Emilie Springer

The Homer Foundation begins the 26th year of administering the City of Homer Grants Program. Over the past 25 years more than 1 million dollars has been awarded to local nonprofits to provide essential and general programs and services provided to the Homer community. Emilie Springer spoke with Kayla Rivers with the Homer Foundation for more details on the program.

People may notice that Homer protestors are starting to follow a national “red hat trend”: “originally a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation that began gaining traction in Minnesota” just a couple days after Renée Good was fatally shot in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent. Emilie Springer talked with Tracy Nordstrom for more details on the current trend and history of the red hats.

On Friday evening, January 30th, the Porcupine Theater hosted a presentation of the film “The Nettle Dress” based on textile artist Allen Brown’s endeavor who spent seven years making a dress from foraged nettles as a “medicine to survive the death of his wife” in the South Downs, England near Brighton. The event opened with a presentation from local nettle artist Carla Klinker and her journey working with the fibers from local plants. Klinker spoke to KBBI’s Emilie Springer about her own adventure learning about the process and art of working with the plants.

Aaron Sechler, owner of Citizen Salmon Alaska, a wild Alaskan seafood processing company based out of Ninilchik and Anchorpoint is partnering with organizations in Minneapolis and St. Paul to provide seafood donations to aid organizations in need of food with the recent political events in the cities. Emilie Springer spoke with Sechler at the KBBI studio on Tuesday (1/27/2026) this week.

Homer’s John Bushell has recently received several recognitions for a musical/ media construction “Swift Current Swimmer” mirroring the life cycle of salmon from their stream/ fresh water birth to return as mature adults. The film has now had screening results worldwide and has received a semi-finalist or selected award winner in many locations including Mumbai, India, Scotland and across the United States. KBBI’s Emilie Springer spoke with Bushell.

Homer’s Kachemak Nordic Ski Club annual Junior Nordic ski program will begin on the last Saturday in January and the registration deadline is coming up this weekend. KBBI’s Emilie Springer talked with board member Anna McCarthy and ski instructor Emily Lints in the station earlier this week.

Seward Polar Bear Jump to raise cancer took place in Seward on January 17th. The event has been a tradition in Seward, Alaska for over 40 years.

Bunnell Street Arts Center brings thespians and puppeteers from Sandglass Theater, a performance venue in Putney, Vermont to Homer as artists in residence for September and October with a performance of their work “Feral” at Pier One Theatre from September 19th-21st. Emilie Springer spoke with Artistic Director Shoshana Bass about her thoughts on puppetry, history of her home theater and what the show is offering this weekend.

The Kachemak Bay Campus began their 14th year as host of the Semester by the Bay program. The fall semester focuses on marine mammals and the spring focuses on environmental conservation. Both take advantage and access to resources in the local landscape for plenty of time with hands-on learning opportunities. Emilie Springer spoke with students in the fall cohort about what they hope to bring to and gain from the experience.

On Saturday evening, following the Bunnell First Friday opening, the gallery hosted an Arctic Refuge: Art and Advocacy talk with Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and this month’s Fairbanks artist Lynn Larsen and her partner Refuge guide Ron Yarnell to share their 35 years exploring the refuge and thoughts on the future. Emilie Springer attended and collected notes from the speakers.