Susie Amundson teaches Self Compassion for Women: Going Beyond Coffee, Chocolate and Wine from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Many Rivers. Learn about caring for yourself in the circle of care and kindness and how self compassion can reduce anxiety and rumination. For more information, call Amundson at 509-998-1009 or email susie@wiseatwork.net. The fee is $60 for the one-day class.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church holds a Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday in the basement of the church on Ohlson Lane in Old Town. Fresh hot doughboys will be served.
Faith Lutheran Church holds a Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Soundview and Sterling Highway. The event includes more than 20 different booths with creative gifts and decorations for the holidays, baked goods, homemade lefse and lunch for purchase.
The Kachemak Bay Birders hold a birding trip at noon Saturday on the Homer Spit. Meet at the parking lot at the base of the Spit on Kachemak Drive at noon. Bring binoculars and a scope if you have one as there’s a good high tide so the sea birds will be closer in. There is no charge and everyone is welcome. All trips are cosponsored by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The leader is Michael Craig, 235-0631.
The Kachemak Bay Birders also hold their regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. George Matz presents “Birding in Barrow.” Everyone is welcome and there is no charge. For questions, call Lani Raymond at 399-9477.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies is hosting activities at their headquarters on early school release days. From 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 26, the program will be “Birdfeeders and Garlands.” Participants will create natural garlands and feeders for our friends with feathers. For more information, call 235-6667.
Linda Willard and the family of the late Bruce Willard are encouraging donations in his memory to the Alaska Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund. A pioneer rancher and farmer at the head of Kachemak Bay, Bruce Willard served on the Alaska Farm Bureau board of directors and had been an advocate of agriculture. The Alaska Farm Bureau awards $2,000 scholarships to applicants seeking to improve their skill levels to work in an agricultural or natural resource field through college, trade school or vocational training. Donations can be mailed to Alaska Farm Bureau Scholarship Program, Amy Seitz, executive director, 37075 Nicholas View Lane, Soldotna AK 99669.
The 2015 Bearded Ballet Show is Feb. 20 at the Mariner Theatre. Produced by Homer Events and hosted by Homer Mayor Beth Wythe (wearing a fake beard) and starring, among others, Chief of Police Mark Robl and Homer High School Principal Doug Waclawski (both wearing tutus), the Bearded Ballet is a comedy/variety evening and competition with celebrity judges. The ballet seeks teams, entries and acts of any size, each representing a local charity or fraternal organization, to compete. The funniest team will win a $1,000 donation to add to what their charity raises in connected fundraisers before and during the event. Nonprofit organizations are invited to hold a silent auction booth or table in the high school commons before the show. Register nonprofit groups by posting email on Facebook at “Homer Bearded Ballet,” emailing homerevents@gmail.com or calling Dax Radtke at 299-0319.
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. For more information, call 235-4556.
Cooperative Extension Service
Sometimes people open up food products to find the surprise of uninvited guests wiggling inside. These insects and their larvae are grouped into what is called “pantry pests” and they inhabit flours, grains, pastas, nuts, pet foods and much more. What to do about these unwelcome visitors? How can they be evicted after they have spread into the home? The Cooperative Extension Service can help with identification and control options. Start with its free publication, “Pantry Pests.” The Cooperative Extension Service is a year-round resource for a variety of topics. Visit today at www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/kenai. Or, stop by the extension office from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday in the Doors and Windows Building, 43961 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Soldotna.
Homer Senior Citizens
Homer Senior Citizens lunch is open to seniors and guests and is served 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. The lunch menu for this week is: today, roast beef; Friday, shrimp scampi; Monday, baked ham; Tuesday, Salisbury steak; Wednesday, Cuban pork; next Thursday, closed for Thanksgiving.
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 members, $6 nonmembers.
Tai Chi classes are Thursday at 3 p.m. The cost per class is $3 for members and $6 for nonmembers. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-7655.
Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center dining room. Call Pam Hooker at 299-7198 or Kathy Hedges at 235-4556.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Painting students from this semester show their work in a student art show with a reception from 5-6:30 p.m. today.
At 6:30 p.m. today, Nancy Lord and Eva Saulitis hold public readings in a Celebration of Alaska Quarterly Review.
To earn a GED or improve basic reading, writing and math skills, call 235-1606.
The upcoming Winter/Spring Class and workshop schedule is now online at www.kpc.alaska.edu/KBC/searchable_schedule. Registration for next semester’s classes has started. Stop by the campus to sign-up or register online. Register now, pay later. Classes include gourmet cooking/culinary arts, marine technology, bookkeeping, cultures of Africa, polar bears, creative writing, intermediate yoga, 6-pack boat license preparation, pilot ground school, fisheries technology, oil painting, intermediate Tai Chi, ceramics, welding and more. Call 235-7743 for advising information for winter/spring semester classes.
Pratt Museum
The museum winter hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; the museum is closed Monday. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The People’s Choice Art Exhibit features artwork people voted on to display in the downstairs museum art gallery. Many of these pieces from the Pratt’s permanent collection have not been on exhibit in some time, and this input provided a diverse and refreshing selection of works. Among the most popular selections were Tamara Schmidt’s “Alder Crane,” Annette Bellamy’s “Mending Tools” and Alex Combs’ “Caribou.” The show is up through Dec. 31.
“Women Who Run with the Tides: New Work by 29 Women – 25 years” includes works by women artists who lived and work in the Kachemak Bay area at least 25 years ago. Curated by Kim Terpening and Nancy Wise, the show includes new art by current and former Homer area residents.
The annual Stocking Stuffer Party is 1-4 p.m. Nov. 29. Held the Saturday following Thanksgiving, it includes activities for the whole family, such as graham cracker houses, craft stations and photos in the Homestead Cabin with Santa.
South Peninsula Hospital
South Peninsula Hospital offers free help with certified application counselors to anyone wanting to sign up for health insurance made available through the Affordable Care Act. Appointments are available on select Saturdays through February, beginning Saturday. Appointments are at the hospital and are strongly encouraged to avoid a wait. Additional dates for assistance include Dec. 6, 13; Jan. 10, 24; and Feb. 7, 14. Call 235-8101 to make an appointment.
SVT Health & Wellness
SVT Health & Wellness offers a series of classes covering all aspects of wellness every Thursday at 6 p.m. Today’s class is “Sprouting at Home for Better Health”
with Maureen Sullivan, certified holistic health coach.
Sprouting seeds, grains and legumes in your kitchen is like having a mini garden year round. Sprouts are inexpensive, packed with protein, loaded with vitamins, free of pesticides and may help regulate blood sugar.
Learn about these easy-to-grow plants and first steps to grow delicious and nutritious sprouts in your own kitchen this winter without mess, fuss and expense. For more information, call 226-2228.
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace has started. Certified application counselors are available to meet for a one-on-one appointment. Please call 226-2228 to make a free, confidential appointment.
