Don’t miss out on some great events this week! Tonight, head on over to the Homer Theatre for a free movie screening sponsored by South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services, part of their annual DeStig Cinema Series! Or cozy up at the Tickled Pear this weekend for some good food and quiet reading time. If you’ve been itching to give back to the community, this Saturday presents a great volunteer training opportunity sponsored by Hospice of Homer, serving the Southern Kenai Peninsula! For details on these and more, check out these Best Bets.

BEST COMMUNITY MOVIE NIGHT BET: South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services presents a free discussion and film event for the Homer community. On Thursday, Feb. 22 from 6-8 p.m., join for a screening of “Mary and Max” at the Homer Theatre, part of South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services’ fifth annual DeStig Cinema Series, exploring how mental illness, substance misuse and developmental disabilities are portrayed in pop culture. For more information, visit https://www.kbbi.org/community-calendar/event/destig-cinema-series-film-2-mary-and-max-18-01-2024-20-02-23 or contact 907-235-7701. 106 W. Pioneer Ave.

BEST VOLUNTEER TRAINING BET: Are you looking for volunteer opportunities, or ways to help out in the community? If so, check out this training event provided by Hospice of Homer for volunteering in Anchor Point! There are so many ways to help your neighbors, from being phone friends and providing social connection by telephone, serving as a volunteer visitor, providing respite care to allow family caregivers time away, helping with shopping and errands, meal preparation, providing transportation to and from appointments, dog walking and pet care, and end-of-life care. On Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join Hospice of Homer at the Anchor Point VFW Post 10221 for a volunteer orientation. Lunch, coffee and beverages will be provided. To sign up or for more information, call 907-235-6899 or email care@hospiceofhomer.org. 72551 Milo Fritz Ave.

BEST BOOK CLUB BET: Calling all introverts and people who want a quiet space to read! The Tickled Pear is hosting a Silent Book Club on Sunday, Feb. 25 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Join for a small gathering of introverted readers who like good food and great company — grab some food or your favorite beverage, chat for a bit, then move on to reading silently for about an hour. Silent Book Club will close out with optional socializing, or participants may feel free to keep reading. For more information, contact 907-630-0006. 1308 Lakeshore Drive.

BEST WEEKLY SPEAKERS BET: The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies continues their winter weeknight program, Tuesday Night Lights, through February! This free, family-friendly rotating event series at CACS headquarters will feature a new special guest giving a talk or hosting an activity every week. On Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., learn to sew a felt squirrel with Lora Haller from the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center! All materials provided; there is a $5 suggested donation at the door to help cover the cost of materials. Advanced registration for this event is required. To register, visit bit.ly/cacs-special-programs. Make sure to check out the full schedule for other amazing speakers at www.facebook.com/ConnectingUwiththeNatureofAlaskasince1982/. 708 Smoky Bay Way.

BEST WEEKLY WELLNESS BET: SPH Health & Wellness invites you to a free weekly gathering every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Kachemak Bay Campus! Participants can enjoy warm soup, bread and a dose of health education from a rotating presenter, all followed by an hour of Therapeutic Flying Yoga with Joolee Aurant. On Feb. 28, join Carrie Warren, FNP, for a presentation on how chronic exposure to physical or mental stress releases hormones that affect hunger cues, metabolism, and fat production, leading to inflammation at a cellular level. Discover effective methods for recognizing and reducing the signs of stress in your life. Community members of all ages and abilities are welcome. Come for part of it or all of it! For more information, check SPH’s calendar of events at www.sphosp.org/whats-new/calendar_of_events/. 533 E. Pioneer Ave.

BEST WRITERS CONTEST BET: The 26th Kenai Peninsula Writer’s Contest is here! Running through March 2, submissions are open to all Kenai Peninsula residents for three writing categories and five age groups ranging from K-3rd grade to Adult/Open. Participants may submit unlimited entries in poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Submissions to the Adult/Open age group are $10 each. Submissions to age groups within K-12th grade are $3 each. For more information, call Homer Council on the Arts at 907-235-4288. 355 W Pioneer Ave.