Sitkans Named to Board of
Statewide Housing Trust
Housing Alaskans: A Public-Private Partnership has named two Sitkans to its inaugural board of directors and technical advisory committee.
Charles Clement, president and CEO of Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, is a board member. Serving on the advisory committee as its vice chairman is Mim McConnell, retired, co-executive director of Sitka Community Land Trust.
HAPPP was formed to address Alaska’s housing crisis by ‘‘using creative funding solutions to bridge the gap to bring housing projects online, incentivizing housing developers and providers with operational and capital funding to help projects cross the finish line,’’ the program said in a press release this week.
The board represents leaders from across the state who are experts in their respective fields and have been confronting housing issues in their communities and for their employees. They will provide policy and fiduciary guidance to help bring housing projects to fruition in Alaska’s communities.
TAC members are subject matter experts in Alaska who will advise the board on policies, procedures, and projects.
Alaska’s housing crisis is felt statewide, from Ketchikan to Anchorage to Kotzebue, affecting everyday Alaskans – from cooks to cleaners to mail clerks to teachers – who are struggling to find and afford housing, the press release said.
‘‘Many housing projects are complicated, often having dozens of different funding sources and sometimes needing just a little bit of extra funding to make a project ‘pencil’ and move forward,’’ the group said. ‘‘HAPPP will collaborate with other housing funding entities to leverage and combine various funding streams to make it easier for those projects to develop adequate capital more quickly and efficiently.’’
The board represents Alaska’s geographic, ethnic, and cultural diversity and will maintain at least half its membership in Alaska Native populations and rural Alaska interests, HAPPP said.
Coho Clan Meets
L’uknax.adi (Coho Clan) will hold a koo.eex’ planning meeting 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Kaayaashka Hit, Mother Coho House.
For more information, contact Chuck Miller at 738-4025.
Members Sought
For Tongass RAC
The Tongass National Forest is recruiting to fill 15 committee member positions on the North and South Tongass Resource Advisory Committees.
Members serve a four-year appointment and meet one to two times a year to review and recommend submitted projects that benefit national forest system lands, monitor ongoing projects, and provide advice to the Forest Service.
The North Tongass RAC is comprised of the former Lynn-Canal-Icy Strait RAC, Juneau RAC, Yakutat RAC, and Sitka RAC. The South Tongass RAC is comprised of the former Wrangell-Petersburg RAC, Ketchikan RAC, and Prince of Wales RAC.
Members need to reside within the region of Alaska in which the committee has jurisdiction and, to the extent possible the committees provide local representation in each category. By law, members are divided into three groups and each member represents a particular set of interests.
Nominations and applications are due by June 10, and must be submitted electronically to Nicole Olsen, Alaska Regional Coordinator, Nicole.Olsen2@usda.gov.
Contact Hillary Woods for more information (hillary.woods@usda.gov – 907 228–6289) or visit the federal register for SRS RAC: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/03/27/2023-06207/secure-rural-schools-resource-advisory-committees.
Pioneers to Meet
Sitka Pioneers of Alaska will have a history program and potluck 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at the Unitarian Hall, 408 Marine Street.
Longtime Alaskans are invited to attend.
Parking is available in the back of the building. For more information call (907) 738-8891 or go to pioneersofalaska.org.
Wild Edibles
Series to Run
In recognition of Alaska native plant month, youths age 7 and older can join Sitka Conservation Society’s AK Way of Life 4-H club for a series learning about and celebrating springtime edible plants.
Youths will learn how to identify, clean and cook various plants with guidance from seasoned foragers.
Sessions will be 3:30-5 p.m. May 3, 10 and 17 at various locations. Registration is open to 10 youths.
Contact Anna at anna@sitkawild.org or call 747-7509 for more information or to register.
Event to Remember
Louise Brightman
The public is invited to a tea remembering Louise Brightman, Sitka’s longest serving librarian. The event will held at the Sitka Publlic Library, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30.
The event will be a chance to ‘‘drink tea, share stories, and remember Sitka’s past,’’ the library said.
Brightman started as an assistant in the library in the early 1930s and retired as librarian in December 1972.
Baha’i’s to Meet
On Saturday
Bahá’i’s of Sitka will celebrate the 9th Day of Ridván 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at a Bahá’i’s home.
The Ridván festival is 12 days commemorating the beginning of the Bahá’i Faith in 1863 where, in a garden on the outskirts of Baghdád and surrounded by early believers, Bahá’u’lláh declared that he was a manifestation of God.
Bahá’is celebrate the first, ninth and 12th Day of Ridván (translates as paradise in Arabic) as holy days. The 12th Day of Ridván will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, on Zoom.
For information or to RSVP, email info@sitkabahai.org or call Barbara at 907-623-0802.
Girls on the Run
Set Fun Run Event
The Sitka community is invited to the 14th annual Girls on the Run 5K fun run celebration 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at the Rasmuson Center on the SJ Campus. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m.
This year’s theme is ‘‘Animal Party,’’ so come dressed in animal costume.
