The Bookworm Sez: 'The Magician's Lie' and entertaining read

The Bookworm Sez: ‘The Magician’s Lie’ and entertaining read

Abracadabra. Now you see it.Now you don’t because a good magician knows to hide his props behind his fingers, beneath her clothes, in his pockets.… Continue reading

The Bookworm Sez: 'The Magician's Lie' and entertaining read

Poem: The Farmer’s Wife

The Farmer’s Wife by Norm Olson We left the plow there in the field Where Dad died that April day. We sold the horses and… Continue reading

Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion High Mark Distillery owner Felicia Keith-Jones stands in her tasting room Jan. 19, 2015 in Sterling. High Mark Distillery was named 2014 small business of the year by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. Keith-Jones plans to open a second tasting room in Soldotna sometime in last February or early March.

Distillery owner sets a ‘high mark’

While 2014 was a banner year for Alaska distilleries thanks to a law change that brought back tasting rooms, High Mark Distillery owner Felicia Keith-Jones… Continue reading

Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion High Mark Distillery owner Felicia Keith-Jones stands in her tasting room Jan. 19, 2015 in Sterling. High Mark Distillery was named 2014 small business of the year by the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce. Keith-Jones plans to open a second tasting room in Soldotna sometime in last February or early March.
Southwestern Cornbread Layered Salad brims over with fresh flavor and vibrant color. For fun, the salad may be eaten from baked tortilla "bowls."

Enjoy a taste of the Southwest on Super Bowl Sunday

The Seahawks and Patriots will square off in Super Bowl XLIX this coming Sunday in Phoenix. If you’re not already set on what kind of… Continue reading

  • Jan 27, 2015
  • By Sue Ade
  • Food
Southwestern Cornbread Layered Salad brims over with fresh flavor and vibrant color. For fun, the salad may be eaten from baked tortilla "bowls."

Pioneer Potluck: Remodeling the old farmhouse

North of Fort Collins, Colorado, 1947- 48Dad and Mom needed to add on to the old farm house as the family had grown by two… Continue reading

  • Jan 27, 2015
  • By Ann "Grannie Annie" Berg
  • Food
This Jan. 26, 2015 photo shows the Seattle super seven dip, left, and New England super seven dip in Concord, N.H. The Seattle dip is made with teriyaki-seasoned Dungeness crabmeat, creamy cheese, caramelized onions, smoked mussels, purple cabbage slaw and blackberry vinaigrette. The New England dip is made with barbecued pulled pork topped with skillet sauteed apples and butter. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead

Patriots vs. Seahawks in a battle for the best 7-layer dip

The Super Bowl isn’t just about the Patriots vs. the Seahawks. It’s also about teriyaki-spiced crabmeat and smoked mussels vs. baked beans, barbecue pulled pork… Continue reading

  • Jan 27, 2015
  • By ALISON LADMAN
  • Food
This Jan. 26, 2015 photo shows the Seattle super seven dip, left, and New England super seven dip in Concord, N.H. The Seattle dip is made with teriyaki-seasoned Dungeness crabmeat, creamy cheese, caramelized onions, smoked mussels, purple cabbage slaw and blackberry vinaigrette. The New England dip is made with barbecued pulled pork topped with skillet sauteed apples and butter. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead

Business news

Chambers set schedules ■ The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon today at Froso’s Restaurant in Soldotna. A City of Soldotna update is… Continue reading

Carey Foster shared this photo of Chloe, a Pom-Chi that's "pretty in pink." Chloe is owned by Carey's mother, Sandy Matranga of Soldotna.
Carey Foster shared this photo of Chloe, a Pom-Chi that's "pretty in pink." Chloe is owned by Carey's mother, Sandy Matranga of Soldotna.
ADVANCE FOR SATURDAY, JAN. 24 AND THEREAFTER  In this Jan. 15, 2015 photo, Ellie Walz, 24, digs for vinyl at the new Anchorage record store Obsession Records in Anchorage, Alaska. Obsession Records opened their doors at the beginning of December, relying completely on word of mouth and social media. (AP Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Tara Young)

Couple taps into passion for vinyl at new Anchorage store

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — On a dark January evening, the Black Keys’ album “Brother” spun on a turntable inside the newly established Obsession Records shop… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR SATURDAY, JAN. 24 AND THEREAFTER  In this Jan. 15, 2015 photo, Ellie Walz, 24, digs for vinyl at the new Anchorage record store Obsession Records in Anchorage, Alaska. Obsession Records opened their doors at the beginning of December, relying completely on word of mouth and social media. (AP Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Tara Young)

It is what it is: Puppy love

“Why did you get a puppy?”That seems to be the question that immediately follows “awww, cute” when people learn that we have a new member… Continue reading

Community news and notes

Mitchel Daugherty earned a GPA of 4.0 in the Fall 2014 term and has been recognize with the distinction of Academic Excellence at Southwestern Oregon… Continue reading

Submitted photo Pictured after black belt testing at Peninsula Martial Arts are, from left, Okamoto Sensei of Okamoto's School of Karate, new black belts Billy Morrow, Taylor Beile, Ryder Giesler, Andrea Beile, Rhys Cannava, Dr. Jerry Hu, Amelia Mueller, Grace Morrow and Tucker Mueller, and Peninsula Martial Arts owner and instructor Mike Hancock.

