October 10, 2014 Community Happenings

Unitarians Meet
    Kathy Kyle will lead a discussion based on Richard Louv’s book ‘‘Last Child in the Woods’’ at Sunday’s Unitarian program. Fellowship begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45 a.m.
    Her topic will be ‘‘Are our children suffering from nature-deficit disorder?”
    A children’s program is provided. Soup and bread follow the program at noon. The Fellowship Hall is located at 408 Marine Street, with parking behind off Spruce Street.

    Hames Center to
    Set Sunday Hours
    Hames Center’s weekend hours have been extended to include 1-5 p.m. Sundays.
    The weekly hours are: Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-8 p.m. (5:30 a.m. for members); 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
    Participants should take clean gym shoes to the facility. Call 747-5080 or go to hamescenter.org.


    Basketball at Hames
    Pick-up basketball games are played 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at the Hames Center. For information call 747-5080 or check out www.hamescenter.org.

    ANB/ANS Meet
    A combined Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood meeting is set Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the ANB Founders Hall, beginning with a potluck at 6 p.m.
    Reports will be given by those members who attended Grand Camp in Petersburg. Nominations for ANS Camp 4 officers will begin.
    Those with questions may call Jean at 623-7355.

    Variety Show
    To Show Talent
    The Centennial Hall stage lights up again Sunday night, Oct. 12, as performers appear to delight the Alaska Day Festival Variety Show audience starting at 7 p.m.
    Coordinators Sharyn Ferrick and John Ferrick have arranged acts by Sitka Spruce Highland Dancers, Sitka Skippers, Fireweed Dance Theater, a martial arts demonstration, and other surprises. Scenic backdrops and special lighting add charm, a festival spokeswoman said.
    Always an attention getter, men’s beards will be examined by judges from Sitka Emblem Club 142. Women’s bonnets will be judged by a team from Sitka Elks Lodge 1662.
    Admission tickets for $3 will be sold at the door.
For more information, Sharyn Ferrick’s contact is 752-3111.

    Harvest Fest Fundraiser
    To Feature Food, Auction
    Sitkans are invited to celebrate Food Day by joining the Sitka Local Foods Network as it hosts its inaugural Harvest Fest Fundraiser 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Del Shirley Room upstairs in Allen Hall on the  SJ Campus.
    The event will feature a silent auction for a variety of local food and garden-related items and services, including: an apple tree and planting/pruning service; canning lessons; 4-6 hours of garden work; flats of Finn Island Farm vegetable starts for 2015; customized local foods packages; chef services; wine-making supplies, materials, lesson; edible landscaping consultation; homemade desserts and other homegrown goodies; compost; gardening books; and a tour of and overnight stay at Finn Island Farm for one to two people, includes transportation, gourmet dinner and breakfast.
    In addition, the Lexicon of Sustainability photos will be on display and a short update on the state of local food in Sitka will be given. Live music, light refreshments featuring local food will be served, and locally brewed beer wil be poured for those ages 21 and older and root beer from Baranof Island Brewing Company. The suggested donation is $5 for the family.
    “The Sitka Local Foods Network board is excited to share the Lexicon of Sustainability photos again with the Sitka community in the context with our Harvest Fest Fundraiser,” said Lisa Sadleir-Hart, president of the Sitka Local Foods Network board of directors. “We’ve received a delicious array of donations from board members and friends for food-focused items and services for a silent auction, plus we will serve light refreshments focused on locally grown foods and hear about the state of Sitka’s foodscape. It’ll be a festive, informative event.”
    The Sitka Local Foods Network is a nonprofit organization that promotes and encourages the use of locally grown, harvested and produced foods in Sitka and Southeast Alaska. Money raised at the fundraiser will support the Sitka Farmers Market, community gardens, a community greenhouse, sustainable uses of traditional subsistence foods and education for Sitka gardeners.
    For more information, contact the Sitka Local Foods Network at sitkalocalfoodsnetwork@gmail.orgThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to http://www.sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org/

    Free Admission
    At Sitka Museum
    The Sitka Historical Society Museum will offer free admission throughout the week to celebrate Alaska Day festivities.
    The museum, located in Centennial Hall, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday following the parade.
    All are invited to see the latest exhibit, “The History of the Coast Guard in Sitka,” as this display will be closing soon. The staff will begin preparing for the upcoming exhibit featuring the stories and art of hunting and conservation in Sitka.
    As a bonus, all visitors will receive a 20 percent discount on items in the museum store.

    Ribbon-Cutting at
    Science Center
    Sitka Sound Science Center is having a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of phase one of the historic renovated exterior on the old Sage building.
    The celebration will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 18. Dignitaries will be present and refreshments will be served. All are invited to attend and celebrate science.
    A group photo and refreshments will follow.

    Venison Available
    The Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Resource Protection Department announced that deer meat is available through its Traditional Foods Program, while supplies last, to tribal citizens.
    To ask about availability call 747-7182 or 747-7469, or stop by the Resource Protection Department office at 429 Katlian Street.
    The program is available to registered STA tribal citizens. 

