HOMER'S BEST BETS</MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 2:31 p.m. Thursday, January 23, 2003

HOMER'S BEST BETS
You have to pity all those winter wimps whose response to enduring January involves long plane trips, skimpy clothes and the sweet smell of tanning lotion. They'll miss the subtle clues that January has pounced upon us with full force. Consider Poot Peak. After a good snowfall and a good thaw-freeze to clear the snow out of the forest, the Poot Peak Panda Bear emerges. You can't see that in the summer.

And what of the winter storms and high tides? Really strange things start showing up on the beaches, like shredded halves of old aluminum cans or big honking thigh bones, which the Betster hopes came from a moose and not from some giant with a femur the size of Detroit. But hey, those storm tides clean up the tire tracks and foxholes made by people mining the beach for sidewalk sand.

January belongs to Homer's hardiest. We know that we're on the cusp of the season, where it can go from subzero cold and clear night skies to freezing rain and dreary darkness. We get to see Yukon and Hesketh islands covered in mist, an eagle sitting serenely by the Spit trail and gorgeous sunny days that herald crystal-sharp nights full of auroras. And we get to have some fun, too.

BEST THEY WOULDN'T DO THIS IN FLORIDA BET: If you lived in a state where your governor was the president's brother, and tourism and not oil paid the bills, the federal Minerals Management Service probably wouldn't be leasing oil and gas rights close to your shores. Nope, this is Alaska, with rugged Cook Inlet beaches and not those condo-infested strips like on Florida's Gulf Coast, which means yet again there is a public hearing. It starts at 7 p.m. tonight at Homer City Hall in the council chambers, and odds are it will be standing room only, so come early to get a good seat. For the protest-inclined, there's also a rally outside city hall prior to the hearing. It begins at 6 p.m.

BEST PATIENCE OF JOB BET: A Jew or Christian who has suffered the misfortunes of life may often wonder "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People." From Job to Rabbi S. Harold Kushner, (who wrote a book on the issue), many have pondered how a loving God can allow people to endure pain. That's the topic of discussion at the meeting of the Unitarian/Universalists at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kachemak Center.

BEST JOLLY GOOD GARDEN GNOME BET: Tom Jahns from the Soldotna Cooperative Extension Unit recently returned from a trip through the United Kingdom. England just endured a rare snowfall that so puzzled the British the Guardian ran a guide on snow ("How do you make a snow angel?"). Jahns won't be showing slides of Morris Minis belly up in the briar, but he does show slides of the shrubs, trees and landscapes of the U.K. at the 2 p.m. Sunday for the monthly meeting of the Homer Garden Club. So put on your Wellies and see how they garden among the Queen's subjects.

BEST LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE BET: Had maybe one too many scary times out on your skiff? Been thinking it's time to brush up on your seamanship? The Homer Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a 12-week boating skills and seamanship class starting 7 p.m. Tuesday at the high school. The class is $45, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, and covers everything from the rules of the sea to engine repair. Call Community School at 235-6090 to register.

BEST BANG THE BOARDS BET: Been wondering about those odd African beats of the marimba? Thinking about shaking those funny weird gourds? Handei! (Let's go!), as they say in Shona, the language of the Zimbabwean people. Michael Breez of the Rufaro School of Marimba visits Homer this week and offers an adult beginner's workshop from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pratt Museum.

BEST BOP THE BALL BET: Basketball fans have another chance to see most of our lower peninsula teams. Tonight the Nikolaevsk Warriors take on Lumen Christi in the Nikolaevsk School gym. The girls play at 5 p.m. and the boys play at 6:30 p.m. Friday, the Homer High School Lady Mariners play SoHi at 3:30 p.m. and the Mariners at 7 p.m. at the high school. Nikolaevsk plays Friday against Cook Inlet Academy, with the girls at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m. at Nikolaevsk. Saturday, Homer Christian School plays Lumen Christi at a time to be announced, at HCS. Across the bay, Seldovia plays HCS Monday and Tuesday at a time to be announced at Susan B. English School. Nikolaevsk wraps up a weekend of hot b'ball action on Tuesday against Ninilchik, with the girls at 5 p.m. and the boys at 6:30 p.m. at Nikolaevsk.

BEST IN THE HOT SEAT BET: Want to get an advance look at the new city manager? The three finalists for the Homer city manager position interview with the city council this week, and citizens can watch the process. Tuesday, the council interviews Walt Wrede, Wednesday Marvin Yoder and next Thursday Phil Shealy. All interviews are 3-5 p.m. at Homer City Hall.

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