Editor’s note: The Town Crier has been updated to correct the place for The Homer Area Caregiver Support Group. It meets in the Homer Senior Center dining rom, with the next meeting at 2-3 p.m. Thursday, April 8.
Sandhill cranes will be migrating through any day now. Our local cranes will soon be landing in the Kachemak Bay area. Please report sandhill crane sightings to Kachemak Crane Watch at 235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org. Date, time, location, behavior, and number of cranes is helpful. Leave a name and number in case they need more details.
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.
Anchor Point Group of Alcoholics Anonymous continues to meet in person at the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce at 34175 Sterling Highway (north of Chapman School) on Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. These are open meetings and alcoholics and non-alcoholics are all welcome. For more information call 907-223-9814. The group has a mitigation plan in place to ensure proper distancing between participants.
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 Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste facilities are 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.
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
Many activities remain 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.
The Homer Area Caregiver Support Group has resumed its monthly meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays in the senior center dining room. Enter through the back of the building where you get meals. The next meeting is 2-3 p.m. Thursday, April 8. The caregiver group provides support, information, referrals and friendship with other people dealing with the joys and challenges of caregiving. Speakers on related topics are scheduled at least once a month. For more information, call Pam Hooker at 907-299-7198 or Janet Higley at 907-235-4291. Newcomers are welcome.
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.
Hospice offers volunteer training 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, at the hospice offices. Hospice seeks volunteers to serve as dog walkers, client visitation, shopping and other tasks. The training also can be attended through Zoom or by recording. Call 907-235-6899 for more information. Volunteer paperwork is available at the offices at 265 E. Pioneer Ave., No. 3, in the lower level.
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. Call 907-235-6899 to respond.
Homer Council on the Arts
Applications are open for the 2021 Youth Summer Fine Arts Scholarship. Homer-area students in grades 6-11 are invited to apply; due no later than 5 p.m. on April 23. Scholarship funds support summer arts lessons. Full details at homerart.org/calendar/scholarship.
The council is accepting proposals for 2021-22 gallery exhibits through today. Find out more and apply at homerart.org/gallery.
Kachemak Bay Campus
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 and is $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.
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 University of Alaska Anchorage 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.
Chance to win a scholarship: KPC students who register for six or more KPC credits before April 19 will be entered to win one of over 100 scholarships of $250. Returning and pending students can register as follows: veterans, April 2; seniors, April 5; juniors, April 6; sophomores, April 7; freshmen, April 8; and pending fall admissions, April 12.
Pratt Museum
The Pratt Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
From 4-6 p.m. Friday, April 2, the museum holds its First Friday reception of the year. This is a fun, family friendly, COVID-safe event. Join the museum for live music, arts and crafts, and free hotdogs and lemonade. Come and experience its most current exhibit, “Familiar Faces: Portraits of Community.” While you wander through the museum, kids are welcome to nestle into our reading nook. The museum encourages visitor to bring a family photo, one that you can part with and leave at the museum to create our community portrait. Masks and social distancing are required. Space is limited. Reserve your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-friday-at-the-pratt-tickets-147688128167.
“Familiar Faces: Portraits of Community” is on exhibit through May 29. During an era of social distancing, this exhibit provides visitors the opportunity to “meet” our neighbors and community members throughout history, with up-close observations of individuals and the stories that surround them.
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
South Peninsula Hospital offers free testing and vaccinations for COVID-19. Free testing is offered daily 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. at the test site on Bartlett Street. No appointment is necessary. Vaccines are offered by appointment as supplies permit. Appointments can only be made online at www.sphosp.org. Vaccinations are open to anyone 16 years and older for Pfizer, and 18 years and older for all other brands. Call the COVID nurse at 235-0235 to discuss symptoms, or the COVID vaccine info line at 435-3188 for recorded updates. Mass vaccination clinics happen twice a month. Details are in the weekly newspaper ad, at www.sphosp.org or at 435-3188.
