Please report sandhill crane sightings to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Date, time, location, behavior, and number of cranes is helpful. Leave a name and number in case they need more details.
The Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board will be holding their regular monthly board meeting today, June 13, at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station at 53048 Ashwood Ave. (Mile 13 East End Road). The public is welcome to attend. Call 235-9811 for more information.
South Peninsula Hospital is accepting proposals for an onsite coffee/espresso vendor at its main facility location at 4300 Bartlett Street. Proposals are due by 5 p.m., July 10. Guidelines and requirements are at www.sphosp.org or by contacting Glenn Radeke, Facilities Director, at 235-0351.
The Homer Chamber of Commerce is now accepting entries for the 2019 Fourth of July Parade. The theme is “Homer Grown,” in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Homer Farmers Market and the increasing popularity of locally-grown-food businesses. Applications are available online at https://www.homeralaska.org/4th-of-july-parade.html or in person at the Chamber. The parade will take place on Pioneer Avenue on Thursday, July 4, starting at 6 p.m. Call 235-7740 or email info@homeralaska.org with questions.
The Kachemak Bay Birders’ next trip will be to Eagle Lake and Jaeger Bog on Sunday, June 16. Meet in the parking lot across from Fritz Creek General Store at 7:30 a.m. to carpool or at 8 a.m at the pull-out near Eagle Lake. Parking at the lake is extremely limited. It is best to carpool if at all possible. Prepare for mud and mosquitoes, and possible rain. Bring binoculars, field guide, and a scope if you have them. The leaders for this trip are Michelle Michaud and Jim Herbert. For more information, contact Michelle Michaud at 907-399-3159 (text preferred). This trip is cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
The second annual Homer Pride Walk will take place at noon on Saturday, June 22, at WKFL Park to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City, which launched the modern LBGTQ+ rights movement.
The event kicks off at WKFL Park at 11 a.m. with face-painting, a musical performance and speeches. At noon, walkers will head down Lake Street, across Beluga Slough and along Ocean Drive to the corner of B Street, where there will be more festivities, including a barbecue and family-friendly outdoor games. At 3 p.m. the party will move to Bishop’s Beach Pavilion for a shared bonfire, music and potluck, with ad-hoc musical performances, including karaoke, strongly encouraged.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Homer Annex has moved to its new location at 638 East Pioneer Ave. in the Homer Borough Maintenance building east of the Homer Volunteer Fire Department. The annex door is to the right of the double garage doors. For more information call 235-9837.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 235-6700
Kenai Peninsula Votes tidbit:
Will you be able to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 1? That is the date for the next city, borough and state elections. In this tidbit, Kenai Peninsula Votes asks that if you’re not sure if you can vote on this date, you have a little homework to do. This homework involves going to the Alaska Division of Elections website, http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ and checking out the section on “How Do I ……?” In that section, you can find out if you are registered to vote, see if your voter information is current, apply for an absentee ballot, or even register to vote online if you aren’t registered. This date is still months away, but procrastination is a habit that a lot of us share. At the very least, please pass this information on to at least one other person you know and ask them if they will be able to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The word of mouth is a powerful ally to encourage everyone to vote.
Ultimate Frisbee group meets Mondays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. at the Homer High School turf field. Contact: Sunny at 441-0314.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are now open seven days a week through September. Hours are 8 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Avenue, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
The center serves Thursday night dinners starting at 5 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 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. to 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. Lunch costs $7 for seniors age 60 and older, and $15 for those under 60. The lunch menu for this week is: today, turkey; Friday, Alaska halibut tacos; Monday, stuffed shells with meat; Tuesday, balsamic roasted chicken; Wednesday, spaghetti with Italian sausage; and next Thursday, walnut-crusted pork.
Strong Women classes are 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Homer Senior Center.
Zumba Gold classes with Maria are 11 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Homer Senior Center.
Tai chi classes are Thursdays at 3 p.m.
Duplicate Bridge meets at 1 p.m. Thursdays. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-4555. Duplicate Bridge is $3 for members and $5 for non-members.
Strong Women, Zumba and Tai Chi are $5 for members and $7 for non-members.
Pratt Museum
The Pratt Museum has reopened for the season, with hours daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Online registration closes at the end of today for the 2019 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference being held June 14-18. An optional post-conference workshop is at Tutka Bay Wilderness Lodge. The keynote speaker is author Diane Ackerman along with 16 other poets, essayists and novelists. The four-day conference with meals is $425. For information visit http://writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.
Register for fall 2019 classes now. Save your space and register early. Payments aren’t due until September. The new fall schedule is out this week. Come by the college and pick one up, or look for them throughout the town.
Computer Game Design and Virtual Reality App Development for-credit classes are offered this fall. Sign up now before the classes are full. Call 235-7743 or visit http://www.kpc.alaska.edu/ to register.
The Kachemak Bay Festival of Readings in conjunction with the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference will be held June 15-17. Pulitzer Prize finalist Diane Ackerman will read at 8 p.m. on June 15 at Homer High School’s Mariner Theater. At 7:30 p.m. at Alice’s Champagne Palace, the following award-winning novelists, poets and essayists will read: Kazim Ali, Martha Amore, Barrie Jean Borich, Erin Coughlin Hollowell, Christian Kiefer, Martha Amore, Rosemary McGuire and Elena Passarello. Held at Land’s End Resort at 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 17, the festival will feature Richard Chiappone, Janet Lee Carey, BJ Hollars, Jamie Ford, Ishmael Hope, Nancy Lord and Tess Taylor. All readings are open to the public at no cost.
Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
The Islands & Ocean Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ranger-led talks and walks are Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. All programs are free of charge.
