Coast Guard, City Team Up,
Train for Copter-Boat Hoists
A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter recently could be seen hovering low over the Sitka Emergency Response Vessel in the waters off of Halibut Point.
The two organizations, and Aids to Navigation Team Sitka, were cooperating to evaluate the interface between the vessel and the helicopter, to develop a mutually beneficial follow-on training schedule.
Air Station Sitka and Sitka Fire Department/Search and Rescue helicopter-boat hoist training is an initiative to enhance the on-the-water response capability in the greater Sitka Sound area, the air station said.
The initiative affords ERV crews experience operating the vessel beneath the MH-60 helicopter’s hurricane-force rotor wash and it affords helicopter aircrews experience hoisting to a vessel with characteristics similar to many boats in Southeast Alaska, namely drop bows forward and small decks aft.
These are attributes not found on most boats operated by the Coast Guard, the air station said.
Both agencies report positive experiences so far as they develop a better mutual understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the MH-60T / ERV combination.
“Being familiar with each other’s equipment and knowing ahead of time where the edges of the envelope are, prepare our aircrews and the Fire/Rescue boat crews for efficient and effective joint responses,” said Cmdr. Will Walker, the Air Station Sitka operations officer.
Baby Ravens
Event Saturday
A Baby Ravens program through Sealaska is slated 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at Wooch.een Preschool/Head Start for Alaska Native families with children ages 0-5.
Fundraisers Saturday
At Wearable Art Show
A flower crown sale is being held Saturday at the Sitka Wearable Arts shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Centennial Hall. All proceeds will benefit the Sitka Sound Slayers roller derby team. Pre-orders are being accepted by calling 747-5577 or e-mailing sitkaflowers@gmail.com.
Also available will be locally made chocolate, with profits being donated to the Greater Sitka Arts Council.
Sitka Orchestra
Performs Tonight
The Sitka Community Orchestra will perform 7 p.m. tonight, March 15, at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.
Donations will be accepted at the door.
Music will feature Bach, Brahms, Mozart, Korsakov and Stauss. Orchestra ages range from middle school to masters.
‘Green Book’
To Show in Sitka
The Sitka Film Society and Coliseum Theater will screen “Green Book” 5 p.m. Wednesday March 20 at the Coliseum Theater.
The film won the Oscar for best picture this year.
In the story, Dr. Don Shirley is a world-class African-American pianist, who is about to embark on a concert tour in the Deep South in 1962. In need of a driver and protection, Shirley recruits Tony Lip, a tough-talking bouncer from an Italian-American neighborhood in the Bronx.
The film is rated PG-13. Tickets are $8 at Old Harbor Books. Those with questions may call 738-0602.
Disaster Drill
Listed Tuesday
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka will perform a drill in which it will respond to a simulated major natural disaster – a tsunami – on Tuesday, March 19.
The drill will involve driving heavy vehicles through town and flying the H60 helicopter low over the town to land at Kimsham softball fields.
The drill commences at 9:30 a.m. and will likely last for about two hours, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard is informing the public of its operations to prevent any misinterpretation that there is an actual emergency, and to request room to operate in the vicinity of Kimsham Softball fields and Keet Elementary School.
Sneak Peek Set
AtKindergarten
Parents and children who will be attending kindergarten next school year are invited to kindergarten “Sneak Peek” 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Baranof Elementary School.
Upcoming kindergartners and their families, preschools and daycare centers can visit different classrooms, talk with teachers, do a scavenger hunt to get to know the school, and meet other school staff.
Registration for kindergartners will start soon.
‘‘We have changed our registration process this year and will be doing all enrollment online starting after spring break,’’ the school said. ‘‘Computers will be available at Baranof if you do not have access to one. We will also need a copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport and current immunization records, or permission to print them from the state VacTrak web site, if done in Alaska.’’
Since the budgeting process is under way, the school district will need to know how many new students to plan for next year.
Chowder, Fried
Bread Sale Set
Clam chowder, fried bread and baked goods will be for sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Irish Band
On Stage Here
Sitka Fine Arts Camp will present a night of music by the Irish band Jig Jam 7 p.m. April 2 at the Odess Theater on the SJ Campus.
