Daily Sitka Sentinel

April 18, 2018, Community Happenings

Women in Politics

Discussion Slated

A non-partisan panel discussion of previously-elected Sitka women is 6 p.m. Monday, April 30, at the Beak Restaurant. This informational event is for women considering running for the Assembly. 

Recent Assembly members, former Mayor Mim McConnell and Michelle Putz, will tell of their experiences about running for office and the process of being an elected official. All are welcome; however, the presentation is about encouraging women to run for office.

A few appetizers will be served, and a limited menu and beverages will be available for the evening.

Historical Society

Speakers on Tap

The Sitka Historical Society has announced the final two presentations for its Speakers Series, being held for the run-up to the grand opening of the new Sitka History Museum at Centennial Hall.

On April 25, at 6 p.m. at Sitka Public Library, Helen Mercado and Irene Shuler will be joined by host Emily Kwong for a discussion of their experiences on the Sheldon Jackson Campus in the 1950s.

At the April 28 presentation, at 3 p.m., also at the library, Dan Henry will present a talk and slide show on his new book, ‘‘Across the Shaman’s River: John Muir, the Tlingit Stronghold, and the Opening of the North.’’

“This enthralling book is much more than a history of Alaska,’’ said Paul Theroux, New York Times bestselling author. ‘‘It is a detailed account of First Contact, good intentions and devious ones, a convergence of cultures on a grand scale, all sides fairly represented with vivid portraits; a valuable record of the complex fate of the last wilderness on earth.”

The speaker series is sponsored by Greater Sitka Legacy Fund and Sitka Rotary Club. For more information, call Jeff 747-4821.

CG Auxiliary Class

On Boating Safely

The Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Sitka Flotilla will offer its About Boating Safely course Saturday, April 28. 

The class will be held in the Masonic Lodge Building at 313B Lake Street, at the corner of Erler and Lake streets. 

Doors open at 7:45 a.m. and the class runs 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with a lunch break. The cost is $30.

A sample of some of the topics: ‘‘Before getting underway’’; ‘‘Trailering’’; ‘‘Rules of the Road’’; ‘‘Aids to Navigation markers’’; ‘‘Seamanship’’; ‘‘Emergency procedures’’; ‘‘Fire Fighting’’; ‘‘Anchoring’’; and ‘‘How to pass a vessel exam.’’

The class is active and hands-on. For information contact Mike Morris, 747-8039, sitkaaux@hotmail.com.

Fish Fry Benefit

At St. Peter’s

St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will host a fish fry fundraiser 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 27, at the See House. Eat in or take out. The menu includes halibut or rockfish, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and a sweet treat for $20. Call 747-3977 with questions.

Sitka Has Carbon

Offset Fund

Those who want to reduce their carbon footprint, decrease electricity bills, help fellow Sitkans and increase the number of buildings heated with rainpower are invited to check out the Sitka Carbon Offset Fund.

The new site sitkacarbonoffset.com shows a person’s carbon footprint from travel and a suggested donation based on distance traveled. The small contributions will go a long way toward meeting the Sitka group’s first goal of $3,000 to install a needs-based heat pump for a local family. 

‘‘Low cost electricity and a big reduction in Sitka’s carbon footprint are just around the corner, if we all work together,’’ organizers said. ‘‘Learn how we can do this, one heat pump at a time at sitkacarbonoffset.com.’’

Tickets on Sale

For Chamber Gala

Tickets are on sale for the Annual Chamber’s Choice Awards Gala, 6 p.m. April 28 at Centennial Hall. Specialty drinks and formal dinner service will be followed by awards, a dessert auction and entertainment.

Awards will include Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, and Cossack Cap Award winners.

For information and tickets, at $75 each, contact the Chamber at 747-8604 or director@sitkachamber.com.

Residential

Electric Rate

Change Listed

The city reminds residential customers that as of April 1 electrical rates increased to the summer seasonal rate of $0.192 per kWh. The rate will continue until the last billing cycle in September when rates will again reduce to the winter seasonal rate of $0.120 per kWh.

Electric Utility Director Bryan Bertacchi said the intent of including a seasonal electrical rate was to benefit year-round residents.

“Our resident community members benefited during the cold winter months with very low electric rates,’’ Bertacchi said. ‘‘As a not-for-profit business, increasing the rates in April allows us to share the cost of our community- owned electric utility with the seasonal visitors and provides the mechanism to keep our winter rates very low.”

Ordinance 2017-06S was approved by the Assembly on March 28, 2017, with a 4-1 vote. The ordinance permits a seasonal rate structure with lower kWh rates in the winter months and higher kWh rates in the summer.

The city said some utility bills are affected to a greater degree due to utility bill cycles.

Utility bills are broken into four cycles. The electrical consumption generated in March, but billed in April, will be charged the seasonal summer rate. The opposite occurs in the fall; the electrical consumption generated in September but billed in October, will be charged the seasonal winter rate.

