Senate District N and O legislators hold a constituent teleconference from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the Legislative Information Office, 270 W. Pioneer Ave. This is an open discussion with Kenai Peninsula legislators Sen. Peter Micciche, Sen. Cathy Geisel, Rep. Paul Seaton, Rep. Kurt Olson, and Speaker of the House Mike Chenault. For more information, call the LIO at 235-7878.
The Kachemak Bay Birders hold a birding trip to the mouth of the Anchor River on Saturday. Meet at the parking lot adjacent to the boat launch area there at 12:30 p.m. or meet at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center at noon to carpool. For more information, contact the trip leader, Michael Craig, at 235-0631. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge. All trips are cosponsored by the Kachemak Bay Birders and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Bring binoculars and scope if you have one. Dress warmly and expect icy conditions.
Ski Across the Galaxy, a gala dinner auction for the Homer High School Nordic Skiers, is at 6 p.m. Saturday at the barn at Harmon and Pauli Hall’s home on Diamond Ridge. Carri Thurman of Two Sisters Bakery prepares a gourmet five-course meal. Live music is by Daniel Perry and Lydia Arndt. Tickets are $80 each and on sale at the Homer Bookstore or by calling 235-2846.
The Homer Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the NERRS building. The main agenda item is preparing comments on the state Board of Fish proposals. For more information, call Dave Lyon at 235-9408.
The Backcountry Film Festival is 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Homer Theatre. The festival is sponsored locally by The Kachemak Nordic Ski Club and The Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition. All proceeds will go to support these two organizations. The festival features seven short films focusing on backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Tickets are $10 at the door. Door prizes will be awarded at intermission and tickets include a chance to win a Black Diamond backcountry ski package.
First Lady Sandy Parnell has opened the nomination period for the First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year awards. The First Lady invites all Alaskans to help recognize their fellow citizens who have shown extraordinary volunteer service and made a positive impact on their community by nominating them for the awards. An executive
committee made up of Alaskans from around the state will select award recipients from the nominees. The winners will be recognized at a ceremony in May. Nominations are due by March 1. For more information, log on to the governor’s website at gov.alaska.gov/parnell/governors-office/volunteer-awards.html. Nomination forms are also available at the Capitol in Juneau, or at the governor’s regional offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The program began with First Lady Bella Hammond and has continued throughout the years.
A raffle for a 2000 Triumph Dual Tiger Sport 900 cc motorcycle is being held to help with medical bills for volunteer firefighter John Cox. Tickets are $50 each or three for $125. The raffle ends Feb. 28. The motorcycle is on display at Carquest. Tickets are available by calling Charmaine Collins at 435-7126 or Greg Collins at 299-2625. Donations also are welcome.
The Anchor Point Snow Rondi is Feb. 21-24 in Anchor Point. This year’s theme is “Up to Snow Good.”
The Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park seeks a logo for the organization. The winning design receives a free two-day state park cabin rental and round-trip water taxi ride with Mako’s Water Taxi. The design should include the image of a devil’s club plant and should be a black-and-white, 2-inch-by-3-inch image. The deadline is 8 p.m. March 1. Send images to Brad Kloeckl at bkloeckl@yahoo.com.
The Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center seeks volunteers to help with everything from helping visitors to helping plan and execute community
programs like Cleanup Day and the Fourth of July Parade. Call Nyla at 235-7740 to figure out where the chamber can best use your talents and local knowledge.
The Kachemak Bay Celtic Club is calling for artists, musicians, poets, dancers, vendors and community members interested in helping celebrate the Celtic culture. Upcoming events include St. Patrick’s Day, Tartan Day, Highland Games and more. For more information, call Shelly at 299-1557 or Nancy at (907) 748-4844.
The Mindfulness Meeting is a group for cultivating wisdom, gratitude and serenity through skills and practice that meets weekly on Fridays. The meeting is from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday in the conference room of the Beluga Professional Building, 3691 Ben Walters Lane. Everyone is welcome; there is no charge. For more information, call Rachel or Sharon at 235-7712. This group is sponsored by South Peninsula Haven House.