Best Bets – October 6, 2022

October 7, 2022 2:30 am
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Paul Banks First Grade students hold handmade We Love Homer signs at WKFL Park after a field trip visiting the Police Station, Post Office and WKFL Park, learning about citizenship, community and helpers within the City of Homer. When asked, “Why do you love Homer?”, two of the students responded: “Because it’s such a great place.” (Ella Christman); “Because there’s lots of animals and it’s pretty.” (Coraline Jones-Bear) Photo by Christina Whiting. From left to right: Linnea, Matfey, Bowie, Gus, Vera
Paul Banks First Grade students hold handmade We Love Homer signs at WKFL Park after a field trip visiting the Police Station, Post Office and WKFL Park, learning about citizenship, community and helpers within the City of Homer. When asked, “Why do you love Homer?”, two of the students responded: “Because it’s such a great place.” (Ella Christman); “Because there’s lots of animals and it’s pretty.” (Coraline Jones-Bear) Photo by Christina Whiting. From left to right: Linnea, Matfey, Bowie, Gus, Vera

Whether a local youth, teen or adult or a visitor to the area, there are so many reasons to love Homer any time of the year. For this Betster, like for many of you I’m sure, the summer season is an opportunity to soak up the sunshine, get out on the bay, fill my freezer with salmon and halibut, hike my favorite trails, tide pool, take late night walks on the beach, and chat with tourists as they meander the shops. It also means standing in line at restaurants and coffee shops, trying to find parking in town and on the Spit, and getting by on four to five hours of sleep. All part of this life I love in our tourist town.

And while I love summer, I really love autumn and its slower pace of life. With temperatures cooling, termination dust creeping down the mountains, daylight hours fading, and the landscape awash in gold, my favorite activities right now include sitting on the couch with a cup of tea and a great book, throwing another log on the fire or throwing on my jacket, boots and gloves and hitting the local trails to gawk at the colors and watch the leaves fall, waking in the wee morning hours to check for Northern Lights, turning the last of my berries into preserves, and starting to make plans for a winter getaway.

There is a lot to love during this transitional time of the year. Right now I am helping one neighbor grow their woodpile and another harvest the last of their potatoes. I am having dinner with friends who are winterizing their house and preparing to head south. I am digging out my skis and moving lightweight clothes to the back of the closet. In the meantime, as we all anticipate the first snowfall and life feels slower, there is still plenty going on around town to get you out of your house and any rain day funk. Just check out these Best Bets!

BEST BE INSPIRED BET: In need of a bit of inspiration? The film “I’ll Be Me” might be just the ticket. In 2011, music legend Glen Campbell set out on an unprecedented tour across America that included 151 sold out shows over the time span of a year and a half. What made this tour so extraordinary was that Glen had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and was told to hang up his guitar and prepare for the inevitable. Instead, Glen and his wife went public with his diagnosis and announced that he and his family would set out on a “Goodbye Tour.” The film “I’ll Be Me” documents the family’s journey navigating the wildly unpredictable nature of Glen’s progressing disease using love, laughter and music as their medicine of choice. Hospice of Homer and Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska present a free screening of “I’ll Be Me” at the Homer Theatre with a discussion to follow, Thursday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

BEST SUPPORT THEM BET: Living with a loved one with dementia? Want to make mealtime more enjoyable? Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska presents Dining and Dementia, a free online presentation to help you understand how this disease impacts eating, and to provide tips and tools to improve the nutritious dining experience for everyone at the table. Friday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Register for this free presentation online at us06web.zoom.us.

BEST CHECK YOUR MEMORY BET: We all want to hold on to our memory as long as possible. The sooner a memory screening is done, the better one’s chances are of getting a possible problem diagnosed and possibly corrected. For some who may go on to develop dementia, early diagnosis can help provide skills and knowledge to allow them and their loved ones to deal with this journey in a positive way. Hospice of Homer is offering a free Memory Screening/Consultation on Friday, Oct. 7, 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. The Hospice office is located at 265 E Pioneer Avenue, Suite 3. Questions? 907-235-6899.

BEST LOCAL ART SHOWCASE BET: Local art galleries are showcasing their October artists and exhibits on First Friday, Oct. 7. Check out the Art Section for times, locations and exhibit information.

BEST LIBRARY EXPANSION PLAN BET: It’s an exciting time at the Homer Public Library as plans are underway to turn the adjacent land into a new cultural, educational and recreational space for the community. The Western Lot Project is a partnership between Friends of the Homer Library and the National Park Service to create this new space in the 2.24-acre land parcel between the library and Poopdeck Trail. Come out and learn more during the library’s Open House on First Friday, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., when they will share three concept designs. Can’t make it Friday? Want more information? Stop by on Saturday, noon-2 p.m. when the Open House continues with a Power Point presentation, site walk, and collaborative discussion. Friends hope is to extend the library’s mission beyond the limits of the physical building. Come find out more.

BEST GET ACROSS THE BAY BET: It’s that time again, when the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies shuts down the Peterson Bay Field Station for the season. Help CACS get the field station ready for winter. Projects include cleaning, repairing boardwalks, and trail maintenance. Food, lodging and transportation are provided. Shut down weekend is Oct. 8-9. To sign up, contact Shannon at 907-235-6714 or Shannon@akcoastalstudies.org.

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