Tellabration! is Saturday

Join the story circle from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Homer Public Library to participate in Homer’s second Tellabration! Homer Storytellers have been meeting since March sharing personal, folklore and literary stories. Tears have fallen and laughter flowed out of the library conference room with stories told.

This year’s program features Carol Dee, Kate Findley, Carol Ford and Skywalker Payne. They will present a sampling of diverse stories that have been told all year. After their telling, audience members will be able to tell their stories.

Tellabration! happens the third Saturday of November every year around the world. Storyteller J. G. Pinkerton conceived the idea of a day for people to gather, tell and listen to stories in 1988. The National Storytelling Network picked up the idea and has helped it become an international observance.

Bring your family for an afternoon of laughter, reflection, wonder and enjoyment. Tellebration! is sponsored by the Friends of the Homer Public Library.

Fundraiser to be held for couple at Alice’s on Nov. 25

Reggae band Uplift! performs at a fundraiser for Yvonne and Russ Morse on Saturday, Nov. 25, at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Yvonne Morse became paralyzed in a fall at their home in July, and funds will help pay for medical expenses and for the couple to remodel the home and make it more accessible. A silent auction and raffle also will be held starting at 8 p.m. Uplift! performs starting at 9 p.m. People interested in donating items can drop them off at Alice’s or contact Jeannine Armour at jeannine@salmonfestalaska.org.

Nutcracker Fair is Dec. 2-3

Homer Council on the Arts presents the annual Nutcracker Faire from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Homer High School. Offering a variety of handmade gifts crafted by more than 100 artists, the fair includes pottery, jewelry, woodwork, photography, preserves, handmade soaps and other health and beauty products, clothing, paper goods, and more. Scheduled musicians provide entertainment and vendors provide food, making holiday shopping an enjoyable experience for the whole family. This local sustainable faire brings together artists from across the Kenai Peninsula to enjoy and celebrate authentic Alaska creativity in the spirit of the holiday season.

GCI, Kaitz Foundation seek Alaska Native content creators

GCI is collaborating with the Walter Kaitz Foundation to offer a fellowship program to two Alaska Native content creators — from directors to producers to playwrights — as part of an effort to promote Alaska Native culture and content in films, television and online entertainment. Through November, GCI will accept applications for the program which provides exclusive entry to the Walter Kaitz Foundation’s 9th Hollywood Creative Forum in Los Angeles, with the goal of helping them establish lifelong industry connections that often help propel professional careers in television, film and digital.

“As an Alaska-born-and-raised company, GCI works hard to support and promote Alaska Native culture, whether it’s through the programs and services we offer or by advocating for more diverse representation in our industry,” said Heather Handyside, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at GCI. “This new collaboration with the Walter Kaitz Foundation is something we’re extremely proud of, as it will provide two experienced Alaskan content creators with a unique opportunity to advance their professional careers and further promote the need for diversity in Hollywood.”

The agenda for the Hollywood Creative Forum includes keynote speakers and discussion panels on diversity, as well as a mentoring luncheon that will match guests with network executives who can help provide guidance on how to attract studios and production companies. Alaskans interested in applying can find out more about the application and selection criteria at www.gci.com/why-gci/walter-kaitz-foundation.

Finalists will be selected based, in part, by their experience, existing body of work, biography, cover letter, artistic statement, creativity, and their ability to articulate how the forum will help them further their career. Applications are due by Nov. 30, 2017.

Finalists will be announced at the Anchorage Film festival in early December. In addition to attending the Hollywood Creative Forum, which takes place Feb. 13-14 in Los Angeles, finalists will also be provided with roundtrip airfare and hotel expenses covered by GCI; invitations to a private dinner with Hollywood development and programming executives; and a GCI welcome package. Finalists will also be featured on GCI and Walter Kaitz Foundation’s social media platforms, Channel 907, the Anchorage International Film Festival and Alaska Federation of Natives Convention.