Black belts in karate, black belts in life

Nine students from Peninsula Martial Arts earned the rank of black belt after a full day of testing on Jan. 17 at the dojo on… Continue reading

Submitted photo Pictured after black belt testing at Peninsula Martial Arts are, from left, Okamoto Sensei of Okamoto's School of Karate, new black belts Billy Morrow, Taylor Beile, Ryder Giesler, Andrea Beile, Rhys Cannava, Dr. Jerry Hu, Amelia Mueller, Grace Morrow and Tucker Mueller, and Peninsula Martial Arts owner and instructor Mike Hancock.

Church news

Celebrate Mardi Gras The 19th Annual Mardi Gras fundraiser will be Feb. 13 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Kenai. Come for… Continue reading

Simply talking to God

As a child I waited for this moment in our church service. After the time of music and singing concluded, one of our pastors ventured… Continue reading

Residents from the village of Shageluk on the Innoko River assist ADFG and USFWS staff in constructing a holding pen as part of the wood bison reintroduction effort.  100 wood bison are scheduled to be released on the lower Innoko River in March 2015.  Photo by Tom Seaton, ADFG.

Refuge Notebook: What do caribou and wood bison have in common?

Last weekend on a drive back from Anchorage, whizzing by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center at 57 miles per hour my daughter pointed out a… Continue reading

Residents from the village of Shageluk on the Innoko River assist ADFG and USFWS staff in constructing a holding pen as part of the wood bison reintroduction effort.  100 wood bison are scheduled to be released on the lower Innoko River in March 2015.  Photo by Tom Seaton, ADFG.

An Outdoor View: Fishing for halibut

Author’s note: This column first appeared in the Clarion on May 23, 2003.For years, most anglers fished for halibut in Southcentral waters with the same… Continue reading

In this photo, Beth Ipsen takes a selfie showing her clothing and snowmobiles before heading out in the wilderness near Cantwell, Alaska. Alaska State Troopers are suggesting outdoor trekkers take a "selfie" right before heading out into the backcountry as a way to account for their whereabouts. (AP  Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Beth Ipsen)

Alaska troopers encourage selfies for backcountry travelers

ANCHORAGE (AP) — Alaska State Troopers are looking for your selfies — those ubiquitous self-portraits, usually snapped with smartphone cameras, that make up countless Facebook… Continue reading

In this photo, Beth Ipsen takes a selfie showing her clothing and snowmobiles before heading out in the wilderness near Cantwell, Alaska. Alaska State Troopers are suggesting outdoor trekkers take a "selfie" right before heading out into the backcountry as a way to account for their whereabouts. (AP  Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Beth Ipsen)
Ice blocks are lined out for the Kids Park Maze as work begins on this year's Ice Alaska Ice Park in Fairbanks, Alaska Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 in preparation for the 2015 BP World Ice Art Championships. The park opens Feb. 23. (AP Photo/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Eric Engman)

Ice playground construction underway in Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS (AP) — Workers are building an ice playground in a city in Alaska’s interior, including a pirate ship slide made from 65 refrigerator-sized blocks… Continue reading

Ice blocks are lined out for the Kids Park Maze as work begins on this year's Ice Alaska Ice Park in Fairbanks, Alaska Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 in preparation for the 2015 BP World Ice Art Championships. The park opens Feb. 23. (AP Photo/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Eric Engman)
In this image released by Disney Enterprises, Inc., Meryl Streep appears in a scene from "Into the Woods." Streep was nominated for an Oscar Award for best supporting actress on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, for her role in the film. The 87th Annual Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Disney Enterprises, Inc., Peter Mountain)

‘Into the Woods’ where Granny resides

“Into the Woods” Disney Enterprises 2 hr 5 minutes   There are musical people and then there are people who can handle a level of… Continue reading

In this image released by Disney Enterprises, Inc., Meryl Streep appears in a scene from "Into the Woods." Streep was nominated for an Oscar Award for best supporting actress on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, for her role in the film. The 87th Annual Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Disney Enterprises, Inc., Peter Mountain)
The house that is off the beaten tracks

The house that is off the beaten tracks

Off the beaten tracks. That’s where the house is, the one that catches your fancy whenever you pass by. To your eye, it’s unique and… Continue reading

The house that is off the beaten tracks