What’s Happening

Best Bet

• True Tales, Told Live will hold a live storytelling event at 6 p.m. Friday at Odie’s in Soldotna. The theme is “Family Recipes for Disaster.” It’s free and open to the public. A practice session will be held at 6 p.m. today at Odie’s for anyone interested in participating in the Friday event. For more information, contact Jenny Neyman at jneyman@kdll.org or 907-394-6397.

 

Events and Exhibitions

Soldotna photographer Ron Levy has two photography exhibits on display in October. “Journeys &Transitions” is in the Kenai Peninsula College gallery in the main campus lobby. It features images that document or represent movement, travel and the transitions between physical and emotional spaces. The second exhibit will be at the main Kaladi Brothers building on Kobuk Street in Soldotna and is entitled Interactions.” It features “relationships and interactions between people, animals, cultures and the worlds in which they live.” Both exhibitions include images taken from Ron’s 30-plus years photographing in and out of Alaska for editorial, commercial and personal projects.

Love INC of the Kenai Peninsula is celebrating 30 years of service with their annual Harvest Fundraiser Wild Game Dinner and Auction on October 20. This event will be held at Peninsula Grace Brethren Church on K-Beach Road. There will be live music, fabulous auction items, and a gourmet wild game dinner. Tickets are $40. RSVP to 262-5140 by October 16.

“Clay on Display” will be featured during the month of October at the Kenai Fine Arts Center. This exhibit will display pottery made by members of the Kenai Potters Guild. Come see what the potters have created in response to a 10# Challenge.

Kenai Peninsula College Showcase:

— “The Elephant and the Lion: A Journey Across Southern Africa,” Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m., in the McLane Commons. This summer Dr. Paul Landen, KPC Psychology Professor, visited seven countries in Southern Africa — encountering amazing wildlife; visiting Victoria Falls, dubbed one of the “Seven Wonders of the Natural World”; and witnessing many vestiges of colonialism and apartheid. Landen will share his adventures with us.

— “Coming Home: A Veteran’s Journey From Combat to Classroom,” Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. in the McLane Commons. Lifelong Kenai resident, KPC Student, and Iraq War Veteran Michael Skinner discusses the complexities and difficulties of returning from service and how higher education aided in his transition. A great presentation not only for veterans and those with veterans in their lives, but for anyone in the community.

ARTspace Drawer is on display at the Soldotna Library, the first annual collection of locally created 2D art. The first of its kind in Alaska, this display is made possible by a partnership between Soldotna Rotary, ARTspace Inc., and the Soldotna Public Library.

 

Halloween and Harvest Happenings

The Kenai Parks &Recreation Department in collaboration with the Kenai Community Library, Kenai Senior Center, Kenai Chamber of Commerce, Cooperative Extension, Boys and Girls Club, 4-H, and Diamond M Ranch, will be holding their 2nd Annual Fall Pumpkin Festival Oct. 14 from 1-3 p.m. at the Wildflower Garden located on Lawton Drive, Kenai. Activities include free pumpkins to the first 450 children, photo ops, story time with puppets, face painting, crazy hair, petting zoo, hay rides, hot cider, cookies, music and more. For more information, please contact the Kenai Parks &Recreation Department at 283-8261.

Halloween Party/Costume Contest, Oct. 21 at the Sterling Community Rec Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dress up for a night of Halloween fun. There will be dinner and dancing, no host bar, and dress up for the costume contest. Scariest and Most Original will receive trophies for first and second place in each category, plus a pie auction and spit the pot.

5K Costume Run — The annual NCRC fun run will be held on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Recreation Center. Registration will be held from 10-10:45 a.m. and the cost of entry will be canned or nonperishable food items for our Community Food Drive. Prizes will be given for the best costume. This is a family friendly event for all ages.

Pumpkin Plunge — The Nikiski Pool will be hosting this free annual event for children ages 4-10 years old from 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 28. Come join us for fun, prizes and pumpkins!

Trick Or Treat Alley &Strut Your Mutt — It’s that time of year to come show off your best costume for you and your pooch! The Trick or Treat Alley will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. and the Strut your Mutt event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Prizes will be held for best costumed pooch. All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian and all dogs must be on a leash at all times.

 

Entertainment

Veronica’s in Old Town Kenai has Open Mic from 6-8 p.m. Friday, and live music with Dayton Williams on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Reservations encouraged. Call Veronica’s at 283-2725.

