Hospice of Homer Annual Volunteer Training will take place from 6-8 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 25 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27. There is a $20 fee for materials. Volunteers must pass a background check and get a TB test.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 20 at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 235-6700
The Kachemak Bay Birders will hold their next meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in the Auditorium. Following the meeting there will be a presentation by George Matz: “Birding the North Atlantic; Comparing Iceland and Scotland to Alaska (June, 2019)”. George Matz is an avid local birder who serves on the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve Community Council and the Homer Fish & Game Advisory Committee. He is active in the birding group and has organized the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Monitoring Project for the last 12 years.
Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy this meeting and presentation. If you are a new birder or have an interest in birding or want to learn what we Kachemak Bay Birders do, please attend. All meetings are free and open to the public and are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Check out our website kachemakbaybirders.org. For questions, call Lani Raymond 399-9477.
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.
Kenai Peninsula Votes tidbit:
Kenai Peninsula Votes says: thank you to the 29% of Homer residents who voted in this past election. The close race for city council was decided by only seven votes, which illustrates the importance of each vote. Why do the majority of voters choose not to vote? Next year, the borough will try to increase voter turnout by sending ballots through the mail. Research shows that mail-in voting is gaining momentum and is increasing turnout. As we get closer to the next election for 2020, we need to continue to encourage people about the importance of their vote to make their voices heard.
Ultimate Frisbee group meets from 7-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the SPARC. Contact: Sunny at 441-0314.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities will be closed on Sundays for the winter through April 26, 2020. For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667. Due to a change in its recycle market, Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities will no longer accept D grade plastic film, including plastic shopping bags. Also, they are only accepting #1 PETE beverage bottles with twist tops for recycling.
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 Robbie Fuller 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, walnut crusted pork roast; Friday, shrimp scampi; Monday, shepherd’s pie; Tuesday, honey dijon chicken; Wednesday, pork shoulder; and next Thursday, baked ham.
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 Robbie Fuller 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.
Hospice of Homer
A Widows Support Group meets the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at 10:30 a.m. at Hospice of Homer. The group is for women who have lost husbands or partners and seek support in everything from practical matters like insurance to emotional support. For more information, call Marsha Graham at 235-5925.
Living with Loss, a weekly walk-in conversation about loss and bereavement, is on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
Pratt Museum
The special exhibits gallery is hosting Kathy Smith’s “Rivers of Ice” exhibit through Dec. 28.
The Pratt Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For information about what’s happening at the Pratt, visit www.prattmuseum.org or call 235-8635.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Julie Matweyou presents: “Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in the Kodiak,” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23 in room P219. This is part of the University of Fairbanks’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences weekly Friday seminar series which is live video-hosted in room 219 in Pioneer Hall at KBC.
Marine Technology continues when the Able Seaman class starts on Oct. 24. This USCG-approved 40-hour course is for those that have sea time and would like to obtain the Able Seaman Merchant Mariner Credential. Fishermen are welcome. Upon completion of this course and passing an exam, you will receive a course completion certificate in lieu of Coast Guard examination. Topics include navigation, rules of the road, safety, marlinespike seamanship, etc. You may have more qualifying sea time than you think. Contact the KBC Marine Tech. Coordinator at 907-235-1622. The class meets from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and costs $500.
Julie Decker presents on the Alaska Mariculture Initiative from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 in room P219. This is part of the University of Fairbanks’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences weekly Friday seminar series, which is live video hosted.
Dr. Henry Huntington, Arctic Science Director at Ocean Conservancy, will come to KBC today, Thursday. Huntington is an international research scientist, adventurer, and author who studies human-environment interactions in Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond. He will discuss “Traditional Knowledge, Science and Conservation in Our Seas: We’ll Never Know Everything but We’re Going to Act Anyway” at 6 p.m. in room P201 in Pioneer Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited so get there early.
Knitting 101 will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. every Wednesday evening in November, starting Nov. 6. Learn stitch patterns, techniques, and knitting in the round. Create a scarf and/or a hat. The first 45 minutes of each class will address basic knitting skills followed by an open knitting circle with time to work on projects and consult with instructor, Nicole McKenney. Students bring supplies for their projects but practice needles and yarn will be available. Cost is $39. Call 235-7743 to register or visit kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com
Painting the Northern Lights: Holiday Cards with Jen DePesa takes place from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10. Create beautiful, individual holiday cards to send to your friends. All you need is a spray bottle and a hair dryer. Jen will supply the rest. Call 235-7743 to register or visit. kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com
Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center is open Tuesday – Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
South Peninsula Hospital
Appointments for reduced rate wellness screenings are now available. The 36th annual Rotary Health Fair is set for 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Homer High School. As part of the health fair, comprehensive blood analysis is available for only $55. In addition to the basic panel, additional tests are available for purchase at special health fair rates, including prostate, thyroid, vitamin D, hemoglobin a1c and cardiac CRP. New offerings this year include thyroid free T4, testosterone and hepatitis C. These tests are offered by appointment at the fair, or before the fair at the hospital with the results available for pickup at the fair. Appointments are offered from through Nov. 1 in the hospital conference room on the hospital’s lower level. Payment must be made at the time of the test, and insurance cannot be billed. Appointments for both the day of the fair or at the hospital can be made at www.sphosp.org or by calling the health fair hotline at 399-3158. Book early as appointments fill up the closer it gets to fair date.
