The Homer Hockey Association holds a pie auction and spaghetti and salmon dinner from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Elks Lodge. The event is open to all and includes family-friendly fun, door prizes, food and pies. Dessert donations can be dropped off at 4 p.m. A suggested donation of $20 helps support the hockey association and the Kevin Bell Arena. For more information or to volunteer, call Ginger at 399-1392.
The Friends of the Homer Public Library seeks donations of used books and plants for its Book and Plant Sale at the library. Book donations can be dropped off at the library until today and plants all day Friday. The Friends of the Homer Public Library members-only Book and Plant Sale is 6-8 p.m. Friday. Memberships are available at the door. The regular Book and Plant Sale is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Homer Public Library which supports the programming of the library.
Homer Electric Association holds a series of area meetings throughout the Kenai Peninsula. The meetings will feature a family-style barbeque dinner followed by a short presentation on current HEA projects and activities.
In addition, tours will be offered of the new Soldotna Combustion Turbine Plant from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 8. The plant is located on the Sterling Highway at Boundary Avenue in Soldotna. The schedule for the area meeting and tour is as follows: 5:30 p.m. today, Ninilchik, Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds; Port Graham, Community Center. For more information about the area meetings, please call HEA Director of Member Relations Joe Gallagher at 283-2324.
McNeil Canyon Elementary holds a garage sale from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 4. Lunchroom size tables are available to rent for $20 and half a table is $10. Call Laura at McNeil Canyon, 235-8181, for more information or to reserve a table.
“Show Me the Money: Funding Your Entrepreneurial Idea” is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Homer Public Library. Many entrepreneurs with good ideas are stymied by the lack of capital to make visions reality. Learn more about how to fund ideas such as crowd sourcing, small business loans, angel-investing and start-up grants. Bring ideas and questions. The event is part of iFest: Igniting Innovative Entrepreneurs, events through November on developing entrepreneurial ideas. iFest coincides with the BIZ-Idea Contest and a new opportunity to highlight entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The BIZ-Idea Contest awards cash prizes for entrepreneurial ideas. Information and entry forms are available at the circulation desk of the Homer Public Library or the website at www.friendshomerlibrary.org. Entries will be judged by three local business people on their innovation, sustainability and ability to create jobs. The deadline to enter is 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
SPARC, the South Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, holds Amateur Radio Training Classes from 5-6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2, at the Homer Public Library. It also holds classes from noon-2 p.m. the second Saturday of the month, Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13. A testing session is noon-2 p.m. Dec. 13. Classes and testing are free, with a book purchase for $20. Learn about amateur radio and obtaining a “Ham Ticket” lLicense or upgrading current licenses. Current ham operators also are invited to come and share knowledge and experiences. SPARC holds its monthly meetings after Tuesday evening classes from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. For more information, contact Patrick Brown, KL3DB, Shanley Kerls, KL5AJK, or phone 907-775-4638.
Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board holds it regular monthly board meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Annex building at 206 E. Pioneer Ave. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, call 235-9811.
Big Brothers Big Sisters holds its annual Dream Big Fundraiser from noon-1 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Homer Elks Lodge. Reserve a seat or table by calling 235-8391. Learn how to help sustain the local BBBS mentoring program through donations and volunteering as a Big or with events and planning.
Friendship Center
Friendship Center Adult Day Services is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday with extended hours for special situations. Special programs are offered daily, including story time, crafts and musical performances. For more information, call 235-4556.
Cooperative Extension Service
Now that it’s autumn, what can be done with summertime flower baskets? The Cooperative Extension Service has a free publication, “Growing and Overwintering Fuchsia, Geranium, Dahlia and Tuberous Begonias.” The Cooperative Extension Service is a year-round resource for a variety of topics. Visit today at www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/kenai to find this publication and more. Or, stop by the extension office from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday in the Doors and Windows Building, 43961Kalifornsky 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, country style roast pork; Friday, baked king salmon; Monday, turkey meatloaf; Tuesday, chicken pot pie; Wednesday, baked pork chops.
Strong Women classes are 1-2 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.
