Homer Local Customs

Homer is more than beautiful, it is also well decorated with little touches by the residents, who are very artsy. On my first visit in October of 2000, I noticed lots of galleries, and the long winters are a good time to work on your masterpieces.

Keep your eyes open for the nice little touches that add to the charm of Homer.

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Bald eagles abound in Alaska and some actually stay in Homer. But be warned. Do NOT feed them. There is a local ordinance that prohibits everyone except those approved by the council to feed any of the eagles. There was a local lady that would feed an eagle from her backyard but she passed away in Jan 2009. A friend of hers was to continue the feeding through Mar 2009 but it is not known at this time if the council will continue the feedings or allow them to taper off. The bald eagle that we saw was just hanging out at the top of a lamp post.

Homer is a great place for water activities in the summer - boating, clamming, kayaking, king salmon and halibut fishing. But what is really like to live in Homer?

These classified ads actually appeared in the Homer Tribune (with my editorial comments duly noted):

Wanted: Vehicle sound mechanically/don't care about looks, under $800 (Note: describes 80% of vehicles in Homer)

Wanted: Lg. dog to walk with me (Note: probably good for scaring off the moose).

Wanted: Driver for extra car (Note: most people would have the extra driver first, THEN get the extra car.)

Wanted: Responsible couple (no smoking, pets), to housesit starting Spring 2006 for periods up to 6 mos.

Lost: Alum. ramp for snow machine trailer (Note: Are these big and how do you lose one?)

For sale: Fishermen, need a Penn reel? I have 3 I don't need (Note: Maybe he should be posting a want ad for 3 extra fishermen instead?)

For sale: Traditional style coffin, custom lined, locally made, $750 (Note: Hmmmmmm.....)

For sale: Dry suit, lg. Nokia 'Amron", never used, $600.

For sale: Fax machine, just needs hooking up and your operation, $30 (Note: Needs hooking up? I'll be damned! So THAT's why mine hasn't been working...)

For sale: White picked' fence, $16 (Note: Can you just take this from one house and put it around another?)

For sale: Hard hat and flagging vest, orange hard hat used only slightly, and vest never

For sale: Star semi-auto 9mm pistol w/13 round magazine, $300; .54 cal. CVA Hawken muzzleloader, $175; both guns in exc. cond., shot little. (Note: Shot little what?)

Storage room sale: Lots of good stuff for homeschooling

For Sale: Like new kitty litter box, comes w/brand new scooper, $16 (Note: I'm sold! That new scooper is just the enticement I need for this!)

Free: Kittens, 2 black, 1 tiger striped, also black adult female, “great mousers”

I'm still puzzling over what happened to the person who was supposed to go in the custom-lined coffin...