FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
July 1, 2022, Community Happenings
Farmers Market
Saturday; Face
Masks Requested
Sitka Local Foods Network is asking customers and vendors to be COVID-aware during the Sitka Farmers Market 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the ANB Founders Hall.
Sitka has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases and has returned to a high-risk level. Organizers are asking attendees to wear face masks.
‘‘We still plan to hold the market, but we don’t want to contribute to the spread of the coronavirus,’’ organizers said. ‘‘We ask all customers and vendors to wear masks, even if you are vaccinated. Other than getting one of the vaccines, a mask is the best protection against COVID-19 spread. In addition, we request people give each other at least six feet of space, and not attend the market if you are feeling sick.’’
The organization is asking customers at tables to point out which items they are interested in and let the vendor get them. This will reduce the amount of handling of food items.
Volunteers are still needed to help set up the market, sell produce during the market, and take down the market after it’s over. Contact Charles Bingham at (907) 623-7660 or Nalani James at (808) 778-9888. Set up is about 8-8:30 a.m. and tear-down is finished by 2 p.m.
New vendors are needed an can register and pay their vendor fees by going to https://sitkafarmersmarket.eventsmart.com. More information about the Sitka Local Foods Network and Sitka Farmers Market can be found at http://www.sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org.
The Sitka Local Foods Network does take WIC farmers market coupons and Alaska Quest SNAP EBT cards at the Sitka Farmers Market, and offers a matching program for produce purchased at the SLFN farm stand (if you buy $5 of produce, you will receive $10 worth).
‘50ish’ SHS Class
Reunion Activities
Slated for Weekend
The50ish reunion classes of the 1970s have a reunion planned for the weekend.
The group will tour Sitka High School at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 1. Meet at the main entrance – which was the back entrance in the 1970s – by 6 p.m.
On Saturday, July 2, from 8 to 10 p.m., a potluck dinner is planned at the Nugget Restaurant. It will be a no-host bar and potluck-style dinner or appetizers.
A beach picnic at 3201 Halibut Point Road will be 1-9 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Attendees should take their favorite food and drinks. Restroom facilities and access to a kitchen will be available.
On July 4, decorating of the float begins 10 a.m. at 2713 Halibut Point Road. Take any patriotic decorations that are available to help decorate the float. Parade line up starts at noon in front of State Farm Insurance on Lake Street.
Class members and families are needed to ride the float and toss goodies. Contact Valorie (Sturm) Nelson at 907-747-4589 with questions.
T’ai Chi Chih
Offered Saturday
T’ai Chi Chih Practice will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, behind the Sitka Public Library.
Adults Can Try
Master Swimming
Baranof Barracudas Swim Club is offering local adults the opportunity to try masters swimming for one week for free as part of U.S. Masters Swimming’s Try Masters Swimming initiative July 1-31.
Adults can join BBSC Masters for its practices 6-7 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Blatchley pool. BBSC is Sitka’s premiere swim club offering swim instruction and workout groups for all ages. USMS is a nonprofit national governing body that promotes the health, fitness, and social benefits of swimming to all adults, regardless of their ability level or age.
Contact Coach Kevin Knox for more information about Try Masters Swimming at bbsc.sitka@gmail.com or at https://www.teamunify.com/team/asbbsc/page/masters-swimming.
Gavan-Harbor
Trail Hike Set
Sitka Trail Works is coordinating a hike on the Gavan-Harbor trail 9 a.m. Saturday, July 2. Hikers will meet by the Sitka High School entrance to the Cross Trail.
The hike is a strenuous six miles and depending on the speed of participants may take about six hours, hike organizers said. Expect extensive stairs, roots, rocks, and log or rock steps, which can be very slippery when wet.
Sitka Trail Works will not be directly coordinating car drop-off or carpooling. Hikers can check the Trail Works Facebook events page for more information.
STA Kayaani
Panel to Meet
The Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Kayaani Commission will meet 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7, via Zoom.
The public is invited to attend. Contact Resource Protection Director Jeff Feldpausch at jeff.feldpausch@sitkatribe-nsn.gov for the Zoom meeting link.
Kids Races Set
For 4th of July
The annual Fourth of July Kids Races will take place after the parade, at Totem Square.
Activities for ages from crawlers through 11 and older are planned. All are invited to come take part in gunny sack, three-legged, wheelbarrow and other relays. Prizes will be awarded to all participants.
The event is sponsored by the Sitka Historical Society.
Climate Connection for 7/1/22
An Atmospheric Feedback Loop
Water vapor is a natural greenhouse gas that has made our planet livable. It accounts for about 60% of global warming caused by greenhouse gases. This amplifies by 2-3 times the warming we humans have caused by our emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As we have warmed the air and the oceans, more water vapor evaporates from land and seas. This additional water vapor is further increasing global warming in an ever-increasing feedback loop.
