Daily Sitka Sentinel

February 22, 2021, Community Happenings

Ferguson Named

To National Panel

The U.S. Travel Association Governance Committee has announced Camille Ferguson was re-elected by its membership to serve on the board of directors.

Ferguson, economic development director for the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, will serve as an at-large director for 2021-2023.

The directors-elect will convene for the first time at the spring board of directors meeting, which will be held 11 a.m. ET on March 11 in Tampa, Florida. The meeting will be available virtually for those not able to attend in person.

Natural Resource

Panel to Meet

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Natural Resource Committee will meet via Zoom 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25.

The meeting is open to the public.  For a link to the Zoom meeting contact Jeff Feldpausch at 747-7469 or email jeff.feldpausch@sitkatribe-nsn.gov.

Mariners First Aid,

CPR Class in Sitka

The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association will offer a mariners first aid and CPR/AED class 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 13 at NSRAA, 1308 Sawmill Creek Road.

The cost is $125, including sales tax. Mariners can register online at www.amsea.org or call 747-3287.

Instructor Rob Emley will cover CPR and automatic external defibrillators; treatment of choking; medical emergencies; trauma; environmental hazards; patient assessment; medical communications; drowning and hypothermia; and common fishing injuries.

Attendees will receive a U.S. Coast Guard-accepted, two-year certificate issued by the American Safety and Health Institute. Participants must wear a cloth face mask and comply with other class procedures for reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

‘Sitka Tells Tales’

Schedules Events

Sitka Tells Tales, the local storytelling series, will have new true tales to the them of “Foot in Mouth: True Stories of Life-Changing, Split-Second Choices and Gaffes” 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, on KCAW Raven Radio.

It is hosted by Artchange Inc. For information call 738-2174.

Yellow Tag Sale

At White E Shop

Yellow tag items at the White Elephant Shop are 50 cents 6-8 p.m. tonight and noon-3 p.m. Thursday.

Sitkans Warned:

Be Bear Aware

Recent reports of bears out and about in the Sitka area are good reminders that any time of year is a good time to be bear aware, the Department of Fish and Game says.

Last week, a bear was spotted on the Mt. Edgecumbe High School campus on Japonski Island.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said while unusual, it is not unprecedented.

‘‘Bears are not true hibernators but enter a state of torpor in the den, lowering their metabolic rate to preserve energy and stay warm,’’ ADF&G said. ‘‘Bears can and do wake up and occasionally leave the den for short periods. They may also wake from disturbances, such as the recent incident in Haines when an outhouse user came upon a den.’’

While a reprieve from bear activity in the winter should be expected, ADF&G biologists recommend residents never fully let down their guard when it comes to staying safe in bear country.

Residents are reminded to keep garbage secure as anything with a scent is intriguing for a bear that hasn’t eaten all winter.

For details on living in bear country visit: www.alaskabears.alaska.gov., or contact the Sitka ADF&G office at 747-5449.

Program Seeks to

Prevent Diabetes

A 12-month diabetes prevention program offered via Zoom begins in March.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the program, which is offered by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. It is geared to individuals who are at risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.

One in three Americans has pre-diabetes, and excess weight is a key risk factor, according to the CDC.

Fairbanks Extension agent Leslie Shallcross said participants will be encouraged to lose 10 percent of their current weight to reduce the risk. She describes the program as a lifestyle change program in which participants get ideas and support from other participants and trained Extension lifestyle coaches. Participants will meet weekly for about 16 weeks and at least once monthly after that.

Cooperative Extension staff in Sitka, Fairbanks and Mat-Su will offer the course remotely, but participants can sign up for the session closest to where they live.

One-hour sessions in Sitka will meet 6 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning March 2.

Registration is available at http://bit.ly/diabetesprev. Prior to registering, potential participants must contact instructors to determine eligibility and discuss the program.

The Sitka instructor is Jasmine Shaw, 747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu.

The class fee of $100 includes a digital scale and program materials that will be mailed to participants. Discounts are offered to seniors 60 and older and others who request a scholarship.