Among the bills introduced in the Alaska Legislature this session, there seems to be a variety of matters, unlike some years when the chances of politics being a spectator sport aren’t so good.
Of the 120 plus bill list introduced so far, citizens can, and should, spend a bit of their couch time browsing the bill tracker granted for free to anyone with a computer and Internet.
As the snow grow deeper outside, citizens can keep warm pondering through the list of bills and constructing learned opinions by reading sponsor statements.
For example, where do you stand on the matter of whether “American Constitutionalism” should be required of future high school graduates? House Bill 5, otherwise called the “American Constitutionalism History Literacy Act,” is proposed by Wasilla Republican Rep. Wes Keller.
Do you know your U.S. Constitution Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Federalist Papers? If not, you wouldn’t be able to graduate until you master these documents, under Keller’s bill.
Keller has also filed House Bill 8, which would try to challenge the federal government’s authority to make Alaska do things the state considers unconstitutional.
Do you think church property – the dozen or so houses used by church staff at the Anchorage Baptist Temple is the example sited most – should be exempt from paying property taxes? HB 305 would change that.
Got an opinion about naturally occurring asbestos in gravel? There’s a bill to address that, proposed in SB 180 by Sen. Donny Olson. He would like to be able to use this gravel in transportation projects.
You’ve heard a lot about texting while driving, after the tragic death of a pedestrian in Anchorage who was run down by a texting driver. That’s on the table as well, along with bills wanting drivers to quit talking on their phones. Rep. Cathy Munoz (R-Juneau) and Anchorage Democratic Reps. Mike Doogan and Max Gruenberg filed bills trying to outlaw driving while talking on a cell phone.
Gruenberg’s HB 68 wouldn’t allow police to ticket drivers for talking on a cell phone unless they pulled them over for another reason.
Want to lengthen the legislative session? Sen. Gary Stevens’ SB 18 would lengthen it to 120 days, but only every other year. So one year would be 90-days, the next 120 days.
Where do you stand on getting a medical school or law school established in Alaska? It’s a pricey call, but Fairbanks Rep. Scott Kawasaki (D) has introduced a bill to do that. The medical school would be at the Fairbanks campus, and the law school at the Anchorage campus.
This brief tour of bills doesn’t even crack the door open on all the oil and gas legislation in the works. Do you want to give incentives for drilling? Do you know the special incentives for Cook Inlet gas, as proposed by Sen. Tom Wagoner? Do you want to tinker with the incentives already passed so far? If so, there’s a ton more material to take you happily all the way to spring when these many feet of snow have finally melted.
And, don’t worry. In case the thought of certain bills making it to the light of a vote should give you indigestion, remember the relatively short list of what gets passed. Here’s last year’s record:
In the House, 306 bills and resolutions were proposed. Only 26 passed.
In the Senate, 183 bills and resolutions were introduced. Only 14 passed.

Rep. Paul Seaton

When the Department of Natural Resources announced its new mission statement, I first raised the issue in the Resources Committee. I questioned the unilateral replacement by the executive branch of the mission of the Department of Natural Resources. This has percolated and is becoming contentious.  The mission statement for DNR as adopted by the Legislature reads: “The mission of the Department of Natural Resources is to develop, conserve, and enhance natural resources for present and future Alaskans.”
The executive branch ‘new’ mission is set as “To responsibly develop Alaska’s resources by making them available for maximum use and benefit consistent with the public interest.”  
Although the mission statement adopted by the Legislature is in the temporary law section, there is no automatic sunset or termination of the provisions unless such is explicitly set – which there was not, for the legislatively defined mission.  Although in the purpose section there is specification that it will be used for the 2003 budget, there was no specification that it would only be used for 2003, sunset or expire. In fact the mission statement has continuously been used and published by DNR as its mission statement until Jan. 17, 2012.          
My hope was that DNR would just go back to the legislatively established mission and approach the legislature for adequate vetting and decision to change or not change the mission of the DNR. However, we are now looking forward to dueling legal opinions etc. At issue is whether the executive branch is usurping a specific responsibility of the legislature. The Saturday House Finance presentation on performance based budgeting demonstrated how critical an agency mission statement can be as the activities, core functions and measures of the department all are to be aligned to the mission.  This is important to the DNR mission statement issue, as the legislature created the Department and specified its job as follows:
Alaska Statute 44.37.020 “Duties of department with respect to natural resources.
(a) The Department of Natural Resources shall administer the state program for the conservation and development of natural resources, including forests, parks, and recreational areas, land, water, agriculture, soil conservation, and minerals including petroleum and natural gas, but excluding commercial fisheries, sport fish, game, and fur-bearing animals in their natural state.”
Specific language exists in regards to the responsibility of the legislature, not the executive branch in creating the mission statements that guide a department:
Alaska Stature 37.07.014  Responsibilities of the legislature.
(a) To carry out its legislative power under art. II, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and to promote results-based government, the legislature shall issue a mission statement for each agency and the desired results the agency should achieve. The legislature may issue a separate mission statement for a subunit of an agency. A mission statement and desired results should promote the efficient, measured use of the state’s resources. A mission statement and desired results constitute policy under which an agency shall operate, and, where appropriate, the mission statement may be implemented by statute.” 
I have included this material in the hope that constituents can judge from the statutes whether the Alaska Legislature or the executive branch is responsible for setting forth the mission statements of departments.
Natural Gas – South Peninsula Pipeline: We have received a letter from ENSTAR confirming the current estimated construction cost of the transmission line running from the end of the 8 inch Anchor Point pipeline section through the end of Kachemak City at $10.65 million.  We have also received the official estimate that the $1 per thousand cubic feet SPP surcharge tariff would repay ENSTAR $2.5 million for advanced capital in 10 years. This is based on the estimated usage volume of gas assuming Homer’s defined ‘core area’ and Kachemak City are the early year’s users.  If the core area expands faster or another large user develops, that amount would be paid back sooner since more volume would be used than estimated and the $1 tariff would disappear at that earlier date.  I had originally reported that the ten year term was a firm date but we have now found out that changing the existing ‘until paid’ tariff to a firm date would necessitate an extended RCA tariff proceeding which could delay the project. This is because if the $2.5 million had not been recovered it would put the liability on the existing customers.
Resources: Last week we held three separate overviews.  Monday we discussed invasive species in Alaska, marine and terrestrial as well as the action plans within the Department of Fish and Game and Natural Resources to deal with invasive species.  The committee requested follow up from the agencies on the specific statutory changes that may be needed to allow the departments to deal with emergency procedures for invasive species.  Wednesday the committee received interesting presentations on Methanol to Gasoline and Gas to Liquids.  The potential of this technology to monetize Alaska gas through shipment in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline is an issue that is important for all Alaskans to consider given our vast reserves of natural gas and declining volumes through TAPS.  On Friday the committee heard overviews on geothermal, seawater heat transfer, wind, and tidal power energy projects. 
This week we will discuss HJR 31 a resolution declaring that the United States Congress declare Central Park in New York City a Wilderness Area.  We will also hear HB 276 establishing oil and gas tax credits for development in the Nenana basin.  On Wednesday my legislation eliminating the mining license tax on sand and gravel operations will be heard. Friday the committee will hear HJR 26 requesting federal agencies to create a management plan for sea otters in Southeast Alaska.
 
