Daily Sitka Sentinel

June 24, 2020, Community Happenings

MEHS Pool

Hours Given

The Mt. Edgecumbe High School pool is open with limited access and is following social distancing guidelines.

Patrons will be screened at the door with a questionnaire and their temperature taken.

Other rules will apply, including: no more than 30 patrons in facility at a time; no locker room access; staying 6 feet apart on deck and in the water (families are exempt); and no goggles, caps, towels or floaties loaned.

Monday through Friday pool hours are: 6-7 a.m. lap; 1-2 p.m. lap and parent/tot; and 5-6 p.m. lap and therapy.

More information also can be found on the MEHS website under athletics and activities.

Octopus Feeding

Set Saturdays

Public octopus feedings will begin Saturday, June 27, at the Sitka Sound Science Center aquarium. They are held each Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and must be booked in advance at the center’s website.

Feedings are limited to eight people and include aquarium time after the feeding. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and a discount for SSSC members. Due to COVID-19, face coverings must be worn at all times by everyone over the age of 5 while in science center buildings.

Homeschool

Set to Register

Sitka School District’s REACH homeschool and correspondence program is accepting enrollment for the fall.

REACH is the local homeschool support program meeting the needs of homeschooling families for more than 25 years, a press release from the school district said.

Contact REACH at 747-7514 or mccartyc@sitkaschools.org for additional information.

Nonprofits Receive

Virus Relief Funds

AK Can Do partners, the Alaska Community Foundation, and United Way of Anchorage with the support of Rasmuson Foundation have announced the second-round of AK Can Do grants to the nonprofit sector.

The grants provide COVID-19 recovery funding to essential nonprofits across the state.

This week, 62 nonprofits were awarded a total of almost $500,000 to help sustain the support they provide their communities. Sitka beneficiaries receiving support are Youth Advocates of Sitka, Sitka Local Foods Network, Outer Coast, Southeast Alaska Independent Living and Catholic Social Services.

To date $1.48 million of AK Can Do funds has been deployed including grants awarded in the first round in mid-April and support to struggling families. Funds have also provided more than $600,000 in rent and utility assistance to 528 struggling Alaskan households made up of 1,605 individuals.

Individuals, families, foundations and corporate partners have committed to more than $2.4 million in support. Major donors to AK Can Do include Rasmuson Foundation, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Wells Fargo, ExxonMobil, Sealaska, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, Spawn Ideas, Alaska Airlines, Alaska National a CopperPoint Insurance Co., Saltchuk, Rotary District 5010 and GCI.

Ham Radio

Field Day Set

Sitka Ham Amateur Radio Klub will participate in this year’s Field Day event 11 a.m. June 27 through 11 a.m. June 28 at the Mt. Edgecumbe High School parking lots. 

Field day is amateur radio’s open house where for 24 hours hams publicly showcase the science, skill and service that radio can bring to a community. Amateur radio operators across North America, the world and even outer space will be busy with this year’s ARRL Field Day event. 

‘‘Ham radio is fun and it’s for everyone, including you,’’ event organizers said.

All are invited to attend the  SHARKs Field Day event. For more information call Darryl at 738-4539.

Update

In an Associated Press story, ‘‘Ketchikan Gets Warning: Visitor Broke Virus Rule,’’ published Friday, June 19, in the Sentinel, the person testing positive was identified as a visitor. The person has since been identified as a Ketchikan resident.

‘Science in Place’

At Science Center

Sitka Sound Science Center educators spent this month imagining, creating, gathering materials and producing a wide range of activities to package together in themed ‘‘Science in Place’’ packs. Activities will be available June 24 for those in early childhood through high school.

Activities are supported with explanations of the content, comprehensive directions for the activity, and all the supplies needed. SiPs encourage guided explorations of science in Sitka for the whole family although each pack is designed with an age range.

Go to https://sitkascience.org/education/education-programs/summer-camps/ for information and prices.