Daily Sitka Sentinel

August 16, 2017, Community Happenings

Bears, Salmon

History Given

The Aug. 30 natural history seminar will feature Thomas Quinn and the “Predation by bears on salmon: behavior, evolution and ecology” at 7:30 p.m. in Room 229 at UAS-Sitka Campus.

The fact that bears prey on and also scavenge Pacific salmon is hardly a new discovery, Quinn said. However, there is more to this relationship than meets the eye.

‘‘My students and I have been studying predation by brown bears on sockeye salmon, mostly in streams of Bristol Bay, for over two decades,’’ Quinn said. ‘‘Our work indicates that all aspects of this predator-prey relationship are controlled by habitat variation among streams, and the density of salmon among years in each stream. This presentation will review our work and that of other scientists, illustrating the role of bears in the ecology and evolution of salmon, and the importance of salmon as food for bears.’’

Quinn is a faculty member at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, teaching classes and working on various aspects of the behavior, ecology, evolution and conservation of Pacific salmon and trout. In addition to his research projects in Washington, he has been working at the UW’s field camps in Bristol Bay since 1987.

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 747-9432 or kllabounty@alaska.edu.

Mental Health

First Aid to be

Taught in Sitka

Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services and the HOPE Coalition will offer Mental Health First Aid training for community members and organizations to help improve mental health literacy – helping them identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. 

“We are thrilled to bring Mental Health First Aid to our community,” said Loyd Platson, prevention and coalition director at Sitka Counseling and Prevention Services. “This important educational effort goes a lot further than emergency intervention; it really helps people understand the shroud of fear and misjudgment facing individuals and families who experience mental illnesses and addiction. It will help our community reduce the stigma associated with mental health related issues and help more and more people engage in the recovery process. Given recent events which have affected our community, empowering community members to assist their families, friends and co-workers will provide them with healthy ways to cope with life’s issues.”

The training is available to individuals and organizations at the cost of $75 per person. The training will be held at Sitka Counseling conference room, 111 Metlakatla Street, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21.

For more information, or to register, call 747-3636. Space is limited to 15 participants.

Open House Set

At Sitka High

Sitka High School will host an open house 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21. Teachers and counselors will be available to meet with parents and students.

Administration will answer questions about the school year during freshmen/new student orientation following open house 6:30-7 p.m. in the commons. Orientation will include a brief overview of information including the student handbook, attendance, grades, bell schedule, lunch/open campus, cell phone use, and behavior expectations.

Adult Vocational

Training Slated 

Sitka Tribe of Alaska has Adult Vocational Training funds available for eligible tribal citizens wanting to obtain training to work in a craft or trade. 

Call STA at 747-3207 to talk with Chester Miyasato to discuss AVT, or go online for the adult vocational training application at http://www.sitkatribe.org/services/employment/index.html. The remaining 2017 AVT funds will be allocated first-come, first-serve, to eligible tribal citizens who complete the application, submit the necessary documents for a complete packet, and are approved for funding by the STA Education Committee.

Health Care

Town Halls Set

The City and Borough Assembly will host town hall meetings for continued discussion of the future of health care in Sitka 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at ANB Founders Hall, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at Centennial Hall.

Both meetings will be facilitated round table opportunities, providing time to discuss and create consensus on factors the Assembly should consider as they look for future options.

Refreshments will be served. For more information contact administration at 747-1808.

Dual Credits Set

By UAS, STA

UAS-Sitka Campus, in partnership with the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, is accepting applications for a new dual credit scholarship program.

Tribal citizens enrolled with the Sitka School District are eligible to apply for a scholarship that may cover the  cost of a four-credit UAS Sitka course. 

Deadline to apply for the scholarship for fall semester is Aug. 21. Applications and scholarship guidelines can be found by visiting: http://uas.alaska.edu/sitka/paying-for-college/index.html under the dual credit scholarships tab. 

Questions can be directed to Crystal Duncan, UAS personal education planner for Native and rural services, 747-7773 or clduncan@alaska.edu. 

Mosquito Cove

Trail Closure Reset

The Mosquito Cove Trail, trailhead parking lot and Bayside Loop of the Forest Service campground will be closed to all pedestrian and car traffic Monday, Aug. 21, so re-scheduled trail maintenance activities can safely occur.

The road and trailhead parking lot will be closed so gravel and lumber can be hoisted by helicopter to locations along the trail. If poor weather limits the helicopter, the closure will be rescheduled for later in the week.  

Sitka Trail Works, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service crew, will complete major trail maintenance from Aug. 21 to Sept. 14.

‘‘The trail will remain open during this period but please use caution on the non-bayside portion of the trail during this time since crew, materials and equipment will be present,’’ Sitka Trail Works said. 

Sitka Trail Works apologizes in advance for any inconvenience. Call 747-7244 for further information.