Glory be! The light has arrived! No, no, Betsteroids. We’re not talking the full-signal stoplight at Lake Street and the Bypass. Yeah, yeah, stoplight comes to sleepy little rural Alaska town — that is like so 20th Century. Like it’ll last, anyway. Once we’re all sporting jetpacks and zipping around in hovercars, who’ll need ’em?

Nah, the Betsteroid is talking sunlight. That big orange bright thing sometimes seen between breaks in the clouds? The warm orb peeking out from behind volcano plumes? The winter solstice is at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday. Oh, you won’t notice the change for a few weeks, but trust the scientists. The daylight hours will get longer.

So if this is your first Alaska winter, congratulate yourself. You’ve survived the darkest days of the year. If you’re a seasoned Alaskan, you know the drill. Right — it’s time to celebrate with a good long vacation to Hawaii. Blew your permanent fund dividend on a fill-up of heating fuel? Well, get out the shades, stroll down to the beach, soak up some rays on the next clear day and fake it.

In other words, it’s the start of weeks of celebration whether you’re pagan, Christian, Jewish or some combination thereof. Why not start the fun rolling with some of these Best Bets?

BEST THE ROAR OF THE POPCORN BET: Those groovy college kids have wrapped up final exams and written that last big paper. Why not celebrate with them Friday night for the last flick of the Kachemak Bay Campus foreign film series. “Character” plays at 6 and 8 p.m. at the east campus. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

BEST WHY SHOP EARLY BET? The real Christmas shopping starts about 10 a.m. Christmas Eve, but if you want to get a start on your shopping, check out the Last Chance Food and Gift Sale from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Heritage RV Park.

BEST TODAY, HOMER, TOMORROW IRON CHEF BET: Just like Jewel, Chef Teri Robl is a local talent waiting to be discovered. If you want to say you knew her when, go to her cooking class at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spenard Builders Supply, when she demonstrates three of her mouth-watering recipes.

BEST SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS BET: It was a packed house at Gabe Ritchie’s memorial service, so you know he has a lot of friends in town. Gabe was killed in a car accident last month, leaving behind his partner Susie Malone and their son Casper. Gabe’s friends get together at Duggan’s Waterfront Pub at 3 p.m. Sunday to raise some money for Susie and Casper and honor Gabe’s memory. There will be food, an auction and music by Three-Legged Mule.

BEST STAR LIGHT STAR BRIGHT BET: From sea stars in the bay to the stars in the sky, we’re surrounded by stellar objects. Make some of your own from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, when the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve holds a discovery lab. The cool people at KBRR will show you how to make lanterns, ornaments and bird feeders from recycled tin.