Homer Alaska - Announcements

Deadlines to apply for several property tax exemptions for Kenai Peninsula Borough homeowners are coming up early next year. Jan. 15 is the deadline to apply for the $10,000 volunteer firefighter or EMS provider annual exemption, the $20,000 homeowner's exemption and the disabled resident annual exemption. Feb. 15 is the deadline to apply for the disabled veteran and the senior citizen exemption. All exemption forms can be found online at: http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us/ or at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Homer Annex located at 106 E. Pioneer Avenue, Suite 1. For additional information call the Homer office at 235-9837 or the Soldotna office at (800) 478-4441.

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies is running a snowshoe rental program. This program is free to members, or rent five and get the sixth rental free for all others. For information, call 235-6667.

Alaska has committed to provide 200 scarves for the 2012 Special Olympics USA Scarf Project. The deadline is March 1. For information, call Debbie Pastro at 399-4566. For patterns and yarn, see www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org.

Haven House and CICADA announce a Community Caf Happy Hour from 4-5 p.m. daily through Jan. 13. The caf will be held at 1230 Ocean Drive in Homer. These are free meetings open to anyone wishing to explore how gratitude, purpose and compassion support emotional wellbeing.

Homer's American Legion Auxiliary will be offering Christmas gift wrapping at Ulmer's. Gift wrapping will be available noon-5 p.m. today and Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. There is no set charge for the service but donations to support veterans' programs will be gratefully accepted.

Janice Rowland is hoping to put together a book for her family about her grandfather, Leo Rollins and his life in Alaska. She is requesting stories from anyone who knew him personally, professionally or has knowledge of anything he did in Homer, Seldovia, Ninilchik, etc. She will accept stories anonymously or with credit; typewritten, hand-written or voice recorded. To contribute, please mail to Janice Rowland, P.O. Box 2825, Big Bear City, CA 92314 or JAWRowland@gmail.com.