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August 12, 2022, Community Happenings

Posted

Farmers Market

Set for Saturday

The Sitka Farmers Market will be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the ANB Founders Hall.

Vendor registration is open for the 15th annual event.

It is hosted by the Sitka Local Foods Network, a nonprofit working to improve Sitka’s food security. The online vendor registration page, http://sitkafarmersmarket.eventsmart.com, is live and ready for vendors to sign up and pre-pay for their spots. Click on the event title to register.

It includes four more markets, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on alternate Saturdays – Aug. 13, 27, Sept. 10 and 24 – at ANB Founders Hall.

Vendors will pay $40 per market, or $240 for all seven if registered in advance, regardless of whether using a table or a food truck. Vendors can register for one or two markets, or all seven. A special youth market price is available. 

The market’s focus is on local fresh produce, fish, baked goods, prepared foods, cottage foods, arts and crafts, and all products must be made in Alaska (preferably in Sitka or Southeast.) Cooked foods may use non-local foods so long as the food is cooked on site. The mission is geared toward food security and space is limited. Vendors who register food booths will have a higher priority over arts and crafts.

 

Trails Dedicated

At Aug. 15 Event

Beaver Lake/Herring Cove Trail and Salmon Lake Trail are being recognized by the Old-Growth Forest Network at a dedication ceremony 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15. OGFN is a national network of protected and publicly-accessible old-growth or mature forests.

Network staff and local conservation partners will meet at the Herring Cove Trailhead. A 1.5-hour hike to Beaver Lake to view one of the special stands of mature trees will follow.

Those wanting to attend the dedication can follow Sawmill Creek Road 6 miles east of Sitka. The road is gravel for the last mile beyond the industrial park and the trailhead is located at the parking area at the end of the road. For questions contact OGFN Executive Director Sarah Adloo at Sarah@oldgrowthforest.net.

The Old-Growth Forest Network  said it ‘‘envisions a national network of treasured forests where all generations experience the beauty and integrity of nature.’’

Its mission is to create a network of forests across the U.S. – one in each county or borough where forests can grow, open for visitors and set aside from commercial logging – and a network of people inspired to protect them. For more information see https://www.oldgrowthforest.net/

 

All-Terrain Riders

Picnic Saturday

The first Sitka All-Terrain Riders picnic will be held 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Halibut Point Recreation Area main shelter.

Hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, drinks and more will be provided.   The picnic is free to all members. To become a member go to www.sitka-atr.com and sign up. Registration cost is $20 per year.

‘‘Our riders will be keeping the sidewalks clear of snow, helping those in need with deliveries or pickups, giving a Lael Grant Memorial Scholarship away and so much more. Join us today,” the organization said.

 

Moose Lodge Sets

Community Picnic

The annual community picnic will be hosted by the Sitka Moose Lodge 1350 at noon Sunday, Aug. 14, at Halibut Point Recreation Area.

The lodge will provide burgers and hot dogs. Attendees can take a dish to share. The horseshoe tournament begins at 1 p.m. The $10 entry fee will go into a pot to be divided among the winners. Kids games and face painting are planned.

 

Sitka Cirque

Showcase Set

Sitka Cirque’s summer showcase will be 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13,  at 207 Smith Street.

Advance tickets are available at https://sitkacirquesummer2022.brownpapertickets.com/ . Prices are adults $15, students/seniors $10, children under 5 free. The event is being presented by Friends of Sitka Circus Arts. Call 907-738-3521 for information.

 

Benefits Set for

Cancer Society

Two upcoming benefits are being planned for the Sitka Cancer Survivor Society.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, AC Lakeside will host a barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be sold.

The Elks Lodge will host a dinner and auction for the organization on Sept. 18.

Those with questions can call Carolyn Fredrickson at 907-623-7028.

 

Sacred Harp Sing

Set for Aug. 14

All are invited to learn to sing four-part a capella harmony in the Sacred Harp (shape note) tradition 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, outside on the porch behind Beak Restaurant. 

Beginners and listeners are welcome. Singing is from the red Denson book, and loaner books are available. Masks are optional. For information call Sara at 747-2915.

 

Cruise Listed

For Saturday

Sitka Conservation Society will host a cruise to Kruzof Island to see the wildlife and learn about the island’s biology noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13.

Boarding is at Crescent Harbor at 11:45 a.m.

Tickets for the cruise are $65 per person and are available for purchase at Old Harbor Books with cash or check. Space is limited. Attendees should take personal water and snacks if desired. Masks are not required.

Contact info@sitkawild.org or call 907-747-7509 for more information.

 

Hike Saturday to

Thimbleberry Lake

Sitka Trails Works will host a free 3.6-mile, moderately difficult loop hike with about 450 feet of elevation gain from Thimbleberry Lake to Sawmill Creek Road 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13.

Hikers will meet at the Thimbleberry trailhead. For information and maps visit SitkaTrailWorks.org or Sitka Trail Works Facebook page.

 

Silkscreen Class

Listed Aug. 14

LGBTQ2+ will host a silkscreen workshop and picnic 1-4 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Salty Spoke building behind the Beak Restaurant.

Silkscreen designs will be provided or individuals can make their own. Participants can take their own T-shirt to work on or one will be provided. Snacks can be taken to event to share. All are welcome to attend.

Silkscreening will be facilitated by Cora Dow.

 

CLIMATE CONNECTION: Saving Money with Heat Pumps

Sitka’s cost of living is unmanageable for many. One way of saving money for half of us with fuel oil heating would be to switch to cold temperature heat pumps which use our clean hydroelectric power. The Inflation Reduction Act anticipated to become law this month offers a $7,000 rebate for heat pump purchases and additional tax credits for weatherization.  However, households feeling the pinch of inflation in buying groceries and paying for housing may not have the extra money to invest in energy-efficient heat pumps, appliances, and weatherization, all of which would lower cost of living within a few years. An equitable way of assisting households to lower utility costs would be on-bill financing administered by the City and Borough of Sitka. 

With on-bill financing, the City pays for heat pumps and other improvements and recovers its costs on its utility bills.  Default rates are low, allowing potential private investment in the loan amounts available. Because the utility bill is associated with the meter, there is no conflict between landlords and tenants. If a tenant leaves, the next resident covers the repayment of the cost of the improvement until the City is reimbursed. The savings in utility costs from switching from fossil fuel heating to heat pumps pays for the increased electric bill, usually within 5 or 6 years. Federal rebates for heat pumps and tax credits for weatherization would allow repayment of the loan much more quickly, lowering the electric bill substantially, while allowing heat pump financing to be advanced to another Sitka resident. Sitka could incentivize switching those with resistive electric heat to heat pumps with three times the efficiency, so that our hydropower can cover more needs as Sitka decarbonizes. Electrifying heating and transportation are both critical to meeting national and international goals to cut our greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. 

We are blessed with clean hydropower, but it is not unlimited in the event of years of drought. With unstable fossil fuel prices,  we can decrease cost of living and make sure that we are all warm in winter in the event of decreased fossil fuel affordability or availability. That adaptation to an uncertain future is critical to our comfort and well-being in a world needing to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. Retrofitting our housing to be energy-efficient would create local jobs and keep utility dollars in Sitka. The Assembly is considering more positions and money spent on managing cruise ship passengers. Perhaps on-bill financing to equitably save the majority of Sitkans money on energy bills is a higher priority in transitioning to a world without fossil fuels.

Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka