Life in the pedestrian lane: The Location of the Library

Life in the pedestrian lane: The Location of the Library

The Location of the Library is the only thing you ever absolutely need to know according to Albert Einstein. I spent my so-called formative years… Continue reading

Life in the pedestrian lane: The Location of the Library
‘The Darkest Minds’ — a solid YA outing

‘The Darkest Minds’ — a solid YA outing

There was a brief moment where YA post-apocalyptic fiction was all the rage. Do we put the start of that at “The Hunger Games?” I’m… Continue reading

‘The Darkest Minds’ — a solid YA outing
Internationally renowned pianist to play in Soldotna

Internationally renowned pianist to play in Soldotna

At first blush, it’s a tad unbelievable that a pianist of international renown will be playing Soldotna Christ Lutheran Church on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.… Continue reading

Internationally renowned pianist to play in Soldotna
A unique way to spend your PFD: Native Arts and Crafts show slated for Friday

A unique way to spend your PFD: Native Arts and Crafts show slated for Friday

It’s once again time for the annual injection of oil profits into the Alaska economy, colloquially known around the state as PFD Day. On Oct.… Continue reading

A unique way to spend your PFD: Native Arts and Crafts show slated for Friday

Poet’s Corner: Buddy Benches

Buddy Benches by Hedy Huss Lately, I heard of Virginia installing “buddy benches” on school playgrounds. on school playgrounds. do exist here in Soldotna! They’re… Continue reading

‘A Star is Born’ — Less sappy than the original, with better music

‘A Star is Born’ — Less sappy than the original, with better music

I must confess — I’ve never seen the 1976 “A Star is Born,” starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. That’s not particularly shocking to my… Continue reading

‘A Star is Born’ — Less sappy than the original, with better music

Poet’s corner: One-moon planet

One-moon Planet By Hedy Huss Planet Jupiter trumps all the rest. In numbers, it the best with 63 moons! So many moons … Their dozens… Continue reading

‘UFO’ — If you’re looking for engaging sci-fi, look elsewhere

‘UFO’ — If you’re looking for engaging sci-fi, look elsewhere

I’ve always been a big science fiction fan, but lately I’ve been really into a subset of that genre, the so-called “hard” science fiction. This… Continue reading

‘UFO’ — If you’re looking for engaging sci-fi, look elsewhere
Pioneer Potluck: In celebration of my little brother Jim McClure’s 71st birthday

Pioneer Potluck: In celebration of my little brother Jim McClure’s 71st birthday

By Ann “Grannie Annie” Berg Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 would have been my little brother Jim McClure’s 71 birthday. I remember the morning my Dad… Continue reading

Pioneer Potluck: In celebration of my little brother Jim McClure’s 71st birthday
Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star in ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls.’ (Universal Pictures)

‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls’ never lives up to its potential

There are many things to like about this week’s amusing and affable horror-lite kids movie, “The House with a Clock in Its Walls.” For one,… Continue reading

Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star in ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls.’ (Universal Pictures)

Poet’s Corner: The Last Rose of Summer

The Last Rose of Summer By Dave Thompson Kenai, Alaska The thunder rolls in tempo on this September day Signaling the Autumn as Summer fades… Continue reading

Poet’s Corner: Bittersweet

Bittersweet By Lori Lindsay, Soldotna I didn’t know my life could change, I didn’t know it needed to. But you were an unexpected miracle That… Continue reading

Kenai Performers opens season with murder mystery dinner theater

Kenai Performers opens season with murder mystery dinner theater

The school year has begun; the leaves are changing colors and every morning’s just a little bit colder than the last. It’s time for the… Continue reading

Kenai Performers opens season with murder mystery dinner theater
A woman ties a ribbon to a memorial to Katie Kennedy at this year’s Burning Basket, Dream, on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 at Mariner Park in Homer, Alaska. The photo shows Kennedy placing her bra in the 2017 Burning Basket. Kennedy died of breast cancer this year. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

