August 25, 2015 Community Happenings

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Category: News

Created on Tuesday, 25 August 2015 11:44

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SLFN Education

Panel to Meet

The Sitka Local Foods Network Education Committee will meet 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Sitka Unitarian Fellowship Hall at 408 Marine Street.

The group will discuss ideas for new classes, programs and volunteer development for the upcoming year. All are invited to attend. Contact Jennifer Carter at 747-0520 for more information.

Library Panel Meets

City and Borough of Sitka’s Library Commission will meet 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, on the second floor of the Kettleson Memorial Library’s temporary location at 831 Lincoln Street.

Probable topics include implementation of library name change; a discussion of statewide library employee compensation; recent and upcoming library programming; and the library expansion project. The public is invited to attend. For further information, contact Robb Farmer at 747-8708 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Library Closure

Kettleson Memorial Library will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. It will reopen for regular operation hours on Sept. 8. For further information, contact Robb Farmer, 747-8708 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Hunter Education 

Class Offered

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will offer a Basic Hunter Education class 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18,  and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Both days must be attended to complete the class.

The class will be held at the Sitka Sportsman’s Association building.

To register, purchase a $10 study packet with workbook available at the Sitka Fish and Game office. The workbook must be completed prior to the start of class. The course is designed for students age 11 and older.

For materials and information contact the Sitka Fish and Game office at 747-5449.

National Public Lands

Day Photo Contest 

The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th birthday and encouraging everyone to ‘‘Find Your Park.’’

This year’s National Public Lands Day photo contest invites the public  ‘‘to learn, remember or share why your park is special to you.’’

‘‘Photograph what makes Sitka National Historical Park special to you and submit your entry to win one of our limited edition, local artist-designed Sitka National Historical Park T-shirts,’’ the park said.

Space permitting, all entries will be displayed in the resulting photo exhibit, Find Your Park: What Makes Sitka National Historical Park Special to You?

The park is accepting entries for the photo contest through 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at the visitor center front desk, or e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Contestants may enter up to three submissions total. Photo sizes must be 4”x6”. 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. 

To enter, e-mail or submit up to three photos relating to the following categories:

–Russian or Native Culture: Any aspect of Russian or Southeast Alaska Native culture found within SNHP;

–Nature: Alaskan scenery, flora or fauna found in its natural habitat within SNHP;

–Beach: Capture an element within the beach area of SNHP; 

–Small Perspectives: A category for children 13 years of age and under. Take a picture within the park that explains why the park is special to you.

Contestants who e-mail their submissions must include in the body of their e-mail the following information: contestant name, location (city, state), preferred contact info (email or phone), category, and title of work (or leave untitled). They must also attest that they own the image, and they agree to release the photo to the public domain. 

Photographs may be picked up at the park visitor center noon-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday Oct. 19-31. Submissions will not be mailed back to contestants. The official entry form can be downloaded from the park’s main web page: http://go.nps.gov/photocontest. 

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 SNHP resources. 

The People’s Choice Award will be given to the photo with the most likes on the SNHP Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/SitkaNationalHistoricalPark). 

Each of the four category winners will receive a First Place ribbon and a limited edition, local artist-designed  t-shirt. The People’s Choice winner award for the most popular photo on the park’s Facebook account will also receive a T-shirt. Every entrant in the children’s category will receive a participation ribbon. 

Entries will be framed by park staff and will remain on display throughout the duration of the Find Your Park: What Makes Sitka National Historical Park Special to You? exhibit in the park visitor center Sept. 18-Oct. 18. 

Yoga, Music on Tap

Corrie Bosman and guest artist Ellen Sevigny will lead a live power flow yoga class 5-6:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, at Yoga Union Studio. Call 752-0464 with questions.

UAS Northwest Coast 

Art Classes Begin Soon

Sitka residents can enjoy studying Northwest Coast arts under the guidance of some of the leading practitioners in their fields.

UAS professors Tommy Joseph, Teri Rofkar and Nick Galanin are among those being featured in a new exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia. 

Native American Voices: The People Here and Now features the work of the Sitka artists, along with videos about their culture and craft. Each of the internationally renowned artists is teaching their skill at UAS-Sitka this fall.

Joseph will teach local students the ancient techniques of woodcarving, as practiced by the Tlingit and other Native Alaskan tribes. The class will meet 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Raindance Gallery, 205 Monastery St. Students should sign up at UAS, or call 747-7700 for details. The class can be taken as a non-credit community course or as a for-credit university class.

