The Alaska Peony Growers Association Winter Conference will take place on Jan. 25 and 26 at the Land’s End Resort in Homer. On Jan. 24, the Growers School will precede the conference. Post conference classes to follow on Jan. 27. For conference details and to register for the conference, pre and post workshops, go to: https://www.alaskapeonyconference.com/registration/
The Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center hosts an Annual Winter Carnival Parade. The theme this year is “Coasting Through Winter” celebrating the Coast Guard’s 50th anniversary in Homer. The Winter Carnival Celebration and Parade is the weekend of Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 7-10 with the parade on Saturday, Feb. 9 noon. The Grand Marshals are from the Coast Guard. Parade line-up will be at the Homer High School at 11 a.m. Parade Headquarters is at Bay Realty with Darrell Oliver, Master of Ceremonies. Homer Parade entry applications are available on-line at the Homer Chamber’s website www.homeralaska.org/winter-carnival-parade or available at the Chamber’s office located at 201 Sterling Highway. Applications are due on or before Friday, Feb. 1.
For more information on Parade entry applications, please contact Jan Knutson, Homer Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and Community Events manager at 235-7740 or stop by the Chamber’s office at 201 Sterling Highway, which is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kachemak Bay State Parks is currently recruiting for members for the Kachemak Bay State Parks Citizens Advisory Board.
This advisory board provides Alaska State Parks with recommendations and input on management issues in Kachemak Bay State/Wilderness Park, Eveline State Recreation Site, and Diamond Creek State Recreation Area.
Board members meet the second Wednesday of the month September through May from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Island and Oceans Visitor Center in Homer. If you are interested in applying for this advisory board, please fill out an application at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/misc/boards.htm under State Park Advisory Boards.
Please mail or email your application to Alaska State Parks, 95 Sterling Highway, Homer AK, 99603.
Applications are due by Feb. 15.
For more information, please contact South District Ranger Jason Okuly at 435-7595 or email Jason.Okuly@Alaska.Gov.
The 2019 Homer Friends of the NRA Banquet will be held on March 2 at Bald Mountain Air Hangar in Homer. Get tickets to the banquet at friendsofnra.org/eventtickets/Events/Details/2?eventld=56297. There will also be a gun raffle drawing held on Feb. 23 at Christian Community Church in Homer. There will be “food, games, fellowship, fun and firearms,” according to a release from the Friends of the NRA. There will also be a gun raffle. For more details, visit facebook.com/HomerFNRA/. For raffle tickets, call Greg at 907-299-2625 or email homerakfnra@hotmail.com.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Road Service Area would like to remind individuals and private contractors not to deposit snow and ice onto borough right-of-ways. This is against Kenai Peninsula Borough code. Accumulated snow piles and berms near roadways present a safety concern by limiting visibility. It creates road maintenance problems. Call 262-4427 with any questions.
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 South Peninsula Haven House (SPHH) Board of Directors is currently accepting nominations from community members for the 2019 Women of Distinction. The Board invites community members to participate in celebrating the cross-generational contributions of women in our community by nominating a woman in one of the three categories listed below: Woman of Distinction, Woman of Wisdom, and Young Woman of Distinction. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Haven House office, from our website at www.havenhousealaska.org or from Haven House’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/havenhousealaska. Completed forms can be submitted to South Peninsula Haven House, 3776 Lake Street, Homer, AK 99603 or emailed to admin@havenhousealaska.org The deadline for nominations is March 1. The 2019 Honorees will be honored at the March 29 Women of Distinction dinner and auction to be held at Alice’s Champagne Palace.
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.
Tsalteshi Trails Association will hold a 20- and 40-kilometer Tour of Tsalteshi ski race on Feb. 17 at the trailhead behind Skyview Middle School in Soldotna. The 40-kilometer freestyle race — two laps around the trails — starts at 11:30 a.m. A 20-kilometer race — one lap around the trails, with freestyle and classic divisions — starts shortly thereafter. Prizes will be awarded for the first three men and women finishers in each race and raffle drawings will be available to all participants. Awards will be given at a post-race party at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna. Discounts are available for early registration and members of Tsalteshi Trails Association, Kachemak Nordic Ski Club and Seward Nordic Ski Club. The first 100 to sign up get a free buff with local artwork. To register or for more information, visit www.touroftsalteshi.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 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.
The menu for this week is: Today, walnut-crusted pork; Friday, shrimp scampi; Monday, chicken marsala; Tuesday, roasted pork; and next Thursday, roast beef.
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
Kenai Peninsula residents who have enrolled or hope to enroll in KPC classes, but are impacted by the federal shutdown are encouraged to call KPC toll-free at 877-262-0330.
Those seeking to earn an associate of arts or bachelor of arts degree, contact the KBC advisor at 235-7743. Classes include Welding, Vessel Systems, Medical Terminology, Cetaceans of Alaska, Able Seaman, Yoga, Gill Net Building, Oceanography, Drawing, DC Electricity for Boats, Environmental Economics and Policy, Medical Coding, Introduction to Behavioral Psychology, Volcanology of Kachemak Bay, East Asian History, Tai Chi, Private Ground School, Deckhand Skill training, 100 Ton/OUPV, Pit-fired Pottery, and more.
KBC Art opening: Feb. 1, 5-6:30 p.m. Photography by Joe Kashi.
Upcoming community workshops: Windows Basic; Tuesday, Jan. 28-Feb. 12, from 5-7 p.m. Cost is $90.
Introductory Tai Chi and Quigong with Dean Sundmark will be held Thursday, Jan. 24-April 11.
Advanced Photoshop Skills workshop by Taz Tally will run Feb. 2-16, for $100.
New upcoming Construction Trades classes: Interior Repair, Facility Maintenance, Flooring Installation, to run March 10-14.
South Peninsula Hospital
Rob Downey, MD, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and Director of South Peninsula Hospital Functional Medicine Clinic, will discuss hypothyroidism at a community presentation from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30. The presentation will address the factors that affect your thyroid function and lifestyle behaviors for optimal thyroid health. The event takes place at the Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College at 202 Pioneer Hall, 533 E Pioneer Avenue in Homer. It is free and open to the public. Please contact the hospital’s Functional Medicine Clinic at (907) 435-3070 for more information.
Homer Medical Center is offering free Diabetes Screenings in the month of January for patients without a current diabetes diagnosis. The screening includes a Point of Care diabetes screening blood test (HbA1C), a 30 minute visit with Peggy Ellen Kleinleder, RN, certified diabetes nurse educator, a review of test results, diabetes education on healthy eating for pre-diabetes, diabetes and diabetes prevention, a blood pressure check and free take-home materials. Daytime and evening appointments are available. Call Homer Medical Center at 235-8586 and ask for the New Year’s Free Diabetes Screening. It is free, and no insurance is necessary.
Certified Nurse Midwives from Homer Medical Center’s West Wing are offering free classes on childbirth and newborn care starting Tuesday, Jan. 15 and running every Tuesday through Feb. 12. The free one-hour classes are at 5:30 p.m. in South Peninsula Hospital’s conference rooms on the hospital’s lower level. No registration is required. Subjects include anatomy, labor and birth; breathing and relaxation techniques and other pain relief options; complications of labor and birth; newborn care and breastfeeding. For more information contact the West Wing at 235-3040 or visit homermedical.org.
