Daily Sitka Sentinel

June 14, 2019, Community Happenings

Sitkan Earns 

Vets Degree

At UAF, CSU

Sitka resident Christopher Clement received a doctorate in veterinary medicine in May from Colorado State University.

He is one of 10 members of the first collaborative veterinary program class at University of Alaska Fairbanks and Colorado State University, and first to receive dual diplomas from Colorado CSU and UAF on one diploma.

While in school, Clement helped with students involved in a pre-vet club and spoke for promotion and funding at UAF. He also worked at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

His love for animals and learning has helped him complete eight years of college to achieve his goal.

He met the love of his life, Isabella Booth, in Fairbanks at Rural Alaska Honors Institute, a program at UAF for rural Alaska High School students. The couple added a son and a daughter, Grayson and Evollette, to their family in January.

Clement thanked Dr. Burgess Bauder, Dr. Vicky Vosburg and Dr. David Hunt for their support of his goals.

Beginning July 9, Clement will be working as an associate veterinarian at VCA Alpine Animal Clinic in Anchorage. 

The 2011 Sitka High School graduate is the son of Lori and Sean DeMello of Sitka.

Climate Action

Potluck June 19

The Sitka Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby invites the public to a climate action potluck 6 p.m. June 19 at the See House behind St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

National climate action legislation and recent Washington, D.C., lobbying will be discussed. Attendees are asked to take a dish to share and a drink of choice. For more information call Michelle at 747-2708.

Climate Connection: Community Gardening:

A Cost and Carbon Cutter

By Leah Mason

Food is something that gets talked about a lot in Sitka, especially in summer. We have so much great wild food, but I am also amazed by the food that gets produced locally in conditions that would crush lesser human beings.

In the last city I lived in (Sydney), we had quite a few community gardens. My favorite had a long games table with board game mosaics for people to play on. Most had space where people could work together or create things to share - materials for making or repairing garden beds, soil made from composting kitchen scraps and garden clippings. I like community gardens as social places, but what a great way to work together on reducing costs, and carbon footprint as a community.

Reducing our food waste and eating a more plant-rich diet are ranked at #3 and #4 in a list of 100 solutions to our carbon dioxide problem. Composting comes lower down on the list but is a good way to reduce food waste! If you’re curious about the details check out the list on the Drawdown website at https://www.drawdown.org/solutions-summary-by-rank.

Composting our green and food waste also reduces the cost of transporting some of our heaviest “garbage,” and eliminates the methane that is created when it rots in a landfill. Using compost to grow our gardens also means that we’re not burning fuel to make and transport fertilizers or soil. Three more good reasons to think about where we can start a new community garden, eh? Talk to the Sitka Local Foods Network if you’d like to work on it.

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Leah Mason is a member of the Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby, and a keen but novice gardener!

Sale at White E

The White Elephant Shop is having a sale. Items with a yellow tag are on sale at half price. All items with a green tag are 50 cents. The White E will be open noon-3 p.m. Saturday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, and 6-8 p.m. Monday. 

Art Show Up At

Pioneers Home

The Sitka Pioneers Home will host “The Ugly Side of Plastic” art show through June 25. Show hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays in the recreation/kitchen room located in the basement.

More than a dozen local artists, including Norm Campbell, Pat Kehoe, John Straley and Libby Stortz, have contributed pieces that examine how plastic is affecting the environment. Art also showcases ways people can use less one-time-use plastic.

Local art related to the theme and other locations for showings are still being sought. Artists and venues interested may contact Michelle at 747-2708 to participate. The show will be displayed throughout the year at various locations and events. The exhibition is supported by Bags for Change, a local volunteer group interested in reducing plastic pollution. 

Presentation

On Balance Set

A program on balance and ambulation for older adults will be presented by Gio Villanueva, physical therapist and director of rehabilitation services at SEARHC, 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, at Sitka Public Library.

Call SEARHC Health Promotion at 966-8720 with questions. 

Father’s Day

Brunch at Elks

Father’s Day brunch will be hosted by Sitka Emblem Club 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at the Sitka Elks Lodge.

Fathers eat for free. Others will be charged $15 for adults and $8 for ages 10 and younger.

Elks and Invited guests are welcome to attend.

Barn Dance Set

For Fourth of July

A free community barn dance is set noon Thursday, July 4, at the Crescent Harbor shelter.

Live music will be provided by Sitka’s Fishing for Cats band.

Beginners and seasoned dancers of all ages are invited. Dances are taught and called. No partner is needed, and no dancing experience is necessary.

For more information call 747-3412.

UAS Ranked as Alaska’s

Friendliest LGBTQ College

The University of Alaska Southeast has been named as the top LGBTQ-Friendly School for Alaska by the Campus Pride Index.

In partnership with Campus Pride, BestColleges.com released its rankings for LGBTQ students in recognition and celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month.  Rankings help students of various sexual identities and gender find institutions that provide inclusivity and quality in their educational endeavors.

The ranking is based on several criteria, including housing and residential life resources, like roommate matching so students can find LGBTQ+-friendly roommates, gender-inclusive on-campus housing, and gender-inclusive restroom facilities. Residence staff are trained in LGBTQ+ issues to provide a safer environment for LGBTQ+ students living on campus.

UAS also received high marks for its availability of counseling and support groups for LGBTQ+ students, where counseling staff all receive trans-inclusive training. One of those activities is Safe Zone Training, offered each semester, which has trained more than 200 staff, faculty and student employees in the past three years. Safe Zone training creates a visible community of support on campus with a goal of eliminating discrimination and to provide a safer and freer campus community regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. UAS also hosts a Transgender Support Group, a Campus Inclusivity Alliance, and Green Dot training for faculty, staff and students. It has a Care Team that supports student success and well-being, including for the LGBTQ+ community.

UAS includes LGBTQ+-specific course offerings as part of its curriculum. The university also provides an accessible process for students to change their gender identity in university records. The university encourages employment of LGBTQ+ faculty and staff members to create an inclusive environment in the classroom and across campus.

In recent years, UAS has hosted an annual Power and Privilege Symposium each November, which consistently has included topics and perspectives from the LGBTQ+ community. Past presenters at the symposium have included the parents of Matthew Shepard, and Aiden Key, a member of the transgender community who grew up in Juneau, who spoke on gender diversity.

“We are proud of the work our staff and faculty do to show support for all students, and especially those of the LGBTQ+ community,’’ said Chancellor Rick Caulfield. ‘‘I’m very pleased that UAS has been identified as Alaska’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly School because of our demonstrated commitment to inclusivity. It is appropriate that we celebrate these efforts in June as Pride Month, but we recognize that these activities and more continue to be important on our campuses throughout the year.”