Around the Peninsula

KVCC closed for holiday

The Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center will be closed today in observance of Presidents' Day. The center will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Health nurse to visit Nikolaevsk

The Homer public health nurse will be at Nikolaevsk School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today for a general clinic, including immunization, well child check-ups and pregnancy tests. For more information, call (907) 235-8857.

Homer chamber seeks sponsors for halibut derby

The Homer Jackpot Halibut derby is finalizing its list of fish sponsors for the 2003 derby. Sponsors are area businesses who either sponsor a tagged fish worth $500 or $1,000, or contribute to the released fish prize for those anglers who choose to release a larger halibut for a chance to win cash.

There also is a $10,000 tagged fish sponsorship available for the moth of August. It would cost $1,000 to be a sponsor of this fish.

All sponsors must be members of the Homer Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors receive advertising in the derby promotions and an invitation to participate in the "tagging cruise" in April. The cost to tag a $500 fish is $50, and $100 for a $1,000 fish.

The derby also is looking for ticket sponsors. These businesses put a coupon on the derby ticket for redemption at their business. The minimum bid is $1,000. The bid closing date is today.

For more information, call Linda Winters at (907) 235-7740.

4-H Rally Day set for Tuesday

The Kenai Peninsula 4-H Council will host the 2003 4-H Rally Day from 9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. Tuesday at Kenai Christian Church.

Adults and youth in grades one through 12 are invited to participate in classes covering subjects such as cake decorating, carving, sports fishing, outdoor survival, public presentation, records, ethics and crafts. Crafts classes may have a small fee.

Rally Day is a day set aside for the Kenai Peninsula 4-H members to gather for fun and learning and for the public to learn what 4-H is about.

Preregistration for the event is available by calling the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service office in Soldotna at 262-5824 or by picking up registration forms at the office at 43961 Kalifornsky Beach Road.

Women invited to 'Call of the Wild' brunch

The Peninsula Take-A-Break will host a "Call of the Wild" brunch for women from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Solid Rock Conference Center. Tina Schneider will give a concert, and Kitty Romersberger, a kayaker and white water enthusiast, will share how she navigated the turbulent waters of her life. The cost of the brunch is $7, and free child care will be provided. To make reservations, call Susan at 335-6789 or Linda at 262-4996.

CIRCAC committee to meet

The Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council environmental monitoring committee will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 910 Highland Ave. For more information or an agenda, call 283-7222.

Marathon rep to speak to The Alliance

The Kenai chapter of The Alliance will meet at noon Tuesday at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai. Bill Barron, operations superintendent for Marathon Oil Company, will speak. The luncheon costs $11, and reservations are encouraged. To register, call (907) 563-2226 or fax (907 561-8870.

Soldotna chamber to meet Tuesday

Sheila Margaret Pothast, an advocate of Aspiration and high school mentoring programs, will speak at the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce's weekly luncheon at noon Tuesday at the Riverside House in Soldotna. The public is invited. For more information, call 262-9814.

Forest Service to hold scoping meeting

The Chugach National Forest will host a public scoping meeting in Hope to discuss a demonstration channel project on Resurrection Creek. The meeting will run from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hope School gym. For more information, call (907) 243-3319 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach and click on "Resurrection Creek Stream Restoration."

Genealogy workshop planned

Totem Tracers Genealogical Society and the Soldotna Family History Center will present the second monthly genealogy class of the year, "Researching and Understanding Census Records," at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Family History Center. The public is invited.

AARP to meet Thursday

The AARP will hold a luncheon and meeting Thursday at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center. Lunch will be served at noon, and Ron Arnold will speak at 1 p.m. For more information, call Vivian at 260-3966 or Joan at 262-5571.

Agrium to host blood drive

Agrium will host a community blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 in the Agrium conference room. To sign up, call Judy Phillips at 776-3270. Blood donors are reminded to eat a good meal and drink plenty of caffeine-free liquids before giving blood.