Thanks, Kachemak Bay Marines
Once again the Kachemak Bay Marines have sponsored the free Christmas Eve skate at the Kevin Bell Arena. A couple hundred skaters came in and enjoyed cookies, hot chocolate, and of course. skating. The free skate doubles as a food drive and, thanks to those skaters, we have six boxes of nonperishable food to go to the Homer Community Food Pantry. The staff and volunteers of the Kevin Bell Arena are very thankful for the continued support from our Marine veterans in keeping this a free, fun, family holiday tradition.
Charlie Stewart KBA/HHA President
KLEPS fund helped meal program
Hospice of Homer wishes to thank the KLEPS Fund at the Homer Foundation for providing funding for our very first Thanksgiving Meal Delivery Project. The grant we received allowed Hospice of Homer to purchase and deliver turkey dinners on Thanksgiving Day to our housebound clients in Homer and Anchor Point. Our clients were delighted that we were able to offer this program.
We are also grateful to the Homer Senior Citizens Center for working with Hospice of Homer to provide meals for delivery. Hospice of Homer wants to extend our warmest thanks to the KLEPS Fund for their generosity and to the Homer Foundation for providing excellent and timely support for this project.
Jessica Golden, Executive Director
Hospice of Homer
Willow Fund helped training videos
Hospice of Homer would like to thank the Willow Fund at the Homer Foundation for supporting our 2018 Volunteer Training Video project.
Thanks to the generosity of the Willow Fund, Hospice of Homer was able to film our annual training presenters who provide vital information on topics like patient privacy, body mechanics, dementia, grief, self-care, and the dying process.
This spring, Hospice of Homer will use these videos to create a new training module. This will help ensure that Hospice of Homer volunteer training is available to current and potential volunteers year-round.
Though we will continue to offer our annual weekend-long training course, we are excited to be able to offer these filmed training units to the many individuals who are unable to attend a full weekend session. It is our hope that this new training option will expand our volunteer pool and enable us to provide services to more people.
Thank you to the Willow Fund and to the Homer Foundation for their essential support to this important program.
Jessica Golden, Executive Director
Hospice of Homer
SPH has a fan
Following major back surgery in late November, I spent five days in recovery at South Peninsula Hospital before being discharged. Mere words seem inadequate for expressing my appreciation for the level of empathy and professional care I received from Dr. Brent Adcox, his surgical assistants, the nurses, their aides, the physical therapists and housekeeping staff.
I wasn’t, of course, but their focus on my comfort left me feeling as if I was the only patient on the floor. I don’t think I ever waited more than a minute for someone to answer my call button, and it was often quite a bit less. I hope I wasn’t a pest.
South Peninsula Hospital, its staff of physicians, nurses, aides and others, comprise a significant and valuable community asset, one that is worthy of our defense against the vicissitudes of future economics and politics that might conspire to reduce the availability of these local services.
South Peninsula Hospital, you have a fan.
Sincerely,
Hal Spence
Bear Creek thankful for holiday lights support and attendance
The Garden of Lights grew from Bill, Dorothy and Louis Fry’s desire to give back to the community and share a bit of the Christmas spirit. The hot chocolate flowed, the fire pit was warm, the lights were magical, the music was fantastic, and we had snow.
For about six weeks the elves at Bear Creek were busy making displays, putting up lights and getting the gardens ready for the big event.
A great big thank you to the many talented performers who volunteered their time to come and perform for us, some of them for the fourth year. Homer is blessed to have some truly talented folks, among whom are Arlene Ronda and the Seaside Singers, Suzanne Singer & Crew, the Ukulele Group as well as Kyle Schneider and the Awesome Swing Choir!
Thank you to everyone who braved the cold and shared this Christmas tradition with us.
We look forward to seeing you again next year.
Cheers!
Bill, Dorothy, Louis and Bear Creek Winery Staff
Moving to the groove to prevent falls
Thanks to the Homer Council on the Arts, the State of Alaska, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and Anette Avant’s business, Skeletal Connections for helping to support The Art of Falling and Rising and Body Moves: Moving to the Groove classes. In addition, Lindianne Sarno’s live music makes moving with lightness fun and easy.
Being able to respond to life spontaneously and confidently is a huge gift; and being a part of that progress is truly amazing. Working towards building endurance, strength, balance and stability, and to walk with a “giddy-up” in your step — it’s contagious.
The Body Moves: Moving-to-the-Groove class meets each Thursday starting Jan. 3 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Homer Council on the Arts. Learn fall prevention tips each Saturday starting Jan. 5 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Skeletal Connections on Ocean Drive. Registration is at www.homerart.org.
Movement is life.
Dotti Harness-Foster, M.Ed., GCFP, Feldenkrais practitioner and instructor
Physical therapist should get management job back
I just read that Mr. Doug Westphal was found not to have acted inappropriately with patients he was seeing as a part of his job as a physical therapist at South Peninsula Hospital. I also read that he had been relieved of his position as the director of the Physical Therapy Department as a result of those allegations of wrongdoing. Doesn’t justice demand that he be restored to his former position? If not, why not?
That allegations against him could not be supported by facts collected by an outside, impartial investigator says that an innocent man is being punished for something(s) he did not in fact, do. I do believe that that is wrong.
John Neville, Anchor Point
