The rain is falling plenty, but it sure isn’t putting a damper on the activities that people are getting up to around town! From the library to the chamber to the refuge and more, there’s plenty going on to fill those empty spaces on your calendar. To find out what’s what and when it’s happening, check out these Best Bets!

BEST INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS BET: Join the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for an AK Green Crab Awareness Day: Brown Bag Lunch event on Friday, July 19 from noon to 1 p.m. KBNERR staff will provide an update on European Green Crab in Alaska. Find out where they are and the threats they bring to our area. Please bring your own lunch to the event, and feel free to stay for the Discovery Lab on invasive species right after, from 1-3 p.m. 95 Sterling Highway.

BEST MEET A MUSHER BET: Come meet Homer’s own junior Iditarod musher, Addy Pederson, and her retired leader dog on Friday, July 19 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.! This event, part of the Homer Public Library’s Summer@HPL series, will be held in front of the library and is for all ages and families. Learn about Addy’s mushing equipment and ask questions. 500 Hazel Ave.

BEST REFUGE STORIES BET: Join staff of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge daily at 11 a.m. to hear stories from the Refuge’s rich history. Please meet at the map in the AMNWR Visitor Center exhibit hall. This program is free, no reservations required! 95 Sterling Highway.

BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY SLOUGH WALKS BET: Join Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on their Family-Friendly Walks on the Beluga Slough on Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. Learn about salt marsh plants, birds and animals, local currents and tides, local geology and soils, and the long-term monitoring programs that KBNERR has been leading for the past 10+ years. For more information, contact 907-299-4370 or ieharrald@alaska.edu. 95 Sterling Highway.

BEST ASK A GROWER BET: Every Thursday from 4:30-6 p.m., the Kachemak Bay Campus agriculture staff will be pruning tomatoes, trellising cucumbers, attacking weeds and working the land. Stop by the KBC high tunnel, located at the back of the campus parking lot, and learn about growing in Alaska from scratch. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 907-235-1674. 533 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST KIDS’ SELF DEFENSE BET: The Homer Police Department will be holding a self-defense class for children ages 8-14 on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 1-3 p.m. The course will cover what kids can do if a stranger approaches, gets in their safety bubble or if someone grabs them. For questions or to register your child for the class, contact Lt. Ryan Browning at 907-235-3150 or rbrowning@ci.homer.ak.us. 625 Grubstake Ave.

BEST COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARDS BET: The Anchorage Daily News, Peak 2 Peak Events, and the Alaska Journal of Commerce are joining forces to celebrate the Community Impact Awards, recognizing neighborhood nonprofit organizations that have made a profound difference in the lives of Alaskans. Nominations may be submitted once daily until Aug. 19. Voting for the top 20 nonprofits will be available Aug. 23 through Sept. 16. If you have a local nonprofit you want to nominate, make sure to add them today! For more information, visit the Homer Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HomerChamberofCommerce/.

BEST SELL YOUR WARES BET: The Anchor Point Senior Center will be hosting several yard sales on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., running through Aug. 24. Four spaces will be available for community members to rent, $20 each. For more information or to rent a space on a certain Saturday, contact 907-235-7786. 72750 Milo Fritz Ave.