So like the other day this citizen of the North Fork told the Betster about yet another sighting of those pesky black helicopters out there in the Hidden Hills. No, no, do not put on the aluminum foil hats. It turned out to be just another Anchorage citizen soldier out on a National Guard Blackhawk training run. So what if it scared the rubes? Those big thuck-thucking blades are the sound of freedom, bubba.

Anyway, the citizen and the B. got to talking about why everyone calls Homer the End of the Road. How come it's not the Beginning of the Road? If Homer is the end of the road, does that mean the road starts in like Kansas? Nothing starts in Kansas except tall corn. Is another end of the road like Key West actually the Beginning of the Road?

Tom Bodett be danged. Why can't the road start in Homer? After all, if you put the rear tire of your bicycle in the water at Land's End and start peddling, the road will rise up in front of you. For everyone coming here, this may be the end of their travels. For those of us who live here, it's only the beginning.

So begin your journey by a fabulous weekend with yet again more things to do than you can possibly imagine, like some of these Best Bets:

BEST CENTRAL PARK OF THE NORTH BET: A library, gardens, foot paths, hot dog vendors, a chic café or two. Hey, with a little civic-business cooperation, Homer can have a Town Square to rival anything Back East. Come share the Town Center Development Committee's vision from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Homer City Hall of what might be in that area between Main Street and Poopdeck Street, what should really be called the Town Polygon.

BEST 200 GREAT WRITERS BET: Everyone calls Homer an Arts Town, and just so ya know, that means Literary Arts, word lovers, and don't you forget it. The big Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference starts Friday, so if you see people scribbling away in their Moleskine journals, don't be surprised. Visiting and student writers and poets read starting Saturday with Mr. Way Cool Poet himself, Billy Collins, at 8 p.m. at Land's End. See the schedule in the arts page for other readings open to the public.

BEST THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH BET: The Homer Halibut Jackpot Derby has been making fishermen rich for 20 years now, and in celebration the big contest is holding a community fish fry from 3-7 p.m. Saturday at the Heritage RV Park on the Homer Spit. Most likely they'll be serving, oh, cod. No, no, of course halibut will be the main dish.

BEST FURRY CREATURES WALKING UPRIGHT BET: Yes, it's the annual Strut Your Mutt, where dogs take their bipedal companions for a stroll around town. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Homer High School, and the strut starts at 11 a.m. Afterward there are contests, prizes and games. The modest fee benefits Homer Animal Friends.