Homer Alaska - News

Photos by Jessica Knox Judith C. Lund, chair of the South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area; Kelly Cooper, president of the South Peninsula Hospital Inc. board of directors; Homer Mayor James Hornaday; Bob Letson, CEO of the hospital; and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Dave Carey ceremonially cut the ribbon marking the completion of remodeling to the hospital's family birthing center, surgical center, laboratory and pharmacy during an open house celebration Saturday.

The on-time and under-budget completion of remodeling at South Peninsula Hospital was celebrated Saturday with events for the whole family. There were guided tours of the newly remodeled family birthing center, surgical center, laboratory and pharmacy, a variety of kids' activities and a healthy lunch that included locally caught salmon and salad greens.

The last project left to be finished in the expansion and renovation, which started in 2005, will be an addition to house a new MRI.

More than 200 people attended the event, and most of them toured the new areas, said Derotha Ferraro, spokesperson for the hospital.

There were giveaways and door prizes, including two roundtrip tickets from Homer to Anchorage courtesy of Grant Aviation, which were won by Eryn Field. Eryn and her mother, Carmen Field were representing Nature Rocks in Homer, a local chapter of the "no child left inside" movement which promotes children connecting with nature. They were in charge of outdoor activities, but rain put the damper on the kite flying and hillside rolling that had been planned. Games of hopscotch continued.

Twins Theo and Seamus McDonough, 5, color during activities for children at South Peninsula Hospital's open house Saturday.

Practicing what it preaches, the hospital served up a menu in support of one of the three priorities from the community health improvement plan developed from the recent health needs assessment: "healthy lifestyle choices." The menu was all local and featured Cook Inlet salmon with tabouli salad from Carol Standeart, green salad from Alaskan Grown Naturally, a certified organic greenhouse in Anchor Point, cake from scratch from Two Sisters, platters of fruit, homemade lemonade, ice tea and water.

JulieAnn Smith provided harp music. Smith offers harp therapy to Long Term Care residents twice a week.

Cookie's Greenhouse provided the flowers to decorate the hospital plaza with locally grown flower displays.

The SPH Auxiliary was the backbone of the event, with volunteers serving up the meal, said Ferraro.

Lots of kids activities were enjoyed in the conference room.

The SPH Foundation was well represented, and recruited lots of new

members and donors.