The Tiglax at the Chowiot Island field camp, on a spectacular Aleutian afternoon. (E. Bella/Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: A journey through botanical time

While understanding the ecological system of the place where you work and inhabit is an invaluable, lengthy process, the chance to occasionally visit new places… Continue reading

The Tiglax at the Chowiot Island field camp, on a spectacular Aleutian afternoon. (E. Bella/Refuge)
This March 24, 2014 photo shows a bumble bee searching for nectar from a Rosemary plant near Langley, Wash. Honeybees are irreplaceable as pollinators but you can somewhat offset their loss by attracting beetles, butterflies and moths, dragonflies, feral bees, bumblebees and wasps, among others. (AP Photo/By Dean Fosdick)

Bees aren’t the only pollinators you can attract

The dramatic loss of honeybees to changing land use, viruses and pesticides is alarming, and they are irreplaceable as pollinators. But you can somewhat offset… Continue reading

This March 24, 2014 photo shows a bumble bee searching for nectar from a Rosemary plant near Langley, Wash. Honeybees are irreplaceable as pollinators but you can somewhat offset their loss by attracting beetles, butterflies and moths, dragonflies, feral bees, bumblebees and wasps, among others. (AP Photo/By Dean Fosdick)
Mike Yochim, 47, a National Parks Service planner, left, helps his friend Eric Compas decide on the meals to carry for a canoe trip on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Gardiner, Mont. Yochim was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in September 2013 and will be joined by three of his closest friends for one last wilderness trip around Yellowstone Lake. (AP Photo/Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez)

Once more into the wild

GARDINER, Mont. (AP) — Mike Yochim asked for help up from a blue chair in his living room with windows overlooking a cloud-covered Electric Peak.Using… Continue reading

Mike Yochim, 47, a National Parks Service planner, left, helps his friend Eric Compas decide on the meals to carry for a canoe trip on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Gardiner, Mont. Yochim was diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in September 2013 and will be joined by three of his closest friends for one last wilderness trip around Yellowstone Lake. (AP Photo/Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez)

Business news

Chambers set schedules ■ The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce meets at noon on Tuesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. A forum with candidates for… Continue reading

'Silent Witnesses' is gruesome yet fascinating

‘Silent Witnesses’ is gruesome yet fascinating

You saw everything go down. There was a brief fight before the woman shoved the man into the side of the car. That surprised you,… Continue reading

'Silent Witnesses' is gruesome yet fascinating
Chloe Grace Moretz, a cast member in "If I Stay," poses at the premiere of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

‘If I Stay’ is one two-hour long cliché

“If I Stay” MGM/Summit Entertainment co-production PG-13 , 1 hr 46 min Drama, Romance     Twenty minutes into this week’s YA out-of-body weeper I… Continue reading

Chloe Grace Moretz, a cast member in "If I Stay," poses at the premiere of the film at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Poet’s corner: The Clearest Blues

The Clearest Blues Dee Rusin, Kenai     The clearest blues Many hues Filled with streaks of white Joined together Marshmallow puffs Forming photos Made… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Dave Atcheson Sterling author Dave Atcheson has written a new book about his experiences commercial fishing in Alaska. The book entitled, "Dead Reckoning" is now available at River City Books and can be purchased on Amazon. Atcheson will hold a book signing at the Kenai Fine Arts Center Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m.

Sterling author shares journey of life at sea

When Sterling author Dave Atcheson moved to Alaska from upstate New York at 18, he was searching for adventure. Without ever having seen the ocean,… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Dave Atcheson Sterling author Dave Atcheson has written a new book about his experiences commercial fishing in Alaska. The book entitled, "Dead Reckoning" is now available at River City Books and can be purchased on Amazon. Atcheson will hold a book signing at the Kenai Fine Arts Center Sept. 10 from 6-8 p.m.

What’s Happening

Best Bets ■ An artists’ reception for the Harvest Art Exhibit is planned for 6-8 p.m. today at the Kenai Fine Arts Center, 816 Cook… Continue reading

National Welsh Rarebit Day

If you love eating any dish that includes melted cheese, today would be an especially good day to indulge yourself; September 3 is National Welsh… Continue reading

  • Sep 2, 2014
  • By Sue Ade
  • Food

Pioneer Potluck: About Gail’s bear

Nikiski, Alaska Boulderpoint 1985   I was helping my friend Lonna with a Democratic or Republican rally at the Lamplight Bar. I have never been… Continue reading

  • Sep 2, 2014
  • By Grannie Annie
  • Food
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Special Delivery
Ashlyn and Joshua Kartchner

Ross-Curry, Kartchner marry in Kenai

Ashlyn Ross-Curry and Joshua Kartchner Sr. were married in an evening ceremony on May 25, 2014, at Calvary Baptist Church in Kenai.The groom’s uncle, Jack… Continue reading

Ashlyn and Joshua Kartchner

Unhinged Alaska: As the Fishing Hole slips into hibernation, the tourists slide south

Around mid July, silvers started arriving in small fleets both inside and outside the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon in Homer.Things were so good that folks… Continue reading

Ladies in Pink rally against breast cancer The 9th annual Pink Ribbon Rally was held on August 10 at the Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. The event raises funds for the Central Peninsula Health Foundation Breast Cancer Fund to be used locally for awareness, prevention and patient care. (submitted photo)
Ladies in Pink rally against breast cancer The 9th annual Pink Ribbon Rally was held on August 10 at the Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. The event raises funds for the Central Peninsula Health Foundation Breast Cancer Fund to be used locally for awareness, prevention and patient care. (submitted photo)
Maya Kay Marie Sanchez

Community News and Notes

Jason Moore and Autumn Beatty of Kenai announce the birth of their daughter, Willow Raine Moore at 3:25 p.m. on August 22, 2014. She weighed… Continue reading

Maya Kay Marie Sanchez

Learning for Life: Ouch! What was that?

Summertime means lots of outdoor time and on occasion we get stung by one of our resident wasps. Never a fun time it is best… Continue reading

What’s happening at the Kenai Senior Center

What’s happening at the Kenai Senior Center for the month of September 2014 (all activities are held at the Kenai Senior Center unless otherwise stated):■… Continue reading

Church news

Mass schedule to change at Our Lady of Perpetual Help As of September 1, the weekend Mass Schedule will change for Our Lady of Perpetual… Continue reading

Restoring snowmobile history

CASPER, Wyo. — One of the snowmobiles looks a little like a 1970s space-pod with tracks.A rider sits inside, like a car, and the roof… Continue reading