    Writing Contest
    Winners Told;
    Reading on Tap
    The Alaska Day Festival Committee and the Write Women of Sitka announced the winners of the Sixth Annual Alaska Day Prose Writing Contest.         This year, 116 student entries were received.
    The winners for the elementary school are: first place, Slater Nova Anderson; second, Silas Rioux; and third, Rianna N. Bergman.
    Middle school winners are: first place, Allison Christner; second, Elsie Yocum; and third, Kathleen “Katie” Sweeney.
    High School winners are: first place, Zofia Danielson; second, Ashlyn Nutting; and third,  Laura Everson.
    The Alaska Day Festival Committee invites the public to a reading of the winning entries 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Centennial Hall.
    ‘‘Please join us as we celebrate Alaska Day through the words of Sitka’s young authors,’’ the Write Women of Sitka said.
    The Write Women of Sitka thanked the Alaska Day Festival Committee for providing prizes and support for the contest for six years.

Flu Vaccine Time is Here
    The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is reminding the public that now is the time to get vaccinated against the influenza virus.
    The influenza virus, commonly referred to as “the flu” is much more serious than the common cold, SEARHC said. Each year approximately 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized from the flu and nearly 36,000 people die because of it.
    Elders and other high-risk groups are particularly susceptible to serious complications from the flu.
    Another common misconception is influenza, or “the flu,” is a gastrointestinal illness. The term “stomach flu” is often used to describe illness with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, but different viruses or bacteria most likely cause these symptoms. Influenza is a respiratory illness not a stomach or intestinal disease, so feeling sick to one’s stomach is rarely a symptom of influenza, SEARHC said.
    SEARHC recommends that those ages 6 months or older receive a flu vaccine as early as possible as it may take up to two weeks for the vaccine to fully protect you from the virus. Others at greater risk are pregnant women, children under 5 (especially children younger than 2), and people 65 and over.
    People often mistakenly assume because they came down with the flu soon after getting the shot, the vaccine caused their illness, SEARHC said.
    ‘‘It is important to understand that the influenza vaccine given with a needle cannot give you influenza, as the vaccine is made from an inactivated virus that cannot transmit infection,’’ SEARHC said.
    Those who do become ill after receiving a flu vaccination were incubating the virus prior to the vaccine being administered. Any exposure to the virus in one’s environment prior to receiving the vaccine is what makes people ill, SEARHC said.
    ‘‘The flu is a virus, not a bacterial infection, antibiotics are not effective as a treatment. However, there are anti-viral medications available that a medical provider can prescribe. These may help reduce the severity of the symptoms and shorten sick time by a day or two. These medications may also prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia,’’ SEARHC said.
    For more information, contact a local clinic for more information about getting vaccinated, or to discuss whether or not the vaccine would be appropriate.

    SCDC to Meet
    Sitka Community Development Corporation will meet 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the UAS-Sitka Campus, Room 202.
    The meeting will include a presentation on the 2014 Community Land Trust Social Impact Reports for the Northwest Region. SCDC is a community supported non-profit working to establish permanently affordable housing in Sitka.
    Members of the public are being encouraged to attend. For more information call 747-2860.

    Informal Support
    For Nonprofits
    An informal support gathering for nonprofit executive directors is 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Larkspur Cafe.
    Directors are invited to attend to share, listen and learn from each other, organizers said. For more information contact Mim at 738-2888.


HONORED THERAPISTS – Sitka Community Hospital is recognizing its physical therapists for the work they do as a part of the hospital team. From left to right are Jennifer Disney, PT; Bridget Hitchcock, PT, MPT; Kay Turner, PT, DPT; and Sara Bergendahl, PT. National Physical Therapy Month is designed to recognize the impact physical therapists play in helping people move better. ‘‘Their dedication, passion and expertise are greatly appreciated,’’ a hospital spokeswoman said. ‘‘Your community hospital physical therapists are ready to help improve your quality of life.’’ Contact 747-1771 for more information or to schedule an appointment. (Photo by Angela McGraw)

    Fine Arts Camp
    Classes Listed
    The after-school arts team from Sitka Fine Arts Camp has announced new classes for the upcoming second fall session, Oct. 27-Dec. 12.
    First-time Beginning Explorations in Art for Preschoolers classes are set, along with ‘‘Welcome to Theater,’’ ‘‘Wild and Wonderful Watercolors,’’ ‘‘Open Art Studio’’ with Norm Campbell, ‘‘Introduction to Digital Photography,’’ and ‘‘Graffiti Changed My Life’’ and others.
    A list of classes is available on line at fineartscamp.org. Sign up by calling the Sitka Fine Arts Camp at 747-3085, or stop by the office in the Rasmuson building on the SJ campus.

    Fried Bread Sale
    Benefit for Sitkan
    A fried bread sale to benefit Tina Abeyta will be 9 a.m. Saturday at 431-A Andrews Street.
    Money raised will help replace a broken window and TV that were broken recently.

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20 YEARS AGO

January 2005

Sitka High senior Chandra Watson is collecting clothing and raising funds to mail to an orphanage in India as her senior project. She’s selling $2 raffle tickets on a chance to win prizes donated by Sitka businesses.

50 YEARS AGO

January 1975

“Christmas 1974 was a huge success for the effort that was put forth for the needy at this time,” Salvation Army Maj. Albert Dietz said today. “We were able to help 20 families plus gifts for the patients in both hospitals.

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