Farewell fall, and hello winter — make way for all the snowfall! This Betster would like to remind everyone to please drive safely on these icy roads and in the early dark. There’s so much community activity in store that would be a shame to miss out on! Get a head start on a bountiful garden, get your dance moves on or get turkey-trotting, or get some great finds at a local craft fair! For this and more, and all the details, check out these Best Bets!

BEST AUTHOR TALK BET: Join the Homer Public Library for a virtual author talk by internationally renowned performer, writer and poet of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Joy Harjo, on Thursday, Nov. 16 at noon. Harjo, United States Poet Laureate and winner of the 2022 Academy of American Poets Leadership Award, will chat about her most recent memoir, “Catching the Light,” and discuss her rewarding lifetime as a writer and poet. For more information or to register for this event, visit libraryc.org/homerlibrary/33627.

BEST GARDENING BET: Join KBCGrowS for a presentation on “Scaling Up Your Garden,” Thursday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. Attend this free event either in person at Kachemak Bay Campus or by Zoom. Educators Carey Restino and Monica Kopp will guide you through increasing your garden’s yield through efficient simple systems, figuring out how much you need to grow, and irrigation and weed control. Learn how to increase how much you grow by working smarter, not harder with irrigation systems, weed suppression, season extension techniques, crop rotation, succession planning and more! For more information, call 907-235-1674. To register for the Zoom session, visit KBC’s Facebook page. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST KNOW YOUR NUMBERS BET: South Peninsula Hospital will host a free community event on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the SPH Conference Rooms 1 and 2. Join endocrinologist Michael Hennigan, MD for information on understanding your lab test results. Hennigan is board certified in internal medicine. Participants are welcome to bring their Rotary Health Fair lab test results and questions. If you have not picked up your results yet, they will be available at this community event. Please bring a photo ID to receive your lab test results. This event is open to all; snacks, coffee and tea will be provided. For more information, call 907-235-0285 or email wellness@sphosp.org. 4300 Bartlett St., lower level Bartlett Street entrance.

BEST COMMUNITY DANCE BET: City of Homer Community Recreation presents a community barn dance in the Homer High School commons on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.! Live music will be provided by the China Pooters, and the dance will be called by Laura Patty. All ages and skill levels are welcome! There is a $10 fee for adults payable to Homer Community Recreation. Youth in 12th grade or younger are admitted for free. For more information, call 907-399-8731. 600 E Fairview Ave.

BEST HOLIDAY FUN RUN BET: The Homer Community Recreation Division and Kachemak Bay Running Club present the traditional Turkey Trot Fun Run/Walk on Thanksgiving morning! All ages and fitness levels are welcome at this non-timed, noncompetitive event on Thursday, Nov. 23. This is also a food drive for the Homer Food Pantry — participants should bring two non-perishable food items as their registration fee. Each person who brings food will receive a ticket to enter the door prize drawing. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning in the Homer High School commons. The 5K run/walk starts at 10 a.m. — please leave your dogs and bicycles at home. For more information, visit www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/com-rec/thanksgiving-turkey-trot-fun-runwalk-food-drive or call 907-235-6090. 600 E Fairview Ave.

BEST HOLIDAY BAZAAR BET: Mark your calendars for the annual Anchor Point Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Chapman School gym! Shop for gifts and craft goods including homemade decor, fashion and jewelry or baked goods, enjoy snacks for sale and have yourself a merry little holiday time! 73286 School Ave.

BEST SISTER CITY ART BET: Attention Homer artists! The Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage, in an effort to support the activities of local citizens and cultural groups, is holding the “Japan-Alaska Sister Cities Town Pride Festa,” where a wide range of original “town pride” works from the sister cities can be submitted. The theme is “Works by citizens and organizations of the Japan-Alaska, that emphasize ‘town pride’ and introduce shopping streets, tourist attractions, traditional arts, culture, etc. of the town they live in,” and there are no restrictions on the medium of the work. The application period is open until Jan. 19, 2024. For more information or to submit your work, visit https://www.anchorage.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/sistercity_okunijiman.html.

A piece of the longtime Homer mural outside of Nomar points out the newly fallen snow on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. (Finn Heimbold/Homer News)