Rep. Paul Seaton (R) represents District 35 in the Alaska Legislature.

By Kevin Kreitz

I have been watching this big push for the gas line to Homer with interest and concern. First, let me say I understand the desire to cut costs and the pressures to make a profit as a business. I have been a small business owner and an executive in larger businesses and, as most of you, I am a consumer paying high rates for personal use. From my experiences I have seen the desire for a return on investment drive some very bad decisions. Based upon the facts and history of the energy industry, I have some very big reservations. I hope I am wrong. So, I will present these thoughts and facts so that you have at least one alternative to the current hype.  
First, let me say that we, as a culture from environmental to financial, have had a rather dubious record extracting resources from the earth. Our current business and government structures are built on the back of cheap oil and cheap labor, both of which are disappearing rapidly. So, instead of learning from this and finding sustainable and humane alternatives, we continue to invest in these areas of decline. As we watch the foundations of our current financial and government structures crumble, maybe it’s time to realize that we cannot go back, we have to move forward and possibly fast forward to alternatives that can provide us with affordable and sustainable solutions.
On to the facts (or shall we say my understanding of the facts): These have been researched from what I would consider reliable and non-biased reports, studies and articles. However, as we know, history and facts are subjective. I will leave it to you to determine what resonates, and what does not.
No matter how you cut it, natural gas extraction has a high percentage of probability for contaminating water tables, from every drill site seeping just a little, to total destruction of an area’s drinking water.
This is an industry whose track record, to date, shows profit is far more important than the environment or its customers financial well being.
Much of the hype is based upon projections provided through a suspect and proprietary report written by an industry backed group. This report has stated that we have over “100 years’” supply, yet at the 2010 rate of consumption, only an 11-year supply of gas is currently proved. The rest is speculative.
Currently, operators need $8-9 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) to break even, but their own drilling frenzy has caused prices to sink well below that threshold with the price this week at $2.57.
Currently, a number of gas companies have applied for nine gas export applications with the federal government. These applications alone will account for approximately 19 percent, or almost one-fifth of total U.S. gas consumption today. If approved, this will impact domestic supply with studies showing the more gas we export, the higher prices go domestically.
Enstar is owned through a Michigan based holding company, owned by a Wall Street equity firm whose senior partner is a senior partner at Morgan Stanley. Will they make decisions based upon what’s best for Homer or their bottom line?
So what do we do? We can stick with the old, hoping that their promises and studies hold true. Or, we can take all of our energy, intelligence and money and focus it on moving to alternative and sustainable sources of energy now. Homer is not Philadelphia, and does not have the complexity of issues a major city has. We are small with an abundance of local, natural and sustainable resources. Others our size are doing this with positive results and we can use their knowledge and experience to help us. As for the bottom line of local businesses, although I understand your pain, short term relief that could turn into longer term disasters may not be so great. Maybe it’s time for us to raise the bar and look at Return On Life as the metric we hold our business performance to over Return On Investment.

