October 1, 2015 Community Happenings

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Category: News

Created on Thursday, 01 October 2015 10:01

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Story Time Set

‘‘Spooky, Spooky, Spooky’’ by Cathy MacLennan will be one of the readings during the preschool story time 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Kettleson Library.

Rhymes, songs and a craft project will be part of the program. For more information, call the library at 747-8708.

T’ai Chi Chih

Practice Oct. 3

T’ai Chi Chih Practice by the Sea will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in the parking lot of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church or in the See House behind the church if raining, at 611 Lincoln Street.

Health Summit

Planning Oct. 9

SEARHC is encouraging Sitkans to participate in the Sitka Health Summit Planning Day 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at UAS-Sitka Campus.

The health summit is a partnership between multiple health-related organizations in Sitka, including SEARHC. On Oct. 9, the summit will choose which projects to work on as a community that improve the health of Sitkans. For the first time, up to $20,000 will be awarded to selected projects.

The planning day is a chance to connect with neighbors and community leaders, share visions for a healthier Sitka, and celebrate the journey toward a better quality of life for all Sitkans through citizen-centered health improvement, the health summit said.

Those who live in the community are invited to work collaboratively with a diverse group of Sitkans and have their voices heard.

A locally-sourced lunch will be served and door prizes will be given.

Those who wish to attend may register by contacting Zack Desmond at 747-4600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Artisans Market

Seeks Volunteers

The Greater Sitka Arts Council is seeking volunteers to help with the Sitka Artisans Market.

The market, a Sitka tradition, will be at Allen Hall on the SJ Campus Dec. 11-13. Volunteers are sought for a variety of positions including ticket sales, greeters, set up and take down, bartending, and decorating. 

Volunteers will be fed and get ‘‘undying gratitude,’’ an organizer said. Those interested call Sarah at 738-5234 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The website at www.ThinkArtThinkSitka.com.

SSSS Discovery

Day Set Oct. 3

Sitka Sound Science Center will have its Discovery Days program 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 3.

Families and children of all ages are invited to drop by the science center to play and learn about magnets and electricity.

The Science Center’s Discovery Days program is held every other Saturday.

Native Tourism to be Topic

At AFN’s Oct. Convention

Native representatives from across Alaska will be in Anchorage this month for the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention and Trade Show, where the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association will host a cultural tourism educational breakout session and general session address – the first time tourism will be a featured topic at this convention.

The AFN Convention, Oct. 15-17 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, is the largest representative annual gathering in the United States of any Native peoples and draws nearly 5,000 attendees each year.

“It’s crucial to bring tourism into the discussion at an event like this,” said AIANTA Executive Director Camille Ferguson of Sitka. “AFN’s convention is the perfect venue for AIANTA to educate and create awareness to all of the Alaska Native communities on the economic benefits, trends, initiatives and opportunities for tourism development that can benefit rural areas of Alaska.”

The cultural tourism session will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in Tubughenqu-4 at the Dena’ina Center.

At the cultural tourism meeting, Ferguson, along with Rachel Moreno, AIANTA board vice president and vice chair of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, will educate attendees on the opportunities cultural tourism offers as well as AIANTA’s main initiatives to promote and enhance Indian Country tourism throughout the world. These initiatives include international trade shows, AIANTA’s annual American Indian Tourism Conference, and AIANTA’s new destination website, NativeAmerica.Travel.

NativeAmerica.Travel, which launched earlier this month at AIANTA’s annual American Indian Tourism Conference, is the first destination website ever to represent American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism across the United States. 

“This year we have more opportunities for tribes than ever before. With expanded international outreach efforts, regional education, and the new destination website, AIANTA is able to better equip tribes and tribal businesses with the resources they need for success in the tourism industry,” said Ferguson.

Another a topic of discussion at the cultural tourism session will be the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, which was recently introduced in the House, with support from Congressman Don Young. The Act is set to enhance and integrate Native American tourism, empower native communities, increase coordination and collaboration between Federal tourism assets, and expand heritage and cultural tourism opportunities in the United States.

