Homer's Best Bets </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:20 PM on Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Homer's Best Bets

The news hit the world hard last week. Men, women and children wept openly as the shock of his passing slowly sank in. Despite a difficult childhood and a challenging youth, for years he had entertained thousands with his playful antics -- chewing papier mache and eating it, bobbing for apples. Alas, last week, poor Homer, a 20-year-old black bear at the Oregon Zoo, had to be euthanized. Advanced age and arthritis made life difficult.

Named after our town, Homer had been found here orphaned as a cub. He and companions Gerry and Pete moved to the Oregon Zoo in Portland in 2007. "Homer was a wonderful bear," zookeeper Virginia Grimley said. "The best bear ever. He was relaxed and laid back." Hey, kind of like us, except for that eating papier mache part.

Photo by Aaron Selbig

A pair of baby moose munch on leaves in a Homer neighborhood Monday evening as their mother looks on behind them.

Homer the bear might have died, but Holy Guacamole, Homer the town sure has been rocking lately. The Betster will not bore you with more gushing about this freaking fantastic weather we've been having lately. Talk too much about glorious sunshine and hail and a volcanic ash will rain on our Fourth of July parade. Let's just say the weather has been OK. Let's also just say that some of you need to start using a bit more sunscreen.

Saturday we celebrate America's 233rd birthday. Here at Latitude 59 degrees and some change, fireworks just aren't that flashy, even at 1 a.m. We make do with parades and picnics that go into the wee hours. That's the joy and curse of a midnight sun: sometimes you forget to go to bed and then you have to wake up in the morning.

Centuries ago, after the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, brave patriots probably woke up on July 5 and wondered just what they'd done. There would be no looking back -- had been no looking back since Concord in 1775.

We Americans are like that: take on a great cause and plunge full speed ahead into the abyss. Sometimes we fail, but when we succeed, oh, we succeed gloriously. What better way to celebrate the Fourth than with these Best Bets?

BEST OUT AND ABOUT BET: Start the holiday weekend off with a First Friday art stroll. From "Remember Mars," a photo about a volunteer Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup at the Pratt Museum, to the dit-dot art of Deland Anderson at Bunnell Street Arts Center, we're talkin' a little hike. See Arts, page 22, for openings.

BEST BUG OUT BET: When the day breeze lies down and twilight falls, out come the skeeters and their creepy-crawly friends. Learn about bugs for Bug Me! Week running 3-4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Pratt Museum. All ages are welcome.

BEST SHOUT OUT BET: Spoken word, poetry slam or staged reading, call it what you want. It's "Invisible Ink," Pier One Theatre's summer celebration of local writers. Shows are at 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10. Call 235-7333 for reservations.

BEST REBEL ROUT BET: Two-hundred thirty-three years ago, a band of patriots the Brits called rebels defied King George III and declared independence. Here we are celebrating our freedom as John Adams et al. intended. Whether in Homer, Anchor Point, Ninilchik or Seldovia, join the Fourth of July festivities lower Kenai Peninsula style; see page 7 for events.

BEST SOLD OUT BET: Want to get some real bargains? Hit the big Homer Hockey Association garage sale early. It runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Kevin Bell Arena on the Homer Spit. Proceeds benefit local hockey programs.

BEST CREEP OUT BET: On the low tide the sea unveils its marvelous inhabitants. Smell a sea star, catch a crab or touch a sea urchin in a Marine Invertebrates Discovery Lab from 1-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. We're talking critters that are weird, wild and wonderful. All ages are welcome.

Homer's Best Bets