NOAA sends flawed one-halibut rule back to council – only Steller sea lion garnered more public testimony in recent years
The proposal to limit the sport charter fleet clients to one halibut each or purchase quota shares leaves questions that need to be addressed before federal regulators will set the plan in statute.
That was the message late Wednesday from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the National Marine Fisheries Management Council.
NOAA Fisheries conducted a preliminary review of the thousands of public comments received on the proposed rule to implement a halibut catch sharing plan in southeast.
City wants FEMA to explain flooding map
A worrisome problem is arising at the tip of the Homer Spit in a new flood plain designation under review by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
FEMA maps changed boundaries to show increased vulnerability if a severe storm washed ashore.
According to the new FEMA maps, Fish Dock Road and the beach on the Mud Bay side of the harbor are part of the flood zone. Curiously, Land’s End Resort vulnerability is decreased in the map changes. And the boardwalk businesses were unchanged, said Homer City Planner, Rick Abboud, in a work session presentation to the Homer City Council Monday.
Officials focus on fishing hole restoration
The Nick Dudiak Fishing Hole needs to be at least 12 feet deep during low tide in order to offer proper salmon habitat.
Given the fast drifting nature of tidal silts, that depth is now no more than 4 feet at low tide. Consequently, the fishing hole increasingly is deserted by both salmon and fisherman alike.
A combination of infilled silt and a sharp, spiny phytoplankton caused young hatchery smolt high die-off rates, among other stresses, said Jim Hasbrouck, the regional supervisor of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fishing. He was an official visitor at the council meeting Monday night to assure the public that the fishing hole is high on the department’s list of problem waterways in need of restoration.
Stimulating ideas surface on the campaign trail
When five local leaders come together for a debate, ideas for how to solve problems are bound to emerge even if the discussion is only a piece of the journey on the campaign trail.
That was the case last week at the Borough Candidates’ Forum hosted by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and moderated by KBBI’s Aaron Selbig.
Community groups experienced in fundraising could lend a hand to help save the Homer Boys and Girls Club from a near-continuous insecurity about a permanent home, said Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidate Bryan Zak.
Sales tax and reapportionment
Two questions on taxes and one on reapportionment will be put before voters on the lower peninsula at the Oct. 4 election.
Proposition One asks whether the seasonal exemption of non-prepared food items from borough sales tax should continue.
A borough ordinance effective Jan. 1, 2009 exempted sales on raw food from borough sales tax between Sept. 1 and May 31. Voters approved that exemption during the October 2008 election and it went into effect the following January. Now they’re being asked to take another look at the measure to decide whether it remains in effect or is repealed.
Caribou hunting grandmother gains appreciation
When some people think of a caribou hunter, it is not the image of a 58-year-old grandmother that comes to mind, but Joyce Snow, of Clam Gulch, has been surprising people with preconceived hunting notions for a long time.
“I didn’t get into hunting until my husband asked me to join him on his annual hunt with his brothers around Grand Rapids, Minn., back in about 1974. Being the only female in the party at that time, I was not well-received by all of the hunters in the group. Some didn’t believe I’d make it through the first day. But, after a weekend of trudging through prickly brush and falling sleet and snow, I earned their respect. I kept up and worked the drive like everyone else, with no complaints and five months pregnant to boot,” she said.
Homer’s historic theatre joins today’s digital age
A new silver screen was installed at the Homer Theatre last week that launches the historic building into yet another era in movie entertainment known as digital cinema.
Out went the old screen and a movie projector system that handled 35 millimeter film in a cumbersome three-disc format. To give an idea of the format changes, imagine trading a 36-pound box of film reels for a VHS-sized hard-drive insert.
Former residents’ movie featured in DocFest
Laurel and Doug Epps are debuting their first documentary, “Soul Resonance” in the Homer Theatre’s DocFest this week.
The first showing of Soul Resonance is 8 p.m. Saturday, with a marimba jam to follow. In conjunction with the local marimba bands, Zimbabwean musician Tendai Muparutsa will perform. The second showing will be 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Epps will be at both showings to meet people and answer questions.
“There is a deep spiritual aspect to the ancient music that seems to resonate with the souls of people who hear it,” Laurel said.
FYI – Sept.28
Middle school elevator traps janitor A janitor at Homer Middle School was trapped in a malfunctioning elevator at about 3:39 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The janitor was able to call the Homer Police Department dispatcher, who attempted to locate a school district maintenance person to open the elevator. Homer Volunteer Fire Fighters also responded to [...]
Community News – Sept. 28
For the second year in a row, the Homer Emblem Club No. 350 has won a first place the Delia Zieziulewiz Community Service Award and the Community Service Award for total participation in all areas of service.
Club community service includes:
Literacy Major Project which is the Battle of the Books, for which they distributed 1,500 books. Also this year they helped the food bank by helping provide some back packs for kids for the new school year.
