Simon Lopez

The Homer Police Department hosted another women’s self defense course Sunday, after a class last fall saw an outpouring of interest from women across the Kenai Peninsula; and last week, representatives from many local Kenai Peninsula organizations got together to discuss the gaps in public transportation in the region, and what can be done to fill them.

It can be difficult for family and caregivers to understand the experience of impaired ability to remember, think or make daily decisions, but a virtual dementia tour seeks to bridge the divide by putting people in the shoes of someone experiencing dementia; and scientists last week warned that two Aleutian volcanoes were at a heightened risk to erupt following a series of high-intensity earthquakes nearby.

The Homer Police Department is hosting a series of presentations for parents this spring to raise awareness about youth safety and etiquette online — from preventing sexual exploitation, to stalking and cyber-bullying; and for the first time in five years, Pier One Theatre, Homer High School’s choral program and a community orchestra are coming together to put on “Newsies,” the musical, this weekend.

The flood service area for the Seward area will soon have a full-time manager; and Janette Bower has accepted the position of city manager of Soldotna and will start on May 15, according to the city.

Kenai Peninsula Borough officials say no damage was reported in the region following a magnitude 5.4 earthquake early Sunday morning; and local healthcare providers in Homer and Ninilchik are reporting patients are facing months-long delays in new Medicaid application approvals.

Dedicated volunteers and advocates in Homer are working to promote food access in the community through the local food pantry and statewide food security initiatives; and protesters concerned about limits on the power of Alaska grand juries spent two days last week advocating for their cause on the Kenai Peninsula and beyond.

The lack of affordable housing is a critical issue that Homer residents face daily. On March 25, local organizations and the City of Homer will host a community meeting, providing residents with the opportunity to share their challenges and ideas to address the housing crisis in the area.

Seven Kenai Peninsula schools are on the hunt for a new principal, including Chapman Elementary in Anchor Point, Seward Elementary and the Susan B. English School in Seldovia; and the nonprofits Hospice of Homer and Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska are putting on four events in Homer this week to raise awareness and provide support for residents with Alzheimer’s disease, and related disabilities, and their caregivers.

The ‘Łuk’ae Tse’ Taas’ — or Fish Head Soup — collective of Alaska Native comic artists and writers aims to share visual stories of Alaska’s rich regional cultures, and made a visit Homer over the weekend; and on Tuesday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced a bill that would restrict Alaska’s LGBTQ students’ ability to live in accordance with their gender identities at school.

Kenai Peninsula residents turned out in protest to school pools and theaters; and halibut season opens this week with lower catch limits than last year.