Daily Sitka Sentinel

September 3, 2014 Community Happenings

Card of Thanks
     Thank you for being generous and giving me all the things I need for school.
Angeline

    A big thank you to Aurora Business Supply, Sitka Salvation Army and the Sitka Fire Department for helping school kids get off to a good start by supplying coats (brand new), backpacks and pencils, markers, paper, erasers, etc.
    What a wonderful, thoughtful gift to our community.
Angeline’s Grandma


    FASD Support
    Group to Meet
    The FASD Community Support Group will meet 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Pioneers Home manager’s house.
    The evening will include information about the FASD Summit ‘‘Building a Bridge to Adulthood,’’ as well as time to visit with others.
    All adults, young adults and families are welcome. Call for more information at 747-7978.

    FASD Awareness
    Day Recognized
    In recognition of Sept. 9, International FASD Awareness Day, www.LivingWithFASD.com will make available, at no cost, 12 days of training with the theme ‘‘Building a Bridge to Adulthood.’’
    Twenty-two speakers will present strategies and tools based on the latest FASD research.
    Participants may listen via phone, Skype, Internet streaming or MP3 downloads. The presentations will occur at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on each day from Sept. 9 through Sept. 20.
    The Friday, Sept. 5, Sentinel will include registration information. Call 747-7978 for more information.

    Women’s Book
    Group to Meet
    The Women’s Book Group will meet 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Sitka Pioneers Home Chapel to discuss ‘‘The Diary of A Young Girl’’ by Anne Frank.
    All women are invited to participate. Titles to be read for the remainder of the season will be selected at this first meeting.
    Those with questions may call Dorothy at 747-3412.


    ‘Running of the Boots’ to Hit
    Sitka’s Streets for 20th Year
    The 20th annual Running of the Boots starts 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the big tent near St. Michael’s Cathedral.
    ‘‘It’s time to dig your Xtratufs out of the closet and gussy them up,’’ a spokesman for organizers Sitka Local Foods Network said.
    It is the second year featuring a new meeting point and course, allowing the race to be a bigger part of the End-of-Season Celebration hosted downtown by the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce and the Alaska Cruise Line Association.
    “I’m excited about the Running of the Boots joining the End-of-Season folks under one big tent … literally,” race organizer Kerry MacLane said. “We’ll have music, hot chocolate and folks can enjoy a complimentary lunch after oodles of prizes have been awarded.”
    The event is Southeast Alaska’s answer to Spain’s “Running of the Bulls.” Sitkans wear zany costumes and Xtratufs – Southeast’s distinctive rubber boots (aka, Sitka Sneakers).
    It will raise funds for the Sitka Local Foods Network, a nonprofit organization that hosts the Sitka Farmers Market and advocates for community gardens, a community greenhouse, sustainable uses of traditional subsistence foods and education for gardeners.
    The short race is for fun and not for speed, even though one of the many prize categories is for the fastest boots, organizers said. Other prize categories include best-dressed boots, zaniest costume, best couple, best kids group and more. The new course starts by St. Michael’s Cathedral, and heads down Lincoln Street toward City Hall, takes a left on Harbor Drive and loops up to Maksoutof Street and back to the starting line.
    The entry fee is $5 per person and $20 per family, and people can register for the race starting at 10 a.m. Costume judging starts about 10:30 a.m., and runners hit the streets at 11 a.m.
    Local merchants have donated bushels of prizes for the costume contest. The Sitka Local Foods Network will host a Sitka Farmers Market booth with fresh veggies for sale. The booth takes debit cards, WIC vouchers and Quest cards.
    “This is a really fun way to advance the Sitka Farmers Market and our other Sitka Local Foods Network projects,” MacLane said. “This is a must-see annual change-of-the season tradition in Sitka.”
    To learn more about the Running of the Boots, contact MacLane at 752-0654 or 747-7888, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .


   
     Karate Classes
    Slated to Run
    Karate classes for ages 6 and older are slated Sept. 17-Nov. 17 at Baranof Elementary School gym.
    The cost is $125 for beginners who will meet 5:45-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The advanced class, for blue belt and higher, is $150. It meets 6:45-7:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
    Registration is open at Community Schools. Call 747-8670 with questions.

