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The sun rises over the Homer Spit and the Kenai Mountains on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. On Thursday there will be 6 hours and 17 minutes of daylight, a gain of 13 minutes from last week. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

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Ugh. That’s really all the Betster can muster today, folks. Is it really 2018 already? Was it not…

Students at K-Bay Martial Athletics get in the spirit of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” on Dec. 19. They fought light saber battles with foam swords. From left to right, back, are Jim Richardson, Charlotte Richardson and Cooper Hyde; center, Guro Kurt P. Leffler II, Hayden Cox, second from right, and Alivia Craddock. K-Bay Martial Athletics offers an after-school program called Warriors and Scholars that teaches children martial arts but also values like politeness, respects and team work as well as weapons safety.

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Vacations in the 21st Century quite frankly baffle the Betster. Intrinsic in the meaning or common understanding of…

Members of the Homer Youth String Orchestra perform spread some holiday cheer at K-Bay Caffé on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Daniel Perry, Rosy Kauffman, Sylvia Clemens, Theodore Handley, Avram Salzmann and Clyde Clemens. (Photo provided)

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With all the hoopla surrounding the annual summer solstice (aka the best day to be an Alaskan), the…

The bear in the side of Poot Peak has emerged for the winter after snow fell on the mountain Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 in Homer, Alaska, highlighting the image of of a head, nose and eyes. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

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If you have hopes of a white Christmas, Betsteroids, you might think of a getaway to one of…

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Naushon crew member Jordan Dorchin, right, helps Homer Safeway assistant store manager Tiffany Biggs, center, load Hunger Bag food onto a truck as his fellow crew member James Bannon, left, packs the truck Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. The Coast Guard members delivered food to the Homer Community Food Pantry Tuesday morning that had been purchased by Safeway customers as part of its Hunger Bag project. Store Manager Bob Malone said about 1,300 bags at $10 each had been sold at the Homer store since Nov. 1. Through a national program, Safeway sells the bags and donates food to charities chosen by local stores. Pallets of food are organized at the Anchorage warehouse and sent to Homer. “This year, from what I understand, the need is more than normal,” Malone said.

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If you’re one of the lone survivors of the Greatest Generation or a child of one of those…

Llena Bice as a cat rehearses a scene Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at the Mariner Theatre in Homer, Alaska for the Nutcracker Ballet. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

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Now that that pesky formality — some call it Thanksgiving — is over, the Christmas-crazed among you may…

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Well, it’s officially here. Sleet, powder, the white stuff — whatever you call it, it’s here in force.…

Pockets of air are shown trapped in the ice Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 on Beluga Lake in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

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Can you feel it? The slow but merciless onset of the winter doldrums? The Betster sure can. The…

The sun rises over the Kenai Mountains across Kachemak Bay on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 as seen from Bishop’s Beach in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

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The Betster would like to put in a request to Mother Nature that the snow make a decision.…

Costumed trick-or-treaters file into a makeshift haunted house Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 hosted by Kenai Physical Therapy in Homer, Alaska. Staff converted a trailer into a haunted house, which kids had to make it through in order to get their candy. (Photo by Anna Frost for the Homer News)

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The Betster wishes to provides a public service announcement to remind you that while Halloween is over, Thanksgiving…

Wayne Aderhold, front, waves signs for Linda Hutchings on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2017, in Homer, Alaska, on Pioneer Avenue. To his left are Marjorie Ringer, with umbrella, and Ron Keffer. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

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The Betster hopes you weren’t planning on one last weekend of fine fall weather, because the great Mother…

Ed Scribner holds up his 24.60 pound king salmon in the 2017 Homer Elks #2127 Winter King Salmon Derby. Scribner took first place fishing on the F/V Sea Wolf. Behind him is Don Fritz from Soldotna. Rough seas didn’t keep anglers from braving Kachemak Bay for a chance to win the Elks Lodge derby, held Oct. 7-8. Ron Johnson took second with a 22.20-pound king on the F/V Oly John and Patrick Hankins was third with a 20.40-pound king on the F/V Sound Escape. Bethany Casey had a 20.30-pound king on the F/V Misty, winning first place for the lady angler division. With only 175 anglers, including women, 84 fish caught and 793.45 weighed, this year’s derby was down from 2016, when 204 anglers caught 372 fish for a total weight of 3,350 pounds. Proceeds from the $100 per angler entry fees help support Elks youth, veterans and community charity programs. (Photo provided)

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There’s a chill in the air, says the Betster. And the ground, and the car, and the corners…

A sea otter swims in Eldred Passage late in September 2017 on a rare sunny day. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

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As short as our Alaskan summer may be, it still seems to be enough to embolden us and…