Basic Culinary
Classes Heat Up
At Sitka Kitch
The Sitka Kitch community rental commercial kitchen will offer a series of four basic culinary skills classes in March designed to help individuals wanting to work in the restaurant or catering industry.
Classes will be taught by Kathy Jones, executive chef at Westmark Sitka and the Totem Square Inn. They are modeled after a similar basic culinary skills program in Indianapolis offered by a food relief nonprofit called Second Helpings.
The classes will be 6-8:30 p.m. on each Monday in March: March 7, 14, 21 and 28, at the Sitka Kitch, which is at the First Presbyterian Church.
Each class costs $25, plus a small materials fee. Students who register for all four classes and pay at the first class will receive a $20 discount. For more information about the Sitka Kitch and the classes, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to https://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com/ to see all of the available classes and register.
Since class size is limited, students are asked to register as soon as possible so a waiting list can be generated. Registration closes at 5 p.m. the Friday before each class so supplies can be purchased, or the class can be canceled if not enough people sign up.
Classes include the following.
‘‘Basic Culinary Skills 1’’ – 6-8:30 p.m., Monday, March 7. The class will focus on kitchen sanitation, beginning knife skills and basic kitchen tools.
‘‘Basic Culinary Skills 2’’ – 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 14. It will focus on cooking techniques, basic nutrition, and sauces, soups and stocks part 1.
‘‘Basic Culinary Skills 3’’ – 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 21. The class will focus on sauces, soups and stocks part 2, salads, and measurements.
‘‘Basic Culinary Skills 4,’’ – 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 28. The class will focus on poultry, meats, and the Alaska DEC safe food handler’s card.
The class series is supported by a grant from the Northwest Farm Credit Services rural community grant program.
In addition to this series, spots are still open in the Sitka Kitch’s winter Cooking From Scratch classes in February. All are open to the public.
The Sitka Kitch was a project of the 2013 Sitka Health Summit, and the project is coordinated by the Sitka Conservation Society in partnership with the Sitka Local Foods Network.
The Sitka Kitch can be rented for cooking and food preservation classes, by local cottage food industry entrepreneurs who need a commercial kitchen to make their products, and for groups needing a large kitchen for a community dinner. To learn more go to the website at http://www.sitkawild.org/sitka_kitch.
Sitka Student
Earns Bachelor’s
Raeanna Wood of Sitka graduated from the University of Evansville during the winter commencement ceremony on Dec. 16.
Wood majored in archaeology, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree.
The University of Evansville is a private, liberal arts-based university in Evansville, Indiana, with a full-time undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,485.
The Sitka High School graduate is the daughter of Jack and Katy Wood.
Rasmuson Foundation
Officer in Sitka to
Present Grant Opps
Jeff Baird, program officer at Rasmuson Foundation, will be in Sitka to provide an overview of the various artist grant opportunities and answer questions.
The event is 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi. Breakfast will be served.
The foundation is accepting applications for the 2016 Individual Artist Program. Call Sarah with questions at 747-2787 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Library Panel
Meets Feb. 3
The City and Borough of Sitka’s Library Commission will meet 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Sitka Public Library at 320 Harbor Drive.
Agenda items will likely include discussion of the new library building move; upcoming programming; and budget preparation for the next year.
The public is invited. For more information contact Robb Farmer at 747-4021or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
National Geographic
Editions Available
Sitka Public Library has a large collection of unbound, older editions of National Geographic available first-come, first-served, to a good home.
The magazines are in good condition and would make for interesting reading, educational, and/or artistic materials, the library said. If interested, contact Robb Farmer at 747-4021 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Gajaa Heen
Dancers to Meet
Gajaa Héen Dancers in sixth through 12th grades will meet for a regalia workshop 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Career Center behind Pacific High School.
All family members are welcome to volunteer at this event. Those who have sewing machines are asked to take them.
Call Sitka Native Education Program at 966-1356, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Dist. 35 Survey
URL Corrected
A 2016 fiscal and legislative survey Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins sent to constituents across District 35 soliciting input on the fiscal crisis, and other issues Alaska is facing, had the wrong link. The correct URL is repjkt.com/survey (not jkt.com/survey.)
Kreiss-Tomkins’ office said it would be grateful for feedback, either online through the corrected link (repjkt.com/survey), or the paper survey.
Artists Given
Show Update
Artists planning to participate in the Alaska Airlines Wearable Art Runway Show presented by the Greater Sitka Arts Council are reminded to request a color background for their model as soon as possible.
Notice is needed three weeks in advance of the show. The application for the March 26 show is due Feb. 29. For information go to the website at www.thinkartthinksitka.com.
Dress rehearsal is 6 p.m. March 25 and the show is 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on March 26. For more information call Jeff Budd at 747-4821 or email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Tickets for the show, at the Performing Arts Center, go on sale at Old Harbor Books two weeks in advance.
School Board Meets
The Sitka School Board will meet 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 at the Sitka High School library.
The board also will meet in executive session to discuss Sitka Education Association and Sitka educational support personnel negotiations. The public is invited to attend.
Lenten Quiet
Day Retreat Set
St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church invites the community to a Lenten Quiet Day Retreat 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the church, 611 Lincoln Street.
The group will reflect on scriptures, visual prayers and poems as it prepares for the season of Lent. To pre-register by Feb. 4 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or call 747-3977.
Herring Panel Meets
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Herring Committee will meet noon Jan. 29 in the Resource Protection Department office located at 429 Katlian Street.
A light lunch will be provided. The public is invited to attend.
Moving, Meditation
Series in February
Guest teacher Ann Fitzmaurice will teach a “Moving and Meditation” class 3-4:30 p.m. every Saturday in February at Yoga Union.
The series is open to all levels of yoga practitioners. Call 623-7011 to register or for more information.
Public Library
Opening Feb. 4
The ribbon-cutting to open the new Sitka Public Library at 320 Harbor Drive has been scheduled 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4.
The library will be open until 8 p.m. that evening, with light refreshments served. Regular operating hours and services will resume at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5.
Prior to the opening, the book drop at the new library will be open to accept item returns, no later than Monday, Feb. 1.
For further information, contact Robb Farmer by telephone at 747-4021, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .