Michael Armstrong

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Two birders scan Bishop’s Beach on Saturday afternoon, May 12, 2018, during the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. (Photo by Michael Armstrong / Homer News).

Birding: the universal outdoors activity

Like many imported Alaskans, I have a long list of outdoor activities I acquired after moving here in 1979: skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, dog mushing,… Continue reading

 

District 31 Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, waits for results to come in at an election night party at Land’s End Resort on Nov. 6, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Vance apologizes for video bashing high school students

Following uproar over a video that some Homer High School students called condescending, Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, removed a Facebook live video she made last… Continue reading

 

Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy, speaks during a press conference with Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, left, and Rep. Colleen Sullivan-Leonard, R-Wasilla, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov’s budget draws both concern and praise from local legislators

“There isn’t anybody at this point who says ‘We approve that total budget.’”

 

Steps are incorporated into the rock garden at the Flip and Marguerite Felton home. It was one of five gardens featured in the 2018 Homer Garden Tour. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Garden Club publishes new guide

More than 10 years after its last edition, the Homer Garden Club in December released an updated and expanded book on gardening from Ninilchik south.… Continue reading

Steps are incorporated into the rock garden at the Flip and Marguerite Felton home. It was one of five gardens featured in the 2018 Homer Garden Tour. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Jeff Hayden poses at the Homer News on Feb. 12, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Hayden has been named publisher of the Kenai Peninsula Clarion and the Homer News. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Hayden named publisher of Peninsula Clarion, Homer News

Hayden, 62, moved to Alaska from Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania.

Jeff Hayden poses at the Homer News on Feb. 12, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Hayden has been named publisher of the Kenai Peninsula Clarion and the Homer News. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Quilter Jane Regan offered scraps of fabric from her mother’s collection at the “9 Women / 9 Quilts” show that opened last Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at the Homer Council on the Arts, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Group quilt exhibit shows collaboration on every work

It’s not uncommon for Homer art galleries to feature group shows. It’s also not uncommon for shows to center on a particular theme. But in… Continue reading

Quilter Jane Regan offered scraps of fabric from her mother’s collection at the “9 Women / 9 Quilts” show that opened last Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at the Homer Council on the Arts, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Community member Kalliste Edeen offers an invocation at the Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. The borough recently lost a lawsuit over its invocation policy, and has been ordered to pay legal fees for the ACLU. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough gets ACLU bill of $80,000

The Kenai Peninsula Borough will pay $80,000 in attorney’s fees to the American Civil Liberties Union-Alaska as a result of the borough’s failed attempt to… Continue reading

Community member Kalliste Edeen offers an invocation at the Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. The borough recently lost a lawsuit over its invocation policy, and has been ordered to pay legal fees for the ACLU. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik man indicted for attempted murder

The Kenai Grand Jury last month indicted a Ninilchik man for three counts of attempted murder stemming from an incident that happened at the Ninilchik… Continue reading

From left, Alaska state Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, and Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, sit in the House chamber to hear Gov. Bill Walker deliver his annual State of the State address on Jan. 18, 2017. After several years of budgets passing late and forcing education pink slip notices, Stevens, the Senate Education Committee chair, is introducing a bill to mandate an education budget by April 1. (Photo/Mark Thiessen/AP)

Big issues in Legislature will be PFD, budget cuts, Stevens says

Heading into his 19th year as a state senator, Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, has some advice for Homer’s newest legislator, Rep.-elect Sarah Vance. She’s the… Continue reading

From left, Alaska state Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, and Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, sit in the House chamber to hear Gov. Bill Walker deliver his annual State of the State address on Jan. 18, 2017. After several years of budgets passing late and forcing education pink slip notices, Stevens, the Senate Education Committee chair, is introducing a bill to mandate an education budget by April 1. (Photo/Mark Thiessen/AP)
Maria Bernier stands by her painting, “Chop,” at the First Friday, Dec 7, 2018, opening of Bunnell Street Arts Center’s 10x10 show in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

10 x 10 show encourages collecting, gifting

Like some other Homer galleries, Bunnell Street Arts Center periodically opens up its walls to community art. With its 10x10 Member’s Show, Bunnell does so… Continue reading

Maria Bernier stands by her painting, “Chop,” at the First Friday, Dec 7, 2018, opening of Bunnell Street Arts Center’s 10x10 show in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Laurie Daniel, left, and Alaska State Parks specialist Eric Clarke, right, discuss the Diamond Creek trails portion of the Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park draft management plan at an open house on the plan on Oct. 29, 2018, at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

