The Homer Garden Tour is back and will feature six beautiful Homer area gardens. The gardens will be open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, July 17. The cost is $15 for viewing the gardens. Tickets can be purchased at the Homer Bookstore. No credit cards will be accepted — just cash or checks please. There is a great deal of diversity in the gardens this year. One is a large innovative commercial garden, another garden is full of native plants and some pay remembrance to a family member. Another garden at higher elevation combines art and gardening. Each garden reflects the personality of the owners and will give the visitor many ideas for their gardens. Creekside visits are common on this tour and flowers abound. Four of the featured gardens will be on a walking tour about 1.3 miles one way in the downtown area. A map with parking spots delineated is included with the ticket purchase. If you do not wish to walk, parking is available at all of these locations. For more information, call Francie at 907-299-5050 or Susan 907-299-6126. For ticket issues call Louise at 907-299-6360.
Free sports physicals for Homer High School athletes and activities will be offered 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Homer Medical Center, 4136 Bartlett St. This is a walk-in clinic, first come, first served, with no appointments taken.
The Kenai Peninsula Road Service Area will have contractors performing routine brushing operations in the Central, North, East, and West Regions beginning the week of July 18, through Sept. 30. The Road Service Area will be clearing brush and or defining ditches. The goal of brushing is to increase motorists’ ability to see pedestrians and or animals on the sides of the road, ensure signage remains unobstructed, and provide ample storage for snow/ice during winter maintenance operations.
The sandhill cranes are nesting. Crane chicks or colts have hatched in Homer and are growing bigger every day. Crane colts and other baby wildlife are very vulnerable, so please keep your dogs on leash and cats at home. As part of its Citizen Science projects, Kachemak Crane Watch keeps track of nesting success and wants your observations of sandhill crane colts. Send your report to Kachemak Crane Watch at reports@cranewatch.org or call 235- 6262. Include date of hatching, time, location, number of colts, and your contact information so we can call for details. For more information, contact Nina Faust at 907-235-6262 or reports@cranewatch.org .
Anchor Point Group of Alcoholics Anonymous continues to meet in person at the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce at 34175 Sterling Hwy (north of Chapman School) on Wednesday and Friday at 7 p.m. These are open meetings, and alcoholics and non-alcoholics are all welcome. For more information, call 907-223-9814.
The Homer Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 6:30 p.m. downstairs at Homer United Methodist Church, 770 East End Road. All meetings are open to anyone wanting to learn more about recovery from alcoholism. More information and online links to meetings can be found at www.aahomer.org.
The Homer End of The Road Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets every day at noon and every evening at 8 p.m. at 126 W. Pioneer Ave., Suite 1. For more information, contact 907-283-5722.
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDa) meets at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 6:30 p.m. Sundays in the Hillas Building, 126 W. Pioneer Ave., Suite 1 (next to the Homer Theatre). The contact number is 907-756-3104.
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 Homer Area Caregiver Support Group meets in the activity room at the Homer Senior Center from 2-3:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. This group is for family caregivers of individuals suffering from a debilitating illness and requiring full-time care, either in the home or in a facility; caregivers who assist with care of a loved one who lives out of state are also welcome. This is a time to receive support and wisdom from others who are on the same journey as well as to benefit from presentations provided by speakers well versed in subjects related to care giving, such as exercise, communication, self-care and available resources. Newcomers are welcome, always. For questions, please call Pam Hooker at 907-299-7198 or Louise Rempel at 907-399-1262. Remember: You are not alone.
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge visitor center is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit our website for a full calendar of our summer events.
Anchor Point Senior Citizens
The Anchor Point Senior Center on Milo Fritz Avenue serves take-out meals on Thursday evenings with pickup from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday is Kickin’ Fried Chicken night, serving from 4-6 p.m. with eight- and 12-piece piece buckets or three-piece meals, with or without coleslaw and biscuits. Walk ins are welcome or call ahead at 235-7786 to reserve. Thursday night is Home Cooked Dinner Night. Each Thursday is a different meal. Dine in or take out; served from 5-6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 907-235-7786. Visit www.anchorpointseniorcenter.com for more information. Meals and programs are open to the public and do not require membership. Call 235-7786 for more information.
Homer Senior Citizens
The Terrace Assisted Living is closed to visitors because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Homer Public Library
Homer Public Library and the Center for Alaska Coastal Studies staff join together for an outdoor story and activity. Meet at the StoryWalk Trail at the library. StoryWalk meets every Tuesday through Aug. 2 from 1-2:30 p.m. For ages 6-10. This is a 9-week program. Register for as many days as you want. Space is limited. Please register at: https://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library/outdoor-adventures-and-stories-cacs-0.
Hospice of Homer
At Hospice of Homer we believe in coming together with others, in a safe and non-judgmental setting, to explore the meaning of significant losses in our lives. Talking it out can release sorrow and provide comfort. It can help us to move forward and to regain a sense of serenity while honoring those we have lost to isolation, distance or death.
We fully understand how difficult taking that first step can be. For this reason, hospice offers a bereavement correspondence series. We will provide you, or your family members, with a monthly letter dealing with loss and the mourning process. These letters are designed to help you transition into the new reality which was created by loss.
