Ben Whishaw voices Paddington in "Paddington in Peru." (Promotional image courtesy Sony Pictures)

Paddington returns with Peruvian quest

The film follows Paddington’s “Indiana Jones”-style adventure to find the lost city of El Dorado.

Ben Whishaw voices Paddington in "Paddington in Peru." (Promotional image courtesy Sony Pictures)
Brewers from Turnagain Brewery hand a freshly filled cup to an attendee at the 10th Annual Frozen River Fest in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Frozen RiverFest marks 10 years celebrating brews

Brewers from the Kenai Peninsula and beyond could be seen filling cups and sharing their craft.

Brewers from Turnagain Brewery hand a freshly filled cup to an attendee at the 10th Annual Frozen River Fest in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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Off the shelf: Paradise versus privilege

“The Garden Against Time” is part of the Homer Public Library’s 2025 Lit Lineup.

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Artwork by Anastasia Clyde is seen as part of the inaugural exhibition of “Spirit of Soldotna: Showcasing Student Art” in Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna opens student art showcase in city hall

The ongoing exhibition is a collaboration between Soldotna and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and Kenai Peninsula College.

Artwork by Anastasia Clyde is seen as part of the inaugural exhibition of “Spirit of Soldotna: Showcasing Student Art” in Soldotna City Hall on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Ridgeway Rounders perform during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Ridgeway Rounders perform during Frozen RiverFest on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2023, at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Middle School Battle of the Books Team from Homer Connections, who won the district competition in February, stand for a photo. (Provided by Districtwide Librarian Julie Gottfried)
The Middle School Battle of the Books Team from Homer Connections, who won the district competition in February, stand for a photo. (Provided by Districtwide Librarian Julie Gottfried)
Sophie Thatcher is Iris in “Companion.” (Promotional photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Companion’ provides an entertaining critique of digital romance

There are interesting ideas here about what human connection looks like in a world where people are increasingly siloed away into digital spaces.

Sophie Thatcher is Iris in “Companion.” (Promotional photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Susan Nabholz, Charlotte Coots and Chelline Larsen is displayed as part of “Fiber” at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday.

Focus on fiber

Kenai Art Center show transforms threads to art

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Susan Nabholz, Charlotte Coots and Chelline Larsen is displayed as part of “Fiber” at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday.
Mark Jurek directs the Soldotna High School band at a rehersal on Oct. 11, 2022 at Soldotna High School in Soldotna Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi jazz band and swing choir fundraiser concert set for Feb. 11

The show will feature SoHi’s jazz band, swing choir, “several vocal soloists” and a variety of cheesecakes.

Mark Jurek directs the Soldotna High School band at a rehersal on Oct. 11, 2022 at Soldotna High School in Soldotna Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Classical guitar and flute set for Saturday concert

The “evening of mastery and elegance” is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 1.

The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
John Walsh, Jannell Canerday and Pat Broaders perform during “An Evening of Traditional Irish Music” at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Irish music livens Kenai Peninsula College stage

Seats were filled on Friday for a free — but sold out — “Evening of Traditional Irish Music,” an annual concert hosted both as part… Continue reading

John Walsh, Jannell Canerday and Pat Broaders perform during “An Evening of Traditional Irish Music” at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Dave Atcheson demonstrates fly casting into the Kenai River to a crowd of middle schoolers during a kids camp put on by Trout Unlimited on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Local Trout Unlimited chapter hosts winter speaker series

Dave Atcheson will talk where, how to fish in Kenai Peninsula lakes on Feb. 4.

Dave Atcheson demonstrates fly casting into the Kenai River to a crowd of middle schoolers during a kids camp put on by Trout Unlimited on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “The Ghost of the Kenai” stands on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: A haunting close to home

New novel tells human story brought to life by ghosts and Russian colonizers.

A copy of “The Ghost of the Kenai” stands on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Timothée Chalamet is Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” (Promotional photo courtesy Searchlight Pictures)

On the Screen: A known ‘Unknown’

Dylan biopic lets the lyrics do the talking

Timothée Chalamet is Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” (Promotional photo courtesy Searchlight Pictures)
Photo by Christina Whiting
Selections from the 2025 Lit Lineup are lined up on a shelf at the Homer Public Library on Friday, Jan. 3.

A new Lit Lineup

Homer Public Library’s annual Lit Lineup encourages year-round reading.

Photo by Christina Whiting
Selections from the 2025 Lit Lineup are lined up on a shelf at the Homer Public Library on Friday, Jan. 3.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Off the Shelf: ‘Anxious Generation’ underserves conversations about cellphones

The book has been cited in recent school board discussions over cellphone policies.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
”Window to the Soul” by Bryan Olds is displayed as part of “Kinetic” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Movement on display

Kenai Art Center’s January show, ‘Kinetic,’ opens Friday

”Window to the Soul” by Bryan Olds is displayed as part of “Kinetic” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Keanu Reeves is Shadow the Hedgehog in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” (Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Sonic 3’ brings craft, stakes to colorful kid’s movie

When I was a kid, in the early 2000s, Sonic the Hedgehog was a pretty big deal

Keanu Reeves is Shadow the Hedgehog in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” (Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)
Paetyn Wimberly performs “The Christmas That I Know” during the 23rd Annual Christmas Lights and Holiday Nights Skating Recital at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Skating in the park with Santa

The Soldotna Parks and Recreation Department will host another holiday open skate on Tuesday, Dec. 31

Paetyn Wimberly performs “The Christmas That I Know” during the 23rd Annual Christmas Lights and Holiday Nights Skating Recital at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
AnnMarie Rudstrom, dressed as the Ghost of Christmas Present, reads Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at The Goods in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Reading of ‘A Christmas Carol’ warms a winter night at The Goods

The full text of the book was read live at the store across two weeks

AnnMarie Rudstrom, dressed as the Ghost of Christmas Present, reads Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at The Goods in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)