The sandhill crane migration is mostly over, but some cranes may still remain. Please report sandhill crane sightings to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Include date, time, location and number of birds. If able to identify as colts, please note that number, too.
The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council will hold its regular fall board meeting in Homer this year. The council will meet at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today and 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday. The public is invited to attend. For more information, including requesting a draft board meeting agenda, contact Outreach Coordinator Lisa Matlock at lisa.matlock@pwsrcac.org or 907-273-6235.
The Old Town Neighborhood Association holds a meeting at 6 p.m. today to seek solutions to destructive behavior on Bishop’s Beach. Bishop’s Beach users, Old Town neighbors and residents along Bishop’s Beach have been reporting dangerous driving, partying, property destruction, gunfire, litter, harassment, degradation of stormberms and damage to beach ecosystems. The issue has recently been brought to the Homer City Council and to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission by neighborhood residents and others. People are invited to share concerns and solutions.
The Kachemak Bay Birders meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Seminar Room at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. Bring a few slides on a thumb drive to share with the group at the end of the meeting. Anyone who is interested in birding, birds and their habitats, citizen science or who would just like to know more about the organization is welcome to attend. The Kachemak Bay Birders are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. For more information, contact Lani Raymond at lani67@alaska.net or 399-9477.
The Friends of the Homer Public Library hold a meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday in the Homer Public Library’s fireplace lounge to share ideas about the western library lot. As part of its new library project, in 2004 the city of Homer set aside lots from Heath Street to the Poopdeck Trail, adjacent to Hazel Avenue, for the library building and outdoor space. Due to funding considerations, only a gravel foot path was built to link the Library’s main parking lot to the Poopdeck Trail. Now with increasing concern about safety along the existing foot path and the adjacent Poopdeck Trail, the library will re-visit the potential of the library’s western Lot and ways to integrate it into the library mission and programs.
SPARC, the South Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, holds Amateur Radio Training Classes from 5-6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2, at the Homer Public Library. It also holds classes from noon-2 p.m. the second Saturday of the month, Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13. A testing session is noon-2 p.m. Dec. 13. Classes and testing are free, with a book purchase for $20. Learn about amateur radio and obtaining a “Ham Ticket” License or upgrading current licenses. Current ham operators also are invited, so come and share knowledge and experiences. SPARC holds its monthly meetings after Tuesday evening classes from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. For more information, contact Patrick Brown, KL3DB, Shanley Kerls, KL5AJK, or phone 907-775-4638.
The Friends of the Homer Public Library seeks donations of used books and plants for its Book and Plant Sale. Book donations can be dropped off at the library until Oct. 2 and plants all day Oct. 3. The Friends of the Homer Public Library members-only Book and Plant Sale is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 3. Memberships are available at the door. The regular Book and Plant Sale is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 4. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Homer Public Library which supports the programming of the library.
From September through November, the Friends of the Homer Public Library will be sponsoring events to foster entrepreneurs, including presentations on developing entrepreneurial ideas, raising capital for entrepreneurial ventures, resources available in town and on the Internet for entrepreneurs, and a chance for entrepreneurs and business people to talk about what the community could do better to support them. These events will coincide with the BIZ-Idea Contest and a new opportunity to highlight entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The BIZ-Idea Contest awards cash prizes for entrepreneurial ideas. Information and entry forms are available at the circulation desk of the Homer Public Library or the website at www.friendshomerlibrary.org. Entries will be judged by three local business people on their innovation, sustainability and ability to create jobs. The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
McNeil Canyon Elementary holds a garage sale from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 4. Lunchroom size tables are available to rent for $20 and half a table is $10. Call Laura at McNeil Canyon, 235-8181, for more information or to reserve a table.
Big Brothers Big Sisters holds its annual Dream Big Fundraiser from noon-1 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Homer Elks Lodge. Reserve a seat or table by calling 235-8391. Learn how to help sustain the local BBBS mentoring program through donations and volunteering as a Big or with events and planning.
Homer Volunteer Fire Department and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a Kidde smoke alarm recall and safety notice. Items affected are models i12010S, i12010CO and KN-COSM-IBA. The smoke alarms could go into a “latched” mode if doing a sensor check while a power outage occurs, causing it not to alert for smoke. Once power is restored, a latched unit will sound an alert even if smoke or fire is not present. For support, call Kidde at 1-844-553-9011 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday EST or visit www.kidde.com.
Friendship Center
Friendship Center Adult Day Services is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday with extended hours for special situations. Special programs are offered daily, including story time, crafts and musical performances. For more information, call 235-4556.
Cooperative Extension Service
After a great year of growing potatoes, now it’s time to enjoy the harvest. The Cooperative Extension Service has some information to help with that. “Green Potatoes” Causes and Concerns” highlights why you don’t want to eat the green potatoes, while “Small-Scale Potato Storage Management” provides information for keeping spuds sound and tasty in the coming months. The Cooperative Extension Service is a year-round resource for a variety of topics. Visit today at www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/kenai to find this publication and more. Or, stop by the extension office from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday in the Doors and Windows Building, 43961Kalifornsky Beach Road.
