Please report sandhill crane sightings to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Date, time, location, behavior, and number of cranes is helpful. Leave a name and number in case they need more details.

Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board will be holding its regular monthly board meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station, 53048 Ashwood Ave. (Mile 12 East End Road). The public is welcome to attend. Call 235-9811 for more information.

The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, 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 Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center’s 21st annual cleanup day is almost here. Yellow trash bags are now available for pick up around town at six locations: Homer Chamber of Commerce, Save-U-More, Fritz Creek General Store, Homer Shores Offshore Store, Kachemak Gear Shed, and Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware. Join the cleanup fun any time between now and Saturday, May 4, when you can drop off your filled bags at the Chamber of Commerce and enjoy a free picnic lunch courtesy of the Kachemak Bay Lions Club.

Hazardous Waste Collection Day is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Homer Transfer Facility. It’s free to households, but businesses are charged a fee. This event is for households and small businesses. All businesses and households with 55 gallons or more total must pre-register with NRC Alaska, who manages this event. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste Department provides the location. For specific questions, call NRC Alaska 877-375-5040. For general questions, call the Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste Department at 907- 262-9667.

Kenai Peninsula Votes tidbit from Alex Koplin:

We know that voter turnout increases when the candidates and issues directly affect you, the voter. Currently in Alaska, more people are getting involved in governmental affairs because of the governor’s proposed budget. This week, I met a 27-year-old woman. She told me she had never spent any time learning about what was on the ballot and voting didn’t mean that much to her. But now, she has a 2-year-old daughter, and she wants to learn more about specific bills and wants to be more prepared when she votes. Voting is complicated. Sorting through all the information and making sense of it is hard. But it is the responsibility of the voter to learn about what will be on the ballot before going to the voting polls. There are currently issues that impact many Alaskans. Do some research and be an informed voter. Your vote can make a difference.

Ultimate Frisbee group meets Mondays and Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the SPARC.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are now open seven days a week through September. Hours are 8 a.m.-5:45 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Sundays.

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 Avenue, 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

Registration is now going on for the 2019 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference being held June 14-18. An optional post-conference workshop is at Tutka Bay Wilderness Lodge. For information visit http://writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.

Register for fall 2019 classes now. Save your space and register early. Payments aren’t due until September.

South Peninsula Hospital

Teams are being solicited for the annual Homer Steps Up community walking challenge which has the goal of 100 million steps in the month of May.

The annual event, sponsored by South Peninsula Hospital in partnership with numerous local agencies, is May 1-28. Teams are asked to enroll in advance and as soon as possible.

Individual registration begins in April. Individuals can already join the team “Individual Steppers,” and if your team is already registered, you can enroll at homerstepsup2019.challengerunner.com by checking the box next to “Homer Steps Up! 2019,” clicking the “Enroll” button and following the prompts.

Contact Maggie Wyatt at South Peninsula Hospital Health and Wellness at wellness@sphosp.org or 235-0970 for more information or to enroll your 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 2019 Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival starts Wednesday, May 8. From 3-5 p.m. Wednesday is a Bird of Prey Discovery Lab at the Visitor Center Lab Classroom. Learn about the raptors in the Homer area. Led by the Kachemak Bay Environmental Education Alliance, this event is free and open to the public. Learn more at http://kachemakshorebird.org.