Tribal Citizens Meet Feb. 13

In accordance with the Indian Reservation Roads Program and direction from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska's Legislative Affairs Committee, an STA Tribal Citizens meeting will be held 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.

The meeting is to help STA determine the priorities for the IRR program through a Long Range Transportation Plan.

General areas currently in the STA Long Range Transportation Plan include improving the Alaska Marine Highway ferry service in Sitka, development of a transportation facility, prioritize working on roads within the STA roads inventory.

All STA Tribal citizens are invited to attend. Some food and beverages will be provided. For any questions or comments call Gerry Hope, transportation manager, at 747-5910.

Rhyner-Tibbitts Vows Exchanged

Nicole Jay Rhyner and Jose Sebastian Tibbitts were united in marriage Dec. 9 in a beautiful sunken garden of Santa Barbara, Calif., courthouse among family and friends.

Parents of the bride and groom served as attendants and included Steven Rhyner, father of the bride; Georgia Skannes, mother of the bride; Rosa Chavez, mother of the groom; and Albino Perez, father of the groom.

A reception followed at the Ronald Reagan Room at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara. Executive chef Kirk DeLong presented the sit-down meal for the guests. The bride was born in Sitka and is a food and beverage manager for the restaurant.

The groom is the chef at Goleta Valley Hospital.

Santa Barbara will be the couple's home.

Senior Center Menu

Monday -- split-pea soup, turkey sandwich, potato salad, sliced peaches, milk and birthday cake.

Tuesday -- porcupine meatballs, copper pennies, cabbage-pear- raisin salad, bread, chocolate chip cookie, milk.

Wednesday -- bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, juice, bread, sugar-free vanilla pudding, milk.

Thursday -- french dip sandwich, peas and carrots, romaine and radish salad, pineapple chunks, milk.

Friday -- halibut, beets with orange sauce, spinach salad, rice and vegetable pilaf, bread, oatmeal cookie, milk.

Grant Writing Class at UAS

A one-day workshop in grant writing will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m .Feb. 8 at UAS-Sitka Campus. Kathie Wasserman from the Alaska Municipal League will instruct.

The workshop will cover various aspects of the grant-writing process, such as funding sources, steps prior to writing, demonstrating need, responding to the RFP, writing goals and objectives, and other topics.

Cost of the workshop is $149. At least eight students must enroll in order to hold the training. Call Community Education and Professional Development, 747-7762, for more information or to register.

Spawn-on-Kelp Fishery Updated

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is requesting quotations to conduct a test fishery to harvest spawn-on-kelp closed pound gear in Hoonah Sound in the spring.

The department is seeking to generate funding from the Hoonah Sound herring spawn-on-kelp test fishery to help offset management and research costs associated with the fishery.

Requests for quotations must be received by noon Feb. 21.

SCS Annual Meeting Set

Sitka Conservation Society members and rest of the community are invited to attend the SCS annual meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Exhibit Room at Centennial Hall.

An open house reception will start things off where the public can attend and learn about current SCS projects and issues. Board member elections and a brief update on current SCS issues and developments will follow.

Non-alcoholic beverages and desserts will be provided. For more information contact SCS at 747-7509, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Biking Subject Of Call-In Show

Next on Give and Take, Raven Radio's weekly issues-oriented call-in program, will be "Biking Safety." The program is set 10:06 a.m. Thursday on 104.7 FM or 90.1 FM. Call in at 747-5877 or e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Questions to be asked include: is bicycling safe in Sitka; what can be done to improve safety for cyclists and motorists alike; and should bicycle traffic laws be more strictly enforced?

Doug Osborne from the Sitka Bicycle Coalition and police Officer Doug Carleton will join the group to explore the issue.

Next week's topic will be "Elizabeth Peratrovich Day; what is the enduring legacy of Alaska's civil rights icon?"

Boards to Hold Annual Meet

The annual board meetings for River's Edge Property Inc. and Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services Inc. will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Maksoutoff Room at Centennial Hall.

The public is invited to attend.

City Warns of Dangers from Heavy Snowload

Building owners are being urged to monitor snowload conditions and clear snow from their roofs if needed.

"With the current amount of snow already received and more predicted in the near future, some structures may be in danger of collapse," city building department personnel said in a press release today.

Mobile homes, older buildings and flat-roofed buildings with interior drains are at the highest risk.

Those with questions may call the city building department at 747-1837.

WIC Closure

The Sitka WIC office will be closed from Feb. 9 through Feb. 25. The office will reopen Feb. 26 with its regularly scheduled hours.

Taize Service Set Feb. 10

The worship tradition of Taize will be presented jointly by St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church Sunday evenings during Lent.

The first service will be 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 611 Lincoln Street. People of all denominations are invited to attend.

Taize is a service of about 30 minutes of simple meditative songs, scripture readings, silence and prayers of intercession.

"This quiet service encourages participation of all assembled as each is moved to join in the songs, candle-lighting, and prayers which help to bring a deep sense of quiet and closeness to the spirit of God," a press release from organizers stated.

Those with questions may call the office at St. Peter's at 747-3977.

Energy Conservation

Dear Editor:

About 10 years ago I went to Anchorage for four days of classes and tests to become a home energy rater. I succeeded and performed 12 home energy ratings.

Since 1981 I have worked as an employee on 10 or more school jobs. I have only done remodels or repairs on privately owned commercial buildings.

At a coffee break during these classes I asked an instructor about heat loss in schools and commercial buildings. He said that in the business world it's a different situation. The building is built by a developer; leased to a lessor; then parts of it are rented or leased to various businesses who sell products or services for a profit. So there are several layers of profit motive which are passed on to the consumer.

Because of this fact there exists little motive to conserve energy in our design and construction. Perhaps this may change.

These are large buildings compared to a single-family home.

We can make a parallel with the design and construction of public buildings. Ultimately the citizens (taxpayers) pay for energy ineffiency. The people who design these public builidngs make good incomes. But what if a tendency exists to take the easy route and "rake in the dough" occurs more often than trying hard to solve recent problems?

Homeowners may barely be able to afford heat loss improvements; businesses and government entities can and should.

Why is so much attention paid publicly to what shack owners, trailer owners and homeowners can do to reduce energy consumption and little attention paid to how governments and businesses conduct their operations?

Wayne C. Bowers, Sitka