Homer Senior Citizens
Homer Senior Citizens lunch is open to seniors and guests and is served 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. The lunch menu for this week is: today, roast beef; Friday, battered cod; Monday, baked chicken; Tuesday, pork marsala; Wednesday, to be announced.
Strong Women classes are 1-2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Homer Senior Center. The cost is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers per class.
Zumba Gold classes with Maria are 11 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Homer Senior Center. The cost per class is $4 members, $6 nonmembers.
Tai Chi classes are Thursday at 3 p.m. The cost per class is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-7655.
Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center dining room. Call Pam Hooker at 299-7198 or Kathy Hedges at 235-4556.
Hospice of Homer
Hospice of Homer will hold a community-wide open house from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 15 at its new offices at 265 Pioneer Ave., Suite 3. The hospice office is now located in the lower level of the building with the entrance to the office in the back of the building where there is parking.
The open house is an opportunity for Hospice of Homer supporters and community members as well as hospice clients, board, staff and volunteers to come together and celebrate its new office. The space is providing opportunities for hospice to hone the services it has provided since 1985. Hospice is now able to house the equipment for its loan closet in its new space rather than have it located in a number of storage units around town.
Beginning Oct. 5, hospice will hold its annual volunteer training. The 32-hour training will be held during October in the hospice office. Volunteers will be trained to participate in the Hospice End of Life and Volunteer Visitor/Phone Friends Programs. They will learn about hospice philosophy, end of life care, friendly visiting, Alzheimer’s Disease, pain management, ethics, body mechanics, and more.
For more information, call Hospice of Homer at 235-6899.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Registration is being held for these upcoming classes: Introduction to the Personal Essay with Rich Chiappone, Grant Proposal Writing, Hatha Yoga, Poetry in Our Lives and Digital Camera. For a schedule, visit kbc.alaska.edu/KBC/searchableschedule. Call 235-7743 for information.
To earn a GED or improve basic reading, writing and math skills, call 235-1602. Computer classes in MS Excel and QuickBooks classes begin Saturday and run five weeks. Hatha Yoga class with Alayne Tetor starts at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Michael Haines conducts a workshop, “Building Sustainability Through Entrepreneurial Opportunities,” on Oct. 9 and 16; the fee is $75. Advanced registration is required by Oct.2.
Pratt Museum
The museum winter hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; the museum is closed Monday. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
“Communities, Disaster and Change” is a traveling exhibition coordinated by the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive. Framed by the 50-year anniversary of the devastating Good Friday Earthquake that struck Alaska on March 27, 1964, the exhibit features 28 of Alaska’s finest artists from around the state. Each artist has submitted one piece, although some works contain multiple elements, such as diptychs and sculptural arrangements, that address the theme of natural disasters’ effects on their communities.
South Peninsula Hospital
The 31st annual Rotary Health Fair is set for Saturday, November 1 from 7:30am-1:00pm at the Homer High School. “It’s Your Life … Take a Day to be Well” is the theme of the fair, sponsored by Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary Club in cooperation with South Peninsula Hospital. The purpose of the fair is to set aside just one day of your life to take advantage of free and inexpensive health screenings and up-to-date information on relevant health topics. More than 60 exhibitors will be available to offer various health screenings and services, including blood pressure, vision tests, hearing tests, flu shots, fitness tests and more.
As part of the health fair, comprehensive blood analysis is available for only $40, a sizeable discount from the average cost of a comparable test. In addition to the basic wellness test, additional tests available for purchase include prostate, thyroid, cardiac, vitamin D and hemoglobin A1C. These tests are offered by appointment at the fair, or before the fair at the hospital with the results available for pickup at the fair. Appointments are offered from Oct. 13-31 in the hospital conference room on the hospital’s lower level. Payment must be made by cash or check at time of the test, and checks can be made to Rotary. Appointments can be made for both the day of the fair or for advance draws at the hospital at www.sphosp.org or by calling the health fair hotline at 399-3158. Book early as appointments fill up the closer it gets to fair date. No food or drink, only water, should be consumed 10-12 hours prior to the test. In all cases prescription medication should be taken and diabetics should not fast. For more information and details on the Health Fair, visit the South Peninsula Hospital website at www.sphosp.org or call the Health Fair Hotline at 399-3158..
SVT Health & Wellness
SVT Health & Wellness offers a series of classes covering all aspects of wellness every Thursday at 6 p.m. Today’s class “Introduction to Tai Chi and Qigong.” Amy Rattenbury, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, gives a brief overview on Tai Chi and Qigong. Learn several gentle movements for relaxation and rejuvenation. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. All ages and abilities are welcome. For more information, call 226-2228 ext. 660.
