Climate Connection: Fertilizers and Fish Kills
By Leah Mason
As noted in last week’s column, the time to start thinking about your gardening plans for the summer is right now! What you will plant is one thing, but where will you be getting new soil or fertilizers? These are expensive to bring in because they are heavy. Worse, they come to us in – yes, you guessed it – plastic bags! Importing liquid fertilizers gives us similar problems. And what does that do for the carbon footprint of our food? Well, eating, growing, and composting locally does improve things, but bringing in soil and fertilizers can take us back.
Let’s break it down:
Transporting soil and fertilizers uses fossil fuels which creates carbon dioxide. Likewise, transporting plastic containers as trash creates carbon dioxide. But then there are other greenhouse gases that are more powerful than carbon dioxide. For example, synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers. They are powerful and useful in some applications, but when the plants have had their fill the extra nutrients can create problems. Like moving with all that rain into our waterways, feeding algal blooms and killing fish. Or feeding soil bacteria which turn it into nitrous oxide. A greenhouse gas that is 298 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. It can also make the soil harder to work.
You can read more about the impact of managing nutrients at https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/food/nutrient-management.
Could we make life easier for ourselves? Yes. By creating a complete circle from our tables to our compost heaps/worm farms, to our garden beds and then back to our tables.
Want to know more? Join us at this month’s Drawdown Learning Circle on Feb. 20 from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Share your questions, interests, and wisdom with fellow Sitkans at Gus Adams Room in the Sitka Public Library.
Can’t make it but want to help others reduce the impact of food waste on our carbon footprint? Submit a tip or trick for growing, buying, storing, preparing, and reusing leftovers at the Sustainable Sitka facebook group. You’ll find the form at the top of the page!
---
Leah Mason is a member of the Sitka Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Banff Film
Festival in Sitka
The Banff Film Festival adventure films will be shown on the big screen at the Performing Arts Center 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28.
Tickets are on sale at Hames Center and Old Harbor Books and are $20/adults and $15/youths and seniors. This stop on the world tour is hosted by Hames Center. For information call Hames Center 747-5080.
Aerobic, Strength
Training Offered
Hames Center will offer an aerobic and strength training 101 workshop on Sunday, Feb. 23. This class teaches how to properly use fitness equipment and progress and track workouts. It will be led by Alicia Haseltine.
The class is free for Hames members or $10 for non-members. Advanced registration is required.
Public Testimony
Taken at Sitka LIO
The week of Feb. 17th the Alaska Legislature will be taking public testimony on the following at the Sitka Legislative Information Office.
–Feb. 17, 3:30 p.m., registration of boats: exemptions;
–Feb. 18, 8 a.m., state recognition of tribes; and 3 p.m. repeal ocean pollution monitors;
–Feb. 19, 6:30-8 p.m. public testimony on state budget;
–Feb. 22, Saturday, noon-3 p.m., public testimony on state budget.
For a full list of topics, visit akleg.gov and click on “public testimony opportunities.” Individuals can track bills by text. Call the Sitka Legislative Office at 747-6276 or visit akleg.gov for information.
Chamber Exec
Graduates from
Study Program
Rachel Roy, Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce executive director, was among 28 chamber executives to graduate from Academy, a professional development program presented by the Western Association of Chamber Executives.
Academy is an interactive three-year training program on chamber management essentials designed for chamber executives and staff professionals.
Graduates participated in 18 three-hour classes and must successfully complete additional independent study outside of the classroom.
WACE is an association of Chamber of Commerce executives and staff professionals designed to promote and enhance professional development.
Local Fishing Group Seeks
Crew Training Applicants
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, a Sitka-based fishing group, is seeking applicants for its Crew Training Program.
ALFA has expanded the program for the 2020 season. It is seeking deckhand applicants to head out fishing this season. The crewmember application period is currently open and will close Feb. 28. Applicants must be 18 or older.
Application information is at http://www.alfafish.org/crewtraining/.
‘‘Through a safe and well-guided entry level experience, the program aims to provide young people an opportunity to gain experience in, as well as an understanding of, commercial fishing and its importance to supporting coastal communities,’’ ALFA said in a press release.
Formalized as part of ALFA’s Young Fishermen Initiative in 2015, in late 2017 ALFA was awarded a $142,000 national grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to increase more deckhands statewide. In 2019 it was given several additional grants to support the program from groups including the Edgerton Foundation, the City and Borough of Sitka, the Alaska Community Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
‘‘ALFA is very grateful for the support of these organizations and from our community,’’ the organization said.
According to NFWF, “the work funded by these grants will result in improved management that strengthens the welfare of fishermen and local communities, promoting healthy fish stocks and healthy fisheries.”
Last year the program had more than 110 local, national and international applicants, but ALFA continues to put an emphasis on building economic opportunities in Southeast Alaska. Annually about 10-15 deckhand finalists are hired by participating skippers and make it on to the water.
“With support from NFWF, we plan to expand the program to include more boats, crew, and communities,” said ALFA Executive Director Linda Behnken.
