SEARHC Gives to Housing Trust
Sitka Community Land Trust has received a $25,000 donation from SEARHC in support of more economical housing.
Funds, which were given at the Affordable Housing Fair at Centennial Hall Feb. 23, are for Phase I site development of Halibut Point Cottages to complete the soil remediation and finalize site prep work. With funding secured, construction of Phase I, which includes seven cottage-style homes, should begin this spring. Phase II includes construction of seven additional cottages on adjacent land that the city committed to the SCLT pending Phase I completion.
“SEARHC’s donation is important in that it will allow SCLT to cover the cost of the soil remediation for the buyers, keeping the home prices affordable,” said SCLT Project Manager Randy Hughey.
“This donation will have a tremendously positive impact,” said SCLT Executive Director Mim McConnell. “Receiving a donation of this size from a local and regional organization shows strong support for the SCLT. It will help leverage other donations both locally and from state and national foundations.”
The SCLT is a nonprofit entity whose parent organization, the Sitka Community Development Corporation, formed in 2006 with a goal of creating community-supported, sustainable, and affordable homeownership in Sitka and throughout Southeast Alaska. The SCLT hopes to combat the high cost of owning a home in Sitka by acquiring land and building small homes. The trust retains ownership of the land, and the owners purchase only the structure. Prospective homeowners’ income must classify as low to moderate to qualify for an SCLT home.
“Safe and affordable housing is critical for a community to be healthy,” said SEARHC President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Clement. “We are honored to partner with the SCLT on making this a reality.”
Fine Arts Camp
Given $20,000
Art Works GrantSitka Fine Arts Camp has been given an Art Works grant worth $20,000 for its summer programming by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $27 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Art Works is the Arts Endowment’s principal grantmaking program. The agency received 1,605 Art Works applications for this round of grantmaking, and will award 972 grants in this category.
“The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate,” Carter said.
Each summer more than 1,000 students attend Sitka Fine Arts Camp from throughout Alaska. A faculty of nationally recognized artists and educators, using national standards for arts education, teaches students. In addition to class work in dance, theater, music, creative writing, visual arts, and Alaska Native arts, students attend live evening performances and presentations by our professional artists. For information on programming visit www.fineartscamp.org.
Natural History
Seminar March 7
About Whales
Dr. Hans Thewissen will speak at the March 7 Natural History Seminar at UAS-Sitka Campus.
“What Whales Hear, See and Smell: Bowheads and Belugas on Alaska’s North Slope” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in room 229.
Thewissen, an expert in whale paleontology and anatomy, studies whale fossils and specimens to answer questions about their evolution. He will describe how his research has revealed evidence for how whales’ senses evolved for life in the ocean and the implications for management of endangered whale populations in the Arctic.
Thewissen is a scientist in residence fellow at the Sitka Sound Science Center through March 22.
The Natural History seminar series is supported by a grant from the Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust to the Sitka Sound Science Center and by University of Alaska Southeast and the National Park Service. His fellowship is supported by the National Science Foundation.
‘Princess and Pea’
Retelling on Stage
Young Performers Theater will present ‘‘Once Upon a Mattress,’’ a playful retelling of the “Princess and the Pea,” at the Odess Theater.
Performances are 7 p.m. March 8, 2 and 7 p.m. March 9, and 2 p.m. March 10. Tickets are $10 general and $5 for youths at fineartscamp.org, Old Harbor Books, and at the door.
Family Fun Day
At Hames Center
Hames Center’s monthly Family Fun Day event will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at Hames Center. Offerings include bouncy castle, climbing wall and toys. Admission is free through the Hames Wellness Fund. For information visit www.hamescenter.org or call 747-5080.
Playground Users
Get Parking Reminder
The Sitka Sound Science Center reminds the community that the parking lot between the playground and the Science Center, facing the water, as well as the area in front of the Mill Building, is for science center visitors and staff only.
Parking for the community playground is across the street, on the slope across from the SJ Museum, or the gravel lot behind the old Stratton library (across Lincoln Street from the science center).
‘‘We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in not parking in the science center lots,’’ a press release from SSSC said.
T’ai Chi Chih
Practice Listed
T’ai Chi Chih practice will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, behind Sitka Public Library.
Pioneers to Meet
A regular meeting of Pioneers of Alaska Igloos 22 and 12 will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at United Methodist Church on Kimsham Street.
Members are asked to take a potluck dish and invite a guest to participate. The meeting agenda will include a brief discussion of this year’s budget, and a program scheduled, with further information available prior to the meeting.
Testimony Taken
On PFD Bills
The Senate State Affairs Committee will take public testimony on Senate Bills 23 and 24 regarding ‘‘Supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend Payments’’ 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28.
Those wanting to testify at the Sitka Legislative Information Office, contact Ken beforehand at 747-6276.