The AFN Convention will feature an Alaska Native customary art show. The annual event is a private gathering of delegate and membership, but AFN welcomes visitors to all the central activities including assembly sessions with speakers and forums, and the art show and sale/AFN exhibit fair.

For more information about AFN and the annual convention, visit http://www.nativefederation.org/annual-convention/.

Basic Computer

Classes for Adults

Kettleson Memorial Library is offering a free basic computer class for adults who have very limited or no previous experience with computers.

The class is part of a series that has four sessions, to be held at the library, 9 a.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4 and 11. Sessions will last approximately one hour.

Registration is required and must happen before the start of the first session. Register either in-person at the library, or by calling the library at 747-8708. Space is limited. 

4-H Open House

Set for Oct. 12

Those ages 5-18 wanting to know how to fix a bike, climb, plan an expedition, or other skills, are invited to the 4-H Open House 5-7 p.m. Oct. 12 at UAS room 106.

Contact Mary Wood for more information at 747-7509.

BMS Triathlon Set

For Saturday

Blatchley Middle School will have its annual school triathlon 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, and motorists are being asked to use caution and to watch for participants while driving on HPR between Blatchley Middle School and the Channel Club.

BMS is also seeking volunteers to help facilitate the event. Call Jarrett Hirai at 966-1409 or Laura Rogers, 966-1404, for more information.

ANB Camp Sets

Nominations

Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 will meet Monday, Oct. 12, at the ANB Founders Hall.

Second nominations for 2015-16 officers will be on the agenda, as well as reports from the president, Wilbur Brown, delegates Andy Roberts and Nels Lawson Sr., who are attending the ANB/ANS Grand Camp Convention representing ANB Camp 1.

This year, the convention will be in Wrangell and will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Alaska Native Sisterhood Oct. 7-11.

All ANB members are invited to attend. Call 738-3470 with questions.

Dockside Safety

Exams Encouraged

The Coast Guard is urging commercial fishing vessel owners and operators to receive a dockside safety examination prior to the enforcement of the mandatory dockside safety examinations that are required for certain fishing vessels starting Oct. 15.

The 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act requires all commercial fishing, fish tender and fish processing vessels that operate more than three miles from the territorial sea baseline or that carry more than 16 individuals anywhere or, fish tender vessels engaged in the Aleutian Trade Act, complete a biennial dockside safety examination.

The 2012 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act specified that the completion of the first examination be no later than Oct. 15, and allowed for follow-up examinations at least once every five years. Any vessel that has successfully completed an examination since Jan. 1, 2013, isn’t required to be examined again for five years from that date.

“The Coast Guard encourages all fishermen to receive their examination sooner rather than later,” said Scott Wilwert, Coast Guard 17th District Fishing Vessel Safety Program manager.  “There are a few other items fishermen should keep in mind that hinge on them maintaining a current dockside examination decal, such as insurance coverage, vessel owner association memberships, vessel of opportunity participation, NMFS Observer carriage requirements and exemptions from certain regulations.”

To arrange for an exam or obtain more information to ensure compliance, call 966-5620.

An exam can also be arranged through the Fish Safe website.

4-H Explorer

Series to Run

The 4-H Alaska Way of Life will begin its five-week Ecosystem Explorer series on Oct. 6.

Participants will explore and learn about the intertidal zone. Programming is each week by grade group: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. The cost is $10 per child. Waived fees are available. Contact Molly at 747-7509 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information.

Life Celebration

For Pete Corey

A celebration of life for Pete Corey will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at the ANB Founders Hall.

All are invited to take a potluck dish, photos and stories to share, and meet some of Pete’s family. Pete did not want a memorial service but suggested his friends might throw a party.  

Those who have photos they would be willing to share with the family or have scanned for the slide show can call Tory O’Connell 738-4000 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Fire Department

Sets Open House

Sitka Fire Department will have an Alaska Day open house 11 a.m. until parade time on Sunday, Oct. 18.

The Seattle Firefighters Bagpipe Band will perform.

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