Daily Sitka Sentinel

October 20, 2017, Community Happenings

Natural History

Seminar on Tap

Dr. Alek Petty will present “Rapid Declines in Arctic sea ice cover: what does this mean for Alaska?” at the Natural History Seminary 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in Room 229 at UAS-Sitka Campus.

Arctic sea ice is in decline. The coverage and thickness of the summer sea ice pack has shrunk to around half what it was in the 1980s; coinciding with the Arctic atmosphere warming more rapidly than any other region on Earth, Petty said. Recent years have also seen a sharp increase in the frequency and duration of extreme warm periods in the normally cold Arctic winter months.

The impacts of this warming Arctic and diminished sea ice cover are numerous, and include: changes to atmospheric weather patterns, shifts in ecosystems and fisheries, increased ocean navigability, and new challenges for human subsistence activities in the Arctic, a press release from UAS said.

In his talk, Petty will provide an overview of Arctic sea ice changes with a focus on the impacts of sea ice decline in and around Alaska, and what we might expect for the decades ahead. 

Petty is the October Scientist in Residency Fellow at the Sitka Sound Science Center. He is a sea ice scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland.

The Natural History seminar series is supported by a grant from the Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust to the Sitka Sound Science Center and by University of Alaska Southeast and the National Park Service. 

Those with questions can contact Kitty LaBounty at 747-9432 or email kllabounty@alaska.edu

Library Preschool

Story Time Listed

The preschool story time at Sitka Public Library will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. ‘‘Acorns Everywhere’’ by Kevin Sherry will be one of the readings.

The program includes rhymes, songs and a craft project. All are invited to attend. For more information call the library at 747-8708.

‘Nutcracker’ to Be

Library Program

Sitka Studio of Dance will present “The Nutcracker – An Alaskan Tale” at Sitka Public Library 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11.

The program will include a reading, performances and a mini class in which children will be able to learn some ballet moves and dances.

The event is for children of all ages and registration is preferred. Families with young ones as well can watch and dance to the music in their own way. Those interested can call the library at 747-8708.

Community Blood

Drive Oct. 25-27

The Community Blood Drive will be held 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 25-27 at Centennial Hall, in Meeting Room 1.

Appointments can be made to give blood on Oct. 25 at https://donate.bloodbankofalaska.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/36340.

For appointments on Oct. 26, go to https://donate.bloodbankofalaska.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/36341.

Oct. 27 appointments can be made at the following link: https://donate.bloodbankofalaska.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/36342.

For information contact the Blood Bank of Alaska at 907–222–5630.

The BBA mobile staff will take more donors than are on the sign-up sheet at their discretion, organizers said. Donors who make appointments on line will have priority over donors without.

BBA staff reminds donors to eat well on the day of the blood drive, stay hydrated and take photo identification.

UAS to Partner

With Coast Guard

On Initiative

University of Alaska Southeast signed an agreement this month with the U.S. Coast Guard establishing a partnership for the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative. USCG District 17 Cmdr. Rear Admiral Michael McAllister and Chancellor Rick Caulfield signed the agreement on Oct. 9 during a special meeting of the UAS Juneau Campus Advisory Council. 

CSPI is a program designed for motivated individuals who demonstrate a high caliber of academic and leadership excellence and who desire to serve their country in the Coast Guard.

Students currently enrolled, accepted for enrollment or pending enrollment in a full-time bachelor’s degree program at UAS with the desire to complete college and receive a guaranteed commission as an officer in the  Coast Guard can apply for CSPI. This means that a student currently pursuing an AA/AS degree at UAS who plans to continue with their BS/BA degree may be eligible for CSPI if they are accepted for enrollment.

Students who are accepted into the scholarship program will be enlisted into the Coast Guard, complete basic training during the summer, and receive full funding for up to two years of college. Funding includes not only payment of tuition, books, and fees, but a full-time Coast Guard salary, housing allowance, and medical benefits. 

“Southeast Alaska has a great maritime industry, and it is important to educate young people about marine-related career opportunities, including those in the Coast Guard,” Chancellor Rick Caulfield said. “This program is intended to build a more diverse Coast Guard presence in Alaska, and to create opportunities of Alaskans to join in supporting the Coast Guard’s mission.”

