Roller Derby Support
Dear Editor: Sitka, you rock. We held our first ever event as the newly formed roller derby league Sitka Sound Slayers, and the showing of support from businesses and individuals in this community was incredible!
The event was a fundraiser to help establish our league, which is being built from the ground up. So much so, that the people of Sitka chose our official derby logo. This fundraiser was a jammin’ success, and we couldn’t have done it without a few key players. Thank you, Bayview Pub, for being spectacular hosts and gracious supporters of derby. Thank you, K&L Distributors, Kay D. Simmons, Botanika Orgnic Spa and Eco Boutique, SUP Alaska (paddle boarding), Alaska Marine Lines, Julie Stromme (artist), Alaska Pure Sea Salt Co., Hames Center and 4 Jay’s Coffee.
And certainly not least, a huge THANK YOU to the family, friends and fans who showed up and partied with us. We appreciate your generosity and fandom. We hope you are as excited as we are to bring roller derby to the great town of Sitka. Cheers to you and long live derby.
Find us on Facebook to follow our progress.
The Sitka Sound Slayers
Rally Against SB21
Dear Editor: This Thursday, April 4, from noon-12:30 p.m. at Crescent Harbor Shelter, Sitkans will be joining a statewide rally against Senate Bill 21. Passage of the bill will give oil corporations major tax breaks and prevent a fair return for Alaska’s oil resources owned in common by Alaskans.
Now that this bill has moved to the House of Representatives, industry corporate executives are proposing even bigger tax cuts so that Alaska looks more “attractive” for production after a huge financial give away to oil corporations in the Senate. The tax revenues should be reinvested into public resources instead of being given away to multinational corporations making record profits. At the same time the oil companies are getting this break, Alaskans are being asked to accept cuts to basic services from a smaller State budget this coming year.
The passage of SB 21 is directly related to corporate personhood and the erosion of democracy in our nation. The sorry truth is that we are at a point where corporations invested in a suite of candidates to break up the bi-partisan coalition that supports maintaining a rational tax structure for Alaskan oil.
Last summer, the Sitka Assembly voted unanimously for a resolution proclaiming corporations are not persons and should not have the rights of citizens. Yet here they are flexing their muscle again, showing us their power to overwhelm us.
Come out on Thursday and show your support against the corporate give-away of our natural, PUBLIC resources.
Libby Stortz, Sitka
School Budget
Dear Editor: Tougher times are coming it appears. The school district is facing very difficult decisions that will impact all of us: ending Community Schools. If they close the pool who will run it? Will the public get to use it? Who will certify the students for their high school graduation that they can swim? If they end the after-school and summer programs who will provide structured programs for the children and parents who use these programs? What will happen to the city sports leagues?
This is the tip of the iceberg – hard times and hard decisions, but to my way of thinking the costs for cutting these programs will raise other costs for our community. Something to think about. Thank you.
Jeff Budd, Sitka
Benefit Dinner
Dear Editor: Putting together a benefit dinner in Sitka is a journey all in itself, one I am proud to be a part of. It is an awesome feeling that comes from helping others and the generosity of Sitka businesses and individuals. Starting with bringing letters for donations and then going back and picking up items for the auction, people were willing to give in any way they could. My and Amber’s friend, Emma Edson, created a Facebook event and it really took off from there. The dinner held on March 24 was a huge success raising money for the future of Amber’s boys.
I would like to thank the following businesses for their generosity: Seaside Barber Shop, Harry Race Pharmacy and Photo, the Cellar, Brenner’s Fine Clothing and Gifts, Perfect 10 Nails by Maria, Ben Franklin Store, Botanika Spa, Mountain Miss, Work and Rugged Gear, Orion Sporting Goods, Sea Mart, Jewelry by KIKI, jewelry by Kristen Case, Winter Song Soap, Steve Lawrie for his amazing piece of art, Highliner Coffee, Yoga Union, Goldsmith Gallery, Allen Marine, Sitka Sound Seafoods, the Elks Lodge for a dinner for two, Seafood Producers Coop, Sitka True Value, Bridget Hitchcock, of Sitka medical physical therapy, Lisa Langfeld for the home made Seahawks knitted blanket!
All the people who made desserts – there are far too many names to add to this list – a huge thank you. Thank you, Grandma Tillie’s cakes, and all the cash donations, thanks from the bottom of my heart.
I would also like to thank the kitchen crew for their time in making a fabulous dinner, Lloyd Dennis, Kenny Winger, Julie Smith, Steve Anderson. I know there are more people but I am not sure of all the names. Thanks to you also. Of course thanks goes out to the waitresses who are employed by the Elks. Couldn’t have done it without you, thanks so much. A special thanks goes to, of course, the Elks Lodge for allowing us to have our dinner there.
Thanks to my partners in helping. Terri DiGenerro, for helping from the beginning, you rock. Emma Edson, Facebook extraodinaire. Linda Johnson, for all the encouragement and help. Sarah Lawrie for organizing all the donations the night of (Miss Vanna White). Of course Lisa Langenfeld helped me collect donations. We really are living in a very giving community, so thank you, SITKA. Please forgive me if I left any names out; it was not intentional. A super big thank you to Miss Taylor Ihde, who is a 10-year-old amazing child, who made awesome earrings all by herself and brought them there and sold them and gave all the earnings to the boys of Amber Peterson. You are one awesome girl. Thanks so much, Taylor.
Kelley Whitson, Sitka
Herring Correction
Dear Editor: I was confused by a couple recent letters, so I went to the ADF&G website and found that contrary to the letter’s aspersion, the trend in herring abundance has been increasing in Alaska the past couple decades. In fact, in Sitka Sound the trend is dramatically upward. Biomass in the 1970s was in the 5,000-ton range and this year the estimate is 75,000 tons, a 15-fold increase.
I also looked up ‘‘foundation of biological growth’’ in a biology textbook and found the basis of the ecosystem is defined as nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus which via photosynthesis give rise to primary producers or phytoplankton.
Secondary producers, zooplankton, consume the phytoplankton. At this point fish, including herring and salmon enter the food chain consuming the zooplankton. If you want to worry about destroying the foundation of life think about global warming and ocean acidification, they can truly alter the foundation blocks of life. But don’t take my word for it, do your own research and look at the FACTS yourself.
ADF&G has done a remarkable job of managing fisheries since statehood. Herring have increased and all-time records for salmon harvest and escapement have occurred under their mantle. By any measure Alaska’s management stewardship is the gold standard.
Wayne Unger, Sitka
