Homer Head Start is accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year. Head Start is a free preschool program for families with children age 3-4 who qualify. Children experiencing disabilities are welcome. Applications are available at Homer Head Start located at 1266 Ocean Drive. Call 907-235-4322 with any questions.
The Recall Dunleavy Office in Homer (3756 Lake Street) will be open every day, including weekends, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4-6 p.m. for those who want to sign the petition.
South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board will hold its next monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in conference rooms 1 and 2 at South Peninsula Hospital. This is an elected board that oversees tax dollars for a healthier community. The board meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month.
Kachemak Emergency Service Area Board will be holding their regular monthly board meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. 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 and if you need further information call the fire station office at 235-9811.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 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.
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 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 the Alaska Islands and Ocean 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 e-mail your application to Alaska State Parks, 95 Sterling Highway, Homer AK, 99603. Applications are due by March 31, 2020. For more information please contact the Southern District Ranger Jason Okuly at 435-7595 or Jason.Okuly@alaska.gov.
There will be an Amateur Radio F.C.C. Testing Session from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11 at the Homer Public Library. Participants must have an FRN number and have prepaid their registration fee online. Contact Ken Adams at 907-299-7336 for complete details.
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:
As promised, this voting tidbit is to tell you how to request an absentee ballot from the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the City of Homer. If you know you’re going to be out of town, or just want to mail a ballot in for the Oct. 6 election, (which will be city and borough elections) you will have to apply for two absentee ballots, one from the borough and one from the city. There is an easy way to do this. Just go straight to https://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/cityclerk/election-information and click on “Absentee Voting.” At this site you can click on two different absentee ballot applications, one for the borough and one for the city and print each of them off, fill them out, and then mail them to the address that is specified on the form. City voters will have at least two city council member seats to vote on for this election. Please don’t procrastinate as springtime weather is crawling back into sight. Get your applications in today. Voting does take planning and all voters should be encouraged to vote.
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. 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, walnut crusted pork, Friday, shrimp scampi. The menu for the rest of the week is not yet available.
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
Widow’s Support Group meets every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Hospice of Homer. The group is for women who have lost a spouse or a family member, or partner and seek support from practical matters like insurance to emotional support. For more information, call Marsha Graham at 235-5925 or Marcia Lowe at 435-0403.
Living with Loss, a weekly walk-in conversation about loss and bereavement, is on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Free Adult Education Drop in Classes are available at Bayview Hall of Kachemak Bay Campus on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5-6:30 p.m. Work towards a GED (high school equivalency), improve English reading and writing skills, or prepare for citizenship. Classes are free. Call 235-1606 for more information.
Weekly Tibetan Buddhist Meditation with Chökyi Ösel Rinpoche/Ellen Chambers takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in room P219 of Pioneer Hall. These free classes will include meditation instruction, 20 minutes of sitting meditation, and a short teaching followed by discussion and questions.
Great Decisions Discussion Group will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. in room P219 of Pioneer Hall at Kachemak Bay Campus every second Thursday of the month. Do you wish you knew more about world affairs? Do you want to have a voice in policy decisions made by our leaders? Join monthly facilitated discussions based on one chapter of the Foreign Policy Association 2020 Great Decisions Briefing Book. This free, non-partisan event is hosted by Elise Boyer and Kat Haber. Questions? Call Elise at 435-7025.
Advanced Knitting with Katie Connor will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, March 16 and 18. Building on the experience of proficient knitters, learn knitting language in cable, lace and Fair Isle. Also, feel free to bring an existing project for troubleshooting help. The class costs $35. Visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/ or call 235-7743 to register.
March Marine Electronics with Mark Zeiset of South Central Radar will take place from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Learn the basics of marine electronics operation – the latest innovations in marine communications, distress alerts, satellite interface technology, radar and GPS navigation systems. The class costs $30. Visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/ or call 235-7743 to register.
Homer Drawdown: Our Climate Solutions will be held at the college from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 19. Join the Cook Inletkeeper and the greater Homer community to discuss how you can take action here in Kachemak Bay to respond to rapidly changing climate. This will be held in Pioneer Hall. Bring something for the potluck. Call (907) 235-4068 for more information.
The Kenai Peninsula College, College Council will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at Kachemak Bay Campus. This meeting is open to the public.
College Career Job Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 20. Discover Alaska’s high-growth jobs and career information. Bring your resume and dress for interviews, or learn about training opportunities meet employers from a variety of industries. Call 235-7743 for more information.
KBC Public Square presents Strategies for Engaging in Difficult Conversations with Libby Roderick at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Roderick is director of the UAA Difficult Dialogues Initiative. How do you talk about critical issues like race, class, and gender relations? How do you respectfully grapple with issues such as gun control, gay marriage, immigration, institutional racism, and climate change? Come learn how to engage in respectful discussions with people with whom we differ. This is a free event. Refreshments provided.
Deckhand Skills takes place Friday, March 20-22. Learn practical job skills for becoming a deckhand on any vessel. Includes safety, survival skills, line handling, knots, gear, basic navigation, crew roles, helm, wheelhouse expectations and more. This class costs $95. To register call 325-7743 or visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com.
Live Model Portrait Painting with David Pettibone will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on March 21 and 22. On day one, explore composition, drawing, temperature, value and the light mass vs the shadow mass. On day two, build on this foundation with a more complex color palette capturing the subtlety of the color and values perceived in the model before the class. This class costs $150.
Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Friends and family of Duffy Murnane are hosting another community conversation, “Responding to Trauma” from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday. Join Jay Bechtol and Dave Eckwert with South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services for this free discussion about dealing with grief, loss, anxiety, and other issues that may arise during traumatic situation of events, like Duffy’s disappearance.
Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park invite you to to join them for their 50th Anniversary Lecture Series from 7-8:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday. This month’s topic: Marine Mammals of the State Park.
Come join the monthly Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges meeting from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 to hear Fish and Wildlife Fire Ecologist Lisa Saperstein give an overview on fire ecology in Alaska.
Families and the community are invited to the KBEEA sponsored Discovery Lab from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 to explore “Women in STEM through hands-on activities.”
