Daily Sitka Sentinel

April 29, 2014 Community Happenings

SFAC Artist
    To Give Talk
    The Sitka Fine Arts Camp artist-in-residence, musicologist Gwynne Brown, will trace the dramatic rise and fall of African American composer William Dawson’s “Negro Folk Symphony – The Greatest Symphony You’ve Never Heard,’’ at a reception and talk 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, in the Del Shirley Room in Allen Hall.
    Tickets are $15 and are available at Old Harbor Books and at the door. Call the Fine Arts Camp office at 747-3085 with questions.

    Transportation
    Board in Sitka
    The Alaska Community and Public Transportation Advisory Board will meet May 5-6 at the Westmark Sitka  conference room.
    The schedule on May 5 will be 4-6 p.m. a forum on coordinated public transit and human service transportation, “The Sitka Experience,” with public comment 5:30-6 p.m.
    On Tuesday, May 6, the advisory board working meeting (open to public) will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Public comment will be noon to 12:30 p.m.
    For more information and agenda, visit Upcoming Meetings at www.dot.state.ak.us/stwdplng/cptab/. 

    ‘First Friday’
    Event May 2
    All are invited to First Friday events at Sitka art, shopping, music and dining venues from 5 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of the month beginning May 2.
    Each merchant has its own hours. To see a list of merchants participating, special artist and deals for the May 2  event visit the First Friday facebook page at facebook.com/firstfridaysitka.


    SAIL Wildlife
    Cruise May 10
    Southeast Alaska Independent Living’s annual wildlife cruise fundraiser is set for May 10.
    The cruise, timed for Mother’s Day weekend, will depart Crescent Harbor at 1:30 p.m. and return at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 at Old Harbor Books & SAIL office. Call Dave at 747-6859 with questions.

    Brunch, Fashion
    Show to Honor
    Mother’s Day
    The Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 invites the public to a Mother’s Day brunch and Native designer spring fashion show noon-2 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the ANB Founders Hall.
    Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for attendees to be seated, and browse the historic interpretive display and silent auction items.
    A modeling presentation showcasing local Native fashion designers will be held. The ANS sisters and Chef Allen Bird of Alaska Today are catering the brunch. Funds are being raised for kitchenware.
    Tickets are $12 each, or $20 for two, and will be sold at the door. Anyone wishing to donate to the silent auction, model in the fashion show or have Native fashions to share may contact Paulette at 738-6608.

    Outdoor Leadership
    Program Extended
    Those ages 15-18 are invited to join the REBOUND expedition to Glacier Bay National Park May 31-June 7.
    REBOUND is a weeklong kayak trip for 10 interested in developing leadership skills, creating positive community change, and learning how to survive in the wilderness.
    Applications are available at SAFV or online at tinyurl.com/2014REBOUND and are due May 2. For more information call Julia at 747-3370 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The event is sponsored by Sitkans Against Family Violence.

    Dinner Cruise
    Benefit Set for
    Lighthouse
    The Cape Decision Lighthouse Society benefit dinner cruise aboard the M/V Liseron, a wooden hulled ex-U.S. Navy minesweeper converted to a luxury passenger vessel, is scheduled May 16.
    The M/V Liseron will be laying at the North Petro Marine dock and ready to receive up to 20 dinner guests, who may begin boarding at 5:30 p.m., with departure as soon as all are aboard, and a safety briefing has been given.
    The self-serve bar will be open and appetizers will be served in the salon once the ship is underway. The society will have a brief showing of the lighthouse site, projects and work that have been accomplished over the years, and memberships and merchandise will be available.
    A full-course dinner will be served at 7 p.m. on the after deck, and the boat will be back at the dock at approximately 9:30 p.m. for disembarkation.
    The benefit dinner cruise has been donated by The Boat Company, an educational nonprofit and public charity established in 1979 by the McIntosh Foundation, which has provided nature based cruises in Southeast Alaska for 34 years. The company’s two overnight cruise vessels are dedicated to to encouraging greater public appreciation for the unique ecology of Southeast Alaska.
    The Boat Company believes that positive visitor experiences can help build a strong constituency for the protection and wise management of the region’s fish, wildlife and wilderness resources.
    Tickets are $100 per person, are limited, and available at Old Harbor Books. All proceeds benefit the Cape Decision Lighthouse Society historic preservation work on southern Kuiu Island. Those attending are asked to be onboard by 5:30 p.m., and should provide contact information with Old Harbor Books when picking up a ticket for communication purposes. For further inquiry, call Karen at 747-7803.

    SHS Concert
    Slated May 6
    The Sitka High music department will present its finale concert 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at Performing Arts Center.
    The concert will feature the symphonic band, jazz band, concert choir, treble choir and vocal jazz ensemble. The repertoire will include ‘‘Tempered Steel’’ by Charles Rochester Young, ‘‘Soundchants’’ by Sid Rabinovitch, ‘‘Till There Was You,’’ ‘‘Wayfaring Stranger’’ and ‘‘Arnge Drank.’’
    Admission is a suggested $5 donation. It will be the final concert of Music Director John DePalatis. A reception will follow.

    Rep. Kreiss-Tomkins
    Chamber Speaker
    Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins will speak at the Sitka Chamber weekly luncheon noon Wednesday at the Westmark Sitka. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will begin at noon.
    Kreiss-Tomkins represents Sitka and rural Southeast Alaska in the Alaska House of Representatives.
    He was elected in November 2012 and serves on the Transportation, State Affairs, and Fisheries Committees.
    The luncheon is open to the public. For more information, call the Sitka Chamber office at 747-8604.

    Alcohol-Free
    Dance May 3
    Those of all ages are invited to an alcohol- and drug-free dance party 7-9:45 p.m. May 3 at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 408 Marine Street.
    For more information call Doug Osborne at 747-3752.

      100-Volunteer Day
    Set on SJ Campus
    All are invited to join more than 100 other community members at Sitka Fine Arts Camp’s 4th Annual 100 Volunteer Day.
    Volunteers should meet at Allen Hall at 9 a.m. Saturday. Lunch will be provided and the group will work until 3 p.m..
    The event is being held to help get the Sheldon Jackson Campus ready for summer. Activities will include painting, gardening, light carpentry, window washing, and cleaning.
    Call the Sitka Fine Arts Camp office at 747-3085 with questions.

    Spring Fling
    Benefit May 18
    The Sitka Spruce Celtic Dancers will hold its Spring Fling event 3 p.m. May 18 in the Odess Theater in Allen Hall on the SJ Campus.
    The Celtic dance and violin recital will include a contra dance with live music by Fishing for Cats.
    The suggested donation is $10.

    Sitkan’s Trek to
    Israel Talk Topic
    Sitkan Mary Stevens will tell of her travels throughout Israel 5-6 p.m. May 4 at Kettleson Memorial Library.
    Stevens’ 10-day journey included a visit to Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world. In addition she will share photos of Jeruselem, Masad, Mediddo, the Dead Sea, En Gedi, Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea and a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee.
    Active archaeological sites throughout Israel substantiate many of the historical accounts from Biblical scriptures, Stevens said.
    She found “Israel to be a beautiful country with unique people and an incredible past.”