Announcements

The Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board holds its regular meeting at 6 p.m. today at the new Diamond Ridge Fire Station, 65705 Diamond Ridge Road. The public is welcome to attend. The agenda will be posted at the McNeil Fire Station and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Annex building. For more information, call 235-9811.

SPARC (South Peninsula Amateur Radio Club) is providing no cost amateur radio license testing from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Library Conference Room. You may take your technician, general or extra license exams. For more information, call 907-775-4638 or Pat at KL3DB or Shan at KL5ALK for more information.

Kachemak Bay Celtfest holds a volunteer information and sign-up session at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Homer City Hall. Learn about volunteer opportunities for the festival to be held June 19-20 at Karen Hornaday Park. The event kicks off with a performance by Celtic music group Tempest at 7 p.m. June 19 and continues with Scottish Highland games starting at 9:30 a.m. June 20. Volunteers are needed to help with set up and other duties. There also are openings for vendors of all kinds. Vendors do not have to be selling Scottish or Irish related items. To volunteer or for more information, visit www.kachemakbaycelticclub.com or contact Robert Archibald at 299-0852 and Renee Krause at 907-953-6546, renee@kachemakbaycelticclub.com.

Learn the value of native plants such as watermelon-berry shoots, fiddleheads and nettles at the Homer Native Plant Society May meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies. Shawn Jackinsky, a landscape gardener for the Pratt Museum and a local farmer, will discuss how wild plants like these are the most hardy, nutritious and regionally appropriate vegetables available. His plant profiles will include historical/traditional uses, propagation and growing techniques (plant preferences), techniques for preparation and preservation of these plants as food, and how all of this information can be applied. The program includes a discussion of summer plant field trips and light refreshments. For details, call 235-9344 or email jwoodring@alaska.net.

The South Peninsula Haven House board of directors holds its annual meeting at 5:15 p.m. June 11 at 3939 Lake Street, suite 1. The purpose of the meeting is to elect new officers. The meeting is open to the public.

Burn permits are required year round inside Homer city limits and can be picked up at the Homer Volunteer Fire Department during normal business hours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Burn permits are required from April 1-Sept. 1 anywhere outside Homer city limits and can be acquired by the Alaska Division of Forestry at www.forestry.alaska.gov/burn.

Sandhill cranes have arrived. Please report sandhill crane sightings to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org or visit www.cranewatch.org. The date, time, location and number of cranes seen is helpful. Leave a name and number in case more details are needed.

Friendship Center

Friendship Center Adult Day Services is open between the hours of 9 a.m.-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

Homer Senior Citizens lunch is open to seniors and guests and is served noon-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The lunch menu for this week is: today, roast turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy; Friday, tilapia Olympia; Monday, baked chicken teriyaki; Tuesday, lasagna; Wednesday, curried lentil and vegetable stew; next Thursday, roast pork loin.

Strong Women classes are 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Homer Senior Center. The cost is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers per class.

Zumba Gold classes with Maria are 11 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Homer Senior Center. The cost per class is $4 members, $6 nonmembers.

Duplicate Bridge meets at 1 p.m. Thursdays. Tai Chi classes are Thursday at 3 p.m. The cost per class is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.

Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center conference room. Call Jacquie Thaute at 299-2924 or Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.

Kachemak Bay Campus

To earn a GED or improve basic reading, writing and math skills, call 235-1606.

The Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference is June 12-16 at Land’s End Resort. Register online at writersconference.homer.alaska.edu. Call 235-7743 for information. Public readings include a reading by keynote speaker Andre Dubus III at 8 p.m. June 13 at the Mariner Theatre, readings by conference faculty at 7:30 p.m. June 14 at Alice’s Champagne Palace and at 7:30 p.m. June 15 at Land’s End Resort.

Registration for fall classes and workshops for general public and degree-seeking students is now open online at www.kpc.alaska.edu. Degree-seeking students can call for advising appointments at 235-7743.

The Student Art Showcase is on exhibit in the Pioneer Hall Commons through May featuring work from ceramics and painting classes.

Pratt Museum

Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Faith Revell’s exhibit, “Bird Dance,” is now on exhibit. The annual Jubilee student art showcase is on exhibit in the lower museum gallery.

The Pratt is showing a series of prototype exhibits in the lower galleries. These are works in progress and opportunities to collect feedback on text, design and interactive components. There are questionnaires available to provide direct input. Currently, visitors can see a small prototype, “Community Connectors — Radios, Telephones and Pathways.”

SVT Health & Wellness

SVT Health & Wellness offers classes covering all aspects of wellness every Thursday at 6 p.m. Today’s class is “Right to Know GMOs.” Maureen Sullivan, certified holistic health coach, holds a workshop designed to inform and educate people about GMOs so that they are more empowered when making food choices for their families. She reviews the science and discusses the link between GMOs and chronic illnesses, allergies and antibiotic resistance. She also discusses environmental issues and the food labeling movement.

Student News

Homer resident Ivory Romance Bodnar graduated cum laude from the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, with a bachelor of music degree in music – vocal performance in commencement ceremonies held May 8 and 9, 2015.