State Fiscal Plan
Call-In Set Aug. 2
Sitkans can weigh in at the final meeting of the Alaska Legislature’s Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Workshop Group 6-9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2. The call-in phone number is 844-586-9085.
“Alaskans are encouraged to share their perspectives with lawmakers on the issues raised during the working group’s hearings so far; namely, the state’s financial outlook, how to solve the structural budget deficit, options to protect the Permanent Fund and the Dividend Program, and potential new revenues and spending reductions,” the Legislature said.
Cultural Landscape
At Bishop’s House
Subject of Talk
Sitka National Historical Park will host a public presentation on the Cultural Landscape Report for the Russian Bishop’s House 6 p.m. July 28 at Centennial Hall.
The presentation will include findings from new historical research as well as recommendations for future treatments of the landscape. The public is invited to attend.
To attend virtually, join the meeting online or call 747-0131 for a link to the meeting by 5 p.m. on Monday, July 26.
The park is dedicated to the preservation of the Russian Bishop’s House, the second oldest building in Alaska from the Russian American period and a listed National Historic Landmark. An essential part of preserving the building is protecting the building’s cultural landscape, a press release from SNHP said.
The National Park Service has contracted with Mundus Bishop, a landscape architecture firm, to develop a cultural landscape report on the Russian Bishop’s House. Together, Cultural Landscape Inventories and Reports provide baseline information on the location, historical development, characteristics, and features of a significant place and become the primary guides to its treatment and use. The documents will help to determine what maintenance and preservation activities the National Park Service should implement to maintain the historic character of the Russian Bishop’s House cultural landscape.
Conservation Workshop for
Textile-Based Regalia Listed
Sitka National Historical Park will host a conservation workshop on textile-based regalia 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 31. Registration is required. Call 747-0110 to sign up.
Participants will discuss how to care for a Chilkat robe, Raven’s Tail robe, button robe or other textile regalia at home.
The park has invited Sarah Owens, an Alaska-based conservator with lots of experience in care and conservation of regalia, to share ideas and answer questions.
A presentation, discussion and demonstration will cover what can harm textiles. The discussion will cover best practices for storing, cleaning and traveling with them. The demonstration will cover techniques from the discussion, with an emphasis on what to do when professional-grade museum equipment is not available. These morning sessions are limited to 10 participants.
In the afternoon, people with questions about how to care for a specific piece or seeking advice on its condition can sign up for one of six special appointments to speak one-on-one with Owens.
Participants can take regalia to the workshop.
‘‘This is an excellent opportunity to get thoughts from a skilled conservator who has worked with many individuals and museums,’’ the museum said.
Call the museum with questions about safety measures.
‘‘Several – including limited participation, plenty of room for social distancing, and extra air filtration and ventilation – are in place to keep our community healthy,’’ the museum said.
Sitka’s Response to COVID
Is Topic of Weds. Webinar
The webinar ‘‘Community Response and Resilience to Disaster: Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis in Sitka, Alaska’’ is scheduled 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 28.
Hosted by the RAND Corporation, in collaboration with Sitka Sound Science Center and community partners, it will present lessons learned by local community organizations in responding to the pandemic.
It will examine how local, state, and federal governments can improve their collaboration with locally-based organizations by drawing on the experiences of NGOs in Sitka instrumental in addressing food security challenges as a result of the pandemic.
‘‘This webinar will be valuable for governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and donors involved with emergency response to evaluate their engagement with local community organizations and identify areas for improved partnerships with these groups as the pandemic subsides and communities look to build back better,’’ the science center said.
Speakers will be: Katie Riley, Sitka Conservation Society; Camille Ferguson, Sitka Tribe of Alaska; and Robin Sherman, Sitka Legacy Foundation and Sitka Economic Resiliency Task Force. It will be moderated by Alexandra McKay of the Rasmuson Foundation.
To register, go to https://answer.rand.org/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=n2LM8683 (optional).
To attend the webinar, join ZoomGov Meeting at https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1614747972?pwd=UGhXYlc5NWZXWGVNcVhwUlhhT1RtZz09, Meeting ID: 161 474 7972, Passcode: 345401.
