Daily Sitka Sentinel

October 5, 2015 Community Happenings

Emblem Meets

Sitka Emblem Club will hold a business meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Elks Lodge.

 

Ninth Infantry to

Recruit Re-Enactors 

Steve Dalquist is enlisting men for Sitka Ninth Infantry to simulate the newly arrived American forces of 1867 who marched through the streets of New Archangel and up the hill to the governor’s residence for the historical Oct. 18, 1867, transfer of Alaska from Russian claim to the United States.

Dalquist invites anyone interested in post-Civil War 1860s American military uniforms and black powder weapons to call him at 752-0750 or 747-4835. Youths who could carry a drum or guidon (flag) are also welcome.

Members of Sitka Ninth Infantry will march in the Alaska Day afternoon parade on Oct. 18 and will assist in raising the American Flag and firing salutes during the transfer re-enactment at Castle Hill. They may also appear in costume as greeters at various events and at the airport.

Assistance with costumes and weapons is available from Dalquist and others who participated for the unit’s appearance in the July 4th parade.

 

Kayak Races, Road

Race Canceled

Alaska Day Festival planners regret that the annual road race and kayak races must be canceled this year because of lack of coordinators and equipment.

   For more information, contact Festival Chairman Ted Allio who urges participation in the many other activities scheduled to begin Oct. 10.

 

Alaska Day Ball

Set for Oct. 17

The annual Alaska Day Festival Ball planned for Saturday evening Oct. 17 continues a long tradition for that gala event in semi-formal attire for men and women, Native regalia, or period costume reminiscent of the 1867 Alaska Transfer era.

This year the ball is at Allen Hall on the SJ campus.

Advance purchase of tickets at $25 is urged because room capacity is limited. Ticket information is offered at 747-5466 or 738-6738.

Restricted to adults age 21 and over, admission includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres served by Sitka Emblem Club. Channel Club cash bar service will be available. Photography is offered by Christine Davenport.

Doors open at 7 p.m. for seating. Ensembles from the 9th Army Band return to provide varied dance music until near midnight. 

Although any promenade display may be reduced by space, judging of period costumes will be done prior to 9 p.m., and awards will be announced in several categories, including costumes for American or Russian military and civilian attire for daytime or evening wear. The Frankie Haag Memorial Award will again be given to a woman who has made the ballgown she is wearing.

Ticket holders must be present to qualify for door prizes.

For more information, contact Ball coordinators Betty Conklin at 966-2281, or Helen Cunningham at 738-6738.

 

Woman’s Health

PT Talk Oct. 22

Sitka Physical Therapy will offer multiple free talks in October in observance of National Physical Therapy month.

Jessica Pyatt, PT, DPT, OCS, who completed the Hermann and Wallace Pelvic Floor course series for professionals, will give a talk 6 p.m. Oct. 22, at Sitka Physical Therapy.

Women are invited to learn what to expect from pelvic floor and woman’s health physical therapy and who and what can be treated, including: bladder and bowel dysfunction; incontinence; pain; pelvic organ prolapse; interstitial cystitis and painful bladder; and pregnancy post-partum physical therapy.

For more information go to www.sitkaphysicaltherapy.com or call Jessica at 747-4559.

 

Parade Organizes

For Alaska Day

The Alaska Day parade is set 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 18.

The Alaska Day Committee reminds entries that they must be well identified with signs or banners, both for award judges and spectators. “Meet Me At Centennial” is the theme.

   The parade is part of the annual commemoration of the historical Oct. 18, 1867, transfer of Alaska from Russian claim to the United States at Sitka.

  Parade coordinator Duane Vilandre asks organization marching units and other parade participants to notify his crew at 747-8086 or 738-1551 so proper spacing can be laid out.

Cash prizes of $150 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third will be awarded by the Alaska Day Committee for parade entries as named by the anonymous judges in categories for civilian marching units, symbolic of 1867, organizations, businesses, and this year’s “Meet Me At Centennial” theme.

Cash awards will also be made by the Alaska Day Committee to the welfare/morale funds of the military units judged first place, second, and third.

Line up on Oct. 18 will begin at 12:30 p.m. along Lake Street from Sitka High School to the intersection with Sawmill Creek Road. Decorated floats, classic cars and other parade vehicles should plan to approach from the north on Peterson Avenue or Verstovia Street to avoid congestion.

The parade starts at the Swan Lake intersection, proceeds along Lake Street to Lincoln Street, makes a right turn, continues on Lincoln past the cathedral on the bank side, and ends at Totem Square.

 

Harp Sing Set

The second Sunday Sitka Sacred Harp Sing will be 3:30-5 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Pioneers Home Chapel. No experience is necessary. Call 738-2089 for more information.

 

Coast Guard Sets

Open House Event

   U.S. Coast Guard Sitka will host an Open House and Marine Safety Fair 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Air Station Sitka’s hangar.

As part of the Alaska Day Festival, this event honors Alaska’s extensive maritime heritage and will also focus on raising boating, public, and recreational safety awareness. There will be presentations by Air Station Sitka, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Sitka Police and Fire Departments, AMSEA, and Guardian Flight. This open house is an opportunity to meet Sitka’s local first responders while seeing equipment up close. BBQ lunch and bake sale items will be available.

For more information, contact the Coast Guard Air Station at 966-5447.