Kevin Kreitz is a longtime Homer resident who believes “you must BE the change you wish to see in the world,” as taught by Mahatma Gandhi

Nominate a volunteer for award

Alaska is fortunate to have one of the highest rates of volunteerism in the nation. In fact, 34 percent of our residents volunteer a total of 28 million hours annually. That’s more than 55 volunteer hours per Alaskan every year.
Wherever I travel in Alaska, I meet volunteers with big hearts and helping hands. So, for this year’s First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year Awards, there are plenty of Alaskans worthy of recognition. I hope you will take a look around you in Homer and nominate someone who has demonstrated a commitment to volunteerism and who makes a significant impact in the community or across Alaska.
Nominations for the First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year awards are due by March 1. Details are available at gov.alaska.gov, where you’ll find a link to a nomination form. And, thanks to all our volunteers for making a difference across our great state.
Sandy Parnell

‘Forks Over Knives’ a success

By all measures, the showing of “Forks Over Knives” at Homer Theatre was, as one attendee put it, “a smashing success.”
Estimates put attendance at around 120 – an excellent turnout for a re-scheduled movie, and on playoff Sunday, at that. A good crowd stayed for discussion afterward, with thoughtful questions and comments.  
My sincere appreciation to Colleen Carroll, theater  production manager, for taking the initiative in bring “Forks Over Knives” to Homer, and especially for canceling a commercial (income-producing) showing to re-schedule this not-for-profit, community-service event. That demonstrated a real commitment to promoting a healthy community.
Thanks also to Mary Fries and others at South Peninsula Hospital for getting the word out about the movie and supporting CHIP with much-reduced lab fees. And, appreciation to Homer Tribune, KBBI, and Homer News for making space and time to announce and re-announce “Forks Over Knives.”
CHIP 2012 is off to a wonderful start, with 29 people signed up. Anyone interested, or who just has questions, may attend the InfoSessions. It is evident that Homer is truly ready for living healthy and taking responsibility for  personal and family health.
Check out www.forksoverknives.com, www.chiphealth.org   or www.heartattackproof.com.
 The conversation continues.
Judith James, CHIP director

Sen. Murkowski says ‘no’ to PIPA, SOPA

I want to thank Sen. Lisa Murkowski for doing the right thing and standing up for a free and open Internet by opposing the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act. On Jan. 18, everyday Americans spoke out and Capitol Hill listened. More than 10 million people signed a petition against both SOPA and PIPA – making it the most signed petition ever to be sent into Congress. And, congressional offices were inundated with calls and e-mails from constituents opposing the bills.
The legislation’s stated goal was to eliminate online piracy and copyright infringement, but this is a classic case of the proposed, Washington D.C. solution being worse than the problem. 
No one should be allowed to steal American ideas or products, but these bills would ultimately impose onerous regulations on Internet search engines, service providers and pretty much any website that hosts user-generated content. This means social media sites would face such liability for their users’ actions, that it would be almost impossible for a company like Twitter, Facebook or YouTube to get off the ground. 
Please thank Sen. Murkowski for joining the millions of Americans who believe the Internet is too important – to our economy, free speech and America’s history of innovation – to cripple it with unnecessary and harmful regulations.
Steve DeMaura

Learning the art of storytelling

I would like to publicly thank Jerry Falek for coming to our Language Arts and Russian classes to teach us how to tell stories and do magic tricks. They were cool. You should come more often to Voznesenka School and tell stories. I told the story “Dog and Cat,” it was embarrassing at first, but then it was funny at the end because the kids were so interested in my stories.
The scar story I told was when I broke my wrist. I learned how to use gestures, emotions, actions, sound effects, voice volume and lots of other stuff that made my story a lot better. Most of the kids who were listening to me had their eyes popped out of their heads. They were very good listeners. I think they liked my story.
Next time you come, you should tell me how to do some of your tricks. We only had you for two days, but it was still fun to have you here. That story called, “Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle” actually worked. I tried this on my little nephew, and he stopped crying and started laughing. Thank you for coming. Hope you come again.
David Kalugin

Go blue and gold for Mariners

In the basketball season of 2007-08, Wasilla came to town. They toted seven buses packed with fans, bands, troupes and squads, and of course their very large teams.  They are a school of about 2,000. We are a school of less than 400. We are both considered 4A.
When I walked in the gym that evening to watch my daughter play, I saw red.  Everywhere red. Our small humble Homer crowd was stunned to silence, huddled in a small area just left of the entrance doors. We had no band that night.
Wasilla returns again to Homer on Feb. 17.  Most likely they will be wearing RED.
I am asking you, our community, to come together this day to show your support for Homer High School athletes. You don’t have to love basketball, or even like it. You just may have to have a sense of community, a sense of loyalty and support and a sense of justice for your local youth.
Come early and watch the Lady Mariners. They play at 6 p.m. But you should come by 5:30 to get your seat. The boys varsity will follow at about 7:30 p.m. Fill up the gym with blue and gold. Dig out your blue and gold clothes, raise your hands up and clap to the beat. Be creative, get wild, and be dedicated to making a blue and gold statement.
Prepare yourselves. Although we have awesome athletes and the game is fun to watch, this isn’t about winning a score; this is about supporting your young community. 
I know, for a fact, that these young people play better and feel better when they are being supported by fans who cheer them on.
Thank you in advance for adventuring out for a good cause. We have always appreciated the many and varied members of the community that have come to support the Mariners.
See you Feb. 17 at the Alice Witte Gymnasium at Homer High at 5:30 p.m.  Bring your clapping hands, your cheering voice and lightness of heart.
Kim Greer, Mariner parent and fan

