Daily Sitka Sentinel

March 22, 2017, Community Happenings

Health Fair Set

For Saturday

The Sitka Community Health Fair will be 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 25, at Centennial Hall.

It will feature affordable blood tests, health education and exhibits, and is open to the public. Alaska Health Fair is a nonprofit, delivering health fairs statewide since 1980. For more information, visit http://alaskahealthfair.org/affordable-blood-tests/.

The Alaska Health Fair is working with PAML, a top-ranking laboratory, to bring affordable, high-quality blood tests to Alaska.

The comprehensive 27-panel blood chemistry screen is $45 and covers infection, anemia, liver disease, clotting ability, kidney and adrenal function, liver function, bone disease, tissue disease or damage, heart function, liver function, muscle function, coronary heart disease.

Other blood tests include: thyroid screen, $35; prostate disease screen, $25; vitamin D screen, $50; A1C diabetes, $25; blood typing, $20; vitamin B12 screen, $35; and celiac disease screen, $35.

Test results are mailed directly to the person being tested within two to three weeks to take to their health care provider.

VISA, MasterCard, cash and check are being accepted. Testing is available to ages 18 and older.

Speaker Series

On Sitka History

Sitka Historical Society and Sitka National Historical Park are presenting a free Speakers Series beginning April 12 with Ana Ditmar.

She will speak on “The Story of St Michael’s Cathedral Russian Icon Collection” 7-8 p.m. April 12 at the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center.

Dave McMahan and Bob Sam will speak on “The Final Story of the Neva Survivors Camp” 7-8 p.m. April 19 at  Centennial Hall.

Father Oleksa will present “Six Saints of Sitka” 7-8 p.m. May 3 at Centennial Hall.

Tamie Parker Song will speak on “The Necessity of Truth in Reconciliation” 7-8 p.m. May 17 at Sitka National Historical Park visitor center.

Steve Haycox will present ‘‘150th ‘101”’ 7-8 p.m. May 31 at Centennial Hall. For more information contact Jeff at 747-4821.

Sesquicentennial

Art Exhibition

Opening at Park

The art exhibition “Voices of Change: Perspectives on the Transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States” will open for public display at an opening reception 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center.

“Voices of Change” is jointly curated by Sitka National Historical Park and the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The pieces in the exhibit are the result of an open call for artists to express their feelings, thoughts, and responses to the Alaska Purchase, or “Treaty of Cession,” and the subsequent 150 years of American governance as it has impacted Alaska Native peoples. 

The Treaty of Cession explicitly excluded Alaska Natives from the rights and freedoms offered to white inhabitants of the same land under the new government. The perspectives offered through the artwork convey a sense of the broad effects this exclusion had on Alaska Natives.

Eight renowned artists, from diverse backgrounds, responded with provocative and original artworks, organizers said. A variety of media including painting, sculpture, beadwork and digital art are represented.

The public can view the artwork and meet four of the artists at the opening reception. Remarks will be made by park Superintendent David Elkowitz, and the four artists will be available to talk about their work and the ideas that inspired them.

Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of Sitka National Historical Park. The public can drop in anytime during the two-hour event. The exhibit will remain on display through November 2017. For more information, contact Angie Richman at 907-747-0132 or Kelsey Lutz, 747-0141.

CGSWA Scholarship

Forms Available

The U.S. Coast Guard Spouses’ and Women’s Association scholarship applications are now available.

The CGSWA is offering a $500 scholarship to a graduating Sitka senior who is a dependent of either an active duty, retired, deceased or reservist member of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Forms may be picked up at the counselor offices of Sitka High School, Pacific High School, Mt. Edgecumbe High School and the Sitka School District REACH Program. Completed applications must be received at these high school counselors’ offices by 3 p.m. April 28, or submitted by mail to CGSWA, P.O. Box 1164, Sitka, with a postmark date of April 28, 2017.

Applications can be found on the website www.sitkacoastguardspouses.org under the forms tab. Those who have questions may email contact@sitkacoastguardspouses.org.

