The Spit Run will take place at 11 a.m. this Saturday at the park at Bishop’s Beach. Meet at 11 a.m. for a 10 minute meeting to go over rules and explanations. The run will start soon after. Low tide is at 11:28 a.m. The race goes from Bishop’s Beach to the end of the Homer Spit near Land’s End. There is no cost for the event and all race finishers will receive an ice cream cone at the end of the Spit. The run crosses sands, slough and tide pools. Wear sneakers that you can get wet. After the start, racers will be distancing. For more information, call Gordy at 907-399-1010.
East End Cottages is now accepting applications for two-and three-bedroom apartments located at 41716 Crested Crane Street in Homer, off East End Road (across from George’s Storage). This living community includes market value and equal opportunity housing and ADA compliant townhomes. Preference will be given to homeless, veteran and disabled applicants. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units are subject to income restrictions and eligibility requirements. The apartments are professionally managed by North Star Management. To set up an appointment, pick up an application or for more information, contact Site Manager Dana Jaworski at 907-235-5639 or eastendcottages@gmail.com.
Kachemak Crane Watch needs your participation during Kachemak Crane Watch’s annual Count Days, Aug. 22, Aug. 29, and Sept. 5. Please share this information with other crane lovers and count the cranes where you see them with information on the number of adult cranes, colts and cranes with transmitters. Also note the date, time and location. Please submit your information on the day of each count, or as soon as you can before the next count day.
For a special experience, join at Beluga Slough at the end of the gravel trail for the evening crane fly-in from 6 p.m. until sundown on each of the three Saturdays. Please wear a mask and maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others.
For more information contact Nina Faust, Kachemak Crane Watch, at reports@cranewatch.org or call 235-6262.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are now open Sundays. For more information contact the KPB Solid Waste Department at 907-262-9667 or check their webpage at https://www.kpb.us/swd-waste/about-solidwaste.
Kenai Peninsula Votes tidbit by Trisha Davis:
Maybe you’ll notice, I don’t sound like me. We invited a new member to lend her time and her voice on KPV’s behalf.
The Primary election is over. Who won and who lost? Depends on your point of view. In your opinion did the best person for the job make the cut? Did you think the choice was so obvious your vote wasn’t necessary? That was the case for Susan Boyle in Britain’s’ Got Talent final vote. She was a shoo-in, everyone knew she was the clear choice … so, no one bothered to vote, leaving it to others. The results: she lost.
As confusing as the voting process is this year, we still have our constitutional right to cast our individual vote as we see fit. A vote that is not cast is still a vote, albeit one you no longer have control of; its absence will benefit one candidate regardless of your wishes. Your vote counts — whether you choose to spend it or not.
Reminder: the last day to register for the Oct. 6 borough and municipal election is Sept. 6. The borough will be mailing out absentee voter applications to all registered voters next week. Once you fill out the application and send it back, they will mail your ballot and you will be able to vote absentee for the Oct. 6 election.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Avenue serves take-out meals on Thursday evenings with pickup from 5-6 p.m. Helping Hands Thrift Store is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and donations can be dropped off any time. The office staff are at work and available by phone for addressing needs. For information, call 235-7786.
Friendship Center
Friendship Center Adult Day Services is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call 235-4556.
Homer Senior Citizens
All activities are canceled and the Homer Senior Center is closed to the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Homer Senior Citizens congregate lunch is closed, but meals can be picked up at noon from Monday-Friday. You must call 907-235-7655 by 10 a.m. daily to reserve your meal.
Hospice of Homer
Hospice of Homer is in need of volunteers to help move medical equipment between their office and client’s homes. They are looking for one-time, short-term and long-term help to work alongside their experienced volunteers and appreciate whatever time you can spare. If you can help, please call Christina at 235-6899.
Hospice of Homer requests that anyone who needs to borrow or return medical equipment or to pick up disposable personal care items, call the office. Staff will check availability and arrange a time for pick up.
