Around the Peninsula

Refuge cleanup, green-up day today

Kenai National Wildlife will conduct a spring cleaning today. All permanent and summer seasonal employees will work with local volunteers to spruce up the refuge in preparation for summer.

Refuge staff will meet at the Ski Hill Road Visitor Center at 8 a.m. The cleaning groups will gather at Upper Skilak Campground at 4 p.m. for a picnic provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Employees Association, the Alaska Natural History Association and Unocal. For more information, call 262-7021.

Teen dance slated

The Boys and Girls Club Teen Center will host a senior night farewell and dance in honor of the graduating classes of 2005 from 7 to 10 p.m. today. All high school students are invited. Admission is $4 for members, $5 for nonmembers. Admission for graduating seniors is free.

Torch Run set for Saturday

The 2005 Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Alaska will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Kenai and Homer.

The 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) family fun run is conducted in 17 communities across the state simultaneously.

In Kenai, the run begins in front of the CarQuest Auto Parts store on Willow Street. In Homer, the race starts at the base of the Homer Spit.

An entry fee for the race is $25, which includes a T-shirt, or $15 without the shirt. Entrants are encouraged to sign up sponsors to pledge donations to Special Olympics. For more information in Kenai, call officer Kelly Modla at 262-7021, or in Homer, call Sgt. Dave Shealy at (907) 235-3150.

Little League set to play ball

Soldotna Little League will host its opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Soldotna Ball Fields. There will be a free barbecue and opening games held. For more information, call Guy at 2621-5189 and Rob at 262-1650 or 262-5977.

Kasilof cemetery cleanup set

The annual Kasilof Community Cemetery cleanup will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Participants are asked to bring gloves and leaf rakes. A luncheon will follow at noon at the See's house. For more information, call 283-9243.

Safety Day planned

The fifth annual Soldotna Safety Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Fred Meyer parking lot. This is a family event.

Senior center fund-raiser scheduled

The Ninilchik Senior Citizens Center will host an endowment dinner and pie auction fund-raiser at 5 p.m. Saturday at the center. A pork tenderloin dinner will be served. The cost is $12 per person. Contributing artist to the auction are Elaine Selfe, Erica Miller, Nick Cooper, Terry Nelson and Alexander Kaye.

Ducks Unlimited banquet slated

Ducks Unlimited Kenai Snow Goose Chapter has been reactivated. It will hold a banquet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles Club on the Kenai Spur Highway. For more information, call 252-1426 or 260-7740.

Fund-raiser for burn victim set

There will be a fund-raiser for Kenai resident David Goggia, who was burned in a fire and transported to Seattle for treatment, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center. Admission is a donation of $5 or more.

There will be entertainment by the Drop of A Hat Players, a theater troop of current and former Nikiski High School drama, debate and forensics team members directed by Joe Rizzo that performs readers theaters and other pieces from "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor and other sources. There also will be a baked goods auction. For more information, call Joe Rizzo at 283-6109.

Nikiski fire chief to retire

The Nikiski Fire Service Area will host a retirement get-together for fire chief Daniel Gregory at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Nikiski Community Center, formerly Nikiski Elementary. Presentations will begin at 7 p.m. Gregory has served for more than 30 years. It is open to the public.

Skyview plans party for retiring teachers

There will be an open house retirement reception to honor Skyview High School teachers Dave Carey and Sue Bacon from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday in the school's library.