Pediatric Care
Of Juneau Joins
With SEARHC
Rainforest Pediatric Care has merged with Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, expanding SEARHC’s pediatric care services in Juneau.
“We are all looking forward to our partnership with SEARHC,” said Dr. Joy Neyhart, a board-certified pediatrician who built Rainforest Pediatric Care. “I, along with my team, Kathryn Rabung, RN and Angie Lawlar, office manager, will be making the move into the Ethel Lund Medical Center.”
Since 2000, Rainforest has built a patient- and family-focused practice in Juneau.
Neyhart said the partnership allows for sustainable board-certified pediatric medical care in Juneau for the long-term.
“Merging Rainforest Pediatric Care with SEARHC is another step toward our mission to fill out our service lines toward a complete spectrum of healthcare offerings,” said SEARHC President and CEO Charles Clement. “We focus on new partnerships and mergers, with likeminded organizations. Our staff is doing everything to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted care for our new patients and their families.”
Climate Connection: Mobilizing a Community Vision
Sitka community members have accomplished so much to improve our quality of life. Transition Sitka recently asked the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship what examples come to mind: They mentioned Raven Radio; 50 apple trees as a Health Summit priority; keeping the Sitka Sound Science Center hatchery open when Sheldon Jackson College closed; revitalizing the campus buildings that now house the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Yoga Union, and the Hames Athletic Center; establishing Sitkans Against Family Violence shelter and Betty Eliason Childcare Center; Brave Heart; the new playground near the Sitka Sound Science Center; building the cross-trail after the pulp mill closed; the fishermen’s work float; Sitka Community Land Trust efforts for affordable housing; the Electric Vehicle group; voting to approve the raising of Blue Lake dam. These past efforts bode well for our community to create the future Sitkans need to thrive in a transition to a fossil-free future.
Our elected officials need a community vision of our transition in order to prioritize seeking grant money from the bipartisan act passed last fall, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Alaska Energy Authority has $50 million from this Act for electric vehicle (EV) charging, electric school buses, public transportation buses, tourist buses, and municipal fleets. Do we want our Assembly to set a goal of electrifying public transportation and eliminating diesel emissions in Sitka by 2030? That would be good for our health and ability to get where we need to go in a future with higher fossil fuel prices affecting both our households and our industry. And there is federal money to facilitate this. Evidence of community support is critical to writing competitive grants and to get the Assembly to stretch beyond thinking about only municipal government emissions. Our last greenhouse gas emissions inventory, based on estimates from 2003-2006, accounted for only 4% of community greenhouse gas emissions.
If we want to decarbonize our transportation, is it more important to electrify docks for the next generation of ferries and barges or for cruise ships? Could the RIDE use fast chargers at the ferry terminal and Whale Park where they turn around? Do we want our car rental agencies to provide electric cars that, when sold, provide Sitkans a lower cost entry into the EV market. Businesses are waiting for fast charging infrastructure before investing in clean vehicles. But once it exists, even people in apartments can consider the economic advantages of EVs in electric “fuel” cost and maintenance. And with more frequent public transportation, including on weekends and evenings, some of us may not choose to have our own vehicles. The country has committed to lowering the fossil fuel dependence of transport and ports. Let’s not let Sitka be left behind.
Share your vision and preferences with your neighbors, employers, landlords, and Assembly members (assembly@cityofsitka.org). And come to our free 6:30 Earth Day screening of Dr. Seuss’s 1972 The Lorax , a kid-friendly animation still pertinent today, 50 years later (register at https://tinyurl.com/transitionsitka).
----- Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka
Pioneers of Alaska
To Meet April 7
Alaska residents of 20 years or longer are invited to join Sitka Pioneers of Alaska members for dinner and a history program 5 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at Centennial Hall.
For more information about the Pioneers of Alaska, call 907-747-8891.
Live Storytelling
Slated April 19
Sitka Tells Tales, the local live storytelling series, will present ‘‘Swimming Upstream: Stories from the Heart of the Tongass,’’ 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 19.
It is an Earth Week special airing and streaming live on KCAW 104.7 FM and KCAW.org and a live in-person event at Harbor Mountain Brewery. Doors open at 6 p.m. The suggested donation is $15.
The event is hosted by Artchange Inc., Sitka Conservation Society and Raven Radio. For more information call (907) 738-2174.
Herring Ceremony
Set for April 16
The Kiks.adí and the Herring Protectors will host the third Yaaw Koo.éex’ Herring Ceremony 1 p.m. April 16 at Centennial Hall.
It will be a celebration of the herring and their importance to the Lingít way of life and to all life in Sitka, organizers said.
Additional community building events are planned in the days prior to the event, including gift-making, respectful harvesting discussions, and a canoe journey. All are open to the public; however, space may be limited. Visit facebook.com/herringprotectors/events to learn more.
State of Economy
In Sitka Discussed
Sitka Economic Development Association will host the State of Sitka’s Economy 3 p.m. April 21 in the auditorium at Centennial Hall.
Katie Berry of the McKinley Research Group will present Sitka’s economic indicators. The public is being encouraged attend and learn about the trends of Sitka’s economy. For information contact SEDA at 747-2660. A Zoom link is available at sitka.net for anyone who would like to virtually participate, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84290170955.
State Legislature
Plans Meetings
During the week of April 4 the Alaska Legislature will several meetings including the following.
House: 1 p.m. Monday, April 4: HB 220 Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund, public testimony; and SB 168 Donations/Gifts for DOT&PF Signage, public testimony taken.
Senate Finance: 9 a.m. Friday, April 8, public testimony will be taken with a 90-second limit: SB 162, Operating budget; SB 163, Mental Health Budget; SB 164, Capital Budget.
For a full list of topics, visit akleg.gov and click on “Daily Schedule.” Call the Sitka Legislative Office at 747-6276 or visit akleg.gov for more information.
Unitarians Meet
On Sunday
Dave Turcott will make a presentation about the oceanography of the Northeast Pacific and will focus on plankton blooms and how they occur this time of year at Sunday’s Unitarian Fellowship meeting at the Unitarian Hall, 408 Marine Street.
He will show pictures of typical diatoms and dinoflagellates that dominate the plankton community in this area. Turcott is a fisherman and a former professor of marine biology at Sheldon Jackson College.
Parking is available behind the building off Spruce Street. Gathering begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45. Soup and bread follow the program at noon.
Those preferring to attend on Zoom can email svmerlin43@gmail.com for the link.
40-Day Luncheon
For Ethel Makinen
The 40-day luncheon for Daasdiyaa, Ethel Makinen, will be held at noon, following church services, Sunday, April 3, at ANB Founders Hall.
Daasdiyaa’s Panakida Russian Orthodox Church service will be held after divine liturgy, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Family members ask attendees to take a dish, salad or dessert to share.
Those having questions or needing more information can contact Lillian Young at (907) 752-0867.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Meet In-Person
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sitka will resume in-person meetings with live speakers on April 3.
Meetings at the Kingdom Hall at 519 Monastery Street will be 10 a.m. Sundays and 7 p.m. Thursdays.
Public ministry, including hallmark door-to-door activity, is still currently postponed.