Jig Jam, from Ireland, is described as “the best Irish group so far in Bluegrass” by Irish American News.
The performance will be a blend of traditional Irish music with Americana and bluegrass.
‘‘A high energy show with dapper performers, shoe-stomping music, and beer is guaranteed to be a smashing hit. Tickets are $20 general/$15 youth and are available at Old Harbor Books, online at fineartscamp.org, and the door.
Story Time Set
‘‘Spring’’ will be the theme of the 10:30 a.m. March 21 story time program at Sitka Public Library.
‘‘Bloom Boom!’’ by April Pulley Sayre, an award-winning author and photo-illustrator, will be one of the readings. Rhymes, songs and a craft project will be part of the preschool program.
FV Drill Conductor
Training on Tap
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association will offer a fishing vessel drill conductor class 8 a.m.-7 p.m. April 4 at NSRAA, 1308 Sawmill Creek Road.
The class is free to commercial fishermen, with support from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and AMSEA members. The cost is $185.50, including sales tax, for all others.
Mariners may register online at www.amsea.org or call 747-3287.
First Aid, CPR
Class at NSRAA
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association will conduct a first aid, CPR and AED class 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 5 at the NSRAA, 1308 Sawmill Creek Road.
The cost for the class is $100, including sales tax. Register online at www.amsea.org or call 747-3287.
Instructor Eric Van Cise will cover CPR and automatic external defibrillators; treatment of choking; medical emergencies; trauma; environmental hazards; patient assessment; medical communications; drowning and hypothermia; and common fishing injuries. Attendees will receive a U.S. Coast Guard accepted, two-year certificate issued by the American Safety and Health Institute.
‘Fishing for Info’
Presentation Set
The Alaska Chapter of the American Fisheries Society will host ‘‘Fishing for Information: Tales from Alaska’s Researchers’’ 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Centennial Hall.
Ongoing fisheries research will be presented. Topics include rockfish habitat use, humpback whale predation on juvenile hatchery salmon, and causes of death for adult salmon at sea. Community members and local resource users are invited, with a $5 suggested donation. An interactive discussion will follow the talks.
Contact Ellen Chenoweth at 747-7791 or go to https://units.fisheries.org/ak-mtg/ for more information.
‘Child Find’ Sets
Preschool Screening
Sitka Borough School District provides Child Find Preschool Screenings for children ages 3-5 at the Rasmuson Building on SJ Campus. An appointment is required. The next screening will be March 29. For more information, or to schedule one, parents should call 747-8356.
The Child Find program is provided without charge to families who live within school district boundaries.
The purpose of the program is: to identify children who are having difficulty in their development; and to provide special education services to them, when it is appropriate.
Parents may have concerns about their child’s development in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language skills, motor skills, thinking skills or emotional or social skills.
A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in various developmental areas. Children who are unable to pass one or more areas of the screening may have a developmental delay in those areas. The screening, however, is not enough to determine that a child is delayed; only signals whether further investigation into a child’s developmental progress is necessary, the school district said.
Screenings will be held at least once per quarter, and those dates will be publicized. Additional appointments at other times or locations may be scheduled as needed.
Bicycle Club Ride
Slated March 23
The Sitka Cycling Club will host a group ride noon Saturday, March 23. The ride will start and end at the BEAK restaurant for live music and 20 percent off food as part of the new Bicycle Benefits program.
The group ride will last about 45 minutes and will consist of riding on the Cross Trail. For information and to sign up for the Sitka Cycling Club, go to https://sitkacycling.wordpress.com or call Doug Osborne at 747-0373 or Emma Klein at 966-8785.
Unitarians Gather
Unitarians will discuss ‘‘What does it mean to be a member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and in particular a member of the Sitka UU Fellowship? Why does anyone want to be a member?’’ at Sunday’s Sitka Unitarian Fellowship meeting.
Gathering begins at 10:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:45 a.m. A St. Patrick’s Day potluck will follow at noon. The Fellowship Hall is located at 408 Marine Street, with parking behind off Spruce Street.
