Daily Sitka Sentinel

February 22, 2017, Community Happenings

A REVIEW:

‘Wampum’ Isn’t Enriching

‘‘Wampum,’’ by Donald Craig Mitchell, 392 pages. Published by Overlook. Publish date: June 21, 2016.

This is part two of my report on ‘‘Wampum’’ by Donald Craig Mitchell. I reviewed the first three chapters several months ago and had enough. After picking up where I left off I recall why. The legalese is a house of cards collapsing in a heap at my feet.

One would need a genealogist, Google maps, GPS, and a crystal ball reader to figure out all the connections that lead from tribe to mafia to elected officials to government employees to police chiefs that come as fast as a ’50s Vegas casino imploding to build the next mega monster casino. A million names, lots of legal cases, and famous names: President James Monroe, Clinton, Reagan, Janet Reno, Mo Udall, Ed Meese, Justice Brenner, Justice Powell, George Bush the young, Obama and Trump.

Chapter 4 thru 15 – more quotes from people the author says are psychotic, biased and cannot be trusted. Example after example of crooked lawyers and mafia using the tribes for their gain with a rare few in the tribes who also gained as well.

I am going to save you a bunch of time. Start on page 301 with this quote: “Between 1995 and 2013, casinos and other gambling facilities on Indian reservations earned $348.75 billion. Billions of those dollars passed through Lim Goh Tong and Sol Kerzner, the Chinese and South African casino magnates who financed the Foxwoods….” on and on. Read to page 307 that tells it all: the graft, the corruption, the people in power who wanted the gaming money to go to the rank and file reservation members, the mafia dons, ad nausea. Enjoy.

Note: The selection of these books happens when a publisher or author sends the book to the Sitka Sentinel and someone is interested/willing to read and give a short review.

–J.B.

Oscar Short Film

Show Set

The Sitka Film Society and Coliseum Theater will present an Oscar Short Film Extravaganza this weekend, screening live action, animated and documentary shorts nominated for this year’s Academy Awards. 

The three programs – with the documentary shorts split into two nights – showcase a wide variety of short films from around the world, ranging from Pixar’s “Piper,” about a young seabird overcoming its fear of water, to the documentary short “Watani: My Homeland,” which tells story of one family’s escape from war-torn Syria and their attempt to make a new life in Germany.

Tickets are available at Old Harbor Books for $8 per film, or $30 for a festival pass. Free passes will be available for Jesuit Volunteers, Americorps, Vista, and Sitka Winter Fellows. Those with questions may call 738-0602.

–5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23: Live Action Shorts (2 hours, 15 minutes, suitable for ages 15-plus); “Sing” – director Kristof Deak, Hungary, 25 minutes; “Silent Nights” – director Aske Bang, Denmark, 30 minutes; “Timecode” – director Juanjo Gimenez Pena, Spain, 15 minutes; ‘‘Ennemis Interieurs” – director Selim Aazzazi, France, 28 minutes; “La Femme et la TGV” – director Timo von Gunten, Switzerland, 30 minutes.

–5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24: Animated Shorts (1 hour, 30 minutes, suitable for ages 8-plus, except for the final film which will have a warning card before it); “Borrowed Time” – directors Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj, USA, 7 minutes; “Pearl” – director Patrick Osborne, USA, 6 minutes; “Piper” – director Alan Barillaro, USA, 6 minutes; “Blind Vaysha” – director Theodore Ushev, Canada, 8 minutes; “The Head Vanishes” (additional film) – 9 minutes; “Asteria” (additional film) – 5 minutes; “Once Upon a Line” (additional film) – 7 minutes; and “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” – director Robert Valley, Canada and UK, 35 minutes.

–5 p.m. Saturday, Feb 25: Documentary Shorts Part 1 (1 hour, 15 minutes, suitable for ages 16-plus), “Joe’s Violin” – director Kahane Cooperman, USA, 24 minutes; “Extremis” – director Dan Krauss, USA, 24 minutes; “4.1 Miles” – dir. Daphne Matziaraki, USA, 22 minutes.

–5 p.m. Monday, Feb 27: Documentary Shorts Part 2 (1 hour 30 minutes, suitable for ages 16-plus); “Watani: My Homeland” – director Marcel Mettelsiefen, UK, 39 minutes; “The White Helmets” – director Orlando von Einsiedel, USA, 41 minutes.

Forest Service

Sets Open House

 Sitka Ranger District will hold an open house 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at the Sitka Ranger District Office, 2108 Halibut Point Road, to gather public input on possible recreation opportunities on National Forest land in Katlian Bay. Current and potential users of this area are invited to attend and share their ideas and concerns.

Contact Annemarie LaPalme at 747-4209 or alapalme@fs.fed.us for more information.

Workshops Listed at

UAS-Sitka Campus

The University of Alaska Southeast Sitka Campus will offer workshops coming in March.

Registration is open for: wheel throwing 101 with Liz Zacher, March 29-May 3; Northwest Coast basketry with Delores Churchill, March 27-April 7; and Northwest Coast toolmaking, Mark Sixbey, March 30-May 4.

Days for Girls

Event on Tap

To finish and assemble kits to enable older girls to spend more days in school, the United Methodist Church of Sitka will hold a sewing day 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

Days for Girls, a project that seeks to enable older girls to spend more days in school.

‘‘Unfortunately, they often miss during their monthly periods, and this project provides kits of washable supplies that should help them have more school Days for Girls,’’ a press release from the church said.

Those able to help sewing, pressing and assembling the kits, are invited to stop by the church at anytime that day to help out. Sewing machines are welcome.

A potluck lunch is planned. For more information, contact the church at 747-8775. 

