February 5, 2016 Community Happenings

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Category: News

Created on Friday, 05 February 2016 12:31

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Sitkan Earns

Bachelor’s Degree

Max Hanson was graduated from Fort Lewis College on Dec. 19 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

More than 200 students participated in the winter commencement ceremony. 

The Sitka High School graduate is the son of Brian Hanson and Devonne Hanson.

Former Sitkan

Is Recovering

Hally Rogers Coulter has been home from the hospital and rehab facility for two months, recuperating from a stroke she suffered during an endoscopic third ventriculostomy surgery.

Sitka family members said that PT, speech and OT are continuing to work with her in her home to help her with her right side weakness, double vision and short-term cognitive issues.

‘‘She continues to improve bit by bit and we are hopeful that within six to 12 months, she will regain most of her short-term memory loss and that her eyes heal, enabling her to see more normal again,’’ her family said. ‘‘We thank everyone who has donated money to help towards her medical expenses and we ask for your continued prayers for her recovery.’’

Anyone wanting to send her a card or note can contact her at Hally Coulter, 1331 Sommerset Circle, Longmont, Colorado 80501.

BMS PAC to Meet

Blatchley Middle School will hold a Parent Advisory Committee 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the BMS library.

All parents are reminded to attend.

Low-Vision Tech

To be At SAIL

Southeast Alaska Independent Living will take appointments to meet one-on-one with low-vision tech Bob Purvis on Friday, Feb. 19.

Appointments will be 30 minutes to an hour, in which attendees will learn about accessibility tools for i-Phones and i-Pads.

Purvis, who is visually impaired, will share apps he finds useful, along with information on how to listen to books and podcasts. A handout on usable apps and shortcuts will be provided.

To sign up, call Claire at 747-6859.

New Arrivals

Baby Boy Plummer

Asher James Plummer was born 8:43 p.m. Feb. 1, 2016, at Sitka Community Hospital.

At birth, the infant weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

Parents are Katherine V. Plummer and Timothy J. Plummer of Sitka. The mother is employed at ALPS Federal Credit Union and the father is self-employed.

Asher joins a sister, Kayden Plummer.

Presentation

Slated Weds.

Sitka National Historical Park’s Chief of Resources Dr. Brinnen Carter will present ‘‘From Land to Sea, or Sea to Land’’ 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the park visitor center theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Carter will define and explore the concept of cultural landscapes, and discuss the analysis of Alaska’s marine and terrestrial cultural landscapes. 

‘‘Sitka and the state of Alaska is home to numerous cultural landscapes, and by thinking about the state as a cultural landscape it can improve an understanding of Alaska,’’ a park press release said.

‘Adak’ Featured

At Park Program

The public is invited to join Victoria Vosburg 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Sitka National Historical Park visitor center as she recounts her recent journey to Adak, an island at the western end of the Aleutian Islands.

Vosburg will discuss Adak’s geography, wildlife, history and what it takes to visit this far off destination.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

Unitarians Gather

At Sunday’s Unitarian Fellowship meeting, Suzi McClear will present a program on New Year’s resolutions versus giving up something for Lent: a Unitarian perspective on self-denial. 

Fellowship begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45 a.m. Soup and bread follow at noon.  The Fellowship Hall is located at 408 Marine Street, with parking behind off Spruce Street.

White E to Hold

Monthly Meeting

The White Elephant Shop monthly meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Swan Lake Senior Center. Meetings are open to the public.

Regalia Workshop

Set by Gajaa Heen

Gajaa Héen Dancers will hold a regalia workshop 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Career Center behind Pacific High School, 205 Baranof St.

Family members are welcome to attend this event to help. Call Sitka Native Education Program, 966-1356, for more information or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MEHS Founders Week

Activities Announced

Mt. Edgecumbe High School will celebrate its founding in 1947 with cultural experiences for students during Founders Week, beginning Feb. 15. The public is invited to the Gathering of Cultures 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17.

