Annual Christmas
Dinner Dec. 23
The annual Community Christmas Dinner will be noon-5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Centennial Hall.
The event was announced by sponsors Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 President Harriet Beleal and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 volunteers.
The dinner is being dedicated to the memory of John Duncan Sr., a longtime supporter of the event.
The community is invited to participate. Meals will be available for curbside pickup; and delivery will be available for shut-ins, elders and those with no transportation.
‘‘Please, if you do have the means to pick up for yourself or others, we ask that you help us out and pick up,’’ organizers said.
Call Liz Marics at 738-2836 to ask for delivery of the meals, or if able to volunteer services to deliver.
‘‘Because Sitka is still under Red Alert status, all necessary precautions will be used to secure that the community and all volunteers will remain safe,’’ organizers said.
Grants and awards have been received by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska CARES City and Borough of Sitka food security funds, the Sitka Conservation Society, Sea Mart and the American Legion, as well as local business donations and individual donations.
All donations are welcome and will be listed in a thank you.
Services Listed
At St. Peter’s
St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will hold special virtual services this week in observance of the Christmas holiday.
On Dec. 24, at 6 p.m., will be a Christmas Eve service to include the tradition of highlighting many special musical offerings, and t he service ending with candle-lighting and ‘‘Silent Night.’’
Christmas Day services will begin at 10 a.m.
At 10 a.m. on Dec. 27 will be the Christmas Holy Communion service, with drive-up communion after the service between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
All services continue to be held via Zoom. For questions, and service log-in information, email the church at stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com.
Craft Program
For Preschoolers
Sitka Public Library will offer a weekly Grab&Go bag program in January with free crafts for preschoolers. Bags will be ready on Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30, and participants can pick them up anytime during the week.
Craft projects are best for ages 2 to 5. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 747-4020 to register beginning Dec. 27.
Assembly Meeting
Public Comment
Direction Offered
The city has released information on attending Assembly meetings.
Regular Assembly meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Agenda and supporting documentation is available at https://sitka.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or by contacting the Municipal Clerk’s office at City Hall.
Public comment on agenda items is encouraged and welcomed. Citizens may provide comment in-person or by phone. To sign up for telephonic testimony, call the Municipal Clerk’s office at 747-1826 or email clerk@cityofsitka.org prior to 4 p.m. the day of the meeting and specify the item to testify on.
For discussion/direction/decision items, Sitkans are being encouraged to sign up for telephonic testimony in order to have the opportunity to comment if a formal motion is made.
Assembly meetings are livestreamed through the city’s website, YouTube Channel, and Facebook page. Livestreaming links may be found on the homepage of the city’s website at http://www.cityofsitka.com/.
In addition, regular meetings are aired live on KCAW FM 104.7, and broadcast live on local television channel 11. To receive Assembly agenda notifications, sign up with GovDelivery on the city website.
Contact the Municipal Clerk’s office at 747-1826 or 747-1811 with questions.
Virtual Artwalk
On Tap for Sitka
Celebrate Sitka’s Virtual Artwalk, sponsored by the Greater Sitka Arts Council, is being held now through Dec. 25.
The event is being held online this year in response to COVID-19 concerns. Galleries, stores and restaurants will have featured artists and musicians. Specials and discounts and prizes for answering an online quiz are planned.
‘‘It may not be as much fun as walking the walk, but let’s keep Sitka as safe as possible by shopping online, but locally,’’ organizers said.
Go to Sitkaartscouncil.org to shop.
Some of the features of the event are: Island Artists Gallery will feature a changing slate of artists and specials, and music by J Bradley; The Beak Restaurant has meals for takeout and music by Mark Sixbey and Billy Baines; Harry Race Pharmacy, Lego window display by Tyler Eddy and music by the Sitka Blues Band; Old Harbor Books, featured paintings by James Poulson; Galanin & Klein has a video of the store; the Sitka Lighthouse Store has a display of its lighthouse installation featuring various Sitka artists, and music by Hank Moore; Raven’s Hook will show bookbinding by Christina Van Den Hoogan; The Cellar will present the art of Mary Goddard; Abby’s Reflections features Kathi Goddard as the special artist; and Visit Sitka.
Many Sitka artists also are being featured at the Juneau Public Market, which has gone virtual this year.
‘Child Find’ Sets
Preschool Screening
Sitka Borough School District provides Child Find Preschool Screenings for children ages 3-5 at the Baranof Elementary School. An appointment is required. For more information, or to schedule one, parents should call 966-1316.
The Child Find program is provided without charge to families who live within school district boundaries.
The program identifies children who are having difficulty in their development, and provides special education services to them, when it’s appropriate.
Parents may have concerns about their child’s development in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language skills, motor skills, thinking skills or emotional or social skills.
A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in various developmental areas. The screening is not enough to determine that a child is delayed, only signals whether further investigation into a child’s developmental progress is necessary, the school district said.
Screenings will be held at least once per quarter, and those dates will be publicized. Additional appointments at other times or locations may be scheduled as needed.
Gift Shop Open
Online for SSSC
The Sitka Sound Science Center Gift Shop is open online at the website sitkascience.org.
Local delivery, pick-up and mail order are available for all online orders.
