The Homer Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Candidate Forum for the upcoming elections for Homer mayor and Homer City Council at 5:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, at Land’s End Resort in the Quarter Deck room. The election itself takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The first hour will focus on the candidates for mayor. The second portion of the evening will focus on the candidates for city council. The moderator for the evening will be chamber Executive Director Brad Anderson.
The public is invited to attend in person. However, the event will follow state and CDC COVID-19 guidelines. This will include physical distancing, reduced room capacity and open windows and doors. Face coverings are recommended. The event will also be live streamed on the Chamber’s website at HomerAlaska.org and KBBI AM 890 will broadcast the event.
For event information contact the Chamber at 907-235-7740 or go to www.homeralaska.org. If you would like to submit a question, you can email them to info@homeralaska.org.
Cook Inletkeeper will host an Electronics Recycling event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Spenard Builders Supply in Homer. This is an opportunity for people who have been storing obsolete computer equipment to dispose of it properly. Households, businesses and nonprofit agencies are encouraged to bring televisions, monitors, computers, laptops, keyboards, phones, cameras and more for recycling. For more information, call 907-235-4068 ext. 26, or email recycle@inletkeeper.org.
The Homer Food Pantry has changed its hours of operation to noon to 3 p.m. Deliveries of food boxes have stopped. However, clients who are elderly, disabled or unable to visit the pantry or drive through will be able to keep using the service. You must re-apply for the service through the provider who originally requested it.
The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies annual CoastWalk has started. Sign up to clean and monitor a section of coastline in Kachemak Bay by visiting the Coastal Studies offices at 708 Smokey Bay Way during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information call 907-235-6667 or email info@akcoastalstudies.org.
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:
To learn more about the propositions and candidates in the Oct. 6 City of Homer and Kenai Peninsula Borough election, go to kpb.us/assembly-clerk/elections/election-seats. Kenai Peninsula Votes supports voting “no” on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition No. 2 –Repeal Ordinance 2020-24, because it is a nonpartisan issue. Mail-in voting has a long history of being safe and secure and we are already doing it in some areas of the peninsula.
Right now, the current law for 2021 is to have a hybrid voting system. Ballots would be mailed to every registered voter in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. You can vote by mail, or go to the polls to vote.
If you vote “no”on Proposition 2, this current law will take effect and the hybrid voting system will stay in place. If you vote “yes” on Proposition 2, ballots will not be mailed and the current system will not change.
Choice is a freedom we all enjoy.
The Central Kenai Peninsula League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, volunteer organization educating and informing voters across party lines, is sponsoring a Meet the Candidate Forum for candidates in the borough elections from 6-8 p.m. tonight, Thursday. Everyone is invited to join the meeting via ZOOM at: https://zoom.us/j/93792953565?pwd=MWFzNVZLeEpsM1RHWTB5eCtKdWFxZz09
More information is available on the Kenai Peninsula Votes Facebook page.
Your voice matters — please vote.
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.
Homer Council on the Arts
Raffle tickets are on sale now for your chance to win a beautiful king-size quilt handmade by the Kachemak Bay Quilters. Purchases support Homer Council on the Arts. Tickets are available in the Homer Council in the Arts gallery or online until 6 p.m. Oct. 8. Text “Quilt” to 855-202-2100 to purchase entries on the go. The council will draw the winner at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 during the Annual Meeting via Zoom. Alaska Gaming Permit #771
The Kenai Peninsula Writers Contest is back. Homer Council on the Arts invites all Kenai Peninsula residents to submit poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to the contest; winning entries in each category will receive cash prizes or gift certificates and will be published in the Homer News. Entries are due Dec. 20 so there’s plenty of time to refine your writing. Need help getting started? The council is offering a variety of youth and adult Writers Workshops throughout October for inspiration and guidance. Register online at HomerArt.org or call 235-4288 for more information.
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.
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.
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 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through 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.