Polar Plunge thank you

I would like to thank each and every person who has sponsored me this year — and every year — since I have started jumping in the American Cancer Society’s Polar Bear Plunge.
This year was brutally cold and not nice at all. The weather was in the single digits, but with the windchill, it drove the temperature down to a nasty -30 degrees. The water temperature, however, was much warmer than usual; at 38.9 degrees, getting in wasn’t as bad as getting out.
I raised $11,330 with money still coming in from some companies. I truly appreciate each and every dollar I raise, and have some people who deserve an extra special thank you. Dr. Susan Polis of Preventive Dental Services, who graciously donated $1,100 to the cause; the Department of Alaska American Legion Auxiliary, who donated $1,000 and the following, who donated $500 each: John Crandall of Cook Inlet Marine, Sons of the American Legion Squadrons 16 and 57, American Legion Post 16. Lloyd Moore of Moore and Moore Services for $250 and Betty Branson, In Demand Marine.
I would like to thank Naomi Klouda of the Homer Tribune for the coverage, Homer Theatre for allowing me to have a benefit movie night to help in my fundraising efforts. And, last but not least, my family and friends. If it wasn’t for the support of my family and friends, I could not do this event. I love helping people and this is the best event to help those in need. Again, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Christie Hill

K-Bay Marine’s valuable gift

On behalf of the board of directors and members of Homer Hockey Association, I would like to wholeheartedly thank K-Bay Marine Corp League for their support of our annual Christmas Eve Skate Party at the Kevin Bell Arena.
This free community skate has become a tradition since the rink opened in 2005. As many know, operating an ice rink is not a cheap endeavor by any means and we truly appreciate the support we receive from our friends and neighbors. It is wonderful to be able to open our doors and invite everyone to come out and enjoy an afternoon of holiday skating.
Thank you again K-Bay Marine for helping HHA provide this opportunity to our community.
Tim Stage, HHA Board Member

By Brad Faulkner

Extending the gas line from Anchor Point to Homer is projected to cost $10.8 million. The savings for heating costs of government buildings alone is projected at $1 million per year.  It is hard to project the savings for the 7,000 area residents and private businesses. This depends on how many actually hook up and when, but it should exceed the $1 million a year savings for government entities by far.  This is a shovel-ready project that truly uses Alaska’s natural resource to benefit Alaskans.  It has one of the best returns on investment of any project in the state. The last two years, funding for this project was passed by the House and the Senate.  It was vetoed by Gov. Parnell. 
Homer’s senator is Senate President Gary Stevens who led the bi-partisan coalition that blocked Parnell’s oil tax giveaway in the Senate.  Homer’s representative is Paul Seaton, who voted against the oil tax giveaway in the House.  This project was vetoed in retaliation for Homer’s elected representatives standing up to Parnell giving away $2 billion annually to his former lobbying clients. (A $10 per barrel savings times the 5.4 billion barrels of  oil left at Prudhoe makes it a $54 billion tax giveaway at current prices. If you include the known heavy oil reserves of over 20 billion barrels, the total tax giveaway could exceed $250 billion over time.)
This year, a bill has been reintroduced to fund the gas line extension to Homer.  This bill has “traction” as capitol insiders are fond of saying.  Basically, it is already a done deal and will pass the House and Senate and survive the governor’s veto pen. There is one huge difference.  Homer rate payers will have to pay a surcharge of $1 per mcf for 10 years.  Parnell and Chenault and the rest of the coalition are laughing out loud. Every month, for 10 years, Homer area residents will pay extra on their heating bills in order to help finance one of the best projects in the state. If I were a cartoonist, I would draw a picture of Chenault and Parnell smoking stogies and clinking glasses with the caption, “Take that Homer.”  
Homer residents in favor of the gas line need to write Parnell, Stevens and Seaton.  We also need to write Sen. Tom Wagoner who is being redistricted into Homer.  We want the bill that passed last year, not the bill Seaton has introduced. 
“I support full funding of the gas line” is all you need to say. 
Everybody that hooks up to gas will enjoy large savings. Do it for the future cash in your pocket.
“The Legislature shall provide for utilization, development, and conservation of all natural resources belonging to the state, including land and waters, for the maximum benefit of the people.”
Article 8, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution.
Jay Hammond, in “Diapering the Devil: A Lesson for Oil Rich Nations,” wrote:
“I do not blame the oil companies for opposing changes to ELF. (ACES) After all, it is the obligation of their CEOs to get the best possible deal for their shareholders.  When as governor, I was asked how much I would tax oil my response was: “For every cent we can possibly get.  After all, just as it is the obligation of the oil company CEOs to maximize benefits for their stockholders, so it is the obligation of the state’s CEO to do the same for his.”
We have been exporting Kenai gas to Japan for 40 years, but we can’t get full funding to move Anchor Point gas to Homer.  At the same time, our oil lobbyist governor is orchestrating a minimum $2 billion a year giveaway to big oil. Jay Hammond should be rolling over in his grave.

Brad Faulkner is a Homer business owner and has served on the Homer Economic Commission.

