John T. Cleaver
Dies in Sitka
John T. Cleaver, 73, died Monday, Nov. 1, in Sitka following a battle with lung disease. John will be missed by many and was a longtime Sitkan.
A full obituary will run at a later date.
Climate Connection: Can global warming destroy civilization?
Scientists are united in saying that the choices we make today to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions that warm our planet will determine whether we can save our way of life and civilization. What we achieve by 2030 will make the difference between keeping average global temperature at 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, hopefully below irreversible tipping points. Already, the globe has warmed 1.1 degrees, and we have large swaths of the earth that are becoming uninhabitable with sea level rise, heat, floods, severe storms, permafrost melting, ocean acidification, species extinction, and ecological disruption.
How can global warming threaten civilization? We will lose many coastal cities. Migration of people from uninhabitable regions triggers fear of change, conflict, nationalism, inhumanity, even war. Food insecurity grows with the changes in climate that affect crops on land and fish from the ocean. Water becomes a limited commodity due to changes in rainfall, soil moisture, aquifers, and flooding. Ecosystem changes threaten pollination of food crops, agriculture, and disease vectors. Governments have not yet prevented an increasing gulf between global corporate interests and most of earth’s people. The financialization of world economic systems based on debt lacks stability with recurrent crises due to financial speculation. In the event of a collapse of the financial system or supply chain fragility, we can no longer sustain ourselves in usual ways.
Western civilization, based on fossil fuels since the industrial revolution, prioritizes economic growth. Unlimited growth is outstripping the earth’s limited resources, impacting our air, land, and water. Energy return on fossil fuel investment is increasingly negative, and extraction is enabled by debt and government subsidy. As we decrease fossil fuel use, either as a limited resource or to protect our climate, our lives will change dramatically in ways that we can hardly fathom. We may not quickly replace the amount of energy that fossil fuels have provided. To be energy-limited means that we have to make do with fewer things, less waste, less travel. A sustainable existence may mean relying mainly on our local resources. At an average rise of global temperature of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, we may exceed the ability of governments and communities across the world to cope with climate catastrophes, since we are challenged now at a 1.1 degrees rise.
In sum, our uncertain climate future might result in chaos that certainly will affect our way of life and our civilization. We have a choice. We have all the tools needed to draw down our greenhouse gases. Continued collective efforts are critical. Global warming is the existential crisis, but also an opportunity. Together we can decide what we value most in a sustainable life in Sitka. That life may not involve barged-in food, fossil fuels for transport and heating, or a continuation of our livelihoods on the ocean or serving tourists. We need to discuss what we can save and what is critical for our adaptation in Sitka and on earth, if we and all humanity fail to act fast enough on climate solutions.
Kay Kreiss
Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby
‘Grab & Go Bag’
Crafts at Library
Sitka Public Library will offer a Grab & Go bag program in November with free crafts for preschoolers.
Bags with seasonal themes will be ready on Saturdays, Nov. 13, 20 and 27, and participants can pick them up anytime during the week. The program is for children ages 3 to 5. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 747 4020 to register.
Babies & Books
Curbside Event Set
Sitka Babies and Books will offer a Native American Heritage Month curbside program 11 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Sitka Public Library.
Call 747-4020 to register a child for the program and reserve a free new book written and illustrated by a Native writer and artist, and a bag with art supplies to work on projects related to the readings.
For information call Maite, 747-4022.
Urban Bear
Issues Topic of
Presentation
Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Steve Bethune will host a community presentation about urban bear issues in Sitka 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at Centennial Hall and via Zoom.
It’s been an unprecedented year of bear activity in Sitka, Fish and Game said.
The presentation will focus on fostering an understanding of what motivates bears to frequent the community and ways Sitkans can help mitigate potential human-bear conflicts with an emphasis on making their homes safe.
A question-and-answer period will follow.
In-person capacity is limited at Centennial Hall and COVID-19 restrictions will be in place.
To join the presentation virtually, sign in to Zoom. The meeting ID is: 869 4844 9533; Passcode: 330596; Website: https://zoom.us and log in or create a free account.
Those with questions can contact Abby McAllister at abby.mcallister@alaska.gov or 907-465-4292, or call the Sitka Area ADF&G Office, 907-747-5449.
Thanksgiving
Artisan Bread
Sale on Tap
The Sitka Local Foods Network is hosting an artisan sourdough bread fundraiser, with fresh loaves just in time for Thanksgiving.
Up to 60 loaves total will be baked, with 40 of them being a rustic sourdough and 20 loaves being the rustic sourdough with cranberries and walnuts added.
Each hearty loaf of bread costs $25, and weighs about two pounds each. The main ingredients of the bread include white, wheat and rye flour, water, and salt. The cranberry-walnut loaves add cranberries and walnuts to the mix.
The loaves will be baked Nov. 23-24 by Laura Schmidt, who also serves as lead gardener at St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm. She is a trained baker and in past years has made bread available for a donation at the Sitka Farmers Market.
The plan is for people to order and pre-pay for each loaf using the online order site, https://sitkafarmersmarket.eventsmart.com (click title to order). Orders are needed to be processed before noon on Saturday, Nov. 20. To use a credit-debit card when ordering, click on the PayPal icon.
