Daily Sitka Sentinel

December 5, 2018, Community Happenings

Life Celebration

For John Phillips

A celebration of life for John Clay Phillips – Aug. 28, 1958-July 25, 2018 – will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Sitka Elks Lodge.

All are welcome to attend.

This Week in Boys Run

By Sitkans Against Family violence

Boys Run I toowu klatseen is an after-school program focused on instilling healthy life-skills in boys through running and other fun activities. The program, now in its fourth year, incorporates cultural activities that honor traditional Southeast Alaskan values. More than 20 boys participate twice-weekly at Keet Gooshi Heen elementary school.

This week, Boys Run participants learned about what it means to belong to a community and how they can support their communities. We are all part of the Sitka community, but we also all have many other communities in our lives: these include classmates, clans and tribes, families, faith groups, and after-school programs like Boys Run! We discussed the traditional Tlingit value of being a steward of air, land and sea, and brainstormed ways we can all show our respect for the part of the world we inhabit. We illustrated the work involved in keeping our communities afloat by doing some fun team-based running challenges. One challenge involved keeping a large number of balloons, released in different parts of the gym, from touching the ground. 

Here are some quotes from the boys:

“Being a supportive member of the community means being friends with other people and doing things like picking up trash when you see it around town.”

“If someone is hurt and fell down, you should help them get back up, and say nice things to calm them and make them happy.”

“Being an ally means standing up for other people when they’re going through tough times or being bullied, and being kind to anyone who’s hurt.” 

Throughout this season, Boys Run will be providing the Sitka community with updates on the program. We also aim to give mentors and parents an opportunity to pass on skills from Boys Run to the children in their life. Consider using these conversation starters:

–Are there people in your life who would like to have a friend or an ally? How could you help them? 

–What are some strategies you can use to encourage your friends to stand up for each other when someone feels bad? 

Don’t forget, the annual Boys Run 5K will take place Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m., and all are invited. We will begin and end at the Crescent Harbor shelter, and we will run a loop through Totem Park. We are looking for volunteers to help set up. We are also looking for family members or other mentors to sign up to be Running Buddies. Running Buddies will run the 5K along with the boys. If you are interested in volunteering or being a Running Buddy, please contact Sam O’Brien at sobrien@safv.org or visit https://tinyurl.com/y77gnt8y.

Sitka Cirque

Showcase Slated

The Sitka Cirque’s winter student showcase and family social, hosted by Friends of Sitka Circus Arts, will be Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Cirque studio, 207 Smith Street.

Adult and youth troupe members will perform original aerial works featuring their own choreography. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for holiday social activities, including face painting, cookie and mask decorating, and concessions of hot dogs, chili, sweets and treats.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Old Harbor Books and the Cirque Studio at $10 for adults, and $5 for students and seniors. At the door, tickets are $12 for adults, and $7 for youths and seniors.

All proceeds go to the FOSCA scholarship fund and aerial performance equipment fund.

Holiday Brass

Concert Dec. 22

The Sitka Fine Arts Camp will present its annual Holiday Brass Concert 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Sitka Performing Arts Center.

‘‘Come celebrate the holidays with glorious music performed by America’s finest brass musicians,’’ SFAC said.

Tickets are on sale at Old Harbor Books or online, www.fineartscamp.org/shows. For information call 747-3085.

Bike Meeting

Promotes Cycling

The Sitka Bicycle Friendly Community Coalition will meet 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at Fisheye Cafe.

The meeting is open to everyone interested in promoting safe cycling.  Agenda items include planning for the 2019 Alaska Bike/Walk Conference in Sitka, reviewing a People of Bikes Grant, and making a bike parking master plan. 

For information contact Doug Osborne at 747-0373 or go to https://sitkacycling.wordpress.com.

Health Care Sign-Up Still Open

Those who have not signed up or renewed their health insurance still have time. Open Enrollment on the Health Insurance Marketplace ends Dec. 15.

The SEARHC Patient Health Benefits team has five trained certified application counselors to assist Southeast Alaskans on how to navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace.

“We help everyone!” said Andrea Thomas, SEARHC Patient Health Benefits manager, “We can help you explore your options for health coverage including subsidized plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, Veterans Benefits and other coverage.”

