Municipal Election
Options in Place
Registered Sitka voters can cast ballots in the Oct. 5 municipal election using the following options.
They may choose to vote: by-mail; advanced in-person at Harrigan Centennial Hall weekdays Sept. 20-Oct. 4 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in meeting rooms 2 and 3); by fax; personal representative; and in-person on Election Day at Harrigan Centennial Hall, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Applications to vote by mail must be received by the Municipal Clerk’s Office no later than Sept. 28. For information, call the office at 747-1811, 747-1826, or visit the City and Borough of Sitka Election Information page at: http://www.cityofsitka.com/government/clerk/elections/index.html.
Options Given for
Property Tax Pay
Property owners may pay their property tax to the City and Borough of Sitka by credit card, cash or check.
Payments may be made in-person at City Hall at 100 Lincoln Street 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by mailing to the same address; by calling 747-1818; or by paying online through www.xpressbillpay.com/.
The city does not have the option of autopay for property tax payment.
Climate Connection: Energy Transition
By Kay Kreiss
In mid-February, the City and Bureau of Sitka submitted a proposal to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for technical assistance to meet the challenges ahead in renewable energy required by our climate emergency. The program was called the Energy Transition Innovation Partnership Program. Sitka’s proposal was unique among those from rural and islanded communities all over the U.S. in having 17 letters of support from community stakeholders. Many organizations painted a picture of our engaged community embarking on climate resilience and mitigation with details that the municipal proposal couldn’t include within the rigid page limits of federal grants. For example, Baranof Island Housing Authority and Sitka Tribe of Alaska offered evidence of the resources each had acquired for energy efficiency. The Health Summit pointed to community-designated priorities in carbon dioxide reduction, local food production, and decolonization that resulted in Sitka’s being chosen for the Robert Wood Johnson Healthy Community prize in 2020. The University of Alaska Southeast in Sitka spoke to its interest in distance education opportunities and preparing the needed workforce for renewable energy transitions. SEARHC described the Gold LEED standards for the new hospital. Sitka Sound Science Center demonstrated its ability to obtain resources pertinent to resilience by describing its partners in landslide risk monitoring related to severe weather. The Federal Aviation Authority had interest in renewable power on Biorka Island. The many organizations acting on climate change and its effects contributed support – Sitka Conservation Society, Sitka Rainpower, Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby, the elected Sitka Fish and Game Commission, Seafood Producers Cooperative, Project Drawdown, and Youth for Sustainable Futures. The Chamber of Commerce, School Board, and Rotary Club all had interest in or initiatives pertinent to the transition.
All this effort documented that our community has deep interest in responding to energy and decarbonization challenges. We can obtain resources for implementation of plans that come out of expert technical advice on renewable energy. Sitka was one of 11 communities awarded an ETIPP grant this spring, among 5 in Alaska and 2 each in Maine, North Carolina, and Hawaii. The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association was also awarded ETIPP technical assistance for research and demonstration of ways of decreasing diesel emissions of the commercial fishing fleet. With both these awards, Sitka has the opportunity to lead lots of other remote and island communities to optimize renewable power in mitigating the climate challenge.
The Sitka grant proposal was a terrific document with requests for more than the national labs could advise on in a period of 12-18 months. Working with NREL, the scope of work was narrowed by August to 5 priorities: 1) Developing a model of our electric grid to allow planning for its expansion and optimization. 2) Installing sensors (Micro Phasor Management Units) to help match supply and demand of electricity in our grid. 3) Characterizing Sitka’s potential for wind, geothermal, tidal, wave, and solar energies. 4) Assessing microgrid control technologies. 5) Exploring the feasibility of producing liquid fuels or energy storage systems to avoid wasting energy that would otherwise be spilled over our hydroelectric dams.
We are grateful that our City Administration, Electric Department, Assembly, and many community stakeholders for seeking federal assistance. This technical partnership bodes well to prepare us for infrastructure funding opportunities in the coming months.
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Kay Kreiss is a group co-leader of Sitka’s Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Volunteers Sought
For City Boards
Volunteer positions are available on several municipal boards and commissions.
Currently available are: Animal Hearing Board (category specific seats), Building Department Appeals Board, Historic Preservation Commission (category of at-large) Investment Committee, Library Commission, and Tree and Landscape Committee.
Submit a letter of interest and board application to the Municipal Clerk’s Office at 100 Lincoln Street. Applications are available online at www.cityofsitka.com or at the clerk’s office. For information, call Jess Earnshaw at 747-1826 or email clerk@cityofsitka.org.