SAFE KID – Sitka Community Hospital Injury Prevention program’s “Safe Kid of the Month” is Brandon Stevens. Brandon is an avid bike rider, who shows great example by wearing his helmet every time he goes on a trek. When’s he not in school or riding his bike, he enjoys staying fit by swimming with the Baranof Barracudas. “Being safe is fun!” he said.  The “Safe Kid of the Month” is designed to honor Sitka students for being safe and injury aware. For more information about Sitka Community Hospital Injury Prevention program, or to nominate a Safe Kid, contact Patrick Williams at 747-0349. (Photo by Angela McGraw)

    SCLT Homebuyer
    Applications Ready
    Sitka Community Development Corporation has announced that Sitka Community Land Trust homebuyer applications are available online at  www.sitkaafordablehousing.org.
    Prospective homebuyers are reminded to sign up for the required AHFC HomeChoice class being held 6-10 p.m. Sept. 10-11. Pre-registration for the free eight-hour homebuyer education class is required.
    Register online at: www.ahfc.us/classes. For more information call 1-800-459-2921, 907-330-8437.
    The home will be built for a local, limited-income household. It will be built to SCDC specifications with contractor funding or through the buyer’s construction loan. Expected completion date is spring 2015. For more information about the CLT program, call 747-2860.

    Senate Candidate
    To     Visit Sitka
    Republican Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senate candidate, will be in Sitka Sept. 5.
    Sullivan will be the speaker at a special Chamber of Commerce breakfast to be held at the Westmark Sitka banquet room at 7:30 a.m. The public is invited. Doors open at 7 a.m., and the buffet breakfast and coffee will be available for a fee.
    Sullivan will also host a meet-and-greet from 4 to 5 p.m. at Highliner Coffee. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Sheila at 738-3098.

TABLE AWARD – Sitka Farmers Market Co-Managers Debe Brincefield, left, and Ellexis Howey, right, present the Table Of The Day Award to Erin Keenan of Bear Buns at the fifth Sitka Farmers Market of the summer Aug. 23 at the ANB Founders Hall. Keenan has been selling her homemade diapers at the market for a couple of years, and was selling handmade baby booties from Charlee Oh Creations for Springer Black, and Raven’s Ink hats for Raven Shaw. Keenan received a gift bag with fresh greens, fresh carrots, fresh rhubarb, and a copy of the Alaska Farmers Market cookbook. It is the seventh year of Sitka Farmers Markets, hosted by the Sitka Local Foods Network. The final market will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the hall. More information about the Sitka Farmers Markets, Sitka Local Foods Network, and bus service to the market is available at http://www.sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/, or check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SitkaLocalFoodsNetwork. (Photo provided by the Sitka Local Foods Network)

    Homeschoolers
    Slated to Meet
    The first Sitka Homeschoolers meeting of the school year will be 1 p.m.  Sept. 12 at the Halibut Point Recreation Area Main Shelter.
    Parents and students are invited to to meet, play and discuss activities and field trip ideas. Contact Susan Jensen at 747-5454 with questions.

    T’ai Chi Chih
    Practice on Tap
    T’ai Chi Chih Practice by the Sea will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.
    Participants will meet in front of Kettleson Library to decide where to practice. All are invited to participate. This is not a class.

    SCVB Board Meets
    The Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors has scheduled a board meeting 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Centennial Hall.
    The public is invited to attend the meeting. For further information, call the SCVB at 747-5940.

    YAS Board Meets
    Youth Advocates of Sitka’s board of directors will meet 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, at the 805 Lincoln Street office.
    Meetings are open to the public. Applications for board members are being accepted. Those interested can contact Annette at 747-3687.

    Running of Boots
    Volunteers Sought
    Volunteers are needed for the 20th annual Running of the Boots event 10 a.m. Sept. 27 ‘‘under the big top” tent next to St. Michael’s Cathedral.
    The Sitka Local Foods Network will be teaming up with the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce, which will serve a complimentary lunch at noon.  Volunteers are needed to register runners. Those who can help may call Kerry at 752-0654 or visit sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org.


    4-H Wild Edibles
    Series Scheduled
    The six-week series of Alaska Way-of-Life 4-H wild Edibles Series is Sept. 16-Oct. 24 with the following schedule: Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m., grades kindergarten-second grades); Thursdays, 3:30-5 p.m., grades three through five; and Fridays, 2:30-4 p.m., grades six through nine.
    Registration is open at the Sitka Conservation Society and must be done by Sept. 12. A $15 registration fee is requested for the series. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.


    Methodists Plan
    Rally Sunday
    Rally Sunday is being planned at the Sitka United Methodist Church 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7.
    The fall Sunday school schedule will resume. Ice cream and a special blessing of the backpacks service will follow the church service. Students are reminded to take their backpacks to church and receive a blessings tag.
    Those with questions may call the church at 747-8775. 

    Kids Science Day
    Slated Sept. 6
    The Kids Science Day, a hands-on science experiments project for those in kindergarten through fifth grades, is set 1-3 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School. It is sponsored by Troop 4140.
    The cost is $10 a child. For more information call or text 738-2073 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    Chookaneidi Clan
    Meeting Tonight
    The Chookaneidi Clan will meet 6 p.m. tonight at 205 Baranof Street. Those with questions can call Heather 738-5555.