HOMER — It’s been 17 years since Matt Alward did his first for-hire work on nets. Today, Alward owns and operates Bulletproof Nets and, with the help of an eight-10 person crew, keeps a steady flow of work — seine nets to be built and repaired — coming in and out of his shop in Northern Enterprises’ boatyard.

“What is it about nets that’s fascinating? It’s challenging. Just tying nets is pretty boring, but the whole art of building a net is really interesting,” Alward said.

HOMER — Foundations going in, walls going up, roofs going on. Who knew this year’s construction season was going to be so busy?

Not Steve Bowen of Little Knife Construction. Every job that came Bowen’s way this spring, he took.

As it’s turned out, the seven projects — some done by his company, some done as a project manager for Bruce Petska of Big Mountain Builders — are not only keeping Bowen busy, but also boosting his reputation as a builder.

HOMER — The one-step-at-a-time growth of Bear Creek Winery, which opened in 2004, takes a giant step forward this week with the opening of its new bottling plant. To celebrate, winery owners Bill and Dorothy Fry invited the community to tour the plant Friday evening.

The new 50-by-60-foot plant is located on Bear Creek Drive a short distance from the winery’s 60473 Bear Creek Drive location.

Begun a year and a half ago, the building was designed by the Frys to fit the winery’s expanding activity.