For information, contact the electrical department at 747-4000.

Seminar Discusses

Spruce Tree Insects

Elizabeth Graham will present “What’s Bugging Our Spruce Trees?” at the natural history seminar 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at UAS-Sitka Campus, Room 229.

Graham, an entomologist with the Juneau Forestry Sciences Laboratory, will talk about the insects and other organisms that are damaging spruce trees in Southeast Alaska. Some of the bugs Graham will discuss are native to the area, some aren’t, but a few have the potential to cause a big problem for Sitka spruce trees. Attendees will learn some of the different insects impacting the trees, and how to identify signs and symptoms of their damage

The series is supported by a Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust grant to the Sitka Sound Science Center, UAS and National Park Service. 

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

Author to Read

At Public Library

Sitka Public Library will host author Roger Seiler, originally from King Salmon, who will be reading from his recently published historical novel, “Master of Alaska.” Seiler’s novel is the story of Russian Baranof and Tlingit Katlian.

The event is 6 p.m. on May 2.

Sport Fish Regs

For Rockfish Given

Nonpelagic rockfish bag, possession and retention rules for the Southeast Alaska sport fishery have been announced by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Regulations are effective 12:01 a.m. April 19 through March 31, 2019.

Residents have no size limit, and a bag and possession limit of one nonpelagic rockfish in all Southeast waters.

For nonresidents, there is no size limit, bag and possession limit of one nonpelagic rockfish; annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish, which must be recorded, in ink, on the back of the angler’s sport fishing license or on a harvest record card at the time of harvest.

Those sport-fishing from a charter vessel when releasing nonpelagic rockfish, (i.e. after an angler reaches their bag limit), must use a deep water release mechanism to return the fish to the depth it was hooked or to a depth of at least 100 feet. Charter vessels must have at least one functional deep water release mechanism on board and readily available for use when sport fishing activities are taking place.

Charter operators and crew members may not retain nonpelagic rockfish while clients are on board the vessel.

Retention of nonpelagic rockfish is prohibited in all Southeast outside waters Aug. 1-31. Vessels must have a functional deep water release device on board while fishing (regardless of target species) and all nonpelagic rockfish must be released at depth of capture or at least 100 feet.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries allocated 16 percent of the allowable catch of demersal shelf rockfish to the sport fishery and established management provisions to manage the sport fishery within the allocation.

For further information, contact the nearest ADF&G office or visit: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.se_sportfish.

Pansy Sale Set

Mt. Edgecumbe Preschool is taking orders for its annual pansy sale.

A full flat of 18 plants is $55, nine plants is $30, and singles are $4. Each full flat purchase enters individuals into a drawing to win a large hanging basket from Garden Ventures.

Donations are being accepted to purchase plants to donate toward spring planting by organizations.

Call 966-2675 or go to www.mtedgecumbepreschool.org to order.

Pansies can be picked up at 129 Seward Street noon-6 p.m. May 10, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 11 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 12.

Big Rigs Event

Slated Saturday

The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring Big Rig fundraiser will feature approximately 40 rigs and vehicles available for all to see or to climb 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s parking lot.

Also scheduled is a 5K and fun run event. To sign up log on to runsignup.com for the Big Rig Run for Education, register at the preschool, or before the event at 9 a.m. at the MEHS parking lot. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. Those who run in the race can get in free to the event if they present their race bib.

   All attendees can enter a drawing for a ride on the Sitka Fire Department’s ladder truck. The drawing will be held at the end of the fundraiser, but the winner does not have to be present to win. 

   Hotdogs, cheese and chili nachos, pancit, a bake sale, ice cream, cotton   candy and snow cones will be for sale. 

  Absolute Tree Care, Arrowhead Transfer, Birch Equipment and Rentals, 4 Pink and a Blue Ice Cream GCI, Hardrock Construction, MGC Constructors, Pacific Services, Sitka Dental, Tisher Construction Venneberg Insurance, AC Lakeside and Sea Mart Quality Foods are sponsors. 

Art Display Up

At City Hall

The William Stortz Gallery At City Hall will exhibit the work of Stanley Schoening, a longtime Sitka artist.

The show displays work created by the artist over the past 50 years. They include paintings, drawings, traditional carvings, masks, ceramic pieces and a weaving.

Schoening has studied under many teachers over the years and this show is offered as an homage to those who have taught, influenced and assisted  him over the past five decades.

The gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and is located on the second floor of the city hall building on Lincoln Street. For more information, call 747-5941.

Earthquake, Tsunami

Awareness Discussed

The city will host an earthquake and tsunami awareness community presentation 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 23, at Centennial Hall.

Topics will cover community-level tsunami hazard awareness, planning, response and operations. For information contact the Sitka Fire Department at 747-3233.