Pumpkin Patch
Event Oct. 23
The annual Pumpkin Patch event, sponsored by 3 to 5 Preschool, is planned 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 in the AC Lakeside Grocery parking lot.
Attendees are asked to wear face masks and maintain a safe distance from others.
Pumpkins will be for sale. Activities will include ghost bowling and water balloon toss. A deejay will provide music and a fall-themed photo booth will be on hand.
In lieu of fees for games and activities this year, participants will make cash or check donations, located at the game and photo booths.
‘‘This honor system will help to raise funds for the preschool but also ensure that no child is excluded from having fun if unable to pay. No child will be turned away,’’ the preschool said.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, hot drinks, cold beverages and chips will be available for purchase. All child and adult food combinations will include chips, and bottled water or soda. Hot apple cider, sodas and bottled water will also be available to purchase separately. Credit card payment for foods/drinks will be accepted inside the store. Checks and cash payment will be accepted outside at the food booth.
For those who have a sweet tooth or a craving for ice cream, Sitka Swirls will be serving ice cream concoctions and donating a portion of each sale to the preschool program.
Baked goods will not be sold this year.
New this year is the sale of seaweed mulch for gardeners. A limited quantity of beach seaweed will be available for $5 a bag. The seaweed, gathered from beaches around Sitka Sound, will be pre-bagged in reused plastic grocery bags.
Appreciation is extended to sponsors AC Lakeside Grocery, Sitka Bottling Company, Sitka Swirls, Fisheye Coffee, and Northern Sales, and to all the parent and community volunteer for their work and dedication.
Tribal Council
Elections Nov. 9
Three tribal citizens are running for four Sitka Tribe of Alaska Tribal Council seats. They are Martha Moses, Frederick Otilius Olsen Jr., and Lesa Way.
Advanced/in-person absentee voting at the STA Office, 456 Katlian Street, is scheduled 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Oct. 27-Nov. 8. Election Day is 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Community House.
Those voting are reminded to wear a mask and to take state or tribal identification cards.
Those who wish to vote by mail are to call Election Supervisor Rose Demmert at 907-738-5450. A completed and signed application for an absentee ballot must be received by Oct. 20.
ANB, ANS Joint
Meeting Oct. 23
Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 will meet 11 a.m. Oct. 23 at the ANB Founders Hall for a potluck and joint business meeting.
All ANB and ANS members are being asked to take a dish to share, and a friend. Both ANB and ANS presidents Peter Karras Jr. and Grace Larsen will share camp news, and former Grand President Paulette Moreno will report on the recent Grand Camp in Juneau. The certification of elections, holiday dinners, and other business will be discussed.
For further information call Peter at 738-2434 or Grace at 738-8292. All are welcome to attend.
Climate Connection: Every drop counts
By Leah Mason
Oil has been a revolutionary thing in the history of humankind. There’s no denying that fact. At a time when we’re looking to phase out fossil fuels, it’s time to count our blessings. Or, more precisely, it’s time to do a careful accounting of what we will need to use between now and 2030.
We’ve known that we need to stop using fossil fuels, but now the best estimates give us 9 years to get it done. We’ve dragged our feet, so we have more to do and less time to do it. Worse still, the fossil fuels we need to use to make the transition are going to be more expensive as we go along. Oil is more expensive to produce now, and as the market scales down, it will be less and less profitable. We all know how that might affect its availability, especially in remote areas.
I worry about these things – every time I hear someone brake hard because of unexpected events, when neighbors’ kids roar up and down our street on their miniature motorcycles, in winter when vehicles are warming up. My respect for what oil can do and my understanding of challenges we’re about to face make me want to yell “Stop wasting it! Every drop of oil counts!”
Using oil to make the shift to renewables is the best use we can make of it. We’ll need to be pretty efficient and use as little as possible. Why? Because every drop is still adding to the problem. As a community, we need to be aware of what changes we’ll need to make, and plan out how we’ll make them.
Who has oil heating? Who has gas vehicles? Who has equipment that runs on fuels? What will it take to change those over to systems that can make use of our renewable rain power? What else do we need to put in place to make sure that we have enough renewable power to run everything we need? How much oil will we need to do it? Where is our transition plan, and our carbon “budget” for making that happen in just 108 months?
