July 23, 2015 Community Happenings

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Category: News

Created on Thursday, 23 July 2015 11:24

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Senior Kayaking 

Set for Aug. 27

SAIL invites Sitkans age 60 and older to a paddle out of the Starrigavan boat launch noon-4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. The cost is $25.

SAIL provides all kayaks and gear. Reserve a spot by Aug. 25. Contact Claire at SAIL for more information and to RSVP at 747-6859.

Tote Race Set at

Seafood Festival

The Sitka Seafood Festival fish tote race gets underway 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Crescent Harbor shelter.

Participants must be 18 years old.

Life jackets, paddles and fish totes are supplied. Participants will supply the energy and adventurous spirit to race from dock to dock against five other totes. One heat is scheduled; a second one will go off if time allows.

Costumes and team names are encouraged. To sign up, call Linda at 747 6985.

Vintage Photos of Alaska

Fishermen to Go On View

An unearthed time capsule will come to Sitka in August with a black-and-white photo exhibit of Alaska commercial fishing in the 1980s.

Photographer Jana M. Suchy captured an era of boom or bust in the explosive longline fisheries during what she calls the “decade of the deadly derbies” when fishing seasons slashed to  24-hour openings.

The photojournalist and former crewmember’s long-buried collection of black-and-white film negatives and published stories ‘‘captures a fleeting era in the history of Alaska longline fisheries in the decade of a crazed and deadly race to the gold,’’ Suchy said. Her photographs offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of skippers and their crew “back in the day,” she writes. “As in most frontiers of the American West fishermen worked hard, fished hard, partied hard, drank hard and died hard.” 

Suchy’s vintage photos will join the Sitka Seafood Festival this year. The exhibit of more than 250 photos featuring the fishing industry from 30 years ago celebrates Sitka’s fishing heritage and is companion to the new black-and-white photobook “Alaska Fishing Gold Rush of the 1980s” by the former Sitkan. The second printing of the book – a new Special Sitka Edition with 70 more pages and many more photos of local fishermen and boats – will be for sale along with the first  edition while supplies last.

The exhibit opens with a reception 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Allen Hall on the Sheldon Jackson Campus. The exhibit also will be open for viewing Friday evening, Aug. 7, for guests at the Sitka Seafood Festival dinner and again for the public 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.

During the 1980s Suchy first fished out of Sitka then covered fishing as writer-photographer for the fish papers of the day, largely “Alaska Fisherman’s Journal” and “Pacific Fishing” magazine, amassing quite a collection of photos along the way.

Her photos are on the walls in Sitka’s Highliner Coffee, Anthony’s restaurant in SeaTac Airport and Chinook’s restaurant at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle.

Suchy will be on hand to sign books for sale at the event; all exhibit photographs will be for sale as well. 

“You leave something buried long enough it becomes history,” Suchy said, adding that opening the old boxes of negatives was “like finding buried treasure.” 

“I realized these photos were all going to die with me if I didn’t get serious about a book – so I did,” Suchy said. “I’m enormously excited for fishfolks in the photos or of the era to see these photos of their lives for the first time.”

The show is presented by Seafood Producers Co-op and Sitka Sound Seafoods. Individuals and businesses wanting to help sponsor the event, or seeking further information, can call Craig Shoemaker at 747-5811 or Tim Ryan at 747-6662. Suchy may be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Major League

Tourney on Tap

Sitka Little League is hosting the District 2 Major League All-Star Tournament at Moller Field July 22-July 29 with games at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Saturday’s games will be 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Teams from Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg and Prince of Wales will compete.  A full tournament bracket can be found at sitkalittleleague.org. 

Children’s Programs

Set at National Park

Sitka National Historical Park will  offer two free upcoming environmental education programs for kids.

Elementary-age students are invited to join a ranger 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, July 25, to learn about the temperate rain forest and its organisms. Rangers will be taking participants on a hike through the park, so children should be prepared for rain/shine, dress in layers and wear appropriate footwear, the park said.

On Wednesday, July 29, 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m., the park will host a second youth program focusing on biodiversity and highlighting how the food chain plays a vital role in the park’s various ecosystems. It will be held outside, so children should be prepared for variable weather conditions.

For more information about these education programs, Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Shelby Lawson can be reached at 747-0134.

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