Anyone needing access to grief counseling or other services should also call to talk with a staff member. Staff will be available Monday-Thursday at 235-6899.
Support Group meetings have been canceled.
Hospice of Homer has had an unusually high demand for medical equipment recently and are in great need of many items. Anyone wishing to help can go to Smile.amazon.com.
Select Hospice of Homer as your charity then select Charity List and choose any of the items on our List of Current Needs. All donated equipment is loaned out free of charge to anyone who needs it in the Homer vicinity and a percentage of the purchase is donated to Hospice of Homer.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Monday, Aug. 24 — Classes start at Kachemak Bay Campus. Build a new skill or update one you already have. Take one class or start on the path to a new degree. The college’s advisors work with you to find the right fit. Call 907-235-7743 to be connected. High school students can JumpStart college by taking college classes while attending traditional high school or learning from home, and receive a big break in tuition. KBC has decades of experience in online teaching that students can rely on. More information is available at 235-7743.
Sept. 12-13 — Rockhounding with Taz Tally. Join the Kachemak Bay Campus and the Pratt Museum for a weekend of Rockhounding with Taz Tally, a.k.a “The Rock Doc.” The first class is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The class will meet in the Pratt Museum’s education wing. Learn about the Rock Cycle using the college’s rock sample boxes, then go “behind the scenes” to tour some of the Pratt’s extensive rock collection. From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, Tally will lead the group on a hike to explore the geology of Kachemak Bay. The class costs $69 per person and enrollment is limited. To register call 235-7743 or visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/. KBC and the Pratt Museum are committed to your safety. Workspaces will be physically distanced and participants will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing of 6 feet or more at all times.
Kachemak Bay Campus is planning on Marine Tech classes in the late fall.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Homer Annex is open with some restrictions at 638 East Pioneer Ave. in the Homer Borough Maintenance building east of the Homer Volunteer Fire Department. Please limit visits to one person at a time and wait in the parking lot or in vehicles while other people are inside. Masks are recommended but not required. The office is staffed for help by phone or email. For more information call 235-9837 or email Tamarron Baxter at tbaxter@kpb.us. Forms for property tax exemptions or appeals are available outside on the door, and a dropbox is available for completed forms.
Pratt Museum
The Pratt Museum’s summer hours through Aug. 31 are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
These hours are subject to updates in compliance with CDC State/Federal Public Health Guidance.
For the safety of guests, members and staff:
• Face masks required for entry.
• Visitor log sign-in required upon entry.
• Social distancing guidelines include maintaining 6 feet of distance at all times.
• Capacity limited to 10 guests in the museum at one time.
Face masks and capacity limits do not apply to outdoor spaces including gardens, forest trails, and Homestead cabin; however, staff do request that visitors respectfully comply with social distancing guidelines.
Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center
The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center operations are temporarily suspended following guidelines from the CDC and recommendations from state and local health authorities. Updates will be posted to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge website and social media channels. The Beluga Slough Trail and other outdoor areas on the refuge will remain open to provide healthy options for recreation and relaxation. A reopening date has not been determined at this time.
Updates about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s response to coronavirus will be posted at https://www.fws.gov/home/public-health-update.html. Please check with individual refuges or facilities regarding the change of operations or postponement of events and programs.
To reach refuge staff call 907-235-6546 or email alaskamaritime@fws.gov.
South Peninsula Hospital
South Peninsula Neurology Clinic welcomes visiting physician David Rankine, M.D., Board Certified in Neurology and Neuro-Ophthalmology. Dr. Rankine treats all neurology issues including migraine, persistent headaches, stroke, neuropathy (burning sensations, numbness, weakness or tingling in the affected body part), balance issues, poor coordination, MS, ALS, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s, seizures, blackouts, dizziness, paralysis and movement disorders, and any disorder that affects the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Dr. Rankine treats adult and pediatric patients.
Dr. Rankine will be here August 24-28. Now making appointments by calling 235-7200. New patients welcome.