At present hospice is offering opportunities to engage in conversation about our individual and collective grief experiences. You do not need to be a client of hospice to access these conversations. There is no charge for attending the meetings or for the correspondence program. See below for meeting times and call the office or email Office@hospiceofhomer.org to participate in the Correspondence program.
Widow/Widower’s Group meets every Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. with Robin.
Conversations on Loss are the first and third Saturdays with Thomas and Maria.
Homer Council on the Arts
HCOA is hiring! We are seeking a part-time Marketing and Administrative Assistant. Job description at homerart.org/about/
Register now for peony-themed art classes during Homer’s Annual Peony Celebration! Stained glass, Chinese painting, and paper peonies; details and registration at homerart.org/education/
HCOA presents Folk Arts Music Workshops for all ages with Mary and Lawrence Shallert on Friday, Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Options are jamming and songwriting. Details and registration at homerart.org/education/
Kachemak Bay Campus
Registration is now open for the fall 2022 semester. To view the searchable schedule ,visit https://kpc.alaska.edu/academics/schedule/.
The Pratt Museum & Park
The Pratt Museum & Park is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
“Protection: Adaptation and Resistance” is now showing at the museum. Experience the work of 54 contemporary Indigenous Alaska artists. In times of complex challenges, and growing concerns for the future, how are Indigenous Alaska artists strengthening self and community, guiding the next generation from surviving to thriving? “Protection: Adaptation and Resistance” explores how a new cohort of Alaska Indigenous artists embrace customary art forms and modern technology to create innovative new platforms for sharing, storytelling; reconnecting with ancestral knowledge; and strengthening relationships to land and with one another.
“Plant Pressing and Herbariums” is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 1-3 p.m., with a few of $20. Join the Pratt Curator of Botanical Exhibits, Yarrow Hinnant, and Head Gardener, Shawn Jackinsky, as they explore methods of plant pressing and the role of herbariums in botanical collections. Materials provided.
“Cultivating Wild Plants in Your Garden” is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, with a few of $20. Have you ever wondered how to incorporate beautiful Alaskan wildflowers or unique alpine plants into your home garden? Join Shawn Jackinsky, Pratt Head Gardener and Kenai Peninsula Homesteader, to learn some of the fun and creative ways to bring these plants into your garden.
South Peninsula Hospital
South Peninsula Hospital’s COVID-19 Test and Vaccine Clinic at 4201 Bartlett Street is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends.
PCR COVID-19 testing is offered at the walk-up clinic, no appointment necessary. PCR Testing at the SPH COVID-19 Test and Vaccine Clinic is no longer free. Insurance will be billed for testing. Those uninsured or not using insurance will be charged $50, and can pay at time of service or be billed. Test results will be provided on South Peninsula Hospital’s electronic health portal, and are normally available within 24 hours.
Testing is recommended for individuals experiencing COVID-like symptoms, for those with known exposure to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19, for travel requirements, with a provider referral and in advance of medical appointments. In addition to the PCR testing offered at the hospital’s walk-up clinic, free home-test kits are available at the hospital’s main entrance 24/7, at the Homer Chamber of Commerce, and for purchase at numerous local retailers.
COVID-19 vaccinations are offered for free at the site on Bartlett Street on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are available for individuals ages five and over, and boosters are offered to eligible groups as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and as made available by FDA under emergency use authorizations.
In addition to the stand-alone clinic on Bartlett Street, both COVID-19 testing and vaccinations are offered by appointment at Homer Medical Center and the hospital’s Family Care Clinic. For more information on SPH Covid-19 services and care, visit www.sphosp.org and click on the covid tab, or call 907-235-0235.
SPH offers classes in Hoop Dance. The July 17 and 24 classes are Partner Acrobatics and the Aug. 31 class is a Combo class. Open to all ages and abilities. Hoop Dance is a fun and creative way to get active. Bring your skills to the next level, learn new tricks, perfect the ones that you already know, and develop choreography and flow with the hoop. Practice hoops will be available for use in class. Partner Acrobatics class will concentrate on technique to become bases and flyers. This class will give you specific exercises to train that will improve your beginner partner acrobatic moves. Bring a friend or don’t; no partner necessary. Role reversal encouraged, all genders and all levels are welcome. The instructor is Stephanie Cortes who co-owns Cirque Roots, a nonprofit grassroots artist collective based in Tuscon, Arizona, and is a long-time acrobat and instructor. Her vision is to inspire community to create and play through movement and dance. Bring a water bottle, hula hoop if you have one and dress in layers. Call SPH Health Education at 907-235-0285 for more information.
South Peninsula Hospital offers Safe Sitter classes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23. Students must attend both days. Safe Sitter is designed to prepare students in grades 6-8 to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting. This instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students even get to use mannequins to practice rescue skills like choking rescue and CPR for infants and children.Registration is required; please contact SPH Health & Wellness to register by calling 907- 235-0285 or emailing wellness@sphosp.org. The registration fee is $50 and scholarships are available upon request.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10221
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10221 holds burger night from 5-7 p.m. every Friday. Monday night tacos is 5-7 p.m. The VFW is open to the public; you do not need to be a member to attend. Dine in or take out. Call 235-5582 to order ahead. The VFW is located at 72551 Milo Fritz Ave. in Anchor Point.
