The Kachemak Advocates of Recycling (KARe) will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Center for Alaska Coastal Studies building in Homer, from 4:30-6 p.m. All those interested in promoting recycling, reusing products, and reducing waste are invited to attend and discuss current efforts to achieve those goals. Contact karealaska@gmail.com or Vivian Finlay at 907-435-3903 for more information or questions.
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) holds a free, Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Workshop in Homer from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Best Western Bidarka Inn. This workshop meets the U.S. Coast Guard training requirements for drill conductors on commercial fishing vessels and is free for commercial fishermen. Register online at www.amsea.org or call 907-747-3287.
The Kachemak Board of Realtors holds its 25th annual Christmas party at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Wasabi’s Restaurant. The fundraiser for this year has a Greek Mediterranean theme. Tickets are $40 a person. The evening includes a live and silent auction of items donated by local businesses and individuals. This year the board has chosen to support Hospice of Homer and the Homer Community Food Pantry.
Proceeds also support scholarships to three local high school graduates. RSVP by calling Emily Berg at 235-5201 or email eberg@firstam.com.
The annual Share the Spirit Spaghetti Feed will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Homer Elks. It costs $12 per person or 12 cans or pounds of food. Kick off the holiday season and help fund Share the Spirit’s holiday baskets.
Bring friends and family. Local entertainment and a silent auction and talent show will be held from 5-6 p.m. To-go orders are welcome. To place to-go orders, call 235-2127 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. For questions, call Sharlene at 299-7664.
The Procrastinators Fair in Homer is a two-day event, from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 16 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 17 at the Homer Middle School. There will be a kid craft and cookie booth, a free Christmas tree drawing, the things donated by vendors will provide a free drawing every 15 minutes for those who are there. There will be live music, a ton of different booths, and anything that would qualify as a last-minute holiday gift.
There will be an area to change diapers and for new moms to relax with their little ones, and free apple cider for everyone. There will be activities and fun physical things for people of all ages to enjoy at the SPARC center.
For more information, visit the Procrastinators Fair on Facebook.
The LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer) Teen Support and Discussion Group meets at 4 p.m. every Tuesday at the REC Room, 3957 Neilsen Circle. The private group is for ages 12-18. For more information, 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 Dec. 5 and Dec. 19.
The Anchor Point Fire &Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 17, 2018 at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 235-6700.
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 senior center will host Christmas with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 9. Get a photo taken with Santa for a $10 donation.
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, baked ham.
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.
Pratt Museum
Winter hours: Galleries are open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
Current Exhibits:
ROOT by Lynn Marie Naden shows through Dec. 30. On display in the Special Exhibits Gallery, ROOT by Lynn Marie Naden is a sculptural installation premiering at the Pratt Museum, exploring the artist’s roots. The central structure is built up from strips of paper containing community-sourced perspectives on roots.
ROOT International Mail Art Exhibition shows through Dec. 30. On display in the Pratt’s lower level, ROOT International Mail Art Exhibition features submitted artwork from around the world. All works that were sent in for this show are considered a donation and will be on auction November-December to support the Pratt Museum (a tap root of our community), with starting bids set at the cost of postage. Bidding on exhibited works closes with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 30.
Upcoming events and exhibits:
The 2017 Quilt Raffle drawing is held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Holiday Recital. Local quilters have pooled their talents to create a stunning new quilt titled Moosin’ Around. It features colorful panels depicting moose in a variety of settings. The Kachemak Bay Quilters and the Patrons of the Pratt Society sponsor the annual Quilt Raffle and tickets are on sale at the Museum.
Kachemak Bay Campus
KBC Ceramic Student Art Showcase is on exhibit in the Pioneer Hall Commons Gallery, featuring work from this semester’s ceramic classes.
Registration is now open for all winter and spring class at KBC. The course schedule is online to review at https://www.kpc.alaska.edu/academics/schedule/ . Classes begin Jan. 16. Classes include Medical Terminology, Private Pilot Ground school Prep., Biology of Sharks, Professional Writing, QuickBooks, East Asian History, Beginning Sculpture, Glaciology of Kachemak Bay, Interm. Hatha Yoga, Color Theory workshop, Flash Fiction writing and Home and Cabin Building.
Advising services are available for individuals wishing to start or continue earning a two or four year degree and register for January classes. Call 235-7743 for an appointment.
KBC offers free GED, ESL, college preparation and life skills courses and individual assistance. Call 235-7743.
KBC will be closed Dec. 23- Jan. 3 for the holidays.
South Peninsula Hospital
A retirement party will be held for Bob Letson, CEO at South Peninsula Hospital, from 5-7 p.m. today, Nov. 30 at AJ’s Steakhouse on Bunnell Avenue in Homer. The party is open to the public and is a celebration of Bob’s decade of leadership and service to the hospital and community.
Letson is credited with numerous organization achievements, including improved financial performance, the addition and expansion of outpatient clinics and services, the inclusion of primary care, and the successful recruitment and retention of 26 new physicians.
In addition to his leadership at the hospital, he has been active in the community and state, serving on the Homer Chamber of Commerce board of directors for seven years, and as President for the past year.
He served on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Healthcare Task Force, the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association (ASHNHA) leadership team, chaired ASHNHA’s Small Hospital Network and Workforce Development Committee, and was Alaska’s alternate state delegate to the American Hospital Association. Letson announced his retirement earlier this year. He and his wife, Cristal, are leaving Alaska to spend more time with family.
Appetizers and a no-host bar will be at the event. More information can be found by calling 235-0397.
Dr. Katie Ostrom will lead the next “Walk with a DOC at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. She briefly discusses new concepts in treating menopausal symptoms, then spends the rest of the hour walking and talking with those who attend.
There will be free blood pressure screenings, prizes, and refreshments. The event takes place at SPARC – South Peninsula Athletic &Recreation Center, 600 Sterling Hwy (next to Homer Middle School).
Please bring clean indoor walking shoes.
Find out more at the Walk with a Doc Homer Facebook page, call South Peninsula Hospital Health &Wellness at (907) 235-1285 or email at wellness@sphosp.org.
The South Peninsula Hospital Annual Craft Fair is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 in the conference rooms on the lower level.
It will include local handmade items, artists, food and much more.
