The third annual Women’s March will take place in Homer at 11 a.m. Saturday Jan. 19. The march is a women-led and organized effort to harness and amplify the political power of diverse women within our community. National march organizers deemed 2019 as the year of the “Women’s Wave.” Homer will join with sister marches all over the country to continue to shed light on the importance of women’s equal participation in governance and to provide intersectional education on a diverse range of issues creating entry points for new grassroots activists. The Homer Women’s March will begin at the HERC building and end of WKFL Park. This is a family friendly event, all are welcome.
A schedule of events is listed below:
11a.m: Gather at HERC building parking lot.
11:30 a.m.: Inspirational speakers in HERC parking lot.
Noon: Sidewalk march on north side of Pioneer Avenue to WKFL gazebo.
12:30 p.m. Group photo at gazebo. Join us there if you are unable to march.
12:30-2:30 p.m. Kachemak Bay Campus: live streaming of National March on Washington and community info about intersectional issues facing women.
Sign making will be held 5-8 p.m. today at the Cook Inletkeeper office at 3734 Ben Walters Lane. All are welcome jto oin in making a sign on one of the following days and times. All materials provided.
In conjunction with the march two free documentaries will be screened at the Homer Public Library to amplify how women have played critical roles in shaping our country. Catch “Iron Jawed Angels” at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 and “Makers: The Women Who Made America” at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.
Questions can be directed to Satchel Pondolfino at 907-244-0912 or Sandy Garity at 406-529-7970.
The Homer Education and Recreation Complex (HERC) Task Force recently completed a six- month study of the HERC facility. The Task Force presented their final report with recommendations for what to do with the 63-year old facility to City Council in December and now invites the public to a community conversation about the report.
The Community Conversation will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the Cowles Chambers at Homer City Hall. Members of the HERC Task Force will open the conversation by answering questions about the report and discussing how they arrived at their recommendations. The final hour will be a round table conversation about the next steps the City Council may take in light of the report and the HERC Task Force recommendations. For more information, contact Deputy City Planner Julie Engebretsen at jengebretsen@ci.homer.ak.us or 907-435-3119.
The Homer Fish & Game Advisory Committee’s Fish Subcommittee will be meeting Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. at the KBRR building located at 2181 Kachemak Drive. The agenda will be developing proposals for Cook Inlet and Cook Inlet intercept fisheries, and any other proposals included in the 2019 Call for Proposals (which includes Cook Inlet, Kodiak, and Statewide King & Tanner Crab (except SE). Proposals are due by April 10. For more information, contact Dan Anderson, Fish Subcommittee Chair at 435-3929 or paragondan@sbcglobal.net.
Kachemak Bay State Parks is currently recruiting for members for the Kachemak Bay State Parks Citizens Advisory Board.
This advisory board provides Alaska State Parks with recommendations and input on management issues in Kachemak Bay State/Wilderness Park, Eveline State Recreation Site, and Diamond Creek State Recreation Area.
Board members meet the second Wednesday of the month September through May from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Island and Oceans Visitor Center in Homer. If you are interested in applying for this advisory board, please fill out an application at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/misc/boards.htm under State Park Advisory Boards.
Please mail or email your application to Alaska State Parks, 95 Sterling Highway, Homer AK, 99603.
Applications are due by Feb. 15.
For more information, please contact South District Ranger Jason Okuly at 435-7595 or email Jason.Okuly@Alaska.Gov.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Road Service Area would like to remind individuals and private contractors not to deposit snow and ice onto borough right-of-ways. This is against Kenai Peninsula Borough code. Accumulated snow piles and berms near roadways present a safety concern by limiting visibility. It creates road maintenance problems. Call 262-4427 with any questions.
The Homer Volunteer Fire Department wants to remind the public as the temperature drops and they start to turn the heat on, make sure you properly have your chimney cleaned and inspected.
The department offers chimney brushes at the station for your convenience. Give them a call if you have any questions at 907-235-3155 ext. 0.
The South Peninsula Haven House (SPHH) Board of Directors is currently accepting nominations from community members for the 2019 Women of Distinction. The Board invites community members to participate in celebrating the cross-generational contributions of women in our community by nominating a woman in one of the three categories listed below: Woman of Distinction, Woman of Wisdom, and Young Woman of Distinction. Nomination forms may be obtained from the Haven House office, from our website at www.havenhousealaska.org or from Haven House’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/havenhousealaska. Completed forms can be submitted to South Peninsula Haven House, 3776 Lake Street, Homer, AK 99603 or emailed to admin@havenhousealaska.org The deadline for nominations is March 1. The 2019 Honorees will be honored at the March 29 Women of Distinction dinner and auction to be held at Alice’s Champagne Palace.
Ultimate Frisbee groups meets Mondays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. at the SPARC.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are closed on Sundays through April 28, 2019.
For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667.
