Communitywide
Scavenger Hunt
Slated for Sunday
Sitka Kids is sponsoring a communitywide book scavenger hunt 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14.
Children books and young adult books will be placed at locations throughout town for children to find.
‘‘These gifts will be wrapped and one will contain an extra prize,’’ organizers said. ‘‘Get out early Sunday to collect some books for your home library.’’
Hints and tips for the hunt will be posted on Sunday on the Sitka Kids Facebook page.
Furbearer Trapping
Season Ending
Trappers are reminded the season for marten, mink, weasel and river otter in Unit 4 – Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof islands – ends Feb. 15.
Beaver season remains open in Unit 4 through April 30. Pelts of marten, river otter and beaver must be sealed by a department representative within 30 days after the close of the season.
Contact the Sitka Fish and Game office at 747-5449 for information.
Children’s Book
Club at Library
Sitka Public Library invites children ages 8 to 10 to the Pick Your Own Quest online book club program 10-11 a.m. Saturday, March 13.
The book featured is ‘‘Trapped in a Fairy Tale.’’ Participants are to register to get a kit with directions and activities to do during the program. The program will require an e-mail address to send an online platform invitation to participate.
Registration should be done before March 7. Call 747-4020 or e-mail at maite.lorente@cityofsitka.org for information.
Library Teen
Board to Meet
Sitka Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board will meet online 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. Those 13-19 can join the board.
TAB members will share ideas about library programs, books and other subjects. Free new books will be available.
To register, contact Maite at maite.lorente@cityofsitka.org
Bike Cooperative
Open on Saturday
The Salty Spoke Bicycle Cooperative is open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays behind the Hames Center on the SJ Campus.
Individuals can drop by to learn about sliding-scale memberships, see the bicycle tool library, and learn about upcoming events and educational opportunities. Masks are required. More information is at saltyspoke.com.
Teen Dating
Violence Month
Observance Set
Sitka Youth Leadership Committee has launched a ‘‘Healthy Me, Healthy We’’ campaign that focuses on promoting healthy relationships and education about dating violence.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
SYLC is a youth-led group dedicated to building bridges and promoting respect and healthy relationships between individuals, schools, and communities.
It’s committed to educating peers about the red flags or warning signs of unhealthy and abusive relationships and their rights and responsibilities in every relationship.
‘‘It is important to know a person of any identity can be in an unhealthy relationship, and dating violence is simply too common an issue to ignore 1.5 million high-schoolers report having experienced either abusive or controlling behaviors in a dating relationship. SYLC strives to drive down this number by spreading messages and providing education aimed at preventing unhealthy relationships,’’ a press release from SYLC said. ‘‘In a healthy relationship, you have the right to be yourself and have the freedom to be independent. You also have the responsibility to respect your partner’s privacy, independence, and interests.’’
While dating violence is the focus, SYLC said it’s also important to note that unhealthy relationships can take many forms – they can be between friends and family as well as romantic partners.
‘‘If you think a friend or family member might be in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, know that the best way you can show your support is by listening to them, acknowledging their feelings, and respecting their decisions,’’ SYLC said.
Some resources are Sitkans Against Family Violence, 747-3370 or safv.org, and loveisrespect.org.
‘‘And remember, everyone has the right to feel safe in their relationship,’’ the organization said.
Quilters to Meet
Ocean Wave Quilters will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, via Zoom.
Monthly meetings, September through June, are open to all, members or not. Those wishing to pay the $25 dues receive a monthly newsletter, discounts on classes and other benefits.
For information call President Sarah Jordan at 738-7272.
Climate Connection: Planting a shade tree, and other planning questions...
By Leah Mason
Have you heard this question before? I ask myself this question anytime I’m thinking about putting off something that really should have been done last week. If you want shade today, then the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. If you want shade in 20 years time, then plant a tree today. Your future self will thank you and be very impressed by your foresight.
Twenty years ago, many people didn’t really think planting a tree was going to be the best idea for addressing climate change. Now we know that our oceans are heating up because there aren’t enough trees and other plants around anymore to suck up the carbon dioxide. Trees and oceans are natural “carbon sinks.” Luckily for Sitka, we have alders and hemlock that plant themselves, and there is “growing” interest in using urban forests for off-setting carbon dioxide. Some cities are starting to use trees in parks or waste land to generate income. Check out https://www.cityforestcredits.org/carbon-credits/ to find out more about this!
Figuring out how to thrive, not just survive, in a changed climate also benefits from planning. If Sitka wants to keep tourists, food, building materials, and other important things coming in, we need to be able to provide fast charging for the next big thing in electric vehicles - boats, barges and ships. Going electric for all our critical services is going to take time, money and innovation. What trees do we need to plant today to make that happen?
You’ll be glad to hear that one is being planted this week! Our city government is putting in an application for the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project Community Technical Assistance program. This puts our town in the running for help in developing resilience to changing conditions through energy planning and technical solutions. Many Sitkans have written to support our city’s application, so hopefully we’ll hear more soon! Three cheers for the folk at City Hall! Wondering what this might look like? Check out the examples at https://www.nrel.gov/state-local-tribal/etipp-technical-assistance.html
If you need more real world inspiration, it’s exciting to see what Yakutat has been doing with wave energy. This year we should see the results of their partnership with UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power, Alaska Energy Authority, DOE, FERC, NOAA, and USFW. With the prospect of “excellent” wave energy potential in both deep and shallow water, the most recent study is mapping out how to do it! Check out the project outline here: https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/newsroom/BIO_AK-17-02_2.pdf.
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Leah Mason is a very busy member of the Sitka Citizens’ Climate Lobby!
Quilt Scholarship
Auction Online
Ocean Wave Quilters guild invites all to its annual mini-quilt scholarship auction, which this year is being held on a newly created Facebook page – OWQ 2021 Scholarship Auction.
The quilts will be posted late Feb. 28 and bidding runs March 1-6.
Minimum bid on all quilts is $25 and bidders are asked to leave contact information.
Cash, checks and and credit cards will be accepted.
Winners will be notified March 7 and arrangements made for payment and delivery.
All funds raised go toward scholarships for local high school graduating seniors and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
For information contact Megan at 738-2290.
Range Safety
Officers Sought
Sitka Sportsman’s Association is offering a free range safety officer training course 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, at the Sitka Sportsman’s Association, 5211 Halibut Point Road.
Training is designed to prepare experienced shooters for the basic safety and duties as an RSO. Sitka Sportsman’s Association is a non-profit organization which relies on its volunteers to remain open, the organization said.
The course is being offered at no cost for anyone who has a desire to assist the association in conducting indoor and outdoor shooting activities. Students must be current members of the association, hold a valid Shooter’s Insurance Card, be 21 or older and be willing to volunteer four hours of their time to run the indoor and outdoor ranges at least twice every six months.
The training consists of a two-hour safety class by Premier Training of Alaska, plus indoor and outdoor range tasks involving the trap and skeet houses, indoor range management, clubhouse care, and desk duties.
To sign up, or for information, contact April Ault 738-4559 or email to sitkasportsmans@yahoo.com.