 

Alaska Day Festival

Tickets for Sale

  Tickets for Alaska Day Festival events, schedules, and commemorative buttons, shirts and other merchandise are now available.

Volunteers will staff tables at Wells Fargo Bank lobby daily Mondays through Saturdays from 1 to 6 p.m. and at Alaska Day sponsored events.

Tickets are for Oct. 12 (Monday) New Archangel Dancers Show $5 for adults and $3 for children under 10; Oct. 13 (Tuesday) Variety Show $3; and Oct. 17 (Saturday) Ball $25. The Army Band Concert on Oct. 16 (Friday) and Barn Dance on Oct. 17 (Saturday) are free of charge and no ticket is needed.

Coordinator Linda Trierschield can be contacted at 747-5466 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For a $2 donation, buttons will also be sold by costumed Festival greeters coordinated by Betty Conklin, 966-2281; and Keystone Kops coordinated by Jen Houx, 738-1779.

All sales fund the prizes and other administrative costs of the annual non-profit Alaska Day Festival.

 

Alaska Day Events Set at Sitka National Historical Park

The public is invited to celebrate the transfer of Alaska with Sitka National Historical Park. Events are free and open to the public. 

During the week of Oct. 11-18, the award-winning film ‘‘Russian Bishop’s House: An Icon Reborn’’ will be shown as the regular movie at the visitor center theater. ‘‘Voices of Sitka’’ can be played on request.

A family-friendly program at the Russian Bishop’s House is set 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, designed to educate elementary-aged youths on Alaska’s Russian history through demonstration and hands-on exploration. Stations will give participants an opportunity to experience various aspects of life in Russian-America, including clothing, school life and international trade. A separate station about food will include tea and cookies to sample.

A behind-the-scenes Russian Bishop’s House tour is 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14. Participants will join a ranger for a candlelit tour of the Russian Bishop’s House. The extended tour will explore the building’s architecture, its residents, and will include an opportunity to explore the attic. The free program is limited to 12 participants. Sign up is required. Call 747-0110 or stop by the park’s visitor center.

On Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. ‘‘Manifesting a Destiny: William Seward and the Alaska Purchase’’ will be presented by Mitch Maniccia, a special visiting representative from Seward House Museum in Auburn, N.Y. The presentation is about the man who negotiated the purchase of Alaska. Attendees will learn the backstory of what made William Seward the representative of peaceful American expansion in the 19th century, as well as the tale of his successful procurement and exploration of the territory of Alaska. The event will be held at the visitor center.

The Russian American Walking Tour is 9-10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, beginning at the Russian Bishop’s House. Join a ranger for a walk through downtown Sitka to explore the rich Russian-American history of the region. This free, hourlong program is limited to 30 people and will conclude at Castle Hill.

Also on Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., will be the Russian Bishop’s House Open House. Attendees will learn about the Russian history of Alaska and the United States by exploring the first floor museum, watching the award-winning film, ‘‘Russian Bishop’s House: An Icon Reborn,’’ and taking a free guided tour of the restored residence of the Bishop on the second floor.

From 10 a.m.-noon will be ‘‘Flip or Flop? William Seward and the Purchase of Alaska’’ at the visitor center with visiting staff from the Seward House in Auburn, N.Y.  Participants will learn more about William Seward and the purchase of Alaska. Interactive displays will give participants the opportunity to explore the Alaska purchase and decide if it really was a folly or not. The family-friendly event is for students and people of all ages.

On Sunday, Oct. 18, Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by St. Michael’s Cathedral in the historic Chapel of the Annunciation in the Russian Bishop’s House at 9:30 a.m.

No other park events are scheduled on Alaska Day so the community may attend other Alaska Day events. 

 

 

Sitka Community Hospital

Receives Quality Award

Sitka Community Hospital and Long Term Care received the 2015 Quality Award at the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association’s annual conference in Girdwood, Sept. 24.

Sitka Community Hospital was one of five Alaska hospitals recognized by Mountain-Pacific Quality Health for its dedication to ensuring excellent, high-quality care.

All hospitals and nursing homes in Alaska were considered for this award. 

“Our hospitals and nursing homes take pride in providing high-quality care to their patients and residents. We are proud to recognize their efforts,” said Sharon Scudder, Mountain-Pacific Alaska director. “We appreciate the dedication shown by hospital and nursing home staff and leadership to continually improve health care in Alaska.”

“I want to pass on my congratulations to the LTC staff and Kay Turner, PT, DPT, CNHA our Nursing Home Administrator. Also a big thank you to Kathy Inman, RN, our recent Long Term Care Manager. This is a fitting recognition of the hard work and dedication she showed to SCH for so many years,” says Rob Allen, CEO.

 

School Board Meets

The Sitka School Board will meet 6 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Sitka High School library. The meeting is open to all.

 

Pool League Meets

Greater Sitka Pool League will have a 9-ball organizational meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Ernie’s Old Time Saloon.

Team signups and rules of play will be discussed. The start date is Oct. 22. Sponsorship fees are $150. Player fees are $10 and a weekly fee of $5.

 

Senior Hike Set

SAIL’s senior hiking club will meet 9:15-11:30 a.m. Thursday Oct. 8, at Swan Lake Senior Center. Participants will learn how to pack an emergency bag before leaving. Transportation, trekking poles, and snacks will be provided. Cost is $5. Contact Claire at 747-6859.