For months, Girls on the Run participants have been building skills of setting goals, working together, persevering through difficulty, and unleashing confidence.
‘‘This is our community’s chance to celebrate the team’s achievements and progress throughout the season,’’ organizers said.
The 5K will begin and end at the Rasmuson Center. Volunteers are needed. Contact amattea@scpsak.org or call 747-3493 with questions or to volunteer for setup, cleanup, or cheerleading.
Girls on the Run is coordinated in Sitka by the Pathways Coalition.
Imagination
Library Event
Set for April 29
The Sitka Imagination Library will host a free, family engagement “ABC-themed” event 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 29, at Harrigan Centennial Hall rooms 5 and 6.
The program is for families with children up to 5 years of age. Snacks, story time, crafts, play stations and other activities are planned.
For information call 907-966-4229.
This Week in Girls on the Run
For the eighth week of Girls on the Run, participants practiced a 5K and learned about compromise. In this week’s lesson, teams learned that they are stronger than they think! Participants built confidence and patience by cheering each other on and pacing themselves during their practice 5K.
In this week’s lesson, runners play a game that allows them to compromise with their partner. Additionally, participants talked about how to use their inner strength to impact others through their Community Impact Project that they will implement in the coming weeks. Teams related this week’s GOTR themes to the Southeast Alaska Traditional Tribal Values of “be strong in mind, body, and spirit,” “respect for self, Elders, and others,” and “respect for nature and property.”
Throughout this season, GOTR will provide the Sitka community with updates from the program. We also hope to give mentors, parents, and guardians an opportunity to pass on skills from GOTR to the children in their lives! Here are some conversation starters for talking with kids about emotional health:
–When have you shown strength that you didn’t think you had? (Share your own example.)
–Tell me about some people/groups that you can positively impact with your star power?
–How might we help one of those groups?
Girls on the Run (GOTR) is an empowerment-based program for girls in third through fifth grade, currently in its 14th season at Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School! GOTR is more than an after-school activity; it is a program designed to bring girls together with strength and resilience and prepare them for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
Through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games, GOTR prepares girls for a final celebratory 5K Fun Run on May 13 while teaching life skills and unleashing confidence! Community members are welcome to join in the 5K or be cheerleaders along the course. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Annie at amattea@scpsak.org. Girls on the Run is brought to you in Sitka by the Pathways Coalition. Call 747-3493 for more information.
Unitarians Plan
Sunday Program
Owen Kindig will be the guest speaker at Sunday’s meeting of the Sitka Unitarian Fellowship.
Kindig attended and filmed public meetings in Portland and Seattle last month on the topic: “Is Christianity Worth Saving?” Thirty participants were invited from various leadership positions in churches and other organizations. The producers of the meeting were Jim Henderson and Jim Hancock of “Off the Map.” The Seattle-based organization has for the last 10 years or so been actively teaching a program called “3 Practices for bridging the communication divide.”
The three practices they teach in these meetings are:
– “I will be unusually curious about the other person’s opinions and beliefs”;
–“I will sit in the room with difference”; and
– “I will not compare my best with their worst.”
Kindig will chair a similar discussion using these rules, and all Sitkans are invited to participate. Gathering is at 10:30 a.m. and the program begins at 10:45. The Fellowship Hall is located at 408 Marine Street, with parking off Spruce Street.
Pioneers Home
Auxiliary Cancels
Pioneers Home Auxiliary has canceled its May 5 meeting. It will be rescheduled for a later date.
Transfer Station
Closure Noted
Jarvis Street will be closed south of the lower driveway at the city’s transfer station site, 205 Jarvis Street, the week of May 8.
The transfer station also will be closed to complete major construction tasks and will not accept waste during this timeframe.
Jarvis Street and the transfer station will re-open Monday, May 15. To access locations north of the transfer station, traffic will be rerouted to Smith Street then Beardslee Way.
For emergency needs of disposal, contact public works at 907-747-1804 or publicworks@cityofsitka.org to make arrangements.
Bingocize Promotes
Exercise, Games
Bingocize, a free health promotion program that combines the game of bingo with fall prevention exercises, will be offered 1-2:30 p.m. Fridays May 5 through July 14 in the basement of the Catholic Church.
Prizes are offered. It is open to everyone. Sponsors are Center for Community, Southeast Alaska Independent Learning and Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.
For more information call Tamara Walsh at 907-966-4250.
Outer Coast
Offers Grants
High school seniors who apply for the Outer Coast for the upcoming year by May 15 will be considered for the new Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Scholarship award.
A donor will fund full financial need for two Outer Coast students. Recipients also will have opportunities for mentorship with founder Kreiss-Tomkins during their time at Outer Coast.
‘‘The scholarship will be awarded to two high school graduates who, like JKT, exemplify the values of service to community and commitment to the state of Alaska,’’ Outer Coast said in a press release.
Applications for the year are being accepted on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Go to outercoast.org for information.
Fall semester runs Aug. 21-Dec. 16. Spring semester is Jan. 16-May 12.
