It’s the beginning of the holiday season and time to prep for winter if you haven’t begun already! The weather clearly won’t wait before dropping a bunch of snow at your doorstep — make sure you’re prepared! There’s a seminar coming up at CACS on storing firewood, and for holiday beginnings, check out the craft fair at Alice’s, and take a couple cans of food to donate while you’re at it. In the meantime, don’t forget to access the Homer Comprehensive Plan and provide feedback on the three potential growth scenarios created by project leaders — now available online! Details on these and more are just below, in these Best Bets!

BEST ARTIST IN SCHOOLS TRAINING BET: Bunnell Street Arts Center presents a virtual Teaching Artist Training Academy, available through November, to Alaska artists and schools looking to learn more about the Artist in Schools program. Three more virtual Tuesday sessions will be held on Nov. 12, 19 and 26 from 6-8 p.m. Participants will gain insight and tools to present Artist in Schools, a trademark program by the Alaska State Council on the Arts throughout Alaska. This training is free and will be recorded and made available on Bunnell’s website. Register ahead of time at www.bunnellarts.org/artist-in-schools/.

BEST STORING FIREWOOD BET: The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies will host a talk with John Winters, from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, on handling and storing firewood for bark beetle control. This free presentation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 6-8 p.m. at CACS headquarters. Come learn about firewood hygiene, including how to handle it and store it to protect local forests from bark beetles and other pests. 708 Smoky Bay Way.

BEST COMP PLAN FEEDBACK BET: The three potential growth scenarios created by Homer Comprehensive Plan Rewrite project leaders are now available online for community members to review and provide feedback! View the scenarios in the Online Report Card and give feedback online at storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1723e52239c140e893068095680be325. The deadline to leave feedback on the Online Report Card is Friday, Nov. 15. Project leaders will then your feedback to identify elements of a “preferred scenario” that they will use to inform the revised Comprehensive Plan, which is slated for release in January 2025. All community members are invited to leave feedback on the scenarios, even if you attended the Oct. 22 work session. Find more information on the comp plan website at homercompplanupdate.com/.

BEST ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE BET: Alice’s Champagne Palace is hosting their Thankful Market and 4th Annual Food Drive on Sunday, Nov. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. In addition to an arts and crafts fair, they will be collecting shelf-stable holiday food for the Homer Food Pantry. Suggested donations include shelf-stable or canned stuffing, cranberry sauce, baking supplies, fried onions, cream of mushroom soup, olives, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and green beans. Come sip and shop for a good cause! 195 E Pioneer Ave.

BEST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS BET: Volunteers are needed for an upcoming Emergency Preparedness Drill at South Peninsula Hospital. Volunteers will serve as fake patients and visitors while hospital staff exercises response plans. This is a four-hour assignment, taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free lunch will be provided to all volunteers. If you can help, call the SPH marketing department at 907-235-0970 or email your name and phone number to marketing@sphosp.org. 4300 Bartlett St.