A bluegrass jam takes place on the first Sunday of the month at from 1-4 p.m. at the Mount Redoubt Baptist Church on South Lovers Loop in Nikiski.

The Flats Bistro on Kalifornsky Beach Road has live music with Daniel Tuttle Mondays from 6-8 p.m.; Pat Wendt on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m.; Garrett Mayer on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.; and Robb Justice on Fridays from 8-10 p.m.

An all acoustic jam takes place every Thursday. The jam is at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna on the first Thursday of the month, and at the Kenai Senior Center during the rest of the month. Jam starts at 6:30 p.m.

AmVets Post 4 has reopened in its brand new building on Kalifornsky Beach across from Jumpin’ Junction. Eligible veterans and their families are invited to stop by to find out more about AmVets and their involvement in the Veteran community. For members and invited guests, Friday night dance to “Running with Scissors,” and Saturday Burn your own steak and karaoke with Cowboy Don.

Odie’s Deli in Soldotna has live music Friday from 6-8 p.m. and Pub Quiz night every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

The Bow bar in Kenai has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and live music Fridays, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

The Duck Inn on Kalifornsky Beach Road has karaoke at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and DJ Arisen on Saturdays.

 

Films

Call Orca Theaters at 262-7003 or visit http://www.orcatheater.com for listings and times.

Visit Kenai Cinema at www.catheatres.com for listings and times.

 

Fairs, Markets and Bazaars

Fall craft &vendor fair at the Sterling Community Rec Center, Oct. 28, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Accepting registration now for booth space: $45 plus tax, includes a table and chair.

Soldotna Senior Center’s Fall Bazaar Craft Sale and Art Show fundraiser will be held Nov. 3-4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Four categories of Artwork will be on display: Paintings in all types, Fibers, Three Dimensional, and Photography. Also, the finest in crafts on the peninsula will be for sale for those special gifts or your own home. A homemade bake sale and café refreshments will also be available for purchase. For more information call 262-2322. This Bazaar is open to the public.

 

Down the Road

The Pratt Museum in Homer is from noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.prattmuseum.org.

 

Submissions may be emailed to news@peninsulaclarion. com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Mondays.

More in Life

John Messick’s “Compass Lines” is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula College Bookstore in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Messick reflects on path forward in ‘Compass Lines’

“Compass Lines,” a new book by John Messick, a local writer and… Continue reading

Keanu Reeves portrays John Wick in "John Wick: Chapter 4." (Photo courtesy Lionsgate)
On the Screen: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ goes out on top

In the showstopping, approximately 40-minute long, third-act action sequence of “John Wick:… Continue reading

Will Morrow (courtesy)
Springing ahead

I’m not ready to spring ahead

Murder suspect William Dempsey is pictured shortly after he was captured on the outskirts of Seward in early September 1919. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 8

Dempsey spent more than a decade attempting to persuade a judge to recommend him for executive clemency

Promotional image via the Performing Arts Society
Saturday concert puts jazz, attitude on stage

Lohmeyer is a former local music teacher

The author holds a copy of Greta Thunberg’s, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” inside the Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Off the Shelf: Thunberg speeches pack a punch

“No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference” is a compilation of 16 essays given by the climate activist

White chocolate cranberry cake is served with fresh cranberries. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Hard-to-ruin cranberry cake

This white chocolate cranberry cake is easy to make and hard to ruin — perfect for my students aged 3, 6, 7 and 7.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Life in the Pedestrian Lane: It’s March

March is the trickster month, probably why we see so much raven activity these days

After Pres. Woodrow Wilson commuted his death sentence to life in prison, William Dempsey (inmate #3572) was delivered from Alaska to the federal penitentiary on McNeil Island, Wash. These were his intake photos. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 7

The opening line of Dempsey’s first letter to Bunnell — dated March 19, 1926 — got right to the point

Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in “The Last of Us.” (Photo courtesy HBO)
On the Screen: ‘The Last of Us’ perfectly adapts a masterpiece

HBO unquestionably knew they had a hit on their hands

Chocolate cake is topped with white chocolate cream cheese frosting. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
A cake topped with love (and white chocolate cream cheese)

He loved the frosting so much he said he never wants anything else on his cake

In 1914, Pres. Woodrow Wilson appointed Charles Bunnell to be the judge of the Federal District Court for the Third and Fourth divisions of the Alaska Territory. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks archives)
A Nexus of Lives and Lies: The William Dempsey story — Part 6

Prosecution lawyers were fortunate to have a fallback plan: witnesses to the crime.