Kathleen Gustafson

Mike Ilg, Director of Homer Community Schools, is the city's new coordinator for local relief and response to COVID-19. He talks about access to services and checks-in with Homer Church on the Rock, The Homer Foundation, Homer Chamber of Commerce, and Green Dot Homer, The Homer Community Food Pantry and The Salvation Army.

For a master list of phone numbers of resources for food, food deliveries, rental and utility assistance, go to https://www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/covid19

Updates and information from:
Nurse Lorne Carroll from AK Department of Public Health, Chief Mark Kirko from Homer Volunteer Fire Department, Derotha Ferraro from South Peninsula Hospital, Pegge Erkeneff from Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and Jenny Carroll from the City Of Homer.
You can access updated information anytime at the City of Homer website.  http://cityofhomer-ak.gov/

When it comes to coronavirus, we need to flatten the curve.  We want to avoid huge spikes in infections in a short period of time. Let’s not overwhelm our healthcare system.  Flattening the curve means taking actions now that keep the virus from spreading quickly.  Don’t shake hands.  Make sure to cover your sneezes and coughs.  Wash your hands more frequently.  Call your health provider first before going in.  Telemedicine options are also highly encouraged.  Learn more at coronavirus.alaska.gov
 

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, it is important that all Alaskans take social distancing seriously. It is also really important that you stay home if you are sick, even with a mild respiratory illness. We recommend preparing your home to self-quarantine for two weeks. That means having enough food and essential supplies on hand for fourteen days, not for four months. Learn more about how to prepare and prevent the spread of COVID-19 at coronavirus.alaska.gov.

The City of Homer is facilitating live, weekly, local updates of information on COVID-19. Thursday, March 19, Derotha Ferraro from South Peninsula Hospital and Homer Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mark Kirko presented updated information and took calls from KBBI listeners.

This is KBBI Homer with a weekly live call in COVID-19 update, this week with Chief Mark Kirko from the Homer Volunteer Fire Department and Derotha Ferraro from South Peninsula Hospital. Derotha starts off the conversation talking about the hospital's procedures for keeping safe.
SPH: 

This is Dr. Bell from the Homer Medical Center. I would like you to join me in flattening the curve.

What does that mean?
It means taking actions now that keep the virus from spreading exponentially, avoiding the sudden dizzying increases seen in Italy and other countries. Many people who spread COVID 19 are highly contagious before they even know they are sick.

Remember if you are an older adult or have a severe chronic medical condition, make sure to put distance between yourself and others to help reduce the risk of being exposed to coronavirus.
Stay home as much as possible. Watch some movies and catch up on those books you always wanted to read.
If you do not have enough household items and groceries on hand, find a friend to run those errands for you. Take care of yourself and if you need to seek medical attention, please call first.
Learn more at coronavirus.alaska.gov

About 50 peninsula residents gathered at the Ninilchik Fairgrounds multi- purpose building for a public hearing on Monday, March 9 to hear testimony on the necessity for a borough fire and emergency medical service area. 

This week’s commentary is from Nurse Bonita Banks, Health and Wellness Educator at South Peninsula Hospital. Nurse Banks has some tips on steering clear of viruses.

For complete information on coronavirus in Alaska, go to coronavirus.alaska.gov. The website is updated every day at noon.

District 31 Representative Sarah Vance of Homer, called from Juneau on Thursday afternoon.

She spoke with KBBI’s Kathleen Gustafson for this Legislative Update.

Rep. Vance:
This has been a full week. We passed the budget and everything.

KBBI:
Do you want to start with the budget?

Vance:
So we passed the  operating budget, which was unprecedented 43 days - out of the house. It's now on its way to the Senate. It was just above the governor's ask.

Adding solar energy to a home or business is easier and cheaper when people band together. Forming a collective can bring down costs and make a project more attractive to installers. That’s the goal of Solarize Homer.

You can find information on the Homer, Kenai, Fairbanks and Anchorage Solarize projects at kenaichange.org. or at akcenter.org To sign up for Solarize Homer, contact organizer Satchel Pondolfino at satchel@inletkeeper.org

This week on The Coffee Table, learn how to sign up for Solarize, a collective purchasing program to spur solar energy development in local communities.

Solarize organizer Satchel Pondolfino, Louis Flora from The Alaska Center and Scott Waterman from Spirited Energy Ventures talk about the program and what it takes to add solar energy to your home or business.

You can find information on the Solarize Homer, Kenai and Anchorage projects at kenaichange.org. or at akcenter.org.

About 200 residents of the Homer area turned out on leap year day to sign on the dotted line in a statewide effort to recall Governor Michael Dunleavy. Signers represented the full political spectrum if the logos on their gear is any indication. They showed up in jackets embroidered with mining company logos, rifle scopes, Grateful Dead skulls and the names of their favorite fishing charters and some came to sign wearing basic Homer fleece. Volunteers wore matching Recall Dunleavy t-shirts. Organizers are headquartered in a cabin on Lake Street in downtown Homer.