December 5, 2014 Community Happenings

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Created on Friday, 05 December 2014 11:57

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Artifact of Month

At SJ Museum

The December Artifacts of the Month at the Sheldon Jackson Museum are five small, carved wooden animals.

The wooden figures are in the shape of a wolf, a pig, a fox and two birds. The fox, wolf and pig were collected at Cape Prince of Wales and were likely made by an Inupiaq person, but it is unknown where the birds were collected or who made them, the museum said.

Charming and simple, yet artistically rendered, the miniature carved animals may have been made for sale for the souvenir trade or for children to play and learn with. 

Inupiaq and Yup’ik children have traditionally had small figures of birds, seals, and other animals carved by their fathers for toys. The miniatures tended to be made with ivory, bone or wood. While Inupiaq and Yup’ik on the coast generally utilized ivory for such carvings, the people of the interior were apt to use the more readily available bone or deer horn. Bird images often represented geese, murres or other waterfowl. Typically, animals represented were either local to the area in which they were carved or mythical creatures. 

Inupiaq and Yup’ik animal and bird carvings are not limited to toys and items made to be sold to tourists – they may also take the form of representations of animal’s yua (inua in the Inupiaq language)  or spirit, amulets, and appendages on masks.

A variety of such carvings are in the collection of the Sheldon Jackson Museum and they, along with these figures, may be seen in the museum gallery through Dec. 31.

General admission is $3 and free for those 18 and under or members of either the Friends of the Sheldon Jackson Museum or Friends of the Alaska State Museum. 

Gift Wrapping,

Raffle on Tap

The Sitka Skippers will offer gift wrapping, for donations, at the Artisans Market 4:30-8 p.m. tonight and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

Raffle tickets also will be available. The drawing will be held on Thursday, Dec. 11. 

Unitarians Meet

Kathy Kyle will lead a discussion on prayer at Sunday’s Unitarian Fellowship meeting. ‘‘What is prayer? Do you pray?  How and why?’’ is the topic.

Fellowship begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45 a.m. 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.

ANS to Meet

The Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9,

at the ANB Founders Hall.

Included in the meeting will be a celebration of December birthdays of ANS members. All are invited.

Bake Sale Dec. 13

Set at See House

A bake sale at the See House behind St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is set 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

Holiday breads, candies and gluten-free breads will be featured.

Children’s Party

Set at Moose

The annual Moose children’s Christmas party will be noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

Traditional Christmas dinner will be served. Those attending are asked to take a side dish or dessert to share. No take-out food will be at this event.

Events to be included will be a coloring contest drawing and cookie decorating, and Santa will be giving gifts.

Sign up is at the lodge through Tuesday, Dec. 9. 

Co-workers are being encouraged to fill goody bags and decorate on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Fish and Game

Panel to Meet

The Fish and Game Advisory Committee will meet 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Sitka Sound Science Center.

Agenda items include Board of Fish herring proposals and elections for the F&G Advisory Committee. Seats to be filled are trapping, resident sport fishing, charter, processor and one at-large.

Gift Shop Open

At Science Center

The Sitka Sound Science Center has holiday gift-giving merchandise on sale during regular open hours of 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 20.

The Science Center will be closed Dec. 22-27.

Nurse Practitioner

Joins Mountainside

Healthcare Clinic

Family Nurse Practitioner Kathy Ingallinera, FNP, APRN-BC, has joined Mountainside Family Healthcare, an outpatient department of Sitka Community Hospital.

Ingallinera joins the MFHC team from the inpatient hospital side. She has 30 years of nursing experience, 18 of them as a nurse practitioner. 

Ingallinera graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1983 where she worked for 12 years in a medical intensive care unit. She graduated from the same school in 1996 with a master’s degree in nursing.

A resident of Sitka since 1996, she and her husband enjoy hiking around Sitka and she has volunteered at the Alaska Raptor Center since 1997. Ingallinera is also a writer, working on several non-fiction books.

Public Urged:

Get Flu Shots

National Influenza Vaccination Week is Dec. 7-13 and the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium would like to remind people of the importance of getting a flu shot.

Flu season typically peaks between December and February but significant activity can occur as late as May.

‘‘As long as flu viruses are spreading, it’s never too late to get a vaccine to protect yourself and your loved ones,’’ SEARHC said.

Flu vaccines are offered in many locations such as, SEARHC clinics, doctor’s offices, health departments, pharmacies and college health centers. Most health insurance plans cover the cost of recommended vaccines, so individuals should check with their insurance provider for details of coverage.

Elks, Emblem

Club Party Set

The Elks/Emblem Club children’s Christmas party is planned noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Elks Lodge.

Parents are reminded to sign their children up at the lodge. The event is for Elks and Emblem members and invited guests.

Story Time Set

The next preschool story time program is set 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Kettleson Memorial Library.

“Pet the Cat Saves Christmas” by James Dean will be one of the readings. Songs and rhymes about the Christmas holidays and a craft project are part of the program.

For more information call the library at 747-8708.

Seventh-day Adventist Church

Welcomes New Pastor, Family

The Sitka Seventh-day Adventist church invites the community to join it in welcoming their new pastor and his family – Nathan, Gina, Abby and Gabe Stearman – who recently relocated from Wichita, Kansas.

