St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 619 Sterling Highway, holds Saturday group meditation walks in the church labyrinth during Lent. A short Compline evening prayer service follows about a half-hour after the walk. The walks are weather permitting. Please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and foot gear. Walks are held between sunset and dark, so start times vary. Approximate start times are 6 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and March 5, 7 p.m. March 12, 8 p.m. March 19 and 8:30 p.m. March 26.
The Kachemak Bay Birders’ next trip is 1 p.m. Saturday on the Homer Spit. Meet at the parking lot at the base of the Spit on Kachemak Drive at 1 p.m. This trip is timed so that the tide will be high enough to see birds out over and in the water as well as along the shore and in the grass out there. Bring binoculars, field guide and scope if you have one. 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 at 235-0631.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District holds a Public Budget Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Homer High School library. Everyone is encouraged to attend. If there are questions, please contact Lassie Nelson at 907-714-8838.
The Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board holds a budget workshop at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 with a regular meeting afterwards. The meeting is at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station, 53048 Ashwood Ave. (Mile 12 East End Road). The public is welcome to attend.
The Homer Legislative Information Office, located at 270 W Pioneer Ave., is open to keep citizens informed and involved on issues facing the Alaska Legislature. Various hearings are being held, and public testimony sought, on instituting a state income tax and restructuring the Alaska Permanent Fund. A variety of tax increases and other nonrevenue issues also are being discussed. To learn more or keep up to date on any of these issues, contact the LIO at 235-7878.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Road is open for winter hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-noon Friday. The center serves Thursday night dinners starting at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bingo is at 6 p.m. with play starting at 7 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 Service
Ben Franklin said, “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” That is still true today of our personal finances. This year America Saves Week is Feb. 22-29. This is an opportunity for individuals to assess their own saving status.
On the AmericaSavesWeek website there are many helpful websites referenced including ChoosetoSave.org. On this website you will find interesting calculators including a longevity calculator. There is also a calculator to itemize living expenses.
To develop a spending plan, SmartAboutMoney.org shows 10 basic steps to help you get smart about money. This website includes worksheets that help you track your expenses and set smart goals. Tracking your expenses is an important step in gaining control of your finances. It will become obvious where your money needs to go and where those ship-sinking “little expenses,” those spending leaks, need to be plugged.
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, country style roast pork; Friday, battered cod; Monday, pork chow mein; Tuesday, chicken pot pie; Wednesday, mustard and rosemary roasted pork chops; next Thursday, roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy.
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 the following classes and workshops for community education, job training and recreation is now open. Upcoming classes include Biology of Sharks, Polar Bears, Birds of Kachemak Bay, Cyanotype Printmaking, MS Excel, Deck Handling Job training, How To Handle a Skiff, and more. Register in advance at uaonline.alaska.edu. Check out most of the KBC opportunities at www.kpc.alaska.edu/files/resources/spring-2016-kbc-schedule.pdf.
Lines, Rigging Gear: Net Repair Techniques by Bulletproof Nets is $45 and runs Feb. 26, March 2, March 9. Advanced registration is required. Outboard Engine Repair and Maintenance is $75 and runs Feb. 26-28.
OSHA Standards for Maritime Industry is Feb. 29-March 4. Register at ww.osha.washington.edu.
Pratt Museum
Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The museum gallery is open noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission is free in February.
“Living Alaska: A Decade of Collecting Contemporary Arts for Alaska Museums” opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 26. Curated by Sven Haakanson Jr., the exhibit opened Nov. 6 at the Anchorage Museum and features works collected by Alaska museums through the Rasmuson Foundation Art Acquisition Fund. The Pratt exhibit features additional works from its collection purchased through the Rasmuson program.
