Homer’s American Legion Auxiliary will be offering Christmas gift wrapping at Ulmer’s Drug and Hardware on Lake Street this holiday season. Gift wrapping will be available from noon to 5 p.m. daily from Friday, Dec. 13, through Monday, Dec. 23, and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Christmas Eve. There is no charge for the service, but donations to support veterans’ programs will be accepted. Contact: Jackie Norvell, 907-399-9990.
Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board will be holding its regular monthly board meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Dec. 12. The meeting will be held at the McNeil Canyon Fire Station, 53048 Ashwood Ave. (Mile 12 East End Road). The public is welcome to attend. You may call the office at 235-9811 for more information.
The South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Dec. 12, at South Peninsula Hospital, conference rooms 1 and 2. The SKPHSAB meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month.
Captain’s Toy Chest holds story and song time with singer and actress Jesi Hahn. She presents Spanish story telling and singing for children at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at Captain’s Toy Chest, 345 Sterling Highway, Suite 105. She will read from “La Gallina Cocorina,” by Mar Pavon, and “La arana muy ocupada,” by Eric Carle.
Homer’s Christmas Bird Count will be Saturday, Dec. 14. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Islands and Ocean Visitor Center to get your team assignment and area. Breakfast goodies and tea/coffee will be available. Count all day with your team and return at 4:30 p.m. to tabulate results and enjoy a hot potluck meal. Bring a dish to share. Dress for being out in the weather all day. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, field guides or apps. New birders are welcome to participate also; they will be in a team with more experienced birders.
If you don’t want to go out in the field to count but would like to participate as a Feederwatcher — watching your feeder and yard to count the birds — contact Dave Erikson or Lani Raymond to be sure you are in the count area, etc. Feeder watchers are invited to the potluck also.
This event if free and open to the public. It is cosponsored by the Kachemak Bay Birders and the Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Dave Erikson is the Coordinator/Compiler for this event. Contact Dave for questions about the count (907-441-7931) or Lani Raymond for questions about the potluck or Feederwatchers (399-9477).
The Homer Fish and Game Advisory Committee will be holding a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the KBRR Building at 2181 Kachemak Drive. Agenda topics will include Kodiak Finfish and Upper Cook Inlet Finfish proposals. For more information contact Dave Lyon at 399-2340 or contact ADF&G Boards Support at 907-267-2354.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 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 Seldovia Fish and Game Advisory Committee will be holding a public meeting at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20 at the Seldovia Multi-Purpose Room at 260 Seldovia Street in Seldovia. Agenda topics will include Upper Cook Inlet Finfish proposals. For more information contact Michael Opheim at 907-435-3247 or contact ADF&G Boards Support at 907-267-2354.
The next regular Kachemak City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 8, 2020, in the Kachemak Community Center.
South CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) will meet next from 6-7 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2020, in Room 209 of the Pioneer Building at Kachemak Bay Campus, 533 E. Pioneer Ave. The group meets every second Wednesday. For more info contact: Laura at 399-7357 or llpeek7357@gmail.com, or Trish at 399-3530. Increase the resiliency of our community and get trained in emergency recovery techniques. Membership is not required to attend.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Homer Annex has moved to its new location at 638 East Pioneer Ave. in the Homer Borough Maintenance building east of the Homer Volunteer Fire Department. The annex door is to the right of the double garage doors. For more information call 235-9837.
Kenai Peninsula Votes tidbit:
A while back, I shared with you that Sandusky Ohio, a town of around 25,000 exchanged Columbus Day for Election Day. That’s right — they swapped one long established holiday for one they decided to create. I was excited by this development, as it was all about getting more people to vote. I was eager to find out how their voter turn-out was for this new Election Day Holiday and compare it to their 2017 election, (even year elections always draw more voters because all 435 U.S. House of Representatives are up for re-election). When I compared their voter turn-out from 2017 to 2019, I was surprised to see that there was a 1-percent drop in voter turn-out for the 2019 election. And then I realized that a change of this magnitude takes time. It takes a strong effort from all reaches of the community to make voting more widespread, and over time I feel optimistic that Sandusky’s Election Day holiday will become a model for other cities. I believe that the idea of honoring people with a holiday for voting speaks volumes. Of course, it also starts with you and your commitment to vote and talking to others about the importance of voting. Let’s continue to spread the word that voting matters. — Alex Koplin, Kenai Peninsula Votes
Ultimate Frisbee group meets from 7-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the SPARC. Contact: Sunny at 441-0314.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities will be closed on Sundays for the winter through April 26, 2020. For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667. Due to a change in its recycle market, Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities will no longer accept D grade plastic film, including plastic shopping bags. Also, they are only accepting #1 PETE beverage bottles with twist tops for recycling.
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 Robbie Fuller 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 lunch menu for this week is: Today, turkey; Friday, seafood linguini; Monday, baked ziti; Tuesday, roast chicken; Wednesday, barbecue beef brisket; and next Thursday, shredded pork sandwiches.
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 Robbie Fuller 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.
Hospice of Homer
A Widows Support Group meets the second and fourth Saturdays of every month at 10:30 a.m. at Hospice of Homer. The group is for women who have lost husbands or partners and seek support in everything from practical matters like insurance to emotional support. For more information, call Marsha Graham at 235-5925.
Living with Loss, a weekly walk-in conversation about loss and bereavement, is on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
Pratt Museum
The special exhibits gallery is hosting Kathy Smith’s “Rivers of Ice” exhibit through Dec. 28.
The Pratt Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For information about what’s happening at the Pratt, visit www.prattmuseum.org or call 235-8635.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Kachemak Bay Campus is open seven days a week and registration is happening right now. Are you interested in the history and collapse of the Soviet Union? Want to spend a weekend exploring and identifying the invertebrates of Jakolof Bay? Are you a high school student who would like to earn one year of high school math credits in one semester? Take a class, earn a degree, or develop an interest or job skills. Free Adult Education classes are held during the day and evening, including help with English, citizenship, basic computer skills, and more. Small classes fill quickly. You can find the schedule at the KBC campus, at local businesses or online. Call 235-7743 for more information.
Join the college in celebrating this year’s UAA School of Nursing graduates who have earned their Associates of Applied Sciences degrees. There will be a pinning ceremony from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 in Pioneer Hall, with light refreshments provided. Speaking at the ceremony include Reid Brewer, KBC Director; Ryan Smith, CEO of South Peninsula Hospital; Carol Klamser, Associate Professor, UAA School of Nursing; and Jane Nollar, Adjunct Faculty UAA School of Nursing.
Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center is open Tuesday – Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Naturalist-led program “Creature Feature” will take place in the month of December on Saturdays, Dec. 14, 21, and 28 from 1-3 p.m. in the lobby. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to stop in and discover a new featured creature each week.