With the help of recent funding the City and Borough of Sitka is going to get some sense of this community challenge. I can tell you right now that they can’t do it without the Sitka community’s participation. What will the challenges be for different households, businesses and organizations? What resources and skills can we all bring to this task? I’m already thinking about my list of questions for the Assembly over the next 12 months.
Number one will be when they intend to ask for our help and our knowledge of where things stand. This is a problem that requires the participation and resources of our community as a whole. It’s a big job and it can’t be done without community involvement. The clock is ticking, and every second - like every drop of oil - counts. We need to stop wasting both of these precious commodities.
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Leah Mason is a member of the Sitka Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Alaska Day Parade
To Line Up Oct. 18
The Alaska Day Parade is slated for 1 p.m. Oct. 18. The theme for the Alaska Day Festival is “Coming Together.”
The parade route will begin on Lincoln Street at the SJ Campus and end at City Hall. Parade line up will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Contact Mindy Lowrance at 738-2418 to sign up for the parade. There is no fee to enter. Prizes will be awarded.
Paddle Board
Races Saturday
Alaska Day Festival paddle board races are planned 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, on Swan Lake.
Cash prizes will be awarded. All ages and skill levels are invited to sign up and there is no entry fee.
Wet suits are encouraged. Paddle boards and equipment are available at no charge for those contestants who don’t have them. Sponsors are SUPSITKA Paddle Board Rentals/Sitka Fish Outfitters LLC, Sitka CHARR and CBC Construction.
Age categories are 8-11 years, 12-17 years, and 18 and older. Events will be teams and singles, sprint, middle distance, long distance and crazy costume race.
Call Jenn at 738-4013 or Kate at 314-724-1303 for information.
Fish Pie Sale
On Alaska Day
St. Michael’s Cathedral will hold its fish pie sale 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until sold out on Alaska Day, Oct. 18, at the ANB Founders Hall.
In past years, the sale was held at the cathedral; however, the location was changed due to flooding of the church basement.
Clam chowder, fried bread and baked goods will be available. Donations of food items and desserts are being sought. For more information call Marie Young at 738-4166 or Cheryl Duncan at 738-1676.
Sitka Historical
Park is Closed
For the safety of park visitors and bears, all park trails and the Kaasdaa Héen (Indian River) area within the park boundaries are temporarily closed.
Park management will continue to evaluate bear activity. Check the alerts and conditions section of the park website for trail status updates at https://www.nps.gov/sitk/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Red trail closed status signs are posted at all trail heads and trail junctions. Individuals are asked to respect the temporary closure. The park said being in closed areas may result in a citation.
Visitors may still access the carving shed, visitor center lawns and totems, parking lots, and tidelands below the mean high tide.
For additional information on bear safety visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm or call the Visitor Center at 747-0110.
Sitka Tells Tales
Live on Radio
Sitka Tells Tales, the local live storytelling series, will present “Being in the Question: Stories of Curiosity and Science,” 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, airing and streaming live on KCAW Raven Radio.
Six tellers will share true stories live on air. The event is hosted by Artchange Inc., Raven Radio, Sitka Sound Science Center and the Sitka Whalefest.
Alaska Day Pie Sale
At Lutheran Church
The Alaska Day pie sale at Sitka Lutheran Church will be 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (or until sold out) on Monday, Oct. 18.
Whole pies will be $20, and the church asks patrons to have correct change. No slices will be sold.
To purchase a pie, go to the back entrance of the church behind Raven’s Hook hobby store. Parking is not available behind the church. A listing of available pies will be posted outside the back entrance and updated. Pies will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
‘‘Thank you for your understanding of our desire to help maintain the health of everyone by asking that you wear a mask at all times and maintain social distancing,’’ the church said.
Classes Dismissed
Early on Oct. 18
Sitka School District schools will dismiss classes early on Monday, Oct. 18, in observance of Alaska Day.
Lunch will be served at dismissal.
Schools will be dismissed as follows: first grade bus pick-up 11:45 a.m.; kindergarten parent pick-up noon; grades 2-5, noon; Pacific High School, 12:30 p.m.; Blatchley Middle School, 12:45 p.m.; and Sitka High School 12:50 p.m.
Brewfest, Brisket
Cook-Off Oct. 18
Sitka Historical Society’s fifth annual Brewfest and Brisket Cook-Off is planned 2-6 p.m. on Alaska Day at Centennial Hall parking lot.
