Are you a farmer, food vendor, or crafter looking to connect with local customers? The Homer Farmers Market is now welcoming vendor applications for its summer 2021 season. Applications may be submitted online at http://www.homerfarmersmarket.
The South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board will hold its regular monthly meeting virtually via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11. The Committee of the Whole will meet at 5:30 p.m. before the regular meeting. The South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board is an elected board that oversees local tax dollars for a healthier community. Learn about the workings of your hospital. The public is welcome to attend both meetings. The Zoom link is available on the Kenai Peninsula Borough calendar found at https://www.kpb.us/service-areas/south-kenai-peninsula-hospital-service-area and by emailing Devony at dlehnerediting@gmail.com.
The deadline to nominate someone for the 2021 Celebration of Lifelong Learning is Friday, March 12. Nomination forms are available at the library and online. Do you know someone who has made a lifelong commitment to acquiring an exceptional skill or knowledge? The Friends of the Homer Library wants to hear about it. Nominees must reside in the Homer Public Library service area and have a Homer Public Library card. The winners will be announced and honored at the Celebration of Lifelong Learning live radio event on KBBI on April 7, 2021.
907Vets will sponsor a Traumatic Brain Injury presentation from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, March 19 at Regents Church at the corner of Lake Street and Pioneer Avenue. Via Microsoft Teams, the speaker will be Patty Raymond Turner, MPH, regional education coordinator at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence. This presentation is for veterans, active duty officers and spouses. There will be free pizza, water and coffee. For questions, call 907-435-7173 or email 907vetsecretary@gmail.com.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District requests input from staff, parents, and community members at the districtwide KPBSD budget development meetings via Zoom. The meeting for the Homer community will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, March 22 via Zoom. The Zoom links and the number to call in with questions will be posted here: go.kpbsd.org/finance. As new budget information becomes available, it will also be posted on the Finance page. If you have questions, please call Natalie Bates at 714-8888.
Girls on the Run is an eight-week after school empowerment program for third-fifth grade girls promoting confidence and self respect. The program combines physical training, community service, health education, life skills, goal setting and mentoring relationships. Homer’s spring Girls on the Run will start the week of March 22, with days of the week to be announced. The program may meet outdoors. Organizers are seeking both participants and coaches for this spring 2021 season. Contact Marcee Gray at 907-756-3536 or marcee@havenhousealaska.org, or South Pennisula Haven House at 907-235-7716. Coaches and participants may register online at GOTRgreateralaska.org.
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will offer Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor class in Homer, Alaska from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at the Best Western Bidarka Inn, 575 Sterling Highway. The cost for the class is $125 for commercial fishermen and $175 for all others. Interested mariners may register online at www.amsea.org or call 907-747-3287. Instructor Rob Hulse will cover cold-water survival skills; EPIRBs, signal flares, and mayday calls; man-overboard recovery; firefighting; flooding and damage control; dewatering pumps, immersion suits and PFDs; helicopter rescue, life rafts, and abandon ship procedures; emergency drills; and an in-the-water practice session. AMSEA’s Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor workshops meet the U.S. Coast Guard training requirements for drill conductors on commercial fishing vessels, 46 CFR 28.270 (c).
Step into Freedom is a narcotics anonymous group that will be held at 7 p.m. every Thursday at the Glacierview Baptist Church “Big House” next to the main church. This group is for both women and men, and is open to non-addicts who would like to sit in on the meetings. For questions, call Jaclyn at 907-756-3530.
The Caregiver Support Group for persons caring for a family member with a disabling illness, either in or outside your home, will meet temporarily at Hospice of Homer, with maximum COVID-19 precautions provided. The group will continue to meet on Fridays at this time until further notice. Please call Pam Hooker at 907-299-7198 or Janet Higley at 907-235-4291 if you have any questions about this group or this notice.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are now closed on Sundays through April 25. 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.
The nonpartisan Homer Legislative Information Office at 270 W. Pioneer Ave. is now open for the first session of the 32nd State Legislature. At this time the office is able to assist by phone or email only.
The office is a distribution site for PFD forms which can be picked up in the entry way between 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Please call to arrange other means of pick up. To learn more about how you can participate in the legislative process or to obtain more information on issues of interest facing the Alaska State Legislature, please contact 235-7878 or lio.homer@akleg.gov.
Kenai Peninsula Votes Tidbit
Voting seems to be on the top of the agenda for many state legislatures. After our Presidential election this past year, many Americans feel that it was not a fair election. The number of States trying to change their voting laws this year as opposed to last year has risen. Some of these bills want to restrict voting rights and some of them want to expand voting rights. (The Brennan Center, a nonprofit that tracks voting laws, says that 43 states are considering 253 bills that would raise barriers to voting).
