Daily Sitka Sentinel

01/01/2025

READY FOR 2025 – Allycia Witherspoon, with Sitka Art Change’s Ramshackle Cabaret, sets up decorations in Allen Hall on the SJ campus this afternoon in preparation for tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebration. The “New Year’s Tease Unwrapped” adult variety show features comedy, drag, dance, burlesque and live music by Slack Tide. Some tickets still are available for the early show, which opens at 6 p.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/31/2024

Calendar of Events:
TUESDAY
5 p.m. New Year’s Eve adult variety show, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
9 p.m. New Year’s Eve adult variety show and dance, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
WEDNESDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
1 p.m. New Year’s Day Peace Meditation, Unitarian Fellowship Hall
7 p.m. AA, St. Gregory’s Church, 606 Etolin Street, info: 907-747-8866
THURSDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
Noon Alanon Zoom, [email protected], for login info
1:30 p.m. Senior Exercise Classes, Swan Lake Senior Center
6:30-8:30 p.m. Free dinners offered by Sitka Homeless Coalition, United Methodist Church
6:30 p.m. Women’s AA, Unitarian Fellowship Hall, AA Hotline 907 747-8866
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, AA hotline 907-747-8866
FRIDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
5:30 p.m. NA Meeting, St. Peter’s Church basement
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, hotline 907-747-8866

12/31/2024

GETTING CLOSER – Chip Camden, Sitka Homeless Coalition board vice-chair, leads a group of walkers Saturday to the site of the Hítx’i Sáani, Little Houses, Community, a housing project being built at the end of Jarvis Street. The housing project includes 12 residential units that will provide housing for the chronically homeless, a caretaker unit, and a services building. Denise Shaffer, Sitka Homeless Coalition programs director, carrying banner, spoke of the progress so far at the site. Lot preparation and underground utilities are in. The development is expected to be completed by this summer. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/30/2024

Calendar of Events:
MONDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
5:30-6:30 p.m. AA, Sitka Pioneers Home Recreation Kitchen, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
6 p.m. Assembly meeting, Harrigan Centennial Hall
TUESDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
5 p.m. New Year’s Eve adult variety show, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
9 p.m. New Year’s Eve adult variety show and dance, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
WEDNESDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
Noon STA Tribal Council, via Teleconference
1 p.m. New Year’s Day Peace Meditation, Unitarian Fellowship Hall
7 p.m. AA, St. Gregory’s Church, 606 Etolin Street, info: 907-747-8866

12/27/2024

SLAM DUNK UPGRADES – Sitka Parks and Rec Coordinator Kevin Knox assembles a new backboard at the outdoor basketball court next to Blatchley Middle School Thursday afternoon. The new backboards were purchased with grants from the Sitka Recreation Foundation and Baranof Ballers. Sitka artist Will Peterson, X̱út’aa Hídi, designed the formline huskies now on two backboards at the court. Recent upgrades at the court include new court lines, including ones for pickleball; rims and nets; and fabric screens on the chain link fence to block out some of the weather. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/27/2024

FRIDAY
5:30 p.m. NA Meeting, St. Peter’s Church basement
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, hotline 907-747-8866
SATURDAY
10 a.m. Sitka Homeless Coalition walk from post office up Jarvis Street
11 a.m. Serving in Moldova talk by Lucy Poulson, Whitmore Hall on the SJ Campus
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
Noon-4 p.m. Salvation Army Little Store open
7-9 p.m. Free Community Barn Dance, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s Church basement, call 907-747-8866, potluck upstairs at 6 p.m. on last Saturday of the month
SUNDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln St., hotline 907-747-8866
MONDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
5:30-6:30 p.m. AA, Sitka Pioneers Home Recreation Kitchen, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
6 p.m. Assembly meeting, Centennial Hall
6 p.m. White Elephant Shop open
TUESDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
5 p.m. New Year’s Eve adult variety show, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
9 p.m. New Year’s Eve adult variety show and dance, Odess Theater on SJ Campus