Schmidt will bake half of the loaves (20 rustic, 10 cranberry-walnut) each day, and they will be available for pick-up 5-6:30 p.m. in front of the Hames Wellness Center. Those unable to pick up their bread will be offered a delivery service for an extra $5 per loaf. Individuals should supply phone number and street address when ordering.
Email sitkalocalfoodsnetwork@gmail.com or call Charles Bingham at 907-623-7660 with questions.
Deadline Extended
For Proposals for
Museum Series
Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum have extended the deadline for proposals to Nov. 9 for inclusion in the Winter Zoom Series.
Proposals are for the lecture and culture share series to be held on Zoom between late November and mid-March.
Speakers can give a 30-45 minute Zoom presentation in one of six categories, including: talk about art form or culture or relevant topic; offer a traditional story; provide an art-making demonstration; teach a traditional dance/ song; offer a traditional Alaska Native recipe and give a cooking demonstration; or give a presentation on a topic connected to Alaska Native cultures or interest the individual has researched for higher education purposes, publications, professional interest, or work for tribes, villages or corporations.
Speakers will be given an honorarium of $100.
To apply, get the application online at: https://lam.alaska.gov/sjm-events or call (907) 747-8981 and request an application or send an email to Jacqueline.Fernandez-Hamberg@Alaska.gov with the subject “Winter Lecture/Culture Share.” A short form will be sent to fill out and submit.
Women of Moose
To Meet Monday
Women of the Moose will meet 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8, at the Moose Lodge.
On the agenda are the upcoming holiday events, selecting dates, and forming committees. The quarterly audit is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Members are being encouraged to attend.
Sitka Sportsmen
Set Turkey Shoot
Sitka Sportsman’s Association will hold its annual Turkey Shoot 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at 5211 Halibut Point Road.
The long-time Sitka Sportsman’s Association annual event is for both the outdoor shotgun trap & skeet plus the indoor .22 pistol and rifle shoot.
All are invited to participate and no experience is necessary.
Anyone hitting a particular-colored clay target during a normal round of trap or skeet, or winning one of the 22 pistol events, will win their choice of a turkey or a coupon for a free round of trap or skeet – limit one turkey or coupon per shooter.
The cost per round of trap or skeet is $20 and $5 per indoor .22 event and both fees include ammunition. If needed, loaner shotguns and pistols are available for use at no charge.
Lunch will be for sale for $5 each.
Call or text April at 738-4559 with questions.
Fish and Game
Advisory Meets
The Sitka Fish and Game Advisory Committee will resume its Thursday meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8 via web-conference.
Due to the COVID-19 health emergency the meeting will happen digitally on Zoom.
Members of the public can sign up to testify during the meeting and are allotted three minutes.
Join the Zoom meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84419842298?pwd=UXRaY0g2YWdtdVg0RjJLdWxmUU1hQT09; Phone Number: +1 253 215 8782; Meeting ID: 844 1984 2298; Passcode: Sitka (214050 by phone).
The group also has planned a meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10.
Go to http://notice.alaska.gov/204331 for more information. Email annie.bartholomew@alaska.gov or call 907-465-4046 for information.
2 Sitka Artists
Schedule Talk,
Feature Artwork
The Island Artists Gallery Zoom talk “Art and Wilderness” 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 will feature Norm Campbell and Steve Lawrie talking about their experience creating artwork in the wilderness.
For a Zoom invite, go to website, islandartistsgallery.com or email islandpainter@hotmail.com.
In part two of their presentations, the Sitka artists will share the artwork they created as well as their thoughts about art and wilderness.
The gallery invites the public to the insightful discussion with the two longtime friends and renowned artists. Their art from this experience will be on view at the Island Artists Gallery Nov. 10-20, with a special evening viewing 5-7 p.m. Nov. 12.
Sitka Local Foods Network
Launches Sponsor Search
The 2022 Sitka Local Foods Network sponsorship program is launching.
Businesses and individuals are being encouraged to contribute to help keep programs going and fulfill the group’s mission of increasing the amount of locally harvested and produced foods in the diets of Southeast Alaskans.
Donations help host the Sitka Farmers Market, grow food at St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm, provide garden education classes in the spring, and sponsor the Sitka Food Business Innovation Contest.
‘‘Food security is a tenuous thing in Sitka, and we’re trying to do our part to improve our community food security,’’ the Food Network said.
The program expressed appreciation to donors in 2021, including the Alaska Comprehensive Cancer Control Partnership, SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Sea Mart and Market Center, the employees of First National Bank Alaska, Harry Race/White’s Inc., Linda Schmidt, and The Skaggs Foundation.
Those donating in 2020 were the Sitka White Elephant Shop, Sitka True Value, and Sweet Sisters Caramels. In addition, SLFN thanked the Alaska Community Foundation, the Sitka Legacy Foundation, David and Margaret Steward, Amanda Anjum, Charles Bingham, and other individual donors for their support.
To learn more about the sponsorship program go to sitkalocalfoodsnetwork.org.
