The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District requests input from staff, parents, and community members at the districtwide KPBSD budget meetings scheduled at the following times — Homer Community: Homer High Library, Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. Central Peninsula Community: Kenai Central High Library, Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. Seward Community: Seward High Library, Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. A Zoom link will be provided for each individual meeting. Additional information and the number to call in with questions will be posted on the Events Calendar on the KPBSD website. As new budget information becomes available, it will also be posted on the Finance page. If you have questions, please call Natalie Bates at 907-714-8888.
Central Peninsula Child Find Screenings: The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Child Find Program and Frontier Community Service’s Infant Learning Program will be offering free developmental screenings for children birth to 5 years old. The screening clinic will be on Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment only, at Frontier Community Services, Suite 36 in the Copper Center. We will screen your child’s early development, motor skills, speech/communication, early learning concepts, vision and hearing. To make an appointment or for more information, call Kelli at 907-260-5148.
Tsalteshi Trails Association
The 20th annual 5-kilometer Tsalteshi Ski For Women will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 8 at the Skyview Trailhead of Tsalteshi Trails. Choose skate or classic skiing. Costumes are encouraged. Proceeds will be donated to a local charity benefiting women. Preregistration is available at www.tsalteshi.org/events for $25 for Tsalteshi members or $30 for nonmembers. Day-of-race registration, starting at 10 a.m., is $35 for TTA members or $40 for nonmembers. Youth registration is $10. The first 100 women to register will get a Ski For Women neck gaiter. The main event is for women, only, but a drag race for guys will be held after the women’s race. Donations for the drag race will be accepted and registration is not necessary. For more information, e-mail info@tsalteshi.org or call 907-394-6397.
Tsalteshi Trails Association will hold its annual Tour of Tsalteshi race at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at the trailhead behind Skyview Middle School. Choose a 40-, 20- or 10-kilometer ski race in skate or classic divisions. A 20-kilometer fat-tire bike race starts at 1:30 p.m., in partnership with Cook Inletkeeper. Or choose to ski and bike. Prizes will be awarded for the first three finishers in each race, and raffle drawings will be available to all participants. Awards will be given at a post-race party starting at 3 p.m. at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna. To register, sign up to volunteer or for more information, visit www.touroftsalteshi.org.
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
Snowy trails and longer days mean an exciting return of our guided refuge snowshoe walks this month! These walks, hosted on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning on Feb. 18, last a couple hours and introduce the basics of snowshoeing for beginners while providing experienced snowshoers a guided fitness hike. Pace is moderate but changed for each group based on age and experience. Call the Refuge Visitor Center to register if you need snowshoes or come with your own (even if they are brand new) and explore the winter trails with us! These walks are best for ages 12+ and this year snowshoes are only available in limited supply.
Guide Irene will be hosting the first of her interpretive guided winter walks on Saturday, Feb. 28, beginning right after the fitness snowshoe walk concludes at 2 p.m. During her “New coat, new home or long nap?” animal adaptation program, you will explore how Alaskan animals survive and thrive during the coldest months. This walk will be on snowshoes, with a limited number of adult and youth snowshoes available for those who pre-register (907-260-2820).
On Feb. 17, the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting a watch party of the statewide presentation on Sheefish in Kotzebue Sound by Selawik Refuge biologist Bill Carter. This event begins at 5 p.m. and runs one hour, in the Refuge Visitor Center’s Multipurpose Room.
Finally, for our littlest visitors, this month’s PEEPS preschool program on Thursday, Feb. 19 will feature animal habitats. Meet our rangers at the Refuge Visitor Center at either 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. for this hands-on hour of games, crafts and storytime. Remember that we can no longer provide snack, but you may bring one to enjoy during storytime.
Kenai Peninsula College
The KPC Learning Center hosts writing activities throughout the month that are open to the public, free to everyone ages 16+.
Writing Workshops will be held on first Thursdays from 3-4:30 p.m., in person at the Kenai River Campus library or via Zoom (meeting ID 879 4117 6186). March 5, April 2.
Writing Jams will be held on second Thursdays from 3-4:30 p.m., in person at the KRC library or via Zoom (meeting ID 815 0077 5169). Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9.
Art Jams will be held on third Thursdays from 3-4:30 p.m., in person only at the McLane Commons. Feb. 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16.
A Community Writing Center will be held on third Fridays from 3-5 p.m., in person at the Soldotna Public Library or via Zoom (meeting ID 837 8916 7274). Feb. 20, March 20, April 17. This event is not sponsored or endored by the Soldotna Public Library.
Kenai Community Library
Life-sized Candy Land: Feb. 4-7, all day. Have you ever wanted to wander through the Candy Cane Forest or climb Gumdrop Mountain? Now is your chance! Join us this week to play a giant version of Candy Land, where you will wind your way through the game and race your friends to find King Kandy at the end! Open to all ages any time during our open hours.
Lego Marble Mazes: Feb. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join the Kenai Community Library for our first Take Your Child to the Library Day! During this hour, we are making our own marble mazes out of Legos! Recommended for ages 6-12.
Off the Page: Feb. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join the Kenai Community Library for our first Take Your Child to the Library Day! During this hour, children and their caregivers are invited to this Special Storytime led by Robyn Zinszer! Join us for creative learning, movement and play, including a closer reading of a favorite children’s book: “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr. Following the storytime, we’ll have a themed craft. Recommended for ages 3-6, but all children are welcome.