Those interested can contact Deb Rydman, UAS Career Services, at 907-796-6000 or visit www.uas.alaska.edu/career_services/uscg_cspi_scholarship.html for full details on the program and the application process.

Turkey Shoot

Scheduled for

Veterans Day

The Sitka Sportsman’s Association will hold its annual Turkey Shoot 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11.

‘‘Last year’s event had our biggest turnout ever,’’ a member said. ‘‘To avoid long waits we will again be using both outdoor shotgun fields and continuing the popular indoor 22 pistol event.’’

No experience is necessary and non-members are invited to participate.

Anyone hitting a colored clay target during a normal round of trap or skeet, or winning one of the 22 pistol events, will win a turkey or a coupon for a free round of trap or skeet. There is a limit of one turkey or coupon per shooter. The cost is $15 per round of trap or skeet and $5 per pistol event. Both fees include ammunition. Loaner shotguns and pistols also will be available for use at no charge.

A free barbecue lunch will be provided at noon. Anyone with questions can contact Steve at 738-7267 or Mike at 752-7900.

Caregiver Support

Group to Meet

Brave Heart Volunteers Caregiver Support will meet 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, at the Sitka Pioneers Home Manager’s House.

The free group meets once a month on the fourth Monday of the month, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. New members can join anytime. A dinner of homemade soup, salad and bread will be served. Call BHV office and volunteer manager Maury Hackett at 747-4600 for more information or with questions.

Joint Worship

Service Oct. 22

St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and Sitka Lutheran Church will hold a joint service at Sitka Lutheran Church 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 22.

All are invited to join the congregations for the special service. For more information, call Sitka Lutheran at 747-3338 or St. Peter’s at 747-3977.

SSSC Closure

The Sitka Sound Science Center will be closed during its normal hours, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, to get ready for the Haunted Aquarium.

Help Given for

Health Insurance

Marketplace

Open enrollment through the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace is Nov. 1-Dec. 15.

To help community members navigate the process, SEARHC Outreach and Enrollment Manager Andrea Thomas will offer a presentation 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the Sitka Public Library.

Thomas will answer questions about applying for insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace including lowered costs for Premera Blue Cross plans, eligibility for lower-cost health coverage, common problem areas, and how to enroll. She also will discuss Medicaid eligibility and how to apply.

“This year people only have six weeks to renew or apply for coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace for a Jan. 1 start,” Thomas said. “One positive change is that the cost of coverage has gone down, so it is a great time to explore your options.”

SEARHC is a Certified Application Counselor agency offering free support to all Southeast residents. Call 966-8883 or 966-8662 for information.

Stardust Ball

Set for Oct. 28

Raven Radio’s Stardust Ball will be 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Oct. 28, at Centennial Hall.

Tickets at $35 each are on sale at Old Harbor Books.

Doors open at 7 p.m., the lip sync contest is at 8 p.m., the band takes the stage at 9 p.m. and the costume contest at 10 p.m. Attendees must be 21 and present identification at the door. More information is available at Raven Radio, 747-5877.

Health Summit

Group Kicks Off

A meeting on reducing carbon emissions in Sitka, one of the Sitka Health Summit’s 2017-2018 goals, will be   6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, at Centennial Hall.

For more information contact Heather Bauscher at 747-7509 or heather@sitkawild.org.

Kids Carnival

Listed Oct. 28 

The Sitka Gymnastics Academy Booster Club will host a family friendly Halloween Kids Carnival at the Smith Street Studio 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.

The admittance fee is $10 per child or $20 a family for unlimited games, in which youngsters collect tickets for prizes. Children must be accompanied by an adult, the group said.   

New Arrivals

Baby Girl Hill

Sahalie Marie Puoyaq Hill was born 6:34 p.m. Oct. 1, 2017, at Sitka Community Hospital. At birth, the infant weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 19-1/2 inches long. 

Parents are Angela and Ryan Hill of Sitka. The mother is employed with Tlingit and Haida Head Start, and the father at the Sitka School District.

Sahalie joins siblings Woods Hill and Delphia Olson.