City League basketball season wrapped up this month, just in time for city league volleyball to kick off. Parks and Rec coordinator Kevin Knox and specialist Elle Campbell and Alan Doulphus joined KCAW for the morning interview to discuss the many programs Parks and Rec is offering this winter. Listen to their conversation here:

Sitkans interested in city league volleyball can register at www.recreationatcityofsitka.com

The Baranof Island Housing Authority (BIHA) and Sitka Tribe of Alaska are partnering to assess tribal housing needs in Sitka with a community survey. Leah Mason and Cliff Richter of BIHA joined KCAW for the morning interview to discuss the survey, which closes on November 21. Listen to their conversation here:

Tribal Citizens in Sitka can complete the survey here

Tuck Harry is the executive director of the Alaska Academy for Drug Abuse Prevention– which trains young people in how to become drug abuse prevention specialists. He joined KCAW’s Erin Fulton to discuss the opioid and fentanyl crisis in the state, and one particularly dangerous drug that goes by the street name ISO or tranq. Listen to their conversation here:

Tickets available here

Sitka Fine Arts Camp will present roots powerhouse duo The Small Glories featuring musicians Cara Luft & JD Edwards. A musical tour-de-force partnership planted on the Canadian Prairies, and recipients of the 2020 International Folk Awards Artist of the Year. Sitka Fine Arts Camp Program Director, Kenley Jackson and band member Cara Luft join KCAW’s Meredith Redick to promote the upcoming concert. Listen below:

The concert is 7pm, Friday, March 18 at the Sitka Performing Arts Center. Tickets $20.

A Community Recreation Initiative kickoff will be held on Saturday, October 23rd from noon – 2pm at Blatchley Middle School.  The COVID conscious open house will have a Bump Tournament and Pumpkin Painting for kids. Residential and Activities Principal at Mt. Edgecumbe high school, Andrew Friske joins KCAW’s Brooke Schafer to discuss the event. Listen below:

Reviving a sustainable community recreation program for youth and adults was selected as a top goal at the 2021 Sitka Health Summit, and Sitkans are encouraged to stop by and share their ideas.   For more information checkout the Sitka Community Recreation Initiative Facebook page or call Andrew Friske at 738-3141

What is an “atmospheric river” and how does it affect weather on the outer coast? Caleb Cradens from the National Weather Service in Juneau joined KCAW’s Brooke Schafer to explain this — and other phenomena — that drive weather this time of year. Listen here:

The filing period to run for municipal office opened last week. Two seats on the Sitka Assembly will be up for grabs in the election this fall, along with two school board seats.

Municipal Clerk Sara Peterson joined KCAW’s Brooke Schafer for the Morning Interview to discuss what’s required of those interested in running for local office.

The first task? Filling out paperwork. 

“It’s not a huge packet,” Peterson says. “It looks a little intimidating to folks, but rest assured it’s not.”

To qualify for an assembly seat, candidates need to be registered voters in Sitka for a calendar year prior to the election. Those interested in filing for a school board seat must be registered Sitka voters for one month immediately prior to the election. Peterson says candidates can contact her for a starter-packet. Then they’ll need to gather signatures.

“They are required to obtain at least 25 signatures from registered voters in Sitka,” Peterson says. “I always encourage them to get more than 25. Just on the chance that someone you know, maybe thought they were registered, but not.” 

Serving as an elected official isn’t easy work, and Peterson knows this first hand- as part of her work, she drafts the agendas and records the minutes for all assembly meetings, so she’s seen the pros and cons of being an elected official in Sitka. She says she hopes people will consider the positives that go hand-in-hand with government service.  

“The change that you can be a part of, and to make Sitka this great place that we live in. It’s a good reminder for all of us,” she says. “There is good, it is challenging. There’s a lot of time involved, but it’s rewarding.” 

So far, only one person has filed to run– incumbent assembly member Kevin Mosher filed to run for re-election last Thursday. The filing period to run for local office closes on Friday, August 6 at 5 p.m. Sitka’s municipal election is Tuesday, October 5. 

The Sitka music festival will come to a close this weekend with multiple performances on Friday and Saturday evening. Pianist Yuliya Gorenman and violinist Alex Gonzalez join host Katherine Rose to discuss how they became musicians and what to expect from this weekend’s music program.

For more info about Friday and Saturday evening’s programming visit the Sitka Music Festival website.

The Healthy and Inclusive Events is an online training guide for how party planners/event planners, anyone having people come to a public gathering can better prepare for safe and healthy events. Director of Sitka Chamber of Commerce, Rachel Roy, and Health Educator at SEARHC, Doug Osborne joined host, Peter Apathy to discuss the guide.

There will be a zoom training this Thursday, June 24 from 12-2pm. Anyone interested in attending can find the zoom link as well as the training guide at sitkachamber.com