September 10, 2013 Community Happenings

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Category: News

Created on Tuesday, 10 September 2013 09:50

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    Wearable Art
    Show March 1
    The 6th Annual Wearable Art Show will be held March 1 and the Greater Sitka Arts Council is encouraging those who plan to design a piece for the runway event  to be thinking about gathering material and designing their art project.
    The theme this year is ‘‘Six of One, a Half Dozen of Another,’’ which is a suggestion. As always, any creation is welcome. Those with questions may email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Jeff at 747-4821.

    School Board Meets
    Sitka School Board will hold a work session, followed by a special board meeting, 6 p.m. Sept. 12 in  the Sitka School District board room.
    The board will discuss AASB resolutions. The pubic is invited to attend.

    Port Alexander
    Book on Sale
    The Port Alexander Historical Society is offering the book ‘‘Port Alexander, A Centennial Celebration 1913-2013,’’ by authors M.J. Kirchhoff, Mike Stempe and Tom Paul, as a fundraiser for the Port Alexander Museum, established in 2008.
    The book of 172 pages has many historic photos and narrative about the first 100 years.
    The book is $35, which includes postage, and checks can be made payable to the Port Alexander Historical Society, and mailed to PAHS, 224 Katlian, Sitka, AK 99835, with an address for the recipient. A gift card can be included. For further information call Karen at 747-7803.

    Fishers Offered
    Safety Training
     Alaska Marine Safety Education Association will offer a one day, 10-hour commercial fishing vessel safety and emergency drill conductor course 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 21 at Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association.
    The course meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for commercial fishing vessels. It is available to commercial fishermen for $95 thanks to support from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and State of Alaska, DCCED. For all other mariners, the cost for the course is $175. AMSEA members can take the course at a cost of $110.
    For more information or to register contact AMSEA at 747-3287 or www.amsea.org.
    SCDC to Meet
    The Sitka Community Development Corp. board will meet 6-9 p.m. Sept. 20. The extended meeting potluck will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church See House, in the basement.
    SCDC is a community supported non-profit working to establish permanently affordable housing in Sitka. Members of the public are invited.

Annual Park Photo Contest Open for Submissions
    Sitka National Historical Park is accepting entries for its National Public Lands Day amateur photo contest.
    Entries must be submitted, with an entry form, no later than 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the visitor center front desk, or emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
    ‘‘Each visitor to Sitka National Historical Park, whether they’ve lived in Sitka all their lives or visited for just an afternoon, perceives the dynamic landscape and resources in a different way,’’ SNHP said. ‘‘The park’s color palette changes as the days progress from sunrise to sunset, and its personality alters in the rain, sun, and snow.
    ‘‘The amateur photo contest and the resulting photo exhibit ‘Perspectives: Sitka National Historical Park’ will illustrate these changes in scenery, and the slightly different lens through which each visitor views and experiences the park.’’
    To enter, e-mail or submit any photos relating to the following categories:
    ‘‘Native Heritage’’: This category is for any aspect of Southeast Alaska Native culture;
    ‘‘Sitka NHP Wildlife’’: Alaskan wildlife in their natural habitat relevant to the park;
    ‘‘Sitka NHP Scenery’’: Capture an image of Southeast Alaska’s beauty relevant to the park;
    ‘‘Small Perspectives’’: A category for children 13 years of age and younger. Take a picture of your favorite place, or activity in Southeast Alaska.
    Contestants may enter up to three submissions in total. The minimum photo size is 4 inches by 6 inches. The maximum size is 11 inches by 14 inches. Electronically submitted photographs are held to the same size limitations at a resolution no lower than 300 dpi. Accepted file formats include jpeg, tiff and png.
    Contestants who e-mail their submissions must include in the body of their e-mail the following information: contestant name, location (city, state), category, title of work (or leave untitled), e-mail and/or mailing address (preferred contact), and daytime phone number. They must also attest that they own the image, and they agree to release the photo to the public domain. No photographs will be returned to contestants. The official entry form can be downloaded from the park’s main web page: www.nps.gov/sitk.
    Local or visiting photographers can enter to win as long as no more than 25 percent of the contestant’s income derives from the sale of their photographs.
    Local judges will evaluate submissions and determine category winners, taking into consideration originality, artistic composition, technical quality, and whether the photos showcase Sitka NHP resources. The People’s Choice Award will be awarded to the photo with the most likes on the Sitka NHP Facebook page.
    There will be three first place ribbons awarded for the adult categories, and a People’s Choice award for the most popular photo on the park’s Facebook account. Every entrant in the children’s category will receive a participation ribbon.
    Entries will be mounted by park staff and will remain on display throughout the duration of the Perspectives: Sitka National Historical Park exhibit in the Sitka NHP Visitor Center. Depending upon the number of entries and spatial restrictions, not all entries may be displayed.

