Marie McGraw, 93,
Dies in Oregon
Former Sitkan Marie McGraw, 93, passed away on Jan. 13, 2021, at Corvallis, Oregon, where she had been living near her daughter for the past four years.
A full obituary will be published in the Sentinel.
UAS Program Offers Help
For High School Students
The University of Alaska Southeast Rural Alaska Students in One-Health Research program has started its second year ready to tackle new challenges.
Ten Southeast students from Metlakatla, Petersburg, Sitka and Craig, and three Mt. Edgecumbe students from Unalakleet, Huslia and Tyonek, joined this year.
While the program has always been centered on community-based research, with a distance-learning component, COVID-19 precautions prevented students from meeting in person, and with the mentors in their own communities.
“Both mentors and students have found creative solutions to make the mentor-mentee experience fun and exciting, even if it happens virtually or 6 feet apart,” said Kari Lanphier, the RASOR mentor coordinator.
To support this mentorship, Lanphier has RASOR Research Boxes, with science activities that can be completed in person, with social distancing, or even virtually.
‘‘While we look forward to the day mentees and mentors can collect and analyze samples side by side, the challenges of 2020 haven’t stopped these students from becoming budding community scientists,” she said.
Students are mentored by Will Peterson in Sitka, Brandon Thynes in Petersburg, Taylor Stumpf in Metlakatla, and Maranda Hamme and Shannon Isaacs in Craig. RASOR students also completed their first college course, taught by UAS professor and program director Ellen Chenoweth and UAF research advising and mentoring professional Natalia Podlutskaya, in conjunction with Sitka WhaleFest, an annual community ocean science event.
The program directors continue to track the accomplishments of the students in the first cohort, who participated in the program from 2019-2020. From this group, several have either started college, have become involved in college or community research, are currently applying for college and scholarships, have again participated in WhaleFest, and as volunteer referees for the Ocean Bowl, a spokesperson said.
Jade Balansag was recognized during the Rural Alaska Honors Institute by a vote of her peers for the Kyan Olanna & John Jajaruk Students’ Choice Award. Ewa Booth is taking college courses online in Metlakatla and continues to work for the Fish and Wildlife Department including with the new RASOR students.
The UAS RASOR program is in the process of recruiting four individuals from rural communities in Southeast Alaska to serve as an advisory council. Members meet with program staff three times per year.
Individuals living in or with close connections to Hoonah, Kake, Klawock, Hydaburg, Metlakatla or Craig are being sought. Advisers are compensated with a stipend of $2,000 per year. The application and full posting are accessible online at rasor.alaska.edu.
The RASOR program is a partnership between the UAS Sitka Campus, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, the Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research Network and the UAF Biomedical Learning and Student Training Program, Evalulogic and is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Candidates can contact Chenoweth at uas.rasor@alaska.edu or by calling 747-7791. More information about the program is at rasor.alaska.edu.
Sportsmen’s Range
Open for Business
The Sitka Sportsman’s Association has reopened its ranges for public activities.
Shooting practice hours are on the first and third Saturday of each month with the indoor pistol range open 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. followed by outdoor trap and skeet, 10:30 a.m.-noon. The indoor range is open 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays.
The annual general meeting and board elections will be held 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at 5211 Halibut Point Road in the Robert B LaGuire Memorial building. Members and the public are invited to attend.
Call board secretary April Ault at 738-4559 with questions.
Quilters Gather
Ocean Wave Quilters will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 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.
