LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

February 23, 2021, Community Happenings

Alaska Renters Get Offer

 

To Register for Aid Funds

 Alaska renters impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for up to 12 months of assistance to pay for their rent and/or utilities through a recently passed federal omnibus package.

Baranof Island Housing Authority, in partnership with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, will provide a single reference and application portal for Sitka renters seeking more information and wishing to apply for the financial assistance.

Sitka residents can go to www.AlaskaHousingRelief.org to use an eligibility checker and register for the program. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. March 5.

“As the pandemic continues, more help is needed for those struggling to pay their monthly rent,’’ said Cliff Richter, BIHA’s executive director. ‘‘This new program will provide rent relief to a great number of Sitkans. Our partnership with AHFC simplifies the application process and allows residents to learn more and apply online at AlaskaHousingRelief.org from their phones, tablets and computers. If any local help is needed, just call BIHA at 747-5088 – our office staff is available and ready to assist.”

BIHA and other regional housing authorities, the Municipality of Anchorage and AHFC received separate federally funded awards that combine to total more than $200 million. Each entity independently decided to avoid confusion by partnering to provide residents with a single access point for assistance.

“Our partnership cuts through the red tape, leverages our individual connections and resources but ultimately brings peace of mind to those who have lost income and are seeking help,’’ said AHFC CEO/Executive Director Bryan Butcher. ‘‘They now have to look to a single place: AlaskaHousingRelief.org.” 

The relief is available to renters who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and meet area income criteria defined by the federal government, which in Sitka is an annual income of less than $71,280.

Eligibility requirements for spending the money are set by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a condition of the FY2021 Omnibus and COVID Relief and Response Act that was signed into law at the end of 2020. Mortgage relief is not an eligible expense.

Under Alaska Housing Rent Relief, up to 12 months of financial assistance can be provided to pay rent and/or utility expenses, including past due balances, with the possibility of extended

assistance for an additional three months. Payments will be directed to landlords, property managers and utilities.

 

Alaskans who previously received federally funded housing assistance are eligible to participate in this program. Additional information is available at www.AlaskaHousingRelief.org or by calling or texting the word “relief” to (833) 440-0420.

 

 

Free Conference Slated On

 

Dealing with Alzheimer’s

 The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Alaskans 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, as part of its national Educating America Tour.

The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health, caregiving and legal experts. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.

“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you’re a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.” 

 

For more information or to register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.  Those who can’t participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue-and-white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page. 

 

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.

 

‘Child Find’ Sets

Preschool Screening

Sitka Borough School District provides Child Find Preschool Screenings for children ages 3-5 at the Baranof Elementary School. An appointment is required for the Monday, March 8, screening. For more information, or to schedule one, parents should call 966-1316.

The Child Find program is provided without charge to families who live within school district boundaries.

The program identifies children who are having difficulty in their development, and provides special education services to them, when it is appropriate.

Parents may have concerns about their child’s development in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language skills, motor skills, thinking skills or emotional or social skills.

A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in various developmental areas. The screening is not enough to determine that a child is delayed, only signals whether further investigation into a child’s developmental progress is necessary, the school district said.

Screenings will be held at least once per quarter, and those dates will be publicized. Additional appointments at other times or locations may be scheduled as needed.

 

Chamber to Meet

Sitka Chamber will offer a segment in its winter speaker series noon Wednesday via Zoom.

Participants will hear about the BuyAlaska Program, an organization dedicated to promoting Alaska’s small businesses and encouraging shopping local first, and the Chamber’s upcoming #ShopSitkaLocal Restaurant Week event, March 1-7.

Katie Ashbaugh, the BuyAlaska program manager, will speak.

For more information and to register to log on, go to www.sitkachamber.com.

 

Online Dessert

Auction for SAFV

Sitkans Against Family Violence’s online dessert auction will run March 4 through 1 p.m. March 7.

The auction is being held in lieu of SAFV’s Family Fiesta fundraiser.

To support SAFV go to tinyurl.com/safvdessertauction to check out desserts and bid. New items will be added frequently.

Bids can be placed by credit card only, which is needed at the time the bid is placed. Bidders will be notified when they are outbid or if they win.

Winners are asked to pick up desserts at the shelter. Call 747-3370 for directions. Individuals unable to pick them up can request a delivery by leaving a message at 738-0161.

Those who can donate a dessert may go to tinyurl.com/safvdessertentry  and submit details of the dessert by March 3.

Call 738-0161 with questions.

You have no rights to post comments

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!