KCAW Staff, Author at KCAW

Sitka rate payers burned by cold spring weather

Sitkans who felt the pain of high utility bills last month were actually burned by cold weather. That, and the fact that Sitka adjusts its electric rates seasonally, ticking them up slightly when it typically becomes warmer.

Audio postcard: Whale Park a quiet retreat in Sitka’s busy summer

Many residents can become distracted by the bustle of urban life in Sitka, especially in summer. But peace and quiet are never far away. Darby Osborne took a walk through Whale Park and sent this audio postcard.

Sitka’s administrator says cold spring weather creates unwelcome bump in utility bills

Got a higher-than-usual utility bill recently? The long-lasting cold weather unfortunately overlapped with Sitka's seasonal rate increase. Municipal administrator John Leach explains how the community's rate structure caught many residents by surprise in June.

Summer camp programs for the curious and bold at SSSC

Engineering, snorkeling, kayaking and many other opportunities are available for participants of all ages in the Sitka Sound Science Center's Summer Camp program.

Sitka Music Festival artists give preview of week’s performances

Violiist Kurt Nikkanen and pianist Maria Asteriadou, joined KCAW for the Morning to share upcoming Sitka Music Festival highlights.

This cyclist is over the hill thanks to his ebike

E-bikes are ubiquitous in Sitka. Tourists rent them, commuters ride them, officials field complaints about them. But one aspect of ebikes that is perhaps overlooked, is how they keep cyclists in the game as they age. 83-year-old Bill Hughes, the owner of the Yellow Jersey Cycle Shop, is a striking example.

Science Center’s microorganisms among the stars of ‘Sitka’s Hidden Wonders’

Sitka Sound Science Center aquarist Matt Wilson and filmmaker Ben Hamilton met over the tidepool exhibit at the center's aquarium. Their collaboration contributed to some amazing imagery in the film 'Sitka's Hidden Wonders.'

‘Cultural Warriors’ is a new mentoring program based on a traditional model

One of the most important roles in Southeast Alaskan Indigenous culture is the uncle. In a matrilineal society, a woman’s brother is responsible for the training of her sons, in the myriad skills necessary to sustain a community. A new mentoring program from the Sealaska Heritage Institute is attempting to create that relationship for young men who may not have an actual uncle, or who just need support making the transition into adulthood.

‘Path to Prosperity’ competition opens for 2025 with additional focus on tech businesses

Applications are now open for the 2025 Path to Prosperity Business Competition -- an annual business development competition for businesses with a positive economic, environmental, and community impact on Southeast Alaska. This competition awards $20,000 each to two winning businesses annually.

NEA withdraws $60K in funding for Sitka Fine Arts Camp

Since President Trump issued an executive order in January to eliminate federal funding for programs that support diversity, many of Alaska’s arts organizations have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, it just did.