By Jan O’Meara

This is a letter to all those folks out there – men and women – who tend to be stoic about their aches and pains. My message to them is simple: Don’t underestimate your pain.
Many of us live with some pain every day, day in and day out, and we tend to take it for granted and to ascribe all our aches and pains – however new or different – to whatever causes our every day pain. That can be a big mistake.
I am one of those. When dealing with pain, I take a low dose pain killer and try to wait it out. I figure if it continues for more than a week, I will see a doctor about it. That tendency almost cost me my life. And you could find yourself in the same position.
On Dec. 16, I awoke just after midnight with severe back pain. It was worse than normal, but I figured it was the same old back problem, only a little worse. It hurt so bad, it hurt clear through to the front. It hurt so bad, my teeth hurt. I noticed a little ache in my left arm, but wasn’t too concerned since left-arm pain isn’t necessarily an indicator of heart problems in women. So I took my two Tylenol and a Benadryl and sat up for two to three hours until the pain subsided. By 3 a.m. I was feeling better, so I went back to bed.
Got up at the usual time and the pain was still there, not as bad, but noticeable. Two more Tylenol. The pain kept ebbing and flowing, but still I thought it was the same old, same old. However, since my sister had a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go with her and have someone check me over. Finally, a good decision.
Susan Parrish, the physician assistant at Homer Medical Clinic, had an electrocardiogram administered, checked my symptoms and sent me straight up to South Peninsula Hospital’s emergency room. By the time I got up there, the pain in my chest was a good deal stronger – to a level of 8, I told the nurse. They hooked me up to everything, took a blood sample, gave me aspirin and nitroglycerin. Once again, the pain ebbed. They decided to keep me overnight for observation, just in case, but before they even finished the paperwork, my heart went into fibrillation.
All I remember about that is that I felt very dizzy. I said so to my sister, and immediately passed out. They tried compression first, unsuccessfully, and then resorted to the paddles to administer a shock. It took them two tries to bring me back. (I owe a sincere debt of gratitude to Susie Parrish, Dr. Hahn, and the entire emergency room staff for their efforts to keep me alive.) And here’s the thing: if I had stayed at home as I originally intended, I would have died that night of a blood clot to the base of my aorta. But because I was where I needed to be, I survived.
Here’s the other thing: my experience isn’t all that unusual. Back pain is often an indicator of a heart problem, especially in women.
So, even though you may have pain on a regular basis, if it feels at all different from the usual, don’t wait. Get someone to check it out immediately. It might save your life, or the life of someone you love.

Jan O’Meara has been active with the Homer Rotary, helping organize the annual Health Fair.

The discouraging price of fuel oil

I have been planing to move my business to Homer for the last three years. I still want to do that, but the price of using diesel fuel or propane for shop heat, and cleaning parts, has always been discouraging. If Homer would get natural gas to the residents, future businesses would benefit.
Bob Murdock

Keep snowmachines off ski areas

The Kachemak Ski Club (not to be confused with the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club) is an all-volunteer group that runs the Ohlson Mountain Rope Tow every Sunday when conditions allow. Last Friday, several people riding snow machines parked up at the operator’s hut at the top of the rope tow, went into the hut, and left the door open – which caused the recent blizzard to blow into the operator’s hut. Then, sometime last week, people on snowmachines tracked up the majority of the ski hill. It was a fresh powder day, and criss-crossing snowmachine trails, setting up hard in the middle of the powder, created a lasting danger for skiers and snowboarders. Our volunteers work hard to maintain our facility so kids, teens and families can enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding. If you’re accessing the backcountry by snow machine, please be advised the Ohlson Mountain Rope Tow is private property which is off limits to snow machines, except for those operated by ski club members and volunteers. There are miles and miles of beautiful country where you can ride a snowmachine – please stay off our ski area. Thank you.
Nell Gustafson

For the fun of it

The Homer Playground Project is making great progress, thanks in large part to support from the Homer community. The following businesses and organizations have sponsored playground components and will be permanently recognized with metal plaques affixed to the components at Karen Hornaday Park:  American Legion Post 16, Angie Newby/Homer Real Estate, K-Bay Marine Corps League Detachment 838,
Bear Creek Winery and Lodging, Homer Medical Clinic
Clinic and Petro Marine Services.
A huge thanks to these play sponsors and to the many individuals who have made donations, “purchased” fence pickets, bought HoPP t-shirts and are helping out in other ways. Thank you also to BP Alaska for a very generous $10,000 equipment sponsorship.
 There are still many playground components in need of sponsors and many fence pickets yet to be engraved and sold. Please visit HoPP’s website (www.HomerPlaygroundProject.org) for more information. With continued support from generous donors and volunteers, we will be building the new playground in only four months.
Miranda Weiss, Deb Cox
and the Whole HoPP crew

‘Anyone else foresee an uprising?’

