Daily Sitka Sentinel

August 7, 2015 Community Happenings

Race Bibs Ready

Today for Race

Runners competing in Saturday’s Sitka Cross Trail Classic Marathon and a Half can pick up their race bibs at the Sitka Fire Department today.

Bibs, T-shirts and race instructions will be available for pickup from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

 

Story Time Set‘‘Robot Zombie Frankenstein!’’ by Annette Simon will be one of the readings during the next Preschool Story Time at Kettleson Library 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

The program includes readings, rhymes, songs and a craft project. The public is invited. For more information call the library at 747-8708.

 

‘Read Down Fines’

At Public Library

Children and young adults may read-down their overdue fines at Kettleson Memorial Library by reading to themselves or to another child in lieu of paying the fine owed.

Those interested in reading will get $1 taken off of their fines for every 15 minutes that they read. All reading activities must be at the library. Any print media will be accepted, including children’s books, magazines, and newspapers.

 

Hold Books at

White E Shop

The White Elephant Shop is asking patrons to hold their book donations for the time being. The shop is chock full of books for both adults and children.

 

 

First Slug Race Set

For Aug. 29 at Market

Sitka Local Foods Network invites all to take part in Sitka’s first slug races 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Sitka Farmers Market at the ANB Founders Hall.

“Do slugs move into your garden faster than a speeding bullet?  Are you sure your slugs are breeding with Olympic runners and pole vaulters?  Could you have the next winner of the Triple Crown?  SLFN invites you to come and put your fastest slug to the test against Sitka’s best!,’’ said race organizer and SLFN board member Michelle Putz.

Registration for the race is from 10 a.m. until noon. Those interested in participating will pay $5 per slug entered into the race. Participants are encouraged to bring their own fast slugs, but “rental slugs” will also be available at the race. The participants with the three fastest slugs in Sitka will be crowned and awarded a certificate and commemorative pin. 

“Slug races help to support SLFN’s mission to increase the amount of locally produced and harvested food in the diets of S.E. Alaskans,” Putz said. “By getting slugs out of our gardens and into the race arena, we are saving valuable cabbage, kale, onions and other foods from their hungry mouths.  And we’ll find out which slugs were tromping to and through our gardens the quickest!”

Funds raised will be used to support SLFN’s projects and activities including Family Garden Mentoring, garden education classes, the Sitka Farmers Market and St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm. Those interested in helping with the race or the SLFN education committee are encouraged to contact Putz at 747-2708.

 

New Students

Invited to SHS

New students to the district who plan to attend Sitka High School can stop by the school beginning Monday, Aug. 10, to begin the registration process.

An appointment can be made with the counseling department and paperwork can be picked up. 

 

Farmers Market Table

At Seafood Festival

In recognition of National Farmers Market Week Aug. 2-8, the Sitka Local Foods Network will have a booth at the Sitka Seafood Festival noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the SJ Campus. A table with local produce will be at the Chelan Produce truck Aug. 8-9.

Sitka kicked off National Farmers Market Week with its third Sitka Farmers Market of the season Aug. 1 at the ANB Founders Hall.

To become a vendor send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . More vendors are needed, especially those selling produce from their home gardens, commercially caught fish or locally baked bread, SLFN said.

 

‘Campaign Ads’

Topic of Talk

Sitka Fellow and political thinker John-Henry Heckendorn will host a workshop and discussion about the power of campaign ads 7-8:30 p.m.  Thursday, Aug. 13, in Fraser Hall on the SJ Campus.

The event is by donation. The Sitka Fellows program is sponsored by the Island Institute and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.

 

Second Director

Finalist to Visit

UAS-Sitka Campus

UAS-Sitka Campus will host its second director finalist, Paula J.S. Martin,  at a public reception 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10.

Martin will present her vision for the campus and answer questions about her candidacy at UAS Sitka Room 229. A public reception with light refreshments will follow.

Interested stakeholders and members of the public are invited to attend. Call 747-7700 for more information about the schedule of events.

Paula J.S. Martin, PhD, has been assistant director for Academic Affairs and associate professor at the Kenai Peninsula College of the University of Alaska Anchorage since 2008. Prior to that, she served in various professor and professional positions at Juniata College in Pennsylvania and Emory University in Atlanta. She earned a PhD in entomology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

 

 

SHS Volleyball

Begins Aug. 17

Girls who will attend Sitka High this  year are invited to the mandatory parent/athlete informational meeting 10 a.m. Aug. 15 in the SHS commons.

Official start date is Monday, Aug. 17, in the school gym. An annual sport  physical must be done in order to practice. 

Call Natalie Voron at 738-2823 with  questions or concerns. 

 

Harp Sing Set

The second Sunday Sitka Sacred Harp Sing is set 3:30-5 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Pioneers Home Chapel.  Beginners and listeners are invited to attend. Call 738-2089 with questions.

 

 

Cup’ik Artist

Mathias to Speak

Cup’ik artist Neva Mathias’s 21-day residency is winding down at the Sheldon Jackson Museum. A residency recap talk is scheduled 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.

Mathias will be available to answer questions, meet members of the Sitka community, and talk about her experience in Sitka, her doll-making, what she has created so far during her residency, and the doll-making class she has been teaching at the museum. 

Mathias is from Chevak. She first began making baskets about 1979, and by 1985, was an expert in the art form. She began doll-making around 1988. She learned from watching her mom prepare materials such as grass, seal fur and seal skin and from seeing her make baskets and dolls. 

For more information about this free program, call 747-8981 

 

Sitka Student Wins Awards

At International Piano EventSitka piano student Owen Fulton has returned from Valdisotto, Italy, where he was one of 32 selected to participate in an international piano festival.

Fulton had been invited by Julia Kruger and Victor Bunin when they were in Sitka in January to perform a piano duo concert and teach several master classes

In Italy for the July 9-25 festival, Fulton took master classes, performed and took part in competitions.

Awards he received in the grades 9 through 12 division were: Diploma of Participation in Piano Solos; Diploma of Participation in Piano Duets with Olivia Tung; Diploma of participation in Piano Duet with Grace Li; Diploma of Merit; third place in Piano Solos for grades 9-12 (he was invited to return to perform for next year’s festival); Diploma of Merit, second place in Piano Duets for grades 9-12 with Olivia Tung (invited to return for next year’s festival); Diploma of Jazz Duets, Fulton and Olivia Tung (only one award given in Jazz Duets); Diploma of Jazz Solo, and grades 9-12, (only one award given in Jazz Solos).

Fulton’s Diplomas of Merit are the highest diplomas in Italy.

Fulton graduated from Sitka High School in May, and plans on attending the University of Fairbanks this fall. He is the son of Kris and John Fulton. He has studied piano with Jammie Wileman, NCTM, since he was 5 years old. 

 

Pioneers Home

Auxiliary Meets

The Pioneers Home Auxiliary will meet 2 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Chapel of the Sitka Pioneers Home. All are invited to attend.