SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Dec. 5

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club hike and yoga event will take place from 9:30-11:45 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5. (NOTE: This is a time change from the past hikes.) Seniors should meet at the Swan Lake Senior Center for transportation to the Sitka National Historical Park Totem Trails trailhead for a short hike, then a senior yoga class at Yoga Union before the return trip to Swan Lake Senior Center.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, usually on the second or third Thursday. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

In addition to the hike and yoga event on Dec. 5, SAIL will offer more activities for seniors in December. From 10-11 a.m. on all Tuesdays (starting Sept. 3), SAIL will join the Senior Walking Hours event from 10-11 a.m. at the Hames Athletic and Wellness Center. This is a great opportunity for seniors to get their walks in when the weather outside is cold and icy. For other events, check the calendar posted below.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Anna Hennessey at 747-6859 or email her at ahennessey@sailinc.org. The calendar includes hiking, orienteering, kayaking, and other events for seniors, youth, and the disabled.

• SAIL events calendar for December 2019

SEARHC, Stride 365 co-host run for Brave Heart Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 7

The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) and Run Sitka’s Stride 365 program will co-host the 5K Run/Walk for Brave Heart Volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Runners should meet at 9 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. race start at the O’Connell Bridge Lightering Facility. The cost of the five-kilometer race and two-mile walk is a donation of $10. Proceeds this month benefit Brave Heart Volunteers.

Each month SEARHC and Run Sitka (#runsitka) host a Stride 365 event on the first Saturday of every month, with proceeds going to a different charity in Sitka.

For more information, please contact Heleena van Veen by email at heleenav@searhc.org, or by phone at 966-8914.

Greater Sitka Arts Council to host annual Fall Art Walk on Friday, Nov. 29

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The Greater Sitka Arts Council will host its annual Fall Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, at several businesses in downtown Sitka.

Lincoln Street will be closed to traffic for this event, and there will be some events in the street by the New Archangel Dancers and from the Nutcracker by Sitka Studio of Dance.

The free art walk will give people a chance to see new art work, visit with your neighbors, and maybe get an early gift idea for the holidays. Friday, Nov. 29, is a sales tax holiday in Sitka, so you won’t have to pay tax on any art you buy.

Here are highlights from some of the participating businesses:

• SITKA ROSE GALLERY, 419 LINCOLN ST. — Artwork from all over Alaska.
• GREATER SITKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / VISIT SITKA, 104 LAKE ST. — Sign up for your Greater Sitka Arts Council annual membership and get a free mug. Music by David Nichols. Membership drive sponsored by Northrim Bank.
• CABIN FEVER GALLERY AND GIFTS, 321 LINCOLN ST. — Featuring artwork by local artists.
• ARTIST COVE GALLERY, 241 LINCOLN ST. — Featuring the artwork of Mark Sixbey.
• ALASKA PURE SEA SALT, 239 LINCOLN ST. — With Sweet Sister Caramels. New holiday flavors and delicious gifts.
• ABBY’S REFLECTION APPAREL & QUILTWORKS, 231 LINCOLN ST. — A guide of supplies from A to Z.
• SITKA LUTHERAN CHURCH, 224 LINCOLN ST. — Photography by Sandra Rudd.
• ISLAND ARTISTS GALLERY, 205 LINCOLN ST. — Norm Campbell will do calligraphy during Art Walk. Also with new works from a multitude of local artists, including Route 66 photography by Janet Berlin, watercolors from Newfoundland by Pat Kehoe, pottery from Auriella Hughes, silver bracelets from Sarah Winfield, hand-painted purses and bags by Amy Sweeney, ammonite jewelry from Liz Faulkner, evocative imaginary landscapes by Norm Campbell, basket-weave-illusion wooden bowls by Jim Kirkness, beaded jewelry by Cass Pook, acrylic paintings from David Gross, painted drums and beaded jewelry from Helen Mercado, moccasins and beaded works from Linda Janecek, Sitka photographs by Roberta White, lightcatchers by Barb Bingham, wildlife photography from Dan Kilkeary, stained glass pieces by Kate Cluff, dichroic glass jewelry by Catherine Weaver, cast silver jewelry by Doug Dabrowski, handmade rare jewels and accessories by Amelia Mosher, macramé jewelry and artworks by Cayla Pook, metal works by Marcus Lee, paintings by Frances Braun, prints from Steve Lawrie and Nora Skeele, jewelry by Joella and Cloe Turner, fish prints by Jerry Wright, whimsical works from Jan Steinbright, hand-painted silk scarves by Lori Lang, and colorful hats and stickers from Raven Shaw. Appetizers and libations also available.
• GALANIN + KLEIN, 203 LINCOLN ST. — Featuring fine-crafted knives by artist Adam Fondel and silver carver Jerrod Galanin.
• SITKA CONSERVATION SOCIETY, 201 LINCOLN ST., SUITE NO. 4 (UPSTAIRS, ABOVE OLD HARBOR BOOKS) — Featuring the photography haiku of Lione Clare.
• OLD HARBOR BOOKS, 201 LINCOLN ST. — Paintings by James Poulson and music by Bellymeat.
• GALLERY BY THE SEA (FORMERLY ROBERTSON’S ART GALLERY AND CUSTOM FRAMING), 128 LINCOLN ST. — Live jazz music by Stephanie Patton.
• SITKA HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE, 118 LINCOLN ST. — Music by Summerfall.
• 57 PEAKS, 102 LINCOLN ST. — Watercolors by Dixie Peterson.
• BEAK RESTAURANT AND KCAW-RAVEN RADIO, 2 LINCOLN ST. — Uilleann bagpipes by John Ingman, beaded jewelry by Haley Angus, nature photography by Matt Goff. The KCAW-Raven Radio Retail Shop will be open.

