Homer's Best Bets</MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 4:03 p.m. Thursday, November 27, 2003

Homer's Best Bets

Photo by Ben Stuart, Homer News
Cora Trowbridge of Girl Scouts Troop 700 points to an assortment of soup, bath salts and other items sold during the Holiday Bazaar at the Homer Middle School Saturday. The Girl Scouts booth won first prize for best decorations.

Ah, Thanksgiving. Pilgrims, turkeys, pumpkin pie. And then on Friday, it's the biggest shopping day of the year. Uh, not quite, or say so the urban myth busters at Snopes.com. Sure, the Pilgrims held a big harvest feast in 1621, but it wasn't really "thanksgiving" like the Puritans had back home in Merry Old England. No turkeys were believed to have been involved (no tofurkeys, either). Geese, ducks, pheasants, sure, but not wild North American turkeys. So much for a long-lasting tradition. After 1621, pfft, that was it, no more Thanksgiving for the Pilgrims. America didn't celebrate another Thanksgiving until 1777, and it didn't become a formal holiday until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln established it.

Well, better late than never. So live up the myth, gobble up the goodies, get ready for that big shopping day, and check out these Best Bets.

Oh wait: the biggest shopping day of the year isn't Friday, but Dec. 23, or the Saturday before Christmas.

BEST FEED THE TROOPS BET: Hey, Coasties, can't get leave to go home for Thanksgiving? Don't worry the Homer Elks Lodge will take care of you with its annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the crews and families of the U.S. Coast Guard and their families. Veterans are also welcome. The dinner starts at 3 p.m. at the lodge on Jenny Way.

BEST CANDY CANES AND COAL BET: Good boys and girls get candy canes, but bad kids get coal in their stockings. Wait the way this winter has been going, coal might not be a bad thing. Anyway, come celebrate the tradition of hanging old socks by the fireplace when the Pratt Museum holds its annual Stocking Stuffer Party from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the museum.

BEST FAIR BET: The Holiday Bazaar season continues when Kachemak Community Center holds its third annual Christmas Fair from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Mile 2 East End Road.

BEST RING THE BELL LOUDLY BET: By all accounts, Reuben Call was a legend around Homer. Sunday at 11 a.m. his friends at the Homer United Methodist Church formally dedicate their bell in his memory and celebrate his life. Come learn about "Walkin' Reuben" or share memories of him at the church on East End Road.

BEST REMEMBER BET: In recognition of World AIDS Day, Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic holds a memorial from 6-7 p.m. Monday at WKFL Park in honor of family and friends living with AIDS and of family and friends who died of AIDS. A candlelight vigil is held and people attending are invited to speak about their commitment to AIDS awareness.

BEST CELEBRATE PUBLIC RADIO: Whew! Our public radio station, KBBI, sure has gone through some changes this past year. At one of its first annual meetings 25 years ago, they didn't even have a station, so KBBI sure has come a long way. This year's annual meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Homer City Hall.

BEST JUST DONATE IT BET: Never mind the wrestling meets. When it comes to competition among high schools, these kids are out for blood in pints. Blood Bank of Alaska and the National Honor Society sponsor a statewide blood drive, Alaska's High School Challenge, with a blood drive from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Homer High School Green Room. The high school that recruits the most donors gets the "Just Donate It" trophy. Call 235-8186, ext. 244 to make an appointment.

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