FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Fireworks, Parade Lined Up For 4th
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The countdown has started for the first burst of fireworks over Sitka Channel at 11:30 p.m. Friday, the big event launching Saturday’s Fourth of July celebration.
Petro Marine Plant Manager Jerry Jacobs said the best part for him in the fireworks show happens “after the banging and exploding stops.”
“You can hear people cheering and applauding ... and honking horns,” said Jacobs, whose company has sponsored the annual fireworks display since 2000. “That’s very gratifying – a lot of people watch from the city dock, and all around you can hear a low roar.”
Jacobs and his staff right now are keeping an eye on the weather, with their fingers crossed that the skies will clear by late Friday night to allow the 20-minute display to go off without a hitch.
The forecast for tonight is for a 60 percent chance of showers. The Friday forecast is for cloudy skies, and a 20 percent chance of isolated showers. But for the Fourth of July, skies are expected to be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching 64.
The fireworks show involves bringing in flatbed trucks full of fireworks to the UAS ramp, where they will be set off by trained pyrotechnician Jake Denherder, with help from some volunteers and the Petro staff.
Jacobs said he wouldn’t describe himself as a fireworks enthusiast – since he enjoys going to bed early – but his company enjoys putting on an event that the community enjoys so much.
“We try to put on a decent show,” he said. “We’re hoping the weather cooperates. ... We keep doing it because people like it, and we want to continue a tradition. We think the Fourth would be less if we didn’t do it. For me and my staff, it’s a lot of work, but people really do like it.”
Popular spectator spots are the area near the harbor master’s office at Thomsen Harbor, the SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital grounds, O’Connell Bridge, Totem Square and Siginaka Way near the U.S. Forest Service building.
The Fourth of July Parade, with the theme “American Innovation” and Dirk and Trish White as parade marshals, will start at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, under Community Director Kealoha Harmon, is this year’s parade coordinator, taking over from the Sitka Chamber of Commerce.
“They thought of us because BBBS was the Community Hero selected by the Chamber board,” Harmon said.
Harmon said the Whites were chosen as parade marshals in recognition of White’s Pharmacy’s selection as the 2014 Good Neighbor Pharmacy; and the Whites’ promotional efforts to “live local” and to maintain the emotional and physical health of the community.
Parade lineup is 1 p.m. on Lake Street. From the roundabout, the parade goes down Lake Street to the traffic light, right onto Lincoln Street, and ending at Totem Square.
Harmon said she hasn’t minded taking on the extra work of organizing the parade. “I like creating new partnerships with other organizations,” she said.
The $25 parade entry fees go to BBBS, an organization that matches adult mentors with children who may need another positive adult role model in their lives. The pairs meet two to four times a month, and can do special projects together or just “everyday things,” Harmon said.
“Walking the dog, going to the beach, just simple things are all that’s required,” she said. Harmon said she appreciates the chance the parade is giving her to get the word out about BBBS, which currently has 15 adult-kid “matches.”
“I just want to encourage people to get involved,” Harmon said.
Harmon said she’s a big fan of the annual parade, and has enjoyed organizing it.
“I’m loving it,” said Harmon, whose background is in event planning. “I get to take a one-week break from regular duties and focus on putting on a great parade. I really like parades, myself. It’s fun getting to meet people. They stop by, they’re calling me, I’m getting to reach out to people.”
She’s really looking forward to seeing her efforts, and that of all the entrants, come to fruition on the Fourth.
“I love the sense of community,” Harmon said. “The smiling, happy children and families.”
A prize of $50 will go to the “Most Enthusiastic.” The “Best Theme” float will win $75, and the “Best of Parade” will get $100.
After the parade, the activities continue: immediately after the parade there will be root beer floats at KCAW Raven Radio, and at 4 p.m. the annual water fight will commence in front of city hall.
Fire Chief Dave Miller is expecting the fire hall to earn a “two-peat” by beating the Coast Guard crew for a second year in a row. The contest is a little like tug-of-war, with the two crews blasting water from two-inch fire hoses to push a red, white and blue keg across a goal line in the street. It’s all in fun, with the teams taking a few occasions to spray the onlookers.
How many times has his team practiced? “None. Same as them,” Miller said. The main strategy is just to win. “It’s going to be a two-peat,” he said.
“We’ll see,” said Matt Reines, who is on the Coast Guard team but also a volunteer at the Sitka Fire Department. “We weren’t ready last year, but this year we’re going to be ready.”
He’ll be on the lookout for the kind of pranks the fire hall team pulled last year that hampered the Coast Guard’s chances.
It’s a fun event, but it’s also physically demanding, Reines added.
“You’re pretty physically whupped after,” he said.
The schedule:
–11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday – Food and game booths, Baranof playground
–11:30 p.m. Friday – Fireworks, sponsored by Petro Marine, fired off from the UAS ramp
Saturday, Fourth of July
–9 a.m. to noon – Free admission to Russian Bishop’s House
–10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Food and Game booths, Baranof playground
–10 a.m. to noon – Tea and children’s games from the Russian America era, Russian Bishop’s House
–10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sitka Farmers Market, ANB Founders Hall
–10 a.m. Bald Eagle Release, Alaska Raptor Center
–11 a.m. – Sitka Spruce Celtic Dancers, Crescent Harbor Shelter
–noon to 12:45 p.m. – Concert of Patriotic Favorites played on the historic Kessler organ by Dave Nicholls, Sitka Lutheran Church
–noon – Barn Dance – Crescent Harbor Shelter, with music by Fishing for Cats
–1 p.m. (Fourth of July) – Parade line-up, Lake Street
–2 p.m. – Parade from roundabout and down Lake Street, and Lincoln Street to Totem Square, with the theme “American Innovation.” Prizes given out for most enthusiastic ($50), best theme float ($75) and best of parade ($100).
–After the Parade – Root beer floats at the Cable House at the end of Lincoln Street, sponsored by KCAW Raven Radio.
–After the parade till 5 p.m. – Free admission to Russian Bishop’s House
–3:30 to 6 p.m. – Underwater archaeology cruise, Sitka Maritime Heritage Society and Allen Marine, and talk by Dr. Brinnen Carter on underwater archaeology. Tickets $50, $35 for kids, at Old Harbor Books. 747-3448
–3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday – Ice cream social at Sitka National Historic Park
–4 p.m. Saturday – Water Fight: Sitka Fire Department vs. U.S. Coast Guard, in front of City Hall
–4 p.m. Saturday – Duck Race, Halibut Point Recreation Area, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sitka.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....