Sofia Stuart-Rasi

2 weeks ago | kucb.org | Sofia Stuart-Rasi

The name speaks for itself — Sitka Spruce Park on Amaknak Island has dozens of spruce trees, creating a rare forest-like sanctuary. Regional lands are known for their tundra valleys filled with grasses, plants and bushes, not a 10-foot tree in sight. But that changed in Unalaska during the 1800s when Russian colonizers planted many Sitka spruce trees on the island.

2 weeks ago | kucb.org | Sofia Stuart-Rasi

The Unalaska City School District is about a month away from wrapping up the 2024-25 school year. Superintendent Kim Hanisch recently visited the KUCB studio to share some changes as the district begins to prepare for next year. In this episode of “Island Interviews,” KUCB’s Sofia Stuart-Rasi spoke with Hanisch about staffing updates, plans to potentially extend the third-grade school day and a new parent-teacher organization for the elementary school.

3 weeks ago | kucb.org | Sofia Stuart-Rasi

UPDATE: Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed House Bill 69 Thursday morning during a press conference. Original Report: School had just ended for the week in Unalaska, but not all students were celebrating. More than 30 students proceeded to march to Unalaska City Hall to show support for House Bill 69. The state bill would increase the base student allocation (BSA), the basic per-student state funding that goes to schools each year.

4 weeks ago | kucb.org | Sofia Stuart-Rasi

The City of Unalaska has a new plan to develop public parks, recreation and cultural infrastructure and programs through at least 2035. The city council unanimously approved the 121-page master plan on March 11. The City of Unalaska’s Department of Parks, Culture and Recreation (PCR) worked with a consulting firm for a year to gather community input for the plan. About 650 locals shared their thoughts through surveys, focus groups and community events.

1 month ago | kucb.org | Sofia Stuart-Rasi

It was a windy winter day on Amaknak Island for the Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 15. Megan Dean, local birder and store manager for the Museum of the Aleutians, led a group of Unalaskans along Iliuliuk Harbor in front of the museum. Looking out to the water, Dean said, “between the wind and the sun, my eyes are like watering.”She spotted a group of black and white ducks bobbing up and down on the waves. The birds weren't that easy to identify, so Dean grabbed her binoculars.