The Omicron Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma holds its annual Back to School Supplies Project through the month of August. Help students start the new school year on a positive note by providing school supplies and backpacks. Contributions can be left in the brightly colored receptacle inside the front door of Ulmer’s Drug &Hardware. Shopping lists are on the donation counter. The project benefits more than 100 children who are clients of the Homer Community Food Pantry in the Homer, Anchor Point and Ninilchik areas.
An LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer) Teen Support and Discussion Group has formed and meets 1:30-3 p.m. every Thursday at the REC Room, 3957 Neilsen Circle. The private group is for ages 12-18. For more information or for transportation, contact Anna Meredith at the REC Room, 235-3436, or Irene Saxton-Opatz at the Center, 235-7701.
The Exchange, a syringe exchange program, offers free syringe exchanges the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the South Peninsula Hospital Training Center, 203 West Pioneer Avenue, in the southwest corner of the building. Exchanges are held 5-7 p.m. Upcoming dates are Aug. 15, Sept. 5, Sept. 19, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, Nov. 7, Nov. 21, Dec. 5 and Dec. 19.
The Exchange is a program established and operated by a group of individuals and agency representatives in the Homer area that support the idea of harm-reduction and safer drug use as a means of making our community a safer place to live. The primary goal of The Exchange is to reduce the spread of Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and bacterial infections among intravenous drug users by exchanging used needles for clean ones. For more information, email homerexchange@gmail.com.
Central Area Rural Transit (CARTS) along with local partners South Peninsula Hospital, South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services Inc., Independent Living Center and Ryder Transport announce that the Public Taxi Voucher has ended as of July 31. All vouchers expired July 31. After July 31, people who still have vouchers can call the CARTS office at 907-262-8900 to arrange a refund. All refunds must be processed by Aug. 31. CARTS intends to continue providing public transportation in Homer and will evaluate the best way to provide service going forward. For questions or more information, call CARTS at 907-262-8900.
Volunteers are wanted to help work on the Saddle Trail. Ever wonder how a trail head is constructed in the back country? Eager to get outside and get a good workout? Join Alaska State Parks staff for Saturday work parties on the Saddle Trail. Six volunteers are needed each week to help grub, move and disperse dirt using pulaskis, mcleods, shovels and buckets. Free transportation into the park is provided, and the boat leaves the harbor at 8:30 a.m. and returns at 4:30 p.m. No skills necessary, just a desire to help out. Staff provides the tools and training; you provide the energy and enthusiasm. Volunteers are needed for Aug. 5, 19 and 26. Pre-register by contacting Christina Whiting, Volunteer Coordinator, at 435-7969 or kbayvolunteer@gmail.com.
The Veterans Services of the Lower Kenai Peninsula sponsor the 10th annual Veterans Picnic from noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the American Legion Post 16, Mile 2.5 East End Road. The event includes a barbecue, children’s games, door prizes and entertainment by The 8 Mile Band. All veterans and their families are invited. You do not need to be a member of a veterans organization to attend. VA representatives also will be at the picnic to answer questions. The picnic is organized by VA Veterans Services of the Lower Kenai Peninsula and the American Legion Auxiliary. It is funded by the Veterans Services Organization of the Lower Kenai Peninsula.
Sandhill crane chicks may start fledging soon. Report sightings to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Provide date, time, location and number of cranes. Leave a name and number in case they need more details.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Road is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-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 from 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.-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. The lunch menu for this week is: today, roast beef; Friday, seafood casserole; Monday, chicken in mustard and lemon juice; Tuesday, barbecue beef brisket; Wednesday, chicken parmesan; next Thursday, roast turkey. 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 for members, $6 for nonmembers.
Duplicate Bridge meets at 1 p.m. Thursdays. Tai chi classes are Thursdays at 3 p.m. The cost per class is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.
Homer Folk School
Homer Folk School offers these upcoming classes. All classes are held at Ageya Yurt on Florence Martin Court. Classes will be held from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Aug. 7-11. The cost is $30 per class or $150 for the whole week. To register or for more information, visit homerfolkschool.org or call 299-0990.
• Monday: Inspiration and Color
• Tuesday: Self Portraits and Expression
• Wednesday: Landscape Painting
• Thursday: Spirit Animal
• Friday: Finish spirit animal projects, painting details, and finish any other projects.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Registration for fall classes is open for general public and degree-seeking students. Classes include Mushrooms of Kachemak Bay (Sept. 15-16), Ceramics, Computer Science, Geology, Calculus, Russian History, History of Alaska, Introduction to Creative Writing, Welding, Yoga, Conservation Biology and Global Climate Change. Sign up early. Appointments are available with an advisor throughout the summer. See the schedule for most classes at www.kpc.alaska.edu/academics/schedule.
For community education non-credit class registration, see; https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com. Aug. 15 is the deadline to apply for the Mary Epperson Scholarship.
Pratt Museum
The museum gallery is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Historic Harbor Walking Tours are held starting at the Pratt wheelhouse at the Salty Dawg on the Spit. From 3-4:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday through Sept. 4, a museum docent leads a tour of the historic Homer Harbor docks. Admission is $10 a person or $8 when purchased with museum admission.
Field Casting Workshops with Lynn Marie Naden will be held Thursdays in August from noon to 4 p.m. The workshops will go over the basics of mold-making and casting, and cost $75 per person and $65 for Pratt members. Participants under 14 must have an adult.
There will be a First Friday opening reception for cARTography, an exhibition exploring maps and wayfinding, from 5-7 p.m. Friday, on display through Sept. 30.
Road Construction
A pavement preservation project is now underway from Mile 5.5-12.6 East End Road from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Expect delays of about 10 minutes. Work being done includes lining with rock and cleaning ditches, replacing about 40 culverts, regrading some curves, putting down a subbase and new pavement, installing guard rails, striping and sign replacement. The anticipated completion date is Oct. 31.
