Town Crier

The American Legion Auxiliary offers Christmas gift wrapping from noon-5 p.m. today-Saturday and from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Christmas Eve, at Ulmer’s. There is no set charge for this service, but donations to support veterans programs are gratefully accepted.

Refuge Chapel on Pioneer Avenue offers a Christmas dinner at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. Bring a dish to share. Food also will be provided. Everyone is welcome who would like to attend.

Tsalteshi Trails Association will hold a 20- and 40-kilometer Tour of Tsalteshi freestyle ski race Feb. 18 at the trailhead behind Skyview Middle School, the day after Frozen River Fest craft beer festival. The 40-kilometer race — two laps around the trails — starts at 11:30 a.m. The 20-kilometer race — one lap around the trails — starts at noon. Prizes will be awarded for the first three men and women finishers in each race and raffle drawings will be available to all participants. Awards will be given at a post-race party at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna.

To register or for more information, visit www.touroftsalteshi.org.

The LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer) Teen Support and Discussion Group meets at 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the REC Room, 3957 Neilsen Circle. The private group is for ages 12-18. For more information, contact Anna Meredith at the REC Room, 235-3436, or Irene Saxton-Opatz at the Center, 235-7701.

The Anchor Point Fire &Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018 at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

For more information, call 235-6700.

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 information, call 235-7786.

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

The 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. 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: Thursday, roast beef; Friday, fish and chips; Monday, closed for Christmas; Tuesday, chicken marsala; Wednesday, beef stroganoff; next Thursday, baked ham.

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.

Pratt Museum

Winter hours: Galleries are open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Current Exhibits:

ROOT by Lynn Marie Naden shows through Dec. 30. On display in the Special Exhibits Gallery, ROOT by Lynn Marie Naden is a sculptural installation premiering at the Pratt Museum, exploring the artist’s roots. The central structure is built up from strips of paper containing community-sourced perspectives on roots.

ROOT International Mail Art Exhibition shows through Dec. 30. On display in the Pratt’s lower level, ROOT International Mail Art Exhibition features submitted artwork from around the world.

All works that were sent in for this show are considered a donation and will be on auction November-December to support the Pratt Museum (a tap root of our community), with starting bids set at the cost of postage.

Bidding on exhibited works closes with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 30.

Kachemak Bay Campus

Registration is now open for all winter and spring class at KBC. The course schedules are online to review at https://www.kpc.alaska.edu/academics/schedule/ and at https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/

Classes begin Jan. 16. Classes include Scientific Illustration, Medical Terminology, Welding, Private Pilot Ground School Prep., Biology of Sharks, QuickBooks, East Asian History, Beginning Sculpture, Glaciology of Kachemak Bay, Intermediate Hatha Yoga, Color Theory Workshop, Flash Fiction Writing and Home and Cabin Building, and more.

Registration is open for newly approved USCG Able Seaman and 100-ton license classes along with Marine Electronics, RSW for Vessels, Deckhand Training, Navigation and our maritime classes at https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com .

It’s not too late: Advising services are available for individuals wishing to start or continue earning a two- or four-year degree and register for January classes. Call 235-7743 for an appointment.

KBC offers free GED, ESL, college preparation and life skills courses and individual assistance. Call 235-7743.

KBC will be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 3 for the holidays.

Brown Bag Lunch Travelogue Public Talk is at noon on Jan. 5, with “Traveling Across Kenya” presented by Paula Martin.

A Civil Rights Day Public Talk is at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, with “Where is the Village – Native Corporations Move Toward Urban Ownership” by Tim Troll, Executive Director of the Bristol Bay Heritage Land Trust.

South Peninsula Hospital

Join South Peninsula Hospital and Dr. Christy Martinez at SPARC, 600 Sterling Highway next to Homer Middle School, for “Walk with a Doc.” All are welcome from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 to hear a brief talk by Dr. Martinez on “Simple Steps to Lower Cholesterol” and spend the rest of the hour walking at your own pace, chatting and asking any questions. This is a free event, open to all ages and abilities. There is parking up at the SPARC and down below in the Homer Middle School Parking lot. There will be free blood pressure screenings, prizes and refreshments. Please bring clean indoor walking shoes.

Beginning January there will be two walks monthly on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Plan ahead for the Feb. 3 walk with Dr. Rob Downey and Feb. 17 with Sonja Martin-Young.

Email wellness@sphosp.org, or call the Health &Wellness Department at 907-235-0285 with questions or for more information.