Mermaid Festival Launches
with Music, Markets, Food
The second annual Sitka Mermaid Festival continues this week with a full calendar of events including a banquet, music, market, and games and races. Saturday will culminate with a ‘‘Rock the Dock’’ concert at the Crescent Harbor shelter.
This year’s theme is “Vitamin Sea: Nurturing the Ocean that Nurtures Us.”
‘‘Food for Thought: Where Art and Science Intersect’’ will be 6-8 p.m. tonight at the Sitka Sound Science Center. The panel discussion from local artists, mathematicians and scientists on drawing creative inspiration from science will be presented by Cyndi Gibson, Norm Campbell, Amelia Mosher and Bobbi Jordan. Attendees can take their sketchbooks for the art activity following the panel discussion.
On Friday, doors open at 6 p.m. at Centennial Hall for the Umami Banquet: A Tasting Event, hosted by the Sitka Mermaid Festival and the Sitka Seafood Festival. Presenting partner Alaska Airlines will fly visiting chef Cassandra Kelly of Arcata, California, to Sitka to work with local chefs to prepare a selection of small plates and charcuterie board sourced from the sea. Sitka Cirque will perform. The banquet includes live music, silent auction and a full bar. Seating is limited. The full tasting menu is $65, standing-room-only, $40. Tickets are available at Old Harbor Books and online at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/sitka-mermaid-festival-26255816121.
Following the banquet will be ‘‘Siren Song Jazz After Hours’’ at the Pub with Stephanie Rebecca Patton and Jesse Sullivan. No cover will be charged due to the support of sponsors.
All-day Mermaid Festival events scheduled Saturday at Centennial Hall and Crescent Harbor shelter include the following:
–The Mermaid Market is slated 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Centennial Hall;
–Food trucks will be under Crescent Harbor shelter, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.;
–Mermaid Promenade Along the Sea Walk gathers at the new playground near Sitka Sound Science Center at 11 a.m. Participants will leave at 11:30 a.m. and march down the SeaWalk to Crescent Harbor Shelter;
–Kids games will be noon-3 p.m. under Crescent Harbor Shelter;
–Fish tote races are set 4-6 p.m. at Crescent Harbor;
–The Rock the Dock concert is listed 5-11p.m. under Crescent Harbor shelter. It will boast music, beer garden and food trucks;
–The Mermaid Market continues 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at Centennial Hall. Food trucks will be under Crescent Harbor shelter, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Those interested in getting involved or volunteering with the event can contact Mosher at (707) 672-2909.
For more information email sitkamermaidfestival@gmail.com or like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SitkaMermaidFestival.
Troll Fishery
Has 3rd Opening
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has announced a third Chinook salmon retention period of the general summer commercial troll season will begin at 12:01 a.m., Sept. 1, to target approximately 1,200 treaty king salmon.
The retention period will continue for 10 days, through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 10. Based on the number of Chinook salmon remaining on the annual troll allocation and the number of permits actively fishing, a total of two Chinook salmon per permit will be allocated during the 10-day fishery.
The department estimates that 82,000 treaty Chinook have been harvested in the summer troll fishery.
Pioneers Plan
Fall Meetings
Pioneers of Alaska men’s and women’s igloos 22 and 12 will begin their fall series of meetings Thursday, Sept. 5, with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church on Kimsham Street.
Dinner will follow, and a brief meeting will be held on upcoming convention issues and related voting and proxy signing. Pioneers are being encouraged to participate and contribute to the dinner as desired.
Library Preschool
Story Time Slated
‘‘Opposites’’ is the story time at Sitka Public Library 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12.
It will include the reading “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth’’ by Eric Carle. Rhymes, songs and a craft project also will be part of the event.
Everybody is welcome. For information, call the library at 747-8708.
Teen Advisory
Board to Meet
The Sitka Public Library Teen Advisory Board will meet 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at the library.
The board is a monthly open-forum lead by the TAB members to discuss the issues related specifically to tween and teen use of the library, including materials and events.
TAB helps the youth services librarian design new library events for teens. They also spend time choosing new free books, hanging out and getting to know each other. Teens willing to share ideas and suggestions on how to make the library a better place are welcome to join the board. Ages 13-19 can attend the meetings, held once a month on Fridays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Pizza and snacks are included. Teens can check the library calendar page for exact dates and times.
Rummage Sale
At St. Peter’s
A rummage sale will be held 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 31, at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea See House.
Proceeds will go toward covering the bill of the recent emergency roof repair on the historic See House. The church is located at 611 Lincoln St.
Moose Women
Meet Sept. 3
The Women of the Moose will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, upstairs at the Sitka Moose Lodge.
The agenda will include conference planning. Co-workers are invited, and being encouraged, to attend. A door prize will be drawn at the end of the meeting.
Pianist Oyaguez
Set to Perform
The Sitka Music Festival and St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church invite the public to a piano dedication and brief performance 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept 5, at St. Peter’s.
Spanish pianist Alfredo Oyaguez, a guest artist for the Festival’s Autumn Classics concert series, will showcase the 100-year-old Steinway piano that now resides at St. Peter’s.
Contact the Festival at 747-6774 or St. Peter’s at 747-3977 for information.
3Com Phones
Free from City
The City and Borough of Sitka will be giving away 3Com phones on a first-come, first-served, basis starting Friday, Aug. 30, with no limit. The phones are located at City Hall, 100 Lincoln Street, second floor, in a bin by the vending machine.
The phones are operable on a 3Com system only. Those with questions cancontact IS system administrator Don MacKinnon at 747-1847.
White E Closure
On Labor Day
The White Elephant Shop will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, Sept 2.
