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 Kachemak Bay Birders will hold their next meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29. All meetings are held at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center; this meeting will be in the Auditorium.

Following the meeting, Martin Renner will present “Antarctica: of Penguins and Petrels.” Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy this meeting and presentation. All meetings are free and open to the public, and all events are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. For questions call Lani Raymond, 399-9477.

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.

The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 19, at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 235-6700.

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 are closed on Sundays through April 28, 2019. For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667.

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.

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.

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; and Marine Hydraulics with AVTEC, Dec. 1-2.

Call 235-7743 for information.

At 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16, the Public Lecture Series presents Alexander James, UAA Associate Professor of Economics, speaking on “Natural Resources & Economic Development: At Home and Abroad”.

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.

These tests are offered by appointment in advance of the fair through 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.