Emilie Springer
ReporterEmilie Springer is a lifelong resident of Homer (other than several years away from the community for education and travel). She has a PhD from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Anthropology with an academic focus there in oral history, which means lots of time studying and conducting the process of interviews and storytelling. Emilie typically focuses stories on Alaska fisheries and the environment, local arts and theater and public education.
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Jan Knutson, community events coordinator with the Homer Chamber of Commerce recently received two peninsula awards in the past week: Art Advocate Award with Homer Council on the Arts and the Kenai Peninsula Outstanding Individual in Tourism. Emilie Springer spoke with Chamber Director Brad Anderson on Knutson’s contributions to the Chamber and the community.
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Pier One finishes the summer month of August with “Stranded,” a series of 10 minute plays by Alaskan playwrights, mostly from Homer, that will be performed on the Spit in the last week of the month and first week of September. Emilie Springer attended a final rehearsal to collect comments from performers before the show opens this weekend on Friday August 29th at 7:30 p.m.
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The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies presents a series of five short films related to natural water environments in the Kachemak Bay area assembled by Bjorn Olson with the assistance of Kim McNutt. Emilie Springer spoke with Olson in the KBBI studio for more details on the films and his personal background in Alaska.
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As the 2025 school year begins, Homer High School athletics offer two home games for interested viewers in the first week of the season. Emilie Springer spoke with football and volleyball coaches for details. -
The Ninilchik public school released a letter to the public on August 12th advising that due to staff shortages the school cafeteria would be closed and unable to serve meals until mid-September. This closure was reversed before the start of the school year and principal Sheri Maynard provided details to Emilie Springer.
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There are two opportunities this weekend for Homer youth to audition for upcoming fall and spring dance performances. Both events will be performed at the Mariner Theater. KBBI’s Emilie Springer collected event details to share. -
The Alaska Bar Association held a meeting for Kenai Peninsula lawyers to discuss current topics related to Alaska Bar membership and legal practice on the Kenai Peninsula. The event included a one hour Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentation with Bar Counsel, Phil Shanahan. Emilie Springer attended the event to summarize the key topics presented there.
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Last Wednesday, August 13, 2025 the Homer United Methodist Church Civic Engagement Group hosted a community educational meeting to define Christian Nationalism, how it damages the Christian Faith and imposes on American democracy. Emilie Springer attended the event and summarized the presentations.
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Vasily Yakunin, representing Homer’s Church of the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord, announced that two invited speakers will provide a community conversation at the Kachemak Bay Campus on the history of the Russian Orthodox religion on Friday August 15th. Yakunin spoke to KBBI’s Emilie Springer and explained the speakers’ background and some of the history of the church in Homer.
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Homer’s Naomi Klouda has recently published The Alaska Glacier Dictionary and shared some of the features of the book, some changes in glaciers she has witnessed over time and provided a reading of the introduction with Emilie Springer at KBBI. Klouda gave a community presentation of her book with photographer Jim Lavrakas at the Homer Public Library on August 14th, 2025.
