The Anchor Point Fire &Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday May 23 at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 235-6700.
A Conflict Resolution Skills/Alternatives to Violence basic workshop will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 27; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28; and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 29 at 59835 Tern Court in Homer. 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 907-235-3832 or klcauble@hotmail.com, or Lisa Cauble at 907-264-6276 or lisa@alaskachd.org.
Join the Homer’s Storytelling Circle, Saturday, April 28 from 3-5 p.m. in the Library Conference Room. Share and listen to stories about favorite childhood stories. You’ll laugh, feel emotions, be entertained, and have a good time. Questions? Email homerstorytellers@gmail.com or call (907) 235-3180.
Kachemak Bay Birders have two events on April 28.
Morning: To celebrate the Year of the Bird, there will be a Fishing Line (monofilament) Cleanup on the Spit at the “Fishing Hole” on Saturday, April 28th, from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring gloves, bags will be provided. For more information: Michelle Michaud, 907-399-3159.
Afternoon: There will be a birding trip to the Spit on Saturday, April 28 to the Anchor River. Meet at 3 p.m. at the launch parking lot (or at Islands and Ocean Visitor Center parking lot to car pool at 2:15 p.m.). Many shorebird species should have arrived and there is a good high tide to scope birds out over the water. Songbirds, raptors and of course ducks, too—the Anchor River is the best birding area accessible by road in all of Alaska according to George West (Birder’s Guide to Alaska). The Anchor River rarely if ever disappoints birders.
Bring binoculars, field guide and a spotting scope if you have one. The leader for this trip is Michael Craig, and for more information contact him, 907-235-0631.
All Kachemak Bay Birding trips and activities are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. All trips and events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.
The Homer Bed and Breakfast Association will host its annual Spring Kickoff from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 29 at Wasabi’s Bistro. This gathering brings together hosts of dozens of local accommodations to learn directly from local businesses and organizations about what services and offerings are available to visitors this season. This helps the association make well-informed recommendations and referrals. The event will include networking, a round table of presentations, snacks and door prizes. This is a free event. For more information or to volunteer, call Lori at 235-3757.
Beginning May 6 the Central Peninsula Landfill and Transfer Facilities and Sites will be open on Sundays. All facilities will be open seven days per week starting May 6. For more information, call the Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste Department at (907) 262-9667.
Kachemak Crane Watch asks that residents report sandhill crane sightings to the organization at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Date, time, location, behavior, and number of cranes is helpful. Leave a name and number in case the group needs more details.
The Kachemak Bay Birders will meet on Monday, April 30 at 4:30 p.m. at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in the auditorium. All meetings are free and everyone is invited to attend. If you are interested in our birding group or our trips or birds and birding in general, please plan to attend. This is the Year of the Bird and we have many interesting and exciting events planned All our events are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. If you have questions, contact Lani Raymond, 399-9477.
Following the meeting “AUDUBON: The Film” will be shown by the Shorebird Festival Committee as a fundraiser. Suggested donation: $5 for the film.
The Central Peninsula Garden Club is hosting a variety of gardening workshops in May. Workshops registration is available online through the CPGC website at www.cenpengardenclub.org (May Workshops Registration page).
All workshops have a nominal fee of $5; some workshops have additional supply fees. Attendance limits apply, so please register early.
May Workshops offered are:
May 5 – Create a Hanging Basket; Basics of Landscape Design: From Theory to Plan Creation; The Wonderful World of Worm Poo; Will’s Workshop for Ladies: Build and Take Home Your Arbor
May 12 – Let’s Talk About Berries; Spring Cleaning: Tasty Ways to Use Up Last Year’s Harvest; Pruning of Trees and Shrubs; Lawn Care
May 19 – The Wonderful World of Worm Poo; Yard Art from Salvaged Items; Demystifying Bees, Bees as Pollinators; Brewing Tea for Your Farm &Garden; Raising Chickens for Eggs and Meat, Including Pest Control
May 26 – Growing in a High Tunnel; The Basics of Root Cellars; Composting &Local Amendments Equals Healthy Growing Soil; Basics of Landscape Design: From Plan to Planting; Building High Tunnels, Low Tunnels, Cold Frames and Installing Drip Irrigation
Questions? Contact Donna (907) 420-0480, natmed3@ymail.com.