Tsalteshi Trails Association will hold a 20- and 40-kilometer Tour of Tsalteshi ski race on Feb. 17 at the trailhead behind Skyview Middle School in Soldotna. The 40-kilometer freestyle race — two laps around the trails — starts at 11:30 a.m. A 20-kilometer race — one lap around the trails, with freestyle and classic divisions — starts shortly thereafter. Prizes will be awarded for the first three men and women finishers in each race and raffle drawings will be available to all participants. Awards will be given at a post-race party at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna. Discounts are available for early registration and members of Tsalteshi Trails Association, Kachemak Nordic Ski Club and Seward Nordic Ski Club. The first 100 to sign up get a free buff with local artwork. To register or for more information, visit www.touroftsalteshi.org.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Road is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
The center serves Thursday night dinners starting at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Bingo is at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. on Friday nights. The Helping Hands Thrift Store is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Exercise sessions are at 10 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. For information, call 235-7786.
Friendship Center
Friendship Center Adult Day Services is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday with extended hours for special situations.
Programs are offered daily, including story time, crafts and musical performances. Call 235-4556.
Homer Senior Citizens
The Caregiver Support Group meets 2-3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday in the senior center conference room. Call Pam Hooker at 299-7198 or Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.
Homer Senior Citizens lunch is open to seniors and guests and is served noon-1:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Lunch costs $7 for seniors age 60 and older, and $15 for those under 60.
The menu for this week is: Today, turkey; Friday, beef stroganoff; Monday, stuffed shells with meat; Tuesday, teriyaki chicken; Wednesday, spaghetti with Italian sausage; and next Thursday, walnut-crusted pork.
Strong Women classes are 1:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Homer Senior Center. Zumba Gold classes with Maria are 11 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Homer Senior Center.
Tai chi classes are Thursdays at 3 p.m. Duplicate Bridge meets at 1 p.m. Thursdays. Call Daniel Weisser at 235-4555.
Duplicate Bridge is $3 for members and $5 for non-members.
Strong Women, Zumba and Tai Chi are $5 for members and $7 for non-members.
Pratt Museum
Galleries are closed for renovations until May 2019.
The business office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Kenai Peninsula residents who have enrolled or hope to enroll in KPC classes, but are impacted by the ederal shutdown are encouraged to call KPC toll-free at 877-262-0330.
Those seeking to earn an associate of arts or bachelor of arts degree, contact the KBC advisor at 235-7743. Classes include Welding, Vessel Systems, Medical Terminology, Cetaceans of Alaska, Able Seaman, Yoga, Gill Net Building, Oceanography, Drawing, DC Electricity for Boats, Environmental Economics and Policy, Medical Coding, Introduction to Behavioral Psychology, Volcanology of Kachemak Bay, East Asian History, Tai Chi, Private Ground School, Deckhand Skill training, 100 Ton/OUPV, Pit-fired Pottery, and more.
KBC Art opening: Feb. 1, 5-6:30 p.m. Photography by Joe Kashi.
Upcoming community workshops: Windows Basic; Tuesday, Jan. 28-Feb. 12, from 5-7 p.m. Cost is $90.
Introductory Tai Chi and Quigong with Dean Sundmark will be held Thursday, Jan. 24-April 11.
Advanced Photoshop Skills workshop by Taz Tally will run Feb. 2-16, for $100.
New upcoming Construction Trades classes: Interior Repair, Facility Maintenance, Flooring Installation, to run March 10-14.
South Peninsula Hospital
Homer Medical Center is offering free Diabetes Screenings in the month of January for patients without a current diabetes diagnosis. The screening includes a Point of Care diabetes screening blood test (HbA1C), a 30 minute visit with Peggy Ellen Kleinleder, RN, certified diabetes nurse educator, a review of test results, diabetes education on healthy eating for pre-diabetes, diabetes and diabetes prevention, a blood pressure check and free take-home materials. Daytime and evening appointments are available. Call Homer Medical Center at 235-8586 and ask for the New Year’s Free Diabetes Screening. It is free, and no insurance is necessary.
South Peninsula Hospital Education Department is offering these American Heart Association classes on Jan. 18:
• Heartsaver CPR/AED from 8 a.m. to noon at SPH Training Center for $50 per person. This covers infant/child/adult CPR and use of an AED.
• First Aid 1-4 p.m. at SPH Training Center for $50 per person.
The trainings are offered on a monthly basis and the complete schedule of upcoming classes can be found at sphosp.org. Please call SPH Education Department 235-0258 to register or for more information.
Certified Nurse Midwives from Homer Medical Center’s West Wing are offering free classes on childbirth and newborn care starting Tuesday, Jan. 15 and running every Tuesday through Feb. 12. The free one-hour classes are at 5:30 p.m. in South Peninsula Hospital’s conference rooms on the hospital’s lower level. No registration is required. Subjects include anatomy, labor and birth; breathing and relaxation techniques and other pain relief options; complications of labor and birth; newborn care and breastfeeding. For more information contact the West Wing at 235-3040 or visit homermedical.org.
Join South Peninsula Hospital and private practice counselor Bobbi Cleary, MSCP, LPC from 9-10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at SPARC (600 Sterling Highway) next to Homer Middle School) for the next “Walk with a Doc.” Hear Cleary’s brief talk on Seasonal Affective Disorder – what it is and ways to cope with it — then spend the rest of the hour walking at your own pace, chatting and asking any questions. This is a free event, open to all ages and abilities. There will be free blood pressure screenings, prizes, and refreshments. Please bring clean indoor walking shoes. There is parking up at the SPARC and down below in the Homer Middle School Parking lot. For more information contact the hospitals Health and Wellness Department at 235-0970.
