Daily Sitka Sentinel

September 15, 2017, Community Happenings

End-of-Life

Series Offered

Brave Heart Volunteers is offering a free eight-session series of classes titled “Compassionate Care at End of Life”  Oct. 6-Nov. 18.

The comprehensive training is meant especially for those who want to gain more awareness of death and dying, hospice, palliative care, grief support, and caring for others at end of life. More than 20 health, service and medical professionals from Sitka come together to address a wide range of American Hospice Foundation topics. Spaces are limited. Call Brave Heart Volunteers at 747-4600 to register and to learn more.

Sale at White E

The White Elephant Shop will have a half-price sale on all green tag items in the main store and children’s store on Saturday and Monday. Also in the children’s store, all pink tag items will be 50 cents. Store hours are noon-3 p.m. Saturday and 6-8 p.m. Monday. 

The White Elephant Shop is overloaded with both adult and children’s books and is not accepting books at this time.

Eagle Release on Sept. 19

Alaska Raptor Center will release two eagles at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

The nonprofit organization dedicated to avian rehabilitation, environmental education and research since 1980, said the eagles have reached the end of their rehabilitation journey. 

“We are offering free admission and will also be having an inventory clear-out sale with 30 percent off our entire gift shop,’’ ARC Executive Director Jennifer Cross said. ‘‘Anyone interested in attending the releases should arrive five to 10 minutes prior to 12:15 p.m. to ensure that they don’t miss out.”

Cross said so far this year the center has admitted 52 bald eagles, 18 of which were successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild. In addition to eagles, the center has treated 70 other birds, both raptor and non-raptor, in 2017. The two adult female eagles now ready for release came to ARC from other regions in Southeast Alaska.

“Sybil was sent to us from Wrangell back in December 2016 and ‘Q’ was rescued in Juneau this past June,” Cross said. 

This will be the final time the center releases rehabilitated eagles in 2017. Eagles still in treatment, and any new eagles admitted over the fall and winter, will be held over until at least spring of 2018, the exact timing of the next release to be determined by the annual herring run. 

“Waiting until food is plentiful in the area again gives them the best possible chance for survival,” Cross said, “We are able to do this thanks to our 20,000 ft3 Flight Center facility, which is large enough to accommodate several eagles at once and allow them space enough to regain and maintain flight muscle strength.” 

For more information, contact the Alaska Raptor Center at 747-8662.

Pool League

Meeting Slated

The Greater Sitka Pool League 8-ball meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the American Legion.

Team captains, representatives and players are invited to attend.

Benefit Listed for

Hurricane Victims

A benefit for Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma victims is being held at Goldsmith Gallery through Sept. 30.

A leather-wrap bracelet with ‘‘Our Father’’ imprinted on it, in various colors, is being sold for $45, with all proceeds from the sales to be sent to Operation USA.

‘‘Come and get your bracelet, donate to a cause for our country, our family, and think of them all as you wear your bracelet,’’ the store said.

STA Election

Slated Nov. 14

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Council has announced a general election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Four Tribal Council seats are open. Candidacy packets are available at the STA offices, 456 Katlian Street.  Tribal citizens seeking office must file the Notice of Candidacy and related materials with the election supervisor no later than Friday, Oct. 13.  

Unitarians Meet

At Sunday’s meeting of the Unitarian Fellowship, Paul Rioux will introduce “Faith Like a River.”

The series of programs will explore the dynamic course of Unitarian Universalist history—the people, ideas, and movements that have shaped the faith heritage. It invites participants to place themselves into its history and consider its legacies and lessons.

Gathering begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45. Soup and bread follow the program at noon.

The Fellowship Hall is at 408 Marine Street, with parking behind off Spruce Street. For more information, call 747-3702.

Calvary Chapel

To Meet Sunday

Calvary Chapel Sitka’s special Sunday message will be part two of the study on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah – the Feast of Trumpets – which begins at sunset on Sept. 20.

The church will address what the Bible states about Sept. 23 being the Rapture, which is not prophesied in Scripture.

The group meets at 3 p.m. Sundays at the Methodist Church. Contact Dug Jensen at 747-5454 or calvarysitka.org for more information.

Interpersonal

Violence, Abuse

Topic of Talk 

Sitkans Against Family Violence will continue free training on recognizing and dealing with interpersonal violence and abuse 6-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 408 Marine Street. 

Scheduled are sessions on self-care and the relationship between interpersonal violence and substance abuse. For more information go to safv.org or call 747-3370.

Sunday School

Rally Sept. 17

The Salvation Army will conduct a Sunday school rally 10 a.m. Sept. 17. Games, prizes, puppets, songs treats will be included. All ages are invited to attend.

Science Center

Sets Gift Sale

The Sitka Sound Science Center gift shop’s last day of the season will be Friday, Sept. 22. A 10 percent sale will start Sept. 19.

College, Career

Fair Set Oct. 12

The Sitka College and Career Fair will be 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at Sitka High School.

Representatives from nearly 50 colleges will be on hand to help high school students explore their post-secondary options. Parents and students can meet one-on-one with admissions representatives to talk about their respective colleges and answer questions.

Park Reminds

Public of Laws

Sitka National Historical Park has recently experienced an increase of individuals riding bicycles on park trails and dogs off-leash within park boundaries, which are violations of park regulations. 

Park officials said these situations cause safety hazards for other park users hiking on the same trail system, as well as for wildlife within the park.

The National Park Service reminds the public it is prohibited to ride bicycles anywhere in the park, and dogs must be on-leash at all times in the park, including on the tidelands.

The majority of these violations appear to be occurring in the morning and evening hours as individuals commute to and from work or school, or recreate outside of their work hours, NPS said.

Rangers will be increasing their patrols for violators and will be taking the appropriate law enforcement action, which may include the issuance of a United States Violation Notice in the amount of $75 plus a $35 processing fee for riding bikes, $50 plus a $35 processing fee for dogs off-leash, and $300 plus a $35 processing fee for harassment of wildlife.

Questions or concerns regarding park regulations can be directed to Chief Law Enforcement Ranger Sean Brennan at 747-0127 or sean_brennan@nps.gov.

Seafood Symphony

Entries Requested

The Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation is announcing its Call for Product for the 25th annual Alaska Symphony of Seafood, a competition for new value-added products made from Alaska seafood. 

The overall goal is to inspire innovative ways to fully utilize and increase the value of Alaska’s seafood. The Call for Product is now available, with entry forms and fees due by Oct. 6. All information is available at AFDF’s website: http://www.afdf.org/symphony-of-seafood/.

Judging and open house events will be held in Seattle on Nov. 15, and in Juneau tentatively on Feb. 27, 2018. The winners will display their winning products at the SENA in Boston March 11-13, 2018.

The event’s multiple locations allow seafood companies to introduce new value-added products from Alaska seafood and gain exposure with industry and culinary experts, seafood distributors, and national media.