Here are strong words of my opinion concerning popular politicians. President Obama is a front man, a puppet for the real ruling elite, brought on the scene by likes of Kissinger and Zignew Brazinski, surrounded by Goldman Sacks and Wall Street. Who could have seen it coming? He seems like such an honest sort.
But how many even today know about CIA importation of cocaine into Mena while Clinton was governor of Arkansas, the 50 or more murder/suicides too close to him to all be deemed coincidence, his affairs with Jen Flowers, etc.
Mitt is totally establishment, if he was a serial killer you’d never know, because the media is so controlled. Yes, it’s bad folks. Gingrich is NWO all the way, too. A vote for the above is a vote for worse than more of the same politics as usual
Lisa Murkowski, I think got in by voter fraud. Begich, whom I hoped I’d like, voted yes on NDAA also, so he too has got to go. (At least Joe Miller wouldn’t favor NDAA or SOPA).
Our Alaska congressional delegation needs to learn to tell oil company lobbyists who incessantly apply pressure to reduce oil tax on themselves, to give it up.
Everyone had better hope Ron Paul keeps in the race to the end just to keep his issues on the table. Can anyone else foresee an uprising that would make OWS look small? I love independent and defiant natures of so many Alaskans. Maybe we aren’t getting enough fluoride in our water. 
Richard Olson

Stopping the rush to war against Iran

A growing group of individuals and organizations has designated Feb. 4, as a “National Day of Action” aimed at preventing a war against Iran. The manifesto is simple: “No War, No Sanctions, No Intervention, No Assassinations.”
Nothing is more urgent than stopping the march to war now underway. Economic warfare has begun already. Sanctions and embargoes are belligerent acts under international law; such policies goaded the Japanese into attacking Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The U.S. State Department recently reassured Israeli leaders, who are in a bigger hurry for war than President Obama is, that the sanctions will devastate the Iranian economy — more precisely, the Iranian people. U.S. officials also say that Iran’s economy will be throttled by the crippling of that country’s central bank. Sanctions authorized by Obama in late December aim to stop the rest of the world from doing business with the bank, which would amount to isolating the Iranian people from world commerce. If successful, this would create indescribable misery for average Iranians.
The demanded oil boycott is accompanied by a U.S. suggestion that Iranian oil be replaced with Libyan oil, which sheds new light on the Obama administration’s intervention in the Libyan civil war and the regime change it accomplished. Not all nations can be counted on to boycott Iranian oil, but those that do not, will still be in a position to demand lower prices from Iran’s government.
Meanwhile, Iranian scientists are being assassinated, and various Iranian facilities are mysteriously exploding. This is surely the work of the CIA or the Israeli Mossad or both of them in conjunction with Iranian groups with histories of violent activity. The covert war is on.
The national day of action, with events planned in many cities, is intended to bring all of this to the attention of a complacent American people.
Yet, Iran is now subjected to low-level but deadly warfare and threats of a massive bombing campaign because it will not — and cannot — prove a negative: that it is not developing nuclear weapons.
 Does Iran represent a serious nuclear threat? Israel’s defense minister and several former Mossad directors say no. “Defense” Secretary Leon Panetta, like Israeli intelligence, is not convinced Iran has decided to build a weapon.
Then why the march to war? The U.S. and Israeli governments will not tolerate limits on their hegemony in the Middle East. Iran is a big, populous, and long-existing country that inevitably will be a major force in the region. Therefore, U.S. and Israeli dominance requires a subservient Iran like the brutal U.S. and Israeli-sponsored Shah’s regime was until it was overthrown in the Islamic revolution of 1979.
To repeat: nothing is more urgent than stopping this march to war against Iran. Let’s make Feb. 4 the day it was reversed.
Sheldon Richman,
Future of Freedom Foundation

Coal Point Trading wins Ecological Award

The EcoLogical Team, in conjunction with Homer Chamber of Commerce, would like to thank, and congratulate, the first recipient of the EcoLogical Team Award: Coal Point Trading Company.
They have worked hard to become a business with sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. These practices include having recycling available to the public, as well as recycling within their business. They also provide compostable take-home containers for the public.
Not only does Coal Point meet all the criteria for the EcoLogical Award — which can be found by contacting Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at 235-7740 — they exceeded all of them.
One thing showing this businesses’ commitment to exemplary sustainable practices is their green roof, as well as their solar panels.
We commend them for their efforts of reducing waste to the Homer Landfill, and reducing their overall energy consumption. We would like to congratulate them again, and encourage other businesses to follow their example.
Alida Dunning
EcoLogical

Board of Game declares war on wolves

The Alaska Board of Game just declared war on the Kenai Peninsula wolves; voting unanimously in favor of aerial wolf killing in Unit 15A and Unit 15C.
This was done in the face of a large outcry against it and not being supported by scientific data. We can applaud our local advisory Fish and Game Board for voting the proposal down, with good reasons that BOG chose to ignore.
The proposed budget for this killing spree is upward of $1,000,000; this in a time when Fish and Game budgets are being slashed. Not only do we have an unbalanced BOG, the Parnell Administration has given gag orders to state biologists. This political game is out of control and it is up to we the citizens to demand change.
Contact Gov. Parnell, Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, and your legislators and let them know we are not going to take this anymore.
Roberta Highland

Watching ‘Sprouts’ grow

Sprout would like to give a gigantic thank you to Maura’s for deliciously catering our program expansion party. It was very wonderful of them to donate the time, effort and ingredients into making an exquisite lunch for us all. We would also like to thank Loopy Lupine for donating cups.
It was an extremely pleasant event, and we were so pleased to see all the community support as we say goodbye to “Birth 2 Three” and welcome “Sprout” as our new name. We have definitely planted our roots here at Sprout and we are ready to grow.
Thanks again to everyone. It is a blessing to live and work in this caring community.
Jill Lush, executive director,
Sprout staff and board

