Seafood Festival
Dear Editor: As many of you have noticed, the 2016 Sitka Seafood Festival has been placed on hold this year. Over half of the current board members, including the director, have left town or had to step down for other reasons.
We are extremely proud of this festival, and think it is something that benefits Sitka tremendously. We would hate to see it fizzle out, but without some new volunteers and/or an organization to take it over, we will have to make a decision to dissolve the festival. There are still many people that would like to see this continue, and would love to help. If you are one of those people, or if you have ideas as to how to change and maintain this festival, please join us for a meeting on Thursday, Aug. 18, 6 p.m., at the Sealing Cove Business Center on Alice Loop.
Those with questions, or who can’t attend and have suggestions, can please contact me at 928-607-4845.
Alicia Haseltine,
Sitka Seafood Festival
Kayak Season
Dear Editor: From berry-picking to sea-kayaking, Southeast Alaska Independent Living and 4-H campers were busy exploring the outdoors and building life-skills this summer. SAIL and Sitka Conservation Society would like to thank everyone involved in making this year’s collaborative summer camps a blast!
SAIL’s ORCA program provides adaptive and inclusive recreation opportunities to individuals of all abilities. SCS’ 4-H Alaska Way of Life program empowers and encourages youth to foster a relationship with the environment.
Both programs came together with the support of many community members to create two weeklong summer camps. The June Harvest Camp focused on local foods in which participants picked salmonberries, learned how to smoke a fish, gardened, and prepared dishes with their harvested foods. The July Kayaking Camp focused on building kayaking skills through experiential learning. Participants practiced safety skills, learned various paddle strokes, and explored Sitka Sound. These programs would not have been possible without the many hands, kindness, and generosity of Sitkans.
Thank you, Mark Lee at Extended School Year, Laura and Claire at First Presbyterian Fellowship Farm, The Kayak Shed, Fisherman’s Quay, Dave Nuetzel, Bridget Hitchcock, KK Prussian, Aaron Routen, Chris Todd, Tony Phillips, Jasmine Shaw, Liz Butler, Caitlin Lavorgna, Francis Wegman-Lawless and Sienna White for donating gear, time and support.
We are looking forward to more collaborations. If you are interested in participating, or volunteering in either ORCA through SAIL, or 4-H through SCS, contact SAIL at 747-6859, or SCS at 747-7509.
With gratitude,
Claire Sanchez, ORCA Coordinator
and Molly Johnson, Living with the Land and Building Community Jesuit Volunteer
