Letters – Oct. 27

Consider a wilderness designation

Three of us from Homer just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C., where we met with congressional delegations throughout the United States to ask for the strongest possible protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Arctic Refuge was established in 1960 under the Eisenhower administration. This year the Arctic Refuge turns 50.
The Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain hosts an amazing array of wildlife, including polar bears, grizzly bears, musk oxen, wolverines and more than a hundred thousand caribou. This “biological heart” of the Refuge is connected to the entire country, as well as to countries all around the world. Every year, millions of birds that begin their lives on the Coastal Plain migrate to all 50 states and six continents before heading back to the Arctic. There, the cycle of life begins again.
On Sept. 27, in the midst of our D.C. trip, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it would conduct a wilderness review for nearly all non-wilderness areas of the Arctic Refuge, including the Coastal Plain. This is a great step in the right direction. In this historic year, please join with us to ask that our legislators and President Obama do everything in their power to grant the Arctic Refuge the strongest possible protections.
Sharon Baur and Brenda Dolma

It takes honesty, integrity and courage

I would like to take the opportunity to personally thank all of the young men and women who represented Homer High School in the semifinal game against Kenai on Oct. 9. 
While they did not come home with the championship trophy, they did come back with something just as meaningful – The Sportsmanship Award. This award is voted on by all the coaches and the officials involved in the tournament.  I am extremely proud of your efforts and accomplishments during this season. 
Pam Newton, athletic director
Homer High School

Homer’s wild, wild life

In true Homer style, the community came out to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week at the Islands & Ocean Visitor Center during the week Oct. 11-17 with events co-sponsored by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges. The week included the Far North Conservation Film Festival, Incredible Izembek Photo Exhibit and 50th Anniversary Celebration, and “Refuges on the Air.”
Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who helped make these events a huge success. A shout out to Friends volunteers and photographers Tom Collopy and Mary Frische for creating the beautiful exhibit showcasing Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that graced the walls throughout the week. Thank you to all the other contributing Friends volunteers. Also, special thanks to Anna Raupp for discussion of “Woven Ways” and to Cook Inlet Keeper for the loan of the popcorn machine and supplies during the Far North Film Fest.
Thank you to USFWS staff organizers, graphic artists and presenters. Also special gratitude goes to all of the Ham radio operators who made the Special Event Station at Alaska Maritime Refuge possible. It was the very first ”Refuges on the Air” at an Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and was operated in conjunction with 14 stations at National Wildlife Refuges across the country. We appreciate your support of Alaska’s — and all National Wildlife Refuges.
Sharon Baur, vice president
Elisa Russ, Outreach coordinator
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges

MicroBells skate on

A huge thank you to the Homer Foundation and the Kevin Bell and Family Hockey Fund for their generous donation toward our MicroBell Scholarship Program.
Currently, our MicroBell Program provides gear, instruction and weekly ice for our youngest skaters over a three-month period at a low cost. Through previous grants, we have purchased 30 sets of loaner gear for these micro skaters.
Now, through this grant, we will be able to also offer scholarships in the hope of getting even more youngsters on the ice at little cost to their parents.
We truly appreciate the good work of the Homer Foundation. Thank you.
Karen Weston, president
Homer Hockey Association

Let the ‘Battle’ continue

A most gracious thank you to the Homer Foundation for their support in another worthwhile program.
A $1,000 grant has made it possible to partner with the Emblem Club to ensure the continuation of the Battle of the Books program. Together with funds from the Homer/Kachemak Bay Rotary Club Fund, a Field of Interest Fund at the Homer Foundation and a club donation, we were able to fund more than half the cost to provide more than 740 books to local schools promoting the Battle of the Books.
We truly appreciate the Foundation’s support to our community. Thank You.
Cinda Martin
Rotary Community Service member

Subscribe via RSS

Subscribe via email