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Williwaw plays last year for Marimba Madness. The showcase of African music returns at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Elks Lodge, with Williwaw, Tamba Hadzi and Shamwari performing. Special guest stars Soriba and Shelley Fofana also perform. The event is a fundraiser for the Homer Council on the Arts.-Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

Thanks to the web, you can now find not just winter jokes, but Alaska winter jokes. One of…

At the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Homer Winter Carnival on Saturday, Cathy Essex holds cue cards with the lyrics of Alaska’s Flag Song. Nichole Essex, right, displays her collection of  HWC buttons.-Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

If anyone doubted winter had finally returned to Homer, all you had to do was dance in the…

Lúnasa performs at the Mariner Theatre last Saturday. From left to right are Kevin Crawford, Cillian Vallely, Seán Smyth, Ed Boyd and Trevor Hutchinson on double bass.-Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

As has now become apparent, the Betster has only been posing as a smart-aleck social adviser and in…

A group of rock sandpipers feed on the low tide last week at the Homer Spit.-Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

Just when you thought our winter weather couldn’t get any weirder, along comes a new twist. We’re in…

A beach walker left bare footprints on the sand near Bishop’s Beach last Saturday, proof that for some it was warm enough to shed shoes.-Photo by Stan Purington

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Homer’s Best Bets

The Betster would like to call back last week’s Best Bets in which yours truly said it appeared…

Homer News reporters Michael Armstrong, left, and McKibben Jackinsky, right, cut the cake at the 50th anniversary party for the Homer News last Thursday at VBS / Specialty Stoves. Former reporter Hal Spence is the background. For more photos, see the Spotted page at homernews.com.-Photo by Meldonna Cody

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Homer’s Best Bets

A quick glance at the weather forecast for a Pacific Northwest city calls for a chance of rain,…

The Homer Spit is reflected in Mud Bay as seen from the Spit Trail early Sunday morning.-Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

Pretty nifty — guess who’s 50? That would be us, of course, as we celebrate 50 years of…

A pair of moose cross East Skyline Drive on Sunday. Even at the higher elevations, roads had water running on top of slushy snow and ice — treacherous conditions for cars and critters.-Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

Ya know, it just doesn’t seem right that while we’re enjoying balmy weather here in Alaska, subzero cold…

Alpenglow shines on Mount Iliamna during sunrise last Friday as seen from Diamond Ridge. Homer has already gained 11 minutes of daylight since last Thursday.-Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

So, Betsteroids, how many New Year’s resolutions have you broken already? Here it is day two of a…

The winter sun sets over Cook Inlet earlier this week. Alaskans start getting more light beginning Monday.-Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

Time sure does fly up here in the dark north. After weeks of anticipation, a little stress and…

Kyle Schneider directs the Homer High School Concert Choir as it sings Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” last Saturday at the Nutcracker Faire. A flash mob chorus and Jubilation, the Homer United Methodist Church bell choir, joined the choir.-Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

One of Alaskans’ favorite sports these days is making fun of how woefully unprepared cities in the Lower…

Brownie Scout Audrey Chandler of Troop 564 and troop leader Sharlene Cline offer all the parts for making gingerbread houses at last year’s Nutcracker Faire.-Photo by McKibben Jackinsky, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

Now’s the time when our social calendars fill up like a bath tub at the bottom of Niagara…

New snow dusts pink flamingo lawn oranments on Diamond Ridge after a snowfall last Friday.-Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

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Homer’s Best Bets

In a 1784 letter to his daughter, Sally, Benjamin Franklin observed that the bald eagle should not be…