Breastfeeding Group
Cancels Meeting
The Breastfeeding Support Group will not meet Wednesday, Dec. 5. The group has canceled meetings until further notice. Those with breastfeeding questions or concerns can call Sharon Sullivan at 738-4507 for help.
Natural Resource
Panel to Meet
Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Natural Resource Committee will meet 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Resource Protection Department offices located at 429 Katlian Street.
The public is invited to attend. For information about the meeting or in serving on the committee contact Jeff Feldpausch at 747-7469.
Author Straley
To Read Dec. 5
Old Harbor Books will host an evening with local poet and author John Straley, to introduce the final two books of his “100 Poems” haiku collection, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5.
UAS on List of Top 10 Schools
In Marine Science Programming
College Magazine has ranked the University of Alaska Southeast as one of the 10 best schools in the nation offering marine science degrees. UAS offers undergraduate degrees in both marine biology and fisheries. The ranking takes into account the access that UAS undergraduate students have to hands-on education, internships, and research opportunities.
“The UAS marine biology program is located directly on Alaska’s Inside Passage and students explore and study the marine intertidal routinely during their classes,’’ said Dr. Sherry Tamone, professor of biology and chair of natural sciences at UAS. ‘‘What makes this experience unique for students is that they are also within walking distance of the main UAS campus, dorms, and campus life. Our students work with marine biology faculty who all provide rich research opportunities that include field and laboratory experiences.”
Biology and marine biology students benefit from faculty actively involved in many disciplines, including marine ecology, marine mammalogy, phycology, comparative physiology, neurobiology, population genetics and conservation biology.
The national recognition specifically references the UAS undergraduate research, experiential and creative activities program. It enables students in sciences as well as creative areas to design and implement their own extracurricular plan, mentored by UAS faculty, and includes up to $2,500 in funding.
“The small community at UAS makes it really nice for students to get to know their professors and allows great opportunities to get experience in their field,’’ marine biology student Madison Bargas said. ‘‘Many biology professors have opportunities for students to work in their labs and/or create independent study projects to broaden their education outside of the classroom.”
To learn more about UAS biology and marine biology degree programs, and to explore other natural sciences, visit the website at alaska.edu/arts_sciences/naturalsciences. Academic advising for science programs is available by calling (907) 796-6200.
RockFit Taught
Hames Center will offer a two-week RockFit Express class Dec. 10-21.
The class will combine Olympic lifting with metabolic conditioning to increase strength, endurance and mobility.
Classes are held 4:30-5:15 p.m. Monday to Friday and will be led by CrossFit level 1 instructor Ben Schiller. No experience needed.
To register visit Hames Center or call 747-5080. For information on schedule and classes visit www.hamescenter.org.
Zarzuela-Making
Taught in Sitka
Students will learn to make zarzuela, a Spanish/Mediterranean fish stew, with Chef François Sanchez of St. Charles, Ill., at the next Cooking Around The World class at the Sitka Kitch.
Zarzuela, or zarzuela de pescado, is a mixed finfish and shellfish stew (note to allergy sufferers) that brings out the best of Mediterranean cuisine. It is similar to French bouillabaisse or the Italian chopino.
The class is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Sitka Kitch community rental commercial kitchen, temporarily located at the Sitka Lutheran Church.
Sanchez is the father of Sitka resident Claire Sanchez, and husband of baker Betsy Peterson Sanchez who taught three Baking With Betsy classes at the Sitka Kitch this summer.
He completed two years of study at the Culinary School of the Moulin à Vent in Perpignan, France, and has a lifetime of culinary experience working for hotels in France and the U.S., including Hotel Sofitel and Hotel Nikko. Sanchez was the chef owner of a southern French-style restaurant, as well as several Spanish tapas restaurants for 16 years before working at a conference center as the executive chef in St. Charles.
The next class in the series will be 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, when Sarah Lewis of the UAF Cooperative Extension Service’s Juneau District Office will teach ‘‘Preserving Leftovers and Holiday Gifts’’ by distance delivery. It is a five-hour class. She will teach students how to can several products.
AFS exchange student Mohan Arul will teach a class on Indian cooking from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Sitka Kitch.
The registration deadline for the zarzuela class is 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on our EventSmart page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com. For those wanting to pre-pay with cash or check, call Claire Sanchez or Clarice Johnson at Sitka Conservation Society (747-7509) to arrange a payment.
Story Time Set
The next preschool story time at Sitka Public Library will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6. ‘‘Is it Hanukkah Yet?’’ by Chris Barash, a book about welcoming the joy and brightness that the Festival of Lights bring, will be one of the readings. Rhymes, songs and crafts are included in the program.
Chamber to Meet
Janey Lester and Kim Kiefer of United Way of Southeast Alaska will address Chamber of Commerce members noon Wednesday at Westmark Sitka.
The two will lead the United Way of Southeast Alaska’s annual giving campaign. Lester is the Glacier Valley branch manager for Wells Fargo and Kiefer is a retired city manager of Juneau. They will discuss past success and stretching the campaign goal to $350,000 while also increasing donors and donations.
The Chamber luncheon is open to the public.
