Daily Sitka Sentinel

May 26, 2022, Community Happenings

City Seeks Community’s

Help with Plan for Future

The City and Borough of Sitka is building a strategic plan with the help of the community to guide it in serving residents over the next five years.

‘‘CBS wants to ensure this is a place that is livable not just for some, but for all people of Sitka,’’ the city said. ‘‘CBS is engaging the community, staff, and its partners in this engagement effort to result in a plan that will serve as a roadmap for the organization.’’

“Our organization has weathered many changes over the last few years, and now is the perfect time to think about our vision, goals, and how to strategically align the resources to best serve our community,” city Administrator John Leach said. 

The strategic plan will include an updated mission, vision, values and goals reflective of the current community and organizational needs, as well as an action plan to achieve it, the city said.

It also will provide an implementation structure to promote accountability and transparency. 

In March, the Assembly met with city staff for a workshop to kick-off the strategic planning project, assess the current community context, imagine the future, and share ideas for engaging the community.

“Growing the future together” will need input from across the community. An online survey opened May 18 and will be available over the next several weeks to collect ideas and priorities from community members to guide the development of the strategic plan.

‘‘As Sitka plans its future, we are thinking about a sustainable future, services that are accessible, and a community that is inclusive,’’ the city said. ‘‘We want Sitka to be a great place to visit and a place where those who live here can thrive. Additionally, CBS wants to work with our industry leaders and diverse community groups to ensure we are planning a future that meets the needs of all Sitkans.’’

Visit www.sitkagrowingthefuturetogether.org to take the survey, learn more about the project, or sign up for one of the other engagement opportunities.

‘‘Take the online survey and enter to win prizes at sitkagrowingthefuturetogether.org. Sign up is available to participate in virtual or in-person focus groups,’’ a city press release said.

Neighborhood and community groups wanting to learn more can set up a time to have a member of the team give more information and gather ideas. Email info@sitkagrowingthefuturetogether.org/

Porch Fest Slated

Downtown June 4

The Greater Sitka Arts Council will host Porch Fest on June 4 – an all-day music, food, art and dance event downtown.

Visit https://www.sitkaartscouncil.org/porch-fest-2022 for more details and the schedule of events. Lincoln Street will be closed 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for the festivities. Music will continue at the KCAW stage until 9 p.m. It is sponsored by Alaska Airlines, Sitka Rotary Club, Hames Corporation, the Sitka White Elephant, and others.

St. Peter’s Services

Slated Sunday

On Sunday, May 29, one service will be held at 10 a.m. St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

Regular services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. will resume the following week.

All are welcome to join in person or on Zoom. For information, contact the church office at stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com or call (907) 747-3977. The church is located at 611 Lincoln Street and is open every day to stop in for quiet, prayer, and rest for the spirit.

Community Bike

Ride on May 28

Set to Line Up

Cyclists of all abilities are invited to the annual Sitka Community Bike Ride in observance of the first bike to come to Sitka on May 28, 1891.

Riders will gather at Totem Square across from City Hall, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 28. The short ride will begin at 11 a.m. and go down Lincoln Street to Sitka National Historical Park and back,  ending at the Salty Spoke coop, 1 Lincoln Street.

Unique bicycles and gear for the pre-ride show, tell-and-sell are being encouraged, organizers said. Helmets are required. The event will have door prizes, and some first-come, first-served, helmets.

For information on the family friendly event, or to join the Sitka Cycling Club, go to sitkacycling.wordpress.com.

Office Hours Set

For Rep. JKT

State Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has recently returned from the legislative session in Juneau.

He will hold public office hours 11 a.m.-noon Sunday, May 29, at the Backdoor Cafe.

No appointment is necessary, just stop by. Those unable to stop by can email rep.jonathan.kreiss-tomkins@akleg.gov or call the representative’s office at (907)465-3732.

John Denver

Tribute May 28

Sitka Fine Arts will present Ted Vigil, a John Denver tribute artist, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.

Vigil is a singer, songwriter and a tribute artist who performs nationwide and was awarded the Rising Legend Award by the National Traditional Country Music Association.

Tickets are on sale at www.fineartscamp.org/shows. The concert is sponsored by the Hames Corporation.

GSAC Sells Tickets

For Prize Drawing

Greater Sitka Arts Council board members are selling tickets for a fundraising drawing for two round-trip Alaska Airlines tickets.

Second prize is a $250 Sea Mart gift card, and third is a $100 Sea Mart gift card. 

Tickets will be on sale at Sea Mart 5-7 p.m. Fridays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays, and at Porch Fest 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on June 4.

To arrange a different time to purchase tickets, call or text Rain Van Den Berg at 907-268-1828.

The top prize drawing will be at the evening Porch Fest concert June 4, at the KCAW stage with an Alaska Airlines representative. Drawings for smaller local prizes will occur during Porch Fest. Winners of the smaller prizes will remain eligible for the main drawing. Winners need not be present to win.  

Funds raised will go toward supporting the arts in Sitka. GSAC sponsors such events as the annual Wearable Art Show, biannual Art Walks, Porch Fest and other events. GSAC is also the umbrella organization for the Monthly Grind, Sitka Community Theater, and Sitka Strings.

Salmon Derby

Begins Saturday

The 67th Sitka Salmon Derby will begin Saturday, continue over Memorial Day weekend, and the following weekend, June 4-5.

‘‘Sitka Sportsman’s Association is super excited to host this year’s event that will again draw friends and family members from out of town to join the local community in the search for prize-winning kings as well as fun times on the water,’’ a news release from the association said.

Thousands of dollars in cash and prizes has been donated by Sitka’s  businesses and private parties. A list of donors, their prizes and other derby information will be published in the derby’s brochure and also in the Daily Sitka Sentinel on Wednesday, May 25.

Derby entry tickets and Sitka Sportsman’s Association memberships are for sale at Orion Sporting Goods and LFS Marine Supplies where copies of the derby brochure can be picked up.

The derby awards ceremony will be 7 p.m. June 16 at Harrigan Centennial Hall. For more information contact SSA Derby Barge Chairman John McCrehin at (907) 738-8636.

Silver Bay

Terminal Area

Fishery Open

The Silver Bay terminal harvest area commercial salmon troll fishery will open for the harvest of all salmon from 12:01 a.m.  June 1, through 11:59 p.m. July 30, unless closed by emergency order.

The Silver Bay THA consists of areas of the waters of Bear Cove.

Fish harvested in the THA should be separated from fish caught in other areas so that department personnel can obtain biological samples. Permit holders must offload all Chinook taken in the THA prior to fishing in areas where Chinook retention is prohibited. Following the closure of the Silver Bay THA on July 30, this area will be managed as a traditional salmon fishery with harvest reported using statistical area 113-41.

The Emergency Order corresponding with this announcement is EO 1E1522.

Drill Conductor

Classes in Sitka

AMSEA will conduct a fishing vessel drill conductor class 8 a.m.-6 p.m. June 16 at the NSRAA building.

The cost is $125 for commercial fishermen and $175 for all others. It meets the U.S. Coast Guard training requirements for drill conductors on commercial fishing vessels. Register online at www.amsea.org or call (907) 747-3287.