Zak to speak at Tuesday’s chamber luncheon
Bryan Zak will be the featured speaker at this month’s Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center’s luncheon.
The luncheon will be from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday at the Homer Elks Lodge on Jenny Way.
Zak is the southwest region director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center and will be talking about the center’s programs. The center, which has been helping businesses for more than 20 years, provides free, confidential, technical business assistance and low-cost business training. It provides workshops and seminars on such topics as creating a business plan to mastering profits
Chamber luncheons are open to the public. For more information, contact Debbie Speakman at 235-7740.
State looking for film
rep to promote Alaska
JUNEAU (AP) — The state is looking for someone with Hollywood ties to sell Alaska as a film and TV production location.
The idea behind hiring a film industry representative is to increase the number of productions shooting in Alaska.
The state offers tax credits for qualified productions, and the solicitation for a film rep is an extension of the department of commerce’s responsibility to promote Alaska as a film location.
The department estimates a budget of $60,000 and $85,000 a year for the industry representative, who is to use his or her connections within the “greater Los Angeles-based film and television industry” to promote Alaska.
The contractor also is to suggest advisers to help with promotional efforts and identify industry events that are important for state officials to attend.
Tustumena sailings canceled until July 23
JUNEAU (AP)— All sailings for the state ferry Tustumena have been canceled until July 23.
The Alaska Marine Highway System says in a release that the ferry continues to be in drydock to deal with unexpected repairs. It began undergoing work on Nov. 1 and was to have been back in service April 17.
That was delayed until May 29, but officials say the ferry will be at the Seward Ship’s Drydock almost two months longer.
Originally scheduled back July 6, that’s now been pushed to July 23 with a sailing from Seldovia.
Officials say the high volume of summer traffic prevents them from sending any other state ferries to pick up the Tustumena’s schedule.
Celtic Club seeks vendors for July 6 Highland Games
The Kachemak Bay Celtic Club is seeking vendors for the Highland Games to be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 6 at Karen Hornaday Park.
The group is looking for merchandise/retail vendors ($30) as well as non-profits or informational groups ($20) and food vendors ($50).
The booth spaces are 10-feet-by-12-feet. Vendor applications are available online at www.kachemakbaycelticclub.com and on the Club’s Facebook page as well as at Homer Council on the Arts and Ptarmigan Arts.
The deadline to receive applications is June 20. For more information, contact Jewels at 235-2876.
Homer Recorder’s Office closed from June 6-19
The Homer Recorder’s Office will be temporarily closed for scheduled leave beginning today. The office will reopen at 8:30 a.m. June 20. During this time recordings for the district may be made at the Anchorage Recorder’s Office. Mail all recordings to:
Anchorage Recorder’s Office
ATTN: Homer/Seldovia Districts
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1200
Anchorage, AK 99501-3564
The Anchorage telephone number is 907-269-8876. The contact person is Christine Yandell.
For research questions or concerns about this closure, contact Kelly J. Farmer, recorder manager, at 907-465-3425 or write to her at the Juneau Recorder’s Office, P.O. Box 111013, Juneau, AK 99811-1013. She can be reached by email at kelly.farmer@alaska.gov.
Alaska Airlines unveils Hawaii-themed airplane
HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii high school student’s design now adorns an Alaska Airlines jet.
The airline says Kaiser High School student Aaron Nee’s Hawaii-themed design was chosen from nearly 3,000 entries in the airline’s “Paint-the-Plane” contest. The contest was sponsored by the airline in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.
The design depicts a voyaging canoe, a bright yellow hibiscus, the Hawaiian island chain and the phrase, “Spirit of the Islands.”
The plane touched down in Honolulu Monday. The aircraft will fly throughout most of the Alaska Airlines network, connecting destinations from Hawaii to San Diego and from Alaska as far south as Mexico.
Nee receives a trip for four to any of the carrier’s destinations and a $5,000 scholarship.
Work now under way on Kodiak senior housing
KODIAK (AP) — Work continues in Kodiak on a new 32-unit complex intended to ease the shortage of housing for seniors.
The 36,000-square-foot, three-story building is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2014 and will house people 55 and older, the Kodiak Daily Mirror reported.
The complex is located on Near Island, adjacent to the Koniag building.
There currently is only one senior-housing complex in Kodiak. Heritage Heights, which also is operated by the Kodiak Island Housing Authority, gives preference to Native American and low-income households, and there is a substantial waiting list.
More senior housing is needed since Kodiak’s population is mirroring that of the rest of Alaska, said Pat Branson, executive director of the Kodiak Senior Center.
“Alaska has the fastest growing senior population in the country,” she said.
Rooms at the new housing complex will be sold at market value, meaning no preferences will be given to income. It’s not a nursing home.
“It is very much needed,” Branson said. “We probably need even more. I believe that this housing facility will fill up immediately.”
