Michael Armstrong

covid

3 new COVID-19 cases identified in Alaska, governor issues new mandates

Alaska gained three new cases of people who tested positive for COVID-19, Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink announced in a press conference on… Continue reading

covid
Cora Trowbridge stands by her art, “Behind the Mask,” on March 6, 2020, at the Disability Art Show at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Artists look at disability in Homer Council on the Arts show

Each artist includes a statement about their experience with disability.

Cora Trowbridge stands by her art, “Behind the Mask,” on March 6, 2020, at the Disability Art Show at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A collection of Deborah Poore’s paintings at Grace Ridge Brewery on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. “It’s an interesting hanging space there,” she said of the display area at the brewery. “You’re really presenting those pieces as a collage. You have to squish them together.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

In retirement, Deborah Poore returns to her art

“When I do my art, it’s a celebration of the things close to me that I love.”

A collection of Deborah Poore’s paintings at Grace Ridge Brewery on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. “It’s an interesting hanging space there,” she said of the display area at the brewery. “You’re really presenting those pieces as a collage. You have to squish them together.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Photo courtesy of Christina Whiting                                Tins with blue ribbons were placed on Feb. 26, 2020, around Homer, Alaska, for people to wear as part of an awareness campaign for a missing Homer woman, Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.

Blue ribbons put out for missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Photo courtesy of Christina Whiting                                Tins with blue ribbons were placed on Feb. 26, 2020, around Homer, Alaska, for people to wear as part of an awareness campaign for a missing Homer woman, Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.
Tamara Wilson’s “Yellow Tough,” as seen at the First Friday opening on Feb. 15, 2020, of her show, “Macaroni and Cheese,” at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Wilson embraces the delightful and joyous in art

And it’s all made of felt.

Tamara Wilson’s “Yellow Tough,” as seen at the First Friday opening on Feb. 15, 2020, of her show, “Macaroni and Cheese,” at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)                                Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Family holds community conversation on missing daughter

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)                                Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Kachemak Emergency Services firefighters on Friday afternoon, Feb. 14, 2020, clean up a structure fire on Kent Street near Mile 6.5 East End Road east of Homer, Alaska. A fire in a boat shop that started about 3:25 a.m. Feb. 14 totally destroyed the building. (Photo courtesy Kachemak Emergency Services)

Fire destroys East End Road boat shop

“The fire was blowing out the roof in the back of the building.”

Kachemak Emergency Services firefighters on Friday afternoon, Feb. 14, 2020, clean up a structure fire on Kent Street near Mile 6.5 East End Road east of Homer, Alaska. A fire in a boat shop that started about 3:25 a.m. Feb. 14 totally destroyed the building. (Photo courtesy Kachemak Emergency Services)
Charlotte Bird’s “Wilderness Mosaic” was created in response to composer Christina Rusnak’s “Tundra Tapestry.” Her work is part of “Denali Artists Respond to Music Inspired by Wilderness,” a collaboration between artists and composers showing Feb. 7-May. 25, 2020, at the Pratt Museum in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Pratt exhibit features art inspired by Denali music

‘We all have a response to Denali in different ways.’

Charlotte Bird’s “Wilderness Mosaic” was created in response to composer Christina Rusnak’s “Tundra Tapestry.” Her work is part of “Denali Artists Respond to Music Inspired by Wilderness,” a collaboration between artists and composers showing Feb. 7-May. 25, 2020, at the Pratt Museum in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Community talk to be held on missing Homer woman

Community talk to be held on missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Community talk to be held on missing Homer woman
Photo by Delcenia Cosman                                Friends of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane and members of the community supporting the campaign to bring her home pose with signs during a candlelight vigil held at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska on Feb. 1.

Vigil held for woman missing since October

Homer hasn’t given up hope. Community members and family friends gathered at noon for a candlelight vigil at WKFL Park on Saturday, Feb. 1 for… Continue reading

Photo by Delcenia Cosman                                Friends of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane and members of the community supporting the campaign to bring her home pose with signs during a candlelight vigil held at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska on Feb. 1.
Homer Native artist leaves state, national and international legacy

Homer Native artist leaves state, national and international legacy

“He took traditional themes and topics and just completely did them his own way — I mean, completely.”

Homer Native artist leaves state, national and international legacy
‘It’s a priority case’ HPD says in search for missing Homer woman

‘It’s a priority case’ HPD says in search for missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.

‘It’s a priority case’ HPD says in search for missing Homer woman
Homer single-use plastic bag ban takes effect

Homer single-use plastic bag ban takes effect

A citizen initiative in 2013 overturned Homer’s first attempt at a plastic bag ban.

Homer single-use plastic bag ban takes effect
Michael Armstrong stands by Knik Arm in Anchorage shortly after arriving in Alaska in December 1979. The weird glow is caused by taking a photo of a slide illuminated by a desk lamp. (Photo provided by Mark Heffernan)

Out of the Office: From Florida to Alaska — A wild 40 years

Like true superheroes, every Alaskan has an origin story. The really cool origin story might involve being born a sixth-generation Alaskan from a sourdough ancestor… Continue reading

Michael Armstrong stands by Knik Arm in Anchorage shortly after arriving in Alaska in December 1979. The weird glow is caused by taking a photo of a slide illuminated by a desk lamp. (Photo provided by Mark Heffernan)
Carla Cope and her daughter, Nova, pose next to their paintings at left at the Nov. 8, 2019, opening of the 10x10 show at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. Nova painted the background elements to the paintings and her mother added to that. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Cope’s ‘Burst’ show sparks light in dark of winter

Cope has been an almost lifelong artist who knew from age 2 she wanted to create.

Carla Cope and her daughter, Nova, pose next to their paintings at left at the Nov. 8, 2019, opening of the 10x10 show at Bunnell Street Arts Center in Homer, Alaska. Nova painted the background elements to the paintings and her mother added to that. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
FBI, Troopers have been aiding Murnane search ‘since day 1’

FBI, Troopers have been aiding Murnane search ‘since day 1’

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

FBI, Troopers have been aiding Murnane search ‘since day 1’
Steve Walli speaks Dec. 12, 2019, at “Homestead Kids 3,” at the annual meeting of the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

‘Homestead Kids’ remember early days

“We called her ‘hillbillies’ and we were fishermen, but she called us ‘beach rats.’”

Steve Walli speaks Dec. 12, 2019, at “Homestead Kids 3,” at the annual meeting of the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Longshore workers picket on the Homer Spit by Freight Dock Road on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. They were part of a group of about 20 Alaska International Longshore and Warehouse Union members or supporters holding an “area standards” picket in response to Chumley’s Inc. use of workers to load a sulfur hauler ship the ILWU alleges are paid substandard wages. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Longshore workers picket sulfur-ship loading

The “area standards” picket called for comparable wages and benefits for workers.

Longshore workers picket on the Homer Spit by Freight Dock Road on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. They were part of a group of about 20 Alaska International Longshore and Warehouse Union members or supporters holding an “area standards” picket in response to Chumley’s Inc. use of workers to load a sulfur hauler ship the ILWU alleges are paid substandard wages. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Homer gets its second full traffic signal

Homer gets its second full traffic signal

Contractors powered up the signal at the intersection of Main Street and the Homer Bypass.

Homer gets its second full traffic signal
Tela Bacher holds a sign Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at a vigil for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, a Homer woman missing since Oct. 17, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. Sinn helped organize the vigil. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Vigil held Saturday for missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Tela Bacher holds a sign Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, at a vigil for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, a Homer woman missing since Oct. 17, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. Sinn helped organize the vigil. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)