DNR commissioner rescinds adoption of new Kachemak Bay parks management plan

The new Department of Natural Resources commissioner on Friday rescinded a last-minute adoption of the Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Park Management… Continue reading

Laurie Daniel, left, and Alaska State Parks specialist Eric Clarke, right, discuss the Diamond Creek trails portion of the Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park draft management plan at an open house on the plan on Oct. 29, 2018, at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Skiers climb a hill near the start of the Kachemak Bay Marathon Ski Tour in March of 2007 near Homer, Alaska, in winter where Homer actually had snow. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Don’t wait for snow or ice — just get outside

Now would be the time when an enterprising outdoors columnist writes about all the wonderful winter sports to be experienced. Fresh snow has fallen and… Continue reading

Skiers climb a hill near the start of the Kachemak Bay Marathon Ski Tour in March of 2007 near Homer, Alaska, in winter where Homer actually had snow. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Troopers apprehend armed man on highway near Ninilchik

Alaska State Troopers on Sunday have taken into custody an armed man involved in a stand-off this morning near Mile 131 Sterling Highway near Ninilchik.… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News</span> Christine Kulcheski wears a 1980s era jacket by Linda Skelton at the 2018 Wearable Arts last Saturday.

‘Time Traveling’ shows Wearable Arts of past, present and maybe future

The Homer Fiber Arts Collective and Bunnell Street Arts Center powered up its time machine last Saturday for the 2018 Wearable Arts show. Titled “Time… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News</span> Christine Kulcheski wears a 1980s era jacket by Linda Skelton at the 2018 Wearable Arts last Saturday.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly stands in silence while Assembly President Wayne Ogle offers an invocation before the meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

KPB Assembly to consider invocation issue

At its Nov. 20 meeting, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will consider two questions for its invocation policy: • Should the assembly authorize the borough… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly stands in silence while Assembly President Wayne Ogle offers an invocation before the meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Borough proposes oil and gas leases in Anchor Point

Lower Kenai Peninsula residents have a chance to learn about proposed oil and gas leases on Kenai Peninsula Borough land in the Anchor Point area… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A black bear crosses the Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, near Sterling, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Fall colors dazzle in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Leaf peepers don’t have to travel to New England to see fall colors. Brilliant yellows from birch and aspen trees dazzle just up the road… Continue reading

A black bear crosses the Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, near Sterling, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
In a photo provided by the office of the governor, Gov. Bill Walker signs Senate Bill 63, a statewide public smoking ban, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Lucky Wishbone restaurant in Anchorage. The law goes into effect on Oct. 1. Standing at right is Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, the legislative sponsor of the bill. On Walker’s lap is Stella Micciche, one of Micciche’s daughters. Also visible, from right to left behind Walker are Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska’s chief medical officer; Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage; Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage; Micciche; Rep. Chris Birch, R-Anchorage; and the smile of Emily Nenon of the American Cancer Society. (Courtesy photo)

Smokefree workplace law takes effect Oct. 1

As of today, workers and customers of Alaska businesses who smoke or vape will have to take it outside — at least 10 feet away.… Continue reading

In a photo provided by the office of the governor, Gov. Bill Walker signs Senate Bill 63, a statewide public smoking ban, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at the Lucky Wishbone restaurant in Anchorage. The law goes into effect on Oct. 1. Standing at right is Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, the legislative sponsor of the bill. On Walker’s lap is Stella Micciche, one of Micciche’s daughters. Also visible, from right to left behind Walker are Dr. Jay Butler, Alaska’s chief medical officer; Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage; Rep. Jason Grenn, I-Anchorage; Micciche; Rep. Chris Birch, R-Anchorage; and the smile of Emily Nenon of the American Cancer Society. (Courtesy photo)
<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Homer News file photo</span> An aerial photo taken in 2014 shows the current South Peninsula Hospital campus.

Props 2, 3 change boundaries of Kenai hospital service areas

Two propositions on the Oct. 2 Kenai Peninsula Borough ballot will be considered separately by voters in the Central Peninsula Hospital Service Area and the… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Homer News file photo</span> An aerial photo taken in 2014 shows the current South Peninsula Hospital campus.

Hands of Peace trains offenders in alternatives to violence

Since 1975, a Homer mother and daughter, Karen and Lisa Cauble, have been working in prisons with a simple and hopeful mission: teach some of… Continue reading

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