Letters to the editor

Published 2:30 am Thursday, May 21, 2026

The people should choose

“We the people.” Not we the rich, not we the political party, not we the white man. Our nation’s Constitution begins with these simple but powerful words: “We the people.”

Alaska’s voters can go to the Aug. 18 primary election knowing that they can choose a candidate of their choice, not the choice of a political party, the choice of the people.

If the ballot initiative that includes ending open primaries wins, we will no longer have that option — our vote will be controlled by who the party chooses. Those not registered for a political party will have to choose between two ballots. The people will no longer choose.

This ballot initiative includes ending ranked choice voting. If it wins, we will no longer be able to make four choices by ranking them in order of our favorites. That gives a voter four chances of their choice winning. The people get four choices! The people can vote for a candidate that truly represents their civic ideals.

With ranked choice voting, a candidate has to win by 50% plus one vote. The winning candidate reflects the majority of the voters, nothing less. There are no longer expensive run-off elections. In 2022, five in 10 voters split their ballot between parties. Choices!

There was little confusion in 2022 — over 99% of ballots were submitted correctly! The people know what they are doing, the party doesn’t have to do it for them.

This ballot initiative not only includes ending open primaries and ending ranked choice voting, it also includes ending campaign finance disclosure.

It will once again establish “dark money,” where the people will never know what special interest mega-wealthy outside source is financing a campaign or how much they are giving. Currently those sources and amounts have to be disclosed. Campaign financing should not be a secret. The people should know.

The signs are already up supporting this ballot initiative but they tell little. Be an informed voter! Dig into why they want to take your choices away. Why they want to control your vote, and why they want to hide the big money that supports their party. Seems rotten to me. Vote NO on repealing open primaries/RCV and ending campaign donor disclosure.

Therese Lewandowski

Homer

Local cartoonist gets to the point

A note of appreciation for the Homer News’s cartoonist, Mike O’Meara. His work is always a part of the local newspaper that I look forward to viewing. His style is spare, precise and covers a range of salient topics from local to national and more with excellent perception and insight, often with humor, and strikes directly to the point behind the topic. Last week’s topic with reference to recent SCOTUS pronouncement and “Strange Fruit” sung by Nina Simone and Billie Holiday nailed it. Thank you, Mr. O’Meara. And as the mock Latin phrase states, “illegitimus non carborundum.”

George Harbeson Jr.

Homer

Veterans enjoyed trip to Homer

From May 14-16, Homer Elks Lodge #2127 and its Veterans Committee hosted veterans from Fairbanks in Homer for an Armed Forces Day weekend centered on rest, recreation, and hospitality.

The group enjoyed sightseeing, fishing and shopping during their stay. They were served three dinners at the Lodge and lunch at The Harbor Grill on the Homer Spit. Box lunches were also prepared for the veterans to take on their fishing charter.

The veterans expressed their appreciation for the lodging, fishing trip, meals and warm welcome they received from the Homer Lodge. It was both a pleasure and an honor to host the Wounded Veterans Project participants.

The event was made possible through the generous support of local businesses and Lodge members. Special thanks to the Alaska State Elks Association Wounded Veterans Project, the Homer Elks Lodge #2127 House and Veterans Committees for preparing meals, Mike Warburton of The Ocean Shores for providing lodging, Garret Lambert of D&G Charters for a great morning of fishing, Kama and Pulama Chow of Homer Fish Processing for packaging the veterans’ catch, Adventure Alaska Car Rental for the van rental, and Homer Emblem Club #350 for providing a wonderful Friday night meal.

Jill Hockema, PER, Veterans Committee Chair, Leading Knight 2026-2027

Homer Elks Lodge #2127

Dear Editor,

Regarding Mike O’s editorial cartoon, “Strange Fruit,” in the May 14 paper: Well done, sir!

Gloria Wahl

Homer

Thank you for supporting youth soccer

On behalf of Homer United Youth Soccer, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Homer Foundation for their generous support of our youth soccer community through a grant dedicated to financial assistance for local players and families.

At Homer United, our mission is to provide opportunities for youth to learn, grow and thrive through soccer. We believe every child should have the chance to participate regardless of financial circumstances. The costs associated with youth sports — registration fees, equipment and program expenses — can create barriers for many families. Thanks to the Homer Foundation’s investment in our community, more children will have access to the game, friendships and experiences that youth soccer provides.

