The Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center will be closed for the holidays through Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
Because of poor ice conditions, Homer Hockey Association Inc. has rescheduled Skate the Lake to 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 at Beluga Lake. This is an outdoor, family-friendly event for people of all ages and abilities. Skates will be available for use when presented with a valid ID. COVID protocols will be followed at this event. Email prez.kevinbellarena@gmail.com with any questions.
The third annual Homer’s Crowdfunded New Year’s Eve Fireworks Fantastical will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit. The fireworks are crowdfunded, and money to help purchase them can be sent to organizer Aaron Weisser. For details, visit the event’s Facebook page. Participants the night of the fireworks are encouraged to enjoy them from inside their vehicles, or socially distanced while outside. Face coverings are requested. The fireworks will be streamed live on the event Facebook page, and Peninsula Radio will accompany the fireworks show with a commercial free, live radio music soundtrack beginning at 8 p.m. The fireworks will be delayed if there are heavy winds, rain or snowfall.
The Anchor Point Fire & Emergency Medical Service Area Board will hold its next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 20, 2021 through Zoom. For meeting information, visit the service area page on the Kenai Peninsula Borough website at https://www.kpb.us/service-areas/apfesa.
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is hosting its 3rd annual beer label design contest. Design a beer label for the Grace Ridge Brewing ‘64 Afterbock beer and have your art displayed on each bottle. The theme this year is resiliency. The deadline for submission is Jan. 15. Submit all artwork to Dana Nelson by email, ddnelson4@alaska.edu, or by mail, 2181 Kachemak Drive Homer AK 99603. The winning artist will be announced at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5, with all submissions on display at Grace Ridge Brewing and showcased virtually following CDC guidelines. Contact Nelson for more information.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are now closed on Sundays through April 25, 2021. 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
At this time of year, many of us take a break from worldly events to concentrate on family, faith, community, and the welfare of others; the pressing events of the last few months will have to take a back seat for a while. Kenai Peninsula Votes hopes you are able to enjoy the spirit of the season and wish you peace and wellness.
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 seeking new board members. Are you interested in using your compassion, enthusiasm, and love of community to help your neighbors in their times of need? The organization hopes you’ll consider joining the Hospice of Homer Board of Directors.
Qualifications:
Prior knowledge of non-profit boards is helpful but not required—just an interest and willingness to participate in monthly meetings, occasional fundraising events and community outreach.
Time Commitment:
Meetings are once a month for 1.5 – 2 hours on the third Wednesday of the month. The board expects members to attend these monthly meetings as well as to be an active participant on sub-committees as needs and interests warrant. Sub-committees include areas such as finance, personnel, events, and policy review and revision.
Interested? For more information or to express your interest, please contact Board President Charlie Franz at Kachemakcharlie@gmail.com
To learn more about Hospice of Homer and to find a more detailed description of board member job expectations, please visit their website at hospiceofhomer.org
Homer Council on the Arts
The 2020 Nutcracker Faire in-person event has been canceled. Homer Council on the Arts is pleased to offer a Virtual Nutcracker Faire to help you shop local and support artists this holiday season. The Virtual Nutcracker Faire is live now at homerart.org/shoplocal and will remain on our website through the end of the year. The council will continue to add vendors as registrations come in; to participate as a vendor, register at homerart.org/2020-nutcracker-faire.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Registration for Spring 2021 is now open. Kachemak Bay Campus has new classes in business and science as well as the arts, history, writing across subjects and more. Visit kpc.alaska.edu and spend your spring with Kachemak Bay Campus.
KPC is now offering UAA’s fast-track certificate in Business Leadership that students can achieve in one or two semesters! If you are looking for a quick way to boost your resume or to make a career shift, this Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) is for you. Perfect for individuals in entry-level leadership roles and people wanting to build skills and stand out in a crowd, and for the Spring 2021 term, applicants may be eligible for financial awards up to $1,000. The OEC includes six classes that cover key business concepts in business foundations, supervision, selling, computer skills, leadership and communication. Students will also learn principles of finance, establishing goals and problem solving, marketing, and spreadsheet applications. Some of these classes are part of the general education requirement so if you have already taken one or more you are well on your way. General registration began Nov. 23. Interested parties can call KBC at (907) 235-7743 to be connected to an advisor.
Kachemak Bay Campus is expanding the popular Semester by the Bay (SBB) program into the spring semester, adding new courses, including Exploration Ecology, Conservation Biology, Global Climate Change, Marine Mammals of Alaska, and Sharing Science with Diverse Audiences. The spring SBB program also has 16 internship opportunities with local collaborators including the Homer Soil and Water Conservation District, Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, and Alaska Wildlife Alliance, to name a few.
The spring SBB program is focused on thinking critically about our environment, with discussion on the interconnectivity of life among land, sea, river and air. These courses have been developed to allow students to think about climate change and develop new ideas on how we can shape the future.
Classes are available to all students and have very few prerequisite requirements. These spring classes will be offered online and some courses have field work with oversight by professors. Interested parties can call KBC at 907-235-7743 to be connected to an advisor.
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 is closed for regular hours due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. However, small groups or pods may visit by appointment only starting today. For more information and to set up an appointment, call 907-235-8635.
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.
South Peninsula Hospital
Free COVID-19 tests are offered 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week at the lower level of the SPH Specialty Clinic, at 4201 Bartlett Street, Homer. Please use the Danview Avenue access. Tests are for those who have had recent travel out of state, have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, they have new onset of any symptom related to COVID-19, or have a provider referral. See complete list of eligible individuals at www.sphosp.org or call the COVID information line at 235-0235. Please call and pre-register before coming if and when possible.
The testing site will have shortened hours on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