The team also helps with Marketplace and Medicaid renewals, as it is important to update information every year to get the best price, understand the changes for the 2019 plans, and ensure the plan covers all needs.

“Don’t be shy to ask us questions,” said Susan Briles, Patient Health Benefits Specialist, “We are more than happy to help.”

Anyone in Southeast Alaska wanting to enroll or renew health insurance coverage may contact SEARHC Patient Health Benefits Specialists Susan Briles at 966-8662, Michaela Dunlap at 966-8920, Maria Gonzales at 966-8405, Mariah Enloe in Juneau at (907)-364-4589 or Patient Health Benefits Manager Andrea Thomas at 966-8883. On Saturdays, call the Patient Health Benefits toll-free number, 1-855-966-8684, or email outreach@searhc.org.

Sale Slated Dec. 8

At Science Center

The Sitka Sound Science Center will have a pop-up shop 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 8, in the Karsh classroom in the main building.

‘‘This will be your last chance of the year to get your science center gear,’’ the center said. 

Climate Action

Meeting Dec. 8

Climate-interested individuals are invited to the Sitka Citizens Climate Lobby meeting 8:30-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the See House behind St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

The agenda includes mobilization around bipartisan HR7173 introduced last week in the U.S. House; projects for the coming year; and a live educational half-hour from the national organization.

The longer meeting includes a celebration with potluck holiday breakfast snacks.

‘Fargo’ to Show

Sitka Public Library will host a free screening of the Coen Brothers’ Academy Award-winning 1996 film “Fargo” (rated “R”) 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.

The event is open to the public, and snacks will be served. For information, call the library at 747-4025.

Women’s Book

Group Meets

The Women’s Book Group will meet to discuss’’To the Bright Edge of the World’’ by Eowyn Ivey 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Pioneers Home Chapel.

Women are invited to participate. Those with questions can call Dorothy at 747-3412.

Volunteers Sought

For Holiday Dinner

Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 1 and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 4 are seeking volunteers for the Christmas Day dinner on Dec. 25, especially the committee chair, cook and Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Those interested in volunteering should contact Karen at 747-7803 or Rachel at 505-204-3634.

‘Preserving Leftovers’ Topic of Class

After a large holiday meal, many cooks wonder what to do with all the leftover food. A Sitka Kitch class will teach students how to safely preserve it for later.

Instructor Sarah Lewis also will teach students how to make holiday gifts, using water-bath and pressure canners.

Lewis is the home, health and family development agent for the Juneau District Office of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. She will teach the class by videoconference

The five-hour class will include 5-8 different recipes so students will be able to take half-pint jars of various products home to sample. Jars are included in the fees. 

An expert in safe home food preservation, Lewis will teach students which foods need to be canned in a pressure canner and which can be canned in a water-bath canner.

The Cooking Around The World series will continue in January. 

The registration deadline for the canning class is 11:30 p.m. Dec. 13. The class costs $40, which is part of the new all-inclusive fee system. Students no longer have to pay a class fee to register, and a separate food/supply fee. Register and pre-pay using credit/debit cards or PayPal on the EventSmart page, http://sitkakitch.eventsmart.com (click on class title).

For those wanting to pre-pay with cash or check, call Claire Sanchez or Clarice Johnson at Sitka Conservation Society, 747-7509, to arrange a payment. 

‘Rare Birds’

Topic of Talk

Local naturalist Matt Goff will present “Big Days, Rare Birds, and Remarkable Weather, a Sitka Nature Year in Review” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in Room 229 at UAS-Sitka Campus, as part of the Natural History seminar series.

Starting with the results of 2017’s community big year project, Goff will share highlights of the past year through photos and stories. His 2018 included marathon big day attempts, following his curiosity about water temperatures with the aid of a kitchen thermometer, and chasing birds in what might have been ‘‘the most remarkable three-week stretch of rarities ever documented in Sitka,’’ he said.

Goff will give updates on longer-term projects like the Sitka Bird Banding project, and photo documentation of local mountain snow minimums.  

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. 

Reading Wonderland

At Public Library

A Reading Wonderland is being hosted by Sitka Public Library 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 16. 

The public is invited to the annual event to receive free nearly-new books for children and young adults to give away as gifts.

 For information call the library at 747-8708.