Responding to a citizen letter

Dear Kate,

Thank you for your letter to the editor. You wrote to me with two fair questions, and my constituents deserve a direct answer. Next time, you are welcome to ask me directly. I am easy to reach, and a conversation is often clearer than a letter to the editor.

No, I do not support household voting. I support the right of every qualified citizen to cast his or her own ballot and encourage honest conversations among households. Yes, I support the 19th Amendment, which provides that the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Alaska settled this question early. In 1913, the territorial legislature granted women the right to vote, following Wyoming, which had done so in 1869, years before the 19th Amendment made it the law of the land. That is a history worth defending, not reversing.

As your representative, I swore an oath to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and the Alaska Constitution. I will not set those oaths aside because of a social-media argument. I am a woman elected to our constitutional republican form of government, and that right is what allows me to cast votes for this district. I have no interest in a system that would take the vote from women, or from any other adult citizen, and hand it to someone else. Your vote is a sacred act of sovereignty that I will defend.

Respectfully,

Rep. Sarah Vance 

Thank you for supporting students’ creativity 

Last year, the Homer Foundation awarded Paul Banks Elementary a David and Mary Schroer Grant.  This generous grant donation allowed us to purchase three 3D printers and a significant amount of filament for students and teachers to use in the printers to create an array of projects. 

To kick off this school year, many students created their own nameplates using the 3D printers, and our staff is excited to further incorporate 3D printing into our STEAM education program. Students are creating letters to support our youngest learners’ development of letter sounds and names. Students have also designed miniature homes of fictional characters. It is such a treat to see students excited to create using technology rather than passively consuming technology. 

Without the support of the Homer Foundation, these projects would not be possible.  On behalf of our students and staff, thank you!

With appreciation,

Sean Campbell

Paul Banks principal

Don’t give up. Vote.

As we get closer to election day, I realize we can never give up hope. I was reminded of this by an LPGA golf tournament I watched on Sunday. It was a story of fortitude and resilience.

 

The leader had been moving along pretty well with a 2-stroke lead for most of the back nine. But on the 16th hole, things took a turn. She hit her tee shot into the water. After taking a penalty, she landed her third shot in a bunker with an almost impossible next shot. She hit below the lip of the bunker, but miraculously it rolled onto the green. She barely missed her bogey and ended up with a double bogey. 

With two holes left and now down by two strokes after leading all afternoon, what did she do? She birdied the next two holes to win the tournament. The point is that she never gave up. It is so hard to deal with disappointment and not be able to get back up. She did. 

We are in the fight of our lives to help save our democracy. At times, I feel like I’m up against the wall, but that is no reason to quit. If I take anything away from watching that golf match, it is that anything is possible. In Alaska, we will continue to talk to voters and try to convince them that voting is so important and that the only way we can get out of this perilous time is by voting and voting MAGA out of office. 

Alex Koplin

Voting is good for our health

Of all the things that affect our health, is it a stretch to think that voting does also?

One article on this by the American Heart Association points to an interesting historical fact. With the enactment of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote in 1920, their activism through the vote helped pass labor laws regarding women and child labor. Child deaths dropped dramatically, as did other unhealthy labor practices.

Researchers in that article correlate that very well, stating “Health can affect someone’s ability to vote. Voting has a direct effect on public policy. That, in turn, influences people’s health.” 

In one study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice, voting could lower mortality risk as much as 15 years. 

We know civic engagement gets us out and involved, studies continually show how such social engagement improves health. Now we know voting does too.

The Rotary Health Fair is coming up this Saturday. Stop by the League of Women Voters/Kenai Peninsula Votes table for voter information on the Nov. 3 election, sample ballots and … learn how voting is good for your health!

Therese Lewandowski

Thanks for supporting fundraiser for seniors

Homer Senior Center would like to give a big shout-out to Grace Ridge Brewing for hosting our Elderfest fundraiser on Saturday. The venue worked perfectly, providing a wonderful space both indoors and outside.

A special thank-you goes to Erick Watkins of Echo Lake Meats for his generous donation of bratwurst for the fundraiser. They were a big hit, and their deliciousness was experienced with every bite!

Our live dessert auction was also a great success, thanks to generous donations from Two Sisters Bakery, Fat Olives, Darcy’s Decadent Designs, and City Bear Bread. We truly appreciate these local businesses and their willingness to support the Homer Senior Center.

Of course, we also received an assortment of wonderful desserts from individuals, including Jessica James, Christine Bogie, and various members of our board. The desserts were not only beautiful but delicious!

Thank you as well to Adi Davis, our talented face painter, who helped round out the fun and made the event even more enjoyable.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, participated, and helped make Elderfest a success. The generosity and support of our community mean so much to the Homer Senior Center.

Sincerely,

Shirlie Gribble

Homer Senior Center board member