An intimate view of the Burning Basket from formation to flames

The image came via text in early June: a lilac-painted 1972 Volkswagen van set against a picturesque backdrop of nettles and fireweed. Not a bad… Continue reading

A woman ties a ribbon to a memorial to Katie Kennedy at this year’s Burning Basket, Dream, on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 at Mariner Park in Homer, Alaska. The photo shows Kennedy placing her bra in the 2017 Burning Basket. Kennedy died of breast cancer this year. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Poet’s Corner: Florence

Florence The Name Means Flourishing Prosperity (Perhaps It’s An Offer From God…) by Norm Olson Fires in the west and storms in the east While the middle… Continue reading

‘The Nun’ — a rollercoaster of scares

‘The Nun’ — a rollercoaster of scares

This time of year, heading into the Halloween season always makes me think about my own relationship to horror movies. I remember catching bits of… Continue reading

‘The Nun’ — a rollercoaster of scares
SYDNEY JOHNSON<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book">| Courtesy Photo</span>                                Sydney Johnson’s white Vans carry formline designs of a raven and a frog, representing her moiety and clan.<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book"></span>

This young Juneau artist is doing her part to keep Native artwork alive

On her first day of preschool, Sydney Johnson had a decision to make. During drawing time, she and other students had a wide array of… Continue reading

SYDNEY JOHNSON<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book">| Courtesy Photo</span>                                Sydney Johnson’s white Vans carry formline designs of a raven and a frog, representing her moiety and clan.<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book"></span>
Sterling Area Senior Citizens Inc. board members and volunteers Linda Bond, Sandy Bailey, Janet Jones, Jacquie Turpin, Kristie Bass, Lynn Near, Dee Duvall and Dale Lundell met to discuss plans for the Sterling Street Fair at the Sterling Senior Center in Sterling, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Sassy not senior,’ Sterling Senior Center hopes to draw community together with street fair

There’s more to Sterling than a whole lot of people realize. That’s the message Jacquie Turpin, a member of the Sterling Area Senior Center Inc.… Continue reading

Sterling Area Senior Citizens Inc. board members and volunteers Linda Bond, Sandy Bailey, Janet Jones, Jacquie Turpin, Kristie Bass, Lynn Near, Dee Duvall and Dale Lundell met to discuss plans for the Sterling Street Fair at the Sterling Senior Center in Sterling, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Mandy Leslie of Anchorage beers with her brother Zack Leslie of Kenai on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Mandy Leslie said her favorite beer was the 12 quadruple beer from the 49th State Brewing Company, which won as the people’s choice for top beer. More than 15 breweries from all around the state participated in the festival, a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Soldotna with benefits going to local Rotary projects. (Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to host eighth-annual Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival this Saturday

The eighth-annual Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival will celebrate community and locally crafted brewing this Saturday. More than 25 breweries, distributors, wineries and a cidery will… Continue reading

Mandy Leslie of Anchorage beers with her brother Zack Leslie of Kenai on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2018, at the Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Mandy Leslie said her favorite beer was the 12 quadruple beer from the 49th State Brewing Company, which won as the people’s choice for top beer. More than 15 breweries from all around the state participated in the festival, a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Soldotna with benefits going to local Rotary projects. (Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion)
“Writing desk corner – south-east / Father asleep on couch” circa 1898-1900. This room was probably on the second floor of the two-story Brackett’s Trading Post, otherwise known as the “Mansion House,” located on the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue and Main Street in Skagway. (Courtesy Photo | National Park Service, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Brackett Family Collection, BRSGY049, KLGO BI-45-5246)

Historic collection shows history of Southeast Alaska during Gold Rush

I have mentioned before how history sometimes seems to fall into our respective laps completely out of the blue. This was certainly the case a… Continue reading

“Writing desk corner – south-east / Father asleep on couch” circa 1898-1900. This room was probably on the second floor of the two-story Brackett’s Trading Post, otherwise known as the “Mansion House,” located on the northwest corner of 3rd Avenue and Main Street in Skagway. (Courtesy Photo | National Park Service, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Brackett Family Collection, BRSGY049, KLGO BI-45-5246)