Fenske, Kate Finn, Sharon Gorman, Mary Lou Kelsey, Carol Klamser, Sonja Martin-Young, Julie McCarron, Beckie Noble, Gail Radcliffe, Stephanie Silianoff, Cheryl Toppa, Mary Ann Wilson, Irene Wise and Lori Zitzman.Thank you for joining in to recognize these health professionals among us.
Donna Fenske, nurse practitioner

Winter fun
Who would’ve thought that in the middle of winter, the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Octopus would be the center of a gathering of folks 8-80 years old?
While we are usually in the business of “getting families outside,” two weeks ago, we held our First Winter Fete fundraiser at Alice’s Champagne Palace. It was a great success in all ways.
Thank you to the Homer High School Swing Choir for the beautiful songs, Marcia Lynn, Tapper and the Off the Wall Tap Dancers led by Marjorie Scholl for their heartwarming performances, and all the food donated by Save-U-More, Safeway and our board members and volunteers.
Following the professionals, Johnny B emceed the Intertidal Idol karaoke challenge, and the stage was filled by young and old alike, creating yet another Homer memory. Creating those memories is part of CACS. We’ll offer many more opportunities to gather this winter through our Winter Ecology programs at the Wynn Nature Center. We begin with an open house on Jan. 2 and hope you can join us.
Melanie Dufour
Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Stocking stuffer success
Thank you from the Pratt Museum to all of our amazing donors and volunteers who helped make this year’s Stocking Stuffer Party a fun-filled day for the entire community.
Special thanks to: Fred Meyer, Homer Lions Club, Safeway and Save-U-More. We are grateful for the help of the eternally patient people who led the Children’s Art Activities: Linda Rowell, Nancy Martin, Kim Burrows, Peggy Craig, Lise Kirsis, Nan York, Carol Lao, Shannon McBride Morin, Tina Seaton, Susan Alward, Kim Wylde and Bob Neubauer. Many thanks to Erik Benson at Paul Banks Elementary School who helped us collect milk cartons, the Girl Scouts of Homer for making the cutout cookies and all the wonderful local cookie bakers who donated all of the goodies at the refreshment table. We are grateful to Mary Ann Griffith for volunteering in the gift shop, Michael Craig for being our Santa photographer, Maggy McGurren for being the event photographer, and for extra hands making light work of clean up, we thank Art Koeninger and Erik and Mindy Pullman. Much appreciation to Teela Clegg, a.k.a the Frosting Queen, and Wanda Baxter, the event hostess. A special thanks to Arden Jeffries at the Spy Glass Inn for his contribution. We truly appreciate the effort each of you made to bring a bit of holiday spirit into the Museum.
Jennie Engebretsen
Pratt Museum

Piano entertains the masses
On Friday night, Homer Council on the Arts invited HCOA members to experience the first piano performance on the new generously donated Yamaha piano. The room was full of music lovers, and a tangible camaraderie between musicians that was heart warming and inspiring.
The evening started with Mary Epperson playing Moonlight Sonata. From there we traveled from Mozart to “squito boogie.” We moved with jazz, blues, classical, boogie, you name it, and we heard it, including a duet with a “drunk poet” and “drunk keys.” At the end of a song when Johnny B had played every key with wild abandon, he proclaimed with enthusiasm “It Works!” Thank you Mary Epperson, Julie Ann Smith, Karen Strid and Johnny B.
As HCOA members, staff and board members, we are truly grateful for the gift of this piano, the gift of the space we have for these intimate performances, the generosity of the musicians who played for us, and for this community who has so much artistic talent and deeply values the arts.
Gail Edgerly
HCOA staff

Guardian angels abound
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the staffs of Friendship Terrace and Long Term Care, Anne Nixon, JulieAnn Smith and especially Dr. Paul Eneboe for the exemplary care they gave to our mother, Lucille Stovel. The dictionary doesn’t contain enough words to fully express our gratitude. Please know you made a difficult situation not only manageable but joyous, and you did it with such grace and love. We will be forever indebted to each of you for your many kindnesses and generous hearts.
And thank you to Ilse and Shiloh for being her guardian angels.
With love.
Luana Stovel, Kathleen Stovel and Jim Roe

Borrowed quotes
It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.  – Voltaire
The job of a citizen (even an allegedly overzealous one) is to keep his mouth open.  – Gunther Grass
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.  Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.  – Benjamin Franklin
Good laws, if they are not obeyed, do not constitute good government.  – John Adams
Cursed is he who does not abide by the law and carry it out.  – Deuteronomy 27:26

The Refuge Room does not meet the city’s definition of “rooming house.” 
Frank Griswold

Quilting a winner
As president of the Patrons of the Pratt Society, I am pleased to announce that this year’s winners in the quilt raffle drawing were all from the local or neighboring areas.
Phyllis Kaufman, of Homer, won the big quilt. Polly Thiele, of Port Graham, won the small beach-scene wall hanging. Eileen Wythe’s Sled Dog wall hanging was won by Terry Martin, of Ninilchik. POPS and the Pratt Museum are very grateful to all the folks who offered their support to the museum by buying quilt raffle tickets. Congratulations to the winners.
For those who don’t know, the Patrons of the Pratt Society has as its mission not only advocacy, but fund-raising for projects and needs not covered by other funders. The quilt raffle is our annual fund-raiser, which is supported generously by the Kachemak Bay Quilters. We also raise money for the Pratt through individual and foundation donations, and nearly everything we raise goes straight to the Pratt. In the past we have funded upgrades to the Marine Gallery and its Gull Island watch program, bought new chairs for museum events, and purchased and paid off the mortgage, leaving the museum free to spend money formerly allocated to that on other necessary projects and operating costs. To date POPS, through its supporters, has donated well over a half million dollars to the museum. POPS meets on the second Tuesday of each month, and we welcome new members. For more information about us and when and where we meet, call 235-8757.
Jan O’Meara, President, Patrons of the Pratt Society

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