Registration is open for the 2019 Alaska Food Festival and Conference, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, at Land’s End Resort in Homer.
Hosted by the Alaska Food Policy Council (AFPC), this semi-annual event previously took place in Anchorage in 2014 and 2016 and in Fairbanks in 2017.
This year, the Alaska Farmers Market Association is co-hosting the conference.
For more information about the conference, contact Robbi Mixon at (907) 235-4068, Ext. 23, or robbi@inletkeeper.org.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday March 20 at the Anchor Point Fire Station, 72440 Milo Fritz Ave. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 235-6700.
The College Council will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at KPC’s Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer in Pioneer room 202.
The College Council is advisory in nature and members are recruited from all sectors of the Kenai Peninsula to provide input to KPC administration. The meeting is open to the public.
For a copy of the agenda, contact the director’s assistant at 262-0318 or visit this link: www.kpc.alaska.edu/about/college_council/reports/ .
The Homer Fish & Game Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at the KBRR building located at 2181 Kachemak Drive. The agenda will include discussion of crab and fishery proposals for the upcoming cycle and any other business that may properly come before the committee.
The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Dave Lyon at 399-2340.
Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board will be holding a budget workshop meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, with the regular board meeting following at 7 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station – 53048 Ashwood Ave. (Mile 12 East End Road) and the public is welcome to attend.
Call the office at 235-9811 for more information.
The Homer Foundation Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is now soliciting letters of intent from nonprofit organizations that promote fun, healthy, and educational activities for youth in Homer for summer 2019.
This opportunity is for grant awards from $200-$2,000. The receipt deadline for letters is Wednesday, March 6, by 5 p.m.
For more information contact the Homer Foundation at info@homerfoundation.org or 235-0541.
Kenai Peninsula Votes offers reflections and advice on voting. How did the Kenai Peninsula fare in voter turnout for the 2018 general election?
The official election results from Nov. 6, on the Kenai Peninsula, had 58 percent of registered voters cast ballots. This percentage is a solid indicator that the citizens of the Kenai are informed and active.
In comparison, the total voter turnout for Alaska was just under 50 percent. (Results found at Division of Elections Alaska) What does this mean? Well for this election, the majority of registered voters on the Kenai Peninsula were able to elect candidates and decide ballot measures where there was a clear majority.
A strong representation of voters is what keeps our democratic government a democracy.
It also means that our culture for civic awareness is strong. And yes, we have many different views and feelings, but in the end the commonality of voting allows for the positions and issues to move forward. Can we improve upon our system of voting? Of course, we can.
The citizens of the Kenai Peninsula are committed to increasing voter turnout and will continue to increase voter awareness.
For more information on Kenai Peninsula Votes, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Kenai-Peninsula-Votes-1137000326349152/
The 2019 Homer Friends of the NRA Banquet will be held on March 2 at Bald Mountain Air Hangar in Homer. Get tickets to the banquet at friendsofnra.org/eventtickets/Events/Details/2?eventld=56297.
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.
HVFD also wants to remind everyone smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors save lives. Please make sure you have working detectors in your home.
If you need any assistance with making sure you have adequate coverage in your home from smoke and carbon monoxide, please reach out to your local fire department for assistance.
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.
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.
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
Coastal Navigation and Refrigeration Basics begin March 25.
Able Seaman: March 28–April 13. This new USCG-approved 40 hour course is for those who have sea time and would like to obtain the able seaman Merchant Mariner Credential. Fishermen are welcome.
Take this class and pass the exam in lieu of Coast Guard Exam. You may have more sea time than you think.
Call the KBC Marine Technology Coordinator at 907- 235-1622. $500 fee includes book.
Skills you can bank on: KBC has brought in the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Construction Trades Classes the week of March 11 – 16 (Spring Break). Learn facilities maintenance per OSHA regulations; interior repairs and drywall techniques; and flooring installation, vinyl, wood and parquet. Registration deadline is today, Feb. 28. These KBC classes will take place at Homer High School. Call 235-7743.
Coming up in March in Pioneer Hall at KBC:
“Fundraising Best Practices for Alaska Nonprofits Workshop: proven strategies and tactics that work in Alaska.” $50. March 4. Call 235-7743 to find out how you, your board and staff can get more out of your fundraising efforts.
“Natural Resources & Economic Development: At Home and Abroad” with UAA Economics Professor Alexander James at 6:30 p.m. on March 6. Free and open to the public.
South Peninsula Hospital
As a registered Safe Sitter Teaching Site, South Peninsula Hospital is offering a one-day SafeSitter Babysitting class on Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students in 6th through 8th grade learn how to be safe when home alone, watching siblings or babysitting.
Course covers safety skills, first aid, child care, choking rescue, CPR for infants and children and business etiquette. Registration is required; the cost is $50 and scholarships are available. Call 235-0970 or visit sphosp.org
South Peninsula Hospital General Surgeon Greg Hough will lead the next “Walk with a Doc” at SPARC (600 Sterling Hwy next to Homer Middle School).
All are welcome Saturday, March 3 from 9-10 a.m. for Hough’s brief talk on colon health, cancer prevention and healthy lifestyle choices.
Spend the rest of the hour walking indoors 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. Email wellness@sphosp.org, or call the SPH Health & Wellness Department at (907) 235-0970 with questions or for more information.
South Peninsula Hospital’s Homer Medical Center offers “Living Well Alaska”, a chronic disease self-management class starting in March. Developed by Stanford University, and endorsed by the State DHSS, this six week group workshop is for people dealing with ongoing health conditions or the family members who support them.
People with all kinds of long term conditions such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses can benefit. At a Living Well Alaska workshop, you will learn the skills to set goals, problem solve understand and handle symptoms, eat well and be active, deal with difficult emotions and work with your health care team
Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
Exhibits and gift shop at Alaska Islands & Oceans Visitor Center are open from noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday.
The Pre-K Puffins Early Learning Program will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Seminar Room on Thursday, Feb. 28.
Join a Refuge Ranger for an hour and a half of story time, crafts, and early learning activities centered on marine species. This month’s theme: Walruses.
