September is in full swing — that smell of autumn in the air, leaves beginning to turn color, and Halloween candy already on the shelves in Safeway. The days might be getting chillier, but community events are still hopping. Check out these Best Bets for what’s coming soon — local fundraising, high tunnel happenings, election forums and harbor talks. These are occasions you won’t want to miss!

BEST PHOTO SUBMISSION BET: Homer News wants your photos! If you are a local business hosting or a local participating in events and activities around town, we’d love to feature your photos in Homer’s Best Bets! High quality images can be sent to towncrier@homernews.com. Please include a brief description of what is happening in the photo, names of individuals pictured, and the date and location the photo was taken. This opportunity has no end date.

BEST CANDIDATE FORUM BET: Educate yourself before the upcoming elections! A series of candidate forums will be happening this month in Homer. The Homer Public Library will host two forums moderated by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL: Thursday, Sept. 14 from 6-7 p.m. will feature the Homer seat candidates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the borough mayoral candidates, and Monday, Sept. 18 from 6-7 p.m. will feature the Homer City Council candidates. 500 Hazel Ave. Additionally, hear from your borough assembly hopefuls in the KPB Assembly Candidate Forum at Kachemak Bay Campus on Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 5:30-7 p.m. Moderated by Homer Chamber of Commerce board president Michael Daniel, this event includes assembly candidates Kelly Cooper and Heath Smith. Attend in person or by Zoom. Visit www.homeralaska.org/event/candidate-forum%3A-kenai-peninsula-borough-assembly/1208/ for more information or for the Zoom link, or call 907-235-7740. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST LIVE READING BET: Join Kachemak Bay Campus for a live reading presented by Tutka Bay Writers Retreat featured instructor, Amy E. Butcher. This event, co-sponsored by KBC and the Homer Bookstore, is free and open to the public. The reading will be held the evening before the 2023 retreat begins, on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Butcher is an award-winning essayist and author of “Mothertrucker,” published in 2021. For more information, visit 49writers.org/event/amy-butcher-homer-reading/. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST LIVE HEALTH TALK BET: Join South Peninsula Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. for a monthly “Down with Downey: Live at Five” talk on fighting fatigue. Uncover fatigue’s root causes beyond conventional medicine, learn about lifestyle, emotional and environmental factors that impact energy levels, and explore integrative approaches for effective healing. Dr. Rob Downey, MD is an IFM-certified practitioner at Seaworthy Functional Medicine Clinic. “Down with Downey” is a monthly series held on Facebook Live where participants can hear Dr. Downey’s insights on health, wellness and functional medicine, followed by a live Q&A. For more information, 907-435-3070 or fmc@sphosp.org.

BEST LOCAL FUNDRAISER BET: Grace Ridge Brewing Inc. is hosting a garage sale on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will all proceeds directed to bring the mobile mammogram van to Homer for no-cost early detection exams in coordination with Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. Community members are invited to donate items to sell on Friday night from 5-7 p.m or on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. For more information or to volunteer with the event, contact Sherry Stead at Grace Ridge Brewing, 907-435-0601. 870 Smoky Bay Way.

BEST GUIDED FORAGING AND BIRDING BET: Join Kachemak Heritage Land Trust and naturalist Dale Chorman for a guided foraging and birding experience on Saturday, Sept. 16. Plan to meet at 9 a.m. to take Mako’s water taxi across the bay. Partake in a moderately strenuous hike to pick blueberries, bird-watch, and learn about other local flora and fauna on Grace Ridge. Stock up for those long winter months and connect with land trust friends while supporting KHLT. This all-day trip will be limited to 10 attendees. For more information, visit www.kachemaklandtrust.org/events.html. 315 Klondike Ave.

BEST GROWING GARLIC BET: Join Synergy Gardens’ Lori Jenkins at the Kachemak Bay Campus high tunnel on Sunday, Sept. 17 from 2-4 p.m. to learn about growing garlic. This community course will include information about the varieties, cultural requirements, sites and soils, fertilization, weed controls, harvesting, curing and storage. The cost for the course is $50 and includes three heads of seed garlic. To register, visit http://kpc.alaska.edu/communitycourses or call 907-235-1674. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST PUBLIC FEEDBACK BET: Homer Harbor Expansion project staff want your ideas and feedback! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed the design alternatives milestone as part of the harbor expansion study, and five designs will move into the design alternative formulation and analysis phase. You’re invited to a public meeting, facilitated by project staff from the City of Homer, USACE and HDR Engineering, on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Kachemak Bay Campus to hear an update on the study and share your ideas. For more information, visit www.homerharborexpansion.com. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST JAZZ CONCERT BET: Join Homer Council on the Arts for a one-night-only intimate jazz concert on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. The John Damberg Jazz Quartet, featuring John Damberg on vibes, Mark Manners on guitar, Dirk Westfall on bass and Eddie Wood as percussionist, will present a collection of musical stylings including originals, contemporary jazz, funk, Latin-style songs, and Broadway show tunes and jazz standards. A $20 donation is suggested for this event. For more information or to RSVP, visit homerart.org/event/john-damberg-jazz-quartet/. 355 W Pioneer Ave.