Daily Sitka Sentinel

January 24, 2023, Community Happenings

ALFA Seeks Applicants

For Fishing Crew Training

The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, a Sitka-based fishing group and partner organization Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust are seeking applicants for the Crew Training Program.

An entry level experience, the program aims to provide young people an opportunity to gain experience in, as well as an understanding of, commercial fishing and its importance in supporting coastal communities, organizers said. 

Formalized as part of ALFA’s Young Fishermen Initiative in 2015, in late 2017 ALFA was awarded funds to get more boots on deck statewide. Since 2015, more than 100 apprentices have been trained and placed on local fishing vessels in Southeast Alaska, the group said.

 Over several years, one of the skipper participants, ALFA Member Eric Jordan of the F/V I Gotta, has taken more than 50 young people fishing as part of the Crew Training Program.

While on the water, Jordan teaches these deckhands the intricacies of commercial fishing and demonstrates sustainable fishing practices to encourage a strong conservation ethic. 

The program aims to provide young people experience in commercial fishing; and an opportunity to better understand the lifestyle it provides, and its important role in supporting coastal communities.

In 2023, ALFA and ASFT hope to place several apprentices with local and regional skippers.

“With support from numerous funders, we have been fortunate to expand the program to include more boats, crew, and communities,’’ said Linda Behnken, executive director of ALFA. ‘‘Our goal is to provide young people with a safe introduction to Alaska’s fisheries and to share the curriculum we have developed through our program with fishing groups in other parts of the state and country.

‘‘Already, we have shared the Crew Training Program curriculum with several organizations throughout Alaska and coastal organizations throughout the U.S.’’

Since the program began, ALFA and ASFT have been awarded several grants to support it from groups including the Edgerton Foundation, the City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska Community Foundation and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 

ALFA and ASFT are grateful for the support of these organizations and the community.

“The work funded by these grants will result in improved management that strengthens the welfare of fishermen and local communities, promoting healthy fish stocks and healthy fisheries,” funders said.

ALFA and ASFT are seeking applicants for the 2023 fishing season. The crew training application period is currently open and will close March 30.

Applicants must be 18 years or older to qualify. It’s free to apply; application information can be found at https://www.alfafish.org/crewtraining. Contact Natalie at 907-738-1286 or program.director@alfafish.org for more information.

St. Peter’s Plans

Special Service

St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will hold one service on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 8 a.m. in person.

The 10 a.m. service will be on Zoom only, to worship with St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Wrangell.

All are welcome. For more information, send an email to stpetersbytheseak@gmail.com or call (907) 747-3977 and leave a message for a call back.

The church is located at 611 Lincoln Street, and is open every day to stop in for a time of quiet, prayer and rest.

Open Gym Set

For Teens Jan. 28

The City and Borough of Sitka Parks and Recreation will host a teen open gym session 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Blatchley Middle School, 601 Halibut Point Road.

The event is free of charge and funded by the Alaska Children’s Trust. Activities will include open gym, open skate, ping pong and karaoke.

For information, contact Parks and Recreation by email at recreation@cityofsitka.org or call 907-747-4031.

Emblem Club

Meets Thursday

Sitka Emblem Club 142 will hold a social meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Elks Lodge.

Dinner and dessert will be served. All members are invited.

‘Sophia’s Return’

Presentation Jan. 28

The public is invited to meet with UC Davis scholar Lauren Peters in a presentation called “Sophia’s Return” 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.

Peters (Agdaagux Tribe, Unangax) worked with Sitkan Bob Sam to bring her relative’s remains home from Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania to St. Paul, Alaska.

Peters’ studies center around locating, documenting and returning home Native American children who were stolen from their homes and died in U.S. government-sponsored Native American boarding schools. Her end plan is to create a best practice for repatriating the lost children.

The presentation is sponsored by the Sitka Public Library, Friends of Sitka Public Library, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida, Aspen Suites Hotel, and Sarah Bell.

Senior Center

Offers Help

To Caregivers

Those giving care to seniors are being offered help.

The Swan Lake Senior Center’s Family Caregiver Support Advocacy department connects with caregivers to help them care for their beloved seniors.

This help can be in many forms, like acquiring fall-prevention items; help finding in-home care services; and identifying and connecting with other senior resources and services in the community, a spokeswoman said.

‘‘We want you to know that you are not alone while you care for your elderly loved ones,’’ the spokeswoman said. ‘‘We are here for you and your beloved.’’

For more information about these free services call 907-747-8617 and ask for Sandi.

Swan Lake Senior Center is a program of Southeast Senior Services, a division of Catholic Community Service.