With all that in mind, I want to tell the story of Maceo Snipes, a martyr in the story of voting rights. His story doesn’t begin until two important Supreme Court decisions occur. First, is the decision in Grovy v. Townsend; which said that the Texas Democratic Party’s race-based restrictions on voting in primaries was constitutional because it was not a state action. But then in 1944, that decision was overturned in Smith v. Allwright, which ruled that the Texas Democratic primary system was unfair and now African Americans could vote.
This sets the stage for Mr. Snipes, a World War II veteran. He was he first African American to vote in a Democratic Primary in Taylor County, Georgia. The day after Mr. Snipes cast his vote, four white men, suspected of being KKK members, went to find him. They went to his gGrandmother’s house and shot him in the back. He and his mother walked three miles to the hospital. Once he had gotten there, he still had to wait because the hospital staff said that they did not have any “black blood.” He died three days later. Yes, Jim Crow laws have left the South, but there are still remnants of them.
Voting should be celebrated and honored. As of today, we still need to continue to fight for everyone’s right to have easy and equal access to vote. We should make it a national holiday and treat voting as an honor, and make sure that all voices will be heard.
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 would like to graciously request that you return any equipment not currently in use. The need in our community is increasing and we are short on hospital beds, wheelchairs, transport chairs, bedside commodes, and walkers. Thank you for helping us help our neighbors.
Widow’s Group: Losing a partner is one of the most devastating things a person can experience. Hospice of Homer has resumed its monthly Widow’s Support Group. This group is a place for those who have lost their partner to share and heal. It is a safe place for coming to terms with the powerful feelings and experiences only those who are walking the same path can truly understand. Participants will be following all COVID-19 protocols. RSVP is required if you plan to attend so organizers may plan accordingly for social distancing and group size limitations.
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 nonprofit 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
Join HCOA (virtually) for cocktails. Wine & Spirits Specialist Patrick Driscoll of The Grog Shop will lead this workshop in the art of mixology with a St. Patrick’s Day twist (pun intended). Saturday, March 13 at 7 p.m. on Zoom; register now at homerart.org/calendar/cocktails.
Homer Council on the Arts is now accepting proposals for 2021-22 gallery exhibits. Applications for the HCOA gallery will automatically be considered for the South Peninsula Hospital gallery as well. Proposals for HCOA Gallery Exhibits must be completed by 11:59pm on April 1. Find out more and apply at homerart.org/gallery.
Kachemak Bay Campus
Computer Assisted Drawing/Design for Marine Trades with instructor Brad Conley of Bay Welding Services will be held from 6-9 p.m. on March 23 and 25. The cost is $49. This introductory course covers how and why CAD is used for design, conceptual work and manufacturing, specifically in the marine industry. Includes basic software navigation, commands, and design. Classes take place in the KBC computer lab. All participants must observe COVID-19 protocols including mandatory mask wearing. Call (907) 235-7743 or visit https://kbcnoncredit.
Second Sunday Shakespeare “Henry V”, March 14 @ 1pm, online. “Once more unto the breach, dear friends…” Join the community and read out loud or simply listen to the complete text being read. Online text available at www.shakespeare-online.com. Connect VIA ZOOM at https://alaska.zoom.us/j/
The Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference returns to Homer and Kachemak Bay Campus virtually on May 15 with a faculty of award-winning authors bringing fresh perspectives and a diversity of ideas. Participants can enjoy four days of classes, conversations, public readings and a panel discussion by writers from the Peabody Award-winning PBS show, “Molly of Denali,” as well as networking and community building activities. Registration is open $100 for the general public, Registration for University of Alaska students is $50. Academic credits and financial aid available. Visit writersconf.kpc.alaska.edu or call 907-435-7743 to register.
An Evening with author Andromeda Romano-Lax will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 24 via Zoom. Romano-Lax is the author of five novels published in 11 languages, including her latest: “Annie and the Wolves” (Feb 2021), an Oprah, Buzzfeed, Popsugar and The Millions “Most Anticipated” pick. She will talk about the process of writing and publishing her latest novel, which she almost gave up on several times over a decade, as well as how COVID-19 has changed her own attitudes about marketing her book and interacting more directly with the reading public. This event is free.
A KBC Afternoon workshop with author Andromeda Romano-Lax will take place from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 3 via Zoom. The workshop is Psychological Suspense, and is a clinic with same-day writing and sharing. For over a century, novels of all kinds have included psychological elements including unreliable narration, emphasis on doubt or distortion, probing of our darkest fears, twisty plots that rely heavily on secrets, and the chilling notion that it’s hard to know anyone accurately, even ourselves. Romano-Lax is a co-founder of 49 Writers and a UAA Creative Writing faculty member. Limited enrollment is available. The cost is $60. To register for this workshop visit https://kbcnoncredit.asapconnected.com or call (907) 235-7743.
Pratt Museum
The Pratt Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
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.