This year’s theme is ‘‘A Celebration of Mt. Edgecumbe High School.’’

Activities begin Monday with artists-in-residence Yupik elder, artist and actor John Pingayak, and his wife Teresa, elder and artist. They will teach students how to make traditional Yupik regalia. That evening, Pingayak will present a screening of the motion picture ‘‘Big Miracle,’’ which he starred in.

Also on Monday, Marjorie Tahbone, who is Inupiaq and Kiowa and holds the title Miss World Indian Eskimo Olympics 2010-11, and Miss Indian World 2011-12, will demonstrate Native Youth Olympic games. Tahbone earned a bachelor of science degree in Alaska Native studies with a minor in Inupiaq language and is currently working on her graduate degree in cross-cultural studies at University of Alaska Fairbanks.

John and Teresa Pingayak on Tuesday will teach students how to make dance fans, and will join the Yupik dance group at dance practice to teach new songs. 

Also on Tuesday, Tahbone will demonstrate traditional Inuit tattooing on hides.

After school on Wednesday, the artists-in-residence will continue regalia-making with MEHS students. 

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the public is invited to the Gathering of Cultures. It will start off with a keynote address by Dr. Gil Truitt, aka Mr. Edgecumbe class of 1948, the first graduating class. His presentation will be followed by speakers Johanna Hotch, class of 1965, past grand president of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and Klukwaan Inc. board of directors; Leatha Merculief, class of 1994, now vice president of SEARHC; and Jennifer Johns, class of 1993, president of Zho Tse Corporation. Local dance groups Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi, MEHS Yupik and Athabaskan, and the Alaska Native Women’s Drum Group will perform. Admission is free.

On the final day, Thursday, after-school and evening classes with the Pingayaks and Tahbone, who will wrap up regalia workshops.

For further information, contact Rachel Moreno, MEHS cutlural activities coordinator, at 738-6595.

Sitka Jazz Fest

Begins Friday

Two stages have been set, and the  Sitka Jazz Festival is ready for play, Friday and Saturday.

A free brown bag lunch will kick off the weekend of jazz music noon Friday, Feb. 5, at the Odess Theater in Allen Hall on the SJ Campus. It will feature student groups and professional artists.

The student concert is 4 p.m. Friday at the Sitka Performing Arts Center. The cost is $10, or free with the purchase of an evening concert ticket.

The Friday Westmark Sitka Professional Concert will follow at the PAC. Performing will be the Band of the Pacific’s Papana, and the Sitka High jazz band featuring Marshall Gilkes, and the SJF Big Band.

 A full day of educational workshops will be Saturday, hosted by the Band of the Pacific’s Panano, local musicians and guest artists.

The Saturday Alaska Airlines Professional Concert will be 7 p.m. at the PAC. Performing will be All-Alaska Jazz Band with Bijon Watson, SHS vocal jazz, BMS jazz I, and the SJF Big Band directed by Bill Liston. The evening will feature Barbara Morrison.

Evening ticket prices are $15 for students, and $20 for adult advance tickets at Old Harbor Books and $25 at the door. The price of an all-festival ticket, which admits the concert-goer to all Jazz Festival events, is $40.

Now in its 21st year, the Sitka Jazz Festival works to bring professional jazz musicians from around the world to Sitka to teach, inspire and perform. The festival strives to teach music appreciation, skill, history, artistic expression and cross-cultural understanding through jazz in a supportive environment. 

For more information visit the website at www.sitkajazzfestival.com.

Drug-Free Community

Group to Meet Feb. 9

Those who are interested in a drug-free community are invited to meet 3:30-4:40 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services, 113 Metlakatla Street.

The Drug Free Communities Coalition (H.O.P.E. Coalition) will meet to look at and discuss youth substance use trends in the community. The group invites the public to see what substances are being used by Sitka youths and the risk factors associated with them, the coalition said.

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