It will include craft brews, music and the cook-off. Admission is $20, which includes a 5-ounce tasting mug and three beer tickets, or a brisket plate. Additional beer and brisket tickets can be purchased.
The event features craft beers from Odom Corp., K&L Distributors and Harbor Mountain Brewing Co.
Call 738-3766 to enter the brisket cook-off. Sitka Historical Society will provide the brisket to contestants.
Transportation
Panel to Meet
The Human Services and Transportation Advisory Committee will meet online at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, via teleconference.
Agenda items include: to consider transportation needs of clients of Sitka’s human and social services agencies and to recommend priorities among possible grant applications to address those needs.
The public is invited to attend by leaving a phone message for Connie Sipe at 966-4232 before 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19. She will respond either by email link or a phone link, as requested.
NATIONAL PARK
Programs Offered
Over Alaska Day
Sitka National Historical Park will open the Russian Bishop’s House on Saturday, Oct. 16, as well as offer a one-hour ranger guided walking tour in town.
Both services have limited capacity and reservations to participate are required. Call 747-0110 or stop by the park’s visitor center, Oct 12-15, to make reservations.
A one-hour tour at 10 a.m. will include locations highlighting historic events during the Russian colonial period. The tour is limited to 12 people and reservations are required. Tours will not enter buildings or structures.
The Russian Bishop’s House Museum will be open 1-4 p.m. and no reservations are needed. Museum capacity is 15 people. Thirty-minute tours of the historic upstairs of the Russian Bishop’s House will be available every half hour from 1 to 3:30 p.m. These tours are limited to five people each tour.
All tours are limited, so individuals should make reservations with the park in advance. Tour details will be given when making a reservation 747-0110.
The park’s visitor center, restrooms and trails will be open during normal operating hours.
Pacific High Sets
Garden Tours
Pacific High School will host a garden tour 4:30-6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the school, 509 Lincoln Street.
The school’s community engagement class will host the informational garden gathering. The group will share its vision of its Farm to Table program, give tours of the garden space, and offer a hot meal and gift bags.
SCLT Will Meet
On Zoom Oct. 18
The Sitka Community Land Trust will meet 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, on Zoom.
The public is being encouraged to attend. The SCLT is a non-profit organization that relies on community support and participation. For information about joining by Zoom, contact Mim McConnell at 738-2888.
School Board
Meets Tonight
The Sitka School Board will hold a special meeting 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in the district office board room to swear in new board member Todd Gebler and re-elected member Amy Morrison.
The board also will vote on officers and liaisons.
‘Behind Scenes’
Program at SSSC
Sitka Sound Science Center will host its “Behind the Scenes” series for adults. The free informal learning events will run 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 21 and Nov. 18.
The series will feature stand-alone sessions that explore features of the environment celebrated at the Science Center. The Oct. 21 program will be ‘‘Octopus Encounters’’ and the Nov. 18 program is ‘‘Lunar Eclipse.’’
Those wanting to participate should register soon as space is limited in keeping with COVID mitigation practices that limits numbers, and includes masking and sanitation.
ANB, ANS Joint
Meeting Oct. 23
Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 will meet 11 a.m. Oct. 23 at the ANB Founders Hall for a potluck and joint business meeting.
All ANB and ANS members are being asked to take a dish to share, and a friend. Both ANB and ANS presidents Peter Karras Jr. and Grace Larsen will share camp news, and former Grand President Paulette Moreno will report on the recent Grand Camp in Juneau. The certification of elections, holiday dinners, and other business will be discussed.
For further information call Peter at 738-2434 or Grace at 738-8292. All are welcome to attend.
Services Listed for
Gigi Buchholz, 44
Georgia Maria ‘‘Gigi’’ Kite Buchholz, 44, passed away on August 15, 2021, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.
A celebration of her life will be on Oct. 23 at the Halibut Point Recreation Area.
An obituary will be published in the Sentinel.
Tribal Elders
To Receive Gifts
Sitka Tribe of Alaska is honoring tribal elders with a gift registration.
Registration forms are being accepted through Oct. 15 for gift distribution. The date of distribution is yet to be determined.STA enrolled tribal elders ages 65 and older currently residing in Sitka are eligible.
To complete the online registration form, go to http://www.sitkatribe.org or call Jean Swanson at 747-3968 or Jade Nodes at 747-7293 for assistance.
