Please do not litter

It only takes a second to throw something out a window. However, the consequences last far longer.

That plastic cup may outlive you. That cigarette butt will poison soil and water. None of this feels real in that moment, but it becomes real for everything and everyone that comes after.

Litter sends a message. It says: This place doesn’t matter. And once that message is written on the side of the road, others read it and add to it. A clean roadside feels respected. A dirty one feels abandoned.

Every time you choose not to litter (thank you), you’re quietly saying: This place matters. You are protecting someone you will never meet. You are choosing dignity over convenience. You are setting a standard without ever saying a word.

Keep a bag in your car. Hold onto that wrapper. Use an ashtray. Take it with you. Pitch in and put trash in its place. These are not big sacrifices, and they mean everything to the people, animals and community of Homer.

Please, the roadside is not a trash can!

It’s a habitat.

It’s a walking/bike path.

It’s a workplace.

It’s a reflection of who we are.

Please, leave it better than you found it.

Additionally, as you may know, clean up season is upon us and many incredible volunteers will be risking their safety (THANK YOU) walking the roads picking up the debris. Please be kind, share the road and slow down for this impactful work. Better yet — join the effort. 

Remember, it may not be your trash, but Homer is your community.

Sincerely, 

Shellie Worsfold

Honored to receive Homer Foundation Scholarship

I am deeply honored to have received the Homer Foundation Scholarship as a fifth-year educator in Voznesenka. When I learned my name had been selected, I was genuinely moved, as there are so many worthy educators in our community, and I feel humbled to be recognized among them.

This scholarship means more to me than the financial support alone. It represents validation from our community that the work we do in classrooms truly matters. Over the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible students who have challenged me to grow, inspired me to innovate and reminded me daily why I chose this profession. To my past students and the supporters who have believed in me throughout my journey, thank you. Your encouragement has sustained me through the demanding moments and amplified the joyful ones.

Receiving this award comes at a meaningful time in my career. I am actively working toward my goal of becoming a school counselor. I envision a future where I can expand my impact beyond the classroom, supporting students’ emotional, social and academic growth during critical moments in their lives. This scholarship will directly support my continued education, bringing me closer to that dream. 

I am grateful not just for the financial assistance, but for the affirmation that our community values educators’ commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth. This recognition fuels my passion and reinforces my dedication to our students and our schools. 

With sincere appreciation, 

Zach Kudla

Thanks to book and plant sale volunteers

The 2026 Spring Book & Plant Sale is officially in the books! The Friends of the Homer Public Library (FHL) would like to thank the community for its generous advance donations of books and for the wide variety of plant donations. This fundraiser and “friends-raising’” event can happen only because of a dedicated cadre of FHL volunteers (almost 30 of you this year) who help move tables, move books, set up, sort, price, organize, cashier and then take everything down. Thank you, Homer, for loving books (and plants!) and supporting the Friends. We look forward to seeing you all again at our Fall Book & Plant Sale, and yes, you may now start donating books again.

With gratitude,

Judy Gonsalves, FHL Book & Plant Sale Volunteer Coordinator, and 

Cheryl Illg, FHL Coordinator

 

Grateful for West Homer Elementary Kachemak Bay trip support

On behalf of the fourth‑grade students, teachers and parents of West Homer Elementary, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the generous sponsors who made this year’s Outdoor Education trip to the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge with the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies possible.

For many students, the experience included unforgettable firsts such as crossing Kachemak Bay by boat, spending the night at the historic lodge and exploring tide pools together. Their excitement was clear as they discovered invertebrates, spotted sea otters and identified local plants along the forest trails. These hands-on moments helped students connect deeply with the remarkable environment that surrounds our community.

Thanks to our sponsors, students studied marine ecology, botany, geology and the dynamic tidal systems of Kachemak Bay through direct experience. Your support also ensured that every student could participate, regardless of financial circumstances, which is one of the reasons this program has remained a valued tradition for more than four decades.

The partnership between West Homer Elementary and the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge began in 1981, when the McBride family first invited their son’s fourth‑grade class to explore the bay’s ecosystems. What started as a generous gesture has grown into a tradition that continues to enrich our students’ lives. This year’s cohort once again benefited from the location, history of the lodge and the McBride family’s enduring commitment to outdoor learning.

We are grateful for the meaningful impact our sponsors and the McBride family continue to make on our students and our school community. Thank you to:

• Berg Family
• Bear Creek Winery
• Downing Family
• Homer Dental – Dr. Marley
• Homer Elks Lodge 2127
• Homer Emblem Club #350
• Homer Insurance
• Homer’s Jeans – Leslie Mastick
• Homer McDonalds 
• KOA-Homer Tours
• Kachemak Bay Lions Club
• Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge
• Kachemak Bay Veterinary Clinic
• McClure Family
• Northern Enterprises Boat Yard
• Dr. & Mrs. Sayer
• Sons of American Legion Squad #16
• Small Potatoes Lumber Co
• Story Real Estate
• Ulmer’s Hardware – Monica & Patrick Meade
• Franco & Caroline Venuti

Sincerely, 

The Fourth Grade Team: Karen Corbell, Kathryn Crowley, Zachary Heilman 

And the Fourth Grade Students of West Homer Elementary