Homer’s Best Bets

Ever since last week’s election, the Betster has been noticing people wearing safety pins. Holy Johnny Rotten! Is this a flashback to the 1970s punk era, when people wore mohawks, bright colored hair, ripped jeans and tattoos? Oh wait — that’s kind of like now, isn’t it? Why all the safety pins?

The safety pin thing came out of Brexit, when the United Kingdom voted to exit the European Union. Intimidation of immigrants and religious minorities increased after the vote, so some Brits started wearing safety pins to let people know that they had their back.

With some fearing that a Trump presidency would embolden bad hombres to indulge their inner bigot and act out, Americans have begun to wear safety pins. It’s kind of like the Green Dot thing where we respond to violence by techniques like interruption, distraction and intervention.

Not that we’d harass or assault people on the lower Kenai Peninsula. We’re all neighbors here, living in harmony and caring for each other. We respect each other’s differences, or try to.

Things might be a little tense these holidays as America adapts to a new president. We survived Adams; you’ll survive Jefferson. We survived Bush; you’ll survive Clinton. We survived Obama; you’ll survive Trump. Etc. The eternal political course of the Republic goes on, tacking to the left, tacking to the right. We’ll keep moving forward straight on to morning. So keep one hand for yourself and one for the boat, stay steady and enjoy fun things to do, like these Best Bets:

 

BEST GOT YOUR NUMBER BET: Did you get your Health Fair blood test results back and are confused about good cholesterol and bad cholesterol? Are you unsure what to do about triglycerides? Take your test scores to “Know Your Numbers,” a presentation by Dr. Ross Tanner from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today at the Kachemak Bay Campus.

 

BEST TELL IT BET: Everyone has a story to tell, but sometimes we need some help getting the words out. That’s the whole idea behind Tellabration, a celebration of storytelling. Professional storytellers Skywalker Payne and Carol Ford hold Homer’s first-ever Tellabration from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Public Library.

 

BEST BAD BOY BET: In opera, characters don’t get any sleazier than Don Giovanni, the notorious rake. See the New York Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni at 6 p.m. today at the Homer Theatre, the start of the Homer Opera Guild’s season.

 

BEST GET CRAFTY BET: The holiday bazaar season continues with South Peninsula Hospital’s fifth annual craft fair, which runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the hospital. Vendors will have art, stained glass, crafts made by Long Term Care residents and more.

BEST INSIDE SCOOP BET: Want to sit down with Homer City Council member David Lewis and learn all about how the council makes its wise decisions? It’s the monthly Lunch with a Council Member at noon Monday at the Homer Public Library. Share thoughts and concerns or just get to know a council member better. The council then meets starting at 4 p.m. Monday in the Cowles Council Chambers.

 

BEST PIE ARE SQUARE BET: You don’t need math to know that the treats made by Homer High School’s Culinary Arts class are mighty fine pies. Help support the program with Trivia Night and All-You-Can-Eat Pie Slices at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the high school. Admission of $15 a person enters you in the contest with the bonus of eating as many slices as you can eat. Winners of the contest get a whole pie to take home. Yum!