Girls On the Run
By Sitkans Against Family Violence
The Pathways Coalition is very excited to begin our 13th season of Girls on the Run!
This after-school program for third- through fifth-grade girls inspires them to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates physical activity. Our curriculum has been modified to include physical distancing precautions and the ability to seamlessly transition between in person and virtual programming as needed.
If you want to get involved in the community and help build self-esteem and healthy social/emotional skills in girls, then you should consider applying to coach!
Coaches will have the opportunity to attend practices one to two days a week from October to December, as well as participate in a 5K community fun run in December. New coaches can apply by Sept. 19 at tinyurl.com/newcoach2021, and returning coaches can apply at tinyurl.com/GOTRcoach2021.
Girls interested in joining a team and exploring valuable lessons such as standing up for themselves and others and practicing empathy, inclusion, and acceptance can register by Sept. 26 at http://www.tinyurl.com/GOTR21 or pick up a paper form from the Keet Gooshi Heen front office. Scholarships are available.
Contact Emma at ethompson@safv.org or 747-3489 with questions. Pathways will offer Boys Run I toowú klatseen this spring.
GCI Launches Wellness Challenge
GCI has launched a free wellness challenge for Alaskans to find connection with their fellow community members.
The GCI Wellness Challenge encourages Alaskans to complete four mental health wellness challenges for the chance to win tech prizes. The challenge was launched to coincide with National Suicide Prevention Month and the announcement of this year’s GCI Suicide Prevention Grant recipients, which will occur later this month.
Participants are to complete four health and wellness tasks through an app. More details on how to register are at www.gci.com/why-gci/gcigives/gci-wellness-challenge. After registering, log the completion of the four wellness challenges before Sept. 30 to be entered to win a tech prize and receive additional challenge swag in the mail.
The four challenges are: complete a 5K run or walk; cook a healthy meal; check in with a friend; or take 30 minutes of me time, whether that’s going for a walk, reading a book, meditating, or gardening, etc.
Those who complete all four tasks by Sept. 30 will be entered to win prizes including Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones, Apple iPad 128GB, and Apple Watch Series 6 44MM. Since 2016, GCI has donated more than $500,000 to organizations across the state that are committed to suicide prevention in their respective communities. Recipients of the 2021 grants will be announced Sept. 9.
For information about the GCI Suicide Prevention Fund, visit www.gci.com/why-gci/gcigives/gci-suicide-prevention-fund.
Fenno Earns
UW Scholarship
Emily Fenno, Sitka High 2021 graduate, is among 582 incoming freshmen receiving scholarships at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the academic year.
Fenno was awarded the Bluegold Biomedical Innovator Scholarship at Mayo Clinic Health System.
City to Offer
Utility Pay Help
The City and Borough of Sitka is accepting applications for the Utility Cost Subsidization Program through Oct. 31.
Applicants may be eligible for a subsidy for their municipal utility costs. The period is for one year, beginning January 2022.
An appointment with the Finance Department may be required. Go to www.cityofsitka.com for an application and instructions, or pick up an application at the utility office at City Hall at 100 Lincoln Street. For information, call the finance department at 747-1859.
Zuppa Toscana
Cooking Class
Is On the Menu
Sitka Kitch will offer a virtual class on how to make zuppa toscana, taught by Nalani James, as part of the Cooking With Culture class series 5-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18, via Zoom.
Zuppa toscana is a rich Italian soup, with kale, potatoes, bacon, sausage and other end-of-summer ingredients. James has been the Sitka Farmers Market manager this summer.
James said she chose the dish because the fall season is upon us and it’s what came to mind with the season.
“It’s very simple to make but looks complex,” she said. “Italy has such a rich history of sharing innovation with different cultures, and pizza is not the only thing to share at the table. ‘Cooking With Culture’ will explore more areas of family- and friends-style-eating in the near future.”
The class cost is $20, and eight students are needed.
Ingredients aren’t provided; however a list of ingredients and equipment needed will be sent to those registered. A link to the Zoom event also will be sent at that time. Students should connect at least 10 minutes before the class starts.
In addition to sausage and bacon, the recipe calls for onions, kale, garlic, potatoes and bell peppers. The Sitka Local Foods Network, which hosts the Sitka Farmers Market, will provide each registered student with one half-price bundle of kale if they pick it up at the SLFN Farm Stand at the market that day, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 18, outside Harrigan Centennial Hall.
The registration deadline is 11:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on the Sitka Kitch EventSmart online registration page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com (click on class title).