In his state of the State address last week, Gov. Parnell set out a path for reaching Alaska’s hoped for natural gas development. Its two pronged approach looks at getting Alaska gas for Alaskans, and as an ambitious new economic project to serve for years to come.
Let’s hope this new momentum holds so that the community goal in Homer to gain natural gas becomes part of the entire picture. Fairbanks also shoulders its energy burden, and would like to pursue broader natural gas distribution for its citizens.
Other remarks by Gov. Parnell place Alaska in the context of great changes and challenges ahead. Yet, we go there in a stable frame and for the most part, the governor imparts a great deal of optimism.
Parnell contrasted Alaska’s stability with a period of global challenges. In the Middle East and Africa, revolutions have swept across the region, while Iran’s nuclear ambitions “cast a menacing shadow. In Europe, a debt crisis threatens to plunge the global economy into an abyss. Meanwhile, America’s economy teeters between recession and recovery,” he said.
Amid this sea of uncertainty, “Alaska has emerged as a rock of stability.” Millions of Americans go without work, yet Alaska’s unemployment rate remains nearly one and a half points below the national average. While the dream of home ownership has turned into a nightmare for many American families, Alaska has posted the nation’s lowest foreclosure levels.
“While more Americans slip below the poverty line, Alaska’s median income has remained among the highest in the country. And while many states face unprecedented budget deficits, we have preserved surpluses of nearly $13 billion. As Alaska leads our nation to a new era of growth and opportunity, our friends in the Lower 48 have more reason than ever to look north to the future,” he said.
“The upheaval in the Middle East can seem a world away, but Americans pay the price for our heavy dependence on foreign oil. The debt troubles in Europe can sound distant, but our fishermen – and their families – depend on these nations to buy their seafood.”
With these challenges looming, the governor warns that Alaska shouldn’t be complacent.
Parnell made an appeal to Alaskans to stand with him. How we do that is to understand the downward trend of flow in the Trans Alaska Pipeline, he said. Unless we act to reverse this decline, Alaska will pay a stiff price in lost jobs and lower revenue. How that bears out in his quest to grant incentives in the form of lower taxes is the battle in the weeks ahead.
How the governor frames that is a continued insistence that Alaska needs to give up short-term gains for long-term growth. For legislators and citizens to say yes to his proposition, there needs to be give and take.
“So tonight I’m asking each of you to vote yes on meaningful tax reform. The logic is clear: Meaningful tax reform means Alaska will have a more competitive economy. A more competitive Alaska economy means more investment in Alaska. More investment in Alaska means more oil production. And more oil production means a bigger economic pie for Alaskans.”
We will see how legislators analyze the governor’s plans in the give and take ahead, what exactly emerges as Alaska’s tax policy on the oil companies whom Alaskans are forced to depend upon.
As the governor has asked, Alaskans will stand beside him with the hope of a stable future, jobs and a diversified economy. We hope he stands by Alaskans as well, as they point out any fair gas development in the future needs to include supplying it for Alaskans.

Three strikes and we’re out

It’s now or never.
A group of concerned citizens and business leaders have formed a task force to once again try and demonstrate to our Governor the importance of the Natural Gas Line to Homer. An average of at least 38 percent savings in our energy costs would be realized with the current plan being submitted this year. Last year the Governor and Legislators only received 50 letters in support of this project from our community of 8,000 residents.
If you feel strongly about clean, reliable, and affordable natural gas and would like to get involved to help make it happen this year please contact Phil Morris at 235-8383 or Dave Weber at 235-5527.
Dave Weber

Managing wildlife for commercial hunters

During the Govs. Palin/Parnell era, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has, with its abundance based ideology (i.e. game ranching), become a socialistic entitlement agency that wants to put a moose/caribou in every hunters’ freezer – regardless of conservation principles or hunting ethics. 
To make matters worse, the Board of Game is aggressively trying to privatize Alaska’s wildlife resources by passing regulations that favor commercial hunting and commercial services for hunters, particularly non-resident hunters who can afford expensive guided trips. What is lost in this resource grab is the Alaska Constitutional mandate that says wildlife is a common use resource that needs to be managed for sustainability and diversity as well as abundance.  All user groups deserve both respect and opportunity.  
Speaking as both an Alaska hunter and wildlife observer, I don’t think my non-consumptive use of wildlife is given respect by the reigning ideology.  Furthermore, as a hunter who prefers to use skills instead of motors, I think my opportunities to hunt are compromised by BOG regulations that favor the industrial approach to hunting. The Corey Rossi debacle makes clear that it’s time for change.   
George Matz   

Time for real change

In the Jan. 4 Homer Tribune, there were two great Point of View pieces from Alan Boraas and Ethan Martin, both dealing with the “personhood” of corporations and the Occupy Movement, among many other things.
Without dragging out all the reasons and arguments again, I would just like to voice my appreciation and support for what they said. I think that we are in a critical time of choice; when the burden on millions of Americans gets heavier, job prospects are grim, and yet corporate profits soar. The gap between the “one percent” and the rest of us continues to widen dramatically. It’s time for a real change.
Charlie Gibson

