Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) is co-hosting a Human Trafficking Awareness Event with Regent Life Church from 6-8 p.m. this Friday at the church located at 672 East End Road. This is a free, in-person event. Attendance is by registration only. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/human-trafficking-awareness-event-tickets-116799736155. Join for an evening of education with speaker Lt. Joseph Gamache, commander at the Ted Stevens International Airport Police & Fire Department. Gamache is a member of the Alaska Human Trafficking Task Force and the Alaska Human Trafficking Working Group. Vance will also speak at the event.
There will be a Goodbye Summer fundraising event for the VFW Post 10221 in Anchor Point on Saturday, Sept. 5. A barbecue will be served from 3-5 p.m. and the silent and live auction starts at 5 p.m. There are lots of auction items open to the public, the proceeds from which will go to support the VFW’s programs and projects. There will also be a split the pot raffle.
Kachemak Crane Watch needs your participation during Kachemak Crane Watch’s final day of the annual Count Days: 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 Saturday. 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 South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board will hold its regular monthly meeting virtually via ZOOM at 6:30 pm, Thursday, Sept. 10. The Committee of the Whole will meet at 5:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend both meetings. The ZOOM link is available on the Kenai Peninsula Borough website kpb.us. The South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board is an elected board that oversees local tax dollars for a healthier community.
Kachemak Emergency Services will be holding its monthly board meeting by Zoom at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10. The public is welcome to listen in by Zoom. The information is below:
Topic: KESA Board Meeting
Time: Sep 10, 2020 07:00 PM Alaska
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94560822131?pwd=TWJ0RzhvMC9LcWFwNXZVMDdXOWtaQT09
Meeting ID: 945 6082 2131
Passcode: 474919
The Friends of the Library book sale will take place from noon to 4 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and 13. Admission is by reservation only. You can make a reservation by contacting the library’s front desk at 907-235-3180 or circ@ci.homer.ak.us. Please wear a mask if you have one. If you don’t, the Friends can give you one for free.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16.
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.
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:
We are non-partisan group promoting voting.
What do the number 8, 1, 11, 14, and 69 mean? They are the votes between a few close primary winners and everyone else. Some races have yet to be declared because the tally numbers are close enough to request a ballot recount. By state law, if the final ballot count shows a difference of 20 or fewer votes, the state will hold a recount, at the state’s expense, when requested by a candidate.
Those small numbers are proof that every vote counts. It’s important for you to vote, for your friends and family to vote. Oh, they don’t live on the peninsula? Does that matter? Yep, it matters a lot. All across the state, the people winning their races for State Representative or State Senator are the ones who will decide how to divvy up our state’s funds. They have enormous responsibilities that affect all Alaskans, regardless of where they live. If you want your voice heard, vote. Encourage others to make their voices heard and know that every single vote counts in city, borough and state elections. Your one vote can make all the difference for you, for your neighbors, for Alaska.
Now is the time to study up on the ballot issues before your mail box fills with pleas from interested groups. You can find the precise wording for each issue at the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s website: www.kpb.us/assembly-clerk/elections
PROPOSITION NO. 1 – Western Emergency Service Area (expanding area)
PROPOSITION NO. 2 – Repeal of Ordinance 2020-24 (concerns mail-in ballots)
Reminder: You must be registered to vote by Sept. 6 to vote in city and borough elections.
New to the State, changed your name, moved or you going to be 18 by election day? You can register on line at: https://voterregistration.alaska.gov.
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
It’s not too late to register for classes. Keep moving forward with your degree or start on a path to a bright future by building a new skill or updating one you already have. Advisors work with you to find the right fit. Call 907-235-7743 to be connected.
Alaska Adult Education is available to help train for employment, college and career readiness, improve English skills or achieve your GED (General Education Diploma). Classes start Sept. 8, are free, and live online so you can work closely with your teacher in real time. Call 235-1602 for information.
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.
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.
KBC is planning on Marine Tech classes in the late fall. Visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com/ to see what is available.
Second Sunday Shakespeare — This month join for community read of “All’s Well that Ends Well” at 1 p.m. on Sept. 13. Everyone is invited. Just log into zoom and you will be assigned a part. You can join by computer, cell phone or landline. Call 235-1674 for information on how to connect.
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 fall hours are noon-5 p.m. Tuesday to 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, but please visit virtually and take a 3D tour by going to http://ow.ly/hf3f50Bf4HB. The Beluga Slough Trail and other outdoor areas on the refuge will remain open to provide healthy options for recreation and relaxation. Kids can download the Agents of Discovery App and play an interactive learning game on the trail.
To reach refuge staff call 907-235-6546 or email alaskamaritime@fws.gov.
