Countdown to Valentine’s Day — and, more importantly, the annual Homer Winter Carnival Parade! The chamber is looking for volunteers to help with parade traffic, and float entries are still being accepted through Monday! Don’t miss what else is going on in Homer this week — for details, check out these Best Bets.

BEST JAPANESE CLUB PRESENTATIONS BET: Homer’s Alaska Japanese Club will host a series of community presentations starting this week. Hear updates on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Homer Public Library; on Monday, Feb. 9 between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. during the Homer City Council meeting at Homer City Hall; and on Thursday, Feb. 12 at noon at the Best Western Bidarka Inn. The club’s Taiko drumming group will also take part in the annual Winter Carnival Parade on Saturday, Feb. 14.

BEST CURATOR TALK BET: Stop by the Pratt Museum on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 4-6 p.m. for a curator talk in the museum’s downstairs classroom. Toby Sullivan, Executive Director of the Kodiak Maritime Museum and curator of our special exhibition 50 Years of Limited Entry, will give a presentation on his journey researching and creating the exhibit, followed by a community conversation, in which guests are welcome to share their experiences with the Limited Entry Program in Alaska. 3779 Bartlett St.

BEST PUBLIC INPUT ON SCHOOLS BET: The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will hold a series of community meetings across the borough in February. District staff, parents and community members are invited to attend and provide input during these districtwide KPBSD budget meetings scheduled at the following times: Homer community — Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Homer High School library; Central Peninsula community — Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Kenai Central High School library; Seward community — Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. in the Seward High School library. A Zoom link will be provided for each individual meeting. Additional information and the number to call in with questions will be posted on the Events Calendar on the KPBSD website. As new budget information becomes available, it will also be posted on the Finance page. If you have questions, please call Natalie Bates at 907-714-8888.

BEST REC CENTER UPDATES BET: Join the City of Homer and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation on Thursday, Feb. 12 at Kachemak Bay Campus for a presentation on the HERC. The meeting will feature a presentation by Flannery Ballard, Brownsfields Lead for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Ms. Ballard will present an overview of hazardous materials at the HERC, the results and implications of the recent soils tests and Analysis of Brownsfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA), and next steps based on the ABCA alternatives. The City will provide an update on recent and ongoing work on the HERC activity room and gymnasium. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. An online viewing opportunity via Zoom is currently being arranged, and the Zoom link will be available on the City of Homer’s website closer to the event date. The City also has additional information about the HERC hazardous material cleanup and revitalization plan on their website for those interested in familiarizing themselves with the work-to-date: www.cityofhomer- ak.gov/planning/herc-cleanup-community-meeting. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Presentation starts at 6 p.m. 533 E. Pioneer Ave.