A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

COVID update: Senior vacciation rate nears 70% statewide

Nearly one in four eligible Alaska residents — 24.8% — were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday. That milestone comes the week after Alaska… Continue reading

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
RN Rachel Verba (right) administers a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Dr. Chris Michelson on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Bruce Richards/CPH)

Vaccine hesitancy among local health care workers mirrors national trends

CPH will continue to follow up with employees to see if they are interested in being vaccinated.

RN Rachel Verba (right) administers a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Dr. Chris Michelson on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Bruce Richards/CPH)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
(courtesy)
(courtesy)
Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing vessels are moored near the mouth of the Kenai River on July 10, 2020.

Trends: Peninsula fishermen to enter a defining year

The peninsula’s commercial fishers are entering a time of unknowns.

Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing vessels are moored near the mouth of the Kenai River on July 10, 2020.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Benjamin Jackinsky (left) and Sarah O’Brien work at Already Read on Feb. 19, in Kenai.

Trends: Shop local programs a hit with businesses, consumers

Soldotna was the first city on the peninsula to offer a shop local program, which went live at the end of 2020.

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Benjamin Jackinsky (left) and Sarah O’Brien work at Already Read on Feb. 19, in Kenai.
Kenai Peninsula Tourism and Marketing Council Executive Director Debbie Speakman presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Trends 2021: Peninsula tourism targeted Alaskans in 2020

It was the year that almost wasn’t for peninsula tourism.

Kenai Peninsula Tourism and Marketing Council Executive Director Debbie Speakman presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Trends: Grants on tap for local businesses

Across the peninsula, CARES dollars funded grant programs offering financial relief to residents, workers and businesses.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March, 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)

Trends: Seward trends toward sustainable infrastructure

“Solarize is a win, win, win”

  • Mar 20, 2021
  • By Kat Sorensen For the Peninsula Clarion
Resurrection Bay is photographed from Seward, Alaska, in March, 2018. (Staff/Peninsula Clarion)
Tim Dillon, executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District, helps Doug Weaver, owner of Northern Superior Construction, apply for an AK CARES grant through Credit Union 1 at the KPEDD office in Kenai, Alaska on July 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Trends: CARES Act a source of relief for borough, city residents

One element of the CARES Act was the Coronavirus Relief Fund, through which the State of Alaska received $1.25 billion.

Tim Dillon, executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District, helps Doug Weaver, owner of Northern Superior Construction, apply for an AK CARES grant through Credit Union 1 at the KPEDD office in Kenai, Alaska on July 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Tim Dillon

Trends: KPEDD looks to pandemic for lessons in economic resiliency

Among the projects KPEDD is working on this year are the borough’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and an Economic Resiliency Plan.

Tim Dillon
Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce presents local advocate Nona Safra with an exemplary service award Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Local senior advocate honored for her work

Nona Safra sits on the board of the Alaska Commission on Aging.

Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce presents local advocate Nona Safra with an exemplary service award Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The badge for the Kenai Police Department
The badge for the Kenai Police Department
CDC photo

DHSS: 157 new cases

The new cases bring Alaska’s statewide case total to 61,089.

CDC photo
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Vaccinations continue to climb

More than half of peninsula seniors — 52.30% — are fully vaccinated.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Kenai extends disaster declaration to end of May

The declaration was first issued on March 18, 2020 and has since been extended six times.

The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai shop local program extended 1 month

As of March 3, more than $55,000 in vouchers had already been distributed and more than 50 businesses were signed up to participate.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer office of the Division of Motor Vehicles is seen after hours on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

House subcommittee grills officials on plan to close DMV offices

‘I really doubt it’s going to pass,’ Vance said of governor’s idea to close rural locations

The Homer office of the Division of Motor Vehicles is seen after hours on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Dogs are seen playing at 3 Friends Dog Park on Tuesday, March 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Not if, but when’

All of the trees at 3 Friends Dog Park must be removed, report says

Dogs are seen playing at 3 Friends Dog Park on Tuesday, March 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bill that would reshape AMHS leadership moves forward

Ideological divide over the word ‘highway.’

The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)