12/26/2024

CHRISTMAS PARADE – The Alaska Airlines float moves down Lincoln Street as children collect candy during the Christmas Parade Saturday. Scores turned out for the early evening parade sponsored by the Sitka Historical Society on Lincoln Street beginning and ending at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Inside the hall were displays of vintage toys and working model trains, as well as a gingerbread house competition. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/26/2024

Calendar of Events:
THURSDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
11-2 Salvation Army Little Store open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
Noon Alanon Zoom, [email protected], for login info
6:30 p.m. Women’s AA, Unitarian Fellowship Hall, AA Hotline 907 747-8866
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, AA hotline 907-747-8866
FRIDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
5:30 p.m. NA Meeting, St. Peter’s Church basement
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, hotline 907-747-8866
SATURDAY
10 a.m. Sitka Homeless Coalition walk from post office up Jarvis Street
11 a.m. Serving in Moldovia talk, Whitmore Hall on the SJ Campus
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
Noon-4 p.m. Salvation Army Little Store open
7-9 p.m. Free Community Barn Dance, Odess Theater on SJ Campus
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s Church basement, call 907-747-8866, potluck upstairs at 6 p.m. on last Saturday of the month

12/24/2024

12/24/2024

CHEERING STATE CHAMPS – Mt. Edgecumbe fans support a Braves wrestler during the 2024 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Wrestling State Championships, Saturday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center over the weekend. The Braves took home the school’s first state title. (Photo by Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

12/23/2024

Calendar of Events:
MONDAY
5:30-7 p.m. Silent Night Nativity display, United Methodist Church
5:30-6:30 p.m. AA, Sitka Pioneers Home Recreation Kitchen, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
TUESDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
WEDNESDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
7 p.m. AA, St. Gregory’s Church, 606 Etolin Street, info: 907-747-8866
THURSDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
11-2 Salvation Army Little Store open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
Noon Alanon Zoom, [email protected], for login info
6:30 p.m. Women’s AA, Unitarian Fellowship Hall, AA Hotline 907 747-8866
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, AA hotline 907-747-8866
FRIDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
5:30 p.m. NA Meeting, St. Peter’s Church basement
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, hotline 907-747-8866

12/21/2024

CLEANING UP – Jordan Tanguay, Sitka National Historical Park biologist, right, uses a bilge pump to remove oily water from a stream flowing into Indian River this morning, as Jared Hazel, park maintenance worker, carries out buckets. Tanguay discovered the fuel leak this morning as she walked through the park. She spent the morning helping do mitigation work. The leaked fuel was traced to a 500-gallon tank on private land. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/20/2024

Calendar of Events:
FRIDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
4-7 p.m. Holiday Magic Bazaar, Westmark Sitka banquet rooms
5:30 p.m. NA Meeting, St. Peter’s Church basement
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, hotline 907-747-8866
SATURDAY
Annual Christmas Bird Count, info: [email protected]
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Holiday Magic Bazaar, Westmark Sitka banquet rooms
10:30 a.m. ‘‘A Winter Nutcracker’’ Babies & Books program, Sitka Public Library
11 a.m.-2 p.m. ‘‘Owlidays,’’ Alaska Raptor Center, free
Noon Sitka Kaagwaantaan Clan Tlingit New Year Celebration, garden behind Blatchley Middle School
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
Noon-4 p.m. Salvation Army Little Store open
Noon-3 p.m. White Elephant Shop open
1 p.m. Sitka Kaagwaantaan Clan traditional clan naming and adoption ceremony, Blatchley Middle School
1-3 p.m. Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Winter solstice Festivity, Sitka Sound Science Center’s Mill building
4:30 p.m. Christmas Caroling, in front of Sitka Lutheran Church
5 p.m. Winter Solstice Light Parade, starts at Crescent Harbor Shelter (lineup at 4:30 p.m.) ends at Harrigan Centennial Hall with Gingerbread House competition and model train and vintage toys exhibit
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s Church basement, call 907-747-8866, potluck upstairs at 6 p.m. on last Saturday of the month
7:30 p.m. Holiday Brass concert, Performing Arts Center
SUNDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
2 p.m. Free Zumba class, Blatchley School
3-5 p.m. Sacred Harp Sing, Pioneers Home Chapel
5:30-7 p.m. Silent Night Nativity display, United Methodist Church
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln St., hotline 907-747-8866
MONDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
5:30-7 p.m. Silent Night Nativity display, United Methodist Church
5:30-6:30 p.m. AA, Sitka Pioneers Home Recreation Kitchen, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
TUESDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
Noon Rotary Club, Room 230, UAS

