Town Crier

The Homer Volunteer Fire Department wants to remind the public as the temperature drops and they start to turn the heat on, make sure you properly have your chimney cleaned and inspected.

The department offers chimney brushes at the station for your convenience. Give them a call if you have any questions at 907-235-3155 ext. 0.

The annual Haunted Hickory food drive is Friday, Oct. 26, at the Pioneer Dock on the Homer Spit. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hickory will be open at two separate times so that the crew can gear the event to different age ranges and guests with different fright levels. From 4-5 p.m. the ship will be open for a less-intense “lights on” tour, suitable for younger audiences. From 6-9 p.m., the ship will be open for more mature audiences who will be treated to intense thrills. The later viewing is not suitable for children under 13 years of age and those who frighten easily.

All attendees are encouraged to bring two nonperishable food items to the event. These food items are donated to the Homer Community Food Pantry, a local nonprofit organization. The food collected from the annual event helps the pantry meet the upcoming holiday demands.

Guests are reminded that Hickory is a working vessel and is not ADA compliant. There are many steep staircases and cumbersome walkways. Moderate physical activity is required for guests to transit along the tour. Crewmembers of the Hickory will not touch any guest during any scare portion of the tour, and require that guests refrain from touching their tour guides. Guests should dress warm, as the staging area for the tour will be on the pier and exposed to the elements. No alcohol or weapons are allowed on the ship or the pier.

Ultimate Frisbee groups meets Mondays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the SPARC.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities will be closed on Sundays for the winter from Oct. 7, 2018, through April 28, 2019.

For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667.

The Kachemak Bay Quilters are seeking donations of new teddy bears and other stuffed animal toys. These toys will be paired with teddy bear-sized quilts and given to children who go through intake at Haven House because they have experienced domestic violence.

The quilters meet every Thursday at the Kachemak Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New teddy bears and other new stuffed animals may be dropped off there on any Thursday. Contact: Patrice Krant at 770-826-5016.

Intermediate Spanish for Travelers is at from 6:15-7:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at Homer High School. The course includes vocabulary and expressions useful for travelers through Spanish-speaking countries. For more information, please call the instructor, Hilda Caraballo, at 907-299-0110.

The comment period for the Public Review Draft of the Kachemak Bay State Park and Wilderness Park Management Plan has been extended and a public meeting has been scheduled in Homer. To receive full consideration, comments must now be received no later than Friday, Nov. 16. Note: Comments submitted become public information under AS 40.25.110- AS 40.25.125. Written comments can be mailed, emailed or faxed to: Kachemak Bay State Park Planning, 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1050, Anchorage, AK 99501, Fax: 907-269-8915, email: monica.alvarez@alaska.gov.

An open house session will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center and the public is encouraged to attend to share their thoughts. There will be a short presentation and an opportunity to get more information, provide input and ask questions.

Conflict Resolution Skills/Alternatives to Violence basic workshop will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26; from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 27; and from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Homer Council on the Arts. The workshop is presented by the Alaska Training Cooperative and Alaska Hands of Peace. This workshop presents skills to help reduce conflicts in work and everyday settings. It costs $75 to attend all three days. For more information or to register, contact Karen Cauble at 907-399-0037 or klcauble@hotmail.com, or Lisa Cauble at 907-264-6276 or lisa@alaskachd.org.

The South Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary seeks volunteers for its many programs. Volunteers are needed for the hospital gift shop, located near the lobby entrance. Gifts and cards are available for patients at the hospital.

Volunteers are needed to work as clerks three to four hours a day for one day a week or month. Gift shop clerks must meet certain requirements, including training, a hospital orientation and free tuberculosis testing. Volunteers also must join the auxiliary; dues are $15 a year.

The auxiliary meets 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Monday of every month in the hospital confecne room. For more information, call 235-7250 or stop by the gift shop.

Anchor Point Senior Citizens

The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Road 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 5:30 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 Daniel Weisser 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.

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 Daniel Weisser 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.

Pratt Museum

Galleries are closed for renovations until May 2019.

The business office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Kachemak Bay Campus

Oct. 26 is the deadline to register for Nancy Lord’s Science and Nature Writing class, which takes place Nov. 1-Dec. 6.

Sign up by Oct. 24 for MS Excel workshop on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, ($65). Introduction to QGIS workshop will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29 and Nov. 8. Cooperative Extension Agent Casey Matney will conduct a workshop on Creating Custom Fertilizer Mixes on Nov. 12, 6-8:30 p.m. ($25).

Jan Peyton will hold a Explore Watercolor Painting workshop on Oct. 20-21. Taz Tally’s Photography workshop, Make Beautiful Images, will be held Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, from noon to 3 p.m. ($100).

Painting the Northern Lights Watercolor workshop with Jen DePesa takes place Saturday, Nov. 10, for $100. How to Use QuickBooks takes place Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for $30.

Upcoming Maritime Technology classes include Coastal Navigation (T/Th Oct. 30-Nov. 15); Master 100 Ton/OUPV, Oct. 26-Nov. 18; Deckhand Skill Training, Oct. 19-21; and Marine Hydraulics with AVTEC, Dec. 1-2.

Call 235-7743 for information.

South Peninsula Hospital

The 35th annual Rotary Health Fair will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Homer High School. “It’s Your Life … Take a Day to be Well” is the theme of the fair, sponsored by Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary Club in cooperation with South Peninsula Hospital. As part of the health fair, a comprehensive panel of blood tests is available for only $40, a sizable discount from the regular cost.

In addition to the basic wellness panel, additional tests available for purchase include prostate, thyroid, cardiac CRP, vitamin D and hemoglobin A1C.

These tests are offered by appointment in advance of the fair from Oct. 15-Nov. 2 in the hospital conference room on the hospital’s lower level or at the fair on Nov. 3. Appointments for either option can be made at sphosp.org.

Over 50 exhibitors will be at the fair offering various health screenings, information, demonstrations and services, including blood pressure tests, vision tests, hearing tests, flu shots, fitness tests and more.