Mary L. Penney and her son Ronald, circa 1930, probably in New York prior to her move to Florida, where she lived out the final years of her life. (Photo courtesy of the Penney Family Collection)

Mary Penney and her 1898 Alaska adventure — Part 10

Stories of their adventures persisted, and the expedition’s after-effects lingered.

 

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: A bug in the system

Schools are in the news lately, both locally and nationally.

 

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Minister’s Message: Long sleeves

I chose the easy way in the moment but paid the price in the long run.

 

The Homer News, a small print publication based in Cortland County, New York, features photos on the back page of readers who travel with copies of the newspaper. This issue of The Homer News shows Gary Root visiting Homer, Alaska and posing for a photo with the New York paper under the "Homer Alaska, Halibut Fishing Capital of the World" sign at the top of Baycrest Hill. Photo courtesy of Kim L. Hubbard

Meet ‘The Homer News’

Surprise! Your local newspaper has a third ‘sister’ paper.

The Homer News, a small print publication based in Cortland County, New York, features photos on the back page of readers who travel with copies of the newspaper. This issue of The Homer News shows Gary Root visiting Homer, Alaska and posing for a photo with the New York paper under the "Homer Alaska, Halibut Fishing Capital of the World" sign at the top of Baycrest Hill. Photo courtesy of Kim L. Hubbard
“Bibim guksu” or “mixed noodles” are traditionally served with a thin wheat flour noodle called somyeon (somen). (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Spicing up summer

“Bbibim guksu,” which means “mixed noodles,” is traditionally served with a thin wheat flour noodle called somyeon (somen).

“Bibim guksu” or “mixed noodles” are traditionally served with a thin wheat flour noodle called somyeon (somen). (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Pride celebrants pose for a photo at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Showing up for Pride

Nearly two dozen people marched carrying flags, signs and other rainbow-hued decorations from The Goods Sustainable Grocery to Soldotna Creek Park.

Pride celebrants pose for a photo at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kids take off running as they participate in field games during Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Summertime fun times

Annual Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival take places Saturday.

Kids take off running as they participate in field games during Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nala Johnson hoists a velociraptor carrying a progress flag during the Saturday Market at the Goods in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Goats, baskets and lots of tie-dye

Saturday Market at the Goods debuts.

Nala Johnson hoists a velociraptor carrying a progress flag during the Saturday Market at the Goods in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Lake can be seen from Bear Mountain, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo by Meredith Harber/courtesy)

Minister’s Message: Speaking the language of kindness

I invite you to pay attention to languages this week.

Kenai Lake can be seen from Bear Mountain, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo by Meredith Harber/courtesy)
Herman Stelter, seen here in front of his home in the Kenai River canyon, was another of the Kings County Mining Company members to stay in Alaska. (U.S. Forest Service photo, circa 1910s)

Mary Penney and her 1898 Alaska Adventure — Part 9

Brooklynite Mary L. Penney seemed to know that she was not ready to settle into middle age and sedately grow old.

Herman Stelter, seen here in front of his home in the Kenai River canyon, was another of the Kings County Mining Company members to stay in Alaska. (U.S. Forest Service photo, circa 1910s)
Larry Bernbeck poses for a photo with Tugster on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

A long-term dream, realized in miniature

‘Tugster’, a flat-bottom boat replica, measures 14 feet, 10 inches.

Larry Bernbeck poses for a photo with Tugster on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Art by Anna Widman is showcased in “Wonder and Wander” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Something for everyone to wonder and wander about’

Artists Theresa Ritter, Susan Watkins and Anna Widman are showcased at the Kenai Art Center through July 3.

Art by Anna Widman is showcased in “Wonder and Wander” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
These little “cookies” are loaded with nuts and fortified with coconut oil to boost fat and calories.

A (massive) meal made with love

These banana oatmeal energy bars are loaded with nuts and fortified with coconut oil to boost fat and calories.

These little “cookies” are loaded with nuts and fortified with coconut oil to boost fat and calories.
Metal art by David Morris is showcased in “Steel Sentiments” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Remembering through metal

“Steel Sentiments” is a solo show by metal artist David Morris.

Metal art by David Morris is showcased in “Steel Sentiments” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Local musician Silas Luke Jones performs blindfolded during his performance at the inaugeral HomerFest on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Inaugural ‘HarborFest’ draws hundreds to Spit over weekend

The inaugural event was aimed at bringing tourists into the area during the slower, early summer season.

Local musician Silas Luke Jones performs blindfolded during his performance at the inaugeral HomerFest on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A flyer for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s Spring Festival, set for June 20, 2025. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Food Bank)

Food bank’s annual spring festival set for June 20

The event will feature a free lunch and informational fair.

A flyer for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s Spring Festival, set for June 20, 2025. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Food Bank)
At some point after William B. Hurd was buried in Kenai in 1899, his family asked that his body be exhumed and sent back to New York, where it was reburied. This image, from findagrave.com, shows the marker on his final resting place.

Mary Penney and her 1898 Alaska adventure — Part 8

Despite Mary’s dreams and the newspaper’s low-brow assessment of her experience, the culmination of her journey was decidedly anti-climactic.

At some point after William B. Hurd was buried in Kenai in 1899, his family asked that his body be exhumed and sent back to New York, where it was reburied. This image, from findagrave.com, shows the marker on his final resting place.
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Minister’s Message: Watching and waiting for the Lord’s return

The Lord Jesus wants you to be with him.

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Inspiring a multitude of imaginings

June First Friday invites viewers to encounter multimedia art experiences.

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People dance in celebration of the Fishermen’s Totem Pole in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Hoonah’s rich fishing history remembered through totem pole

The story of fishermen carved — “all of us in the past, all of us in the future, and all of us now.”

People dance in celebration of the Fishermen’s Totem Pole in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)