12/20/2024

ON TRACK – Blake Conaway assembles a 1957 Lionel pastel-colored model train set, originally marketed for girls, at Harrigan Centennial Hall Wednesday. Nine train sets will be on display this weekend as part of the annual Christmas events hosted by the Sitka Historical Society. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/19/2024

LITTLE CELEBRATION - Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School second-grader Luna Lysons, front, looks over as she dances this morning at the school during “Lingit Celebration.” The morning’s activities included the student dance performance as well as stations set up around the school featuring traditional food sampling and a variety of cultural art and Tlingit language lessons. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/18/2024

Calendar of Events:
WEDNESDAY
11-2 Salvation Army Little Store open
Noon Health Needs and Human Services Commission, Harrigan Centennial Hall
Noon White Elephant Shop open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 747-8866 for information
4:30 p.m. Sitka Parkinson’s Support Group, 1212 Seward Ave. (the old BOQ) 907 747-3461
6 p.m. Christmas Bird Count planning meeting, Alaska Raptor Center
6 p.m. Community Holiday Sing-Along, Miner Music Center on the SJ Campus
6 p.m. Sitka Fish and Game
Advisory Committee, NSRAA and via Zoom, http://notice.alaska.gov/217809
7 p.m. Sitka Music festival annual meeting, Stevenson Hall on SJ Campus
7 p.m. Christmas Program, Classical Learning Center, at Assembly of God sanctuary
7 p.m. Planning Commission, Harrigan Centennial Hall
7 p.m. Sitka Sportsman’s Association Indoor Range open
7 p.m. AA, St. Gregory’s Church, 606 Etolin Street, info: 907-747-8866
THURSDAY
6-8 a.m. MEHS Aquatic Center Pool Open
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Holiday Senior Coffee Social, Swan Lake Senior Center, info: 907 738-4315
11-2 Salvation Army Little Store open
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
Noon Alanon Zoom, [email protected], for login info
Noon White Elephant Shop open
6-8 p.m. Adult Geography Quiz, Sitka Public Library, info: 907 747-4028
6:30 p.m. Women’s AA, Unitarian Fellowship Hall, AA Hotline 907 747-8866
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, AA hotline 907-747-8866
FRIDAY
Noon AA, St. Peter’s basement, call AA hotline 907-747-8866 for information
5:30 p.m. NA Meeting, St. Peter’s Church basement
7 p.m. AA, St. Peter’s basement, 611 Lincoln Street, hotline 907-747-8866

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12/18/2024

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA - Volunteers place balsam wreaths on graves at the Sitka National Cemetery Saturday afternoon. More than 1,000 wreaths provided by the Wreaths Across America program were set near headstones by dozens of volunteers. A short ceremony honoring veterans was held before the wreath laying. Donations for the program were being accepted at the Elks Lodge and Orion Sporting Goods. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

12/17/2024

SERIOUS BOAT WORK – Jasmine Shaw, Sitka 4-H Club staff member, lends a hand as Isaiah Pleasant, age 6, paints a trolling pole on his toy boat Saturday at the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society’s Japonski Island boathouse. The annual toy boat building event drew dozens of youngsters who designed, assembled and painted their own boats using provided precut wooden parts. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)