Michael Hornaman Sr.
Services are Pending
Michael R. Hornaman Sr., 83, died Oct. 16 in Sitka, surrounded by his family.
A celebration of life will be held in the spring for the long-time Sitka resident.
JKT to Speak
On State Budget
Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins will speak on the state budget at 4 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the Sitka High School library.
‘‘This is an opportunity to learn more about where the state is now with Governor Dunleavy’s budget cuts and what further cuts he might propose for education, ferries and elder care in the upcoming session,’’ organizers said.
Contact Ariel Starbuck at 623-7744 or email loveycole@yahoo.com for information. The event is open to the public.
SCLT Meets Tonight
The Sitka Community Land Trust will meet 6:15-7:45 p.m. tonight at the Sitka Public Library.
The public is being encouraged to attend. The SCLT is a non-profit organization that relies on community support and participation. For information contact Mim McConnell at 738-2888.
Open Mic Set
The Greater Sitka Arts Council will host an Open Mic 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at Beak. Performers can sign up at 6:30 p.m. Call Ted at 747-5482 for information.
SAFV Board Meets
The board of Sitkans Against Family Violence will meet 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the temporary office location at 601 Alice Loop, room 109.
The meeting is open to the public. For information, call 747-3370.
School Board
Meetings Set
Members of the Sitka School Board will hold a work session 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the District Office Board Room at 300 Kostrometinoff Street.
The board also will meet 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, and 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, to discuss School Board goals for the upcoming year and conduct a board self-evaluation.
Tribal Elders
Invited to Lunch
A lunch for tribal elders is planned 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the ANB Founders Hall.
It will include lunch, crafts and games. Games, yarn and thread will be provided. Attendees should take knitting needles, sewing materials or other crafting materials of choice.
For transportation call STA at 966-9661 or the Care-A-Van at 747-8617.
Lunch will be provided by Our Town Catering.
Chamber to Meet
Joe D’Arienzo and Rebecca Poulson of Sitka Maritime Heritage Society will speak at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon noon Wednesday at Westmark Sitka.
Bear Story Time
At SJ Museum
All are invited to story time at the Sheldon Jackson Museum 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2.
At the new program ‘‘Alaska Three Bears’’ will be read. Children are encouraged to bring their own stuffed bears to this activity. Bear pelts for touching will be out after the story. This free program is best for ages 3-9. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Sheldon Jackson Museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission will be waived for the story time program. For information, call 747-8981.
Transport Needs
Topic of Discussion
The public is invited to a meeting 4-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, at Harrigan Centennial Hall, to discuss Sitkans’ transportation needs.
The agenda will include a discussion of the transportation needs of human service clients, and priority setting among possible grant applications for state and federal transit money to provide rides or capital for transportation services to seniors and persons with disabilities.
Public comment will be taken on any matter affecting public transit or needs of human services clients for transportation. Anyone needing connection by telephone should call or write before 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, to Connie Sipe, csipe@cfc.org or 966-4232 (leave message with contact information).
Natural History
Seminar Oct. 30
Dr. Tom Thornton will present “What do Alpine Cairns Have to Teach Us About the Natural History of Southeast Alaska and Human Adaptation to Environmental Change?” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at UAS-Sitka Campus at the next Natural History seminar.
Alpine cairns – rock piles and stone nests – can be found throughout Southeast Alaska. Until recently, archaeology has had little to say about them, UAS said in a press release.
In 2013 a pilot study was carried out on a number of these formations at the 2,000-plus-foot elevation level near Sitka. The study included oral history interviews in Sitka, Angoon and other communities, and archival research on the cultural significance of alpine cairns in the region.
The presentation will focus on the results of the oral history in relation to other sources of evidence concerning glaciation, flooding and alpine stacked rock features in the region, which have become touchstones of Indigenous history, adaptation, and resilience.
Thornton is the dean of arts and sciences at University of Alaska Southeast and a researcher. He has been involved in numerous projects involving anthropology and human ecology, including many in Alaska. His book, ‘‘Haa Léelk’w Hás Aaní Saax’u: Our Grandparents’ Names on the Land,’’ won a 2012 Alaska Historical Association award. In previous Alaska research he has collaborated with a number of Southeast Alaska tribes and organizations, including Sealaska Heritage Institute, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and the Southeast Native Subsistence Commission.
The Natural History seminar series is supported by a grant from the Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust to the Sitka Sound Science Center and by University of Alaska Southeast and the National Park Service.
Those with questions can contact Kitty LaBounty at kllabounty@alaska.edu.
Artwork Sought for
WhaleFest Event
Works of art created by Sitka students will be on display at an opening reception 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, at Centennial Hall. The marine-themed artwork will be on display throughout the weekend.
Students of any age wanting to submit artwork should contact Sitka Sound Science Center at 747-8878 before Wednesday, Oct. 24.
FilmFest Oct. 31
Sitka WhaleFest will kick off its 23rd annual event at a film screening 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, at Centennial Hall. The screening is free.
Marine Wildlife
Cruises on Tap
All are invited to join Sitka WhaleFest symposium speakers aboard an Allen Marine vessel for a whale-watching adventure, with sea otters and humpback whales, in Sitka Sound.
The cruise is for all ages. The boat departs at 8:45 a.m. from Crescent Harbor and will return at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are available for Saturday, Nov. 2, or Sunday, Nov. 3, at $55 per ticket at sitkawhalefest.org or at Old Harbor Books.
