The Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board holds a budget workshop meeting at 4 p.m. today followed by the regular board meeting at 7 p.m. Both meetings are at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station at 53048 Ashwood Ave., Mile 12 East End Road. The agenda will be posted at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Annex Building, 206 E. Pioneer Ave., and at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station. Call 235-8444 for more information.

The Kachemak Bay Water Trail Steering Committee offers a Valentine’s Day kayak paddle on Kachemak Bay. The paddle starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday behind Pier 1 Theatre, and push off is 9 a.m. The event and route are weather dependent. After the paddle, enjoy a warm fire and barbecue. Dress for the weather and bring your kayak and personal flotation devices. For more information, call Hal Shepherd at 908-491-1355 or Robert Archibald at 299-0852. These paddling events will be held monthly. 

The Kachemak Bay Birders’ next trip is Saturday to the Anchor River. Meet at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center parking lot at noon to car pool or 12:30 p.m. at the boat-launch area parking lot at the Anchor River. Bring binoculars, field guides and scopes if you have them. There is no charge and everyone is welcome. All trips are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The trip leader is Michael Craig. For more information, call him at 235-0631.

Application forms are available for the Homer Foundation’s 2015 City of Homer Grants Program. The grants program is funded through an annual allocation from the city of Homer with earnings from the City of Homer Fund and the Kachemak City Fund at the Homer Foundation. Apply by 5 p.m. Feb. 20. Funding is for general operating support. Application forms are available online at www.homerfoundation.org or from the Homer Foundation office. Contact Joy Steward at 235-0541 or jsteward@homerfoundation.org.

Cooperative Extension

Thinking about applying for a high tunnel through the Natural Resources Conservation Service? NRCS and the Cooperative Extension Service offer a class 6-8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 25 at the Kachemak Bay Campus. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, call CES at 907-262-5824 or 800-478-5824 or the Kachemak Bay Campus at 235-7743.

Friendship Center

Friendship Center Adult Day Services is open between the hours of 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 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. The lunch menu for this week is: today, roast turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy; Friday, shrimp scampi; Monday, closed for Presidents Day; Tuesday, baked ham; Wednesday, Cuban pork; next Thursday, veal roast.

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 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 235-4555.

Duplicate Bridge meets Thursdays at 1 p.m.

Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center conference room. Call Pam Hooker at 299-7198 or Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.

Kachemak Bay Campus

Registration for February through April classes is now going on. Marine Trades training workshops include Lines, Rigging and Gear with Bulletproof Nets at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18, $25 and Marine Electronics with Southcentral Radar at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25, $25. A High Tunnel Workshop with the Cooperative Extension Service is 6-8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 25. Other upcoming spring classes include Gourmet cooking/culinary arts, Seaweeds of Kachemak Bay, Watercolor Painting, Garden Design, Boating Safety/NASBLA and Fly Fishing. To earn your GED or improve basic reading, writing and math skills, call 235-1606.

At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 is a reading, talk and book signing with writer Dave Atcheson. 

Pratt Museum

Admission to the museum is free for February. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

“One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Brooks Fish: 30 Years of Counting Fish at Brooks Lake, Katmai National Park and Preserve” is now on exhibit. The exhibit shows visitors how counting fish at Brooks Lake helped develop management methodology used to regulate one of the most important sockeye salmon fisheries in Alaska. 

South Peninsula Hospital

South Peninsula Hospital offers free help with certified application counselors for people wanting to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The last date for assistance is Saturday. Call 235-8101 to make an appointment.

South Peninsula Hospital offers free education and discounted heart screenings during February heart health month to help prevent heart disease. At 6 p.m. Feb. 19 is a  public forum on heart health at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. Speaking are Dr. George Rhyneer, visiting cardiologist, and Doug Duncan, pharmacy director at South Peninsula Hospital. The topic is “Gambling with Your Heart: How to Increase Your Odds for Staying Heart Healthy.” Healthy refreshments will be provided.

During February, two screenings will be offered at a special $99 rate. The first, a Cardiac Scoring CT scan, is a noninvasive, 15-minute imaging procedure which scores calcium buildup in the arteries. The procedure should be considered for individuals who may be at a high risk for developing heart disease. A physician referral, appointment and prepayment are required. Contact the Imaging Department at 235-0363 for additional information.

The second screening, a heart health blood test, screens for cholesterol, cardiac risk, anemia and diabetes. No appointment or referral is necessary, but registration and prepayment are required. Contact the laboratory for more information at 235-0338.

For more information, visit www.sphosp.org or call 235-0285.

South Peninsula Hospital offers a safe sitter class on Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, during the school district’s spring break. The class is designed for 11-13 year olds to teach basic child care, infant and child CPR, first aid, safety for the sitter, behavior management and business etiquette. 

The class will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days. Students should bring their own lunch. Registration is required. The cost is $70 per person, and scholarships are available. Please call the hospital’s education department at 235-0258 for more information and to register.

SVT Health & Wellness

SVT Health & Wellness offers classes covering all aspects of wellness every Thursday at 6 p.m. Today’s class is “Creating a Safe Community: One Green Dot” with the Green Dot Homer Team featuring Green Dot National Founder Dorothy Edwards. This interactive workshop introduces Green Dot, which empowers people with skills to take action when they see warning signs of interpersonal violence. Learn more at www.greendothomer.org.