Daily Sitka Sentinel

August 23, 2017, Community Happenings

PEAK Program

Set to Register

The PEAK Program, an afterschool enrichment program dedicated to bringing science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics to ages 5-13, is open for registration.

PEAK students engage in a variety of educational activities to enhance their learning skills. PEAK operates from after school until 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Full-time and part-time rates are available. Children do not need to attend the SEER School Day Program to be part of the PEAK Program. Bus transportation from school is provided to the 303 Kimsham St., lower level location. 

Registration paperwork can be emailed or picked up at the PEAK Program. Contact Karla Horner Raffaele at 747-6224 or email peakprogramsitka@gmail.com for additional information.

Lutherans Plan

Welcome Brunch

Sitka Lutheran Church will have its annual Welcome Home potluck brunch following morning worship Sunday, Aug. 27.

Those planning to attend are asked to take breakfast and lunch foods. The schedule for Sunday is the adult gathering at 9:15 a.m., all ages choir practice at 9:30 a.m. and worship with Holy Communion at 10:30 a.m.

 Starting Sept. 3, youth group will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Students from Blatchley Middle, Sitka High and Mt. Edgecumbe High schools are welcome to attend.

For more information contact the church at 747-3338.

SAFV Training

To be Offered

Sitkans Against Family Violence will offer 13 sessions of free training on recognizing and dealing with interpersonal violence and abuse, beginning Sept. 9.

SAFV staff members and local professionals will speak on Saturdays (except Sept. 16) and Monday nights through the 30. The schedule is available at www.safv.org. Individuals may choose to attend any or all sessions at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 408 Marine Street. 

Those with questions or wanting to receive the schedule in the mail or through email, can call 747-3370.

Blue Lake Road

Open to Pedestrians

The Forest Service, in coordination with the City and Borough of Sitka, has reopened the Blue Lake Road to pedestrian traffic after evaluating a slide caused by heavy rains.

Inspection by city officials and Forest Service staff determined the slump did not cause any damage to the road. 

Users are asked to remain cautious, especially during additional heavy rains, the Forest Service said. Heavy truck traffic from construction of the observatory and reconstruction of the Blue Lake campground will continue using the road.

Greeters Recruited

For Alaska Day

Alaska Day Festival organizers are enlisting greeters for duty leading up to Oct. 18. In 1860s costumes, greeters appear at the airport meeting Sitka visitors, in the annual parade, and at other activities, dispensing event schedules and commemorative buttons. 

Betty Conklin, 966-2281, invites women or men volunteers to contact her for help with costumes and scheduling possibilities.

Earns Scholarship

Connor Buxton, son of CPO Kenneth S. Buxton of Sitka, was awarded a Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship and will attend Clarkson University in the fall.

The Coast Guard Foundation Scholarships benefit the children of enlisted men and women who are serving or have served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, has awarded a record 166 new scholarships. In 27 years, it has paid out more than $4.7 million to more than 780 college-aged young adults.

To learn more about the Coast Guard Foundation, or to help support its work, visit www.coastguardfoundation.org or call (860) 535-0786.

SSSC Closure

The Sitka Sound Science Center will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Founders Day

Event at Park

The community is invited to Sitka National Historical Park’s visitor center to celebrate founders day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. It is the annual celebration of the establishment of the National Park Service.

The 101st birthday celebration will include National Park Service-themed cupcakes, a selfie station with the park’s bison mascot, pop-up art and writing walls and an interactive National Park Service map activity.   

Those with questions can call the park’s visitor center at 747-0110.

Open Mic Sunday

Sitka Folk and the Greater Sitka Arts Council will host a benefit open mic at Beak 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. One can sign up to perform at 6:30 p.m. Call 747-5482 for more information.

Scripture Walks

Slated in the Park

Scripture Walks in the Park will continue for two more Wednesdays, Aug. 23 and 30. Participants should meet at Sitka National Historical Park visitor center at 5:30 p.m. and ‘‘enjoy a short walk through the park, enjoying nature, and reflecting on scriptures, poems and other readings that speak about our beautiful creation,’’ organizers said.

For more information call St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church at 747-3977.

Sitka Fellows

Set Open Studio

The Sitka Fellows will host an open studio 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, in the Del Shirley Room in the Odess Theater at Allen Hall on the SJ Campus.

Six artists will read excerpts from their plays and novels, share illustrations and play clips from radio stories.

It is free and open to all. Refreshments will be provided. For more information call Sarah Gibson at 802-779-2356.

The open studio is sponsored by the Sitka Fellows Program in partnership with the Sitka Fine Arts Camp and made possible by the Hames Corporation, David and Marge Steward and individual donors.