    Power Company
    Program to Start
    Power Company, for age 4 through fifth grade, is set 6-7:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Sitka Assembly of God Church, 214 Kimsham Street. A free dinner is available at 5:30 p.m.
    The program includes weekly themes, games and prizes.
    Call Kelly Wicks, 747-5848, by 3 p.m. to sign up for a ride or further information. Her email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    Volunteers Sought
    For Mentoring
    The mentoring project Student Success Program at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School is looking for volunteers.
    Help is needed to mentor students with extracurricular projects and activities during lunch and/or after school for small intervals of time throughout the school year.
    If interested, contact Abby Walker at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Ramon Quevedo,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    Park Advisory Meets
    Sitka State Parks Advisory Board will meet 7:30 a.m. Sept. 17 at Centennial Hall. The public is invited.

    Injury Prevention
    Training on Tap
    AMSEA will hold a pre-season workshop for commercial fishermen titled “Strains, Sprains and Pains: Ergonomic Injury Prevention for Commercial Fishermen” 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Centennial Hall.
    Students will learn about ways to avoid musculoskeletal problems common in commercial fishing and share ideas on ergonomic changes that fishermen have made on their vessels. Students should take a mat to practice exercises to “tune up” before, during and after the season.
    The workshop is free to commercial fishermen. To register contact AMSEA at 747-3287.

    BB Girls Offered
    ACL Prevention
    Sitka Physical Therapy will be offering a free two-day training in ACL injury prevention for Sitka High School female basketball players 7 p.m. Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 in the Sitka High School gym.
  ‘‘There has been an abnormally high rate of ACL and knee injuries in the Sitka School system, especially among female athletes,’’ Sitka Physical Therapy said. ‘‘This is a very serious, and expensive injury, with a long recovery time.’’
    Other sport and activity groups interested in offering a similar training, or for more information, contact Alicia Haseltine at SPT, 747-4559 or sitkaphysicaltherapy.com. 

    Easter Group Meets
    The Easter Group will meet noon-1:15 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Sitka School District board room, 300 Kostrometinoff Street.
    The agenda items relate to the work of the Easter Group, which revolves around working to end extreme poverty and empower people, and specifically final planning for the Homeless Summit to be held Oct. 7.
    The public is being encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Dorrie Farrell at 747-4109, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    Volunteers At
    Sitka Lutheran
    Ed and Laura Custer, of Annapolis, Md., are volunteers at Sitka Lutheran Church this month.
    Ed Custer’s 30-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard includes duty as an officer aboard the Coast Guard cutter Clover in Adak and duty with the 17th District Coast guard office in Juneau.
    He has traveled Alaska from Attu to Nome to Southeast.
    Laura Custer’s lifetime adventures include setting up a B&B in Maryland, raising a family and directing the New Family Counseling Program for the U.S. Navy, a busy career that took her to every Naval station in the world.
    Both are retired. They have a blended family which includes 16 grandchildren, ages 5 to 28.
    While in Sitka the Custers will share the Gospel and greet visitors. For more information, call the church office at 747-3338 or visit the church’s web site at www.sitkalutheranchurch.org or email the office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    Hours Reset
    Sheldon Jackson Museum will begin its fall and winter hours effective Sept. 15 with a 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday opening.
    Along with the annual reduction of hours, the cost of admission drops to $3. Visitors 18 and younger, Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum, and those with passes are admitted free. Call the museum at 747-8981 for hours and programming.

    Community Dance
    Set for Saturday
    A community dance will be held 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the ANB Founders Hall.
    It is being hosted by Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 to raise money
to send ANB Grand Camp delegates to Yakutat next month.
    The event will also include a membership drive for the ANB Camp 1 and ANS Camp 4.
    Tickets for the dance are $10 per person and $20 for a family of four or more. The price of the ticket will also include door prizes.
    Those with questions may call Jean at 623-7355.


    Emblem Club Meets
    Sitka Emblem Club 142 will hold a business meeting 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Sitka Elks Lodge.
    Club members will hear a report on the recent supreme convention held in Portland, Maine.

    Geoduck Clam
    Fishery Open
    The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced today information regarding the Southeast Alaska commercial geoduck clam fishery.
    The following areas will be open to the commercial harvesting of geoduck clams for live sale 7 a.m.-noon Sept. 11 and 12. Biorka Channel and Legma Island Area (Subdistrict 113-31-003): will be open for a remaining harvest level of 7,500 pounds of whole geoduck clams.
    Contact ADF&G with questions and more information.