Students in Grades 3-10

To Take Assessment Tests

Sitka students in grades 3-10 will be taking the new Alaska State summative assessment, PEAKS, March 27-April 7. 

Subjects to be assessed include English language arts, math and science for grades 4, 8 and 10 only. Keet Gooshi Heen, Blatchley Middle School, Sitka High School, and REACH Homeschool will offer the paper-based assessment, while Pacific High School will offer the computer-based assessment. 

The assessment will not affect students’ grades. PEAKS is required, but there is no penalty for individual students or families who refuse testing. However, if a school’s participation rate falls below 95 percent, students who don’t participate are considered to be not meeting standards, and there may be consequences for the school district. 

These end-of-year assessments inform policy makers and the public, including parents, about how well students are meeting Alaska’s academic standards; provide data to improve schools and to close achievement gaps; and ensure equity in educational opportunity for all students, local officials said.

Students are to leave cell phones, tablets and other electronic communication devices at home on testing days. Students will be required to relinquish their devices to staff during testing, and schools accept no responsibility for misplaced devices. 

Assessment will most accurately reflect learning if students get a good night’s rest and eat a nutritious breakfast on the day of testing, the district said. 

Information on the PEAKS assessment is available at the State of Alaska PEAKS website at https://education.alaska.gov/akassessments/#c3gtabs-peaks, or from the student’s principal. 

Library Accepts

Credit Cards

Sitka Public Library now accepts most major credit and debit cards for electronic payments on library account balances. Patrons can make payments by accessing their account page from the library’s electronic catalog, using their library card number and PIN. In person payments to Sitka Public Library may still be made by cash or check. 

The new system has been put in place to increase convenience and efficiency, as a feature of our being part of the Alaska Joint Library Consortium, which allows over 60 percent of Alaskans to share resources among public, academic, and research libraries around the state, the library said.

To receive assistance with making online payments, or for any further information, visit the library at 320 Harbor Drive, call 747-8708, or email library@cityofsitka.org.

Quilters to Meet

Ocean Wave Quilt Guild will hold its monthly meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at Grace Harbor Church.

The guild meets the first Tuesday of the month, September through May, for inspiration, friendship, creativity and support. Meetings are open to anyone and membership is not required. 

Those with questions may call Sarah Jordan at 738-7272.

Open Mic Sunday

Sitka Folk and the Greater Sitka Arts Council will present an open mic session 7 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at the Larkspur Cafe.

Sign up for performing starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 747-5482.

Work Party for

Fine Arts Camp

All are invited to join Sitka Fine Arts Camp for a volunteer work party 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Meet at Sweetland Hall on the SJ Campus for task assignments. Volunteers will break for a shared lunch at noon. People of all skill levels are welcome and volunteers should feel free to stop by for the whole day or a short time.

Paths Planning

Listed March 27

Paths Across the Pacific volunteers will meet 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 27, at Sitka Public Library.

Planning for the July 2018 Paths  archaeological conference on ocean migrations including archaeology, geography and oceanography.

On the agenda will be the schedule, speakers, encouraging beachcombing, lead-up events and book lists.

For more information call John Stein at 747-7811.

Businesswomen

Being Called

Businesswomen and women entrepreneurs are being called for the Businesswomen of Sitka monthly networking meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at the BackDoor Cafe.

Contact Danielle Cassedy with questions at 738-6050.

Family Concert

To Aid Playground

The Sitka Community Playground group is hosting a family concert 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.

The upbeat, family-oriented event will feature musicians Kirsten Stockel, Joe Montagna and Brian Hullfish.  Admission is a suggested $5 donation per person or $20 per family at the door.  A silent auction is scheduled, and playground hoodies and T-shirts available for purchase.  

All funds will help rebuild Crescent Harbor Playground and provide renovations for safety and accessibility. The playground committee has been working with civic groups and local government with a goal to create a vibrant community space where children can learn important social, physical, and developmental skills from playground activities and build a healthy community gathering space for Sitkans of all ages to enjoy, committee members said.

Questions may be directed to Kealoha Harmon, 747-3500.