The next Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board meeting is at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Oct. 8, via Zoom. The public is welcome to attend. Call 235-9811 for more info.
Join the Zoom Meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/8136649908?pwd=ZUpEN3BXVDFUM2MrUnJUeExobmU5UT09
Meeting ID: 813 664 9908
Passcode: 5pFddT
The South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board will hold its regular monthly meeting virtually via Zoom at 6:30 pm tonight, Thursday, Oct. 8. The Committee of the Whole will meet at 5:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend both meetings. The Zoom link is available on the Kenai Peninsula Borough website at www.kpb.us. The South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board is an elected board that oversees local tax dollars for a healthier community.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies is hosting the Anchor Point Beach Cleanup from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Have you ever caught a salmon out of the Anchor River, or watched the sun set behind volcanoes from the Anchor Point beach? The Anchor Point Beach and the river that flows into it offer so much to the residents of Kachemak Bay, as well as visitors. Join and take part in paying back this area for all it provides, while gathering information that looks at our impact on this ecologically significant site. Limit of 15 people. For more information call 907-235-6667 or email info@akcoastalstudies.org.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The Homer Food Pantry resumed walk-through client shopping on Sept. 28. The hours are from noon to 3 p.m. Masks will be required for all indoor shoppers.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies annual CoastWalk has started. Sign up to clean and monitor a section of coastline in Kachemak Bay by visiting the Coastal Studies offices at 708 Smokey Bay Way during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information call 907-235-6667 or email info@akcoastalstudies.org.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are now open Sundays. For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667 or check their webpage at https://www.kpb.us/swd-waste/about-solidwaste.
Kenai Peninsula Votes tidbit:
Yay! We have two elections behind us this year. That’s two opportunities to use our voting system that includes voting by mail.
Now we have less than a month to be ready for our state and federal elections on Nov. 3. Not sure if you can vote? Unsure if you are a registered voter? Check at www.Alaska.gov or go in and ask your city clerk. Chances are that if you receive PFDs you are registered to vote. In Alaska you must be registered 30 days before the day of election and:
— be a resident of Alaska
— be a U.S. citizen
— be at least 18 years old
— not be a convicted felon still serving court sentencing
– not be registered to vote in another state
Under federal law if a person is competent enough to go to the polls and vote, or to complete a mail-in ballot, they must be allowed to do so. Homelessness is not a barrier to registering or voting. Check with the city clerk for guidance.
Your valuable vote determines the future for our community, our nation and for you. Voting is your right, it is the foundation of our democracy.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Avenue serves take-out meals on Thursday evenings with pickup from 5-6 p.m. Helping Hands Thrift Store is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and donations can be dropped off any time. The office staff are at work and available by phone for addressing needs. For information, call 235-7786.
Friendship Center
Friendship Center Adult Day Services is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call 235-4556.
Homer Senior Citizens
All activities are canceled and the Homer Senior Center is closed to the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Homer Senior Citizens congregate lunch is closed, but meals can be picked up at noon from Monday-Friday. You must call 907-235-7655 by 10 a.m. daily to reserve your meal.
Hospice of Homer
Hospice of Homer is in need of volunteers to help move medical equipment between their office and client’s homes. They are looking for one-time, short-term and long-term help to work alongside their experienced volunteers and appreciate whatever time you can spare. If you can help, please call Christina at 235-6899.
Hospice of Homer requests that anyone who needs to borrow or return medical equipment or to pick up disposable personal care items, call the office. Staff will check availability and arrange a time for pick up.
Anyone needing access to grief counseling or other services should also call to talk with a staff member. Staff will be available Monday-Thursday at 235-6899.
Support Group meetings have been canceled.
Hospice of Homer has had an unusually high demand for medical equipment recently and are in great need of many items. Anyone wishing to help can go to Smile.amazon.com.
Select Hospice of Homer as your charity then select Charity List and choose any of the items on our List of Current Needs. All donated equipment is loaned out free of charge to anyone who needs it in the Homer vicinity and a percentage of the purchase is donated to Hospice of Homer.
Homer Council on the Arts
Homer Council on the Arts invites you to their Annual Meeting at 6 p.m. tonight, Thursday, via Zoom. They’ll share highlights from the past year and plans for the future, as well as honor the recipients of this year’s Annual Arts Awards. They will also draw the winner of the Quilt Raffle at 6:30 p.m. — get your tickets right up until 6 p.m. for your chance to win! Register to join the meeting via the link on their website, HomerArt.org.
The Kenai Peninsula Writers Contest is back. Homer Council on the Arts invites all Kenai Peninsula residents to submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to the contest; winning entries in each category will receive cash prizes or gift certificates and will be published in the Homer News. Entries are due Dec. 20 so there’s plenty of time to refine your writing. Need help getting started? The council is offering a variety of youth and adult Writers Workshops throughout October for inspiration and guidance. Register online at HomerArt.org or call 235-4288 for more information.
Kachemak Bay Campus
It’s not too late to register for classes. Keep moving forward with your degree or start on a path to a bright future by building a new skill or updating one you already have. Advisors work with you to find the right fit. Call 907-235-7743 to be connected.
High school students can JumpStart college by taking college classes while attending traditional high school or learning from home, and receive a big break in tuition. KBC has decades of experience in online teaching that students can rely on. More information is available at 235-7743.
KBC is planning on Marine Tech classes in the late fall. Visit kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/ to see what is available.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Homer Annex is open with some restrictions at 638 East Pioneer Ave. in the Homer Borough Maintenance building east of the Homer Volunteer Fire Department. Please limit visits to one person at a time and wait in the parking lot or in vehicles while other people are inside. Masks are recommended but not required. The office is staffed for help by phone or email. For more information call 235-9837 or email Tamarron Baxter at tbaxter@kpb.us. Forms for property tax exemptions or appeals are available outside on the door, and a dropbox is available for completed forms.
Pratt Museum
The Pratt Museum’s fall hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
These hours are subject to updates in compliance with CDC State/Federal Public Health Guidance.
For the safety of guests, members and staff:
• Face masks required for entry.
• Visitor log sign-in required upon entry.
• Social distancing guidelines include maintaining 6 feet of distance at all times.
• Capacity limited to 10 guests in the museum at one time.
Face masks and capacity limits do not apply to outdoor spaces including gardens, forest trails, and Homestead cabin; however, staff do request that visitors respectfully comply with social distancing guidelines.
Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center
The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center operations are temporarily suspended, but please visit virtually and take a 3D tour by going to http://ow.ly/hf3f50Bf4HB. The Beluga Slough Trail and other outdoor areas on the refuge will remain open to provide healthy options for recreation and relaxation. Kids can download the Agents of Discovery App and play an interactive learning game on the trail.
To reach refuge staff call 907-235-6546 or email alaskamaritime@fws.gov.
South Peninsula Hospital
Free Flu Shot Clinics – Homer Medical Center and South Peninsula Family Care Clinic are sponsoring a two-day drive thru flu shot clinic in October. Day one is from 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 and followed on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The events will be at the Family Care Clinic parking lot, at 4201 Bartlett Street, Homer. More details online are at sphosp.org or by calling 235-0900.
Free COVID-19 tests are offered 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week at the lower level of the SPH Specialty Clinic, at 4201 Bartlett Street, Homer. Please use the Danview access. Tests are for those who have had recent travel out of state, have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, they have new onset of any symptom related to COVID-19, or have a provider referral. See complete list of eligible individuals at www.sphosp.org or call the COVID information line at 235-0235. Please call and pre-register before coming if and when possible.