    Final Day for
    Farmer’s Market
    The last Farmer’s Market of the season will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 14 at the ANB Founders Hall. The market supports the local food system, artisans and crafts people.
    A variety of jewelry, baked goods, artwork and fresh Sitka-grown vegetables will be for sale.
    Room is still available for vendors. Those wanting more information about tables can contact Garret Bauer at 738-8683.

    New Arrivals
Baby Girl Routon
    Ruthann Sloan Routon was born July 26 at SEARHC-Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. At birth, the infant weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19-3/4 inches long.
    Parents are Emily and Aaron Routon.

    ‘Spomenik’ Talk
    Set for Sunday
    ‘‘Searching for the Spomenik,” a presentation to be given by John DePalatis, will focus on unraveling the mystery of who built the concrete monuments and why. The event will be 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at Kettleson Memorial Library.
    DePalatis spent most of June traveling throughout former Yugoslavia exploring and taking photos of these enormous concrete monuments. He will also talk about what these spomenik have to do with the politics of a region at war on and off for nearly 700 years.

    Climate Change
    Discussion Set
    The public is invited to a free webinar titled ‘‘Community Based Surveys Inform Climate Change Adaptation in Rural and Frontier Communities in Alaska’’ 10-11 a.m. Sept. 10 in Room 202 of UAS-Sitka Campus.
    For more information contact the Cooperative Extension Service, 747-9440.

    Writers Read
    Event Sept. 25
    Five new writers will read their works as the Writers Read kicks off a new season 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Yaw Chapel on the SJ Campus.
    The event is open to everyone and free, although donations are appreciated. Light treats and beverages are provided. For more information call Brooke at 747-2996.


    Deer Hoof Rattle Making
    Set at Sheldon Jackson Museum
    The Sheldon Jackson Museum invites the public to a free program to learn about and make rattles with deer hooves, devil’s club, sinew and other materials 1 p.m. Sept. 21. The activity is part of At Saxán (Love of All Things) Saturdays and is best for children ages 6-10.
    Every third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m. children ages 6-10 and their families have a chance to learn more about Alaska Native culture and peoples and the museum’s ethnographic collection through hands-on arts and crafts activities, storytelling and games.
    The majority of programs will require pre-registration and last from one and half to two hours. Most programs will be free but some will require a small fee to cover material costs. All programs will be at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
    Support for programming comes from the Friends of the Sheldon Jackson Museum. To register or for more information, call 747-8904 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    Museum Reports
    Schedule Change
    The Sheldon Jackson Museum has announced a schedule change in its Native Artist Demonstrators Program.
    Tlingit artist Mary Wheeler was originally scheduled to be working in the gallery Sept. 11 but will be unable to demonstrate.
    The museum apologized for any inconvenience and invited the public to meet Unangan artist Alfred Naumoff, who demonstrate his art Sept. 12, 17, 18, 19, 25 and 26.
    Call 747-8981 for information or visit museums.alaska.gov for a full calendar of the artist in residency program.
    Summer hours at the Sheldon Jackson Museum are daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is $5 for adults and free for ages 18 and under.

    Sitkans Invited to
    View Floor Plans
    Sitkans are invited to Kettleson Memorial Library to view two final floor plans for the library expansion project.
     The planning committee and architects want to gather comments from the citizenry about the two proposals, as they develop their final design. Post-it notes have been provided for Sitkans to share their ideas with architects and building design committee. The target date for final design and final cost estimate will be early November.

    Salmon Lunch
    At Local Schools
    Coho salmon will be offered for lunch at Keet Gooshi Heen elementary, Blatchley Middle and Sitka High schools every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The first fish lunch is Wednesday, Sept. 11. For more information, contact Tracy, 747-7509.

    Programs Listed
    At National Park
    Sitka National Historical Park will offer daily guided programs teaching visitors about the park’s natural and cultural resources.
    Ranger-guided schedules this week are: Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., Totem Walk; Wednesday, 9 a.m. Totem Walk, 10 a.m.  Battle Walk, 2:15 p.m.  Discovery Walk and 7 p.m.  evening program ‘‘Changing our Home.’’
    The free evening program – the final one of the season – will explore climate change and its impacts. Climate change is the greatest threat to national parks, and to Sitka’s natural and cultural resources. One question to be explored is ‘‘What if climate change meant the salmon couldn’t come home?’’
    Programs continue on Thursday with a 9 a.m. Totem Walk, 10 a.m.  Battle Walk and 2:15 p.m. Discovery Walk.
    A Totem Walk is set 2 p.m. Friday and on Saturday will be a 10 a.m. Totem Walk and 3 p.m. Discovery Walk.
    All ranger-led tours meet at the visitor center. For more information, call the visitor center at 747-0110.

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