Mark T. Bagley
Dies at Age 45
Mark T. Bagley, a Sitkan, died early Thursday morning at Providence Hospital in Anchorage following heart surgery. He was 45.
Services are pending, while the COVID-19 crisis is ongoing.
Mark was the son of Cathy and the late Mike Bagley, the father of Ellen, and the brother of Laura Mallula.
Foster Child
Gift Tree Up
The annual Foster Child Christmas Gift Tree will be on display at the Sitka Fire Department starting Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off (along with the ornament tag from the tree) at 208 Lake Street, Suite 2G, above Davis Realty no later than Monday, Dec. 14.
There are 40 children in foster care in Sitka, the Fire Hall said.
For more information, call Donna at the Office of children’s Services, 747-2802.
Climate Connection :
A Climate For Change
By Leah Mason
As many of you will know by now, the Assembly has agreed to bring back the taskforce that helped the City do a lot of work to address its energy use. Ten years later, we are all more aware of how much more we need to do, and how short a time we have to do it. With the most recent research suggesting that we should be aiming for 2030 as the finishing line for making our communities “net zero emissions,” this taskforce could not come at a better time. I’d like to thank the Assembly members for their support for this community. History will speak well of you all!
So what should this taskforce be doing for us? That is one of the things that it will be doing first - setting out its “tasks” and creating a plan to get those tasks done. There are many things that people would like to see on that list of tasks. For me, it would be working extensively with the community to create a 10 year emergency action and sustainability plan to reach net zero emissions. What’s that I hear? What is “Net Zero Emissions”? I’m glad you asked!
“Zero emissions” would mean ending all of the man-made carbon dioxide that pours out of our fossil-fueled economy by 2030. “Net zero emissions” is a two-part plan. It’s a commitment to doing things differently AND making sure that anything we don’t catch is collected by a carbon sink. A sink is like a long-term trap for carbon dioxide. A heat sink on a computer diverts heat away from the important parts of your computer, so that it can do the work it needs to do. A carbon sink takes carbon out of the atmosphere so that it will do more of what we expect!
A third part of a climate change strategy or sustainability plan, would be setting our sights on doing BETTER in a changed world. So, I would also like to see the taskforce making connections with local industry, and local authorities, to plan for greater success for Sitka, rather than just trying to reduce impact and limit damage. We can do better than that.
As I’ve said before, we could be developing renewable technology that suits us and can help other communities in similar situations. We could also be growing money on our beloved Salmon Trees. Right now.
Need an example? The bright sparks over at SEAlaska are seeing some of their most impressive returns from business that aims to improve the environment. Money is not just growing on their trees, they get to harvest it each year from the same trees! That’s right they get paid to leave those trees exactly where they stand. You can see more about this in a short movie at https://youtu.be/tfXCkjajjbY and read more about it on the SEAlaska website.
Change brings opportunity, and we are surrounded by plenty of ingenuity, and technical expertise to help us do more than continue the old model of selling ourselves to tourists, logging or mining companies. Our time starts now!
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Leah Mason is a member of the Sitka Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Family Pie-Baking
Project on Tap
Free apple pie-making kits will be offered to families who have students in kindergarten through third grade. Each at-home kit will include the picture book ‘‘How to Make Apple Pie and See the World,’’ pie ingredients and a Zoom-hosted class.
Kits can be picked up noon-2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the SEACC building.
Contributors to the project include Cosmic Crisp Apples, Sitka Rotary Club, Hames Corporation and Sitka 4-H.
Toys for Tots
Gets Underway
The local Marine Corps League, Robert B. Johnstone Detachment, is working with the Salvation Army to collect toys for families in need.
New, unwrapped, toys can be left in special boxes at several locations, including Sea Mart, AC Lakeside Grocery, Market Center, True Value, White’s and Harry Race pharmacies, SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center, Old Harbor Books, Lakeside Furniture Store and The Cellar.
The official box pickup date is Saturday, Dec. 19.
Businesses wanting a “Toys for Tots” collection box can call Sam at 623-7775.
Toys for Tots has been a program of the Marine Corps Reserve since 1947. More than 15,000 toys were distributed nationwide in 2019. For information call Marine Corps League Commandant Sam Pointer at 623-7775 or Jack Greenhalgh, 738-0675.
‘‘Thank you very much for your help in making this Christmas a little brighter for children in Sitka and Southeast Alaska,’’ the Marine Corps Reserve said.
Toy Drive Listed
American Legion Post 13, AC Lakeside and Sitka Bottling are sponsoring a Holiday Toy Drive for ages 12 and younger through Dec. 12
Toys can be dropped off at AC Lakeside and the American Legion Hall. New, unwrapped gifts are being accepted. Call 747-8629 with questions, or to add a child to the list.
Boat Parade Set
For Dec. 13, 20
The Sitka boat Parade will be Dec. 13 and 20. Those wanting to join should meet at the Longliner Hotel at 5 p.m.
Lee Hansen will lead the parade. First prize is $1,000 and second prize is dinner for four at the Longliner Restaurant.
For more information call Beverly Caldwell at 623-7038.
Music Festival
Sets Virtual Series
Sitka Music Festival will present the third concert of the Autumn & Winter Classics “virtual” series 6 p.m. Dec. 10.
Pianist Adam Golka will perform three complete Beethoven piano sonatas, each accompanied by an interview with a special guest.
Visit sitkamusicfestival.org for information and to access the concert on Dec. 10. The passcode is SITKA (all caps). The series is sponsored by Alaska Airlines and the Atwood Foundation.
WOTM to Meet,
Plan for Party
Women of the Moose will meet 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, upstairs at the Moose Lodge to finalize holiday and chapter items.
The second meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, for fellowship and to fill the goodie bags for the Dec. 19 annual children’s Christmas gift-giving and party.
Members are further reminded of the Green Cap meeting 10:30 a.m. Jan. 9 with a luncheon to follow. The meeting will be to honor a Green Cap honoree and to celebrate receiving the Award of Achievement. Events are planned with regard to COVID-19 status.
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.
Toy Boat Kits
Offered to Kids
The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is offering toy boat kits for kids to make at home.
Kits include parts to make a 12-inch-long wooden boat. The kits are free; however, donations are welcome. Order a kit at www.sitkamaritime.org for shipping, or pick up on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Email sitkamaritime@gmail.com, call 623-8054, or visit sitkamaritime.org for more information.
Moose, WOTM
Plan Gift-Giving
The Loyal Order of the Moose and Women of the Moose will host the annual children’s Christmas gift-giving and party via curbside pickup this year for Moose members and families.
Parents/adults are asked to stop by the lodge prior to Dec. 15 to sign up. All kids in the family up to age 16 are eligible.
On Dec. 19, 1:30-3 p.m., gifts, goodie bags and lunch will be ready for parent pickup. The lodge is providing boxed lunches and WOTM is giving gifts and goodie bags.
Sitka Land Trust
Panel to Meet
The Sitka Community Land Trust will meet 6:15-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, on a Zoom call.
The public is invited to attend. The SCLT is a non-profit organization that relies on community support and participation. For information about joining the virtual meeting, contact Mim McConnell at 738-2888.
Health Networking
Meeting on Tap
The Sitka Health Summit Coalition’s monthly Wooch.een (together in Tlingit) health networking and learning meeting will be held virtually noon-1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, by way of Zoom.
Go to sitkahealthsummit.org for information. To join the meeting, contact Amanda Roberts at amandar@searhc.org for the Zoom meeting connect information.
