Life

Send all the bouquets upstairs

Dr. Kenneth Wuest, who taught Greek, was my favorite college professor because he always brought something beyond the day’s lesson to the classroom to inspire… Continue reading

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Refuge Notebook: Time to apply for summer jobs at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Are you interested in working at one of the premier wildlife refuges in the nation this summer? The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has a few… Continue reading

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Homer Cycling Club’s Big Fat Bike Festival this weekend

The Homer Cycling Club’s Big Fat Bike Festival is today through Sunday. Events include beach bonfires, a group ride from Anchor Point to Homer, burger… Continue reading

In this Feb. 6, 2014 photo, Steve and Kathy Muench ride the trails at Jug Mountain Ranch near McCall, Idaho. Fat bikes sport oversized balloon tires run at low air pressures that are specially designed to ride on packed snow and other surfaces. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Roger Phillips)

Snow fun: Clunky bikes with fat tires catching on

MCCALL, Idaho (AP) — You’ve probably seen these in a bike shop, in a bike rack, or even hanging from the ceiling of a bar… Continue reading

In this Feb. 6, 2014 photo, Steve and Kathy Muench ride the trails at Jug Mountain Ranch near McCall, Idaho. Fat bikes sport oversized balloon tires run at low air pressures that are specially designed to ride on packed snow and other surfaces. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Roger Phillips)
In this image released by G.C. Media, Victor Mooney, right, stands inside his custom built row boat "The Spirit of Malabo," as he prepares for the Goree Challenge, his fourth attempt at crossing the Atlantic to raise funds for HIV/AIDS, on Wednesday Feb. 19, 2014 in Maspolamas, Gran Canaria. (AP Photo/G.C. Media,Handout)

Sunk, but undefeated, NYC man faces Atlantic again

NEW YORK — A tenacious New Yorker who has been trying for nearly a decade to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, but has been… Continue reading

In this image released by G.C. Media, Victor Mooney, right, stands inside his custom built row boat "The Spirit of Malabo," as he prepares for the Goree Challenge, his fourth attempt at crossing the Atlantic to raise funds for HIV/AIDS, on Wednesday Feb. 19, 2014 in Maspolamas, Gran Canaria. (AP Photo/G.C. Media,Handout)

What’s Happening

■ The Triumvirate Theatre presents “Barefoot in the Park,” 7 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22 at Triumvirate Theatre in the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna.… Continue reading

This image released by Columbia Pictures shows Joel Kinnaman in a scene from "RoboCop." (AP Photo/Columbia Pictures - Sony, Kerry Hayes)

Reeling it in: A new ‘Robocop’ – what could go wrong?

“Robocop”Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer1 hour, 57 minutesMan, last weekend was like a 1980s revival filmfest. Not only was there a new version of 1987’s “Robocop,” but also on… Continue reading

This image released by Columbia Pictures shows Joel Kinnaman in a scene from "RoboCop." (AP Photo/Columbia Pictures - Sony, Kerry Hayes)
The Bookworm Sez: Get the skinny on 'A Big Fat Crisis'

The Bookworm Sez: Get the skinny on ‘A Big Fat Crisis’

You feel as though you might have to quit your job.Yeah, you’re that desperate to get away from the treats that somebody’s been leaving in… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: Get the skinny on 'A Big Fat Crisis'

Rockin’ the 2014 Winter Olympics

Just as I was getting our cabin back in order from a rather successful but somewhat pre-apocalyptic Super Bowl party, along comes the Winter Olympics.Except… Continue reading

Wyatt LaVigueur

News and notes

Ben and Michelle LaVigueur announce the birth of their son, Wyatt Lee LaVigueur, at 4:53 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2014. He weighed 9.06 pounds and… Continue reading

Wyatt LaVigueur
Top of the World Swimming cmembers, above and inset, competed at the Alaska Masters Short Course Yards State Championships Feb. 8-9 in Achorage.