As water evaporates from the earth’s surface, some condenses into clouds. White clouds reflect sunlight, which cools the earth. But clouds can also trap heat underneath them. On balance, clouds raise earth’s temperature. But the atmospheric feedback effect on us is not just an increase in global temperatures. More water in the atmosphere also drives more intense storms and hurricanes.
Much of our extreme weather is affected by the jet stream which encircles the northern hemisphere and moves from west to east because of the earth’s rotation. Warm air from the tropics moves to the north, where it should flow down under the cold air. With arctic warming, the jet stream is weakened, and weather seems to get “stuck.” Thus, we experience longer than normal periods of hot weather, cold weather, drought, or wet conditions. The severe flooding and the endless drought that many parts of the northern hemisphere have experienced across the world are a result of the weakening jet stream.
This atmospheric feedback loop is natural although it is made worse by our cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. We need to end our human emissions and stop deforestation, although severe weather will continue until the oceans and earth cool with our efforts to heal the carbon retention in soil and plants. These natural positive feedback loops, including permafrost melting, are beyond the control of individuals lowering our personal carbon footprints.
We need governmental policy action to lower community, national, and international emissions. We have limited time to keep these natural positive feedback loops from amplifying the harm we have caused. Voting for leaders who understand and act with urgency on our climate emergency is critical. In Sitka, we can participate in the strategic planning survey until July 9 by sharing our concerns that the municipality must motivate community-wide reduction in fossil fuel use now for heating, school buses, public transport, and businesses. We cannot wait 5 years for climate healing to begin after this strategic plan is adopted at the end of the summer. The survey is at (https://www.sitkagrowingthefuturetogether.org). And in November, we must vote for leaders in either party who are committed to climate emergency policies.
Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka, Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby
Harriet Kinberg
Services July 2
A Eucharistic memorial service will be held for Harriet Kinberg 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. Committal of her ashes in St. Peter’s Memorial Garden will follow.
Harriet died during the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020, and her memorial service was postponed.
An online Zoom link can be obtained by emailing: stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com for those unable to attend.
Harriet expressed many times throughout her life that she wanted people to “have a party” when she passed, and so, in accordance with her wishes, a potluck reception will be held in her honor at Halibut Point Recreation Area 3-9 p.m. Sunday, July 3.
‘‘We hope that all family and friends will join with us in this celebration of Harriet’s life,’’ family members said. ‘‘If you are unable to bring a potluck dish, please just bring yourself. We look forward to sharing the many stories and joys of her journey through life.’’
Those with questions can call Barbara Iaria at (802)879-1261.
Sitkan Earns
Dean’s Listing
Autumn Dinsmore has earned the dean’s list honor for all three semesters of her sophomore year at the University of Oregon, Eugene.
For her junior year, Autum will study abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea.
She attended Sitka schools from kindergarten through 12th grades. The 2020 SHS graduate is the daughter of Ken and Melissa Dinsmore.
Life Celebration
For Hal Taylor
A celebration of life for Hal Taylor, longtime Sitka resident, will be held on Wednesday, July 6.
Hal, a hospital corpsman with the 1st Marine Division during World War II, passed away Aug. 5, 2020. An informal military graveside service will he conducted by the Veteran’s Affairs Department at 1 p.m. on July 6 at the National Cemetery followed by the celebration of life at the Pioneer Bar at 1:30 p.m.
SMF Cello Seminar
Concerts Announced
The Sitka International Cello Seminar will present a series of concerts throughout the month of July.
Friday night “Rising Stars” concerts will feature this season’s Cello Seminar fellows. Concerts will be held at 5 p.m. July 8 and 15 at the Miner Music Center at Stevenson Hall. Tickets are $10.
The first three Saturdays in July will feature the “Faculty Showcase” series, concerts featuring guest faculty. Pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion will perform 5 p.m. July 2; cellist Jennifer Kloetzel, 5 p.m. July 9; and Ilya Finkelshteyn, 5 p.m. July 16. All Saturday concerts will be at the Miner Music Center at Stevenson Hall. Faculty Showcase tickets are $30.
Tickets are at SitkaMusicFestival.org. The concert series is sponsored by the Sitka Music Festival.
Peratrovich Bench
Dedication July 4
Sitka’s social justice community will participate in a blessing to honor the yellow cedar tree bench that has been dedicated to Alaska’s civil rights leader Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich.
The gathering at the Crescent Harbor shelter will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 4. The blessing will be led by Dave Kanosh, and followed by a ribbon cutting, birthday cake and conversation about the work and legacy of Peratrovich, who was born on the 4th of July.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....