What’s Happening

Events and Exhibitions

n The AFS Intercultural Exchange Program’s 38th annual fundraising dinner is Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church on Spruce Street in Kenai. Enjoy a multi- course gourmet dinner with recipes provided by eight exchange students attending area high schools this year. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for ages 14 and under, and are available at River City Books in Soldotna, or by calling 690-2779.

n Triumvirate Theatre presents its 13th Annual Dinner Theatre and Art Auction, March 23, 24, 30, and 31 at Mykel’s Restaurant in Soldotna. Back by popular demand, Chris Pepper stars in “Forrest Guppy!”, a classic favorite, updated with all new jokes, written and directed by Carla Jenness. The cast includes Joe Rizzo, Chris Jenness, Kincaid Jenness, Jamie Nelson, Hannah Tauriainen, Dave Brown, Kaci Tauriainen, AnneMarie Rudstrom, Shaylon Cochran, Robert Ernst, and Tyler Payment. Mykel’s Restaurant once again hosts, offering a delicious meal. The event, while hilarious and delicious, also serves to fund the theatre for the remainder of the year, providing funds for our programs throughout the summer and into the fall. Tickets are $48/each for dinner and the show, with an auction to follow. Tickets are available at https://triumviratetheatre.ticketleap.com or on the Triumvirate Facebook page.

n Love INC of the Kenai Peninsula presents the “Love Uplifted” benefit concert, a wonderful evening of classical music, featuring Svetlana Velichko, Tamoka Raften, Robert Thompson, Ida Pearson, and others, April 7, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Soldotna. There will be fabulous raffle prizes, a silent auction, and an intermission with gourmet appetizers and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at River City Books, Kings’ Treasures, Love, INC, Shannon at AK Salon, Already Read Books, or at the door. For more information, contact Love, INC of the Kenai Peninsula at 262-5140 or leslie@peninsulaloveinc.com.

n The exhibit the Biennial Juried Show is on display at the Kenai Fine Art Center throughout the month of March. On display are a variety of pieces in a range of mediums. The art was judged by Mario Gonzales, coordinator of Digital Design and Printmaking and has taught Foundation, Photography, Digital Arts, Metalsmithing, Sculpture and Painting courses at UAA. The Kenai Fine Art Center is open from noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

n The 29th annual Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Juried Student Art Show, “Visual Feast,” will be on display in April at the Kenai Fine Art Center on Cook Avenue in Old Town Kenai. There will be an Opening Reception on April 5, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. There will be amazing art from all over the district, refreshments, and an awards presentation.

n “34 Years of Iditarod Race Images,” an exhibit of photgraphy by Ron Levy of Soldotna, will be on display at Kaladi Brothers Coffee, 315 South Kobuk in Soldotna, from March 1-31. Ron’s images and paster can be viewed at www.ronlevyphoto.com.

n The Kenai Performers will be producing “The Ballad of Kenai,” an award-winning original musical by Lance Petersen, Jean McMaster, and Bob Richardson. Hailed by Alan Boraas, KPC Professor of Anthropology, as “…the most important play written and performed in Southcentral Alaska and among the most significant in the state…” (Redoubt Reporter Feb. 17, 2010), we invite you to join us in the production of this historical show! Auditions will be at 7 p.m. March 23 and noon March 24 at 44045 Kalifornsky Beach Road (behind Subway). For more information, contact Chris Cook at 907-252-7929 or chriscook54@gmail.com.

n Kenai Peninsula Chapter of Trout Unlimited presents: IF4, The International Fly fishing Film Fest at the Kenai Visitors &Cultural Center, April 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at: https://www.showclix.com/event/if42018kenaiak. This is a fundraiser for the local chapter. There will be a silent auction and food and drinks available. For more information, please contact event organizer at info@flyfilmfest.com.

