This is for Jim Hipbshman, who wrote in last week regarding income taxes and for all the other "taxpayers" out there who are also gritting their teeth while sending the government their hard-earned money. Jim is right: There ought to be a revolt against the current income tax system. Fortunately, a revolution may be right around the corner.

If you haven't done so already, you owe it to yourself to see Aaron Russo's ("Trading Places," "The Rose") documentary, "America: Freedom to Fascism." You can get it from Netflix or order a copy online at freedomtofascism.com. But don't stop there; there is plenty of research that has already been done on America's income tax system. Check it out.

While there have been frivolous anti-tax schemes around for decades, Russo's film sheds new light on our government's system that has been taking our money for a long time. It reveals the history behind the Federal Reserve and the private bankers who control it. ("The Federal Reserve isn't any more 'federal' than Federal Express.") You will find out that our government has the ways and means to acquire funds to run this country without ordinary working citizens ever having to send in a dime.

See the film; do your research; then you can decide if it's time for a tax revolt.

Peg Belcastro

My name is Andy Bullock and I am a student at Homer High School. I am writing today in response to the closure of the Homer Auto Shop Program. Personally, I think the decision is wrong. I think this class should be kept around at all costs.

My reasons for saying this are because this class is my savior. It is my sanctuary. Everyday I come to school looking forward to my auto shop class. You may be thinking it is because my friends are all in that class, but that is wrong. I love this class because there are always new challenges and I am always learning something new. You see, in this class you can get the satisfaction of taking apart an engine and putting it back together and knowing that you did it correctly.

I was never particularly good in English or history unless it had something to do with technology so I may be the wrong person to say this but: English is mostly a bunch of bull. There are some things in it that a person needs but unless you're going to teach English, who really needs to know how to write a Magnum Opus?

Auto shop teaches you confidence and how to rely on yourself. I have learned that if you really want to get to know a person, work on a car with them. You will get to know them better than if you sat down and talked for the same amount of time. Auto shop is one of the best experiences of my life.

Additionally, when I began auto shop I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. In fact I didn't even care if I graduated from high school or not. But when I finally got into the auto class I've decided to graduate and move into automotive fabrication to create specialized off-road suspension systems.

I think auto shop was the best experience I ever had and I hope to see it at Homer High for many generations to come. Now, I beg you to please keep the auto shop program at Homer High School because it is truly a boon to this community and to the student body. Please take this letter into consideration and help us.

Andrew Bullock

Homer High

APRIL 1, PROACTIVE APPROACH

Last year the city of Homer joined other communities in the State by passing an ordinance concerning bear attractants. What can attract bears? Bird feeding is high on the list. State biologist have determined that April 1 is the best time to stop feeding birds because by mid March temperatures have risen and the bears are out (particularly in warmer areas like Homer). This proactive approach to protecting our wildlife, let's us all be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Put away the feeders. Attract birds to your yard by creating nesting habitat. Backyard wildlife habitat can be created by adding fresh water, appropriate plants, and nesting areas. Got a pile of brush? Don't burn it, the birds will love it.

Susan Clardy

235 3949

Letter left over from 20070412

Homer Theatre rocks

On behalf of Focus on Learning (TEAM FOL) at Homer High School, we would like to recognize and express our gratitude for the positive role Homer Theatre has played in helping us reach out to students. Colleen Carroll and Jamie Sutton, you folks are wonderful. We value your willingness to invest in TEAM FOL, and those students involved with the program. Your proactive involvement within our community is admirable. Your help has been instrumental in helping to make our program and our students successful. From Team Reading, Team Writing and Team Math a big "thank you."

Camron M. Wyatt

Coordinator, TEAM FOL

LETTER TO HOMER NEWS

RE: Jean Keene Eagle Feeding

Although Ms. Jean Keene has been feeding wild eagles on the spit for nearly three decades, it does not mean that this is an appropriate or environmentally sustainable activity. For example: it was once common practice to feed bears in Yellowstone but eventually it was acknowledged that this behavior is detrimental to both wildlife and humans. The city of Homer has allowed the extension of her hobby but it does not seem reasonable that Keene should arbitrarily be able to accommodate the request of an Iraq war pilot and expand her practice even further. There is a reason why a "cut-off" date was established and though Keene may have a personal interest in supporting the request of US military personnel, she should have contacted the City of Homer before prolonging her already questionable practice. I don't think her post-action apologetic letter to the Homer News regarding "nuisance calls" is satisfactory and I would support more formal consequences for her actions.

