Daily Sitka Sentinel

June 10, 2020, Letters to the Editor

4th of July Plans

Dear Editor: Sitka’s 4th of July celebration will be different this year, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be great. With the uncertain times we are in and the continued need for social distancing, we will not have our traditional parade. 

This decision was not an easy one for our Board of Directors or members of our community’s Emergency Operations Command. After surveying our business community we found that many of those who traditionally would have parade entries were unable to participate due to various factors related to the COVID-19. As a part of this outreach, we had lots of suggestions for alternative ways to celebrate this holiday. In response, the Sitka Chamber of Commerce has created a special program this year: Share Your Spark. 

Businesses and residents are encouraged to “Share Your Spark” in our community by decorating your storefront and homes in red, white and blue to commemorate Independence Day. Community groups may choose to Share Your Spark by cleaning-up a stretch of road or local beach and individuals or families could plant a tree or help their neighbors. 

The community is encouraged to shop local for their decorations and be creative. Prizes for the decorations will be awarded to: Best Business, Best Non-Profit, Best House and Best Condo/Apartment. All Sparks will be entered into a special drawing. To participate, submit address and a photo of your spark by Monday, June 29, to info@sitkachamber.com or to our page at Facebook.com/SitkaChamber. Be sure to follow our Facebook as Sparks are shared throughout the month.

Call for calendar of events: Businesses, organizations or groups planning to host events during the week of 4th of July (Saturday, June 27-Sunday, July 5) can have their event listed in this year’s schedule. A brief description of the event, including start time, location and contact information should be e-mailed to info@sitkachamber.com by Monday, June 22.

We encourage all groups to follow the CDC’s and State of Alaska’s guidelines to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 in our community. View the latest mandates and alerts for Alaska at https://covid19.alaska.gov/. When planning a mass gathering, this site is a great resource: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html.

The Sitka Chamber is so grateful to be a part of Sitka and proud of how our business community has weathered this pandemic and cared for the health and safety of each other. We encourage the community to make this 4th of July a special one by spending time with family and close friends, having picnics and enjoying our community. 

Rachel Roy, Executive Director,

Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce 

Recall Petitions

Dear Editor: Saturday, June 13, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Hames Center there will be a drive-through opportunity for those who have not had a chance to sign the recall petitions for Governor Dunleavy.

If you have not signed the second petition and want to, this is your opportunity. Bring friends if they are interested as you can self-certify your petition and we will mail it off for you, or you can.

Why? My reasons are the destruction of the opportunities for education all the way from kindergarten through college. I believe education is our best economic driver and gives our children the opportunity to stick around. Also, the lack of any support for the Alaska Marine Highway. I could go on. Thank you.

Jeff Budd, Sitka

Unity

Dear Editor: One is left wondering what exact words retired Gen. Mattis and, by extension, Senator Murkowski, would recommend the president use to ‘‘unite’’ law-abiding citizens with the looters and thugs plaguing several U.S. cities these days.

Charles B. Dean, Sitka