Babies and Books
Kicks Off Program
The Sitka Babies and Books will start its summer reading program 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Kettleson Library.
The program is for ages 0-3. RSVP to the library to receive a free book.
Audrey Armstrong
SJ Museum
Fish Skin Bags
Workshop Set
As part of the Sheldon Jackson Museum’s Native Artist Residency Program, Athabaskan artist Audrey Armstrong will offer a hands-on workshop on sewing fish skin bags 10 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. June 2-6 and a joint lecture with the curator on the fish-skin sewing process and the science behind it 2 p.m. June 7.
Workshop participants will share their creations, at the lecture for the public, on June 7.
The class is being held at the Sitka Sound Science Center and the lecture will be held at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
The workshop is free due to a grant from the Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust and the partnership with the science center to provide the work space. Participants will need to obtain some materials for the class and plan to attend the lecture on June 7 to share their art. A materials list is available from the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
Registration is required and space is limited. To register, call 747-8981.
Armstrong was born in Galena. At age 28, she apprenticed with Athabaskan Elder Charlotte Douthit to learn skin-sewing and beadwork. She also attended artist Fran Reed’s last class on fish skin and gained insight about how important it was to pass along her Koyukon ancestral art form of sewing them. Armstrong’s baskets are in the collections of the Alaska Federation of Natives, Cook Inlet Regional Incorporated, Alaska Native Arts Foundation, and private collections around the nation. In 2008 she received the Individual Artist award from Rasmuson Foundation.
The Native Artist Demonstrators Program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum.
Senior Hike Set
The Senior Hiking Club will meet 9:15 a.m. May 22 at the Swan Lake Senior Center for a hike to the Starrigavan valley trail.
They will return by 11:30 a.m. The cost is $5 and it includes transportation, snacks, water, and trekking poles. Call SAIL at 747-6859 with questions or interest.
Senior Walkers
Sought on Trail
The Sitka Pioneers Home, Southeast Alaska Independent Living and SEARHC’s Elder Physical Activity Program are partnering to offer escorted walks 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays beginning June 3.
Seniors with canes, crutches and walkers are welcome, and walking sticks will be provided. Family members are welcome to join the group and help escort.
This week, the group will be walking Sitka National Historical Park and will meet on the beach side of the visitor center. A picnic will follow for those wanting to take a brown-bag lunch.
SEARHC beneficiary should contact Emily Reilly at 966-8866 with questions. Alli Gabbert at SAIL may be contacted at 747-6859.
Adult Spelling
Bee Set June 1
The adult spelling bee is slated 4 p.m. June 1 at Kettleson Memorial Library.
Adults are invited to sign up to spell individually or with a partner. Each participant will pay to play. The fee is $20. Lifelines will again be available for purchase during the bee. Prizes this year include a tour for two aboard the bibrarian boat, M/V Fucus, including gourmet treats provided by the boating librarians. All proceeds from the bee and the bee bake sale will be used for the library expansion project.
Sign up is available at the library to be on a team or call Sarah at 738-5396. Bake sale items are also needed for the event.
The public is invited to attend.
Chamber to Meet
The Chamber will meet noon Wednesday at the Westmark Sitka.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Heath E. Hilyard, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Guides Organization, will present an overview of issues affecting Alaska’s charter industry and describe ways the industry is responding to them.
Luncheons are open to the public. For more information, call the Sitka Chamber office at 747-8604.
Bear Hunt Update
Hunters are reminded the open season for Unit 4 inside drainages registration brown bear hunt ends May 20.
Inside drainages include Chichagof Island north and east of a line which follows the crest of the island from Rock Point to Rodgers Point; Baranof Island north and east of a line which follows the crest of the island from Nismeni Point to the entrance of Gut Bay; and all of Admiralty Island. The remainder of Unit 4, outside drainages, remains open through May 31.
Successful hunters must report harvest to Fish and Game within 10 days of kill and have the bear sealed within 30 days. Those who obtained Unit 4 registration permits for brown bear this spring must return hunt reports by June 16. Hunt reports can be mailed or dropped off at the ADF&G office at 304 Lake Street, Room 103.
Unsuccessful hunters and those who did not hunt may report online at www.hunt.alaska.gov. For more information contact Fish and Game, 747-5449.
Historical Society
Board to Meet
The Sitka Historical Society board will meet 3:10 p.m. May 22 in the Centennial Hall Rousseau Room.
Keet Talent
Show Thursday
The fifth annual Keet Gooshi Heen talent show, sponsored by the Sitka School District Live Well Program and Student Success Program, will be 6 p.m. Thursday in the school’s multipurpose room.
The event will feature a ‘‘Frozen’’ sing-along for participants and audience members.
All are invited to support and encourage the talents of local youths, the school said. Call Alexa Sample at 747-8395 with questions.
Kruzof Island
Hike on Tap
Sitka Trail works and Allen Marine are teaming up to offer Sitkans to spend a day exploring Kruzof Island on May 24.
Kruzof has miles of gravel roads, trails and beaches. Participants are invited to take their bikes, or rent one from Yellow Jersey.
A $55 donation is requested to cover the cost of transportation to Kruzof. The boat will leave Crescent Harbor at 8:30 a.m. and will depart from Mud Bay on Kruzof at 6:30 p.m. To make a reservation call the Sitka Trail Works office at 747-7244.
40-Day Party Set
For Earl Williams
A 40-day party for Earl Williams Sr. is planned 1 p.m. May 25 at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
Adult Baseball Set
Adult Baseball League team sponsor fees of $400 and players fees of $60 are due May 25 at the Sitka Community Schools office.
The season runs June 1-Aug. 26. Those who want to play should place their name and phone number on a baseball player’s pool list at the SCS office. Players must be at least age 16.
‘Warblers’ Topic
Of Library Talk
Melissa Cady, a U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist, will speak about Warblers of Southeast Alaska 7-8 p.m. May 24 at Kettleson Memorial Library.
“Get to know your local warblers and how to identify them by sight and sound” is the topic of Cady’s talk.