Wells Fargo Insurance supports arts

Thank you Wells Fargo Insurance for your generous donation and continued support for the Homer Council on the Arts after school youth art classes. Participation in the arts is essential to the healthy development of our children. It is so important to help meet this need in the community as the availability of art in schools diminishes with budget cuts. Support from businesses, grants and community members are what make it possible for HCOA to offer youth programming.
HCOA offered after school “Art for Kids” for many years, most notably thanks to Renee Jahnke.  Lynn Naden took over briefly until Marie Alexson stepped in over the past two years and developed “ArtQuest”.  Thank you to these wonderful and dedicated art teachers.
HCOA welcomes our newest teacher, Alayne Tetor, who will start teaching Jan. 31 on Tuesdays for grades K-3, and Thursdays for grades 4-8.  Financial assistance is available. The board and staff at HCOA look forward to the creativity and laughter of children back in the gallery after the holiday break.  Thank you Wells Fargo Insurance for keeping art alive and available for our youth. For more information about ArtQuest call 235-4288.
Gail Edgerly, HCOA executive director

Rotary partners with families

Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary is sponsoring another 8-week series of Conscious Discipline classes for parents, teachers, and others who work, live, or play with young children. With the Rotary’s generous support and partnership with Families First and Homer Head Start, the class will be offered at no cost to participants. Call 235-4322 for more information and say “thank you” to our community Rotarians.
Terri Mach
 

Cruising into safety

As a former naval officer; officer-of-the deck underway, independent and formation steaming; and qualified marine navigator and instructor, I have questions concerning the grounding of the cruise ship Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy.
Was the captain on the bridge exercising control of the ship? If so, why was the ship so close to the rocks? If not, who was on the bridge conning the ship? What were their qualifications? Was there a maritime pilot on the bridge? The most dangerous period in peacetime for a ship underway is when it is leaving and entering port or traversing in close proximity to land. This is when you have to be on full alert.
Why did the Costa Concordia only hold emergency evacuation drills once every 15 days? During a 15-day period the ship would normally visit a number of ports and embark new passengers. A drill should be held prior to leaving every port.
The maritime industry should evaluate the viability of lifeboat systems which fail when a ship takes on a significant list that makes it very difficult or impossible to launch lifeboats. More attention must be paid to the safety of passengers and crew.
Donald A. Moskowitz

Dear Governor Parnell …

As a local business owner in Homer, I am writing to you in support of the Homer/ Kachemak gas line extension. The economy in Alaska has held up reasonably well compared to many areas in the Lower 48. Like many others in Homer, our business is subject to increasing energy costs, especially heating oil costs during the winter months. The proposed gas line will directly affect us by saving several thousand dollars per year, which is significant when you are operating on the slim profit margins that are common in our business. We employ eight local people year round in Homer and any cost savings we can make enhance our ability to continue in business as the economy falters. We are more than willing to consider conversion to gas if the cost is competitive to our current heat source. If the cost of the transmission line makes the conversion uneconomic, we of course would not be as enthusiastic. We appreciate any support you can give to this project, and can assure you it will be an important contribution to our ability to continue to provide $350,000 in annual payroll in this community.
Phil D. Morris

By Mike O’Meara

Homer Electric Association members like renewable energy.  That’s one reason they raised a ruckus over the Healy coal plant deal in 2009. They wanted clean energy from renewable technology instead. Most folks I hear from still do. The Grant Lake/Grant Creek small hydro project is HEA’s first serious effort to provide it.
So why do some HEA members think that’s a terrible idea?
Hydroelectric projects have a well earned reputation for destroying fisheries, wrecking established economies, and even displacing communities. Grant Lake is near Moose Pass and within the Kenai River watershed. Some residents oppose the project, raising questions over potential destructive impacts — locally and to the Kenai River. The Alaska Center for the Environment, Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance, and Kenai Watershed Forum have expressed concerns too. Moose Pass critics also object to HEA imposing itself on their community which lies outside the HEA service area.  Recent letters to newspapers from two HEA members echoed most of these sentiments.
How does HEA respond?
HEA Directors cite Bradley Lake as proof the Grant Lake hydroelectric project can be developed responsibly. Community meetings were held in Moose Pass to take local input. Project engineers are examining ways to avoid building a dam and minimize road construction.  In a September newspaper opinion piece HEA General Manager Brad Janorschke wrote, “If the studies show that there would be a serious impact to the overall health of the Kenai River watershed, HEA will not proceed with the project.” Still, with field studies yet to be completed, HEA submitted a grant request to the Alaska Energy Authority for construction funding.
Is HEA ignoring the real problems associated with hydroelectric projects and dismissing legitimate public concerns?  The coop is supposed to be responsive to members. A lot of you said you wanted renewable energy so they’ve proposed Grant Lake.
Are critics an unreasonable minority whose concerns are based upon myths and misconceptions? The problems associated with hydroelectric power are real and significant. People everywhere have a right and responsibility to be concerned about what happens in their communities and how that might affect the wider world.
Alaskans want energy. No matter how we make energy there will be negative impacts.  Grant Lake and Grant Creek aren’t the Columbia River or Bradley Lake. Comparisons with either are not useful. Each hydroelectric project is unique and needs to be evaluated in terms of its potential environmental, social, and economic impacts. Will the intended benefits justify the inevitable costs?  Will those most affected reap a fair share of the rewards? Are there better options?    
Why should you care about any of this?
If you buy power from HEA you’re part owner. The Directors and management serve at your discretion. As a member/owner you’re responsible for everything our coop does. Don’t know enough to have an opinion? Why not take time to learn more? Then let your HEA Directors know how you feel.

Mike O’Meara is the spokesman for the Homer Electric Association Membership Forum