Masters swimmers make waves at state meet

Swimmers from the Top of the World Swimming U.S. Masters Swimming team, including Stephanie Musgrove, Emily Smith, Sarah Williams, Angie Brennan, Judy Abrahams, Joanne Wainwright,… Continue reading

Top of the World Swimming cmembers, above and inset, competed at the Alaska Masters Short Course Yards State Championships Feb. 8-9 in Achorage.
In this photo taken Thursday Jan. 30, 2014 beginner skiers make their way to the terrain-based learning center for new skiers at Cranmore Mountain ski area in North Conway, N.H. Instead of teaching new skiers how to stop first, terrain-based skiing teaches new skiers skills with banks, berms, and bumps that naturally slow them down without sliding down the mountain out of control. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Ski resorts turn to terrain-based teaching

NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — Allison Willette’s first few skiing lessons left her with a sore butt and aching knees but not a lot of skills.… Continue reading

In this photo taken Thursday Jan. 30, 2014 beginner skiers make their way to the terrain-based learning center for new skiers at Cranmore Mountain ski area in North Conway, N.H. Instead of teaching new skiers how to stop first, terrain-based skiing teaches new skiers skills with banks, berms, and bumps that naturally slow them down without sliding down the mountain out of control. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Church news

Hidden talents date changed The Midnight Son Seventh Day Adventist Church invites the public to watch a Hidden Talent Show at 6:30 p.m. March 15… Continue reading

‘Love stinks’ – really?

Of all the sayings we hear about Valentine’s Day, you are hard pressed to find a greeting card with “Love Stinks” on the cover. The… Continue reading

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Refuge Notebook: Genetic diversity of wildlife on the Kenai Peninsula is a mixed bag

There are 1,786 plant and animal species known on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. That’s extraordinary biodiversity for this latitude with perhaps another 3,000 species,… Continue reading

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An Outdoor View: The first king

Like your first kiss, you never forget your first king salmon.I was born in 1937, and raised in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, within walking distance of the… Continue reading

In this photo taken on Feb. 9, 2014, Houston Laws tows his recrafted sled across the ice at Mendenhall Lake near Juneau, Alaska, during a training run for the Susitna 100, a 100-mile ski, bike or run event that starts on Saturday, Feb. 15. It will be the first of four 100-mile races Laws hopes to complete in 2014 to achieve an Alaska ultrarunning "Grand Slam." The Alaska grand slam consists of the Susitna, the White Mountains 100, the Sluice Box 100 and the Resurrection Pass Trail 100. (AP Photo/The Juneau Empire, Klas Stolpe)

Extreme Alaska challenge: 100-mile run, with sled

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Man against nature.The theme is as old as time, or as old as man has existed in time.Juneau’s Houston Laws has… Continue reading

In this photo taken on Feb. 9, 2014, Houston Laws tows his recrafted sled across the ice at Mendenhall Lake near Juneau, Alaska, during a training run for the Susitna 100, a 100-mile ski, bike or run event that starts on Saturday, Feb. 15. It will be the first of four 100-mile races Laws hopes to complete in 2014 to achieve an Alaska ultrarunning "Grand Slam." The Alaska grand slam consists of the Susitna, the White Mountains 100, the Sluice Box 100 and the Resurrection Pass Trail 100. (AP Photo/The Juneau Empire, Klas Stolpe)

What’s Happening

Best Bet ■ Musicians and listeners are invited to a Blue Grass Jam at the Kenai United Methodist Church Sunday from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Blue Grass… Continue reading

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows characters, from left, Emmet, voiced by Chris Pratt, Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks and Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, in a scene from "The Lego Movie." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Reeling it in: Legos, monuments and great expectations

“The Lego Movie” Warner Bros. 1 hour, 40 minutes   “Monuments Men” Columbia Pictures 1 hour, 58 minutes   I’ve said it before and I’ll… Continue reading

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows characters, from left, Emmet, voiced by Chris Pratt, Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks and Batman, voiced by Will Arnett, in a scene from "The Lego Movie." (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Fourth-graders in Jeremy Peterson's Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School class practice square dancing with instructor Susan Michaels, at rear, Monday Feb. 3, 2014, in Sitka, Alaska. Michaels is teaching line dancing and square dancing at the school as part of the Artist-in-Residence program. (AP Photo/Daily Sitka Sentinel, James Poulson)

Students learn traditional dance

SITKA, Alaska (AP) — Students at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary this week learned how to line up as either a “biscuit” or “butter.”They created a… Continue reading

Fourth-graders in Jeremy Peterson's Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School class practice square dancing with instructor Susan Michaels, at rear, Monday Feb. 3, 2014, in Sitka, Alaska. Michaels is teaching line dancing and square dancing at the school as part of the Artist-in-Residence program. (AP Photo/Daily Sitka Sentinel, James Poulson)