Sports

Out of the office: Painted blue

Out of the office: Painted blue

I went to Homer a few weeks ago to find blue. For weeks I had wanted to paint nothing but blues and purples, but I… Continue reading

Out of the office: Painted blue
A mural depicting Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as as “Joe Exotic,” in Dallas, Friday, April 10, 2020. The Netflix series “Tiger King,” has become popular watching during the COVID-19 outbreak. Maldonado-Passage was convicted in an unsuccessful murder-for-hire plot. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Tangled Up in Blue: Tangled Up in Dough

My coronavirus isolation started off strong. I was donning business casual for all my Zoom meetings and doing at least 20 pushups daily. I even… Continue reading

A mural depicting Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as as “Joe Exotic,” in Dallas, Friday, April 10, 2020. The Netflix series “Tiger King,” has become popular watching during the COVID-19 outbreak. Maldonado-Passage was convicted in an unsuccessful murder-for-hire plot. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Swan Lake Fire trails update

Swan Lake Fire trails update

Last fall the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge was forced to close eight trails due to Swan Lake Fire activity. Through the fall, all eight trails… Continue reading

Swan Lake Fire trails update
Pyper Dixon and Erik Johnson, both of Seward, sprint for the finish of the Mount Marathon Race on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Mount Marathon Race postponed indefinitely

There won’t be a Mount Marathon Race on July 4 in Seward for the first time since 1942.

Pyper Dixon and Erik Johnson, both of Seward, sprint for the finish of the Mount Marathon Race on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The view of Turnagain Arm, as seen from Hope Point in September 2018. Hope, Alaska, would be a good meeting place for a date once restrictions caused by the new coronavirus are lifted. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the office: Love in the time of corona

How do you find “the one” if you can’t even leave your home?

The view of Turnagain Arm, as seen from Hope Point in September 2018. Hope, Alaska, would be a good meeting place for a date once restrictions caused by the new coronavirus are lifted. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge Notebook: A helicopter’s role in wildland firefighting

Refuge Notebook: A helicopter’s role in wildland firefighting

A HECM, or helicopter crewmember, performs an essential role in ensuring the safety and success of aviation operations during a wildland fire. To manage wildland… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: A helicopter’s role in wildland firefighting
Kenai River Brown Bears’ Preston Weeks, of Soldotna, acknowledges the crowd as he gets set to set the all-time North American Hockey League record for games played Friday, March 6, 2020, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Weeks commits to UAA

Soldotna’s Preston Weeks committed Wednesday to play hockey at Division I University of Alaska Anchorage. Weeks, 21, recently completed his fifth season with the Kenai… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears’ Preston Weeks, of Soldotna, acknowledges the crowd as he gets set to set the all-time North American Hockey League record for games played Friday, March 6, 2020, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi’s Miller lands DI women’s hockey deal

SoHi’s Miller lands DI women’s hockey deal

Soldotna High School senior Journey Miller learned Wednesday that she had secured a spot on the women’s hockey team at Division I Minnesota State University,… Continue reading

SoHi’s Miller lands DI women’s hockey deal
Nikiski’s Lillian Carstens drives to the rim by South’s Paige Noble Saturday at the Rus Hitchcock Nikiski Tip Off tournament. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

All-state basketball teams announced

The Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches announced all-state teams Wednesday. In balloting from across the state, Seward’s Al Plan was named the Class 3A boys… Continue reading

Nikiski’s Lillian Carstens drives to the rim by South’s Paige Noble Saturday at the Rus Hitchcock Nikiski Tip Off tournament. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge Notebook: Keeping an eye on birds

Refuge Notebook: Keeping an eye on birds

Around this time of year I start to include a pair of binoculars in my checklist of essentials for heading out the door on a… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: Keeping an eye on birds
Bear Lake. Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/For the Clarion)

Tangled Up in Blue: Shelter from the storm

I ran into a stranger while enjoying some spring skiing on Bear Lake last week. I spent a warm spring morning skiing along the groomed… Continue reading

Bear Lake. Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/For the Clarion)
Refuge Notebook: Migration is not canceled

Refuge Notebook: Migration is not canceled

A friend told me recently that March is her favorite month. What? Not May, when our birds of summer come home to nest? Nor June… Continue reading

Refuge Notebook: Migration is not canceled
Out of the Office: Nature in a time of pandemic can heal

Out of the Office: Nature in a time of pandemic can heal

As I write this I am in my third day of working at home — or, as I like to think of it, an embedded… Continue reading

Out of the Office: Nature in a time of pandemic can heal
Bears forward Ritchie commits to St. Lawrence

Bears forward Ritchie commits to St. Lawrence

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Logan Ritchie has earned a commitment to Division I St. Lawrence University of the ECAC. Kenai River head coach Kevin… Continue reading

Bears forward Ritchie commits to St. Lawrence
SoHi’s Truesdell commits to UAF basketball

SoHi’s Truesdell commits to UAF basketball

Soldotna High School senior Jersey Truesdell capped a decorated prep career by committing to the University of Alaska Fairbanks basketball program Thursday. Truesdell, who has… Continue reading

SoHi’s Truesdell commits to UAF basketball
Soldotna’s Ituau Tuisaula powers up against Nikiski’s Kaycee Bostic on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi’s Tuisaula nabs MVP of NLC

Soldotna senior Ituau Tuisaula was named most valuable player of the Northern Lights Conference in voting announced Monday. The NLC tournament was canceled due to… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Ituau Tuisaula powers up against Nikiski’s Kaycee Bostic on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
During this time of uncertainty, the author vacillates between being outdoors and binge watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” (Photo courtesy of Kat Sorensen)

Tangled Up in Blue: Lonely among us

I set daily goals to accomplish during this universal pandemic, a different kind of frontier.

During this time of uncertainty, the author vacillates between being outdoors and binge watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” (Photo courtesy of Kat Sorensen)
Crested auklets are just one of 30 species of seabirds that we study, but theyղe one of the strangest with their otherworldy eyes, showgirl plumes and tangerine odor. The citrus odor may be important for repelling pests. (Photo by Michael Johns/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Introducing Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

We’ve probably already met, but you didn’t realize it. We’re the other national wildlife refuge headquartered on the Kenai Peninsula. If you’ve taken a Kenai… Continue reading

Crested auklets are just one of 30 species of seabirds that we study, but theyղe one of the strangest with their otherworldy eyes, showgirl plumes and tangerine odor. The citrus odor may be important for repelling pests. (Photo by Michael Johns/USFWS)
The Peninsula Oilers play the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Oilers cancel 2020 season

The Peninsula Oilers have canceled their 2020 season, stopping the string of consecutive summers the Alaska Baseball League team has entertained the central Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

The Peninsula Oilers play the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Max Helgeson and goalie Landon Pavlisin keep the Fairbanks Ice Dogs from scoring Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

NAHL cancels regular season; ASAA ceases spring activities; Ski marathon, triathlon canceled in Homer

The Kenai River Brown Bears players were released to return home after the North American Hockey League canceled the rest of its regular season Monday… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Max Helgeson and goalie Landon Pavlisin keep the Fairbanks Ice Dogs from scoring Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)