The artist will guide students in the work of their choosing, which might include combs, masks, bowls, spoons, or bentwood boxes – which Tommy is currently working to procure for students who have requested it.

Nick Galanin enjoys wide demand for his creative vision. This summer the Anchorage Museum has been featuring some of his work in “Curated Conversations: Commodification of Culture.” Galanin will also be performing in a program of the Banff Centre called Re(Claim), an interdisciplinary program that “reclaims” the era of silent films made about indigenous peoples through live performance.

This fall, Galanin will teach his popular Chasing and Repoussé class. From Sept. 2 to Oct. 14, students will meet at UAS on Monday and Wednesday evenings 6-9 p.m. Chasing and Repoussé involves the working of sheet metal from the front or the back to create relief sculptures and jewelry. It is an ancient technique that predates European metal-working methods. The workshop will emphasize techniques that impact the plasticity of metal. The class will primarily work in copper or silver.

In November Teri Rofkar returns to the UAS classroom to teach Ravenstail woolen weaving. In June she was invited to speak at the Makers Faire conference at the White House – designed to reverse the outsourcing of invention, design and creativity in recent years. She served on a panel focused on promoting local arts and inventing. 

Fresh from an invitation to speak at the Creative Capital conference in New York,  Rofkar returns to Sitka, ready to share what she has gleaned from decades of studying the ancient art. Beginning Nov. 2, an intensive workshop will meet 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursdays for three weeks in a row, plus Saturday, Nov. 7, 14 and 21. The master weaver’s goal is to guide students through the completion of their chosen project, whether it be a robe or other creation. Rofkar will engage students at their current level of experience, from novice to advanced.

For information or registration help, contact the UAS front desk at 747-7700.

For more information about the Penn Museum exhibit, see http://www.penn.museum/sites/nativeamericanvoices/

NEA Chairman

To Visit Sitka

Aug. 28-Sept. 2

Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, will visit Alaska Aug. 28-Sept. 2. As part of her trip, she will visit arts organizations and meet with arts leaders in Anchorage, Palmer, Juneau and Sitka.

Chu will visit Sitka on Wednesday, Sept. 3. She will begin her day by visiting the studio of Teri Rofkar, recipient of a 2009 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

That afternoon, Chu will meet with NEA grantees at SJ Campus – Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Sheldon Jackson Museum, and Sitka Summer Music Festival. At each stop, Chu will tour their building and learn more about how the NEA has supported their organizations.

For her last stop of the day, Chu will visit Island Institute for a discussion about its artist residency programs, which the NEA supported in 2015, and its creative writing and storytelling program for youths, the Sitka Story Lab.

Raven Radio

Co-Managers

Announced 

Ken and Rachel Fate have been  named co-general managers of Raven Radio, its board of directors announced today.

The Fates bring with them decades of experience in broadcasting, radio production, fund-raising, web development and a passion for community radio.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work together, using our individual strengths and teamwork to serve the best radio station in the world,” the Fates said.

‘‘And we are excited to have them here,’’ the board said. ‘‘Team Fate will take the helm at Raven Radio soon.’’

Life Celebration for

Elmer, Ulises Diaz

The Diaz family, Guadalupe Diaz, Nancy Navarrete, Guillermo Diaz, and Kori Lindstrom, invite the public to a celebration of life for Elmer Diaz and Ulises Diaz 6 p.m. Friday at Grace Harbor Church, across from Sea Mart.

 Drug-Free Sitka

Meeting on Tap

The Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services Inc. and several community partners are seeking to apply for a Drug-Free Communities Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Those concerned about youth substance use and abuse are invited to attend the next community task force planning meeting 1-2:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at 111 Metlakatla St.

To learn more or participate in the task force contact Loyd Platson at 747-3636.

Gymnastics at

Hames Center

Gymnastics has expanded at the Hames Center.  Classes are open for registration for pre-school, tot drop-in, kinder gymnasts, boys gymnastics, teen/tween and adult drop-in.

Space is limited. Those with questions can e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

SCH Auxiliary

Meets Sept. 8

Kay Turner, DPT, director of long-term care at the hospital will speak at the hospital Auxiliary luncheon meeting noon Sept. 8.

Turner’s talk will be heard after a short business session at noon in the downstairs classroom

The public is invited. Membership is open to all. Lunch is free to members.

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