Chambers set schedules
■ The Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce will host a joint luncheon at noon today at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Nicole Schuh with Alaska Chamber will share information on Alaska Business Week, a one-week summer program teaching Alaskan high school students the basics of business, leadership and entrepreneurship. RSVP to 262-9814 or 283-1991.
■ The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center’s 32nd annual Beer and Wine experience starts at 5:30 p.m. April 16 at the Old Carr’s Mall in Kenai. This year’s theme is “Adventure to Neverland.” The event includes live and silent auctions, the Wall of Guns, and raffles. For more information, call 907-283-1991.
Alaska LNG to discuss summer plans
A “Coffee with Alaska LNG” community meeting is planned for Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center. The Alaska LNG project plans to conduct geophysical and geotechnical surveys onshore in the Nikiski area and offshore in Cook Inlet. The project team will be discussing the 2016 field work program with the community and answering questions from the group. For more information call 855-550-5445 or visit www.ak-lng.com.
Grant funds available for local nonprofits
Central Peninsula nonprofit organizations can apply online for a grant of up to $1,000 from the Kenai Peninsula Foundation’s Endowment Fund. Guidelines and the application can be found at www.kenaipeninsulafoundation.org by and then clicking on the word “Grants.”
The application deadline is May 20. For more information contact Mariko Sarafin at 907-249-6609. The Kenai Foundation is an Affiliate of the Alaska Community Foundation, and its Endowment Fund was established through charitable donations from Central Peninsula residents and community partners.
HEA board candidates announced
Four candidates will be on the ballot for the Homer Electric Association (HEA) Board of Directors’ 2016 election. The deadline to apply for a seat on the board was March 4.
HEA directors are elected by the members in their respective district, with members voting only for the candidates residing in their district. This year, the following candidates are seeking election to the HEA board:
— In District 1 (Kenai – Nikiski- parts of Soldotna area), the candidate is incumbent Dan Chay of Kenai.
— In District 2 (Soldotna – Sterling – Kasilof), the candidate is incumbent Ed Oberts of Soldotna.
— In District 3 (Kasilof south to Kachemak Bay area), the candidates are incumbent Bill Fry of Homer and Stephen J. Pollack III of Seldovia.
The 2016 ballot will also include six propositions. Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 would change the wording in the HEA bylaws and Articles of Incorporation from “husband and wife” to “married couple” to allow same-sex couples to hold a joint HEA membership. The proposed change is based on recent legal rulings regarding same-sex marriages. The remaining ballot propositions are aimed at clarifying language and intent in several sections of the bylaws. A complete rundown of the ballot propositions along with candidate information is available on HEA’s website (www.homerelectric.com).
Ballots will be mailed to HEA members on April 1. Completed mail-in ballots must be received in the mail by May 3 for validation. If HEA members are unable to complete a mail-in ballot, members will also have an opportunity to vote at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Members, which will be held May 4 at Kenai Central High School.
For more details about the election and the Annual Meeting of the Members contact HEA’s office at 800-478-8551 or HEA’s website at www.homerelectric.com.
Safety workshop for commercial fishermen
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will offer a Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Workshop in Seward on April 18 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. at AVTEC, 809 2nd Avenue. This workshop will cover cold-water survival skills; EPIRBs, flares, and maydays; man-overboard recovery and firefighting; immersion suits and PFDs; emergency drills, helicopter rescue, life rafts, and abandon ship procedures.
The workshop meets the training requirements for drill conductors on documented commercial fishing vessels operating three or more miles offshore. It is offered to commercial fishermen at no cost, thanks to support from the United States Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The cost for all others in $175 and all mariners are welcome. Interested mariners may register online at www.amsea.org or call AMSEA at 907-747-3287.
Pesticide certification training offered
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will offer three-day training sessions for pesticide applicators in April.
The session will be offered by videoconference April 25-27 in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Soldotna, Palmer, Delta Junction and other communities as requested. Classes will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an exam scheduled after the training. Extension agents and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation personnel will teach the classes.
The state requires certification for anyone who uses or sells restricted pesticides. Certification is also required for anyone who is a pesticide consultant, engages in the commercial or contract use of pesticides or supervises their use at a public location.
The training costs $55 and includes the exam and necessary study materials, which are available at Extension offices or by mail. Register for either class online at http://bit.ly/ces-workshops or at local Extension offices. Participants are encouraged to become familiar with the materials and math needed prior to the training. For more information and to request another training location, contact Janice Chumley at 907-262-5824 or jichumley@alaska.edu.
What’s new in your business?
Have you opened a new business, moved to a new location, hired a new person or promoted an employee? Send us your information at news@peninsulaclarion.com, fax it to 907-283-3299, or drop it by the Clarion at 150 Trading Bay in Kenai. Questions? Call 907-335-1251.
Business announcements may be submitted to news@peninsulaclarion.com. Items should be submitted by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication.
