Services Set For
Donald Petro, 66
Services for Donald Petro will be held at noon Wednesday, Feb.9, at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church. Interment and last rites will follow at the Sitka Memorial Park loop shelter, 803 Sawmill Creek Road.
Donald, a lifelong Sitkan, died Jan. 27 in Sitka at the age of 66.
Youth Group To Campaign
For Healthy Teen Relations
In observance of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, the Sitka Youth Leadership Committee has launched a “Healthy Me, Healthy We” campaign that focuses on promoting healthy relationships and education about dating violence.
SYLC is a youth-led group dedicated to building bridges and promoting respect and healthy relationships between individuals, schools and communities. It is committed to educating peers about the red flags or warning signs of unhealthy and abusive relationships and their rights and responsibilities in every relationship.
‘‘Dating violence is simply too common an issue to ignore – 1.5 million high school students report having experienced either abusive or controlling behaviors in a dating relationship in a single year,’’ SYLC said in a press release. ‘‘SYLC strives to drive down this number by spreading messages and providing education aimed at preventing unhealthy relationships.’’
In a healthy relationship, individuals have the right to be themself and have the freedom to be independent, SYLC said.
‘‘You also have the responsibility to respect your partner’s privacy, independence, and interests,’’ the organization said. ‘‘While TDVAM is aimed specifically at dating violence, 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 and can affect people of any identity.’’
‘‘And remember, everyone has the right to feel safe in their relationship,’’ the group said.
Some resources on the topic are Sitkans Against Family Violence, 747-3370 or safv.org, and loveisrespect.org.
Dinsmore Placed
On Dean’s List
Autumn Dinsmore, a 2020 Sitka High graduate and lifelong Sitkan, has made the dean’s list for the fall term of her sophomore year at the University of Oregon, Eugene.
Dinsmore also earned placement on the dean’s list for the fall term of her freshman year.
She is the daughter of Melissa and Ken Dinsmore of Sitka.
SCS Annual
Meeting Feb. 13
Sitka Conservation Society will hold its virtual annual meeting 5 p.m. Feb. 13. Staff and board members will preview upcoming plans for 2022, conduct official business, and answer questions.
The public is invited to attend the Zoom meeting by registering at https://bit.ly/2022_annualmtg.
SCS will send digital ballots to members Monday, Feb. 7, via email and ask that members fill out ballots online by Feb. 12, one day before the meeting. E-mail info@sitkawild.org or call 907-747-7509 with questions.
Transition Sitka
To Offer Film
The public is invited to join Transition Sitka by Zoom at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, for a short documentary about how Totnes, a town in England the size of Sitka, built community resilience against outside shocks coming from climate change by local food networks, local energy, and sustainable building.
‘‘We welcome you to discuss how we can work together to build Sitka’s resilient infrastructure,’’ organizers said.
Registration is open at https://tinyurl.com/transitionsitka.
Jazz Festival
Set for Weekend
The Sitka Jazz Festival opens tonight with a concert at the Sitka Performing Arts Center. The festival has a full slate of events in its 26th year.
Tickets can be purchased at fineartscamp.org/shows or at the door. All performances will be at the Performing Arts Center. Masks and social distancing are required. Vaccinations are not required.
The Sitka CHARR/Westmark Sitka Friday evening concert will begin at 7 p.m. tonight, featuring jazz bands from Sitka High School and Vocal Jazz, Blatchley Middle School, Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary, Thunder Mountain High School, Dzantik’I Heeni Middle School and Juneau-Douglas High School. Special guest Jon Hatamiya Nonet will join them.
Saturday will be a full day of clinics, ending with the Alaska Airlines Saturday Evening Artist Feature at 7 p.m. The Kyle Athayde Dance Party, Sitka Jazz Festival Southeast Honor Jazz Band, and Smiles Quintet, B3 Trio will be on stage. Following the concert will be an ‘‘after hours’’ at the Bayview Pub.
‘‘A huge thank you to the community and all our past and present sponsors for this amazing event. Without you, none of this would be possible,’’ organizers said.
Party Saturday
For Michelle Putz
Community members are invited to a going away open house for Michelle Putz 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Halibut Point Recreation Area main shelter.
Putz hopes friends will stop by to wish her “bon voyage” as she, hopefully, as she leaves Sitka to Salida, Colorado, on the Feb. 13 ferry.
Organizers request that attendees be fully vaccinated or, if not, masked, and that attendees take a drink of their choice and, if desired, a snack, hors d’oeuvres, or dessert to share. They also encourage everyone to dress for the weather.
SCS Annual
Meeting Feb. 13
Sitka Conservation Society will hold its virtual annual meeting 5 p.m. Feb. 13. Staff and board members will preview upcoming plans for 2022, conduct official business, and answer questions.
The public is invited to attend the Zoom meeting by registering at https://bit.ly/2022_annualmtg.
SCS will send digital ballots to members Monday, Feb. 7, via email and ask that members fill out ballots online by Feb. 12, one day before the meeting. E-mail info@sitkawild.org or call 907-747-7509 with questions.
‘Fancy Taters’
Class on Zoom
Kayla Caprice will teach a virtual cooking class titled “Fancy Taters” via Zoom as part of the Ginger Kitchen class series. It will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6.
To register go to: https://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com/events/the-ginger-kitchen-fancy-taters-with-kayla-caprice/. For information call 907-747-9440.
Peratrovich Day Marked
Elizabeth Peratrovich Day will be observed on Feb. 16 in Sitka with a parade, public presentation and essay contest.
Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 invite the community to celebrate the Alaska’s Native civil rights leader.
The theme ‘‘Standing Our Ground,’’ honoring Tlingit Aani, and the signing of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, attributed to Peratrovich’s strong, persevering, articulate presence at the Alaska Territorial Legislature, and unwavering purpose to gain equal rights for all Alaskans.
Human and civil rights groups, and individuals, can march in the parade with signs and banners for their cause. Parade participants can go to Crescent shelter at 1:30 p.m. for the line-up with the parade starting at 2 p.m. from Crescent shelter to Totem Square.
Exercising the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech, a presentation of Peratrovich’s life and accomplishments will be given by ANB president Peter Karras Jr. and ANS president Grace Larsen. It will be followed by an open mic for groups and individuals who would like to address the public concerning their cause. Social distancing and mask wearing are strongly being encouraged for these outdoor events, organizers said.
This year ANB and ANS are sponsoring an Elizabeth Peratrovich essay writing contest for all students, grades kindergarten through 12, whether public, private or home-schooled. It is divided into four categories: kindergarten to second grade; third through fifth; sixth through eighth; and ninth through 12.
First-place winners of each age group will be awarded $50.
The theme of the contest is ‘‘The Heroism of Elizabeth Peratrovich,’’ and may include how she has impacted the author’s life today. The essay should not exceed one page typed and double-spaced or may be legibly handwritten as one or two paragraphs, or sentences, depending on grade level.
All entries must include the students name, school, class and teacher, or other contact information. Essay submissions can be mailed to ANS, 235 Katlian Box 2, Sitka, AK 99835, postmarked no later than Feb. 18, emailed to karenjeanlucas@yahoo.com or left with a teacher for pick up by calling 747-7803 by Feb. 18.
Winning essays will be announced and published in the Daily Sitka Sentinel, and prizes will be awarded the following week. Those with questions concerning the celebration or essay contest may call 747-7803 to leave a message and call back number.