Nintendo Switch Club Weekend Edition: Feb. 7, 4-5 p.m. Join the Kenai Community Library for our first Take Your Child to the Library Day! During this hour, stop by for an additional Nintendo Switch Club! Bring your own console or play on ours as we boot up some classic multiplayer games. Recommended for ages 8-18.
More Than Puppy Love with the Kenai Animal Shelter: Feb. 13, 3 p.m. Find your next loev through “animal speed dating!” Join us as the Kenai Animal Shelter presents “dating profiles” on their adoptable pets. We’ll also be making a pet-themed accessory during the presentation.
Teen Craft — Valentine’s Day Pinch Pots. Feb. 13, 4-5 p.m. Learn how to make a heart-shaped dish out of air dry clay with us! These pinch pots will practice the basics of scuplting and are great for beginners and experts alike.
Monthly Programs:
Lego Club: Mondays at 4 p.m. Use your imagination to build awesome Lego sculptures every Monday in the Kenai Community Library Front Conference Room. A new theme each week will help you spark your creativity.
Chess Open Hour: Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. Do you like playing chess or would you like to learn how? We’re proud to offer a casual chess program for all ages and levels. Boards provided. Staff available for most sessions, but not all.
Weekend Chess Open Hour: Saturdays, 3 p.m. Stop by the library for a round of chess! This casual weekend chess program is open to players of all ages and experience. To get a board or chess clock, please ask the front desk. Please note that staff is unavailable during our weekend chess hour for game instruction. Check it out — once you try it, you’ll be rooked!
Tech Time: Tuesdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tech time is available at the Kenai Community Library for anyone with basic technology questions. We can help you with: Basic computer skills; Accessing library resources; How to access eBooks and Audiobooks; Using devices such as eReaders, tablets, and smartphones; Digital photos; Social media; Email. We do not take apart or repair devices, assist with financial transactions, or handle malware/viruses. While we will do our best to assist you with your technology needs, these are offered to allow you to expand your skills, not as a replacement for commercial tech support. Appointments required. Register here or call 907-283-4378.
Stay & Play!: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11-11:30 a.m. Join us after Wee Read or Preschool Storytime for playtime! The toy bin will be available, along with coloring sheets, sensory bins, and more to promote social emotional learning skills.
Wee Read Story Time: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Designed for babies ages birth to 3 years plus parent or caregiver, this program focuses on early literacy skills through rhyme, rhythm, fingerplays, and more.
Preschool Story Time at the Library!: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Storytime for preschoolers, ages 3 to 5, includes stories, songs, activities, and rhymes specially designed to support reading readiness and foster the social and emotional skills that kids need to succeed as they develop.
Early Readers Book Club: Thursdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Designed with our newest readers in mind! Join us for word exercises and a chapter book read-aloud. Intended for ages 5-10.
Soldotna Library
Cool Kid Crafts! Love Bugs: Feb. 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m. We will be making cute bugs and adding hearts, sparkles and dots to turn them into “love” bugs. Your child will be using their fine motor skills to glue and decorate their craft. This program is for kids ages 2-5 years. Supplies are limited. Please register each child who will be participating. Caregivers do not need to register.
Soldotna Library Friends Board Meeting: Feb. 11, noon to 1 p.m. Join the Soldotna Library Friends board to hear more about upcoming activities and fundraising efforts.
A Dash of Color Cookbook Club: Feb. 12, 6-7 p.m. This fun and flavorful gathering is for those who love cooking, exploring new recipes, and sharing good food. Each session, we select a cookbook, and you choose a recipe to prepare and bring to our potluck-style meetup. Here’s how it works: The featured cookbook will be available at the front desk for browsing. Pick a recipe that sparks your interest, and we’ll provide a photocopy for you to take home. Then, whip up your chosen dish and bring it to share with the group. We’ll take care of serving utensils, drinks, and place settings—just bring your dish, your appetite, and a love for great food! For this session, we will be selecting recipes from “Damn Delicious: 100 Super Easy, Super Fast Recipes” by Chungah Rhee. Registration is required. This is an adult program; please leave the young’uns at home.
Tween Scene: Feb. 13, 4-5 p.m. Tweens ages 10-14 years are invited to enjoy video games, crafts, Lego Bricks, snacks, and more! Registration Required.
Weekly events:
Toddler Story Time (18 Months-3 Years), Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. We’re excited to get up and get moving at the library with stories, songs, and silly fun that encourages your toddler’s language skills!
Lego Club: Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. Tell your stories and build your world with LEGO® bricks EVERY TUESDAY! Bring a friend and let your imagination go wild. Adult supervision needed for those under the age of 10.
Bouncing Babies Story Time (Birth-18 Months), Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Sing, play, and read every Wednesday at Bouncing Babies story time! This story time is designed for 18months and younger and families are welcome!
Teen Lounge, Wednesdays at 4 p.m. Teen Lounge is a weekly hang-out program for teens ages 13-17. Join us for video games, board games, NERF® battles, study sessions, crafts, and other fun activities!
Preschool Story Time (3-5 Years), Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. We are excited to share stories, sing songs, and explore other learning fun together at the library!
