Best Bets

April 12, 2018 11:48 am
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It’s all about the view A bald eagle sits on a tree branch while another eagle watches their nest on Monday morning, April 2, near the Lake Street and Homer Bypass intersection. Since 2010, a pair of bald eagles has built four nests in the area near Beluga Slough south of the Lake Street and Sterling Highway intersection. This pair returned to the nest earlier in March. The first nest was destroyed when the tree fell down in a winter storm. In 2012 the eagles built a new nest across from the Homer Post Office by the motorhome dump station. In 2014 they built another nest in a new tree closer to the slough. In 2016 they built another nest, but in 2017 moved to the post office location. This nest is the same one built in 2016. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)
It’s all about the view A bald eagle sits on a tree branch while another eagle watches their nest on Monday morning, April 2, near the Lake Street and Homer Bypass intersection. Since 2010, a pair of bald eagles has built four nests in the area near Beluga Slough south of the Lake Street and Sterling Highway intersection. This pair returned to the nest earlier in March. The first nest was destroyed when the tree fell down in a winter storm. In 2012 the eagles built a new nest across from the Homer Post Office by the motorhome dump station. In 2014 they built another nest in a new tree closer to the slough. In 2016 they built another nest, but in 2017 moved to the post office location. This nest is the same one built in 2016. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

“Here comes the sun — doo doo doo doo.”

Or so we thought.

Maybe the rest of Homer was able to keep its cool, but the Betster positively leapt into a case of spring fever with that flood of sunshine the past week or so.

Then came the floods.

All right. Maybe it was a bit more of a subtle sprinkling. But still! One can positively smell spring coming up out of the earth after its all-too-long hibernation when a little rain hits the ground. Sure, one can smell a whole bunch of other things one rather wouldn’t during that most magical time — breakup — but the onset of spring is what really counts here.

For a while now winter has been going back and forth, giving Homer a Midwestern goodbye — hovering with one foot still inside the threshold and exchanging pleasantries long after goodnight hugs were given. But now, it seems, Homerites can rest easy knowing that spring, and glorious summer, are well on their way.

Good times are here again, folks. So revel in that certainty (if you dare)! Break out your road or fatbike if you haven’t already. Break out the gardening supplies! Break out the swimsuit!

No? Too soon?

Whatever it is you do to bid an official farewell to Old Man Winter, fill up your spare time with these best bets:

BEST OUT OF BREATH BET: What better way to get started on the summer recreation season than by joining the Kachemak Bay Running Club for one of its 5 kilometer fun run/walks every Thursday at 6 p.m.? The routes are typically anywhere between 2.8 and 3.1 miles in distance, but any diversions can be made to accommodate all ages and abilities. April Fun Runs will start at Grace Ridge Brewing. This is a free, family-friendly event.

BEST BEST OF THE BEST BET: Like women? Of course you do, they’re awesome. Like strong, smart, funny women who do a lot to make your life and community better? Then search no further! You can find four such ladies at this year’s annual dinner and auction to honor the 2018 Women of Distinction. The event is the major fundraiser hosted by the Haven House Board of Directors to support programs and activities that benefit survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The event will take place from 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 13 at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Tickets are are $50 and are available at the Homer Bookstore and Haven House office.

BEST “YEEHAW” BET: The rodeo may still be a few months away, but you can get in the rootin-tootin spirit early at the 2018 Cowboy Cabaret. It’ll be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 14 at Alice’s Champagne Palace. The 13th Annual Cowboy Cabaret will benefit Cottonwood Horsepark, located on East End Road. The night will include a live and silent auction, stories, music and more family fun. Tickets are at the Homer Bookstore and can be purchased at the door. They cost $25 per family and $10 per person. Call Tim Quinn for more information at 907-299-2780.

BEST BETTER LIVING BET: Get your inner food goddess on by attending “Food Forest High Tunnel,” a class that provides the opportunity to learn about permaculture, food forest philosophy, the layers that make up your forest, food and medicine ground covers, plant families, and perennial succession. The instructor is Robin McAllistar, a Homer Folk School Board member who is certified in permaculture and has been experimenting with a food forest in her high tunnel for several years now. This will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14 and costs $50.

The long view Homer artist Rita Pfenninger poses last Friday for the opening of her show, Mountain, Foliage, Ocean, Sky at Fireweed Gallery. The painting shows the Chugach Mountains as seen from Sheep Mountain Lodge, Glenn Highway. Also in the show is jewelry by her husband, Larry Hoare.

The long view Homer artist Rita Pfenninger poses last Friday for the opening of her show, Mountain, Foliage, Ocean, Sky at Fireweed Gallery. The painting shows the Chugach Mountains as seen from Sheep Mountain Lodge, Glenn Highway. Also in the show is jewelry by her husband, Larry Hoare.

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