Daily Sitka Sentinel

January 21, 2015 Community Happenings

Ducks to Star in

Free Film at Park

All are invited to watch Duckumentary, a film as fun and quirky as ducks themselves, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center.

From striking iridescent colors, to their complex plumage patterns, ducks add beauty and color to the world around us. But there is more to ducks than this outer beauty, there is their charismatic behavior and fascinating lifestyle, the park said.

Free popcorn will be provided. Attendees to the film screening will be eligible to win door prizes provided by park partners. 

The Winter Film Series is being jointly presented by Sitka National Historical Park, Sitka Conservation Society and the Sitka Sound Science Center.

AHA First Aid,

CPR Offered

Southeast Region Emergency Medical Services will hold an AHA Heartsaver First Aid CPR/AED class 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 31.

The course will be held at 100 Clothilde Bahovec Way and is open to the public. Call 747-8005 for more information and registration details. The cost is $85, which includes course text book and certificate. 

Local Author

Kalve to Speak

Kettleson Memorial Library at the Stratton will host a presentation by local author Harold Kalve 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25.

Kalve, a retired fisherman and food processor, will discuss his experience, research and findings that led to the publication of his book, ‘‘Basic Food: A Theory of Nutrition.’’

Topics covered during the one-hour program will include the dynamics of weight loss and gain; food dynamics, history, and addictions; and overvalued and undervalued foods. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. For further information contact Robb at 747-4021.

Sitka’s Public

Transportation

Meeting on Tap

Those who have ideas on how to improve public transit and paratransit in Sitka are invited to attend a discussion about fulfilling unmet human services transportation needs for the RIDE during a public meeting 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Centennial Hall.

The event is hosted by Center for Community.

Organizers are in the process of updating the five-year Sitka Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Coordinated Plan.

The RIDE is managed by Center for Community in partnership with Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Southeast Social Services. Public transit in Sitka includes both the fixed-route blue buses that run on schedules (the RIDE), and the white Care-A-Van paratransit buses for seniors and persons needing an assisted ride.

At the meeting attendees will address gaps in available transportation services, especially in a time of tighter budgets. Possible topics include how to improve human services transportation for youth, older adults, people needing assistance, and everyone in the Sitka community.

Also to be discussed are services for people who need the RIDE or Care-A-Van for work and school commutes, shopping, doctor and social service appointments, social and cultural events, and just getting around town, the RIDE said. 

Input is being sought from those living and/or traveling in Sitka, and resentatives from human service, governmental, or nonprofit organizations that provide human services transportation for their clients (such as SAIL, SAFV, SEARHC, Sitka Community Hospital, Youth Advocates of Sitka, the Sitka Pioneer Home, etc.). 

For more information about the RIDE, go to http://www.cfc.org/our-services-2/the-ride or like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SitkaRide.

To learn more about the public meeting or to arrange any special accessibility accommodations, contact Charles Bingham, Center for Community transit project assistant, at 966-4221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Snake R. Kings

Review Sought

The Chinook Futures Coalition has filed a petition requesting a review of the population status of the Snake River fall chinook by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Fish returning to the Columbia River were listed as a species threatened with extinction under the Endangered Species Act in 1992. Recent record returns of the salmon have prompted the request to review whether these fish are still threatened with extinction.

In 2014, more than 60,000 of the Snake River fall chinook were counted passing the Lower Granite Dam heading for their spawning grounds in eastern Washington and Idaho. Their number in 2013 was more than 55,000.

The Chinook Futures Coalition is a 501(c)(6) advocacy group of salmon harvesters who have been participating in the recovery efforts through reductions in harvest and support of federal programs throughout the Columbia River basin area.

Gatekeeper Class

Slated in Sitka

A free and open to the public “Alaska Gatekeeper Training” will be offered by Sarah Twaddle of NorthStar Behavioral Health 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Maksoutoff Room of  Centennial Hall. 

A gatekeeper is anyone in Sitka who is in a position to recognize the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. Gatekeepers are parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, ministers and church elders, doctors, nurses, co-workers, squad leaders, police, and many others who are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide, but do not treat in the long term.

Sitkans who attend will: learn about how suicide affects Alaska; myths and facts surrounding suicide; the warning signs of suicide; how to offer hope; how to get help and save a life; and what resources are available in Sitka and beyond for help and support.

The Alaska Gatekeeper Training uses the QPR method as its core training method. QPR stands for ‘‘Question, Persuade and Refer,’’ an emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons created by Paul Quinnett. It is sponsored by the State of Alaska, NorthStar Behavioral Health, Trust Training Cooperative and the Rotary Club of Sitka. For more information call Kari Lundgren at 738-2089.

Senior Party

Topic of Meet

Sitka High senior party planning meetings are scheduled 7-9 p.m. Jan. 21, 28 and Feb. 4 at Centennial Hall. 

Video Canceled

The videoconference “Heck Yeah, It’s Time To Start My Own Business,” originally scheduled Jan. 22 at Kettleson Memorial Library, has been canceled.

Open Mic Set 

Sitka Folk will host an Open Mic at the Larkspur Cafe on Sunday, January 25. Musicians, poets and humorists are encouraged to sign up for a 10-minute performance slot after 6 p.m. The show will start at 7 p.m.

A $5 donation is encouraged as this is a benefit for Sitka Folk. Call Ted Howard at 747-5482 with questions.