The Omicron chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a service organization of women educators, holds its annual Back to School Supplies Project. Help local children start their school year on a positive note by purchasing school supplies and backpacks for clients of the Homer Community Food Pantry. Look for donation boxes at Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware. The container lists needed supplies. About 120 children on the lower Kenai Peninsula will benefit.

Community members of all ages are welcome to join the Homelessness Action meeting from 5-7 p.m. today at the R.E.C. Room, 3957 Nielsen Circle (just behind Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic off Ben Walters Lane). This meeting is a continuation of people coming together to address the homelessness issue in and around Homer. Light snacks will be provided. Come when you can, leave when you must. For questions, contact Tara Schmidt at Haven House, 235-7712, ext. 227.

The Parkinson’s Support Group meets 1 p.m. Friday at the Homer Senior Citizens Center Conference Room. The speaker is Dottie Harness-Foster. For more information, call Daniel Weisser at 235-4555 or visit the group’s website at HomerPDSG.wordpress.com.

Hospice of Homer holds a “Celebrate Hospice!” gathering from 3-6 p.m. Saturday at its new offices on Pioneer Avenue. Join Hospice of Homer as it celebrates its 30th anniversary in Homer and support its annual membership drive. This event will feature information booths about who they are and what they do, with food and beverages, music, raffles, welcoming camaraderie and a few surprises. 

The Kachemak Advocates of Recycling (KARe) meets from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, 708 Smokey Bay Way. For more information, contact CACS at 235-6667. Anyone interested in recycling and/or advocating for recycling is welcome to attend.

The VA Volunteer Services of the Kenai Peninsula invites all veterans and their immediate families to the Eighth Annual Southern Kenai Peninsula Veterans Free Picnic from noon-4 p.m. Aug. 16 at the American Legion Hall, Mile 2.5 East End Road in Homer. The event is for veterans from Ninilchik, Anchor Point, Homer and the south side of Kachemak Bay. The picnic includes a barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs and all the trimmings, door prizes, children’s games and music by Hillary Arwen and 8-Mile Band.

Representatives from the VA Medical Clinic in Kenai and American Legion Service Officer Craig Forrest will be present to answer questions. Drew Baker will be there from Kenai Peninsula College with information on educational opportunities. Bring your VA card or DD214 and sign up for VA services.

Veterans do not need to belong to a veterans organization to attend this picnic. It is for all veterans and their families. Monetary donations and volunteers are from veterans and service organizations of the Kenai Peninsula. For more information, call the American Legion Post 16 at 235-8864 or Darlene at 235-6789.

The Alaskan Warrior Class Community holds a #Stop22on22 Ruck March starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 22 at the base of the Homer Spit. #Stop22on22 is a national effort to raise awareness of suicide among veterans. The name refers to the suicide rate of 22 veterans a day. A ruck march is a walk with weighted rucksacks or packs — a “ruck.” The march with a 40-pound ruck starts at the Homer Spit Trail parking lot at Kachemak Drive and the Spit Road and goes to the end of the Spit and back, about 8 miles. The ruck is sponsored by Homer Gym.

“The goal of this ruck is to provide a day for veterans and family to come together and participate in a safe, fun and challenging activity,” said organizer Kurt Leffler II. “If we can provide some peace and comradery for our lost warriors for a day, perhaps we can prevent a death.”

The Alaskan Warrior Class Community is a community of veterans, family and friends who gather to build the bridge between civilian and veteran communities. It holds service projects, sports events and youth mentoring. For more information, visit www.alaskanwarriorclass.com.

Sandhill crane colts are about to start flying. Report fledged colts to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Include the number of colts, date and location of your sighting, as well as your name and number if more information is needed.

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

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, roast beef and mashed potatoes; Friday, rockfish Milanese; Monday, fried chicken and potato salad; Tuesday, lasagna; Wednesday, curried lentil and vegetable stew; next Thursday, roast pork loin.

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.

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.

Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center conference room. Call Jacquie Thaute at 299-2924 or Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.

Kachemak Bay Campus

Registration for all fall classes and workshops for general public and degree-seeking students is now open. Register now and pay later. Stop by KBC to sign up for a fall class or visit kpc.alaska.edu/academics/schedule. For an advising appointment call 235-7743. Classes include welding, painting, Quickbooks, grant proposal writing, history of Alaska, mushrooms of Kachemak Bay, global climate change, poetry writing, ceramics, marine biology, medical terminology, yoga, Tai Chi and more.

Visiting writers Ann Eriksson and Gary Geddes hold a public reading with an evening of poetry and fiction at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10. 

Pratt Museum

Summer gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. Business offices are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The Pratt is showing a series of prototype exhibits in the lower galleries. These are works in progress and opportunities to collect feedback on text, design and interactive components. There are questionnaires available to provide direct input. Currently, visitors can see a small prototype, “Community Connectors – Radios, Telephones and Pathways.”

Road Construction

Expect delays on this lower Kenai Peninsula road project:

• Sterling Highway Mile 135 to 137 improvements: Road construction continues through September. Expect single-lane traffic, 10-minute delays, flagging and pilot car operations on the Sterling Highway from 10 p.m. Sundays through noon Fridays, through September. 

For more information, visit AlaskaNavigator.org.

South Peninsula Hospital

Registration is now open for a Safe Sitter baby sitting course to be held Aug. 13 and 14. The class is designed for 11-13 year olds and teaches basic child care, infant and child CPR, first aid, safety for the sitter, behavior management and business etiquette. The class is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. both days. Students should bring their own lunch. Registration is required. The cost is $70 per person, but scholarships are available based on need. Space is limited and registration required. Please call the hospital’s education department at 235-0258 for more information and to register.