Hospice of Homer
Hospice of Homer will hold a community-wide open house from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 15 at its new offices at 265 Pioneer Ave., Suite 3. The hospice office is now located in the lower level of the building with the entrance to the office in the back of the building where there is parking.
The open house is an opportunity for Hospice of Homer supporters and community members as well as hospice clients, board, staff and volunteers to come together and celebrate its new office. The space is providing opportunities for hospice to hone the services it has provided since 1985. Hospice is now able to house the equipment for its loan closet in its new space rather than have it located in a number of storage units around town. For more information, call Hospice of Homer at 235-6899.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Registration is being held for these upcoming classes: Introduction to the Personal Essay with Rich Chiappone, Grant Proposal Writing, Hatha Yoga, Poetry in Our Lives and Digital Camera. For a schedule, visit kbc.alaska.edu/KBC/searchableschedule. Call 235-7743 for information.
To earn a GED or improve basic reading, writing and math skills, call 235-1602. Computer classes in MS Excel and QuickBooks classes begin Saturday and run five weeks. Hatha Yoga class with Alayne Tetor starts at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Michael Haines conducts a workshop, “Building Sustainability Through Entrepreneurial Opportunities,” on Oct. 9 and 16; the fee is $75. Advanced registration is required by today.
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.
“Communities, Disaster and Change” is a traveling exhibition coordinated by the Valdez Museum and Historical Archive. Framed by the 50-year anniversary of the devastating Good Friday Earthquake that struck Alaska on March 27, 1964, the exhibit features 28 artists from around the state. Each artist has submitted one piece, although some works contain multiple elements, such as diptychs and sculptural arrangements, that address the theme of natural disasters’ effects on their communities.
“La Fiesta en el Dia de Los Muertos,” the 29th annual Ritz benefit, is 6:30-10 p.m. Nov. 1 at Wasabi’s. The event includes Spanish cuisine served in a festive Day of the Dead atmosphere with musical entertainment by The Devils Club, featuring Johnny B., Jeff Szarzi, Jennifer King and Tyler Munns. Donated artwork is on display now at the Pratt through Oct. 29 and on Oct. 31 at Wasabi’s. Tickets are on sale at the Pratt and the Homer Bookstore.
South Peninsula Hospital
The 31st annual Rotary Health Fair is set for 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 1 at Homer High School. “It’s Your Life … Take a Day to be Well” is the theme of the fair, sponsored by Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary Club in cooperation with South Peninsula Hospital. The purpose of the fair is to set aside just one day of your life to take advantage of free and inexpensive health screenings and up-to-date information on relevant health topics. More than 60 exhibitors will be available to offer various health screenings and services, including blood pressure, vision tests, hearing tests, flu shots, fitness tests and more.
As part of the health fair, comprehensive blood analysis is available for only $40, a sizeable discount from the average cost of a comparable test. In addition to the basic wellness test, additional tests available for purchase include prostate, thyroid, cardiac, vitamin D and hemoglobin A1C. These tests are offered by appointment at the fair, or before the fair at the hospital with the results available for pickup at the fair. Appointments are offered from Oct. 13-31 in the hospital conference room on the hospital’s lower level. Payment must be made by cash or check at time of the test, and checks can be made to Rotary. Appointments can be made for both the day of the fair or for advance draws at the hospital at www.sphosp.org or by calling the health fair hotline at 399-3158. Book early as appointments fill up the closer it gets to fair date. No food or drink, only water, should be consumed 10-12 hours prior to the test. In all cases prescription medication should be taken and diabetics should not fast. For more information and details on the Health Fair, visit the South Peninsula Hospital website at www.sphosp.org or call the Health Fair Hotline at 399-3158.
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 a screening of “Genetic Roulette” followed by a question-and-answer discussion with Dr. Hillery Daily, naturopathic doctor, and Dr. Rob Downey, board certified family physician.
Are genetically engineered foods a major contributor to the rising disease rates in the U.S. population? Learn how genetically modified foods might affect gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, inflammatory diseases and infertility in humans, pets and livestock. For more information, call 226-2228 ext. 660.
