Chambers set schedules

■ The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon today at Froso’s Restaurant in Soldotna. Central Peninsula Hospital CEO Rick Davis will provide a hospital update. RSVP to 262-9814.

The Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce will host a joint luncheon at noon on May 5 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Sen. Peter Micciche and Reps. Mike Chenault and Kurt Olson will provide a legislative update. RSVP required to 262-9814 or 283-1991.

Medical Office of Dr. Theodore Barton, MD recognized for workplace safety

Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Heidi Drygas approved the Medical Office of Dr. Theodore Barton, MD in Soldotna for the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program renewal as a result of outstanding employee safety and health programs.

SHARP is a federal recognition program, administered by the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (AKOSH) Section in the department’s Labor Standards and Safety Division. Participating employers are excused from programmed AKOSH enforcement inspections during the recognition period. However, employee complaints, accident investigations or other significant incidents will result in enforcement action.

Companies that partner with AKOSH and achieve SHARP status are likely to experience fewer workplace accidents and reduced workers’ compensation insurance costs. For more information on how your business can become a SHARP participant or to see a list of current participants, visit the SHARP web page at http://labor.alaska.gov/lss/OSH-SHARP.htm, or call SHARP Program Coordinator Colleen Cunanan at 907-269-4953 or email her at Colleen.Cunanan@Alaska.Gov.

No-fill farming workshop offered

The Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District invites Kenai Peninsula farmers to a workshop covering all aspects of using the Truax No-Till Seed Planter. This workshop is required for anyone who wishes to rent the planter during the 2015 season. The workshop will be held 4-7 p.m. May 5 at the Soldotna Rodeo Grounds on K-Beach Road. Cost is $25. Please call Heidi at 283-8732 ext. 5 to register. The Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District has a wide variety of agricultural equipment for rent, including manual and mechanized tools for soil preparation (Meri Crusher), tillage, re-seeding, planting, pesticide and fertilizer application and bale wrapping. For information, see the “Equipment Rental” page at www.kenaisoilandwater.org.

Hospital offers acupressure class

CPH is offering training in Comfort Touch – Nurturing Acupressure for the Elderly and the Ill on May 16 and May 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Denali Conference Center. Deadline to sign up is April 30. Cost is $160 and includes the text book. Approved provider with National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work (NCBTMB) provider #283897-00. 15 Contact hours provided for nurses. Call Bonnie Nichols at 714-4500 or email: bnichols@cpgh.org

Free F/V drill conductor workshop

The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) will offer a 12-hour Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor workshop in Homer on May 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The workshop will be conducted at the Best Western Bidarka Inn, 575 Sterling Highway.

This workshop is an excellent opportunity for commercial fishermen and other mariners to gain hands-on training with marine safety equipment and learn best practices for surviving emergencies at sea.

Instructor Rob Hulse will cover cold-water survival skills; EPIRBs, flares, and maydays; man-overboard recovery and firefighting; immersion suits and PFDs, helicopter rescue, life rafts, abandon ship procedures, and emergency drills. There will be an in-the-water practice session, giving participants practical experience with PFDs and immersion suits, employing survival techniques, and righting and boarding an inflatable life raft.

AMSEA Drill Conductor workshops meet the training requirements for documented commercial fishing vessels operating beyond the federal boundary line. This workshop is offered to commercial fishermen at no cost, thanks to support from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health. For more information or to register, contact AMSEA at 907-747-3287 or www.amsea.org.

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.