A copy of William L. Iġġiaġruk Hensley’s “Fifty Miles from Tomorrow” is held outside the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: A powerful record of Alaska Native advocacy

In “Fifty Miles From Tomorrow,” William L. Hensley divulges a lifetime worth of insight into both his childhood in the northwest Arctic and his decades of service as an unwavering champion of Alaska Native rights

A copy of William L. Iġġiaġruk Hensley’s “Fifty Miles from Tomorrow” is held outside the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional photo courtesy Toho Studios
From left, Yuki Yamada portrays Shiro Mizushima, Hidetaka Yoshioka portrays Kenji Noda, Kuranosuke Sasaki portrays Yoji Akitsu and Ryunosuke Kamiki portrays Koichi Shikishima in “Godzilla Minus One.”

On the Screen: New ‘Godzilla’ surprises as one of the year’s best movies

The film shines not because of a giant computer-generated monster, but instead because of its emotional narrative grounded in humanity, history and politics

Promotional photo courtesy Toho Studios
From left, Yuki Yamada portrays Shiro Mizushima, Hidetaka Yoshioka portrays Kenji Noda, Kuranosuke Sasaki portrays Yoji Akitsu and Ryunosuke Kamiki portrays Koichi Shikishima in “Godzilla Minus One.”
The sun shines over Tern Lake on Sunday, May 22, 2022 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tales of trails

‘Trail Mix Journal’ collects stories and experiences from local wilderness

The sun shines over Tern Lake on Sunday, May 22, 2022 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sara DeVolld performs as part of the Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet in “The Nutcracker” with Eugene Ballet at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Shona DeVolld)

Becoming part of a ‘magical holiday tradition’

Local ballet dancer Sara DeVolld performs in Anchorage for ‘The Nutcracker’

Sara DeVolld performs as part of the Waltz of the Flowers Corps de Ballet in “The Nutcracker” with Eugene Ballet at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Shona DeVolld)
A copy of Sherry Simpson’s “The Way Winter Comes” is held in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Inhabited by winter

Juneau writer spins haunting tales of Alaska’s darkest season in 1998 short story collection

A copy of Sherry Simpson’s “The Way Winter Comes” is held in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Marvel Studios

On the Screen: ‘Marvels’ messy but very fun

Where the film shines is in the stellar performances of its three leads

Marvel Studios
Forever Dance performs “Snow” during “Forever Christmas 2022.” (Photo courtesy Forever Dance)

Forever Dance ushers in Christmas season with annual variety show

“Forever Christmas” will bring the sounds and movements of the season to the Kenai Central High School auditorium

Forever Dance performs “Snow” during “Forever Christmas 2022.” (Photo courtesy Forever Dance)
Image via Amazon.com

Off the Shelf: Alaska rom-com is a not-so-guilty pleasure

From the start, the story has the same allure of a Hallmark Christmas movie

Image via Amazon.com
Photo courtesy Ben Meyer
From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.

Seizing the opportunity to explore

Packrafting adventure the topic of next KPC Showcase

Photo courtesy Ben Meyer
From left: Buck Kunz, Maura Schumacher and Ben Meyer pose during their pack-rafting trip in the Brooks Range in August 2023.
Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

On the Screen: ‘Flower Moon’ a grueling historical spotlight

Throughout “Killers,” Scorsese depicts failings of society and personal relationships

Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures
Lily Gladstone portrays Mollie Kyle and Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Ernest Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Dozens hit the dance floor or sit on the sidelines at the Kenai Performers Theatre for a social dance. (Photo courtesy Kenai Performers)

Kenai Performers to host social dance next weekend

The dance will run Saturday, Nov. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Dozens hit the dance floor or sit on the sidelines at the Kenai Performers Theatre for a social dance. (Photo courtesy Kenai Performers)
Morgan Chamberlain works on a section of the mural at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Art Center’s 2023 mural underway

The mural is a continuous piece of artwork that stretches all the way around the center’s main gallery space

Morgan Chamberlain works on a section of the mural at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo via Amazon.com

Off the Shelf: Majestic landscape marred by narrow perspective

John Muir’s classic “Travels in Alaska” juxtaposes beauty with a writer’s disconcerting bias

Photo via Amazon.com
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Jessie Soyangco, right, leads a class of kindergarteners in dancing to a remix of the “Little Einstein’s” theme song at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai on Thursday.

Dance, dance diamonds

Diamond Dance Project co-director Jessie Soyangco is in-residence at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science this week and next

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Jessie Soyangco, right, leads a class of kindergarteners in dancing to a remix of the “Little Einstein’s” theme song at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai on Thursday.
Braeden Garrett rehearses “Jekyll and Hyde: the Musical” at the Kenai Performers’ Theatre in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Exploring the dark side

Kenai Performers debuts ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ musical

Braeden Garrett rehearses “Jekyll and Hyde: the Musical” at the Kenai Performers’ Theatre in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional image courtesy Taylor Swift Productions
Taylor Swift performs songs from her album “Lover” in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”

On the Screen: An emotional spectacle

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ brings intensity of stage to screen

Promotional image courtesy Taylor Swift Productions
Taylor Swift performs songs from her album “Lover” in “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”
“The Land We Share: A Love Affair Told in Hunting Stories” is held aloft under light rainfall in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sharing about sharing the land

Local authors Christine Cunningham and Steve Meyer will discuss their book at upcoming KPC showcase

“The Land We Share: A Love Affair Told in Hunting Stories” is held aloft under light rainfall in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” is held on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Haines obituary writer charms in slice-of-life collection

Heather Lende’s “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” is as much about Lende as it is about Haines

A copy of “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name” is held on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Holt tells a fishing tale at Odie’s Deli on Friday, June 2, 2017, in Soldotna, Alaska. Holt was among the seven storytellers in the True Tales Told Live, an occasional storytelling event co-founded by Pegge Erkeneff, Jenny Nyman and Kaitlin Vadla. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion file)
Bill Holt tells a fishing tale at Odie’s Deli on Friday, June 2, 2017, in Soldotna, Alaska. Holt was among the seven storytellers in the True Tales Told Live, an occasional storytelling event co-founded by Pegge Erkeneff, Jenny Nyman and Kaitlin Vadla. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion file)
An angler holds up a massive fish in “Jacks: A Film by Jako Lucas & Ra Beattie.” (Photo courtesy International Fly Fishing Festival)

Fishing film fest to return

The International Fly Fishing Film Festival, or IF4, will return to the Kenai Peninsula on Monday

An angler holds up a massive fish in “Jacks: A Film by Jako Lucas & Ra Beattie.” (Photo courtesy International Fly Fishing Festival)