FAMILY FUN – Crystal Johns holds her son Zayne , 2, as she follows her son Ezekiel, 4, up an inflatable slide Saturday at Xoots Elementary School during the annual Spring Carnival. The event included games, prizes, cotton candy, and karaoke. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Rep. Rebecca Himschoot says in the discussion on educ [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
Song, dance and a cast of school-aged actors will brin [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Don’t talk to people claiming to be from Medicare o [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
The Alaska House of Representatives voted Wednesday to allow comp [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dismissed an appeal filed by [ ... ]
Mr. Whitekeys
In Sitka to Tell
Gold Rush Tale
Sitka Historical Society and Museum will present ‘‘Th [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 17
At 9:08 a.m. a transformer was r [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The threat of major cutbacks to the subsistence socke [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
With the first vote on the city budget for fiscal yea [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
In the final day of play in the recreational division City League volleyball [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Three amateur athletes from Sitka were among tens of [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A proposal to require Alaska schools to keep opioid-overdose-r [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s Kobuk River, which flows out of the Brooks Range above [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 16
At 8:07 a.m. a woman [ ... ]
Presentation On
Medicare, SS
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium and Cynthia Gibson, CFP®, an [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Musicians from Sitka High and Mt. Edgecumbe High scho [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Whether you enjoy scaling mountains, walking in the p [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Two-time Alpine Adventure Run winner Chris Brenk cont [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee expanded a [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS and
CLAIRE STREMPLE
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is [ ... ]
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 15
A protective order was issued at 1 [ ... ]
Chamber Speaker
Event Wednesday
The Chamber of Commerce speaker series will continue noon Wednesday at [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
From high costs and low availability to challenges sur [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A number of participants at Thursday’s community me [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
July 30, 2021, Community Happenings
SJ Museum
Open During
Construction
The Sheldon Jackson Museum gallery is open during normal business hours through Aug. 11 while the museum undergoes a roofing project.
Museum workers will be adding tarps to some of the exhibits to protect them from harm.
‘‘To preserve the safety of our staff and visitors and minimize the spread of COVID-19, face coverings are strongly encouraged to be worn by all visitors and staff,’’ the museum said.
Staff is asking patrons to maintain social distancing of six feet between household groups, and pay for admission by credit card.
Summer hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Contact visitor services at 747-8981 with questions.
Climate Connection
We are all leaders here.
As we wrestle with year two of a global pandemic - AND news of raging floods AND unprecedented fires - the idea of taking the ‘lead’ on anything seems impossible. This situation is so big. It’s been pointing me toward the old idea of “thinking globally and acting locally.” For those born after the 1990s, here’s the recap: One person throwing a plastic bottle on the ground doesn’t seem like a crisis, but a billion people doing the same thing? More than once? That’s a BIG problem. Deciding to bring a reusable bottle is a local response to that global problem. It acknowledges that we are part of the problem AND the solution. These days we are told that individual actions don’t matter, but I disagree. Not only do our individual decisions STILL add up to global problems, taking responsibility for the problem can be transformational and empowering.
For example, a year ago it was becoming clear that by hunkering down, we were having an impact on greenhouse gas emissions and air quality. We went cold turkey on personal and business travel, and it was estimated that we shaved 8% off our carbon footprint. It was that simple. Our actions as individuals made a difference and they still are…. emissions are now back up because we are choosing to fly again. Do we need the airlines to stop offering flights? Or can we empower ourselves to start walking the talk?
Similarly, in recent weeks, we’ve been reminded that keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe from a global pandemic comes down to some very small local actions – thinking about where our hands, noses, and our mouths are at all times. Washing and sanitizing every time we make contact with potentially unsafe situations and environments. Managing our masks to avoid contaminating ourselves. (Keep track of those unwashed hands!) Simple things with proven impact.
Admittedly, those with responsibility for community safety haven’t communicated very clearly about this. It’s disappointing, but this can open up new paths for leadership. For example, I’d like to thank Crystal Duncan and Patrick O’Donnell for stepping up to say and do what others haven’t. Bravo!
We are social animals. Seeing others take action makes it easier to take action ourselves. It also lightens the load of anxiety to know that everyone is working together. The same is true of dealing with the problems of climate change. We can’t waste time waiting for others to lead. When any one of us acts, everyone around them pricks up their ears, and starts to look around. Then everyone around THAT small group wants to know what is going on … and so on. Even slight shifts in direction ripple outward, leading to subtle changes in the direction of the whole herd. Any one of us can respond to danger and get the group moving. We can all be leaders.
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Leah Mason is a member of the Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby and suggests now would be a good time to contact our legislative delegation to support action. #PutAPriceOnCarbon
Summer Reading
Program to End
The Summer Reading Program at Sitka Public Library will end on Saturday, Aug. 7.
Participants can claim their final reading prizes by that day. The name of the tween/teen winners of the summer program drawing will be announced through the library’s social media.
For information, call the library at 747-4020.
Babies & Books
Prize Reminder
Sitka Babies and Books and Old Harbor Books remind families who completed the Early Literacy Summer Reading Program at Sitka Public Library this summer that their earned coupons need to be redeemed no later than Saturday, Aug. 21.
Municipal Election
Reminders Given
The last day to register to qualify to vote in the Oct. 5 municipal election is Sept. 5.
To register, or update voter registration records, visit: https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/ or stop by the Municipal Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 100 Lincoln Street, 3rd floor.
For information contact the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 747-1811 or 747-1826. Division of Elections Region I Office contact information is 1-866- 948-8683 or 907-465-3021.
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20 YEARS AGO
April 2004
Photo caption: Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks with students in Karoline Bekeris’ fourth-grade class Thursday at the Westmark Shee Atika. From left are Murkowski, Kelsey Boussom, Laura Quinn and Memito Diaz.
50 YEARS AGO
April 1974
A medley of songs from “Jesus Christ Superstar” will highlight the morning worship service on Palm Sunday at the United Methodist Church. Musicians will be Paige Garwood and Karl Hartman on guitars; Dan Goodness on organ; and Gayle Erickson on drums.