As the borough catches some of the last rays of summer, members of the Healthy Wrangell Coalition looked at a number of upcoming events this fall at its monthly meeting Tuesday.
The coalition is a collaborative group representing the community’s health, education, recreation and religious spheres.
An organ recital is planned at the Salvation Army Chapel this Sunday at 3 p.m. Major Scott Nicloy will play a variety of works ranging from classical pieces and church music to theatrical numbers. Admission is free with offering or donation of food items to the church’s food bank.
The last community market of the year will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 20 at the Nolan Center.
Also on the 20th at 8:30 a.m., the Southeast Beasts will be staging their “School is Cool 5K Fun Run” with a Kids Dash. Comprised largely of local runners, the group seeks to find enjoyment in outdoor activities
On the event’s Facebook page, it says the run is open to everybody. The $10 registration fee will go to support Anita Ferdinand, who is combating pancreatic cancer. The group will also be holding an Alaska Day 5K on Oct. 18.
Harbor Light Church is holding an outreach program every Thursday evening this month, inviting kindergarten through 5th graders to stop by between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The church is also looking forward to its Harvest Fest celebration on Oct. 31, which will be held that evening at the community gym.
Wrangell Medical Center will be holding its adult flu clinic at Harbor Light Church on Oct. 3. Adults of all ages are encouraged to come and be inoculated before the flu season begins.
The community’s second annual Pumpkin Patch Festival is also on the way Oct. 11. Held by the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, the day’s family-friendly events will coincide with Tax Free Day.
The Wrangell Early Childhood Coalition is also preparing for its second biannual children’s fair on Oct. 18. Groups interested in setting up a booth can contact Krissy Smith at 305-0985, or email krissy.smith@akics.org for details.
“‘Lock Up Your Liquor’ is now happening,” said Julie Falle, school counselor with Alaska Island Community Services. The awareness campaign had a banner up during high school registration and aims at getting adults to keep their alcohol out of reach from children and teens.
The Green Dot Campaign – which raises interpersonal and domestic abuse awareness – will begin next month. Falle said organizers are looking at compiling a digital storytelling project as part of the campaign.
Wrangell’s Swim Club is underway, with coaches Holly Hammer and Bruce McQueen trying to get the team signed up with USA Swimming. McQueen has been helping swimmers improve their technique through the use of an underwater camera.
On Monday the new south southeast advisor for the Girl Scouts came to Wrangell for an evening of leadership training. Wrangell scout leader Diane O’Brien said Troop 4156 has recently sworn in two new troop leaders. She had been the only leader with the group for a few years.
“That’s great,” she noted. “We’re getting new momentum in the Girl Scout world.”
Secondary principal for Wrangell Public Schools, Colter Barnes, announced a pair of initiatives currently underway.
“Some of our school wide goals this year will be improving our school climate,” he said, raising spirits and better engaging students. To that end, the schools have been turning to social media sites, the Sentinel and KSTK radio to get the word out about activities and events.
“The other one is recycling and composting,” Barnes explained. “We’re just starting with paper and food waste,” setting aside resources and a room at the school.
The high school’s shop class is also looking at building receptacles, which will then be decorated by the art class.
Barnes said the science class was going to work on organizing an effective compost pile.
“We’re ready to get it done,” he said.
Looking at the longer term, Barnes hopes Wrangell’s schools can actually begin gardening. He said the school grounds have a lot of unused space that would be ideal for growing food.
In addition to the benefits such an experience would have for students and their families, the principal said that there are programs and grant funds that would become available if the schools had such a program.
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