Mary Lou Spartz delivers the keynote address at a reading presented Alaska Women Speak, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Spartz will be part of an upcoming authors talk at Juneau-Douglas City Museum. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly file)

Mary Lou Spartz delivers the keynote address at a reading presented Alaska Women Speak, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Spartz will be part of an upcoming authors talk at Juneau-Douglas City Museum. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly file)

News briefs for the week of Dec.12: Rasmuson Sabbatical recipients announced, author talk planned for city museum

Tribal leader, radio station manager among 2019 sabbatical recipients

Leaders of five Alaska nonprofit organizations have been announced as recipients of a 2019 Rasmuson Foundation Sabbatical Award.

They come from a variety of fields: public radio and performing arts, social services and tribal administration, marine research and education. They will have three to six months in the coming year to unplug from demanding jobs to rest, reflect and rejuvenate. The awards, for $40,000 each, help cover the leader’s salary and costs of travel and other experiences during time away.

Each of those selected brings a long history of community service. They all demonstrated a pressing need for time away.

The new award recipients are: Alicia Andrew, president and tribal administrator, Karluk IRA Tribal Council; Kay Clements, general manager, Lynn Canal Broadcasting–KHNS in Haines; Lainie Dreas, executive director, Alaska Junior Theater; Mary Middleton, executive director, Stone Soup Group, which provides support and resources for families caring for children with special needs; and Tara Riemer, president and CEO of the Alaska SeaLife Center.

Applications for 2020 sabbaticals can be submitted through Sept. 15, 2019. For more information visit https://www.rasmuson.org/grants/sabbatical/

Authors to talk at Juneau-Douglas City Museum

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum will host a free author talk and book signing. Authors Mary Lou Spartz and John Greely will discuss their book, “Disaster on our Doorstep,” at 10:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Dec. 15.

“Disaster on our Doorstep” chronicles Juneau’s response to the 1918 grounding of the S.S. Princess Sophia on Vanderbilt Reef. The community initially rallied to dispatch six rescue boats to the scene, but weather prevented the evacuation of the ship’s 353 passengers and crew, who were all killed in the ship’s wreck.

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