Hunger Free America has launched a national hotline phone outreach campaign to make it easier for hungry Americans to get food and for people to volunteer to help end hunger. During the summer, the hotline provides information about meal sites where children 18 years old and under can get free, nutritious meals through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
The hotline can be reached at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish) from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Information also can be found online at fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks.
Sandhill crane colts should start fledging soon. Report any observations of sandhill crane colts to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or email reports@cranewatch.org. Leave a name and number so Crane Watch can call for more information.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Road is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-noon Friday. The center serves Thursday night dinners starting at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bingo is at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. on Friday nights. The Helping Hands Thrift Store is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exercise sessions are at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information, call the senior center at 235-7786.
Cooperative Extension
Is it safe to pressure-can alone summer squash such as zucchini? The Cooperative Extension does not recommend this practice. Squashes are low-acid vegetables and require pressure canning to destroy the Clostridium botulinum spores that cause botulism. Sliced or cubed summer squash will get quite soft and pack tightly into jars. The amount of squash in a jar will affect the heating pattern in the jar, making it difficult for scientists to determine precise, safe processing times for summer squash.
Adding an acid to summer squash will produce a safe product that can be processed in a boiling water bath canner as in summer squash pickles or relishes. It is important to use pickling recipes that have been tested to be sure there is the correct amount of acid, either bottled lemon juice or vinegar with 5 percent acidity.
The extension has a free, 15-page publication, “Zucchini from A to Z,” that provides numerous recommendations to safely preserve zucchini: freezing, drying and pickling. There are also recipes for using fresh zucchini. This publication is available at the extension office and online at uaf.edu/ces/pubs/catalog/. Just search “zucchini” and then scroll down to find “Zucchini from A to Z.” The Extension office is open weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 43961 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Suite A in Soldotna. For more information, call 907-262-5824.
Friendship Center
Friendship Center Adult Day Services is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday with extended hours for special situations. Programs are offered daily, including story time, crafts and musical performances. Call 235-4556.
Homer Senior Citizens
Homer Senior Citizens lunch is open to seniors and guests and is served noon-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The lunch menu for this week is: today, baked ham with scalloped potatoes; Friday-Wednesday, to be announced.
Strong Women classes are 1:30-2:30 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 for members, $6 for nonmembers.
Duplicate Bridge meets at 1 p.m. Thursdays. Tai chi classes are Thursdays at 3 p.m. The cost per class is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.
Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center conference room. Call Jacquie Thaute at 299-2924 or Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Registration for fall classes is now being held. Classes include welding, History of Alaska, Marine Biology, Painting, Introduction to Law, Music Fundamentals, Geology of Kachemak Bay, Environmental Economics and Policy, Computer Science, Poetry writing, Literature, American Government, Medical Terminology, Grant Proposal Writing, First Aid/CPR and much more. Sign up now, pay later.
Advising appointments are available for degree-seeking students. Call 235-7743. For the fall schedule, visit kpc.alaska.edu.
Pratt Museum
The museum gallery is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
“Art and Science of Bears” is on exhibit through Sunday.
The Historic Harbor Tour is 3 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Meet at the kiosk next to the Salty Dawg on the Spit. The fee is $10. Tours are offered through Sept. 1.
South Peninsula Hospital
South Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary invites volunteers to serve the hospital. Volunteers are needed for projects such as the hospital gardens, staffing the gift shop and other activities. The auxiliary meets the second Monday of the month with optional lunch provided at 11:30 a.m. and business at noon at the hospital conference room. Call 235-7250 or 235-6003, or receive an informational pamphlet at the gift shop.
