October 10, 2024, Community Happenings

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Category: News

Created on Thursday, 10 October 2024 14:33

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NPS Warns
Bears On Move
On Park Trails
Sitka National Historical Park is warning the community bears may be on the park trails any time of the day.
With daylight hours shortening, and the trails at the park getting less crowded, the presence of bears is more likely, Sitka NHP said.
The park’s bear alert level is currently at yellow; visitors should use extreme caution when in the park, particularly from dusk to dawn, when the presence of bears is more likely.
The park is on day-use only. Only the trail from the visitor center across the Indian River bridge to Sawmill Creek Road is open to pedestrian through traffic after dark.
‘‘With bears present around park trails, it is important for the public to be bear aware, stay on the trails, and be aware of the risk of entering a wild and forested area where bears traverse,’’ the park said. ‘‘Use the posted bear activity signs (green/yellow/red) to inform your decision about whether or not to use park trails.’’

Oktoberfest Race
Awards Announced
Harbor Mountain Brewing has announced the costume and race awards from Saturday’s first annual Oktoberfest race and event:
Best Costume winner: The Ghosts – Mikayla Smith and Grace Fluharty; honorable mentions: The Banana Slug – Olivia Magni; The Skeleton Family- The Todd Family.
Best Finish Line Celebration winner: Leap Froggers – Clare Sheehan, Kolby Sirowich, Juliette Langley, and Maria Beck; honorable mentions: Shoulder Carry – Andrew Hinton and Mary Sheehan; Intergalactic Dance - Ben Hughey.
Fastest Finisher: Peter Vu.

Registration Open for
BMS Dungeon Slayers
City of Sitka Parks and Recreation is offering a new tabletop games club, the Blatchley Dungeon Slayers.
Taught by Riley Whitson, middle school adventurers will explore fantastical lands through various tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, Magic the Gathering, and others.
Registration is live at www.recreation.cityofsitka.com. The Dungeon Slayers will meet 3:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the school.
The club will begin Oct. 22 and run through Dec. 17. For information, contact Sitka Parks and Recreation by email at recreation@cityofsitka.org or by phone at 907 747-4031.

Timber Grading
Workshop Set
Those wanting to use local timber to build a home can register for Alaska Lumber Grading training.
The free, one-day class is appropriate for anyone who wishes to become certified to self-grade lumber for personal use or to sell in-state to end-users for residential construction.
It will be at UAS-Sitka Campus 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23. Register at uaf.edu/ces/lumber or by contacting the instructor, Matt Labrenz, at mtlabrenz@alaska.edu.
Learn more about the grading program at uaf.edu/ces/sustainable-resources/lumber/grading-training/.

Children of Shatila’
Screening at Library
A screening of “Children of Shatila”, a 1998 documentary following two children in Beirut, Lebanon’s Shatila refugee camp, will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
The film depicts Palestinian refugees’ determination to keep family and dreams thriving in a landscape that has been sculpted by war, poverty, grief, disability, and displacement, organizers said.
 Donations are welcome, but not required, with options to contribute to the Lebanese Red Cross and to Anera, a nonprofit delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Class Dismissed
The Sitka School District announces schools will be dismissed early on Thursday, Oct. 17, for a staff workday.
Lunch will be served before dismissal.
Schools will be dismissed as follows:
Xóots Elementary School, 11:30 a.m.;
Keet Gooshi Heen, 11:45 a.m.;
Pacific High School, 12:15 p.m.;
Blatchley Middle School, 12:25 p.m.; and
Sitka High School, 12:30 p.m.
No classes will be held on Friday, Oct. 18.

Weekend Events Ahead
For Historical Museum

The Sitka Historical Society and Museum will present several events for the Alaska Day Festival week.
The first event will be a barbecue brisket and pork butt cookoff that starts 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Sponsors will purchase the briskets and pork butts and all barbecuers are being called to enter the contest. Contestants receive two free tickets to the Brew Cruise. Prizes and a trophy will be presented. No entry fee is charged. For more information and to register, call Hal Spackman, 907 738-3766.
The annual Brew Cruise is 2:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, at Crescent Harbor dock. Participants will sail Sitka Sound on Allen Marine boats, sample craft brews and fine wines, rock to music, and tie up in scenic Silver Bay. the event is sponsored by Allen Marine Tours.
The cruise will include a Battle of the DJs – ticketholders can choose between music on two boats, ‘‘today’s hits’’ vs. ‘‘classic rock and country.’’ Tickets at  $80 each are available at www.sitkahistory.org or Sitka History Museum Facebook. Tickets include beer and wine, and a brisket or pork butt meal served prior to boarding.
On Oct. 15, at 6:30 p.m., at Harrigan Centennial Hall Mr. Whitekey’s “Hysterical Historical History of Alaska” will be on stage.
In the 157 years since the purchase of Seward’s Folly, Alaska has been a laugh riot – its history full of side-splitting sourdoughs, comical con men, ludicrous lawmakers, gut-busting grifters, and laughable lawmen, said a press release from the museum.
‘‘Mr. Whitekeys joyfully recaps these hilarious highlights at a special Alaska Day talk,’’ the society said.
It is free and open to the public.
Saluting “Tlingit Code Talkers: Silent Heroes of WWII” will be presented    6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Centennial Hall
Vince Winters will lead the presentation commemorating six Tlingit men from Sitka and Southeast Alaska who served during WWII as Code Talkers in the Pacific and Alaskan Theaters of War.  Participants will hear the stories of the silent heroes who were kept secret by not only the U.S. military, but also by the  men. The talk is free and open to public.
The Alaska Day Festival Beards and  Bonnets competition and a brief Sitka Historical Society and Museum Annual Meeting will precede this event.
From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct 11 through 18, the Sitka Historical Museum will offer free admission in observance of the Alaska Day holiday.