Life

Trials of the Earth

Trials of the Earth

Your toast was burnt this morning.It was the first in a tsunami of irritation you had to endure today: the house WiFi was down, your… Continue reading

Trials of the Earth

What’s Happening

Best Bets ■ The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra will present the 2016 Summer Music Festival, 2 weeks of music culminating in our Gala Concerts, “Russian Scenes,”… Continue reading

If I believed

If I believedMarilyn Wheeless, KenaiIf I believed I would have to live the rest of my lifeCrouching behind windows peeping out at my worldIn fear.If… Continue reading

The man who made things out of trees

Shade feels good right about now.Just sitting in it seems to lower your temperature by ten degrees. It calms you, too, and makes you feel… Continue reading

Hundreds of Salmonfest attendees became part of the art in the rodeo arena in August 2015. Homer artist Mavis Muller will return again this year to lead the 6th annual aerial group photo on Sat. Aug. 6 at 3 p.m.

Salmonfest 2016: Summer weekend of environmental consciousness, music, art

As the sun begins to set before 11 p.m. and an end to summer seems just around the corner, Salmonfest appears a reminder not to… Continue reading

Hundreds of Salmonfest attendees became part of the art in the rodeo arena in August 2015. Homer artist Mavis Muller will return again this year to lead the 6th annual aerial group photo on Sat. Aug. 6 at 3 p.m.
In this image released by Paramount Pictures, from left, Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine and John Cho appear in a scene from, "Star Trek Beyond." (Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: ‘Star Trek Beyond’ energizes series

“Star Trek Beyond”Paramount Pictures2 hours, 2 minutesI think a lot of people out there are getting superhero fatigue, or franchise fatigue, or are simply tired… Continue reading

In this image released by Paramount Pictures, from left, Anton Yelchin, Chris Pine and John Cho appear in a scene from, "Star Trek Beyond." (Kimberley French/Paramount Pictures via AP)

What’s Happening

Best Bets ■ Market Daze at The Market, 44720 Sterling Highway in Soldotna, is 1-11 p.m. today, featuring live music from Robb Justice at 7… Continue reading

Poet’s Corner: Anticipation

AnticipationBy Hedy-Jo Huss, SoldotnaBurgers, hot dogs and friesare ready to go.(Watch out for flies.)Toppings are added one by one.Make sure to leave room for a… Continue reading

Under the stars

Under the stars

Away from any lights, the stars seem to triple in number.They’re closer to the earth, too, and shinier. When you’re outdoors, you also hear things… Continue reading

Under the stars
In this image released by Sony Pictures, from left, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones appear in a scene from, "Ghostbusters." (Sony Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: Don’t be afraid of this ‘Ghostbusters’

“Ghostbusters”Columbia Pictures1 hour, 56 minutesI was 11 when the original “Ghostbusters” came out — perfectly primed for that film’s mix of adult humor (which I… Continue reading

In this image released by Sony Pictures, from left, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones appear in a scene from, "Ghostbusters." (Sony Pictures via AP)

What’s Happening

Best Bets ■ Hobo Jim, Alaska’s balladeer, will perform at 3 p.m. Friday at the Kenai Visitor & Cultural Center, 11471 Kenai Spur Highway in… Continue reading

Poet’s Corner: Sterling, Alaska

Sterling, AlaskaBy A.J. Zyszkowski, 2014June brings the longest brightest days that never end.The fishy smell of the cleaning table fills the air as youapproach the… Continue reading

In this image released by Universal Pictures, Chloe, voiced by Lake Bell, from left, Max, voiced by Louis C.K., and Mel, voiced by Bobby Moynihan, appear in a scene from, "The Secret Lives of Pets." (Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures via AP)

Reeling it in: Pets have a lot of fun in their secret lives

“The Secret Life of Pets”Universal Pictures1 hour, 27 minutes“Midnight Special”Warner Home Video1 hour, 52 minutesIf you had asked me in May which childrens’ film would… Continue reading

In this image released by Universal Pictures, Chloe, voiced by Lake Bell, from left, Max, voiced by Louis C.K., and Mel, voiced by Bobby Moynihan, appear in a scene from, "The Secret Lives of Pets." (Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures via AP)

Personal decisions define author’s first book

Homer writer McKibben Jackinsky’s first book, “Too Close to Home? Living with ‘drill baby’ on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula” tells the story of recent oil and… Continue reading

FILE - This image released by Disney shows Ruby Barnhill and the Big Friendly Giant from Giant Country, voiced by Mark Rylance, in a scene from"The BFG." "The Legend of Tarzan" and "The BFG" were both dwarfed by "Finding Dory" over the July 4th weekend, as the Pixar sequel led the box office for the third straight weekend. (Disney via AP, File)

Reeling it in: ‘BFG’ a beautiful film, but falls flat

“The Big Friendly Giant” Walt Disney Motion Pictures 1 hour, 57 minutes   I’m at a bit of a loss at how to approach Steven… Continue reading

FILE - This image released by Disney shows Ruby Barnhill and the Big Friendly Giant from Giant Country, voiced by Mark Rylance, in a scene from"The BFG." "The Legend of Tarzan" and "The BFG" were both dwarfed by "Finding Dory" over the July 4th weekend, as the Pixar sequel led the box office for the third straight weekend. (Disney via AP, File)
Your dog is a hero

Your dog is a hero

To you, your dog is a hero.Nobody else protects you from spiders and shadows. Nobody does a better job of warning you about summer storms… Continue reading

Your dog is a hero

Poet’s Corner: Silent Wounded

Silent WoundedBy Bonnie Playle, SoldotnaThose innocent, soft souls,full of guilt, shame and heartaches untold.They can be both young and old,but fall victim to lives that… Continue reading

This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Liam Hemsworth as Jake Morrison in a scene from "Independence Day: Resurgence." (Claudette Barius/Twentieth Century Fox via AP)

Movie

“Independence Day: Resurgence”Twentieth Century Fox2 hoursWhen “Independence Day” hit in 1996 it was met with cheers, jeers, and boatloads of cash. It was a huge… Continue reading

This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Liam Hemsworth as Jake Morrison in a scene from "Independence Day: Resurgence." (Claudette Barius/Twentieth Century Fox via AP)
Photo by Annie Beedy, courtesy Alexis Smith Author Alexis Smith, pictured here, grew up in Soldotna and let the Alaska landscape seep into her work. Her latest book, "Marrow Island," is on the Oprah Magazine Summer Reading List.

Write what you know

Author Alexis Smith recalls how growing up in a homesteading family in Soldotna gave her ample time to explore the surrounding wilderness on her own… Continue reading

Photo by Annie Beedy, courtesy Alexis Smith Author Alexis Smith, pictured here, grew up in Soldotna and let the Alaska landscape seep into her work. Her latest book, "Marrow Island," is on the Oprah Magazine Summer Reading List.
What happened

What happened

We blurt it out without thinking; it’s a common question when someone has died unexpectedly. What happened, where did it happen, why, how…? Knowing the… Continue reading

What happened