Quiet Day Retreat

Set at St. Peter’s

St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 611 Lincoln Street, will offer a Quiet Day Retreat 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.

The will gather for silence and reflection on some of the readings from ‘‘Living Well Through Lent 2017: Listening With all Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind” (A Living Compass Seasonal Resource). 

All are welcome to attend. Call the church office at 747-3977, by Friday Feb. 24, to register for the retreat.

‘13th’ Documentary

To Screen at Library

Sitka Public Library will present a screening of the Academy Award-nominated 2016 documentary film “13th,” by director Ava DuVarnay, 7 p.m. Friday, March 3, at Sitka Public Library. This film is rated PG-13.

Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital’s “Doc Talks” return in March

SEARHC will host five new free “Doc Talks” presentations each Wednesday evening at the Hames Center March 8-April 5.

SEARHC medical providers and health educators firmly believe the best way to prevent illness and injury is through education. Reaching out to the community with a variety of topics presented by Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital’s medical providers is an excellent way to give Sitkans the opportunity to learn more about health-related issues that interest them. Some topics presented may affect an individual personally, or someone close to them. So, beyond listening to the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to have their questions answered by the presenters. 

Hosted by SEARHC Health Promotion, “Doc Talks” is offered at no cost to ensure valuable health-related information is accessible to everyone in the community. As an added convenience, there is no need to register or sign up in advance. Attendees can also look forward to healthy snacks and refreshments before each presentation.

This spring’s “Doc Talks” are Wednesdays from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Hames Center. The dates and topics are:

–Wednesday, March 8: “Stroke Recovery 101: Tips for patients and caregivers,” by Dr. Gio Villanueva, PT, DPT, L/ATC; Jamie Adams, MS, OTR/L; and Suzan Hess, MS, CCC-SLP).

–Wednesday, March 15: “Robotics and 3D Technology in Surgery Today,” Dr. David Brown, M.D., board-certified orthopedic surgeon.

–Wednesday, March 22: “Put Your Best Fork Forward: Well-balanced food choices for a healthy lifestyle,” Jessica Holland, R.D., L.D.

–Wednesday, March 29: “Life-Long Effects of Childhood Trauma,” Dr. Eula Crippen, Ph.D., LCP.

–Wednesday, April 5: “Rethink Your Food and Drink: Be Sugar Savvy,” Dr. Kimberly Capp, DO.

“Doc Talks” are open to the public. Those with questions or would like more information can call 966-8938.

Open Mic Set

Sitka Folk will host an open mic benefit 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Larkspur Cafe. Signup is at 6:30 p.m. Call 747-5482 for more information.

WIC Office to

Move March 1

WIC will move to 210 Moller Drive in the Public Health Center as of March 1. Clinic hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.

Call 966-8352 for an appointment or stop by to see the new clinic after March 1. WIC is an equal opportunity provider and does not discriminate.

Fundraiser Slated

For Youth BB

The Sitka Youth Basketball Association will hold a fundraiser for the boys youth traveling teams to help fund team travel to Juneau for a tournament.

Pizza Express is donating a portion of the proceeds from dine-in, take-out, or delivery 5-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.

UAS Advisory

Council to Meet

The UAS-Sitka Campus will hold the Spring Advisory Council meeting noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Sitka Campus in Room 229. The public is invited.

Library Panel

Meets March 1

The Library Commission for the City and Borough of Sitka will meet 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the Sitka Public Library.

The public is invited to attend. For further information, contact Robb Farmer at 747-8708 or robb.farmer@cityofsitka.org. 

Family Fiesta,

Auction Slated

Sitkans Against Family Violence will hold its annual Family Fiesta dinner and dessert auction 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the ANB Founders Hall. The auctioneer is Ken Fate

Offered are live music with Julie Schmitts, Kammie Daniels and Ted Howard, home-cooked food with vegetarian and gluten-free options, and a  dessert auction. The entrance fee is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. The family-friendly event is a fundraiser for SAFV.

Individuals may consider supporting SAFV by donating a dessert. It can be dropped off at the hall by 5:30 p.m., or donors can call to have them picked up. For more information, call 747-3370 or email info@safv.org.

Parent-Teacher

Meetings at SHS

Sitka High School parent-teacher conferences will be held March 1-2 at Sitka High School. 

On Wednesday, March 1, conferences are scheduled 3:30-7:30 p.m. in the teacher’s classrooms. The students have a regular Wednesday school day,  8:45 a.m.-3:25 p.m.

Scheduled parent-teacher conferences are 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2. Appointments can be made with individual teachers. Students do not have classes.

 Parents can stop teacher’s classrooms for unscheduled conferences 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2.

No school for students or staff on Friday, March 3. Call SHS at 747-3263 with questions.

Chilean Cooking

Class Feb. 27

The Sitka Kitch’s Cooking Around the World class series will feature a Chilean cooking class 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.

Barbara Palacios, a chef at the Westmark Sitka and of Chilean heritage, will teach students how to make a pastel de choclo (a meat and corn Chilean version of shepherd’s pie) with pebre (a Chilean pico de gallo.)

The Sitka Kitch community rental commercial kitchen is at the First Presbyterian Church.

The cost of the class is $27.50, plus a food/supply fee split between the students taking the class. Space is limited, and the registration deadline is 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. Eight students are needed to have the class. For more information and to register, go to http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com, and click on the class title.

Email sitkakitch@sitkawild.org with any questions.

SHS Graduation

Party Planning Set

The Sitka High graduation party planning meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, in room 109 of Blatchley Middle School. Attendees can park in the back parking lot and enter through the lower doors near AC Lakeside.  

Like and follow the Facebook page Sitka High School Parents/Guardians Class of 2017 for meeting updates.