Features

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Bud Sexton, chief of staff for Alaska House Rep. Justin Ruffridge, and aide Sabina Braun, left, review amendment language in their office at the Alaska State Capitol building on Wednesday in Juneau.

In Juneau, making laws is a group effort

Ruffridge chief of staff says team shares commitment to hard work

 

The village of Seldovia had to push hard to make sure that a pool was included when plans for the Susan B. English School were being finalized. Here, participants in the summer swim program pose in 1998. (Image courtesy of Rex and Beverly Edwards)

First in the Pool — Part 1

AUTHOR’S NOTE: A slightly modified version of this two-part story about former teachers Rex and Beverly Edwards and the advent of a swimming pool in… Continue reading

 

In about 1948, after he and brother Alex had proven up on his homestead and were in the process of proving up on Alex’s, Marcus Bodnar poses here with his cabin along the Kenai River near the site of the bridge, which was just being built at this time. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)

The Bodnar Brothers: Early to Arrive, Early to Depart — Part 2

Although their time on the peninsula was brief, they made an impact

 

From left: Kylie Wilcox, Bernard Wilcox and Milton Wilcox sit behind the books Milton teaches as humanities at Kenai Classical School on Wednesday in Kenai. Kylie’s New Year’s resolution for 2024 is to read all of the book’s on Milton’s high school syllabus. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Reading with New Year’s resolve

Soldotna woman resolves to read the books on her husband’s class syllabi

From left: Kylie Wilcox, Bernard Wilcox and Milton Wilcox sit behind the books Milton teaches as humanities at Kenai Classical School on Wednesday in Kenai. Kylie’s New Year’s resolution for 2024 is to read all of the book’s on Milton’s high school syllabus. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter and Pearl Bodnar (front, center) pose for a 1930 Christmas portrait with much of their family, probably in Manitoba, Canada. Pictured are: (back row, L-R) Alex, sister Anna (Bodnar) Bandura, brother Michael holding daughter Pearl next to his wife Jessie, and Marcus. In the front row are: Michael’s eldest daughter Olga, parents Parascevies “Pearl” and Peter Bodnar, and Michael’s middle daughter Marion. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)

The Bodnar Brothers: Early to Arrive, Early to Depart — Part 1

“Over the hill came two people on an Allis-Chalmers tractor … ”

Peter and Pearl Bodnar (front, center) pose for a 1930 Christmas portrait with much of their family, probably in Manitoba, Canada. Pictured are: (back row, L-R) Alex, sister Anna (Bodnar) Bandura, brother Michael holding daughter Pearl next to his wife Jessie, and Marcus. In the front row are: Michael’s eldest daughter Olga, parents Parascevies “Pearl” and Peter Bodnar, and Michael’s middle daughter Marion. (Photo courtesy of the Bodnar Family Collection)
These spiced date cookies may look a lot like Fig Newtons, but the texture and flavor are quite different. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Dessert in a pinch

Spiced date cookies make a last-minute save

These spiced date cookies may look a lot like Fig Newtons, but the texture and flavor are quite different. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Mable Smith pecks away at her typewriter in the Cheechako News office in Ridgeway, circa mid-1960s. (Cheechako News photo)

Don’t stop the presses

The Mable Smith Story — Part 2

Mable Smith pecks away at her typewriter in the Cheechako News office in Ridgeway, circa mid-1960s. (Cheechako News photo)
Functional wood-turned items, photographed in 2022, by Homer artist Ted Heuer are available year-round at Ptarmigan Arts. Photo by Beth Heuer

Craftsman finds ‘almost no limits’ to woodworking

Homer man shares his passion for turning wood into functional and beautiful works of art

Functional wood-turned items, photographed in 2022, by Homer artist Ted Heuer are available year-round at Ptarmigan Arts. Photo by Beth Heuer
Cheechako News photo Mable Smith came into her own as a reporter for the Cheechako News (central Kenai Peninsula) in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Don’t stop the presses

The Mable Smith Story — Part 1

Cheechako News photo Mable Smith came into her own as a reporter for the Cheechako News (central Kenai Peninsula) in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Windy Wagner enjoyed entertaining company at his home along the Kenai River. (Photo courtesy of the Knackstedt Collection)

Windy Wagner: Breath of fresh air or just a blowhard? (Part 1)

Most folks seemed to enjoy Charles A. Wagner. They appreciated his hospitality and generosity, his stories and good humor, and his thorough knowledge of the… Continue reading

Windy Wagner enjoyed entertaining company at his home along the Kenai River. (Photo courtesy of the Knackstedt Collection)
John Fenger, seen here in his later years, died in 2006.

Medical establishment comes to Homer — Part 3

In early spring 1965, there were loose ends to tie up …

John Fenger, seen here in his later years, died in 2006.
The Fenger children — (left to right) Heidi, Eric and Peter — delight in a bounty of silver salmon gathered by setnet below their home in August 1962. (Photo courtesy of the Fenger Family Collection)

Medical establishment comes to Homer — Part 2

It was normal for Dr. John Fenger to receive phone calls when someone in Homer needed medical attention.

The Fenger children — (left to right) Heidi, Eric and Peter — delight in a bounty of silver salmon gathered by setnet below their home in August 1962. (Photo courtesy of the Fenger Family Collection)
Posing stiffly in the bow of the M.S. Hygiene, along the Alaska coast, is Nurse Grace Heutink, clad in a warm fur parka. (Photo courtesy of the Fenger Family Collection)

Medical establishment comes to Homer — Part 1

In the early days of formal medicine in Homer, doctors and dentists were often forced to improvise.

Posing stiffly in the bow of the M.S. Hygiene, along the Alaska coast, is Nurse Grace Heutink, clad in a warm fur parka. (Photo courtesy of the Fenger Family Collection)
Shells and cheese are served. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

On the strawberry patch: Mac and cheese for make-believe

Indulging childhood memories with this favorite

Shells and cheese are served. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Prince Harry’s “Spare” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Prince Harry gets candid about ‘gilded cage’ in new memoir

“Spare” undoubtedly succeeds in humanizing Harry

A copy of Prince Harry’s “Spare” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” stands on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Coffee shop time travelers leave reader cold

“Before the Coffee Gets Cold” is the debut novel of author and playwright Toshikazu Kawaguchi

A copy of “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” stands on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion office on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
As about 200 people watch, the 19th annual Burning Basket, "Breathe," catches fire on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Just breathe

Annual Homer Burning Basket lights up the Spit on Sunday night

As about 200 people watch, the 19th annual Burning Basket, "Breathe," catches fire on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A still from “Jazzfest.” (Photo provided)

DocFest could be the golden year of documentaries — again

Homer Documentary Film Festival returns for 18th year with solid mix

A still from “Jazzfest.” (Photo provided)
Soniyae Stephens Reid rehearses for "Dance Moves," one of the Alaska World Arts Festival events for the festival starting Friday. (Photo provided)

Alaska World Arts Festival back for 4th year

Festival includes a mix of live and virtual events

Soniyae Stephens Reid rehearses for "Dance Moves," one of the Alaska World Arts Festival events for the festival starting Friday. (Photo provided)
Kate Lochridge stands by one of her paintings for a pop-up show of her work on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by MIchael Armstrong/Homer News)

Pop-up exhibit shows culmination of art-science residency

The exhibit by Kate Lochridge came about after her internship this summer as a National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration Ernest S. Hollings Scholar and Artist in Residence

Kate Lochridge stands by one of her paintings for a pop-up show of her work on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by MIchael Armstrong/Homer News)