This grant will directly help ease financial burdens for local families and ensure that more kids can step onto the field, develop confidence, build teamwork skills and enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves. The impact extends far beyond soccer — it strengthens our community and supports healthy, active opportunities for Homer’s youth.

We are fortunate to live in a community that consistently shows up to support local organizations and invest in the next generation. We are deeply appreciative of the Homer Foundation’s commitment to helping young athletes succeed and creating opportunities for families throughout our area. Thank you for believing in our players and in the future of youth sports in Homer.

Nicole Hamilton

Homer

Memorial Day remembrance

“But we … shall be remembered: we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.…” -William Shakespeare

Memorial Day is a sacred day for some of us who have taken the military oath and agreed to stand in harm’s way if need be to defend our way of life. Some of us get to return from our combat tours and sadly some of us do not. We who return celebrate each other, and that we are still alive. We also celebrate the lives of the ones we’ve lost.

On this Memorial Day, some of us will honor those who gave their last full measure of devotion so that our country remains free. Others will take advantage of furniture, automobile or other sales. For some others, it signals the beginning of summer and calls for a good day to barbecue.

Today, we honor our heroes, remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and say thank you for their sacrifices. The heroes we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity.

They didn’t go to war because they loved fighting, they were called to be part of something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to our nation’s call because they wanted to protect it, which had given them and us so much.

Whatever their personal motives might have been, they said, “I’ll go.” That is why they are the best of America and that separates them from those who’ve not served in uniform. They showed admirable willingness to risk their lives for people they never met.

As we commemorate Memorial Day 2026, let us never forget the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service to our country, and let us strive to be worthy of their legacy.

“We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders field.”

-John McCrae, “In Flanders Fields,” 1915

Michael A LeMay, Veterans for Peace

Homer

Annual Elks convention a success

The Homer Elks Lodge #2127 held the 78th Annual Alaska State Elks Association (ASEA) Convention from April 30 through May 2. We are grateful and would like to thank the many Elks, spouses and guest volunteers who helped make the convention a success. We also appreciate Aspen Inn & Suites, Best Western Bidarka, and The Ocean Shores for providing hotel rooms for the event, and Seafarer Suites for accommodating additional guests. Special thanks to Best Western for lending conference tables for our meeting sessions.

At our convention opening, the Civil Air Patrol Youth Cadets presented the colors. We were pleased to observe these cadets demonstrate professionalism and dedication in presenting the United States Flag alongside the Alaska State Flag for our Order.

We also held three consecutive youth sports fundraisers for the Homer High School Track Team and the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams, raising $4,450 for team travel and sports equipment.

Congratulations to outgoing ASEA President Tom Stroozas and to our Lodge member, Michael Parish, PER, PDDGER, who was installed as an ASEA Trustee and is on the path to becoming ASEA President.

Our Lodge received several awards. Most notable was the first place Roger R. True Lodge of Excellence (Lodge of the Year) award for the 2025-2026 Lodge year. The Lodge of Excellence award is highly competitive and challenging to earn.

Jill Hockema, PER, Convention Committee Co-Chair

Homer Elks Lodge #2127

Community support makes Shorebird Festival possible

As the board president of the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, a co-sponsor of the 34th Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, I want to thank everyone who made it happen: the other co-sponsor, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; financial supporters; donors of items to a silent auction; community partners on the Festival Steering Committee; local tour operators and businesses; and some 60 volunteer presenters, guides and “behind the scenes” people who folded t-shirts, prepped and served at receptions, made up bird trivia questions, took pictures and monitored attendance at every event.

A special shout-out to a “dream team” whose hard work and creativity made everything run smoothly: Friends’ Shorebird Festival Coordinator Marcy Melville and Alaska Maritime Refuge’s Lora Haller and Adrienne McGill.

This year’s festival was a bit stormy and chilly. It even snowed, but birders were treated to evenings with shorebird murmurations at high tide in perfect, gorgeous light. A record 1,150 people from 40 states and 7 countries on 5 continents participated this year, filling the tours, events, and Jr. and Teen Birder programs, as well as Homer lodgings, restaurants, art galleries, boats, trails and bird-viewing places. The birds obligingly showed up once again.

Thanks again to everyone who helped out and participated in Alaska’s largest annual wildlife festival and this amazing annual community event.

Marilyn Sigman

Homer