More galleries and artists may be added later. For more information, contact thinkartthinksitka@gmail.com.

Create space for your Thanksgiving feast at the annual Turkey Trot

The Sitka High School track and field team is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 28, at the Crescent Harbor Shelter.

This event features a five-kilometer (3.1 miles) turkey trot, and a one-mile Gobble Wobble walk. Registration opens at 9 a.m., with races starting at 9:30 a.m. All participants will be entered into a drawing and the winners of each classification will win a pie.

This is a fundraiser for the track and field team, helping cover travel and other expenses needed during the season. The 5K turkey trot race costs $15 for adults and $10 for runners age 16 or younger. The Gobble Wobble costs $10.

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Nov. 21

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 21. (NOTE: This is a time change from the past hikes.) Seniors should meet at the Swan Lake Senior Center for transportation to the Indian River  Trail trailhead.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, usually on the second or third Thursday. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

In addition to the hike event on Nov. 21, SAIL will offer more activities for seniors in November. For example, from 10-11 a.m. on all Tuesdays starting Sept. 3, SAIL will join the Senior Walking Hours event from 10-11 a.m. at the Hames Athletic and Wellness Center. This is a great opportunity for seniors to get their walks in when the weather outside is cold and icy. For more events, check out the calendar link below.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Anna Hennessey at 747-6859 or email her at ahennessey@sailinc.org. The calendar includes hiking, orienteering, kayaking, and other events for seniors, youth, and the disabled.

• SAIL events calendar for November 2019

Sitka Teen Hiking Club launches and meets every other week at The Cloud teen center

A new Sitka Teen Hiking Club has been launched, and it will meet every other week at the new teen center, The Cloud, on Harbor Drive.

The club launched in October, and currently meets at 3 p.m. on Fridays. But there is discussion about moving the time and date to a weekend morning for more daylight walking. The hiking club is a partnership between The Cloud, which is coordinated by Youth Advocates of Sitka, and Sitka Counseling.

The hiking club is open to all teens, ages 13-18, in Sitka. Hikers should bring a water bottle, appropriate shoes for hiking, and rain gear. Snacks and transportation to that week’s hiking location will be provided.

For more information, contact Eli Evans at eli.evans@sitkayouth.org or 738-8266.

SAIL Senior Hiking Club sets next hike for the morning of Thursday, Nov. 14

The Sitka office of Southeast Alaska Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) has announced its next Senior Hiking Club event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 14. (NOTE: This is a time change from the past hikes.) Seniors should meet at the Swan Lake Senior Center for transportation to the Blue Lake Road Trail trailhead.

Normally, the group picks the trail on the day of the hike, but occasionally a trail is picked before the event. SAIL makes trekking poles available for hikers to use (trekking poles are great on ice or uneven terrain, and they help seniors keep their balance), and hikers are encouraged to bring ice cleats such as YakTrax during the icy months of winter.

SAIL offers Senior Hiking Club events for those age 60 or older once or twice a month, usually on the second or third Thursday. There is a $5 fee, but nobody will be turned away because of finances. The hikes are open to people of all abilities and fitness levels. To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, check out our January 2013 post introducing the club.

In addition to the hike event on Nov. 14, SAIL will offer more activities for seniors in October. From 10-11 a.m. on all Tuesdays starting Sept. 3, SAIL will join the Senior Walking Hours event from 10-11 a.m. at the Hames Athletic and Wellness Center. This is a great opportunity for seniors to get their walks in when the weather outside is cold and icy.

To learn more about the Senior Hiking Club, senior and adaptive kayaking trips, senior cycling events, and and a variety of other outdoors skills and survival classes, contact SAIL ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Community Access) program coordinator Anna Hennessey at 747-6859 or email her at ahennessey@sailinc.org. The calendar includes hiking, orienteering, kayaking, and other events for seniors, youth, and the disabled.

• SAIL events calendar for November 2019