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 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 menu for this week is: Thursday, turkey; Friday, cod; Monday, pasta primavera.
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 open Tuesday-Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Curator’s Closet: 50 Years of Collecting at the Pratt Museum is on in the Special Exhibits Gallery through April 28.
Behind the Scenes Collections Tours are 2 p.m. Thursdays. The tours cost $5 per person.
Ongoing activities: Fish Feedings have resumed from 4-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays in the Marine Gallery. Fish Feeding is fun and all are welcome.
Kachemak Bay Campus
An Opening Reception of the Student Art Showcase will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. April 27. Work from this semester’s drawing and ceramic classes will be exhibited.
2018 KBC Commencement will be held at 7 p.m. May 9 at the Homer High School Mariner Theater. The keynote speaker is Dr. Joe Evensen.
Registration for all fall credit courses is now open at https://uaonline.alaska.edu/banprod/owa/bwck2sch.p_disp_dyn_sched . Sign-up now, pay latter.
Degree-seeking students: Call 235-7743 for an advising appointment.
KBC offers free GED, ESL, college preparation and life skills courses and individual assistance. Call 235-7743.
“Early Bird” registration for the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference (June 8-12) is open until May 1. Register by then for reduced fee. http://writersconference.homer.alaska.edu. Registration then continues at the general rate till June 7.
South Peninsula Hospital
South Peninsula Hospital is accepting applications for its Board of Directors. Call 235-0237 or visit www.sphosp.org and click on “About SPH” for more information.
The annual Safe and Healthy Kids Fair is set for Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Homer High School commons. This is a free, fun event for children of all ages to focus on safety, health and wellness. The fair offers more than 30 booths and stations with hands on activities and demonstrations. Loads of door prizes are given away throughout the free fair, including the grand prize giveaways at 1:30 p.m. of a tricycle and bicycles.
A bike rodeo will take place in the school parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids can bring their bikes for a free inspection to get ready for safe summer fun. Helmets are required, and are available for purchase on site. Free test rides on the drunk-driving simulator ATV cart are offered throughout the day in the parking lot.
Stations include circus arts, a teddy bear clinic, hearing tests, face painting, water safety, giveaways and more. Numerous summer programs offer sign-up at the fair. Bookmobile will be on-site. Demonstrations on the stage include Zumba, Preludes, and more.
This year’s theme is “Giving Back.” Donations of non-perishable food and sundries will be accepted for the Homer Food Pantry and diapers of all sizes for Sprout Family Services.
Food will be available for purchase. Proceeds from food sales benefit the Safe and Healthy Kids Coalition, a group of local agencies supporting the health and wellbeing of our community.
For more information, contact Red Asselin at Sprout at 235-6044.
Upcoming – May 5 Walk with Devry Garity, ANP on Asthma. Email wellness@sphosp.org, or call the Health &Wellness Department at (907) 235-0970 with questions or for more information.
South Peninsula Hospital announces Homer Steps Up 2018, a steps-based community challenge to promote wellness and fun by motivating participants to walk. Cosponsored by SPARC, SVT Health and Wellness, City of Homer, South Peninsula Hospital and South Peninsula Behavioral Health, the goal is to reach 100 million steps as the southern Kenai Peninsula in the month of May.
Participants must enroll in the event online at www.sphosp.org or at upcoming enrollment sessions later in April. Steps can be tracked by pedometer or other step trackers and entered into the challenge website, or automatically through smartphone and android apps.
Various Homer organizations and businesses will be participating as Teams, competing against each other for the traveling trophy and “bragging rights.” In its second year, the challenge awarded the trophy to the City of Homer, and the trophy remains on display there through the end of May. New this year is the addition of an individual category, which allows everyone to participate in the challenge which runs May 1 through 31. Great prizes include:Grand Prize Winner: $500
Second Place Winner: $250
Third Place Winner: $100
Highest Stepper Winner: $500
Weekly prize drawings include: Individuals with a weekly step total of 35,000 – 69,999 steps
Individuals with a weekly step total of 70,000 – 99,999 steps
Individuals with a weekly step total of 100,000 – 139,999 steps
Individuals with a weekly step total of 140,000 or more