Emilie Springer

Emilie Springer University of Washington School of Marine Affairs PH: (206) 963-7385

Max Haggerty was very lucky to get a lung transplant. Over half of the 95,000 Americans on the national waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of their neighbors die every year as a result. There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die. Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't prepared to share the gift of life should go to the back of the transplant waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs. Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. LifeSharers has 8,401 members, including 16 members in Alaska. Over 700 of our members are minor children enrolled by their parents. David J. Undis Executive Director LifeSharers www.lifesharers.org 6509 Cornwall Drive Nashville, TN 37205

Letter to the Editor: For the rest of our lives, all of us will suffer because of violence in the Middle East. Even if you don't know someone who died or was wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, your life will be diminished by this conlfict. Most Americans realize that our government made terrible mistakes in Iraq. These mistakes occurred partly because many Americans are ignorant about Islam and the attitudes of Muslims toward each other and toward us. If you're a person whose eyes glaze over with puzzlement when you see the left-overs of another explosion in Iraq or Afghanistan, please join us Sunday at Kachemak Community Center, April 22, 12:30 pm for our program,"Understanding Violence in the Middle East." Four of our members will speak briefly on their readings on this topic: Nancy Levinson, Jim Clymer, Betsy Lennon, and Amy Bollenbach. If you are a person who understands something about the passionate conflicts of Sunnis and Shias, and Westerners and Muslims, please come to add your knowledge to the discussion. Call me if you want more information on the program, 235-6954. Amy Bollenbach President, Unitarian Universalists of Homer

Letter to the editor

THANK YOU Kachemak Board of Realtors!

Truly words can not say how much Hospice of Homer values the ongoing support of the Kachemak Board of Realtors. The Realtors' generous and heart felt support has made an amazing difference. This community is a better place to live thanks to their efforts. With bedrock support like this HOH has been able to grow and thrive, providing quality, caring service to friends, family and fellow community members.

Thank you again, Kachemak Board of Realtors for your recent donation and for your ongoing support over the years.

Darlene Hilderbrand

Executive Director

Dear Editor, It?s National Library Week and across the country libraries are celebrating "Come Together @ Your Library." The Friends of the Homer Public Library (FHL) is joining the national effort to recognize the amazing opportunities libraries can offer, the staff and volunteers that make our library a great place to be and the diverse community that uses the Homer Public Library. Events include something for everyone, including teens. FHL and the library staff are proud to recognize Teen Literature Day this week because it draws attention to the many young adults that are a positive presence at the library where they come together to do research, homework or to find books and movies for fun. With the support of the Fred Meyer Foundation and The Homer Foundation-YAC, FHL is able add to the offerings at the library for young adults by launching Youth Focus 2007 at the library this week. New books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks and fun, interesting programs to along with the new resources will offer teens more ways to use the library. FHL is excited to be apart of the Homer community?s effort to provide great opportunities for young adults. Thank you to the Fred Meyer Foundation and the Homer Foundation's YAC and Ashley Logan Fund for making the needs of Homer's young adults a priority! Claudia Haines FHL Coordinator

Are we totally blind and deaf? FREEDOM IS FREE. Whoever says otherwise spreads propaganda for another cause. I don't want anyone dying for my freedom or for my soul. God put me here and God, under the guise of Jesus, Allah, Jehovah, Buddha, Mother Nature, or the forces of the Universe, can take me at any time. No man can protect me against terrorism or give me my freedom. Today, we have dangerous people playing God in this world, and yes, the spread of fear and death is heavy on our minds, but only God can decide who lives or who dies, not man. I will never support war. I WOULD support the troops if they were fighting a legal war but they are not. Few Americans actually support the troops, and here's how we prove it. More than 200,000 veterans have found themselves homeless in this nation and the illegal Iraq war has helped those numbers grow. That statistic alone shows how Americans support their troops, but, there is even more sinister troop abuse in this nation in the form of "private for profit paramilitary corporations." Our troops are back burner babies compared to the private paramilitary companies, owned and operated by friends and business partners of the government officials who use the troops and our freedom as hostages as they extort the nation into paying them huge sums of taxpayers money to do dirty deeds. Finally, we all now know how well our hospitals treat the troops. Walter Reed, for example. Stop telling me you support the troops with your yellow ribbons and flags flying everywhere we turn. THAT IS NOT SUPPORTING THE TROOPS! The real people supporting the troops are not wearing ribbons and have come to realize our threats come from within this country as we are witnessing today. If the troops really want to protect my freedom they should be protecting me from the people who threaten it. Maka Fairman