n Registration is open for the upcoming highly-acclaimed 2018 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference to be held June 8-12 at Land’s End Resort in Homer and presented by Kachemak Bay Campus of Kenai Peninsula College-University of Alaska Anchorage. The conference will feature 17 other award-winning, nationally recognized authors, editors and agents whom will conduct creative writing workshops, readings, craft talks and panel presentations in creative fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business of writing. This year’s keynote presenter will be Pulitzer Prize novelist Anthony Doerr. Other national and Alaskan presenting and visiting writers will be Jean Anderson, Rick Barot, Richard Chiappone, Bryan Allen Fierro, Diane Glancy, Ernestine Hayes, Jean Hegland, Erin Coughlin Hollowell, Barbara Hurd, Kevin Larimer, Nancy Lord, Peggy Shumaker, Floyd Skloot, Joe Wilkins and Sally Wofford-Girand. Optional activities include manuscript reviews, editor-agent consultations, receptions, a boat cruise and open mic. Evening readings on June 9-11 by visiting writers will be open to the public at no charge. A special post-conference writing workshop will be held across Kachemak Bay at Tutka Bay Lodge for conference registrants. The conference’s early registration fee is $395 and includes meals and workshops. Deadline for early bird registration is May 1. Advanced registration is required. For program and registration information see: http://writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.

n ARTspace Drawer is on display at the Soldotna Library, the first annual collection of locally created 2D art. The first of its kind in Alaska, this display is made possible by a partnership between Soldotna Rotary, ARTspace Inc., and the Soldotna Public Library.

Entertainment

n Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has Open Mic from 6-8 p.m. Friday, and live music with Bill Larned on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Reservations encouraged. Call Veronica’s at 283-2725.

n Acapulco, 43543 Sterling Highway in Soldotna, has live music at 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays starting at 5 p.m.

n A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.

n The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Pat Wendt on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m.; Garrett Mayer on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.; and Derek Poppin on Saturdays from 8-10 p.m. Mike Morgan will play from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday.

n An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.

n AmVets Post 4 has reopened in its brand new building on Kalifornsky Beach across from Jumpin’ Junction. Eligible veterans and their families are invited to stop by to find out more about AmVets and their involvement in the Veteran community. For members and invited guests, Friday night dance to “Running with Scissors,” and Saturday Burn your own steak and karaoke with Cowboy Don.

n Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

n The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

n The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.

Markets, Fairs and Bazaars

n The Kenai Peninsula Homeschool Activities Committee with Bridges Community Resource Network presents a Fundraiser Vendor/Craft Fair from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 9 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 10 at the Kenai Visitors Center.

Films

n Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 or visit http://www.orcatheater.com for listings and times.

n Visit Kenai Cinema at www.catheatres.com for listings and times.

Down the Road

n The Pratt Museum in Homer is from noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.

Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion. com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.

More in Life

Promotional image courtesy Amazon MGM Studios
Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift, J. K. Simmons as Santa Claus, Chris Evans as Jack O’Malley and Lucy Liu as Zoe Harlow in “Red One.”
On the Screen: ‘Red One’ is light on holiday spirit

The goofy, superhero-flavored take on a Christmas flick, feels out of time

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A gingerbread house constructed by Aurelia, 6, is displayed in the Kenai Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday.
The house that sugar built

Kenai Chamber of Commerce hosts 12th Annual Gingerbread House Contest

This is the 42-foot Aero Grand Commander, owned by Cordova Airlines, that crashed into Tustumena Lake in 1965. (Photo courtesy of the Galliett Family Collection)
The 2 most deadly years — Part 2

Records indicate that the two most deadly years for people on or near Tustumena Lake were 1965 and 1975

Nick Varney
Unhinged Alaska: A butthead named Baster

Time now for the Baster saga that took place a few years ago

Pistachios and pomegranates give these muffins a unique flavor and texture. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
A chef is born

Pistachio and pomegranate muffins celebrate five years growing and learning in the kitchen

Make-ahead stuffing helps take pressure off Thanksgiving cooking. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Holiday magic, pre-planned

Make-ahead stuffing helps take pressure off Thanksgiving cooking

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Life in the Pedestrian Lane: Let’s give thanks…

Thanksgiving has come to mean “feast” in most people’s eyes.

File
Minister’s Message: What must I do to inherit?

There’s no way God can say “no” to us if we look and act all the right ways. Right?

Jane Fair (standing, wearing white hat) receives help with her life jacket from Ron Hauswald prior to the Fair and Hauswald families embarking on an August 1970 cruise with Phil Ames on Tustumena Lake. Although conditions were favorable at first, the group soon encountered a storm that forced them ashore. (Photo courtesy of the Fair Family Collection)
The 2 most deadly years — Part 1

To newcomers, residents and longtime users, this place can seem like a paradise. But make no mistake: Tustumena Lake is a place also fraught with peril.

Most Read