Thank you for support in attending the Arctic Winter Games


Hello. I am writing this letter to thank the following Homer organizations and businesses for supporting my participation in the 2026 Arctic Winter games, playing for Team Alaska Futsal – The Homer Foundation, HUFC, Porcupine Theater, Homer’s Jeans, The Kachemak Bay Lions Club, Grace Ridge Brewing, and Bubbles.


The Arctic Winter Games is a nonprofit international sporting event and multicultural event for youth athletes from northern latitudes. Our team won the bronze medal for futsal. Thank you again for the support, I learned a lot and I had a fun time in Canada.

Wolf Trejo, Grade 10

Kudos to the Democracy Fair


Kudos to the Democracy Fair this weekend in Homer. One activity had people list reasons why voting is important, and we wanted to share some of the ideas from people ages 10-80:

– Because it matters!

– To have a voice

– Exercise your rights

– Because we are a democracy

– So others don’t decide for you

– Being the change you want to see

– Using your voice for those who can’t

– Your vote only counts if you use it

– To have a say in the issues that affect your life

– Because everyone should have an opinion

– To improve the lives of everyone

– The fate of your country and world are in your hands

– To protect free speech

– It shows you care

– It is our civic duty

– Democracy is not a spectator sport

– The power of the individual

– Don’t complain if you don’t vote

– It is a privilege—defend it

– Use it or lose it

– Because I want to be counted

– Because it can change the country for the better

– Because it is my right

– To preserve democracy

– To put in your 2 cents

– To keep democracy going

– Because it feels good

– It is your responsibility as a citizen in a democracy

– It improves the lives of everyone

– Because, so far, we can!

– To be free

– Shape the future of your community

– To be informed

– To have a say in what happens to our freedoms


If the same people vote year after year, we are giving power to a small group, and it most likely doesn’t reflect what most people would like to see.  If everyone believed their vote mattered, and we could get over 70 percent of the voters, how would we look then? It’s a mindset we need to change. Your voice matters no matter what the naysayers say. 


Alex Koplin, Kenai Peninsula Votes


The Democracy Fair was a grand affair!


From the Bugle Call and the Scouts Color Guard to the educating and inspiring knowledge of the presenters, from crafting a birthday card to the informative community tables in the Kachemak Bay Campus commons – it was a great way to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Topics on the Constitution, branches of government, local government, our state judiciary system and reliable information spoke to the organizers’ main goal – to encourage engagement and participation in our civic community. Speaking of, all who attended were invited to sign their name on an enlarged copy of the Declaration. That was an engaging experience! As was Pier One’s five performers who did a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, maybe it can appear again in the community this celebratory year?


Organizers of the Fair were inspired by a similar Democracy Fair held in Anchorage in December. It moved forward with planning without seriously considering that we would all be moving out of our comfort zones. It was a group effort with a good strong leader.


The KP League of Women Voters and Kenai Peninsula Votes stepped in as co-sponsors, making it a a perfect coordination of similar values.


Thank you to each of the presenters and each of the community and civic information tables. Thank you to our community’s generosity to share food: to Alices, Mike’s Alaskan Eatery, Fat Olives and Captains Coffee for providing great pizza and soups. And a hats off bow to the Homer United Methodist Church Civic Engagement group for all the work. When I first started attending this group the main goal was to educate. We knew the action part would come next and that it would require increasing growth as individuals working in a group.


The theme of the Democracy Fair was to celebrate, educate and participate. I very much hope we will continue to celebrate the Declaration of Independence – the beginning of our Constitution, to continue educating ourselves to understand what that means and how it works in our governments and society, and to keep participating in the making of common good in our community.


Therese Lewandowski