Habitat for Humanity - South Kenai Peninsula gives a big thank you to all the individuals and businesses that donated so generously to make our second annual spaghetti feed/dessert auction a success. We also thank all of the folks that came to the dinner and bid so freely on the delicious desserts. We apologize - sort of - for all the extra calories everyone took home, but it was great fun. Thank you one and all! DBoone HFH-SKP Thx, Dan Boone

Independent Living Center's benefit concert April 7, 2007 was a smashing success. We would like to thank the volumes of people who supported us by attending the evening of music and silent auction festivities. With the help of attendees and numerous donators throughout the Kenai Peninsula we were able to raise several thousand dollars. Businesses who donated include: Alaska Center for Chinese Medicine, Center for Alaska Coastal Studies, Bonnie Wheeler, Chugach Outdoor Center, ERA Aviation, Dan and Peggy Fischer, Edna of Snow Creek Cabins in Seward, Grant Aviation, Homer Bookstore, Homer Inn and Spa, Homer Ocean Charters, Homer Veterinary Clinic, Homer Air, Hotel Edgewater, Inner Nature Chiropractic, Jim Craig Pilot, Kenai River Fly Fishing, Latitude 59, Lisa Ann's Grooming, Loretta Spaulding, Midas, Morning Star Studio, Namaste Knitting, Princess Tours, Sandy Cronland, Scruggs Automotive, Seward Bear Creek Cabins, Seward Charter, Seward Senior Center, Smokey Bay Air, Solstice Music, Souply Delicious Crew, Spenard Builder Supply, Scrapbook Nook, and Structural Integration. Other contributors of the evening include: Down East Saloon, Ocean Shores Hotel, Melissa Mitchell, Woodrow Band, Maritime Helicopters, Homer Brewery, Moore and Moore Sanitation Services, Atz Kilcher and Johnny Bell, KBBI, and Cook Inlet Keeper. The Independent Living Center uses these funds to provide services to individuals with disabilities across the Kenai Peninsula. Our mission is to promote choice, independence and quality of life for persons and families experiencing disabilities. Thank you everybody for your support!

Hillary Hollenbeck

TRAILS Program Coordinator

As we all know, this is a very special and generous community. Our City government understands the vital and unique role nonprofits play in our town, and provides financial support to their important work through the City of Homer Grants Program, administered by the Homer Foundation. This grant program provides general operating support, the most difficult support to raise, allowing nonprofits like Kachemak Heritage Land Trust to continue to do our good work for the Homer community. Our hats are off to the City of Homer for its philanthropic vision! Barbara Seaman Executive Director Kachemak Heritage Land Trust

Fisheries Resources Warrant Special Standards of Protection in Alaska Alaska has an incredible renewable resource: wild, abundant, natural salmon fisheries that few other states can boast and none can match in terms of quantity and quality as well as cultural and economic importance. While other industries must also be provided an environment in which they can do business and profit in our resource rich state, it should never be at the expense of our fisheries Currently, there is a bill in the Alaska State Senate that would ensure the wild salmon fishery in Bristol Bay would not be sacrificed in exchange for a shorter term, far more damaging industrial proposals. Senate Bill 67, known as the Jay Hammond State Game Refuge was introduced by Senator Gary Stevens (R) Kodiak and would provide increased protections for fish and fish habitat on state lands in Bristol Bay. The Bill is not intended to stifle resource development but to add a layer of protection to the complex ecosystem that sustains one of Alaska's and indeed the world's most valuable subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries. In fact Bristol Bay is home to Alaska 's largest salmon run, which brings in around 30% of all of Alaska's annual salmon earnings. Senate Bill 67 provides Alaskans an opportunity to come together and create a plan that reasonably safeguards the truly renewable, world class salmon resources of Bristol Bay . The additional protection delivered by SB67, will be implemented and maintained in a partnership between the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, two of our oldest and strongest state agencies. As former Alaska Board of Fish member, the late Rupe Andrews said in his last meeting in Dillingham: "Extraordinary places deserve extraordinary protections." Bristol Bay truly fits the description of extraordinary; SB 67 ensures it will stay that way. Lindsey Bloom Juneau

Mr. Harbeson, In response to your letter of April 5, 2007 I would like to ask, what have you personally done to improve the lot of the soldier other than to complain? God Bless America, President George Bush and My Patriot Sons. Doug Ruzicka P.O. Box 181 Anchor Point, Alaska 99556 907-235-0156