Youth Leadership
Group Seeks Teens
The Sitka Youth Leadership Committee, a group of teens who are passionate about promoting a healthy and respectful community, meets weekly on Thursday evenings to work on projects aimed at building bridges across different groups in the community, celebrating diversity, and promoting respect and nonviolence.
The group is seeking new members. Visit www.sitkayouthleadership.com to apply.
OctoBEAR Fest
Events Oct. 30-31
Fortess of the Bear will host OctoBEAR Fest events 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 30-31, the last opening of the season. No admission will be charged.
The event will include a fall photo booth, coloring contest, treats and an end-of-season sale. Masks are required.
Attendees should take their untreated pumpkins to fill with treats for the bears. Children will need rubber boots and an adult to help them hide their pumpkin in one of the bear habitats.
Fortress of the Bear is closed weekdays and open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekends through October.
Landslide Warning
Town Hall Oct. 7
The public is invited to hear about the progress in predicting Sitka landslides and warning community members at the Landslide Warning Town Hall 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, hosted by the Sitka Sound Science Center.
Register at sitkascience.org “book now” for in-person attendance at Centennial Hall (50 in-person limit) or join via Zoom with meeting ID 881.126.7713 and passcode “SITKA.”
‘Fatherhood is Sacred’
Course to be Offered
‘‘Fatherhood is Sacred’’ sessions will be held noon-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Oct. 21, via Zoom.
Sitka Tribe of Alaska social services department is sponsoring the event. The curriculum is based on the Native American values and responsibility to raise safe and happy families.
The course is open to Native and non-Native fathers, grandfathers, uncles and mentors who are open to improving upon the ‘‘most important job of their lifetime,’’ STA said.
Contact Jean Swanson to register at 747-3968 or email her at jean.swanson@sitkatribe-nsn.gov.
Science of Stories
To be Discussed
Wendy F. Smythe, Ph.D., will present ‘‘Xáadas: “The Science in Our Stories: Connection to Place, Belonging, and Security for Native Students In STEM Education” 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, via Zoom.
The talk is part of the virtual University of Alaska Southeast Evening at Egan series.
The full line-up of the series’ speakers and registration links is currently live at uas.alaska.edu/eganlecture. Once registered, a link is provided to the participant. After each event, the lectures are posted to the UAS YouTube channel. Videos also can be accessed at uas.alaska.edu/eganlecture, with the button for each lecture changing its label from “free registration” to “watch video.”
SEARHC Offers
Fitness Challenge
SEARHC is sponsoring an all-ages, 29-day, fitness challenge ‘‘Stay Active and Bright’’ beginning Oct. 18.
Participants will set goals and track their active outdoor minutes. Bright weekly prizes, including high-visibility jackets, will be raffled throughout. The purpose of the annual program is ‘‘to promote physical fitness, the great outdoors, and safety during times of low visibility,’’ SEARHC said.
For more information call Doug Osborne at 966-8674. To register go to searhc.org/stayactive.
Park Announces
New Trail Hours
The day-use hours for Sitka National Historical Park trails have changed due to shorter days and continuing bear activity.
Effective today, all park trails will be closed from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The Totem Trail and the trail over Indian River connecting the visitor center to Sawmill Creek Road are currently the only park trails open for day use, park personnel said.
The Riverview Trail and the Russian Memorial Loop Trail remain closed at all times. Additional select daytime trail closures will be in effect when needed, depending on bear activity.
Daytime trail users are being encouraged to stay alert, make noise in areas of limited visibility, and avoid areas that have recent signs of bear activity (tracks, scat or active fishing).
Trail status signs are posted at trail heads and trail junctions. Red indicates trails are closed due to consistent bear activity. Yellow indicates one should use caution as a bear encounter is possible, and some trails may be closed. Green indicates all trails are open and encountering a bear is less likely.
For additional information on bear safety visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/safety.htm or call the visitor center at (907) 747-0110.
ANS Camp 4 Sets
Oct. 12 Meeting
The Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 will meet 4 p.m. Oct. 12 at the ANB Founders Hall.
Members are asked to attend and to take a friend. Annual dues of $12 can be paid to renew membership for this fiscal year, October 2021 to October 2022. The Alaska Native Brotherhood (1912) and Alaska Native Sisterhood (1915) are the first organizations in the nation to champion civil rights causes, first in the Territory of Alaska, the State of Alaska (1959), and the United States of America, a press release from the organizations said.
Membership is open to all, and the public is welcome to attend. For information call 747-7803.
Monthly Grind
Sets Oct. 9 Show
Sitka Monthly Grind will present the first show of the 27th season online on Saturday, Oct. 9.
The variety show presents what artists have been creating during the Pandemic with the theme “Artists in the Cave.”
The show can be viewed for free anytime starting Oct. 9 by searching “Sitka Monthly Grind” at YouTube.com or follow the link on Sitka Monthly Grind’s Facebook page.
Those with questions can call Jeanne at 738-8083 or Jeff at 747-4821.
