Daily Sitka Sentinel

August 18, 2022, Community Happenings

WWII History Walk,

Open House Aug. 20

The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society will offer a free presentation and short history walk 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, about the Navy and Army buildup on Japonski and neighboring islands during WWII, and what can be seen today.

The presentation will start at the Japonski Island Boathouse, at the foot of the O’Connell Bridge. Portions of Sitka’s WWII defense installations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Sitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coastal Defenses National Historic Landmark, a designation for properties of national historical significance. 

An open house is planned at the boathouse 1-3 p.m., with coffee and treats, information about recent work on the building and future plans. Recent work on the building is supported in part by a federal Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government grant, through the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology to the City and Borough of Sitka.

For information, go to sitkamaritime.org or email sitkamaritime@gmail.com. 

Maritime History

Walking Tours On

The Sitka Maritime Heritage Society is offering Maritime History Walking Tours 1-2:30 p.m. Friday.

The tour is in downtown Sitka and  waterfront. Each person will have a binder of historic images to compare with Sitka today. The tour includes Tlingit America, the Maritime fur trade, the actual circumstances, population and character of the Russian outpost, missionaries and rum-runners, fishing, boat building, and WWII.

Tickets are $40 adults and $30 youths, and can be purchased at sitkamaritime.org. For information: sitkamaritime.org or email sitkamaritime@gmail.com.  

SJ’s Fraser Hall

Future Discussed

The Sitka Fine Arts Camp invites the public to an open house at Fraser Hall (the historic dormitory across from the SJ Museum) 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21.

At 2 p.m. will be a short presentation by James Poulson, master of design studies in historic preservation, about planning for weatherization and heating systems for the historic building with consideration of costs, comfort, sustainability, preservation, energy efficiency and moisture management.  

The Sitka Fine Arts Camp recently had a weatherization plan and a heating system design done for the National Historic Landmark building, supported in part by a federal Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government grant, through the Alaska State Office of History and Archaeology to the City and Borough of Sitka.

Cookies, coffee and tea will be available. Historic photos and plans, as well as the new heating system design and weatherization plan, will be available to view. For information, call 907-738-7448.  

Sitka Legacy Foundation

Holds Annual Grants Cycle

Sitka Legacy Foundation, an Affiliate of the Alaska Community Foundation, has announced its 2022 competitive grants cycle will be open  Aug. 29 to Sept. 23.

Eligible applicants may request grants of up to $5,000. Typical grants have historically been in the range of $1,000.

Applications will be accepted from qualified, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal entities, local governments, schools, and faith-based organizations that support charitable programs in Sitka and surrounding rural communities. New organizations are being encouraged to apply. Grants may support a broad range of community needs, including but not limited to health and wellness, education, arts and culture, conservation, and community development.

Grant projects must be completed within one year of the award and are subject to the grantee completing an online grant agreement signifying acceptance of the terms and conditions of the grant. A final grant report must also be submitted online by the assigned due date. Due dates and the forms to submit for these follow-ups can be found by logging into the online grant system.

Grant applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. AKST on Sept. 23, using the ACF online grant application system. For the application to be considered, any overdue grant reports or other follow-ups for previous grant awards from ACF or its Affiliates must be submitted via the online grant system prior to the deadline.

Applicants are advised to review SLF’s Competitive Grant Guidelines to determine eligibility before applying through the online application. More information, grant guidelines, and a link to the online application is available on the website: https://sitkalegacy.org/grants/

General questions, including requests for discussion about possible projects, can be directed to SLF’s advisory board member Chris Kowalczewski at sitkalegacy@alaskacf.org.

Eligibility and technical questions about the online grant system can be directed to ACF Senior Affiliate Program Officer Carmen Davis at cdavis@alaskacf.org or 907-274-6708.

Lisa Creek Closes

To Goat Hunting

The Lisa Creek hunt zone of mountain goat hunt RG150 on Baranof Island will close by emergency order 11:59 p.m. Aug. 19.

To date, one female goat has been harvested. The management objective for this zone has been met, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said. For more information call the Sitka area office at (907) 747-5449.

Recycle Center

Gives Listing of

Accepted Materials

The City and Borough of Sitka public works department is urging citizens to follow instructions and signage at the Recycle Center at 802 Sawmill Creek Road.

‘‘Recycled items are source separated and baled for shipping off island, contaminates to our recycle goods prevent the CBS from obtaining a return on the recycled materials,’’ the department said.

Contaminated materials must be sent to the landfill and are costly, the city said.

The recycle center accepts aluminum, corrugated cardboard, glass, metal, newspaper, and plastic #1 and #2. For further information, visit the solid waste page under the Public Works Department at www.cityofsitka.com or call 907-747-1804.

Help Sought For

Blue Lake Watershed

The City and Borough of Sitka public works department is asking residents for their help in protecting the Blue Lake Watershed.

Water resources are affected by both natural and human activities, the department said. Help is needed to preserve and protect Blue Lake by picking up trash and pet waste, and by reporting suspicious activity.

For information, contact the CBS Environmental Superintendent at 907-747-4060.

Property Tax Due

For Sitka Residents

City and Borough of Sitka is reminding residents that property taxes are due by Aug. 30.

Payments can be made in person at City Hall, 100 Lincoln Street, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by mailing to the same address.

Credit card payments may be made online at XPRESSBILPAY.COM or by calling 907-747-1818. Payments left in the drop boxes (outside of City Hall or near the first floor payment office) will be considered on time if placed by 5 p.m. Aug. 30. Penalty and interest will be applied if payment is not made or postmarked by 5 p.m. on Aug. 30, the city said.

National Night Out

Marked in Sitka

Sitkans are being asked to join the Sitka Police Department for a National Night Out event 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Moller Field.

National Night Out is sponsored by local businesses and the Sitka Police Department. Neighbors throughout Sitka are being asked to lock their doors, turn on their front porch lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and law enforcement.

‘‘Bring the kids out for a night of fun,’’ the police department said. ‘‘There will be food,  bounce houses, and games for the kids.’’

Those with questions can contact local coordinator Sgt. Josh Steele from the Sitka Police Department at 907-747-3245.

Gift Registration

For Native Elders

Sitka Tribe of Alaska is holding a gift registration to honor tribal elders, ages 65 and older, who reside in Sitka.

Registration deadline for the gift registration is Oct. 15. To complete the online form isit http://www.sitkatribe.org or contact Jean Swanson at 747-3968 for registration assistance.

Gifts will be distributed on Nov. 30 during STA’s annual meeting.

Baby Raven Reads

At Public Library

Sitka Public Library invites families to a morning of storytelling with Chuck Miller (Daanax.ils’eik) at a ‘‘Baby Raven Reads’’ in-person library program 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.

The featured book is ‘‘Salmon Boy, Shanyaak’utlaax: a children’s story that teaches about respect for nature, animals, and culture.’’ The writing comes from an ancient Tlingit story that was edited by Johnny Marks, Hans Chester, David Katzeek, and Nora and Richard Dauenhauer. The illustrations belong to Tlingit artist Michaela Goade.  

An online reading by Jamie Bradley will be at the Sitka Public Library and Sitka Babies and Books FB pages on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Those ages 3 to 5 can pre-register to reserve a free grab-n-go bag with Alaska Native cultural and literacy activities. Registration to receive the bag is required, and quantities are limited. To register, call the library at 747 4020 or e-mail maite.lorente@cityofsitka.org.