Women’s Book
Group to Meet
The women’s Book Group will meet downstairs in the Pioneers Home Recreation room 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, to discuss ‘‘Pavilion of Women’’ by Pearl S. Buck.
All women are invited to participate. Titles to be read for the remainder of the season will be selected; participants can take suggestions.
Those with questions may call Dorothy at 747-3412.
Volunteers Work
At Sitka Lutheran
Rueben and Mary Walter, volunteers from Dublin, Texas, will greet tourists this month at Sitka Lutheran Church.
Now retired, both have teaching careers in science. Reuben taught chemistry at Texas A&M and Tarleton University. With many awards received over the years, he retired in 2012 and now focuses on maintenance of Faith Lutheran church, Meals on Wheels and the Optimist Club.
Mary taught biology and general science for many years at different grade levels before her recent retirement. She has helped form an adult choir and small children’s choir at their church, and for relaxation she pursues her master gardening skills with the flower gardens around their home church.
While in Sitka they will greet visitors, explain the Finnish-Lutheran history, interpret the historic Lutheran Cemetery, care for the building and share the gospel. This year the church is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding during the Russian American Period.
The public is welcome to attend the 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning worship service. Wednesday at 6 p.m. is a soup supper which is followed by a short prayer service. Messy Church is a special activity-oriented monthly worship experience that features a full meal, activities for families and informal worship.
For more information call the church office at 747-3338 or go to www.sitkalutheranchurch.org. or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Museum Closure
The Sheldon Jackson Museum will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day.
Summer hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily will resume Sept. 8.
Sitka Student
Earns Master’s
Danielle Cassedy received a master of science in nutrition degree spring term from the National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon.
The 2005 Sitka High graduate earned her bachelor of science degree in economics in 2009 from Willamette University, Salem, Ore.
Cassedy is the owner of Empower Nutrition, offering personalized weight loss and nutrition counseling. She also provides therapeutic diets for diagnosed health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, menopause, SIBO, and other common conditions. Her website is empower-nutrition.com.
She is the daughter of Scott and Cyndi Cassedy, Sitka.
‘Loss and Grief’
Gathering Sept. 3
Brave Heart Volunteers will host a gathering focusing on the experience of community loss 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
‘‘Loss and Community Grief’’ will be led by author, licensed clinical therapist and certified grief counselor Ted Wiard, LPCC, CGC.
Wiard will tell of his work with communities responding to loss and trauma, and facilitate a question and answer session from community members. Wiard has presented and written articles on the subject of emotional healing, grief, loss, trauma, the connection and disconnection of spirituality in grief, life transitions, and communitywide grief.
His book, ‘‘Witnessing Ted, The Journey to Potential Through Grief and Loss,’’ is a sensitive guide on six aspects of grief and the journey to a wiser, more authentic life, BHV said.
‘‘Brave Heart Volunteers is pleased Mr. Wiard can help Sitkans address aspects of living with grief during this time of community loss and trauma,’’ organizers said.
Wiard was already scheduled to lead an interactive workshop with local behavioral health and medical professionals this week as a part of Brave Heart Volunteers’ ‘‘Grief Works’’ program, and we are pleased he is willing to add this event to his schedule.
The Thursday event is free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided. For more information call Brave Heart Volunteers at 747-4600.
Fine Arts Camp
Offers Classes
Sitka Fine Arts Camp is offering classes for students in preschool through adults.
Offerings include: Beginning Explorations in Art, Playing with Puppets, Beginning Beaded Jewelry, Painting: Exploring the Medium, Hand Built Ceramics, Wheel Thrown Ceramics, Introduction to Calligraphy, Jazz Dance, Tap Dance and Celtic Dance.
Classes start the week of Sept. 7. For more information on dates, times and age ranges, visit the After School Arts page at fineartscamp.org. To register call 747-3085.
Fencing Taught
A beginner fencing class is being taught 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays in September, Sept. 8-29, for middle school and high school students only.
The class cost is $75. Registration is open at Community Schools.
Card of Thanks
The family of Irene Pearson wishes to thank Dr. Robert Hunter, Mary and staff at Sitka Medical Center for their excellent care of Irene through the years. You made such a difference and we couldn’t have done without you.
We are so grateful for the wonderful help from Center For Community. You know how awesome we think Kristal is with her dedication and compassionate in-home care. Our heartfelt thanks for your lightening the load.
Special thanks to the ladies of Home Health Care. Elizabeth, Julie and Sue ... YOU ROCK! Your dedication, thoughtfulness, and such fine care has eased concerns and brightened each day that you were in our home.
Our family also wants to thank Lois from Oceanside Therapy Center for answering so many questions, easing anxiety as she taught and demonstrated proper ways to care for Irene. Your confidence in us was amazing and we are so grateful for your help.
More help was received through Oceanside Therapy Center with Michael Boyle coming to our aid with his expertise as a speech and language pathologist. What a blessing to have your help with our concerns in such a compassionate, kind way. Father Michael, you truly share the love of God and our family will always remember you with gratitude.
The family of Irene Pearson
T’ai Chi Chih
Practice Listed
T’ai Chi Chih Practice by the Sea will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, on the lawn of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church or in the See House behind the church if it’s raining.
Natural History
Seminar on Tap
The first Natural History seminar of the season is set 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at UAS-Sitka Campus, room 229.
Noah Siegel will give the talk ‘‘To Live and To Dye For: Edible, Poisonous and Dye Mushrooms of Alaska.”
He will also lead mushroom forays on the following weekend; details will be announced at the talk.
Siegel was a featured speaker at this year’s Girdwood Fungus Festival and Cordova Fungus Fair. Siegel has developed extensive field mycology skills over two decades through photographing and identifying macrofungi across North America and on multiple trips to Australia and New Zealand.
His mushroom photos have won numerous awards from the North American Mycological Association photography contests. His technique and attention to detail are unrivaled, arising from a philosophy of maximizing utility for identification purposes while maintaining a high degree of aesthetic appeal, UAS said.
The seminar series is supported by a grant from the Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust to the Sitka Sound Science Center and by the University of Alaska. Call Kitty LaBounty at 747-9432 with questions.
Sitka Vocalist
Set to Perform
Muriel Sadleir Hart, soprano, will give a vocal recital 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
Sadleir Hart will perform music she’s prepared over the last year as a vocal major at Southern Oregon University. Arrangements by Brahms, Debussy, Haydn, Copeland and de Falla will be featured. She will be accompanied by Kristin Nelson Hames on piano.
A reception will follow in the See House. In addition to studying music at SOU, she majors in international studies with a minor in Spanish. She is planning to study abroad in Nicaragua with the Vermont-based School of International Studies beginning in late January.
Her SIT program is focused on ‘‘Youth Culture, Literacy and Media in Nicaragua.’’ Call 747-5985 for more information.