The family said it has been enjoying the change of climate and landscape. Having left friends and familiar surroundings behind, they have been deeply appreciative of the warm, the church said.

“It’s been wonderful to be able to bring my family – especially our kids – to such a safe and welcoming community!” Nathan Stearman said.

Gina Stearman is on the nursing staff at SEARHC and is enjoying a slower pace after working in one of Kansas’ busiest emergency rooms. In addition to serving the local Seventh-day Adventist church, Nathan Stearman serves as chaplain for the Sitka Police Department.

He has been serving in ministry for more than 12 years. He graduated with his master’s of divinity in 2004, was ordained as a Seventh-day Adventist minister in 2007, and is currently pursuing his doctor of ministry.

He and his family have served in many ministry capacities, including summer youth camps and pastorates in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He has also served as a volunteer chaplain and member of a hospital trauma team.

The Stearman family has a knack for adventure. They traveled more than 5,000 road-miles as part of their move north and have visited multiple national parks, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon and Zion.

They said they are eager to explore the rugged beauty of Southeast Alaska in both summer and winter. Nathan and his wife have completed several half- marathons as well as a marathon and look forward to more.

“While we love life, we believe that Jesus is the real secret to its happiness,’’ Nathan Stearman said. ‘‘This deep-held conviction has lead us to prayerfully seek His leading in the decisions we face in life. It also motivates us to have regular family worships and disciple our children to love the Jesus we do. It informs how we minister, what we do and how we treat those around us.”

They will also serve the Juneau Seventh-day Adventist church, having chosen Sitka as their home base.

SEARHC to Help Navigate

Health Insurance Options

University of Alaska Southeast and SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium are partnering to provide presentations and group enrollments in Sitka for the Health Insurance Marketplace during open enrollment which began on Nov. 15 and continues through Feb. 15, 2015.

The next presentation will be on Thursday, Dec. 11, from noon to 1 p.m. at UAS in room 106. It will include information about the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace and explain eligibility, how to qualify for lower cost health coverage, and how to enroll. 

Signing up for insurance before Dec. 15 will ensure coverage starts Jan. 1, 2015.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, a group enrollment will take place at UAS in the Student Success Center and is for those who are comfortable on computers. Trained staff will assist with creating accounts, adding required information, understanding eligibility for financial assistance, and explaining insurance options and enrollment.

Those who prefer individual assistance can call SEARHC, a Certified Application Counselor agency, at 966-8883 or 966-8662 to set up an appointment. This is a free service for everyone.

“Group enrollments are a great way to get your questions answered as you work your way through the www.healthcare.gov website” says Andrea Thomas, Outreach and Enrollment Manager for SEARHC. “If you sign up before Dec. 15 your health coverage will start Jan. 1.” 

Individuals who did not have health insurance in place during the 2014 calendar year will be required to pay a tax penalty on their 2014 tax filings. That penalty may be as low as $95 per adult, and half that for each child, or 1 percent of income, whichever is higher. Alaskans who do not have health insurance in 2015 will face higher penalties when filing their taxes in 2016.

For more information, call Andrea Thomas at 966-8883 or Allison McIntyre at 966-8662.

Fisheries Scholarship Awarded

Alexandra Lyons has been named by the UAS Fisheries Technology program as the 2014-2015 Douglas Island Pink and Chum Scholar.

The DIPAC Scholar award is given to a fisheries technology student who shows dedication to studies, academic integrity, and an interest in pursuing a career in fisheries. Lyons, a first year fish tech student from Oregon, has excelled in each of the four classes she is taking this semester while working part-time at Big Blue Fisheries LLC, said Reid Brewer, program manager and associate professor of fisheries technology at UAS.

This is the first time the $3,000 scholarship has been awarded. A DIPAC Scholar will be selected each year, promoting excellence in education while furthering DIPAC’s mission. 

The goal of DIPAC is to sustain and enhance valuable salmon resources of the state of Alaska for the economic, social and cultural benefit of all citizens and to promote public understanding of Alaska’s salmon resources and salmon fisheries through research, education and tourism.

DIPAC founder Ladd Macaulay was a staunch supporter of education and provided encouragement to students of all ages and backgrounds. His creativity and strong work ethic are kept alive through the DIPAC scholarship program, Brewer said.

The fish tech program offers students an introductory education in fisheries that will serve them in establishing a career in the fisheries industry. The partnership between DIPAC and fish tech supports the role of academics and industry working together to provide the next generation of fisheries employees.

Volunteers Sought

For Action Plan

Sitka High School is looking for individuals who are interested in serving on an English Professional Development Committee, charged with reviewing and recommending adoption of English curriculum.

The team will examine the new ELA standards and develop both horizontally and vertical-aligned curriculum maps. It also will work to identify whether the school’s existing instructional resources, such as textbooks, are adequate or if new ones are needed.

The action plan for the committee can be found on the district website under District/District Projects/ELA Curriculum Work.

Meetings are being scheduled as work sessions 2:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 23 and Feb. 6, and at a community meeting 6-7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the SHS library.

Contact Karen L. Macklin, SHS principal, at 966-1906 for further information.

DEAR SANTA LETTERS

Dear Santa: My name is Caleb. I am 6 year old. Soon I’m gonna be 7. My Monster Truck broke. Can I please get a new one? Never had a kite before. Can I please have one?

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