“Beyond giving me an entry point into an industry that I otherwise would have had a harder time getting into … the skippers in the program all wanted to teach, and sign up to take greenhorns so they could pass on what they know,” said Lea LeGardeur, a crew alumni of the training program.
“Giving young people an introduction to Alaska’s commercial fisheries will help sustain our fishing communities and create the next generation of resource stewards,” Behnken said.
Closure Listed
At SJ Museum
The Sheldon Jackson Museum will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
Winter hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays will resume on Feb. 19. The museum is closed Sundays and Mondays and observed state holidays.
The discounted winter admission is $5 and $4 for seniors. Visitors 18 years and younger, Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum, and those with passes are admitted free.
SFS, Coliseum
Set Screening
For ‘Parasite’
The Sitka Film Society and Coliseum Theater will screen “Parasite” 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Coliseum.
The film won the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director, Original Screenplay and Best International Feature.
A summary of the film says, “A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is threatened with exposure.”
The film is subtitled and rated R for language, some violence and sexual content. Running time is two hours, 11 minutes.
Tickets are $8 at Old Harbor Books and the door. Those with questions may call 738-0602.
Art, Storytelling
Event for Youths
Sitka Native Education Program and 4-H will present ‘‘Lingít Legends and Art,’’ a storytelling and craft event for kindergarten through fifth grades, noon-3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Southeast Alaska Career Center, 205 Baranof Street.
A light lunch will be available. Parents should provide a list of any allergies prior to the event.
The free event has limited space and is open to students currently enrolled in SNEP, 4-H and STA. Contact emily@sitkawild.org for information and required registration.
White E Shop
Sale Saturday
The White Elephant Shop will have a half-price sale on all yellow tag items in both stores starting Saturday, Feb. 15. The store opens at noon.
SEARHC to Relocate and Rename Oceanside Physical Therapy
Oceanside Physical Therapy is moving to a new location on Feb. 25.
The office will relocate from 805 Halibut Point Road to the ground floor of 209 Moller Ave., below Sitka Long-Term Care, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium has announced.
In conjunction with the move, OPT will be renamed to Mountainside Rehabilitation Clinic while continuing to offer the same specialties as the previous location.
SEARHC acquired the former Oceanside Therapy Clinic as part of the Sitka Community Hospital transition in August 2019. The move to the Moller Avenue location and subsequent renaming are part of the efforts by SEARHC to streamline patient care in Sitka.
“The OPT move will allow the rehab team to provide the same high-quality care to our patients in a space much better suited to their needs,” said William Spivey, SEARHC Director of Rehabilitation Services. “The new space will allow for continued expansion of services to meet the needs of Sitka and the surrounding areas within the SEARHC Care Network.”
Physical therapy and occupational therapy will continue to be offered at Mountainside Rehabilitation Clinic seven days a week; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m.-noon on weekends. For questions, or to schedule an appointment at the new clinic, call 747-1771.
Mountainside Rehabilitation Clinic is one of three facilities within the greater SEARHC Sitka Rehabilitation Services line, which also includes Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center and Sitka Physical Therapy. Patients can access physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language therapy at MEMC, while Sitka Physical Therapy specializes in orthopedic and sports physical therapy. For information, contact MEMC at 966-2411, or Sitka Physical Therapy at 747-4559.
Story Time Set
At Public Library
‘‘It’s Mardi Gras’’ is the theme of the 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, story time program at Sitka Public Library.
‘‘How do you dance?’’ by Thyra Heder will be one of the readings. The preschool program includes rhymes, songs and a craft project. Everybody is welcome. For information, call the library at 747-4022.
Be-Tweens Invited
To Library Event
Be-Tweens, ages 10 to 12, can attend a Death by Chocolate program at Sitka Public Library 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. Participants will test their physical skills at ‘‘chocolate musical chairs’’ and other chocolate-themed challenges. The event is free. Registration is required.
For information call Maite at 747-4022.
Fiber Friends
Meet Saturday
Fiber Friends will meet noon-2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Gus Adams room at Sitka Public Library.
Fiber Friends is a group of people who spin, dye, weave, knit, crochet, hook, felt and braid. Anyone interested in these fiber activities can attend and take their projects, ideas and inspiration to the meeting. For information, contact Marian Allen at 738-1970.
Sacred Harp Sing
Slated for Feb. 23
All are invited to learn to sing four-part a capella harmony in an American tradition 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Pioneers Home Chapel.
Beginners and listeners are welcome. Singing is from the red Denson book, and loaner books are available. For information call Kari at 738-2089.
UAS Prof Wins
3 Fellowships
X̱ʼunei Lance Twitchell, associate professor of Alaska Native languages at the University of Alaska Southeast, has been awarded three fellowships to enhance his work in Tlingit language and artwork.
Twitchell received $50,000 as a 2020 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellow from the First Nations Development Institute, which he will use to continue to improve online access and organization of Tlingit language materials. In addition, he has been granted $35,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to prepare a manuscript of transcribed and translated oral culture. From the First Peoples Fund Twitchell has been given a $5,000 Artist in Business Leadership/Cultural Capital Fellowship to purchase equipment and move his artwork into metalsmithing and engraving.
