Michael Armstrong

  • 1817 Stories
  • Page 1 of 91
Arts

Pratt Museum unveils new ‘Entangled’ exhibit

Last month, the Pratt Museum reopened on a scaled-back basis with its summer show, “Entangled: Exploring Natural History Collections from Kachemak Bay.” Put together by… Continue reading

 

Arts

First Friday shows feature art inspired by the pandemic

As the summer winds down, new exhibits feature traditional Alaska themes of landscapes and nature. Several exhibits are related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a… Continue reading

 

Homer City Hall. (Homer News file photo)

Filing period opens for Homer City Council, Mayor seats

The filing period for the local municipal election has opened, and interested candidates have until Aug. 17 to file. The available positions in this year’s… Continue reading

 

Painted signs posted at the candlelight vigil held for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska, affirm love for Murnane and beseech her safe return. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman)

Virtual birthday party to be held for missing Homer woman

A virtual birthday party is being held to honor a Homer woman who has been missing since last year. Friends and family of Anesha “Duffy”… Continue reading

Painted signs posted at the candlelight vigil held for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska, affirm love for Murnane and beseech her safe return. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman)

Homer Wells Fargo employee tests positive for COVID-19; branch closes for the day

The Homer branch of Wells Fargo closed today after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19. The branch is expected to reopen on Tuesday. David… Continue reading

Entertainment

Salmonfest celebrates 10th year with livestream event

Correction: The original name of Salmonfest was Salmonstock. Salmonfest, the big live music festival that bills itself as “three days of fish, love and music,”… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Two more Alaskan deaths related to COVID-19

Two more Alaskan deaths have been tied to COVID-19, bringing the total number of Alaskans whose deaths have been related to the disease to 22.… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum speaks during a Tuesday, April 7, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Alaska sees record surge in positive COVID-19 cases

Alaska recorded its highest number in a single day of positive COVID-19 cases, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced on Sunday. The… Continue reading

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum speaks during a Tuesday, April 7, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies headquarters on Lake Street, seen here on July 16, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, will have live music and light refreshments during its telethon fundraiser from 3-7 p.m. July 26, 2020. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Arts

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies to hold telethon

With the annual Spring Fling fundraiser canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board of directors and staff of the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies… Continue reading

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies headquarters on Lake Street, seen here on July 16, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, will have live music and light refreshments during its telethon fundraiser from 3-7 p.m. July 26, 2020. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough holds CARES grant meetings

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is offering several open houses to help small business owners and nonprofits earn about opportunities for pandemic-relief grants through funding received… Continue reading

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Arts

Artist establishes roots in Homer

Since moving to Homer in April 2018, artist David Pettibone has put down roots in the lower Kenai Peninsula art scene, much of it in… Continue reading

Visitors camp on Friday, July 3, 2020, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska, in a vegetated area closed to camping between the Homer Shores Boardwalk, seen here in the background, and the Central Charters Boardwalk. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Camping in prohibited areas is becoming an issue on the Homer Spit

To tourists, a stretch of grassy, beachfront land on the Homer Spit near the Central Charters Boardwalk looks like the perfect place to pitch a… Continue reading

Visitors camp on Friday, July 3, 2020, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska, in a vegetated area closed to camping between the Homer Shores Boardwalk, seen here in the background, and the Central Charters Boardwalk. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technician, left, assists a person who was involved in a boat capsizing, center, as they walk up the load-launch ramp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. The crew of the F/V Captain Cook helped rescue the person. The crew of the F/V Casino rescued the other two people who were aboard the 14-foot skiff when it capsized near the entrance of China Poot Bay. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Police identify man killed in boating accident

The man who died when a skiff overturned on Kachemak Bay last Wednesday has been identified as a Chugiak resident. Homer Police confirmed that 23-year-old… Continue reading

A Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technician, left, assists a person who was involved in a boat capsizing, center, as they walk up the load-launch ramp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. The crew of the F/V Captain Cook helped rescue the person. The crew of the F/V Casino rescued the other two people who were aboard the 14-foot skiff when it capsized near the entrance of China Poot Bay. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
As a reminder to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Homer artist Julie Tomich painted face masks on the figures of Tom Reed’s mural, “Tribute to Performing Artists,” as seen on July 3, 2020, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. Reed painted the mural in August 1985 on a retaining wall in front of NOMAR (then Proctor’s Grocery), and updated the mural with additional figures in 2008 under a city grant. Using a chalk-based, non-permanent paint, Tomich got permission from the city to add the masks to the mural. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Best Bets

Best Bets

Once again some Lower 48 website has provided the Betster with exciting news about Alaska. In this case, Sixty and Me, an online magazine for… Continue reading

As a reminder to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Homer artist Julie Tomich painted face masks on the figures of Tom Reed’s mural, “Tribute to Performing Artists,” as seen on July 3, 2020, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. Reed painted the mural in August 1985 on a retaining wall in front of NOMAR (then Proctor’s Grocery), and updated the mural with additional figures in 2008 under a city grant. Using a chalk-based, non-permanent paint, Tomich got permission from the city to add the masks to the mural. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Hospital adds new COVID-19 rooms

An increase last month in positive COVID-19 cases on the lower Kenai Peninsula prompted South Peninsula Hospital to revise and remodel its pandemic response plan.… Continue reading

A Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technician, left, assists a person who was involved in a boat capsizing, center, as they walk up the load-launch ramp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. The crew of the F/V Captain Cook helped rescue the person. The crew of the F/V Casino rescued the other two people who were aboard the 14-foot skiff when it capsized near the entrance of China Poot Bay. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

1 dead, 2 rescued after boat capsizes near China Poot Bay

One person is dead and another two were rescued Wednesday from the waters of Kachemak Bay by commercial fishermen and a surfer when their boat… Continue reading

A Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technician, left, assists a person who was involved in a boat capsizing, center, as they walk up the load-launch ramp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. The crew of the F/V Captain Cook helped rescue the person. The crew of the F/V Casino rescued the other two people who were aboard the 14-foot skiff when it capsized near the entrance of China Poot Bay. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Visitors enjoy the sun on July 4, 2020, on a deck at a Homer Spit boardwalk in Homer, Alaska. In a press conference on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink advised people to minimize the risk of getting infected by COVID-19 by avoiding crowded spaces. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

17th Alaskan death linked to COVID-19 reported

Another Alaskan has died of COVID-19, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced in a press conference on Tuesday. That makes the 17th COVID-19-related death since the start… Continue reading

Visitors enjoy the sun on July 4, 2020, on a deck at a Homer Spit boardwalk in Homer, Alaska. In a press conference on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink advised people to minimize the risk of getting infected by COVID-19 by avoiding crowded spaces. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
COVID-19. (Image CDC)

Case count dips after 5 record days of positive cases

Alaska has had 1,338 cases of the disease since the state began tracking the pandemic in March.

COVID-19. (Image CDC)
Arts

More galleries hold First Friday receptions

Correction: A caption for Ingrid McKinstry’s painting was incorrectly labeled. Her show is at the Fireweed Gallery. As Alaska’s businesses continue under Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference on June 30, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Austin McDaniel/Governor’s Office)

‘Don’t get complacent,’ governor says of pandemic

As Alaska saw one of its highest single-day increases in new positive cases of COVID-19, and as the state heads into the Fourth of July… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference on June 30, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Austin McDaniel/Governor’s Office)